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Chapter 7: Vampires

Edward saw Bella hurry out to him as the drizzle fell steadily. He wasn't sure how he would share his secret with her. All he knew was that he would. How he would break it was a different matter. He was afraid of her reaction no matter how much Alice assured him. Because Bella would know. At last. Maybe it was a reason as he knew they were both still trying to find their way. With each other. They hadn't spoken about being a couple. That it had been revealed that they were soulmates had not seemed to bother her, yet she had not said anything about it.

Bella entered the car with a smile.

"Ready?" he asked, slowly.

"As ready as ever," she answered and her smile widened.

It baffled him how happy she seemed to be entering a house of unknown creatures to her. Had she even considered a worst-case scenario? It seemed unlikely. She had the opinion of good stamped on all of them even if bad things had happened in their pasts. He saw his own family as good, they were trying to be good, always. It did not change what they were, or in his case, what he had been.

"You seem worried," Bella commented after keeping an eye on him. She tried to pry away her stare, but it was hard. She felt the electricity buzzing between them and all she wanted was to reach out and touch him. She fought to stay put.

Edward gave a half smile but kept his eyes on the road. She read him too well, and he was supposed to be the one reading minds. "It's not that I am worried. No, that's not fully true. I'm worried what you will think once you learn the truth. What will you think of me? It's not like you can run away from a soulmate, I feel like it is my fault you are trapped if you really want to go," he confessed.

"Is that what you think of me? That I'm weak-minded? I can handle a bit, if you haven't already noticed," she defended. How was his mind working? She silently wondered. She knew he was complicated, and that was putting it mildly. She knew how she felt about him though and would not let anything ruin that. Edward was his own enemy, she had understood. His past weighted on him even if he had recently been through a change.

Neither noticed how fast the time had passed, for suddenly they were standing still outside the Cullen house. Edward's smile was more strained and he left Bella to stare up at the house with her lips slightly parted. He walked slowly around to give her time and then he opened her door. Her muttered 'thanks' was barely hearable and he just nodded in reply.

"You call this a house?" she finally asked. It was more like a mansion.

"Yes," Edward answered and shrugged. It wasn't unusual for him or his family. And after all they did need their space.

The family did not greet them as Bella had partially expected, instead she was led into the living room where the family had gathered. Emmett and Jasper were playing a game of chess. Rosalie and Alice were flipping through magazines. Carlisle sat looking through papers while Esme seemed to be sketching.

"Bella!" Alice said happily in a greeting while the others looked up.

"What's up with the charade?" Edward asked.

"You didn't tell her yet?" Esme asked. "We thought this would ease her a bit after hearing…."

Edward froze for a moment. "No," he then said slowly and shook his head.

Bella looked around at the almost frozen family. Only Carlisle seemed to be the one in slight movement apart from Edward. Ok, so that was unusual and possibly part of what they were.

With a sigh, Carlisle stood. "I see then. I do apologize for not greeting you properly earlier Bella, welcome to the family," he said and smiled. He had previously met her in the hospital after she had an accident in the kitchen. It had not been too serious, but it had given him opportunity to greet her then.

"Thank you," she answered to his warmth.

"I'm so happy Edward found you," Esme said with true warmth and hugged her. She and Bella had a few occasions met when buying groceries and exchanged a few words.

"I'm glad I decided to come to Forks," she responded and hugged back Esme's cold form. She did not comment that either. She always found Esme pleasant.

She knew that the reason Edward never invited her to the house previously was because it was their sanctuary. Where they truly could be themselves. He had said as much and she understood. Part of her could not see why she had not been able to come at an earlier time, she could not see what had changed. For all of them.

"We will leave you two alone for a bit. There is food in the kitchen," Carlisle said. He then gave a nod and one after one they disappeared with their true speed.

Alice hesitated and then said, "For strength proof, meet Emmett outside afterwards." Then she too was gone.

"Woah," Bella muttered and stared at the empty spaces. "They're really fast!"

Edward was still shaking his head in disbelief. This was not what he had imagined. "Shall we?" he then said, his tone strained. She nodded. He led her to the kitchen and then sat down by the kitchen isle.

Bella followed his lead and sat down beside him. Her hand automatically reached out for his. He squeezed once.

"My family are vampires," he then said, at last.

Bella stared. That was it? That was what he had been tormenting himself up about?

She was nodding in understanding towards him and with a small smile. She did not seem spooked. Or afraid at all. "You just saw how fast they are and you don't even flinch," he commented.

"No, why would I? It is part of them. It doesn't exactly look like they are about to eat me either. Plus you're a human, living with them. Making me feel scared isn't going to be that easy. Carlisle is a doctor at the hospital saving lives. There's nothing bad about that. To be honest I can't imagine him eating his patients, he seem way too good, and from what dad has told me, Carlisle has saved many lives after starting here."

