Into the Woods

By: Everleigh Allen

Chapter 9

A/N: I know the last chapter left a lot of questions and yes, perhaps the characters are not "mature" or cannon enough for some but in this alternate universe they are mine and I don't mind. :D This story is a reposting of the one written in 2014-2015 and it's about 104k words. It's a long ride with twists and turns and there will eventually be answers to all the questions you may have-and if not, I'll answer the best I can. I'll fix the summary to better warn the readers it's M for Mature (lemons, not always characters), AU, cannon pairings, and just for fun!
Also, there's a "California instead of Washington" mistake that was graciously caught and I'll definitely fix it… eventually. Thanks for letting me know!
*Sorry for the delay. The kids were sick, my husband had a toenail removal emergency, and then the kids got me sick. Fun times. Thank you for your time and kind reviews. ~Musie

On with the story…

~O~

They walked to the car in silence.

Bella was trying to wrap her mind around what she saw.

"Explain, Alice!" Bella practically yelled when they got in the car.

Once both were in and seat belted, Alice put the car in reverse, and pulled out of the space and onto the street.

"I had to see what would happen and it worked out better than I thought. You should be happy." Her look was full of sass, but Bella wasn't easily swayed.

Alice relented, "Okay, just let's get home and I'll explain."

Bella instantly flushed, "Your house or mine?"

Alice snorted a scoff. "Mine, of course. Yours has an infestation." She made a gagging noise.

"You're overly dramatic."

"I know! It took a long time and a lot of practice to be this way, so shut it."

Bella shook her head in confusion, "What?!"

"Ugh, Jake came out of the supernatural closet, so we might as well, too." Alice huffed in exasperation. "Shall I spell it out to you?"

"Um, yeah!" Bella had crazy eyes. Alice was making her insane.

Alice lead footed the accelerator, speeding through the twists and turns around Crescent Lake.

Bella didn't notice.

"Bella, did you not catch on when I talked about witches?"

"Yeah,"

Alice took one of her hands off the wheel and waved it at Bella as she asked, "Well, did you notice the part when I said what they did to people they suspected to be witches?"

Narrowing her eyebrows, Bella grunted, "Yes..."

"And did you not hear that they sent people that saw things: death, life, blah, blah, blah, into Asylums."

"I do remember such a conversation, Alice. Just spit it out."

"Well, then you must remember the part when I said: It even happened in places like small town, Biloxi to a girl who used to see things that others didn't. She saw people dying, how and when, even by who or what."

"So you're the girl…"

"Yes! Finally, you catch on!" Alice waved her hands and grunted, "In 1930, Mary Alice Brandon, was sent into Mississippi State Hospital. While there, I was oh, so lovingly subjected to ice cold baths, a special jacket made for self-love, a bit of electricity… or so I've learned." Alice said sarcastically. "At least I wasn't a biter… those ones lost their teeth."

"Wait, 1930… Alice?"

"Oh, and don't get me started on James. He was an orderly, but not really. He just had seen me there and heard about me- I don't even want to know how. I think he was scoping for gifted humans. Anyway, the next thing I know, he's got me sleeping oh-so-peacefully in my nicely padded room and he decides to bite me."

"Who's James? He bit you?"

"Yes! Can you believe it? Ugh, thought I'd be so happy to join him but what he failed to realize was that there are little things called lobotomies and I was given one right before he bit me."

Bella gasped, cupping her mouth with her hand.

"Whatever moment he thought we had was gone forever. Luckily, the vampire venom healed my brain, but I still don't remember anything before then. Carlisle helped me find out the rest later."

"So… you're a vampire." Bella said quietly, mostly to herself.

"From 1930's, yes."

But she had spent time with Alice and nothing had happened.

"Who is psychic…" "Yet," Bella thought, "And was changed by a vampire named James."

"Yep. You're a real clever girl with it all spelt out to you." Alice snickered, turning onto the long drive to the Cullen house. "All those innuendoes and it was like… poof! Lights out and no one's home."

"Gee, thanks. Excuse me for not put it together that you're a freaking vampire."

"We're home! Oh," Alice grew hazy a bit and then cackled, "Oh… Edward's so pissed at me!"

Worriedly, Bella asked, "Why?"

"Because he is going through my head as we speak!" She giggled before bounding out of the car, she paused, ran around the car, and bent over and said though the closed window, "And he knows you like him-" she taunted before sprinting into the house.

Bella took a sharp intake of breath before slowly leaning forward to grab her stuff. Then the door was opened for her.

And there stood Edward in all his chivalrous glory, looking delicious and... wet?

Edward speaking in low tones should be illegal.

So when he said, "Hello, Bella," she actually tensed.

