Chapter 4
Beta'd by: MortalUndomiel
BPOV
Listening to Edward just a moment ago made me feel things that I had never felt before; things that I never even thought were possible for me. I could barely bring myself to think it let alone say it aloud, however, there was no denying it. I was… Jealous. As a matter of fact, I was insanely jealous and I didn't know how to deal with this emotion.
When Edward revealed to me that Tanya had expressed an interest in him in the past, I admit I felt slightly intimidated. Who wouldn't be when faced with such a rare and stunning beauty such as her? But Edward's demeanor towards her put those feelings to rest. He seemed so distant and uninterested in her intimately, that I didn't have to entertain those thoughts for very long.
Now, however, Edward seemed to be particularly taken with Lana in a way that I'd never witnessed before. It had only been one day and it would seem that he's already trying to build a closer relationship with her.
What was it about her that draws him in this way? Was it what drew almost every other man in the vicinity: her undeniable beauty? The possibility sickened me. After all we have been through together, there was no way that I could lose Edward. It wasn't an option.
What am I saying? This is insane!
Edward and I have been blissfully happy the past few years and I have no doubt that he loves me with every fiber of his being. So knowing this, I didn't understand why I felt so fearful about him developing a friendship with Lana. I know that he feels indebted to her for helping to protect our secret and I understood that but it seemed to go beyond that somehow. There was some sort of bond forming between the two of them that I suspected would only get stronger over time. I could feel it already. The question was: Was I really comfortable with that? In the long run, could I actually accept it and welcome her into our world?
But what could I do about it? Order him to stay away from her because of my insecurities towards to a woman who has yet to show any credible signs of being a threat to my marriage? The answer was obvious, I could never do that. My conscience was too strong to allow me to do something I felt was even the slightest bit dishonest.
What's truly sad is that deep down I knew that he would cut all ties with her for me in an instant if I asked him to. He loves me so much, that he would put his own wants and needs aside without question. One would think that that knowledge alone would give me reassurance and it did, but it still did nothing to ease the anxiety that I felt.
After all that Edward has had to endure in the name of my friendship with a certain wolf, I could never ask him stay away from Lana. He has witnessed firsthand far more inappropriate behavior from me in that regard, especially the kiss that Jake and I shared in the forest that one awful day.
Ugh! Why am I so selfish when it comes to him? Why can't I stop these thoughts from poisoning my mind and creating these feelings within me?
The mere thought that this stranger meant so much to him so quickly was driving me to madness, making me want to do unspeakable things to defend what was rightfully mine. What if the bond kept getting stronger and stronger? What if he finally realizes the truth that had been obvious to me from the very start; that I was indeed not good enough for him; that I was never good enough for him and he casts me aside for someone who actually was.
No! I will never let that happen! I will not lose him! I won't!
I could feel my treacherous body beginning to react. My mind raced with all sorts of homicidal ideas to sate the rage that was brewing within me. The most prominent need was to destroy and when I say destroy I meant anything and everything in my path. I closed my eyes and fought as hard as I could to control myself. When I opened my eyes, movement in my line of sight caused me to look up. Across from me, I noticed that Jasper's concerned eyes were on me.
Suddenly, a wave of calm washed over me and almost instantly, I felt that I could actually think rationally. Never in all of my time of knowing Jasper, had I been more grateful for him than I was at that moment. With a clear mind, I was able to see how crazed my thoughts had become and I was instantly mortified.
Why is this happening to me!
How could I have even entertained any of those thoughts? It was absurd. Not to mention the fact that if I caused any harm to this house like I wanted to a moment ago, Esme would have slaughtered me. Especially if she learned that it was over something so trivial. In my shame, I wouldn't even put up a fight, I would have deserved her wrath and then some.
I was completely overreacting to the situation. It was this endearing side of Edward that swept me off of my feet in the first place. It was this good in him that still lingered, the good that he swore was gone forever, that he was displaying towards Lana. I knew that it was nothing more, so where was this coming from?
In my short time of being an immortal, I personally could relate with Lana having to alienate herself from people just to maintain her privacy and how difficult it was. So it's no surprise that Edward would feel the same way.
Get a grip Bella!
I closed my eyes and pictured the one event that would change my mood instantly: our wedding day. I smiled in contentment as the images flashed through my mind rapidly. I was certain that this memory from my human life would never fade as long as I existed. The expression of love in Edward's eyes as they met mine as I walked down the aisle has never diminished. I see it every time he looks at me at every hour of every day.
Most have said that once the honey moon is over, things between couples become more routine; not saying that the love they felt for one another fades, it just becomes a simple reality. But from what I've witnessed for myself as well as my new family, love within a vampire union remains as it was from the very beginning and only grows stronger and more intense.
