Chapter 10
After the impromptu shopping trip, we are on our way to meet the rest of the Cullens. I was beyond nervous. What if they didn't like me? Alice was packed tightly in the back seat, she had bought so many things I doubted it would fit in Edward's Volvo at first. It's a good thing she's fun size.
"Can you slow down just a little bit Edward? I mean, one of us is quite breakable." My hands instinctively clenched the leather seats.
"Don't worry Bella, its pretty much impossible for a vampire to crash. Our senses are far too acute for to make such a human error." Alice assured me. "Er, not that there's anything wrong with human errors...uh, sorry."
"It's fine, not like you associate with humans closely." The rest of the ride was quiet. Ten minutes roughly passed and a grandiose mansion revealed itself.
"Well, this is it. My family is going to love you Bella, I promise." Edward ran to my side and opened the door for me. I merely smiled unsure.
We began to make our way to the front door when Edward and Alice tensed noticeably. Edward gripped my arms, holding me back. Suddenly the front door flew open and some poor, injured man came stumbling out with the most panic-stricken face. Blood was trickling down his neck and upon seeing us, his eyes mimicked saucers. Finally, his eyes singled me out and he called out in a desperate plea.
"RUN!"
Stunned, I stood my ground unable to figure out what was really happening. I pulled on Edward's arm, looking to him for help. I started to make my way towards the injured man who obviously needed help, yet none was being offered. In a blur, a man that I had yet to see appeared beside the terrified man. I noted this man as Cullen, a doctor at Forks General Hospital. Only to my surprise, a feral look graced his face and splashes of red adorned his attire.
Edward stopped my forward advancement and began guiding me back to the car. A heavily coded look was shared between Alice and Edward before I was guided into the passenger seat.
No time was wasted as the Volvo purred to life and took off. My heart was beating frantically in my chest. I was trying to comprehend what I had just undesirably acted witness to. Edward and the Cullens were vampires, I knew this, but their choice diet had escaped me up until now. This really wasn't a good relationship, this was dangerous.
"What...what just happened? Stupid question, I know, but....your father was going to kill that man! Or should I say, is going to. My God Edward!" I was rambling and I didn't know what to say but I was far too worked up to remain silent.
Edward's knuckles gripped the steering wheel as tight as possible without breaking it somehow. He pulled up into my driveway and was thinking of how to respond.
"Bella, we're vampires. Blood is the only way for us to survive. I wish we didn't thrive off it like we do, but that's the reality. I told you I wasn't good for you, not healthy." Edward's voice trailed off lowering in volume as he ended, notably solemn.
"So when you said your family would love me, did you mean they would love my blood?" I asked carefully. A huge lump made it's presence known in my throat. I felt so conflicted. I felt scared, horrified at what I had seen yet through all that, I still felt an insanely unreasonable and illogical pull towards Edward.
"Bella, I would never put you in danger like that. I wouldn't have brought you to my home if I knew that would have happened. You have to believe me when I tell you that for the first time in decades, I am seeing things so differently. You make me feel like I'm alive Bella, like I'm not such a murderous monster despite the cold, stark reality." Edward's spoke with words emblazoned with an intense passion and honesty.
His eyes are imploring me to believe him and my heart is screaming at me to do so. But my mind is placing a million road blocks in front, enabling me from following through.
"You can't just, I don't know, drink animal blood?"
"Unfortunately animal blood wouldn't sustain us, I mean as a last resort it would have to suffice but even then we would be unnaturally weak and vulnerable. Carlisle proved that to be true first hand. We don't like this Bella, we try to go only after degenerates. Not that that makes it any better, but at least its lessening the evils in the world, even though I guess we are the greatest of said evils." Edward sighed resigned.
"This is just too much Edward." I opened the door.
"I understand, and I'm sorry. My family and I will not bother you anymore." Now Edward's voice was cold and emotionless. Yet, I could feel the pain and hurt radiating off of him.
"I didn't say I never wanted to see you again. I just need some time to take everything in, think through things." I offered a small smile to him.
"As much time and space you need, you take that and more Bella. I swear I'd go to the end of the Earth for you and so much more. I'll wait forever for you if need be, though I really don't want to to be honest." Edward cracked a smirk in return.
What was I supposed to say to that? It was as if Edward had a book filled with the perfect things to say for every situation. I couldn't come right out to say that I could never go long without him, I couldn't even admit that to myself completely yet. I have to decide whether or not I can carry on loving a vampire that could end my life at the drop of a hat. The answer that I am teetering towards is unnerving.
"I'll see you around Edward." I climbed out and fighting the urge to look back, I step inside my house. Closing my eyes, I release a breath I didn't realize was being held.
((AN: Don't think Bella is going to be okay with the Cullens diet so easily, cause she's not. But just a spoiler: something may or may not happen that causes her to have to be okay with it. I haven't fully decided on what to do for the next chapter, but Edward's gonna have some reparation to do to win Bella. Oh and...review please? Thx!))