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Chapter 7

~Coming Home~

I know in my bones

I've been here before
The ground feels the same

though the land's been torn
I've a long way to go

The stars tell me so
on this road that will take me home

Excerpt: Going Home ~ Mary Fahl

When the winding drive straightens, letting us out in front of the wood and glass structure I used to call home, something clenches tight within. Myriad feelings fight for domination inside me: contempt, a vague longing, smoldering hatred, loneliness, awkwardness, nostalgia... all fueled and propelled by a deep, abiding anger.

Isabella gasps beside me.

"What is it?" Estranged family forgotten, my eyes seek out hers.

"What happened here that you're filled with such a burning anger?"

"Why do you think that?" My eyes turn back to the crescent-shaped driveway.

"God, Edward, I can feel it pouring off you."

When I felt pain in my chest, Isabella knew. Now she could sense the conflicting feelings I have for my family? I've never heard of such a thing—not that I'm any authority on the mated.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why you keep feeling my pain. There are some very raw and ugly emotions inside me, sweet one. I don't want you to be negatively affected." I rub my knuckles over her prominent cheekbone, once again noting how thin and frail she is.

My attention is drawn to the front door, which swings open. Four figures emerge slowly, and my jaw clenches involuntarily.

"Wait here," I instruct, stepping out of the car.

My eyes light on the representatives here to deal with me. Carlisle, my sire. Esme, the mother figure I could never find it in myself to be angry with. Alice, the meddling psychic. And Jasper, the sneaky empath I'm sure to clash with—the control he tries to visit on others merely angers me further. When my eyes roam over him, his lip curls with disdain.

Come back now that you need the useless vegetarians, huh?

I bare my teeth at him, and Carlisle shoots him a look. "Jasper," he says in a quiet voice, and that's all that's needed to get Jasper to toe the line. What loyalty the great doctor inspires. I both love and hate Carlisle, the feelings at war within me. They swirl and dance against one another like yin and yang, black and white.

I'm startled by the sudden appearance of Esme beside me. She reaches out to cradle my face between her hands. "My boy," she whispers.

"Esme," I acknowledge.

I never could be cruel to her, and it appears I still can't.

"Welcome home."

"This isn't my home, Esme. It hasn't been for a long time."

"You're wrong, Edward. This always has been and always will be your home."

Jasper snorts, and I'm halfway to him before I can stop myself. Gnashing my teeth, I snarl.

"Boys, please." Esme appears at my side again, and she takes my hand. The withering look she shoots Jasper wipes the smirk from his face, but he says nothing.

Alice places her hand on Jasper's chest, looking up at him with her head tilted. "He needs to be here," she whispers. "For her."

Before I can respond, Carlisle is stepping forward, approaching me at a human pace. My eyes flit to him, and I'm filled with distrust. With the exception of Jasper, they're treating me like a dangerous mental patient. Alone, I can't do them any harm, so why is it so important not to run me off?

"Edward." Carlisle nods politely.

"Carlisle."

"It's good to see you, Son. I've missed you. We all have."

"Well, now you're lying." A sardonic smirk twists my lips.

Carlisle looks me straight in the eye—the way he always looks at every situation head on—and shakes his head. "Edward, no matter what's gone before or what conflicts there are among us, we're family."

"Are we? Even though I'm the black sheep? The bad little boy who refused to drink that watered down sludge the rest of you do?" I step closer to him and hiss. "Look at my eyes, Father. Nothing has changed."

In my mind, the memory of the day I left here twenty years ago stirs. I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not live under this roof while drinking human blood, that I would not be allowed to endanger the treaty with those vile dogs.

"Everything has changed. You're mated now, and she needs us."

I glare back at him, but I hold my tongue. I want to rant and rave, to deny that I need them, but Isabella must come first. All of this is for her.

The door of the car snicks open, and I growl low in my throat. My beautiful mate has a mind of her own. It shouldn't surprise me that she's unable to stay away; in reality, I'm surprised she lasted this long without interfering.

"Stay where you are, Isabella."

Alice, who has been uncharacteristically silent, suddenly animates. She skips close to me, but is smart enough not to get between me and my mate—that would be a mistake.

"Hi, Bella!" She waves, a welcoming smile on her face.

A small gasp from Isabella draws my attention. Her face pales, and her eyes burn into Alice. "My name is Isabella."

Alice cocks her head. "Don't your friends call you Bella?"

Isabella's face is stony. "No. Nobody that gives a damn about me calls me that any longer."

My sister's face falls, her lower lip pouting slightly. "I'm sorry, Be—Isabella." Then her eyes look up into my face reproachfully. "I've missed you. You've deprived me of my favorite brother for so long."

And without warning, she launches herself at me, and my arms instinctively catch her. Alice's legs wrap around my waist like a vice, and she hugs me tight enough to break human bones. I'm not sure how I feel about her actions, but I don't have time to ponder it because I feel a numbing calm settling over me. Jasper.

A few things happen at once.

I set Alice down on her feet.

Carlisle, Esme, and Alice all look toward Isabella.

