Chapter Seven: We Regret to Inform You
Dev let the thin glass goblet fall to the wooden floor with a soft clink, her brain shattering completely as the fragile cup did not. She bent over at the waist and picked it up, her hands shaking like crazy as she held the wine glass to the dim dining room light, trying to find to spot if something was terribly wrong with it that made it do that. It couldn't possibly be her, could it?
While trying to pick up the pieces of her exploded brain, her Aunt Alice looked like she was about to sing in her incredibly high soprano while Carlisle looked absolutely floored. Jasper stayed silent, his bright, amber eyes wide with shock while Emmett and Rosalie both shared proud, beaming smiles as they watched their little girl who looked like she'd been hit by a bus.
"What just happened?" Devorah asked her voice cracking near the end as Rosalie's bright grin grew even brighter.
"I just knew it, Dev, you're such a different, special child; of course you'd have a power!" She exclaimed happily as Devorah looked to her Grandfather who still looked dumbstruck.
"Granddad, same question!" She exclaimed loudly as Carlisle shook his head.
"It's my theory that vampires take a piece of their personality with them to the 'other side', except its intensified. With me; I have my compassion, your Father; his incredible strength, Alice; her premonitions." He paused, thinking as he sat down on the edge of the dining room table.
Devorah looked at the glass that was back on the table again, wondering just how this could be possible. She'd heard her Granddad tell his theories of why certain vampires have certain talents t many, many times, but this was impossible; she wasn't anything extraordinary like Uncle Edward or Aunt Alice! They were the ones who possessed, no, deserved their gifts, they were good people! Devorah Rose Cullen wasn't pretty or strong or confident or anything like her family at all! All she thought she was good for was reading more books than the average human.
"When you had your nightmares; the room shook. Remember that Carlisle?" Esme asked and he nodded, crossing his arms over his toned, extremely hard torso as she walked over to him, her flawless face contorted in though as she placed a thin, pale hand on his shoulder.
"I do, perhaps that's what you've taken over. When you went through your 'little phase', it felt like an earthquake; as if you couldn't focus in on every object… but with it intensified, you can concentrate on one specific mass." Devorah sunk down onto one of the dining room chairs beside Dr. Cullen; realizing that she'd been sitting down in surprise quite a bit lately.
"You're joking me, you must be, this is positively mental!" She said in a small, soft, disbelieving voice as Emmett walked towards her, reaching into the cabinet and plucking another glass from a shelf, setting it on the table.
"I don't think so, but try again, just to be sure Dev." He encouraged brightly and she did as he said, turning to the cup, gazing at it intently.
She tried to reimagine the desperation she had when she did it the first time. She was still hungry, that was for sure, but it seemed as though it wasn't the same as having it so far out of her reach. She focused on the elegant glass piece and concentrated as hard as she could, picturing the glass rising up into the air.
A smile broke out on her face as the base of the glass lifted up about six centimeters before dropping back down in the table with a little clink. Emmett laughed, looking as though his mind had been blown as Dev turned and picked up the blood package from the ground, ripping it open and pouring it into the wine glass, tilting her head back and downing the lot of it in one sip.
"Sorry" She murmured when she realized that she'd killed the proud aura in the room with her frantic need to get something in her system.
The blood tasted terrible; almost like water with a slightly bitter aftertaste, she couldn't fathom how the family could stand it.
"How can you drink this? It's vile!" She exclaimed and Edward let out a hoarse chuckle, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"That's cow's blood, Devorah, it's the worst." He told her and she cocked her head to the side.
"Then what's the best?" She asked and his grin widened.
"Mountain lion." He replied and Emmett shook his head.
"I prefer grizzly bear." He said, making Deb giggle.
"Cannibal." She whispered under her breath as her Daddy's eyes widened.
"Watch it, mental chick." He growled at her, his serious tone undermined by the boyish grin that broke out on his face.
"We'll try hunting again tomorrow but I do believe it's useless, dovey." Carlisle told her and she cocked her head to the side.
"W-what do you mean?" She asked and he sighed.
"The animals go into hibernation at this time during the year; I think we'll be drinking cow's blood until the snow melts."
Her scream rang through the house as her Grandpa's words sunk in.
The next few days passed in sheer agony as Dev adjusted to her new un-life. The Cullen's home was located deep in the woods; just far enough off the path so no unsuspecting campers or humans could accidentally be her supper.
It was hard for her to re-learn average skills, such as holding a glass without breaking it in her incredibly strong, newborn grip or crossing the room without actually running at top speed. Needless to say, she was frustrated and for the three months it took her to have her eyes change from red to gold, so frustrated in fact that she would sometimes just stay locked up in Carlisle's study, staring at a book while trying to control her thirst.
"Dove, maybe you should come outside for a bit, maybe get some fresh air?" Carlisle asked her hopefully and she shook her head, not looking up from Stephen King's The Shining.
"No Grandpa, I don't want to." She said in a small voice. Even at seventeen, Devorah had never really outgrown her shy phase, it stayed with her throughout her teenage years and the whole family thought they would continue into adulthood.
"Why not?" He asked, sitting down on the sofa beside her and she finally put her book down, turning and giving him a bone-crushing hug.
"Because." She stated and he gave her an odd look.
"Because why?" She shook her head again, letting it rest on his freezing chest and squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
"Because I'm scared." She told him. It was barely a whisper and the good doctor was surprised that he'd caught it, but he heard her and he sighed, hugging her back.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, dovey. I know, this new life will take some getting used to but our way never seemed to bother you before-" She cut him off with a confused look and sat back on her heels.
