Chapter Twenty Five
Edward
The middle-aged woman who has the misfortune to be in my examination room when Bella returns to E46 Street ends up with my stethoscope embedded in her nose. Bella's red hot arrows catch me by surprise which causes my whole body to react to the pain. I yell, drop the stethoscope, and clutch my head. The woman recoils away from me in shock. After I've apologized profusely, I make up a story about needing to see the dentist later as I have an exposed nerve in a broken tooth. She accepts my explanation and sympathizes with me while I'm writing a coded note about her symptoms for her to take to Carlisle or Esme. Before I invite another patient into my consulting room, I take time out to build up Eleazar's wall brick by brick.
The next patient comes in. A young guy with a hacking cough. He's putting on a brave face. Reading his thoughts, he's terrified. I check his oxygen level. Ninety-six. Borderline. I listen to his chest. Definite congestion there. Temperature, high but not dangerous. I tell him to go home. Keep hydrated. Take Tylenol. Sleep face down on his stomach. Eat well and lay off the alcohol. If he's not feeling better in three days to come back. I give him an oximeter and show him how to use it. In return, I ask that he puts a donation in the box outside. He smiles, says thank you, and shuffles towards the door still coughing. I remind him to put on his mask. His one is homemade, so I give him a more substantial one from the drawer. He automatically puts it in his pocket. I ask him to put it on. No wonder New York has problems.
The ache in my head remains throughout the rest of the morning and proves distracting. What distracts me more though is that I'm mulling over the reason why Bella hadn't let me know of her plan to return today. The temptation to not wait for an invitation to go over to see her after the clinic closes is strong, but I decide against this or calling her first. She should be the one to initiate contact. If I put a light on in my apartment she'll know I'm home.
Patients come through the door up to six-thirty. The last one leaves just after seven. Lights are turned off at half-past. We close this late every day now. Almost immediately the last light is dimmed my cell buzzes. A text from Bella.
Hi, Edward. I'm back. I have things to do tonight and tomorrow, so I'll call you tomorrow evening if that's okay? I hope you've had a better day in the clinic. Bella. (Smile emoji).
I text back.
Welcome home! I'm working all day tomorrow. Should be finished by seven-thirty. Looking forward to hearing all about sleepy Forks. Edward. (Yawning emoji).
Bella's response.
Sleepy! You must be joking. (Bat, Shit, and Crazy emojis).
I reply with a scratching-head emoji. Bella doesn't respond. I'd described Forks as 'sleepy' on purpose. I knew it had been anything but. I'm desperate to question her to find out whether she knows anything about Tanya and what went on in the forest but I know I can't. I've begged Alice to give me more information but she won't. Alice infuriates me.
Carlisle looks up at Bella's window as he locks the door from the sidewalk. "She's back then," he says.
"Yes. She's already texted me. I hope I'll see her tomorrow."
"Good luck and be careful," he replies. Esme gives me one of her 'knowing' smiles.
I look up at the window just as Bella tweaks her blind. She waves. I wave back. The blind drops and she's gone. How Carlisle and Esme can't see Bella's glow all around me is a mystery.
Bella
Jake insists on taking me all the way to SeaTac. I'd cried like a baby when I left Dad on the doorstep. I'd nearly lost him and now I've chosen to abandon him, which is what leaving Forks feels like.
Dad has to work which is why he couldn't take me to the ferry himself. On the morning of his first day on duty when he came downstairs in his uniform, I'd blubbed then too. What the hell is happening to me? Six months of living in Forks again and I'm an emotional wreck. During our final hug before I left, I promised Dad I'd be home for Christmas, even though this year is Mom's turn. She won't care.
The drive through the national park is spectacular. I'd always thought Olympic air was super-clean compared to other parts of the State before the pandemic. The reduction in traffic and general pollution from industry, aircraft, and a hundred other sources, has turned our blue sky even bluer. The permanent snow on the mountains looks whiter. The sun, brighter. The trees, greener. Jake remarks that the landscape looks like a kid's painting – no subtle shades, just bold primary colors. He's right. It does. Has the pandemic had the same effect on New York air? It will be interesting to see whether stars are now visible over my apartment.
