Thank you all for your continued support. Don't forget to favorite/follow/review!
This chapter will be a twist. Now we see some of the events leading up to now in Edward's perspective!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the Harry Potter or Twilight franchises.
Coming back to Forks was a standard. We hadn't been there in years, the last of who had been around the last time we were here were long gone. We had Alice and Jasper now for this round.
It was supposed to be easy.
And then we walked into the front office of Forks High and there Dahlia stood.
She was breathtaking...ethereal...something out of a fairytale. She stood there, tinier than even Alice if she didn't have the shoes she was wearing. The shoes drew attention to her bare legs, perfectly proportioned to the rest of her. While petite, you could see she had muscle to her, and her hips were wide while her waist was thin. I had to pull my eyes away to gaze upon the rest of her. Midnight black hair was wild and untamed on her head, held down by a black sun hat. The most beautiful jade green eyes framed by cherry red eyeglasses. Her skin was lightly tanned and soft. I could see some type of scar hidden behind her bangs, it almost looked like lightning. She had lip gloss on, and it showed how shiny her lips could be. It smelt like apples and it brought thoughts in my head I quickly forced down.
She was wearing a green dress that was tight on her body. It almost went to her knees. She had on a black leather jacket, and black gloves underneath. All of her papers were in one hand and clutched to her chest. She was staring at us, just as we were all staring at her. It didn't look like how other humans would, as if in awe, she merely looked curious if a bit taken aback. Alice was excited about her. Liked how she dressed. Emmett just thought she was tiny. Rosalie barely gave her a second look.
Jasper's thoughts were what struck me. I don't want to eat her.
I took in a breath and noticed what he did. I couldn't quite smell her scent. I knew she was there, but I couldn't give any factors to it to identify as her.
And then came something that felt like a punch to the gut. I couldn't hear her thoughts. But it was odd.
I could go into her head. But instead of her thoughts, it was like a maze. A thick hedge maze, with walls so high you couldn't begin to see what was behind them. Dark and foggy. But with it came feelings of fear and panic that I couldn't understand. It made me want to leave her mind and focus on the common thoughts of the secretary instead.
The secretary, Ms Harper, broke the moment between the two sides. Rosalie quickly went by the girl to get us registered and the girl left the office quickly enough.
My eyes followed her as she left. She had a bounce in her step and it caused the orange cat keychain on her bag to bounce along with her. Right before she turned the corner our eyes caught each other for a split second and I almost started to follow her on instinct.
Emmett slapped my back with his hand and laughed at the withering stare I gave him.
"Don't be going for a girl on the first day brother." he teased before leading us out with Rosalie.
I wasn't going for her.
I heard my siblings thoughts throughout the day. Alice had Dahlia Black first in a class. Dahlia. Like the flower. With the last name of Black, hopefully she wasn't related to the Blacks on the Quileute reservation. She had come from London and was excited about going to normal school. And she liked animals. Alice thought she was quiet. But she was excited, because like myself, her powers didn't work on Dahlia. Alice couldn't see her future. To Alice, it looked like Dahlia would zone out every once and awhile before taking a deep breath and focusing on the class.
Jasper was next. And unlike Alice and I, he could feel her emotions. She was nervous, but content. She had flickering emotions here and there. Worry. Sadness. Happiness. She told the class she liked the history and legends of Camelot. He felt amusement come off of her when she had said it. The teacher, however, felt a strange sense of glee that Jasper couldn't quite place. It made Jasper on edge. And, in turn, made me on edge. Jasper also noticed when she would zone out. Panic and fear and sadness spread through and now he felt it and I felt it through him. But physically she gave next to nothing away. The amount of emotional control one had to have to accomplish that. I echoed Jasper's thoughts. It was like that of a soldier.
When lunch came, we quickly established a table. The others were engaging with each other but I was focused on the table Dahlia was at. It was with Jessica, Eric, Angela, Mike, Lauren, and Tyler. Lauren had already come up to Emmett, Jasper, and I, with less than pure intentions and had been turned down by us all. Despite the boyfriend she already had, that had infuriated her. You could tell as she tried to spread gossip at her table about our family relations.
