Ch. 28 Iris Is Also A Danger Magnet
"It's so lovely to meet you, Iris." Of course Tanya was first into the house...Mmhmm I'm so sure you have just been dying to meet me, Tanya, aka strawberry blonde goddess of boyfriend stealers. I see you looking at Edward, you succubus...ok, take it down a notch, Iris. She only said that it was nice to meet you, that doesn't mean that she's going to go after Edward...
"You too, Tanya." I kept it short. Let's wrap this up. Can I go home now?
"Edward, it's been too long. I really wish you could have come to watch the lights with us last month." Edward leaned in for a hug, and she did as well, but at the last second Tanya turned to kiss him on the cheek.
"Tanya, it's nice to see yo—" He froze in shock because she—did that bitch just pinch his ASS?! Now THAT means she wants to steal your boyfriend...Oh it's going down! I'm about to take off my hoops. DON'T MAKE ME LOSE THE HOOPS! No...no. Deep breaths. Iris, remember when we decided that Edward is his own man, and all that Jazz? If he wants to leave you, that's on him, not Tanya Boyfriend-stealer. God, I'm really starting to feel schizophrenic. Note to self, try harder not to talk to yourself so much...it's fine. Edward loves you, YOU.
I turned abruptly to take a seat in the living room, but of course the one time that I absolutely want to be as graceful as a vampire, I tripped on my own foot—what the hell??—and nearly hit my head on the console table in the foyer. Edward's hand flew away from his formerly frozen body to stop me in time from gashing a hole into my head, again. I heard several hushed giggles behind me, and I blushed furiously.
"Oh, Edward, it must be so interesting to have a human be so near all the time. I see what the appeal is now, though. Iris here seems to be a bit difficult to keep from harming herself." Tanya stood staring with a small smile of feigned innocence but spoke in a haughty tone. That's it. Game over. I'm going to find a flamethrower for this bitch.
"I don't mind at all. It gives me more of an excuse to almost never leave her side..." Edward was staring adoringly into my eyes. "Are you alright, love?" All thoughts besides his golden irises boring into my own brown ones halted. He's so handsome...
Another laugh escaped someone to my left as two more of the Alaskan coven entered the home at Esme's insistence. "Let the poor girl breathe, Edward." It was a heavily accented voice. Why hello, Carmen. To her right was who I had to assume was her mate.
"Hello, Iris, I'm Carmen and this is my mate, Eleazar." She gently pulled me away from Edward to hug me, which he seemed to not approve of, but his Edwardian Era manners, and probably fear of Esme, wouldn't allow him to be rude enough to say anything.
"Yes, I've heard so much!" I tried to make my preference for the gorgeous Latina vampire obvious. Edward shot a look of confusion my way, but Alice looked like the smallest thing might send her into hysterics. What? I know it's childish, but what else should I do? Tanya could stand to lose a bit of her overinflated ego.
Eleazar only offered his hand to me, but he had the strangest look on his face. "Your mate is a—"
"Shield? Yeah I know." I answered with a laugh.
"You know?" He seemed surprised as he looked to Edward inquiringly. Edward only shook his head. "It is an interesting gift. I would love to speak to you more about it later, but—" I nodded and was about to respond when the aura in the room suddenly changed.
Each of the Cullens stiffened, and Edward pulled me back to him, positioning himself slightly in front of where I stood with the wall behind me. Jasper and Emmett came to stand on either side of me, so now I was really blocked in. What the hell was with that? Oh, oh.
Irina and her newly declared mate were walking up the front steps. I had never seen Laurent in person, and he didn't disappoint. Just as the book described, he was olive complected with cropped dark hair. He was dressed quite well, but so were the other members of the Denali Coven.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Growled Edward. "I thought it was to be just the five of you?" He asked Irina.
"How rude of you! How dare you speak of my mate in such a manner—and in front of him too?" Irina looked aghast. I never did like her. I thought seeing the real character in person might change my opinion, but knowing how she can be so easily deceived by Laurent and the way she responded in the books...let's just say that I wouldn't be totally upset if they decided to elope and go live in a cave somewhere by themselves.
Then my eyes met with Laurent, and I couldn't help the shiver that escaped me. Edward took a step backward and Emmett and Jasper each side-stepped so they were closer to me as well. I almost couldn't see past them. Almost.
