Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon. The very talented Stephenie Meyer has that wonderful privilege.
Chapter 4 – Figuring It Out
Carlisle's clear of the throat brought my gaze off Edward's beautiful eyes and onto him.
"Bella, I think we should discuss your abilities and survival requirements, or if you have any other questions." He said politely.
I nodded. I wasn't sure if I wanted to but as long as Edward was with me, I could do anything.
"May I suggest my study?" he said, gesturing upstairs.
I nodded again and tugged on Edward's hand for him to follow. I must have tugged too hard because I saw him go sprawling forward on the floor in front of me with his right hand in the air, still in my grip. He looked up at me in shock, and I mirrored his shock.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry Edward!" I said as I rushed in closer. "Are you okay?" I asked frantically as I pulled him up by our locked hands.
"Yes Bella, I'm fine, don't worry." He said calmly as he brushed off his pants.
I was about to continue following Carlisle upstairs when I heard snickering behind me. I whipped around to see Alice and Rosalie with amused smirks on their faces and Jasper and Emmett shaking, trying to hold in their laughter. I looked back at Edward, confused. His face was very angry. What were they laughing about that would make Edward so mad?
Jasper burst out, answering my question, "Oh my god, Edward! You looked like a rag doll!"
"Yeah, yeah, only two minutes into an eternity and she's already whooping yo ass!" Emmett added hysterically.
Now it was my turn to be murderously angry. I glared at them, when suddenly Edward let go of my hand and jumped back. Just as he did this Emmett and Jasper's expressions quickly turned to fear. I wasn't that scary… I looked down and saw fire coming from my hands. I yelped and jumped back. As I did this the fire subsided.
I looked up guiltily. "Sorry, I didn't know…I didn't mean to."
"It's quite alright Bella, but we should probably discuss this sooner than later as not to let it happen again." Carlisle reminded.
"Right." I said, now anxious. I took in my wings because I'm sure they'd never fit in the hallway.
Edward and I followed Carlisle to his study. He gestured for us to take the two seats in front of his desk and we complied as he took the one on the other side. I could hear the others talking about me down stairs- 'Holy shit, I didn't know she could do that'-'I wasn't scared'-'Pfft, you would have pissed your pants if you were still human'-'Come on now, we have to be supportive, it's not Bella's fault'. I stopped listening there, stop with the nice comment, and focused on Carlisle.
"Bella…" he started, "do you have any idea what you are?" A little blunt for Carlisle, but I guess he's just as shocked as the rest of us.
"Well, Esme said something about Selene, the moon goddess, creating a 'vampire protector', and being all-powerful." I was still doubtful that I could be this interesting creature.
"Yes, and your abilities?" he asked, more calm now.
"She just said powerful, but she didn't specify."
"Bella, as the legend goes, you are supposed to have all the vampire senses. As for your gifts, you get three that are set, and one that is a human trait enhanced, just like a normal vampire…I think your demonstrated that downstairs."
"The fire? How could that possibly be connected with my human life?" I wasn't exactly a pyromaniac.
"Well I don't think it's the simple task of creating the fire," oh yes Carlisle, creating fire with your bare hands is real simple, I thought to myself, "but rather expressing your emotions through physical means. You were angry when that happened; I'm guessing your anger induced the fire." He stated matter-of-factly.
Stupid, open-book me. Even as a vampire my emotions show.
"What are the three set gifts?" Edward asked.
"Triple speed of a normal vampire, control things with your mind, and telepathy," as he said this I sensed the faintest hint of smugness.
"She can read minds!?"
"Yes, and project thought into them as well." Oh, that's why he was smug. I stole Edwards thunder. Ha. I tried using this and to my surprise, I picked up his thoughts. Oh no, now Bella, sweet innocent Bella, has to listen to those horrid thoughts from men. Now I felt bad; I laughed at him in my mind, and he was trying to protect me. "Though Bella, yours is meant for battle communication, so you can control yours, while Edward can't turn it off." Carlisle continued.
"Battle communication?" I asked a little worried.
"Well, Selene did create you for protecting vampires, I'm sure you were meant to do battle at some time."
"Oh…" was all I could say. I could feel Edward tense, ever since Carlisle said battle.
He was silent for a moment while Edward and I took this all in, then Carlisle continued, "You will also have to hunt like us, you will be attracted to human blood as we are, but there should be no reason why you can't be sustained on animal blood as well. You should probably have to hunt around the same time too, though we will have to make sure and keep your thirst properly in check. You won't be thirsty for a month or two because you still have all your human blood in your system."