So my mission was clear. I would make it a point to get to know Lana and who knows, maybe then I will be able to understand Edward's fascination with her. After all, you can never have too many friends in life; or in my case, death. I needed to do this for Edward, I owed him that. I just hoped that all of this works out for the best, because I couldn't even imagine what the alternative would be.
EPOV
I looked over at Jasper as he continued to stare at Bella in concern. He glanced over at me briefly before looking away when he realized that my eyes were one him. I could see in his mind his concern for her emotional well-being. I was astonished at the severity of her feelings and how close she had come to losing control; but I just couldn't understand the reasons for such a strong urge.
What was it that was causing her stress to where Jasper had to step in? Jasper started singing the star spangled banner in his mind to block me from seeing more. That action only worried me more. My mind raced with possible explanations and I could only think of one that made sense: Fear.
Bella must still be terrified that we will be exposed just as Rosalie was. Uncharacteristically, I trusted Lana to keep our secret. I wasn't sure why I felt that so completely, but there was no denying it.
I gripped Bella's hand and she met my gaze. I stared intently into her eyes, trying with everything in me to convey my assurance. I hoped that I could somehow comfort her and that she would understand that no matter what, I would always insure her safety. I pulled my hand from hers and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, gently kissing the hair on top of her head. All I wanted at that moment was to be alone with her.
"Would you like to go for a run, love?" I asked.
"Yeah, that would be wonderful," she replied with a smile.
We both stood and sped out of the house into the forest. Bella's newborn strength still lingered, so she was able to keep pace with me as we ran with ease. I loved that I was finally able to do this with her, that she could experience this thrill for herself. I just hoped that the new talents that came with her change made her feel that leaving her human life behind for me was worth it.
We stopped once we reached our new special hideaway. We discovered this particular area up the mountain when we first moved here. It was the complete opposite of our meadow in Forks, but equal in beauty and serenity.
Large trees and ferns bordered the area, but not circularly like our meadow. The high trees that hung over-head almost completely covered the sky giving off a dark, cave-like atmosphere. There was a small waterfall that flowed into a stream that was surrounded by large rocks covered in green moss. All that could be heard were the birds and small animals in the trees, and the sound of water as it gently cascaded down the rocks.
I guided Bella to the grass next to the water and sat down, pulling her into my lap. I held her close, planting lingering kisses here and there. Holding her here, away from everyone, was my idea of heaven. Pure and simple. The constant stream of thoughts that was my daily reality were absent and all that remained were me and the one woman I would cherish until the end of time.
If it were possible, I could hold her like this for days, never moving from this spot and be perfectly content. Bella was all I ever needed and so much more. Maybe once she was done with school we could explore this option more thoroughly. I loved the thought of that. In this peaceful setting away from it all, it seemed like the perfect moment for us to talk privately and maybe I could put her fears to rest once and for all.
"Bella, you do know that I will always keep you safe no matter what, right?" I tightened my hold on her.
"Yes, I know that, Edward," she whispered.
"Then what's bothering you?" I asked, perplexed. "Please don't say that you are fine because I can tell that something is on your mind." She was quiet for a moment before she responded.
"I just…I just feel that because things have been so perfect for so long, that something awful is going to happen that will separate us somehow," Bella said. I could hear the fear in her voice and it pained me to my very core.
"Love, nothing will ever come between us again, I promise. I know that situations in the past have caused you to doubt my words, but I will always be by your side, forever." The guilt I still felt for hurting her the way I did when I left was staggering. She turned in my arms and looked into my eyes.
"Don't do that, Edward. All of that is behind us now," she said. She stared at me for a long moment before turning and resting her back against my chest once more. I believed her, her eyes showed nothing but faith in me and for that, I was thankful. Bella was so in tune with me that it was almost hard to believe. She always somehow knew what I was thinking or feeling. She spoke again, pulling me from my thoughts.
"It's not you that I doubt, please know that. I just don't believe that fate is always on our side. I," she paused and gripped my arms, "I sometimes wish that we could all just leave. Just run away from everyone and everything that could possibly hurt us; just the eight of us in our own perfect world that no one else could access." I could relate to that desire, it would make things so much easier if we didn't have the burden of other people in our lives.
"That sounds ideal, and if that is what you truly desire love, we could leave and find a place away from everyone else. Maybe something like Isle Esme?" I said with hope in my voice.
"I can't be certain that the others will be open to an idea like this, but I'm sure that I could find something perfect for the two of us within a few weeks." I truly meant that too. If she wanted to leave it all behind, I would do that for her, as long as she could accept the consequences of such actions.
"You really would do that for me, wouldn't you?" Bella said wistfully as she leaned her head back so that she could look at me over her shoulder.
