Chapter 6 – Unlocking
My sisters didn't push me into making a decision. Out of all of them, Irina was the most supportive. She read more information from my medical file. "You were born in Forks, Washington in 1987, to Charlie and Renee Swan." I was sitting on the mantle of the high window, in the staircase. I watched the sunrise in the distance. "Bella?" I didn't move. They sighed, "Isabella?" I turned and saw Esme looking at me. Alice and Emmett were with her, standing by the banister on the top floor. I stood and leapt onto the banister's edge, "Yes?" Alice rolled her eyes, "So, we can't call you 'Bella'?" I shrugged, "I'm used to Isabella. But, you can call me Bella, just don't expect me to answer every time." Emmett chuckled and punched my shoulder, "You're still extremely sarcastic." I smiled and punched him back, "Thanks." "Isabella, get off the banister," Kate scolded. "Yes, Mother." I stepped off, in time to avoid a book being thrown at me. I caught it mid-air and flung it back, hitting Kate in the back of the head. She snarled and I laughed, "Gotta go." Kate flew up the stairs and I jumped down them and dashed out the front door.
Tanya, Carlisle and Edward watched as I ran out of the house. "I'm going to kill you, Is." "Good luck, Kat." Kate ran after me. I sprinted ahead, heading north. Kate was on my tail and I dove into the lake. It was iced over, but that did not stop me. Kate followed me in and swam straight for me. I dove deeper, but was stop as Kate caught a fistful of my hair. She and I fought under the water, until we started laughing. She and I swam to the surface. "Don't ever call me 'mom,'" she gasped, "That's Tanya." I sighed, "Agreed." Dripping wet, Kate and I ran back to the house. By the time we reached the house, our clothes were practically frozen. Kate and I walked arm in arm pass the living room, where Tanya, Carlisle, Edward and Jasper were. Tanya gasped, "Get in here!" Kate and I rolled our eyes and went to face our sister. "What is with you two?" she ordered. I laughed, "Hey, Kate started it. I just finished it." Tanya looked us over, "What happened?" Kate eyed me, "Isabella fell in the lake and I went in to save her." I rolled my eyes and smiled. "I swear, you two act like teenagers." I scoffed, "Hey, physically, one of us is still a teenager." Tanya shook her head and looked down. "Kate, are those my new suede boots?" I looked down and stepped back as Kate backed away. "I'm gonna kill you," Tanya spat and ran after Kate. I watched as my sisters ran through the back door.
I ran my fingers through my hair and saw icicles in my palm. "Bella, what happened? Why was Kate chasing you?" Carlisle asked. I sighed and smiled, "Playful relationship. I called her 'mom' and she wanted to take my head off. Basically, everyday stuff." Jasper chuckled, "You guys are always like that?" I nodded, "Yes, and I bet you anything someone is going to threaten Tanya's life before the sun sets." Jasper flashed to my side and Emmett was right behind him, "How much?" I looked up, "$500, each." They nodded and left the room. I rolled my eyes, "Easy money." Edward was staring at me and I looked back, "Yes?" He blinked, "I'm sorry. That must be annoying." I smiled, "Not really, I'm used to it. Guys stare at me all the time." He smiled, "I've always said they did." I looked at him, "What do you mean?" "When you were human, you didn't really consider yourself beautiful. You didn't understand why guys would ask you out." I raised my eyebrows, "Really? That doesn't sound like me at all." He smiled, "Yes, that was you." I half-smiled, "At least that changed, but I have to admit, I was a little shy when I was first changed. But living under Irina's influence, that really changed. I had the majority of the Guard wanting me. It was fun." He sighed, "Bella, I want to apologize." I looked at him. "I shouldn't have kissed you. I didn't know your whole story and I was so overwhelmed seeing you, I couldn't help myself."
I smiled, "I understand. Alice actually told me. I was your girlfriend. But she wouldn't tell me why we broke up. She said it should come from you." He folded his arms, "Yes, I know." I bit my lip, "I just want to know one thing and we could put every else off for another time." I looked into his eyes, "Do you still care about me?" He nodded once, "I do." I smirked, "I figured, by the way you kissed me. I'm not going to lie, when you kissed me, it felt familiar. Like I've done it before." Edward watched my face as I started to think about our encounter yesterday. The way he held my face, to when his lips were on mine, a warm feeling grew in my chest. I shook my head slightly and looked back at him, "Sorry. I was just thinking about something." "I know. I could still read your face." I blinked, "Read my face?" Edward gestured for me to sit on the couch, "You had that look in your eyes which you always got when you thought about something. It's like your eyes for focused on something, but at the same time, they are looking at something far away."
I smiled, "Umm, I'll be right back. I just want to change my clothes." I sprinted upstairs, feeling lighter. I felt happier finding out more about myself, but I did not believe it was just that. Sitting with Edward, that was it. I was feeling lighter and happier. I ran down the stairs, hoping he hadn't moved. As I turned the corner of the living room, I saw he hadn't moved an inch. With that, I saw a flash of something. I froze in my tracks and stared. "Bella?" I blinked, "I just….." I didn't know how to describe it. Edward took my hand and walked me over to the couch. He held my shoulders and motioned me to sit down. I looked at him, "You've done that before." He blinked, "What?" "Shhh." There was something else coming to me, "Have you ever held my wrists, saying that you were my prisoner?" A smile was coming across his face, "Yes, that was the first night you and I were in your bedroom." I looked down, "Could you come with me for a second?" I sprinted back to my bedroom, with Edward close behind me. "I think, if we actually sat on my bed, more memories would come back?" I sat on the edge of my bed, "Ok, sit with me exactly how we did that first night."
