A/N~ sorry its taking so long to update story, this chapter is a very long one so I am hoping to earn some brownie points from you guys for it.
Chapter 13- family meeting & greetings Edward's POV-
Bella just sat there unblinking, mouth gaping open, not breathing, not… wait… "Bella breath, deep breaths." I mocked a few deep breaths and she snapped out of it a bit. This isn't going over as well as I hoped it would. Did she not really feel what I felt, was I just delusional about her feelings towards me. I couldn't even begin to conceal my emotions from my face. She seemed to notice it and snap the rest of the way out of her shocked state. My hands fell from her face and my head hung down in defeat.
"Edward," she whispered in a barely audible voice, "I'm not good for you. I'm not worth it." her voice sounded distressed and defeated, I just wish I understood why she felt like this. I looked back up at her and her head was now slumped down.
"Why… why would you think you were the one not worth it? I'm the vampire here, the monster. Bella I'm sorry I didn't mean to move so fast so soon. Just… just forget what I said. I didn't mean to presume to know how you felt, or if you felt anything at all. I should probable go so you can get some rest, it's been a long day for you." My ego was wounded and I'm ashamed to say I was looking for an exit. I moved back slightly and her head came up and our eyes met, she had more tears in her eyes.
She was searching for something in my eyes, like they were the gateways to my soul; like I really had one. I couldn't break the connection no matter how shattered I was feeling in this moment. "Edward," her voice was broken, "you're not the monster I am. And you are worth it, your worth more to me then you will ever know. I'm going to tell you something, and I need you to promise me that you will listen, not speak, and not ask any questions about what I am going to say? Just believe me and know that when I'm ready I will tell you what I mean by it. Then you can leave and go home, alright?"
Like I could possible refuse her, let alone when her voice was pleading with me. "Alright I promise." I was surprised at how quickly my spirits were lifted, how moments ago the shattered feeling in me was completely put back together. I was still worried why she felt like she was not worth it.
She sighed before she continued. "Your right about my feeling towards you, I feel the pull as well I always have. You put it so beautifully when you said you were unconditionally and irrevocable in love with me. It's exactly how I feel towards you, I have long before you ever even knew me." She took an exhausted breath, and as she started to speak next it started out between a sob and a laugh at the same time. "Hearing your feeling for me feel exhilaratingly happy, I've been alone so long I'm not sure of another way to be. But I don't deserve your love, I deserve to be alone…" no she couldn't be serious. I looked at her questionably shaking my head about to interrupt her when her hand covered my mouth. "You promised you wouldn't speak remember?" My shoulders slumped in defeat and she slowly removed her hand. "Edward you deserve someone who is much more than what I am, but I also know you are stubborn and aren't going to listen to a damn thing I'm telling you are you?" She knew me more then I gave her credit for. She gave me a gentle laugh at my silence, "that's what I thought. You should probable go home for the night, I'm sure it's been just as long of a day for you as it has for me. Will I see you tomorrow?"
Now it was my turn to laugh, "Like you should have to ask. What time would you like me to come over? It's not a school day so I'm sure you would like to sleep in?"
"Eight should be good, give me time to eat and shower. I'm not really one on sleeping in; early bird gets the worm and all. Don't know what you will miss sleeping the day away?"
I laughed a bit more, feeling a thousand times lighter after hearing her own confessions towards me. Admitting to myself I had feelings for her made me feel like a new man, but actually hearing she felt the same way towards me was like I was going to internally combust from pure euphoria. I don't know if I will be able to wipe this sappy grin off of my face, and I could of cared less if it never went away.
"What might I inquire is so funny now Mr. Cullen?"
"Nothing, sleep well Bella." I stood up and leaned down to kiss her forehead and inhaled her scent intensely needing it to last until I saw her again tomorrow.
I started to head to the door when she stood up and followed me. I tuned in time to catch her as she propelled herself in my arms. We both laughed and she nuzzled her head in my chest as mine rested on the top of her head. It was a perfect moment; we stood there for several minutes not needing to say a word just content in each other's arms. I had one arm around her waist and the other in her hair, just playing with it gave me a tranquil feeling.
She started to yawn a few times before we pulled apart, "goodbye Edward. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight Bella, see you at eight." I left and went to my car and headed towards home, contemplating on whether or not to hide in the shadows around Bella's house as she slept or not. I was almost home when voices brought me out of own thoughts, my siblings were home. They weren't supposed to be home until Sunday, well there went my idea of hiding in the shadows; this is going to be a long night.
It turned out to be a very long night, but an encouraging one none the less. My family had headed home shortly after I had left because of a bad feeling Alice had, she was not to be trifled with when she had a feeling towards Bella.
I was now in my meadow going through the events of the previous night with my family. We had a family meeting in the dining room and I told them basically what has been going on between Bella and I. They all knew there was a strong connection between the two of us but they were not quite sure how strong a bond we had.
The discussion turned pretty heated when I explained the events that had transpired tonight. First they were genuinely frightened at what happened and angry towards the men that tried to hurt my Bella. I saw it in Rosalie's mind how there was now a small connection forming between the two of them. While nothing actually happened to Bella, where as Rosalie endured the events at which caused her immortal fate, she could see what might have been and it scared Rose more than she was letting the others in on.
