Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all characters minus Julian and Dahlia
Family Tree Chapter 11
EPOV
I would use every weapon at my disposal to see that Bella was safe from Alice's vision. If she was indeed the girl in the water, as we both suspect that she is, it will be necessary to keep her out of harm's way. The only way I can assure her safety would be to keep her in a place where more than one set of eyes can be on her at all times. The mansion is perfect.
Finding a plausible excuse to keep her there is another matter entirely. The last few hours have given me precious little time to plan a strategy. I know Bella is worried but I don't have time to assuage her fears anymore than I have time to control mine. The new visitors to Forks are an unwelcome addition, especially considering that their untimely arrival intersects when Alice first had the vision.
At this point there are so many moving pieces to the puzzle I cannot keep track of all of them at once. I alone cannot be sure that I can ward off this future anymore than I can be sure that I am not the monster that would put her in the position in the first place. It seems that I will make a critical error in judgment that will put her in harms way. Perhaps I have unknowingly already done so. The only logical thing thus far would be my consent in allowing her to go to La Push. They have that damn rain dance that coincides with the timeframe that we've established for the incident based on the lunar calendar.
Yet a drowning seems highly unlikely from an attack by werewolf. If one were to attack her…she would be amongst the leaves on the forest floor bleeding profusely, not facedown in a lake. Once a werewolf has phased, they would not think to drag her body into the lake to destroy evidence. From what I understand, the other wolves would be able to know what was going on. Surely Black would protect her from one of his fellow wolves. Or perhaps it is he that would attempt the deed.
I was beginning to travel down a dark and dangerous place in my mind. It is the place where the monster dwells, pacing furiously, swearing angrily, biding it's time. To even begin to speak to the monster is a mistake, one that could cost me dearly. The monster is very much alive, even now, after all the years and the training in self-discipline. In one instant, decades of self restraint could crumble to the ground and tear my life to pieces. But if any harm befell Bella, the monster would reign in my place. It would be the logical Edward that would dwell in a cave and cry pitifully in the darkness. To even try to cope would be beyond reason, beyond my capability. I would seek my own death before I would harm anyone else I love, but I would find justice first. The monster would seek out the killer in my place and I would gladly let him.
When the deed was done, I too would die for I cannot live without her. I am weak.
Love is something I had secretly yearned for, but never actively sought. It was something that seemed more like a concept than something real. I could see the reality of it between Carlisle and Esme, Emmett and Rosalie, and certainly between Alice and Jasper. But I had lived for many years in self imposed solitude. I had constantly been struggling to erase any and all hope that I would ever have someone to hold, someone to love. Never in my wildest fantasies did I believe someone could love me back. Not if they'd seen the monster. Not if they knew the truth.
Before Bella I had given up all hope of ever finding a better half. I knew that I lacked the necessary skills and mindset to make something of love, even if I found it. Stumbling upon the lovely girl was both a blessing and a curse. The touch and go day to day struggle was nothing less than what I deserved. I had to keep the beast under control to have the love. If for one second I let the beast loose, I could not have the love, and would never have it again.
The pressure to keep that part of my mind closed is staggering. There are times when I feel that my own mind is turning against me, that the beast is plotting some way of escape. It saddens me to know that I cannot keep him locked up forever. Hopefully I won't have to.
For now I had to trust my best judgment and do any and everything to keep her safe.
I look over at her and give her a gentle smile. She tentatively smiles back. Somewhere deep within my chest, I feel the warmth that only she can activate.
What a wonderful thing it is to be warm again.
The ringing of the bell once again knocks me out of my reverie. Our class rises as one and we make for the door. It is lunch time, a most opportune time to try and get at Dahlia's mind once again. In spite of all the fears I have regarding Bella, I admit to myself that I am intrigued. I've never run across a mind like hers before.
"Edward." I turn my head and see Julian rushing up to our little group. I move in front of Bella instinctually.
"Nice to meet you. I've been looking forward to it. May I inquire the names of your lovely companions?" Julian smiled and I relaxed.
