Edward: please forgive me.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
There was something so comforting about the winter. Winter, mind you, not Christmas when everyone was rushing, hollering, and shopping. The magic of winter never failed to enrapture him each year. He loved watching the snow fall. The beautiful patterns of a snowflake, gently touching down to earth, only to be lost within a pile. In their backyard, he and his brothers would press their hands into the snow, which looked grey in comparison to their complexion. They'd shape perfect spheres and hurl them at each other at speeds that'd injure anyone else. Esme still worried that someone's head would be knocked off (unlikely), but Carlisle didn't mind and would occasionally join in.
On winter break of his 2003 freshman year, they were graced with snow once again. He sighed in contentment as it began to fall around dawn. He was going through one of his less-enjoyable school years. In his time, children were raised to be reserved and respectful, even when interacting with their peers. People have always gawked at them and imagined ridiculous explanations for their peculiarities. Times had changed, however, and nowadays people were more...forward.
Four days ago, Jessica Stanley had approached him after their history class and said, "So, what'd you get on that test?"
"An A." He had wished she wouldn't walk so close. Her scent had been stronger than usual since her heart rate increased from nearly sprinting to catch up to him.
"God, you're so smart! Like, everyone else bombed it." She rivaled Emmett in vocal power, a great feat for someone so small.
"I just study a lot," he'd said.
"We should totally study together sometime. Are you free tomorrow? Do you have Mr. Banner because he's giving out this huge exam after the break -"
"I'm busy tomorrow." He'd looked right into her empty eyes without a hint of apology.
"Cool," she'd said, unfocused. She'd gazed at him with misplaced awe and worship. Her mind had hummed faintly with only vague ideas forming. She'd stepped even closer. "You have the nicest eyes," she'd whispered.
"Thank you," he'd said to the sky. A gust of wind blew her scent around. The parking lot was almost completely filtered out. He was glancing around for his car.
Jessica had snapped back into focus now that their eye contact was broken. "Hey, don't your brothers have hazel eyes, too? And your sisters, too, I think? Oh my god, that's so weird. You guys aren't cousins, right? Where did you live before your dad took in? Did you guys know each other then? I totally would have -"
He had pointed to the first car he saw, a Kia with a large scratch on the bumper. "That's my ride. I have to go."
She was already memorizing the license plate. "Wait, do you want to give me a call so we can -"
An irritated female voice had interrupted her. "Jessica! Over here!" A woman, presumably her mother, was waving her over from across the street. The hard look she'd given Edward was one of fear, though he was certain she didn't know him.
"I'm coming, okay!" Jessica had stormed away towards her mother's van.
Once they were gone, Edward had approached Rosalie's car where Emmet was cracking up in the passenger seat. "Dude, you're stealing all my admirers!"
In a rare moment of agreement, Rose and Edward had shared a glance and an eye-roll. She had forgiven him for the Leah situation, especially since he hadn't seen the girl in days. In return, he got a quiet ride home. Neither he nor Rose enjoyed living forever, but they would make it as pleasant as possible by skirting the conflicts.
Today, Edward's peaceful morning only lasted a few hours. Carlisle calmly entered his room. He was always slower than the others, even in the privacy of their own home. He was the only person who could forego knocking on Edward's door without annoying him.
'I have off from work,' Carlisle thought as he stood by the glass wall.
"Really?" Edward said. Carlisle was almost always at the hospital and would probably be there even longer if he didn't need to pretend he needed rest.
"Yes," he smiled. Then he went outside. Edward tried not to grin like a kid on Christma Day.
Edward considered getting the others but figured they'd be busy making googly eyes at their wives. They'd hear them out there anyway.
As soon as he was off the back porch, a snowball nailed him in the back of his head. He turned to see Carlisle perched on the roof.
"Esme marked the house off-limits," Edward warned.
"If I remember correctly, she marked indoors off-limits," he said. He tried to launch another snowball at Edward's face, but he saw what he was thinking and dodged it.
Edward ran towards the river and rapidly began shaping ammunition. Carlisle scaled a tree and managed to get in a few quick shots before Edward fired his first. Then another, then another, and another until Carlisle dropped to the ground, laughing.
He shook the snow out of his blond hair. "I forgot that you're much more enjoyable as a teammate than an opponent."
"You just don't like a challenge," Edward laughed, jumping out of the way of his next shot.
"But we do!" Emmett's voice rang out before both Carlisle and Edward were bombarded with snow. Instead of running, Edward paused and absorbed the feeling of moisture on his face. He loved water. It was one of the few ordinary things he took pleasure in.
