Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Author's note: This might seem like a filler chapter but it's actually pretty cruical. Enjoy! And damn it, REVIEW!
The large house stood about a mile away deep in the valley. If the lights weren't shining out of every window she may have missed it entirely. The terrain here was extremely difficult to navigate, but she managed the trip largely thanks to her studying scores of maps at the Seattle Public Library in preparation. Though flying was her preferred mode of travel, Bella refrained from spreading her wings for all but a fraction of the trip. The last thing she needed to deal with was somebody seeing that.
Deep breath. They can probably smell you now, she thought. Alice would've called them. They're prepared. Don't screw this up, she growled at herself.
Her steps through the valley were steady, but her heart, she knew, betrayed her. That house contained six vampires, five of whom she's never met. Her own safety didn't really cross her mind. The explorations of her gift that she had conducted this past week with Rosalie put her at ease where her safety was concerned. Fire was almost too easy now. It came to her with little effort on her part. No, Bella wasn't worried about her health. She worried about the ramifications of this visit. So much could happen...
She was a few feet from the front door. Inside, the unmistakable sound of a television ended abruptly. Bella counted to five and rang the doorbell.
Are all vampires drop dead gorgeous? The thought echoed through her mind when the door opened to reveal Tanya Denali standing in front of her.
Even if Rosalie hadn't described her in detail Bella would've known this was her. It made sense that the coven leader would answer the door when an uninvited guest showed up. Vampire propriety and all. Oh yeah...stop gawking and do this right!
"Hello, Tanya," Bella said in the most polite tone she could muster. "I'm Bella Swan. May I please come in?"
A chuckle escaped Tanya's lips-the first sound Bella heard from her, from any of them since she stepped into the lion's, er, vampire's den.
"There's nothing normal about you, is there?" Tanya's eyes glinted as she spoke. Around her, the two other blondes, Kate and Irina, smiled all the while keeping their eyes on the human girl.
"Um, Alice did call, right?" Bella asked, apprehensively.
"Yes," Kate replied, still smiling. "Nearly restarted our hearts, that one."
"Carmen and Eleazar took Edward to hunt," Irina added. "They should be back any minute."
Bella gulped. Next to these succubi, Edward was a piece of cake. She could handle Edward's bloodlust. She wasn't sure she could handle the strange looks these ancient vampires were giving her.
"We made you coffee," Tanya said, her face lighting up. "Are you brave enough to try it? First time any of us used the kitchen..."
How badly can they screw up coffee?
"Sure," Bella smiled politely. "Thank you, that was very kind."
"Don't thank us yet..." She heard Kate mumble.
Bella followed Tanya and her sisters into the kitchen and took the mug offered to her. Cheers God, she said to herself before taking a cautious sip. Horrible, but not poisonous...she hoped.
"It's good," she said and took another sip.
Tanya smiled wider and they all continued to stare at Bella as she quickly downed the rest of the cup.
"My god, she smells delicious," Kate whispered out loud.
"You gotta hand it to Rosalie for not feeding on her first chance she got. I don't think I could resist," Irina whispered back.
Oh shit.
"Um," Bella cleared her throat and blushed. "You know I can hear you, right?"
"Oh! My goodness that's right," Tanya said. "That's how you found out..."
"Yes," Bella replied. "Sorry, I don't mean to listen in. I can't really turn it off, you know?"
"I suppose we do," Tanya said slowly. "How good is your hearing anyway?"
"Nothing like yours," Bella blushed again. "I can hear people and nature from a great distance away if I concentrate. Vampires? Generally I need to be in the same room, or close to it to hear their voices."
"So she wouldn't have heard Edward whining on the way here? That's fortunate for her!" A soft, masculine voice reached her.
Bella looked towards the other side of the room where Edward and, she presumed, Eleazar and Carmen had come in through a patio door.
She quickly stood up to greet the remaining members of Tanya's coven.
"Eleazar. Carmen," Bella nodded towards each of them. "Hello, I'm-"
"Bella Swan," Carmen finished for her. "Well Bella, to say we've heard a lot about you would be quite the understatement."
Right, then. She chose not to reply to that and instead caught Edward's eye. The last time she saw him he had caused her heart to break into a thousand pieces. He had left her no choice but to run away from the only family she had. She wanted to hate him. Hell, she had every right to. But Bella was never one to harbor such malevolence for others. Looking at him now, Bella felt only a twinge of pity for the boy. Even if she accomplished her goal and convinced him to return to Forks, she knew he would find the transition unbearably difficult. Edward was not popular in the Cullens' home. Esme and Carlisle would welcome him, she knew, but the others would not...at least not at first. That had to be hard, she thought, especially as he'd be able to hear every negative thought sent his way from his siblings.
