Disclaimer: I do not own The Twilight Saga or any of its affiliates. Chapter 7:
I hesitated slightly as I stepped my feet into their home. I barely knew them, and I was already considering going into their house and learning their ways. It could all be a trap, and I was just the main player in it all. I hung my head slightly at the shame.
When I was in the house, my eyes darted left and right. The mother, Esme, fluttered around, cleaning. Rosalie and Emmett sat on the couch, leaning forward, watching something intently on television. Alice and Jasper leaned on the walls of the staircase, talking quietly to each other. I listened to the music flowing through the house; Edward rested on the bench in front of the piano, his fingers gliding noiselessly over the ebony keys.
I was awed by the beautiful music. As the music changed chords and keys and melody, I listened closely. I leaned up against the wall by the door, staring at only Edward. His face looked soothing but focused. When the piece reached its peak, Edward closed his eyes and let his fingers do the work. I felt myself shaking my head in disbelief.
"That's how Edward draws you in." I turned, breaking myself away from Edward, and saw Carlisle standing in front of me. "He has been playing as long as I can remember. Everyday, our house is filled with exquisite melodies." As Carlisle spoke, the music stopped.
"Thank you, Carlisle," Edward voiced from his seat. His white pearls were shining, a smile on his face. My heart would have fluttered if it were still beating.
Carlisle responded with a smile. "Bella," he said, his eyes coming back to me, "I would love to talk to you upstairs. We have much to go over. Edward, if you wouldn't mind joining us."
Edward gracefully stood up from his seat. He walked over to us, all smiles. Carlisle led the way to the stairs. Edward gestured for me to go before him, and I gladly obliged. I bit my lip as I followed Carlisle up the stairs, past Alice and Jasper. Everything would have been perfect if Edward was not coming. I did not know how to handle myself around him; all my thoughts seemed to blur together.
Carlisle walked into the study that I was in earlier. I smelled my scent and their scent together, and I could see the similarities. I was definitely one of them. Carlisle took a seat at his desk, and Edward leaned against the back wall. I stood in between them, looking at Carlisle.
"There are a few things that Edward and I would like to explain about our coven. And there are rules that we need to inform you of, Miss Swan." Carlisle's tone was light, not serious.
Edward stepped forward, looking at me. He smiled. "First off, we are the largest of most vampire covens. Many are like you, nomads. Now, you have a coven." He gave a reassuring grin; I felt at home. "The seven of us were not all created by Carlisle. He is, of course, the leader of the group and oldest. Age and background stories are not necessary right now to explain the coven.
"Each of us have a power, a heightened ability from our human lives, as Carlisle and I believe. Carlisle has a great deal of compassion. That's one of the reasons that he was willing to bring you in. Esme has love, and that's also why she wanted you join our coven.
"Rosalie, as you will learn eventually, is extremely vain and jealous. Emmett is inhumanly strong with his large muscles that he had in his human life. Now, Alice, Jasper, and I, we have something a little different than the mentioned abilities.
"Jasper, he can affect those around him with emotion. Before, which you probably noticed, you became strangely at ease when we confronted you. That was Jasper, controlling your emotions. He can feel the emotions of everyone around him, and he can also control the emotions of everyone around him.
"Alice, she is able to see the future. It is subjective though; it always changes based on what people around her decide. The closer she is to someone, the more tuned in she is to his or her future. For instance, she saw you at our house because she is very aware of our home. Then, we came back based on her vision.
"Me, I can read one's mind. I was always in tune with people around me, so that characteristic became heightened in my transformation. I can read everyone's mind, and the closer I am to someone, the better I can read his or her mind. There is only one flaw though: I cannot read your mind."
I could not believe my ears. They had powers, something more than their vampire abilities. "Is this theory of yours accurate? Do all vampires have extra abilities?" The vampire in my mind was myself.
"It is only a theory," Carlisle said, "There are others of our kind out there that have heightened senses, greater abilities. We know them personally. As for all of the vampires in the world, it seemed that not everyone would have powers like Edward, Alice, or Jasper."
My mind quickly backtracked; I remembered what Edward had said before. "But Edward," I said, looking at him, "Are some powers faulty? You can't read my mind. Does your power have holes in it?"
"That's what I was wondering myself." His eyes became slightly distant. "I tried to read your mind the moment I saw you. But when you were coming our black, I began to panic. Quickly, I read my family's minds, and I heard all of their jumbled thoughts immediately. You were a mystery to me; I didn't know what your intentions were until you started speaking for yourself."
