Chapter Four, Salutations
Vampire Crayons
It was late when I arrived, with the sun just peaking over the dampened trees and building tops. But of course the sun was still well hidden behind a mass of clouds; clouds that might decide to rain over the town's inhabitants later on today. All in all, Seattle is a beautiful and quaint place, booming with life even this early in the morning, and very wet. Too wet to my liking, really. Nothing in comparison to the grandiose cobblestone castles in Volterra, nor cold as Russian winters or warm like African Savannahs, but it had its own charms. Meager as they may be.
Just as I stepped through the attached hallway connecting the plane to the platform, some creature or another assaulted me with a hug.
"Thank goodness you made it! We've been in the waiting area since yesterday. Though it was only a vision and we weren't sure you were coming, I had hoped… you'll learn to love it here!"
It was a girl, vampire by strength and pale skin. She had spiked ink-black hair that tickled my chin; I was no skyscraper but this girl was short! Almost Jane's childlike height. Yet her face was of a grown woman's and waited for any kind of response from me.
"Hello," I greeted. "I'm Isabella. Are you part of the Cullen family?"
"Alice Brandon Cullen, the youngest Cullen. The rest are not far off in a couple of chairs. You should come meet them. We have been expecting you."
"How did you know I was coming? I don't think Aro sent along a message…"
"You came from the Volturi?" Her eyes widened and sparkled in wonder. "I didn't know you were that connected? Don't they hoard their members? I never heard of them ever letting someone walk out of the city."
"Just depends on who you are. We're old friends, and I never like to make a permanent residency at the castle. It's much too… I don't know… dreary. Their wives never clean anything up. Nobody ever takes two looks at the garden anymore." I sighed, thinking of that overgrown garden underneath my window. There was a time when you could actually walk there. I considered it my place. Probably went to ruins as soon as I left, seeing as though no one else had the heart to tend to it.
"Hm," She said, and I allowed her to lead me by the hand to wherever it was she was taking me. "And to answer your first question: I have the gift of foresight. I get visions, and I saw you coming yesterday."
"Did you see any other visions of me?" No one could help but be curious about it. How many times does one meet an actual fortuneteller? I'd gotten my palms read by some hyped up hippies and mad women looking for a few bucks, but no genuine psychics. It's an odd hobby but I've always been interested in the future.
"Oh, one or two."
"Please tell me," I begged.
She cracked a smile. "It would be my pleasure… you'll be starting highschool with my siblings and I in a few days and you'll have an argument with your English teacher… and without seeing the future I can tell you that you and I, and possibly my sister Rosalie, will be going on a shopping spree very soon."
"Is that your family?" I asked, eyeing the several beautiful people all lounging in their chairs, yet seeming to be posing like models at the same time. Humans and vampires had always told me I was pretty, but I didn't have the same ice queen look as the blonde woman or gentlefolk appearance like the red haired vampire. They've told me I was more of a delicate beauty, mysterious, but they all thought me an angel before even putting two and two together that I might be a vampire- of course only immortals would put that together. I don't mind the comments, but I knew I never would be the standoffish gorgeous that some of these people are.
"The very ones." She let go of my hand to stand beside a very tall blonde vampire with a straight smiled aimed directly at me.
"Howdy, Isabella. Glad you've come, finally. My wife has been so excited lately, and it's been driving the rest of us insane." Alice jabbed him in the side with an elbow. "Ouch. Oh and my name's Jasper." They sat down then while Jasper rubbed his side and Alice continued grinned and visibly bouncing in her seat. I liked that couple. They completed each other; one calm, and one energetic and one tall while the other is short. Alice's modern tongue was softened a bit by her husband's southern lilt.
Standing up, who I assumed to be the coven leader, spoke. "I am Carlisle, the head of this family, and this is my wife, Esme." His hand waved in the direction of a good-looking woman with a heart shaped face and caramel colored hair. She looked on warmly. "These are the other 'children': Emmett" Burly with a boyish face "Rosalie" The blonde supermodel "and Edward." The loner in this group. Underneath his tousled fiery locks his eyes held intelligence and sadness. He gave his own hello to me like everyone else, but his voice was like velvet, more refined, and very gentleman like- as I had assumed.
"My name is Isabella, as you all know by now. But I prefer Bella, please."
"Come, Bella. Let's get your bags," the matronly Esme said getting up and putting an arm around my shoulder.
Followed by "Ooh! I cant wait to see if she has any designer labels in her wardrobe!" "We'll have to arm wrestle!" "I'll get her signed up for the school." "Wonder if she's any good at video games."
Edward sauntered up to my other side, not occupied by Esme. From his profile I could see he had one of those classically straight noses that I always liked on people. Most of my human friends were made because of this trait; that and the fact I always was interested in them- to see if beautiful mortals really are as shallow as novels portray them. If they were vain and knew it this was more than likely to be true. And I liked that. Never telling me I was beautiful because they'd rather I tell them, so I never had to worry about too many acquaintances with insecurities about that. They intermingled with the best people and best fashions that I knew they wouldn't need me once I decided to leave. Those were the best friends for a vampire. But I knew Edward would be different. Like a gut feeling.
"Welcome to the family," He said lightly with a crooked smile and a tip of his head.