Bella turned to speak but found herself distracted by the furtive glances the sisters kept giving Eleazar, and then her. Eleazar noticed her confusion and stepped forward.
"Forgive me, Bella," he stated softly. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just...well, do you know about my ability?"
Yes, she knew. "You can tell what a person's gift is."
"Yes," he said. "I understand you're highly gifted and wanted to see for myself...but I'm not getting anything."
Bella raised a brow. "You don't see a gift?"
"No, no...I don't see anything," he said, looking around him. "There's no gift...but there's also no absence of a gift...I see nothing at all..."
He paused and looked at her closely some more. Next to him, Edward cocked his head, obviously listening to the man's thoughts.
"Of course," Edward whispered, still staring at Eleazar as his mind churned. "She's a shield."
Suddenly Kate darted forward and grabbed Bella's arm. Bella, fully aware of Kate's powers, instantly braced herself for the pain...but none came.
"Damn," Kate whistled. "She's a shield, all right. That jolt should've killed her!"
Edward growled. "You touched her with full power? Are you insane?"
"Oh relax, Eddie," Kate drawled. "You're so strung up you can't hear when I exaggerate. Of course I didn't touch her with full power." She grinned wickedly. "Bet she'd like it if I did..."
"That's enough," Tanya said quietly. Bella couldn't help but admire the force in her voice. Carlisle never used such a tone, at least never in front of her. She wasn't sure if this was a coven leader thing or a blonde thing...because Rosalie had the same quality.
"Bella," she started. "I'm sure all of us are in agreement on this question...how are you with your control? I understand you've been working at it all sum-"
The fireplace across the room, dark and barren save for a couple of logs a second ago, burst into life as a roaring fire ignited and continued to crackle inside it.
"Oh my," she whispered.
From the corner of her eyes, Bella saw each member of the family take a wavering step back. Damn it, she thought.
"I would never hurt you," she said quietly. "Certainly not intentionally, and accidents don't happen anymore."
"Of course," Tanya whispered. "I'm sorry for our reaction. To be perfectly honest I don't think we fully believed your existence until now."
"Extraordinary..." Eleazar muttered. "And she's not even a vampire yet..."
Both Edward's and Bella's fists clenched at that. Bella looked down, missing the curious glance Tanya sent her way.
"We're being quite rude," Tanya finally said. "Bella, you wanted to have a word with Edward?"
"Right, yes," Bella replied as she looked his way once again. "Edward, I can keep my scent away from you if we step outside."
He nodded quickly and headed out the door. Bella paused before following him and turned to the coven leader.
"With your permission?" She asked.
Tanya smiled softly and nodded.
"Thank you," Bella said. "And...thank you for the cabin. It meant a lot to me that you'd do that for us."
When none of them looked like they were going to respond, Bella hurriedly nodded her goodbye and left after Edward.
The night stretched on along with the mountains. There were too many clouds in this area which obscured the bright stars. Bella could hardly see twenty feet in front of her and instead relied on Edward's shimmering figure to guide her. They walked several feet apart for what felt like a long time but was probably only a few minutes. Still, when Edward finally stopped the house looked to be at least a mile or two away.
"I'd rather not listen to their thoughts," he explained quietly.
They probably can't smell my scent anymore either, she thought. Rosalie's voice rang in her mind. Be careful.
"Why are you here?" He asked suddenly, turning to face her.
Bella looked at him and sighed. "I'm here to ask you to come back home."
Edward let out an incredulous chuckle. "Really, you are insane."
"Esme's been calling you everyday," Bella said. "That doesn't mean anything to you?"
To his credit, it took only the mention of Esme's name for him to look wracked with guilt. He quickly got agitated and moved off to lean onto a tree. Before he did though, Bella spotted his eyes and cursed at herself for forgetting to do as she promised. A second later, strong gusts picked up around them and carried her scent away from Edward.
"Of course it does," Edward whispered as he studied the tree. "Bella, I'm very sorry for the things I said to you."
That was fast. "Thank you," she replied. "But you know that's not enough."
"What?"
Bella sighed. "Sorry-I mean, I'm not the only person you should be apologizing to. You wronged Rosalie too. And Emmett."
"Rosalie and Emmett..." he muttered darkly. "So you've really gone ahead with it then?"
Try not to set him on fire, she thought to herself. "If you're asking if I've entered into a relationship with Rosalie, then yes I have."
