The Girl in the Mirror

'Phenomenon Part III'

26 January 2005

Rosalie leaves Izzy asleep, heart lightened with the knowledge that her friend was safely sound asleep. She isn't dead because of Edward. Rose is conflicted over this, grateful but irritated over his actions. Of the potential consequences. Over the fact that Izzy would live another day, that her young life wasn't taken in a twist of fate. But worried that she would still be dragged into their world unwillingly. Rose knew the potential consequence of befriending her but had selfishly believed they could come into her life with no lasting impact. And she was furious with Edward for acting in a way that could leave that to being an impossible feat.

She hesitates but places a soft kiss on the girl's brow. Izzy's eyelashes flutter, and its enough for Rosalie to speed away to the doorway, watching as her friend settles after a fraction of a second of uneasy tension. Rosalie looks to the girl's father, uncomfortably slumped on the edge of the bed. Quickly, she grabs a spare blanket from the nurse's station, the woman not even looking up as she goes past, and she drapes it over his shoulders. Looking to Izzy, she notes that she has plenty of blankets and that she couldn't do more for the girl as much as she wanted to. She frowns hands hovering restlessly over her before she pens Izzy a quick note about getting all of her school work and notes for her and for her to rest easy at home. She is sure Carlisle would suggest another day of bed rest, despite the relatively minor nature of her injuries…

It would make things easier if she's not at school. Rose shakes her head sharply at the thought, She's fine. She didn't see anything. She's going to live. They won't kill her. I won't let them, they can't.

She goes to meet Carlisle in the parking lot and is curious to find that his Mercedes is there in the lot, with the keys in the ignition, a note in the driver's seat.

Drive this home. Edward insisted that he wished to speak with you privately.

~Carlisle

"Why were you still in there?" comes a soft voice, and its Edward, emerging from the shadows. He is like a phantom, coming from the tree-line as he does, his skin faintly luminous to her sharp eyes, even before he passes under the sharp light of the lone streetlight in the space.

Rosalie looks at him, brows furrowing as he is glaring at her. His eyes are pitch dark, vivid against his pale skin and the bruises underneath his eyes are near violet in the paleness. She scowls at him, and if she had a heartbeat it would be speeding up in horror.

"What are you doing so near the hospital with your eyes that color, you imbecile!?" she hisses, her voice soft, but deadly in both her horror and sheer fury at his recklessness.

There were hundreds of injured and infirm people within the hospital, not to mention his damn singer within only a hundred feet of him. Bleeding, vulnerable people that Edward could harm in his recklessness.

You fool. Do you have any idea what you are risking?!

"I am well under control," he says, eyes narrowing. His expression, pinched, narrowed further, his mouth a flat line, "You forget Rosalie, I am not the one to generally lose control in the family."

How dare you bring that up right now.

The mention of Emmett's incidents infuriates her further, as much as his eye color, as was this seeming integration. Emmett was the physically strongest of them all, but her husband was remarkably sensitive in other ways, vulnerable, emotionally in a way that surprised most people. And the worst of it was that he was rare to break his attitude of ease to defend himself. That was left to her, she who had a more aggressive personality. The two people he had killed, no matter that it was when he was young and even stronger due to is recent turning, were stains on his soul that she did not think that her husband would ever recover from. He tried. Tried his damndest to make up for it, as she did for the two men that Royce had hired, by being generous with the wealth they tended to gather and donate to every charity that they found to be good, to make their best to their families no matter how much time had past and keep them well-to-do and never down on their luck. It was different for Edward-

Your kills have always been your choice, she practically screamed at him, And what have you done to make up for it? You didn't even know their names half the time. Can you count how many lives you have taken, and truly said that you have tried your damnedest to atone for it?

His stricken expression was all she needed to validate her mental attack on him. She gave her best sneer, lifting her chin against the older vampire, and crossed her arms.

"Edward, what is this about? I just wanted to make sure my friend was alright, that she hadn't-"

Edward growls. Right at her, a deep, menacing sound that causes the windows of Carlisle's Mercedes to rattle within their frame.

