A/N I love you all soooo much! 11 reviews! Woohoo! More then I ever expected. So for my thanks, you all get this nice, long chappie. And for the confused reviews I got about this, yes, Bella and Edward are getting married, very soon, and this IS after Eclipse. Now that that's cleared up, I'll shut up so you can read!
(Bella's POV)
"Bella?" a sweet voice called to me.
"Hm?" I questioned. Who would want to wake me up?
Edward chuckled. "It's time to get up, sweetheart. We have to go to school," he informed me.
My eyes fluttered open. I gasped. His face was unexpectedly so close to mine.
"What?" he asked alarmed.
I laughed. "Oh, nothing dear," I said as I leaned up to kiss him. I think he was enjoying it a little too much though, he forgot to account for the fact that I had to breathe.
"Oops. I forgot," Edward admitted.
"I don't mind…"
"You may not, but your lungs do, love." I grinned.
"I guess you're right."
"Always am," he replied cheerfully.
"Of course you are, Edward! When have you ever been wrong? I can't think of one time!" I said sarcastically.
He glared at me. "I'd better get your butt to school or Charlie might bring out the gun on me!" his face had mock horror on it.
"Yes, because that would hurt you so much," I said to him as I got up. I saw him smile as I made my way over to my dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and the blue blouse Edward just adores on me. "Be right back," I called as I went to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and stepped in. The hot water felt nice against my freezing skin. I shuddered. I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around myself, and walked over to the sink. I looked in the mirror and laughed. I looked…nice. Much better then I did when I first came to Forks. But of course! That was before I met Edward. Thoroughly and quickly I brushed my teeth, pulling on my clothes when I finished. Brushing my hair was next to impossible, but somehow I made it impeccably strait when I was done with it. I opened the bathroom door, letting the steam pour out.
Suddenly, I thought I heard movement in the kitchen, but Edward never moves from my bedroom unless I tell him to. Moving toward the noise, I seemed to be right. There was definitely a sound in my kitchen! I was about to turn around and get Edward, but something pulled at my ankle and I tumbled down the stairs.
The only thing I could make out was"oof," and that was because my stomach had hit the wall, knocking the breath out of me.
"Bella! Sweetheart, are you okay? Bella?" asked an anxious Edward.
"Yes, I'm fine," I rasped weakly. He shook his head.
"I leave you for ten minutes and-"
"Listen to me. I didn't fall, genius."
"Then what-"
"I was dragged."
His face turned paler then I have ever seen it before. "Dragged?" he asked quietly.
"More like pulled. I heard a noise in the kitchen, and I tried to turn around to get you, but then something-or someone-pulled at my ankle and made me fall."
"Well, um, first things first, let's get you up and into your room."
"I have school, remember?"
"Right. Just get a granola bar or something you can take into the car and I will take care of this later," he said, and I nodded.
He was silent all the way to school, though he looked as though he was in deep thought.
When we arrived, Edward got out quickly as usual, and opened the door for me.
"Thank you." He just smiled.
Alice skipped to our side then, as if nothing had happened. Shouldn't she have had a vision of this?
"Hi Alice," I said.
"Hi Edward, Bella. Why do you look so tense, Edward?"
"I'll explain later. Here is not the best place," he said, and as he did, I looked around ad saw a couple of people looking in our direction. Now only a few people cared enough anymore to stare at us.
"I agree," Alice said. "Just wondering, have you seen Esme lately? Carlisle doesn't know where she is. He just assumes that she had to hunt and just went without telling, but that would be so unlike her."
Edward was instantly worried. "No, I haven't seen her. Maybe it connects with what happened earlier…"
"What?" Alice asked. She hated being confused.
"The thing I have to tell you. Like I said, Bella and I will explain everything to you later."
She nodded, and started to walk toward her first period class.
When she was out of ear shot, I asked Edward, "do you think Esme is okay?"
"Silly Bella, of course she is! She is a strong vampire who can fight for herself," he mumbled, though I got the impression that he was trying to comfort the both of us.
I nodded in agreement. "I just hope that nothing bad happened."
"She is tougher then you think, Bella. You've never seen her use her…vampire abilities."
"I know that, Edward, but still…"Esme is so fragile and small, and delicate. Just imagining her out there somewhere all alone brought tears to my eyes.
"Bella, don't cry!" Edward exclaimed as he hugged me. He hugged me until I stopped crying, knowing that I would worry about Esme no matter what he said.
I sniffed. "I'm okay. Come on, we better get to class. We are already late enough."