But where the discussion turned in a different direction was when I told them that Bella knew what we were, that she has always known. Rose was angry, all the feelings she was thinking towards Bella were now not so nice. Rosalie was afraid that we would have to pick up and move again, she hated to move again.
Jasper wanted to be angry towards Bella as well, he really tried to, and everything in him told him this was bad. But there was also something so familiar about Bella to him that he couldn't think ill towards her. He didn't understand the feeling, nor did I. He was too busy trying to make since out of his feelings that he didn't notice the bouncing pixie with a huge grin on her face jump in front of him. She was laughing, "you can't do it can you? You can't find it in you to agree with Rose can you? Just side with me and Edward and stop over analyzing it before smoke starts to appear out of your ears." I had to join in with Alice's new wave of laughter when I saw the be withered look on Jaspers face. "Alright darling," was all of a response he could muster.
Carlisle and Esme were on my side as well, they were just over excited I had finally found someone so I wasn't alone. Carlisle was a bit more cautious; wanting to make sure I would be able to keep myself in check when I'm around her.
Emmett, much to the surprise of Rosalie, sided with me as well. He stated, "well Eddie-boy might finally get 'em some." Emmett the pervert never fails, but I couldn't be angry about it because he did side with me over his wife.
After we finished talking about how Bella knew about our kind, it was time to tell them a little of what Bella told me about herself. They were all shocked, they didn't like it that Bella was continually in danger or hurt. Jasper and Emmett were actually already mentally feeling protective of her. I really wasn't expecting that but I was thrilled none the less, maybe a few extra vampire body guards would help keep her safe, but from what I still wasn't sure.
Carlisle was intrigued about what she was, he was naturally a very curious creature everything fascinated him. We tried to come up with different theories about the few mystical creatures we knew of. But she didn't smell like a werewolf, neither the kind that was brought out by the full moon nor the kind that lived on the reservations. She also didn't feel as durable as a vampire hybrid. Hybrids skin was as indestructible as a vampires, I have seen her bruises.
When I had told them how Bella had saw not only her parents die in front of her, but also watched a boy get killed in front of her to try and protect her, if it were possible for a vampire to cry we all would have. So by the time the sun was rising we had come to a unanimous decision that we were going to let her tell us when she was ready. Every one of my family, apart from Esme, has seen how sad Bella's eyes are. Even Rosalie couldn't deny Bella had been threw more than any of us and probable had good reasons to hide some things.
Before I went on a morning run to clear my head before returning to Bella's house Esme and Carlisle asked if I could bring Bella over to meet the family officially. After hearing everyone's thoughts being shouted at me begging me to bring her I agreed.
It was now five minutes until eight, time to run to Bella's. I was strangely nerves to ask if she would meet my family. I wasn't sure how she would react to them or how my family would be around her. I knew they didn't feel a lure to drink her blood, which everyone already found peculiar, but if they could abstain their strength as to not crush her accidently. This is just what I needed to do is add more worrying from my family for her safety to the already growing list.
I knocked on her door at exactly eight. After the second knock she opened the door with a wide smile. I took a second to appraise her appearance from her damp hair to her bare feet. She was wearing well-worn light flared jeans and a purple flannel type button up fitted shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Comfy and a bit sexy, I was seeing Bella in her true natural beauty. "Good morning beautiful, how are you feeling today?"
Bella looked down at herself, laughed and moved to the side to let me in the house. "I'm fine, how about you? You seem in a pleasant mood this morning."
I couldn't help but laugh with her; her laugh was the best sound in the world and quiet contagious. "I feel decades younger actually. I suppose that would put anyone in a pleasant mood. I believe humans would call it 'in seventh heaven,' or 'on cloud nine.' A completely blissful state that I don't believe I could trade for the world." I openly laughed loudly; "I would never have imagined that love could make you feel like this. It's an astonishing feeling."
Her pigeon laugh was cute, "I think I know how you feel. I love this new side to you, you are more carefree." She grabbed a hold of my hand and led me to the couch. I sat right next to her but it still wasn't close enough so I pulled her onto my lap, where she rested her head against my chest. "So what do you want to do today?"
Neither of us could hide our smiles, "well as much as I would love to keep you here all to myself and just talk. My family is dying to meet you, that is if you are up to it?" I tried to keep the smile on my face but I was nerves.
Her smile faltered as well, "are you sure that's a good idea." She started to bite her lower lip, heaven help me.
"Bella if you don't want to or if it feels too dangerous then just say so. No one will mind, you won't hurt anyone's feelings I promise." I gently ran my hand down the side of her face to her jaw line.
I'm not sure what she thought was funny, but she stated to giggle. I raised an eye brow at her, "I've told you before Edward, you and your family don't scare me. I simply meant that will they not be surprised to see me, a non-vampire, holding hands with their son/brother? I don't really see that going over very well on any account?" her giggles ceased but she tried to continue her smile but it also faltered, she was nerves.
Now it was my turn to laugh at her, "let me get this straight. You're not worried about walking into a house full of vampires, but you're worried that they won't like you? Is that right?"
Bella tried to look mad at me but failed miserable. "It's not really that funny?"
Once the laughs started I couldn't stop them, "it is quiet comical actually. And don't worry they already like you, well Alice already loves you." I finally stopped laughing because now I needed to tell her that my family knows almost everything. "Bella please don't get mad, but I told my family about you. Most everything, it not a very easy task to keep secrets in our house."
