I awoke to the unusual filter of sunlight through the window.
Squinting my eyes, I awaited for my vision to adjust. The first thing I saw was Edward, forever my devoted soul mate, forever my beautiful salvation.
"Good morning," he greeted me with a crooked smile.
"Hi," I said simply. I cleared my throat. Ack, I sounded horrible I needed a drink. And to brush my teeth.
I slipped out from under the covers and met Edward's questioning gaze.
"Human moment, wait a second, please."
"Bella, I'd wait forever for you."
I grinned at him, then stepped into the bathroom to refresh myself.
Once ready, I plopped down on the bed next to Edward, then proceeded to kiss him with my now minty-fresh breath.
"Happy, this morning, are we?" Edward questioned after he pulled away, much to my dismay.
"Yes, well, any girl would be happy waking up to you."
"Well that's the thing Bella-you're not just any girl."
I blushed. Gosh, how many compliments could a girl get? And from a supernaturally beautiful vampire?
"Ok, Bella, I have good news and bad news, which do you want first?"
I pouted. Yuck, bad news. Ah, well, best to get it over with.
"Bad news." I said adamantly.
"Okay, I have to go hunting today, Bella."
"Oh," It was just then that I realized his eyes were pitch black, and under his eyes were purplish bags.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Edward. I shouldn't keep you with me like this. Right now, when you're hurting-" Edward put a cool finger to my lips.
"Bella, it's fine. I just don't want things to be any more dangerous than they already are. And I don't mind staying with you. In fact, the reason I haven't hunted yet was my selfishness; I didn't want to have to leave you."
"Oh , ok." I said, relieved. "Oh wait, wasn't there good news, also?"
He grinned, "Yes, Charlie is going to be going on a vacation this weekend, so when I get home, we have the house to ourselves."
"Alice told you this?"
He nodded.
"Ok, then, I can't wait."
We grinned at each other before he kissed me one last time.
"I'll see you soon, Bella. No falling down stairs, ok?"
"Hey," I smiled at him playfully.
He looked at me inquisitively.
I sighed.
"Yes, I'll be careful and not try to be my clumsy self."
He grinned, then whispered in my ear, "Goodbye, my beautiful Bella."
Then, he disappeared out the window.
I descended the stairs slowly, heading toward the kitchen.
Charlie was already at work, so the house was empty, and I had nothing to do.
I sunk into one of the armchairs, and cuddled up with a book, but I couldn't get into it. Just as I was about to go crazy from Edward withdrawal, the doorbell rang.
"Coming!" I called.
I walked to the door, and opened it, surprised to see a lavishly clad couple in front of me.
"Hello, you must be Isabella," the woman smiled a wide, fake, but shameless grin, "I'm Marcia Anderson and this is my husband, Randy."
I shook her hand. And shook it and shook it.
"Um, how do you know my name?" I finally asked, pulling my hand back to my side awkwardly.
Stupid question, everyone in this town knows who I am. I'm the chief's daughter. But…these people didn't look like they were from here.
"Oh, Isabella, I'm your…relative. I'm sure Charlie forgot to tell you we were visiting."
Hmm, that made sense, but I was still suspicious. But then again, she kind of looked like me…
"Ummm," I said eloquently, "Yeah, uh, come in."
I led them into the living room and gestured for them to sit down on the couch.
I just plopped into the armchair across from them, keeping a wary eye.
I realized that Mr. Anderson hadn't spoken once. Maybe he was just shy.
"So, Mrs. Anderson-"
"Please," she interrupted, "call me Marcia."
"Ok, Marcia. Not to sound rude, but who are you and why are you here?"
She chuckled.
"Oh, Isabella, you are quite charming. I feel as if I've known you forever. Technically I have, although I haven't kept in touch for 18 years, I've known you and your parents since you were a mere baby.
Ok, she knew my parents. So what? I still didn't feel like that explained everything.
"Bella," Mrs. Anderson said, "We are your parents-your real parents."
