Dawn of the Night
Chapter 1: Visitors and Confusion.
The Alexander's
There was a small knock at Mr. and Mrs. Alexander's door. They were in the middle of eating dinner with their son and daughter, Tristan and Lilly. They all looked at the door curiously, as it was knocked on again. The knocks weren't hard and persistent; they were soft and patient. Lilly looked over at the digital clock on the stove, it reading seven o'clock at night. Her large brown eyes looked back at her mother and father with curiosity and fear.
The Alexander's usually never got any visitors. The only person that comes to their door is the mailman and he is less than nice. Everyone in town thinks that the Alexander's are stuck up in some way. It's the way that Jenna Alexander carries herself around others that pushes them away. The family is very cautious on who they talk to. The only friends that the family has are the children's friends from school, but they hardly come around anyways.
Mr. Alexander slowly got up and started making his way towards the front door, his wife following his footsteps. Mr. Alexander kept thinking that he could probably take whoever it was at the door. His build was big enough to stop an attack or at least get his family out of the house. He gripped his belt and pulled his pants up a little bit higher as he approached the door.
His wife had stopped a little ways from the door and stood, shaking, by the edge of their black sofa. She groaned and gripped her son, Tristan, as he had approached her from behind. Lilly was in the kitchen waiting with the phone in her hand, just in case. Mr. Alexander glanced back at his wife and son curiously because the knocks had stopped as soon as he was within a few feet of the door. Tristan nodded his head encouragingly as Mrs. Alexander stood there frozen with wide eyes.
Mr. Alexander put on his scary face and gripped the doorknob, whipping the door open. Lilly curiously peeked through the kitchen doorway while Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Tristan stood in the hallway—they had walked closer—with their mouths hanging open. Standing in the doorway were the two most beautiful people they have ever seen. One of them was taller than the other so you knew it was a man and a woman. They both had their hoods up but you could still see their inhumanly beautiful faces.
Mrs. Alexander was too busy focusing on the baby that lay in the woman's arms. The baby's pale ivory skin was a little flushed as the breathing was steady and peaceful. It didn't even stir or cry when the door was thrown open, making a loud creaking noise. Mrs. Alexander glanced back at Lilly for a second, remembering when she was just a baby. Her skin was never that beautiful. She wanted to reach out and stroke the baby's cheek. But something inside her was telling her not to move.
"H-how can I help you?" Mr. Alexander cleared his throat and tried to square his shoulders. But something about these two people made him scared. He was very close to peeing in his pants.
"What are your names?" The male spoke. Tristan gasped quietly. The man's voice sounded like music even though it was low and menacing. Lilly slowly walked forward towards her father, wanting to get a closer look and also because something was telling her to get closer. Tristan grabbed her arm, pulling her back towards him.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Mr. Alexander asked, immediately regretting it as the man glanced up with anger in his eyes. He shrank back. His mind screaming at him to close the door, lock all of the windows and call the cops. His brain was doing all of those actions but his body wouldn't act on it.
"I really don't have time for this!" The man exclaimed. He glanced behind him and turned back to Mr. Alexander and said, "Would you please tell me your names?"
The man's eyes softened a bit and Mr. Alexander felt somewhat safe. "I am John and this is my wife and kids; Jenna, Lilly and Tristan."
He pointed to each person as he said their names.
The woman stepped forward, letting her hood down. When she did that the man shot her an irritated glare. Mrs. Alexander immediately felt envy for the beautiful women. She could just see her husband drooling. "I am Madison and this is my m—husband Hayden."
"Hi." Mrs. Alexander got the courage to walk to forward and stand by her husband. Only because she felt like the woman was a threat to her. Again, Mrs. Alexander's eyes shot down to the baby. It looked like a girl.
Madison caught Mrs. Alexander looking at her child and smiled a little. Not showing all of her teeth. "Her name is Aurora." The way Madison said it, made it sound like music. Mrs. Alexander tried to say it, but it didn't have the same effect. "She is a beauty isn't she?"
Madison's husband kept glancing behind him. Mr. Alexander finally started to access him. His pale skin was glowing in the dim light the moon was giving off. He had purple bruises under his eyes as if he had just gotten into a fight. He stood so rigid it looked like he wasn't breathing. Mr. Alexander stared at the man's body, checking to see if he could take him. He stood a little ways over six feet and he wasn't muscular but you could tell that he had muscles underneath his jacket, which was soaked from the rain. His short black hair was fully wet and hanging in his eyes. Mr. Alexander tried not to stare at his eyes much. They were unsettling to look at. They were dark as dark as the night.
