More about this world that will inevitably come up later but I want you guys to know so it doesn't confuse you. Vampires can have children. The pregnancies are usually very difficult and they can only manage to have a few. Carlisle was created waaay back when, he changed Esme approximately 20 years before this Selection. Edward was born, followed by Emmett and Jasper. Being born and being changed don't exhibit any noticeable differences besides aging until 18.
Leah and Emily are exchanging smug looks as they dress me. At first I think I'm imagining it, but then Alice barges in as usual and she too looks smug.
"Okay, what?" They all glance at each other.
"Yesterday at lunch Emmett let slip that a certain brunette had wowed him, then he looked around the room and looked put out that you were missing." Alice says with a mischievous smile.
"All the other girls requested dresses in blue, because that's what you wear so much." Emily added.
"Kim said they've been requesting to have their hair down like yours normally is." Leah continued, brushing through my hair.
"A few girls even darkened their hair! And the rest are going for natural makeup." Alice giggles.
In the end they'd designed me to stand out today, in Alice's words, to shine. My hair is pulled into a high ponytail with curls. My dress is blood red with drooping sleeves that hang off my shoulders and a sweetheart neckline that plunges into devastating cleavage.
My lips are the same color as the dress, my eyes bold. A shimmering powder is artfully placed along my cleavage and up the column of my neck.
I'm ravishing, I'm stunning, I'm unbelievable.
Alice and I head down to breakfast and I'm shocked by the number of blue dresses. It's true, besides Alice who dons yellow, every girl is wearing some shade of blue. From the lightest of powdery blues, to deep royal, each color is represented.
I receive glares throughout my meal. Particularly from Tanya whose usual off the charts makeup looks natural and plain.
Like I usually do.
Emmett, who is seated at the front of the room with Madame Cope and Jasper, winks at me. I glance around to be sure no one is looking and stick out my tongue juvenilely. He laughs loudly and I blush down at my plate when several girls glance back at me. I hear Tanya whisper 'whore' to Irina.
After breakfast we're on our way to another great room that's been set up for more television interviews with Peter Whitlock. As we walk in an orderly line I'm pulled into a darkened closet.
"Give me your dress." Tanya's voice hisses, I struggled futilely in her iron grip. She grips one of the droopy sleeves and tries to pull the dress from me.
"I want it." She hisses pulling hard, I hear the tear of fabric and rage fills me. Emily and Leah worked so hard on this dress.
"No, it's mine!" I practically growl. "Made specifically for my body, it wouldn't fit you anyway." Tanya growls low as I've insulted her.
Lights bathes us when the door is opened and Alice stands in the doorway fuming.
"Get your hands off of her." Alice growls looking feral, this is the first time I've seen her anything but happy and it's frightening. Tanya releases me looking bored and strolls passed Alice with ease.
Alice tucks the torn sleeve into the dress, mumbling to herself under her breath.
"I'll kill her." Alice states venomously.
I shake my head at her.
"Girl's like that get theirs." I assure her . Alice's eyes glaze over and she beams once the vision passes.
"Excellent! Come on." She drags me down the hall, the room we enter has rows of chairs for the girls, in the very back are four regal looking chairs occupied by the two princes and the king and queen. At the front there is a makeshift stage with two comfortable looking armchairs, Peter sits in one grinning. It's hard not to notice all of the cameras in the room. Several point to the stage, but a few are also pointed at the girls, probably to get our reactions.
"I suddenly feel very self conscious." Alice elbows me painfully, making me gasp for breath.
"You look stunning."
Emmett is introduced and strolls onto the stage with confidence.
"Alright Emmett, you have been meeting the girls in order to weed out those who don't seem right for your brother, tell us about how it's going." Emmett grins.
"Well, we get to know whether we like 'em or not, but then we have to pass everything off with Eddie." I grin ruefully at the nickname and Emmett winks. "As you know he had an instant hard on for a particular scent so when we want to make a cut we have to wave the scent in his face and get his official approval to send them packing." His total lack of propriety on television is hilarious, but I sense the Queen isn't at all amused by his antics.
"Ah, so you've made some cuts, but what about the girls that are here? Any particular girls that stand out?" Am I imagining Peter's cheeky grin in my direction?
I'm definitely not imagining the cheeky grin from Emmett. Oh no.
" Well there is this fiery little thing. clumsy as hell Pete. She walks in and biffs it, then, like a true lady seeking to be a princess she yells out 'FUCK!'" Some of the girls gasp. Madame Cope looks horrified as she narrows her eyes at us, she gives me a significant look. Once glance at the King and Queen, and Esme is looking astonished by her son's admission. It gets worse Queenie, trust me.
Peter is laughing hysterically. I loathe that he finds pleasure in my pain.
