The Calling

Disclaimer: The standard disclaimer applies.

Epilogue: Semi-Retired

EsPOV

"God damn it," Bella muttered just before the power went out, smoke and the smelt of burnt electrical wires filled the house. To my credit, I never paused on my way out the door and to the car.

I decided to drive five miles under the posted speed limit, which meant that it was going to take a half hour to reach the junior high school. I needed the time to get my anger and annoyance under control before my mate sensed it through psychic thread that connected us. As much as I loved her, Bella had been puttering around the house getting and constantly getting underfoot by attempting to help. Part of me wished the month would end so she'd be back in Volterra running training exercises between the Guard and the Legion.

The world had become a newer but scarier place since the Romanians and their pets had been defeated three years ago. Carlisle had ascended to Marcus' vacant throne and Rose used her new status as a Volturi Queen to help Athenadora and Sulpicia grow backbones; the three opinionated vampiress' had become a force to be reckoned with when it came to keeping the Kings grounded in reality. A Fourth King was added to the mix when Radu, a Child of the Moon, was offered the position as leader for his people. Caius resigned his position as General and Jasper took over the position as the Commander-in-Chief of all Volturi Forces.

It had taken a year for he, Bella and the newborn, Bull, to rebuild both the Volturi Guard and the Ghost Legion then train them. Most of the senior Guards that survived the final battle retired soon after the new additions were ready to assume active duty. The only that remained were Demitri and his mate, Heidi. Emmett joined and took over the role that Felix once filled as muscle. When both forces were back to full strength, Bull was given leadership over the Legion and Bella went into semi-retirement. That meant she was basically put on reserve status. Much like Reservists in the human military, for one weekend a month and two weeks every summer Bella returned to Volterra for duty; unless a situation came up where she was needed and that had not happed yet.

I was back to my usual self by the time a found a parking space in front of the school. It was a couple of minutes later when the final bell rang and about ten more after that before my children made their way to the car. Jane and Alec had semi-retired the same time Bella had. The "dreaded" witch twins had at first treated my mate as an older sister when she first arrived in Volterra to recover from her injuries. Over the years it morphed until it became a parental one after Bella and I became mates. The twins had been members of the Guard for centuries and never had a "childhood." My Soul Mate and I officially adopted them just before we moved back to Alaska. It surprised both of us how quickly they adapted to the lives of normal teenagers when they were given the chance.

Jane was the first one to reach the car; she climbed into the passenger seat then glared back at the school. Poor Alec was surrounded by preening hormonal girls and his discomfort could easily be seen. I decided to help my son out by honking the horn. He gave me a grateful look then used my "annoyance" to extricate himself from the throng.

"Drive," he begged even before his door closed.

I obliged him by pulling out of the lot then turning in the direction of Borders. The twins shared a look but remained thoughtfully silent for the drive. When we reached the store, I told them that I would meet them inside in a bit. I pulled out my cell phone once they were inside.

"What did my daughter do this time," Carmen asked when she picked up.

"Knocked out the power when she installed my new ceiling lamp wrong," I vented and heard giggling from her end.

"Bella misses being in the thick of the action. She doesn't know how to act to not being needed all the time. At least it was only the electricity; the first time Eleazar retired, he kept trying to help me with everything and eventually blew up my kiln; which took out half the house," she consoled sagely.

"What about now," I questioned the Spanish vampire.

"It was bad for a couple of months but then I made a pre-emptive strike and forced him into a new hobby," Carmen explained.

"What's the hobby," I asked a little too enthusiastically.

"Golf. Being forced to play a sport at human speed keeps him too busy to "help" with any of my projects. In fact, I get four peaceful days a week while he's out on the links. He actually has Emmett and Jasper trying to come up with a vampire version just for fun. The other three days are spent with him making up for not spending time with me; let's just say the sex has never been better," she replied wistfully.

"Maybe I should get Bella some clubs," I wondered thoughtfully.

"She can get some at the pro shop at the country club. Eleazar has been looking for a partner and he has a tee time in about an hour. He can pick her up on the way then we can get your place back in working order while their gone," Carmen quickly suggested and I agreed. I was in a much better mood when I got out of the car and went to find my kids.

Jane bounced over to me before the front door closed. She held DVD boxed set of the last season of Supernatural, the two newest novels based on the series and a Jensen Ackles poster in her diminutive little hands. Who knew the form tiny terror would end up an obsessive fangirl? She was staring at me with the wide puppy eyes and pouty lip her sister, Alice, had taught her.

"Please, Mommy, please can I get these," Jane begged relentlessly. I sighed, nodded then vowed that I was going to get back at Alice for teaching her that look. Alec met us at the cashier with a stack of graphic novels, I paid then we headed back home.

BPOV

I sat in the dark and understood that I screwed up yet again. Esme left the house to get the twins but not before I picked up on her anger and annoyance. She hadn't asked me to install her new lamp; I just did it and had forgotten that I wasn't an electrician. Home improvements were her thing not mine. I walked outside then called Lowes to order a new ceiling lamp with my cell. Thankfully, they delivered so the new fixture was going to be here in a couple of hours. In the mean time, I had to figure out the best way to apologize to my mate. Being the tactical genius that I was, it hadn't taken me long. I was just confirming the details of the romantic weekend I planned for us when El drove up.

"Bells, your mate called mine and you've been exiled to the golf course. Go get changed and we will be off," my vampire father called from the open driver's window.

With a sigh, I went back inside and changed into some preppy wear then flashed back to the car. Eleazar laughed at my unenthusiastic expression as he drove back down the driveway. When he reached the highway, he turned left instead of right, the direction of the country club. I arched a questioning eyebrow at him.

"Relax, we'll still get in a round of golf during the next few day but our flight leaves in an hour and we don't want to be late," he responded to my look.

"What the hell is the plan, then," I asked just as my cell rang. The display read Jasper.

"Yes," I said curtly when I answered the call.

"Marcus finally got through translating all the stuff you recovered from the Romanians' library and we know what that Josef fella was. Turns Stefan had stumbled onto the existence of the Vorkudlaks, an offshoot or variation within our race. They are a subspecies with the shared ability to warp light around themselves to become invisible. Individuals can be gifted on top of that. There have been a number of disappearances among the wolves and nomads over the past two months that I think are the work of the Vorkudlaks. Get to Volterra as soon as possible because Aro want you to lead a diplomatic/recon mission into Serbia," Jasper informed me then ended the call.

Eleazar and I shared a look before we called our respective mates. It looked as though the two of us were about to have some real fun…