Edward motioned my body so I was sitting in the middle of the bed, facing the head of the bed and he sat in front of me. He held my wrists and that helped. "Did I mention something about Rosalie?" He nodded. Thinking more, I remembered something else, "And you drew my hands behind you and my head was pressed in your chest." "Yes, then Charlie was coming," "And you told me to lie down, right when he came to check on me." I smiled brightly, "I remember that." "What else can you remember?" I thought more. I punched him in the arm. He looked at me baffled, "What that for?" I smiled, "For flinging me over your shoulder and carrying me down the stairs. That scared me." Edward laughed, "So, I was getting you back."
Going through the memories I had gotten back with Edward's help, I've decided to go and see my father. To help me prepare, Alice bought me contact lenses that were close to my human eye color. "I think it would be best if Carmen went with you," Alice recommended. She saw that Irina would be tempted to avenge Laurent, being that we would be close to the wolves. I wanted Alice to come with me, but Carlisle advised against it. "If Charlie sees you with Alice and finds out you have been living with our relatives, he may hold animosity towards our family for not contacting him sooner." I nodded, "Alright." So, it was decided, Carmen and I would be leaving Friday night to go see my dad. Alice foresaw that it would be raining too hard for him to go fishing, which was his favorite hobby. While finishing getting dress, I heard someone coming towards my room. "I'm dressed, so come in." The door opened, "Yes, Edward?"
He smiled, "I have to ask you something." I smiled. "When you get to Charlie's house, after you've spoken with him, go to your old bedroom. Look underneath the floorboard at the foot of your bed. There's something there that I need you to look through. Don't let Charlie see it. It's meant only for you. When you find it, I hope it'll help you remember even more." I blinked, "Okay, I will." I walked to my door, but he extended his arm across the doorframe. I opened my mouth to protest, but he put his arm around my waist and closed the door. My body came alive with Edward this close to me. He pulled me closer, until my chest was pressed into his. "Can I try again?" he whispered. "Yes." Edward tightened his hold on me, as he pressed his lips to mine. I wound my arms around his neck. His hand grazed down my back, until it was on the back of my thigh. He hitched my leg, lifting my off the floor, until my legs were wrapped around his waist.
I undid my legs and pushed against his chest, until he fell on my bed. I crawled onto the bed and laid on him, kissing Edward. His hands were pressed into my back. Before long, there was a knock on my door, but we ignored it. "Isabel…. Oh my gosh." Edward and I sat up in shock. "Carmen!" My sister gawked at us, "Umm, I'll wait for you downstairs." She closed the door and we heard her stifling her laughter. I pressed my face in his neck, "I think its time for me to go." He groaned. "I know. I mean my dad's waited six years, what's another day?" He looked at me, "A day?" I smiled, "Yes, I was going to take it easy on you." He stroked my face, "But I wasn't. You better go, before I keep you here." I got up, "You're right. Besides, I was going to teach you some things you'd never forget. Oh well, see you when I get back." I heard him groan as I closed the door.
I walked into the living room, where my sisters refused to look at me. All of them had coy smiles on their faces. "Shut….. up. All of you." Irina put her hands in the air, as if surrendering. She took Kate's hand, "Good luck with your dad." Tanya hugged me, "Let us know what happens. If you want to stay there, we'll understand." I smiled, "No, I'll be back." Carmen headed for the front door, "Let's go." Outside, Emmett and Jasper were laughing, but they stopped when they saw me. "Umm, sorry…." Emmett tried to explain. I held up my hand, "We'll handle this when I get back. The both of you." Esme was with Alice and Rosalie, "We'll be waiting to hear what happens. Call as soon as you can, honey." Carmen and I drove off, heading South. Soon, we were in Canada. While Carmen drove, I read all my information in my medical file, trying to get as much information as I can. Within a few hours, Carmen and I arrived in front of my father's house. I looked out the darkened window to the house that was once my home.
"You ready?" Carmen squeezed my hand. I put in my contact lenses, "No. Let's go." Carmen and I opened our umbrellas and walked up the steps. Making a fist, I raised my arm to knock, but I hesitated. "It's okay." Carmen knocked for me. The door opened to an elderly man in a wheelchair. Carmen smiled, "Hello, we're looking for Charlie Swan?" The man in the wheelchair looked at me, "Bella?" I looked at him; he was elderly, with long black hair, with some gray strands. He had russet, wrinkled skin, with dark eyes. I heard two more heartbeats in the house. A tall russet man came up behind the man in the chair, "Bella?" When he came into view, there was a foul scent coming from him. "Charlie!" The both of them stared at me as another set of fast footsteps came down the stairs. It was a man with dark hair, like mine, with chocolate brown eyes, like mine were. "Bella!" He came to the door, "Bella?" Before I answered, he threw his arms around me, "I don't believe this. I thought you were gone." He released me, but I stared back in shock, Carmen spoke, "My name is Carmen Denali and Isabella has been living with my family for some time now. May we come in?" Charlie took my hand, "Of course."