To her horror, he noticed.

There was a smile upon those kissable blood red lips.

Then Bella remembered.

Vampire.

"Yes, I am." Edward frowned, his thick eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"I said that out loud."

Edward laughed for a second, "Yes. I like it when you say things… out loud."

Edward was entirely too seductive for Bella's own good.

And wet.

"You're hair's wet."

"I just got out of the shower." Edward smirked as he ran his hand through the dark stands.

"Oh," she said dumbly, but was then imagining the types of things a naked Edward Cullen would do in the shower.

She blushed.

He took a sharp intake of breath.

It took only a moment before he seemed to regain the small amount of control he had with Bella and her intoxicating fragrance. He led her from the car and up the porch, and into the house easily, with just a small touch on her lower back.

That does things to a girl.

"So, you're an incubus?" Bella said without thinking and then gasped, quickly covering up her mouth. "I am so sorry!"

Edward laughed graciously. It was like a rolling vibration in his chest.

Or maybe he was purring.

"It is fine," he leaned forward and pulled the front door open but stopped before entering. He leaned forward, inches from her face.

His lips, millimeters from her lips.

She could feel his cool breath.

"If I get to seduce you, I'd gladly take the name." Then his lips barely touched hers.

She was screaming inside.

In a good way.

Lifting herself up on her tippy toes, she pressed her mouth harder, feeling his body react and his arms encircle her.

One of his hands curled around her neck, moving up and over her hair line before clutching her hair.

He pulled back, maybe a half inch, maybe a whole one, but had total control over her as he gently pushed his tongue into her mouth.

They tasted each other while twisting and turning together for mere moments before Emmett's tires crunched at the gravel.

Edward pulled away first but with annoyance.

He waited until Emmett and Rosalie got out of the Hummer before asking, "What brings you two here?"

"Like you don't know, but I'll play along… Alice called a family meeting! Hey, Bella!"

Bella waved awkwardly, still in Edward's embrace.

Edward hadn't really noticed he had missed anything, but the woman before him stood with wide brown eyes, searching his.

Bella stood there in shock.

I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it.

I wonder if Bella will notice this is food from the diner. I really must stop burning everything. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Edward and Bella- standing on the porch- K-I-L- L- I- N- G

I tried being reasonable, I didn't like it.

Oh, fuck she smells good. Oh, she probably tastes good, too.

First comes love- then comes marriage-

I wonder if the blood from the medieval werewolves and the blood from these shape shifters are similar.

Oh, kissing her- not killing her! That's right.

It will have to do. She's here.

They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.

Then comes a weird, hyper-evolving, hybrid baby in a baby carriage!

Oh, how I hope Edward finally found his mate.

Look at that! Little Edward may get some action after all! WOOT WOOT finally going to get some!

I hope this doesn't take long, that carburetor isn't going crawl into the car itself.

Please don't feel my hard on…

"Did it work? Did it work? What did I say?" Alice jumped in Bella's face as Edward stood in shock.

"Alice, calm down." Esme admonished. "What are you talking about?"

Bella slowly and reluctantly moved away from Edward, totally feeling his… attraction to her and gasped.

That was definitely interesting.

"What are you talking about?" Edward said, grabbing up Bella's hand and holding it.

He may or may not have personal space issues.

"Bella, please come inside," Carlisle smiled, gesturing forward. At least give the girl some space. You only just met her Edward.

"What did you just say?" Bella looked at Carlisle with confusion. She could have sworn he had said something, yet his mouth didn't move.

"Oh, I am just too excited," Alice cackled, wildly. Rosalie and Emmett followed everyone to the table and took their seats.

I can't believe they haven't figured it out!

All the sudden two people were running down a path in the forest, hand in hand, they turned and Bella could see that it was clearly Bella and Edward. They were laughing and happy, but it wasn't until the Bella was up close that you could clearly see her blood red eyes.

Bella gasped- her eyes wide.

Then the vision started to repeat itself.

Edward released her hand to pull out her chair and then stiffened. He turned and looked Alice and then at Bella curiously.

"What happened?" Edward asked. He was beside himself.

Bella sat there like a gaping fish.

Just as she was about to explain Alice interrupted, saying she wanted to try one last thing.

The Cullen house is the picture of calm serenity on the outside.

Inside, it was different.

Bella was led into the dining room were the other Cullen's were already sitting.

All eyes were on Bella.

And with the knowledge that they were a family of vampires, she pretty much felt like the main course.

"So," Carlisle said carefully, "Alice tells us that you had quite the eventful day." He said to Bella who looked stricken.

Bella glared at Alice for putting her on the spot and Alice at least had the decency to look contrite.

