AN: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, we just like to take them out to play a couple times a week.
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Photos of the Cullen Family's Denali home & the inside foyer are located on my profile! :)
Chapter 6 -- Instinct
BPOV
"We will be there in about twenty minutes, Bella. Bella?"
My eyes snapped open, pulling me out of my reverie. Alice was turned around in her seat, an amused look on her face.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, ok. Sorry, I guess I was daydreaming."
A powerful sense of déjà vu had settled over me as I relaxed myself into the back seat of the Mercedes in Forks in preparation for the long, quiet drive to Denali. It was in this same luxurious vehicle that I had traveled almost a year ago to Scottsdale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix, in an effort to evade James, the evil vampire intent on hunting me and claiming me for his prize. Jasper and Alice had accompanied me on that trip as well. Sixteen hundred miles of interstate highways and freeways had taken ¾ of a day to travel; a 26 plus hour trip for a normal human driver. There were definitely advantages to driving with beings who didn't feel the need to stop and stretch every few hours, or have to take human bathroom or food breaks.
The journey we had embarked upon today was familiar in some ways, but also entirely new. From Forks we had proceeded to Port Angeles, normally a one-hour drive that took Jasper all of about 20 minutes to navigate. Then we boarded the M.V. Coho, a vehicle and passenger ferryboat that traversed the distance between Port Angeles, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. After proceeding off the ferry, the drive was a long 2600 miles to Talkeetna, Alaska, the tiny historic village at the base of Mt. McKinley and the entrance to the Denali National Park and Preserve. 2600 miles, some of which were well maintained highways and freeways; and some of which seemed to be no more than a winding mountain pass.
I glanced out the window, my jaw dropping as I took in the scenery. The sun was rising just above the snowy peaks of the range nearby. Shades of pink and orange melted together over the horizon, contrasting sharply against the gray and white of the mountains. It was one of the most breathtaking sights I had ever beheld with my own eyes. I hadn't realized just how accustomed I had become to the murky green hues of Forks. The base of the mountain range was still in shadow where it met with the forest of beautiful trees and lush green grass below.
I'd had the chance to think about my life on the drive, both past and present. I thought about how much I would miss my parents and how much I would miss Jacob and my friends from school. I wondered if they were still looking for me. But, as pressing as these thoughts were, I kept going back to the recent conversation with Edward, the look in his eyes as he apologized. I had told him he was forgiven, and that I wanted to be friends. He seemed upset when I said the word "friends". Would it be uncomfortable for him to be friends with someone who was obviously still in love with him? I was sure my face had given away every emotion; it had always been like an open book. I would have to try harder to keep my cool if I was to be spending time near him. Surely I could do that. I felt the familiar pain in my chest each time I thought of being only his friend. But, at least that would be better than nothing.
We had pulled off of the main road and onto a dirt road that seemed like it would lead to nowhere. There were no houses in sight. After several miles of trees, I noticed a clearing ahead. In the middle of the clearing stood the most glorious log home I'd ever seen. This was no cabin in the woods. There was a giant stone foundation, and the home was built of large honey-colored logs. A handful of stone chimneys rose from the high-pitched roof. What looked like a Great Room protruded from the front of the house with several over-sized windows and if I wasn't mistaken, the second floor of the home was graced with cathedral ceilings. There were two wings set off from the main part of the house, each angled toward the back. I imagined the floor plan would resemble half of a hexagon. I surmised that the bedrooms must be in the two side wings. In addition to the windows along the two wings, the home was adorned with a few small balconies.
Jasper drove past the side of the house, around the side and parked out back in front of a large four-car garage. We stepped out of the car and I stood dumbfounded by the beauty of our new hideout.
"Come on Bella, let's get our things inside, I think you'll need to hunt again." Alice tugged on my sleeve, snickering at my gawking. "Do you like it?" Was she kidding?
I had known for some time that the Cullen family was extremely well off financially, but occasionally, when faced with something as grandiose as this, it still left me a bit bewildered. I shook my head slightly, and collected myself.