"And the rest?" Edward asked, wanting to know what she was thinking.

"Esme seems good and loving. I have not talked to her that much, but the little we have exchanged I know she loves you and her family to bits."

Edward nodded, agreeing.

"I don't know your siblings as you do, but I do consider them my friends. We sit together at lunch. Yes, they have their way about them that makes them stand out a bit, but they are friendly, and I've never seen any of them trying to hurt a fellow student. Which makes me wonder, don't they drink blood? Or is that partly why Carlisle work at the hospital, blood bags and all."

Edward stared in disbelief then he started laughing. Much due to relief as he had kept going over worst case scenarios and here she truly was taking it in stride. "No, they don't drink human blood. Blood from animals sustain a vampire too, not as much as human blood of course, but we never want to be the actual monster," he then explained.

"You said we, and I don't think of you as monsters. Even if human had been your diet. It's what you were created for, wasn't it? How can I blame your natural instinct?" She then lifted her brows in a silent challenge. "You are so silly. I know you well enough to judge whether or not I should have been running a long time ago."

"I give up," he said and chuckled. "What do you want to know?"

"Are all vampires that fast?"

"Yes."

"Blood drinking is covered. Oh, I noticed that sometimes their eyes get a bit darker, why is that?"

"They get darker the more they need to feed, in the end they will turn black. Our eyes used to be gold as animal drinkers, but Travis changed that when he changed me. Now we have our human eye color. Human drinking vampires have red eyes."

Bella nodded. "They are out in daylight, so the sun doesn't kill you I assume, but you have been on family trips when the sun is out, why?"

"Vampires have a disadvantage in sunlight, you might see it one day."

"Ok, so now, Alice mentioned your strength."

"Yes, vampires got super strength. Also great hearing and sense of smell. Not to forget the eyesight. Many vampires are also gifted with extra abilities."

"How so?" Bella then asked.

"Alice can see the future; Jasper is an empath and I can read minds. Actually, I can't read your mind, and Charlie's mind is hard to read as well," he said.

She tilted her head to her side a bit. "You can't read my mind? At all?"

"No. Complete silence." His lips tilted up in half a smile. "Ever since I turned back to human I can turn my power on and off, I can chose to have my mind open or I can actively search and single out thoughts. The only side effect is being human and I get easily tired. As a vampire I could never turn it off. I never had peace."

"And now?"

"Now I can have silence. I admit at times, especially at the start, it was strange not being able to constantly hear other. For now I am so used to it that it almost bothers me more to open up. At a few occasions I can't shut it off either, but that is rare."

She nodded to that, concern lining her face, concern for him.

The answers had been satisfying enough and together they quickly ate before they went out to the back of the house where the family awaited them. Bella did find it more intriguing now that she knew their secret, but she was also humble that they were willing to share it with her. That they trusted her.

Emmett disappeared and came back with a car held above his head, then he disappeared again and came back empty handed. Bella's mouth was agape and she reminded herself to close it while the family chuckled.

"That is just part of the strength," Edward explained.

"You used to be that strong?" she asked, turned towards him.

"I was strong, but Emmett is the strongest in our family," he answered.

"And don't forget it," Emmett said and laughed.

"Alice told us you would take it well," Esme said, relief evident in her tone. "I'm so happy, but I know Edward still worried."

"Never bet against Alice," Jasper said proudly and kissed his mate on the top of her head.

"She can be wrong, decisions change," Rosalie pointed out.

"Not this one, it was quite solid," Alice said and gave her brother a look.

"Is this turn against Edward day?" he asked and held up his hands.

Bella laughed. They truly were a family. Maybe it would help Edward to open up more to her about his past, now that she was in on the secret. She certainly hoped so. The pull towards him was not going away and she knew they would only be brought closer. She still had a lot to learn, but she had time. She had time to get to know the family better and to understand the different race. It made her wonder though how many races lived hidden and how many lived above ground as humans. It was an intriguing thought but also one with uncertainty. It seemed that the Cullen family had not been aware of many others before Travis had visited them. After all, he had said think of a myth and it is most likely true or based on a true one. She shook it off when walking back into the house. This was a time to have fun and bond, not to overthink things.

Edward was relieved it had gone so well. His feelings were jumbled as Jasper kept reminding him, but he could not keep it under control. She knew, she was fine, and she was still with him. With his family. He watched her softly as she chatted happily with Esme on the couch and he let himself believe that life could not get better, for if it did, he might believe he would burst from the happiness. If he didn't maybe Jasper would, whom felt all their emotions so strongly. He tried not to laugh aloud with the thought. For now he simply let himself feel happy and content.

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