Ch. 3
The black Bugatti was sitting in front of his home as Carlisle drove up to the house. He thought, Edward, send the others out. No trouble, but they will want to see this, and smiled as his family began appearing in the drive. Finder got out of the car at the appearance of the others, but stood, leaning against the door and smiling as they approached the car with something like reverence.
"Oh, my God….." whispered Rosalie.
"Whooaaa!" shouted Emmett. "123 miles per hour in 6 seconds. Six!"
Edward smiled, and shook his head at the thoughts going through his brother's mind. Auto-lust was the very least of the family's reaction to the sleek black sports car.
"I didn't know these were available in America, or anywhere, actually," said Jasper to Edward.
"Money has its uses," said Finder/Sinclair drolly.
"Wow, what a car!" squealed Alice.
"Yes, it is rather nice, if I do say so myself," Finder/Sinclair grinned. "Want to try it out?"
"Whoo-eee, yes! Look at that sweet baby!" shouted Jake as he and another boy trotted from behind the house.
"Children, children," chided Esme, coming down the porch with Bella and Reneesme beside her. "Where are your manners? Carlisle has brought home a guest, and while she may be gracious enough to allow you to drive her car, you ought to at least introduce yourselves."
Carlisle stepped up beside Finder and said, "Allow me to introduce my car-addicted family", and everyone laughed. "This is Emmet and his wife, Rosalie; Alice and her husband, Jasper; Edward and his wife Bella, their daughter Reneesme; and Jacob and Seth. And this is my wife, Esme."
Finder clasped her hands lightly in front and bowed slightly over them. "It is an honor to meet each of you. I am called Finder."
"Welcome, Finder, to our home. Won't you come inside?" asked Esme.
"Yes, thank you. Unlike all of you, I am not immune to the cold and damp this time of year," Finder laughed, tugging the collar of her coat closer with her gloved hands. Startled at this veiled reference to what they were, all eyes turned to Carlisle, who simply shook his head slightly and shrugged. He glanced at Edward, whose minute lift of his eyebrow told Carlisle that his mind-reading son couldn't read Finder's mind. Carlisle gave a tiny nod of understanding as the family crowded around the unique car. Looking at each other, curiosity and car envy warring on their faces, they followed Carlisle's lead and ignored the comment.
Esme led Finder up the steps as Carlisle followed, but at the door, Finder turned and made a perfect throw of the ignition control to Rosalie. "Enjoy your drive." Rosalie made a perfect catch and the others stood dumfounded at her luck.
"Well, don't just stand there – who's going first?" shouted Jake.
Carlisle and Esme closed the door on the friendly clamor. "You've made a conquest of my entire family," he commented.
"I like fine automobiles." Finder shrugged. "It is nice to meet other auto-philes." Finder found that she liked Cullens on first acquaintance – no surprise, as she respected Carlisle a great deal and could not imagine him having less than exceptional people as family. Which was, as she very well knew, exceedingly important to her mission here.
Carlisle gestured for Finder to precede him through the door and she stepped into their home. She shrugged out of her coat, and Esme took it to hang it up, chattering. "I am certain that you did not intend for our children to just drive off in your car…"
"Oh, but I did," Finder grinned. "I don't think there could have been anything more certain to get me a hearing, and the serious consideration this situation requires, than a little bribery by auto."
Esme looked a little nonplussed at this, but Carlisle smiled. "Certainly, our family loves fine automobiles, and that Bugatti is really special. Won't you come in, and sit by the fire?"
"Thank you. I appreciate your efforts to make me comfortable."
"Oh, would you like some hot tea or perhaps something else?" asked Esme.
"Tea would be lovely. Thank you so much. I know you don't drink tea yourselves, but…." Another reference to their real natures, but since Carlisle ignored it, so did Esme.
"Jacob and Reneesme and some of the others do", commented Carlisle.
"And Esme and I have found we truly enjoy cooking and preparing human foods in our kitchen."
Finder tilted her head. "You are a surprise, Dr. Carlisle, truly you are."
Esme returned with a tea setting on a silver tray and placed it near Finder.
"Would you like me to pour or are you comfortable doing that?"
"This is your home, Madame Esme, and your graciousness is charming. Please, do pour. I like lemon only in my tea."
