Chapter Fourteen
Bella
As we pulled up I saw Dr Cullen at the top of the steps waiting to greet me, next to him stood a beautiful woman who must be his wife. He smiled as I climbed the steps with Emmett holding my arm. "Can't have you falling flat on your face Bells" he explained, and it was impossible to be annoyed. "Welcome" said Dr Cullen "Let me introduce you to my wife Esme". I took her hand which was as cold as the others. "Hello Bella. It's nice to finally meet you". I pricked my ears up at that, finally, so they'd been talking about me? "Please come in, can I get you a drink?" she asked graciously. A soda would be nice if you have any" Bella I thought, stupid question in a house full of teenagers. She smiled and went into the kitchen. Dr Cullen guided me to the huge glass walled lounge and I looked around curiously. The walls and furniture were all shades of cream and white which made it really bright despite the clouds. "Please sit down Bella" he said. I sat on the couch and Emmett crashed down next to me. "You OK Bells?" He asked. I nodded, "Fine thanks. Are the others here?"
He nodded "Somewhere" as Jasper appeared at the bottom of the stairs. I hadn't heard him or seen him descend. He walked over slowly and said Hi before sitting in a chair opposite. I saw his expression and got the strange impression he would have liked to be sitting where Emmett was. I looked for the others as Esme brought in a coke with a beautiful crystal glass and ice. It was like being in a posh hotel. I took it with thanks and sipped it, noticing no one else was drinking. "So Dr Cullen what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked between sips. My eyes kept going to Jasper who looked unaccountably sad. "It's difficult to know where to start exactly". I thought I might help him. "I've done some research of my own since...well since the accident I guess. Jake, Jacob Black that is, alluded to some kind of danger and then you did too Dr. It all made me curious so as I said I did some research". Dr Cullen looked intrigued "And what if any conclusions did you arrive at Bella?" Jasper sat forward in his seat, eager to hear my conclusions. I took another sip of my drink, now I was here with them, my suspicions seemed stupid but what the heck, we could laugh about it later.
I looked up "The Quileute tribe, and then their legends". Emmett stiffened at my side and moved away slightly. "It was very interesting, and I know what the Quileutes think you are, and what they believe they are" I stopped here. I would have laughed it all off if not for one thing, they were all watching me fascinated, "When I fell in the road I tried to get up and I saw something. Or at least I thought I did, and heard something,...a wolf. Just the thing the Quileutes think they turn into when threatened by their foes. I only read about the wolves afterwards, so how come I saw just that creature?" I stopped again but no one spoke. "I saw Jake jump out of a second storey window without hurting himself, so there's something a little abnormal with him". Still no one said anything and no one moved, not an inch, now came the embarrassing part. "So I thought if Jake's tribe think you are their enemy then I know what you are, or at least in theory."
I stopped, looking at them, and suddenly it didn't seem so stupid. "So" said the Doctor "If you think we are what the Quileutes believe us to be, then what are you doing here? Wouldn't you be scared to be alone with such creatures?" I shrugged, "That's a difficult one. If I didn't know some of you then maybe. But I've been alone with Emmett and with Emmett and Rose, I've been alone with Jasper too and I'm still here. Then there's you Doctor, how could one of those work in an Emergency Room? Jasper drove me to hospital, bleeding. It doesn't add up somewhere". Em snorted "You're good Bells". I turned and smiled "Thanks Emmett". Jasper sat forward on the very edge of his seat, "Bella, what do you think we are?" I bit my lip in embarrassment, "Please don't laugh but I think you are the Cold Ones of the Quileute legends". There I'd said it! I leaned back waiting for the laughter that I realized wasn't coming.
I looked from Jasper to the others and back, "There is no barbecue is there? I'm the only one here who would eat it anyway aren't I?" Esme smiled, "Oh no Bella, the girls are barbecuing now. But you're right about the second part, we won't be joining you except to talk if you don't mind". I was sitting in a room full of Vampires! Then I leaned back, "Well that's a relief, I would have looked really stupid if you hadn't been vampires". As I said it I realized how rude it sounded. I put my hand to my mouth about to apologize when Emmett roared with laughter, "Only our Bella would be more relieved she's in a room full of vampires than making a fool of herself". I turned and slapped his arm, "Jeez Emmett you're built like a concrete block I said as my fingers started to throb. "Sorry Bells" he said and he leaned in to give me a hug. It seemed the most natural thing in the world and I returned it.
Dr Cullen sat down the other side of me and blew out his cheeks as Jasper looked at me smiling widely. "Well, I think that went pretty well" he said. His eyes were a beautiful deep gold and the bruises under them less marked than yesterday. I longed to reach out and touch his face, to feel that pale smooth skin. He must have sensed something because he sat back again and Rose and Alice walked in with a selection of barbecued foods. "They should be cooked OK we followed the recipes. Just don't ask us to try them" she said handing me the plate. It looked delicious, "There's salad in the kitchen Bella" said Rose "come on" and she walked out, obviously expecting me to follow her. So I did, with a last look at Jasper who stood by the stairs again. Alice looked from him to me before racing up the stairs alone.
The most appetizing salad bowl sat in the middle of a small table along with cutlery and a dizzy array of salad dressings and hot rolls. I sat down a little self-consciously while Rosalie leaned against a pristine counter top watching me. "Well I'm impressed" she said finally as I started to eat, "You are a cool customer. Here you are in a house full of self-proclaimed vampires sitting down to dinner without turning a hair". I looked at her then shrugged, "I guess it's better than being dinner. Besides if you'd wanted to kill me you would hardly have bothered with the invitation which Charlie knew about. I could have gone missing any time without putting suspicion on your family". "Not quite Bella" said Jasper as he walked in. "There would have been some who suspected us and it would have caused serious problems".
"Really?" I asked as I finished my mouthful? "Oh Jake and his vampire killing wolves you mean?" Rose laughed but Jasper looked serious. "Yes Bella, just that. We have a treaty with the Quileutes, that would be broken if we killed you". "A treaty?" I inquired "Yes, as long as we don't bite a human they will leave us in peace" said Carlisle walking in to join us. "Can I ask a personal question?" I said looking at him. "Of course Bella, and I'll answer if I can". I took a sip of my soda before continuing "If you can't bite humans, what do you live on?" I wasn't sure I'd get an answer but Jasper chuckled, "Carlisle likes to call us Vegetarians". Seeing my confused look he explained, "Carlisle" pointing to Dr Cullen. "Oh, but vegetarian?"I queried. Carlisle smiled, "It's a little joke Bella. We live on animal blood".
"Why?" I said before I could stop myself. "Various reasons but mainly because I hold life to be sacred and we have no right to kill humans to satiate our thirst". It made sense to me, "So how does human blood differ from animal? I'm assuming it does, or wouldn't all vampires drink animal blood?" God! Did I just say All Vampires so casually. "It's very different" said Jasper with an agonised expression. "Human blood is our natural food, it eases the thirst greatly and it makes us stronger. Animal blood isn't so satisfying and the thirst is still there most of the time". This must be the most bizarre conversation I'd ever had.