(I've noticed a fair bit of international readers! Servus zusammen!)

What's the difference between uncover and discover? Think on it.

Do I dare

Disturb the universe?

In a minute there is time

For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Chapter 2: Senza Tema D'Infamia

It was strange to see the entirety of the Cullen family sitting together in the living room, fidgeting and all. Perhaps this is what we'd look like if we were human, except Carlisle would maybe have hair graying around the temples, and Esme would have little crow's feet from how she always smiled. It was a warming visual that quickly dissipated as the room settled.

Bella and I were sitting on the loveseat, close but not touching, and the small distance was oddly electrifying. I pulled myself away from the feeling, attempting to remain as calm as possible for Jasper's sake. He seemed to be losing his mind, everyone else's feeling simply amplified his own, and he could no longer control his gift, something that only happened in the throes of passion and when he was a newborn.

I evaluated each family member. Carlisle had closed his eyes to block out seeing double, and reassured himself by holding Esme close on the couch. Alice was visualizing the Hindi sign language version of nursery rhymes, a sign that once again, Alice knew all. Jasper grasped on to Alice to the point I was almost worried for her safety.

Emmett needed Rose to anchor him. It was a wonderful thing to see, how mates could ground each other with a light touch or just a quick meeting of the eyes. I truly hoed Rose would return quickly, for Emmett's sake. He was crazy enough already, no need to amplify that.

"What's happening, Edward? I don't understand," Bella had been quiet thus far, but the distress in her voice was clear. Through Carlisle's mind, which was the most calm besides Esme's, I heard Bella's voice, not Esme's. So they only saw their mates in Bella, not heard. Great.

"Why doesn't everyone do as Carlisle and close their eyes," Alice suggested, "Not you, Esme, you're just fine." Esme patted Alice's hand, smiling weakly at me.

"Why don't you tell my family what you told me, and we'll figure everything out, okay Bella?" Her name tasted sweet on my lips, as fulfilling as draining a mountain lion. Her black eyes gazed into mind, and I saw she wanted to ask a question, or many, but she turned to the rest of my family. So brave.

"I live in Phoenix," She must have been tan before, "But my mom and I went on vacation somewhere north. I think someone set me on fire, and I couldn't find my way back." Everyone was stunned. Bella had barely any memory of anything, her human life or otherwise, and she had no appearance of knowing her true nature.

Carlisle carefully opened his eyes and studied the quasi-Esme that was Bella. He took particular notice of her eyes, her deep, glittering black eyes, and realized she was not a recent newborn.

Edward. I don't understand. An alarming thought coming from Carlisle, with centuries of knowledge, I thought for sure he would know what was happening. The red had melted from her eyes, now black with unrecognized hunger, and it worried me more than her gift. If she didn't feed, which she seemed to have no desire to, she would slowly deteriorate into a death-like weakness, and I would never discover why I couldn't see into her mind.

"Bella, do you feel any discomfort at all? Any burning sensations?" I questioned, unable to resist saying her name again. She lightly cleared her throat and wrinkled her brow, signal enough that her throat was burning.

"My throat feels kind of dry, but it's not bad. Do you think I could have some water?" She looked up at me with those lovely black eyes and I almost did her bidding and fetched water.

"Just a little? How long have you been wandering in the forest?" This was Jasper, his curiosity piqued over his intense frustration and discomfort. Jasper was an expert in newborn behaviour, and Bella was not complying to the set of actions he had always applied to the youngest of our kind.

"Since the beginning of January," I whispered, looking down at the little vampire, her beautiful hair forming a halo. Esme gasped, and Carlisle stood.

"She needs to hunt right now," Emmett said, his first contribution to the conversation.

"Hunt? Oh, no thank you. I'm a vegetarian," I couldn't believe she was so sure about a minute detail.

"So are we," Emmett gave a dimpled grin, mismatched with his agitated mental state. I couldn't believe he was making a joke at a time like this, and Bella's confusion just heightened.

"Don't you think we should explain first, you big oaf," Alice commented lightly. Her mind was still closed to me, and I would be impressed by her increasing skill at keeping me out if it wasn't so frustrating. I agreed wholeheartedly with Alice, we couldn't just assume her instincts would take over. At this point, if they hadn't, they most likely wouldn't.

"Explain what?" The frustration leaked out of her musical voice. I empathized, being completely lost in a multi-sided conversation was something I had yet to experience, but I had a feeling Alice and Bella would give me one in the future. If Bella stuck around.

"There's a very long story here, honey," Esme smiled kindly at Bella, probably the most reassuring presence in the room at the moment. My brothers still had their eyes closed, and Jasper was so still he actually looked physically uncomfortable. I was really hoping Rose would return soon to help with Emmett.

"Do you remember any horror stories?" I dared broach the subject first, carefully looking into Bella's eyes.

"What, like Dracula and the Loch Ness Monster?" Her brow and nose crinkled again, it was her thinking face.

"Some of them are real," I wanted to take this very slowly, allow her to truly grasp all aspects of the vampire before confirming she was one.

"C'mon," She snorted incredulously, an action I found ridiculously adorable (shut it Edward), "You're telling me there's a giant snake in a lake in Ireland?"

"Scotland, actually," Emmett interjected happily, until my chest rumbled and he leaned back, the smile wiped off his face. What's happening to me.

"Well, maybe not that. But vampires and a few others, yes," No need to go into detail on werewolves and shapeshifters and other creatures yet undiscovered.

"You guys are delusional," She sighed, her shoulders hunching. I saw her eyes dart to the nearest exit, the glass door, and anticipated her next move before she even thought of it. When she flashed up to leave, I was already in front of her. I couldn't let her leave letting her think I was crazy, and before knowing the secrets of her mind. She couldn't go before I broke through her silent thoughts.

"Did you notice how fast we moved just now?" I needed to be gentle with her. She glanced around, panic clear in her eyes. It was then Jasper released a wave of calm, finally assisting. Bella's breathing evened out as she felt the effects, but her brow wrinkled in thought again. She slowly moved to sit down again, with me kneeling beside her. It was then Rose burst through the door, startling Bella to the point of dashing to the corner and curling up.

Emmett rushed to his Rose, smelling her, feeling her, his mind relieved in finally seeing his real mate. But then he looked over to Bella, and back at his Rose. His thoughts turned dirty, and I couldn't help the growl that rumbled in my chest.

Sorry, he shrugged, a sheepish smile plastered on his face, the visuals still making a quick loop in the back of his mind.

I've growled at them twice. What's going on?

I shoved my worries away to focus on Bella, huddled in the corner of the room, watching us all, and breathing so fast she would pass out if she could. When I approached her, she curled into herself tighter, hugging her knees to her chest and looking to the door again. I immediately stopped, and sat down. We were at that point again, it seemed.

Meh, it's short, I know. I just really wanted to update before anyone lost interest.