"Then when I offer a little etiquette to help the vulgarity, she yells at me!" Gasps fill the air, no one can imagine yelling at a prince. They would have all meekly nodded and taken the damn lessons. Oops.
The guard at the door, another wolf. Is trying really hard not to smile.
Peter and Emmett are roaring with laughter, I'm trying hard not to blush. I don't succeed. Even Alice is laughing, traitor.
"Sounds a little too fiery for Edward." Peter teases, Emmett grins amused.
"That's the best part! She's an absolute riot. I'd love to have her around this place, yelling at diplomats, cursing when she falls." Emmett chuckles. I glance at the King and Queen who are processing what's been said. They look neither happy nor unhappy, but King Carlisle looks slightly worried.
I'd make a terrible princess.
"Alright Emmett, thank you so much for that hilarious tidbit, now we'll have your brother Jasper if you could?" Peter must be a friend of the family, the way he interacts with them is casual, the fact that he doesn't use their titles is another giveaway.
Jasper makes his way to the stage and takes his seat, crossing a leg over the other and appearing casual but poised. I am envious of his grace.
"Jasper, can you give us an insight on this mystery girl?" Jasper chuckles and I huff softly. Is that all we're going to talk about today?
"Her emotions were so raw, potent, if I hadn't interceded she would have kept going, no doubt cursing more than just her etiquette teacher." Madame Cope looks offended and appalled. Alice leans closer to my ear.
"He's an empath, he can feel and influence emotions." Ah, it makes sense why I calmed down so quickly. Maybe I need to keep him around more often.
"Besides the girl with the dislike for etiquette." Yeah no kidding. "Did anyone else catch your eye?" Jasper glances meaningfully at Alice.
"A very bold little psychic." Alice sighs dreamily.
After Jasper's sweet shout out to Alice the Selectant's interviews start. Most go on about how beautiful the palace is and how much fun they're having, Tanya plays up her modeling background with flirty tosses of her hair and gleaming smiles. Then Peter calls my name.
I make my way shakily up the stage, stumbling over my dress, and the stage and nearly face planting. I don't miss Emmett's roar of a laugh. Peter uses his vampire reflexes well when as he catches my fall and steadies me. I sit in my chair with a terrible blush.
"Clumsy aren't you?" He asks. I blush and nod.
"I'd say you were the mystery girl but you're a little meek." Irritation fills me. It's so sudden I react before I process it. In offense I snort loudly.
"Appearances can be deceiving." Peter smirks and I balk, I've given myself away. Then I glare at Jasper who's smiling innocently.
"Bastard." I mumble. Emmett breaks his damn chair again.
"So it was you?" Peter asks. I sigh and release my poised pose. I slump into the chair and uncross my legs, I even kick off my shoes. No use being all polite and polished now that they know my semi sordid past. Emmett you ass, Jasper too. Asses everyone of them.
"You got me." I say relaxing casually. Some of the girls look appalled. Madame Cope is muttering to herself. The King and Queen are laughing, that's a good sign I suppose.
"Do you often curse out royalty?" Peter teases, I blush and grin ruefully.
"Only to those who deserve it." Peter laughs.
"And to those who don't?" I sit up straight like my Momma would like, cross my leg and place my hands delicately on my lap. My smile is polite, enchanting, practiced for my shows.
"Ah bonjour il est si merveilleux pour répondre à votre aquaintance , votre maison est belle et la nourriture absolument délicieux . Merci beaucoup pour avoir ma compagnie dans votre maison somptueuse." My accent is impeccable as I thank the King and Queen for inviting me into their home and giving me delicious food they nod encouragingly.
I slump back into the comfy chair as Peter laughs.
"How charming, what other secrets are you hiding?" I shrug.
"You'll just have to find out."
When he stands to shake my hand he points out something I hadn't noticed. A vaguely hand shaped bruise on my arm from my encounter with Tanya.
"I -uh- tripped." It sounds lame, and before anyone can question me I rush from the stage. The King and Queen, and Jasper and Emmett don't look like they buy it, when I sit neither does Peter.
I want to make something clear.
I'm not afraid of Tanya, that's not why I lied. I thoroughly believe that those who go through life all nasty like her, will eventually get what's coming to them. I don't need to be vindictive in response because then I'm acting just like her and lowering myself to her standards.
Peter calls up Alice who basically dances to the stage. I really hate vampire grace.
"Alice dear, it's wonderful to have you here." Peter greets. Alice giggles then whispers something in Peter's ear.
"Oh really now?" Peter asks with an upraised eyebrow. Alice nods then beams down at me.
"I'm a psychic you see. I get visions of the future." Some of the girls gasp and look disgruntled after all, she was mentioned by one of the princes.
"I see all kinds of things, how this show would go, what dress I'd wear. Sometimes it's trivial and sometimes…" Alice pauses looking upset. Peter rushes to intercede.