There was a look of shame on Laurent's face. "It's alright, my darling." He said to Irina before turning back to face us. "Cullens, Iris, I am so sorry for how everything turned out when we last saw each other. However, I have, thankfully, found Irina, and have been enthralled by her ways. I have chosen to live as she does and now see the error of James and...Victoria's ways. Please forgive me for associating with them. I had no idea that our presence would affect such a refined, gracious coven as yours." Maybe it was my bias, or the fact that his eyes were a murky orange rather than golden, but I didn't believe him. At. All.
Edward straightened, reaching his hand behind himself to take my hand. He squeezed slightly as he answered, "It's been taken care of, but we will not be so easily fooled this time into believing you mean Iris no harm. If she even misses a breath while you're around, well, let's just say that I do not share the passivity of my adoptive parents." There was a growl to Edward's voice that I couldn't help but find very alluring. Holy shit.
Laurent bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Yes, I understand, and I hope that, with time, I may earn your trust."
Emmett only scoffed while Jasper released a burst of that strange calm, dizziness.
"Cut the shit, guys." A third blonde approached the house. "Hi, I'm Kate. You must be Iris." She offered her hand, and Edward growled. "God, I was only kidding. I wouldn't actually do it..."
"No, it's ok. Watch." I said as I reached around Edward and went to place my hand in hers, but Edward grabbed my wrist to stop me.
"Iris! You don't understand." He hissed in warning through his teeth.
"I do. Let go, and watch." I urged again. This time he stared at me, gauging my level of sanity until I sighed in exasperation. "Trust me."
He barely released my wrist but followed my hand as I reached for Kate's. She stared on in perplexity and fascination as I placed my hand in hers and...Ta-dah! ...Nothing happened.
Edward released a breath of relief, but Kate seemed upset. "How did you do that?" She inquired.
"It's her shield." Eleazar responded in awe. He had that same look that Carlisle would get when learning something new after three centuries of life.
"It's remarkable, isn't it?" Carlisle asked, and disappeared with Eleazar to the other room as they openly discussed the anomaly. Yeah yeah we all know that Bella Swan is a miracle...blah blah blah. "Come sit with us in the living room, please," he called after the group, and we moved—Edward still standing VERY closely by my side while keeping an eye on Laurent—toward the room.
"Would you like something to eat, dear?" Esme asked me. I know she meant it to be cordial and comforting, but all it did was give Tanya another reason to bite back a smile at my offending humanness, my otherness. Specie-ist Bitch.
"No, thank you." I replied in a low voice.
"Alright, just let me know, and I'll have something ready for you." Esme smiled, and I nodded.
Edward found a spot on the sofa and tucked me into his lap, not willing to let me out of range of his hands while so close to a known human-drinker. I wasn't going to fight him on it either. I was totally content to sit so intimately while Tanya glared across at us from the chair where she sat. Every few seconds she would look to Edward, obviously attempting to get his attention, but he was too busy watching Laurent.
"So, what all has occurred since we saw you last a few years ago?" Carlisle asked politely, playing moderator for the covens.
"Well, not much, I suppose. Two years is such an insignificant amount of time in comparison to eternity. Nothing lasting can really happen in such a short time." Tanya looked meaningfully between Edward and me. A low sigh and eye roll escaped Edward's previously stoic facade.
"I think things can change very quickly in the face of love." Laurent surprised everyone by speaking up as he looked to Irina. She merely gleamed at her "mate's" remark.
"I couldn't agree more..." she said in a dreamy voice. Barf. Is that what Edward and I looked like? That's why Emmett and Alice called us a barf fest if so. I really hoped they were wrong.
"Yes, things can happen quickly in cases of true love." Tanya replied, still looking at Edward. "It is strange how your own mind can play games with you, though...One day you're totally indifferent to those who are perfect for you, and the next you can't seem to think clearly because you have convinced yourself that you're madly in love with someone who could only ever be an infatuation..." she trailed off as if lost in thought, but we all knew who she meant. It wasn't her oblivious sister and her psycho boyfriend either.
My lower lip began quivering, but I fought the tears as best that I could. Hold them back. Don't let her know what she's doing to you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.