"This is my sister Alice Cullen, and this is Bella Swan." I tense, waiting for his reaction at seeing a human in our midst.
"Alice? Charmed. Bella? Enchanted."
His eyes skim over Alice head to toe and she does the same. He then performs a slow sweep of Bella, almost as if he is drinking her in. She blushes and his eyes dance at her reaction.
I instantly size him up. He is quite handsome, even in the terms of our kind. His eyes hold the kind of intelligence one can only have after living for a long while. He's polite and suave, and he caused Bella to blush.
I don't like it.
"So, Julian. What brings you to Forks?" I ask.
I thought your friends in Denali would have told you? His thoughts swirl about me.
"We're simply here to visit. I am anxious to meet Carlisle. He is the first that has been successful to live off of animals, is he not? It's remarkable to have that kind of self control. I feel that I could learn a great deal from him and the rest of your family."
Edward…I like him.
I turn to look at Alice in surprise.
"Does Dahlia feel the same?" I ask innocently, turning back to Julian.
"Certainly, or she would not be here. I fear that she has had a much harder time adjusting than I have. She's a bit older than I am and breaking the habits of many lifetimes can be difficult."
I'm surprised at such a voluntary admission of information.
"Will she be joining us?" I inquire.
"Yes, she said she would meet us inside. Shall we?" Julian gestures toward the cafeteria.
Bella hasn't said a word. I look down at her and notice that she looks a little flushed.
"We'll meet you inside. I need to go to my locker." I nod at Alice and she takes the hint, escorting Julian into the cafeteria. I watch them walk away with something akin to amusement. Alice likes him. What a surprise.
"Are you feeling all right?" I look down at Bella with concern.
"I'm fine. I was a little nervous there. We all know how things turned out the last time we had visitors."
I wince, remembering how close she'd come to death.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She tries to pull herself from my embrace but I hold tight.
"It's fine Bella. What do you think of Julian?" I tactfully change the topic and keep my tone nonchalant.
"He's a lot taller than I expected. He looks a little like Emmett, but not as athletic. He also reminds me of you."
I'm intrigued and cannot hide it. "What about him reminds you of me?"
She studies my face. "Edward…you aren't jealous?" A flush creeps into her cheeks, the blood pooling just beneath the surface of her skin. I'm momentarily distracted.
"Certainly not, I'm merely curious of your opinion. Would you rather I not ask?" A lifetime of dealing with women has its rewards.
She crosses her arms in front of her in a defensive pose without realizing it.
"No, I appreciate that you care enough what I think to ask. I was just making sure there wasn't more to the question than what was on the surface, that's all."
An astute observation, I note.
"Well, tell me. What about him reminds you of me? I don't see any similarity."
She relaxes. "Well, it's not on the surface exactly. It's more the way he carries himself. You both sort of…glide when you walk. You have this air about you, a worldliness, I guess. He talks a little like you do, in an old fashioned kind of way. Your eyes are also similar in color." Her face begins to turn an appetizing shade of red. I can see that she is uncomfortable.
"That's certainly interesting. Are you hungry?" I change the subject again and she looks relieved.
"Yes, most definitely. It smells like garlic bread."
I sniff the air and the foul herb assaults my nostrils momentarily. "Indeed. Well we'd better get in there and get you some."
I steer her toward the cafeteria and we get into line. I take a plastic tray and select a few items, not really noticing what I'm getting. Bella takes the offensive smelling bread and a red apple and sets them on the tray. I slide it toward the cafeteria worker and pay.
Then, I feel electricity in the air. Like static, my eyes are pulled toward the door and I see Dahlia enter. Everyone in the cafeteria quiets down and watches the hauntingly beautiful girl walk gracefully toward the table where Alice and Julian are sitting.
"Edward?" Bella asks, waving a hand in front of my face. She scrunches up her face in annoyance.
"Let's go sit down, if you have everything you wanted?" I can hardly contain the excitement in my voice. I can't tear my eyes away. She is a walking mystery.
"Sure. Let's go." She looks anxious. I try to ward it off.
