Chapter 8: The interrogation

It was stupid I was arguing with myself; I shouldn't be acting like this, I had more control than that… at least I should've had… This was a mess; there was just so many different things I felt at the moment I spent the rest of the day trying to sort through it but in the end I didn't really get anywhere so I headed back home, catching myself a deer on the way and carefully removing all thoughts and emotions that were plaguing me before I came closer to our home. My reaction to Bella still left as a mystery as well as the vision of her forest green eyes. Little did I know I'll get more of them now…

I knew Carlisle will want to talk and when we talked he'd expect me to be serious like the situation we were in so I vented with the rest of the Cullens and did my best to relax with my jokes. It was something I did when I was nervous or anxious or… well whatever I've been feeling since I got trapped in this world. That's why I've been cheeky all the time; it's how I cope when I can't cope, if that makes sense.

And then the time of truth came and I found myself fidgeting as I was left with only Esme and Carlisle slowly sipping a glass of water while the silence fell. It was nearing the awkward stage quite rapidly as the coven leader stared at me intently like trying to solve the puzzle just by looking at me and I felt the urge to joke again and all the lines I came up with were too dark to lighten up this one.

I felt the pressure building in the room reminding me how serious this really was in this world. Well damn. I really hoped I didn't screw this over.

"Come," He suddenly broke the silence making me jump a bit, "let's talk in my office." Oh, God did I want to tell him that's how characters die in almost every horror movie I ever saw; following someone/something much more powerful if not unstoppably so than them into a secluded place where they can have their way with you. Ugh, nasty business. Surprisingly I managed to hold my tongue and follow the vampire upstairs. But damn I was itching…

And you know what they say… if it itches, scratch it!

As we got there he offered me a seat which I carefully accepted as he leaned back in his a pen and an opened notebook already in his hands. I knew (theoretically) I had nothing to fear; they didn't drink human blood, they valued human life and Carlisle just isn't the type to go around reaping throats out. I knew all of this, but still my senses were screaming at me he was a predator, and I his pray.

"Huh, this sure will be interesting…" I couldn't help but blurt out, hitting myself mentally. I wasn't sure how to act anymore and that scared me. I was an actor and knew how to respond to most random situations always managing to keep myself from covering under pressure and being without that defence, knowing that I couldn't stop any of them even if I knew they wouldn't hurt me. I felt powerless. I've been feeling powerless since I figured it wasn't a dream. I felt powerless no matter what I did and I hated it!

"So, Bella, what all do you know about vampires? Or specifically us?" He got straight to the point.

"Well…" I fidgeted. "Basics I suppose." I tried to gather my thoughts. He prompted me to go on.

"You're not like cliché vampires," I decided to start with that. "You're not afraid of a cross, you can walk into a holy ground, garlic doesn't harm you either, though you don't eat human food anyway, silver bullets are bullshit (even for werewolves), and stake through the heart just as much since it couldn't even break you skin. Your skin shines like diamonds on the sun and doesn't burn on it, but if you want to finish one of you permanently you burn every last piece…" I trailed of at that, thinking about more facts I knew.

"You don't have fangs, just really sharp teeth and a lot of power behind you bite as well as the rest of you, you're super-fast too and you're essentially immortal unless you're killed. If you don't kill a human you drink from, or simply bite, they turn in about three days of agonizing pain. When that happens they're called 'newborns' and are a lot stronger because of all the human blood still flowing through their bodies. They're also very thirsty and have trouble controlling themselves. Eventually though they return to the 'normal vampire state' and then slowly climb up with years of experience and blood. And since being a vampire enhances everything you were as a human, some of you have gifts like Alice, Edward and Jasper." I thought more about what other facts I knew before I just shrugged, "I probably know a thing or two more but I think this is basically it." And I haven't even started on them! But I wasn't sure it was the best idea to reveal I knew about their pasts too much.

"Oh, I almost forgot… usually vampires drink human blood and have red eyes for it while you call yourselves vegetarians and drink only from animals thus the golden eyes." I lost myself in though and murmured without realising I did so out loud: "Ironic isn't it? Vegetarians drinking blood from animals, ha." I amused myself forgetting my company for a while since I launched at listing the facts. And there it was, I finally scratched it!

"I have to admit your knowledge is quite vast for a human, who shouldn't know anything at all, but I have to ask; how do you know about us?" Carlisle's vice shocked me back to the present.

