AN: My version of Eclipse/Breaking Dawn. Bella and the whole Cullen Clan are currently on Savage Island. Didn't Bella imagine going to a remote beach with Edward when she was hiding from James in Twilight? Well guess what, she gets to go there now! And you KNOW she'll find danger there too! Enjoy!
Thanks to my super-star Beta reader, TwilightFan4Life, always the encourager!
Disclaimer: My goal is to write as well as SM but at this point I'm only playing with her characters. I wish I could keep them but alas they belong to Stephenie!
Chapter 3 Shark Attack
We spent a quiet evening at the villa discussing plans for the next day.
Everyone wanted to go diving and checkout the marine life off our beach. I don't scuba dive so I explained that I would snorkel and watch from the surface as they explored deeper. Not needing to breathe, they could stay down as long as they wished and go as deep as they wanted.
"I'll stay on top with Bella," Esme offered. "I feel a little claustrophobic underwater," she explained to everyone.
I'm not sure I believed her but guessed she offered so Edward would feel comfortable leaving me to dive deeper with the rest of the family.
"Thanks Esme," I smiled warmly at her. She did feel maternal to me, not like Renee, but what I imagined a normal mother would be like, nurturing and selfless.
Before I could stop it, a huge yawn escaped from between my lips. Edward, with an amused expression, noticed of course. "Time for bed," he said as if talking to a child and scooped me up in his arms.
"Edward!" I protested as he carried me off toward the stairs, smiling as he went.
"Good Night, Bella," Esme and Carlisle said in unison, smiling at each other as they realized they both considered me to be their sixth child.
"Good Night," I called back from the top of the stairs, resigned, knowing that any effort to stop him would be futile.
Edward whisked me into the pretty yellow room and settled us both onto the bed, me still in his arms. "I never thought I'd get you alone," he breathed into my neck. I melted against him realizing his ulterior motive for my imposed "bedtime".
His cold, smooth lips traveled up my neck to my ear where he whispered so softly I was unsure there was any sound at all but yet his words were clear, "I love you Bella."
I pulled slightly away so I could see his eyes. "I love you," I whispered. His eyes were smoldering. My heart raced and my breath was coming much too fast as I tried to get it under control, hyperventilation fast approaching. I closed my eyes trying to get my pounding heart to quiet.
"Bella, are you alright?" concern clear in his soft voice.
After a moment, I opened my eyes. "More than all right."
He smiled down at me, his finger lightly brushing the hair from my cheek, training it behind my ear. "You are so beautiful." Even the short exposure to the sun today had already put a pink tinge on my normally pale skin. It felt very warm under his cold touch.
"Could I have a human minute?" I asked.
"Of course," he said and released me from his stronghold.
I scooped up my toiletry bag and closed the door to the adjoining the bathroom that serviced both upstairs bedrooms. I quickly brushed my teeth, washed my face, and ran a brush through my hair. I felt he was overly generous with his compliment from before, but the pink in my cheeks did give me a healthy glow and my eyes were bright with the excitement of being near him. I changed quickly into my new pajamas. Instead of the t-shirt & cotton pants I slept in at home, Alice had insisted on me buying a silky two-piece number. The camisole top had little spaghetti straps and the bottom was like loose shorts but very short. I felt a little silly in it but she insisted, winking at me while we shopped in the Victoria Secret's store in Seattle.
I turned off the light and reentered the bedroom. I could see him clearly from the moonlight shining through the balcony doors. He lay on the bed looking like a Greek god. His hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought. He heard me enter and propped up on one elbow.
"Bella," he gasped quietly. "Are you trying to do me in?" He smiled but his eyes looked serious as he took in my new apparel.
"This was Alice's doing," I muttered, my pink cheeks turning red. I knew he could see that even in the moonlight.
"Remind me to thank her," he said his voice low and seductive as he held his hand out to me.
I took his hand and crawled onto the bed with him. He pulled me to him, his body hard and cold against mine. I shivered. "Sorry," he whispered and pulled the covers over us.
"I don't mind," I said against his shoulder. I could feel his lips on my hair.