Since our heart-to-heart in the workshop and the afternoon spent at La Push, Jake and I have talked again about the Night of the Wolves and the return of the Cold Ones. Well, a Cold 'One' would be more precise. As I threatened I would, after Jake took me home following our trip to the beach, I got straight on the internet to search 'Quileute Legends' and 'Cold Ones.' I should have done this before. I'm a journalist for eff's sake. With hardly any searching, I came across a brief description which went as follows …
Cold Ones: Supernatural beings with distinctive characteristics. Cold skin that is sensitive to sunlight. Eyes that change color according to diet. Speed – they can move exceedingly fast. Immortal - but can be killed. They live on the blood of humans and/or animals. Both males and females are the Werewolves' deadliest enemies. In European countries, they are referred to in historical records as Vampires.
I remember my mouth dropping open when I read the last two sentences. Vampires? Werewolves! Both descriptions shocked me. I truly hadn't associated the forest wolves with Werewolves, which are the stuff of fantasy novels and movies. Vampires? No ... I would need more evidence.
I stayed awake most of that night trying unsuccessfully to talk myself out of accepting that there is truth in the Quileute legends, even though this would provide an explanation for the size of the creatures in the forest. Had Sam and Jake, or even Emily, actually transformed into wolves or werewolves, and more importantly, changed back? And could that woman have really been a vampire?
Seriously?
While sleep eluded me and I was imagining what the Cold One would have done to me if I hadn't been able to resist her, I finally put my toe over the supernatural line that I had denied existing, because I'm a sensible human being. I put two and two and two together and came up with what had been staring me in the face for months. The realization went like this ...
Jake had smelled the hint of a vampire on me when he picked me up from the ferry.
Who could he smell though, the woman in blue, or another Cold one, ... or Edward?
(And that's when reality hit me like a sledgehammer. I actually shot out of bed).
Holy hell ...
No!
Yes!
No ... could he ... no ... but that would explain ...
Oh ... My ... God.
Two days after La Push, I met up with Sam and Emily who greeted me like an old friend and not someone to be wary of. Their lips remained sealed about what had happened in the forest and I didn't press them. I respected their secrecy laws. I had to trust Jake's declaration that he couldn't elaborate any more than he already had but he'd given me enough clues for me to guess. The only reason he was able to mention Cold Ones to me as a Paleface is that I had heard the legend directly from Quil A'teara, who claimed to have been around when the last Quileute transformed into a wolf.
Sam questioned me about my interaction with the woman, especially the fight. I'm in no doubt that he believed every word I said. Sam was also of the opinion that she chose to fall to her death. When Jake reported back to him what I'd told him, my story solved Sam's puzzle of why she had effectively committed suicide when a means of escape across the treetops would not have been difficult. Sam told me the body parts had been burned so there would be no opportunity to find out who she was or where she had come from. The actual reason why she wanted to kill me and chose to die would probably remain a mystery.
Later over dinner, Sam seriously suggested I may have traces of Quileute in my DNA which I couldn't discount. Dad's family had lived on the peninsula for generations, so the chance one of my ancestors could have been Quileute couldn't be ruled out. Why this might be an explanation for my supposed 'powers,' I couldn't begin to understand. I had a feeling though that Sam knew more than he was letting on. I'm not saying I could read his mind, but my intuition was telling me that he had a good idea where my powers had come from, or that he or someone else he knew had seen this phenomenon before.
On the journey to Bainbridge, Jake and I talk about other subjects. There is nothing more to say now about what did or didn't happen in the forest. We chat about the virus. Billy's disability. Improving their cabin. Searching for government grants to get cable TV and Wi-Fi out to every part of the reservation. Jake hasn't asked me again what my plans were for the future. I don't plan to raise the subject but I have a feeling he will before we say goodbye.
On the ferry, we sit out on the deck so we can feast our eyes on Seattle and Rainier basking in bright sunlight rather than the moonlight they were bathed in last time I sat here. The temperature today is warm, not freezing. The wind is gentle, not gusting. A much more pleasant trip than the one in March. Jake has his arm around my shoulders. I'm both happy and sad. To anyone observing us, we look like boyfriend and girlfriend enjoying the spectacular view. Little do they know that I'm cuddled up to a werewolf, and the werewolf has his arm around a girl who may or may not have the ability to knock a vampire out of a tree.