Jasper tackled him and managed to keep him down. The southern vampire smiled haughtily at his brother as he struggled. Edward tried not to feel too embarrassed, as Jasper was trained and experienced in combat. "Emmett, now!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Edward saw Emmett barreling over, carrying a huge boulder of snow. With a flick of his fingers, he sent the ice whistling through the air. Edward winced, though the icy block didn't hurt, just left him sputtering.
Jasper got up to high-five Emmett. Edward seized his opportunity, pouncing on Jasper.
"Tackling is cheating!" Edward said.
"So's your stupid power. Had to compensate," Jasper replied, trying to wriggle away.
"No, fair! I want to fight!" Emmett whined.
Jasper and Edward sprung apart before their brother could attack them and complain when he lost. Emmett had already leaped forward only to land on snow. They laughed when he looked up at them with childish surprise.
"Boys," Carlisle said softly. He was perched in a tree, close to the forests, edge. "Don't you hear that?"
The Cullen brothers froze.
Edward climbed up next to Carlisle. "No...wait. I see it."
Many, many, yards away, a group of men was approaching. They were silent, Quileute, and…
"They're furious," Jasper whispered.
Alice crashed through the back door, rushing to Jasper's side. "I don't believe it."
Rosalie followed a second later, her face blank, her mind shouting a string of curse words. Esme was right behind her.
"Let's meet them halfway," Carlisle said. "They won't feel safe coming on our territory. Slowly though," he amended, with a look at Emmett, "we don't want them to interpret it as an attack."
"Alice, you never spoke of visitors," said Esme, startled.
"I didn't know about them," Alice replied. She was concentrating hard, trying to see the outcome of today.
They all continued to whisper to each other as they walked.
"There's only six of them, no, there's five," said Jasper. "Wait. What is that?"
"Do you guys smell that?" went Alice. Her face was wrinkled with disgust.
Edward's steps faltered, ever so slightly. There were five men, all of them middle-aged and older. One was in a wheelchair. Leading the charge was Samuel Uley, the wolf boy.
Carlisle tried not to convey his shock. "It's one of the Quileute shapeshifters. Edward, Alice, this must be the wolf you found."
"This should be good," muttered Rosalie. 'You're in for it,' she thought to Edward.
Edward gave her a hard look in return.
"Let's not fight right now," Carlisle intervened.
"Yes. We want to put on a united front," agreed Esme. "What's the status, Edward?"
"They want to confront us. It's about..hm, our association with the human girl."
"No surprise there. I hope the wolf's not looking for a fight," Emmett said, cracking his knuckles.
"No," Edward said, focused. "He's more scared than anything. But he's very emotional right now."
"That could make him unpredictable," worried Carlisle. "Maybe, the girls should stay back, just in case."
"Oh, really?!" Alice exclaimed. "Please! Leah's my friend. Who better to try to calm them down than me and Edward."
Jasper looked like he wanted to protest, but knew he wouldn't get his way.
"Rose and I will wait here," offered Esme. "There's only one shapeshifter, anyway, and he's only a boy."
"Right, he'll be more focused on protecting his own than provoking us," reasoned Jasper. Emmett didn't try to hide his pout.
They were about twenty yards away from the Quileutes when Carlisle called out, "Welcome. What brings you to our side?"
Both sides stopped about only about ten yards apart.
Though Samuel Uley was in the front, it was the man in the wheelchair who spoke. Ah, the wolf was only the guard, not the leader. "Hello," the man replied. He was in his fifties maybe, with long hair and a serious expression. He was nearly as formal as Carlisle, too. "I hope you will not consider us intruders. There was no other way to reach you."
"I see," Carlisle said, his face giving away nothing. Alice and Edward flanked him on one side, Jasper and Emmett on the other. Edward knew they were scaring the life out of the old men, but Sam Uley simply stared ahead with eyes full of disdain.
"I am Billy Black," continued the Quileute man. " These are Quil, Luke, Hank, and Harry. We from the Quileute tribal council."
"I'm Carlisle Cullen. And these are my children."
Edward noticed their faces turned up in disgust at the thought of vampires considering themselves "family". He agreed it was peculiar, but not at all wrong.
Billy nodded slowly. "We came here today because we have an urgent business matter. We have a report about your family violating the treaty."
"We did not intend to cause any trouble," Carlilse said.
"Whatever your intentions, we are both aware of the rules. Quil?"
"A withered old man, the oldest one in the group, produced a small, leather book. He had it opened to the proper page. "I assume, Cold Ones, you all are familiar with the treaty?"
"Enlighten us," snarled Emmett. Jasper elbowed him.
"The treaty that was formed between the Cullen coven and the pack of Ephraim Black in 1936. The agreement was formed to maintain peace between the vampires and shapeshifters residing in this area."
