Chapter 6
I was on my own for seven years. When I finally made the decision to go back to the family I knew that they would be a year or maybe two away from the next major move. I had traveled all over the United States and then went to South America, then continued over to Europe. I took my time walking up to our house. I was surprised to smell two additional scents on top of those of my family. I was on high alert after I smelt them. When I was just about to open the door it was ripped open and this short girl with short, spiky black hair attacked me with a huge hug. I just stood there in shock until she let go of me. I noticed a tall blonde man standing with a slight smile on his face as he watched this girl. I could see all the scars on the man so I knew that he was part of the southern wars.
"Hi Bella, I am so glad that you are finally home! We are going to be best friends, just like sisters." The short girl gushed.
"Uh, hi?" I said even though it sounded more like a question.
The blonde guy walked up the girl and put his arm around her. "Hello, my name is Jasper and this is my wife, Alice. It is nice to meet you." He said as he held out his free hand to shake mine. He was studying me intently but had a nice friendly smile on his face. I noticed that his eyes still had a hint of orange in them so I knew he was new to our life style.
"Hello. Nice to meet you both." I said as I shook his hand.
Esme and Carlisle walked in the back door and when they heard my voice they both ran at vampire speed and crushed me in between them in a bone crushing hug. "Bella I am so happy, I mean we are so happy that you are finally home." Esme said.
"We have missed you so much. It wasn't the same without you." Carlisle said.
"I missed you guys too. Can you please let me go though? I would like to go up to my room and change out of these clothes." I said as I wiggled my way out of their arms.
I ran up to my room, I knew they were going to give me the same one as I had last time we were here. I was shocked when I opened the door and none of my stuff was in there. I ran back down at vampire speed and asked, "Where is all my stuff? I thought my room was going to be all made up for me when I got home."
Esme looked at me with a guilty look. "Uh, it is all out in the garage for right now, I haven't had a chance to make up another room for you yet. I am sorry."
"Who is using my room now?" I asked getting annoyed and defensive. It was taking me a lot to keep control over my gifts, especially fire.
"That would be us." Alice said. I saw how she looked nervous and Jasper started to get in front of her to protect her if something would go wrong.
"Why did you have to take my room? Why couldn't you take one of the other rooms?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Simple, your room had the best view and I was able to extend the closet into the next room. We extended Rosalie's into it as well." She said with a shrug of her shoulder like it was nothing and I should have seen that.
"Gah! Whatever." I yelled as I took off for the garage. I stacked four boxes of my stuff in a pile and picked it up and then ran it up to a room that I knew was empty. I quickly changed my clothes and then went back down to get more boxes.
I was surprised that Alice helped me along with Esme. "So where are Emmett and Rosalie?" I asked.
"They went to pick up Rose's new car." Alice said as she started to help pull things out of the boxes.
"Oh." Was all I said.
"So Bella, how was your time away from us?" Esme asked trying to change the subject.
"It was good though I missed the family greatly. I travelled all over the U.S. except for where the territory wars are since I already have been there and rather not go back. Then I went over to Europe though I made sure to stay away from Italy as well." I said with a sly smile. Esme smiled at me and nodded her understanding.
"What? I am feeling left out here. I really don't know anything of your past Bella, no one would tell us, they said that it was your story to tell. I just know that you are the oldest out of everyone in the family vampire wise." Alice said looking to me confused, trying to figure out why I was ever near the wars and why I would avoid Italy all together. She knew of the Volturi but she didn't understand why I would completely avoid the country and not just the area that they were in. I had opened myself up to her and Jasper's minds.
"Well I will explain it to you but it would just be easier to tell you and Jasper at the same time since I bet he is curios as well." I said looking to her and smiling.
Then Alice's face went blank and it looked like she was staring off into space. Through reading her mind I saw that I was telling her and Jasper my story down in the family room.
"Ok, let's go down to the family room where Jasper is and we can learn all about you." Alice said.
"Yeah and then I can learn all about you two as well." I said eyeing her. She was trying to figure out why I was looking at her the way I was.
The three of us went down stairs at a slow human pace that we all try to walk at all the time so we don't have to totally focus on that kind of thing when we were in front of humans. Jasper was sitting on a couch reading a book that he sat down when he heard us hit the last step. Alice went and sat down right next to him. Esme was going to find something to do but I wanted her to stay since Carlisle had already left for work.