"You okay?" Jake asks.
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to going back but sorry to be leaving. I wish New York could magically move to the west coast. That would make life so much easier."
"Did you ever consider applying to a college in LA or San Francisco?"
"No, never. If you want to get anywhere in journalism, you have to go east."
Jake doesn't respond immediately. I instinctively know what's coming next and brace myself.
"We never got round to talking about your future, Bella. Are you planning to stay in New York when you finish college?"
This is it then. I'd promised to be truthful with Jake from now on, and there's no point in putting off answering this question anymore.
"Yes, that's where the type of work I want to do is at. I'm not saying I plan to stay there forever. If I build up a reputation as a photojournalist, eventually I can be based anywhere."
Jake goes quiet again as he takes in what I've said.
"When did you decide this?"
"Recently. The more I learn, the more I've come to understand where I need to be to get noticed. I have to do this, Jake, or I'll spend the rest of my life kicking myself because I didn't give my ambition a real go."
Jake kisses me on top of my head. He's been doing that a lot lately.
"Thanks for being honest," he says. "When you flew off in 2018, I guessed you were going away for a long time. You must follow your dreams, Bella. We only have one life. Make the most of it."
"Thanks, Jake," I reply and snuggle up to his chest. The top of my head doesn't reach his shoulder anymore which makes me smile. I should have been honest before. I'm starting to realize that most of the stress I carry is of my own making.
I cry like a baby again at SeaTac. Jake is emotional too. In the drop-off zone, we hug for as long as we're allowed before a five-foot three-inch Parking Nazi orders Jake to move on. I watch him drive away, wipe the tears from my cheeks, and shuffle into the airport with my head down so nobody can see my puffy eyes.
The journey is boring. There are no obvious Cold Ones lurking in the waiting area, or on the plane which is half-full. From the JFK link, the E train drops me at Lexington on 53rd. I walk the rest of the way. When I turn into E46 street I expect to see crowds outside the clinic. Instead, there are only three people waiting on the sidewalk. Either this is the line to see a doctor, or these people have accompanied a relative or friend. I'm relieved for Edward's sake.
Kaure is at her window in her usual spot. Her head jerks back when she sees me. Has my return shocked her? I wave. She smiles at me for the first time since February. I have a note for her which I push under her door when I'm inside the lobby. The stairs are as steep as I remember. A lot dustier though. I doubt if anyone has cleaned the communal areas since March.
The apartment is empty which is as I expected. Angie won't be back for another week at least or possibly for the rest of the year. I hate admitting this but the thought of having the apartment to myself makes me happy. Before taking my jacket off, I push the top windows open to expel the trapped musty air. The kitchen cupboards are empty apart from coffee, peanut butter, dried pasta, two cans of spaghetti in tomato sauce, and one can of vegetable soup. In the freezer, there are bagels, cheese, and some elderly meat products I don't touch. On the counter, there are several bags of tortilla chips unopened. No fruit or vegetables but at least I won't starve.
The hot water runs cold. After a quick search as I've never had to do this before, I locate the switch to heat the water. I need a shower after my journey after which I plan to watch a series on cable that I learned from the flight magazine is terrific.
After a hot shower followed by soup and a peanut butter bagel, I'm ready for the sofa. When the clinic lights go out I send Edward a message saying I'm back and that I'll call him tomorrow. We exchange jokey responses. I watch from the living room window as he leaves the clinic with Carlisle and Esme. He waves. I wave back.
I would have liked to have seen him tonight but I have places to go and people to see before we meet in person. The email I received from the college yesterday needs to be addressed first. I want to speak to Kaure as well. I have some questions for her and I have a feeling she'll answer this time. In my message, I threatened nicely that I'd camp outside her door until she opened it.