"Yes, something happened and now I know, but I'm sorry, I really can't tell you what that was, but I can promise your secret is safe with me as long as you don't tell mine." I replied quickly. I couldn't go around telling people I was Kristen Stewart, an actress from another world where all this is but fiction. Besides I just remembered about a certain law involving humans who knew about vampires; be turned or be killed. Wasn't much of a choice really, but I loved being human thank you very much.

"Your secret?" He was confused thinking back if I mentioned any secret of mine while listing off theirs.

"Yeah, I'd rather not have the Volturi on my back if I don't have to." The name of vampire rulers seamed to enlighten him of my thoughts and I looked around his study and quickly spotted the portrait of Carlisle with the three ruling vampires on the wall. "You knew them well I presume?" I asked gesturing towards it.

"A long time ago." He got a faraway look on his face and I could almost imagine what he was remembering. The good old times, huh? He then focused back on me.

"Have you met them?"

"No. And I have my humanity to prove it."

"Any other vampires?"

"Not personally."

"So you learned of us through an acquaintance?"

"I suppose you could call it that." I said thinking of Stephenie Meyer; she's more like a Creator really but those were just details. Then I got a silly look on my face; I was friends with The Creator of this world… that's like God to ours. It cracked me up. Then what was I? A fallen angel? Huh, maybe I was going crazy thinking the shit like that, but still…

"What?" He asked as he saw my smile.

"Nothing, just thinking of some Biblical comparisons…" I admitted and watched him get a grim look on his face, a little of his hope shining through his eyes dying away. "And not in a way Edward would" I corrected him before he got the wrong idea. "I for one believe you still have your souls. Just look at your wife; how could a soulless monster be so loving and accepting? How could a soulless monster pursue their passions in medicine healing the sick?" I pointed at him. "How could a soulless creature play the piano with such emotion as Edward? Or be emphatic like Jasper? Or strive to make his family smile every day like Emmet? Or want to create life so much she'd trade her eternal live in a blink of an eye if she could?" I chuckled, then, my eyes brightening at the thought. "Or be as adorable as Alice?" The two of us really did click together.

"That's… some pretty good points." Carlisle admitted. "Do you mind if I use this memory the next time Edwards reverts to self-loathing? I hate seeing him like that."

"Sure, by all means!" I agreed immediately. Whatever to show that handsome idiot he shouldn't hate himself for what he is. "You can also add one of me calling him an idiot for thinking he's a monster."

"Thank you." He said honestly. He put away his journal and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs. Sighting he looked back at me. "So you know about the law about humans knowing we exist." It wasn't a question but I answered, nevertheless. I found myself relaxing as the conversation moved forward and wasn't preoccupied holding my tongue back.

"Yes. If a human learns about your existence they should be turned or killed. Well there's still hiding or facing off the Volturi, but like I said, I'd rather avoid involving them. And also have no wish spreading around that vampires exist."

"I have no wish to involve them either." He confessed. "So what do you propose?"

"I suppose the easiest way would be to turn me," I said after thinking about it. "But I'm rather found of my humanity." Mostly because I was still hoping of returning home but also I'd miss so many normal stuff… the adrenaline pumping in your veins as you face situations like bungie-jumping that would leave vampires cold and unbothered. I suppose I wanted to live through those moments before I thought of being frozen for eternity. I confessed this to Carlisle (not the part about going back) and he understood me completely, saying he wouldn't change me against my will but he wouldn't kill me either. So in the end we came to the solution of just waiting a bit more while they'll help me live through those experiences.

I didn't know what to say; they were ready to take me in and spoil me by taking me to wherever I wanted and pay for it too.

"Bella, my waif already thinks of you as her daughter. You're a part of our family, now. That is if you want to, of course." I didn't know what to say. Charlie and Renee could never be my parents here, but with Cullens I really felt connected. Maybe not yet like I did at home with my real family, but I did care for them. I didn't know if it was Bella or if it was just me or something of both but I liked the feeling of acceptance and wasn't about to throw it away just like that.

My eyes teared up and I hugged Carlisle without thinking while holding them back, they were tears of both pain and joy but I wasn't going to let them fall. A content smile spread on my face as the surprised vampire hugged me back in his cold arms soothing my heated body from the tears that never fell.

"Thank you." I managed to say before squeezing him even tighter.


So how'd you like that little interaction and confessions? I know it might seem weird them accepting her so quickly to their family but once Mother Cullen decides to adopt someone there better not be anyone or anything on her way. And besides they've been hearing from Alice for months now that a new family member was coming. There might not be everything milk and honey but that'd be boring ;)

Hope I did well, let me know what you think. And please if you're posting a review as a guest leave me your name so I can reply or I cannot answer your questions or comment on your comments ;)