~ Chapter Eight ~
Carlisle seemed to be deciding where to begin. I sensed vampires had a long and complex history. Eventually he found his starting point and began to tell me all about vampires. He ended on this:
"You have heard of the Volturi," he mused, "but I presume you do not know who they are?" I shook my head. "Well, they are basically vampire royalty, our royal family, I suppose. They reside in Italy, in Volterra and are the largest vampire coven in existence that has made itself known. Vampires could rule the world if we wanted to, but staying hidden is merely a matter of convenience. The humans would go into hiding, try to kill us and it could get, well, annoying to say the least. There is but one rule to being a vampire: keep the secret. When a vampire makes itself known to the human world, the Volturi come to wipe them out.
"There are three main vampires in the Volturi – Aro, Caius and Marcus and then there is the guard," he preceded to tell me all about the Volturi. I found it absolutely fascinating and also quite chilling. I hoped I would never have to meet them and a look in Carlisle's eyes told me he felt the same. He seemed reluctant to say this last part, but also seemed to find it a necessity.
"Aro appoints himself as the leader of the Volturi. He craves one thing – power, and he will stop at nothing to get it. He is also an avid collector, of various things – paintings, jewels and…vampires." I took a sharp intake of breath and began to guess what he would say next. "He only collects the very best and has attempted to collect some of us, but of course we refused. However, he wants Alice in particular, because of her unique powers. We also feel, if he were to know about you, he would literally stop at nothing to 'collect' you. That is why he must know as little as possible about you. Of course, we still have a lot to learn about you," he chuckled and I smiled in response. It was true, there was a lot to learn about my apparently unusual power. Carlisle appeared to be lost in thought. It was Esme that spoke next.
"Of course, dear, if you are going to be part of our family, you will need new documents and so forth. Bella already has a trusty source, so we just need a photo. Oh, and you would be called Phoebe Cullen…is that ok?" I nodded, smiling hugely. They truly wanted me. "Also, you're not going to get any older than the age that you are now, so in order for you to be able to get a driving licence worldwide, we're bumping your age up to seventeen. You can pass for it," she assured me, though I knew I always looked older than my true age of sixteen anyway. What bothered me was the fact that I knew fake documents were expensive as were driving lessons, at least in the UK. I didn't want them to spend unnecessary amounts of money on me. It was selfish and greedy. I heard Edward groan and give me a hard stare.
"Phoebe – you are a part of this family now, and that means what is ours is yours. Money doesn't matter to us and you'd have a shock if you realised just how much we have. Oh, and we're getting you a car as a present when you pass your test. What would you like?"
I couldn't help but let the car of my dreams flash into my mind. I pushed it out as soon as it appeared, because that's all it was – a car of my dreams. I knew I'd never be able to afford it and there was no way I was going to let my new family spend over £800,000 on a piece of amazingly fast metal. Despite the split second it was in my head, I knew he had seen it. I comforted myself in the fact that they had gone out of production and only 300 had ever been made, and therefore there was no way they would be able to get one. But still, out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward nod and smile to himself. Why, oh why did I have to be so obsessed with cars and Top Gear?
"Would you like the photo taken now? Oh, actually I hadn't noticed. You're a mess. Come on!" Alice jumped up and propelled me forcefully up the stairs, leading me to my room. She pointed to a door inside my room, which was lead to the en-suite bathroom and when I stared at her in bewilderment she sighed. "Have a shower, do your hair and I will lay out an outfit!" Her eyes grew excited by the end of this and I could just picture what was going on inside her mind. It had happened to me most of my human life. She was putting together an outfit. She liked shopping too! I was glad I had something in common with at least one member of my family. She was getting impatient with me and my slowness, so she began to push me to the en-suite, but I had had enough of being babied, and so turned around and pushed her firmly back. It was more firmly than I'd thought, because she stepped back many more paces than I had expected, looking dazed. "Alice… I'm-"
"No, no…it's alright. You are a newborn after all." I stared at her in confusion. "You're stronger than any other vampire for the first year or so. The eyes fade by then as well. And the temper. I nearly forgot, you're so like Bella. Carlisle only thoroughly explained vampire traits, and only brushed on newborn traits. I'm surprised he didn't go into more detail," she smiled sheepishly.
"Stronger than even Emmett?" I asked, amazed.
"Yes, please challenge him to an arm wrestle. Or a normal wrestle. Whatever you prefer. Bella absolutely thrashed him. It's fun, he gets really annoyed!" I laughed at the prospect of both me and Bella beating Emmett. "Now, shower before Carlisle bans me from spending excessive time with you."
I obeyed her and hopped obediently into the en-suite. I glanced in the mirror to see what 'mess' I was in. But the only thing I found I was interested in was my shockingly red eyes. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed them before. They chilled me as I realised this would be the colour they would remain if I chose the normal way of life of the vampire. I dispelled these thoughts and stepped into the luxury shower, throwing my tattered clothes into the bin. I allowed the hot water to undo and cure all of the tension my short time as a vampire had given me. I shampooed my long, thick mahogany coloured hair, which had grown even more lustrous during my Change. I pulled my fingers through my hair, which had an astounding amount of knots and let my thoughts drift. To my surprise, they drifted to all of the powers I had encountered, in particular Edward's ability to read minds. I continued to let my mind lead and found myself concentrating hugely. I was beginning to relax when a voice drifted into my head
Hmm… this could go. Make a fashion statement. Though I'm not sure she'd know what that means… no, wait, good she loves shopping. We're going to get along even better than Bella and me. Yay!
I yelped and shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I thought this thing only worked when I had contact… were my own thoughts. I closed my eyes and finished off my shower. I had to find the limits of my power, though they seem to be increasing all the time...
