Chapter Text
I focused on my ability... Or Gift if Aro's correct. I think I like the term Gift more so I'm sticking with that. I used my Gift to find out the name. "Your other Mate is someone called Athenodora," I said and they looked shocked and then outraged.
"Athenodora is Caius' supposed Mate," Aro snarled. "To force someone to Mate with you, especially when their True Mate is in the same place is..." He growled.
"We have to do something. We have to protect her," Didyme insisted.
"Master, Mistress," Jane said and they both looked at her. Weird. Who calls people that? I get they're rulers and all but wouldn't that mean they're called my King and my Queen instead? "We need to save Chelsea." Aro and Didyme growled. "She must be doing this against her will. Think about it. She tampered with the Bonds Sulpicia and Athenadora share with you, Mistress. She knows you're alive. Yet Caius doesn't. If she was doing it willingly and on his side, why wouldn't she tell him?" They both looked thoughtful. I used my Gift to find out why Chelsea was helping Caius.
"It's Afton," I said and they froze.
"Chelsea's Mate! Of course!" Aro exclaimed.
"My Gift told me that Caius almost killed him and only spared him when Chelsea agreed to help him. She didn't want to but her beast felt like they had no choice. Caius threatened to kill Afton if Chelsea ever disobeys him."
"If we can find a way to keep Afton safe that Chelsea's beast determines is good enough, she'll turn on Caius after everything he's put her through--" Aro cut Didyme off.
"Yes but that's exactly why we have a problem. After everything Caius has put her through, the only thing her beast will determine as enough to protect Afton is Caius' death. He's tormented her and her beast with the idea of Afton dying for over 3,000 years, Didyme."
"So, we're back where we started. Trying to prove Caius' deception. We've been trying to do that for 3,000 years, Brother."
"I know, Sister. But now we have Cassiopeia," Aro said and the three of them turned to face me. "You're too young to be turned so Jane will stay with you for a few weeks and then Didyme will. They'll alternate until you're sixteen and then you'll be turned. Once you're turned, you won't pass out when you use too much of your Gift. You can help us destroy Caius and protect your Mate. Until then, we'll keep you safe."
"Why can't they both stay?" I asked.
"Because we still need to find a way to expose Caius and I don't want to use your Gift for that. I don't want you hurting more than necessary, Cassiopeia. You're my Daughter. I need you safe and unharmed. We've been trying to find a way to expose Caius for a long time. We're used to it."
"No. Even if I can't use my Gift directly, I want to help. My Gift can still be of use. Please. Let me help."
"I--" This time, Didyme cut her Brother off.
"Of course. We'd love to have you with us. We'll keep you safe and this way we can get to know our new Mate."
"By the way, you said something was wrong with all three of us. What's wrong with me?" Jane asked.
"Your Mate Bond's been changed into a Sibling Bond," I told her. "It's to someone called Heidi. She's apparently also my Mate... And I have four others too. One isn't a Vampire. I know her. She lives in Forks. Her name's Leah Clearwater. She's a Sophomore and 16. She's also dating Sam Uley, which sucks. She's really hot and the reason I realised I'm gay two years ago when Bella and I visited Charlie in Forks for two weeks over the summer. We didn't go last year and Bella's not going to go anymore either."
"Heidi's our Mate?" Jane asked in disbelief. "I... She..." Jane walked over to the bed, sat down next to me and put her arm around my waist.
"Jane and Didyme can't go back," Aro said. "Jane was targeted today and would be dead if it wasn't for you and everyone already thinks Didyme's dead. I hate that we don't know who we can trust but even if we did, we couldn't tell them. Caius has already proven himself resourceful and with Chelsea on his side, if he even thinks for a second someone isn't loyal to him, he'll have her change that and then find out everything. This has to stay between us four. I have to go but I'll call and visit as often as I can manage." Aro gave me and Didyme hugs and then sped away.
"Now, let's get to know each other a little before getting into all of that, shall we?" Didyme suggested with a smile.
...
I grinned as I spotted the small chocolate cake on the desk when I got back from my morning run. "Happy birthday, Cassie!" Jane and Didyme said with large smiles.
"Just one year before I'm 16 and I'm turned," I said with a smile. It's been 17 months since I met them and 2 years since I ran away on my 13th birthday. I leaned forward and kissed Jane. "You know, Janie, I'm a lot taller than you now." Jane pouted and I smirked. Didyme laughed and I pulled her close before kissing her too. "I don't know what you're laughing at since I'm taller than you too."
"Yes but you're only 4 inches taller than me," Didyme said. "You're 8 inches taller than Jane, Darling. That's double the height difference."
"Mistress, it's not my fault that I'm not taller! Cassie was 4 foot 6 when we met her. She just shot up in the first month and then got really sick and turned into a Wolf. She has Shapeshifter genes. That's cheating!"
"It's not cheating, Shortstack. It's just--" I cut myself off when the phone rang. I picked it up and heard Bella's voice.