"Of course I would. I'd do anything to make you happy. Bella, nothing else in this life, if that is what it is, matters to me more than you. But the real question is, could you really completely say goodbye to your father or never speak to your mother again by doing so?" She took a deep unnecessary breath and relaxed further into me, staring off into the water.
"No, I couldn't do that." I had to reassure her and put her mind at ease so that she understood that such drastic measures were unnecessary.
"Love, we're safe. There is nothing to fear I promise you. I will always protect you no matter what. Please don't worry about any of this. I know that someone knowing about us outside of our kind is frightening, but I know that everything will be just fine." She tilted her head back again, staring at me for a long time. I could see her struggling with something in her head and I longed to know what she was thinking. It still bothered me tremendously that I couldn't read her thoughts even after all this time. I caressed her face and stared into her eyes, silently begging her to let me make this alright.
"What is it, love? Is there something else that's bothering you?" She looked away and pulled my arms around her tightly.
"No, there is nothing wrong now. It's like you said, I was just nervous that we could be exposed and what the consequences could be. I never wish to see any members of the Volturi guard ever again." I knew that she spoke the truth in that regard, but I didn't believe her for one minute that that was her only worry.
Bella had always been a terrible liar, I just wished that she would be honest with me and tell me what's really bothering her. I realized that it was her choice to handle her own feelings as she saw fit and that I could also be making this bigger than it truly was, but I also couldn't stand to see her suffer so I had to at least try.
"You can talk to me about any and everything. There's nothing that you can't say to me. If something else is bothering you, please let me help you," I begged.
"Edward, I'm fine, really. I'm just being paranoid. I trust your judgment and if you say that we are safe then I believe you," she said as she lovingly caressed my cheek. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." I didn't argue the subject any further. I had to trust that she would talk to me when she was ready to. We remained in that same spot for the next couple of hours, just lying in each other's arms and staring at the water. Our time came to an end when we realized that we needed to head back home. Lana was due to arrive in the next thirty minutes.
We made it home quickly and we both went upstairs to freshen up. Bella attempted to lure me into the shower with her and I was so tempted to accept her gracious offer, but I decided against it. Almost every time we have our husband and wife time, Emmett goes out of his way to embarrass us about it.
So unless he was otherwise occupied, we made it a point to not engage but my patience was wearing thin with waiting because of that big oaf. Maybe in the next fifty years, he'll get bored with bothering us. But right now however, it just wasn't worth the harassment and we already had an intense evening planned, so why bother adding any additional annoyances?
Once we were both dressed, we made our way downstairs hand in hand to await our much anticipated guest's arrival. As time went on, everyone began doing their normal evening activities. I was sitting at my piano playing my newest composition as Bella sat beside me with her head against my shoulder.
When I heard a car pull into the drive, I stopped playing immediately. Esme rushed downstairs, anxious to meet the girl she'd heard so much about. Emmett even turned off the video game he was playing, which was surprising since he was so obsessed with it. Alice and Jasper came in from the back door and positioned themselves in the living room as well.
When Lana's car pulled up in front of the house, I heard no movement, just a rapid heartbeat. I assumed that she was extremely nervous about being here and I wasn't sure if her fear was due to social anxiety or the knowledge that she would soon be entering a home that housed eight vampires. For all I knew, it was both.
After a few minutes, the car door slammed and Carlisle appeared out of the hallway from his office to stand by Esme's side. Just before she had a chance to knock, I opened the door and her eyes widened in shock. Her fist was mid-air as if she was about to knock on the door and she immediately dropped it to her side and smiled.
"How did you know I was out here?"
"I heard your car before you even approached the house. My hearing is amplified due to my state of being," I said with a smile, while stepping aside as she walked into the house.
"Super-hearing…Well, I guess we have that in common as well," she said while nodding her head. I chuckled at her word usage as I guided her forward.
"Carlisle, Esme, I would like to introduce you to Lana Lankford. Lana, these are my parents. You have already met everyone else this afternoon," I said.
"Lana, it's so nice to finally meet you. Please, make yourself at home," Esme said as she grasped Lana's hands with both of hers.
"Hello, Esme, Carlisle, it's very nice to meet you both. Your home is so…There are no words," Lana said with an awed expression while taking in the room.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well. My Esme has put quite a lot of time into this house and I'm pleased that you appreciate it," Carlisle said as he stepped forward and shook Lana's hand as she blushed profusely.
"Please come in and sit," Carlisle said. We walked through the foyer that led into the living room where the rest of my siblings were and Alice's face transformed into a brilliant smile. She skipped over and enveloped Lana into a tight hug. I laughed quietly at Lana's petrified expression. There were few who knew how to respond to Alice' immediate invasions of personal space.