Mr. Alexander glanced at his wife to make sure she wasn't looking at him; she was too busy looking at Hayden, who was staring anywhere else but at her and Mr. Alexander. Mr. Alexander stared at the women with awe. He couldn't help but think that he wished his wife would look like that while Mrs. Alexander was thinking she wished Mr. Alexander looked like Hayden. Mr. Alexander focused his attention back on Madison. She stood less defensively than the man. Her stance looked almost relaxed as she stared down at the bundle in her arms. Her red hair looked like a fiery pit. Her eyes were covered with really dark sunglasses, so he couldn't see them. For some reason he seemed a little bit relieved about it. Her body was gorgeous. She had a tinier jacket on than Hayden. Her white t-shirt was showing underneath the soaked jacket. His eyes traveled down from her breasts to her stomach to her legs and down to her feet. Which were bare?
That is strange. "Would you like to come in?" Mr. Alexander asked. He had cut off Hayden from saying anything before him.
"No. We only have one request." Hayden's dark eyes softened once again as he looked down at the baby in the women's arms. "Aurora is in danger. Her life is about to change for the worse and we need protection for her. "
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander wanted him to continue, but when he didn't Mrs. Alexander stepped in. "Um, what does that have to do with us?" When Hayden's head snapped up to look at her, she back tracked. "I mean," She cleared her throat. "how are we involved in this. How can we help you?"
"You don't have to be involved." Madison whispered. Mrs. Alexander thought she was talking to the baby but she was looking at her. "You can say no and we will walk away without any future contact."
"What?" Tristan asked, storming up to the door. His parents were sending him warning glances, but his dark green eyes were focused on the couple standing at the door. "You just can't come here and assume we are going to help you!"
Tristan slammed the door closed and next thing he knew there was small wooden pieces everywhere. He didn't hear his mother scream and cower into his father's side. He also didn't hear his sister call his name or his father growling profanities everywhere. He only saw the foot that blocked him from slamming the door shut in these people's faces. His eyes traveled up the leg and met a black-eyed glare.
Tristan whimpered to himself.
"You will not slam the door in my wife's face." The man spoke clearly and tried to stay calm, but you could see his hand shaking. After he spoke he pressed his lips tightly together and under his eyes the veins started to show. "Do you understand?"
Tristan couldn't say anything, so he just nodded his head. His brown hair had little pieces of wood chippings in it.
"Just please tell me yes or no." Madison went on as if the door never exploded and that her husband hadn't almost killed the little boy.
"What do you need for me to do?" It was Mrs. Alexander who spoke which surprised everyone.. Madison just smiled and stretched her arms out.
"Watch out for her. Let her be normal and out of danger." Madison's eyes looked watery as if she was going to cry.
"Y-you are giving me your baby?" Mrs. Alexander's hand immediately shot out and took the baby in her arms. As soon as she did the baby's eyes opened and she gasped. She had the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen. Her eyes were a brilliant clear blue. "Is she a newborn?"
Mr. Alexander, Lilly and Tristan didn't miss the smirk Hayden had put on his face at Mrs. Alexander's question. But when they looked back it was gone and he had a complete poker face on.
"Will you take good care of her?" Madison ignored her question, clutching her stomach. Mrs. Alexander nodded. "I will warn you though…"
"She isn't like other babies." Hayden stared at his daughter with adoring eyes. "She isn't like you. Be careful."
"Why?" Lilly asked, taking the babies small hand. Little Aurora giggled and smiled, showing nothing but gums.
"All will be explained." Madison kissed Aurora's head once more; the Alexander's taking a large step back at her proximity. "Sorry about the door. It will be replaced by the time you wake up tomorrow."
Hayden nodded his head towards the family and walked away leaving his wife to stare at her daughter. Madison sighed and backed away, jogging to catch up with her husband. Mr. Alexander stared after them, seeing no car. Had they caught a cab? He wondered, but he blinked once and they were gone. There was nothing but sounds of cars on the nearby highway.
Tristan was about to close the door but forgot that it wasn't there anymore. How had he done it? He didn't have a weapon in his hand. He didn't look like he had the strength to break a wooden door into a million pieces. Tristan continued to stare at the place where the mystery man once was while his family stared the new baby girl in his mother's arms.
"What do we do?" Little Aurora had gone back to sleep when her mother walked away.