"I can't take you to class like this."
"Why not?"
"If you had a mirror you would understand."
I whirled around and looked at myself through the Volvo's windshield. I looked horrible! Even through the black tint I could see that my eyes were puffy, and I looked very sick. You could see the sadness on my face easily.
"Oh," I breathed. "Take me home then."
He shook his head sadly. "You will have to come to my house for awhile. I can't let you be home alone after what happened this morning, and I would miss you too much anyway."
My heart sank. I would have to be in the same house as Jane until they changed me. I shivered.
"What's wrong, love?"
I wasn't about to tell him that I was afraid of changing, so I edited.
"Just worrying about Esme," I lied.
Though, somehow, he believed me. This is a first.
"Well, stop. We all hate to see you like this."
"Then take me to your house, it will make me feel better."
He smiled, picked me up, opened the Volvo door, and placed me gently in the seat.
In a movement that I didn't see, he buckled me in and was suddenly in the drivers seat starting the engine.
I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder. For some reason, I suddenly felt tired. How odd. I was so awake just a minute ago.
I closed my eyes and felt Edward stroke my hair with his free hand. I snuggled in closer to him, and fell asleep.
I gasped, and my eyes flew open.
"Calm down dear, it's just me," he soothed me.
"Mm'kay."
He chuckled.
I wanted to sleep some more, but I didn't think that would be possible, because the fact that Jane would be here in a few hours made me crazy, and I couldn't sleep like that! I probably won't be sleeping until she leaves anyway. Unless Edward gets Jasper to take care of that, then I would be grateful for it. But anyway, I wanted to say hi to the family, so I poked Edward, and he understood. He unwillingly put me down, and I could feel his eyes digging into my back as I entered the house.
"Bella!" called a joyful Emmett, as he picked me up into an eye-popping bear hug.
"Ah!" I gasped.
"Emmett! She has to breathe!" Edward cried.
"Oh yeah. Sorry Bella."
I just laughed.
That's about when Alice entered the room, and she zoomed in and stood inches away from me. "Hi Bella!"
"Hi Alice. Wait a second…weren't you just at school?" I was confused.
Now she laughed. "Yes, I was, but I came back here when I heard you and Edward left. I ran here, and I'm much faster then any old car." She sounded proud. Her expression made me laugh again.
Carlisle trotted in, slowly for a vampire, his face looking glum. I felt so sorry for him! Not knowing where his love is must be-
And just like that, I was torn away from where I was standing, and I was flung across the room and smacked firmly against the wall that was farthest away from me, the southern wall. I could feel my head and body collide with the wall, and the coming pain was tangible.
I was gasping in little gasps, because I couldn't breathe any other way. It felt like my ribs had been pierced through my heart.
"E-e-e-edwa-a-ard-d," I weezed.
The back of my head hurt so much. I wanted to scream so badly, but my lungs wouldn't allow it.
I knew that I might die now, I had no idea how bad my injuries were, but with my last breath, I said "find…Esme." And with that, the familiar black pools of darkness took me over.
Beep beep beep. What is that noise? Beep beep beep.
"Edward." My voice sounded weak, so I tried again. "Edward?"
"I'm right here honey," he said.
I opened my eyes and his face was pained.
"What's wrong?" I asked, and tried to lift my hand to touch his face, but I couldn't. Not because it was held there, but because I couldn't feel it. Like I had no control over it.
"That's what's wrong," he said quietly.
I was staring at my arm incrediculously. "Whats wrong with it?" I asked. This is really creepy. I couldn't move my arm for crying out loud! "Your left arm is…well, not paralyzed, because it can be fixed with surgery. You will be able to move it in a few hours again, so don't worry."
While trying to take all that in, I looked over to see how badly my arm was misbehaving. But it was barely moving at all, by the looks of it. It looked like I could die at any moment.
"I don't want to die," I whispered, only for me to hear. But of course he heard it.
"Bella, Bella, listen to me. You will not die, I would never let that happen, you know that," he soothed me.
"How did this happen?" I wondered. I tried looking in his eyes for an answer, but he just looked down.
"Edward, tell me! You can't keep this from me!" I insisted.
He took a deep breath, and hesitated before he began. "Well, you see…it wasn't any of us…" he seemed to be having a hard time getting this out.
"Was it Jane? Felix? Demitri?"
"None of the above. It was…"
I raised my eyebrows.
"Her name is…well, I actually can't tell you that."
I frowned. "Come on, Edward, you can tell me anything-"
"That's not what I meant. She won't tell us her name." For some reason, he seemed slightly frustrated.
