Friends or Foes?
Chapter 1: BPOV
The sun shimmers through the morning sky, glistening off the freshly watered forest like shards of crystal littered the green ground. My beautiful daughter Renesmee stirs in her sleep. I watch thoughtfully as smooth features become frustrated on her face and she opens her eyes. It only takes an eighth of a second for her eyes to focus on reality once again. Those deep chocolate brown eyes which are so familiar to me settle on my face. A brilliant smile appears. She holds up her arms for me at once. I quickly give her what she wants. When I hug her good morning swirls of colors and images flash though my head as Nessie's hands cup my face. I see my own marble face in her dreams along with Edward's (her father; my husband). I have to admit that we look good together, not that any vampire looks bad, but Edward's and my features are evenly distributed into our daughter and so our family remains balanced and perfect.
Nessie wonders where her daddy is.
Edward went to the main house earlier this morning. Carlisle and Esme are coming home from hunting today and have some important news to share. Edward got the phone call in the middle of the night so had not answered, mainly because we were caught up in our own selfish pleasures, but he got the message this morning and headed off to talk to Alice to see what the news was. I guess being able to see the future is quite convenient at times but I say it is more annoying to have her know everything before it happens. Before the rest of us even get the chance to know. Doesn't she ever just want to be surprised?
I take Nessie by the hand and the two of us run in harmonious silence through the trees. The giant white house comes into view. Edward greets us at the front door. He opens it before I can reach for the knob.
"Good morning, my loves."
He kisses Nessie on her forehead as she jumps in his arms. She places her hand on his neck and he nods.
"You're hungry. Alice is already bringing some blood down for you."
Nessie smiles at this.
Rosalie and Emmett appear at the top of the stairs and make their way down. Rosalie nods to me and then goes straight to Nessie. Nessie is happy to see her aunt.
"Hey Bella, Ness," Emmett pats Nessie on the head, then smiles in my direction with a joking expression. I can't believe I have to live with Emmett and his jokes for eternity. But this time there is a hard look to his face.
I look to Edward for an interpretation of his brother's thoughts as he wraps his arms around my waist. He doesn't answer me but he seems amused.
"So Bella," Emmett says. "Up for another round?"
I am confused first, but then I remember the arm wrestling matches. All of which I have won. I know sooner or later I will no longer be stronger than Emmett. And he was dying for that day to come when his strength finally surpasses mine just like it does everybody else's.
"Only if you are sure you can handle losing again," I answer sweetly. Emmett only smirks at me. I turn to Edward. "But first: what is it that Carlisle wants to tell us?"
The handsome smile on Edward's face falters.
"Some friends are coming to visit." He doesn't sound so sure of the subject. Even Emmett and Rosalie look at one another and then to Nessie.
"Who?"
Edward doesn't know. "Never met them."
It always bugs me when Edward's responses are as simple as my questions. I want more detail and he knew it. I raise an eyebrow and eye him. He rolls his eyes.
"I have never met them, Bella. It just worries us how they will react to Renesmee. Carlisle said these people are not as patient or as understanding as others fortunately were while we explained our story." He looks nervously to the young girl with bronze curls and then back at me. I can tell there is something else he wasn't saying.
"It'll be fine," Alice says skipping to us. Jasper at her heels. She hands Nessie a delicious smelling cup of blood and kisses her cheek.
"You said 'friends'. How many?" I ask.
"Eight."
"Eight? I thought there was no other coven that big other than..." Edward's shaking his head.
"No they are not part of the same coven. They come from different places but two. Drew and Susan had once traveled together for a short period of time with Carlisle. That was before Carlisle spent time with the Volturi." I shudder at the mere mention of that name. "It was obviously a while back but they respected Carlisle and were reminded of his company after hearing about our little confrontation back in December. They decided to come and see how he's doing. The other six are vampires Drew and Susan met during their existence who have wanted to meet us Cullens as well."
Emmett snorts. "Ha. 'Little confrontation'? Wish I could have yanked Felix's smug face right off his neck!" Rosalie scowls at him while Jasper nods in agreement. I didn't have to look at Edward to know he's thinking the same. What is it with men and violence? But I admit any one of the Volturi would have had it coming.
"Anything else I should know about them?" I stare into Edward's eyes trying to uncover the mystery behind that overprotective mind of his.
Jasper chuckles. "Not so easy to keep things from her anymore is it?"
Edward glares at him; he was obviously indeed trying to hide something from me and failing. Then he sighs and a faint smile crosses his face. I heard Carlisle and Esme cross the river. They are just in time to spare Edward from answering. For the moment.
Our parental figures enter through the back door and already know that Alice has informed us of our guests. But there is one question Alice or Edward never answered and that is: when?
Carlisle answers.
"The first trio of guests, who I've never personally met myself, will show up some time this evening."
"So soon," Edward moans.
"And the others?" asks Rosalie.