"You smell so delicious," he murmured. I stiffened, but then I felt him exhale. "Sorry, bad choice of words."
"Sort of like my faux pas earlier today with the mosquito," I said remembering my stupid choice of words about 'blood suckers' – not the thing to say in the company of vampires. I felt his chest rumble beneath me as he chuckled softly.
"Bella, that was so incredibly funny. I thought Emmett was going to break a rib he was laughing so hard. The look on your face when you realized what you had said was priceless." I could feel him smiling in the dark.
"Well, I'm so glad I could provide you all with the entertainment for the afternoon," I retorted a little miffed.
"It just makes everyone love you more," Edward said in a gentler tone. "You are so genuine, so sincere. There's no way for us to be offended by anything you say."
"I'm not sure Rosalie feels that way," I said softly.
"Don't worry about Rosalie," he reminded me. "She always wants to be the center of attention and even though you don't want to be, it just happens naturally. Don't take it personally."
"I just wish…"
"Shhh," he gently put a cold finger to my lips. "Time to go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow and you need to be rested." He stroked my hair and hummed the lullaby he had composed for me. Before I knew it, my eyes felt heavy and I found myself drifting off in his cold arms.
I slept soundly, dreamlessly. Who needed to dream while asleep when you were living the dream while awake?
I woke alone in the big bed. But within seconds of opening my eyes, Alice came bounding into the room.
"Are you awake, Bella?" she asked, even though she knew I was.
"I think so," I said, "unless I'm dreaming this whole trip." That possibility didn't seem out of the question considering where we were and who I was with.
"No, it's real," she said beaming at me. "Edward says that your breakfast is ready."
I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe he's taking this cooking thing so seriously."
"He just wants to please you," she said. "Did he like your new pajamas?"
"Umm, yes, he did." I said shyly, the heat rising to my cheeks with the memory of his reaction.
"I knew he would," she said, her eyes twinkling. "He's so happy with you Bella. He's almost like a different person," she smiled radiantly at me. "Come on now. Let's go see what he's got for you to eat." With that she jumped off the edge of the bed and was out the door as I heard her calling back over her shoulder, "I'll meet you in the kitchen."
A few minutes later I made my appearance, after donning shorts and a t-shirt with my new bathing suit on underneath. I remembered our plan for the day.
"Good Morning," his voice was like honey.
"Hi, sorry I slept in," I said eyeing the clock over the stove. It was already nine o'clock.
"You're on vacation. You can sleep as long as you want," he said as he pulled a bowl of freshly cut up fruit out of the refrigerator. Some of the fruit looked familiar but some of it was new to me, local no doubt.
"Thanks," I said digging in with an appetite I didn't know I had until that moment, "this looks great!"
He smiled, pleased that he could "hunt" for me.
Emmett and Rosalie burst into the kitchen from the deck. "You've GOT to get in the ocean – it's fabulous!" Emmett said dripping saltwater on the kitchen floor.
"There are so many beautiful fish and fascinating sea creatures," Rosalie said, her eyes wide and excited.
I paused, gaping at them and then quickly shut my mouth realizing it was hanging open. Fortunately, there wasn't anything in it as I had just swallowed the last bite of my breakfast. I had never seen Rosalie with wet hair, she was stunning. She was always beautiful, but now she looked relaxed and natural not posing like she normally did. It made her even more gorgeous. Despite her paleness, she looked radiant in her red bikini that showed off her exquisite body. She looked as though she could have just stepped out of the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated.
She looked at me oddly and I realized I was staring at her, "I'm sorry." I apologized and before I could stop myself, I blurted, "You are just so beautiful Rosalie." I flushed as crimson as her bathing suit and looked down, embarrassed beyond measure.
"Thanks, Bella" she said softly actually sounding surprised.
"Are you two ready to get wet?" Emmett broke the awkward silence impatient for us to join them.
"We'll be there in a minute," Edward said not wanting to hurry me. "I think Jasper and Alice are headed out there now."
Emmett turned back to the open sliding glass door and spotted the other couple walking towards the water. "Come on Rose, we can show them where the rays are," he grabbed her hand and led her quickly back out to the deck.
"I'm such an idiot," I said after they were gone.