"Do not try and play her friend right now, Rosalie. You are the assassin among use, the most callous! No doubt you were trying your best to keep our secret safe above all cost-"

Rosalie blinks.

"Dry up*," she hisses, hands curling into claws, "Or I will tear your damn head off right at this moment Edward Anthony. Get out of my sight and go home so we can discuss this with witnesses."

He stares at her, her chest heaving before he lifted his chin.

"You have always been crass Rosalie, unfittingly unladylike… To threaten me. May I remind you I am faster than you, not to mention male. In a physical confrontation, I would dominate you, let alone my mental-"

Rosalie acted without thought, without a moment for him to finish his sentence. She had him pinned and with his arms above his head. She glares at him, her folded legs pressed heavily into his chest. She digs her knees into his chest tighter, and she is viciously pleased how breath escaped him, so close to a high whine.

No one dominates me. Especially a boy such as you, Edward.

He glares at her.

"Are you finished?" he hisses.

"What do you want Edward?" she whispers, tightening her grip on his wrists. So much so she could see her hard claw-like hands starting to leave pressure cracks, hair-thin on his pale flesh.

"Why did you stay with her?" his voice is strained, his eyes narrowed.

Because I wanted to make sure.

"Don't you pretend to care for the girl."

I don't have to explain myself to you.

"She's an innocent. She will not be killed because I chose to save her."

Rosalie stares at him, a dawning realization at his actions, at his infuriated state.

"You bastard. How could you?" she whispers, voice small.

He stares at her.

Do you think you love her?

He flinches, and Rosalie rolls off of him, landing in a careful crouch. He gets up, stares at her some more, the most frightful and panic look on his face that all Rosalie wants to do is laugh and laugh. He flees into the night without a word. For a fraction of a second, Rosalie regrets how quickly that conversation had escalated. But mostly she finds that her hands are trembling in both rage and disgust. Rosalie leaves the hospital, half tempted to stay, but knowing that the confrontation was only the beginning. Emmett meets her halfway up the drive, opening the door and sliding in smoothly into the passenger side. It's far away enough that the people in the house would have to strain to hear them if they spoke in normal voices.

Rosalie stops the car.

Emmett faces her as she stares straight ahead.

"How is she?" his first question, soft, his hand extended with the intent to comfort.

He does not force his hand on her, when she ignores it, uneasy with the thought of touch at the moment. He simply lowers his hand without a word as she turns to him.

"She's berries*, baby. It will take her a month or so to get better. More if she flubs up her recovery, but she seems to be a reasonable girl and will follow instructions to the letter."

Emmett, sweet Emmett furrows his brows.

"What's bothering you? Edward came home in right snit. And you don't seem to be in a better mood. What did he say to you?"

Rose chuckles, dry and hard as nails.

"He saved her yesterday. Do you know why? He wants to be her knight in shining armor. I think the boy has a crush."

"That high-hat* has a crush?" says Emmett, brows raising high, "On Izzy?"

Rosalie feels her lips curl up into a snarl.

"He wants her. He could potentially drag her into the mess that is the Paranormal world. I should have seen this coming. He's been mooning over her and I didn't even notice-"

"Bushwa*. Damn kid has been bluenose* since we met. Never looked anyone's way. I was sure he was just asexual. I understan' your concern, Rose, but just 'cause he's stuck on* with our Izzy doesn' mean-"

"He's already broken rules Emmett. He has risked exposure for her life already. That's dangerous and you know it."

Emmett didn't speak for a moment and Rose bit her lip to try and stop the onslaught of tears she felt in her eyes. She hadn't cried in relief when she realized Izzy hadn't seen anything she shouldn't have, she wasn't going to cry then.

"We should stop beating our gums*. There's a family meetin'."