"I suppose your right with a mind reader, a seer, and empathy there really isn't much that could get by. I'm not mad, if it means a lot to you to have me 'officially' meet them then I will?"
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, but it would mean a lot so thank you. When do you want to go?" I kissed her forehead, and heard her heart rate increase.
"You mean you want to go now? Umm… ok give me fifteen, twenty minutes to get changed and ready."
"Alright I will wait down here and call and let my family know we will be there in a bit."
Alice of course saw me calling so she called me to inform me she knew we were coming and everyone was waiting. Carlisle called in sick so he could meet Bella; he had a lot of accumulated personal days. Rose was the only one that I worried about, but I also didn't foresee a problem arising from her.
Twelve minutes later Bella came bouncing down the stairs ready to go. As we pulled up to the house Bella's eyes went wide as she took in the house. "It's beautiful," she stared in awe at the house.
I chuckled, "yeah it wasn't a very pretty sight when we moved here. But Esme love to fix up old houses and make them her own, its kinda of a passion of hers."
"Well she is very brilliant." Bella was still trying to take it all in as we walked in that she didn't notice my parents.
"Why thank you Bella, there's something gratifying about turning something uninhabitable into a home." I couldn't help but smile at my mother's serene words. "It's nice to finally meet you Bella, we've heard so much about you." Esme smiled warmly at Bella and approached her slowly to envelope her in a light hug. I was getting nerves, I knew my mother wouldn't hurt Bella but I was worried she might squeeze too hard. My mother understood my wariness, 'I won't hurt her Edward.' I just nodded my head slightly so she knew my answer.
Bella flashed a bright smile at my parents after Esme released her. "It's nice to meet you as well Mrs. Cullen and to see you again Dr. Cullen. Thank you for inviting me into your home."
Carlisle came up to her and gave her a gentle hug, "it's our pleasure to have you, and please its Carlisle and Esme. You seem to be better than the last time we meet thankfully." They both laughed, I personally didn't want to remember her getting hurt from Tyler's van.
"Yes I am thank you. Sorry about the whole incident, I don't do well in hospitals." She was trying to be indifferent about it but I'm sure there is another reason behind her fear of hospitals; I just wish she would trust me enough to tell me.
"I don't know many people who do well in hospitals? I'm going to my office to make a few calls, why don't you give Bella a tour. The rest of us should be back in an hour or so and we can sit down and talk or watch a movie or something?" 'Is that alright with you Edward, your mother and I want to know her as well?' I gave a small nod to my father.
I gave her a quick tour of the downstairs area and showed her the family room with my piano. "How often do you play?" Bella's question caught me off guard a bit.
"What makes you think I play and not one of my siblings or parents?" there was a quoi smile playing on her lips, like there was something she knew but wasn't supposed to know.
She laughed at me, "I'm sorry for presuming? So who plays the piano here? Is that better?"
I couldn't help but smile with her, "your right I do play. I've been playing more frequently than normal. Do you play?"
"A little, I'm not very good. Piano lessons take a great deal of patients, and that's a virtue I do not possess but one I extract from any piano instructor. I would have them practically running for the hills pulling their hair out along the way."
"I think I could picture you as an unruly child, getting there jollies off by scaring off the grownups." The thought of what trouble she could have caused in her youth brings about a new wave of laughs.
Her face sobered up a bit, "I was never really a child in the manner your thinking. But I will always have an adolescence heart at times. So will you play something for me?" she is so cryptic sometimes, it's hard to keep up. I'm hoping some of the things she says that doesn't make sense to me, if I store the information and add it all up at a later time it will help solve the mystery that is Bella.
Deciding on not thinking too much into it right now I laced her fingers threw mine and I guided us to the bench at my piano. I looked down at her as she sat by me, then she gave me a gentle nod so I played. I started off by playing something I'm more accustomed to playing. I let my fingers guide themselves along the keys as I watched my Bella. Her mouth fell open; I couldn't help my cockiness and winked at her. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful, who composed it?" she gasped.
"I did, it's for Esme." I could hear Esme at the top of the stairs, she's overwhelmed by the thought of me finally finding someone; truth be told so was I.
"I can't believe you compose as well as play so magnificently, I'm not surprised, just thoroughly impressed." Her smile was of pure joy, I wouldn't know how else to explain it.
As Esme's song came to an end I started to play my latest composition. It starts off soft and slow, and then turned into something with a sweeter note. "You inspired this one," she closed her eyes and just listened.
A small smile on her face was starting to form, "I'm not sure how I could have inspired something so moving, what is it called?"
"My silly Bella, I wish you would see yourself more clearly. Of course you are my inspiration, this song is called Bella's lullaby. Do you like it?" the song was coming to an end and turning more melancholy. The last keys were more of a mournfully note before the song ended. It seemed like how I envision our relationship heading, I know she won't survive time like my family and I, so my only options would be turn her or stay and watch her age until it's her time to leave this life. Her ageing would be how it was meant to be, but I couldn't give her the things she should have in that life. She deserved a family and kids.
I shook my head trying to erase the thoughts in my head, and then turned my attention to Bella. She had a few stray tears falling down her cheeks, I gentle wiped them away. "I love it, thank you. I don't think I have ever heard anything so mesmerizing in my life, it is beyond beautiful."
