"Okay, hit me," I said.
"As I told you from before, William, upset that he was rejected by Ella, put a curse on the future of the town. Now, he was brand new to black magic. No one is for certain what he exactly planned as an outcome. However, it was found that the first daughter born to the Swan line would experience conversion with a Cullen —,"
"As a full circle sort of thing," Charlie interrupted.
"—and a series of misfortunes would follow."
I blinked at her. "That's it? That could mean anything."
"We know," Esme sighed. "William made the curse by himself and took it to the grave, immediately taking his own life after the ritual."
"So, I start this whole…whatever is supposed to happen?"
"No," Charlie said quickly. "You have no control in when this happens or how this happens. It is not your fault. It is not Edward's fault. Whatever was supposed to happen, is going to happen. We are not putting your or Edward's health in jeopardy for something that is bound to happen."
"He's right," Esme agreed. "We can only move forward and try to find a solution."
"After some generational digging," Charlie spoke. "Some of them were able to dig up some papers and whatnot from that time period." Charlie dug around in his desk for a minute, coming out with a few stacks of paper and a couple of leather bound books, a lot like the one I had found in the library. "We've tried keeping the more revealing paperwork in a tight circle. However, some of it is still missing." He passed the papers and books, placing it on the desk in front of me. "You're welcome to look at it all. Again Bells, I'm sorry. The one thing your mother and I agreed on was protecting you from this, trying to keep you from it. We hoped keeping you from the town would somehow prevent this…destiny. I wish I would have told you sooner. Hell, I wish I had taken this more seriously sooner. Maybe we'd be able to come up with something more at helping to save you, save the town."
I stared at the stack of papers and books in front of me, somewhat overwhelmed and somewhat afraid to touch it. It would not only make all of this more real, but it would put it all into motion. What was I supposed to do now?
"Bella honey," Esme's voice pulled me out of my trance, her hand giving mine a squeeze, and I turned to look at her. "I know you are overwhelmed right now. Not sure what to do next. Why don't you take all of that," she nodded towards the papers and books sitting in front of me, "go home, get some sleep, and start fresh. Look over everything. I'm here if you have any more questions, or just want to talk. Unfortunately, we are on a time crunch. You'll need to meet Edward soon, but not at the moment, okay? You should come to terms with everything first."
Once again in a trance, I somehow got Esme's number, had more words with her and Charlie, none of which I comprehended, grabbed all the papers and books, including the one from the library, and drove home.
Instead of going to bed as suggested by Esme, or even eating dinner, I sat down and dug into all of the papers and books. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways, not with my mind going a mile a minute, clouded, and trying to comprehend this alternate reality I found myself in. I read through everything once, which took me hours. Some if it was diaries, some of it was documentation, some of it was diagrams and drawings, and some of it was words that I couldn't comprehend. Some of the documents had a sort of pattern, as if they worked together.
Charlie texted me at some point, saying he was going to La Push, where the Blacks lived, where they were having some sort of town meeting, and he wanted to be able to add input to with the recent events, namely me coming to town, about to experience conversion, and start some sort of unexplainable events to the town of Forks. I heard him come in later, probably around ten, and I could hear him outside my door, but he didn't knock and he didn't say anything. I didn't say anything to him; we would need to talk, but not at the moment.
By the time I had gone through it all once, it was midnight. I seemed to be at an even more of a loss, which I didn't know was possible. Deciding not to go through it again, since I wouldn't be able to comprehend it even if I wanted to, I showered and then lay in bed. I knew I would need to go through the papers and books several more times. I would need to not only comprehend it, but take notes and hopefully be able to find some solution.
Laying there in bed, determining to forget all of the information for the moment, my thoughts turned to what would need to happen next. Besides the obvious impending possible doom to the town, there was my impending conversion to worry about.
Thinking of the Cullens and Edward especially, I looked back on what Esme had told me. She had just been driving through town, trying to get to Port Angeles, when fate decided to step in. She had been completely blind sided by her conversion while Alice, she had grew up knowing what was going to happen. She grew up with Jasper, having the time to come to terms with the fact that she would have powers, would be connected to Jasper in every way possible. I wouldn't know what version I would want. In some ways, I was experiencing both. On one hand I'm on a time crunch, being pulled into this all at once, like Esme, but on the other hand, I'm not completely naive walking into this like Esme was. I know a little bit of what I'm walking into, just not as much as Alice was prepared for.
Edward. I didn't even know him. How was I supposed to suddenly love him once I played eyes on him? Hell, how was I supposed to have sex with a complete stranger? And on top of that, spend the rest of my life, or even what time I did have left on this earth, with him. I'd never had a boyfriend, never even kissed a guy. With the sudden what ifs and new overwhelming emotions, I fell into a restless sleep, with dreams of running through a forest, running from something, but feeling like I was getting nowhere.
