Chapter 6 – Down the rabbit hole..
It had been a week since I'd been living with the Cullen family and things were okay. I still had nightmares regularly, but Jasper was always there for me if Carlisle was at work. Esme was always there to help me with my schoolwork or if I just needed someone there and well the others were too. The thing is…I'd noticed some things about my new family. There eyes weren't a normal colour as it was, they were a honey gold, but I had noticed that they also turn black, and I swore that eyes don't just change colour. Another thing is that I don't think any of them sleep…it's a strange thought but whenever I wake up multiple times in the night at least one or more of the family members are immediately there. I needed more information and so I began to do what any other normal person would do in this situation…google it. I spent hours and hours researching it until I was sure I had come up with the right conclusion. I snapped my laptop shut and stood up from my armchair, I placed it on the seat and made my way out of my bedroom. I headed down the hall and knocked on Carlisle's door.
"Come in." he called out and I walked inside and stood looking at him as he was filling in forms whilst at his desk. I stared at him for a few moments and looked around the room causing him to look up at me "Is everything alright, sweetheart?" he asked with a look of concern on his face, I looked back at him and folded my arms.
"I don't know how to say this Carlisle so I'm just going to say it…You're all vampires aren't you?" I took a breath and looked at him, his brows furrowed, and he stood up "Noelle…there is no easy way to say this but yes, we are." I gasped and my arms fell to my sides "Why didn't you tell me?" it was strange, I was more upset they didn't tell me more than the fact they were vampires.
"Noelle, it' not that we didn't want to tell you, we didn't want to scare you. But I can assure you, you're safe here. We don't feed on humans, we feed on animals which is why our eyes are gold." He explained walking over to me, I looked up at him "I know you wouldn't hurt me; you would have done it by now." I said simply "I'm more upset at the fact you didn't tell me, do you not trust me?" Carlisle sighed and pulled me into a hug "I'm sorry we didn't tell you, please understand we just wanted to keep you safe." He explained.
"What do you mean?" I said curiously.
"There are people out there of our kind that don't think lightly on humans knowing about vampires. We won't let them hurt you though, you don't need to worry about that." He said as he gently tucked my hair behind my ears and kissed my forehead.
"Okay. Well, I wouldn't tell anyone." I said and looked up at him "You're my family."
"I think there are some things you need to know well now that you know." He said gently and took my hand, we walked downstairs where everyone was waiting in the living room, it's like they knew which was strange. I went and sat in the armchair that I had now pretty much claimed as my own, I looked at Carlisle who had sat down next to Esme. I waited for Carlisle to speak and was abit surprised when it wasn't him "Noelle, being vampires, we have super speed, strength, eyesight and hearing. Some of us have gifts though for example I can read minds." Edward spoke softly as he looked at me, he could read minds? That was quite the invasion of privacy, he let out a laugh "Yes it can be, but I'll only read your mind if absolutely necessary." He then looked at Alice who sat up "I can see the future depending on a person's decision." she smiled, she must have known I was going to be okay with the whole vampire thing then. I watched as Alice turned to Jasper and he looked at me "I can feel and manipulate people's emotions." So literally Jasper calms me down…I looked at him and smiled gently "It's okay." I said and then looked around the room and no one else said anything "Is there anything else I need to know?" I asked.
"The only other thing is that we can't go in the sun, it doesn't hurt us, but it does reveal who we are. Our skin is like glass and reflects as such in the sun." Carlisle finally said and I nodded "Alright well I know now…You can all like go back to being your normal selves. I don't want you to hide who you are because of me." I spoke gently and looked at them all, I was greeted with smiles "No more secrets." Esme said softly.
Emmett was the first to stand, a big grin on his face and I knew he was up to something. In not even half a second he was across the room and throwing me gently onto his back "Well this is what you've been missing!" he said and held onto me, it was like I blinked, and I was in another room "Emmett!" I laughed as within seconds we were in another room and then another and another until we were back into the living room, and I was sat back on the couch "That was super-fast." I laughed and he did too.
The rest of the morning went okay, there was nothing unusual with my daily routine to be honest I ate breakfast that Esme made and then I did my online schoolwork and now I was just sat on my bed reading a book. That's when I heard the doorbell ring, I got up and made my way downstairs out of curiosity as no one ever came to the house. As I got to the top of the final set of stairs that led to the front door, I could see Carlisle talking to Chief Swan, I got a horrible feeling in my stomach because I knew that they were talking about my father.
I saw Carlisle invite Chief Swan in and so I quickly dashed to the living room, Esme came in after me and sat down next to me taking my hand "It'll be okay." She said gently and I nodded as Carlisle and Chief Swan walked into the room "Noelle, Chief Swan is here to have a chat with you, is that alright?" he asked and I nodded. Chief Swan came in and sat down on the sofa opposite me "How are you doing, Noelle?" he asked "I'm okay, thanks." I responded and leant against Esme who was rubbing soothing circles into the back of my hand "Your father is going to trial for his offences against you, there's no easy way for me to say this Noelle but you will need to go to court and speak on the stand. As you're a minor you will need an adult present." I felt my whole body go numb as he spoke, I didn't want to see my father again let alone stand up in front of a whole courtroom and speak of how he hurt me. I just sat there staring at him.
"Noelle, love?" Esme said gently but it was like my hearing was muffled. I could feel the tears and the anxiety building up inside me. Carlisle walked over and crouched down so his eyes were level with mine, he lifted my chin with his finger and spoke softly "Noelle you need to tell us how you feel…" he said gently, and I shook my head "I…I…" I couldn't get the words out, without even thinking I stood up from the couch and ran out of the room, I headed straight for my room. When I got there, I ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut and locked it. I slid down the door and began to sob. I can't do this.