"So, what's for breakfast?" I laughed without humor. I felt the burn in my throat, so I knew she was right, but I didn't relish the idea of the hunt the way the others seemed to.
Jasper laughed. "Well, the Alaskan wilderness offers a nice variety, Bella."
"Are you in the mood for grizzly, or perhaps something milder such as mountain goat?" Alice smiled at me, laughing along with Jasper.
"Oh, boy. How do I choose?" The choices sounded equally dreadful. Once again, I was a freak among my own kind. I guessed my expression was funny, as they were laughing uncontrollably.
Inside, the house was even more spectacular. The high ceilings and large windows gave a light, open feeling to the living area. To the right of the foyer was a large, winding staircase leading up to a loft and the rest of the second floor. I could see the dining room and kitchen diagonally off to the left, a hallway in front of me and a huge living room to my right. Most of the home seemed to have been designed with an open floor plan, but I also knew that I couldn't see everything from where I stood.
I slowly turned my head, from the right to the left again, taking in all the beautiful details and nuances of my new home. When I was facing all the way to the left, I noticed it. A beautiful baby grand piano. I slowly walked toward it, as if drawn by some unseen thread and I ran my fingers lightly along the keys, thinking of whom it belonged to. The sweet melody of my lullaby drifted through my mind. I sighed as I turned to go find Alice. Jasper stood in the doorway across from me, leaning casually against the wooden frame.
"Hey, Jasper. This place is fantastic. I was just about to look for Alice. I don't know if I could find my way to my bedroom." I laughed lightly, hoping he hadn't seen me fiddling with Edward's piano. But, I could tell by his expression that he saw everything. And, of course he felt everything, too.
"Of course, she's up in our room." He motioned for me to follow him. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to face me. "I'm really glad you're here, Bella." Jasper was not one to openly start a conversation, so I was surprised by this change in his demeanor. "We're hoping you'll stay with us. We all are." He said this rather pointedly. I knew what he was trying to say. He could sense that I was worried about being around Edward.
"Thank you, I'm glad to be here. You've all made me feel really welcome." I paused for a minute, wondering if I should continue. "I just worry that my being here will upset Edward, not that he'd ever admit it."
"I know what you're feeling, Bella…you know that." He chuckled lightly. "Edward was trying to do the right thing when he left. Even if it is hard to believe, his intentions were honorable. When I ….lost control last year, it changed the way he looked at things. I'm sorry for that. Believe me when I say he is happy to have you back in his life."
I smiled at Jasper, I'd always enjoyed talking to him, the few times that we had the opportunity to converse, but it was usually from a distance when I was still human. "I hope you're right."
Alice walked down the stairs then, and announced it was time to head out to hunt. "After you hunt, we'll get you settled in your room."
We ran through the trees, and I couldn't help but feel exhilarated by the sights and smells around us. Everything was so much more defined, like I was seeing the world through new eyes. Alice stopped ahead of me, and Jasper and I came to stand by her sides.
"OK, Bella. Today I want you to learn to take advantage of your heightened senses. We have all the weapons we need to easily take down any animal we choose. But, first you need to learn to use them." Alice smiled brightly, encouraging me.
"OK…" I began, "I wouldn't protest if you wanted to do the 'taking down' though." The thought of killing something other than a fish or an ant still didn't sit well with me.
"No, you need to learn that part, too. Right now, you're over-thinking it. There was a time that taking another life was hard to imagine, but that is behind you." Jasper said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Close your eyes and tell me what you hear."
I sighed and closed my eyes hesitantly. "I hear the water of a stream to the east…lots of insects buzzing, I think I hear birds, I can hear what sounds like wings." I turned my head, toward another sound, too faint to identify. "There is another sound coming from the west, it's almost a shuffle, but I don't know what that is."
"Open your eyes, Bella." Alice grinned. "The shuffling sound you hear? That's lunch. Let's get closer."
We took off, heading west. As we got closer, I could make out the sounds of hooves, and lots of them, hitting the ground. "What is it?" I wondered out loud.