I settle myself on the sofa, switch on the TV, and find the right catch-up channel and the series I'm looking for. There it is … 'A Discovery of Witches.' This should be interesting … and because of the situation I've found myself in, educational. I pull a blanket over my knees, open a bag of tortilla chips, and press play.
At eleven o'clock I'm outside the library waiting for my allotted two hours to start. Excitement is building. I can hardly contain myself. The email I received two days ago had come out of the blue.
Good morning Ms. Swan,
Mrs. Fields has asked me to inform you that the folder you were using for your research has been returned to the library during the college closure. We are still unclear who borrowed the folder and how and when it was taken and returned.
If you would like to visit the booking section on the college website, you will be able to reserve a two-hour study session anytime from today, Monday, September 14th. Please do not visit the college if you have symptoms of Covid or you have been in the company of anyone with Covid. Masks must be worn at all times.
Regards,
Tom White, Head of Resources
Mrs. Fields beckons me to come in. Her mask makes me smile. Her nose and mouth are covered by rows of books.
"Good to see you, Bella," she says. "It's a mystery. The file appeared on the shelf on Monday morning. We've no idea where it's been or who returned it. I hope the journals you were working on are still in there."
"I'll let you know if I think anything has been removed," I reply and hurry towards my favorite spot. I don't want to talk. I just want to check the pictures before they disappear again. My heart is racing as I make my way across the library. There are no gaps on the shelf this time. My bag and jacket are dumped on the floor. I crouch down and gently pull the heavy folder from its rightful home.
With care, I turn each edition of the assorted journals over until the copy of the Daily Graphic dated March 1923 faces me. There on page three is the article I haven't seen for seven months. A familiar icy sensation crawls over my scalp as I scrutinize the two grainy black and white images I first saw in February. The evidence before me cannot be disputed anymore. I had noticed something extraordinary back then.
Seven months on from my first sight, I'm able to look at the photos with a more knowledgeable eye. The expression on the young man's face confirms the other side of his story. The anomalies with physics and time. If I'd saved a child from certain death, my face would show relief, or joy, or pride. All I see in this young man's face is fear.
My dilemma now is what to do about what I've suspected all along is true, and have now proved without a shadow of a doubt. I guess this situation is comparable to seeing a ghost, or a UFO on a starry night. Okay, I have photographic evidence that the man in the picture bears more than a striking resemblance to Edward, but most sane people would put this down to coincidence. Edward would deny being the Guardian Angel in the picture of course, even though he has all but admitted to me it was him.
'He must be a distant relative, Bella. A throw-back! Maybe this is his grandfather?'
I can almost hear the explanations, followed no doubt by derisory comments that would come my way if I tried to suggest to any sane person that the doctor's son must be at least 120 years old. Persuading myself this is probable and not one of my other explanations for how he came to be in the right place at the right time, has taken me six months. I'm still not a hundred percent convinced, even with the knowledge that I've recently acquired, plus the other unaccountable events that have happened to me during this time.
Touching the pages is not permitted without special gloves. Mrs. Field is not at her desk. I cannot resist. My right index finger gently slides over his hair before following the line of his jaw to rest on his mouth. How I would love to bury my fingers in those thick locks, or to caress that jaw, before tasting his soft lips in real life. I imagine his expressive eyes are looking at me, even though when these pictures were taken they would've been fixed on the photographer. Is this why he looks fearful? Does he not want his image recorded? There would have to be a good reason if that was the case, which could tie in with him disappearing from the scene so quickly. Or maybe it was because of what I now suspect he could be.
Straightening from my bent position over the newspaper I relax into the back of the chair to recall that February afternoon when I saw Edward's photo for the first time, and the extraordinary months that followed. My recent interactions with Edward and others have led me to question everything about the world I live in. The night in the forest with Jake has only added credence to what I suspected. An admittedly fictional TV series I chanced upon last night has finally swept my original presumptions aside. Common sense, which I thought I had in abundance, has all but gone. The road I now travel has transported me into a fantasy land of myths and legends.
I don't need to see anymore. I check my cell. I have slightly less than two hours to kill before I see Kaure which will be the final confirmation.
I take a photograph of Edward with my cell, place the folder back where it belongs, and set off for Carlo's to buy some decent fruit and vegetables.
