Once again, a new & improved chapter!
Enjoy!
I removed the remainder of the blood around my face with the sleeve of my shirt, rolling my shoulders as I stood to face my bronze haired brother who was leaning lazily against a tree, a mere 10 feet from where I had finished off my kill. He looked well-fed, his eyes a bright Gold and face not nearly as gaunt as I had witnessed mere days ago. His white shirt was much less stained than my own, though his slacks had been a victim of war thanks to an aggressive mountain lion earlier on.
"You're quite the killer, Rose."
I shrugged, brushing off the snow that had stuck to my jeans mid-kill.
"Blame the vampire in me."
We laughed in unison as we ran back to the Denali house, weaving in and out of oncoming trees and mountains of snow along the way. Edward was a lot faster than I was, than I had ever been. He had the upper hand in speed, yet I very much overtook him when it came to knowledge and looks of course. Something I had to remind him of on a daily basis.
"Are you going to be okay?" I eyed him carefully as we continued to run. He looked carefree. Carefree, relaxed and well fed. That was the one part I was content about more than anything else. Though selfishly of course, as it meant I had less problems to deal with whilst in Alaska.
"I will be."
"Short and sweet, my favourite kind of response."
"Just like our relationship, summed up in one sentence." I snorted out loud, not something Edward regularly caused.
"Shut up and keep running, old man."
As we entered the Denali house, Tanya was reclined upon the sofa in the far corner of the living room, legs crossed at the ankle with a book in her hands.
"You two sure would make an adorable couple." She muttered.
Edward rolled his eyes and took a seat beside her, his arm behind her as he peered over her arm to see what she was reading. Anyone would believe they were a couple, upon seeing the two together for the first time – though we all knew that they were just incredibly close. There was no romantic spark between them, or at least not enough for them to be mates. However, they regularly took hunting trips together that would last weeks. We all knew what they entailed, though vampires are very private beings, and we keep our nose out of each other's business. We allowed them to go about their days together, as long as they were happy.
"Have you heard anything from Forks?" Kate shouted down the hall. We didn't need to shout, it was a habit that we had all picked up throughout the years, whilst keeping up appearances around humans. We tended to forget that we didn't need to continue acting that way behind closed doors.
"Nothing. I'm beginning to think that Carlisle would like us to remain in Alaska." Tanya raised an eyebrow at my response. "Not that that would be a problem. I am just very much comfortable in Forks with my family, Tanya. Alaska is far too remote for my liking."
"That's very true, I suppose."
"I've always loved your straight talking nature, Rosalie." Eleazar chuckled, taking a seat beside his wife, opposite the blonde & her loyal bronze haired puppy dog. "So, pardon me for not completely understanding - but a human has caused you to have to visit?"
I nodded whilst rolling my eyes. It seemed ridiculous, and unusual for a vampire to have to physically leave due to one single human. Humans were easy to deal with. A single human was a piece of cake. We had now been here for two days. We had spent the last two days hunting until we could physically drink no more blood, socialised with our cousins, and watched enough news to have me finding the walls more interesting. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy Alaska. In fact, Alaska was very much a beautiful place. A place that I had many times considered purchasing a home, and living there contently with my future mate. Though, that had not yet occurred.
"We're here because this girl happens to be Edward's singer. I know nothing about singers, and what effect they have on us. But, Carlisle deemed it enough of a danger currently to send both Edward & I away."
Eleazar eyed me for a minute before finally voicing a thought that had quite clearly confused him.
"So, I understand why Edward was to be sent away for a short while. Singers are quite the temptation. However, that still doesn't explain why you have been sent here also." I threw my hands up in the air in agreement, much to Tanya & Carmen's amusement.
"You know as much as I do about why I am here, Eleazar." Sighing, I took a seat on the empty armchair opposite the TV, turning my body to view the others. "I personally believe Alice knows a great deal more than she was willing to share back in Forks."
"What would Alice gain from hiding something like this from you?" Carmen questioned, tucked tightly into Eleazar's side, hands playing with some loose fabric hanging from Eleazar's grey slacks.
"It's not what she would gain - it's more so what knowledge she has. Alice will keep information to herself to prevent things from changing in the nearby future." I agreed with Edward's way of explaining.
