Disclaimer: don't own nofink except Aurora and Tristan. And Aurora and Bella's powers, My version of the transformation, and let me see… say Edward's form of clothing in chapther 4, you know who you are. And any other original ideas I have about cutting people off in the middle of my chapter and stating that would be way mean. Neways…sorry about that. I just read a story that was sorta frustrating and borderline copying.
THANKS TO MY BEST-FRIEND EM (A MJR TWI. FAN)!
Please review. You don't need me to repeat that I adore hearing from everyone and I do answer all of them so review. Looking for constructive criticism…have any?-then review!
Chapter 9: How to tell Charlie?
No one had any response to this so we walked back in the house. Tristan and Aurora were walking in front of everyone and all of us had our eyes on Aurora. Both she and I were still wearing our same clothes that we had been changed in. They seemed inadequate to her beautiful body and glossy light blonde hair that was moving in the breeze.
"Marvelous," I heard Rosalie whisper. She was staring at the silent Aurora as well. A feeling of love and affection and tragedy seemed to accompany Aurora. Her face was a marvel and the way she walked was a tragedy for all in her presence. So slow and fluid and sad. To follow perfection was difficult. Her pale skin had an eerie glow in the sunlight that was breaking through the clouds. Her eyes turned back to me and they were back to the terrifying bright red. Marvelous…
We walked in silence to the living room and everyone sat in their original places.
"Well, if we are part of something much larger than we expected… then I wish to know all of what everyone else knows…" Aurora's alluring voice called out. We all stared at her and I had difficulty repressing the beautiful melody. I watched her white teeth slowly bite her pale sculpted lip. "What are The Vampire Battles?" she stared at Tristan but the question was directed at the entire family.
"The Vampire Battles… started out as games…vampire competitions. They turned into a war over 200 years ago in Paris… we thought they still continued…" answered Jasper sadly, looking at her.
"Vampire competitions?" I asked.
"Yes, two neighboring covens of Paris decided to have games, life can get rather dull after a few hundred years," answered Edward. He had his jaw set and was staring at the wall in front of him.
"How did it turn into a war?" the siren voice of Aurora spoke and all of us would answer her. Even I, who had no idea how to answer her question wanted to give her answers. But she didn't ask me… or anyone else, she was staring at Tristan and he was looking above her, avoiding those eyes. His mouth was open and he was breathing loudly for my sensitive ears. His bottom lip trembled slightly.
"They killed him…" he choked out, his voice was barley louder than a whisper but everyone heard it perfectly. All the Cullens slowly turned to look at him. He kept staring above all of our heads at nothing. He swallowed slightly to recover his usual voice. It still hadn't returned to his usual deep, smooth base voice when he continued. "They killed Nickodemus…"
"Who?" Aurora prompted sadly after a minute.
"My maker, my best friend, my father…Nicodemus," he breathed. He was breathing shallowly and quickly.
"The vampire that made you…" Esme whispered staring at Tristan in awe and sympathy.
"Yes…" Tristan's voice had gotten louder and his tone harder. "Tempers got too high one night and I wasn't there!" he growled, still looking at nothing. His muscles around his jaw tightened and bulged as he gritted his teeth. "It was Edmund who had killed him. Nicodemus was an expert at every sport ever played. He was created in 900 A.D. and had loved sports…he studied them passionately. He could not be beaten and when he defeated dear Edmund…there was a fight…" he clenched his fists and stared down at the ground now.
I thought he was going to hit something. Aurora placed both of her white marble long-fingered hands on his large ones and his relaxed. He started breathing again. Tristan looked into her eyes and his jaw loosened. They said nothing for the longest time and everyone just looked at them both in silence. Aurora gracefully lifted one of her hands off his without a sound, even to my vampire ears, and placed it on his cheek. "Aurora," he breathed her full name. She placed her other hand on his lips and he said no more.
She took both of her hands away from his face and his eyes followed them as they silently returned to her sides.
He looked into her eyes and continued slowly. He loves her so much…I thought. Edward quietly grabbed my hand and I looked up at his face. "I love you…" I whispered ina voice so quiet that only Edward could hear me.
