Thanks so much, traceybuie and romana973 for the kind reviews!
It makes writing more encouraging!
With love, Ash
We are just outside the home now, our presence now known by all the vampires here. I mentally prepare myself to be around others and find myself surprisingly excited about the concept.
A man is waiting for us at the top of the porch. He was gorgeous of course. Standing slightly approve six feet, he had a slender, but muscular build. His blond hair was combed back, making it impossible to miss his golden eyes. He seemed relieved to see Alice and embraced her when she sprinted up the steps to him. I watched Jasper's reaction, curious about their relationship. However, Jasper surprised me by smiling fondly at Carlisle and shaking his hand.
He turned to look at Peter and Charlotte who stood at the bottom of the steps waiting patiently. His eyes glanced at me, smiling politely, before turning back to the couple before them. "Peter. Charlotte. I must thank you for coming at such short notice. And I feel I must apologize for the reason for our reunion." His tone was kind and grateful, but I could sense the underlining of guilt.
Peter nodded and spoke, "Carlisle, do not worry. We are here to witness as we were asked. I know you are innocent of the senseless crimes you have been accused of."
Carlisle smiled kindly at his words and nodded, "Thank you for your kindness. It means much to my family." He turned his eyes to me, curious. I was behind Peter and Charlotte a few paces back. Peter turned and offered me his hand. I took it and let him lead me up the steps to stand before Carlisle.
"This is our friend, Bella. We met her several decades ago and came across her again on our journey here."
I smiled politely at Carlisle and was surprised when he stretched his hand to shake mine. I thought back trying to determine when was the last time I shook someone's hand but came up empty.
"It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Bella," He spoke kindly, shaking my hand, "I do wish it was under different circumstances, of course."
I smiled at Carlisle's kind words. "The pleasure is mine. I was quite curious when I met Alice and Jasper. I understand the graveness of your situation and Peter's respect for your family helped me in my decision to help if I am welcome."
"All I could ever ask of you is to witness. I do pray a fight is avoidable at all costs." Carlisle nodded.
"Then witness, I shall. I am also curious about your lifestyle. Alice told me some on our journey and I was hoping to trouble you for more information." I murmured shyly.
"Oh, of course! I would be more than happy to tell you of the choices I made that led me to my life now. Please, come in. I would love for you to meet the rest of my family." Carlisle said, gesturing with his hand toward the door.
I followed the others and the house was even more amazing on the inside. It was open and bright., with few internal walls, with a wide staircase to the left and a raised area with a grand piano to the right. The southern wall was almost completely made of glass. I could see a river running through on the other side of the glass.
The room was full of vampires, several that had been outside and came in to see the newcomers. I notice Alice going around hugging several. A woman with a heart-shaped face and dimples came toward us and took Carlisle outstretched hand. She had caramel-colored hair and a soft, rounded figure. She studied me as Carlisle introduced her as, "My wife, Esme."
Smiling, she greeted me, "Welcome, Bella. If there is anything you need during your stay please do not hesitate to ask for it."
I smiled at her kindness and thanked her for it. Carlisle continues on introducing the rest of his family. "This is Rosalie and Emmett." Emmett was huge. I would not want to get on his bad side. He had short, curly brown hair, dimples, and his arm was wrapped around who I would assume was his mate. I deemed her the most beautiful vampire I had ever seen. She had long blond hair and had the figure all girls would kill for. I smiled politely and they answered with a smile of their own. Though Rosalie's was more of a grimace.
"You know Alice and Jasper of course. So last but not least is Edward." The man before me was godlike. He had bronze hair going in every direction, a strong jawline, and a lean, muscular body. He was studying me curiously with his golden eyes. "Hello, Edward." I murmured after getting over the initial shock of his appearance.
He seemed to blink away from his thoughts and nodded politely, "It's nice to meet you, Bella" I might have melted on the inside to goo at him saying my name.
If meeting Carlisle enormous was not exhausting enough, Carlisle took me around introducing me to all his friends that had gathered to help his family. There were human drinkers and animal drinkers in the mix. Other covens and nomads like myself.
After meeting everyone we sat in the living room and Carlisle told me his story.
He had been born and changed in the 1600s. A son of an Anglican pastor, Carlisle took over from his father in hunting vampires. On one raid, he found a coven of vampires living in the sewers of London and that was when he was changed. Carlisle had been disgusted at what he had become and did not want this life. That was until he learned by trying to starve himself, he could live off of animals and not humans. He found a new meaning in life and had perfected his control after a few centuries. He became a doctor and enjoyed helping people. His vampire sense gave him the ability to help more effectively than a human doctor could. Sometime after, he started creating his family. All the ones he changed had been at the brick of death.
I was amazed at this coven. This lifestyle was something I did not think possible.
They were all very nice. There was another coven of animal drinkers that they thought of as their "cousins." I found Tanya and her sisters quite funny and hoped they would see me as a friend. Carmen and Eleazar were as kind as Carlisle and Esme. Eleazar had been studying me for some time before I lost my patience and had to ask him to explain himself. I turned to him and asked, "Is everything alright, Eleazer?"
He gave me an apologetic look before asking me, "Bella, do you have a gift? I am gifted in that I can sense what another's gift is. However, you seem to be blocking me. Does this mean you are a shield?"
At first, I felt guarded, but I knew logically they would find out soon enough. There were vampires outside sparring as we spoke and it sounded quite fun. I also knew deep down, if it came to a fight with the Volturi, I was already thinking about fighting with them. They were too pure. The world would never be the same without them.
