Chapter 9 – Cold One

EPOV

After they left, Emmett, Jasper and I went into the house. Bella's scent lingered in the house, but it was tainted by Jacob's. He had better keep his hands to himself. In my anger, I ripped up a sapling knowing that he hugged her and she kissed his cheek. Wow, you think he's jealous, Emmett lamented as he watched me tear the tree apart. My glare turned on him, "Don't start with me, Emmett."

Bella's scent was strongest in Mom's room. In my bedroom, the air was stagnant. Bella never came in here, not that I blame her. My bed was the same ruffled mess I left it in. The morning we were leaving, I woke up late and promised Mom that I would clean up when we got back. I remembered Bella drifting through my room, cleaning it up for me. She always did things like that.

Before going back home, the guys decided to hunt. Emmett leaned against a spruce, with his kill at his feet, "Ok, you have to tell me. What was going through Jacob's head when Bella said she'd only love you? I know that had to hurt." I smiled, "It was painful. It was like he was a glass statue and she threw a baseball right at him. I could almost hear him shattering." Emmett snickered, "Gut-punch."

I laughed, feeling better, "I knew he always cared for Bella more than he was letting on." Well, at least Jacob now knew where her heart lied. Emmett chuckled, "Well, he's gonna have a hard time trying to sway her." I smiled, but it flattered. Jacob wasn't human, but he was more human than I was. My hands were cold and hard and they scared her.

His hands, though they were hot, comforted her. I tried not to bear too much animosity towards Jacob Black, but I couldn't help it. He is able to do what I wish I could do again. Stop, Edward. She said she still loves you, Jasper tried to cheer me up. I shook my head, "No, she loves the memory of me. When I was human with her. You should have seen the look on her face that night. She was horrified." Emmett looked between us, "What happened? Really?"

I looked into the forest, staring into the trees, "Damien was taking her home. I didn't like what he was thinking about her. He stopped in the gas station and tried to have his way with her. Apparently, he's been attracted to her since she came to Forks. He literally said he could try now that I was out of the way. When he said that, she slapped him and he hit her back. That's when I intervened. I ripped off his door and pulled him from the car. I could have killed him right there, but I remembered the treaty. I just dropped him on the ground, took Bella out of the car and ran with her to my mother's house."

"Then what?" Jasper asked, "You were alone with her and she saw who you were?" I told them every detail about that night, from how she screamed to me showing pictures and pulling out her jacket from the closet.

Damn, that's gotta be tough. She was such a sweet girl. And Alice really likes her, Emmett remembered Bella from school. Most people avoided the Cullens, but Bella was one of the few that stood up against their glares to speak with Alice. He remembered her clearly when they had class together. There was another memory of Bella and I walking through the campus together.

Seeing her that way, in comparison to the look face when she saw who I was, it truly showed that I cannot be with her. I chuckled once, "There is something else about her." Jasper asked, "What?" "I can't hear her mind. When I would be in her room at night, I cannot hear her. I thought that was because her mind was dormant or something. Then, Friday night, I thought that was because she was not focused. Come to think of it, when she would be driving and I'm following her, I still cannot hear anything."

Emmett and Jasper looked at each other, "Maybe, it doesn't work with everyone." I shrugged, "It has until I saw Bella again. I have no problem hearing everyone. I'm working on blocking them out, but I can't, so I just ignore, but with her, I hear nothing."

BPOV

The Monday after prom was crazy. Everyone was talking about Damien's car being wrecked. Deputy Markes surveyed the scene and came to question me. I told him that I left Damien there and went to the Masen's house to get Edward's car. The station wasn't far from the house. Damien claimed that I left with someone after he was pulled from his car. I admitted to Deputy Markes that Damien tried to attack me and Charlie was ready to throw him in jail.

The students were looking at me as if I had something to do with Damien's car getting damaged. Maybe I did. Whatever or whoever that stranger was did take off the door and pulled me from the car. But why did he do that? If he was really Edward, I could understand why he would do it. Edward was the jealous type, with a bad temper and if he knew what Damien did, well I wouldn't have put it past him to do the same thing.

For the rest of the weekend, my mind tried to convince me that it didn't happen, but the proof was too substantial. Edward's car in my driveway, my purse was on the couch at his house and my jacket was still in his closet. But how could this be true? It took me a long time, but I finally came to realize that he was dead. But now, is he back? Or, did he never leave? What happened to him?

"Bella, Damien is looking for you." Angela informed me. "Why?" I want nothing to do with him. Angela walked with me to class, when we heard Damien around the corner. We looked at each other and turned the other way. Alice stood in the doorway of an empty classroom, "In here." She waved to us to go into the classroom.