I didn't say anything. What was there to say? Edward seemed to have the same speech impairment as myself. So it was silent until Carlisle continued.
"We should also practice your abilities so you can decipher each and harness it"
"Right, but…where do we start?"
"Your speed. Your going to have to control it to look inconspicuous around humans," he paused to think, "the best place would be in the woods outside the town. We can practice your other abilities there as well."
"Alright"
He stood up and motioned for us to follow. We complied and soon we were running outside. I stayed by Edward's side, though this was much slower than my way over there tonight. Thinking of being at my house before, reminded me of Charlie. Oh crows feet. What would I do about him? Would we even stay here? Pretend nothing happened? Then I got worried about not being there if he woke up. But it couldn't have been past 12:30. Not much time had passed since I had woken up to this; it felt like so much longer than it was.
Edward and Carlisle stopped inside a clearing. When I looked around I recognized it as the one I came to when I watched the Cullens play baseball. And the one James found me in. I shuddered at the turn of my thoughts. Thankfully, Carlisle but them off.
"Okay Bella, whenever your ready, run."
I just stood there for a second, them waiting for me. Finally, I ran to the other end of the field in half a second. When I turned around Edward's mouth was slightly open. I smiled at myself. Like Edward had said before, he was not easily surprised, but I managed to do it everyday. Though, I'm probably going to be surprising everyone, including myself, a lot for the next few days.
"Okay, now walk back at a human pace"
I tried, and started to walk back but halfway I realized this definitely was not human pace. I tried again but my legs wouldn't comply. When I looked up for help I saw Edward jogging over to me. He was so beautiful. His hair was slightly rustled from our run, and it made him look that much more beautiful. He took my hand and smiled, "Try to keep pace with me."
He started walking at the pace I had set before, and started to get slower and slower until we were actually at a human pace. I squeezed his hand in thanks and let go. I had to do this alone; I couldn't hold Edward's hand for the rest of time, although the idea was appealing. I started walking too fast but slowed down slowly like Edward had and eventually was going at a human pace.
This must have been a funny sight. Me walking around in random circles around a field in the middle of the forest, with two men watching me walk around aimlessly.
"Okay Bella, I think you've got it." Carlisle called across the field as he and Edward ran to me. "Now let's work on your strength, it shouldn't be that hard, just try to apply less pressure," he said as he handed me a twig. A twig? That's odd, but I guess it's the only thing.
I took the twig from him and as I grasped it, it snapped. Okay, harder than I thought. He handed me another and I carefully took it with less pressure. It didn't snap but I could feel it slowly cracking under the pressure so I let go slightly into a gentler hold. We did this for a while with random objects. When I tried the rock I didn't think I'd ever be able to break it. When I grabbed it normally, it crushed between my fingers. That scared me. From then on I used as little force as possible. Edward smiling encouragingly at me the whole time.
"Okay, I think you've finally got that…now we can work on your powers." Carlisle stated after I mastered grasping objects and not breaking them. "We should start with you're your emotions one as that is the most unknown."
"But Carlisle, she'd have to get angry to use that." Edward said. Carlisle just looked at him and seemed to be telling him something. So I listened as well. I was a little late but I did hear River. Oh no.
I was about to run but they grabbed my arms. I flailed around trying to break free of their hold, but my strength wasn't as strong as both of them together. I did get angry then, and I tried to use fire. Just as I tried my skin flamed up and they jumped back. They smiled in triumph that had made me angry.
"Well, I think we were right about the anger-fire thing." Edward stated stupidly.
I thought of the fire whipping out to Edward and as I did it lashed out like a whip at him. He jumped out of the way, and I stopped because I didn't really want him to get hurt.
"I wonder if any other emotions trigger anything" Carlisle wondered out loud.
"We can help with that." Emmett said from the other end of the field where the rest of the Cullens were coming through the edge of the forest. They ran over to us with smirks on their faces.
"Well, I know when she's happy she gives off light." Esme said. I smiled apologetically again; I probably blinded her when we were in the living room.
"Okay…" Carlisle started but Emmett cut him off.
"Hey…hey Bella," I turned to him, "what color underwear you wearin'?"
I would have blushed, had I been able to.
"Did it work?" he asked after a second.
"Well, she's definitely embarrassed, but nothing happened." Jasper answered. Curse him and his emotion-feeling self.
"Maybe embarrassment isn't a strong enough emotion to wield anything." Carlisle offered.
