"So you found her."
Lilith dropped her briefcase by the door and set her keys on the small table that rested a foot away. She glanced toward the sight of a fully furnished living room, complete with brown leather sofa, love seat and arm chair. The hellhound was in his human form and slouched in the armchair, flipping through channels of satellite TV. She wondered how it was Dip had managed to get everything situated with the cabin so quickly before deciding not to think about it.
He had his ways, just as Silvan had his ways and she had her ways. They each had contacts within the mortal realm, people who were able to get them whatever they needed however they needed it. They were people who didn't ask questions, not when they were paid handsomely enough for their silence. Dip was one of the members who frequented the most seediest places of the human world. He knew people that would sell their own child without even blinking if it meant making a pretty penny.
She didn't reply to his statement as she slipped out of her shoes and made her way to the kitchen. Had she found her? It depended on the "her" that Dip was referring to. Yes, she had found her Alice but she had also found a child of the Old Blood to which she had felt a connection with. She opened the fridge, saw that it was filled to the brim with food, and by passed all of it to grab a bottle of water. She twisted off the cap and chugged the refreshing liquid, the water cooling the dryness of her throat. She closed her eyes and felt her body quickly absorb the water, shivering lightly at the slight contaminants from the plastic. It wasn't completely pure but it was better than tap. She would need to get a filter for the faucet tomorrow...
She sighed softly as the water began to refresh her parched body and her heart gave a revitalizing thump. Her body didn't need much food thanks to the old magic that was attuned to her but it did need water, lots of water. She was surprised she had managed to make it this far before she had begun to feel the fatigue the moment she had left Dr. Cullen's office. Using her glamour, healing her injuries, summoning the Allu, had wasted much of her magic and she was exhausted.
She didn't react when she felt a hot breath against her neck and hot hands bracing her slender shoulders. "Easy there Red, deep breaths..." Dip's gravely voice spoke just above her ear and she felt his strong arm tuck under her knees. He picked her up with little effort and took her to the master bedroom. He set her down on the sheets of a king sized bed and brushed the loose curls from her forehead. She was beginning to shiver and beads of sweat were forming on her brow. He sighed heavily and ripped her shirt down the middle, exposing her skin to the air. Her breath hitched and she tensed, a deep flush appearing on her clammy cheeks. Her body was incredibly hot now and her back arched, a cry of pain escaping her full lips. She began to tremble and quake, the dark scar on her right collar bone was twitching with ill intent. That was the one bit of true evil that she possessed and one that often fought to gain control. Bonding her with malicious spirits had not been the best decision to heal her supernatural wounds but considering any other option Silvan had at the time, there was little choice.
"You'll be all right, just keep fighting as you always have..."
He studied the human for a bit, always caught by surprise at how strong and slow her heartbeat remained during these recovery periods. He turned on his heel and left the room, leaving the door open in case she needed him. He slumped himself back down in the armchair, catching the inhumanely tall form of Silvan appearing from a shadowed corner of the room. Dip gave a nod in greeting as he continued flipping through channels, ignoring the cries of pure pain emanating from the back of the house. Silvan glanced at the hallway, a slight frown appearing on his pale face. "She used too much of her energy this time..."
"She's in the human world now. What did you expect?"
Silvan's frown deepened as he listened to the cries of pain, listened as her body regained the energy she had drained. "I just wished she wasn't in pain every time she replenished..."
"She still has a beating heart Silvan. She is using energy that no living human should be capable of harnessing. She will continue as she has for the last ninety years and bear with it."
The old vampire closed his eyes against the heart wrenching scream that emerged from his charge's mouth. She was in pain, something he didn't like from the very moment she crossed the borders. He had overseen her growth and he really hated that she was in so much pain every time her body needed to heal itself. If he could take away the pain he would but the only way that could be done was making her heart cease it its beating. Something that no one, not even Ankou himself, would grant to her. She would have to continue in her barely live status awhile longer. What her path entailed at this moment in time required it.
"She had found the child?" Silvan looked at his old friend, watching as the earthy brown eyes changed to a fiery yellow and back again.