"We have to call the police." Mr. Alexander whispered. He looked at his son desperately, seeing he was a little occupied staring at nothing but air; he turned back to his family. "H-how are we going to take care of her?"
"We can do this." Mrs. Alexander whispered back, determined. "They are counting on us."
"Maybe they will come back." Lilly suggested, quietly. She didn't want to wake the baby. "Maybe they will come back once they get everything sorted out."
"Maybe," Mrs. Alexander agreed, reluctantly. To be honest, she didn't want to give the child up. She already felt like Aurora was hers, even if she had only been in the house for a few minutes.
"Tristan, get the broom." Mr. Alexander snapped Tristan out of his daze. "I'm going to call the police. If they say we can keep the child, then we can keep her."
Mr. Alexander left no room for Mrs. Alexander to argue. Lilly was a little bit excited because she would be getting a new baby sister. She was already thinking of ways to boss her around and tell her what was right and wrong. Tristan was still confused over the shattered door. Every now and then he would glance at the empty spot Hayden once was standing at.
What was he?
The next morning two police officer's arrived at the Alexander's. Mr. Alexander answered the door looking tired as ever. The door was fixed, to his surprise.
It was completely silent in the house except for Mrs. Alexander's coos' that could be heard from the kitchen. The police officer's glanced at each other and invited themselves into the house.
"Hello Chief Swan and Officer Warren." Mr. Alexander shook their hands and narrowed his eyes. Their hands were warm. Normal. The hands of the couple last night was cold. But he had a simple answer for that. The woman was bare footed and it was raining, all they had were light jackets. But they didn't seem to mind.
Chief Swan was the Chief of police in Forks, Washington. He always gets called on cases like these. He wished that he had jobs other officers get. But there was hardly anything going on in Forks. This was probably the biggest thing happening since the Cullen's arrived or the fact that his daughter got married to one and had a child.
"I'm sorry to call you like this. I didn't know what else to do." Mr. Alexander sighed and sat down on the couch. He gestured for the Chief and Officer Warren to follow his movements. They sat across from him and leaned forward.
"Tell us what happened." Officer Warren was a young man. He was in his early thirties with buzz cut dark blonde hair. His hazel eyes stared curiously around the Alexander home as he waited for Mr. Alexander to talk. This was the most excitement he had in days. Okay, minus the fact that I went to a strip club last weekend with the guys, He thought to himself.
"I think it was a dream," Mr. Alexander told them what happened starting from the beginning. He told them the descriptions of the couple and how they stood out in the rain as if it were nothing. As he continued to tell the story he noticed Chief Swan's eyes tighten just a little bit with the descriptions. Especially when he described how beautiful they were and the way they carried themselves. He ignored it, for now, and continued with the story. "That's it. It was really strange, I'll tell you. The women had no shoes on and it was raining!"
"Wow." Officer Warren sat back and took off his hat. It just started to get hot in the house. Or maybe it's just me.
Chief Swan leaned forward some more and ran a hand through his dark brown hair. "Well, can we see the child? We might have to call someone over to come and get her for now."
As if she was listening, Mrs. Alexander appeared in the room with a tiny blanket in her arms. You could see black hair peeking out at the top and pale skin attached to the black hair. She walked over to Chief Swan and Officer Warren bending a little to show the face of the child. Aurora had just fallen asleep. Mrs. Alexander actually liked it when she was awake. She liked looking into Auroras striking blue eyes.
Aurora isn't like other babies. She didn't cry. Nor did Mrs. Alexander need to change or feed her very often. Aurora would eat the food she gave her but usually threw it up later so Mrs. Alexander only fed her about twice a day. Aurora didn't look like she minded. When she was awake she was a playful happy baby. She was more advanced than other babies Mrs. Alexander knew.
"What a gorgeous baby." Officer Warren reached forward and stroked Aurora's little dimpled hand.
"I know, right?" Mrs. Alexander kissed the baby's forehead and smiled at Chief Swan. But her smile faltered a little when she saw his face expression. "Is something wrong, Charlie?"
"He must be seeing what I'm seeing!" Mr. Alexander exclaimed, standing up and walking over to stand next to his wife. "She didn't look like this yesterday. I swear."
Mr. Alexander was right. Little Aurora didn't look like that yesterday. She was smaller with less hair and it seemed as if her blue eyes were even brighter today. She had slept all through the night and Mr. Alexander watched her the entire time. He didn't see anything different. But when he closed his eyes just for a second, she was changed. It was strange.