"Oh. Why not? It's not like she's afraid someone's after her or anything, right?"
"We aren't sure. It could just be because she doesn't want to cooperate with us, but either way, we don't know if she's good or bad. Not only that, she won't tell us where she is from, why she is here, who created her, excedera."
"Hmm…" I was deep in thought. Absentmindedly, I tried to reach up and brush the hair out of my face. Expecting to feel it there, I looked at it dumbly. After a minute I remembered. My idiotic stare turned into a glower.
"So, um she just ran in and slammed me into the wall?" This is way more then weird. What are the chances that a random vampire girl would just happen to come across us and pick me to try to eat. Haven't enough vampires found me?
"I guess so. But here's the main problem, Bella. I can't read her mind, either." He seemed immensely annoyed by this fact. I would be too, though.
"Excuse me? Did I hear you right?"
He nodded. "Which leaves me to believe that…that you two are related."
My mouth fell wide open. Holy crap. No! This can't be true! Not one of my family members, too…
I started to sob. "Take me to her," I demanded. I had to find out if this was true.
"Bella, I can't-"
"Now!" I screamed. Why am I acting like this?
Pain shot across his face. "I will. Later. After your surgery is done, okay?"
Too weak to talk after that, I simply nodded. Closing my eyes, I seemed to be losing conciousness again.
"Carlisle?" Edward called. "I think we're ready now."
"Of course. Just let me quickly prepare."
A few minutes later, I felt a sharp pain in my side and I yelped, but that's the last thing I remember before…
"'Cmon, when's she gonna wake up?" Emmett whined.
"Let her sleep," Edward snapped.
"Who needs sleep?" I mumbled, almost uncomprehendingly. They heard me.
"Bella!" exclaimed my beautiful angel. I could feel Edward's lips on mine. Unconciously, I smiled.
"Sorry I didn't wake up earlier," I said, sitting up.
Edward looked at me incrediculously. "You should have slept longer, but Emmet's just such a baby…" Emmett smacked his arm.
"I agree," said Rosalie and Alice at the same time. They smiled at eachother while poor Emmett glared at them.
"No," Emmett said, " I just wanted to see Bella fall again!"
Of course I blushed at that, and I smiled sheepishly.
"And do that too!" Emmett exclaimed.
I blushed deeper, and asked Alice when we could go home.
"In about fifteen minutes."
"Okay. Um, where is everyone else?"
"Carlisle went to help Jasper with the girl, and Esme is-"
I cut her off. "Yeah, I know, Esme's missing," I said sadly.
"No," she exaggerated on the 'o', "she's in Denali."
"She is?!"
"Yes," Rosalie replied, stepping forward. "We don't know why she's there, but Tanya welcomed her with open arms until she feels ready to come back here."
"In other words, you'll see her in a few days," Emmett stage-whispered.
I smiled so wide that it hurt. I felt like a five year-old, getting so excited that I would see Esme again. I had missed her more then I thought.
I looked at the clock, then at Edward. "Who is with Jane?"
"She's not here yet, her flight was delayed."
"She should be here in exactly four and a half hours, though," Alice chimed in.
"Okay."
The ride home was a little awkward, but that could be because I was about to meet a vampire who could be related to me, or want to eat me. I was perfectly relaxed compared to my love, though. He seemed overly edgy.
He twitched again, so I placed my hand on Edward's shoulder. Pretending I had Jasper's power, I said "calm."
His eyes smoldered me, and I was looking at him with a look of adoration in my eyes.
He leaned forward to kiss me eagerly, but Alice put her small hand between our faces.
"Not now, you too." I blushed. "We're here."
Looking up, I saw the white mansion. The next thing I knew, I was facing the massive staircase inside the house. I turned toward them. "Where are Jasper and Carlisle?"
"Follow me," Alice said. Apparently I was too slow, for she picked me up and zoomed down into the basement. Since when did they have a basement?
I heard a slight moaning, of pain, and it was enough to make my heart thump.
Alice set me down and let me walk the rest of the way. As with the rest of the house, the walls are white, there are plenty of light on, and it's as spotless as if we are down here every day.
Ever so slowly for vampires, we made our way and were standing in front of Jasper, Carlisle, and-
I froze. My eyes widening, I was scruncianizing the lovely vampires face. She was thrashing, but that was because the two men were restraining her by the arms, and she was no fight for the both of them.
"Bella! Help me, please!" she squealed.
I cocked my head to the side in wonder. Could it be?