Rose sighed, and nods, starting the car again. Everyone is on the porch, Esme, looking the picture of motherly concern, is wringing her hands by the time they park the car on the side of the house. Rosalie tosses they keys in Carlisle's direction and he catches it with ease, face and stance grim. Alice and Jasper, as most times, are stark opposites. Alice is vibrating in place, eyes glassy and lips moving rapidly as she goes after vision after vision. Jasper is like a wooden post, jaw tight and arms tight across his chest and legs locked close together. Edward is simply sitting, head in hands in his self-appointed anguish.

"Shall we adjourn inside?" says Carlisle, formally, voice sorrowful.

They file in without a word. To the dining room, the impressive room that did not function as its intended purpose. As a human Rose would have adored the space, it was richly adorned in its simplicity of cream walls and cream flooring and dark wood of the grand table that could sit up to twenty if need be- as she was it always unsettled her to see an attachment to the kind of things she had been forced to leave behind. As she sits, Emmett once again offers his hand. She hesitates, but then places her hand in his, squeezing tight. He returns the gesture, squeezing back just as tight.

"We are here to discuss the possible issue of the most crucial law of our existence," begins Carlisle, formal and even, "Being breached today by one of our own, Edward, my son, explain yourself."

Edward stands, and Rosalie vaguely notices that he didn't look in her direction. She felt herself clench her jaw.

Coward. Fool. Imbecile! She is not to be yours!

Edward was the best actor amongst them, but Rose saw with some vindictive pleasure that he flinched slightly at the last thought. She kept up to her mental tirade, squeezing Emmett's hand slightly.

"I was afraid of my loss of control. Upon seeing Alice's vision of the girl's… Gruesome injuries, I would have exposed us all. Is that not correct Alice?"

Rose frowned, looking to the younger woman in surprise as she came out of her visions. She nods, tightly, a sharp jut of her head.

"But… I thought ya couldn' see Izzy in yer visions," said Emmett and like most times under stress, his true accent slipped, "How the hell-"

"I don't know!" says Alice, jumping up, eyes wide, and she begins to pace, Jasper, looking at her, follows her like a cat to a bird, "I just- I just saw it! I'm trying, trying to see more of her but... She's being a void again! I don't know what triggers it! I don't know!"

"This could be an indication of how your powers interacting in high danger situations. Perhaps this is a sign of your power growing, Alice, or even you moving around the girl's Shield," said Jasper, quietly, all heads turn to him, and Rose felt a flash of concern on how he was grimacing, "All the factors will have to be examined. But I feel we are getting distracted from the main concern. Rosalie, did the girl see anything she shouldn't have?"

Rose lifted her chin and looked at Carlisle. She ignored how Edward drew a sharp breath.

"No. Isabella Swan saw nothing as far as I could asses. The accident happened very quickly to human eyes, and she closed her's in panic. I'm sure that Carlisle put the girl underneath what I assume was a strong sedative- she fell asleep so quickly after the accident and her words were slurred. Her version of events will be hazy at best."

"Morphine* will do that to a person," mused Carlisle.

She felt her eyes narrow. Emmett squeezed her hand, so she stayed silent.

"She is still a risk. Alice's lack of visions is a tactical disadvantage." said Jasper, concerned, "I will not have Alice near anything risky. We need to move as soon as possible in order to avoid this."

Alice frowned.

"We can't leave," she said, with a shake of her head. She looks to Edward, leaning against the back of the wall, "Right?"

Her eyes haze, for a second and Edward howls.

"NO!"

Alice gives a weak smile. Before she turned to the rest of them.

"I lied about my visions," she said simply, "I can see Isabella Swan. To some extent. Not everyday things, nothing so concrete or mundane. I was frustrated with my weakness in concern with this. But I have had one clear vision beyond that of the Van last afternoon. I see her, as one of us… With us. A new sister."

"I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" screams Edward.

Alice gives a stronger smile to Edward, raising a single, delicate brow.

"You have the most to gain from her transformation, brother dear."

"What?" says Esme, eyes widening.

Rose had had enough. Slipping her hand out of Emmett's with last squeeze, she faces Edward again. She frowned.