I shook my head again, clearing it of all thoughts and concentrated solely on each small action. Wrapping a towel around myself, wrapping my hair in a towel, walking out of the room. I noticed Alice, along with her thoughts, had left me some privacy. I highly approved of her clothing choice – a red blouse which fitted snugly and pink skinny jeans matched with red high heels - though I wasn't too sure about my balance in these, I soon realised vampirism came with unnatural grace. I dried my hair off and decided it looked just fine naturally wavy. I wandered out of my room and found Alice waiting for me, all sign of impatience gone. She grinned hugely and nodded to herself. "Perfect. Picture time!" I cringed mentally as she pulled out a large, expensive looking, professional camera and pulled me gently down the stairs, where, to my surprise, the immense glass sheet that was the wall at the back of the house had been replaced with a metal sheet. I realised this would be the backdrop of my photos. She shooed me to it, and handed me a contact-lens box "for the eyes". I found, again, to my surprise, I knew instantly how to put them in. My vision was immediately obscured by a blanket of deep yellow. I noticed the rest of the Cullens were politely not watching and I was exceedingly grateful. She then began photographing me and, sooner than I thought, it was all over. She bounded over and handed me the camera, reminding me slightly of a dog with a stick. Edward skilfully turned his laughter into a cough, and she noticed nothing. I realised, in her own unique way, she was desperate for me to be her friend. I couldn't help my smile. I barely glanced at the photos and picked out the three best ones. She nodded and headed off up the stairs. I swiftly removed the contacts and when I looked up Edward, Rosalie and Jasper were by my side.
"I sort of heard your little revelation, and wanted to see if we could expand on it. Our powers," he indicated himself and Jasper, "are the easiest to use, we believe and Rosalie volunteered to be the victim," he grinned at her and she glared back.
"My…revelation?" I asked. Revelation wasn't quite the right word.
"You heard Alice's thoughts without my contact. We've been discussing possibilities." Edward's grin was now sheepish.
"Oh, right."
"Why don't we start with the mind reading seeing as you have prior experience?" Jasper suggested, filling me with a wave of calm, presumably to make it easier for me.
"Yes, now Rosalie remember to think," Edward avoided the look Rosalie was giving him and stepped closer to me, hand extended. I hesitantly made contact briefly, then removed my hand and began concentrating solely on Rosalie. It was, perhaps a few minutes before her voice began filling up my mind, whilst her lips remained pursed.
Edward, did I mention how funny you are? Really, even funnier than I am absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Seriously, you should be a comedian.
"Hear anything yet?" Edward asked for the seventh time. I nodded – I'd been instructed not to talk and lose concentration. "Excellent – now, widen to Jasper." I did as he told me, and widened my concentration to Jasper, as well as Rosalie. It was an even shorter time before I heard his voice filling up my mind, like my own thoughts.
Hello Phoebe. Perhaps we can help each other gain control?
"Hear anything else?" Edward asked.
"Yes," I spoke carefully and slowly, whilst trying to keep concentration at a high.
"Amazing. Ok, you can stop now. Jasper?"
I allowed myself to relax and the voices disappeared. Jasper was now standing where Edward had been, adopting the same position. I touched his hand and felt myself automatically locking onto the excitement in the room. I released my hand and concentrated on Rosalie and the mild hatred rolling off her, directed at Edward. I gently removed the hatred and replaced it with happiness. I saw her lovely face contort in displease but she couldn't ignore the wave of happiness I was now aiming directly for her. When she looked completely happy, I widened the flow to Edward as well. When his face was blissful, I took a chance and stretched the boundary limits I could feel threatening to rip apart, to spread happiness throughout the room. I heard gasps of shock but was concentrating so hard I didn't know who made them. I felt Jasper's hand on my shoulder, the signal to stop, and retracted the happiness, though I could still feel waves of emotion deep in my stomach, and I wondered if I would be able to do it again, but without Jasper's touch. I turned to face Jasper and could see the amazement quite plain on his face. "I didn't know it felt quite like that" he chuckled. "That was… just unbelievable. Did you do it to everybody?" His question was answered without my input, however, as the rest of the Cullens had now gathered in front of me, the same expression of amazement on each and everyone of their faces. I felt slightly miffed that they obviously didn't think I could do it, but then I reminded myself that I didn't think that I could do it.
"Well, Phoebe, that was just amazing - you more than deserve a rest! Alice, I believe you've just had a vision?" Carlisle spoke first whilst Alice nodded excitedly and I noticed they were all emitting excitement. I was about to congratulate myself when I noticed Jasper still had his hand absentmindedly on my shoulder. Damn! He noticed I was looking at his hand, then noticed his hand there and sheepishly removed it, obviously embarrassed. The excitement disappeared and I sneakily brushed my fingers against Rosalie's arm and tried determinedly to regain it, using all of my concentration.
"Yes, in my vision, it was thunder storming," she almost squealed in excitement and I lost concentration for a split second as I tried to understand why on earth she was so excited about a thunderstorm. It seemed to me it rained in Forks all the time. She shook her head and sighed when I failed to grasp the meaning of her words. "Phoebe, do you like baseball?" I nodded cautiously, though I wasn't quite sure of the rules or if I did even like it. "Well, hopefully you should have figured out that we can't play sports like humans. We play the vampire way. It's more fun. Anyway we need the thunder to play. You'll soon see why. It starts at about six. And afterwards we can play with Bella's power. Yay! So, you in?" She was growing in excitement and pitch with every word she said, and I hated to disappoint her, plus it might actually be fun so I nodded.
"Yay! Yay! Yay! Do want to come shopping?" I nodded, immediately perked up. She grinned and darted forward, pulling me along to what she had vaguely pointed out as the garage.
"Bye" I shouted in the vague direction of the rest of the Cullens. I had a feeling that Alice liked shopping.