There was so much truth in her words, "you're welcome, and I'm relieved that you like it." I leaned down closer to her; I stopped when our lips were mere millimeters apart and let her close the space if that's what she wanted. She hesitated at first, looking deep into my eyes searching for something. Then she reached a hand into the back of my hair and pulled me the rest of the way to her. The electric current pulsed threw our lips and sent a wave of warmth threw out my entire body, making me feel almost human again. There was something in the kiss that seemed so familiar, like I had kissed her hundreds of times instead of it being the first. There was a sudden connection that brought a whole new level to our relationship. If there was ever even the slightest doubt before this was my mate, it was now erased. The only place I could ever be happy again was at her side, like I was finally coming home, she was my home.
Bella moved her other hand to caress my cheek. I moved one of mine along the back of her neck and jaw line and the other to her back to pull her closer to me. The kiss deepened when she opened her mouth to allow me access, which I greedily accepted. When our tongs met the taste of Bella was exquisite, it was euphoric. I was trying to keep myself in line so I wouldn't get too excited and lose control. I was trying to be gentle so I wouldn't hurt her, but she wasn't having it. As soon as I tried to be softer she would push her mouth against me with so much strength it was confounding.
'OH MY GOD EDWARD, YOU HAVE TWO HAVE TO STOP BEFORE I HAVE TO TAKE ALICE AWAY. THE LUST YOU TWO ARE PUTTING OFF IS TOO MUCH; I MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE I HAVE TO TAKE ALICE.'
I slowed the kiss down to a soft kiss, until our lips lingered. I couldn't stop the smug smile on my face or my laughter.
We pulled our lips apart and rested our foreheads against the others while we caught our breaths. "What is so funny in this situation pray tell?"
"Oh nothing, besides we are driving Jasper's emotions haywire." I stood up and grabbed her hand to help her up. "How about the rest of that tour now?"
I showed her the rest of the house and ended up in my room where she was looking threw my music collection. "You have a decent music collection and decent taste as well."
"You call this a decent collection; I have thousands of CD's and records. I would hate to think what your idea of a great collection would in tell?"
She chuckled at me, "perhaps one day I will show you my collection."
I scratched my head, "I've seen your cd collection. While it's a good selection there's hardly a hundred CD's there."
Bella turned to me and let out a comical laugh, "those CD's are only my favorites that I keep with me. I don't really have much of my own things at Charlie's house."
"So what, all your things are in storage?" that can't be easy having everything you own put somewhere you can't access it when you want.
"Well… some things are in storage, some are elsewhere."
"What do you mean elsewhere, like at your mom's?" she was revealing some of herself, I didn't really want to push too hard. But at the same time she was telling me something.
Her brows furrowed together, "I didn't leave anything of mine at Rene's." she stopped deep in thought, trying to decide to tell me more or not. "Charlie's isn't the only home I own." She looked to me trying to judge my response.
"So you had your own home before you came to live with your father?" she reluctantly nodded. "So what happens to your other house while you stay in Charlie's? Where is it located? How did you come by your own place so young?" there were so many more questions to be asked now.
"Easy there killer. I have someone taking care of it, and the rest really doesn't matter does it?"
"Why is it you always evade my questions? But I guess if you don't want to tell me then you don't have to, I'm not going to force you to. It does matter to me if it involves you though, just keep that in mind."
I walked to the middle of the room and put my arm around her waist to pull her closer to me. "I have a place in Seattle; it's on the outskirts of the town. And I have money, plenty. Money can buy you practically anything. And before you ask how I came by money, I am a firm believer in gold, silver and also investments. More stories for another time."
I kissed the top of her head, "alright love another time. Thank you for sharing something. You ready to go downstairs and spend some time with my family? They're getting relentless."
"Sure, let's go. You lead the way or I will get lost." I grabbed her hand and led her to the living room where Esme and Carlisle were already waiting.
"I'm glad Edward finally decided to share." Esme laughed gentle. "I brought you out a soda, Edward said you like these. I'm sure you're thirsty, were not used to having a human visit so you will have to bear with us." Even something so awkward as discussing human needs, sounds like a loving motherly gesture from her.
Bella took us all by surprise and embraced Esme in a hug, "thank you. This is fine; you really don't have to worry about me. I can eat at home I really don't want to put anyone out on my behalf."
Esme was overjoyed at Bella's show of affection, I'm sure if she could have cried happy tears she would have. "Oh honey, you wouldn't be putting us out. Were just glad you came along and met Edward. I've never seen him so alive since he met you, were grateful to you for that." Esme stepped back and into Carlisle's arms where he nodded in agreement.
"I think the pleasure is mine in meeting him." We were about to sit down when Alice and Jasper started to come down the stairs. Alice, not wanting to miss any time with Bella, ran at full vampire speed right into Bella's arms to give her a welcoming hug. The only problem was that Alice was a thousand times stronger than Bella and didn't know her own strength so when they met and Bella caught her, Bella was thrust backwards into my chest from the force. The wind blew from Bella's lungs and they stopped going backwards. To my utter shock it was Bella who stopped them from going back anymore. "Oh god easy Alice, need air," she laughed. This all happened within seconds, hardly enough time for Alice to process her mistake.