"Caribou, the herd is moving fast." Jasper was listening intently to the sound of the hooves.
"Can you smell them?" Alice asked me.
I closed my eyes again, inhaling. I smelled the sweet, woodsy smell of the trees around us. I could also smell the mellow, earthy musk of the dirt and rocks around us. There were other smells, too. I could make out Alice and Jasper's individual scents. When the wind blew by, suddenly I was aware of a sweet, delicious aroma. It reminded me of when Alice had hunted for me in Forks. But, it was different, almost like bittersweet chocolate compared to milk chocolate. I could feel the venom filling my mouth, and I swallowed.
"I believe that's a yes," Jasper laughed.
"Now, before we go after them, I need you to listen to me. Human Bella found the thought of blood and violence disgusting. You are not human anymore, Bella. Your senses will lead you, if you let them. Allow yourself to let go, if just for a short time, and you can do this. You will still be Bella when it's over. Do you understand?" Alice looked into my eyes, knowing this would be difficult for me.
"I will take the left side, Alice you come around the rear, and Bella you take the right. You'll need to get your arms around their necks, and snap them as fast as you can. Take two down, Bella. Don't think, just act." Jasper spoke with the authority of a general, and I imagined he must have been a very impressive leader in his military career.
The others slipped into crouches, and I followed their lead. Alice took off like lightning toward the left. She would be coming around the back, and the caribou would never even know she was there. Jasper followed her and I darted to the right of the herd. My throat was now slightly burning, and I knew if I could just disengage my humanity, this wouldn't be a problem. So, I focused on the sweet smell, the sound of their beating hearts, like an enormous thunder storm. And then it happened; something clicked inside of me. I identified the animals that would be mine. In a flash, I was on the first, a large male. Without thinking, I grabbed the fur on the caribou's neck and SNAP, it fell to the ground. The sweet, enticing aroma filled my lungs, and I remembered that I needed to get the other before they were long gone. I lunged at the next, a smaller female, and repeated the act of snapping its neck quickly. As it fell, I jumped back to my first prize. I buried my teeth through its coat, and the sense of relief was immediate as I drained its hot blood in no time. The doe's blood was only slightly cooler, but almost as satisfying.
I felt my humanity click inside of me again, and I looked down at the two caribou and sighed.
"See, Bella, I knew you could do it!" Alice appeared in front of me, and she had a sly smile as she looked down on the animals at my feet. Jasper came to join us a moment later, and patted my back but said nothing.
"I see what you mean about letting go; it wasn't even like it was me out here. It was like I was just a spectator and my body was in control."
"Bella, if you only knew how the newborns I've seen in the past had to work to gain that level of control, you'd truly be amazed. The fact that you had to fight to let your instincts kick in, rather than fight to control your thirst is simply astounding." Jasper looked at me with an expression of astonishment.
I was a little messy though.
"Bella, can you just try to be a little neater next time, your new clothes won't be here until Monday," Alice teased as we ran home.
Once we were inside, we took my few items up to what would be my new bedroom. I walked over to the bed and sat down. Alice was beside me in a flash, she wrapped her arms around me and I put my head on her shoulder.
"Bella, can we talk for a bit?" Alice asked.
"Of course, do you even have to ask?"
She laughed. "You know, you haven't even told me what you've been up to these past six months or so."
I grimaced. "Nothing terribly exciting." I knew she wouldn't let that slide, so I tried to cover it up. "I'd been working at Newton's, going to school, but most of my time was spent down in LaPush."
"What is in LaPush?" She raised an eyebrow, confused by that, which I was expecting.
"Do you remember Jacob Black, Alice? His dad and Charlie are close friends, they are almost like family. He was a good friend, he helped me a lot." I stared at my lap as I told her this.
"Oh, well I'm glad he was there for you." Alice looked out the window; she seemed to be lost in thought. After a moment she turned and smiled at me. "I know it was hard for you, I really am glad you weren't alone."
I was worried where this conversation might lead, so I stood up and walked to the window, hoping to change the subject. "It's so beautiful here, thanks for bringing me."
