Chapter 9
Thanks to juvinity, Lionnara and Soubei for the reviews!
Before Edward left that night he informed me that he would be driving me to and from school until my truck was fixed.
'Do I not have a choice in the matter?' I said giving him a wry smile.
'Of course you do. But I think you'll find it's the best offer you'll find anywhere.'
At that I laughed. 'See you tomorrow morning then.'
He looked at me, eyes burning. 'If you need anything, please call.'
'I don't have your number.' I said as he walked away.
'Yes you do.' He laughed as he got into his car and drove off. I checked my phone; of course he had put his number in.
The next morning I woke up early anticipating getting ready taking much longer than normal, I was right. You never realize how much you need both arms for until one is completely useless and tied to you. Aiden was still on his best behaviour since the accident and, bless him, he tried his best to help but he doesn't have the most delicate hand. After finally getting dressed all I could manage for breakfast was a bowl of cereal. I was just finishing eating when the doorbell rang. I threw the bowl in the sink and ran to get the door.
'Good morning!' I said breathless as I opened the door.
'Good morning.' He said, laughing, I must have looked as frazzled as I felt. My door had to be pulled shut as you locked it which in my current state I couldn't do, and he knew it. He held out his hand to me and I dropped the key in it, he locked the door, handed me back the key and led the way to the car. He held the door open for me and fastened my seatbelt before walking back to his side.
On the way to school it was open season for questions now that everything was out in the open between us. This continued throughout lunch time too, Edward met me as I walked into the cafeteria and asked me to sit with him- much to the surprise of my friends. As I sat there eating and chatting with Edward I could feel their eyes boring holes into me.
'So how does it work?' Edward asked me 'With Aiden, at the hospital you knew the nurse was coming, I did too but I could hear her and hear her thoughts. Did Aiden tell you she was coming, or show you?'
'No its more than that, I can kind of close off my own vision and open myself up to Aiden's. I could tell you what Jessica is eating from here or what type of shoes your brother is wearing. It has its limits though, the further Aiden gets from me the more strained the connection is and if he gets too far it becomes incredibly painful.'
'So what exactly is Aiden capable of?' he asked me, but Aiden didn't wait for me to answer, he wasn't going to waste the chance to communicate with someone directly.
Aiden doesn't exactly communicate with words, more thoughts and images and it was in this way that he showed Edward what he was able to do. He showed him visions of him physically manipulating objects around him, putting up his shield around me- saving me from gunfire, he showed himself possessing someone, making them do what he wanted and lastly he showed Edward himself killing someone. Aiden was made to be a weapon; he could hurt or kill without a trace and not have me be too close, to keep me from danger.
'Wow.' Edward looked surprised, 'You're quite the amazing creature, Aiden.' He said looking up at him. Aiden positively glowed at this compliment and I laughed, quickly turning serious. 'That doesn't disturb you? Seeing what we've done first hand?'
'Seeing you in that kind of danger? Seeing what they have made you do disturbs me greatly, it doesn't, however, change how I see you. What about you? I've told you about me, how I've killed and I was under no duress from anyone. I made the conscious choice to murder people.' He finished, giving me a dark look. 'You did, but having my background who am I to judge anyone. Also, you didn't kill innocent people, you killed rapists and murderers. And lastly, I don't know, it honestly seems kind of reasonable. Everyone rebels at some point.'
Edward laughed at that 'Your rebellion involved going to school and staying out of trouble, mine involved killing people and drinking their blood.'
'I couldn't very well rebel by killing more people,' I chuckled darkly 'I had to try something new.'
The next two weeks passed just about the same way, Edward would pick me up, we'd eat lunch together, and he would ask endless questions. I would turn it around on him some days and not allow him anymore questions, mostly because I got tired of talking, but also because I wanted to know more about him, about his long life before I met him. Just after 2 weeks after we had started seeing each other Edward and I were playing chess in my living room when he suddenly spoke.
'Sunday I'm taking you to meet my family.'
'What?' I choked, not expecting this at all.
'They want to meet you.' He said matter of factly. 'And I want you to meet them too. What's the matter?' He suddenly looked concerned as my face paled.
'You want me to meet your family…?' I said slowly.
'Are you worried, I promise you'll be perfectly safe.'
I snorted 'I'm not worried for my safety; I'm scared what they'll think of me.'
'So…' he said slowly, deliberately 'you're not worried about being in a house full of vampires, you're worried because they might not like you?'
I furrowed my brow and nodded, nervous.
'You're incredible.' He slowly reached towards me and held my face in his hand and gave me a gentle kiss on my lips, my face burned and Aiden roughly shoved him away, he chuckled lowly as he sat back up.