"You look lovely today Bella. With all the excitement I forgot to tell you. I love it when you wear blue." She smiles up at me and I give her a half smile in return.
I allow her to walk ahead of me so that I don't appear too eager. For as jealous as I can be, Bella has a tendency to take it to the next level. It isn't as though she's ever allowed herself to show it, but she turns inward and doesn't speak, and I know that's what she's feeling. It took me a long time to figure it out, because I don't really notice when other girls appear interested. But Bella does.
As if anyone could compare to her.
I set the tray on the table and make sure that Bella sits to my left, sandwiched between Alice and me. I'm not going to take any chances, just in case.
Dahlia sits quietly and stares at me with a dreamy expression. I'm tempted to look into her mind again but decide that would be rude without at least introducing myself first.
"I'm Edward Cullen and this is Bella Swan." I hold out my hand and for a moment I'm not sure the handshake will be accepted. With startling speed she reaches across the table and grasps my hand, holding it tight.
"Edward Cullen. I've heard much about you from your friends. Tanya told me that you were amazingly handsome. I've not been disappointed." Her eyes sparkle with mirth and a hint of a smile plays at the corners of her mouth.
I'm shocked at her choice of words. It is hardly appropriate. I can think of nothing to say in response. I glance at Bella and she is sitting rigidly staring at Dahlia.
Dahlia notices the direction of my eyes and hers follow. She releases my hand and I pull it back quickly.
"Bella Swan. I haven't heard much about you…I'm Dahlia Rousseau."
Bella stares at her wordlessly. Dahlia's eyes narrow.
I nudge her and knock her out of her reverie.
"Nice to meet you Dahlia." She whispers.
"The pleasure is mine, of course." Dahlia exclaims animatedly.
Julian has watched the exchange with unabashed interest on his features. For some reason, this annoys me. I slip into his mind.
Strange how a human can sit at a table of vampires and look so composed. Interesting. I wonder how much she knows about us?
I don't appreciate his thoughts, as innocent as they seem. I don't want his mind on Bella.
"So, Edward, where did you find this lovely creature?" Dahlia asks in a seductive tone.
Bella bristles beside me at Dahila's condescending tone, but I place my hand on her knee to calm her.
"In this very cafeteria as a matter of fact." I answer her and stare at her evenly.
"How…nice. Do you often feel the need to consort with humans?" She taps the table with long delicate fingertips.
"Not often, no. Bella is an exception."
Dahlia cocks her head to the side as though confused. I cannot resist any longer. I must hear her thoughts.
Chaos.
I feel myself tense and am pulled into the vortex somewhat helplessly.
Millions of pictures connect and collide in mid-air, rearranging, flipping into order, a hundred different rows sliding past at lightning speed. I hold my hands out in front of me and they elongate, stretching toward the horizon of the sinking sun. A blood thirsty beast stalks among the pictures, letting its claws rip into the canvas. Blood falls from the torn paintings and runs in rivulets toward my feet. My ankles are immersed in blood. The sky turns a startling shade of violet. A flash of green light distracts me and I am on the ground, being pulled by something large and powerful. I try to scream but the sound is drowned out by an inhuman bellowing. I scramble…
"Edward! Edward! What's wrong with him? Please, Edward, come back." A solitary voice of reason holds me and I want so badly to go to it.
Edward, come back to me. Find my mind. Hold onto it. Here.
A picture of Alice floats near my head. She is smiling encouragingly at me, holding out her hand. The beast lets me go. I fall and hold my hand out to her. I grab her hand and suddenly…
Lights. I'm laying on the floor of the cafeteria and worried faces hover over me anxiously. I see Alice. She looks unnaturally pale.
Are you all right?
I nod and then look over at Bella. Tears fall from her face and I force myself to sit up.
"I'm ok Bella. Don't cry." My head feels as though it's being chopped in half. I shake my head, trying to get my vision to return to normal. Suddenly I'm aware of a large audience gathering around me. I stand up quickly and brush off my shirt.
"Sorry Edward, didn't mean to knock you over!" Alice says loudly.
"You are not!" I sulk and the mob around us disperses. A fight between siblings is not a rare thing, it would seem.
