Volume Two - Waterfalls
Part One
Chapter One
Juliet
The sun was just beginning to rise as I sleepily approached the helicopter. Alice jumped out and embraced us tightly.
"They've been traveling all night," Carlisle said, his voice layered with fondness. "So they're really tired."
Jasper loaded our bags into the helicopter. We climbed in, received the safety lecture - although we were completely dead to the world - and then we took off.
I hated heights. I would have been sick as we lifted higher and higher over the trees, but I was too tired to care. I couldn't sleep on the plane. Nessie couldn't either. We were too busy giggling and watching movies.
I regretted it now as we flew over the rainforest. The dawn spilled over the sky, an odd periwinkle-lilac blue. I could still see the moon and stars, faintly. The thick canopy had less and less breaks as we travelled farther away from civilization. We passed mountains and waterfalls and long, winding rivers. Esme snapped photos the whole time, including a pleasant shot of Nessie's head against my shoulder, conked out completely.
We landed at a helipad with a little hut next to it. Emmett and Rose were waiting there for us. We hugged out our greetings before Em, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme ran ahead with the suitcases. Alice and Rosalie lifted us into their arms securely and took off into the dense trees.
It was a terrifying run, leaping over gorges and rivers, up hills and ricocheting off of large rocks. Eventually, thankfully, we touched down at a wall. A very high wall.
Jasper keyed in the passcode and we entered the compound - or as I grew to call it, Paradise.
Through the front gate, there was a path lined with small white flowers leading to the main house, which looked very tropical. A big white modern house with lots of windows, as per Cullen style, and sandy-colored decks. To the right of the house was a small patch of large blooming trees. How the mature trees got there, I wasn't sure. I suspected this whole operation was very expensive, though. In the right corner, down from the gate, was a small white building that held the generator and plumbing system.
To the left of the house, in the far front left corner of the compound, was a small farm that would soon be blossoming with fruits and veggies. It was mostly going to be hunting for dinner, though, we were told. Lovely.
Behind the main house was a very nice-sized pool. The patio around it was paved with grey stones, and a waterfall that had waterslides on either side burbled into it. Next to the pool, raised up, was a hot tub. The deck of the main house had comfy-looking white lounge chairs, and the entire wall was windows that opened into the living room. Half the living room was raised up and held bookshelves, the other half was lower with three stairs leading down. Couches lined the pit, and on the wall was a large flatscreen TV. In the front of the house was the kitchen and dining room. Upstairs was Carlisle's study, with their bedroom suite. Another flight up were two guest bedrooms and my bedroom and bathroom. My room had a skylight above the bed, and another bed for when Nessie came to stay.
In the basement was Carlisle's huge lab. I didn't stick around because I didn't understand the equipment and didn't want to touch or breath on anything. In the back right corner of the compound, another large house sat. The house was less modern style, more of a beachy Victorian. That was Jake and Seth's house. They told me it was styled to look more like it belonged in La Push.
In the back, near the middle, was a small cottage that looked exactly like Bella and Edward's back in Forks. There was even a pond in the backyard.
Next door, but a reasonable distance away, was Alice and Jasper's. It looked more more cutting edge and less fairytale. Next to that in the corner of the compound was an art studio. Alice told us proudly that she was going to start her own fashion design label.
Nearby, closer to the farm, was Rosalie and Emmett's cottage. It was a nice blend of fairytale and modern. In general, the whole place had a lot of open space. I felt slightly closed in, seeing as just beyond the walls, the trees and canopy formed more walls.
It was nice, though. A little shady, a little disorienting, but nice. The canopy hung over just enough to conceal the compound, and there were a few tall left trees in the compound that helped the canopy remain thick.
"How did you pull all this off in just a few months?" I asked, throwing my arms wide.
"Vampires with impossible strength who don't sleep and barely eat? Piece of cake," Alice waved her hand. "It was actually kind of difficult, but it was great. Okay, Renesmee, go move into your new room. Your parents are waiting for you."
Nessie brightened and tore off towards the cottage. I wandered into the main house and into my room, where I'd left my bags during the tour.
My room looked so bare and impersonal. I set my laptop on the desk, plugged it into the wall and booted it up.
It was slightly dim in my room, thanks to the fact that it was early morning and not super bright where the house was. I switched on the little lamp next to my laptop.
Now, how to do my room? I set the wolf snowglobe that Jake had gotten me next to my lamp. The throw blanket from Nessie went onto the foot of my bed. The wooden box from Seth, I placed carefully on the nightstand. It held the cute little things from Seth and some other things. I put my clothes in my closet. Still, the room wasn't homey enough.
I got a piece of string and attached my favorite photos to it before hanging it on the wall that my bed was pushed against. I draped a sweater I'd gotten from Seth - one he outgrew - and draped it on the back of my chair.
Some extra string lights from the hot tub, I put up on the wall. Now the room was looking more lived-in. I spread my makeup, bath bombs and other things on the counter in my bathroom. I left my diary on the desk as though I'd forgotten to put it away. Finally it was perfect. I was just blowing the hair out of my face when a knock came at the door. I turned to face the guest.
"Seth!" I yelled, launching myself forward. He wrapped me up in a huge hug.
After I'd kissed him about a million times, he laughed and put me down.
"Ness woke me up and said you would be here," he said. "How was your exams?"
"They went fine," I laughed. "I barely paid attention. How was your first few months in South America?"
"They worked me to the bone," Seth rubbed the back of his neck. "Those vamps don't quit. It's beautiful here, though. We've explored the forest, 'cause mostly we hunt for our food now."
"That's awesome," I said. "Guess I gotta get used to drinking blood, then."
"Yeah, s'not so bad though. Oh, and we met some of Nahuel's friends. His sisters deserted their dad and live with him and his aunt, and Tatiana, not far from here. They're pretty cool, a little giggly and flirty though," Seth looked at the floor sheepishly as I growled.
"My wolf," I folded my arms. He pulled me into his lap, planting kisses on my neck.
"My hybrid," he pointed out between kisses. "Jeez, your hair's getting long."
"Yeah," I nodded. It was true, my hair had grown down to my butt. I stopped bothering to let Rose or Alice trim it. Nobody really commented on it if I wore it differently every day. Now that we were here I planned on leaving it loose and free.
I spent the next hour filling Seth in on the happenings of Oregon, visiting with the rest of the family, and exploring the compound. We weren't allowed into the forest without an adult vampire with us. Totally boring, but for a good reason, apparently.
Being June, it was hot as anything. As they day wore on, it got hotter. The vampires didn't even notice it, but us part-humans were dying. We splashed in the pool and drank cold drinks. Alice made sure, when she visited town, to buy frozen fruits and other freezable items before transporting them back to the compound. We stored them in large freezers in the kitchen.
As far as I was concerned, this was paradise. Carlisle got to work immediately, now that he had the equipment for the project he was working on.
This was going to be fun.