9. Faith

"Hi, Bree. I'm Bella."

I was still holding onto Jasper's arm, but I was facing the human. "Hi." I put my face into Jasper's arm, half shyly half to block her scent. Don't talk; don't breathe; don't smell. Don't talk; don't breathe; don't smell.

"Bree's holding her breath," Edward explained. "So she can't smell you."

I wanted to glare at him, but I didn't want to look the human. Get this over with. Get this over with.

The human took a step closer to me and I automatically moved behind Jasper. "How old is she? She's so small."

I could tell by her tone that there was slight "aw how cute" attitude going on here. I'm fourteen, not a baby.

Edward translated the message and Bella nodded. "Sorry, Bree."

I've always been tiny. Not quite a little person, but short. I had leukemia when I was seven. Stunted my growth.

When Edward said that, Mr. Cullen got an understanding look on his face. "I'm glad you told us," he said gently. "That answers a few questions. When did you last see a doctor?"

How am I supposed to feel comfortable telling you medical stuff when I don't even know you?

"We don't mean to be rude, Bree," Edward explained without translating my thoughts. "It's just that Bella noticed that you looked ill in the clearing. Carlisle is thinking that you were no longer in remission at the time you were changed."

I gasped, breathing in the human's scent. My head started spinning instantly and I gripped Jasper's arm, but my thoughts weren't about her or her blood. I was scared I was going to die. I wailed again, "NO!" It can't be back. It can't be back.

Jasper embraced me again. His shirt masked the human's smell again. "Hush." He started to pat my back. "It's okay. We are not going to let you hurt her."

"She's not scared she's going to hurt Bella," Edward explained. "She thinks she still has leukemia."

Jasper held me at arm's length. "Venom kills all illnesses, Bree," he said gently. "It will not come back. You are going to be healthy for the rest of your existence."

I nodded, not fully believing him.


"Alice," I whispered a few days later as she passed my room. "Can we talk? Please?"

The smaller Cullen girl came in. "Why are you still in what you were wearing yesterday?" she asked. "If you need clothes, you just have to ask."

"That's not the problem," I replied. "I wanted to apologize." It felt wrong that I was getting so close to Jasper. He said he was married to Alice.

"About Jasper?" she asked, brushing my hair once we ha sat down. I made an affirmative gesture. "It's okay. I know you don't like him like that. He doesn't either. Has he told you about Lizzie?"

"You mean his sister Elizabeth?"

Alice stopped brushing and sat down beside me. "You remind him of her. She was about your age and size. Edward has seen the memories and she looked a lot like you too. Except blonde. Once Jasper got over the shock of you being a Newborn, he decided to make up for a broken promise."

I didn't speak. It was too personal a question to ask.

"Jasper left his sister because he wanted to join the Confederate Army. He left his sister with their uncle, but promised to write. He never did, even when he was human. Lizzie died a week after she was told Jasper died. He always wondered if he would have had enough self control to save her. You were given the chance she wasn't."

I put my hand over my mouth. No one cared about me like that. Elizabeth had been lucky to have a brother like Jasper, even if he broke a promise. Especially since he still cared today. "Okay. Thanks Alice. I feel better."

Alice suddenly hugged me. "I should be thanking you. This is going to be good for him." She stood up. "Now about the clothes…"

I knew I wasn't asleep, but my mind had wondered. What I was seeing was fuzzy, like a dream or memory.

The man standing behind me was holding a thick book. I knew it was the Bible, although I couldn't see the cover. I was cowering before him, praying. "Lord, forgive me for the lack of obedience I have shown my father and bring me closer to both him and You."

I didn't believe my words and either did Daddy. He smacked me with the book and I whimpered. "Do you expect me to think you've truly repented, Breanne?" he hissed, hitting me again. "Again and again, I ask you to do little things. Why can't you listen?"

"I'm trying Daddy." I tried to speak clearly. "I really am but I'm hurting. Something's wrong with me. I can't eat or sleep."

"Have you prayed for healing?" he demanded, pulling me to my feet.

"I need a doctor, Daddy." I wiggled in his grasp. "I've been sick before. Please, I wanna go to the hospital. I need to go to the hospital. Please, Daddy, please."

"You have not prayed for healing then. If you are meant to live, He will heal you." Daddy grasped my chin, and spoke gently. "He will bring you peace, my child."

"Daddy, I need a doctor—"

Daddy slapped me again. "Do not interrupt me, Breanne." He kept hitting me, until I slipped into darkness.

I returned to the present, shrinking into the far corner of my room. I gasped back the pain and the memory. I hadn't remembered anything more then the day I changed. I started hyperventilating and shaking.

"Bree?" Edward whispered, coming in. He saw me and sat down across me. "Breanne, can you hear me?"

I could, but I couldn't answer him. I started sobbing and I screamed in mass internal pain. It was like I could still feel the Bible hitting me. I physically pushed Edward's hand away and curled up like a small animal. I covered my face with my arms and touched my nose to the carpet. It muffled the sound of my screams.

Edward tried to move me, but I backed myself farther into the corner. I just kept shaking and yelling. Edward called for someone, but I didn't catch the name. He managed to pull me away from my corner and started patting my head.

Another Cullen must have pushed Edward aside, because I felt a third hand on my back. I let out another scream. "NO!" Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!

One of them picked me up, and sat me on the the bed. I noticed that I had clawed up the carpet like a cat. With another scream, I thought, Oh god. Now I'm really in trouble.

Edward said gently, "You didn't hurt the carpet."

"It's replaceable," Mr. Cullen agreed, taking my hand. "We can work through whatever problems you are having. We have faith in your abilities."

I automatically hugged one of the useless pillows. Feathers exploded everywhere, covering all three of us in down. It distracted me and made me laugh. It rang in my ears like wind chimes, beautiful and foreign. It had been too long since I had laughed. With a happy squeal, I jumped off the bed and hugged Mr. Cullen.

He hugged me back. "Feeling better?"

I nodded and jumped over to Edward, hugging him. "What now, dudes?" I asked, jumping back on the bed and sitting down cross-legged. I bounced up and down, like I was on a trampoline.

Edward sat down beside me, put an arm on my knee and said, "Bree, stop bouncing."

Carlisle laughed at my sudden change in personality. "Edward, she's better. I think we can deal with a little extra energy."

I got off the bed and ran down the stairs as quickly as I could. I need to do something, anything. "Hi!" I said to the assembled Cullens.

Alice and the blonde female looked up from their work. "Hi, Bree," Alice said. "Want to help us plan Edward and Bella's wedding?"

"A wedding?" I blinked at them in disbelief. Why would I help if I was going to kill everyone that showed up? I'd bet I'm not on the guest list.

"Yes, a wedding, Bree." Alice replied. "Despite our lifestyle, Edward has very traditional morals."

"Dude." I wasn't going to admit that I was kind of bummed about not going to the wedding, because I was going to be more bummed if I killed everyone. "Why do you need my help?"

"I think," Mr. Cullen said, coming up behind me, "you're ready to be around more humans. If one of us keeps a hand on you, you should do fine. We have faith."

"Great!" Alice said in frustration. "How am I supposed to dress someone who can't go dress shopping?" She looked at me, and thought for a moment. "Lime green, strapless, falls above the knee. I have to go to Seattle. Jasper, take Bree hunting."