I sit back at the table and notice that I'm trembling. It's ever so slight, but I know the vampires see it.
"Edward?" Bella looks up at me her face screwed up in worry.
"Don't worry Bella, I'm fine. Just a little disoriented, that's all."
She doesn't look convinced, but then I realize I have bigger things to deal with. I look up at Dahlia and she is directing a knowing smile at me. Is it possible for her to know what I was doing?
"You really shouldn't do that you know. It's rude." Dahlia says, confirming my suspicions.
"Do what? He didn't do anything." Bella defends me, not knowing what had occurred. "Maybe it's you who did something to him."
Her defiance is comical but I look at Dahlia intently, watching for any sign of malice. She smiles at Bella coldly.
"You shouldn't make assumptions before you learn the facts, little girl." Dahlia looks back at me and I refrain from shuddering. There is something electric about her.
I smell Bella's reaction before she even says a word. A thick waft of her perfume envelopes me and I realize that she is angry.
"Settle down." I say sternly and everyone looks at me surprised. "Bella is not a little girl." I say pointedly to Dahlia. "Also, I apologize. It's a habit I have. I won't attempt to do it again, at least without permission."
Dahlia smiles knowingly and it's a bit creepy. Not that I haven't dealt with her kind before. I knew the type all too well. She is an old vampire and has lived so many lives that she thinks she has all the answers. She has a superiority complex, but this is something I can use to my advantage, that is, if I can get her to trust me.
Bella darts her eyes between us and stands up suddenly. I'm surprised when I watch her glare at me and walk away. I'm tempted to follow her and stop when I see Alice shake her head.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Alice rolls her eyes and I am completely lost. I did defend her honor, didn't I?
BPOV
Stupid vampires.
I walk away as fast as I can. What the hell is his problem? I stomp my feet and push the doors to the cafeteria open wide. I feel the heat in my body and I'm tempted to do something stupid. Doesn't he understand? Doesn't he see the way she's looking at him?
No. He's too busy looking at her the same damn way.
Why did they have to come here and ruin everything?
I stop, noticing that I'm in the parking lot. I gaze longingly at the Silver Volvo, wishing my truck had the ability to at least drive freeway speed.
I need the adrenaline. I need the rush. I need to get my mind off of that bitch!
Resolutely, I turn toward the truck. At least I can get away from here.
Too fast for my human brain to even catch up, Julian is standing there in front of me, a knowing look on his face. My heartbeat quickens and he notices as a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.
"I'm sorry." He says.
What does he mean by that?
"Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything." I raise my chin defiantly.
"You're right. I didn't do anything. For that I'm sorry. I forgot the way Dahlia talks
down to humans. It can be distressing for them…for you. I guess I've grown complacent in my old age."
My eyebrows bunch together.
"She doesn't mean it, really. I think she's a bit threatened by you." He offers.
"Threatened by a little girl?" I stress the last two words, and imitate her voice.
"You're pretty good at that." He laughs. "And yes, threatened by a human girl. She isn't used to that, you know."
"Why would she be threatened by me? I didn't do or say anything. Besides, what could I possibly do to her?"
"She can't read you. It disturbs her." He says as matter of fact.
"What do you mean read? Like read my mind?"
"No. Not like your Edward. His gift is exceedingly rare. Hers is rare too, but in a different way."
I'm curious but I don't want to ask. He seems to sense my hesitation.
"You can ask you know, I won't bite." He grins and I see his sharp teeth. I take a step back, unconsciously and suddenly his face is serious. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. It was only a joke."
I let out a breath and run that through my internal danger scanners. They never seem to be working properly but nevertheless…
"It's ok. It was just a bit unexpected. I had a bad experience before, with a visitor." I tell him.
Why did I just say that?
"Hmm. Well, I'll try to make up for that bad experience, if that's all right? Not all of us want to kill humans. I certainly don't. That's why I'm trying to learn a new way."
His face is honest and I am forcefully reminded of Edward. His eyes are warm as honey and convey absolute sincerity.