"They had made the connection earlier today." Dip changed the channel again, landing on a cooking show. "But, you know, free will and shit... Anything is game at the moment."
"Anything you think might be of an issue?" Silvan ignored the sound of the TV, focusing on the screams coming from Lilith.
Dip threw the remote to the sofa and folded his hands behind his head. "Well, those vampires might mess up a few things but what can you do?"
Silvan glanced at the hellhound and he narrowed his eyes. "The doctor?"
"Yup," said Dip, punctuating the "p" with a loud pop. "The doctor's oldest 'son' has taken an interest in the child and the doctor himself had made an interesting connection with our dear Lilith."
"What kind of connection?"
The hellhound shrugged in response and remained silent, his eyes glancing up to catch sight of the tiny frown on the old vampire's pale face for a moment. Finally, he gave a feral smile and tilted his head to the side. "Emotions... Free will... Gotta love it huh?"
"DIP! SHUT THE HELL UP!" Lilith's voice boomed from the bedroom, a good dose of pure anger radiating from the human. It flowed out in a blast of crimson energy, shaking the very foundation of the house and the hellhound winced, though he continued to smile at Silvan in a knowing way.
"Ah, Red... Always worth annoying."
A scream of pure rage emerged and both the vampire and hellhound flinched slightly. Hell hath no fury like that of a woman's anger... Especially that of the Red Mother when she was healing. It sure was fun to provoke though.
…
Carlisle had stepped through the door from the garage and into the kitchen. He pulled off his scarf and coat, hanging them on the peg beside the door. All props, all of it... The lingering effects of a fading winter didn't bother his kind, not when they were as cold as the snow itself. He was recounting his encounter with Edward earlier that day, the despair that had gripped his face had cut Carlisle to the core.
Edward?
I have to go Carlisle. I have to go now.
What happened?
Nothing. Yet. But it will, if I stay...
He sighed heavily at the memory of it. He had understood Edward's insistence on leaving and he had had given his car keys to his first son. His car was faster than Edward's silver Volvo and before he could say anything else, Edward was gone. Had he done the right thing in allowing him to leave? He wasn't so sure, he had hoped he hadn't hurt his son for his lack of trust in Edward's control...
"Don't worry, he'll be back by next week. He just needs some time to figure himself out."
Carlisle cast his golden eyes toward Alice, watching as she skipped to a stop beside him and gave a sweet smile. "Don't worry."
He studied his daughter before his thoughts focused on another thing that had been troubling him today. At the sight of the slight frown on his face, Alice's smile brightened and folded her hands behind her. "She's beautiful isn't she?"
Carlisle opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it and walked past her to set his briefcase on the counter. Was she beautiful? He didn't particularly notice, he had been focusing on ignoring the energy of her strange blood that always managed to get through his control. "Why didn't you warn me that she would be visiting?"
"It needed to happen Carlisle," she said, moving around him to look up at his face. "She's important to me for a reason I don't know yet and she's going to mean something to you."
He glanced down at her, his golden eyes staring into hers. She will mean something to him? In what way? What did this strange human have anything to do with his and his family's lives? "What is she going to do to this family?"
Alice frowned lightly, her eyes slowly going unfocused as she channeled through different futures that would tie with this woman. Carlisle wasn't expecting much, he had known that visions of Lilith Holloway were always hazy to Alice, no matter what decision was made. At last, Alice's gaze snapped back into focus and she looked up at her father, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Nothing... She will just love. No matter what decision is made, I sense that she will love us in the purest way."
Love? A memory of her sad earthy eyes staring up at him had remained etched within his mind. Alice is a lovely young woman, you should be proud of her... She knew Alice in some way, she was connected to his daughter. At that moment in time, the sadness that had touched her had been deep, longing...
Carlisle ran a hand over his fair hair, feeling Alice's lips press against his cheek before she turned and left the kitchen. He didn't know how long he had stood there deep in thought until he felt another pair of hands reach out to grip his own. He looked over and saw Esme, a beautiful smile playing on her pale face. Her golden brown hair fell luscious and thick about her shoulders. Her own golden eyes were focused on the man before her and she allowed a hint of sadness to appear. "This woman will be meaning something to you... I suppose betting against Alice now isn't in the family's best interest."