"I'm so sorry Bella, are you alright, did I hurt you." Alice was beside herself with worry. A calming wave spread through the room.
"Alice what the hell were you thinking, you could have killed her?" I shouted at her as I turned Bella around to look at the damage. Jasper quickly came to stand by Alice, like he really thought I was going to attack her.
"Edward, calm down. I'm not as breakable as you make me out to be, I'm quiet durable." A smiled played at the corner of her lips, how could she find humor in this?
"How is this funny Bella, she could have easily crushed you because she wasn't careful. Are you alright, Carlisle maybe you should take a look at her to be sure?" my mind was in over drive, I can't believe I was so naive to think she was safe in my home.
Bella grabbed my head with both of her hands on my cheeks and made me lean down to look her in the eyes. "Edward I. AM. FINE. I don't need looked at, your sister didn't hurt me. Just knocked the wind out of me, she's a bit eccentric with excitement for some reason. You need to calm down though. I think it's funny because Alice isn't worried about pretenses around me, it was nice. She said she was sorry," Bella turned to an apprehensive looking Alice, "and I forgive you. Not that there is really anything to forgive since you didn't do anything wrong, apart from giving your brother an imaginary heart attack." She turned back to me and gave me a soft kiss, everyone gasp at her. "Better?" she bit her bottom lip awaiting my answer. I had to admit she did know how to get me to calm down without Jaspers help. Carlisle and Esme were both ecstatic at how she handled the situation. Alice was relieved as was Jasper, he hated when me and Alice fought.
I nodded and took a deep breath of Bella's scent, "yes I'm better thank you. You sure you're alright?" she gave me a stern look that told me not to push it. "Fine why don't we sit down?"
Everyone was already there; I'm not sure how I missed Emmett and Rosalie coming in. Everyone sat around the coffee table. Carlisle and Esme took the love seat; Rose sat in the chair with Emmett on the floor in front of her; I sat on the end of the sofa with Bella by me and Alice next to her and Jasper perched on the arm rest by Alice.
Alice took the hand of Bella's I wasn't holding and held on her lap. "So Bella, how do you like Forks so far?"
Bella laughed at her eagerness, "well it's becoming less boring then when I arrived."
"So Bella, you seem to have Eddie here whipped already?" Emmett's laughter boomed threw out the living room. "So do you play any sort of sports or video games?"
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Eddie, Emmett?" I started to sit up to throw something at him when Bella squeezed my hand.
"Emmett, behave yourself. You would think you were raised by wild animals. Apologize to your brother." Esme gave Emmett a firm look.
He straightened up and wiped the smirk off of his face, "sorry Edward." I nodded me head to him; we both know this isn't over yet.
"I can play sports, some not so well. I haven't really played much in the way of video games. But board games I'm fairly excelled at, like chess or checkers or different ones like that. I'm guessing you're running out of people to play with you who wouldn't cheat?" she laughed at him.
"You have no idea how tired I get of them cheating just to beat me. I can teach you some PS3 or Xbox360 sometime." Emmett was getting excited over the aspect of any sort of competition; I could see in his mind all the things he wanted to try with her. All the games he just knew he could win at, he wasn't going to take it easy against her.
"Perhaps next time I will wipe the floor with you Emmett." Bella giggled to him.
"You're on, Bells." He grinned at her, while Rose shot dangers towards Bella.
"So there's going to be a next time? This isn't a onetime bring your pet home." Rosalie sneered towards me.
"Rosalie Lillian Hale, either act hospitable towards Bella or go to your room or the garage. She has done nothing towards you in any way and doesn't deserve to be treated in this fashion." I have never seen Esme speak so harshly to any of us before.
"How do we really know we can trust the human? It's not just his life he is putting in jeopardy its all of ours," Rosalie retorted.
"First off who am I to tell your secrete to, I am alone. If I was going to call some news conference to out you to the world I would have done it already. Plus I'm sure they would have some strait jackets handy for me, you know in case I get cold. Once they had me in a padded room I'm sure they would have a new head line involving my current state. You're not the only one with secrets that need to be kept, Rosalie. But if any of you feel threatened by my being here just say the word and I can disappear in an hour." Bella kept completely indifferent throughout the whole speech, you couldn't tell if she was mad, annoyed, sad, or humored, she gave nothing away.
We were all caught completely off guard by Bella's admission, even Rosalie. "Maybe we would feel less threatened if we knew anything about your secret. Why is it your aloud to know ours but you won't let us know yours? What could be bigger than knowing about vampires?" Rosalie was calming down a little.
"Speak for yourself Rose, the rest of us don't feel that way. And don't you dare think about going anywhere Bella." Alice was getting annoyed at Rose's outburst.
"Well since you didn't really tell me your secret I already knew what you all were the moment I saw you, well I sensed something menacing before I saw any of you, you really didn't tell me any secret that I didn't already know. My secret is very different from yours, in the fact that mine comes with a lot of background info I'm not comfortable sharing with anyone. I have never shared it with anyone in my entire life. There are a few that know about what I am, but again it would involve more of a background history of my kind to explain. I'm sorry to be so vague."
I had to tune out everyone else's mind because I couldn't keep up with my own let alone all the questions they wanted to ask. "So you're saying you're not human?" Emmett asked.