Mrs. Alexander smacked his arm and glared. "You will not swear." She looked back at Chief Swan and tried to smile. "It's going to be okay. We'll take care of her like we promised."
Charlie Swan
Chief Swan didn't say a word. He stared at the baby and looked up at Mr. and Mrs. Alexander. He was thinking about his own granddaughter. How she looked when he first saw her. She was gorgeous to say the least, looking just like her mother. But you could also see a little bit of Edward, his daughter's husband, in him too. Renesmee was her name. It was a strange yet beautiful name. But now as the years go by, he is starting to notice a lot of things.
Like how inhumanly beautiful all the Cullen's are.
He always spent his time looking through old photo albums. He would always stare at his daughter the longest. Noticing how things have changed on her. Her hair was more wavy and had more volume. It also looked browner than it did before. The last time he saw her in the sun was—he doesn't even remember. But he remembers when she was a little girl she had a little bit of red in her hair. Her chocolate brown eyes would glow with delight.
That's another thing he noticed on one of his recent visits to her home. Her eyes seemed a little bit cloudy. He tried to talk to her but she would just say that she was sick or she would joke around and say she had gotten high. Edward would seem a little bit still but then when Charlie's thoughts were clear he would smile and lighten up just a little bit.
He grimaced.
He never did like Edward. He hurt his daughter and expects to be let back into her life just with a snap of his fingers. No matter how much Charlie put his dislike out in the open Bella would always scold him and won't talk to him for days. But one time, Edward came to him. He came to him and said that he doesn't deserve his forgiveness and even he was surprised Bella took him back.
Charlie wanted Bella to be with Jacob Black. Jacob was his best friend, Billy Black's, son. But he soon changed his mind when Jacob undressed in front of him and changed into a giant dog. He can never get rid of those horrifying nightmares of his daughter turning into a giant dog too. He still has them sometimes but mostly it's about Renesmee getting attacked by one. Charlie once wondered if the Cullen's knew about Jacob and almost the entire La Push area turning into dogs. They all had nodded when he asked and Rosalie even complained about the smell. Charlie didn't smell anything.
But now as he thinks about them and the description John Alexander just gave him, he is starting to reconsider his thoughts about the Cullen's. They were different, he knew that but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Something in his mind was telling him to steer away from that direction. His mind was telling him not to go that far, to not even think about it.
Need to know bases only.
He always reminded himself that. Besides, he couldn't really confront them about it since they were all on vacation; except for Carlisle and Esme. All of the kids were on vacation to different places around the world. Jacob even went with them, now that he is dating Renesmee. Charlie almost threw up in his mouth. Now he wondered if his granddaughter knew that she was dating a werewolf. If the Cullen's knew, did the mind that she was dating a giant dog?
Charlie's body moved mechanically as he plopped down on his two seated couch in his small living room. The white photo album with black lace stared at him from the glass table in the middle of the room. He glanced beside him and saw the remote staring at him too. They were asking him to make a choice. He reached beside him, grabbed the remote and turned on the television. The TV's glare eliminated through-out the entire living room, since it was growing dark outside.
This was his normal schedule so he didn't know what else to do. Ever since his daughter officially moved out and things had slowed down in Forks, he had to admit he was bored. The only thing that was keeping him awake was that tiny little baby.
How could someone just drop their baby off at some stranger's house and ask them to look after her? He wondered if they were going to come back and take the baby away from the Alexander's. That would be a huge custody battle. He had a feeling that the Alexander's wouldn't lose if it came to that point in time. He also had another feeling that it probably wouldn't even result to that.
"Dad?" His daughter's voice echoed through the empty house. Charlie had put the television on mute because he wanted to tend to his thoughts without interruption.
"In here, Bells." His voice was a little big rough, so he cleared his throat.
"Oh, hey." She smiled, careful not to show all of her teeth. Charlie stared at her and a small smile slowly formed on his face.
"How was the trip?" Charlie stood up and went to the kitchen to grab him a bottle of water. He was suddenly thirsty. He could hear his daughter's heels clicking behind him as he opened the fridge.
"Oh it was so much fun!" Bella smiled as she sat at the small table.
Charlie sat down across from her with the unlabeled plastic water bottle in his hand. He was clutching it tightly. "Where'd you guys go?"
"South America." Bella stated and looked down at her manicured fingernails. She stared at the light brown wooden table for a moment, before looking up at her father. "Dad, is something wrong?"
Charlie was surprised at where this conversation was going. He had to come up with a lie quickly, though he didn't like lying to his only child. "Just work."
