The Lion Meets the Panther

The Red Means I Love You

A/N: Yes, I am aware the title of this chapter is referencing the song by Madds Buckley, which was based on Himiko Toga from the anime My Hero Academia. I recommend that entire album, it is so well done! The reason this song was chosen was because this chapter will reveal the true natures of Edward and another Cullen. This chapter will be based on some serious allegations and topics when it comes to the pair of them, such as manipulation and obsession, along with homophobia. If you are not okay with reading homophobia or violence than you can skip this chapter, it does add a lot of understanding for further in the story, but if you cannot and need to step away for the sake of your mental health, I will not blame you. Take care of yourself first! Happy Pride Month!

Excerpt from the previous chapter:

"My brother has committed crimes knowingly and has hurt an innocent person in the way while endangering our family. It does not matter that he was changed in the 1920's, his actions are unforgivable. Though while we are not close…you never deserved any of that type of treatment from him and if he does not apologize to you then I will do so. I am so sorry for my brother's foolish actions and how deeply they wound you. I believe I speak for all present that we do not hate you and welcome you into our lives, just wish it was not in this way." Poor Bella was in tears at the end, which ended in a group hug. Which consisted of Bella, Rosalie, and Bella. Thankfully that was enough, and they spent the evening trying to distract Bella from the inevitable that was tomorrow.

Unfortunately for Bella, sleep did not come easily for her, by the time she awoke the next day it was already 12 in the afternoon. Edward, Carlisle, and Emmett were to return at 3 pm this afternoon. Which means for Bella Swan that she only had three hours to prepare herself physically and mentally for this confrontation with her soon to be ex. Of course, Alice was just as nervous, the pixie had looked into the future a few times during the night and was currently trying to glimpse into it now. She knew that Bella was panicking so nothing was set in stone, however, that is not the person she was worried about. Edward was unpredictable at times. That was saying something as her gift was sight after all.

Thankfully before the pixie could flit around again and practically wear out the floorboards, Jasper gently wrapped his arms around his small wife's frame. "Alice…breathe." Jasper knew they as vampires did not need to breathe, but it helped to calm his mate's nerves and the feeling of the tall blonde's arms around her helped center her. Him, Jasper, that is what centered her. Alice's lips parted slightly as a small sigh escapes. She loved how her husband smelled. It was a mix of sandalwood and blood orange with a hint of jasmine. Mate's scents to one another were intoxicating and helped ground one another with their worst moments. It is even more potent in the first year of a newborn vampire. If their mate was around during the shift, when they awoke three days later, it was known to keep the infamous newborn temper in check. Mainly all newborn vampires craved was blood and sex, their body getting used to the more wired carnal part of their brain during the first year. Which means the usual adrenaline rush of a human was fluctuating on and off, which in turn, gave the stories of newborns being faster and stronger.

Jasper had seen many changes of newborn vampires so that is how most of their knowledge was on the topic. Thankfully for the fact that Jasper was able to keep a journal of parts of the Southern Vampire Wars, which thoroughly recorded several mating processes and how it went along. Usually, it was between two vampires for the mating part, but a few odd ones of vampire and human happened. Another odd pairing was one where they both got transformed into vampires and immediately got into a mating bond. Those two were still friends, well mainly family, to Jasper. That pair was Peter and Charlotte Whitlock. Peter had a gift of just knowing shit, which was incredibly useful when it kicked in during their time in the south, serving under Jasper. Whitlock was Jasper's last name from his time as a human, he had signed up to help fight in the war in the south, more like recruited. Never saw his family or his humble family farm ever again, at least, if he remembered who his family was. Sometimes the transformation was too strenuous, and the vampire did not remember their former years as a human.

Bella had been informed more into details about the vampire mating process due to Jasper and Alice answering her questions. In the family, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper have moved around frequently. They had travelled and explored the world in their own time. Jasper and Alice had frequently visited the Amazon along with the quaint country of Switzerland. Something about how Jasper prefers the cold, and the mountains were a wonderful view. While each member had their own interests and talents, Alice was a painter. She loved doing fashion sketches, sure, but just painting the landscape and capturing moments was a time where she and Jasper could just be.