"Thank you," he answered just as quietly, "for loving me." At this I was instantly in my own world with Edward. I was managing to keep the glow inside of both of us. No one noticed us. His eyes drilled into me and I allowed them to. I couldn't imagine anything I would rather be doing than allowing him into my still heart. He moved his hand slowly and placed it on the left side of my neck, where he had bitten me. His beautiful gold eyes were my world at this moment. He placed his other hand on my cheek and he moved his thumb over my cheek.
His features looked tragically beautiful and I thought of the dead heart inside of me. He could still break me, he couldn't harm my body anymore but my soul belonged to him. My heart he could still break, even after it had stopped beating. He leaned in and I heard my own unnecessary breathing stop. He touched his forehead to mine lightly and our noses touched as he started speaking to me, "Never leave me Isabella… I need you." I strained with my new ears to hear this. He leaned in lightly and hesitated for a second before his lips touched mine lightly.
"I won't…" I whispered, when we parted. "I could never."
"Forever…?" he asked and I shivered as his hand slid down my arm and rested on my waist.
"Eternity…" I answered, without a doubt.
I realized the others had started speaking again and we turned away from each other reluctantly, remaining eye contact until the last possible moment. He squeezed my hand.
"On the night Nicodemus was killed, our side retaliated and both covens lost members. I was told the next day what had happened that night. I went to Victor, the leader of my coven, and he and I waged a terrible war against the other coven. Many loved Nicodemus; I was his only son…he was the only father I ever known. I plunged into darkness after his death and remained there, as 2nd in command of our side of the terrible war. I was the most skilled killer that had ever entered battle…we were winning until I left. When I came out of darkness, when I used my almost forgotten gift, I found the brightest light in existence." He looked at the incarnation of pure beauty beside him, Aurora looked back at him. "I left when I found her…"
We all waited for the rest but he wasn't planning on saying anymore. He pulled her to him and he kissed her.
Jasper continued on, "It was a worldwide panic when you left; we thought Marcus' coven had won it then. They looked everywhere for you…"
"Yes, I know…" Tristan said, looking away from Aurora's face with difficulty. "They searched the world… I still feel guilt at leaving them."
"Many died because of that…" Carlisle said looking off into the distance.
"Many had already died." Tristan growled. "I know… I killed them. Many died, yet more would have died if I had stayed!"
"I know that Tristan… I saw you 3 days ago. I had never believed the rumors of your skill until now…" Carlisle said calmly and turned to Tristan and saw his expression at the last sentence.
"Skill!" Tristan yelled at him horrified and Aurora placed her hand on his stomach, she was holding him back.
"Tristan!" she snapped. Her beautiful voice wasn't enough to call him back to her though.
"You would call it a skill? My curse! To have the ability to kill so easily? Effortlessly? To ENJOY it?" Tristan snarled furiously at the astounded look on everyone's face. "YES, I enjoy it, apart from my love for Aurora there is nothing else I enjoy more! Is that what you want to hear! It is a part of me, and I HATE IT!" he roared. "I-HATE-IT!" He took a step towards Carlisle. I was afraid for Carlisle; I too had seen Tristan 3 days ago.
Aurora violently spun Tristan around to face her. She reached up quickly and placed her arms around his neck and pulled herself into his arms. His huge glorious frame shuddered against her as he growled. The intensity of the growl shook the walls. Aurora buried her face in his neck. His breathing slowed and his arms stopped shaking and he was calming down in her arms, holding her a foot off the ground.
"Aurora…Aurora…I am so sorry." He gasped, coming out of his rage. His shoulders sagged hopelessly as he apologized.
"Tristan, I love you, what do you want me to say?" she said, and the goddess stroked his gorgeous face. "I love you, every part of you. I know you fight a part of yourself to be with me. You can continue fighting it, I know you can." She said to him as she ran her hands through his hair and caressed his back. I saw his large arm muscles flex as his hold on her tightened.