"Don't be absurd, Bella. You are anything but an idiot," he reassured me.
"Didn't you just hear what I said to Rosalie."
"Yes," he said finishing up with my dishes and coming around to my side of the kitchen island.
"Well…"
"Bella, it was probably the best thing you could have ever said to Rosalie. She always feels like she's in competition with you. You being awed by her beauty made her feel good and less antagonistic towards you. You really surprised her. You should have heard her thoughts," he snickered.
"I don't want to know," I muttered.
"Come on silly. Are you ready to go swimming?" he asked.
"I am," I said demonstrating as I pulled my t-shirt off. His surprised look gave way to a pleased one as he noted my new bathing suit. It was the shade of blue that he had commented he liked on me before.
"Hmmm, we may not make it out to the water," he murmured as he leaned over me, his lips finding the hollow in my neck.
"Edward!" I resisted but not too much. "We should really go out…." But my thoughts started to blur and I couldn't remember whatever it was that we were going to do as his lips traveled over my jaw and chin and rose softly to my mouth.
"You were saying," he said softly against my lips.
"Umm…I don't remember," I gave up totally and clutched at his thick bronze hair with my hands, stretching up to kiss him harder.
He pulled away from me then knowing he needed to. His eyes were smoldering though, holding me to him even as he distanced himself.
I gasped quietly although he could clearly hear it as well as my heart pounding in my chest. "I can't resist you at all, you know," I said out of breath.
"I know," he said a strained smile curving his mouth upwards. "It's very difficult for me too." The unsaid, "but I have to," was so loud it was almost as if he'd spoken it. "Come on beautiful, let's get wet." He took my hand and led me toward the beach.
He stripped off his t-shirt when we got down to the area where Carlisle and Esme laid under an umbrella on a beach recliner built for two. I took off my shorts and laid my clothes down on the beach blanket I had brought with us. He looked me over with an appraising glance, taking in my new bathing suit. It was modest compared to Rosalie's bikini or even the one that Alice had bought. Edward, of course, looked like Adonis himself, stomach muscles rippling.
"Have fun," Esme said beaming at us.
As we walked to the water's edge, something occurred to Edward.
"Can you swim?" he asked surprised he hadn't thought of this before.
"Yes," I smiled at him. "But not as well as a vampire, I'm sure."
The water was a little cool when we first walked in, but I got use to it quickly. Edward didn't seem to notice the temperature. Soon we were swimming out over a beautiful coral reef full of sea life, a virtual kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and textures. The bottom gradually sloped downward but it was crystal clear so I could easily see everything underwater. It was amazing. The colors were so brilliant, it almost appeared unreal.
I was so enchanted with the colorful, new world that I suddenly panicked when I became dizzy and lightheaded. I lifted my head out of the water and Edward lifted his so he could talk to me, noting the strange look on my face.
"Are you all right?" he asked anxiously.
"Yes," I said sputtering. "It's so beautiful; I forgot to breathe," I explained treading water while I caught my breath.
"Yes, please remember to do that. I'm not sure if I could resuscitate you," he said smiling, but his eyes weren't kidding. "Let me know if you get tired and I'll give you a ride," he offered.
"Okay," I agreed and put my face back in the water. I would have to remember the mask, fins, and snorkel for our next swim so I could keep up better.
I watched Edward dive smoothly down to the coral reef and pick up a live sand dollar. He looked up smiling as he carried it back to up to me. He broke the surface and asked, "Do you know the legend of the sand dollar, Bella?"
I shook my head, "I don't think so."
Holding the sand dollar out so I could touch it, he began the story.
"The legend has been in existence hundreds perhaps even a thousand years. No one knows who started it but it tells the story of the sand dollar and the markings it bears. According to the legend, the markings on the sand dollar represent the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. You can see here the four holes with a fifth in the center," he pointed and I nodded.
"The four holes represent the nail holes through Jesus' wrists and feet and the center hole would be the one made by the Roman's spear who pierced him ensuring he was dead during the crucifixion. The Easter Lily, representing his resurrection, is here on the top of the shell with its center a star like the one that appeared to the wise men that led them to the stable where Jesus was born."
