Chapter Five, Histoire

Vampire Crayons

I was laughing hysterically in the car beside Alice as Carlisle drove his family- whom were squished uncomfortably in the back seat, probably also illegally- back to their home I'd be staying at. Right now the entire pack of Cullens were drilling me with questions, and finding many of my responses funny, apparently.

"You tried getting a tattoo during Woodstock?" Emmett gasped through his chuckles.

I rolled my eyes. "For the last time, yes. And it might have worked if the ink didn't wash off my skin. The tattoo artist kicked me out of his tent after I broke three needles. I most likely ruined his business for the concert."

"So, afterwards…" I began again. "I left the U.S. and traveled to Paris and decided to visit the Louvre… again."

"How many times have you been there?" Edward asked.

"So many times I lost count. I was born in Paris you know?" All the vampires waited eagerly for me to continue. "My mother was a French Lady and my father a wealthy Italian aristocrat. They married and I was an only child, good natured and lovely- for that time period. But when the French revolution came our family was in danger. On my mother's pleading my father snuck me in with a group of travelers heading off towards Italy. I was to be delivered to his family there. Unfortunately I never saw my parents again, but I survived. That's where Aro discovered me and I was changed shortly after my seventeenth birthday."

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, like he was apologizing after hearing about a death.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked him incredulously. Without waiting for an answer I continued. "I always enjoyed museums, and the Louvre is no different. My favorite is this one civil war museum I visited somewhere…"

I noticed Jasper pick up his head and he had a look of pride. "I was an officer in the confederate army once," he announced with a smug grin.

I nodded and smiled; he seemed pleased with this reaction. "I remember the civil war. I stayed in the south for the most part. But the vampires of then weren't fighting the same war."

His face saddened considerably. "I know that. I fought it both. A vampire named Maria found me and changed me. She made me fight other newborns, even when I wasn't a newborn anymore. I finally ran away after a few years of havoc. Not long after Alice found me, dragged me to this coven, and we've been happy ever since." He tightened his arm around Alice's shoulders while she looked up lovingly at him.

"Maria you said?" I exclaimed.

"Yes."

"I knew her!" I jumped up and down in my seat for a moment. "We were best friends during the war, shopping and everything together. I think I brought along a pair of gloves she and I used to share. Anyways… Maria always was a good girl. I wouldn't fight with her though. She was power mad, unlike me. Do you know what happened to her?"

Again with the sad face. His wife had to answer for him. "We're sorry to say," Alice whispered. "But Maria was killed not long after Jasper left."

Ah. I understood now. Jasper must have been an esteemed warrior. He must blame her extinction on his leaving. He should know though that was Maria's fate as soon as she was created was to die. Amiable a girl as she was, Maria was a very unstable vampire.

"Power corrupts even the best of people," I allowed. I wouldn't let the grief overpower me. Taking a large swallow I kept afloat the conversation.

"I've never been this far west before. Manifest destiny has never been my strong point," I chuckled, transitioning easily into a good mood.

"I met Lewis and Clark," Carlisle said with a smile from the front seat. "Two very odd gentlemen, you should know. I should've liked to join their exploration, just not with them. Each of them was crazy in their own ways. They made an odd pair." He shook his head and chuckled. "They remind me a lot of Emmett: Do anything to catch a bear."

Emmett punched his fist into the air. "Heck yes! Bella, have you even tried grizzly bear before? It's the best!" Rosalie- who sat on his lap- told him to stop wiggling before she fell. "Sorry, Rosie," he said, looking like a scolded child. Out of all of them, Emmett is whipped.

"So, what's high school like?"

"You mean you've never been to one, dear?" Esme questioned incredulously.

"Well, I've had a tutor before when I was much younger. However, when I was being educated I learned about etiquette, reading, poetry and embroidering. This was before the women's rights movements, so… No. I can't say I've ever been to a school."

"You'll love it, Bells," Rosalie assured me. "Alice and I will get you an outfit for your first day. Just make sure everyone knows you're too good for them, like me, and you'll have no problems with the other students. There are just those days before you go hunting where the bloodlust pisses you off, you know?"

"Ha, ha, I do know. Why talk when you could be helping your appetite?"

"Exactly."

"Speaking of appetite," Carlisle chimed in. "What is your diet like? Judging by your resistance so far you must be…"

"Oh no, my usual meal is humans, but I'm fully capable of changing my habits without any trouble. I have a tolerance for human blood that is very strong. So strong I've had some human friends in the past I used to keep company with. I should be no trouble, really."

"Phew. That's good to know," Edward said, pretending to wipe his brow.

"Pardon?"

Alice spoke up this time. "Do you really think we'd cast you out of our home just because you have a difficult time around humans? We're thankful you don't, of course, but we have our own manners. Besides, you're practically part of the family now. Being vegetarians and all causes other vampires not to like us so much. If there wasn't a few other's like us and if Carlisle wasn't friends with Aro… well, we might have been alienated."

"But still well respected; the Volturi admire not only their friend, but his opposition to blood."

"Thank you," Carlisle beamed.

"Speaking of family…" Emmett started. "What's Bella's story? Is she a second cousin from France? I mean, you have noticed her accent, haven't you?"

I squeaked, "Oh no! I thought I lost that."

Carlisle laughed in the driver's seat. "I've been around for a much longer time than you, Isabella, and I can tell you it never goes away. For Jasper especially. Esme and I had to fake an adoption certificate stating we took a trip down to Texas to get him." The others chuckled lightly, Jasper's southern lilt very noticeable indeed. Carlisle was right: he must be over 300 years old and still have that English drawl to his voice. Sometimes you can just tell.

"Let's call her Isabella… Swan," Edward offered.

"Swan?" His pixie-like sister inquired.

"They're nice birds."

"Ugh… birds!" Emmett said, wiggling once again while Rosalie tried to get comfortable once again. "Have none of you seen The Birds? It's a Hitchcock film! Come on you guys! Bird's a creepy man-eating killers!"

I rolled my eyes. Emmett was such the goofy older brother. As silly as he can be I like him for what he is just the same. "Swan is fine, Edward. Thank you."

"The birds will get you, I'm serious!" Emmett warned.

"Shut up!" Alice told him. "Continuing… Bella is a family friend visiting from France for her Junior year. She's never been attacked by a flock of birds, though her last name is Swan. Sound good everyone?" We all mumbled our approval and shook our heads.

"We're here!" Esme announced as Carlisle cut the power on the car.