One o'clock. I'm outside Kaure's door. I knock and wait. I hear movement. The door opens. Kaure is wearing pale green today. The color suits her.
"Can we talk?" I ask. She opens the door further. I take this as an invitation to enter.
Instead of ushering me into her personal rain forest as before, Kaure directs me towards the door at the back of the apartment, behind which is a surprisingly modern kitchen. I don't know what I expected. Certainly not a cooking pot in the center of an earth-covered floor. She points to a chair by the table. I sit obediently.
"Coffee?" she says.
"I'm good, thanks," I reply politely.
"Brazilian?"
I spot the jug. She's already made it. I suspect this is a peace offering because she blanked me after our last encounter. To refuse would be rude.
"If it's Brazilian, definitely," I say with a forced smile. Holy crap. I bet it's going to be strong.
The coffee poured I take a sip. Amazing flavor.
"This is awesome," I say. Kaure smiles proudly and sits opposite me.
"So … what you wanna know, Bella."
This is it. I'm not going to mess around anymore. I'm coming straight out with the reason I'm here. I won't be shocked if she confirms what I now believe. I'll be more shocked if she doesn't.
"Kaure, you warned me in February that Edward is a devil or a demon. I didn't believe you then. To be truthful, I still don't believe he's a demon, but I do believe he's a vampire, which in turn means all the Cullen's are vampires. I just need a yes or no answer. Are the Cullen's vampires?"
Kaure reaches over the table and grabs my hands. Intense hazel eyes stare into mine. I have a strong feeling she's attempting to read my mind again.
"How you know?" she whispers furtively.
"A werewolf told me," I reply nonchalantly.
Kaure's eyes widen. Her mouth drops open.
"Who are you?" she says as she lets go of my hands. She recoils from me like I have the plague, or even the Coronavirus.
"If you'd asked me that question six months ago, Kaure, I would have said I'm just a normal, unremarkable girl from Forks. Now? I haven't a clue who I am. My best friend who I've known since we were kids, is a werewolf. A Cold One came to my hometown to kill me; I have no idea why. We fought with our minds. I apparently killed her. I've obtained proof Edward was alive in 1923. There is photographic evidence on my cell phone. I've decided to confront him with this knowledge tonight."
"No, Bella, you can't," Kaure replies forcefully. Her next comment shocks me. "If you do, he'll be obliged to kill you."
Kaure takes hold of my hands again and grips them tightly.
"Why?" I ask.
"Their laws. Humans aren't permitted to know vampires are real."
"But you know, Kaure. Why haven't they killed you?"
"Some Amazonian tribes are protected, Bella. We have powers too – strong powers. Aro, their leader, learned many skills when he came to our forest hundreds of years ago. In return for our knowledge, he allowed my ancestors to live."
The desperation in Kaure's voice convinces me she is speaking the truth as she knows it. Would Edward really have to kill me if he knew I'd discovered his secret? Do I have the courage to test this to find out? The familiar headache has returned for the first time in months. Is Edward close by, or does the apartment have Sick Building Syndrome? The pressure pain I felt in the airport is further proof that Edward is the cause. I need help. Kaure is my only option.
"Kaure, what powers do you have? Can you give me advice? I have no clue what to do next."
Kaure stands up and comes over to my side of the table.
"Turn to face me but stay seated," she says. I shuffle in my chair so I'm looking directly at her chest. Kaure tips my face up to hers.
"I will place my hands on your head. Keep very still. This will not hurt as long as you relax."
I feel Kaure's tiny hands rest above my ears before she adds gentle pressure. She moves her palms in small circles which warms my scalp. I'm not sure whether my eyes close automatically but I find myself in the dark. Not the type of dark you see behind your eyelids. This is more like I've stepped into a void of total blackness. Not one iota of light pierces my field of vision. Is this death? Has she killed me? I start to panic. I have to escape. I struggle. She speaks.
"Don't move, Bella," she whispers. "You're safe here with me," she adds. I relax and slip into darkness again.