"I remember it well," Carlisle said pleasantly.
Quil read from the book: "First, all Cold Ones apart of and associated with the Cullen coven are prohibited from taking the lives of any and all humans." He paused dramatically.
Emmett interrupted, "And we haven't. If anyone has been caught doing that, they weren't one of us."
The tribal council members exchanged looks. Quil continued, saying, "Second, each party must reside on their side of the territory, never crossing the agreed-upon boundary lines."
"Right," said Carlisle carefully.
"And third, mutual secrecy must be maintained between both parties. The Cold Ones must never reveal the secrets of the shape-shifters, and the shape-shifters will not speak of the Cold Ones' true identities."
Billy said, "We received a report from young Sam here, that could mean the treaty has been violated by your coven, Carlisle Cullen."
"Yes?"
Sam Uley stepped forward. He was practically shaking with outrage. "They've been hanging around Leah Clearwater, my girlfriend."
"And my daughter," spoke an older man, one of the elders. The man's eyes were filled with sorrow and fear. Edward heard his thoughts. 'I never could've imagined they'd try to hurt my baby, what did we ever do to them, filthy demons! We tried to reason with them and this is how they repay us. We'll move if that's what it takes...or we'll send her away...they won't hurt her, no.'
Alice spoke for the first time. "You are correct. My brother and I, Emmett, encountered Leah last October. We saved her life." She then gave them a simplified version of what happened in the forest. "Leah was grateful to us. We meant her no harm."
Harry was flabbergasted. Edward could see that the tribal elders felt confused about this act of kindness. It contradicted everything they believed about vampires.
Billy said, "And for that, we thank you, on Leah's behalf. However, we speak of something recent."
"Just a couple weeks ago, I could smell you on her." Sam gestured to all of them, looking at them as if they were covered in fleas. "It happened before, too. I had my suspicions and now they are confirmed."
Carlisle held up a hand. "It is not a violation of the agreement for any of us to associate with humans. But we do see how it could lead to one."
"Exactly," said Billy. Edward sensed a hint of respect coming from him. He looked at Jasper who subtly nodded. Of course, Jazz would be carefully calming everyone's tempers.
"We want to know," said Harry. "If any of you have passed onto our territory. Or told of our secrets." He was the most upset but kept it well hidden.
"Keep in mind, honesty will prevent further complications," Quil warned.
Carlisle looked to Edward.' I think you can best answer this.'
Edward took a deep breath. "Simply put, no. We have not directly violated any of the core three terms of the treaty. However, I would be remiss if I did not say Leah knows what we are and has suspicions about the shape-shifters, as well. We discussed it last time we spoke."
"Stay away from her, you bloodsucker. You have no right to worry and upset her like this!" spat Sam. He could shift at any moment. In his head, he was picturing ripping apart all five of the Cullens, then and there.
Edward hissed protectively. "Keep your mouth shut, dog, about things you know nothing about." The others crouched, ready to defend themselves.
Billy scowled at Sam. "Calm down, boy."
Harry burst out, "Oh for goodness' sake, Billy! Are we really supposed to pretend my daughter hasn't been put in harm's way by these - these murderers."
Edward couldn't believe his ears. "Yes, you are right to be protective of Leah. But so far, we have done nothing but protect her. When she was lost and heartbroken, wandering through the forest, my family saved her. When she was looking for her beloved and had no one to turn to, my sister and I helped her. When she asked for help, I was there. If I am guilty of anything, it is -"
For a tenth of a second, his dead heart seemed to beat.
"It is being her friend," he finished softly. It was all too inadequate. But these people didn't deserve his words, his feelings.
Billy sized him up. In fact, they all were studying him, the elders, Sam Uley, even his family.
Alice could barely contain her mirth. She sent Edward encouraging thoughts.
Harry Clearwater was a lot less upset, but a bit more disturbed. He didn't understand, and humans hated things they did not understand. 'Things aren't all that black and white,' he thought.
Sam Uley had retreated to inside his head. His heart throbbed so loudly, Edward heard it more than anyone's breathing. "No," he shook his head. "That can't be possible."
"It is, Sam," Billy said. He didn't like it at all either, but he was not about to fight over it.
"No!" roared Sam. "He needs to stay away from her!"
Edward listened to Sam counting in his head, trying to calm himself down.
'It'll be okay. It'll be okay. Don't do this. Don't phase. Don't! One…'
Time seemed to slow.
'Two…'
The elders didn't move a muscle.
'Three...'
Alice was gasping at a future she could not anticipate.
'Four...'
Jasper was working overtime on everyone's emotions.
'Five...'
Rose and Esme appeared out of nowhere.
'Six…'
Someone screamed.
Sam never quite made it to ten.