Bella shook her head slightly knowing she was about to be bombarded with questions. "No I think I told Edward that already, as well as I'm sure you have figured out as much."
Carlisle sat forward to ask his own questions. "What do you mean sensing something menacing about us?"
"Well I'm not sure how to explain it right, I'm may give away more then I intend to in the process." She chuckled to herself. "My kind have an extra sense built in, I don't really know how to clarify it right I just call it my danger feeling. I get this strong urge for my body to be on alert, the stronger the feeling means the more dangerous something is."
"So your senses were pretty strong when you went to school, but yet you choose to go anyway? Why would you risk it?" Jasper inquired.
She laughed at him, "no not at all the feeling was a faint one. It was an odd feeling, one I've not really experienced for a while. It put me more in mind of there being a possible danger, not really aggressive threat type."
"So is your sense on the frits or what? What out there could be more of a threat to you then vampires?" Emmett was curious as was I.
Her features straightened up and she took on a more series tone. "No my sense isn't on the frits. There are things more dangerous in the world then vampires."
Emmett snickered, "yeah right like what? Do you put yourself in that category?"
"I could be put into that category if I was at my full strength yes. Like most creatures in this world I have my own enemies, and it wouldn't be much of a fight if we weren't fairly matched now would it?"
I didn't like the sound of this conversation. "Bella what do you mean at your full strength? Are you hurt? And what enemies do you have, are they after you?" I could almost feel myself having a panic attack. Jasper and Emmett also straightened there posture and were listening more closely.
"Edward breathe, you're talking a mile a minute. No I'm not hurt, it's just a lot has happened these last few days or so. My body heals much faster than humans, but it takes energy and time to replace that energy. Yes I have enemies, and there always after my kind. But I can take care of myself and I handle them when they get near."
"Why would anyone be after a certain species for? What do they do when they have one of your kind?" Esme didn't like the thought of violence, especially prejudice.
"Well I'm not really sure of the reasoning behind it; I was too young to pay any attention to the legends. And they generally just kill us when they find one of us, or try to pry some information before they kill us. I guess it just depends on their mood." You would think we were talking about the weather the way Bella talked about the slaughtering of her kind.
"Couldn't you just ask someone of your kind the reasoning behind it all? How do you know they try to torture information from you guys if they kill them afterwards?" Alice asked.
Bella shook her head, "I don't have anyone to ask. The hunters don't always accomplish what there are doing, sometimes there just not very good at it." She had that faraway look in her eyes, like she was reliving something.
"What do you mean no one to ask?" Rose questioned, but I barley heard her. I was trying not to think the thoughts that were now running threw my head.
"There is only a hand full of us left." She simply stated.
"Edward what's wrong, your eyes are about to pop out of your head?" Alice asked me.
I took several deep breaths, "they've tried to get information from you haven't they?"
"Like I said sometimes there not very good." She just shrugged like it was no big deal while the rest of my family caught on to my shocked state and all gasp.
"Bella what happened?" I don't know what possessed me to ask but the mental pictures in my head of what they did to her were running rapid.
"It was a long time ago I really don't want to talk about it." this wasn't going to be the end of it by a long shot.
"You called them the hunters; it sounds like something I've read about before. Is that what there species are called or is it just a group of the species who are responsible to hunt you down?" Carlisle asked always eagerly trying to learn more.
"I guess I did say hunters, I didn't really mean to, but there a break off of another species."
"Give me a second; I'm going to go grab something?" Carlisle quickly stood up and ran upstairs to his study and came back in less than a minute with two small worn leather notebooks. "I acquired these journals in my time with the Volturi in the early 1700s." He was flipping through the larger of the books. Everyone's eyes were fixated on him. "It talks about werewolves, any legends or facts about them. Here on one of the last pages it talks about a group of werewolves who are known as the hunters. It says there was some sort of spell cast upon them making them almost indestructible, more strength then even vampire's posses. The writing is to far faded for even my eyes to read some of it. There is a part saying something about two ways to kill them, but I can't quite make it out…"
"Decapitation or ripping their hearts from there chest." We all turned our attention back to Bella; she had grown a few shades paler.
Carlisle looked up to Bella; "these are the people who are after you?" she only nodded.
Emmett piped in, "Well Bella your safe here. The werewolves here have a truce with us, as long as we don't hurt any humans they leave us alone. The kind of werewolves here actually protects their tribe, the Quileute at the reservation."
Bella turned her attention to Emmett and almost snorted with laughter. "The Quileute are most defiantly not werewolves."
"Yeah they are we've seen them. There huge wolves, like six feet from paws to back that's not including their heads." Emmett told her.
"Werewolves can only change by the light of the full moon, the day before and the day after, that's it. The Quileute can change whenever they want to, or when they get angry enough. And true werewolves most defiantly do not protect anything."
"Ok if they aren't werewolves then what are they?" I asked intrigued.
"There shape shifters. A weak gene version, but shifters none the less. There tribe could have made the shift into anything when the first shifter was introduced. Since they were attacked by a vampire the natural choice was a wolf, your natural enemy. So the shift stuck with wolves to keep them protected."