Bella would hate the gnawing in her chest cavity, the heart tugs and the under the skin, burn. Jealousy was a nasty thing to deal with. However, one could not blame the young woman. As much as Rosalie, at one point and time, loathed to admit…Bella was pretty. Her five foot and six inch stature along with brown hair falling into little ringlets as it framed her face was intoxicating for the Ice Queen of Forks High. No, Rosalie would notice that Bella's hair was more than brown, it was filled with all sorts of mix of colors. It was mainly brown but in good lighting…which was every day, gods what was the Ice Queen becoming? Soft for a human girl, that was rich, and if Emmett knows. Well, the well-built jock of a vampire would not let the blonde live it down. While her and Emmett took the appearance of a couple, for companionship until they found their other half, it was Rose's suggestion so the humans would not try anything foolish and leave her alone. Despite the Ice Queen façade and seemingly ridiculous ego that Rosalie Hale had, she rather be left alone to her own devices, to have a wall built up of sorts.

Esme was not unfamiliar with the walls that Rosalie put up. Bella was eating breakfast, well late lunch at this point, and was discussing the options of what to do when Edward got there. The heart faced vampire, the matriarch of the family really, saw the looks that her blonde daughter gave to the brunette human. She knew what those looks of longing and the little twitches of the corner of her lips when Bella made a joke or even was laughing. When Bella laughed that is when a wall seems to break, especially when Rose thought that her mate was not watching. Oh yes, Esme knew the signs, she had seen Alice and Jasper interact enough. She knew that her little girl, who was a total car geek, had found her other half and was too afraid to approach it. Which would concern the matriarch, Rosalie would always go for what she wanted, the blonde was not shy by any means. Though she had heard that unmated pairs sometimes a bit different with their partner, they were two halves of a whole, but they respected one another boundaries. Though her brow furrowed as she remembered overhearing an argument between Rosalie and Edward, Carlisle had stepped in, she thought that would have been the end of it. It seemed that it had made the situation worse when he took the eldest of the coven, besides himself, side.

Carlisle, had he known the entire time of the call between Bella and Rosalie? Carlisle was over, or nearing, about 300 or so years old. He would know the signs of mating and pairs. He had spent at least half a century, maybe more, with the Volturi and they had many pairings within the ranks. It was undeniable that he knew the signs or the possibility and what it looked like for two to be paired. Jasper's lips would curl into a deep frown, Carlisle knew and did nothing, or was he in denial because of his old age ideas. He and Edward had made comments before about same sex couples. Frankly, if they were not hurting one another or anyone else, Jasper did not care. Rosalie was his twin in all but blood and knew that she was a lesbian. It was no secret that Jasper adored Rose and could not give a damn about his sister's sexuality, as long as she was happy is what mattered to the older blonde.

Their discussions led to that topic and a lot of things made sense now. Edward had always seemed disgusted by Angela's thoughts at school, which now made sense, Bella knew that her best friend was on the spectrum for liking women, which she was as well, so her and Angela were good friends. It was a small town, and they could not be too open as Angela was the local pastor's daughter and Bella knew her father would not approve if Bella dated a girl 'under his roof.' He made that quite clear. Well, Charlie did support Bella but recognized the dangers, it was complicated. Bella's mother, Renee, was another matter. Charlie was never good at expressing his emotions to Bella or anyone, especially after what happened with Renee, so when he learned that Bella was not completely straight. His reaction might seem a bit uncalled for, but when it calmed down, Charlie apologized to Bella and just explained he was worried of what it would do to her reputation if she dated in Forks. He explained that sometimes he recognized his thinking was wrong at points and should be happy if Bella was happy. He just struggled to respond in a decent way at times, which he was working on, and as he was an officer was required to have therapy on occasion. He had discussed with the therapist and ways of how to support Bella and try to reply in a way that would make it clear that he was happy that his only child was happy.