In a blur, I'm over to Jasper, slamming him up against the wall, snarling.

"I told you never to manipulate my emotions again, empath."

His eyes burn with anger, and I know the sight of my red irises up close bothers him more than any of the others. He shoves me hard, pushing me away.

"It's your mate I was trying to calm, not you!" Jasper rushes me, pressing me against a tree which tilts but doesn't fall. "Selfish asshole," he mutters before returning to stand beside Carlisle.

I'm too far from Isabella. The four of them are between us, and my fingers itch to bury themselves in her hair. As the feeling fills me, her red-faced stony gaze leaves Alice and turns my way. Her legs are about to give out; I can tell.

Before anyone can reach her, lay their hands upon her, I'm there to catch her in my arms. Scooping her up, I retreat behind the car, issuing a warning growl.

"Edward," Carlisle admonishes.

"Nobody touches her. Are we clear?" My teeth show.

"We would never harm your mate."

"Are we clear? Because if not, we get back in the car and leave here now."

Isabella's arms wrap around my neck, and she presses her face into my shirt as she takes deep gulping breaths.

"No! Please, Edward, you can't go. We can help her," Alice calls out.

"Alice," Carlisle warns. "We're clear, Edward. Please at least stay and hear what I have to say. For the sake of your mate, if for no other reason."

Isabella's arms tighten on me, and she snuggles closer.

"What's wrong?" I whisper into her hair even though I know they can still hear me.

"I can't stay here with them. I'm sorry."

My eyes rise to meet Carlisle's, knowing he heard her.

Esme moves closer, but not far enough to invade my personal space.

"Isabella? I'm Esme, Edward's mother. It's so nice to meet you, dear. I can understand if you don't want to stay in our house, but I have a lovely little cottage on the other end of the property. You and Edward would have privacy, your own space. Do you think that would be acceptable, sweetie?"

If anyone else had tried that, I would have cut them down at the knees, but this was Esme—a woman who had always accepted me no matter what choices I made.

Isabella's head lifts up, and she turns it Esme's way. She looks her over carefully before asking me to put her down.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yes."

Placing her carefully on her feet, I watch as she walks unsteadily over to Esme. The urge to assist her is strong, but I restrain myself, knowing it would only incense her. Isabella comes to a stop in front of Esme, raising a hand to touch her face. After what seems like forever, but is actually only thirty seconds, Isabella speaks.

"Yes, thank you, Esme. We'll stay in the cottage. I'm not comfortable with everyone in your family." Isabella's eyes light on Jasper. "I want him to stay away from me." She points a shaking finger at him.

Before I've thought about it, I'm standing between Isabella and Jasper, my lip curling. "Do you hear what she said? You keep away."

Before Jasper can respond, Carlisle steps in. "Edward, we'll abide by Isabella's wishes. Why don't the two of you settle into the cottage? We'll talk more later."

"Okay, fine."

"Is it all right if Alice comes around?"

I look to Isabella, who nods her assent.

"Yes, that would be fine. Thank you."

~*RK*~

I'm well aware of the location of the cottage. It's just far enough from the main house so my family won't be able to hear us talking, but if an emergency arises, a simple yell will rouse them.

Isabella curls into a ball on the passenger seat, remaining there as I bring our things inside. The cottage is newly cleaned and dusted, the cloying smell of furniture polish lingering in the air. A glance in the refrigerator tells me this was the expected outcome all along—it's filled with healthy food, milk, juice, and Neupogen.

Lifting her out of the car, I carry her straight to the bedroom, tucking the down comforter around her slight body.

"Edward," she calls out softly, and some compulsion inside forces me to turn her way. "Don't leave me."

"Of course not."

"Lay with me?"

I arrange myself on top of the covers, so she won't catch a chill. She already looks so pale and washed out from the meeting with my family.

"What's wrong, Isabella?" I stroke her hair gently, swiping a few strands off her forehead. As my fingers brush over her skin, I realize she's burning up.

"I just need to sleep, Edward." She gazes up at me sleepily, and I think she's about to drift off, but then she grabs my sleeve. "I don't like Jasper. He's harboring a lot of anger toward you, and he made me feel funny."

I sigh, scrubbing a hand over my face. She has no idea how right she is—Jasper and I do not get along, and I doubt we ever will. "Can you explain how he made you feel?"

"It was like a wet blanket being draped over me. I'm already so weak, Edward, and whatever he did made me feel as if I might just crumple up, die, and blow away." A lone tear makes its way down her cheek, and rage flares inside me, sharp and hot.

"I'm sorry." I place a kiss on her blistering hot forehead. "Jasper is an empath; he can manipulate the emotions of others. He was probably trying to keep us all calm. I'll make sure he doesn't do that to you again. If he does, he will answer to me." I growl freely, since my natural states of being don't seem to disturb Isabella in the least. It feels good to have the freedom to be myself instead of pretending I'm human.

She gazes up at me with a mixture of affection and gratitude, her hot hand caressing my cheek. "Thank you. I knew you would understand." Her eyes close, and she drifts off into a deep sleep.