"Happy birthday, CJ!"
"Hey, Bells."
"So, I, er, I'm sorry I haven't called the last couple of weeks. It's been a lot to deal with packing my stuff and all."
"Right, the move to Charlie's."
"Yeah, he asked where you are. Apparently, Mom didn't tell him you ran away. He's freaking out, Cassie... He wants you to come live here. Mom argued with him about it but he managed to get custody, given she didn't report you running away and everything, so... Can you come here? Live with Charlie? And me? I know you wanted to live with him in the first place but I also know you don't want to deal with Billy and that Jacob doesn't really know you, so--"
"I'll think about it and call you back later, okay?"
"Oh, okay. Yeah. Er, bye." I hung up and looked at Didyme and Jane.
"You can't," Didyme said. "She moved to Forks, Cassie. The Cullens moved there a few years ago. We wouldn't be able to go with you."
"Yes but this'll be an opportunity to keep an eye on them and see if Carlisle is as trustworthy as Aro thinks he is. Plus, you said they have ties to Eleazar's Coven because of their similar diet... Besides, a year from now I'll be turned and I won't ever get to see Bella or Charlie again," I sadly said. "This is my last chance to say goodbye." Jane and Didyme looked at each other for a few minutes before sighing.
"Fine. You have to call or text every day and keep us updated on everything the Cullens do."
"And keep an eye on the Wolves," Jane said.
"As the eldest of Ephraim's line, I'm the Rightful Alpha of the Pack, Janie. I'll keep them in line, I promise."
...
"Charlie!" I exclaimed before pulling him into a hug. I spotted Bella behind him and ran over to her to pull her into a hug. "Bells!"
"Oof! CJ, you got really tall! And strong. Did you start working out? How are you only in a tank and shorts? It's freezing," Bella said.
"Come on, CJ, Bells," Charlie said. "We have to get back before Billy and Jacob get there. They've got your homecoming present, Bells." Charlie spotted the look on my face and grimaced. "Since ending up in a wheelchair, CJ, Billy's... Er... Changed. He's a lot more like the Billy from our childhood and less like the one you knew. If it makes you uncomfortable, then I can--"
"It's fine," I said before quickly sitting in the back of the cruiser. Bella and Charlie got in the front and it was a silent drive back to the house. I quickly put my stuff in my room in the attic and then went back downstairs to see Bella and Charlie talking to Billy and Jacob. They all looked at me and it was silent and awkward for a moment before Jacob came over and hugged me with a huge grin on his face.
"It's been a while since I last saw you, Cassie! Damn, you got huge! How're you 5 foot 4 already?" Jacob asked.
"Genes," I said with a smile. "You'll probably shoot up at some point in the next year too, Jacob."
"Ugh, Jake, Cassie. Jake," he said, overpronouncing the two syllables. I looked over at Billy and he frowned before wheeling closer.
"CJ, I'm sorry about how I treated you before. It's not your fault that I made the mistake that led to you being here but I acted like it was. Like it was your fault that you reminded me of what I did. I'm sorry. I should've treated you as my Daughter and not as a reminder of my mistake. I'm not asking that you forgive me or forget it but can we just...Start over?"
"I... I'll think about it," I said and he sadly nodded. I went back inside and quickly texted Didyme about what happened before going up to my room. A few minutes later, Bella came in.
"You know that truck outside? The reddish-orange one? Charlie brought it for me! Now we don't have to ride to school in the cruiser. Oh and he said to tell you he's got a car coming for you too and it'll be here by not Friday coming but the Friday after," Bella said.
"Okay, cool. I'm glad I got my licence on Saturday."
"So, we know you've been homeschooling yourself over the last two years but because of that and because you've never been to High School before, you have to take placement tests for tomorrow to see where you're at. I know it's Sunday tomorrow but still. Sorry."
"It's fine. You put off going for the last week so we can start together. Hopefully, we'll have Gym at the same time so I can protect everyone from your clumsiness."
"Rude."
...
"I can't believe you skipped to my year," Bella said as she parked the truck next to a van with some people around it. Everyone stared at us.
"Oh, please, Bells," I scoffed as we got out. "It's two years I skipped. Two years!"
"Nice ride," a guy sarcastically said.
"Thanks," Bella shyly said.
"Nice face," I sarcastically said and then I chuckled. Bella and I got our timetables and a map. "We have all the same classes!"
"You're Isabella and Cassiopeia Swan, the new girls?" A guy asked. "Hi, I'm Eric, the eyes and ears of this place. Er, anything you two need, tour guide, lunch date, shoulder to cry on?"
"Dude, did you really think that line would work? Yeah, I'm a lesbian and Bella's so not interested."
"Cassie, don't be rude!" Bella admonished.
"Why? Am I wrong, Bells?"
"Well, no but still!" Eric looked put out a little but smiled.
"That's cool," Eric said.
"Besides, Bella's more the 'suffer-in-silence' type," I said, smirking.