"Bella," Alice started, I wasn't sure I wanted her to continue after what Emmett had said, so I reluctantly turned to her, "Edward used to be a woman."
I was shocked, not because I believed her, but because I was surprised she would even think something like that. Remembering the purpose, I tried to make something of my shock and was even more shocked when something that looked like an electric current shoot out of my hands. When it stopped I looked up to see a smug Alice, and almost everyone else holding back laughter at a glaring Edward.
"Anger, shock and happiness seem to be dominant enough to produce something. I think those would be the only ones strong enough. We should probably start to test your other gifts now; we will need to get you back in enough time so we can be sure your safe with Charlie." Carlisle explained.
I was happy; they were planning on me seeing Charlie again. I knew I would see him anyway, that's why I was taking it so well I guess, but to have it confirmed is so much better. I was emitting light slightly at this confirmation and it seemed to remind Edward of something.
"But she needs to learn how to stop it from coming out, or else Charlie may be a little suspicious if his daughter can produce fire out of nothing," he said quickly.
"What is she supposed to do, just stuff her feeling away?" Jasper asked sarcastically, he obviously knew what it was like to have to keep emotions bottled up inside, when you can feel about seven different sets it must be tiring.
"Yes, that is exactly what she must do. Create a storage space for them. It's the only thing we can do around the humans." Carlisle said, a little helpless in the last part.
"Bella," Alice started again, "We got you another car and it's in the garage waiting for you, we didn't want to tell you because of your reaction to the last one."
At this I was both shocked and angered. I haven't ruled out beating them with a stick idea yet. I felt the fire and electricity coming so I did what Carlisle said and stored it away. It was like it was almost gone accept for a little pressure in my chest, like someone had their fingers lightly placed on the inside.
Everyone looked at Jasper to confirm I had indeed felt the shock or anger. He nodded in confirmation, and then they all smiled at me for accomplishing the task. I smiled back, knowing I could control it and could live normally. Well, as normal as life with the Cullens could get.
"Now we need to work on your other two powers," Carlisle said, "Try to move something with your mind."
I raised my eyebrow and smiled a mischievous smile at him. I then turned to the forest and spotted a stray branch on the ground. I focused on it and picked it up, then put my plan into action.
I made it fly over to Edward and smack his side with it. He looked at me in shock and I smiled sweetly at him, "this is for getting me a car, love." I said in an even sweeter voice. He looked a little dazed and I took that as my chance to attack. I made the branch whack him repeatedly until he finally snapped it in two. The rest of them had been laughing at my reaction but Edward just pouted. He looked so cute; I started to laugh as well.
"Well, I guess you've mastered that," Carlisle said chuckling, "Now for the telepathy."
I groaned, this was getting annoying and tiresome. "Can we stop, I'm tired," I whined. They looked at me incredulously. "Okay, maybe I'm not tired, but this is getting annoying. Umm, and I didn't mean it in a rude way." I explained.
"I don't know," Emmett mused, "this is pretty interesting."
"I have to agree," Jasper said, backing him up, "watching Edward get beat up by a floating stick is very interesting."
Edward growled and I made the halves of the branch Edward snapped hit Emmett and Jasper on the back of the head. Edward and Alice laughed as I gave a satisfied smirk. Esme tried to give a disapproving look but ended up smiling in amusement, even Rosalie cracked a smile.
"It may be tiring but we should finish. There's only one more." Carlisle interrupted.
I sighed, knowing he was right.
"Bella, try to read my mind, and like I said before, project your thoughts."
I had done it before, just not the second part. I read Carlisle's mind- Can you hear me, Bella? I concentrated on thinking to Carlisle- Yes; I can hear you, Carlisle. He smiled and I smiled back. Now, are we finally done? I asked him. He laughed and thought, yes, yes were done…for now.
"Come on Edward, let's go." I said impatiently as I grabbed his hand.
"I think I should go with you until we are sure you are fine around Charlie. And tomorrow we shall find an excuse for you to stay at our home." Carlisle said.
I didn't like the idea that I had to be watched so I didn't kill my own father. Though this is what I wanted. Actually, this is more than I wanted. Though as happy as I was, I still felt sad because I knew I would eventually have to leave Charlie and Renee, and even Phil.
Edward put his arm around my waist and I instantly felt better. I looked up at him to find him smiling down at me. I couldn't help but smile back. I can do this. As long as I have Edward, I can do this.
He lightly tugged my waist to follow, "Come on my love, let's go."
AN: Okay, I'd like reviews on if my writing is descriptive enough, etc. Pleasee.