My hold on Edward's hand was very tight now too. Tristan enjoyed killing? I would never have imagined that. He obviously wasn't fond of the part of himself that enjoyed killing but it was still a terrifying thought. I hadn't been prepared for this revelation.
Edward leaned down to me and whispered in my ear. "Don't worry…Aurora's here." I understood him. Thank god she's with him, he is scary right now.
"We have to get these two to blood." Emmett said bluntly, breaking the silence.
"No thanks!" I grimaced quietly, before I thought it through.
"What?" came several voices, including Aurora's.
"What do you mean Bella?" asked Jasper. "You aren't thirsty?"
"I'm starving," said Aurora, her beautiful features were mixed up in confusion.
"Not really," I admitted. I was getting better at controlling the emotions that begged to shine through. I now gave away nothing.
"Incredible…" Edward breathed he leaned away to look at me. "Why aren't you hungry?" He was staring at me, incredulous.
"I don't know. Blood just doesn't sound appetizing," I answered him; my tone suggested he was overreacting.
"I can't believe it…" he breathed. "Bella, you never cease to amaze me." He leaned in and I caught his scent which was much stronger with my heightened senses, it was amazing of course. I felt, with all my senses, him kiss my lips lightly. I didn't think about risks anymore, there weren't any. I knotted my hands in his hair and clenched him to me. He didn't try to pull back and I think I would have laughed if he tried. He did though after about 6 minutes; he tried three times, each time using more strength than the previous, on the third attempt he broke loose of my hold.
"Bella," he gasped. "You're strong… Not strong enough though." He smiled wickedly at me and I was pulled back in his arms briefly, just enough time for me to expect him to kiss me again. Then he held me out away from him at arms length, I could still strongly smell his intoxicating scent. I struggled to get closer to him. His strong forearms were exposed and I saw the muscles flex as I struggled, they didn't let me get any closer. I looked at them and then looked back at him. He smiled at me. I almost melted right there. I struggled with all of my strength and he just watched me as I didn't get a centimeter closer.
"Stop…" I sighed. I loved looking at his golden eyes and I stared in them now.
"Why?" he asked in mock curiosity. "I have had to put up with your teasing too long now, I think." He pretended to consult his memory. "Hmmm…let's see…you just had a running spree and I couldn't catch you with Aurora dragging your slow legs." He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and a small smirk was playing around his lips. "And before that you hid yourself in a bathroom for an hour…I suppose that was a good thing though. I had to put some final touches on our room."
"Our room…" I said suggestively, teasing again. He visibly struggled with what I had just said.
"And you just said that…I think you deserve some sort of punishment." He said and he was almost breathless. My eyes grew wide and I stopped breathing.
Aurora laughed. "She has to see her father doesn't she?" I looked at her and the beautiful melody started again. I hadn't been paying much attention, I was still shocked Edward had suggested…right in front of everyone…ooo he was bad.
"What am I going to say to him?" I made the music stop and looked away from the angel Aurora.
Edward hung his head. "That depends…you can't really live with him now. Do you want to tell him the truth…what you are?" he asked looking nervous.
"No," I answered quickly. "That's not necessary."
He laughed. "I understand. What are you going to say?"
I thought for a couple minutes and when I looked up everyone was staring at me. "I will just tell him that I have decided to move in with you. That should turn out well, right?" The last question was very sarcastic.
Edward couldn't quite manage a smile before he turned to Alice, who had her eyes closed and was unnaturally still.
Alice then opened her eye and laughed. "Yes it will work actually."
Edward looked at her quizzically. "What are you hiding Alice? I can break in you know."
"I know…you always like to ruin surprises." She said this smiling and his brow creased, he was frustrated.
"Alice," he said it as a warning but I saw he was fighting a smile.
"What are you two hiding?" I asked curiously and I was slightly frustrated too, honestly, what part of me telling my overprotective father that I wanted to move in with a hormone-crazed teenage boy was funny? "I hate it when you do that." I muttered.