"She usually does so, so that things happen the way that they should happen." Carmen nodded in understanding at our words, Eleazar still frowning. He was as intelligent as Carlisle, perhaps a little more. Their pondering faces were very much alike. It was like being home, whilst away from home.
"Perhaps you should question your sister about you being here also?" Tanya suggested, placing her book down in her lap and sitting forward slightly in her seat as she was now fully engrossed in the conversation.
Tanya was right. Alice had the opportunity to tell me whilst I was unable to have my hands around her throat for hiding something from me. I stood from the seat and opened up my recent contacts on my phone, immediately dialling Alice and expecting a relatively punctual answer thanks to her visions.
"Hi, Rose!"
"Hello, Alice."
"I'm a little hurt that you don't sound excited to hear my voice Rose, I've missed you!"
"It's been two days. Can you not live without me for two days?"
"To an extent, yes. But without you here, Emmett has taken it upon himself to aim all of his pranks and jokes at me." I smirked. That was definitely a highlight of being away from the Cullen household. The less Emmett irritated me, the better for everyone. As much as I love that giant man, he was an absolute pain in the ass. He frequently ruined my personal time. I cannot count the times that he ruined my hair, ruined my outfits, even ruined my shoes. Alice could deal with it for a few days.
"That wouldn't be happening had you of not had me sent away also, sister." I hissed.
"I didn't have Carlisle send you away, Rose. You know I only try to have everything go the way they're supposed to."
"And are you going to tell me why I was unable to stay?"
"I don't think-"
"I swear on everything that is Holy, Alice!"
"Okay!" She squeaked out. "Isabella Swan isn't just going to affect Edward's life."
"So… she's my singer also?"
"Rosalie, Isabella Swan is your mate."
I knew she would have heard my sharp intake of unnecessary air into my lungs. That wasn't what I was expecting our conversation to entail. This wasn't some information that was easily accepted. How can such a danger to one of my siblings, become the biggest part of my life? Each pair of eyes in the room were watching me intently, Edward frowning beside Tanya.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Cullen."
"Mhmm, that's why I'm the fortune teller and you're the paying customer, Hale."
"You're not helping."
"You have to trust me. Had you have stayed, you would have ruined your chances. You're too headstrong when it comes to protecting all of us."
"Would you prefer I didn't care, and it then allow us all to pay a penalty with the Volturi, Alice?" I snarled, not exactly impressed with how this conversation had gone. I had expected much less than this.
"You're being dramatic. Carlisle said he'll probably tell you both to return in another three days. I miss-"
"Goodbye Cullen." I cut her off with a hiss after hearing how long we were expected to remain here. The only plus? The range of animals far surpassed those of Forks during our hunts. It also meant a lack of school which could only be a positive.
After ending the call I sat back down in the armchair, staring at the phone screen. Carmen left Eleazar's side to sit on the arm of the chair and leant her head against mine, patting my knee. The others were all minding their business, pretending as if they didn't have super strength hearing, and had heard the news that could only be described as life altering. Carmen on the other hand, was silently supportive. I loved her more for that gesture.
"This can only be the start of something wonderful, my dear." She whispered into my ear.
Isabella Swan was supposedly my mate. I hadn't expected my mate to still be a human. That was something I was undeniably not okay with. The universe knew my views on this life. It also knew my views on taking the lives of perfectly healthy humans, and forcing them to become this monstrosity.
We had spent the remainder of the night in the living room, ridiculous conversations taking place back and forth. Carmen and Eleazar had filled us in on numerous memories from when they had first met, including Eleazar's lame attempts of wooing Carmen. Tanya had given me what she called 'valuable information' on how to entice women. I nodded along as if I was as much a virgin as Eddie-boy, knowing damn well I very much wasn't even close to being a virgin. I suppose it helped to have extra tips.
It was the following day, mid-afternoon, and we had all gone our separate ways once more. The house was peaceful, nothing but the low murmur of news reporters on the tv mounted on the wall, arguing back & forth echoed.