"You know her visions are subjective." Carlisle stared at his wife for all intents and purposes. Esme had been his closest friend, in the beginning of their relationship his lover, but they never had that deep connection that the other couples in the house had. The soul deepening bond that went beyond words, beyond the physical, beyond anything that made sense in an immortal's life. Still, Carlisle could not have hoped for a better person to help care for his family more than Esme. She was a woman who had more than enough love for her family to give and then some.
Esme allowed her smile to deepen just a bit and reached up to brush the golden hair that had fallen loose from its slick appearance and onto his brow. "We'll see what happens Carlisle. Let things happen, no matter what those things will be." She kissed him chastely on the lips, squeezed his hand once more, before turning and flitting out of the kitchen. In the living room, Carlise could see his two other sons, Jasper and Emmett, engaged in a competitive battle on a videogame console. Jasper seemed relaxed more than usual this evening and the doctor couldn't help but feel curiosity at the thought of it.
As usual, Jasper picked up on the emotions that were directed in his way and he glanced back at the doctor. A rare smile lit Jasper's face as he studied his father and gave a nod. "The nurse... She's a good person Carlisle."
Carlisle immediately understood what Jasper meant. Alice had said that Lilith would help Jasper with his thirst today and from Jasper's attitude now, it had worked in a way that he had not been expecting. He allowed a small smile toward Jasper, the smile growing as Emmett let out shout and flung his controller down, the result of it breaking the plastic item to pieces. Apparently even while distracted, Jasper had bested Emmett on this particular racing game and was not at all pleased about it.
Carlisle raised a hand in goodnight to his sons and turned toward the stairs, heading up to his study. He could hear Alice flitting about in her and Jasper's room, the rustling of clothing an indication that she was messing with her large wardrobe. Rosalie was in her and Emmett's room, humming softly to herself, most likely primping herself in whatever way she adored. Carlisle could hear Esme in her own room, listening softly to gentle music, the sound of a page turning catching his ear. He smiled softly, taking in the very normal nightly routine of his family.
He entered his study and looked around, taking in the sight of his familiar oak desk, the wooden walls lined with book shelves. This was his safe haven away from the everyday, where he studied his chosen profession to perfection. Three hundred plus years of medicine under his belt, his control against human blood perfect against anything so far. Why would it take the appearance of some strange human to shatter that to pieces? He sighed and ignored the darkness that this woman would likely bring to his family. As far as he was concerned, this Lilith Holloway was going to be a threat to his family's peace and it'll be a cold day in hell before he would allow anything to harm that peace.
…
The last few days, Edward Cullen was missing. Bella Swan couldn't understand why he was absent from school. After their first biology class together, it was as if he couldn't stand the sight of her before he had rushed out so fast. Awkward was the least of the words Bella would have used. Still, school continued on as it had from the first day, the student body still looking at her as if she were a shiny, new toy to play with. She ignored the interest of Mike Newton, the blond haired blue eyed jock of their class, though he continued to follow after throughout much of the days. Eric Yorkie was another one that tried to gain her attention, a tall kid, somewhat nerdy, that was a bit on the skinny side with dark hair that looked in desperate need of a wash. She had, however, found a potential good friend in a fellow classmate named Angela Webber, a very quiet girl who stood at an impressive height of six feet. She had light brown hair, light brown eyes, and a quiet smile that always lit her face. She was respectful of Bella's need to shy away from attention and didn't try to pry Bella's life story from her in one conversation. The connection between them had been instant and Bella was glad that she had found another quiet soul like her.
There was one other person that Bella felt a connection to but it was none of the other students on the campus. It was the mysterious nurse that was often seen at lunch time with a couple of other staff members at their designated table. Though the teachers and staff had their own lounge, Ms. Holloway was always seen in the cafeteria and sitting in a corner all her own. She was a quiet woman from what Bella had gathered from the gossip floating about the school. Her first day had actually been Bella's as well so she had felt an instant curiosity toward her fellow newcomer.