Clearly complimented, Esme sat and poured the tea into a delicately beautiful china cup, tipped in a paper-thin slice of lemon, and handed the cup and saucer to Finder. Finder sat back on the sofa, looking out the window and the magnificent view, and sipped the tea silently. Carlisle and Esme exchanged a look, an almost imperceptible nod, and sat waiting.
"Thank you, Madame Esme. The tea is excellent and most restorative."
"You are welcome, Finder. Would you like to go up to your room now, or wait for the others?"
"Since my baggage is in the boot of my car, I feel it prudent to wait," Finder paused. "However long that may be."
Carlisle and Esme both chuckled. "I admit to a bit of auto-envy myself," he said. "Not to worry, Dr. Carlisle, I wouldn't let your family drive my car only to deny you. Would hardly be fair."
Esme's tinkling laugh rang out as she chided, "Carlisle, my love, your jealousy over that car is written all over your face!"
Carlisle ran his hand over his face and grinned. "I guess it is. I didn't know it was even available for purchase yet."
"Well, it isn't. Yet." Finder sat, smiling complacently.
Again, Carlisle and Esme's eyes met, wondering about their strange guest.
Finder gazed out across the mountains and sighed. "Is the hunting good here, Dr. Carlisle?"
Esme gasped slightly, but Carlisle said blandly, "Yes, very good. My family and I monitor the wildlife population here, and are careful to target groups with excess animals. We work very hard to avoid any negative environmental impact." Esme's eyes darted back and forth between her husband and their guest, full of questions.
"I should think you would have to, to keep your lower profile. A significant drop in animal populations might trigger investigations."
"It has happened to others in other areas. It is easier on the West coast, or in the mountains." Carlisle commented calmly, despite his awareness of what the innocuous question and comment actually indicated about this woman's knowledge of his family.
"I am curious, though. Might I ask a question?"
"Certainly," Carlisle answered.
"Why do you not keep domesticated animals to serve your needs, at least part of the time?"
Carlisle actually chuckled. This was not a question he had anticipated, but he did have an answer. "We have tried that, and, in some cases, it will do for ….emergency measures. The fact is that we have instincts that pressure us to hunt for our food, and hunting animals makes it easier to avoid hunting humans. Domesticated animals, such as cattle and sheep, don't usually require hunting."
"I take it you haven't hunted many feral cattle or pigs, then."
"Actually, both Jasper and Emmet have, in the South, but I have not yet had the privilege."
"Feral and wild pigs are the most dangerous creatures I have ever hunted, barring tigers that have taken to hunting humans. And of course, humans."
"You have hunted, then?" asked Esme.
"Not as you do, Madame Esme, but yes, I have hunted all sorts of creatures. Pig sticking in India was one of the most dangerous sports I have ever engaged in."
"Pig sticking?" asked Esme.
"Hunting 200-pound wild pigs from the back of a horse with a spear," explained Carlisle.
"Oh…my," breathed Esme, wide-eyed. "You must have such an interesting life."
Finder laughed aloud, a full, throaty laugh. "Yes, Madame Esme, you could say that, yes indeed, you could."
"Might I ask a question in turn, Finder?" asked Carlisle.
"Certainly. Curiosity should never be one-sided, don't you think?"
"Why is it that I cannot sense you, except visually and auditorially? I can hear your voice, and some of your movements, but not your breathing, your heartbeat, your blood moving in your veins….you have an astonishingly low heat signature and absolutely no scent whatsoever. How is this?" Carlisle was genuinely interested. However this was done, if he could duplicate the process, perhaps he could help others of his kind, even his own family members, have stronger control over their predator's instincts.
"Dr. Carlisle, one should not deal with vampires and shape-shifters without some precaution," laughed Finder. "It is much easier to have a civilized conversation if one's hearers aren't thinking about drinking one's blood."
Esme's shocked laughter was a little shaky, but Carlisle threw his head back and simply laughed. "True, too true, Finder."
"Actually, this…effect is a form of psychic gift, rather like Miss Bella's shield. I have the ability to mask my presence from anyone or anything. I can conceal myself from most electronic devices, and virtually every living thing I have encountered, should I need to do so. Of course, that precludes conversation, meaningful contact, that sort of thing."
