"Stripped"
Chapter 22: Possibilities are not Reality
"Your color is coming back," Rebekah commented.
"Nice greasy burger was just the trick," Bella replied before smiling. "So guys what's on the schedule for New Year's Eve?"
"Nothing," Tyler replied, "Mom's cancelling the party because of all that's going on."
"What?" Bella said, surprised. "No."
"Everyone has already made other plans so it's already done," Tyler said.
"Then we have our own party," Bella said with determination.
"Bella I don't think we are much in the mood for parties this year with all that's going on," Tyler said, "I'm gonna head home."
"Me too," Caroline said and they left.
Slowly one by one everyone left until it was only Damon, Bella, Rebekah, and Matt left.
"Hey we're about to close," Matt said while coming over.
"This isn't right," Bella said with a scowl.
"What isn't?" Rebekah asked.
"Not having a New Year's Eve party," Bella replied, "Every year we get together, make our resolutions and have fun."
"Well Bella every party we've been going to lately there's normally some bloodshed." Matt pointed out.
"Then we make it to where there isn't any," Bella said, "Guys we need this…I need this. New Year, new start," Bella looked to Rebekah, "You in?"
"I always like a good party," Rebekah replied before raising her glass.
"Damon?" Bella asked.
"Booze, dancing, and you drunk…could be fun," Damon said, raising his glass as well.
"Matt," Bella said while smiling.
"What about the others?" Matt asked.
"We surprise them," Bella replied simply, "Don't make me do some hocus pocus on you."
Matt threw up his hands, "What the hell, let's do it." He said and walked away.
"Damon will you stick around and wait for Matt?" Bella asked. "Bring him to the house. I don't want him staying alone."
"Sure," Damon said before he headed for the bar.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella and Rebekah drove back to her house and sat in the living room, waiting for Damon and Matt.
"You like Matt," Bella said suddenly.
"I do not," Rebekah replied.
"Don't even deny it," Bella said, "He's a good guy."
"He hates me," Rebekah replied.
"It's hard for him to understand everything. He puts up a good front, but ultimately he feels lost and inferior." Bella explained. "Matt hasn't had the easiest life with his mom and then Vicki. It nearly crumbled him. Hell when he found out I was a witch, he freaked and threw water on me, thinking I'd melt."
"How old were you all?" Rebekah asked.
"15," Bella replied, "He had seen Wizard of Oz way too many times." Bella sat down next to Rebekah, "Look I know this isn't easy for you."
"What do you mean?" Rebekah asked while pretending not to care.
"Cut the crap," Bella said, "You got up a good wall I'll give you that, but you can't lie to me and say that what they've said doesn't hurt."
"Well what they say isn't exactly untrue," Rebekah admitted.
"But you're a victim in all this just as much as they are," Bella replied, "Your parents chose vengeance over what you wanted, your brother chose his wants over yours and here they are blaming you for certain things you had no control over. Now the whole Matt and Elena crashing, yeah that's on you, but the other crap they are mainly holding against you is because of your brother. They don't understand how hard it is to break away from your family because they've never had to except for Matt. He understands."
"How?" Rebekah asked.
"Matt's mom is a flake," Bella said bluntly, "She used to dump him and Vicki off here and go party with some new boyfriend. He raised himself and Vicki and now he lives alone, goes to school, works, and pays all his own bills. He's had it pretty tough and Vicki's death wasn't easy on him either."
"How did she die?" Rebekah asked.
"Damon fed her his blood then killed her," Bella explained, "She lost it after that and well Stefan staked her." Bella kept the tears at bay, "She was a lot like her mom…bottled up the pain and thought that it could be cured with men, booze, or drugs."
"That's terrible," Rebekah said shocked. "I'm surprised he hasn't killed Damon."
"He tried," Bella said, "But I stopped him."
"Why?" Rebekah asked.
"Because it wouldn't solve anything," Bella replied, "That whole an eye for an eye thing only brings more trouble….you of all people know that."
"It does tend to backfire," Rebekah admitted. "So where are you planning on doing this party?"
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"One second," Bella said before she went to go answer her phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Bells," Charlie's voice said, coming in loud and clear.
"Hey Dad," Bella said while smiling, "One second Dad," She looked to Rebekah, "I'm gonna take this," Bella said and Rebekah nodded.
Bella disappeared into the kitchen, but Rebekah heard the entire conversation.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Am I interrupting something?" Charlie asked with a chuckle.
"Oh just Rebekah and I were talking about New Year's Eve." Bella said.
