Sorry it's taking me so long to update these days. I'm still grounded and I've been focusing a lot on my other story. That, and as I've said before, I have no idea what I'm writing in this.
Carlisle got up from his place on the couch and moved to the door. I held my breath, not really knowing what to expect as he opened it, revealing a handful of vampires, looking straight out of a movie in their floor length black cloaks. Carlisle stepped aside, allowing them entrance.
"Aro! What a pleasure to see you again! Did you come out all this way to Alaska just to visit?" Carlisle's acting was wonderful, his surprise and curiosity spot on. Aro smiled in response.
"Carlisle, good friend, I see you've kept to your interesting diet. I actually came to meet your new family member. I've heard quite fascinating things about her." His milky red eyes turned to me, and though his expression, he seemed sinister.
"I couldn't believe my ears when I received word of dear Bella, a vampire with human traits, very curious. But I am surprised to see that that my sources weren't completely thorough. I hear a heartbeat! Granted, it seems a bit weak, but to think that Isabella actually has a heartbeat?"
I felt a tingle of hope crawl through my dead veins. He doesn't even know Layla is here! He thinks it's you! I could barely keep my face within the range of appropriate expressions.
"Are you sure that you have not been deceived? How do you even know she's a vampire? Just look at her eyes." I wanted to laugh. I defiantly didn't expect the meeting to go this well. Edward dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
"Oh trust me, she's a vampire." He reassured with a smile. Aro's face remained doubtful, so I twisted out of Edward's arm and moved to stand in front of Emmett. I bent down and hooked my hands beneath his chair, before standing straight, hoisting the chair and Emmett into the air. Emmett mused my hair with pride as I set him carefully back down.
Aro nodded, lost in his own thoughts as I moved back to Edward, who seemed especially eager to have me back into his arms. He finally moved us to an empty couch and sat down, pulling me down onto his lap. He buried his head in my shoulder as the silence went on.
"Where are my manners, please," Carlisle looked about the throng of strangers still just within the doorway, "take a seat." Aro complied, sitting in a lone chair, but the others remained standing, orienting themselves around the ancient vampire.
"Well this is interesting, what all exactly can you do?" Aro looked at me, his face still twisted as though he was solving a puzzle.
"I- Well I have the speed and strength of a vampire, but I'm not attracted to human blood. I can generate heat, so I'm not cold like a vampire, and my eyes never changed color from when I was human. I can cry, but the tears are venom, and I can get sick." I meekly replied. I was careful to leave out that I could read minds. I was a bit curious to see what Aro was thinking, but fear kept me out.
"Would you mind?" Aro's face cleared into one of pure curiosity and anticipation as he held out his hand to me. I stared for a moment in confusion before looking to Carlisle.
'He can read minds through physical contact, it's his power. He will become suspicious if you refuse, but I think it's safe.'
I hesitantly reached my hand out, and it was quickly grasped by Aro's. I bit down on my lip hard as pain shook my frame but I made no noise and remained completely still as images flashed through my mind.
A young man with long dark hair and an olive complexion came to mind, many images running together. I watched in confusion as he spoke in a foreign language to different people, faces becoming unintelligible in their haste. I watched the man grow, and suddenly he became pale, suddenly the vampire sitting before me.
I saw as he killed people. Hundreds, thousands. I saw their every face and heard their terrified thoughts as he unleashed himself upon them and killed them, their blood running down his greedy throat. I clamped my eyes against the images, but they continued, relentless. Suddenly the faces were gone, and when I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but Aro before me, his hand no longer touching mine.
"Curious." That's what I thought. I looked at him in question. "My power is similar to that of your dear Edward's, only can hear every thought that has ever crossed a person's mind. I need physical contact to do it. . ." I let out a little squeak, realizing what happened. He lifted his head and locked his eyes with mine. "It didn't work."
Carlisle's gaze had landed on me, being the only person to hear my little noise. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at me.
'Did you, did you take his power too?' I nodded meekly and I heard Edward's intake of breath having heard Carlisle's question.
"Jane dear?" Aro called out from his spot, drawing our attention back to him. "I wonder if you are impervious to our other talents?" Edward hissed behind me in disapproval. I gave him a warning look. We were already in the mercy of this man, including my daughter, and I wanted to do nothing to give him any reason to act out with that power.
One of the hooded figures, the smallest of them came forward, the only thing peeking out from the cloak being a mischievous smile. Edward let out a low warning growl, and tightened his arms around me.
'Edward, let her try. We'll stop her immediately if anything happens, I promise.' Carlisle's voice was filtered through my mind as he talked mentally with Edward. I looked to the figure, no larger than Alice, and waited anxiously.
I let out a small cry of pain as her power was used on me, but I was relieved to hear no extra voices and seeing no visions as the pain subsided. The girl named Jane was frustrated; apparently not having her power worked either.
'Did it work? Do you have her power?' Edward's voice was melodic and soothing even when he didn't speak them aloud. I shrugged subtly. I didn't even know what her power was! Aro chuckled and placed a reassuring hand on Jane's shoulder, who was now clearly fuming.
"I thought it worked for a second! Didn't she make a noise?" Jane insisted stubbornly. Was her power to get people to talk? I shook it off.
"This is marvelous," Aro declared. "Is she immune to your gifts as well?" he asked, his eyes focusing on Edward behind me.
"She was immune to my power even as a human, but she is affected by Alice and Jasper." That caught Aro off guard. He looked surprised.
"Human?" Aro inquired. Edward knew what he was getting at apparently, because he answered his vague question.
"Bella went to our school in our last home before she was changed. We knew her there. She was my Biology partner." I smiled at the memories that his words brought up, us acting like little awkward kids when our hands would touch. My heart speeding hyperactively when he would turn his golden eyes my way.
At the thought of my human heart speeding, Layla's heartbeat sped up in the other room and my eyes widened.
"Mommy?" she called out. Oh God.
Wow, short AND a cliffhanger. I must be really mean! Review, or I may have to do this to you every chapter.