"Hi, Lana, I'm Alice. I didn't have a chance to speak with you earlier; it's very nice to see you again," Alice said as she released her. She then started scrutinizing Lana's appearance from head to toe. I was certain that she was sizing her up for one of her power shopping trips or her original designs. All of a sudden, Lana took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily.
"It's nice to see you again too, Alice. I love your dress! Is that DKNY?" It didn't take long for me to realize that Jasper had used his abilities on Lana. She had become too comfortable too fast considering how uncomfortable she seemed when she first arrived. Alice almost jumped out of her skin, literally, and went on about where the best malls were within the state.
I was shocked that Lana seemed to be just as enthusiastic about shopping as Alice was. They talked about fashion non-stop and even Rose moved a little closer, but she didn't join the conversation. I could see her eying Lana and even without my abilities, she was like an open book. She constantly compared herself to Lana, wondering what my interest was in her.
One would think after all this time, that Rose would have gotten over the blow I unintentionally inflicted to her ego when I expressed my lack of interest in her. But I suppose being who she was, she was still curious with regard to my interest in anyone else under any circumstances. I could see that Lana noticed Rose's demeanor as well but tried to focus on Alice so that she didn't give herself away. Emmett and I shared a severe look.
What is Rose's problem now, Edward? First Bella now Lana, I just don't get it. I looked at him and shrugged, not wanting to let on that I knew anything.
"I noticed your Lexus in the parking lot earlier Lana. Sweet little ride," Emmett said loudly as he stood and walked to stand behind Rosalie.
"Thank you, Emmett. My dad gave it to me as a high school graduation gift and I absolutely love it. I know it's not all that sporty and it would be considered a mommy mobile to most, but it's totally me," Lana said looking over to Emmett with a smile.
"Well, if you ever need any help with it, my Rose here is quite the gear-head. She performs regular maintenance on all of our cars so I'm sure she'd be happy to give you a hand if you need it," Emmett said while rubbing Rose's shoulders.
"Oh, well I'll keep that in mind," Lana said as she looked at Rosalie curiously.
The death glare Rose gave Emmett over her shoulder was classic but he wasn't fazed by it one bit. He knew his wife well and knew that her bark was sometimes far worse than her bite, no pun intended, and he did this on purpose. He was just as annoyed with her attitude at times as anyone else. But that was just Rosalie's nature, take it or leave it.
The conversation continued on casually for a while and I could tell that Lana was warming up to the family quite nicely thanks to Jasper. We all shared stories and of course Emmett, with his new found comfort level, decided to strike.
"So, Lana, I was wondering if we could go flying some time," Emmett said rubbing his hands together.
Everyone in the room froze. I wondered if his question would upset Lana and I carefully watched her expression. No one knew what to say at that point; it was the first time anyone brought up the subject of her powers this evening.
"Emmett, can you please get a hold of yourself?" Esme said sternly before looking over at Lana apologetically. "I'm so very sorry about him dear, he can be a little forward sometimes." Lana surprised me by laughing.
"It's alright, Esme. I'm sure it's something few people have encountered before, unless you're watching television of course." She then looked over at Emmett with a sly smile
"To answer your question, Emmett, I will consider it if you're a good boy. Do we have a deal?" It pleased me to see this playful side to her personality.
"Deal! I told you she'd be cool with it, Eddie," Emmett said. Everyone sniggered while both Rosalie and I scowled at him. He knew that I detested being called Eddie.
"Eddie?" Lana snorted, trying to contain her laughter. "Did he just call you Eddie?" Lana's eyes were practically dancing and she had an amused smile on her face. She could barely hold herself together.
"Don't even think about it," I said to her while I continued to give Emmett my I'll deal with you later look. She cleared her throat and got herself under control.
"Edward, we didn't have much time to talk earlier but I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind," Lana said. The room once again went silent. She looked at me nervously and continued.
"But, before I ask anything, I have a confession to make. I want you to know that I'm not really proud of myself for stooping to this level, but I hope that you understand my reasons for it."
"I'm listening," I said intrigued. What could she have done within such a short amount of time that I wouldn't understand?
"Well, I followed you home yesterday, so I already knew where you lived," she said looking down at her feet."
"How is that possible? We would have smelled you from a mile away," Rosalie said arrogantly.
"Well that would explain why you didn't because I was actually a few miles away," Lana said pointing upward. "Once you arrived I listened from a distance." I arched an eyebrow and she pointed to her ear, "Super hearing, remember?" She offered as an explanation.
"I didn't want to get too close since I didn't know what I was dealing with at the time. I'm sorry that I invaded your privacy, but I had to know what you were going to do about me."