"We've always enjoyed our time here; it's a nice place to come when we need to get away." The ringing of her phone couldn't have come at a better time. "Hi, Esme…" I drifted off into my own thoughts while Alice finished her conversation.
APOV
"Hi, Esme!" I answered my phone cheerfully, looking forward to the time when we would all be back together again.
"Hello dear, how is everything?" Esme sounded nervous, but I brushed it off. I knew she was worried about how Bella would be handling everything, and I needed to show her that so far she was doing well.
"We're good; I'm just showing Bella her new room." I smiled at Bella, who wasn't even paying attention to me.
"Is she really ok, Alice or are you just saying that because she's right with you?" Esme inquired softly.
"I mean it, Esme. When do you think you'll be here?"
"We should be there in the afternoon tomorrow. Emmett is terribly excited to see Bella, as well as concerned. Rosalie, on the other hand, isn't being very…cooperative." Her voice trailed off, and I knew right away that she wasn't thrilled with Rose.
"Hm," I said curtly. "What a surprise. This isn't all about her, after all."
"Now, Alice, that's not helping. Emmett is trying to talk some sense into her, but she's just concerned with how this will affect the family." Esme didn't want to see anyone at odds.
I scoffed. Sometimes I couldn't help my reactions where Rose was concerned. Worried that she wasn't the center of the universe was a more apt description. Not wanting any trouble, I kept my opinions to myself. "Have you heard from Carlisle yet?" I figured that would be a safer course for this conversation.
"Yes, actually. He was going to call Jasper after I hung up with him a few minutes ago. Sounds like he and Edward have some last minute business to take care of." Esme answered.
"Really? I wonder what they're up to." I frowned; I hadn't seen any "business" involving Edward and Carlisle, which was odd.
"Well, I think whatever it is will keep them in Forks longer than they intended. We should be expecting them on Saturday at some point." Esme didn't want to say anymore right at that moment. I figured Jasper could fill me in on the details, since somehow my vision wasn't keeping me up to speed. This bothered me, but I tried to let it go for Bella's sake. I looked over to where she was sitting and she gave me a small smile.
"Alright, we'll see you tomorrow!" I stood and snapped the phone shut with one hand. "I'll give you some time to yourself, Bella. Let me know if you need anything. I think I'll just go and watch some TV." With that I set out to find my husband. I wanted to find out what he had learned from Carlisle.
Downstairs, Jasper was in the living room brushing up his video gaming skills. I went over to sit next to him on the couch. He looked over and grinned at me. "Emmett will be here tomorrow, I need to be ready." Yes, of course the important things in life. I resisted the temptation to roll my eyes.
"Jazz, please tell me what's going on." I raised my eyebrows at him expectantly.
"News travels fast." He smiled reassuringly, but he hesitated. "I just got off the phone with Carlisle, but I'm sure you know that. Edward ran into the same wolves that Bella saw in the meadow. Actually, just one of the wolves. It would seem that Bella and this werewolf have become quite close since we left Forks. His name is Jacob Black, and apparently he is the great grandson of Ephraim Black, who Carlisle knew from along time ago, before we joined them."
"Hmm, that explains things. Leave it to Bella to start hanging out with the first monsters she could find." This news would explain why Laurent had left Bella, but did it have something to do with why I missed Bella being bitten? Or why I didn't see Edward get held up in Forks? I was contemplating these facts when Jasper tried to bring me back to reality.
"Alice, there's more." He looked serious now. "Edward and Carlisle just met with the wolves, and not only was Laurent lurking around Forks, but Victoria has been trying to get to Bella as well. I doubt she knows that Bella is one of us now. The wolves have been trying to catch up with her, but she keeps slipping through the cracks."
"What are they going to do about her?" I asked, as I felt a growl building in my chest. What would this information do to Bella? She had enough to deal with now; I didn't know if this would finally throw her over the edge.
"They are going to see if they can catch her trail. The wolves have been keeping an eye on Charlie, so at least he's safe." This was a relief, for me and I knew that it would be for Bella even more.
