chapter 20 : The fantastic 4 (Olivia's pov)
Two days after waking up to a house half empty and everybody in crisis mode, my family was finally reunited. To say that it was a happy reunion would be a rather flawed description of the situation. We started this because we wanted to get out into the world, meet new people ... well the house was packed with vampires, and most of them weren't too happy to know that the Volturi were after them. Apparently it is one thing to agree to bear witness as a favor to a friend, but it is quite another to be forced into a fight because you agreed to said favor 27 years ago; people usually like to have a choice but we didn't have that luxury now.
”I see everybody's finally here, save for the Romanians but we had no way of joining them. Edward, if you could update us on the situation.” Carlisle started.
”We understand your unhappiness, we're not thrilled either. When we decided to stop hiding my grandkids, we knew that it would probably land us in trouble again, but we honestly didn't think that you would automatically be associated with us, and for that we are sorry. But if that's any consolation, the Italians don't seem to manage to find a suitable way to come at us. They tried to take you down separately because they wanted to avoid a massive confrontation like last time. But now they only have two options, they either do what they did last time, or they let it go. But if they come, it won't end on a stalemate, there will be a fight, and I don't want to sound overconfident, but the odds are very much in our favor.”
”The fact that you can even say that proves that you are overconfident. We have no doubt that in the past 27 years Bella has managed to exert better control over her shield, but it is still the Volturi we are talking about. Destroying rogue covens is their profession, they did it before the twins came about and they were already quite successful.”
”I hear you Peter, and I understand your concern. But you all need to understand just how much things have changed. 27 years ago our only chance of even putting up a fight was Bella and she was only just discovering her shield. Pardon the comparison, but today we have the fantastic 4.”
”The what?” Amun asked, and apparently our amazon friends were as clueless as him.
”You are aware of the fact that humans do more than just taste good, they also create an amazing number of things that you can benefit from. I mean, obviously you know about cell phones, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to reach half of you. Their various cultures are quite fascinating as well, and the fantastic 4 are part of the American pop culture; if you're interested I'm sure Emmet will give you access to his comic book collection. Anyway, back on topic, it would appear that the descendants of my lovely wife and I do more than attract the Volturi's wrath, they also provide us with means of defending ourselves.”
”Are you suggesting that we put our lives in the hands of hybrids? Seriously, no offense kids but what chance do you stand in a fight against full fledged vampires?” Siobhan asked, wondering if my grandfather had gone crazy.
”No offense taken, any self respecting vampire would think the same thing. But I defy any one of you to pick a fight with my mother. My brother and I have a somewhat messier fighting style so this isn't the right place for a demonstration, I don't want to break something and make my great grandma sad.” I said with a big smile on my face.
”So you won't mind Nessie, if I decide to take your daughter's challenge, against you?” Randall asked with a teasing voice.
”Not at all, but I do have a question first. Do you want it to be painless or painful?”
”What? this is a fight, don't pull your punches, I won't.”
”OK, since you're a friend and you clearly don't know what you're getting yourself into, I'll make it painless.”