"It's perfectly alright, Lana. Following someone who could be a possible threat to your anonymity is not something we all haven't done in the past." I gave Rosalie a pointed look that effectively silenced any retort and continued.
"I, myself, am guilty of the same thing especially when Bella was still human. So, having been in your exact situation before, I understand perfectly why you reacted that way." I didn't want her to feel that she had done something unusually wrong.
"Thank you for being so understanding, it's a weight off of my mind," she said in relief.
"It's nothing, really," I said. She sat up straighter and looked around the room.
"I know that you are all vampires and I've read stories about them thinking that they were just a myth. So for me, that raises one major question. Is it true that a vampire feeds on human blood?" I was just about to respond, but Carlisle let me know in his mind that he would explain.
"It is true that a vampire's natural food source is that of human blood, however, that is not how we as a family choose to exist. Animal blood sustains us which is why we are able to live amongst humans without having the need to feed be as strong," Carlisle said. He then proceeded to tell the story of how he came up with his vegetarian theory and Lana listened intently.
"It's amazing that you were able to find a way around taking lives. It's admirable. Most of the books speak of this species as being cold, blood thirsty, assho-," Lana cut herself off suddenly.
Was she about to say, what I thought she was about to say? I didn't see that coming. Carlisle said in his mind. I just shrugged my shoulders in response as Lana continued.
"I mean, psychopaths. But I guess it's a personal choice," Lana said sheepishly. She stared at Carlisle for a long moment before responding.
"I can't believe that you are over 300 years old, Carlisle. You don't look a day over 30," she said shaking her head in amazement. He waved his hand at her bashfully and smiled indulgently. Her eyes glazed over and her face reddened. It was then that I came to understand that she must have been admiring his physical features.
"Emmett brought up the fact that you have the ability to fly and Edward said that you were strong as well. Do you have any other abilities?" Jasper asked while looking at Lana with a curious expression.
"Well, I'm extremely fast. No one's ever tested how fast though so I'm not really sure. My body seems to be impervious to all elements; heat, cold, etc. As you also know, I am able to hear from great distances. I probably could have heard you speaking from my house if I was more familiar with the sounds of your voices. That's another trait we seem to have in common although I'm not sure what your hearing distances are. Also, my body can produce heat."
"Do you mean, like fire?" Alice asked.
"No, not exactly. But if I were to focus it on something that is flammable or highly combustible, it would most definitely produce flame but, what comes from me is not visible to the eye. It's an intense energy. If I were focus hard enough however, it could quite literally obliterate anything within its path. It can come from any part of my body, however, I usually choose my hands or my eyes because I'm able to aim it better that way. Not to mention the fact that I would be left buck-booty-nak-," Lana eyes widened as she cut herself of yet again and we all struggled desperately to hold in our laughter. There was no mistaking what she was about to say that time. It would seem that Lana curses quite a bit on a normal basis.
"I mean I would be left naked if the heat came through my clothing." Lana looked over and took in my amused expression as she continued.
"I'm sure you wondered how the video camera in the elevator conveniently got destroyed. Well…" Lana said pointing at herself with a sheepish smile. I also thought back to earlier today when we shook hands and her indifference. It then became clear that she didn't even notice how cold my hand was.
"My first instinct was to make sure that no one saw anything, especially the security office. So, after things died down, I went to the office and destroyed the tape that showed us in the elevator to coo berate our story of getting out before the incident." Well, at least one of us was thinking. It's hard for me to believe that I didn't think of that automatically, but the shock of the situation was clearly a major distraction at the time.
"I'm so sorry to do this to you Lana but, would you able to demonstrate that power for us? I'll be the first to admit that I am most intrigued by your gifts," Carlisle said. Lana simply nodded in response. She looked over at the fireplace then shook her head.
"That fire place looks too clean to have been used before. Maybe we should go outside," she suggested.
"Absolutely," I said. We all filed out of the double-doors that led to the patio. We walked a bit until we were standing in the middle our vast backyard. We all positioned ourselves at her side where we could see her without being directly in her path. She looked over at the trees that bordered our property.
"I'm going to aim at that larger tree there in the center," she said, pointing to the tree of her choice. Lana dropped her arm to her side then took a deep breath through her nose and the most profound thing happened. Lana's entire body glowed with light and her eyes turned a bright shade of red. They looked similar to that of a newborn vampire.
I'm sure to a normal person, she looked as if she was possessed and it was really quite frightening, even to me. Suddenly a burst of invisible energy surged from her eyes. I could feel it pour out of her from where I stood. I looked to where she aimed, and sure enough the tree exploded as if a bomb had gone off, reducing it to mere splinters as a huge ball of fire engulfed the small area.
"Damn! That was friggin' awesome!" Emmett shouted over the loud roar of the fire.