From what Bella had heard, Ms. Holloway had just moved to Forks this past weekend, having been nearly rundown by a passing car when she had walked out in the middle of a dark road, thanks to a couple of flat tires to her truck. Her introduction to the citizens of Forks had arrived in the form of an ambulance, a very embarrassing way to go to town, Bella was sure. Ms. Holloway had been OK but these small towns were in need of excitement so the gossip had spread like wild fire. Despite being new to town, no one knew anything else about her. She was a mystery, a quiet mystery that plucked at Bella's curiosity as much as Edward Cullen did.
After that strange Biology class, Bella had seen the nurse lingering outside of building four for whatever reason. The moment their eyes had locked, Bella had felt a strange connection with this woman. Not like with Edward, no it wasn't anything like what she had felt with the Cullen boy, but it was just as strong. When she had smiled at the nurse, Ms. Holloway had returned the smile in a hesitant way before turning and heading back to the front office. It had been strange, her entire first day had been strange but thankfully that was expected.
By the middle of the week Bella was beginning to fall into a routine. With Edward Cullen MIA and the rest of the Cullens keeping to themselves as of one of their status and looks should, Bella was growing slightly more comfortable. She wasn't getting as many stares and the whispering had calmed down to a manageable level. Mike and Eric were still competing with each other to gain her attention but she paid them no mind and focused her attention on her growing friendship with Angela. Things were looking to be all right. At least until Gym class...
Back in Phoenix, Bella had dropped Gym as soon as her sophomore year was complete. It was only mandatory the first two years after all. Not here in Forks, she was forced to endure Gym for rest of her high school career and she hated it. Coach Clapp had ignored her concerns regarding her constant clumsiness on her second day and she was forced to join in on the volleyball games. She really wasn't kidding in her clumsiness. Within the first five minutes, she had managed to hit the volleyball directly to the back of Lauren Mallory's blonde head and nearly got Jessica Stanley full in the face. Five minutes after that, the ball went sailing directly over the net and straight at Bella, who made an awkward dive to either get out of the way or aim to hit it.
The result was a less than graceful landing on her right foot and a shooting pain as it twisted in an uncomfortable way. She winced as she fell over, the ball slamming a foot away from her and bouncing off in the opposite direction. The coach blew on his annoying whistle and all playing of volleyball ceased. Bella felt that familiar flush in her cheeks as all eyes focused on her and she heard Mike rush quickly to her side as Coach Clapp rushed over and kneeled down in front of her to check her right foot.
It was already beginning to swell and Bella blinked away tears of frustration as the coach declared she needed to go to the nurse. When asked if she could stand on her own, she managed to get to her feet only to cry out in pain and nearly take Mike down with her, who had been helping her up. Coach Clapp had Jessica run off to grab the nurse and mentioned something about a wheelchair... Great.
Bella closed her eyes and willed herself away, ignoring the questions, ignoring the stares, ignoring everything. She hated the attention, she warned the coach not to let her play... After another ten minutes, the doors to the gym opened and Bella opened her eyes to see Jessica leading a calm looking Ms. Holloway toward the scene. Coach Clapp looked up and at once his face softened, a slight smile appearing on his face. Bella caught this quickly and would have laughed, apparently the coach had a liking to the nurse.
Ms. Holloway didn't have a wheelchair with her, much to Bella's relief. She only had a roll of elastic wrap in her hand. She gave a nod in greeting to the coach before she leaned down in front of Bella. "Hello Bella, looks as if your old school nurse wasn't kidding about you." Her earthy eyes caught Bella's own chocolate orbs and Bella couldn't help but relax. The connection she had felt from her first day seemed stronger now that Ms. Holloway was so near.
"I tried to warn them..." said Bella, her smile growing as the nurse let out a gentle laugh. Her fingers were slightly cold but they felt so nice against the swelling and she let out a sigh. It was strange how relaxed she was around the nurse but she supposed the nurse gave off that air. As Ms. Holloway gently untied Bella's sneaker and took it off along with the sock, Bella focused on the cool fingers as they gently turned her ankle over.