"Let her go!" I demanded. Suddenly, everyone was looking at me as though I was insane.
Slowly, Edward's gaze lingered from mine to Carlisle's, and he nodded ever so slightly.
They released the small girl, who was even smaller then Alice, and she collided into me, hugging me tightly.
"You're…alive?" I asked her.
"Not exactly." She smirked.
"You know what I mean."
"Then, in that way, yes, I am."
I looked into her eyes, and was quite startled to see that they were sea green.
"Your eyes…" I stared in wonder.
She laughed wholeheartedly. "Bella, I only eat things from the sea. Mostly sharks." Her smile lit up the room.
"Really?" said Carlisle. More research coming his way!
"Yes. I've never had human or animal blood." She paused. "I mean, land animal blood."
Jasper looked away, disappointed. Everyone ignored him.
"Okay people, before I go insane, what is your name?" Edward asked my lovely cousin.
Feeling safer now, she replied, "I am Grace."
Edward nodded, though the look of frustration never left his eyes.
"Um, Grace?" I weezed.
"Hm?"
"Human, remember? Breakable?"
"Right. Sorry." She released me.
"Do you mind if we ask you a few questions Grace?" Carlisle asked.
"As long as Bella is with me." I smirked.
"No problem. To the living room, shall we?"
In the blink of an eye, I was on the living room couch in Edward's lap. I turned around quickly to peck him on the cheek. He smiled.
Carlisle cleared his throat. "Alright, let's get down to business," he started. "Grace, how old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"What is your relation to Bella?"
"We're cousins."
"Why are you here?"
She seemed reluctant to answer. "Well…"
"You can tell us anything," I said softly.
She sighed. "I was…following someone."
"Following who?" Carlisle continued.
"Do I have to?" Grace whined.
Everyone but Carlisle and I nodded. "Well if you really want to know…I was following a boy named Zak here." She hesitated. "Well, not exactly here in particular, but he was passing through, and I smelled a coven of vampires in here, and I thought he was here. But then I smelled the sweetest thing ever…" she looked at me apologetically. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it." Edward sighed from behind me.
"Why were you following Zak?" Jasper asked.
"I have my reasons," she snapped back.
"You feel horrified whenever you or anyone else says his name," Jasper murmured. "Why is that?"
"I don't have to explain to you people," she spat. "Bella, I'm leaving."
"No!" I reached out and grabbed her arm. "You can't leave yet!" If she left now, I may never see her again.
"Well these people won't leave me alone so I might as well."
"No! They'll leave you alone, I promise."
She looked torn. "Well okay…but really I should go. Zak is probably in Canada by now."
"Can't you look for him later?"
"I suppose…"
"Great! Okay well Edward, I'm going upstairs. You coming?" I turned for his response. I honestly wanted to spend time with Grace, but I wanted to talk to Edward first.
The only thing Edward did was shatter my heart with his breathtaking crooked smile, and picked me up, dashing upstairs. He gently placed me on the bed, and layed down next to me, hunger in his eyes. Not the blood hunger, either. I was more then willing to kiss him. He leaned down and kissed me gingerly, so sweetly that my heart ached. My arms slithered up and around his neck, and we were both smiling.
He was the first to realize that I wasn't breathing, so he pulled away and we both layed down on the bed, facing the ceiling.
"Edward, how come you aren't hiding Grace? Because of the Volturi? Shouldn't you hide her like in Seattle for the time being, or something like that?"
"Don't worry, love. Rosalie and Emmett will be staying with Grace in Seattle until Jane leaves. I just hope she behaves."
"Grace will be fine."
"It's not Grace I'm worried about," he chuckled, stroking my hair.
I laughed too. "I'm sure Rosalie can handel it. Emmett will be there too, mind you."
"I'm sure you're right."
"Of course. Cause I'm always right."
He chuckled again. "Of course."
A/N Hey peoples! Sooo how are you liking the long chapter? Is it horrible? Is it good? Well I hope it is, because it took me FOREVER to write it! Emily thinks I have no life now, but that's only during classes that I write this stuff. And occasionally in study hall. But anyway, I love all of you so much for the wonderful reviews, and I hope to see many more!
Ps. Guess what? 330 hits and 12 reviews! Yeah! You all rock so much. Ok and here is a song I was listening to A LOT and it helped me write this chapter. Numb by Linkin Park. Beautiful! Love them Linkin Park. Ok well I'll update as soon as I get some more reviews! Wait I almost forgot! I wrote 12 pages! Took me forever, but now you must love me!
