Hope you like this beginning… please R&R!

Disclaimer: the usual… I own nothing of this fantastic universe!

Chapter 2: Convalescence

Whisperings made me come to life. I was not alone but still unaware of where I were and in which state? I half-opened my eyes cautiously: the pale yellow room was bathing in the dim dayspring and I was lying in a large four-poster bed. It was dawning and I was still alive? I held a groan of pain when, while turning the head, a throbbing pain awoke behind my cranium: if I were dead, should I still feel pain? No, I was still breathing: I was definitively alive and apparently whole. But what had happened? Where was I?

"She has woken up and is confused: she does not remember anything" said a male-intonated voice coming from another room.

"Let's talk to her" answered another voice, soft but authoritative, also from a man.

Then I heard steps coming upstairs and approaching the room. I was not reassured; a premonition urged me to mistrust these newcomers. Instinctively, and foolishly (I would understand that only later), I pretended to be still asleep: I was not ready to meet these people, as well-intentioned they might be. I needed first to get my head straight, to think more clearly.

The door opened slowly and two, no, three people, entered almost without noise.

"She does not wish to talk to us" said the first voice before adding mockingly "She pretends to be sleeping".

Aahh I am betrayed! Am I such a bad actress? I then heard him chortle, as if he had been able to read… my thoughts!

"Lena, we don't wish you any harm, please believe me. We only want to speak to you" said the second voice, soft and compassionate.

"How do you know my name?" I answered by opening the eyes abruptly, not caring about my pretence anymore.

They were not surprised by my sudden awakening but they seemed embarrassed by my question. There were two men and one woman. The first was sitting on a chair, close to my bed: he had pale skin and fair hair. He was welcoming, reassuring, but kept a concerned air, as a doctor at the bedside of his patient. The second, leaning against the door frame, appeared younger: he was tall and slender, with bronze-colored hair and a wry smile. He had a glance which bothered me, as if he was reading me like an open book, an apparently humorous one… The young woman was standing behind the fair man, a hand on his shoulder: she was smiling and was observing me with a motherly look, her soft face surrounded by caramel hair.

"I am Doctor Carlisle Cullen" said the fair man solemnly.

We are thus in a hospital?

"And here is my wife, Esme, and my son, Edward".

Do they work en famille?

Edward chortled again before adding: "You are not in hospital but at our place".

I was nervous: had I put forward my thoughts aloud? And then, where was "at our place" initially? I was going to ask this last question when once again, Edward caught me unprepared:

"We live in Forks, on the edge of it to be more precise".

There, I really started to panic. Carlisle must have realized it for he intended to do well by specifying: "Edward can read people's mind".

So reassuring!! Dear god where had I fallen! I found myself there, surrounded by three strangers, one of which declaring to be a mind reader, without knowing how I had landed here and especially where was …

"Josh!" I cried out while everything was coming back to me: the never-ending walk, the small clearing, Josh going away into the forest before being attacked by this bloodthirsty madman, this terrifying man who had then thrown himself on me…

"Where is he? How is he? And how did you find us?" I breathed with difficulty. The panic I had felt a few hours earlier resurfaced.

"It was you the two shades of the forest, wasn't it? You have seen it happening… You've seen him attacking us!" The scene was playing again and again in my mind, getting worse at each view…

"How is he?" I muttered, my heart racing in my chest, my body shivering each time I saw these crimson eyes.

All three had lowered their glance. Even Edward was not wearing his mocking smile anymore.

"ANSWER ME!"

Anger was now added to my panic: I had not arrived there by the will of the Holy Spirit! They had to know, they had to tell me where he was, how he was! Unless they were reluctant to tell me… maybe they did not want to worry me… or to sadden me… My eyes opened wide while the truth broke over me. My heart stopped dead.

"He died…" were the only words I had managed to pronounce, under the impact, however unable to believe it.

Carlisle looked towards Edward, silently asking for advice as for the most appropriate way to answer me, while Esme would not take her eyes of me anymore, silently sharing my sorrow.

"I refuse to let her believe that" Edward said through gritted teeth. He was holding his father's gaze, apparently disagreeing with him.

"How do you think she will react when learning it? We cannot allow ourselves to let her know the truth, if only for the Volturi…"

Edward shivered when hearing this last word, but would not give up yet.

"I know that few years ago, my views would have been different: the protection of our family would have been my priority. But now things have changed: I met Bella and I've finally understood what love is. I am fortunate enough to say that I've found a meaning, a reason for my life. Carlisle, they love each other: I cannot resolve to separate them for our own benefit. Besides, I believe she would keep the secret, if only for him" he said more softly, while looking at me.

I had remained dumbfounded during their talking, only understanding few snatches. I had no idea of what were the Volturi, Bella or their secret, and I couldn't care less! The only picture my eyes could perceive was the awesome face of my lover, smiling and gazing longingly at me.

"Lena? Please Lena, listen to me…" Carlisle whispered gently, like a father wanting to reassure his child. I remained motionless several minutes, dwelling on my memories of Josh, before deciding to finally leave my daydream and face him.

However, he had barely opened his mouth when a cry of pain resounded in the house, a cry which made my blood run cold: a man was howling to death, suffering terribly. Edward meant to close the door so as to stifle his screams when I heard between two rales:

"LENA!"

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