"It looks like a light sprain, nothing serious but you'll need to stay off of it for now." She smiled at Bella as she gently started to wrap the bandage around her swollen ankle to keep the movement to a minimum. Her fingers were so gentle and the moment she tied the bandage in a snug manner, she had completely forgotten that there was an audience watching them. Ms. Holloway had turned her attention to the coach, talking softly as she advised that Bella would need to be excused from the rest of the class.
Coach Clapp only nodded, the dazed smile on his face never leaving as he quickly agreed to what the nurse suggested. It all happened in less than a few minutes and the next thing Bella knew, she had changed into her regular clothes in the locker room. She was soon being helped out of the gym by the nurse, who was supporting her weight as they walked. They were near the parking lot at the moment and Ms. Holloway glanced at her charge, her earthy eyes studying her with slight concern. "I don't recommend driving at the moment. If you give me a few moments, I need to run to my office and call your father."
"No! Please!" Bella reached out and grabbed the nurse by the arm. "Please, I don't want to worry him. Would you..." She paused at this, her face growing warm with embarrassment "Could you give me a ride home?"
Ms. Holloway studied her, a look of understanding sweeping across her features. "All right... I'll need to clear a few things with the main office and then I can take you home. It's the last class so don't worry about leaving early."
Bella gave a nod in agreement and she was left alone as the nurse hurried along the campus to the front office. She had no idea what had made her ask the nurse to take her home but it was embarrassing enough that she had sprained her ankle and the whole student body will know of it by the time the last bell rung. Why did she feel as if she could trust the nurse so much? It was odd but Bella wasn't going to ignore her gut instinct.
It was only a few moments before Ms. Holloway was making her way quickly back toward Bella. She was pleased to see the the nurse had her own coat in hand and was rushing to get back to her side. Was she not the only one who felt this connection between them? She smiled as Ms. Holloway quickly took Bella by the waist and helped her toward the old and rusted red Chevy that was parked a bit away. Without hesitation, Bella dug in her pocket for her keys and handed them to the nurse. She was helped into the truck and was soon joined by the nurse, who climbed into the driver's side.
"I'll need directions," said Ms. Holloway, turning on the truck and the engine roaring in the silence of the parking lot. Bella rattled off the directions to her house and they were soon off, much to the amazement of Bella. How in the world did this come to pass? How often was a staff member willing to do this for a student? She had a feeling that Ms. Holloway wasn't often this nice to any of her patients.
"Thank you," said Bella, a telltale heat filling her ivory cheeks. "I know this is awkward. Um- what about your car...?"
"Don't worry about it, I'll call my brother to pick it up ." Ms. Holloway smiled at her as they drove down the quiet streets. The sky was a usual overcast of gray and the rest of the drive was followed in comfortable silence. The moment Ms. Holloway turned into the driveway of Bella's home, she sighed softly, the connection between them still as strong as it had been from that moment in gym. She didn't say anything as the nurse got out of the car and went around to help her out and to the front porch.
She handed the keys back to Bella, who unlocked the door and, with help, managed to hobble inside without falling. She dropped her backpack on the floor and pulled off her coat as Ms. Holloway helped her. "Thanks..." She smiled at the nurse as she went the living room to lay down on the couch. The nurse quickly grabbed one of the throw pillows and it set underneath Bella's right ankle, keeping it elevated.
"You're more than welcome Bella," said Ms. Holloway, amusement dancing in her eyes as began to unwrap the elastic to check her foot. The bruising had gotten worse and the swelling had grown a bit. The nurse sighed at the sight of it before wrapping the ankle firmly. She turned around to go into the kitchen, a slight look if interest appearing on her face before she disappeared around the corner. Bella heard the sound of the fridge door opening and closing, a moment later the cracking of an ice tray broke the silence. "Do you have any snack bags?"
"Cupboard under the sink!"
The sound of a cabinet door opening and closing reached her followed by the sound of ice clacking together as they were dropped into a plastic bag. Bella couldn't help but think it strange that the school nurse was in her father's house and getting her a bag of ice. She should have been embarrassed but again, that pull she felt toward the woman had allowed her to feel trust. She had a feeling that this woman was like her, an outsider, a watcher. They were similar in a way that Bella was still trying to figure out.