"Well how are ya kiddo?" Charlie asked, "I mean are you really okay after the pastor?"
"I'm as okay as I'm going to be dad," Bella said while leaning against the stove, "You really need to stop worrying about me."
"Bella I'm your father, it's my job to worry," Charlie replied, "Have you talked to April?"
"No," Bella said while shaking her head, "I feel like it's not my place. She probably hates me."
"I highly doubt that," Charlie said sternly, "April knew her father was a lunatic; Liz said she's wanted to talk to you. Odds are she feels just as guilty as you do."
"I'll probably run by tomorrow," Bella conceded. "How are things in Forks?"
"Well we had a break in at the school, some animal attacks, sightings of big wolves, but I don't know how much I believe that last one." Charlie rambled.
"You get a hunting party together?" Bella asked with a small smile crossing her lips.
"Yeah," Charlie replied, "Harry and a couple other boys from the Res came. I saw Jake the other day."
"How is he?" Bella asked.
"He's alright. He asked about you." Charlie said, "He wanted you to call him. Have you been avoiding his calls?"
Bella sighed, "Not intentionally," Bella said, "Things have just been crazy. You didn't tell him about the pastor did you?"
"Well when he stabbed you and I left, it wasn't as if I could hide it Bells," Charlie replied. "It took everything I could do to keep him from running there and bringing you back here. Now with the Cullens back I'm glad he listened."
"What?" Bella said her body tensing.
"Crap," Charlie mumbled.
"Dad," Bella said, coaxing him, "What's going on?"
Charlie sighed, "If I tell you, I don't want you running back here for that idiot," Charlie warned.
"Believe me I'm not running back for him," Bella said.
"The Cullen's came back a few days ago. Alice has come by asking about you, but I haven't told her anything." Charlie said, "They say they just want to talk to you."
"Well it would be a one sided conversation," Bella mumbled. "What did you say?"
"I told them you didn't want to see them and that they should leave you alone." Charlie said, "Edward didn't even have the gall to come over. If he had he would have met Lucy."
"You do realize it's still really creepy that you name your guns," Bella said while laughing, "Forget them, how is everything else?"
"Same old same old," Charlie said, "Harry and I are going fishing this weekend if nothing turns up with these wolves."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Rebekah listened from the living room. She couldn't help, but feel a pang of envy.
"Strange isn't it," Damon said while walking in with Matt as he motioned the kitchen, "How close they are."
"What?" Matt asked while taking off his jacket and glaring at Rebekah.
"Bella's talking to her dad," Damon explained.
"It is," Rebekah said, "My father was never that kind when he spoke."
"Neither was mine," Damon said before he grabbed some scotch.
"Well I wouldn't know what a dad is like," Matt said, "Mine split right after Vicki was born. I don't remember him." He looked to the kitchen where Bella was smiling as she talked.
"Have they always been that close?" Rebekah asked.
"Somewhat," Matt said, "Bella's mom decided to go live free and she couldn't do that tied down with Bella so she dropped her off here when she was six months old. Ms. Swan just found her out on the doorstep and called Charlie. He tracked Renee down and found her globetrotting with some new guy who hated kids. Charlie came to take Bella back with him, but Ms. Swan wouldn't hear of it."
"Why?" Rebekah asked.
"Ms. Swan could see the future…premonitions. The moment she picked up Bella she saw the power she would possess. Not something Charlie was prepared for. It took a little bit, but Charlie agreed to let his mom raise Bella. He made trips back and forth and then when Bella could she flew to him. They got closer after Ms. Swan passed away." Matt finished.
"She's lucky," Rebekah said.
"Story time's over," Damon said as he pointed to Bella who was hanging up the phone. "How's your dad?"
"Alright," Bella said after coming to join them, "So about this party, where should we have it?"
"Well I would say the boarding house, but that's not protected." Damon said.
"Then we make it protected," Bella said simply, "It's not that hard to seal a house."
"Well it takes care of our Original problem, but not the whole psycho hunter one," Damon pointed out.
"You still have the talisman?" Bella asked and Damon nodded, "It had his blood on it. I can use that to banish him too. I just need some things from Gretchen which reminds me I need to text Jeremy. Matt you want to come along with us tomorrow?"
"What exactly are we supposed to do while you are in Richmond?" Damon asked.
"I was hoping you and Rebekah could maybe start work on the party?" Bella asked hopefully. "I mean I have heard good things about you planning the dances Rebekah and Damon, well you are the life of any party."