"Remarkable!" Carlisle shouted, completely amazed. I, however, was stunned into silence. All I could do was watch the flames in disbelief.
"How the hell are we going to put it out now?" Rosalie asked slightly panicked.
Lana then reached out and pointed the palm of her hand towards the fire. Suddenly, the flame came rushing towards us and I grabbed Bella and dove to the ground covering her body with my own as the rest of my family did the same. But instead of the fire consuming all of us, it simply disappeared into Lana's palm and she closed her hand into a fist that glowed orange with the flame.
When we all realized that the coast was clear, we stood and stared at Lana in disbelief. Never before in all of my years of walking this earth had I seen anything like that before.
"I guess I should have mentioned that I can draw it in as well, huh?" Lana said sheepishly.
"That was positively amazing, Lana," Carlisle said. He walked over to her and looked at her hand.
"May I?" Carlisle asked politely.
"Sure," she said. She gave him her hand and he examined it closely and there wasn't even a scratch on it, not even dirt from the fire.
"Her palm isn't even heated," Carlisle whispered.
"Unbelievable," Jasper said. Lana shifted uncomfortably as we all stared at her. Luckily Esme stepped in and snapped us out of our shock.
"Let's all go back inside. I think there's been enough excitement for the evening and I'm sure Lana will feel more comfortable if we all stop staring at her," Esme added. We all agreed and walked towards the house. When Lana came close to the group, everyone gave her a wide berth as if they were afraid of touching her and I could see the sadness in her eyes.
I guided Bella over to Lana and I offered her my other arm. She smiled brightly and linked her arm with mine and the three of us walked into the house together. I looked over at Bella and she gifted me with proud smile as she kissed my shoulder, which confused me. When everyone took their seats, I spoke right away to explain our behavior.
"I apologize if we offended you a moment ago. But you have to understand that there is only one thing that can destroy a vampire completely, and that is fire, of which you can produce on demand," I said. Her mouth formed and O and she nodded in understanding.
"That explains things. I'm sorry I scared you guys out there. Like I said, I should have told you that I can absorb the flame."
"Don't worry yourself, Lana. I'm sure you're not really used to explaining your abilities to anyone," Esme said.
"Thank you," she said. I decided that it was time to be back on the subject at hand.
"While we were in the elevator yesterday, what were you thinking as we fell?" I asked.
"Honestly, I was considering knocking you unconscious but I didn't want to risk killing you." Hmm…I wonder what my reaction would have been had she attempted that? She continued with her story.
"Humans are fragile and if something went wrong, I would never have gotten over it. So I decided to take a chance but the most important thing to me was to get you out of there. I was just about to take action when you punched through the wall, and to say that I was shocked would have been an understatement. I never suspected that any of you were anything other than human." She smiled and looked around the room.
"I mean, you are all exceptionally good looking, but I just thought that it ran in the family," she said. We all sniggered at her comment. It was good to hear this from her perspective. But I had to ask her the one question that had been on my mind since everything happened.
"When security attempted to open the doors why did you help me? You could have easily stood by while security came in without exposing yourself at all." She was quiet a moment before she responded.
"I know how it feels to have to hide who you are, and the fear of being picked apart by everyone around you if they were to ever find out that you weren't like them. So the fact that you acted to save me without any consideration for your own well being made me realize that I couldn't just stand there and do nothing," she said looking down at her hands.
"It would have been really fucked-" she stopped again suddenly when I arched my brow at her foul language and slapped her hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry about that." I could tell that she was embarrassed by her slip and I could see Emmett smirking me.
"As I was saying, it would have been cowardly of me to watch you be picked apart while I stood by acting as if I wasn't in your exact situation." What she didn't know was that it was highly probable that none would have survived to tell the tale had anyone actually witnessed my actions. But I didn't think that it was the best idea to express that. She didn't need to know how close she came to witnessing or being a victim of a massacre.
"I knew that I had the power to help you and I would rather have you know everything, than let you be subjected to what could only be described as my worst nightmare come true."
Before this moment, I had already gathered that there was a kindness in her. To risk exposure to save a complete stranger; a monster such as I, made this abundantly clear. But now I knew that she was much more than that. She was like my Bella; she was selfless and courageous. I was completely awestruck as I stared at her.
"Thank you so much for risking yourself to save me, Edward. No one besides my parents has ever done anything like that for me before. You had so many other options to save yourself, yet you did what you could to help me and I want you to know how truly grateful I am for that," she said as tears began to fill her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She cleared her throat and wiped her nose with the back of her hand quickly. I smirked and I stood from my seat and walked over to her. I kneeled down in front of her and took her hands in mine.
