{Chapter}
~Liberty Point of View~
I was back at the occult bookstore looking for another type of book this time. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about that feeling that I felt saving those people a few days before. I knew something was different about me. In my world, there was always this dull feeling that something was different about me. It has been aiding in my healing ability for as long as I could remember. This was different and I needed to find out what was going on.
"Hello again" The woman from before greeted as I smiled at her "How can I help you today? You up for non-fiction on parallel universes"
"No, I am not sure how to explain what I am look for this time" I said easily as she chuckled in clear amusement "I hope you are up for a challenge"
"I get that, perhaps explaining what exactly you are looking into?" She questioned as I frowned trying to find out how to explain it.
"I am looking for legends on things were abilities that including healing or something protecting them from harm from within them" I explained the best I could what was happening to me
"Oh, you mean priestesses?" She questioned as I was simply confused, and it clearly showed "Spiritual powers? There are several beings stated to have them, in all diverse cultures really. But it is most commonly known as a priestess"
"Let's start there then" I said honesty relief that she was able to provide anything from what little I knew about my own situation.
"Follow me, I know just where to have you start reading about this" She said with a smile as I followed more subdued.
"You seem to know a lot about this" I said as she started looking through the books.
"I do, I spent most of my life fascinated by such things. I am sure you understand that same desire is in you as well" She said tossing a book in the air as I caught it out of instinct.
"Portrait of a Priestess?" I questioned seeing it was focusing on Ancient Greece "Is Greece the only place they are from?"
"No" She said coming to me with three more books "These are on the ones in Japan, Greece, and the other one is from Celtic Heritage. There are several more cultures out there, even based in Native America cultures here"
"That is pretty incredible" I mumble staring at the book 'Celtic Tales' by Kate Forrester, I was mainly Irish.
"I hope you enjoy them" She replied without thought as I followed her steps to have her ring me up.
I left the store tossing her a smile before heading home. I knew that this had to have the answers I was looking for. At the very least, it would provide a place to start.
~Time Lapse
I was so hypered focused on finally reading to gain some much-needed answers about what was happening to me that I didn't notice the different until it was too late. I was just stepping out of my car when I first noticed that something was off in this situation. Alice Cullen was standing there on the steps leading to my home, blocking me from being able to enter, and already focused on me. I glanced between her and the street noticing her car was not there. I surely hoped that this vampire didn't seriously run here.
"Liberty, I need to talk to you" she said happily causing me to shallow looking at the vampire seeing this was a little strange.
"What do you need to talk to me about?" I questioned as softly as I could as she leaned forward causing me to tense.
There was this strange look on her face as she stared at me for a long moment. I noticed that her eyes quickly become unfocused causing me to shallow. I couldn't believe it. There was no way that she was really having a vision right now.
"Oh, I knew it. You do know!" she said happily coming out of the daze as suddenly as it started.
"No! I have no idea what this is about!" I denied quickly, I had been so fucking careful to not show any signs of knowing their secret.
"I know you do" she said in excitement bouncing over to me as I flinched at the action.
"There is no way in hell you could have seen that" I said before I could stop myself.
I bit back a curse knowing that I just royally screwed myself. I watched helplessly as her eyes widened quickly before she smiled brightly. All to quickly she was clapping her hands together like the god damn energizer bunny.
"Oh, this is good news. You really do know everything!" She chirped buzzing around in front of me in clear excitement, why did I open my mouth?
"Alice" I warned really not knowing what good this would do and I really didn't want to explain my extremely messed up situation.
"Oh, good! You will be coming over!" She said after a moment reaching out to twirl my hair, was this vampire broken or something?
"There is no way in hell I am doing that" I replied in disbelief at the very thought.
"Oh well, then I can have them come here" She stated flashing a smirk as my blood ran cold, that was more terrifying than going there.
"What is the point in pushing this? You already know I am going to say, Alice. Aren't you able to just pass along that I won't tell anything, and everything is good?" I questioned in a whispered plead not wanting to deal with this today.
"I would but I can't actually see what you are going to say. You are changing things too much" she explained as I flinched at that confirmation.
"No other way to manage this?" I questioned with a frown running through the options.
"Nope" she said happily before grabbing my hand "oh, I get to ride with you. This is going to be fun"
I tensed again as she just giggled in excitement. She skipped up to my car with clear happiness at riding in the car with me. I rolled my eyes at her craziness as I got in the car. I didn't know how, but I had to prepare myself for this conversation.