Just hours later, I woke up in a cold sweat, weak with a fever and a hacking cough. If it were just any other day, I would say I was coming down with a cold, seasonal flu if you will, but after yesterday, I knew I was starting to get sick, just like…Edward.
Shit, yesterday actually happened.
I groaned, throwing the sheets off of me. Sitting up, I was hit with a wave of nausea. Shit, did it get this bad this quick with Edward? How quickly would I get worse?
Looking over at the stacks of papers and books littered across my desk, I knew my time was even more limited than I thought.
Pushing myself out of bed, I got dressed, taking longer than normal due to the hacking cough that happened every two minutes. After dressing, I stuffed all of the papers and books from my desk into my backpack. Throwing that over my shoulder, I made my way downstairs to find Charlie in his seat, drinking coffee and reading the paper.
"It's time," I said, causing him to look up at me.
— /—
The Cullen house was more like a mansion. Three stories, gated fence, big yard.
Charlie had helped me in his cruiser and drove me to the Cullens, giving Esme a call on the way over. Charlie had even offered to stay, which caused me to snort and have another coughing fit.
"Wait while your only daughter has sex upstairs with a complete stranger?" I chuckled.
Charlie grimaced. "I guess you're right."
Charlie pulled up to the front door, where he parked and got out, walking around the car to help me out. I made sure I grabbed my backpack. Esme was at the door, keeping it open for us to walk through.
"How are you Bella?" she asked, shutting the door behind us.
"Feeling like shit," I attempted to joke.
She gave me a sympathetic smile. "Ah, Bella, this is Carlisle."
Turning around, I was met with a tall, blonde, attractive middle-aged male. Carlisle was wearing scrubs and a sweatshirt, which reminded me he was a doctor. A doctor with healing powers. Ironic indeed.
"Bella, it's a pleasure to officially meet you," Carlisle greeted.
"You too —," cue another coughing fit.
"Esme told me you were fine just yesterday. All your symptoms happened over night?" Carlisle questioned, taking a step towards me.
I could only nod, attempting to catch my breath.
"Your symptoms manifested quite quickly," he commented, brow furrowing.
"Is there any reason for it, you think?" Charlie asked Carlisle.
"I don't," Carlisle answered. "Edward just took a turn for the worse as well this morning."
Charlie sighed. "Well I'm headed to work. Call me if you need me, Bells."
I gave him a smile in acknowledgment.
"Wait up Charlie, I'm headed out for work as well. Bella, I'm sure I'll see you soon," Carlisle smiled at me, before going to his wife, giving her a kiss, and then walking out with Charlie.
"Here, let me take that sweetheart," Esme pointed to my backpack.
"Thank you," I let her take it from my shoulder. She placed it near the front entryway table, next to a little walk in closet that held shoes and coats.
"Would you like something to drink? There's some breakfast left over. I made some for Edward, but he didn't eat."
"No, I'm good, thank you Esme," I couldn't eat even if I wanted to. My stomach was in knots, and rolling with nausea.
She came back over to me, offering her arm. "The kids are at school. Shouldn't be back until it lets out. Edward is aware you are coming. I'm going to make myself scarce for a few hours. Call me if you need me. Take your time, and do not under any circumstances rush, okay? Go at your pace."
I'm pretty sure she was talking about the sex part. "How long was it before you and Carlisle…?"
Esme hummed. "When I met Carlisle, I was in an abusive relationship. I had just experienced a miscarriage at the hands of my abusive boyfriend at the time. Meeting Carlisle made me realize I could do a lot better. Carlisle was my shoulder to cry on first. He helped me heal. But as for your question, it might have been a week or so after we got together officially. So a couple of weeks after we met the first time."
"Any advice?" I questioned, the nerves hitting me, as we reached the stairs.
Esme gripped my upper arms, keeping eye contact with me. "You follow your instincts. Stay in the moment. There are…no words for it. You'll be fine Bella, I promise. Now, if my son is an ass, you tell me, and he'll answer to me, you got that?"
"You got it," I chuckled.
"Good," she gave my arms a squeeze. "Did you want some help up the stairs?"
"No, I'll be okay," I took a deep breath.
"Alright. Take a right at the top of the stairs. Last door on your left, okay?"
Nodding, I turned and started making my way up the stairs.
"Oh and Bella?"
I turned my head, waiting.
"I'm really glad you're here sweetheart."
Not knowing what to say or what that exactly meant, I smiled at her before continuing up the steps. Turning right, I passed four doors, stopping at the closed door at the end of the hall. Taking a deep breath, I knocked twice. Was I supposed to knock? Or go right in? There was a muffled response behind the door that I took to be an answer to enter. Stepping in, I kept my eyes down, shutting and locking the door behind me. Looking up, the room was dark. Across from me, up against the wall was a four poster bed. In the bed was a figure, covered with a blanket.
