Chapter 5
One of the best things about being a vampire, Edward felt, was having photographic memory. It was possible to replay a few days' worth of events, exactly as they happened, but sped up about fifty times' faster. About two days to an hour. In theory, if Edward had nothing to do for two years, he could re-watch his entire life. Unfortunately, he did.
"So you want me to replay the most boring movie of all time?"
"Not all of it, but it'll be faster if we both do it," he replied.
"You know, one day we should just type all this out in a text file or somethin' more searchable," complained Jasper. "What exactly are we looking for?"
Edward sighed. "I don't know if it would really help in this case. Everything I remember right now about singers leads me to believe that no one else has ever really resisted eating one, unless maybe there were witnesses."
Jasper mentally played a trial back just too fast enough for Edward to catch the entirety - his telepathy didn't seem to have the same vampiric speed as his other senses - but he realized it was for a vampire who had eaten her singer in front of human witnesses. Aro had been sympathetic, but not so much that he'd let her live.
"Wonderful. Perfect."
"You're bein' an idiot. Why don't you just ask Aro?"
"You mean, ask the man who happens to have memories of hundreds and hundreds of vampires?" It was obvious; Edward couldn't believe he'd missed it.
It's your biggest weakness. You think you have to do everything yourself.
"Not true, I asked you for help," he countered.
"Good thing I'm too lazy to actually do anything to help you, then."
Edward growled, and Jasper laughed, even after Edward pushed him hard enough to fall onto the sofa, he kept laughing. Edward gave it up for a lost cause and went for his phone.
Gianna answered, and Edward gave the password that would let him speak to Aro. It took almost thirty minutes, but finally he picked up.
"Edward, how lovely to hear from you!" He always said that, even when he must have suspected bad news.
"So, the good news is that Carlisle Cullen lives here in Forks."
"Carlisle? Really?" His typically-dreamy voice had turned to steel. "Perhaps I should visit."
Edward cringed. "The bad news is, the local head of law enforcement has a daughter that I - well, she seems to be my singer."
"Seems to be? You mean to say you let her live?"
"Yes, that seemed to be the wisest decision," he snapped.
"True, true, never a good idea to get the police suspicious."
"So I was calling to ask for advice."
"Advice? From me?" He sounded dreamy again. "I would advise not eating her, if at all possible, in that case."
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, extremely glad this conversation wasn't in person. "And do you have any experiences you can share with me on not eating a singer?"
"My boy, you did meet her and avoid it, did you not?"
"I was holding my breath and ignoring her the whole time!"
"Ah, yes, that would be the best thing..."
Edward ignored Jasper's snickering. "Anything else?"
"Complete avoidance seems best, yes."
"So we should leave Forks entirely?"
"Mmmm, that seems a bit hasty, don't you think? Can you tell me anything else about this girl?"
Edward thought. "Bella Swan, daughter of Charlie Swan, looks to be about sixteen or so... and I can't hear her thoughts."
"What?" His voice was once again steel. "Are you certain?"
"Of course, why do you ask?"
"Because, my dear boy, Demetri met a girl named Bella five years ago, and he could not detect her either."
Jasper sat up, stunned. He and Edward stared at each other, remembering the conversation with Demetri.
"And you think this might be the same girl?"
"Highly likely, don't you think? Demetri only discovered that she lived somewhere besides with her mother, and she was twelve then. What are the odds that there are two humans of the right age, one immune to you, one immune to Demetri?"
"I see what you mean..."
"I can ask her," said Jasper. "I'll follow her to the grocery store and say she reminds me of someone I met once, called Renee."
"And then what? Turn her?" asked Edward. "The same problem applies."
Aro laughed. "Don't be so foolish. Remember our laws."
Oh, that's right, she already knows vampires exist. "So we explain it to her, and figure out a way to vanish her," mused Jasper.
"But what about me?"
"If this is indeed the same human, you must at all costs avoid eating her."
Edward sighed. "I understand. There, uh, might be another problem, though."
"Oh?"
"The local Native American tribe has a sort of magic that enables them to kill vampires." Edward chose his words carefully. "Carlisle and his coven have signed a treaty, but if we bite any humans around here, they're bound to find out."
"And kill whoever turned her? How large is their ... operating radius? Could you take her to Volterra without repercussions?"
"Normally I would say yes, but, remember that she mentioned a friend of her father's who knew about vampires?"
"Ah yes. So, you fear that man would use his magics to avenge a family friend."
"Something like that."
Jasper spoke up. "What if we don't bite her?"
"You mean, not change her?"
"No, I mean, it's venom that changes you, right? What if we get venom in her without biting her?"
Edward's jaw dropped. He'd never have thought of that. He wondered if Carlisle had.
"Well, if you think that this man would be fine with such a loophole, feel free to suggest it, but otherwise, I don't know if it's the best idea," said Aro.
"It's actually not a bad idea," said Edward slowly. "We can turn them more easily that way, in general, if it works."
"True. I'll have it attempted the next time it is needed. If it works, would you like a reward, Jasper?"
Jasper grinned. "I'll find me a Corvette Stingray and send you the bill."
"That would certainly seem appropriate."
Edward spoke up. "So, after we explain it to her, maybe the tribe could consider that to be a loophole. I mean, turning a human of their own free will, why attack?"
"Again, if you think that would work."
"Well, they know Carlisle, so they can't think every single vampire is their enemy. And if this girl isn't even around afterwards, how could they object?"
"You seem rather certain that she will agree, Edward."
Edward paused. "Well, yes, why wouldn't she? Do you know any vampires who regret their change?"
"You mean, besides Carlisle?"
"Carlisle doesn't... I mean, he isn't..." Edward knew that Carlisle had tried to starve himself to death when he first turned, but after all this time, surely he enjoyed his life? "Why wouldn't he just have you kill him if he hated it so much?"
"Oh, he doesn't hate it that much, of course. But he has led a rather lonely existence."
"I suppose, but he has Esme now." A twinge. The jealousy he had felt when Carlisle rescued Esme had been a large factor in his decision to leave. After all this time, one would think he'd have gotten over it. He remembered fights and her frowns, but feelings just didn't seem to attach to the memories, beyond the jealousy.
"Very true. I suppose it is possible that Bella Swan will find a mate among the many of us in Volterra."
Now, why did that make him feel another twinge? Even Jasper seemed to wonder. "That may not be an inducement for a human, however."
"Humans no longer believe in love at first sight, do they?" He sighed as if he couldn't understand the lack of romance in the world. "But between the two of you, I suspect you can make her see the advantages."
"Certainly. I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to be a vampire, honestly."
"Then let me know if this is the Bella that Demetri met, and the progress you make."
"Certainly," he repeated, and they hung up.
Jasper let out another bark of laughter. "You don't see why anyone wouldn't want to be a vampire! Oh Lordy, listen to yourself!"
"Shut. Up."
"You - you thought - you thought you were damned to hell!" he gasped between laughs.
"Do I have to pull out your tongue?"
"No, no, just - just give a minute -"
Edward fumed till the laughter burnt itself out. "It was a perfectly reasonable belief."
"For a belief, I guess. It took like an hour to convince you it was moronic."
"Newborns are morons, what else can I say?"
"Well, let's make sure this Bella isn't as stupid as newborn you."