"And I thank you as well for all that you did for me. You have my gratitude, Lana Lankford, and I am indebted to you for protecting me and my family." She graced me with a tender smile which I returned and gave my hands a gentle squeeze.
When I looked around, everyone in the room was staring at us in curiosity. I guess I could understand their reaction since I rarely ever showed anyone outside of my family any tenderness. When I looked over at Bella, I was taken aback by her expression. I looked at her closely and the look on her face could not possibly be the emotion I thought it was. Anger? But anger in this situation would have been brought on by one thing. Jealousy. Whatever for?
Bella knows that I love her more than anything and that there will never be another for me. Lana meant nothing to me in a romantic sense and due to her actions the only thing I felt for her was the highest level of admiration and gratitude. But who wouldn't feel that way when someone risked so much to help you? Surely Bella understood this. So maybe I was yet again making the wrong assumptions. If only I could know for sure what she was thinking; then I could know what the true issues were.
As my mind raced, I slowly started to see why Bella and Jacob had such a strong bond. He saved her in her moment of weakness and with that comes a special connection. I had never had that with anyone except Carlisle and now I have it with Lana. I just hoped that Bella understood my motives.
BPOV
Alright, it was official. I wanted to kill her. Looking at her hands within Edward's, I truly understood what jealous rage felt like. I understood how a person could snap and do something they would later regret, because the impulse right now was stronger than I'd ever felt. I would be completely satisfied with ripping her hands right off her wrists and dragging Edward off into the night and having my wicked way with him.
How dare he touch her in front of me this way! He's mine! Not hers, mine! I will show him, he'd learn that he was mine!
A wave of calm suddenly flowed over me and my eyes closed involuntarily. When I opened them finally, I noticed Jasper's concerned eyes on me for the second time this day. Once the haze of rage cleared, I was instantly horrified with myself yet again.
What on earth was happening here? I've never felt this way before! It's becoming harder for me to think sensibly, it's like I can barely control myself around her and it's only been twenty-four hours. She's done nothing to deserve my ire and there is nothing on earth that could ever break a love like mine and Edward's.
I need to get over this now. I can't allow myself to lose control over something so ridiculous. There was no way that I could speak to Edward about this. I was far too ashamed of myself to admit these feelings to anyone because they would all say that I was certifiable. But, maybe I could speak to Jasper since he knows firsthand what I was feeling. No matter what, I needed to take action soon or the result could be deadly.
EPOV
I released Lana hands immediately. I didn't like the negative energy that was radiating from Bella and I could tell from the way Lana's hands tensed within mine that she noticed it as well. She smoothed her hair nervously, and spoke to break the tension.
"Well, I realize that vampires are extremely fast, strong, and have exceptional hearing. Are those your only traits?" I stood from my place in front of her and took her lead by answering the question.
"Well, Alice is able to see the future and Jasper is able to control the moods around him-" She cut me off by raising her hand.
"Wait a minute, is that why I felt so relaxed earlier?" she asked looking over at Jasper and he smiled innocently.
"You didn't give me much of a choice in the matter. You were a nervous wreck when you first got here and being that I'm sensitive to the feelings around me, I thought it would be best to help," he said in his southern drawl and he couldn't contain his laughter any longer. She just sat there with her mouth opened slightly.
"And Alice is a psychic? That's unbelievable!" Her eyes widened and she looked at Alice frantically. "Maybe you can help me figure out where I came from!"
"It doesn't always work on demand and believe me Lana, I've tried to figure things out ever since Edward told us about you. But unfortunately, when it comes to you, I can't see anything," Alice said sadly. Lana's shoulders fell and she released a shuddered breath.
"Oh. I understand," she said sadly.
"I'm so sorry, Lana. You have no idea how much I wish that I could help you," Alice said.
"It's alright Alice." I could tell that she was frustrated by her situation so I redirected the conversation back to where it was.
"As I was saying, Jasper can control the moods around him and I can hear people's thoughts." Lana was silent a moment before she finally responded.
"What the fuck?" she shouted. Esme's quick intake of breath reminded her that her language might not have been appreciated.
"I'm so sorry, it just slips out sometimes." She looked like a deer caught in headlights at that moment. I kept my eyes on her and the longer I did, the more hilarious her expression became. I had no idea what was going through her mind, but I could tell that she was terrified of my gift. This made me curious. How I longed to know what she was so embarrassed of. I remained quiet and a huge smile lit my face as her face went up in flames. It was then that I decided to let her off the hook.
"Yes, I can read minds, but for some reason, I am unable to read Bella's mind or yours." Lana's eyes closed in relief and she released the breath that she had been holding.
"That's good to know that my thoughts are private. I wonder why it is that you can't hear me or Bella?" To my surprise Bella leaned forward and spoke.