"Since when is it incest if they aren't actually related." Dahlia piped in. Hearing her voice in person for the first time was otherworldly. The soft British lit to it was soft but there was such a backbone in her tone. She was a strong woman. Others at the table agreed with her.
"It's weird. They all have the same last name." Lauren said, trying to recover, but that didn't seem enough to Dahlia.
"No they don't. Jasper is in my class. And he introduced himself as Jasper Hale. They seem happy. Just leave it be. Frankly it's none of your business." Dahlia said, as if she was a teacher scolding a student. I could tell my siblings were amused.
"She's got spine" Emmett murmured. Even Rosalie nodded, although she didn't think much of the human besides that.
"Well...let's focus on you then Dahlia." Lauren said snidely. Little bitch thinks she can just act like she's queen of the castle?
"Yeah! Where did you go to school before this?" Angela asked. The girl was oblivious to the resentment in Lauren's tone.
Dahlia's body tensed for a moment and through Jasper I could tell her emotions. It was pain. Grief. Before it was suppressed back to neutral.
"Avalon. It's a boarding school in Scotland. My parents went there so it was tradition." Dahlia replied. The way her heart rate went though, it made it out to be like it wasn't the whole truth.
"Why are you here then? You flunk out and your parents kick you out?" Lauren snarked with an evil smirk. Dumb bitch will have what's coming to her.
"Lauren!" Jessica said in outrage. Why does she do this all the time? It's so rude!
"Actually Lauren, my parents are dead." Dahlia dropped the bomb. The table went quiet and we did too.
"Poor girl." Rosalie muttered finally. So she does have a heart.
I felt the grief through Jasper. Was it recent? Alice had taken to murmuring in Jasper's ear, the emotion affecting him greatly. It felt like my chest was being squeezed. I just wanted to go over to her. Why?
"They passed a long time ago. But I got myself emancipated and left. Considering how much unrest there still is over in England, it was a smart decision." Dahlia said. Lauren was getting upset in her mind.
Why won't she stop staring at me? She's such a freak!
I growled at the thoughts in her head but Alice kicked me in the shin to snap me out of it.
"Unrest?" Mike asked meekly. It can't be all that bad right?
"The past few years there have been a number of terrorist attacks in England, Scotland, and Wales. About half a year ago it ended but many factions and facilities are still recovering. Most notable Avalon. I had to repeat the year anyway so I left." Dahlia finished before it seemed she was done talking. She threw her belongings into her bag before getting up from the table and she started making her way to the door. Her hair whipped around at the motion, but we weren't suddenly overtaken by her scent.
So this was her second sophomore year. How old was she?
"Why can't we smell her?" Rosalie hissed out. I turned back to her,
"I don't know. I can't read her thoughts. And Alice can't see her future." I explained. We turned back to Dahlia just as she made eye contact with us. I couldn't look away as an almost knowing look came on her face before she gave a mock salute and walked out the door. It was like she was a whole different person at that moment. Confident, with that bounce in her step again.
The next time I saw Dahlia, it was in Music. And it was back to the seemingly nervous girl from before. She glanced at me as she walked in and I felt myself straighten in my seat as I tried again to look into her mind with no success. She sat in the seat directly in front of me, her raven black hair falling behind the chair. I felt like I wanted to count every strand. What was wrong with me? She was only a human.
Introducing ourselves was a chore to me, but I had won the teacher over immediately with the knowledge of my piano playing. When Dahlia stood up I saw her left arm was stiff, her whole body really but her left arm especially. She said she liked Indie stuff and she was a singer.
When I played a favorite, Clare de Lune, on the piano, I watched the girl from the corner of my eye. She was watching me play with this soft smile on her face. Her body swayed in the seat now and again.
And if she wasn't breathtaking before she was singing... She sang and gave so much in the performance.
Unlike Lauren's performance, who was so desperately trying to get my attention, mine could never wane from Dahlia. She leaned against the piano, her back arching against it and it sent a thrill through me. I had never reacted like this to anyone before, especially a human. There was energy and passion and our eyes kept finding one another. Most of the class was enamored with her as well. Some, notably Lauren and Tyler, didn't think much of her. How could you not though? She was playful and teasing and had a mischievousness to her. She was magnetizing.