"Esme, please stay. You don't have to try to busy yourself." I said. She just did a quick nod and then sat down on the other side of Alice. "Carlisle, you can join us as well." I said a little louder, he came down from his study and sat in the armchair.
"So Bella, you are going to fill us in about your past?" Jasper asked.
"Yes. As you know, I am the oldest one in the family but I don't think you know just how old I am. I am over four hundred years old. As for why I avoided Italy during my recent travels, when I was turned I was taken there by some of the Volturi guard members since my maker left me in an alley and they found me when they were on their way back from a mission. You guys know how there are the three brothers who are the rulers right?" I asked them. They both nodded and waited for me to continue, they were a little confused as to why I asked them that. "Well there is a fourth ruler. I am in all technicalities the fourth one." They both looked so shocked it was kind of funny. Both Esme and I had to hold in our laughs. Carlisle was silent and was watching everyone and everything.
"What? How? I thought that they didn't let anyone leave them." Jasper said looking at me wide eyed in shock.
"Well you see I have a couple gifts and some of them kind of scare all of the Volturi. Aro promised me right off the bat that I would be able to leave when I felt I was ready to since I was able to block his ability to see all my thoughts when he touched me seeing as that was his gift. All they knew was that I was a mental shield. He could tell that I was someone who thought things through and followed rules so he thought I would be a great leader or ruler if you will. We found out several years later, when I finally figure out how to lower my mental shield and Eleazar read my gifts that I am also a physical shield when I wish to be, I can read minds when I wish to, and have telekinesis and I can control fire. The fire power is what really scares them though because when I lose control of my emotions I also lose control of that gift. We lost a lot of guard members that way." I stopped because Jasper was looking at me in shock, Alice was too but not for the same reason.
"Th…that was you? We heard about the one with the Volturi that used fire to kill off most of the newborns but I had no idea that it was a ruler. I was so thankful that Maria found out before the Volturi reached where we were that we were able to hide so we wouldn't be killed." He said.
"I could tell that you were a part of the war down there, I am surprised that you were able to get away from that as well. I know how it is down there, I read it from their minds before I killed them. I will get to the war part later though. I had been there for a hundred and sixty four years before Carlisle arrived there. He was still rather new to his new life, he stayed with us for several decades and when he decided to leave he asked me to join him and I did since I had joined him in his feeding choice I didn't want to be without him, plus we had a great bond that I knew I would miss him dearly. After a bit of a disagreement I was able to leave. I have been with Carlisle ever since. Our family just keeps on growing. As for my time in the south, they came and begged me to help out. I hate killing anybody and I really didn't want to go but they kept reminding me that I was a ruler and it was a duty of mine since it was such a problem. I wasn't really going to do as much as I did but then Aro ticked me off before we even started. He thought that since I was there to help that I was going with them to Volterra and I lost control."
"You know you are the most feared Volturi and nobody even knows who did that, let alone that it was a ruler who doesn't even stay with the Volturi." Jasper said in a little bit of awe.
"You guys have to keep this hush hush though. Do not tell anyone about me being a ruler or ever being with the Volturi in any form, don't say anything about any of my gifts except for my mental shield and mind reading. Some do know of my physical shield so if you have to that is ok as well but besides that you really can't share it ok." I said looking to them to show how serious I was being.
"We all have been keeping her secret since we found out. Carlisle has never told anyone, he didn't even tell me. I found out after she helped out with the southern war." Esme said to help prove my point and Carlisle nodded to help her.
"So I already know that you were part of the wars Jasper, in fact now that I think of it I do remember coming across your scent down there but it was faint so I didn't follow it. So how about you guys tell me about your history seeing as we are now family." I said looking to them.
"Well I was a Confederate soldier, I had lied about my age so I could join. I was very successful and was going up the ranks rather quickly. One evening I was moving women and children out of the area that we knew would be attacked next but before I got to the area where they were waiting for me I came across three extremely beautiful women who looked like they could have been ill with how pale they were. When I tried to help them they started talking about changing me and that the one shouldn't do it because she might slip and kill me, though I knew I should have run I couldn't. They changed me and I was a part of their newborn army though Maria, who was the leader saw my great potential with how I thought everything out and kept me past the first year. I discovered that along with being able to feel the emotions around me I was also able to control them so I was put in charge of the newborns. I would kill the ones after they hit their year mark and I would work on training them. My friend Peter escaped with his mate Charlotte and then years later came for me. I left with them and have avoided the south since. I was with them for awhile but then I went off on my own, I felt like I was intruding on them and I couldn't take constantly feeding on humans all the time and feeling what they felt as we killed them. One evening it was raining and I went into a diner where I then saw one of our kind but with golden eyes. She walked up to me smiling and said, 'You kept me waiting for a long time.'" He said with a chuckle looking at Alice with a brilliant smile and ruffling her hair.
