Chapter 2

Day 1

This new woman drove much faster through the thick forest, then the dark skinned boy that went by the name of Jacob. My stomach felt like it was going to roll inside itself, thinking this is worst than any hurricane or Tsunami I have ever been in.

The shell came to a halt in front of a beautiful white palace of sorts. It was massive with many windows. I could see the sun bouncing off of it. I slowly came out and just stood there looking, captivated by the grandeur. The pale woman walked around and took my hand slowly and led me up the steps to the massive door.

She opened it and we went inside. I immediately felt so inadequate standing in a long shirt, but the scent that I had memorized from so long ago filled my nose. He was here. My eyes searched everywhere frantically looking, my cold heart beating rapidly, how easy that was. Only two shells ride away.

"Children," the woman's voice said softly and an army of sorts came charging down stairs, doors being slammed and then five of the most beautiful people were in front of me each of them having different expressions on their face. Some looked concerned, others looked worried; one even looked miffed that I was even here and then my eyes fell onto him.

I took a small step, my hand involuntarily sticking up, and ready to caress his cheek, to relish in his scent, to hear him speak.

"Who is she?" my head snapped up to a tall girl with very blond her, she had her arms crossed and looked at me with disgust, her nose wrinkled just like I had mine with the Jacob boy.

"The Blacks found her down on First beach," the woman that brought me here said. "Mr. Black said that she could not be there and Jacob was not willing to take her back to the beach."

"That sounds just like a bunch of dogs," a rather large male said, his voice loud with a hint of sarcasm.

"Je vous ai trouvé!" I spoke reaching out to touch his face. (I have found you!)

"What did she say?" the same blond looked disgusted.

"Oh, she does not speak English," the woman said but she looked quizzically at the bronze haired boy in which I was touching. "All I know is she asked for help on the way here."

The bronze haired one stood there looking into my eyes, but his face wore a troubled expression. "She is so cold, she's not human," he spoke and his voice carried the sound of a thousand dolphins signing. "And her mind, it is a blank, nothing."

"I can't feel anything from her either, it is like she has no emotions," another blond one said, this time a male.



"Well, just great, how are we supposed to help her, if we can't understand her and then the fact that she is not even human," the blond girl seemed so cross. "What is she wearing, has never even heard of clothes where she came from?"

"Well is this not a happy homecoming for me," a strong voice came from behind and I turned to look in the eyes of another blond being. He stopped mid-track, taking in my appearance. "Who do we have here?"

"Um, why don't we go get you a change of clothes," a small one bounced over to me, her hair short and spiky. I reached up to touch it thinking it would feel very similar to the fish I see.

"Il ne blesse pas." (It does not hurt) I said touching the spiky hair.

"We don't know who she is Carlisle," the woman who picked me up walked over to the new man that came into the palace. "The Blacks found her on First Beach wandering around with no clothes. They were insistent that we come and get her. Edward can't read her thoughts, Jasper does not feel any emotions from her, and as you can see she doesn't speak English. She speaks…"

"French," the newcomer said finishing the others sentence and took a step closer to me. "Bonjour, mon nom est Carlisle. Quel est votre nom?" (Hello, my name is Carlisle. What is your name?)

I heard him talking to me, I wanted to answer, but I did not want to take my eyes off the beautiful man that stood in front of me. Fear washed over me, afraid that if I turn, I will never see him again. My days were numbered and very short. I needed to spend every minute with him. I will never have another chance like this.

"Are you sure she can hear us?" the big one said, I could see out of my eye that he inched his way closer.

"She could be in shock," the other blond boy said standing next to the short spiky one. "Maybe she was in a boat or plane crash. Something. It is frustrating how there is just nothing coming from her."

I turned and looked at each person more closely. They were all different in many ways, but at the same time so much so alike. Their eyes, a strange honey gold, very close to the color of my scales when I am in the water. Their skin, very pale, hard, and cold. I took in a deep breath and noticed that their scent was much better than that of the tall brown skinned boy, Jacob. The one that I have been looking for tilted his head and just looked at me in confusion. It almost seemed like he wanted to reach inside my head and find my secrets.

I closed my eyes. "It's not time for you to know my secrets." My thoughts flowing freely from me as I reached up and touched his temple, his eyes popped wide for just a moment and then put a mask on, like he did not want the others to know that he can break down my barriers, my protective cocoon.