And then as soon as she was done, that giddy nervousness seemed to overtake her again as she rushed back to the seat. She took off her coat as she was doing it and I saw how her arms were completely covered. The sleeves of the dress had a slight puffiness to them so you couldn't see her arms clearly. But then she swept her hair to one shoulder, exposing her neck and collarbone. I was grateful we had fed last night or I would have felt hungry.
At the end of the class I finally talked to her.
She had stood up, her jacket falling off the chair as she did so. I grabbed it just as she reached for it. Her jeweled eyes trailed up to look at my face and our eyes connected, a pretty soft blush forming on her cheeks.
"Good catch." she said. When I helped her back into her coat that's when I noticed how truly stiff her left arm really was. All her movement came from her shoulder practically and it puzzled me.
We bantered as everyone left, some other girl's thoughts rifled with jealousy at Dahlia. But that wasn't a surprise, who wouldn't be jealous of the girl after the performance she gave.
She had this teasing smile on her face and it made me want to smile back. She was the first human I ever wanted to seek out and talk to. Just as quickly as I was able to talk to her, she left the room, going to the library instead of the gym. As I passed Jessica Stanley in the hall, I overheard her thoughts on the conversation her and Dahlia had moments ago.
"Uh...I have a free period. Until further notice, I am not allowed to do a lot of physical stuff due to an old sports injury. So off to the library."
It must have something to do with her left arm. That was the only logical conclusion. But what kind of injury could she have sustained where it was that bad?
Then, it seemed I was for once blessed, when in the last period she walked into Chemistry. I quickly gave her the seat next to me and spent most of the class just staring at her. She seemed so focused on understanding what was going on that she didn't even notice.
Soon enough two weeks had passed in a similar vein. It was...easy being around Dahlia. No, easy wasn't the right word. She did things to me I couldn't possibly begin to describe. But there was so much mystery to her. She could talk to you about so much, but when looking back at conversations, I found out so little about the girl.
It frustrated me to no end.
And her physicality didn't change. Her left arm always remained stiff whenever I saw her, her right arm dominating most of her movements.
Then the day came. The day I had gone to the hospital and discovered Dahlia had been attacked in her own home.
Walking into the hospital I had gone to the nurses station, wanting to see if Carlisle was on rounds and to let them know I would be waiting in his office.
Then the conversation they were having registered in my brain.
"Dr. Cullen's checking on the girl Chief Swan brought in now. She's that little British girl. Apparently someone like broke into her house and attacked her. Carrie I swear I heard Chief Swan say it himself, I'm not fibbing!"
I turned straight from the station and walked past without acknowledging them. Dark thoughts were threatening to overtake me. But most of all was the panic and fear. I needed to know Dahlia was alright. She absolutely had to be. The human surrounded my thoughts so much, the very thought of her hurt sent me reeling.
I found her room easy enough. Carlisle was talking with Chief Swan outside the door, but I ignored them both and sped into the room.
Dahlia's eyes met mine and I felt my own darken. She looked so small on the bed. She was wearing glasses that weren't her own and scrubs along with Chief Swan's own jacket. What happened to her clothes? On the side of her head was a bandage right above her eye. It was swollen in that area and I could see the heavy bruise already starting to form on her skin. Her nose also had heavy bruising forming on it as well.
Old feelings of rage and murder stirred up in me. I wanted to find the bastard who did this and make him pay. I wanted to take her into my arms and-
"Hi Edward." She greeted me softly, interrupting my own thoughts. I barely remembered my greeting as I walked closer to her. I must have looked ridiculous in my approach. But I just couldn't take my eyes off of her injuries.
"What happened?" I finally forced out of myself, barely suppressing the growl from my voice. But she just gave me a sad smile.
"An old and unhappy friend came by on a surprise visit. He didn't like what I had to say so I tried running out of my house. He tackled me to the ground and unluckily I landed on my face. And then when I managed to get up he punched me." she explained, her voice soft. I felt like I would vomit if I was human.
"It was just one punch, Edward. I've had worse." She tried to appease but that only made my worry grow. Worse? I would need to speak with Carlisle about her medical history at once.
And then she took my hand. Or reached out for my hand. And her little hand reaching out for mine snapped me out of that rage. The way she looked at me made me feel like an ordinary human again. Made me feel alive.