"I'm game," Rebekah said, "But how exactly do we keep the others from finding out?"
Bella looked at Damon, who sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.
"Babysitting detail…really," Damon said annoyed.
"Come on," Bella said while nudging him, "It will be worth it."
"Fine," Damon said before downing his drink, "I'm about to start charging."
"What time do you want to go tomorrow?" Matt asked.
"Probably 8am so we'll leave by 6am. Jeremy's coming." Bella answered.
"Then I better get home," Matt said before standing up.
"NO," Bella said quickly, "Matt please stay here tonight. I've got some of your clothes."
"Really," Rebekah said with narrowed eyes.
"From the night he stayed over after I got stabbed," Bella replied. "Matt I would feel better if you stayed."
"Yeah sure," Matt said while looking at Rebekah warily.
"Great I'll go get the guest room ready." Bella said.
"Actually how about I do it," Rebekah stood up. "I mean your hand is burned Bella and I think you've used it enough. I know where the sheets are."
"Thanks," Bella said.
Rebekah disappeared upstairs and Matt dived in.
"You know you're insane right," Matt said.
"She's not so bad," Bella said.
"She killed Elena, she nearly killed me…twice." Matt argued.
"And you all killed her brother Finn," Bella countered, "Matt I'm not justifying what she did, but I can understand. For so long she's been on the run, literally fighting to just exist and it's made her cold, but she's just like us; wanting to find a way…some kind of meaning in this crazy life. Maybe if you talked to her you might understand that and I mean really talk to her."
Matt sighed and headed up the stairs.
"Someone's playing matchmaker," Damon teased.
"No I'm just trying to get them to see Rebekah…not the psycho they think she is." Bella said and looked up at Damon, "I have to tell you something."
"I need to talk to you too," Damon said while looking at her seriously, "I know….that you're a singer."
Bella sighed, "Yeah."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Damon asked.
She shrugged, "Didn't seem like it was important. I always made sure I had enough herbs and such so I could dull the intensity of my blood. I ran out a few days ago and I didn't really expect what happened to happen." She said while blushing. "Are you okay with it?"
"Knowing I have tasted the most delectable woman in the world, well that makes me all the more possessive of you," Damon said, "If any other vampire had done what I did you would be dead or worse."
"I know," Bella said, "But I just got a little side tracked and forgot, but don't worry I picked up the herbs today so I'm about to go mix them and take it."
"Good," Damon said, "Now what did you want to tell me?"
Bella started to open her mouth, but immediately shut it then smiled sweetly. "Charlie said hi and that you had better be watching out for me." Bella looked away, feeling guilty.
Matt and Rebekah returned to the living room and they all started talking about the party, but Bella wasn't listening. Why hadn't she told Damon about the Cullens? Even though she said and thought she didn't care about them, was that really true? Or was she just lying to herself? Or was it that Damon had a serious temper and would go off the deep end?
If she kept this from him he would flip, if she told him he would flip. It was a lose-lose situation so now it came down to what was worse.
"Bella," Matt said, snapping his fingers in front of her face, "Hey you okay?"
Bella shook her head, "No."
"What's wrong?" Damon asked while looking at her intently "Is everything okay with your dad?"
"He's fine," Bella said and stood up, "I'm going to bed."
She headed up the stairs, ignoring the others. She showered, changed, and when she walked out of the bathroom Damon was waiting for her.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked, "Don't deny that nothing's wrong."
"I didn't want to tell you around the others," Bella said, "It's nothing big."
"What is it?" Damon's jaw clenched.
"The Cullens are back in Forks," Bella said while watching him.
"Why?" Damon growled out.
"I don't know," Bella replied, "I didn't ask. I don't care."
"Sure you don't," Damon scoffed.
"I'm not playing this game with you Damon," Bella warned, "I don't have the energy and they aren't worth it."
"No, but apparently it was worth trying to keep it from me," Damon snapped.
"I wasn't keeping it from you, but I wasn't exactly going to shout from the rooftops that my ex and his family are back in Forks looking for me," Bella snapped back.
"SO you do know what they want," Damon accused.
"I only know what my dad told me." Bella argued, "Damon I wasn't keeping it from you, but if I had could you blame me? You're sitting here accusing me of something that's not true."
"Whatever," Damon said as he headed for the door, "Do whatever you want Bella. I'm done."
"Damon," Bella yelled while going after him, "Seriously that's it? The moment you think there's some competition and you just throw in the towel with me. Glad to know exactly where I stand. At least with Elena you fought for her."