"Yes. We went to get me some food here in town, she tried to overfeed me, and then we went to Port Angeles."

"Okay, Wait," Alice said. "Jasper up!"

"Alice, not here in front of everyone!" Jasper whined, hands over his face.

"I didn't say, get it up. I said up… Get. Up! Ugh. Men!"

Rosalie and Esme just nodded in understanding.

Bella blushed.

Alice waved Jasper over and he moved and took Alice's chair at the table while Alice stood.

"So, I want everyone think about a feeling and try to feel it, Jasper tell me when you can feel it."

Jasper nodded, turning to look at the faces of his family and then at Bella.

"Got it," He said, with a smirk.

Then Alice grabbed up Bella's hand and Bella shut her eyes tightly. She placed Bella's hand into Jasper's hand.

Edward growled.

He may or may not have jealousy issues.

"Now Edward, calm down. Okay Bella, go around the table and tell me who is feeling what."

Bella glanced at Edward, "Uh, anger and jealousy. Maybe some, uh," she flushed bright pink, "now a little amorous and uh, passionate feelings?"

"Now Rosalie," Alice demanded.

She looked at Rosalie for a moment and said, "Bored."

Alice jumped and clapped her hands, "Now do Esme."

Bella turned to Esme, "She's hopeful and in love," they both smiled at each other.

Jasper chimed in, "I get that a lot from you, too." He smiled at Esme and winked.

"So," Alice interrupted, "My theory is that Bella has some kind of gift where she can shield the person's gift from them, using it for herself."

"Well, then you're implying that she could read minds when touching me." Edward scoffed and then looked worried.

Bella looked a bit guilty. "Jasper tries to talk like Clint Eastwood, Alice was singing an adaptation of a nursery rhyme, Esme worries about her cooking skills, Carlisle wonders about werewolf blood-"

"That's amazing!" Esme beamed.

"That's nothing! At the diner, I was holding her hand and she totally stole my gift!" Alice gasped. "This creeper was totally normal, but when I touched her he was seen as burnt with a woman's soul attached to him because he killed her."

She said it as if was a normal occurrence.

"That was horrible." Bella shuddered and glared at Alice. "What did you mean by two days?"

"Oh! Yeah… nothing really. He's just going to die in two days." She shrugged indifferently.

"What are you saying exactly, Alice?" Rosalie asked, suddenly interested.

"I think she's some kind of shield. She has proven that before since Edward can't read her mind, but she is also so apathetic to the things going on around her. It's like… Hello? Anyone home? Ha Ha! But seriously, she's constantly in protection mode or something."

"How about letting go of her hand now, Jasper?" Edward was seething. He hated that his family had done this to Bella and kept it from him.

Jasper released her hand and Bella fell into her chair on the verge of tears.

"It's been a long day; I am going to take Bella upstairs to rest."

"I already texted her dad," Alice said as Edward picked up Bella in his arms, but he stopped to look at his sister.

She looked sheepish.

Bella groaned, "You didn't."

"I thought it was best. Jake was heading over to take you kicking and screaming to the reservation. You know Charlie is gone all night, tonight."

"Jake is so weird. I don't get it." Bella wrapped her arms around Edward's shoulders and buried her head into his chest, closing her eyes.

Edward laid Bella in the middle of the bed and placed the gold comforter over her. She turned her head and sniffed at the pillow, enjoying the smell of Edward that wafted from the fabric. It relaxed her in a way nothing else did.

He smelled so much better than Jake.

"So you can read people's minds?" she whispered, snuggling in deep.

"Yeah, almost everyone's. Carlisle suspects that I was sensitive to people's thoughts in my human life but that's subjective to interpretation."

"So all vampires have these, uh, gifts?"

Edward frowned as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "No, not all. Some do have talents that they bring over from their human life but most are just normal vampires."

"But I have a gift now…"

"I'd say," he chuckled. "I am guessing that if you chose to be changed, it would be even more pronounced."

"Changed, like into to a vampire?"

Edward ran his hand though his hair. "Well, yeah. You saw Alice's vision of us."

Bella yawned, "Yeah. That was something else."

Edward chuckled. "Sleep, beautiful," He tucked the blanket around her.

"You're not going to eat me as I sleep?"

He laughed heartily. "I may think about it, but no. Not without your permission."

"Disturbing, yet oddly erotic answer, Edward."

"Well, I've waited a long time for you, Bella Swan."

"What…" Bella yawned, "is it with…." She snuggled into the pillow and closed her eyes, "vampires and… mmm, cryptic answers?"

Bella drifted off to sleep without waiting for an answer, with Edward perched over her, watching her intently.