~Time Lapse
I took a breath trying to think how I was going to explain this. I still didn't know how much should I tell them about this situation. I shook my head clear as we pulled to the house. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the car. This was extremely dangerous I thought as Alice pulled me towards the house. I approached the glass house thinking of the irony behind this. Here I was throwing stones.
"Hello, I am Esme Cullen" A soft voice said cheerfully causing a small smile to form on my lips before I could stop it "Welcome to our home."
"It is a beautiful home" I commented honestly "I am Liberty Hayden."
"Please have a seat" Carlisle directly softly taking a seat as well
I flinched slightly at the direction. There was no way in hell that was happening. I could just sit down in a room full of vampires. Everything in me was screaming take a defensive position. That had more to do with who I was and less to do with them actually being vampires. Still, I shook my head gently positioning to lean at the wall closest to the front door.
"I will stand, thank you though" I stated softly looking at the family of supernatural beings.
"She knows, just as I said she did" Alice said happily from my side before skipping over to Jasper.
"How?" Edward asked looking at me pained over me knowing their secret.
"This is a bit of a story; the truth is that I have always known" I said biting my lip glancing at Carlisle "Do you remember when I first met you? Do you remember what I was saying?"
"Of course, it has been a bit of a puzzle since. You were arguing that your grandmother was dead and that instead of a car accident that you had been in an explosion" He said softly looking more concerned than before "You had forgotten your life"
"I meant when I said that I hadn't forgotten a thing" I said honestly as he looked confused "I will admit that it took me a little bit to truly realize it. I am not from here. By that, I mean to say that I am not the Liberty that was born in this world. I am from another reality all together"
"What?" Emmett questioned in confusion as Carlisle's eyes widened at the statement.
"That is not possible" Rosalie growled out lowly.
"Yeah, I thought it was impossible until I found myself here" I replied before looking back at Carlisle "I was not lying when I said my grandmother was dead, she died when I was Fifteen from a heart attack. I had thought I was dead because I was in an explosion, because I am a soldier, and a mission went bad. But it was the not knowing Kelly what really got to me, she knew and loved my stepsister very much. Then she said my father died in the accident, my father died when I was eight. From there it was the differences, there are too many difference between the two of us for me to even believe that I just forgot my life"
"That isn't possible" Rose said forgoing her normal hatred to looked stunned at the information
"It is very possible, because it is a hundred percent the truth" I replied taking a breath "It is also because of my world that I am aware of not only what each of you are, but some things about who you are as well"
"What do you mean?" Carlisle questioned with fasciation
"In my world, your family in involved in a series of books known as Twilight" I explained shifting slightly at the uncomfortable air in the room
"They are about my family?" Carlisle questioned in confusion as I shook my head
"Not exactly, they are from the point of view of another singer" I stated motioning to all of them "you are part of her story"
"Can you tell us anything to prove that?" Jasper questioned as I frowned thinking about it, knowing my own personal views on it.
"I don't think that will be a good idea to explain the details of the story" I said causing him to narrow his eyes at me "I know that I am Edward's singer as well. That has already had a direct influence on what was the story in my realm"
"What makes you think that you are not the singer in the story?" Jasper questioned seriously causing me to snort at the statement.
"The singer in the story is nothing like me" I replied in amusement over the comparison "Each of you are described almost perfectly and different in many other others. However, I am nothing like the singer in that story. In fact, I would consider us to be polar opposites in almost every single way down the color of our eyes."
"Could you tell us her name at least?" Carlisle questioned as I shook my head.
"We can kill you" Rose growled out causing me I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Carlisle would never let that happen" I said seriously as Carlisle just looked fascinated by my faith in the situation as I turned to Edward "I do promise that if it becomes relevant, I will provide a warning to ensure you are not blindsided the way you were when you came into my room"
"You saw that?" Edward questioned with a flinch as I nodded in confirmation "But Carlisle said you were asleep"
"I didn't take the meds that day, I tend to stay away from them for many reasons. I kind of expected from your reaction earlier that you couldn't read my mind, expected you to come back honestly" I explained before shrugging "I am a soldier, a special force one as well, so controlling my body enough for him to think I was asleep was easy."