Carlisle was excited about learning a new species. "That's fascinating, it makes perfect sense. The book here doesn't mention anything about the shifter wolves, just the hunters. It also mentions another book to look at to learn more about the hunters and their prey." He sat the book down and picked up the other one. "This is the book it is referring to; I don't know why I have even kept it because it's in some sort of code. I tried for years to find someone to decipher it, but no one can make any sense out of It." he opened the pages so everyone could see the pages; they were like nothing I have ever seen.
Bella let out a breath and laughed softly and held out her hand to Carlisle. "May I?" He handed her the book and she flipped threw it quickly. "This isn't in code," she stated.
"What do you mean?" Carlisle asked confused.
"It's a language, one you won't find a translator for." She was scanning each page briefly.
"What language is it, and why couldn't I find someone to translate it after I know what language it is in?"
"Because the people who write this keep themselves hidden from any and all kinds, you wouldn't be able to find them unless they wanted to be found."
"You're reading it though aren't you?" Jasper asked.
"Yes, it is a language my people used to use. Another race has adapted it as their own now."
"And what race is that?" Carlisle wondered.
Bella let out a breath, "I'm not sure that's my secret to tell, or even if you would believe me if I told you."
"Why wouldn't we believe you? And why isn't your peoples language anymore?" Even Rosalie was becoming interested in Bella's story.
"Well there are a great deal of mythical creatures out there you're not even aware of. Some are more believable then others. It's not really my language anymore because there aren't enough of us to keep up any sort of traditions let alone being able to hold an entire language."
"I know you said there were only a handful of you, but there have to be some of you who want to keep with your heritage. How many is a handful in your definition?" Esme asked, she was feeling heartbroken from Bella's loss of her kind.
"My definition of a handful is just that, you can count on one hand how many are left besides me. And there to busy hiding in some hole to even wonder about traditions." It feels like my heart has been ripped from my chest, how could anyone endure all she has and still be sane?
"Surely there has to be some hidden that you haven't heard from in a while, there can't just be six of you left." Esme was in a state of shock as were the rest of us.
"When there were only about a dozen of us left I started to feel them as they died, it feels like my head is going to split in two it's excruciating. I don't know why I started to feel them die, how I even know that's what the feeling is, or how I know the amount of us. When it started happening I just knew. I also don't know if the others feel it as well or if it's just a weird Isabella gift. I haven't felt it in quiet sometime, I'd almost forgotten about it." She shook her head and let out a nerves laugh.
"How have you endued all that and not gone insane?" Jasper inquired.
"Oh I have moments of insanity or depression whatever you want to call it from time to time. The only way I know how to not go crazy permanently from it all is to stay away from world, not get attached to anything or anyone. It doesn't always work out so well."
Everyone looked a little lost, including me. "What do you mean no attachment? What are we to you then? And your only eighteen how have you stayed away from the world?" Alice was trying not to sound hurt.
She quietly laughed, "you have mistaken me Alice, I'm sorry I didn't explain it very good. But you all are my idea of breaking my own rules to stand by indifferently to the world; I haven't been very obedient to them since I came to forks." She stopped and looked down at her hands mulling over something. "I'm no more eighteen then any of you are."
"How old are you Bells?" Emmett asked excitedly.
Bella shook her head, "Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old; all you have to do is live long enough."
"A very wise perception, one that shows a bit of wisdom due to your age if I may be so bold to assume?" Carlisle stated.
"You say you're no more eighteen then any of us, but we don't age. I've seen pictures of you as a child with Charlie; you looked like you were 11 or so. Your aging the same as any human would?" The question has been stuck in my head since last night, now seemed like a good time to ask.
Bella turned to me and chuckled, "Observant aren't we? I don't know how best to describe it really, it's not at all what it appears. I don't…" She was struggling over an internal debate of some sorts.
"I think our hounding Bella with questions is up." Esme told us, I can't believe I let it go on for so long. She must be uncomfortable reveling so much, she already told me as much.
"Your mothers right, we sorry Bella, we're not usually quiet so uncivilized. There must be questions you have for us, feel free to ask after our bombardment it seems only fair?" Carlisle said in a kind and reassuring voice.
"Thank you Esme and you guys aren't uncivilized. If I was in your place I would be the same way so nothing to be sorry over. I've been curious how you all came to be a family. I've been around several nomads in my time, a few vegetarian and the rest human drinkers, but there were only one to three tops in there coven. What made the first of your family choose to drink animal blood?"
Carlisle sat up straighter prepared to tell our stories after he looked at everyone, silently asking their permission to tell their stories which everyone nodded in agreement. "Very good questions Bella. I was born in 1640, and was turned after I lead a raid on a vampire den for the church. The vampire came out extremely thirsty and there were several of us so he was satiated before he could finish draining me. I hid out until the transformation was complete; when it was I ran and hid away from any humans. I didn't want to be a monster so I tried to kill myself in so many different ways but of course none worked. My last attempt was to starve myself; I lasted several months without a drop of blood. My will power was slipping and a deer pasted close to me and without even realizing what I was doing I drained it. I took out several more before I started to feel more control of myself, then I realized I could survive without killing anyone. I was extremely lonely, never finding anyone of my kind who lived as I had. For centuries I had contemplated making a companion but could never justify condemning someone else to this existence. In 1918 I was working in a hospital in Chicago helping with the Spanish influenza outbreak when I met Edward and his mother on their death beds. His mother realized something was different about me and begged me to save her son in any way I could. When I looked at him I knew I couldn't let him die, so when his mother passed I wheeled Edward down to the morgue with her. No one would notice another body gone, there were so many of them. So I took Edward home and turned him."