"You are selfish," she says quietly, and all other noise stopped. They all looked at her, but Rose could only look at Edward, glaring and her chest beginning to heave, "And I will not allow you to go anywhere near her after this. You will take a life from someone who has everything to look forward to in the human world. Izzy is young and not for you to take."

"Rosalie, I want nothing to do with the girl!"

"Don't lie to yourself Edward," she said, voice rising, "You're infatuated with her! You want to be her white knight- Her gallant hero! But that is not your place to be! She's our friend-"

"Friend!? Friend? You claim that I will drag her into this life due to an infatuation but you go and claim her time and affection in the guise of friendship? How fair is that?!" is his whine, and its moments like those that Rosalie always wonders if Edward had matured any time in his hundred years. To see him so… Jealous. But she freezes at his next statement, "Perhaps you and Emmett will be the ones to turn her into a monster. Lord knows how poor Emmett's control is."

Emmett bows his head, eyes squeezing shut. Rose snarls, taking a single step forward.

"You-"

"Enough," commands Carlisle, voice firm, "Everyone will sit."

Rose hesitates, chest heaving before she reluctantly goes to sit by her husband. She takes his hand herself, eyes narrowed as everyone follows suit.

"It seems that the main concern is assured. Isabella Swan will not die by our hands as she did not witness anything unnatural," says Carlisle, relief obvious in his voice, "But now we have to discuss… Your affection for her, my son."

Rose can't help her snarl, it so loud that it vibrates the back panel of glass that encompasses the back of the house. Edward only shook his head, eyes wide.

"No, there is no-"

"Edward," said Esme, softly, gently. Her golden eyes, wide and luminous with something hopeful and what Rose suspected was the start of tears, "In our house, we do not hide ourselves."

Edward blinks, rapidly.

"I- I- I am not certain of this. Rose believes I am in love with Isabella Swan, and that is why I acted yesterday afternoon. It's riddcu-"

"I said infatuated," she corrects, eyes narrowing, "You don't even speak to Izzy."

Edward frowns.

"I speak to her-"

"Not frequently. She never even looks in your direction. You don't know her, can't read her like most people. Your blind to her because of it. You rely too much on your gift. And that is a shallow knowledge, to begin with. You make your assessments on surface thoughts. People are more than that Edward. Without that, you will never know her. You are too socially inept to befriend her, truly."

Edward's face contorted sharply, panic and something like fury on his face as her truths hit him.

"I know her! I know her to be kind, to be polite, to be private-"

Ha! That's nothing! You don't know what makes her laugh, her favorite things, her dreams- Because you would never think to ask her.

"Shallow knowledge! You're not even her friend!"

Edward stood again, dropping his chair back with a loud bang in his haste to stand. Emmett tensed next to her, slipping his hand out of her's and ready to pounce on Edward if he did something he disliked, standing as well, his eyes narrowed.

"I am! I am her friend, not close, perhaps, but that is because you manipulate her time, you bar me from her like a vicious guard dog-"

"Oh grow up Edward," she counters, smiling viciously.

"Stop," they are surprised as Esme stood, hands in front of her. Her face was pinched with worry, and Rose was stunned at how she had raised her voice.

She waits for a beat, pointedly looking at both Edward and Emmett. They both sit, and Esme releases a breath. She holds out her hands, in a gesture for calm and peace. Rose feels it settle over her, and she glances at Jasper, who has his brows raised high and is blinking rapidly.

"Thank you, Jasper, dear," said Esme, soft, she takes a breath before she addresses them all. It is in an even, smooth voice, "It is evident that Isabella Swan has caused strife amongst you, my children. I think we have two solutions before us. We leave."

Rose felt a spasm of pain at the thought, echoed in her husband, as Emmett's face falls into sadness. Edward pales, hands curling into fists on the table top. Alice is shaking her head, horror on her face.

"We can't leave her- She's our sister-"

Esme raises her hand, and Alice closes her mouth, looking mutinous.

"Or we stay and let nature take a dangerous course. It is evident that Isabella will mean many things to all of us. I have met her once, and felt affection to her, love for her would be so easy, I believe. My heart is always open to have more children, if such an situation would come, in any capacity, human or vampire."