"He said, 'Sorry ma'am.' while bowing his head like the good southern man he was brought up as." Alice said smiling back at him.
"She told me about your family and your diet and we came in search of you." Jasper said.
"I don't remember anything from my human life at all. When I first woke up as a vampire there was no one around me but I had a vision of me meeting Jasper so I knew I had to find him. Then I had a vision of your family and how you hunted so I started off hunting like you guys. I searched everywhere to find the diner that I knew I would find him in and when I finally found it I went there every evening for two weeks before he showed up. His eyes were pitch black and I was a little nervous for the humans around so I got him outside and we went to the woods. I told him of my visions and he started hunting animals as well, though he struggled and still does sometimes. I knew that Carlisle and Esme would accept us right away." Alice said.
"It was a little shocking that she knew so much about us already that we had to trust her." Esme said with a chuckle and warm smile towards them.
"Rosalie has just started to fully accept us as family though, she took the longest to come around but I already knew that would be the case." Alice said.
"How long have you been here then?" I asked.
"Two years." Alice said.
"They arrived three weeks after we got here." Esme said.
"No offense then but Jasper, why do your eyes have an orange tint to them?" I asked.
"I kind of slipped, like Alice said I still have a little trouble maintaining this lifestyle but it was nowhere near here so you need not worry about what it would do to the family." Jasper said looking ashamed and trying to make sure I knew that the family was still safe. I could hear a bit of his southern accent coming through and couldn't help but smile a little.
"No worries Jasper. I know how difficult it is changing to this new diet and after all those years drinking human blood it is rather difficult. I went through that as well when Carlisle came to Volterra, though I don't think that when I was drinking from humans that I fed anywhere near as much as you used to." I said with a little sad smile. "You know that we are all here to help you with this." I then told him.
"I know. Thank you Bella. I must say that I was a little nervous about your arrival even though Alice, along with everyone else said that you would accept us." Jasper said with a slight smile of his own.
"So what is the story for the humans?" I asked looking at all three of them. "I would like to know so I can go along with it and not cause suspicion."
"Well Carlisle is working in the Emergency Room and I am a stay at home mom. Jasper and Rosalie Hale are Carlisle's twin niece and nephew, their parents died four years ago and we took them in. Alice and Emmett are two orphans that we took in after no one else wanted them being that they were both already teenagers when we adopted them. Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper are all seniors and Alice is a junior. She said that she was ok with being in the grade below them because she knew that when you came back you would join her as a junior. We already talked to the school, you are my younger sister coming to live with us. You will go with your name, that's what I figured was best and easiest. We didn't give them a set date but we told them that you would be there one day this week so whenever you want to start you can." Esme said coming to stand next to me since I had yet to sit down.
"I always seem to be the younger sister to one of you two." I said smiling at her.
"I think it is just easier that way since you always were acting as Carlisle's sister before I joined the family, it is just easier to have you be mine since we both have shades of brown hair. Besides then it doesn't seem like we are adopting so many kids." Esme said with a chuckle.
"You guys have only been here for two years? Didn't you leave Forks like three years ago?" I asked as I finally processed a lot of what everyone said.
"Well since you were gone we went to Volterra and visited with the Volturi. Of course Aro was curious about you and asked lots of questions. He really wants you back badly. He seems to have become power hungry, there are a lot of gifted vampires there now. And Caius has become quite bitter and set on causing destruction. Marcus is just sad and moping around all the time, it is like he is just there taking up space." Carlisle said. I knew that Aro was becoming power hungry. If need be I think I can take care of this problem but I am going to avoid it until it is necessary.
"Ok, now I understand. Thank you for going when you had no idea where I was. I can just imagine how Aro handled that." I said with a laugh.
I heard tires pull off of the road and onto our stone driveway. I knew right away that it was Rosalie and Emmett since it was not a normal time for a shift to be ending at the hospital. I could hear how Rosalie was talking about what she could do to make her new car faster when all of a sudden Emmett said, "Bella is home! Rosie, do you smell it? I can smell her scent!" The four of us in the house chuckled at what he exclaimed.