"Sometimes we can trick ourselves into believing we are perfect for someone, but the universe had other plans for us. I have been lucky enough to have found my one true love, and I hope you might find yours one day as well, Tanya." Edward spoke earnestly as he rubbed circles on the top of my hand with his thumb. God, he's amazing. I couldn't have kept a cool head like that...shit, I didn't keep a cool head like that, and I couldn't hear her thoughts.
Tanya didn't seem so happy to no longer be speaking hypothetically. She stood up more gracefully than I ever could—even in my original, less clumsy, body—and looked to Rosalie who had been quietly standing with Emmett in the corner. "Rose, would you accompany me on a hunt? It's been so long since we have had a chance to catch up." Rosalie nodded, and the pair left without a word.
The rest of the visit was nice actually, despite the drama with Laurent and Irina. She did seem genuinely happy, and he behaved appropriately. The topic of their relationship was purposely not brought up again. We also avoided mentioning my little body-possessing habit since we still weren't sure we could trust Laurent.
As the afternoon wore on, more and more of the visitors would leave to hunt, and even though they had only just returned from their own trip, a few of the Cullens chose to go along with them to continue their visit. Finally it was only Irina, Laurent, Esme, Carmen, Eleazar, Edward, and me remaining.
Irina and Laurent stood in unison preparing to leave. "Well, I must go find my sisters. I will return later to say our goodbyes. I'm so happy we were able to get passed our little...disagreement." Her eyes narrowed a bit in my direction as she apologized. Yes, just a little disagreement that your boyfriend was buddy buddy with my would-be murderers. But eh, that's nothing. Water under the bridge...
I was surprised to hear Edward speak up, "Yes, about that, I would actually like to apologize myself. Could I accompany you on your hunt?"
"Yes, I'd very much like that." Laurent answered.
"Perfect. Esme, would you stay with Iris, maybe make her some lunch before I take her back home?"
"Of course, Edward." Esme seemed just as bewildered as I was with what was happening.
He stepped passed his mother; and planted a kiss on my forehead. "I'll be back soon, Love." What are you up to, Cullen?
"Iris, I'll just be in the kitchen. Would lasagna be alright?" I wanted to laugh at the way she asked if a normally hour long process of preparing sauce, layering pasta and cheese, and baking the monster would be alright. Must be nice to have things come so easily as a vampire...
"Yes, that sounds lovely." I answered. How did I get so lucky to find such a wonderful family?
"I'd actually like to come along too. Are you coming, Mi amor?" Carmen asked her mate.
"No, I think I'll skip the activity this time. I hunted on the way here, remember?" He smiled slightly to her, and she frowned a little but didn't argue with him as she kissed his cheek and left after the trio.
That left only Eleazar and me alone in the room together. I could hear Esme moving pots and pans around in the kitchen.
Eleazar was staring at me. Well, this is awkward. I mean, he seemed like a nice enough guy, but he hadn't exactly contributed a whole lot to the conversation where I was concerned and now he was taking a bit more interest in me than I was comfortable with.
"Iris, I forgot to tell Edward something. I'll be just a few seconds. Will you be alright with Eleazar for a moment?" Esme asked from the doorway.
"Yeah, sure." No. Nope. He's giving off creepy vibes right now. She nodded and ran out the back door.
"So, how about those forty-niners...?" I chuckled nervously.
He didn't even crack a smile. "This isn't your body." Well, that was blunt.
"Excuse me?"
"Earlier, you said you have a shield. This body does, but it's not yours. You have a different gift, one you may not have even realized that is a gift, but you are using it currently."
"Huh?" Huh?
"Your...soul. Your essence, so to speak, the thing that makes you, you. It's inhabiting this body now. That's your gift. You're a drifter. There have been theories of your existence for millennia, but never has anyone found such evidence as one standing right before me. I didn't want to say anything in front of your friends since no one mentioned it."
"A drifter?" Holy fuck.
"It would seem that you are able to co-exist in another's body. I can feel the girl inside with you now." Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She's still in here? Bella? Can you hear me? Oh my God.
"I don't see how you couldn't, Iris. This isn't your body. I won't interfere, but I just wanted you to be warned that the Volturi would do anything to have a power like yours. And for you to be human and have such power already? You are in danger." His voice stayed level, his eyes hard. His words hung in the air like a heavy mist.
I'm in danger. Oh shit.
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