Even though I sense that I'm floating, I feel energized now. Psychadelic colors begin to flood the void. They swirl all around me but I don't feel dizzy. I sort them into rainbow shapes and other intricate patterns. They dance and I'm mesmerized. Has Kaure spiked my coffee? The drug LSD springs to mind. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds plays in my head. Is this what junkies would call a high? The come-down will be scary. What has she done to me?
"Relax," she whispers again. The colors fade slowly. The black void returns. I'm floating again in a sea of warmth. I feel her hands falling away to rest on my shoulders. She manoeuvers me like I'm a rag doll so I can place my head on a cushion that's been placed on the table.
"Stay still, Bella … don't move for a while. When you recover and are ready, I tell you what I see."
I keep my head down until I feel able to finish my coffee which I'm surprised to discover has gone cold. How long have I been out? I glance at the clock in her kitchen. What the hell? There's no way the time is two-thirty. I hurriedly check my cell which confirms the clock is correct.
"What did you do to me, Kaure?" I ask as I sit upright. I'm angry. Did she hypnotize me? I slam both hands on the table and stand. Kaure smiles and gestures for me to sit down again.
"I will explain," she says as she brings her chair to my side of the table. When she sits she takes my right hand and strokes it. The effect is calming. I collapse in my seat. I feel weak and confused.
"I searched your mind and also your soul, Bella. You have many closed compartments. It took me a long time to reach inside each one. I have never encountered a mind like yours before. Your ancestors must have been remarkable people."
"My ancestors?"
What the hell is she talking about? Is this another level of weirdness? I can't take much more of this. Kaure continues.
"Yes, Bella. Living creatures don't just pass their physical characteristics to their offspring. They also pass on natural instincts, like flight, fear, and survival. A baby will turn to his mother for food. Throw a puppy in water it will swim. Skills can also transfer from parent to child, like painting, and music. Another more unusual inheritance and the one least talked about is memory transference. This is subtle. Not so obvious. People go to places they've never visited before but know their way around. They recognize people they've never met. They read a new book and know the ending. Children pick up instruments and are able to play, or understand a language they've never heard. There are thousands of stories of folks believing they have lived before, but very few human beings are prepared to believe that memory can be inherited."
I take a minute for this to sink in. I'm ready to believe this as I met a guy in Florida who was able to play the piano brilliantly despite never having a lesson. I still don't understand how this refers to me though.
"If you know this for sure, Kaure, how are my ancestors affecting my life?"
"Your mind is filled with their memories. You have inherited their powers which are extraordinary. I saw and made contact with your ancestors who live inside you. Recently, you instinctively called on their skills to defend yourself when you needed to. I know this has scared you. We are all frightened by the unknown. But you must understand, Bella, these skills are there to protect you. Don't try to fight them - accept that you are a formidable woman. You have immense powers at your fingertips which will protect you against supernatural or any other forces."
I take time to process this. Kaure waits. She's watching me carefully, searching my face for a reaction. I have a question.
"Why now, Kaure? I turned twenty-one ... three days ago. How have I got through the previous two decades without calling on these powers before?"
"Possibly your youth. Having power too young can be destructive and dangerous. Or, and this is what my ancestors believe, your ancestors have ignited your powers in time for you to defend yourself and others. If this is the case, beware. There may be more danger ahead."
I don't know how much of this to believe even though what happened between me and the Cold One cannot be denied. I need time to absorb this information. I'm being overloaded with weirdness again. I came here for confirmation that Edward and his family are vampires – Cold Ones – even Demons in Kaure's world. I'm now expected to believe I have at least one undocumented ancestor living rent-free in my head.
Way back in February, I guessed Edward could be a time traveler. When I read up on the Cold Ones, I began to believe that Edward could be a vampire. I thought this was far-fetched at first, but at least an explanation of how he came to be on 5th Avenue in 1923. The only person I've confided in about Edward is Emmett. Now what? There's no way I can tell Emmett any of this. Vampires, werewolves, and little ol' Bella being the modern-day equivalent of She-ra. He'd never speak to me again. I have to go and lie down.
"Kaure, I need to go back to my apartment. I have a lot to think about but I'd like to talk to you again. I'll take your advice though and not say anything to Edward."
