Reborn
"It was 1638 and I was being kept imprisoned for stealing some old woman's Bible. I had never really cared for religion, so I saw no harm in taking the book to use for a fire. But as I was running out the back alleyway, behind the house, would you believe it? A police officer saw me and caught hold of my scarf, and he took me to the station." I winced at the memory of what was waiting for me in the cell. Carlisle's brow rose at hearing what era I had come from. "There was already someone in my cell; I remember thinking how pale he looked, and then I crossed my arms to prevent the cold from freezing me. The man stood up as I walked to the other side of the room, he crouched, and I was terrified because he had bared his teeth. I questioned my sanity," I had begun to babble and cursed myself for it, for an amount of hysteria had also crept into my voice. "Sorry," I apologized. Everyone said the same thing in response, that they understood and it was alright. For the first time in my life, I felt safe; seventeenth century London didn't provide much comfort for you. I continued, "The man lunged forward and bit my neck," My eyes clouded over as I thought back to the excruciating pain, the very life force had been sucked from me. "However, he was interrupted by the constable entering into the room whilst gasping. The creature leapt away and snapped the man's neck in an instant, and by the time the creature had picked me up and run from the station, I had fallen unconscious." I sighed. "The next thing I remember is waking up screaming, a hand covered my mouth and told me of what I was becoming".
"What happened next?" the tall, burly boy asked. Like a child listening to a fairytale, I suppose you might call my history a fairytale, but unlike most, mine had no happy ending. I smiled grimly and chuckled. The blondie next to him smacked him round the back his head.
"After one more day, the fire fell from my fingertips and I saw everything in a completely new light. That vampire whom transformed me was punished. He was locked in old dungeon cell under the city for a month; I laughed in his face countless times!" I laughed again. "I knew better than to stay with all of them underground, only to emerge at night. I stayed like that for five years, I had heard of you Carlisle." He looked taken aback and raised one eyebrow. I quickly elaborated. "You were onto us! The group of vampires in the sewer that you discovered, I was part of the coven. I felt terrible for Oliver because you taunted him and he was later destroyed by the angry mob. I saw you crawling away into the alleyways. I even thought about asking you to join us!"
"You were the girl in the street," Carlisle stated.
"Yes, I was," I smiled smugly. "I thought of ending it for you right then, but realized what a wonderful person you could be," my crimson eyes sparkled. "I was right it seems," the Cullens just sat there, mouths gaping and eyes wide. I decided to tune in on their thoughts.
Holy crap! She knows Carlisle! The large boy thought.
Poor Carlisle, talk about a blast from the past, the pixie-like girl sypathised.
Woah, woah, woah! She's older than Carlisle, the only people I know that are older than him are the Volturi, and she tried to destroy him, was what the lean, blondie was thinking.
Ha! I like her! is all the pretty girl thought.
She thought of killing him?! I sincerely hope that she doesn't pose the same threat again, or there will be consequences! I could only assume these were the thoughts of Carlisle's lover or wife.
She's beautiful, I stopped listening to the bronze haired boy just then. He thought of me as 'beautiful'? I looked at him with raised eyebrows, muttering 'Shut up.'
"It's getting confusing," I said harshly.
"What is?" asked Carlisle's wife or lover asked.
"It's confusing listening to seven thoughts at once and not knowing your names," I explained, making it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm Rosalie," said the pretty girl. It fit her well, because she truly was gorgeous.
"Emmett," nodded the burly boy.
"Esme, I'm Carlisle's wife" her tone was very kindly, she was hard not to like. But she was getting territorial, how sweet. Carlisle put his arm over her shoulders in a protective stance.
"Alice!" shrieked the smaller girl; she was obviously the shopaholic kind. I laughed at her eagerness.
"I'm Jasper," said the other blonde vampire.
"Hello, I'm Edward," said the bronze haired boy, the one who thought me 'beautiful'. He would be fun to embarrass. I put my hand forward to shake hands, but I really wanted to know his past. He took it quickly and shook, I held it there long enough to see his whole past.
"Thank you Edward, that was interesting," he looked at me strangely, then with frustration. "What's up?" I inquired.
"Nothing" he replied. I heard the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me.
"Shall I carry on?" I asked, sweetness dripping from my every word.
"Please do," said Carlisle.
"I heard your quiet mutterings when you sat in that alleyway, I helped you up, I helped you find a place to stay while you changed, though you fought bitterly with me and argued vehemently that you were a monster and so was I. I have to say it was hard to watch you writhe in pain for three days," I saw Esme's hand tighten slightly on Carlisle's and he gave her a reassuring squeeze back. "You all know the rest, I'm sure," the family nodded in agreement. "I shall take my leave now, you seem like a nice family" I turned, my face fell at the prospect of going back to my previous state: alone, tired and bored. I composed it quickly into a smile so they wouldn't offer me anything. I have this strange necessity that I can't get out of, if I'm offered something I literally can't say no. Probably caused by the many years I spent in poverty while I was still human.
"Would you stay with us for a while?" I grimaced. Had Carlisle changed his words slightly I would at least be able to say no. On your head be it, I laughed within my mind.
"I wouldn't mind it, but I wouldn't want to impose…"
"It is the least I can do for you Isabella."
"Bella, now, the name went out of fashion," I winked.
"Edward," Carlisle called his first 'son', who instantaneously perked up. "Take Bella to the guest room now."
"Certainly" he rose from his chair and took my hand. I now properly looked at him. His boyish features were extraordinarily handsome; I would have swooned if I weren't in control of my emotions. I sensed that one of the Cullens was naturally empathetic.