"Is that where the tattoo comes from?" Alice questioned as I looked confused "I saw it one day, when you moved your sleeve was caught for a moment, and I saw it"
"Yeah, it is Latin for to free the oppressed. It was actually what I was able to focus on to remain calm" I explained looking at the wrist running my fingers across it "My best friend and most my unit had the same tattoo as well"
"It would explain the healed injuries as well" Carlisle said most likely thinking on the bullet wound "I had wondered how the accident caused such"
"Yeah" I said in confirmation before turning to Edward again "But like I was explaining, if you meet her, it will not be like the first time you met me. I promise you that"
"That isn't when we met the first time" He said looking at me with a strange softness "Or so I had thought"
"What do you mean?" I questioned in confusion as he smiled softly
"Technically, I met her during the summer I moved here at a store when Alice dragged me to go shopping with her. I didn't have a reaction to her scent and during our brief interaction I had been able to read her mind." He explained gently as I was stunned over the information "I didn't know you were technically a different person, just wondered how your scent had changed and how your mind had been shielded from me"
"See, there is your proof" I motioned to Edward before giving him a sad smile "Thank you"
"For what?" He questioned in confusion
"I knew that I wasn't just in her body, I have scars that she just would not have had even in a car accident. But you saw me as me from the moment you met me, because as much as it is confusing to understand the hospital is the first time, I saw you. Without knowing it, you were the one that saw me instead of her" I said grateful for being seen, as who I was.
"It doesn't prove anything" Rose said sharply as I sighed knowing she would be the difficult one to crack
"What do you want me to say?" I said seriously glaring at the vampire
"The truth" She growled out "We are not fucking part of a story, we are real."
"You are fucking don't think that I know that?" I said seriously shaking slightly "Or you think that I wanted this? Because trust me, this would be the last thing I wanted. I was finally at an okay place in my life, I had a purpose being a soldier and leading my unit. I had survived this part of my life, barely, to become something. Do you think I wanted to take over her life? She was happy, innocent, and carefree. She was everything that I could never be, and she is just gone, which I will never ever understand"
"You are a liar; Carlisle should just lock you up and throw away the key" She growled out in anger, but her statement gave me an idea to finally get them to understand I was telling the truth
"I can't tell you everything, I refused to force a story plot onto each of you by telling you about it when it is not necessary. You are not story characters to me anymore, I couldn't survive thinking like that and trying to adjust to this world. Do you think I am insane? That Carlisle should have me committed when I am telling you the truth?" I said seriously stepping closure to her as she glared down at me
"Prove it" She growled out as everyone seemed to be ready to move, she was clearly ready to jump on me
"Fine, you really think that I am some delusion teenager?" I said seriously as she nodded causing me to chuckle "I wish I were just insane. I wish I didn't know things that I shouldn't know about people that I never actually got to know."
I rocked back on my feet turning to Carlisle "I wish I didn't know that when you were first turned that you did everything possible to try to kill yourself" I said seriously turning ignoring the gasps to look at his mate "Esme tried to kill herself after the loss of her two-day old son"
"That you created and controlled a newborn army by the side of Maria" I explained after turning to face Jasper
"How do you know that?" Jasper said with wide eyes as I chuckled brokenly turning to Rosalie
"Emmett said after his transformation that hell wouldn't be so bad if he got to keep an angel forever" I said as her eyes widened at the information "I know how your Fiancée caused your death and how you got your revenge after you turned"
I watched as she tensed at the information, but I knew that I hadn't finished yet. I turned to Edward who looked tense and ready to bolt from the room.
"I know that you wanted to be a soldier, despite that it would have broken you mother's heart" I said softly not wanted to hurt him before I turned to the last person who was looking at me stunned "And I know your full name from before your transformation"
"What?" She said with wide eyes as I smiled at her
"You have none of your human memories, including not knowing that your birth name is Mary Alice Brandon" I said in a whisper as she seemed to choke on the information
"Fuck" Emmett said breaking the stunned silence that set in the room as I turned to Rosalie
"Prove enough?" I questioned as she nodded unable to speak from my little show
"What can you tell me? Of my past?" Alice questioned seriously as I took a breath giving her a sad smile
"Are you sure you wish to know? You can't get those memories back and trust me when I say, somethings are meant to stay buried" I said honestly as she frowned at the information "I will tell you everything, just take some time to truly decide that you wish to know. I am living proof that just because the names are the same doesn't mean the people are. You are who you are, regardless of who she was"
"I will let you know" Alice said softly clearly overwhelmed if she couldn't see her own decision
"Now that you guys believe me, there is something I have been waiting to do" I said softly turning to Edward "I hated that my scent caused you and your family pain. I am so sorry for everything I put you through. I know it must have been hard for you to fight instinct. For you to fight every fiber of your being to ensure that you didn't kill me is nothing short of amazing. I don't think I would be able to do it if I were in your place"
"I am a soulless monster" Edward said looking so pained in that moment it almost brought me to my knees "Don't apologize for me being a vampire."
