Chapter Six
Jasper

Carlisle merely stared at Alice, completley perplexed. Bella glanced up at me before looking at Alice, who was acting as if she'd known these people her entire life. She probably did feel like she knew them by now, she'd seen them countless times in her visions. The woman with caramel-colored hair moved to stand beside Carlisle, she didn't look or feel threatened, she merely took each of us in.

"What's going on?" a voice called from the house. The front door opened and a stunning blond stood in the doorway, from Alice's descriptions, I knew this was Rosalie. She stared at us, her eyes lingered on me the longest, no doubt taking in my battle scars. "Who're they?"

Esme frowned at her, Rosalie was clearly more blunt than the others. Carlisle cleared his throat before turning to look at her.

"This is Alice," he said, gesturing to Alice, who beamed at Rosalie, "and Bella her mate Jasper." His arm moved to us as he spoke. Bella nodded as his words.

Bella gave Alice a jab between her shoulders. Alice turned her head to look at her, she tilted her head in question. Bella leaned forward slightly.

"Perhaps you should explain how and why we're here," she suggested. "I believe you've done nothing so far but confuse them."

Alice snapped her fingers and spun back around to face the three vampires before us. "I have visions," she stated simply. Carlisle nodded in understanding at once, Rosalie merely stared at her as if she were speaking another language. "I had a vision about you all about a week ago."

"We're sorry for not giving any...warning," said Bella, stepping forward to stand beside Alice. "When Alice sees something, she tends to go head on into it. We didn't meant to catch you off guard."

I didn't move as I took in the scene. The first thing that had caught my attention about this coven was their eye color. It wasn't the scarlet I had become used to with my former companions, it was the deep topaz color of Alice and Bella's. Mine too, now.

Alice rolled her eyes at Bella. Carlisle smiled.

"I'm Carlisle," he said. He gestured to the two females behind him. "My wife Esme and my daughter Rosalie. There are two others with us, but they're on a hunting trip at the moment. Emmett and Edward."

Alice laughed her musical laugh. "I knew that already," she tapped her head. Carlisle laughed too. Esme smiled and moved to stand next to Carlisle.

"There's no inconvenience," she assured Bella. "You are welcome here."

Rosalie nodded at us and glanced at Carlisle. "We're not going to make them stay out here are we?" she demanded. Carlisle's eyebrows rose in surprise. Rosalie smiled. "If they are to join the family, it only makes sense to invite them inside, doesn't it?"

"Of course," said Esme, she smiled and placed a hand on Bella's shoulder. "Please, do come in."

Alice didn't need to be told twice. She slung her bag back onto her shoulder and skipped into the house. Bella reached behind her for my hand, she looked at me over her shoulder. I could tell she was slightly worried how I would handle this situation, I'd never really been part of an actual coven before. Whatever it was that Maria had was not a coven, an army, maybe, never a coven. I smiled and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She smiled back and led me into the house after Esme.

"When did Edward and Emmett say they'd be home?" asked Esme, looking over at Carlisle as she led us into the living room.

"Sometime today, I thought," he replied, glancing at the clock. "Rose?"

Rosalie nodded. "About an hour, actually," she said, gracefully lowering herself onto one of the chairs. Bella and I joined Alice on the couch as Esme and Carlisle occupied the other two chairs. I let my bag, which was considerably smaller than Alice's, slide to the floor beside Bella's.

An awkward silence had settled in. I slid my arm around Bella's shoulders, I felt her relax against my side. I wasn't sure if it was because of my ability, or merely the fact that she just felt more at ease when in my presence.

The front door banged opened and a booming voice echoed off he walls, "Where is everyone?" it demanded. Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"We're in here Emmett," said Esme, shaking her head as a large man with dark hair strut into the room. When he caught sight of us he stopped abruptly.

"Who are they?" he demanded, but he didn't mean it in offense. It was clear from that statement alone that Rosalie was not the only blunt on among them.

"What are you talking about, Emmett?" demanded another voice from the entryway. The front door closed and the person appeared beside Emmett. He was four inches shorter than Emmett, with tousled bronze-colored hair. I didn't need to look at Alice to know that this had to be Edward.

Alice rose from her seat and was suddenly in front of Edward. He stared down at her in surprise, not expecting any of us to approach him, let alone get less than a foot from his face. To the best of her ability, anyway. I heard Bella suck in a breath next to me.

"Hi, Edward!" she chirped. "I'm Alice!"