Chapter 8 – Practice and Bonding
"Emmett, please focus, you're distracting me." Erin sighed lifting her head from her meditating thoughts to eye Emmett.
"Oh, sorry," Emmett replied unable to hide his thoughts and conversation he was having with Rosalie that was across the table.
"Hey, its not what I want to listen to right now." Bella covered her ears as if it would help.
"Fine, fine." Emmett mumbled toying with Rosalie's leg underneath the table.
"Ok, now like we've practiced. Intentionally block the intruding eyes of the others and talk to your partner without talking." Erin re-explained for the third time. "Again, don't scream the conversation, just talk, at a normal volume." Erin turned to the grinning Emmett, "What I mean by normal is the normal volume of the rest of your family members here."
"Yes, Ma'am" Emmett saluted her playfully, winking at Rosalie.
Erin turned to smile at Nessie and Jacob who had joined them for today's practice session. Although Erin was able to transfer powers to and through Nessie she was unable to share them with Jacob who was not part of the original Cullen family. She said, "If you want to talk with me we can practice together while they do."
"No, no, its ok, I seem to have more fun watching today." Nessie replied. She spoke so much older than her true age and form. She was a beautiful replication of Bella and Edward. Her parents and the rest of the family were truly in love with this girl. Jacob, her imprinted guardian sat next to her protectively. He had not spoken a word much further than hello and observed the practice. He had sworn not mention anything to the Quileute tribe. The Cullen family for five months had kept Erin a complete secret. They had rearranged her previous life so that it would look like she had ran off to Europe in search of a new life, so that no one in particular would look for her. They brought her dark grey Volkswagon GTI, and all the meager possessions of Erin's to their own home. Carlisle and Esme opened their home to the stranger. Erin was fully loved and fully part of the Cullen Family.
Even Rosalie had obstinately accepted her and was even one of the more eager members to train with Erin's powers. Erin had taught them to transfer the powers of the family, which included Jasper's emotion gauge and control, Edward's mind reading, Alice's clairvoyance, Nessie's mind showing and even Emmett's brute strength. Each day the Cullen's would gather around the large dining room table to practice and further their ability to work with Erin. Erin's energy capacity had increased and her endurance to withstand the stress of training had grown. She would still spend an hour each day in the lake, usually unaccompanied. There would be times when one of the ladies would go out with her but they would allow her to mediate and take in the nature around her.
Erin had accepted the invitation to live with the Cullen's, it was difficult giving up her privacy, but it was still a small sacrifice to feel as complete as she had. She had never been so happy in her life. The ploy the Cullen's had set up for her and her family was perfect. Her family would believe that she ran off to Europe, never to look back. They never expected much from her, she was the gypsy of the family, but who could blame her when they knew who she truly was. Even with the strife she had to go through to get here, she would do it again, in a second she would think. The Cullen's enjoyed her company and supported her in everything she tried.
She had joined in the financial ventures of the Cullen's. Alice would for tell the futures of specific stocks and they would sore with their investments. She didn't allow for any of them to contribute to the meager amount she started with. She lived a comfortable life with the little she had and she didn't want to be a burden to her new family. Alice would always take her shopping and not allow her to buy whatever they looked at. If Erin showed any interest in any item she would buy it. Alice loved dressing Erin, she was very much like Bella, simple and comfort, were the goal, but she definitely preferred the skirts over the jeans. Erin could always wade in a lake or stream without having to remove clothing, it was just more convenient.
Jasper was rather kind to her. It was most likely from the fact she was very close with Alice. Jasper would follow them in the stores. Erin was more willing to go shopping than her other sisters; in fact they were elated that Alice had a new shopping companion. Jasper would join in the conversation only when he saw necessary, he was a quiet observer. He had gauged Erin to not be a threat early on; in fact bringing up the fact that only fear was being expressed from her, not any other emotion. Now that Erin had settled in he had taken notice to her comfort and happiness she had found. He also really taken interest at how serene she was, it was hard to shift her emotional gauge unless she was deeply unnerved by something or by a stubborn move from Emmett usually.
Esme and Carlisle were people she turned to when she was unsure. She had many questions and had no place to start most of the time. Carlisle served as her historian. They would trade stories and facts about each other. Carlisle would spend great amounts of time researching with Erin on the history of Auras and where and how they work. Erin would spend many hours researching how vampires work so that she could refine her own powers to better suit her family. She had learned from Carlisle that although they are immortal that pain can still be felt and her power to ease pain and heal were potentially very powerful in a battle. Esme would cook her dinner everyday, and had insisted on it. It was one of their favorite things to do together. Erin had gotten used to eating without the others joining in. Esme took much pleasure in how Erin relished every meal she had made.
Edward and Bella were the couple she had envied the most. The love they shared was evident in the beautiful child, almost young lady, Nessie. The way they looked at one another, the slightest touch was filled with love and compassion. Erin had learned of Edward and Bella's struggle to be together and how Bella had to change.
Rosalie and Emmett were the couple she drew the most humor from. She really found it funny how physical the two of them were together without ever being overly crude. Through their physical love for one another you could tell there was true fondness. Emmett tailed after Rosalie like a love sick puppy. When Emmett and the other men of the group would hunt or go out Rosalie would mope about the home, lonely. Emmett and Rosalie was a pair to not be apart for long, ever. Emmett teased Erin relentlessly. Rosalie in fact had taken some time to help Alice improve her wardrobe. It became a dual project for them and both found it rather enjoyable. Erin just allowed it because the simple acceptance of her family was truly her life.
Nessie and Jacob were important people in her life as well but rather differently. Nessie showed Erin through her touch the history of her family since she was born. It allowed her to understand the different dynamics that were created and how she could merge more comfortable. Jacob served as a solemn guard. He was never unfriendly, just never willing to speak to her. Erin had felt he was hiding something deeper than he could tell. She never probed Nessie because, well, Jacob never left her side. Erin just wanted to remain on the good side of both, as it would be difficult to mend relations with Edward and Bella if things went foul with Nessie and Jacob. She just trusted it was being hidden for good reason, she had to trust.
Erin had settled comfortable in the Cullen household. She had even slowly decorated her own room with her taste. She loved daisies, magenta daisies in particular. She pressed the fresh daisies in the Spring and frame them decoratively. Carlisle and Esme had gifted a brand new Apple laptop, of course magenta, as a welcoming gift. She would sit in her room gazing out of the window most days, taking in the beauty of the nature surrounding the hidden house. The vaulted ceilings mimicked the heights of the tops of the trees outside of her window. Her mind would wonder, to that figure Alice saw that first day. She knew Edward would see her settling on that image frequently, but he never probed. She was never sure if Alice ever saw that man again, but it bothered her. His image would always provoke a guttural instinctual reaction. It was never a bad feeling, just foreign. She was determined to find him, if he was real, and she looked every time she went out with Alice or the others. There never was anyone nearly as striking as that strange man was.
