Chapter 8 - Talk

Alix looked up at the bedroom window, Bella had asked if they could talk, and if she could come round later. She'd just nodded, it was obvious that Edward had put her up to this, but she didn't let on. Now she was waiting in the shadows, waiting for Bella to open her window. The second she did, Alix was inside and perched on the edge of her bed.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

Bella wondered why it was still a shock to her, vampires appearing out of thin air in her room, she supposed she should be used to it by now. "Yes, it's just, I noticed you were a bit upset at school today, and I was wondering..."

"If I wanted to talk" Alix finished, a soft smile graced her lips "I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to talk about. I just need a bit of time adjusting back, I've spent so long traveling the world... I feel like a captive. But you know Ed, stupid over-bloody-protective brother of mine, he won't let me travel on my own..."

"You've traveled the world?" interjected Bella, she sat down next to Alix and folded her legs underneath herself.

"Yes, I love it, being so free!" her face saddened "I do miss it..."

"Why won't... hold on did you call him Ed?"

"Uh-huh, always have, couldn't pronounce Edward when I was a kid."

"Oh..." Bella blinked, momentarily lost "So why won't Edward let you travel on your own?"

Alix sighed in exasperation, flopping back on the bed "So, many reason's... he doesn't even have to tell me... damn reverb..." she was talking mainly to herself now

"What do you mean 'reverb'?"

She sat back up again,, looking at Bella "Of course, you don't know... Well you know how Ed hears people's thoughts?" Bella nodded and Alix continued "Well, Carlisle recons that this something to do with the fact that we are biologically related, but I get an echo of Ed's thoughts in return. So if ever you see us glaring at each other until one of us storms off, don't be alarmed"

Bella didn't know what to say, she supposed this explained how either of the two could answer what the other was thinking (she'd witnessed this once or twice in the past few weeks). After a while she realised that Alix hadn't actually answered her question. "Are you sure you're alright?" Bella asked,

"I'm fine..." Bella looked unconvinced "Really!" she replied brightly, flashing a heart-stopping smile.

It was small moments like this that Bella noticed subtle similarities, like the shape of their eyes (Although Alix's slightly more feminine) and their crooked smile. Alix bade her goodnight and then left though the window.

Edward watched Bella's eye-lids flicker and settle again, then whimper escaped her slightly parted lips, her fingers clamped tightly round his arm, pulling him closer. This was one of the moments that he wanted more than anything to hear Bella's thoughts. He couldn't bare seeing her in pain, weather it was when she was having a bad dream or not.

-

Alix dug her iPod out of her pocket, it was old, she refused to let Edward replace it. She shoved the headphones on and flicked it onto shuffle, the next second 'Black Betty' by Ram Jam was thundering into her ears. It was a surprisingly rain-less night for Forks, so she took her time getting back to the Cullen's. She strolled slowly down the pavement until she could no longer hear Edward's thoughts. When she was far enough away from Bella's house that Edward couldn't hear her thoughts she stopped and paused her iPod and closed her eyes, running her mind back, locking away any unwanted memories.

Alix didn't like having to lie to people, but she didn't like having to use her gift either and it was safer for them all if her secrets stayed just that, her secrets. Her past wasn't something she liked to recall so in moments of weakness when it all came out, like with Esme and Jasper, she'd have no choice but to erase it from their memories. The thought alone of having the ability to control every aspect of someones being made her sick to the stomach. Just a single glance from her golden eyes, a single syllable of her soft silken voice or a twitch of her slender hand and any person could be under her complete control. Their thoughts, their mind, their memories, everything, down to the very last muscle of their body, there was no resistance. She would never admit it, but the only thing that ever scared her was herself.