I watch over her, feeling the heat radiating off her skin, and my anger grows with it. There's no way I can leave her alone, yet I need to talk with Carlisle. I run through a few different scenarios, but it's unnecessary; a knock sounds on the door just moments later.

Carlisle and Alice stand on the flagstones out front. I consider inviting them inside—we're more than capable of talking without waking Isabella—but find I prefer they don't invade her space any more than they already have.

There is one order of business that must be made clear before we begin. I flash over to Alice, hissing in her face, and she blanches. "You tell your mate that if he ever uses his Jedi mind tricks on Isabella again, there will be hell to pay. I'll break him in half—family or not." Then I turn my fiery gaze on Carlisle. "Keep a tighter leash on your son. Nobody goes near Isabella without my permission."

Alice merely nods.

Carlisle holds his hands up in a placating gesture, ever the peacekeeper. "Edward, I apologize. I'll speak with Jasper. We want you and Isabella both to feel safe here. She's lovely, Son."

"She's dying." I keep my voice steady with great difficulty.

"We know," Alice says softly. "I think we can help her."

"It's why I came. Surely you don't think I would be here if I had any other option."

Carlisle looks hurt. "I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping..."

"Hoping what? That I would crawl home to you after you kicked me out of your house? Nothing has changed. Look into my eyes, Sire."

He growls at me, and I smile because I got a rise out of the unflappable coven leader.

"Yes, I can see that your eyes are claret; however, they are rather dark. When's the last time you fed? Are you sure you still want to continue that lifestyle now that you're mated?"

I whirl on him. "I fed a few weeks ago, just before I found Isabella. Why should being mated change my diet?"

"You're still going to seduce women and drink from them?"

I snort, glaring at Alice. "I should have known you'd be watching me. No, I'm not going to seduce more women. That's not my only food source, you know."

"So you will continue to kill?"

"You self-righteous prick! Don't look down your nose at me. I'm a fucking vampire, and I live off human blood. You are the abnormal ones—living off that poor substitute for sustenance. I kill the dregs of the human population. Those who would harm innocents."

Carlisle shakes his head, obviously disagreeing. "And what does your mate think of your feeding habits?"

"We haven't discussed it in detail, but she is aware and supports me."

"Carlisle, there are more pressing issues we should address. Time is growing short." Alice looks between us, and what I see in her eyes reminds me of why I came here in the first place—not to fight with my family, but to save my mate.

Carlisle sighs. "You're right, Alice. Thanks for the reminder. Edward, I've been working on a Neupogen replacement for Isabella. I believe this will eliminate the need for the Neupogen and will support her blood much more effectively." He pauses, waiting for my nod before he continues. "I'm also working on a cure for her blood anomaly. I'm pretty close, but I'll need a fresh blood sample to continue my research."

Confusion fills me. Granted, Alice would have seen us coming, and I could believe there were better formulations than Neupogen to help bolster Isabella's blood, but I'm thrown for a loop when he speaks of the larger issue of her genetic anomaly.

"Wait... you know about her disorder? How is that possible?"

A faint movement to my right draws my eyes to Alice.

It's because I saw her, Edward. I've been watching for a while, and as soon as I knew who she was and we obtained a blood sample, Carlisle's been working on a cure.

"You saw her how long ago? I just met her two weeks ago."

"Three years."

"For three years you've known about my mate, and you didn't tell me?" My voice is rising, and I fight to keep it under wraps.

"Well, no. I didn't know why she was important. I started having visions of her, and then I found out who she was. We managed to get a vial of her blood to work with. I just knew she was important to this family, but not why. Edward, if I knew she was yours, I would have told you."

I look deep into her eyes, and although she's effectively blocking me from her mind, the truth is there in her amber irises. "I believe you." But my mind goes over all that transpired in the past two weeks. "And did you know that she would nearly end me?"

"No! By the time I saw the vision, it was too late—she'd cut her hand, and you'd ingested her blood. We debated stepping in, but I could see coming there wouldn't change things for the better. Almost immediately, Isabella felt a pull to save you, and I realized she was yours and you were hers."

"So you've been working on a cure for the anomaly? You feel you might be close?" My eyes bore into Carlisle.

"Yes, Son. I need a fresh blood sample from her, but I'm pretty sure we can counteract the chromosome. And then... well, it's up to the two of you."

"I'll be able to change her?"

"Most likely. If it's what she wants."

"She does," Alice and I speak simultaneously.

For the first time in twenty years, I feel something tightly wound deep inside me begin to loosen.

~*RK*~

A/N: Yeah, so. . . . little bit of tension around the old homestead. Some complex family dynamics. More will be revealed as we go. Many of you have asked if Bella can be injected with venom ala Breaking Dawn in order to turn her. No, she can't. Bella's blood consumes venom, so unless a cure is found, she's out of luck.

RK is up for fic of the week at The Lemonade Stand. Your vote would be much appreciated. Thanks to the lovely Nic for pimping out the story! Mwah!

Thank you all for reading. See you next week!

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