"Well, dear, let's go get you settled. Maybe after a hot shower, some clean clothes and food, you will feel like talking," The women who brought me here came over and placed her hand on my arm. 

"Alice would you mind finding some clothes that would fit her? Rosalie go make up the guest room."

I watched in stunned silence as the spiky girl and the blond ran from the room and up the flights of stairs. They moved in blurs. The woman pulled on my arm slightly, trying to get me to move from the one in which I was searching for. I didn't want to leave. What if I don't see him anymore?

I shook my head no and tried to hold my ground. Where would they take me?

"Come on, let us help you," she said again.

"Il est correct," (it is okay). The man spoke from the door and nodded his head just slightly.

I looked down at the hand that was on my arm and then to the eyes of who my heart belonged. Very slowly I took a step back and followed. I needed to learn the language. That will be first on my list.

As we climbed the stairs and walked down the long hallway, I peered into the rooms, but it was one room that I stopped and was caught by the grand size of it. It was not really the size that caught my attention, but the books. Books lined in every direction; up, down and sideways. I pulled my hand from the woman and opened the door farther. I stood in awe at the number of books that lined the walls. My fingers reached out and played lightly with the leather binding. I closed my eyes, trying to let the words flow through me, like the waves of the ocean.

"You like to read?" the woman asked.

I just picked up a book and opened it up to the first couple of pages. My eyes crossed and pulled together, trying to study the language. I have seen this before, on the ships that have been found at the bottom of the seas. It was not that of French, in which most of my studying has come from. This, I think was the English language. My mind began to race, forming the words, remembering what I was taught. My eyes became a light at this new knowledge. This is what they are speaking.

I placed the book on the floor and then sat down next to it, my back facing the woman. I needed to try and conceal as much as I can from her and the rest until the time came to truly open up. I placed my hands over the top of it and closed my eyes, my mind focusing on the task at hand. I knew that this might be going against the rules, especially with the woman standing close by, I could feel her eyes on my back. As I opened my mind the pages began to fly. The words were coming off of them and began to penetrating my skin. I could feel the power of the words coursing through my mind. When the last page flipped, the cover slammed shut. I held my hand out and called for the next book as it landed and placed itself in front of me.

"Um, Carlisle?" the woman said quietly, I glanced up at her, realizing that she must be frightened. I closed my eyes, knowing that I just risked exposure.

I needed to do this quickly; I pulled every book off the shelves with my mind and began to have the words fly through me. I was curious on why so many of the books were about mythical creatures, mostly of vampires. I worked through each one, quickly and just as the last book fell shut and the 

pile of books surrounded me. I looked up to see the entire family looking at me. I swallowed hard as I let the words that I just read file into my mind.

"What happened?" the one named Carlisle said looking at all the books on the floor.

I looked around and saw the mess of books and realized that I made a terrible mistake. I closed my eyes, turned my back and then with a sweep of the hand all the books were put back on the shelf. Just the way I found them a few minutes earlier.

"She was reading, I think." The woman came to take a step toward me. "It was amazing to watch, the pages just flew, her hands never touching it."

I realized that this was the first time I have ever used my gift outside of the water and it made me weak, my throat began to burn as thirst began to surge though me. I needed water. I needed to feel the water on my. My hands went to my throat, trying to grasp this new feeling. I swallowed hard and it felt like I was suffocating.

"I think she is thirsty," the larger brown haired boy said. "She is holding her throat much like a newborn."

Out of nowhere, the bronze haired one, the same one that I was looking for stepped forward holding a glass of water. I took it from him and began to drink, but as soon as the taste of it hit my tongue I spit it out. It was lacking…

"Salt," I said my voice tight and straining coming out barely a whisper.

They all looked at me in awe now, not sure if it was because I talked or if it was because they did not know what it was I really wanted.

I wrinkled my nose as I smelt the water in the glass and then shook my head. "It…needs…salt." I felt like I was talking like a two year old, as the new language found its way to my mouth, but with each word it was getting stronger.

"I never went to medical school or anything, but humans can't drink salt water, right?" the large one said.

Carlisle came over and handed me a bottle of white grains. He shook it into my glass until it became slightly cloudy. I never even remember seeing him leave. I lifted the glass again and relished in the taste as it slide down the back of my throat. The burning ceasing, but now my body was aching for the feel of water and salt on it.

"Normally, Emmett, you are right," Carlisle looked like he was studying me, making sure if was okay. "But I don't think she is a normal human, of if she is even human."