"Like you Lana, I was ecstatic that Edward didn't have the inside track on my thoughts. We found out later on that I am considered a shield amongst my kind. Which means that it is my natural instinct is to keep people out. I'm not sure why Edward can't hear your thoughts. The only thing I can say is be thankful, I certainly am," Bella said playfully. I still couldn't get past her reaction earlier and how different she seemed now.
"That's a very useful power being able to keep out mental attacks," Lana said while contemplating what she heard. She stared at Bella intensely for a moment which confused me, but then shook her head. I kept my eyes on the two of them and it was as if nothing happened. I began to think that maybe all of this truly was within my own head, but because of how quickly Bella's demeanor changed, I was certain that Jasper had stepped in again. It was obvious that something was wrong here and I needed to know what it was, but now was not the time.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't help in a physical attack but we're more than capable of protecting ourselves. However, if someone had an ability to inflict pain through mental means, it's invaluable," I said taking Bella's hand. I looked at her in her eyes and got lost within them, when movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I looked over at Lana and she was staring at the two of us with a tender smile. She looked at her watch and her eyes widened.
"I should be getting home before my parents begin to worry about me. They think that I went to the library and then to the mall tonight. If they knew what I was really up to, they would have probably insisted on coming here with me and I didn't need them freaking out over nothing," she said while standing up to get her purse.
"Lana, your parents don't know about what happened yesterday?" Carlisle asked and everyone froze. She looked down like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"No, not yet. I plan on telling them, but I wanted to make sure that everything was okay beforehand. They have a knack for overreacting over everything anyway and it's ten times worse when it comes to me. I plan on telling them soon, especially now that we have all become friends." As soon as the words left her mouth, her eyes widened suddenly.
"Not that I'm forcing myself on you guys or anything! I didn't mean to presume anything…I mean I hope that we-" I cut her off by raising my hand.
"We are most definitely your friends now, Lana," I said. She smiled at me in relief and looked at all of us nervously.
"I really want to thank you all for spending this evening with me. It means more to me than any of you even know," she said looking down. I sensed that she didn't like showing much emotion which I found to be quite interesting.
Esme walked over to Lana and hugged her tightly while Alice came over and hugged Lana from behind as well. Her face flushed and I thought that maybe it was from happiness, until she spoke of course.
"Guys, I know that I'm very sturdy, but I can't take two tight inhuman hugs at the same time," Lana said in a strained voice.
Esme and Alice smiled brightly and released her from their hug. There was a blur of movement and suddenly, Lana was trapped by Emmett in a bear hug.
"Fuck!" Lana shouted, clearly forgetting her language again. "Emmett…I…can't...breathe," she struggled to say. He released her with a sheepish grin and ruffled her hair which made her squeal and hit at his hand. I struggled to contain my laughter at the two of them. Lana wished everyone else a good night and I followed her out of the front door.
After a few seconds, Lana casually turned her head in my direction and to my complete shock she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Ahhhhh!" She screamed and threw her purse up in the air. I caught it neatly before it hit the ground as I stared at her in amusement. I guess she didn't realize that I was walking beside her. What a strange child she is.
"You're like a fucking ninja!" she exclaimed. I truly found it hard to believe that someone so lovely spoke with such foul language. I smiled and put my hands up to show her that I meant no harm.
"I'm sorry that I scared you. I thought you knew that I was here with your hearing and all," I said handing her purse to her which she accepted.
"No, I'm sorry for freaking out on you like that. You're so quiet and I'm just not used to anyone being able to sneak up on me like that. Humans are a little louder when they walk."
"Understandable. Thank you so much for coming tonight. It was very nice getting to know you. You are welcome here any time," I said.
"I had a really good time myself, your family is great. It was nice not having to hide. You know?"
"Yes, I know what you mean all too well," I said while shaking my head and then a thought popped into my mind that saddened me. It was probably like this for her for many years.
"I just hate knowing that you haven't had anyone you can talk to other than your parents about this. It must have been very lonely for you."
"It has been hard, but now that I know there are others out there who are different like me, it makes me feel so much better. You aren't exactly my kind, but you can relate and that's close enough for me." I couldn't help but smile at her response. I leaned forward and planted a swift fatherly kiss on the top of her head.
"Good night Lana, I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Thanks again for everything, Edward. Goodnight." She climbed into her truck and pulled away. As I watched her car get further and further away, I smiled to myself at the irony of this situation. Out of a truly horrible day, I came away reasonably unscathed and with a new addition to my odd existence.
Somehow deep down, I knew that all of this must have happened for a reason. Now what that reason was, had yet to be revealed, but I had a feeling that this mysterious young being would somehow change everything and I had a feeling that it would definitely be for the better.
AN: And there you have it. As always, let me know what you think!