Those three hours seemed to blur by for the remaining coven, well that may not last long depending on Carlisle's answer, at the least they would not be loyal to Carlisle anymore if he had anything to do with this. Blind ignorance and gross negligence were never an excuse, and it would not start being one now. Bella had seemed to constantly stay close to the 'twins'. Rosalie and Jasper Whitlock/Hale were not in the mood to take any of Edward's shit when he got back. Bella would later deny the soft buzz of happiness she got when Rosalie stayed by her side. Bella would acknowledge a difference of Rosalie and Edward, one she was grateful for, is that Rosalie saw Bella as an adult and capable of making her own choices. If she did not completely agree, she would suggest other thoughts or ways, not completely undermining Bella's beliefs or method of thinking, which Edward did constantly. He always nitpicked on the grainy details or say she was wrong and out of line for bringing up concerns of hers. It would make sense as how he grew up thinking that women brought nothing to the table, and it was men who were the bread winners. Even Alice had combated against that and exclaimed that "Edward has been here this entire time and I have seen him adapt to technology and various of other things, if he cannot learn or at least respect your opinions and your views, then he has no place in your life. You come first Bella; it is okay to say no!"

Bella was forever thankful that she had found a friend in Alice, one for life, and she would make sure that Alice would know that after today. It was terrifying for her to hear the telltale sign of a car pulling up in the driveway of the Cullen's. She knew that he was back. Jasper would send a wave of calm to help Bella focus thankfully. The silent exchange between Jasper and Bella spoke volumes now. At one point Bella would have never thought that she would be friends, let alone be so close to the blonde vampire, after Edward had tried to sway for that. In Bella's opinion, which is the only one that mattered now, was Edward had no place in saying who and who she cannot socialize with. Alice's gaze met Bella's and she nods, no matter what happened, she would be by her side. (A/N: Edward will be depicted as I want him to be in this fic. He will be conscious about his actions and choices. He is like this willingly. If you cannot handle how vile I will make him or some of the manipulations he will pull, do NOT continue to read!)

Edward was aware that his 'mate' was in his home, of course she would be, he had trained her well. Not that he would admit that aloud with his 'family' in close range. For Edward he only claimed part of this dysfunctional coven of Carlisle's as family. Carlisle was an obvious part of who he claimed, as the elder vampire was his sire and taught him everything he knew, including his thought process and emotional manipulation. Edward was aware that Esme and Carlisle were not true mates and were simple companions, not that Esme mattered in the long haul of the falsely proclaimed 'greek god's' plans. Sure, the centurion was fond of the smaller and heart faced vampire, along with having somewhat of a mother/son bond, but it was never too much of what he cared about. He had tolerated her behavior to not upset and twist his creator around his pinky finger. The other person he claimed was Alice. Her gift and his own were addicting. It would not be a stretch of a statement when saying that Edward Cullen was addicted to the power trip of knowing the future and reading anyone, well almost anyone's, thoughts. That may be why he 'allowed' for Bella Swan to slip into his life. A bit of entertainment till he got bored of his plaything and tossed her aside. Humans were always so fun to toy with, especially women, he had learned that long ago when he broke the 'sacred' diet of animals almost 50 or so years ago. Edward knew he never regretted giving into the urge to feed on people indiscriminately, not that he would tell his precious father.

Emmett was usually seen as dumb and dense, but was very observant, a side effect of games and using his act to see flaws within people's behavior. While he was not close to Edward, he could sense that something was off with the smaller vampire. His ears would hear the telltale heartbeat within the house of Bella. Emmett adored Bella. He saw her as a little sister and was like an older brother figure to her. The buff vampire even played games with Bella, which she enjoyed thoroughly, especially when she let a giggle or laugh escape. The way that they interacted with one another was so fluid and natural. Her and Rosalie made him feel normal, like he was not stuck in a loop of never aging. It was refreshing. Something was not right, something was about to happen, and he did not need his sister's gift of sight to realize that.