"I'm sorry Bella, but it would turn out better if it was a surprise." He placed his hand on my lower back and led me out the door and I couldn't tear my eyes away from his beautiful face. I stared at him as he looked back at me and I was led right to the black convertible Mustang. I loved the new Mustangs. I looked at Edward confused.
"Aurora and Tristan are coming with us…" he said and he lifted me up and set me in the back seat he jumped in after me and we sat back there waiting for Tristan and Aurora and whoever else was planning on coming.
"Why," I asked. "Not that I mind, but…why?"
He handed me a small box of contacts and a beautiful silver handle mirror. I looked up at him and he smiled at me. He leaned over to me and I closed my eyes and he kissed both of my eyelids with his sculpted lips. I breathed in his scent and I sighed. His voice called me to open my eyes to see his beautiful face. "Mmmmm…." He hummed. "I love your smell. You still smell the same. Beautiful…still like a freesia."
I smiled. I was glad I still smelled as good to him as he did to me. "Good…" I breathed. "I'm glad."
"I love your eyes as well, but Charlie may be a little alarmed by them." I looked in the mirror in my hand. I dropped it and Edward moved like lightning to catch it. He handed it back to me smiling. I took it again and couldn't believe my eyes. My eyes were the same bright red as Aurora's. Ours were not like Tristan's; they were not burgundy but a bright apple-red. My skin was as pale as Edward's and just as smooth and flawless. The area around my eyelids was light lavender and it gave them a smoky effect and my eyelashes were long and black. My hair was glossy and soft. My cheeks were hollowed, making my cheekbones more prominent. My jaw was strong and angular. The nose I had before had been replaced with a very small straight one and its end was round and cute. My once flat eyebrows were now perfectly arched. My lips were still very full and I was glad. It made me different from the rest of the Cullen women and nothing on Aurora was out of proportion in the slightest, it was me. My lips were now the same color as Aurora's too, a pretty pale rose color.
"I'm…" I gasped; I would be crying right now I realized.
"Beyond beautiful…" Edward finished, he slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. "I love you. You've always looked this beautiful to me…"
Aurora and Tristan came running out the door followed by Alice and Jasper. Aurora leaped into the driver's seat. I must have been used to Edward, the man, driving. I didn't expect Aurora to drive, I wonder what kind of driver she is, vampires like speed and Tristan isn't the one driving. Yikes!
Alice and Jasper ran to a separated building and pulled up beside us in a black convertible Jaguar. Both cars were lined up facing the exit of the Cullen's home.
"Oh no…" Edward sighed rolling his eyes. I looked over at Jasper's evil grin he was flashing Aurora. I then looked at the angel Aurora and she was returning it. Her eyes were still red so it was a bit more sinister.
"Readyyyyy…." Tristan called out.
My stomach clenched, I looked over at Edward. My mouth was hanging open, "Edward?" I called out in panic.
He hugged me closer to him, "Hold on, Bella!" He was smiling hugely.
"Go!" Tristan's deep seductive voice yelled excitedly.
Both Aurora and Jasper floored it. The cars spun out and when we did start going we hit 60 mph in 4 seconds. It was terrifying. Aurora's laughter reached me as the air blew by as a pounding blare in my ears.
Aurora's Mustang was pulling ahead as we hit the main road reaching 110 and climbing. "You can't beat me, Jazz," she called out. "That is Italian trash and this is American muscle baby!"
Jasper shifted gears and the Jaguar started pulling ahead. "Ha, it all depends on the driver Aurora!"
Aurora gritted her teeth and we were reaching 180 miles per hour now. "You shouldn't have said that Jasper," Tristan chuckled.
The two cars were so close Edward could have reached out and touched the Jag. My body barely jerked as Aurora shifted, she is an excellent driver. With the last shift she pulled in front of the Jag and Jasper was not joking any more he had his full concentration on the road. His eyes were narrowed as if he could will the car to go faster. I laughed now. A lot of my fear of speed was evaporating with every minute I was a vampire. I started liking speed. I laughed again and Tristan turned back to look at me and he laughed too. Edward pulled me closer and kissed my temple as he laughed with us. We were rounding the last bend to Charlie's house and Aurora down shifted and so did Jasper. They got back to 3rd gear and then suddenly stopped in Charlie's gravel driveway. Aurora yanked up the emergency break and hopped out, smiling. Tristan too jumped over the door and walked around to Aurora. He wrapped his large arm around her waist and kissed her forehead.