"Yet," Carlisle began, continuing with Edward's train of thought, "Alice saw you, and Jasper could control your emotions. It's like people can affect you on the outside, but you are safe in your own mind."
I smiled at the thought. Edward could not read my mind thankfully. If he saw inside my head, he would no doubt be petrified. My thoughts wandered from person to person, sometimes focusing just on Edward. As Carlisle said, I was safe inside my own mind. I was content with that conclusion.
"Bella," Edward said, interrupting my train of thought, "This is driving me crazy; I have to know what you are thinking right now. It is so odd to not hear your thoughts."
I steered my mind towards something else, something that did not involve Edward. "I am just curious. This question is for the both of you: Is it possible that I have a special power? I mean, think about it. You can't read my mind, and you said that I am safe inside my mind. Does that mean that I have a special power?"
Carlisle let out a thoughtful hum. "It is something to consider. You may have something grander than that or maybe that is it. Either way, I am curious to find out." Carlisle paused before continuing. "Now, Bella, would you like to do anything particular? Like maybe hunt or see anything?"
I took in a breath, something that I had not done in a while. My throat burned, but it was not anything too unbearable. "No, I don't have to hunt." Then, my mind traveled to a particular someone, someone that I wanted to see badly. "Would it be impossible to see my father?"
Edward and Carlisle looked at me with wide eyes. "Bella, that is going to be very difficult for you." Edward's eyes were directly on mine. "You are very young, and you have not been around human blood yet. We have no idea of knowing how you will react to it."
"But he is my father, Edward. I want him to know that I am still alive. I don't want him to live in the dark, thinking the worst about his daughter. I just moved here, and then, I disappear mysteriously. He deserves a bit more closure than that." My voice was sharp and to-the-point.
Both Carlisle and Edward were taken aback. As I glared at both of them, Carlisle's eyes brows began to furrow. Edward kept shooting him glances, angry glances. Finally, Carlisle spoke. "I will be done. You need to see you father. We will think of something to tell him. Then, after that, you will only see him occasionally. Slowly, you will leak out of his life, but for now, you need to see him."
I smiled, happy to have won. "Thank you so much, Carlisle. Thank you." I ran over to him behind his desk and hugged him. He slowly put his arms around me and stood up. "You are definitely welcome, Bella." He pecked me lightly on the cheek.
I pulled away, giddy. I was going to see my father, and I could not have been happier. Edward walked over to me and held out his hand. "Bella, I would like for you to come with me. I want to go talk, and afterwards, we will go see your father." He was speaking the truth.
Edward led me out of Carlisle's study and downstairs. Everyone was now situated in the living room, watching Jasper and Emmett play a mindless video game. They fingers were moving at lightning speed over the controller buttons. They looked like a normal, everyday family, except for the fact that they were vampires.
Before I walked out of the house with Edward, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror in the kitchen. I gasped at the sight. My hair was standing up in every direction. My skin shown like a pure white light bulb. But my eyes were the most frightening thing of all; they were a dark red, burning with a deep intensity. Thread in the red were little colors of gold.
I shook my head, peeling my eyes away from my face. I skipped out of the house and down the stairs. Edward was waiting for me at the edge of the woods. He held out his hand, and I graciously took it. Edward brought his mouth to my ear. "You better keep up."
And with that, we were off, running deep into the forest. I felt myself flying over the green ground, and Edward floated right by my side. For once since my transformation, I felt whole and free. I actually felt like I was supposed to be somewhere. I found the one person that understood everything about the new me, and he was not afraid.
When Edward stopped, I had no idea where we were. Then, as I looked around, I remembered the beautiful place. The flowers grew up from the pure green grass. The perfect meadow that was etched into the forest was a place that Edward knew, too. I smiled at the coincidence.
"Do you know this place already?" Edward asked, seeing my expression.
I nodded. "Yes, I came across it when I was changed. That's when I learned that I sparkled in the sunlight. I was actually quite gorgeous despite everything that had happened."
"You are more than gorgeous, Bella." Edward took a step closer to me. My breath staggered at his words. "You are more beautiful than the world around us, Bella. Have you seen yourself?" He brushed his pale hand on my cheek. My knees went weak at his touch.
The sun peeked through the clouds. The warmth fell on me and Edward. He was shining and sparkling, more handsome than anything I had ever laid my eyes on. He smiled at me before leaning in closer. I closed my eyes and felt his breath on my lips. Then, he kissed me, passionately, lovingly. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close.