Carlisle was an interesting vampire. He was once a son of a pastor who raised him to hunt 'monsters of Satan'. That is how it was phrased, though that could range a variation of people, whether it be vampires or even those who were not seen as holy. His father was a wholehearted believer in the fact of a woman's place is to serve her husband and it was always a man and wife, nothing like the abomination of nowadays. Yes, Carlisle may be a doctor and an educated man, but not enough it would seem as he was blatantly homophobic. The man knew how to hide it well at work at least, as he was a medical professional and had to deal with a variety of issues, patient confidentiality after all. He knew he had taught his son the same ideals, his first child of the night he sired, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. In his views, Edward was his pride and joy, despite the obvious and glaring issue that he had other children he should focus his attention on in the first place. A prominent example was Emmett or even Rosalie, he had sired them both as well, originally with the selfish notion that Rosalie should be his beloved child's mate. That did not happen, obviously, and Carlisle eternally would regret changing Rosalie as she did not do what she was asked or what he had sired her to do.

All in all, when the group entered the house, more like mansion in Bella's view, the tension was high. Thankfully Jasper would try to soothe that, but it would not last for long, as Edward's brow furrowed when his 'mate' did not come and greet him like he trained…at least was training her to do. Which is a vile way to view it, as Bella is grown woman and can do as she pleases. "Esme, what is going on?" Carlisle was the first to speak, his bright gold eyes meeting the shorter vampire's. Edward would notice that everyone was blocking or doing something so that he could not hear their thoughts completely. "Carlisle, I think we need to have a meeting, all of us." Oh, that was not good, Esme rarely got serious, last time she was…Emmett had to remake a door by hand because he broke it, and she was furious! The blonde man seemed confused before nodding, they all would gather in the living room, until Edward tried to interfere.

"Bella, love, go to my room. I'll catch up with you after the meeting." Edward's voice was no longer soothing or sounded like smooth velvet to Bella. It was a false honey and sugar coated. It reminded of how her mother would try to make her comply with her ideas or deny that Bella's worries were valid, which was funny, as it mainly happened when bills needed to be paid. "No." Edward paused, blinked, and looked at the smaller human, slightly astonished at her sudden speaking. He was fully believing that she would nod and kiss his cheek before climbing the stairs like so many times before, was his grasp slipping? He would have to resolve that later and maybe a redoing of the dazzling was needed. "Stop looking at her like that!" It was Rosalie who hissed out those words. "What is going on?" Carlisle was sensing something was wrong.

"I do not believe I am Edward's mate, and he knew that. He's been playing with me." Bella bit the bullet, so to speak, and now it was out there. Her full belief of that Edward was toying with her. "Love, you ca- "He began. "Shut up Edward." Edward looked at Alice, seeming wounded at her biting tone. Yes, Edward did not like much of the coven, despite how he acted at times, it was a game to him after all. He could not deny that he liked Alice or maybe it was her power he liked, not the matter at hand. "Alice?" It was a quiet and withdrawn tone from the centurion. "Jazz?" It broke Rosalie's heart to hear her energetic sister say her brother's name, sounding so defeated. "You were right." Jasper's voice was almost missed by everyone. "What the fuck are you guys talking about?" Emmett grumbled. Not even Esme chided his language, instead she would explain, "Edward and Bella are not mates and he knew that. He has been messing with her the entire time under his thrall."

The room seem to explode into action. Edward was vehemently denying it and accusing Jasper of twisting his 'beloved' Bella's emotions towards him. In return, Alice came to the defense of her mate, naturally. "How dare you! Jasper would NEVER! He is more of a man than you will ever be! At least he can claim that his mate bond is true." Something in Edward snapped, apparently his schemes being found out was too much as he launches himself at Alice, snarling. Jasper was quick to step in front of her smaller frame and shove the pathetic excuse of a hunter away from his beloved mate. Rosalie had instinctually gotten in front of Bella, in a poised crouch, which is what no one of the returning trio expected. "R-Rose?" At the scared squeak from Bella, alarmed of the normally reserved blonde acting this way, was a bit of a shock. "It's okay Bella." Alice reassured the only human in the room. "Rosalie is protective over you. She knew that Edward would try and pull something, she will not hurt you."