"I am not part of this world," I said taking a small step over to my heart and placed my hand on his face. He closed his eyes and pressed into my palm. "I have come to find you."

My voice cracked and a new emotion rose from my cold heart, it almost felt like pain.



"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Isabella Swan," I said. "That is all you need and can know for right now."

"Well, Isabella, now that we know your name and can hear that you speak English, why don't we go get you cleaned up. My name is Esme, by the way."

I smiled at her. "I know and," I looked at each one pointedly. "That is Emmett, his wife Rosalie. Jasper, and his wife Alice. Carlisle is your husband and," I looked at my heart. "You are Edward."

I closed my eyes, so thankful that I could understand and speak to them. I looked out over to the window as I saw the sun beginning to set.

"I don't have much time," I murmured. My head dropped and my hair covered my eyes. I did not want them to see me sad.

"What happens when your time is up?" Edward asked me and then leaned in closer to whisper in my ear. "What are you really hiding?"

"Come on dear," Esme came up and took my hand leading me out of the room, my eyes never leaving Edward. "Give us an hour and we will meet all of you down in the living room."

I followed them up to another stair case and entered a magnificent room. It had a huge king size bed and the walls were a deep blue; the soft carpet was just a shade lighter. The blues of the ocean where nothing in comparison to these colors. I walked over and put my hand on the bed, the softness of it was unlike anything I ever felt. Even though there was not much need for the bed. I never sleep.

I saw a small pile of clothing and lifted it up, again it was blue tones. The family just must like blue.

"The bathroom is right through that door," Alice pointed to a closed door and I walked over to it. "I already saw that you wanted to take a bath, so I ran the water for you. I hope that it is the right temperature."

I smiled and went over the massive tub. It could easily hold an entire school of fish. My body began to ache at seeing it. I could still smell that the girls were behind me.

"I would like to be alone for a few minutes. To think," I said and they must have understood what I was asking because they all left very quickly.

I walked over to the water and let my hand slip in, the water was slightly lukewarm, almost perfect. I cupped my hand and lifted a small amount to my mouth, smelling it quickly. I rolled my eyes at the freshwater. I looked around and saw on the vanity a box of sea salt. I poured some into the water and swirled it with my hand. I took my shirt off and then reached over for the brush, running it through my long hair as I slid into the deep tub. I smiled as I watched my true self came to my legs and leaned back as my legs disappeared.

I could do this, I could live on land and still be who I am, if this is what chose, this would be my life. But there is just one person who can make that happen.



I sighed in contentment and let my face slide farther under the water. I was home. My head emerged at remember what Alice had said, something about seeing me take a bath. Oh, no, which means she saw this. I chewed on my bottom lip figuring out what to do next when I heard a knock on the door.

"Isabella, I was just checking to see if you were alright or that you need anything," the voice of my heart sang through the doors.

My tail splashed automatically to the jump in my heartbeat. "Um…fine thank you."

I quickly pulled the plug at the bottom of the tub and watched as the water began to swirl down. I reached over for a towel, trying hard to begin drying me off, but it won't work. I began to panic as I tried to think of ways to by my time.

"Isabella, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I am just getting out of the tub."

"Okay," he said and it was quiet for a few minutes while I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he was gone. My tail beginning to separate as the water dried.

I stood up and walked over to the door, leaving the very wet towel on the floor. When I opened it I was surprised to see Edward sitting on the bed next to the clothes. His eyes snapped up at hearing the door open and then he took in my lack of clothes or towels.

"Sorry," he said and turned running out of the room, the door shutting behind him. I thought I could feel the wind blow from the speed of it all.

Sorry, I thought. What did you have to be sorry for? I knew that he heard me.

I walked over to the pile and was relieved it was simple garments. I pulled on the giant shirt and surprised that this one went past my knees, flaring out just a bit. I turned and looked at the mirror that was behind me. My face broke into a smile at how beautiful it was. The light blue was nice against my pale skin.

And then that is when I felt it, the tug on my heartstrings. I didn't want to leave, I liked it here. But I knew it was invertible. I would need to leave; no one of my kind has ever chosen this life. I sighed and then walked out of the room taking my time to go down the stairs.

When I placed my final foot off the step and onto the cold flooring, I looked for what might be the living room, but found it quickly after turning a corner. They were all there waiting for, waiting to hear who and what I am. There was nothing I wanted more than to tell them the truth now, I already knew who they were. For now, I had to play the part.