'Aiden! Sorry… Can you…' I said, thinking 'could you tell them about me, about Aiden. I think it will be easier going into this if they already know. I know about them, it's only fair that it's reciprocal.'
'Are you sure? They don't need to know anything, although don't worry about them judging you, they're pretty understanding.' He said, smiling.
'I'm sure. I'll come after you tell them'
Sunday morning Edward came by at 10 o'clock and had to assure me that they would love me- I wasn't convinced and I was panicking. He got me into the car and buckled up like usual, my arm still useless beside me. The drive seemed to take seconds because of my reluctance and before I knew it we were driving down a long driveway lined by 100 year old trees. As we broke through the cover of trees his home came into view, home didn't quite cover what this was. It was a beautiful mansion covered in big bright beautiful windows which surprised me since Edward has showed me what happens when vampires are in direct sunlight.
'It's the one place we don't have to hide.' Edward said noticing my interest.
'It's beautiful.' I said in awe.
As we got to the door it opened revealing Carlisle and (I guessed) Esme- the only person in the family I hadn't met.
'Bella.' Carlisle said, both of them smiling warmly at me as he pulled me into a hug, as soon as he released me Esme pulled me into another strangely warm hug despite the temperature of their skin.
'You're most welcome Bella, and so is Aiden.' Esme smiled warmly, seemingly totally comfortable with there being an entity there that they couldn't see or hear.
I smiled back 'Thank you so much. You have a lovely home.' Before she could answer Aiden pushed me and Edward caught me as I stumbled slightly.
To my surprise Edward laughed 'Aiden says thank you.' They chuckled as I glared at Aiden. Comfortable are we? I thought to him. He hummed contentedly.
They welcomed us in and the inside of the house matched the outside- absolutely stunning. At the top of the stairs I saw Alice starting to descend, dragging a very uncomfortable looking Jasper behind her. Aiden noticed immediately the rigidity of Jasper, how uncomfortable he was and Edward had told us that he was the newest to this life- that he had the most trouble out of anyone. Aiden's only job was to keep me safe, when he saw Jasper he may as well have had a giant neon sign reading 'danger'.
To my horrible embarrassment and dismay Aiden forced Jasper to a stop 20 feet from me. Jasper and Alice looked extremely surprised as Jaspers hand was ripped from hers. 'Aiden stop. I'm so sorry.' I said mortified. Jasper backed up a few steps and Alice continued as if nothing happened.
'Don't worry about it.' Alice smiled. 'I'm so glad to finally meet you' She embraced me in a hug. 'We're going to be amazing friends.' She said, flashing me a radiant smile. Edward had told me of her 'gift'.
'I'm glad to meet you as well, and I'm sure we will be.' I laughed 'I wouldn't bet against you.'
'Jasper I'm sorry. He's overly cautious, I'm glad to meet you as well.' I said, embarrassed.
Jasper smiled 'Don't worry Bella, I understand. It's good to meet you as well.'
'That's really cool.' Said a voice entering from the back yard into the living area 'I've never seen someone be able to stop a vampire like that before, Aiden you and I will be good friends.' He said laughing. 'It's nice to meet you too Bella' he said beaming pulling me up into a hug like the others. I laughed, 'Thanks Emmett, you too.'
Rosalie entered in behind him and looked at me warily, staying about 10 feet back.
'Hello Rosalie.' I said, waving timidly.
She studied me for a moment before darting up the stairs at inhuman speed. Emmett gave me an apologetic look and followed behind her. Edward came up behind me and whispered 'don't worry about it, she'll come around.'
The rest of my visit went well, Alice treated me as if we had been lifelong friends and Carlisle and Esme reminded me of the parents I never had and it was comforting but also incredibly sad for me. We didn't see Emmett or Rosalie for the rest of the day and Jasper kept his imposed distance although I got the feeling that he wasn't comfortable getting much closer anyway. We finished off the day by watching Edward and Alice play chess which was actually incredibly entertaining, the game lasted less than two minutes and ended with Alice sighing and knocking over her King.
'Check mate.' Edward smiled, and my stomach growled.
Edward frowned 'I'm sorry Bella, I'm not very good at remembering human things.'
'That's alright' I laughed, 'I should get home though- school tomorrow. It was lovely meeting everyone… I had a wonderful day.'
Edward stood up and helped me to my feet. I hugged Alice, Esme and Carlisle one by one and said my goodbyes.
As we walked towards the car Edward asked 'So, was it as scary as you thought it would be?'
'I know your entire family can still hear me, so no, not scary at all.' I laughed and Edward laughed along with me. 'Fair enough' he said in response as he opened the car door for me to take me home.