She looks at Edward a soft smile on her face.

"I understand you, my son. I know that first attraction or love is difficult to process," she turns to Rose that soft, gentle smile still on her face, "And affection of friends is difficult to share, especially if it's one seldom given. But whether or not Isabella will follow Edward's course of affection is not determinate by you, my daughter. It is solely dependent on Isabella. You can't prevent her interactions with the rest of the family. Not if a possible future for her is to become part of us."

Rose wants to scream. To protest. To do anything. But she cannot.

"So let us put it to a vote," said Carlisle, calmly as Esme took her seat. "We leave."

It hurt her. But Rose raised her hand. She did not blame Emmett for not raising his. Only Jasper rose his hand as well. Carlisle let out a breath.

"So it is decided. We stay. I will go and pen an email to the Volturi of the events that transpired yesterday. You may disperse."

They all stood to leave, Edward, Rose noted, wobbly got to his feet, expression shell shocked. Rose couldn't help it. She left him with a passing thought.

Izzy won't chose you.

OOOOOOOO

"You're not doing it right," says her voice from the mirror.

Lauren blinks in confusion at the voice, watching with faint surprise as her reflection starts to move her arms in a strange, useless gesture. It's very flowy, pretty thing, like she's dancing in place in elegant movements that Lauren would admire in professional dancers. She finds herself freezing and locking her limbs as she fights the urge to follow along. She frowns, watches as her reflection frowns back at her.

As she stares at her double, she does the same motion. Stubbornly, Lauren locks her limbs when they try to follow, again.

Her reflection in front of her hmms. Sweet and so musical that it sounds unnatural.

"Come on. It's easy."

Her lips almost move along to the words, but Lauren refuses, biting the inside of her cheek until the words stop. She forces her mouth open and the reflection copies her lip moving even if no sound comes from her throat.

"No."

"Stop. You doing it wrong."

"Make me."

Lauren definitely had a problem with authority. Her face in the mirror falls in disappointment. Her's almost followed, but again, Lauren prevents her face from following. It was frightening- as if the reflection in the mirror was the person and Lauren was the reflection. That thought was so fucking scary that Lauren couldn't allow it to happen. She was in control, not her reflection.

"You just have to follow me. Is that so hard?"

"I don't want to."

"It's not about wanting to. It's about the way it's done."

"Fuck you."

The girl sighs. Because Lauren is not so sure its a reflection anymore.

"You're making this so difficult, Bella."

Something in her stomach twists.

"My name is Lauren."

The girl lifts her eyebrow.

"No. Its Bella," a smile, "Bella Swan."

Lauren bares her teeth. The girl mimics her in real time.

"The hell it is."

The girl frowns. Lauren has to bite her cheek hard enough to taste blood to stop herself from frowning as well. The girl then bites her lip. Lauren knows that gesture and she wants to scream. But all she can do is stare at the person in the mirror, knowing it isn't her.

"Oh, Bella. You need to stop fighting. Bad things happen when you fight."

Bella Swan smiles again. She uses Lauren's face, bright and completely condescending tilt of her lips, eyes, shimmering and bright, shift from its natural grey to a soft, buttery yellow. Her skin, already pale, fades until its an unnatural bleached alabaster. Her freckles, her mole, all fade from her skin. It loses its rosy tone, and though in front of her is a beautiful creature, the sickly venom that shows in her perfect white teeth tell Lauren that the beauty is deadly. And something she never wants.

"You can't fight a perfect forever."

1*: Dry Up: Shut up.

2*: Berries: Awesome. Think the bee's knee.

3*: High-Hat: Snobby.

4*: Bushwa: Bull shit.

5*: Bluenose: Prude.

6*: Stuck on: Having pride.

7*: Beating your gum: Idle talk.

8*: Morphine, um... Opioids are not recommended generally, as there are better and safer drugs. Every time it was dropped in Twilight it kinda made me cringe in slight horror.