He carefully turned the sand dollar over, "and on the other side is the Christmas poinsettia representing his birth. If you break the sand dollar open, there are five small v-shaped shells that represent five white Doves of Peace. The legend says that God created the sand dollar as a reminder of the ultimate gift he gave to mankind."
He looked at me now and I knew the message in his eyes concerning my immortality and where he thought I should spend it.
"That's a great story," I said not wanting to address his deeper message and I was starting to get a little breathless from treading water so long. It seemed effortless for him though he wasn't even using his hands.
"You're getting tired," he said noting my labored breathing. "Let me return this creature and I'll take you back to the beach." Before I could protest, he dove silently back down to the reef and gently placed the sand dollar back in the exact spot he had picked it up from. He resurfaced next to me.
"Really, I'm fine," I breathed heavily not wanting to go in yet.
"Right," he said smirking at me. "Here, climb on my back and we'll swim a little longer," he ordered. I did as he suggested and then I noticed Alice and Jasper surfacing nearby. They swam towards us.
"Hi," Alice called out in her cheerful tone. Her skin glittering just like the water she slid through.
"Hi," I called back but they were already at our side.
"Isn't this great!" she exclaimed.
"Totally," I agreed as I floated easily, my arms encircling Edward's neck.
"We saw so many fish and rays and a pod of dolphins swam by us a little while ago when we were further out."
"We spotted a good sized shark earlier too," Jasper added giving Edward a knowing look.
Alice smacked him on the head, water spraying over us. "I thought we agreed we were going to wait on that information," she scolded him.
He looked at her only slightly repentant. "Sorry, I'm just anxious to start hunting one."
"You saw dolphins?" I asked changing the subject. The thought of sharks nearby made me nervous.
"Yes," she smiled, returning to her pixie-like state. "They swam very near us. I believe they were spinner dolphins."
"Wow," I said. "I'd love to see them."
"Then you shall," Edward said. "But right now, I'm going to take you in and put more sun block on you or you'll burn to a crisp. And they say vampires will burn up in the sun, ha!" he snorted.
He swam easily with me on his back and then flipped over to face me, my arms still looped around his neck. He gazed at me for a long moment as we glided through the water.
"You know, you're even more beautiful when you're wet," he said and then groaned quietly, "and you smell so good."
"In a good way or a bad way?" I asked, remembering this same conversation from sometime before.
"Both," he said, "always both," and with that he held me close in the warm tropical water. I never feared his thirst any longer as I knew his love for me was much stronger than his desire for my blood.
"I love you, Edward. I can't imagine being any happier than I am right now," I sighed.
"Nor I," he agreed. "I never thought I'd have anything like this, Bella. Thank you."
I looked into his golden eyes set in that glorious face and couldn't understand how I had been so blessed. It almost hurt to see the love coming from him; it made my breath catch. I still couldn't fathom how he could feel this way. I was so common and he was so…
He interrupted my thoughts as he briefly kissed me and said, "Come on, let's go in before you look like that lobster." At the mention of lobster, I remembered my leftovers from last night. My stomach growled loudly, giving my thoughts away.
"Lunchtime," he announced and swam us quickly back to shore.
Everyone came in and lounged on the deck as I ate lobster salad for lunch. I was definitely going to gain weight on this trip if I wasn't careful.
"Bella wants to see the dolphins, so I thought we might take the boat out this afternoon to find them," Edward announced.
"Can Jazz and I come too?" Alice asked.
"Of course," Edward agreed.
"We'll come too," Carlisle added as he looked at Esme who nodded and then they both looked over at Rosalie and Emmett.
"I think we'll stay in this afternoon," Emmett said eyeing Rosalie and then turned to smile at Carlisle. Carlisle nodded, understanding their desire to be alone. Even though I couldn't read their thoughts like Edward, I believed I caught the gist of Emmett's intention. I looked down, a little embarrassed, as I realized what was going on. Part of me longed for that to be me and Edward, but I couldn't start thinking about that sort of thing …
"Are you finished?" Edward was staring curiously at me. I imagined he was desperate to know my thoughts, as if they weren't clear enough on my face.