"Please don't" I said shaking my head "Please don't start that soulless monster shit with me. I may not actually know much about each of you, but I know that you aren't as much of a monster as you think you are"
"Then the books didn't tell you enough about me" He growled out in anger as I chuckled darkly
"The books have nothing to do with this" I said seriously with twisted amusement staring at him letting him see the pain I hide "I have the darkest things that someone can see. I have been the survivor of monsters more than I care to admit. I am well aware of what makes something evil, truly evil to the core of their being. So, prove to me you are a true monster. Why do you think you are a soulless monster?"
"I don't have a soul and I have killed humans before" He said brokenly, the guilt shining in his eyes and on his face
"Do you make it a habit of insulting those that love you?" I questioned as he blinked confused "You are telling me that because you are a vampire means you are a monster and without a soul, correct?"
"Yes" He said in grief looking at the ground as I glanced at Carlisle who was frowning "You have to understand Liberty, that I am a monster. I have done things, killed humans to survive wanting their blood. I have hunted them down and took their lives in cold blood. The moment I died; I lost my soul"
"You know I am almost sad to learn that you really believe that" I said gaining his attention "Let me ask you something, do you believe that Carlisle is a soulless monster?"
"No" He said shaking his head "Carlisle has the power to control the urges for blood"
"But by your explanation, surely Rosalie, Emmett, and Alice are monsters as well. Right?" I said stepping slightly closer making him focus on my eyes "How about Esme? The motherly and gentle Esme, is she a monster as well?"
"No, my family are not monsters either" He said shaking his head as I placed on hand on his arm
"Oh, then surely you must mean Jasper. Afterall, he struggles and has done many sad things, so is he a monster?" I questioned softly as Edward looked pained at the questioned
"No, Jasper is trying to adjust and is one of us now" He said still not understanding where this is going as I moved as close I safety could
"Then am I a soulless monster?" I questioned causing his eyes to widen captured from the statement "I have killed humans to survive. I imagine more than you have actually."
"You were a soldier" He whispered trying to reason against me as I smiled sadly
"Did you know the people you killed were evil?" I questioned as he nodded stilled pained over the thought "I didn't"
"Liberty" He said seeing the raw pain in my eyes
"I didn't have the ability to read minds, to ensure the people I killed were truly evil. I don't believe they were. How could a girl that didn't know freedom be evil when she tried to set off a bomb? How could a boy picking up that gun be evil? How about a woman just doing what she was taught to believe in? I didn't know their minds; I couldn't tell they were evil. They just had beliefs that were against my country, did that make them evil? I killed them know the less, not for any other reason than to survive" I said touching his face gently "So by your definition, I am evil"
"No, you are not" He whispered eyes shining "You could never be evil"
"But according to your explanation of a soulless monster, I am" I said to bring the point home "But I know that I am not a monster, and neither are you. You feel guilty for so many things, for a past you cannot change. I get that, more than you will ever know. But Edward, I can promise you that not only are you not a monster, but you have a beautiful soul that is hidden under that darkness you cling to"
"How do you know?" He questioned in pain
"Because I am breathing" I said causing his eyes to widen in surprise "If you were a monster, I wouldn't be here. You wouldn't have been able to fight that instinct that you felt the moment you scented my blood; you wouldn't have fought against it. You wouldn't feel guilty, because without a soul you wouldn't care about your past actions, and you wouldn't have been able to stop yourself from killing me."
"Liberty" He whispered in awe at my conviction.
"You are good, Edward" I said honestly smiling up at him "Your family is good. I am good. We all have scars, darkness within us from the things we have done. You let the darkness consume you, which is why you feel like a monster. You saved lives Edward with your actions when at what you consider your worse, some would call that a hero"
"Damn" Emmett said gaining my attention causing me to step out of Edward's space
"Are there any more questions for me?" I questioned Carlisle who also seemed to look at me in awe before he shakes his head to clear his mind
"You will tell us more about this story if we need it, correct?" He questioned and I nodded "Then we will not pry for more information on that"
"I really appreciate that" I said with a smile of relief at not have to focus on that for more
"Do you think you could return to your world?" He questioned after a moment as I sighed giving him a sad smile
"No, I have thought this through extensively since arriving here. There are just too many unknowns to even risk it, the possibility of just making my situation worse" I said honestly causing him to nod in understanding
"That must have been difficult for you" He stated seriously as I flinched.