"Sometimes." He prompts kindly Alice sniffles.
"Sometimes I see the most awful things. People getting hurt, I try to stop it from happening." Peter reaches out and grabs her hand to comfort her. I don't miss the way Jasper stills.
"It's alright Alice you can't save everybody." Alice sniffles again. It's believable, and she's very good, but she isn't upset, she's playing the crowd. She's up to something.
"I just wish I could help more. One of the girls…" Alice gasps and covers her mouth. Pretending to be horrified. Behind her hand I see the telltale signs of her smile. A glance at Jasper reveals he's confused by her conflicting emotions.
"What's going on with one of the girls?" Peter asks excited for a piece of juicy gossip. Alice sighs.
"She'll be so mad that I betrayed her confidence. You see she was attacked by another girl. She's only human, and her attacker was a vampire." I purse my lips and glare at Alice. What the hell does she think she's doing?
Peter looks both concerned and excited.
"Who? When?" Alice looks down at me. Peter doesn't miss the exchange. His eyebrows raise and he's doing what everyone else is doing. Staring at my bruise which now given the new information looks like a handprint.
"Bella, I'm sorry, it's just so awful I know you don't want to be mean to the other girls or make them get in trouble. But she attacked you!" Alice pleaded. She's being real now, genuinely worried that I'm really upset. I sigh and shake my head.
"I don't want vengeance or anything Alice," I tell her, Alice pouts then looks to Peter.
"I caught Tanya Denali in a closet attacking Bella." I close my eyes and shake my head. The girls all gasp, when I look over Tanya looks panicked. Emmett seizes Tanya firmly.
"You know that attacking girl, especially a human girl is punishable by death." I blanch at the threat and stand.
"Wait!" I cry. Everyone looks to me. "Don't kill her," I say weakly. Tanya looks confused through her tears.
"Just send her home," I say. "But don't kill her." Emmett looks to the King and Queen. They're gazing surprised at me. Finally, Carlisle clears his throat.
"Sometimes power is best displayed not by overtly punishing your enemies, but by taking the higher ground, and showing mercy." Carlisle nods to Emmett who escorts a crying Tanya from the room.
Eyes, penetrating, judging. They're all on me.
I take my seat head held high. For once, I'm proud.
After the interviews we have a light lunch, I don't imagine the stares I receive from the other girls, or the whispers that start and stop as I pass.
A quiet girl, Angela, comes up to me smiling shyly.
"That was very nice what you did for her, after everything that happened." I shrug and smile.
"She didn't deserve death." I say. Angela is kind, and I like her. She's a Four, her Father owns a restaurant and she can't wait for the day she becomes a chef there. She loves to cook.
We spend the afternoon, Angela, Alice and I, in a large library gushing about romance and talking about our lives.
It's refreshing to have another friend.
After a quiet dinner we all retire to bed. I make my way to the door outside. Jake is there again.
"Hello again Jake." I greet, he smiles.
"Ah, the fiery tempered clutz." I raise an eyebrow at the greeting. He shrugs.
"Sam was the guard in the room during the interviews he's told us all about you." Jake's eyes sparkle as he says this. I blush.
"Well Sam sounds like a gossip." I say. "Poor Emily, I wonder what he tells you about her." I tease Jake lets out a barking laugh.
"Sam can't help but share. it comes with being one of us." Jake says vaguely, my eyebrows scrunch in confusion, but Jake doesn't look like he's going to let me in on the secret. I bid goodbye and make my way to my bench.
"Hello again love." My body instantly reacts to his voice.
"Hi Edward." I greet. It's quiet for a moment.
"Please tell me it was a joke of poor taste from my brother and you weren't really attacked." I cringe.
"It wasn't like that." I defend. "The girls are all wired up, Emmett's dropping hints about me and the girls are jealous. They all think if they win over your brothers they'll win over you."
I fill him in on the ridiculous measures the girls have taken, the blue dresses, the cosmetic changes, the Tanya incident.
"Your brother causes a lot of trouble." I inform Edward once I've described my crazy day. Edward chuckles but it sounds forced.
"Yeah. He does." I don't miss the ire in his voice.
"Please don't be angry with him Edward. Really, I'm okay. I even made another friend today," Edward calms and asks about Angela, seemingly content that I'm getting along well.
"Thank you for another wonderful night." I say with a yawn.
"Go to sleep love." Edward urges. I smile.
"Alright, goodnight Edward."
When I get back to my room only Emily is there, Leah enters soon after me smirking.
"You know, you're suppose to get me when you go meet lover boy." She teases. I blush and face palm.
"Oh! I forgot." Leah snorts and rolls her eyes.
"Don't worry Jake informed me and I stayed quietly in the shadows listening to your nauseatingly sweet conversation." Emily and Leah gossip about my day as they undress me.