Stepping further into the room, the figure turned towards me. I was met with bronze hair, piercing green eyes…
A feeling of euphoria passed through me. A force that Esme had talked about, was a good way to explain the sudden urge to be near this man. To be loved by him. To love him. Despite just having laid eyes on him, I felt comfortable with him, felt like I knew him. I saw our future flash through my eyes. My heart squeezed in my chest, suddenly aching to be near him, to touch him.
"Hi," he croaked. My heart squeezed once more, but this time at seeing him in pain.
"Hi," I answered back, walking until I was standing at the edge of his bed, our eyes never wavering. The urge to be near kept growing, along with the urge to touch, to feel him.
He peeled the sheets back, revealing a t-shirt and boxer briefs. Averting my eyes, I took the silent invitation and crawled into the spot. He covered me up with the blankets and we came together, my arm going around his back, his arm going under my head and his other wrapping around my waist, pulling me in closer to him. My head rested against his chest, and I felt his lips press against the top of my head before resting his chin on the top of my head. Our legs tangled and part of me wished I had taken my jeans off, so I could feel the skin contact. I felt completely at ease in the moment.
"You got sick this morning?" he questioned in a soft whisper. I could hear the rumbling of his voice with my ear pressed to his chest. I could also hear the congestion.
"Yeah. Cold sweat, weak, fever, nasty cough," I answered him just as quietly. "Your dad said you took a turn for the worst this morning."
"That's pretty quick," he commented, just as his father had. "Mom said you were fine yesterday. And a turn for the worse, meaning oxygen treatments."
I pulled my head back, so I could look him in the eye, my worry no doubt evident on my face.
"I'm feeling better already," he assured me. His gaze glanced from my eyes to my lips and back. I couldn't help but do the same to him. I felt a wave of hesitance though, and it wasn't from me. I knew it was from him. "Mom said she told you everything yesterday."
"Yes, she did."
His hand left my waist to brush back my hair. His fingertips slid from my temple, down my cheek, to my chin. "And you're aware of soul conversion?"
"Is this your way of asking for sex?" I could feel my face blush a bright red.
He smirked, his finger brushing over my heated cheek. "No. I want to make sure you're aware of everything."
"I'm aware of what happens with soul conversion."
"I'm thinking we talk a little and then catch some sleep? I'm assuming you didn't sleep too well last night," his finger traced under my eye, no doubt where I had bags from lack of sleep.
"You'd be correct. Just like I'm sure you didn't either." He honestly looked like hell, but he was still the most attractive person I had ever met.
"You'd be correct," he mimicked with a smile. "I'm assuming my mom is leaving?"
"Said she'd be gone a few hours."
True to Edward's word, we spent a little while talking. Mostly little stuff, keeping away from the big elephant of what would happen soon. I wanted to know what his view on it all would be, but one thing at a time. We weren't speaking long before I fell asleep on him, in the middle of telling him my day yesterday.
I woke feeling a lot better; my fever was gone, I wasn't in a cold sweat, I felt strong, and I only had a little congestion in my chest. I was still wrapped around Edward, who was fast asleep with his head on his pillow, but his arms wrapped securely around me. Glancing at the clock on his bedside table told me it wasn't even noon yet. The house sounded silent, which meant Esme was still gone.
Turning back to look at Edward, I could see he was looking better as well. He wasn't as pale, he was no longer sweating, and feeling his forehead, his fever was gone. I was growing warm but I didn't want to move, disturb Edward by moving, so I took a moment to familiarize myself with Edward.
He had bronze hair as I had noticed when I first saw him, but what I didn't notice before was that it looked like sex-hair. Obviously he hadn't had sex, so his hair must be naturally messy. His eyes, I knew, where a piercing green, like emeralds. Now closed, his long eyelashes were visible. He had pouty, full lips, ones that just begged to be kissed. He had sharp cheekbones, along with a sharp jawline, making his face look like a greek god.
I was unable to get a look, but from what I could feel, he was muscular. He was somewhat lean, making me wonder if he played sports, or just worked out regularly.
As if Edward could feel me gaze on him, his eyes fluttered open. It took him a minute, but eventually he was fully aware. His beautiful green eyes seemed to stare right through me, seeing my soul.
Something shifted, something I couldn't explain. His eyes turned hungry and I'm sure mine were reflecting his. The sudden need to have him, to claim him, to be claimed by him washed over me like a bucket of water. His eyes found my lips, but this time, he didn't hesitate. I could feel the restraint he took, pressing his lips to mine almost gently. I responded in kind, seemingly knowing what to do, knowing what he liked.
Pulling back to catch our breaths, we shared a look. A mutual agreement passed between us.
There was no going back.