"Being here is difficult for me to accept for many reasons" I said softly "It hasn't been easy, trying to adjust to so many different things at once. It may seem strange but finding out that you are here, that there are people that know what it is like to live in a world they can't be themselves in has made it easier in a way. In all reality, the hardest part is the guilt over the actual Liberty of this world. She had so much more to achieve, and she was denied that miracle to survive and grow up. I didn't need this; she was more than worthy of that"
"Perhaps it isn't about the two worlds, just that you were needed here" Esme said gaining my attention and confusion "Maybe that Liberty was not who was needed here, maybe your fate always was here in this world and this was there way of correcting that."
"Maybe" I said with a half-smile "I am trying to find a way to fit in, find a place I belong in this world"
"We can help you with that" Alice said happily practically skipping over to me "we are destined to be the best of friends"
"I think I would like that" I said honestly glancing at all of them "I wouldn't mind that at all actually, being alone with this secret while everyone just thinks you have amnesia has been rather exhausting. But I don't want to cause problems"
"You are always welcome here" Esme said softly taking me by surprise.
"Thanks" I said softly feeling overwhelmingly thankful as I glanced at Edward to find him watching me with a soft look, too soft really "You going to be okay with hanging around Alice? I wouldn't want to cause you problems due to my scent"
"That won't be a problem" He said softly before smiling "If anything I would just get more use to your scent"
"I guess that makes sense" I said nodding before glancing between him and Jasper "But try not to let your thirst affect Jasper, he struggles enough dealing with it as it is"
"What do you mean let his thirst affect Jasper?" Carlisle questioned in fascination "Was that something in the books?"
"No, it didn't really focus on Jasper. I mean it did mention the struggle. But with his gift it didn't really need to explain the way that feeling the thirst of those around him would cause a struggle to control his own thirst" I explained pausing to see the looks on their faces "What?"
"I never made that connection" He said after a moment glancing at Carlisle "It was too simple for me to see the problem"
"We will hunt more often to see if it helps make it easier on you as well" Carlisle said after a moment turning to me "Perhaps in time spending time with Liberty will help you adjust more to the scent as well"
"Don't I smell stronger to you guys as well?" I questioned recalling how Bella was affecting the rest of them as well
"No" Edward said in confusion "It is just me that is affected, was it not like that in the books?"
"No, but then again there could be a thousand reasons for that. I guess if the plot is ever revealed then we will know for sure if I am really just a singer or maybe there is something different about me all together" I said seriously trying to piece it together
"There are also different types of singers" Carlisle said shocking me to my core "We have not narrowed down which type of singer you are yet; I have an idea, but time will tell"
"Don't worry, I won't pry for answers" I said with a smirk "Not like I can with all the secrets that I am refusing to tell"
"True" Carlisle said with a chuckle nodding in agreement "Although, if you are accepting of it, I would like to run some test. To see if I can find anything different about your blood."
"I guess that would be okay" I said not seeing any harm in that "I may have some questions that you may be able to help me with as well. A bit of a puzzle that I haven't been able to solve on my own"
"I look forward to it" He said as I smiled turning to Alice who was bouncing in happiness.
"I am going to head home; I am exhausted at this point" I said honestly as she moved forward to hug me tightly causing Edward to growl deeply.
"I will miss you so much" She whispered as I chuckled lightly .
"I am sure you will see me soon" I said poking her forehead "Just make a decision when and I will be there"
"Okay" She said smiling stepping back as I looked at the Cullens.
"For what it is worth, I am sorry I turned your world upside down" I said causing Esme and Carlisle to smile
"It was nice seeing you this time" Carlisle said stating the running joke between up.
"Good night, everyone" I said turning and walking from the house pausing to glance back at Edward "If you need anything at all, even just to talk, I am here."
"Thanks" He said with a twisted expression, like he was torn.
I took a deep breath the moment I exited the house. Now that the explanation was out of the way and they knew enough about the situation, I could focus of figuring out what was happening to me. I knew the Cullens wouldn't be leaving me along, not with Alice wanting to keep me around. I could get use to that, having friends here at least.