I stood in confirmation that I was, but he snatched the plate off the table before I could even reach for it. He smiled enjoying his opportunity to spoil me and serve my every need. Well, almost every need. He quickly cleaned up the kitchen and then the six of us headed off to the dock.
Our villa came with the use of a really nice boat, a yacht really. It had two nice staterooms with queen sized beds which is pretty unusual Edward explained to me. The galley was nicely equipped with enough eating space for five or six people, if you liked each other well, and they weren't all the size of Emmett. There was plenty of space for sunning on the fore deck and seating for fishing or lounging on the aft deck including a small platform to dive from.
There was a tower where the driver would navigate with a clear view. It was a really nice boat and I was pleased that I wouldn't have to swim all over the Pacific looking for the dolphins. We cruised out to sea for twenty minutes or so, the wind whipping through our hair. Then I heard Alice squealing in delight from the foredeck. She was leaning over the edge pointing down into the water.
"Look, they're here," her eyes were dancing as she looked up at us.
Carlisle cut the engine and we glided along noiselessly. I turned around in my seat and leaned over the boat rail. Sure enough, there were four, no five, dolphins flitting around the nose of the boat disappointed now that the boat had slowed and the bow wave was gone. Alice slipped quickly into the water, looking like one of the graceful animals herself.
"Will she scare them?" I asked Edward.
"I don't think so. Although they won't know what she is since there's no air bubbles and no body heat," he answered sounding interested to know himself. "Dolphins are notoriously curious, so they will probably be more interested than fearful."
The dolphins swam around her, eyeing her speculatively. She swam with them just below the surface. It was so clear I could see her expression as she seemed to speak to them with her eyes. She almost looked like one of them with her pale skin and contrasting black hair and swimsuit. She held out a hand and one of them braved touching it with his long snout. She laughed underwater and the animal darted off but circled back around, as enthralled with her as she was with him. She broke the surface then and looked up at me in the boat.
"Come on in Bella. They're really friendly!"
I looked up at Edward and he smiled in agreement. I slipped off my t-shirt, pulled on my fins, and stepped off the diving platform into the clear blue water. I swam over towards her as everyone else watched. The dolphins swam around us and the brave one came nearest to me. He broke the surface to look at me in the eye and then rolled over on his back as if asking me to rub his belly. I giggled and reached out to touch his light, silky underside. He swam on his back in a circle around me as I gently stroked him, his pectoral flippers moving back and forth in delight. I smiled hugely at Alice and her laugh sounded like wind chimes in the ocean breeze. My dolphin flipped back over and shot away spinning up into the air a few dozen feet from me, showing off, no doubt.
Alice took my hand and swam with me a few feet under the water towards the rest of the animals still curiously watching us. They would touch noses and rub against each other from time to time and I could hear their high pitched clicking under the water. A smaller dolphin, a baby it looked like, hung close to what must be his mother. He looked at us and started tentatively in our direction. I had to get a quick breath, and when I returned under the water, he was very near me waiting to investigate. I reached out slowly with my hand and he moved closer to touch my palm. We looked each other in the eye for the briefest moment and it was like we connected on some other level. It was magical. I glanced over at Alice and she was smiling – her white teeth flashing even under water. Suddenly, all of the dolphins scooted away and they were gone. We shrugged our shoulders at each other and I went up for another breath.
"Wow," I exclaimed as I surfaced and looked up at everyone in the boat. I felt a sharp tug at my ankle and looked back down in the water. Alice was pointing down into the vast depths of the ocean. I followed the direction of her finger but saw nothing. And then a second later, I saw it. A large gray form was coming quickly towards us like a speeding torpedo. I could feel my eyes get wide and Alice yelled, "Get Out!" from under the water. I froze.
Several things happened at once.
Alice pushed me out of the direct path of the oncoming shark.
I saw a splash as Edward entered the water diving over the boat railing.
Esme reached out for my hand to pull me into the boat.
I grabbed for Esme's hand and felt her fingers slip through mine as I was jerked viciously downward. The water rushed passed me as I felt the air whoosh out of my lungs. Painful pressure pressed against my ears as the shark drug me by my fin deeper into the ocean.
