6. Painting the picture
I put the news on sitting in the enormous Cullen living room. The walls painted a soft faded white, everything in it, graceful. The south wall was completely glass, it made the room so bright, and open. If you looked out from it, you could see right on to the river. The ceiling was high beamed and the floor wooden, and carpeted, in the same shade of faded white, as the walls. In the living room stood Edwards grand piano, which he often played. There was also the kitchen and a basement. The basement was hard to get too, unless you knew how. The kitchen we rarely used, it had the dining room next to it.
There wasn't much else to do right now, everyone was out making sure the area was safe, Esme was cutting up some fresh flowers to put in a vase on the dining room table, her mind wondering to other things, things I could feel she was trying to hide. Alice was out shopping with Bella and Renesmee, apparently they all needed a new wardrobe-again. I was invited to go along but didn't feel up to it. Jasper had previously been testing out my emotional barrier again and I was worn out (even for a vampire it was just so draining.)
I flicked through the channels at top speed- nothing interesting on so I stuck with the news. I sped to my room to grab one of the many books occupying my shelves, a romantic novel I had yet to read, and came to rest on the sofa. I was getting to a good part. I was reading at world record speed, I'd be finished soon- ah vampire abilities. I liked that bit about it, the past months I'd been here and been a vampire I couldn't get enough of speeding through all the books occupying the house, I loved reading very much. Then something from the news caught my senses, I turned the volume up a fraction so I could take in the words the woman was throwing at me.
'HEADLINE NEWS!'
'Another unexplained death on the outskirts of Seattle, that's three in five days.
The first victim a girl of only seventeen years, walking home from her friends house. The second a young man in his twenties, thought to have making his way home from a local bar. And the third a woman, it is unclear where she was heading to or from. No signs of evidence only spats of blood left at each scene. Are they possibly linked? Is there a dangerous killer out there on the lose? Police investigations are underway, so far nothing can be explained. It's like MASS MURDER all over again- if you have any information please contact…..'
I trailed off, what if this person or thing killing these people was the same person (vampire)that had been in the clearing just under a week ago, and these attacks happened all in three days- what if it was him?
I decided I would not let it bother me, not just yet, after all it might just be coincidence, the unknown vampire might not have anything to do with it…
Damn I was worrying myself more. I turned the news off and tried to get back to reading. Everything still played on my mind, but being a vampire I could think about many things at once. I tried my best to push it aside.
A few hours later and it was pitch black outside, I'd got through a few dozen books- I'd started reading some of the medical ones that had intrigued me, brushing up on some knowledge to please Carlisle, and a few on restoration and building design to satisfy Esme, she was happy to see me reading them as she flowed past me and upstairs to her study to look over some blue prints for her next project- for which she apparently would love my help on. She wanted me busy and learning (just like Carlisle) doing something with my time, to try and keep my mind occupied. I'd guessed to keep me from feeling bad about my lack of emotional control and because of my encounter in the forest. I enjoyed all the reading and spending my time learning, but I really wanted to concentrate on something I had loved doing- painting. None of the family knew this obsession, apart from Alice of course, who just that moment sauntered into the living room accompanied by Bella and Renesmee, all arms full. I had always loved art, but never done anything about it, maybe that's what I could also do, I had to think of something to do at least I wasn't just going to sit about being a bored vampire. When this year was up, the year or maybe two, where my family would keep me close to watch over my adjustments, I could go to college and study art, but that was only an option of course. I still had Esme and Carlisles best interests on the cards too. Well that's if I didn't, my family didn't, die already from being stalked by a vampire. No, must keep that from my mind, I was not to think that way, it was just a passing and nothing more, myself and my family would be ok. That still didn't make anyone, including myself anymore confident about it. I tried to keep everything from my mind, but everything I had heard on the news was still bursting through my thoughts, I was unable to budge the worry I felt.