"It's not your responsibility to make up for what he did." I don't know what else to say.
"No, but I think it may help you in the long run. Who knows? Maybe we could even be friends someday." He looks at me and an expression of delight crosses his features. "Friends with a human! Of course!"
I stare at him, perplexed. Perhaps he isn't balanced.
After a minute he looks up at me, pulling himself from his revelation.
"Sorry, just realized something. If I can be friends with a human, be close to one…it would really improve my chances of being successful in this new endeavor. And you! You could be the one to do it! It's perfect! You already know about our kind…that wouldn't be a problem, and you're well protected, so even if I wanted to do something, I wouldn't be able to." He searches my face eagerly.
Inwardly I cringe. Outwardly I blush.
I cannot articulate a response.
He notices.
"There I go again, over eager as always. Please forgive me?" He places his perfect hands together in a praying pose and looks so angelic I can't help but smile.
"Of course I forgive you. I'm about as socially awkward as they come, so don't worry about it." I blush.
"Captivating." He whispers.
"What is?"
"That blush. It's not something I see very often." He grins.
I blush deeper. What is it with my stupid skin?
"Were you going somewhere?"
I am brought back to reality. I realize that my anger has dissipated somewhat, but I'm still not ready to talk to or speak to Dahlia.
"Is Dahlia your mate?" I ask, hoping the answer is yes.
"No. She sired me. She's more like a sister, I guess."
"Does she have a mate?" I look at my toes, refusing to meet his questioning eyes.
"Bella? You have nothing to worry about." I look up and suddenly, he's close. "She doesn't have a romantic bone in her body. I've never seen her have a relationship, and I've been around her for over a century. Don't worry about it."
I look up gratefully. "I'm glad." I admit. "I could never compare to her. Rosalie is the incarnation of beauty itself, but I think Dahlia may even beat her in that category."
"Rosalie? The blond one, with Jasper?"
"No, she's with Emmett."
"Oh, that's right. Alice is with Jasper then?"
"Yes, and Carlisle is with Esme."
"And you are with Edward?"
"Yes."
He pauses, searching my face.
"Bella?" I turn around and Edward is walking toward us casually, but with the grace of a bobcat. He's clearly summing up the situation.
"Julian." Edward nods his head.
"Edward. Please excuse me. I was just having a delightful conversation with your Bella."
"Ah. Well, I think I can take over from here." Julian gives a little bow and I stifle my giggles. He gives me a grin and walks away, back toward the school.
"What are you doing out here?" Edward asks, pulling me close.
"Just needed a minute."
"I'm sorry, you know. I didn't mean to hurt you in there. I should have told you before, but Dahlia has a different mind. She doesn't think in words, she thinks in pictures. It's fascinating. I was trying to get a read on her and I felt a little lost in all those pictures."
"So you were trying to read her and it didn't go so well?"
"Exactly."
"That doesn't explain why you were staring at her." I feel jealous and helpless and I hate it.
"She's just a puzzle. I don't think of her like that. You're the only one I love, you should know that by now, silly."
I sigh in defeat.
"By the way," Edward says casually, "I don't want you spending time alone with Julian."
I push back from him and look at him in shock. "Why?" I place my hands on my hips.
"Don't get mad. I'm just saying I don't want you alone with him. There's something not right about him. I'm not sure what it is. Just promise that you won't put yourself into unnecessarily dangerous situations, ok?" His ochre eyes plead with me.
"I promise not to put myself in unnecessarily dangerous situations." I say in a flat tone.
"Good." He kisses the top of my nose. I lean into him and he tilts my chin up. He kisses me softly, slowly and I feel my knees go a little weak. There's a tiny fire burning in the pit of my stomach and the times when he kisses me, it causes that fire to flare up. He knows me well enough by now to know when to pull back. My self control always seems to shatter when it involves Edward's lips on mine.
The bell rings and I groan.
"Time for class." Edward says lightly.
Please read and review! Let me know what you think of Dahlia and Julian. Should they be major or minor characters? Let me know your thoughts.
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time. I've had writers block. Lol.