CHAPTER SIX
(illusion)

A week had elapsed, and Carlisle and Esme had finally returned home with the final members of their inner circle. Though perhaps the term "friends" didn't quite accurately describe the nature of their relationship with the male.

Alistair, an English vampire with a misanthropic disposition, regarded Carlisle as his closest acquaintance, but he rarely deigned to visit more than once every century. He preferred to wander alone, consistently rejecting all forms of companionship, and it was abundantly clear to everyone that he valued his privacy greatly.

Much like Amun, he shied away from physical contact with Renesmee and opted to keep a fair distance, fearful of the potential consequences of their interaction. His natural wariness, particularly towards any form of authority, further fueled his suspicion of the Volturi. The current situation, as far as he was concerned, only served to reinforce his already prevalent fears.

Swiftly, he made his way to the attic, giving Carlisle and Esme no opportunity to fully alight from their vehicle. Esme let out an uncertain assurance, stating, "He'll come around."

"Hopefully," Carlisle echoed, diverting his attention towards Edward and Bella. He inquired, "How many have arrived, thus far?"

"Sixteen so far," Bella provided.

To which Carlisle responded with surprise, commenting, "That's quite a substantial number in such a short span of time." While he spoke softly, his satisfaction with the update was evident.

"The Denali's, The Irish and Egyptian Clans, Garett, Mary, Randall, Peter and Charlotte"

Esme mentally calculated the numbers, contemplating aloud, "That makes it fifteen—who is the last one?" Her gaze fixed on the couple before her.

Edward's face lit up with an almost childlike eagerness, and he nearly bounced on his feet as he responded, his tone smug. "It's a surprise, why don't you go and find out for yourselves?" he suggested slyly, prompting Esme and Carlisle to exchange bemused glances.

With minds racing, Esme and Carlisle searched their memories for any individuals they might have overlooked. Upon entering the house, they were taken completely off guard by the sight of Vivienne, her face adorned with a joyful smile.

Vivienne greeted them exuberantly, her voice ringing out as she sang, "Welcome home!!" Her presence caught them off guard, and they stood there, utterly astonished by her unexpected arrival.

"Vivienne," Esme murmured gently, her voice growing louder with each repetition. She swiftly enveloped her daughter in the tightest embrace she could manage. As Esme pulled away, Carlisle had already moved closer, drawing vivienne into another heartfelt embrace.

"Oh, my sweet Vivienne," Esme sighed, her voice tinged with both joy and sadness as she ran her hands over Vivienne's cheeks, caressing them tenderly. Her words were filled with relief as she continued, "You have no idea how worried we were when your contact suddenly stopped."

"I'm sorry," Vivienne murmured, a tinge of regret evident in her tone. However, her words soon carried a hint of reassurance as she continued, "But, thankfully, I'm back now." She briefly mentioned her encounter with the Volturi, stating with a touch of nonchalance, "I kind of had a run-in with them, but I managed to get away." Upon hearing this, Esme and Carlisle's expressions immediately darkened, their parental instincts kicking into high gear as they bombarded her with a barrage of questions.

The questioning ceased as Carlisle took note of Benjamin's arrival, and he greeted him, "Hello, Benjamin."

Benjamin returned the greeting, replying, "Hello, Carlisle, Esme." The familiarity and cordiality between them were evident, as they had crossed paths during the Cullen's recent visit to Amun's, a week prior. It appeared that his choice to make an appearance was the key to preventing any additional isolation. Moreover, had he not taken those steps, he might never have had the opportunity to see Vivienne again.

As Esme and Carlisle took in the scene before them, their gazes shifted between Benjamin and Vivienne, and they noticed the way their eyes locked with a subtle but significant exchange of smiles. Recognizing the connection between them, Esme and Carlisle quickly realized that they were bonded as mates.

Edward, having easily read the thoughts of his adopted father, approached, a slight chuckle escaping him. He supplied the answer to Carlisle's unspoken inquiry, "Yes, they are." He directed his words towards Esme, addressing her inner question about whether the bond between Vivienne and Benjamin was a recent development.

Edward continued, sharing a piece of unexpected information, "Turns out, they've been mates for much longer than you might think."

"Really?" Esme gasped, her gaze shifting towards the pair. She exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my!"

Vivienne let out a soft chuckle, suggesting, "Why don't you go and greet the others who have arrived? We can chat about this later."

Esme was visibly eager to ask further questions, but she recognized that Vivienne had a point. She agreed reluctantly, but not without insisting, "Okay, fine, but I want to hear every single detail," a smile playing on her lips as she and Carlisle made their way further into the house, leaving Vivienne and Benjamin behind.

