Hi!

I finished the next chapter, so here you go :)

Thanks to Too Much Chocolate for beta-reading!


Chapter 9

I didn't know what to do. True, I hadn't seen Ms Cullen, ah . . . Mrs Cullen all too often during the previous days, but I had found security in the knowledge that she was around. And now she wanted to leave me defenselessly behind?

I fought against the distress inside me. I couldn't possibly ask her to stay. I wasn't entitled to make demands. Still, for a moment I wished that she was able to read my mind and recognize my fear. Of course, this wasn't the case, so she just kept smiling and patted my hand a bit too hard.

Then she turned to look at her brother and Mr Thurgood.

"Please, leave us alone for a moment. You know what happens to eavesdroppers."

Her last words seemed to be directed at Mr Cullen who nodded at her, leniently smiling.

A few seconds later, they had both left.

I was unable to help myself and looked at her in admiration. Where did she get that courage from? She was so fragile and petite, and still talked to her brother and his dubious friend as if she was in a superior position.

"You are very courageous, madam," I said quietly.

The corners of her mouth twitched.

"I do not particularly care for any role that society intends for me to step into. We women need to be strong," she responded, still smiling.

"But your brother . . . and Mr Thurgood. Do they not care?" I asked a little stunned.

I couldn't imagine that someone like Mr Cullen put up with a woman that spoke to him in such a way. On the other hand, I had just seen him do it. He hadn't looked especially annoyed.

Mrs Cullen made a dismissive gesture that I truly hadn't expected from a lady in her position. She was just as unconventional as her brother.

"I commanded respect in Jonathan's case," she answered. Suddenly, I wasn't sure anymore if she was as defenseless as she let on. After all, she wasn't human, I reminded myself.

"And Edward had enough time to get used to me. Also he has learned throughout the years that family bonds are much more important than the social positions of men and women."

I took a closer look at Mrs Cullen. She didn't appear much older than me. Her words, however, had a certain ring to them that made them sound as if she and her brother had already dwelled on this planet for a long time.

"I beseech you not to ask for the secret of my ever-lasting youth – I'm tired of this question. And I'm sure you already have a vague idea what my brother and I are." She said this with such ease that I didn't know how to react.

"How old are you, madam?" I asked, even though I didn't want to hear the answer.

Mrs Cullen sighed.

"Leave the "madam". I feel very old when you call me that, Bella. Oh, I am, don't get me wrong, but no one likes to be reminded of his or her age, don't you agree?"

I was a little taken by surprise by her request and that she had given me a nickname, I could only nod.

"I don't like to speak for my brother, so I will only tell you my age. Edward will certainly tell you himself when he's ready," she continued.

Then she paused for a moment and seemed to listen for something. She shook her head in disapproval.

"My brother didn't pay heed to my request not to listen. He doesn't miss one of our words. But he seems to agree with my decision not to tell you. Well . . . where were we?"

I wondered what she had just heard. Had Mr Cullen said something? I hadn't heard the faintest noise. Maybe it had to do with his mind reading.

"Alright, I was born in 1523, was turned shorty after I had turned nineteen, and will celebrate my two hundred and twenty fifth birthday this year."

There, she had said it. Turned. There were no excuses left. She was a vampire. And almost two hundred and twenty five years old.

"That probably sounds a little frightening to you, but I won't touch a hair on your head. Although you do smell spectacular," she smiled. To my horror, she then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, an expression of pure relish on her face.

I turned to stone. At the same time, there was a muted snarl somewhere in the house, which made Mrs Cullen roll her eyes. She actually rolled her eyes!

"Calm down, I'm only kidding," she reassured, her voice no louder than before. Besides us there was no one in this room, but she had to have talked to Mr Cullen, since I couldn't imagine that she'd address me in such a tone.

"Sorry, Bella," Mrs Cullen sighed and let go of my hand.

Somewhat relieved, I put it back into my lap.

"My brother thinks that my behavior is not appropriate," she grinned. "He threatens to throw me out of the house at once, if I don't behave."

I didn't know how to respond, so I stayed quiet.

Then she resumed, "Anyways, what I wanted to tell you is the following: as long as Edward keeps an eye on you, you needn't be afraid. I know he can be sort of intimidating from time to time, he doesn't have a lot of patience and is certainly hot-tempered."

Another snarl reverberated through the house, but Mrs Cullen only smiled.

"The point is that he is a good . . . man, if you want to call him that. He won't harm you, please trust me in this. And in his presence, you will also be safe from the men searching for you," she assured me.

As I evidently didn't appear very convinced at all – though she had my full approval regarding the intimidating part – Mrs Cullen went on, patiently.

"There might have been times when I wouldn't have left you in his care, but these times have long since gone. I see the look on his face when he regards you, and I . . ."

Mr Cullen must have been displeased by her words again because Mrs Cullen gave an impish grin.

"Only one last thing: Even though Jonathan may appear harmless to you in comparison to my brother, he certainly is not. It's him you should look out for. I do not tell you this to frighten you, but because you need to be careful," she explained, suddenly very serious.

With a dry throat, I nodded. Maybe I should tell her about yesterday morning. Just then, the door swung open so fast that the handle crashed against the wall.

In the doorway stood Mr Cullen, obviously wanting to kill his sister with just his eyes.

"Alice, the carriage is waiting outside," was all he said as he stepped into the room.

Mrs Cullen jumped off the bed and, to my surprise, threw herself into Mr Cullen's arms. He seemed as surprised as I was, but returned her hug.

They looked each other in the eye for a long moment and I imagined to see them exchanging some words. But they spoke so quietly and fast that I could only perceive a soft murmuring.

Mrs Cullen patted her brother's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. He held his head cast down. Was she comforting him? But why would he be sad? Because she was leaving? Then, his gaze met mine and I got the vague feeling that his sudden insecurity had nothing to do with his sister's leaving. Was he afraid to have me in his house? But that didn't make sense. After all, he had been the one ordering me to stay.

Before I could think about this paradox any longer, Mrs Cullen stepped back from her brother. Not one second later I found myself in her cold arms. Shocked, I held my breath. My eyes drifted to Mr Cullen, who just gave me an apologetic look and shrugged his shoulders.

A little smile found its way onto my face as Mrs Cullen stroked my back. Vampire or not, I liked her. Especially for her impetuous and carefree behavior.

"Oh, the miss can smile," I heard Mr Thurgood's voice from behind Mr Cullen. At once, my smile disappeared.

Mrs Cullen, who seemed to have noticed the change of atmosphere, let go of me, and turned around to face Mr Thurgood.

"Of course she can. Only you won't see it a lot, Jonathan," she smiled sweetly. "With you around, I often feel as if the corners of my mouth are pulled to the ground. Isn't it true, Bella?"

She winked at me conspiratorially. And I would have probably smiled along with her, if she hadn't just offended Mr Thurgood. The color of his face turned an unhealthy shade of bright red. He didn't say anything, though.

Mr Cullen gave her a scolding gaze.

"I do not want you to speak to my friends in such a way, Alice," he said severely. But it looked as if the corners of his mouth were twitching. He didn't appear to be truly angry with Mrs Cullen.

The latter pulled a face and almost flew out of the door. In a flash, the front door boomed shut and Mrs Cullen was gone.

"You should really keep a tighter leash on your sister," Mr Thurgood approached Mr Cullen, who just sighed.

"You know as well as I do that that's impossible, my friend," Edward answered. "Please leave the room for another few minutes, Jonathan. I want to speak to Isabella privately."

Mr Thurgood murmured something – he likely complained about being sent out all the time – but followed Mr Cullen's order.