The branch Edward was clutching tore down the middle. "It won't work," he whispered. "There can only be one mate. It won't work."
Don't set him on fire, she repeated to herself. "Forgive me for being blunt...but do you have any experience on which to base that theory?"
This time he reacted with a laugh. A snide, derogatory laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. "No, no I suppose I don't," he said. "But come on, Bella! Is this really what you want for yourself? To always be the third wheel? To be the 'other woman'? To always have to explain to people what you are to her?"
Bella closed her eyes and counted to 10. "I love her, Edward. That's all that matters. She's my mate."
"You use that word like you understand what it means," he snarled. "You think you're the first one she's had an affair with?"
Twenty yards away, a large clearing at the foot of the mountain exploded so violently there appeared to be a lake of lava now in its place.
Edward took several steps back. "I thought you were in control..."
"I am," she growled back. "I chose to set the grass on fire and not your head."
She turned to face him, anger still pouring out of her eyes. "I don't have to justify or explain anything to you, but since you asked so nicely," she snarled herself and stepped towards him as he took a step back, "I'll say this just once. What goes on between Rosalie and me is none of your business. What goes on between Rosalie and Emmett, and between all three of us is none of your business. And if Emmett and Rosalie and I decide to get it on and buy matching rings to celebrate our sinful, degenerate life together, the only thing you're allowed to say is "congratulations. Good luck. I'm happy for you."
When she finally felt herself calm down, Edward was standing with his back against the tree. His hair was covered in ash from the burnt leaves above. Deflated, Bella backed away from him and sat heavily on the ground.
"Edward I don't want it to be 'none of your business,'" she sighed. "Your family is my family now, which makes you my brother. I hate that you're out here away from everybody. Forget Rosalie and Emmett. I know you feel something for Esme and Carlisle. You're killing them like this. They want you back. Please, Edward, you're their son."
She looked up to see him pacing back and forth in front of her. Occasionally he'd stop and look her way but just as quickly he'd resume until he finally stopped on the other side of the clearing. Bella didn't want to beg, but she knew she'd do it if it came down to it. All summer she had forced herself to pretend not to notice Esme's sadness. All summer she tried not to let her guilt overtake her or distract her from training. No, she knew she was not responsible for him leaving...but in a sense she did feel some measure of responsibility.
She watched him carefully, looking for a sign. At least the bitterness was gone from his face. Instead he looked blankly out towards the mountains. He stood still in the way only a vampire can stand. Bella found her thoughts wandering for a while and counted her own heartbeats to pass the time. The minutes ticked by, and still he remained unmoving, unwavering in his gaze.
"Your blood still calls to me," he finally said.
"I'll shut it up," she countered, then sighed. "I can work harder to keep my scent down for you. It's much easier now that there are no secrets. I can help you if you'll let me."
"Bella," he called softly as he turned around. "Is there anything I can say? Anything at all...that might get you to reconsider your situation?"
He was trying for diplomacy, she could see that, but his words still cut her like a knife. His eyes though, showed her he was genuinely concerned. So she focused on them even though she couldn't understand most of the emotions flashing through them.
"My situation...? Edward, I found the person who completes me. End of story."
A faint light extinguished from his eyes. "And have you forgotten about the Volturi? Both of our covens will be held accountable should they ever find out about this."
Bella was beginning to tire and she still had the journey back to contend with. She sighed, "I'm going to rely on Carlisle's judgement here and agree with him that the Volturi have better things to do than knock on our door. What they don't know can't hurt anyone, right?"
"Right..." He whispered. "I think I need to hunt again. Tell...tell Esme I'll be home soon."
And just like that, he was gone. Bella sighed in relief, just barely comprehending that she had accomplished her goal and grateful that she hadn't blown him up trying. The cell phone in her pocket was useless right now-Charlie probably didn't think she'd be trying to make any calls from uninhabited Alaska when he purchased her plan. Calling Alice was impossible. So she concentrated on clearing her mind and calming her emotions, and made the decision to return to the cabin as quickly as possible.
Her heart fell the moment she felt the phone buzz in her pocket. Missed call. Missed call. Missed call. You said you could handle it, she thought to herself bitterly. She didn't dare pause outside the cabin. The second she reached the door she took a deep breath and stepped inside, where Rosalie sat waiting for her.
Author's note II: Please, please review! I was a little miffed that fewer people reviewed the last chapter. People, I don't get paid for this so the only tangible thing I get out of it is hearing what you think. Yea, a little narcissistic I know. Review anyway!
See if you can pick up on the clues I left here for ya. They're rather integral to the plot :)