They hadn't been very far from estate. The run had only taken them about fifteen minutes. It was impressive as far as homes go. Yuna had never seen homes like these until he reached the states. As they made their way up to the front door he noticed white had stopped a couple of feet back. The wolf was sitting there and watching almost as if it was making sure he got in safely.
"Don't worry" Jasper said to him. His first words "Chal has some things to take care of for a bit, but then she will come back. She just wanted to make you got here safely"
"Not to mention Esme would have a fit if she came home to wolf in the house after they had been running around in the forest all day" Alice added.
"Chal, huh?" Was all Yuna could think to say. He and the wolf stared at each other and let unspoken words pass between them "Thank you, Chal" The wolf nodded its big head, got up and ran back into the forest where the rest of her pack was waiting. Yuna felt compelled to watch the wolf leave until it was completely out of sight.
"Are you ready to go in?" Alice asked.
"Not really, but there is no point backing out now." He replied as he turned to face them.
Alice smiled "That's the spirit. The others have just arrived." The sound of a group quietly landing on the ground from the back confirmed her statement. Jasper held open the door for him and Alice made room for him to pass "welcome to our home" she said proudly. Yuna walked past them into the house. It was incredible even more so than the outside. What threw him off was how clean it was. He was unaccustomed to order and pristine. Somehow he felt self-consciences about his clothes and shoes. He too had been running in a forest all day and a bath hadn't been readily available to him for quite some time.
"Don't worry friend." Came the voice of man approaching from the side "We won't hold the mess against you" The blonde man came into view with a long haired brunette close behind him and Yuna couldn't believe his eyes. The blonde outstretched his hand "It's a pleasure to meet you Yuna. My name is"
"Carlisle Cullen" Yuna stated simply
This stunned the vampires for a moment and then they quickly recovered "I'm sorry but have we met?" Carlisle asked.
"No not in person. You helped my mentor. A vampire named Patika in India."
"Ah yes Patika. I haven't seen him since the day I met him. About 400 years ago. How is he doing? He was so troubled about his circumstances."
"I've never heard you mention a vampire with that name before." The woman beside Carlisle asked
"He was a young man studying in a temple to be guru before he was turned. He was filled with such self-loathing at what he become and I felt a certain kinship with him. I tried to help him as best I could before it was time for me to move on."
"You helped him a great deal from what I could tell. To him you were like a prophet to show him the way to some semblance of peace."
"I am so happy to hear that. What is he up to these days?"
"He is petrifying in an isolated cave on top a mountain in India. After meeting he realized he didn't have to take lives at all anymore. He found a place that no creature could easily access and is spending the rest of years in a state of deep meditation"
"All this time?" Carlisle asked and Yuna simply nodded "If he has found peace then I am happy for him. Thank you for telling me." The woman beside him took his hand in hers and smiled "Ah where have my manners gone? Yuna I'd like you to meet my mate Esme."
"Its wonderful to meet Yuna," Esme said walking over to him and taking his hands in hers. It was such a warm gesture Yuna couldn't even muster up a little suspicion
"It's nice to meet you as well. You have nice house." He said to her.
She beamed at him and it was so welcoming that he couldn't help but smile back "Thanking you for saying so. Now I'm sure you would like nothing more than to ask your questions and receive some answers, but I must insist that hold off for now. Please forgive me for saying so dear but you look completely dreadful. You have to be exhausted, and I imagine famished as well."
"No, I can't trouble you- "
"It's no trouble at all" Carlisle interjected "You don't want to put any more stress on your body or your mind at this point. We wouldn't want to overwhelm you, would we? That's why asked the rest of the family to give you some space for now."
Yuna didn't like that these strangers would go so far for him. No one had ever been so kind. Neither of them seem like they were going to budge on this, so he couldn't find any point in arguing so he nodded in agreement. "Wonderful, now do you prefer human food or blood." Esme asked
"Either is fine. Whatever you have ready will do."
"I Think there is some leftovers from the packs lunch still in the kitchen." She pondered.
"Surprisingly" Chimed in Jasper from off to the side. Which made Alice chuckle. Yuna almost forgot they were still there.
Esme turned in their direction "Alice Sweet heart, will you get a room ready for Yuna to use? Some fresh clothes as well. Jasper, will you run a bath for him?"
"Of course Esme" they said together and in the next second they were gone.
"Now let's see about those leftovers, shall we?" She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and ushered him into the kitchen. He sat down on a stool by the island and Esme went to work getting the food ready. Before long he had a plate with a pretty big sandwich on it. He could smell roasted turkey, heirloom tomatoes, red onions. It wasn't until his first bite that he realized how hungry he was. Human was never his first choice if he had one, but it wasn't a bad second if done right. Surprisingly, for a vampire, this was done right. Yuna made short work of the sandwich and thanked Esme. "Come now sweet heart, let's get you out of those filthy rags and into a nice bath"
As they went upstairs he could fell himself needing to lean on Esme for support. It didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. In fact, she seemed to welcome it. Esme just gave off this vibe that she loved taking care of others. She showed him to the bathroom and gave him some privacy. There was a basin of water with a towel in it. Yuna stripped off what was left of his clothes. Thought to call them clothes was being generous. He wiped of the all the forest that had attached itself to him. Then he lowered himself down into the warm water in the tub.
"Yuna there is a towel and some clothes out here for you when you're done" Alice said with a soft knock on the door.
"Thank you. I'll only be a minute more" he told her. He could faintly hear as she walked away. Yuna leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. For the first time, all day he let down his guard and relaxed.
After he got of the bath, dried off, and put on the clothes that Alice place out for him He stepped into the hallway. Almost silently Esme appeared behind him and checked him over. He must have passed her inspection because she smiled at him. "I'm sorry about the mud. I Promise to clean- "
"Hush now." She cut him off by placing one finger over his lips "You don't have to worry about that. At the moment, you are our guest, and we don't make guest clean up after themselves" Yuna wanted to argue but there was a finality in her voice that said it would be pointless. "Now let's get you into bed, shall we?"
"Yes" he complied. The room was just around the corner. It wasn't much to look at. Compared to the rest of the house anyway. It was simple, but cozy. It was probably only for guest which made Yuna feel better. The Cullen's were being so accommodating. It was nice to now he wasn't putting someone out of their own bedroom. Without being prompted he walked over and got into the bed.
Esme stood to the side and leaned down "Get some sleep Yuna. You have nothing to fear from us, I swear."
Yuna looked her in the eye and saw nothing there that would betray her statement "I know. Thank you, Esme. You have been wonderful." She smiled warmly, brushed a few strands of hair out of his face, and disappeared. Closing the door behind her as she left. Yuna turned over and curled up into a ball. In the silence, he hummed to himself, until eventually he fell asleep.