Damon stopped dead in his tracks and turned around.
"Don't go there," He warned.
"No," Bella said defiantly, "I am. You have the nerve to accuse me of giving a damn about them. I would never give them a second chance. You, on the other hand, I always do. I always think you care."
"That's your mistake," Damon said through clenched teeth, "Thinking I give a damn about what you think. I don't care what you or anyone else thinks of me. I don't care Bella."
"You're right. That is my mistake, my mistake thinking that you ever gave a damn about me. You never did. I'm just some toy to you to keep your attention away from Elena and Stefan. You know you're just like Edward. You play with me until you're bored." Bella screamed.
Suddenly Damon's anger became too much and he attacked Bella, biting down onto her neck. He was ripped off by Rebekah while Matt checked on Bella who was unconscious.
"What is your problem," Matt yelled while covering the wound.
"Her," Damon said, his veins and fangs still present.
"You're a monster," Rebekah snarled and quickly went over to heal Bella.
"Tell me something I don't know," Damon said and walked out of the house.
"Bella," Matt said after snapping his fingers, "Hey are you okay."
Bella looked around frantically and her hand went to her neck.
"Bella are you alright? You looked like you were in a trance," Rebekah said as Bella stood up.
"Did you see something?" Damon asked while standing by her.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Bella said and ran up the stairs.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella locked the door and started splashing cold water on her flushed face. That was the first time she had a premonition that she couldn't tell was a premonition.
"Bells," Damon said while knocking on the door, "Open up."
"I'm fine Damon," Bella said while trying to slow her breathing.
"No you're not," Damon replied, "You're heart is pounding, either open up or I break the door."
Bella slowly unlocked the door and Damon stepped inside.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked before cupping her face in his hands, but Bella moved away, "Bella?"
"I had a premonition of telling you something and you freaked." Bella said quietly.
"Freaked?" Damon asked.
"You attacked me," Bella said, "You bit into my neck and nearly drained me, but Rebekah stopped you."
"Bella I wouldn't do that to you," Damon said while approaching her carefully, "Never again will I do that."
Bella stepped back away from him and Damon stopped.
"You said so yourself Bella. You only see possibilities right?" Damon asked and Bella nodded, "Well maybe you're so afraid of what's going on that it's intensifying how you think I'll react."
"It was so real," Bella mumbled.
"What's going on?" Damon asked, "Tell me please."
"The Cullen's," Bella said and then looked at him, "They are looking for me."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Klaus slammed the chair against the wall shattering it into a thousand pieces.
"Does that make you feel better?" Kol asked. He was sitting down and having a drink.
"No," Klaus growled.
"Well I think there's still half of the dining room table left that you haven't smashed yet," Kol replied, "Letting one little girl get under your skin Niklaus?"
"When I get to her I'm going to rip her head off," Klaus roared and slammed his fist through the wall.
"First off you have to give the woman some credit…she out smarted you better than Katerina did and secondly, no you aren't." Kol said knowingly.
"And pray tell why is that dear brother?" Klaus asked condescendingly.
"Again first off, you need her and second, you like her," Kol replied while smirking, "I can't blame you. Her outsmarting us has made her even more attractive to me as well. I mean really the girl has brains, beauty, power, cunningness, she's the whole package."
Klaus started to calm down before he sat across from Kol.
"You think I like her," Klaus replied.
"I know you do," Kol rolled his eyes, "You aren't as complicated as you like to think you are."
"What is going on in that mind of yours?" Klaus asked with narrowed eyes.
"A plan," Kol said while smirking, "Right now Isabella is fighting us, the hunter, and whatever else is going on. Perhaps we should remove ourselves from the enemy list and trade to the allies list."
"Really," Klaus said intrigued.
"We fight with her, we spend more time with her, we gain her trust, we watch as her guard goes down or when she's weak and then…" Kol trailed.
"We take her," Klaus said evilly, "I like it…the question is how do we get on the allies list?"
"Well I have friends and my friends tell me that her ex…the Cold One…is looking for her. They've found her, but unfortunately due to the sun they can't come here." Kol said innocently, "If they were to come here Isabella would be forced to be spread even thinner. I also hear Eddie is quite the jealous type."
"He finds out about Damon and he will refuse to leave without her," Klaus said following.
"We swoop in, save the day, then we offer her a truce all the while we watch and wait for our time to snatch her," Kol said, finishing the plan.
"It's brilliant," Klaus said amazed, "And here I thought you were just a playboy vampire."