I slammed into a coral head, feeling the sharp edges of the reef rip into the skin on my calf. The bizarre underwater scene began to fade as my terrorized brain starved for oxygen began to shut down.
Strangely, I felt smooth, slippery skin under my arms and thought I must be hallucinating that the dolphins had come back to rescue me. I had heard stories about dolphins saving people from sharks. I went with the hallucination and wrapped my arms as tightly as I could manage around their sleek bodies. Three flashes of white passed close by me as Alice, Jasper, and Edward attacked the shark simultaneously.
Surprised by their attack, the shark released my fin. Immediately, I felt myself rising as the dolphins carried me back to the boat. I broke the surface, choking on the water I had inhaled during the ascent. Carlisle plucked me from the ocean, lifting me into the boat as if I were a rag doll. He carefully performed a Heimlich maneuver expelling the water from my lungs. The seawater burned my throat as it exited and I gasped for air. He gently settled me to my knees as I inhaled and exhaled deeply several times.
I felt a sharp stinging sensation running down my left calf. A thin crimson trail streamed from my leg as I lay gasping on the floor of the boat. I started screaming then "Edward, Shark, Edward!" Esme tried to soothe me pushing the hair out of my face.
"It's okay, Bella. You're safe now."
"No, the shark, Edward, Alice!" I ranted hysterically.
"Edward, Alice, and Jasper went after the shark, dear, it won't hurt you now," she soothed me. I felt Carlisle applying something to my leg. I looked up at him.
"It's only a surface wound, Bella. No stitches this time." He grinned at me. We had history in that department.
"But the shark, aren't they in danger?" I asked still panicky and confused by his light hearted expression.
"No, the shark may be though," Carlisle assured me. "Now let me clean this up before they get back." Carlisle helped me onto one of the padded seats. The bleeding had all but stopped and he removed the towel he had pressed to my leg. He cleaned the wounds with antiseptic from his bag. Thankfully, he always seemed to have it with him, at least when I was around. It stung but like he said, it was really just an ugly scrape. He rinsed the towel and floor with the onboard hose.
"That will have to do for now," he said.
Esme looked at me from across the deck and smiled. "Don't worry Bella. It's not your fault. They'll be back soon." My expression must have been an open book based on her attempt to comfort me.
Several minutes passed as I tried to not panic at the thought of Alice, Jasper, and Edward deep under the water fighting with a great white shark. Then I saw them, three heads popped up out of the water a short distance from the boat. Jasper and Alice looked excited but Edward looked angry.
"You should have seen it!" Alice started before she even reached the boat. "It was HUGE! Edward and Jasper almost had it but it was so quick and slippery."
"I did get a good bite out of him though, if the other sharks don't finish him off, I'll get him later. He's marked now. Not bad tasting either." Jasper said, his eyes flashing.
"Are you ready to be on this boat?" Carlisle asked Jasper sternly. I didn't miss his meaning.
"He's fine," Alice answered for him as they all climbed up on the dive platform and stood dripping in the boat. Carlisle threw each of them a dry towel. I pulled my towel closer around my legs just to be sure Jasper didn't notice my minor injury. Edward eyed me concerned, noting the movement.
"Are you hurt," he immediately knelt at my side, the anger melting away.
"No, I'm fine." I said my voice steady now that I could see he was fine. I saw his nostrils flare slightly as he caught my scent, just a whisper stronger than normal. He looked at me and then at Carlisle.
I could tell Carlisle was sending him a silent message, probably telling him that it was just a scrape and to not make Jasper aware of it. Edward, perfectly controlled, sat next to me on the bench and pulled me into his arms.
"I don't know why I keep putting you in harm's way, Bella. You'd think I was trying to get you killed," he said apologizing for the entire event.
"Now who's being silly, like you could know a shark was going to attack us." I said rolling my eyes at him.
Carlisle started the engine and turned the boat back towards our beach.
"Come on Jaz, let's ride up front." Alice grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the foredeck. But I saw her give Edward a swift look over her shoulder. I wondered what she was thinking and looked up at Edward.