Vivienne observed Edward's amused expression, and then glanced at Bella, a hint of feigned irritation in her voice as she inquired, "How do you put up with him?"

Edward could not help but chuckle in response to Vivienne's remark, his smile widening as he joined in the banter," I'll have you know, my lovely sister, that my wife loves me just the way I am"

Bella, her own smile mirroring Edward's, interjected, defending her husband," He can be quite endearing when he wants to be"

Vivienne tilted her head playfully, still in a teasing mood," Endearing? Is that the appropriate word to describe something so irritating?"

Edward feigned offense, placing his hand over his chest in mock hurt," 'Irritating'? Ouch, Viv. I thought you loved me"

Vivienne feigned a gasp, playing along with the banter," Love you? Edward, dear brother of mine, I love you dearly, but that doesn't make you any less insufferable."

Edward chuckled heartily, enjoying the banter between them," So, is that a 'yes' to my endearing qualities or 'no'?"

Bella couldn't help but smile at their exchange, rolling her eyes affectionately, she spoke up," I have a feeling I should just stay quiet on this one"

...

A few days passed, and Emmett and Rosalie finally returned home. When they saw Vivienne, the scene was filled with an array of emotions, including lectures, hugs, yelling, and endless lecturing. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of the lectures came from Rosalie, and given the circumstances, it was hard to stop her when both her sister and best friend were finally under the same roof again.

When Rosalie discovered the news about Benjamin and her sister, an emotional whirlwind ensued. This time, Emmett took the spotlight, expressing his disbelief that his "little" sister had finally grown up. Alongside him, there were numerous lighthearted threats lobbed at Benjamin, warning him not to hurt her. This led to an unexpected consequence - Vivienne, in a display of protectiveness, punching him.

The family received an unexpected surprise in the form of a pair of friends that they hadn't anticipated would arrive – the Amazons. This was surprising because neither Carlisle nor Rosalie had been able to contact them up until this point.

Standing tall in front of the family was a pair of female Amazons, each possessing striking feline characteristics. The taller of the two, in particular, had a captivating presence. Both were dressed in simply in animal skins, a hide vest covering their chests and tight-fitting pants that were laced on the sides with only leather ties. Every aspect of their being exuded an air of exotic allure.

Vivienne's excitement was palpable as she exclaimed, "Zafrina and Senna!" Before anyone could react, she had already darted forward, enveloping them both in a joyous embrace, which they eagerly reciprocated.

Carlisle's welcome came with a small frown as he observed the absence of their eldest sister and the leader of the Amazon Coven. "Welcome," he repeated, his voice tinged with concern. "Where is Kachiri?"

Zafrina responded, her embrace of Vivienne still tight, her voice expressing the discomfort of their separation. "Alice said we needed to be apart," she explained, her words slow and deliberate, "It is difficult being away from each other, but Alice assured us that you required our presence here urgently." Her tone turned questioning as she said, "She said something about a great hurry...?" The uncertainty in her words mirrored the lack of information shared with them, just like the situation with Peter and Charlotte, who had also received little explanation.

Edward and Bella came over and related the story, which the Amazons listened to calmly. They allowed Renesmee to demonstrate her ability, captivating them. They showed great interest in the child, causing Bella some initial concern, but Vivienne reassured her, emphasizing that despite their distinctive eye color, the Amazons were not a threat.

Edward and Vivienne appeared particularly enthusiastic about the Amazons' arrival, expressing excitement over Zafrina's unique gift.

"Her illusion abilities are quite straightforward," Vivienne explained to her sister-in-law, Bella, with a tinge of sadness in her voice. "She can make people perceive whatever she wants them to see," she continued, her thoughts turning to the training Bella would need to undergo.

Vivienne nodded her head toward Edward and said, "Right now, Edward and I are in the middle of a rainforest."

Edward chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of amazement, "It's so clear that I might actually believe it if I couldn't feel you in my arms right now." Zafrina smiled and interrupted the illusion, her gaze shifting to Renesmee, who was fascinated by the discussion taking place.

Renesmee's curiosity piqued as she spoke up, "Can I see?" She directed her question toward the woman, who responded with a gentle smile.

"What would you like to see?"

"Show me what you showed Daddy and Auntie Vivienne," Renesmee requested, to which Zafrina nodded. Immediately, the adults smiled at the sight of Renesmee, her expression blank as she gazed into the distance, soon transformed into a wide, sparkling smile.

In no time, Renesmee had spirited Zafrina away, leaving Senna in the company of Vivienne, who, in turn, was watching over them from the sidelines. Bella found herself grateful that her daughter was occupied and under the watchful eye of both Vivienne and Rosalie, allowing her to train with the other family members and allies.