"Looks are deceiving brother…you know that all too well." Kol replied and pulled out his phone, "Shall I call my witch friends and provide the means for Eddie and his family to come here?"
Klaus nodded and sat back as he watched Kol make the call.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Connor walked into the office and slammed his hand on the desk.
"You didn't tell me about a second witch," Connor growled.
Shane looked up from his book, "What witch?"
"Old woman Swan's granddaughter," Connor replied, "She nearly broke through the spelled talisman."
"Isabella Swan is back," Shane stood after his shock subsided, "The pastor never mentioned her return."
"The pastor wasn't exactly reliable now was he," Connor countered, "She's strong."
"I was under the impression she lost her powers a year or so ago," Shane said.
"Obviously not," Connor said, "This changes everything."
"This changes nothing," Shane said while glaring at him, "Our course of action stays the same."
"You also didn't tell me about hybrids," Connor hissed.
"Well now you know," Shane said, "Look Bonnie Bennett is coming here tomorrow and that's my window. Don't screw this up for us."
Connor started to say something, but stopped and turned his heel to leave the room.
Shane sat down in his chair.
"So the Swan witch is back in the game." Shane mumbled to himself and smirked, "I wasn't expecting this, but she's more useful than Bonnie. All that power…Silas will be pleased." He looked to his desk and grabbed a picture of himself and a young woman, "Soon my dear wife we will be together again and I will be able to hold you in my arms once more."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"So," Matt said as he and Rebekah sat in the living room.
Upstairs neither of them had said a word. He had helped her make up the bed and that was it.
"I'm sorry," Rebekah said suddenly and Matt's eyes snapped to hers, "For everything."
"Doesn't really make things better," Matt said, "Elena's a vampire…she never wanted that you know."
Rebekah nodded.
"Bella says you didn't either," Matt continued, "Wanted this life."
"It wasn't exactly my first choice and I didn't quiet have a say in the matter." Rebekah said, chuckling dryly.
"Yet you did all those things and have no remorse." Matt said with disgust.
"I do have remorse," Rebekah said, getting defensive, "I do know my own faults and what part I played in all of this." She said while waving her hand around, "It isn't exactly easy admitting your wrong especially when it's been ingrained in you to never admit your weaknesses."
"But you had a choice," Matt replied, "All along you've had a choice."
"I know," Rebekah said, "I've made wrong choices and now I'm hoping to start making the right ones."
"Which would be joining our side," Matt clarified and Rebekah nodded. Matt looked towards the stairs, "You know Bella's the only family I've really got." Matt said quietly, "I can't lose her. She protected me when no one else would. It's hard to believe but when we were kids I was an outcast. I was the kid from the wrong side of the tracks and my mom was a drunk and she liked her men. Bella never looked down on me, she never pitied me and she never treated me any differently. To her I was Matt, her friend." Matt looked at Rebekah, "Because of her I became accepted. I don't know if Bella doesn't know, understand, or just doesn't acknowledge it, but to this community she's the one they look up to. She's the one that can get everyone's attention and make them listen, just by asking."
"That's a very powerful thing," Rebekah remarked.
"I know," Matt said, "But she never takes it for granted or abuses that power. I don't want her hurt…I can't lose her."
"Do you love her?" Rebekah asked tensely.
"Yeah," Matt said, "Like a sister."
Rebekah relaxed, "I promise you Matt no harm will come to her…not while I'm around."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Matt warned.
"This one I intend to keep," Rebekah replied.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Damon," Bella said after waving her hand in front of his face, "Please say something."
Damon didn't move, but his mind was going through a thousand scenarios.
"Guys," Bella yelled.
Rebekah and Matt came running up.
"What's wrong with him?" Matt asked.
"I sort of told him my ex and his family are looking for me and he hasn't moved." Bella said.
"The Cold One," Rebekah said shocked.
"Yeah," Bella said, "Damon come on, please say something."
"Do we call Meredith?" Matt suggested.
"You could just throw him against a wall," Rebekah suggested.
"Damon," Bella said as she shook him, but she got no response, "Okay get back."
"What are you going to do?" Matt asked while stepping back.
"Shock him," Bella said with the uncertainty evident in her voice.
"What do you mean shock him?" Matt asked, "Can you do that?"
"Kind of a new thing," Bella said embarrassed.
"When?" Matt asked.
"A few weeks," Bella said.
"What's going on?" Rebekah asked confused.
"Bella's powers are growing," Matt explained.
"Can witches powers actually do that?" Rebekah asked shocked.