Alice had returned with some paint for me, and plenty of canvas to paint on, also many more things to get me started, - she grinned, I blushed. Alice had also bought me some clothes, not a surprise, apparently my clothes where not good anymore, and I was not allowed to wear the same thing more than once, twice if lucky. I did not see a problem with wearing my clothes over more than the one occasion. Bella had also been forced to buy more than she bargained for. Renesmee was only too pleased.
"Thank you Alice, its no surprise you would have seen my desire to paint." she grinned again. "You can paint me if you like, I'll model for you," she twirled round on the spot like a ballerina. At least she had me smiling.
"Sure Alice," I said not seeming very enthusiastic about it. At some point I wouldn't have any choice but to paint her, for now however I would put it off for as long as possible, I preferred to draw and paint what came to mind and be my own messy creation. I knew Alice wouldn't let it drop though.
Edward, Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle soon arrived. Carlisle had been taking time off at the hospital, claiming he had been working too hard and needed to spend time with his family. I so desperately wanted him to go back and help the people that needed him. I had told him this the previous night and pleaded-he was going back in a few days time- thank god.
We all stood in the kitchen. There was no news from them about the stranger, where could he be now? I wondered. I thought about what I had seen on the news, Edward heard me and urged me too retell what I had seen. I did.
"It's possible, he could have a connection." said Carlisle, thought in his deep wizened eyes. Then Alice bounded into the room.
"NO!!" she almost shrieked. Everyone jumped and looked, eyes open wide in her direction, Jasper immediately at her side. "He isn't a threat, well he hasn't been killing people, not those people on the news anyway."
"How do you know this?" Edward demanded. Jasper let out a low silent growl.
"I saw it." Alice chirped, "Duh,…" she said mockingly tapping her forehead.
She continued, a little annoyed at Edward. "He isn't the killer, there are two others, they are hooded," her face furrowed, "just like the people I saw standing over Anna." her eyes closed in concentration now, she stood still for a short while.
"I can't see them well, only that they are a male and a female, but one is very strong- the threat, the other- half under the control of the strong one, she isn't so much of a threat, but there is no telling of what she is capable of; they could possibly be responsible for Anna…" she paused here.
"How do you know its not him?" Emmett spoke.
"The stranger, he is much smaller than the strong one, and the other is a woman- she has red, poker straight, flowing hair…" she gasped, opened her eyes and looked towards me.
"What?!" everyone demanded.
"Whats the matter?" voiced Carlisle.
"The stranger is not a threat, or the woman, although we should be cautious, but the strong one….is a threat to us all….The stranger and the other two, they were once altogether, but the stranger left them- I can't see why he left, it's a little blurry, but the stronger one doesn't like it, the woman doesn't want any harm, but against the strong one right now she can do nothing, she's helpless." she stopped, and rested her head on Jaspers chest. He patted her softly and carried her out of the kitchen and to their room. Her parting words where only that of his name, 'Bennett Roberts'. A small flicker of a smile stuck to her lips, but quickly as it came, fell off.
"We must keep an eye out for these two then," piped Emmett, "I'll rip his filthy head off!" he was a little too enthusiastic about going after another vampire.
"Indeed we must," Carlisle spoke, he looked deep in thought and soon departed to his study without saying another word. He swept swiftly and quickly from the kitchen.
Emmett left us to tell Rosalie and keep her up to date, she had been in the garage working on her car, and apparently fixing one up for me according to Emmett, he had let it slip, I wasn't supposed to know (oddly kind of her.)
'oops, my bad' he had said with a smirk. He would probably get told off for that when Rosalie found out.
Edward took Bella and Renesmee home safely, and apologised for having to leave. What did I do now? I had none of my family to turn too, all of them were otherwise busy with there own troubles….and there was a danger out there, killing people. I was all alone right now.
I couldn't talk to anyone, so I went up to my room, locked the door, put on some quiet, slow, calming music. Not the usual heavy stuff I would sometimes have the urge to play. I leaned a canvas up against it's stand and began to paint all the patterns, whizzing past my eyes.
I ended up painting my interpretation of him.