Impossible, this woman I had just met was claiming my life was a lie.
"But Mrs. A-Marcia, I thought Renee had me right after she and Charlie got married-"
Marcia was shaking her head, "A cover story. We wanted you to have a completely normal childhood, away from the fuss of the supernatural phenomenon. So we got our close friends Renee and Charlie to pose as a couple so that they could adopt you and eventually divorce. Of course, we never expected you to get mixed up in it anyway." She glanced at Randy before standing up slowly to pat my hand. "But you must know-your relationship with Edward has to be terminated, or they must die."
Ok, who was this woman who claimed to be my mother? Who knew about…about Jacob and Edward I guess? Who wanted me to break up with Edward? That was the most upsetting of all.
But she had no control over my life.
"But-"
"It is unsafe for you-for us, for our reputation to be mingling with their crowd. They are filthy, bloodthirsty creatures. You have no need to associate with them."
"Marcia, I love Edward, I love their whole family." I was practically in tears now, how dare she-
"Oh, is that what they call their little coven; a family. I assure you, my dear Isabella,"
"Bella," I hissed through my teeth.
"Bella, yes, my apologies. Anyway, I do believe it is in your best intentions to cut off any communication with that nearby coven."
I stood up and brought my face up to the shrew who threatened my current state of life.
"One, do not, ever, insult my family. Two, I will never, ever break off with the Cullens. And three, leave. Now. Or I'll call Edward and we'll see what he does to you." I kept my gaze hard, and my eyes intense, hoping to scare the wretched woman and her silent husband away.
She just laughed and waved her hand, as if dismissing my comment.
I ground my teeth.
"Silly, Bella. If you insist, then, by all means, call your little pets the Cullens and see how long they last against me. Oooh! Or maybe your pack of puppies over in La Push. Though I would hate for you to have to watch them die by our hands. The thing is Bella, we are different, you are different. It is an inherited quality-a power, if you will, that all women of our family posses. We were made as enemies to all supernatural races, and allies to the humans. I hope you understand now why I insist on you leaving Edward."
The anger was now bubbling up inside me, and my hands started to tingle. Surprised, I looked down at them and saw them surrounded with a blue fiery glow.
Seeing them too, Marcia squealed.
"How delightful! You already have quite developed powers it seems. How long have you had to discover and explore them? Do you have any others?"
I didn't hear her. I was still astounded to see the luminescent glow surrounding my hands. I flexed my fingers, and shook my hand, watching in awe as the flames reshaped around my movements.
Then, in an act of curiosity, I spun around, swinging my arm out. I watched in awe as the blue flames trailed behind it, creating a temporary blue circle.
It was then that I finally turned to Marcia, fixing my face into as nonchalant a poker face as possible.
She just looked even more excited as I finally acknowledged her.
I inwardly sighed. Then, feeling a need to demonstrate my seriousness to her, I held up my hand in front of her face, and focused on intensifying the flame, and was surprised to see the glow grow about 2 inched in width. The fear in her eyes flickered in the light of the flame, and her large diamond earrings sparkled warningly.
"If I were you," I hissed as menacingly as possible. "I'd leave right now."
Her face slowly hardened, and then she sneered.
"I have no need to fear you or your wolf and vampire pets," she snapped her fingers and a red flame appeared above them, "But if this is how you show respect to your own mother, then I shall leave. But heed this, naïve one; our kind is not a good enemy to have. Keep in mind that, as leader of our people, they will respect my decision, and if I ever feel you have stepped out of line, well…then you may find yourself in a difficult situation."
She scowled at me, and then snapped her fingers to extinguish the flame.
"Randy," she called, "I believe it's time for us to take our leave."
Randy rose and followed the devil-woman out the door.
"Farewell, daughter. Enjoy your life wallowing in the swamp of your naïvite."
And on that mark, she slammed the door shut.
I just stood there a few moments, and the glow around my hands slowly died out.
Losing all composure, I slumped onto the floor and buried my face in my hands.
What now?