Bella nodded, "I know. Rose would never hurt me intentionally. She probably hates this situation as much as me, maybe even more." Emmett grinned at Rosalie and Bella, he had reached the conclusion, Rosalie had found her mate. Yes, it hurt that Rosalie will leave their companionship, but he knew it would happen. He loved Rosalie, but he knew it was not a forever for them. The split distraction was enough for Edward as he tried to launch another attack, yelling out in denial, "NO! You're lying! There is no way she'd want someone as broken as you! Women together is unnatural!" He went to try and pull one of Rosalie's arms off or if he could angle it correctly, that stupid fucking bimbo's head! What he was not expecting was the sucking feeling as his own arm was violently pulled out of socket, which was quickly followed by his head and other arm.

Emmett may be large, but he was just as quick as others, he had ripped off one of the sparkling twat waffles arms, Rose was not his mate, but he would be damned if he sat by and did nothing while her actual mate was being attacked. Who was his friend as well! What was NOT expected was Esme getting involved. It was well known in their coven that Esme thought of Bella as her own and was fiercely protective of her. Esme Cullen's eyes were as dark as the night sky as her fangs were proudly on display, holding her pseudo, well former pseudo son's head in her hands. Thankfully Rosalie was trying to distract Bella from the disturbing violence that was displayed. She seemed freeze up as she saw Esme with Edward's head in her hands. At first it was shock, then slow acceptance, Edward was going for her. Edward was intending to hurt Bella.

Carlisle was in a form of shock if it was possible for vampires to experience that. Which Jasper would say yes, as vampires who lost their mates usually lost their will to live and became violent and catatonic after a time. Esme's tone offered no argument as she spoke, truly coming into her role of a matriarch, "Carlisle, I do not know how much you knew of Edward's actions and behavior. You of all of us should know what someone under a thrall would look like." If the man could pale, he would be whiter than a sheet of paper. "Not to mention the danger you put the coven in as you allowed him to try to court his singer, which never ends well! As soon as you knew that you would have realized that they were not able to be together at all. You knew about Rosalie's concerns and feelings, despite seeing mating bonds over and over for centuries, ignored it for what?" It took a moment for the coward to reply, "Women cannot and should not EVER be in that type of relationship!" That sparked a reaction from Bella, "Wait, so you KNEW that Edward was doing that and did NOTHING?!" Carlisle would idiotically blink at her. "Oh, my gods! That makes so much sense! I have always preferred women and suddenly I am dating a boy after years of not even giving them a single glance!" That was not an admission that Rosalie expected, and her heart fluttered, she did have a chance!

Esme growled and came to a choice, "You and Edward are to leave. Stay with our cousins in Denali, I will make them aware of your transgressions and fully intend to have the laws followed, I will be in contact with you again when the Volturi has decided a date to hear your pathetic voice plead your case." Emmett was given Edward's head and other parts, the window was open, and he proceeded to throw them out the window. "This bitch empty, YEET!" He yelled as he threw Edward's head out of the window as the last part. "Put your son together and leave, immediately." Esme's tone gave no argument. Carlisle did try, floundering, protesting that he was the leader of the coven and that he was a man. "You stopped being a man the moment you allowed Edward to break several laws knowingly." That was a cut and dry response from the new official matriarch of the Cullen coven. Edward and Carlisle were not heard from for the rest of the evening. While the mating topic was up, it was not the time for the conversation between Bella and Rosalie, the former saying that she needed a day or so to wrap around what happened that evening, which Rosalie nodded. "I know. It is a lot, and you have all the right to take all the time you need. I know I have not been the kindest or most open, but I am here for whenever you are ready for that conversation, Bella." Bella would smile tiredly, "Thank you Rosalie."

A/N: So…that happened. The confrontation finally happened! Now Bella and the rest of the coven are going to focus on helping Bella heal along with Esme being in contact with the Volturi. Edward will not get a redemption. I am debating if Carlisle should. Yes, he was not directly a part, but he was aware of the gross negligence that his 'child' was doing. (4,529 words.)