"What? No Grandpa, I'm not scared of what I am now, I'm scared of what I could do!" She exclaimed.
"There aren't any humans for miles, Dev." Carlisle assured her and she turned away from him, standing up and walking towards the window. Concealed sunshine shone through the thin glass as she put her hand on the frost-bitten panes, feeling no difference in temperature.
"There doesn't have to be, Carlisle, I want blood so badly right now, I can smell it all the way from town. I want it… no, I need it, I'll do anything to get it!" she said, her voice rising in pitch as she entered hysterics. Her hand jolted back and she rammed her nails into the glass, dragging them down and scratching away at the window. "I can't go on without a taste; I have to have it, Carlisle." She said, letting her hand fall back to her side.
Carlisle was worried about his little dove, and he knew something was deeply wrong the second she called him by his name. It'd always been Grandpa or Granddad with her, she had never had to be a serious with him as she was then.
"I don't want to see the look on Mummy's face when I finally lose it." She whispered, crossing her arms over her chest and sliding down the wall. She scrunched up her face, waiting for the tears to come but none came. She looked to Carlisle like a deer stuck in the headlights and for a second, he thought he heard a cracking sound coming from his still heart.
"You can't cry, dovey." He told her and she hugged her knees up to her chest, slumping her head down so her long hair fell in her eyes. Dry, choked sobs wracked her slight frame as she pretended she could feel the warm wetness of her tears on her icy cheeks. Dr. Cullen leaned against the wall and sat down next to her again, slinging an arm around her shoulder.
She raised her gaze from the red carpeted floor to him, brushing a lock of her hair out of her eyes and she let her head fall onto his shoulder. "What do we do now?" She asked suddenly and Carlisle shrugged.
"We take it one day at a time, Devorah, and just so you know, you've been doing famously so far." The light sound of her giggle was music to his ears as she dragged him back into another hug. They pulled away and she stood up as he did. She waltzed over to the door and turned the knob, flashing him another big smile.
"Thank you Grandpa, come on, let's go." He nodded and followed her out into the living room.
Devorah beaming grin fell from her face instantly as she took in the sight of the rest of the family, who were seated on the many couches around the room. Alice had her arms wrapped around Rosalie while Esme was hugging herself. Edward was staring at the floor while Emmett stared out the window, his large hands balled into tight fists. Jasper stood beside him, his frame rigid as he clutched a piece of paper in his smooth, marble hand.
They all looked to the pair when they came out and Rosalie let out a choked sob when she saw her daughter. Alice's hold on her tightened as Jasper turned, walking in a stiff, clenched way to the patriarch of the family. He shoved the piece of paper into his hands and let out a low growl, making Dev step back a little bit.
"What does it say Carlisle?" She asked and he held up a hand as he read the paper in his head. He paused and his eyes widened as he finished reading it. He cleared his throat and looked to Devorah with pain in his eyes as he lowered his gaze to the inky words printed in cursive and began to read.
"Dear Cullen family,
We regret to inform you that we are well aware of the human girl that Mr. Emmett and Miss Rosalie have 'adopted' into your coven. Where we obtained this information is none of your concern and shall remain as such, but we must request your presence in Volterra, Italy as soon as possible to discuss this matter as it poses a threat to all of our kind. I am disappointed in all of you for taking such a dangerous route but what has been done has been done and must be dealt with accordingly.
Sincerely,
Aro, Caius and Marcus"
The creased and crumpled paper fell from the doctor's hand as he finished and Dev froze completely. She could've ripped apart the world she felt so angry but she kept it in, she didn't want to make a scene in front of her family, especially not with how calm they were acting.
"How could this happen?" Esme asked, her voice wavering and a little piece of Dev's soul chipped away at how fragile she sounded.
"We've come across many nomads since being here, some we haven't parted on very good terms with. What I'm more bewildered by is how long it took to actually happen." Carlisle answered and then exhaled, making his way towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Alice asked as he ascended to the upper levels of their large, beautiful home.
"To pack our things, Dev and I leave in the morning." He responded and Rosalie was in front of him in a second.
"You're mad!" She exclaimed loudly. "I'm coming as well!" She shouted and Carlisle shook his head.
"Their leader, Aro and I have history, it will be easier for Devorah to dodge punishment if I'm the one vouching for her." He replied and Rosalie shook her head.
"But… but…" She trailed off and Dev flashed up beside her, pulling her Mummy into a hug.
"It's alright, Mum. I'll be back before you know it. You hold down the fort here, okay?" She asked and the blonde woman still looked as though she wasn't sure. Dev gave her a cautious smile as she pulled away from the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen and blonde caved.
"You'll come back?" She asked and Dev nodded.
"It shouldn't take more than three days." Carlisle assured her and the woman nodded, allowing her daughter and father figure to go up to their rooms and pack their belongings. Dev only took what was essential and at the last minute before she closed her suitcase, she picked up a copy of her treasured Edgar Allen Poe works and placed it on top, shutting the lid and zipping it shut.
The next day, she stood outside Carlisle's black Mercedes, suitcase in hand, her Cullen scarf wrapped around her neck. She kissed her Mum on the cheek and gave each family member a tight hug, trying to ignore the lump she felt in her throat, knowing she'd only get more upset that she couldn't shed a tear.
She gave her Daddy a half smile just before she got into the front seat of the car and a little wave. She knew she'd be back, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't be for a long, long time.