"I'm ok," she said to me, smiling sweetly. I could only nod and try to take my hand back. But the soft squeeze in protest made me stop in my tracks. Her heat seemed to radiate through the glove she was wearing.
I can't believe I was able to convince her to go with Alice and I for her shopping needs. When she asked for my number, the utter innocence to a question that could have been considered flirting brought a smile to my face. I almost felt like my heart could beat again with how she was looking at me.
When I left her, I headed immediately for Carlisle's office and found the file the hospital had on her. It was like I couldn't process everything on the page, but I could process enough.
Dahlia Johanna Black
Birthdate: July 31, 1986
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Weight: 110 lbs
Medical History:
Concussion in 1997
Concussion in 1998
Broken right arm in 1998
Brought in for severe dehydration and malnourishment 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Frequent visits for insomnia from 1997 to 2003
Hypothermia in 2000
Severe burns on left side of the body including arm, chest, and hip in February 2004
Burns. She was burnt. She lied to Jessica it wasn't a sports injury, she was burned-
"Edward" Carlisle said firmly from the doorway, breaking me out of my thoughts.
You know you can't let anyone see you do this.
His mental admonishment fell on deaf ears as he closed the door behind him.
"I can't get this human out of my head." I said, not letting him know all the thoughts truly going on in my head. Words like burns, malnourishment, and insomnia filled my head. Anger at those who caused her pain felt consuming in my chest. I could see the concern in his eyes, hear it in his own thoughts.
"Do you think it could be something more than a simple fascination?" he asked.
Could she be your mate?
I didn't know how to answer. So I didn't.
That night, after I had gone out to feed again, I sat outside her window and watched her sleep. I had, regrettably, tried entering her home already once or twice, but she had astoundingly good locks on the windows and doors. So I settled for sitting outside her window. I knew it was wrong. But I couldn't get away from her. I didn't want to. She still had her gloves on, but she was wrapped in a thick knitted blanket. Crumpled orange bedding was in the corner of the room.
I only left at daybreak when Dahlia began to wake up. Coming back with Alice, I tried very valiantly to endure the teasing and intrusive thoughts she sent my way.
When Dahlia opened the door to us, there was a wide smile on her face despite the injuries she sustained from yesterday.
Oh my goodness the poor thing! Alice's thoughts rang out in my head. That didn't deter her from launching at Dahlia, wrapping her up in a hug. Dahlia flinched only just before returning the hug with a smile.
And then she hugged me. I both craved and repelled from it. Even her hug was unique to her. First she would wrap her right arm around you and then her left arm would raise before her right hand grabbed her left to tuck you in close. Every touch sent me somewhere heavenly. She was like an angel from heaven that my damned soul was lucky to be in the presence of. She had such a fire in her. And such a fragility that I couldn't begin to understand.
And then she made the comment about her bedding. The orange bedding crumpled on the floor came to mind and the very thought of that scum in her bedroom sent me spinning. But was I any better? Trying to come in the night before? Another pull of my hand took those thoughts from me.
On the drive over I had to stop looking at her so much. But she was just so...intoxicating. So eye-catching. And she had such joy as I drove, far too fast for a normal human, but Dahlia was so different.
I saw more of that fragility when Alice made the comment about her gloves. She looked down at her hands, almost like seeing them for the first time before that sad thoughtful look came on her face again.
"I'm ok. I promise. I forget I'm wearing them half the time to be honest." she said, after I called her name. She rubbed her hands together before settling them on her lap.
"A Lot of stuff happened at the beginning of the year. I got injured and it's...quite visible.. I'm not ashamed of it, but coming here...already a foreigner and an orphan. I was going to be stared at enough, and I guess I just want to be stared at for those things before...this." she explained, unsure and nervous of our response. It was far more truthful then what she told Jessica but I wanted to know so badly what happened.
Don't pry Edward. She'll tell you eventually, I just know it. Alice thought to me, not using her visions as a reason, but more her own intuition. I would just have to be patient.
Every time I looked at her she seemed to notice, but her heart rate would pick up speed in such a way that sent thrills through me. Sometimes a blush would go across her cheeks and I just wanted to keep making it happen.
But God her eyes. I don't know how she could possibly see anything without her glasses, she was truly nearly blind. What would have happened if her glasses had been knocked off completely in yesterday's struggle?