"Remember Bella," Ms. Holloway said as she came back into the living room and set the bag of ice on her swelled ankle. She winced at the feel of the freezing cold through the wrap but it did feel so good on her heated flesh. The nurse only smiled at her as she covered the ankle in ice and fluffed out the pillow so her foot was a little higher. "RICE."
"Rice?" Bella blinked in reply, wondering if the nurse was talking about what she wanted for dinner. She had a bag of white rice in the pantry but she didn't think she'd be able get up to start on it. Her ankle was beginning to throb in a painful way.
"Rest, ice, compression and elevation." She took a step back as she studied the girl, her earthy eyes flicking over her face and then above her. It looked as if she was seeing something that wasn't there, her eyes had a slightly glazed look. She snapped her attention back to Bella and her smile grew. "Stay off your feet the rest of the day, you should be all right by tomorrow." She glanced around the room, taking in the sight of the simple and yet homey atmosphere. "I take your father will be home soon?"
"Usually by six..." Bella continued to study the caramel tone of the woman's face. The nurse had such a beautiful skin tone and the black curls that had sprung free of her bun danced around her ears and brow. She wondered what her nationality was but it would have been a rude thing to ask her...
"My mother was a black woman." She pulled off her lab coat and set it on the arm chair with her briefcase and heavy coat. She caught Bella's eye and smiled, having noticed the curiosity on her face. "My father was a white man. At the time and place where I was born, there was still a very strong animosity between those two races. Well, lust can throw those barriers down real quick..."
"Where are you from?" Bella found her interest peaking as she watched the nurse roll up her sleeves to her brown blouse. Ms. Holloway disappeared back into the kitchen and Bella could hear the sound of cabinet doors opened and the dishes being pulled.
"Good ol' Mississippi," she called from the kitchen as the sound of running water hitting a pot breaking the silence that followed. Before Bella could ask what she was doing, the nurse called out that she was going to get started on dinner, a simple meal of burritos.
A few moments passed and, though embarrassed now, she called out her thanks and settled herself back against the couch. She reached over to grab the remote from the end stand and flipped on the TV, the sound of a sports channel breaking the silence. It was rather nice to not make dinner for once and even nicer to just relax. She glanced at the clock and noted her father would be home in a couple of hours. She could get started on her homework in a little bit and for once, Bella didn't worry about anything.
Time moved on as the smell of cooking rice and beans wafted throughout the house. By this time, Bella was working on her Biology homework when the front door opened followed by the sound of heavy boots. "Bells? I'm home!"
"Hi Dad!" Bella called from the living room, leaning up from her restful position as her father caught sight of her on the couch. A light frown graced his features as he studied his daughter. He was handsome in a slightly rugged way, his brown hair was cut in a fashion acceptable for the police force but some locks fell about his brow. His brown eyes darted from the bandaged ankle to his daughter's face and his confusion grew.
"What are you doing on the couch?"
"Accident in Gym class." Her face flushed with familiar warmth as her father continued to stare at her, his confusion giving way to understanding and slight worry.
"Are you ok? Who took you home?" He paused and looked around, catching the sound of Ms. Holloway in the kitchen. He looked at his daughter and his frown returned, pointing a thumb toward the kitchen. "Who's in there?"
"Chief Swan." Both father and daughter glanced back to catch sight of the nurse standing behind him, an easy smile playing on her lips. She was drying her hands on a towel before holding out her hand in greeting. "I'm Lilith Holloway, the new school nurse at Bella's school. It's nice to finally meet you."
"I twisted my ankle in Gym and Ms. Holloway was nice enough to take me home." Bella smiled at the nurse, the trust she felt toward the nurse for taking her out of an embarrassing situation winning points for both of them. "She wouldn't let me off the couch so she helped make to dinner."
Chief Swan had been staring at the nurse in surprise. The sound of his daughter's liking for the woman, as well as the fact that she had took care of her, helping to overcome the slight shock of finding her in his home. He reached out to take her hand, slightly shocked at the coolness of her skin, before giving it a firm shake. "Ms. Holloway, thank you for taking care of my daughter."
