Chapter 3 – Introductions
My mother's words ran through my mind. I would remain here, for her. I loved my mother. When Father wasn't around, she was so different. Not as rigid as Father was. She explained things so that I would understand better. With Father, it was just be yes or no. There was no explaining himself. Not the great Aro, king of the vampires. For my mother, I would not show my wanting for the outside world. I will mourn in silence. Mourn for the fact that I will never be free. But I will not let go of my secret hoping that one day my father will see I am capable of handling myself among the humans and let me go. I will continue to hope for the day when my father will release me.
I will not think of that hope. It will only drag me back to the desires I must release. I took to standing on the veranda at night, just watching. "Bella?" "Yes Chelsea." "Come with me to the main chamber. We have visitors." I smiled, "Visitors?" That was a rare treat. "Yes. It is your father's old friend, Carlisle." I gasped, "Carlisle? Really?" She nodded, "Yes. Your father wants him to meet you." Chelsea and I went to the main chamber. I have heard much of Carlisle Cullen. He was with my father, Caius and Marcus for some time. I was not informed on his reasonings, but Carlisle decided to leave for the New World. I remember my Father scoffed Carlisle for leaving, but he hoped he found what he was looking for. We neared the chamber, where Heidi greeted us. "Isabella, Aro wishes you to wear your cloak." She handed me my black cloak and I put it on, wearing my hood. I heard my father's voice, "Carlisle, I am so happy to see you and your family. Please let me introduce you to my daughter." The chamber door open and I walked in. I was bored with the cloak and dagger routine.
"Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Edward, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, this is my daughter, Isabella." I lowered my hood to look at the infamous Carlisle. Carlisle stood with the others my father named. It was the largest coven I have ever seen. Carlisle came towards me offering his hand, "Isabella, it is so nice to meet you." I smiled and took his hand noticing his eyes. They were gold, gold just as Kate's were. I looked at his coven; all their eyes were gold as well. Carlisle saw the confused look I had; he laughed, "Aro, you never told her? You never explained to her?" I looked to my father, who was smiling, "No, she didn't need to know. But you are here, so you can tell her." Carlisle looked back to the woman with red hair; she smiled and came over to us. "Isabella, this is my wife, Esme." I shook her hand and she gestured to the rest of her coven, "And these are our children, Rosalie," the tall blond, statuesque female stood forward. "Emmett," the big, muscular male that stood next to the blond female stepped forward, "Alice and Jasper," a pixie-like female stood forward, with a tall blond male, with crescent scars stood forward, "and Edward." The tall, bronzed hair male stood forward.
My eyes lingered on him a little longer. I saw he had a slight muscular build, his hair was slightly messy and he a demanding stare. I smiled, first at him, then to the rest of the "children." I appraised all of the members of Carlisle's coven, my eyes fell back to Edward. I noticed he was staring at me, as if he was waiting for something. I stared back at him, instantly pushing my shield, protecting myself. I waited to feel anything from this golden eyed one. When Jane would attack, I would feel a tingling sensation against the outer side of my shield. With Edward, I felt nothing. If he wasn't attacking, why was he staring? All of this occurred instantly; I doubted that anyone notice. "Isabella," I finally tore my eyes away from the bronzed haired male to look at Carlisle, "I lived here for 10 years, with your father in the early 1700s. I learned a great deal with Aro, Caius and Marcus, but I had a significance from them. I had a reverence for human life. I refused to feed on human blood." "Really? I have never heard of that before. All of you abstain from human blood?" I looked back over the members of his coven, lingering on Edward again, before looking back to Carlisle. "Yes, I and my family drink the blood of animals. That is why our eyes are gold. Animal's blood changes them from crimson." I thought of that for a moment and looked to my father, "Is that what Kate's coven does? They feed on animal's blood as well?" My father smiled and nodded, "Yes. The Denali clan share Carlisle's vision." I nodded; that explained why my father did not want me to speak with them. He did not want the thought of an alternate lifestyle introduced to me, especially being so young at the time. I looked back to Carlisle, "How is it all of you can live harmoniously? Father told me most of our kind live own their own. Covens larger than three were rare." Carlisle smiled, "My theory is that since we abstain from human blood, we form bonds of love than bonds of convenience."
Bonds of love? That was a new concept to me. I love my parents and we have remained together, but do they love the members of the Guard? I smiled, "Well, I agree with my father. I am happy to see you have found so many that share your vision." I saw Alice smiling at me and I smiled in return. My father came over to me, "Carlisle has also found gifted children as well. Young Jasper, Alice and Edward," he said the last two names with reverence, "are gifted like you, my dear." I looked at the three of them, "What can they do?" As I asked my question, I felt a sudden wave of calm come over me. "Jasper can sense the emotions of others and he can effect them as well." I looked the tall blond male who was now smiling at me. "Alice is able to see the future, based on one's decisions." I looked at the small vampire. "And Edward can hear the minds of others, but differently than me. He can hear people from a distance, whereas I need physical contact to hear every thought." I looked at Edward, who was still studying me. My father looked to Edward, "Don't be worried, my young friend. It does not surprise me that you cannot hear my daughter's thoughts. I cannot hear he either." He demonstrated by taking my hand. "Also, she can protect others. My daughter is a shield. She is not harmed by Alec or Jane's abilities. And Isabella has the ability to protect others. Felix, Jane, would to demonstrate." The two members of the Guard stepped forward.
Felix by my side and Jane standing by Edward. Jane unleashed her ability on Felix, who began to writhe in pain and hunched over. I pushed my shield over Felix and he silenced and straightened up. "Fascinating. Aro, how did you find her?" My father told him of how he found me, while I kept my shield up. I could still feel Jane's attack, but she was directing it at me. I saw Edward hide a smile; he must hear Jane's annoyance. I felt her strengthen her force against my shield. I pushed it further towards her. Her eyebrows furrowed as my shield drew closer to her. I pushed my shield closer to her until she stepped back and held her head. My father looked between me and Jane, "Jane, leave her be." She growled and glowered at me. I merely smiled at her and took my father's hand. Jane hissed and left the chamber. She hated being bested by me.
I saw Edward speaking with his other members. "Jane was trying to attack Isabella, but she pushed Jane away with her shield," I heard him say. His voice was very sweet. Alice and Emmett looked up at me, Alice was smiling again. My father offered Carlisle and his family rooms so that they could remain in the tower for a proper visit.
I went back to my room, thinking about Carlisle's lifestyle. He and his family lived off the blood of animals. How could he or any of them abstain from human blood? I did not know it was possible for any of us to do that. It was night and I headed for the veranda. When I walked onto the veranda, I saw Alice and Esme. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here." Esme smiled, "No. Please join us." I smiled and went to stand with them, "Are you enjoying your time here?" Alice chuckled, "There are hardly any good shops around here. Where would you recommend going?" I laughed, "I couldn't recommend any thing. My shopping is done for me." There was no reason for them to know about my predicament. "Well, don't worry." Esme patted my shoulder, "Alice needs a break from shopping. I swear she could buy out a whole store in less than an hour." I giggled and Esme joined me, while Alice scowled. "Well, I do have a rather extended wardrobe myself," I have nowhere to wear the clothes, "you are more than welcome take anything you like." Alice beamed, the moonlight caught on her teeth. I smiled in return, excuse us from Esme and I showed Alice to my room.