But before I could start questioning him, he held me closer and asked me, "Are you really all right?"
"Yes," I assured him and now that there was plenty of wind to carry the scent away, I lifted my towel to show him where the coral had left an angry-looking red scrape down my left calf.
"Oh Bella, I'm so sorry," he started apologizing again.
"It's okay, really." I smiled up at him. "It doesn't even hurt," I lied. "I just hope it won't bother you," I said suddenly anxious.
"No, of course not," he assured me. Then an irritated look crossed his face.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I can't believe I wasn't able to kill that shark." He shook his head. "As soon as I knew you were clear of it and the dolphins had you to the surface, we took off after it. Alice, Jasper, and I caught up with it a few minutes later but it was extremely fast and we couldn't seem to get a good hold of it to …"
Then he stopped, realizing he was about to give me details concerning a topic he never wanted me to be exposed to, at least not until I was changed.
"In any case, it got away," he finished, avoiding my eyes, the bright, agitated look in his eyes dimming.
"But Jasper got a taste of it?" I tried to let him know that it didn't frighten me and he could tell me anything about their hunting experiences.
"Yes," he said with finality to his tone that let me know the subject was closed.
When we got back to our beach, Jasper and Alice raced to the house to fill Emmett and Rosalie in on our adventure. Carlisle watched them go, shaking his head as he helped Edward secure the boat to the dock.
Esme walked with me towards the villa. "How's your leg, Bella?" concern in her eyes.
"It's fine," I said giving her a weak smile. "It's really just a scrape. It doesn't even hurt," I lied again. The scrape was actually burning, but that may have just been from the saltwater that the antiseptic didn't rinse off. "I hope it won't bother anyone else," I said searching her eyes for confirmation.
"Oh don't worry about that," she assured me. "No one will have a problem with it. I'm just so glad it wasn't any more serious."
"Me too," I muttered. "I always seem to be ruining everyone's fun."
"Don't be silly," she said lightly wrapping her cold arm around my shoulders, giving me a gentle squeeze.
We entered the house and Emmett was lying in wait, having been fully informed by Jasper and Alice. "So, when are we going out to hunt it down?" he asked immediately, fire in his eyes at the prospect of the hunt.
"I don't know Emmett," Edward said giving him a stern look letting him know that now was not the right time for this discussion.
"Come on Edward. It won't be hard to find with Jasper's bite mark in its hide." He continued ignoring Edward's warning look.
"Later," Edward said through clenched teeth.
"Are you afraid it will scare Bella to talk about hunting down the shark and drinking its blood?" Rosalie smirked.
Carlisle interjected before Edward could respond. "That's enough Rosalie, Emmett." Then he stopped a strange look on his face. Edward's eyes snapped to his, hearing Carlisle's thoughts as if he'd said them aloud.
"What is it?" Esme asked him.
"Jasper, you said when you bit the shark, you tasted blood?" Carlisle asked, confirming what he'd only heard in passing an hour ago. At the time, he'd been focused on me and Jasper's potential reaction to the scrape on my leg and the inadequate cleanup job he had done on the boat.
"Yes, that's right," Jasper said concern in his eyes now too.
"I wonder," Carlisle said looking over at Edward.
"I've never heard of it happening," Edward said.
"Of what happening?" I asked not having any idea what they were talking about.
Edward glanced briefly at Alice, annoyance in his eyes. "As you already know, when a vampire bites his prey, venom enters the blood stream to incapacitate the victim. However, if for some reason the prey isn't….killed….then it changes into a vampire too which is, of course, how all of us were changed."
"Yes, I know that," I said still at an empasse with Edward on my own 'changing'. "But what does that have to do with the shark -" and then it hit me. "Can a shark become a vampire?"
I looked around the room at all of them but no one said a word.
Carlisle finally broke the heavy silence. "We don't really know, Bella, but if it can happen and that shark is changing, it will be a very dangerous animal."
"We can handle it," Emmett said, the huge muscles in his arms flexing.
"Yes, well, if it is changing then we'll have to handle it. We can't leave a dangerous monster in the water like that. No one would be safe. We'll start hunting it tomorrow." Carlisle said with authority and the subject was closed.