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Chapter 10

Negotiations

I lie peacefully on Edward's black leather sofa, enjoying the soft melodies of Debussy playing on the CD player. Edward sat at a corner of the sofa with my head rested upon his cold thigh. My left arm limped over my head with my fingers aimlessly fiddling with my brown strands of hair. My other crossed my chest over a blue soft heating blanket, to be the barrier of the coldness of Edward's cold form. His fingers intertwined with mine as his cold slender fingers left a wintry chill on my flesh but I didn't complain. Oddly, I enjoyed the coolness of his hand along with he constant electricity that injection throughout my system. The warmth beneath my back spread across my body which I was utterly enjoying.

I felt at peace with Edward protection, no fear dared to tempt me with Edward here. Edward recently explained everything about his new life and the confines of his limitation. And for some strange reason, he couldn't read my mind. I was intrigued yet astonished about the Cullen's past. Its amazing how these creatures appear so young yet weighed the age above fifty. Somehow, Alice managed to smooth Charlie to allow me to stay over at the Cullen's on a school night. I spent one night with the Cullen's in absolute serenity even if they were vampire. Friday was a school day but Edward thought it was dangerous to attend to school with Patrick's intentions. I involuntarily shivered when Edward confessed all the nights he prevent Patrick from penetrating to my room. The thought of him in my room was enough for me to be frozen by my apprehension.

Unconsciously, my eyes snapped up to Edward who stared hard at the door. His eyebrows furrow in thought along with his features well defined by his facial expressions. I was in awe to his beauty even at this angle. But a curious and alarm sensation crept from my stomach to my chest. Somehow, I thought my peacefully morning will soon be shattered to some urged attention. Abruptly, Edward snapped his eyes to me. Instantly, my heart raced for being caught for staring at him. A smile developed on his perfect lips along with his expression softened. No doubt a crimson blush was on my cheeks, "That color looks beautiful on you." Edward velvet voice fractured the wordless silence; his tone was smooth and dripped with ardor. Coolness touched my cheek tenderly from his cold forefingers. Goosebumps bred throughout my body, not by the coolness but from his electrifying touch. "We should head down stairs; Carlisle wants to talk to us."

To my reluctance, Edward led me down the fleet of stairs where his family sat quietly in the dining room. As I entered with Edward next to me, I was ambushed by perfect smiles from his family except for Rosalie. Her eyes were intense and imitating with pure hatred that stuck my heart. The expression she held, forced me to look away in apprehension. I sighed inwardly and deep before Edward pulled the chair out for me. A plate of food was in front of the chair with steam rising above my warm breakfast. The smell invaded my nostrils and to my utter embarrassment my stomach growled loudly, elicited a soft chuckle from Emmett.

I sat quietly in the chair with a nervous and insecure feeling swelling in my chest until unexpectedly a peacefully sensation smoothed me. Curiously, my eyes glanced to Jasper who sat across the table at the end, next to Rosalie. A small smile of reassuring developed on his lips. I briefly remember Edward telling me about his ability. I nodded pleasingly at him.

I glanced down at the plate, "I thought you might be hungry." Esme's motherly voice spoke out smoothly which educed my attention to her. A sweet smile crossed her lips with encouragement and her cheeks puffed up to her grin. I couldn't help but smile back, "Edward told us you eat more often than us, and I hope you like it. I made it myself."

I bashfully thanked her for her generosity. Even though I felt extremely embarrassed for anyone's eyes were on me as they waited anxiously for me to eat, I took a bite from the pancakes with strawberry eyes. The taste was invigorating with each bite; I savored the sweet delicious taste. Before long, Carlisle cleared his throat to grasp the other's attention from me which I was completely thankful for. "I called all of you to discuss the Tresser's." His voice was full of authority and perfectly calm. But the name Tresser sent a chill down my back as I stopped in mid-chew. My muscles tensed, obviously, Edward notice for his hand rested on mine, reassuringly. "I recently received a call from Professor Joseph Tresser to negotiate…Bella."

His words were carefully spoken as my heart dropped to the word negotiate. My eyes widen unconsciously along with a dreadful sensation that coursed through my body. My muscles tightened while I lost my appetite. How could they think of me as something to negotiate? Were the Tresser's that vulgar? I felt Edward stiffened next to me too. I quickly stole a glance at him to find his face completely worried and fierce. Esme looked at me with a sympathic look as her eyes softened dramatically. "She's not something to negotiate." Esme immediately spoke up with a firm protective, motherly tone. A sense pride swelled in my chest for her words; even though I just met her yesterday I can really see her as my second mother. To this thought, I smiled proudly and thankfully for her loving grace.

"But we might as well meet them." Jasper's voice was casual, "Or they might attempt to come here with special intentions." For a moment, I thought I saw his eyes flickered to me briefly almost as if he is indicating something. But his swift movements were too quick for me to comprehend, to my dismay. Quickly, my eyes moved to Alice who sat next to Jasper, her eyes were dazed. Edward told me about her visions and how she saw Patrick kidnapping me at the school parking lot.

"Jasper is right." Alice snapped out of her vision as her eyes returned from the dazed look. "I am getting glimpses of them coming here."

My eyes grazed their faces as each one of them nodded to Jasper's proclamation. I felt utterly guilty for the dilemma that my presence has brought them. The thought of the Tresser's intruding on this family infuriated me but mostly, I was concerned for the family's wellbeing. And now they agree to meet them on my behalf, to rescue me? Abruptly, I felt small and…unworthy for this family's chivalrous act. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Carlisle's voice, "Fine. We'll meet them in the clearing…" Suddenly he turned to me, "Are you ok with this?"