I turned to look at Bella; she had tears in her eyes. I let go of her hand and put my arm around her and pulled her to my chest, "it's alright. I don't remember any of it anymore, there's no need for tears."
Her head shook back and forth, "I know you don't. I'm sorry please continue." I wiped a few tears away.
Esme got up and knelt in front of Bella and put her hands on Bella's knees. "Oh honey you don't have to apologize, when I heard it the first time I was racked with dry sobs for hours."
"Three years later I was in a hospital working when they brought Esme in. She had fallen from a cliff and her heart beat was so faint they took her straight to the morgue. I remembered her back when she was twelve and I had to set a bone for her, she was so full of life even then. When I saw her then I knew I couldn't let her die either so I turned her."
Esme softly laughed at her husband, "he's being to kind. I didn't fall from a cliff, I jumped. Two days prier I had a son, two days was all Thomas lasted before he died from lung fever."
Bella's breath hitched, I looked down at her and saw more tears falling. Esme started to rub Bella's face, "please don't cry for me. It was a long time ago and I've made peace with it all."
"I swear I don't cry this much ever, it's just so sad and…" she shook her head and looked deep in thought, "never mind. I'm sorry."
"What is it Bella?" I asked softly.
"I… I had an older brother named Thomas is all; it's sometimes hard just to hear the name is all." She wiped the rest of her tears off, and I pulled her only lap. My poor Bella, what would anyone have to do to deserve all that she has lived thru let alone her?
"What happened to him, if you don't mind me asking?" Esme asked.
"He was… he died the same time my father did." She looked down at her lap.
"You mean they were killed at the same time don't you? You had to watch both your parents get killed in front of you and your brother?" Rosalie asked gently, sickened at the thought of all she had witnessed.
"Umm… yeah." She whispered.
"Edward said you were only six when it happened?" Bella nodded to Jasper. "How did you escape and was it the hunters?"
"Yes it was the hunters, are you sure you really want to know this, because it's a bit depressing?" she looked at all of my family then turned to me.
"Bella you don't have to tell us if you don't want to, but we would like to know if you are willing to tell us about your past." I kissed the top of her head.
"Alright but no pity parties, it was a long time ago and I have accepted it all and moved on, deal?" We all nodded in agreement, not knowing if any of us could completely agree with it. "Ok, when they killed my mother they didn't think I was her child because of how differently we looked. She was stunningly beautiful with long wavy blond hair that looked sun kissed and eyes that were so blue they were the color of the Caribbean ocean; Thomas had her eyes. Then there was my father who had deeper blue eyes and darker blond curly hair, which was also like my brothers. There was also nothing different than humans about me at the time, I was too young to tell I was the same race as my mother. So with my mother's last words being 'she's human,' they believed her and left me there with her body.
I was in the woods gathering firewood a few months after my mother died when the hunters found us. I looked into the sky and saw smoke billowing into the sky and dropped the firewood and ran back to the cabin. Before I made it into the clearing someone grabbed me and held me still with a hand over my mouth. I could see into the clearing my father and Thomas, who was only fifteen, being dragged by their feet into the burning building with daggers threw their hearts. The guard who held me tried to get me back to our village but we were ambushed and they were killed, I'm not sure how I escaped really. When I finally made it back to the village everything was gone."
"What do you mean gone Bella?" Alice asked to caught up into the story for it to be over yet.
"All the homes were burned along with all the crops. All the animals were slaughtered laying everywhere. There were men, women, children, and babies scattered all over the village in piece. What made it out of the village alive scattered and started hiding and stayed that way until they were picked off by the hunters."
"Oh my god Bella, that's horrible." A silent sob escaped Esme and Rose, they were both conjuring up images of dead children and infants scattered around like discarded trash. Not that everyone else's thoughts weren't doing the same thing; we were just better at holding it back. "Did you try any other villages to see if any of your kind were there?" Alice slid down so she was right next to me and Bella then rubbed Bella's back.
"I'm fine Alice, really. And my kind stayed together in the same village, we have a need to be with our own kind. Some of us would go out into the world for a few years to explore or what not, but there would be a part of us that would ach to be home again. Like we left part of ourselves behind and after a year or two they would come home."
"Bella what is it like now they're gone, what happens to that ache you feel to be without them?" Carlisle said softly bringing the doctor in him out to see if she was in pain.
A soft chuckle escaped my Bella's lips, "you get used to it I guess. Or just acquire something more painful so you have something to compare it to, then it's not so bad. You forget about it after a while."
I put my hand on her cheek and turned her head toward me, "I don't believe I've ever known anyone who has been threw a fraction of what you have been through. Bella how can you be so brave after all that, when anyone else would have crumbled long ago?"
Bella gently caressed my cheek, "I see you're not very good at listening are you, well all of you?" I raised one eye brow at her wondering what she was referring to. "No pity parties remember, I don't like to be felt sorry for." Before I could say anything back to her Bella put her finger over my mouth to silence me. "Ok enough about me, again. Whose story is next?" For the next few hours we told Bella our own stories into becoming vampires.