I nodded at Eleazer. "Yes, I am a shield. I can repel both mental and physical attacks. Though I'm still practicing on the physical. It depends on the force of the object coming at me if I can hold it back. My mental shield is seemingly effortless, though I really haven't had many opportunities to really use it."
Everyone in the room seemed to be blinking at me in shock. I ducked my hair in embarrassment at the attention. Wanting to advert the attention elsewhere I asked, "Do anyone else have a talent? I know Alice can see the future."
Alice beamed proudly, "My Jazzy does," giving him an encouraging nudge. He chuckled at her behavior before looking at me and explaining, "I can sense the emotions of others and manipulate them. For example, I can calm my overly excited wife down." Alice stuck her tongue out at him with mirth in her eyes.
I chuckled and Edward's velvet voice added, "I can read minds." I turned and met his eyes with a smirk. "Can't read mine, right?" Thank God for that.
He shook his head and murmured, "No. It's both nice and frustrating." I decided to toy with him a little bit and extended my shield out to everyone here.
Edward gasped and his eyes went huge. "Wow." he breathed.
"What? What happened?" Emmett asked, confused.
"She used her gift. I can't hear anyone's thoughts." Edward said, staring at me amazed.
"Awesome! Eddie won't complain about my thoughts about my Rosie." Emmett said, looking at Rosalie with loving eyes. Rosalie smiled back at him, loving the attention.
I chuckled at his words, looking back at Edward and slowly retrieved my shield. I feared I would hurt Edward if I took it away too soon. I couldn't imagine how loud it was with everyone's voices and their thoughts.
"If you ever need a break from it, just let me know." I joked.
Edward chuckled and gave a rueful laugh. "I might have to take you up on that offer."
"Your gift Bella may be exactly what we need to make the Volturi stop." Jasper murmured. I could see the gears moving in his mind. He was thinking like a soldier, preparing for battle. "Eleazer, be honest, when was the last time the Votruli fought a fair fight?"
Eleazer shook his head in amazement, "Not since they found the twins. Jasper is correct. If Bella can protect us from Chelsea, Alec, and Jane's shield long enough for Aro to listen, it could change everything."
I was curious about these gifts. My knowledge of the Votruli was limited. "What are their gifts?"
Eleazer answered me, "Jane can make you feel crippling pain with a single look. Alec has the gift of sensory deprivation. He can completely cut off all the senses of multiple targets. Chelsea can loosen ties to another person and create new, strong ones. For example, she can make you feel tied to Aro."
I blinked in shock. I had never used my shield against gifts like these and was nervous I would fail my new friends. "Will my shield be able to protect us from it?"
Eleazer nodded reassuringly, "Their gifts are all illusions from the mind. I'm quite confident that you would be able to rebel those attacks? How many people can you shield at once?"
I shrugged, "I mostly have practiced on humans in cities. I can sense how many people are under my mental shield at one time. It can go about a mile out and however many minds within that mile would be protected."
"Woah! That's awesome! We are going to kick some Volutri ass!" Emmett said excitedly.
"Emmett." Edward scowled. "Bella is here to witness. We shouldn't be speaking as if she will fight with us."
Carlisle nodded in agreement, "Edward is right. Bella, please forgive us. I do not want you or any of my friends fighting for us."
I was surprised by Edward's words. He seemed upset at the idea of me fighting. But I shook my head to assure Carlisle I wasn't offended in any way. "It's fine, really. If it comes down to a fight, I fear I will not be able to just stand there and watch you all get hurt. If using my shield helps there not be a fight, I will help of course."
I heard the truth in my words. I could never watch them all die. I would fight with them.
Edward sighed and shooked his head. "We still have several days before they arrive. Let's retire this conversation before I worry myself to death."
Carlisle chuckled and agreed. "Bella, would you care to share your story? I must say I am quite interested to hear about it. Though, if you are not comfortable talking about it is quite alright." I smiled at Carlisle's kindness and told them about my human life and my change. I told them about waking up alone in the woods and my note. Rosalie gasped in anger, "That bastard changed you and then left you. A newborn all alone!?"
I nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, in all honesty, I don't blame him. I was quite angry when I woke. I probably would have killed him."
"He would have deserved it too," Rosalie muttered. Emmett started whispering calming words in her ear.
"I must confess, I quite intrigued by your lifestyle. Is it difficult hunting animals?" I asked surprising both myself and them. I hadn't made a conscious decision to ask about hunting animals. But I had grown quite comfortable around them in the short time we had met and my word vomit had decided to assist me.
"It can be. Especially after hunting humans for several decades but not impossible." Jasper answered. "It helps to have others around you for support."
I nodded at his words, thoughtful. "Hmmm... When someone goes out hunting may I tag along?" I ask slightly self-conscious, hoping I was imposing too much.
Carlisle's face lit up as if I told him something extraordinary. "Of course! I know myself and my family would be happy to take you hunting. I'm sure I can speak for Tanya's family as well." Tanya nodded happily.
I smiled at Carlisle in thanks. Now I was worried I would fail and disappoint them. Will they hate me if I return to my normal hunting habits? I worried.
I was surprised and secretly pleased when the first formal invitation came from Edward, "I was already planning on hunting this evening. Would you care to join me?" He asked politely, staring into my eyes. I nodded dumbly before gathering my wits and thanking him.
Did I just agree to go hunting with this godlike man? Oh, please don't let me embarrass myself.