"After cooking dinner for you and Bella, I think we can get past formalities. Just call me Lilith." Her easy smile had grown and Bella caught the slight blush that appeared on her father's cheeks.
"Charlie then..."
Lilith laughed a little, the sound of it making Charlie's blush deeper. The nurse looked at Bella and gave a nod. "Keep off your feet tonight and the swelling should go down by morning. I'll have a note excusing you from Gym for the rest of the week so you can heal."
Bella's smile was blinding, anyone who was able to get her out of Gym rose quickly in the her ranks. She gave a nod as Lilith went over to grab her belongings. "If you don't feel up to driving tomorrow, just have Charlie call in the morning. I'll let the front office know."
Again, Bella smiled in reply and she shook her head. "No, I'll think I'll be all right tomorrow but I'll have Dad call just in case."
Both sets of brown eyes glanced at the Chief then and Charlie glanced quickly at the nurse before looking at his daughter. He cleared his throat and gave a nod. "Yeah, I don't see a problem with that." He ran a hand through his hair as he looked at Lilith, he still had a slight blush on his cheeks. "Are you staying for dinner? I feel a little guilty that you had to cook on top of caring for my daughter."
Lilith laughed a little and shook her head as she slipped on her coat. "Thank you Charlie but my brother's coming to pick me up so I don't want to keep him waiting."
"Your brother?"
A knock on the door at that moment made Charlie jump in surprise. Lilith's laughter, followed by Bella's, made his blush deepen and he went to open the door. The blush was gone as the sight of a tall man with frazzled, wavy dark hair filled his doorway. The man had the same caramel skin as Lilith's and the same earthy brown eyes but there was something eerie about him. He glanced at Charlie and flashed a smile, perfectly straight teeth giving him a predatory look. "Good evening Chief Swan, sorry to intrude." His voice was gravelly, as if he had been shouting for hours, and his eyes quickly found Lilith's as she walked toward him. "I'm Liam, Lilith's brother. We just moved to town so forgive us for not meeting earlier than this."
Lilith chuckled at the obvious discomfort that her brother was throwing off, the protective stance he had taken did not go past the chief or his daughter. The nurse shook her head and looked into the living room, raising a hand in farewell. "Hopefully I'll see you in the morning Bella, keep off your foot."
"Bye Lilith." Bella was smiling as she waved in return before going back to her homework. Charlie walked the Holloway siblings to the front porch, thanking Lilith again for caring for his daughter and for dinner. At this, Liam raised a dark brow as he threw confused look at his sister. She looked at him and simply shook her head, the look on her face stating to leave the discussion for later.
Charlie glanced between the two of them before he cleared his throat and caught Lilith's gaze. "So... you guys live at the old Haverton place?"
Lilith nodded in reply, though her smile wasn't as it had been when in the house. Disappointment flooded Charlie at the sight of it, she looked to be the type of person who didn't smile often. "Well, you live out quite a ways from town so um..." He reached into the front pocket of his police coat and pulled out a note pad. He clicked his pen and scribbled out his home number before ripping the paper off. "Just in case of anything, don't be afraid to call my house. I respond a lot quicker than the station."
"Thank you Charlie," she said, a hint of her real smile coming through as she took the paper and stuffed it in her pocket. "It was nice meeting you. Make sure Bella keeps her foot elevated."
He gave a nod and raised a hand in farewell as the two turned and made their way to an old, white Nissan truck. He watched them as they got in and backed out of the drive. From the passenger's side, he could make out that a deep frown was playing on Lilith's face. She was shaking her head in reply to whatever her brother was saying to her and slowly ran a hand over her forehead. As the truck disappeared down the street, he couldn't help but sense that Lilith, despite her smiles, seemed to have a deep sadness in her. Well, if his daughter was able to make her smile then he would talk with Bella about having her over more often. She had taken a liking to the woman, which must have spoke measures to the type of person she was. Bella was usually a good judge of character.
Rubbing his jaw, he turned around and went back into the house, the lingering smell of cooked dinner bringing the police chief a strange sense of something missing.