I do not claim any ownership of the Twilight Saga. That stroke of brilliance belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Ellie and Luke, however, are of my invention. Also I borrowed, and edited a line from The Bourne Supremacy for this chapter.I do not claim to belong it either.
I left Ellie once she was asleep. I hated leaving her like that. From the moment I meet her, I knew she was restless, helpless. She looked so fragile sleeping in the Cullen's spare room; her dark hair flying everywhere, like a halo around her pale, frowning face.
It wasn't my attraction to her beauty that startled me; it was the fact that I was not attracted to her blood. It was as if she had no scent, no burning allure. I didn't understand it. I worked so hard to get to the point that I could help humans without hurting myself, and it went better than I had planned or so I had thought.
Let's face it; I'm beginning to fall for the poor girl. I meet her four hours ago. I didn't know her full her name, her age, or the jackass who hurt her. I was afraid what would happen if I ever learned his name. I'd probably tear him to pieces. No one should do that to a little girl, especially not my little girl.
Wait? What am I thinking? She doesn't belong to me. She's just a child, maybe teenager, who has her whole life ahead of her. I can't take that from her like that monster took her innocence.
But is he the monster or am I? I'm the one who brought her here, to a house full of vampires I've only heard stories about. What if one of them loses control and I lose her? If I were to ever meet her parents, what would I say? "I'm sorry, sir, but I let your daughter be killed?"
Then an image came to mind. The Volturi. What would they do to her if they found out? What about the baby the psychic was talking about? I may be dooming two people to death or a life on the run. Could I do that?
"I can relate," the mind reader said. "I was like that when Bella, my wife, was still human. Her soul meant so much to me, but I couldn't stay away."
"What am I going to do? I want to kill the asshole that did this to her, but I don't know why!" Why am I doing this to her? I don't even know her!
"Her name," the mind reader whispered, "is Yo'el Winters—"
"I kidnapped the Winters' girl? As in Cole J. Winters Attorney at Law; Winters? The Seattle prosecuting attorney?" I put my head in my hands. "What have I done? I'm putting you all in danger."
"Ellie won't press charges on anyone. She's thinks her stepbrother will kill her or, in her mind, worse."
I growled. "I can't take this! I try to interact with humans, I find out I'm immune to one, but now she's in danger and I don't know what I'm going to do!"
"We'll do what we can to help her, Lucas. For now Carlisle thinks she needs to rest."
Ellie did rest. She sleep for 14 hours, most of which, I spent hunting. It kept me busy, and it was safer. I had no idea how long her scent-block would work, and I didn't want risk hurting her.
When she woke up, I was right by her side. "Luke?"
"Yeah?"
The psychic had placed a pencil and paper by Ellie's bed. She picked them up, wincing a little.
Water?
"Of course, Ellie." I ran down stairs and then came back. "Here you go."
How'd you do that?
"What?"
Run so fast, duh.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ellie. Maybe your internal clock is off."
Again, duh. It's the middle of the night, and I'm wide awake. I'm a cheerleader, not a person with moronic tendencies.
Wait? She's a cheerleader. Well, Lucas, you're in a big puddle of shit and you don't have the shoes for it.
What's wrong?
"Oh, it's nothing, Ellie. I'm just thinking."
About?
I tired to distract her. "You hungry?"
She shook her head, her messy black hair flying everywhere.
"You sure?" I sat on the edge of the bed. "Edward's a pretty good cook."
I'm not a big fan of food at the present moment.
"You've been asleep for 14 hours, Elle."
Ever heard of 'Three days without water; three weeks without food', Luke?
"That doesn't change the fact that you need to eat. Dr. Cullen?!?"
He gracefully came into the room. "Is something wrong, Lucas?"
"Ellie needs to eat, but she doesn't want to."
"Ellie," Dr. Cullen raised an eyebrow in her direction.
Tattle-tale
I suppressed a chuckle. Her elegant handwriting was her true voice. The bold cursive left dents in the paper; I could see how frustrated she was at me. She began to erase the conversation we had had a few minutes earlier.
"Ellie," Dr. Cullen continued, "you've had a pretty rough past few days."
Maybe I overreacted.
"Yo'el, you do realize that I can't believe that."
Ellie looked down at her casted wrist, and her wrapped ribs. She began to write quicker.
How'd you know my name?
"It's part of my job, Ellie. One of my sons' father-in-law is the Police Chief here in Forks. We want you file a report."
Ellie gave a small gasp. "No," she whispered, "no."
As if by instinct, I wrapped my arms around. "Ellie, you have to do this. I'll be here through it all."
She reacted as if she was repulsed. "No," she said, louder. "THERE IS NO WAY I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH A COP!"
"Ellie, baby," I begged, desperate. "Please, you know what he'll do it again if you don't do something."
"WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME 'BABY', LUCAS? DO YOU THINK I WANT TO BE ANYONE'S BABY? MY FATHER STOPPED CALLING ME THAT WHEN MY MOTHER KILLED HERSELF!"
Dr. Cullen stepped back. "What was your mother's name?"
As if she had lost her words, she picked put the note book.
Ella. Eleanor Garcia. She had custody when she died, but my stepfather couldn't keep it. That's when I first met Lucy—and Tom. Papá, I mean Ricardo, would have stopped it before it went that far, but Cole took out a restraining order. My genetic father is a jackass, isn't he?
"You said your mother committed suicide."
Drove off the road near here three years ago. She left a note and everything.
I couldn't quite comprehend that statement. This beautiful, fragile girl was much more complex than I would have ever imagined. Not only was she abused, but she could have had it better. I wouldn't be surprised if she blamed her mother for all of his.
I miss her.
But she didn't.