Instantly, all their eyes rested upon me with curious and anxious gazes that made me recoil. How could I possibly be ok with this? A negotiation that was going to be held for my future. My voice slipped into a silence abyss. I simply nodded, stiffly. "I'll come too." I managed to say in a murmured voice.

"No," Edward immediately protested, his voice swelled in protection. "It's not safe."

I looked at him with plain expression before I furrowed my eyebrows. A sensation of rights swelled in my chest. Even though I greatly appreciate his effort to protect me, I have every right to attend to my very own negotiation. "Edward….I'm going." He stared long and hard at me before he sighed and he rubbed his forehead, wearily. I immediately spoke up before he can speak, "I have a right to go." My voice was firm, indicating the end of the conversation but I knew Edward was going to protest again but Carlisle instantly prevent his words.

"Edward, she'll be fine with us. Alice will take her if things get too dangerous." He said with full confidence as I followed his gaze to Alice who nodded to his statement. Luckily, it somewhat reassured Edward but I can sense that he deeply disagree with my involvement. Although I am more involved than I would have wished for.

"But what about Robin?" Edward asked suddenly as I was bewildered by his inquiring. I thought we should worry mostly over Patrick due to his insane intentions. Curiously, I snapped me eyes to him while he noticed the confused glint in my eyes, "Don't let her fool you, Bella. Robin is the most dangerous out of all of them."

His voice was strangled by his resentment towards her. I was still bewildered by that statement. How could someone so innocent could be so dangerous? I remembered her sweet angelic voice that rang Christmas bells and the delightful smile of hers. "How is she dangerous? She looks so innocent."

Edward's face became tight along with a hateful look in his eyes, "True she looks like innocent child but really she's the definition of a fiend. She possesses the ability to create hallucinations….. and she tested them out on me several times." His voice became utterly hard towards the end. No wonder he hated her so much due to her constant mind games. My heart sank to the pain that she caused him as I felt infuriated. "She can easily make you hallucinate to become her victim."

The room grew silent to Edward's statement. No doubt that's their fear in this negotiation. They can easily kidnap me with the use of hallucinations. I shivered to the thought of being Patrick's mate for an eternity. His arms being a never ending prison. I bit my lips nervously while I thought hard upon the situation. "Wait." I immediately spoken up fractured the brooding silence while I grasped the curious eyes of the others. "Jasper… you can manipulate other's emotions, right?" I looked eagerly at Jasper who nodded once to my inquiring. "Well, you can manipulate Robin's. I mean if you make her feel too happy she won't have a reason to use her abilities or make her feel very wearily. If she wearily, she might think she doesn't have the power to create hallucination. Use her emotions against her."

At the corner of my eye, I saw Emmett perk up with an astonished feature while a smile developed o his lip. "That might work." His voice was eager and now, full of confidence. His chuckled deeply, "Now we can face them. I ready for anything." He boasted until his eyes caught mine and gave me a wink.

"Fine."

I grew more nervous as we're drawn closer to the meeting. Recently, Carlisle called the professor to meet in the clearing in the evening. The sky was coated with grey clouds that thundered in the far distance but was loud enough to echo vociferously in my sensitive ears. A light mist flowed across the clearing, looking almost depressing and… dreading. I cringed to the blistering sound as I felt Edward squeezing my hand as his other was firmly on the steering wheel. In the back seat, Alice and Jasper stared out of the window on guard. Scouting the deep clearing with intense vision, looking for any signs of the Tresser's or threats. Another car drove in front us who were the others with Carlisle driving briskly to the middle of the clearing.

Desperately, I breathed deeply and heavily as my anxiety worsened. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. But soon my anxiety diminished slightly due to Jasper's ability although my thoughts dwelt what's about to come. Even though Jasper attempted to calm me, I found myself shaken. I think what feared me the most was seeing Patrick again. His perfect yet determined face appeared in my mine along with those intense dazzling eyes that penetrating deeply into mine until my free will was diminished from my fingers. An unwanted shiver stroked up my spine, painfully.

Carlisle's car came to a stop. The back light lit up into a bright red until his engine died from Carlisle's command. Quickly, Edward parked next to him. Across the field, my heart dropped when I saw two cars with the Tresser's surrounding it. To my utterly fear, Patrick approached us with sheer determination and resolve. Once again, my body tensed as my chest became heavy. Before I knew it, Edward was at my door. He snapped me out of my fearful daze when opening the door. Swiftly, he removed me from my seat as my mind tried to comprehend what happened. His movements were too swift. I was instantly attacked by the cold, crispy wind that blew across the clearing.

Edward wrapped a protective arm around my waist. He was stiff and alert next to me. I was practically carried by him due to his anxiousness but at least I can take comfort knowing that he can detect any sudden mentally preparation from the Tresser's. The others approached the Tresser's with swift movements as they remained a close distance to the cars for my benefit. They moved in front of us but I can see Patrick clearly. Alice stood next to me, ready to block any attempts.

My eyes watched uneasily on the Tresser's who suddenly appear before us. I blinked several times to comprehend their rapid movements. I knew vampires were quick but that was utterly frightening. Patrick stared very intensely at me to the point that I was going to faint. There was anger in his eyes for he prolonged a glance at Edward's arm that was around my waist. Slowly and deadly, Patrick raised his eyes to mine. The look had me very tensed as I shivered to the deep growl that erupted in his chest. Even with Edward next to me, I was afraid.

To be continued….

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