I watched the girls as I had handed the receptionist the prescription for Dahlia's glasses as well as my credit card for when the girls were ready to make a purchase. Alice had reached out to Dahlia's face, making her flinch.
The cold! I scared her!
Alice's thoughts turned fearful over possibly losing a friend, but they were unfounded. Dahlia was ready to reassure as she always did.
"I've never been touched much. Just got to get used to it. Go ahead."
Was that why she constantly reached out to me? To get used to touch? Did she want to touch me? As much as I wanted to touch her. And damn me for wanting it so bad.
After Alice had a mission in mind for the glasses I approached Dahlia again as she slipped the borrowed glasses on. I tried to banter with her but my eyes drew themselves once again to the injuries on her face. Then she did the unthinkable. She took my hand and pressed it to the injury itself.
"I didn't like that it happened either. But it did. And I'm still standing. Nothing of what Ron did is permanent." she soothed, smiling up at me.
"Are you in pain?" I asked, ready to take his hand away but she pressed it harder on her face.
"No. Plus I have you. Your hands are so cold but it feels really good right now." she said, with that soft laugh she had when she was comfortable around people. I couldn't help the way I stared at her. I can't even remember if I responded to her or not.
Pressing my hand against her face, the action soothed her. My coldness was like a comfort to her. I relished it.
I wanted to run my fingers across her lips.
I'd bet she'd like those hands to do other things too.
My glare at Alice did nothing to stop the grin across her face as she showed Dahlia different frames.
She chose the ones Alice wanted her to. They would look good on her. And thanks to Alice I was able to have her distracted long enough to pay for them.
Soon as she had registered my statement, she had turned with fire in her eyes and smacked my chest. I grabbed her wrist as soon as she did, worried she maybe hurt herself, but that was unfounded.
"You are completely-" "You are welcome" I cut her off, giving her my best and most charming grin. Her glare did not change.
"You're lucky you can't read my mind right now." she muttered.
You have know idea how much I wish that wasn't true. Her anger left her soon enough, her eyes softening as I explained my reasoning. This was the one thing I could do in the aftermath. The only thing besides tracking the scum and making him pay for laying a hand on Dahlia.
She had then wrapped her arms around me again, tucked into me close and thanked me. I held on for probably too long, but she never seemed to mind when I did anything.
About half an hour later, when I was able to slide the glasses onto her face, crystal clear green eyes looked up at me. It took everything in me not to take her in my arms again. They were perfect for her.
That night I had also kept a vigil from her window. My mind was more at ease with the soft green bedding she had chosen and paid for herself, as she so insisted.
But tonight...in her home and on her couch. I never felt more like an animal with its prey. I wanted to be with her. On top of her. Surrounding her.
When I spoke of how I thought of her, the rosiest blush came across her cheeks. I felt her heart rate pick up and she turned to the window, seeming to not believe my words.
When I had said I didn't deserve her friendship, she was quick to defend me. And then brought up herself.
"I've done things too. Things I'm not proud of. Things that haunt me in my sleep. And yeah my friends tell me it's what I had to do, to survive Avalon's Fall, but it doesn't make me feel any better. Doesn't change the fact I still did it."
She said she had done bad things before, but I couldn't possibly believe it. I grabbed her ankle. I wanted to pull her under me. Get on top of her, pressing my weight into her form. Then when she had walked to the fireplace I couldn't help but get close again. It was like she had this pull on me that I couldn't understand. It was like we were connected in a primal way.
She had taken my hand again but seemed unsatisfied. Then she slowly reached over and took her glove off. I didn't breathe, couldn't take my senses away from her heart rate and her breath came out heavy and heated. Just holding her hand in mine felt like the highest form of ecstasy.
She took the initiative and made herself step back. But I saw just as much passion and feeling in her eyes that mine must have reflected. And then my eyes trailed down and froze. She was wearing a t-shirt, and without her gloves I saw her near perfect porcelain skin, that wasn't marred by burns but the slowly healing handprint bruise on her wrist. He had bruised her there too. I practically fled out of there, too much on my mind and in my heart.
I had fallen completely in love with this tiny human, with Dahlia. She was my mate, I just knew it. but I could never be with her. Not without turning her. And I could never bring myself to do that.