"Great driving, Rory," he moved his lips against her skin.
She ran her hands along his broad shoulders, "Thanks."
"I can't wait until you can really thank me," he whispered and she pushed him away in mock astonishment.
"You're bad," she gasped.
"You have no idea," his deep seductive voice breathed.
"Okay then!" I said before I pounced on Edward who was running his hand up and down my spine. "Who is coming with me?"
"You go in alone, Bella," Edward said. "You will be fine. Just tell him you are moving in with me." Right, no big deal. Yeah… "Jasper will be helping from out here; he will calm Charlie as much as possible."
I nodded nervously at him and bit my lip slightly. His face was encouraging and supportive, he smiled at me.
I heard Charlie moving around in the house. I was getting nervous now. He wasn't going to be happy with this decision. I leaned up and fiercely kissed Edward's lips, he was slightly shocked.
I turned around and walked towards the house. I reached the door and turned back to look at everyone. They were standing there, smiling at me encouragingly. I placed my hand on the knob and took a deep unnecessary breath as I listened to Charlie move around in the kitchen and I realized it was the morning. The unappetizing smell of cheese and eggs swarmed my senses as I turned the knob. I walked into the familiar hallway with the living room off to the left and walked down the hall to the kitchen.
When I entered the kitchen a rich appetizing smell filled me and I blinked. I felt the brown contacts move slightly on my eye and then they floated back into their intended place. I was stunned by the inviting smell, it smelled…delicious. I realized with a thrill it was Charlie that I smelled, and I struggled to put all my emotions in check.
"I'm back, Charlie," I said and I remembered the change in my voice. It was slower, smoother and purer.
He spun around and his jaw dropped; the frying pan full of scrambled eggs clattered to the ground. That's not good. I made a mental note to take this slow.
"I am feeling better," I said calmly; pretending not to notice his reaction.
"Bells…" he breathed. "You look…different."
I looked down at the floor and I twirled a piece of my long hair in my fingers. "Um… yeah… Charlie, I need to talk to you about something." so much for slowly.
"What is it Bella?" his voice sounded a little more severe now. Calm down! I scolded myself. You're acting strange.
"Maybe we should sit down." I suggested. I saw his reaction and that probably was not something a father wanted to hear after his daughter returned from a 3 day "sickness" at her boyfriend's house, especially when he had no proof of this "sickness". "Um…or we could stand…here." I corrected quickly. He sank down into a chair and covered his face with his hand. I remained standing in the doorway.
He rubbed his face and looked at me like he hadn't slept in a few days. He probably hadn't slept well. "Are you pregnant?" he asked.
"Oh God no!" I yelled quickly, wow that wasn't expected. I could hear Alice and Jasper laughing from somewhere outside and Edward's voice "Shut up."
Charlie sighed and smiled weakly. "Thank goodness… you had me worried there."
This isn't going to be easy. "Dad, I am moving in with Edward." I decided to get it over with as soon as possible; I bit my lip and waited for his reaction.
He stared at me for a moment and no emotion showed through. I watched warily, something had to be coming.
"Bella…" he sighed and his face went back in his hands and he rested his elbows on the dining table. He looked back up at me. "You are not moving in with him."
"Dad, I am." I said, adding as much determination as possible to my voice.
"Bella!" the anger was going to come now. He stood up. "You are not moving in with that boy!"
"Charlie!" I yelled. I saw that my use of his name hurt him slightly. "Dad…" I added softer. "I am not asking you."
I heard muffled arguing going on outside. "I am not going in there!" I heard Aurora's beautiful voice whisper harshly. "Oh yes you are. It was in my vision. You go in there and somehow convince him to let Bella live with us. …Go!" that was all Alice.
