Claire de lune softly played from the speakers; Alice prattled on about the upcoming party from the back seat. I pressed my head against the back of the seat, the school day had been long, but I was happy to finally be on our way to the Cullen house. Edward rubbed small circles on the back of my hand as he drove. The situation with Jacob still weighed heavily on my mind, but I tried to push it away and listen to what Alice was saying. But it was no use, my mind raged on.
It wasn't long until Edward turned into the treelined drive, when Alice suddenly went quiet. I opened my eyes, noticing that Edward had the steering wheel in an iron grip, his nostrils flared. He and Alice locked eyes through the rear-view mirror, silent conversation passing between them. Something had happened. Something serious. The question now, was whether they would tell me what the hell was going on.
The car skidded to a stop; a decision had been made.
"What's going on?" I asked, a slight edge to my tone.
"Nothing." Edward bit out.
I raised an eyebrow at him, "Alice?" I leant over the console turning to face her.
Alice looked alarmed, trapped between her desire to tell me and her loyalty to Edward. She stayed silent.
I let out a sigh. "You promised you wouldn't hide her visions from me anymore Edward."
"I know." His hand found the bridge of his nose, pinching it hard.
"You should tell her," Alice piped up, but I had a feeling she was only speaking for my sake.
I waited, watching Edward's face, I wouldn't beg. He had already promised, I wouldn't let him go back on that. Edward let out a growl, the Volvo roaring underneath us.
"Fine." Edward finally let out, "but I don't agree with this at all for the record."
"Thank you," I spoke softly, offering my hand to him.
The car barrelled down the drive, making me grip the door, my stomach lurched. We made it down the drive in record time. Alice jumped out of the car before it had even fully stopped, leaving the door wide open behind her. Rosalie's bright red BMW pulled in behind us. It was empty before I could blink.
"What happened Edward?" I asked gently, turning to his side of the car. But he was gone.
I got out of the car slowly, my legs feeling strangely like jelly, what could make everyone spring into action? Was Victoria here? I shut the door behind me, walking around to shut Alice's as well. Edward would be upset if anything got on the seats.
The front door was wide open, swinging on its hinges, a sense of doom surrounding it. I slowly walked up the steps of the porch and gingerly stepped through the front door. The smell of bleach hit me immediately, so strong it almost made me sick.
I could see most of the Cullen's gathered around the sitting area, further to my right, but what made me pause was Esme. She was on her knees, scrubbing at a large red stain that spread across the once perfect white carpet. The room was quiet, except for the sound of brittles against the carpet. Esme was trembling.
"She shouldn't be here." Rosalie was the first to speak, her tone clearly implying I was the she.
"She insisted." Edward replied, short and sharp.
Jasper looked serious, his face featuring a deep frown. "Where Alice?"
Alice muttered some coordinates in response.
"Rosalie?" Jasper asked, but I didn't understand the question.
Rosalie nodded with a sigh, "I only did these nails yesterday, such a pity."
"Whose calling Carlisle?" Emmett spoke up.
Edward's frown deepened. "Me I guess."
There was a round of nods, Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, pulling out a slim black phone. He entered the number from memory, brushing past me to enter the kitchen.
It was like I was a ghost, whatever was going on was clearly a well-practised routine, one I was not apart of. But I would make myself a place. I walked over to Esme, placing a hand on her back, stroking up and down in what I hoped was a comforting manner. She froze.
"Thank you, Bella," she mumbled almost too quiet for me to hear.
I kneeled down beside her, slowly easing the brush out of her hands, the smell of bleach overwhelming.
"I'll help you scrub," I offered gently.
Esme turned to face me, a small smile gracing her beautiful face. But what I saw made me drop my brush and suck in a breath.
"Esme… Your eyes." I managed to stutter out.
They were a bright crimson. No trace of the familiar gold I was used to seeing in my mother figure. I stumbled back from her, from the stain. It was blood. She was cleaning blood. My head spun. Esme, the heart of the Cullen family had killed.
"I told you; she shouldn't be here." Rosalie muttered in a bitter tone.
The sound of flesh hitting stone made me turn round to face her, only to immediately regret my decision. Slung over her shoulder was a body. He was wearing a UPS uniform, I felt sick as I recognised the man, our postman. Mike Colten. He always had a smile when he delivered our mail, asking me about school and Charlie, whenever I saw him. He was a human; he had a life. I knew from Charlie he had a wife and two teens at home. His daughter was in the grade below us.
"Mike…" I whispered, tears threating to overspill.
"Let's move." Jasper spoke with a cold nonchalance.
Then they were gone.
Esme continued to scrub, picking up the brush from where I had dropped it. Alice sat on the floor, eyes closed, searching the future. Emmett offered me an uneasy smile from his new place on the couch.
"Welcome to Cullen life Bella, that will be you in a few months. But don't worry it happens to the best of us." He spoke with his usual joyful tone.
His words chilled me to the bone.