Angela and I ran into the room and stayed low. Alice looked out and saw Damien going by. She gasped quietly, "Wow, what happened to him? His arm is all bruised up and he had a cut on his face." I looked at Alice and saw how pale her skin was. Another thing I noticed about the stranger that night, was his pale skin. He was so beautiful. Alice was just as beautiful. "Ok, he's gone. Bella, why are you avoiding him?" I noticed she had a bell-like voice just like the stranger.

"Umm, he thinks I have something to do with his car Friday night. He's confused," I explained. Alice nodded, "What happened? I know you left with him. I meant to call you when I got home, but I was pretty tired." I sighed and Angela patted my arm, "He tried to attack her." Angela explained what happened and I looked at Alice.

She had some similarities; the pale skin, the bell-like voice and her gold eyes. I thought back to Friday night, the stranger's eyes. From was so scared that when I saw them, they looked blood red, but thinking about it, there was a hint of gold. The color was similar gold mixing with deep red.

"Hmm, maybe you hit him so hard, he fell out of the car and he won't admit it," Alice joked. I laughed, "That makes sense, but what about his door?" She shrugged, "Hit and run, maybe?" All normal explanations, but I knew the truth. No one would believe me. They would think I really went off the deep end.

At lunch, Alice and I were discussing things I would need to for Dartmouth. "What does you dad think about this?" I smiled, "He couldn't be happier. He can't stop bragging about his daughter going to an Ivy League school. I know he's upset that I'm going cross-country, but he's happy at the same time." While talking, I noticed Alice had a blank expression on her face for a moment. Why did she do that?

She blinked and looked at me, "Sorry, daydreaming about college." I smiled, "I do that too." We went on and on about college plans for the rest of lunch. I had a free class my last hour. I thought more about what the stranger was telling me. He looked too much like Edward for me to completely forget him. He sounded like Edward, but his voice had like a bell's chime to it. If it weren't for the male/female tenors, the stranger's and Alice's voices sound just alike.

Again, I compared the stranger's and Alice's pale skin. If that really was Edward, then whatever happened to him could have happened to Alice. It was always believed that they moved from Alaska, the Cullens never got some sun. On the drive home, I was still lost in thought. I missed Edward very much and when I was with the stranger, though I was terrified, there was almost a sense of familiarity.
In my room, I looked at Edward's picture. His green eyes stood out, but he was the same. Too much the same. I looked out the window and a memory drifted into my consciousness.

The picture was taken on a trip to First Beach when Edward and Jacob met. On that trip, Jacob told us about some legends of his tribe. He told us about how his ancestors turned into wolves and had one natural enemy. Jacob told us about how his great-grandfather met with a clan of their enemies. The clan of what they called "cold-ones" said they were different from their kind.

They explained that is why their eyes were gold, instead of red. Edward and I walked on the beach after Jacob told us the story, "That's interesting." "Yea, it was different. I wonder if creatures like that exist," I wondered. Edward tightened his hold on my waist, "Don't worry. I will protect you from them." I giggled, "My prince and his shining Volvo." Our lips locked together for a moment as we walked on the beach.

What stood out from the story this time was the description of the eyes. Red like the strangers, but with a hint of gold hint. It worried me that Alice had gold eyes. Was she a cold one? After hearing Jacob's legend, I needed to do more research. This was impossible, but how could I ignore the signs.

Going to my favorite search engine, I began my work. A cold one of the Quileute legend was commonly known as a vampire. A vampire? My eyebrows pulled together. Was Edward now a vampire?

It would explain the lack of a heartbeat, his cold skin, the sensation of flying through the night and his eyes. They never found his body and I had the feeling he was still alive and waiting for me. Was Edward, the love of my life, a vampire?

According to the website, vampires were beautiful and alluring to lure in their prey. Edward could have so easily killed me that night, but he didn't. He still loved me. And despite what he was, I still loved him. But did I love him enough to look past what he is to see who he is? I did in school. I saw past his bravado for the kind heart he truly was. Even now, though his heart did not beat, I knew him.

Could I trust him? Do I dare to contact him? He was a monster now, but if he was truly Edward, he wouldn't hurt me. And if he wasn't Edward, it would just be send me to where he really was.

After midnight, I could hear Charlie snoring from his room. My heart was beginning to race as I went down to the kitchen. I stared at the phone for 10 minutes until I worked up enough bravery to make the call. The phone rang twice, "Hello?" the bell voice answer. I exhaled, "Edward?" "Bella?"