Next thing I knew there was a soft knock at the front door. Charlie looked at me confused. He didn't have vampire hearing like me. Then his face changed and he had a look I read easily: That better not be that boy! I cringed inwardly.
Charlie walked out of the room towards the door. I heard every creak of his step, his hand reach out to grab the doorknob, its slow whine at being opened. I was listening so intently that Charlie's loud gasp was like thunder. Then I heard a loud thud and I assumed Charlie had seen Aurora and passed out.
I heard her mutter, "Oh yes…wonderful idea Alice…absolute genius."
I walked swiftly to the hall and when I looked at Aurora I was taken aback, as always. She had disguised her eyes by concentrating on water and they were a lovely shade of light clear blue.
I blinked and took in her radiance as she slowly sank to the floor to check on Charlie. "He's just knocked out," she sighed, frustrated.
"Can you blame him," I said lightly walking over to them, smiling.
Her head snapped up and she glared at me. "That's not funny."
"I know," I laughed.
Our heads snapped back to Charlie as he took a loud ragged breath.
"He's coming to," she said.
"Maybe you shouldn't stand over him like that," I suggested innocently. "He'll just pass out again."
She looked at me and her eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Perhaps you're right." She darted off to go sit in the living room to wait for us.
I leaned over Charlie and as he was coming to I watched his jugular pulse with the flow of blood. I was fascinated by the way it quickened as he got more and more awake. He opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. "Are you alright Charlie?" I asked, faking severe concern, as if I had no idea why my father had just fainted.
"I saw an angel Bells…I thought I was dead." He answered me, sounding delusional and almost not believing himself. I heard Aurora's huff. I fought back the smile that was creeping on my lips; I could fight my vampire displays of emotion but not human ones. "Why are you smiling Bells?" he asked me watching my face.
"You just met Edward's cousin, his birth cousin. She has moved in with Carlisle and Esme as well." I quickly made up.
"Oh good lord," I heard Aurora sigh.
I helped Charlie up, careful to only use what strength I had before the transformation. I tried to lead him into the living room but we only got to the doorway before he saw Aurora again. She stood up to greet us. Charlie was frozen with his mouth open. She stood up and floated over to us. She really had no idea what her walking did to all of us. Charlie swallowed hard, and then he put on a stupid grin and sagged a little. I used a bit of my vampire strength to keep him standing.
"I am very glad to meet you Chief Swan," her absolutely irresistible siren voice smoothly escaped her lips. I jabbed Charlie a little and he stood up and looked into her water blue eyes and attempted to answer the temptress.
"I, um…it's…glad…yes," he ended up sticking with yes. I rolled my eyes but couldn't blame him. Living perfection was in his living room, I didn't even know what I would say to her if I were him.
"I would love it if you allowed Bella to come and live with us…" she blinked and her eyelashes fluttered quickly.
"She can," he said submissively. No one could resist Aurora, I doubted if females could have and men…men had no chance.
"We'll both come by everyday after school." She promised and I heard Charlie's heart flutter.
"YES!...I mean…okay." He said happily.
I heard Tristan's voice from outside. "He better stop acting like that or I am going to beat his ass!" That was our queue.
"Well we had better get going, bye dad," I tiptoed up to kiss him on the cheek and had to tear myself away from the smell, it was very appetizing.
"Goodbye, Chief Swan," Aurora breathed.
And that was how we left him. In a trance at Aurora's astounding beauty and that he had just given his 17 year old daughter permission to move in with her boyfriend and his beautiful cousin.
I looked over at Aurora when we were safely outside to door. I whispered fast and quiet, "After school?"
"Yes, today will be Tristan and my first day; Carlisle registered us a few minutes ago. Thank God you told him I was Edward's cousin, that is the story we are going with."
Wow, the goddess and her dark angel are going to high school, this aught to be interesting.
Please review. It means a lot. Give me your full opinions and tell me if you have any problems with the story. I like to hear from everyone and I would appreciate it is no one copied anything. Thanx.
i updated my profile and i think you may find some answers to your questions there. i explain alot of stuff and give little hints. hehe...teasers.
Sydney