"Does that mean it cannot be replicated or taught?" asked Carlisle, with only a hint of disappointment in his tone.
"Not necessarily. It cannot be replicated, but to a degree, it can be taught. It takes time, but it can be done. Human hunters and fisherman do something like this all the time."
"Any specialized techniques for teaching this skill?"
"At this level, yes. Visualization, teaching aids, and a lot of practice, you know, one with the stone sort of thing. I once spent a great deal of time in a monastery in Tibet."
"Ah," responded Carlisle thoughtfully. "So humans who learned this could be safer around us than they are dependent solely upon our control."
"Most definitely."
Esme said, "I can see this being of great use to us, Carlisle."
"So can I, my love." Carlisle's superior hearing allowed him to add, "I believe the children are returning with your car, Finder."
"Do you think they will actually give it back, Carlisle?" grinned Esme.
"That isn't my concern, dear. My concern is how much it is going to cost us to get cars like that for everyone." Carlisle and Esme laughed together, and Finder watched them while finishing her tea.
Shortly after, the front door opened and the Cullen family trooped into the house, congregating in the living room, draping across couches and chairs. "Man," shouted Emmet, "that is one sswweett ride!!!"
"I just can't believe the handling," gushed Rosalie. "I want one of those, I really do!" Carlisle and Esme smiled at each other, a very private smile. "Rosalie, I am sure we can manage to get something like that, very soon. Just be patient."
"Well, one car like that won't be enough, and a fleet of them would…." Jasper stopped mid-sentence, darting a quick glance at their guest.
"Would totally blow keeping a lower profile?" finished Finder, smiling.
The entire family, excepting Carlisle and Esme, stared at this strange, well-dressed woman who exuded confidence, sitting in the middle of a room full of vampires. "Yes, I know who – and what - you are. Not to worry: the prohibitions about humans who know about you do not apply to me. Aro and I have had dealings in the past."
If the quiet at her first words had been noticeable, the silence here was overwhelming. "And please, young Edward and Jasper, do not bother using your gifts on me – I am not vulnerable to those particular skills of yours."
The Cullens looked at each other in shock, and then, all eyes turned to Carlisle. Smiling, he said, "I don't know about her dealings with Aro, but Finder does know who and what we are. She and I have had some dealings in the past, shortly after you came into our lives, Bella, and she started me on a very interesting research program. That is, however, all I know about her. Based on the information she gave me, I am prepared to both listen to her and to give her story, whatever it may be, serious consideration." He squeezed Esme's shoulder and they settled back onto the sofa, faint smiles on their faces.
"Please, everyone, get comfortable. I have to tell you enough of this story, this history, for you to understand that the problem I have brought to Dr. Carlisle, and to you, is very, very real." Finder gazed around the room, sipping her tea. Bella and Edward sat on the sofa nearest Esme, with Reneesme on the floor, her head against Edward's knees. Jacob sat next to Reneesme, with Seth at the end of the sofa, leaning against the wall. Jasper and Alice were curled together in a large chair near the window and Emmett and Rosalie sat on the loveseat, nearest Carlisle. Finder leaned back in the chair closest to the fire and tilted her head against the chair back. She sighed deeply. "For you to believe me, I must establish my bonafides, and it shan't be easy. You have no reason to trust me. Those of you with psychic gifts find me a blind spot, using your vampire senses tells you nothing, and you know absolutely nothing of me. I walk into your lives with a nice car and a story, and only the fact that Dr. Carlisle and I have been in contact before allows me a hearing. Yet it is absolutely vital that you and I ally together to defeat the most serious crisis your world has ever faced. The Cullens studied this woman making these preposterous statements, and only Carlisle's acceptance of her and his calm attitude allowed them to refrain from outright disbelief.
"This is a very complicated story. I will tell you what I can, and answer what questions I can at the end. However, there are many things I either cannot tell you, or simply do not know at this time." She raised her head and looked each of them in the eyes, slowly. "And much of this story you will find incredible, outrageous. Those are likely the aspects both most factual, and most true." Judging her words carefully, she added, "It will seem like something out of a novel, a poorly written, science fiction or fantasy novel, but what I am going to tell you is true. To convince you of what I have to say, I must start at the beginning, my beginning, which is a thing I have not done in many, many years."