"In the afternoon tomorrow."
It is still early in the morning but the anxious atmosphere in the room is here now. Carlisle decides to answer any leftover questions we want to know. Of course I have the most. He tells us how he came to know Drew and Susan, both immortalized at an older age than most vampires I've encountered so far. Drew has a human age of 51. Susan has a human age of 44. Both will not look old obviously, but they still have their distinct aged features. Just like Carlisle and Esme, although both beautifully young looking, still look older than the rest of us.
Carlisle had traveled with them for a little over three years, that's when he had arrived in Volterra. Carlisle was a nomad at the time he befriended them. They were shocked at the life Carlisle was trying to perfect. The "vegetarian" life. They thought it impossible as so many do when first hearing strange Carlisle Cullen's idea. But now they admire him for his clean record of never drinking human blood and for succeeding in his plan no matter what others thought. Also, I think Carlisle's compassion and kindness makes him easy to like, whether you understand why he does what he does or not.
The others who are coming are friends of Drew and Susan. All young, both in vampire years and human. They had met three of them separately, each one a lone nomad with no place to go. Those three were introduced through Drew and Susan and then set off together as a close-bonded coven.
The other coven of three were actually created by Drew and Susan. There was no hope left for the three brothers and one had already been bitten. With deep sympathy the older vampires decided to transform the other two brothers as well so they could live on together as immortals. Drew had two brothers of his own that he remembers distinctly from his human years (it was the catalyst that made him spare the brothers their lives, in one sense).
"Interesting..." Jasper says when the brief backstories are told. But he never explains what is so interesting about them. It might just be the stories altogether, because I know I am intrigued by them. Then again these things are always more interesting to me than the others. At least Nessie shared my entertainment. She reaches out to Carlisle for more stories. Carlisle pats her head affectionately.
"Maybe as bedtime stories." This pleased her.
"So," I start to say, "we have to be careful how we present Nessie, right?"
Everyone is looking at Carlisle again. Carlisle seems a little uneasy. "Well the younger vampires, the ones I've yet to meet in person, seem fine with the idea of a half-breed as long as the Volturi are, and I think it's mostly curiosity getting the better of them out of anything. Drew and Susan have always been more...difficult when it comes to trying to get them to understand."
"They're narrow-minded and quick to judge," Edward says. Carlisle grimaces. I don't think he wanted to say it like that. But it's out now.
"So basically we don't have to worry like we did with the witnesses, but don't be too laidback about it?" I conclude.
"Precisely."
As everyone goes off to continue the day like normal Emmett appears in front of me.
"So bring it, little sis! I win and the innuendos come back full force, because let's face it: there's no way you and Edward have anything on me and Rose. I bet that puny cottage of yours is still exactly how it was when we first built it."
Rosalie smiles in silent mocking agreement.
I grin though I'm slightly irritated.
"You're on!" I turn and walk out the front door to the nearest boulder.
Only minutes later Edward leads me back into the house with Emmett stomping his way in after us. He has lost yet another arm wrestling match to me and I can't hold back the giant grin on my face. It is probably smug, too.
Jasper and Edward won't let Emmett forget this that's for sure. By their brother's unusual silence I'm sure he knows it. But then Nessie reaches out for me and puts a hand on my cheek. She shows me a replay of the match. Her uncle's priceless face has me stifling a laugh along with Edward who can easily see what our daughter is showing me. Emmett turns harshly and eyes us, threatening us to make one sound. My mouth pull into a thin line. I manage to hold back. Just barely.
"Who's up for a hunt?" Carlisle asks when we all walk in. This confuses me.
"You just got back."
Carlisle explains that he is meeting Drew and Susan near the border of Washington and Oregon, and he is thinking more about Rosalie's complaints that it's been weeks since their last hunting trip. She's right. I am the only one who is fine for another week or so, along with Jasper who went with Nessie and I the other day. Esme is fine too since she just came back. The others, though, definitely needed to hunt before our guests come.
"How much time do we have?" Edward asks.
"The coven of brothers called saying something came up and they won't be making it as early as this evening. However, they hadn't given a specific time frame."
"If we leave now we can make it back by early tomorrow morning," Alice informs us. She flits to Jasper's side. Both are ready to leave. I guess Jasper will be going just because.
Edward flashes to my side. Nessie shows him something. Edward tells her she is to stay here with me and Esme. Then he pecks me on the lips and runs out the door with the rest of the hunting party.
I love you.
Edward nearly runs into a tree as I lower my shield and my thoughts hit him. I'm smug but pleased when he turns, locking eyes on mine. A breathtaking smile crosses his face which I return. I can't help it. When he turns his attention back to the forest I know we are both desperate for him to drain an animal and return home.
A/N - The next chapters get more exciting I promise! But I still hope you liked this one. This is my first story so if you review it'll make me extremely happy! Wouldn't you want feedback too? :)