The Volturi had contacted Eleazar mid-relaxation, requesting that he keep an eye on Alaska's local news, due to several 'slayings' in the area that were suspicious, as they so eloquently put it. I was sceptical, however it was essential Eleazar listened to the royals, or his loyalty would be questioned. We watched, and watched, and prepared for having to take a trip into the local town to sort out any issues that were continuing. Nothing had appeared, and Eleazar was becoming irritable with the Volturi's request.
Edward and Tanya had excused themselves to hunt, whilst Kate and Irina had left to go clothes shopping nearby. I was refusing to do anything in Alaska but hunt, and lay on the sofa as close to humanly comatose as possible for a vampire, until we were able to return to Forks.
I was so deep into said comatose state that the vibration in my pocket caused me to jump a little, Carmen giggling at my reaction before leaning back into Eleazar's side. I ignored the vibration, knowing it would either be Emmett missing annoying me and wanting attention, or Alice calling to ask what outfit she should be wearing for her upcoming anniversary with Jasper this weekend.
"I'm going to hunt, think I need to clear my head somewhat."
I slipped my phone out of my pocket and threw it onto the chair, running out of the house and into the nearby snowy woodland.
The blanket of white was glorious. If I were human, the outfit I was currently wearing would have done little to prevent frostbite in a mere five seconds. My navy long sleeved shirt was thin, and blood stained from the last two hunts I had decided to take just a couple of hours prior. Hunting, as much as I wouldn't wish this life upon my worst enemy, was the one activity in this life that kept my mind busy – my mind would have less time to focus on my past, less time to focus on how I was doomed to a life that never truly changed. My surroundings changed, I however always remained the same.
It broke my heart. None of my siblings, minus Edward, nor any other vampire I had ever encountered, had ever understood my negative outlook on living forever. Each one believed having the opportunity to witness every single era, each single momentous occasion, was extraordinary. I had always put it down to the fact that I didn't have someone to enjoy those moments with. Alice had Jasper, Esme had Carlisle, and Emmett took no notice, paying more attention to his consoles than the earth-shattering events unfolding around him. Edward & I would go hunting to avoid the loved up looks being sent across rooms, Edward mostly hunting to avoid the thoughts of the household. I didn't blame him.
No matter how much I tried to focus my entire attention on hunting however, Isabella Swan still remained firmly at the front of my mind. I hadn't encountered her properly, yet there she was assaulting my thoughts with her chestnut hair and vampirish-pale skin. I had only witnessed the side of her face, I had only glimpsed in her direction, yet she was clearly visible in my thoughts. How was she my mate? How was I to spend the rest of my life with a human? They would die, I could not consider ending their life to benefit mine. This life wasn't something to willingly enter. She had no idea what this universe had now planned for her - she had no possible clue as to how her future may vastly change. Though, I would do everything in my power not to change a single thing about it.
Suddenly, my senses were hit with the overwhelming smell of a nearby giant bear. I couldn't prevent my body from turning in the direction of the throat-burning fragrance, my feet zipping through the snow until I instinctively burst through the remaining trees and wrapped my arms tightly around it's throat, my teeth sinking through the layers of fur and breaking its skin. I roared with pleasure from the hot liquid that I greedily gulped – seeing a vampire feed, you'd believe they'd never ate before in their entire existence. It was almost like a banquet; every single hunt was like the first hunt all over again.
This was what I looked forward to. The tremendous power I would feel coursing through every square inch of my body gradually was like a drug. I didn't dare allow myself to consider what drinking human blood would cause me to feel – most likely more invincible than we already were.
The bear became gradually more and more limp in my arms. I dropped the carcass to the ground, swiftly burying it beneath a mound of snow and turning to face the direction the house was in. I took a moment to close my eyes, focusing on the individual noises surrounding me, before taking off towards the Denali house. I didn't dare allow myself to spend a moment longer thinking about the human that seemed adamant in trying to assault my thoughts.
As I entered the giant house, I froze in the doorway as I noticed everyone facing me, my phone in Carmen's hand whose face I couldn't fully read.
"Rose…"
I looked at Edward with a questioning look, eyebrows raised, head slightly tilted to the right. I didn't like the tone of his voice. I was wary of that tone of voice – his tone was a tone that would heighten anyone's anxiety, even the surest of people.