"Emmett, please calm down. I swear if you break my new car before I even get the chance to fix it up I will be so pissed at you, you won't get any for a month." Rosalie responded. Esme frowned when Rosalie said the word pissed. Esme really did not like foul language, it was because of the time that she grew up in. Though most of us have grown used to it and sometimes use those words without any hesitation.
Before the car was fully stopped out front I heard Emmett jump out so I suspected that Rosalie had bought a convertible. Emmett rushed in the front door and charged me, picking me up in a massive bone crushing hug and spinning me around. "Bella! Where did you go? Why didn't you say goodbye? Don't ever leave like that again! I tried to find you but you left so many false trails." Emmett said in a rush. I was laughing along with everyone else in the house.
Rosalie walked in at that point. "Emmett put her down and let her talk. You bombarded her with so many things to answer." Emmett put me down like he was told to and then Rosalie came over and pulled me into a tight hug. "Welcome back Bella. I have missed you and I am so happy you have returned." She said as she released me. I had hugged her back after I got over my moment of shock. Rosalie never showed that side of her to anyone. I mean I have seen it in her thoughts what she felt about us but to actually have been seeing it in person was a little shocking.
I sat down on the floor while Emmett sat down on the other couch and pulled Rosalie onto his lap. From while I was sitting I was able to look at everyone in the family. "Well I travelled all over the States but I avoided the south and then I travelled all over Europe avoiding Italy. You two obviously know why I avoided those areas." They both nodded knowing exactly why. "I didn't say goodbye to you two because I knew you wouldn't let me go Emmett, you are the over protective big brother of me." I said with a laugh.
"Yeah, you're right. I would have sat on you for years if I had to in order to keep you with us." He said chuckling to himself and picturing what he just described.
"As for the trails, I knew that you would come looking for me and I didn't want you to find me since I knew you would drag me home somehow so I had to make it so you couldn't find me. I am sorry that I did that to you but I really did just have to get away for a couple years. I had to let you four, well now six, have your time as couples freely without worrying about my feelings or anything like that." I said looking away. I heard someone open their mouth to say something but I spoke up again. "I know what you guys think you know. I check in with your thoughts randomly when I get bored. And I see the looks that I get from all of you when you think I am not looking, the looks of pity. I just needed a little time away from it. I have also come to accept that I am not destined to have a mate and I am ok with that, as long as you all are happy then I am too. I can only hope that you all can come to accept that as well and stop with the pity." I said. I still couldn't look at anyone though.
Everyone's thoughts were about how my mate must be out there and I couldn't take it anymore so I stopped listening to them. Alice was trying to look into the future to see if she could find one but she was coming up with nothing. I was really feeling sad and pathetic.
"You really think you are meant to spend eternity alone?" Jasper asked with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Yes I do and I am fine with it. Now if you don't mind I am going to go for a hunt so I am fully satisfied for school tomorrow." I said as I got up avoiding eye contact with my family. Even though I just got back and I had missed them so much I needed to get away already.
I heard someone follow me out and paid no attention, I thought it was Rosalie going to move her car into the garage. I was shocked when we got far enough away from the house and I heard him. "Bella wait." Jasper called to me. I turned to him. "Do you mind if I join you? I think it be best if I try to stay full as well." Jasper said as he came up to me.
"Ok, I would like to avoid any problems." I said as I turned to continue to find some pray.
"You know Bella you are worth it and deserve to be loved." He said.
"Jasper, please don't. I really am fine with not having a mate." I said not looking to him.
"Bella, remember I can feel your emotions. I know how sad you feel talking and thinking about it. You cover it up well for them and they all believe it but I know the truth." He said grabbing my arm and stopping me, then making me look at him.
"Jasper, please do not tell them. And I am ok with it, I just still get a little sad, give me time and I will be fine. It is just seeing the now three couples and being around you all is a little hard after being alone for so many years." I said.
"I will Bella and I am here for you if you ever want to talk and I am sure Alice will be too considering she kept saying that she couldn't wait for you to come home since you two are going to be best friends and amazingly close sisters." He said as he let go of me and I felt a rush of calm and happiness wash over me. I nodded my thanks to him and he smiled back at me before we took off to hunt. We both had three dear each.
