The Painter

By: Everleigh Allen

Chapter 36

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated ~ Confucius

~O~

Aro grinned at Alec as he walked back through the thick wooden doors and held it as he noticed a petite brunette walking behind him.

She was obviously a newborn vampire, less than a year old and it was curious to what she was doing with his guardsman.

"Welcome, welcome!" Aro greeted them with a sharply edge jaw trying to hide his fury. He already had his hand out to grasp up Alec's.

But Alec didn't offer his hand. Instead he looked toward the newborn as she moved forward.

Her eyes were dark and judging.

"Introduce me to your lovely mate, son!" Aro clapped, moving to her.

Aro offered her his hand and she grinned and said, "I'm Jessica," and placed his hand in hers. "I've heard so much about all of you and couldn't wait to meet my new family." There was something in her voice, something so displeasing about it that Aro felt more uncomfortable with each spoken word.

Her voice didn't seem to bother Alec, at all.

"Oh, she's lovely," Aro sneered at Alec trying to appear gracious, but the instant they touched, he recoiled, eyes wide and pulling his hand from hers.

He then turned to Jane, who was watching the entire exchange with rage. She was upset her brother left her without word or reason and to now know that he had mated with someone had her reeling with anger.

Aro gave Jane a nod and her eyes moved from Aro to Jessica. But the moment she concentrated on the girl beside her brother, there was a horrible screeching noise radiating in her head. She closed her eyes, recoiling. The noise stopped and she barely risked a look at the girl only to see Jessica's smirk.

"I know we're all going to be so happy here together, forever." Alec said simply, moving into his spot next to Jane on the side of the three thrones.

Jessica moved with him, taking his side. "When do I get one of those gothic costumes?" Jessica squealed. Everyone shuddered except Marcus. "They are totes adorbs."

"I agree, "she gushed in a high pitch voice and everyone flinched. "I just love all this stuff! Oh, and just so you know, I talk… a lot."

"Where's all the goats?"

"Goats?" Aro hissed.

"Yes… My mother always told me that the Bible says that you'll be judged as a goat or a sheep in the afterlife… since this is my afterlife I just thought you'd have goats… or maybe sheep!" Jessica gasped. "I love both!"

"I'll get you all the goats you want, my love."

"And sheep."

Alec turned to grin adoringly at his mate with a nod. He was already so pleased at their future together and knowing that it was just a matter of time before Aro would tire of the relentless screeching noise Jessica's voice caused.

The mental screaming when they would try to use their powers on her was almost as deadly as Jane's power.

He knew that they would soon rather end their eternity than to listen to the vampire's acute screams and screeching voice and then they would be off; free to live and roam together as they pleased.

.

Charlie sat on the couch with one hand suspended in the air holding a slice a pizza and the other on the remote. He only had to move his face a couple inches to take a bite of the slice and didn't have to risk missing a second of the game that was on.

Bella walked through the door, followed by Edward. She greeted her father with a kiss on his forehead, and was rewarded with a diversion glance in acknowledgment.

"What have you kids been up to?" He asked as his eyes found the screen.

"Oh, nothing, just the normal stuff… kidnapped by a rogue vampire- almost two, one of which tried to kill the others so he could change me into a vampire and use me to help free him from these three evil kings he was destined to protect for eternity… other than that, not much."

"Funny," Charlie smirked. "Just stay out of trouble." He gave a pointed look of warning to Edward when he said trouble, making sure it was portrayed about what kind of trouble in which he was referring. Edward had the decency to look abashed for Charlie's sake and gave him a curt nod.

Charlie didn't know that he and Bella hadn't started the intimate part of their relationship because they had only just recently met and they've had so many other obstacles in their way before they could even consider it.

They would also need to get to know each other more and go on lots of date.

Edward also knew that Bella was doing better every day. He could already see her tension had lessened and she was becoming less anxious and more assured in herself.

He liked to think he had a small part in that, but he didn't really know.

Bella was an enigma, no doubt, and they would have a long road ahead of them no matter what issues presented themselves.

Each member in his family would be instrumental in their future together in helping her get through and understand her emotions, labeling them, and move forward.

Just as they all had to do with Alice, Jasper, and Rose.

Edward had no doubt she'd bypass them all someday and they would all be following her to the ends of the Earth.

"Come on, Edward," Bella giggled, pulling him behind her up the stairs.

He knew what would come next.

She was going to paint.

And he would watch her do it, never tiring of getting a glimpse of her soul as she put it on the canvas for the world to see and judge. What they all fail to realize though is the pure beauty that was the soul.

Soul.

Something he didn't think he had until he met Bella Swan.

But now he knew different.

Everyone is a soulful creature born to teach each other lessons in life, love, kindness, forgiveness, sadness, hate…

Endless experiences to teach us and evolve us on a soul level.

Maybe make the path a little easier to bear for each other, too. Edward thought as Bella picked up her paintbrush, coloring the canvas in various shades of green.

Edward smiled and Bella turned her head to look at his face. He smiled when he saw the utter look of contentness on her face.

He knew he was green and couldn't wait to see what she'd paint for him.

It didn't matter.

They would be okay.

.

A/N: Thank you for reading my story and reviewing it. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.