"Oh?" Bella leaned forward on her elbows, putting her hands under her chin. "What's going on?"
"You know I can't tell you that, Bella." Charlie said. Trying to avoid her dark gaze, he took a sip of his water.
"That has never stopped you before." Bella sat back in her chair, folding her hands over her stomach.
"Where's my son-in-law?" Charlie tried to change the subject. Bella didn't buy it.
"He's at home with Renesmee and Jacob." Bella answered him, continuing to stare. Charlie felt like she could see right through him. Her eyes narrowed with concentration. "What's going on C—Dad?" When Charlie didn't answer she sighed and said, "If you don't tell me I am going to assume the worse."
"Fine." Charlie put down his water bottle and looked at his hands. "There is this case I have. A couple dropped off a newborn baby girl in the middle of the night at the Alexanders' and took off. They just told them to watch over her."
"Wow." Bella leaned forward again, interested in this case. "That is really low. I would never do that to Ness."
Charlie smiled, for real this time, at his daughter using the nickname she hated. "I thought you didn't like that name?"
Bella smiled back, shrugging. "It has grown on me."
"Is everyone else back?"
"Um, I think Alice and Jasper are." Charlie shuddered just a little at the mention of Jasper. Jasper is a nice guy and all—especially when he is playing around with Emmett and Edward—but sometimes that guy is really scary. "I don't think Emmett and Rosalie are coming back for a while, though."
Charlie knew exactly what she was talking about. As much as he is around the Cullen place, Emmett and Rosalie are always the one that have to be touching each other. Even if it is just a brush on the shoulder as they walk past each other or a small kiss on the cheek. Alice and Jasper seemed a little bit more exclusive when it comes to their relationship. It is usually just a kiss on the hand or the shoulder sometimes even the cheek. One time Charlie had caught Jasper sneaking a quick kiss. Charlie quickly blushed with embarrassment when Jasper turned around to see him staring.
He always wondered about Edward and Bella's relationship. As much as he wants to stay out of it, he can't help but be curious. From Emmett's comments and Jacob's jokes, he felt as if he was missing something. It must be really embarrassing if Bella kicks them out of the house for about two days. But he tends to stay away from them. They can be really mushy and romantic sometimes. He rarely sees Carlisle and Esme doing PDA.
"How are Sue and the kids?" Bella asked, bring Charlie out of his thoughts.
Charlie didn't realize she had gotten herself a cup of water. He must have zoned out. He stared at her waiting for her to drink it but she didn't.
Charlie felt ashamed. He hadn't even thought about his new wife, Sue Clearwater and his step children Seth and Leah Clearwater. Even though he doesn't really have to worry about them, they can handle themselves. Leah's words, not Charlie's. They are after all wolves and he is almost certain they won't die if they get hit by a car.
Sue is his new love. Next to Bella she is the next person he cares about the most. The list can go on, but he and Bella know that Renee is somewhere in there. He just doesn't know where she is.
"Oh, they are fine." Charlie shook his head. "You should know more about Leah and Seth, since they are always at the Cullen's."
"Dad, I've been on vacation remember?" Bella laughed and the sound of her musical laughter filled the house and Charlie's heart.
"South America is supposed to be hot right?" Charlie asked while and Bella nodded slowly, unsure. "Why haven't you gotten a tan?"
"Um," Bella looked anywhere else but at Charlie, trying to come up with a lie. "We were in the rain forest part. We didn't get much sun."
"Oh, okay…" Charlie dismissed it. Then something occurred to him and he sat up a little bit straighter. Bella began to prepare herself. The look on Charlie's face, she knew so well. "Do the Cullen's have any relatives here in Forks or maybe they were here recently?"
Bella was taken aback by his question. It took her awhile to answer. "Well, no. I don't think so. Why?"
"Well, there were some people here—from what I heard, and…" Charlie didn't want to finish. He watched his daughter's facial expressions carefully. It went from confusion to understanding to fear all in less than five seconds.
"Charlie, when and where did you see them?" Bella snapped the question out so fast; Charlie couldn't understand her for a second. He had to wait awhile before he answered. Besides, he knew he was in trouble or she was serious if she called him by his first name.
"I didn't see them Bella." Charlie watched as his daughter popped up and took out her cellphone. She slide the black sidekick open, but then decided against it. "What's going on? Where are you going?"
"I will call you later, Dad!" Bella called out as Charlie heard the door slam and a car speed off down the road.