"Not many," Bella said, "Only certain few. Bonnie and I are an exception. Get back."
Matt and Rebekah stepped back.
"I haven't exactly learned how to control the voltage," Bella said as she closed her hand.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A few seconds later she opened her hand and there in the middle of it was a small floating blue orb that crackled.
"Last chance Damon," Bella said and when he didn't respond she touched him.
Damon went flying into Bella's room and crashed against the wall.
"What the hell?" Matt yelled.
"I told you, I don't exactly have the voltage under control." Bella said and rushed into her room, "Damon?"
Damon quickly stood up and started patting himself, "Am I on fire?"
"No," Bella said, "You just got shocked. Are you okay?"
"No," Damon said angrily, "Your ex is looking for you, I'm far from okay and then you decide to electrocute me."
"You weren't responding," Bella yelled back at him, "What else did you want me to do?"
"When the hell did you start doing the ball of electricity thing?" Damon asked.
"A few weeks," Bella said rolling her eyes.
"I think I'm going to go to bed," Rebekah said.
"Uh me too," Matt said, "Goodnight."
"Bella," Damon said calmly, but his voice held tension, "Why are they looking for you?"
"I don't know," Bella said, "Guilty conscience. It doesn't matter to me I just don't want them here."
"Why?" Damon asked.
"Because I'm happy," Bella said, "Because I don't want them to drag me back to that place I was at…emotionally and mentally I mean."
"So if he comes here I can kick his ass," Damon said happily.
"He won't," Bella assured him, "There's too much sun and no matter what the Cullens' want, they won't risk exposure."
"But if he does I can kick his ass," Damon said again.
"If I say yes will you drop this topic?" Bella asked.
"Why don't you want to talk about them?" Damon asked with narrowed eyes.
"Because it feels like every single time I talk about them, every time they're mentioned it's like I'm being dragged back to that place. Like this darkness is trying to creep into my soul, into my world. I'm happy here," Bella said before grabbing his hand, "I'm happy with you even with all the other crap going on. I don't want to talk about them because…"
"Because you feel like your past is trying to drag you back," Damon said, finishing her thought. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry I didn't know it affected you that much."
"It's alright," Bella said, "If you need to talk about it…to know I can tell you, but it just…I feel like my life is being sucked out of me."
Damon chuckled, "Well we vampires can do that very well."
Bella looked up at him, "It's not funny."
"I know," Damon said, "But you just kind of opened the door to that one and I had to step through it." Damon stroked her cheek, "You need some rest."
"You need to feed," Bella said.
"I will," Damon said, "But I'll do it tomorrow."
Damon cupped Bella's behind and lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist instinctively. Damon walked over to the door as he nuzzled her neck.
"For now I just want to spend some alone time with you," Damon said before he shut the door with his foot.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Carlisle walked into the house with a package.
"Carlisle what's going on?" Esme asked.
"I've heard back from the witches I know," Carlisle said as he opened the package.
"What are those?" Alice asked.
"Spelled rings," Carlisle replied, "They will conceal us."
"Conceal us?" Rosalie questioned.
"We will look as we did when we were human," Carlisle clarified.
"Give me one," Rosalie said before she snatched a ring and quickly put it on.
She walked over to the mirror and gasped. Her pale skin now glowed with life, her yellow eyes were now the blue she had almost forgotten and her cheeks were rosy as though blood was flowing through her. Her lips were a pale pink and when she stepped into the sun she did not sparkle.
"Amazing," Rosalie whispered.
Slowly one by one they all put on their rings and looked in the mirror.
"Jasper," Alice said while smiling.
Esme touched her skin and couldn't believe her eyes, "It's been so long," she whispered.
"Come on," Edward said grabbing his bag, "Let's go."
A/N: Hey everyone! I know it's been a while just life and no inspiration as of late. I'm finally starting to come out of my funk, but no guarantees of scheduled updating. I'm still hurting from my grandfather passing, but I'm doing better.
Thank you all for the warm wishes and thoughts and prayers I truly appreciate them.
Thank you to my lovely beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all her support, patience, and just all around amazingness. For those of you that have been reading Buried Secrets 2: Blood she made a preview video for it and for what's coming next in the series so go check it out on youtube. Her username is UnknownQueen and I would post the link, but for some reason the website keeps cutting it off so just type in Buried Secrets 2 fanfiction look for her username and you'll find it.
Review my dear. I'm working on the next chapter, but it's progressing slowly. See you soon loves and thank you for the continued support and love.