Kaure stands and takes me in her arms. After our hug, she looks me in the eye.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Bella, but there is something else I learned from you. You're in love with Edward Cullen. Why you love a vampire I can't understand. What happens to you both, I cannot predict. I can't see this ending well, but I'm not a clairvoyant. Take care, Bella, not just of your physical safety, but of your emotions as well."
I leave her then. Physically and mentally exhausted I head straight for my bed. What the hell is happening to me? I don't feel any different from the Bella who left for Forks in March. Where have these powers come from though? Should I be able to see lightning shooting from my fingertips?
If the incident with bright-eyed blondie hadn't happened, I would have every reason to believe Kaure had been talking out of her backside. She said there could be danger ahead. Where, and who from? What should I do now?
My instincts, inherited or not, are telling me to run. There are vampires across the street. A mystic shaman lives downstairs. My best friend is a werewolf. My dad's neighborhood is inhabited by Cold Ones. My mom lives in Florida.
There is nowhere to run.
Shit!
Edward
I've asked Carlisle for time-out. The clinic has been unusually quiet this morning. He said that Esme and he could cope. Being close to Bella while I'm working is difficult. My protective wall becomes porous when I'm distracted by patients, allowing her arrows to come through the barrier. I feel her return from college or wherever she's been just after twelve. Carlisle tells me I can go.
An hour later I'm still in my apartment waiting for her to call. I'm tapping my fingers on my chair in frustration when the arrows stop dead. When Bella leaves her apartment the arrows usually tail off gradually, but this is different. A switch has been flicked. Her glow has disappeared. I start to panic. The sun is too bright for vampires, which means I can't go out to search for her. I jump up and look out the window opposite hers. The sidewalk outside her door is in shadow. I pull my sleeves down to cover my arms, do up my top button, cover my face with a tinted shield, and run down the stairs. The sidewalk is deserted. No one is waiting outside the clinic to spot my sparkling hands and neck. I sprint across the street and press the buzzer to her apartment. No response. I wait outside and listen. Not a glimmer from her, but I hear Kaure speak.
Don't move, Bella.
Damn! What's happening in there? I move closer to Kaure's window keeping my back to the wall. Silence. I try to read Kaure's mind. Nothing. Bella's shutters are also down. Both of them must be in some sort of trance. I look up. The sun has appeared above Bella's building. I'll soon be bathed in dangerous light. I need to get off the street and fast. The courtyard. I'll hide there and listen.
I drag a dumpster behind me and wedge myself between it and Kaure's kitchen wall. This should prevent anyone overlooking the courtyard from spotting a sparkling vampire lurking there. The smell of the trash is disgusting. I stop breathing which helps. My anxiety levels are off the scale.
Patience is a virtue unknown to vampires. I have to be patient though but not knowing what is going on inside is torture. I'm desperate to burst in and find out. After about an hour I feel the first arrow. Bella's there but not there. The arrows cease again. I know what Kaure's doing. She's placed Bella in some sort of limbo. Bella comes back. The arrows return and increase rapidly. She's agitated. Damn! Build the wall again quickly, Edward.
I hear Kaure talking about ancestors, and instincts, and Bella's powers. I've missed her birthday. Damn again. Kaure warns her there's danger ahead. What the hell? Bella tells Kaure she's returning to her apartment. I relax. Bella's okay - her mind is disoriented and tired but unaffected by what Kaure has done to her.
Kaure's final statement though shakes me to my core. I jump to my feet but bend double from the shock.
You're in love with Edward Cullen, Bella. Why you love a vampire?
I wait for her response. She doesn't deny it. I stifle a cry of pain, or is it joy?
Bella knows that I'm a vampire. She's in love with me.
I'm done.
Before I say anything else, for any Floridians who are reading this, I have nothing against Florida. I have visited twice and had a great time, and I'm hopefully going back there in 2023. It's Bella who has the problem with Florida - just sayin'.
So, how is Edward going to deal with what he's heard? (Strong hint - he's right next to the fire escape). I have a feeling you'll enjoy the next chapter - just sayin' (again).
Joan x