Chapter 11 - Blood Rubies

A/N: Hi guys, I'm back! I'm sorry for the hiatus I got a bit of writer's block and was really demotivated because ffn was hiding reviews and story stats so it was like you all disappeared on me :'( Aand the story continues!

-x-x-x-

Edward stops speaking and after a minute I realize that that is the end of his story. There is something pained in the look in his eyes and I feel for him. I'm trying to take in his words - the clear emotional depth, the horror, the tragedy - and piece it into something that makes sense. Something that explains what the hell is going on here.

"As always, brother, you talk so much but say nothing."

A tinkle of musical laughter comes from the entryway and I notice then a small girl standing there. Her blonde hair is fashioned into ringlets from another time. She wears an intricate, almost Victorian dress with ruffles and lace. The blue of the fabric brings out the striking color in her eyes - cerulean like the Azure sea. I see something in them that reminds me not of the color, but the clarity in Edward's eyes, in Dr. Cullen's. Recognition. This must be the little sister.

"Rosalie," Edward says by way of greeting. "You were to stay in your room."

She steps forward and the movement is like that of a swan - smooth and graceful. Her voice comes out in a musical cascade - the singing of a string quartet.

"And when do I ever listen to you?" Amusement colors her every feature and exudes from her very pores. I can't help but feel the light and warmth emanating from her.

She dances over then and stops just shy of me. I have the strange urge to sink back into my chair from the closeness but stop myself - not wanting to be rude. Her round blue eyes stare into mine and they're as deep as the ocean. The world begins to fall away and all that's left is me and her and her intimidating eyes. She blinks.

"Admit it," she says. "I'm the most beautiful thing you've ever seen."

My eyelids flutter as I process this. Something tugs at me and I realize … I haven't been doing it. Rating people. I try to do it now. I should be an expert at this. My eyes rake over her every feature and take them in. The curve of her lashes, the softness of her curls, the smoothness of her skin. I collect the details and whirl them around in my mind - around and around and around. Searching for a number to attach. Searching for an answer - something to name her. But the world is no longer filled with numbers. I look at her and see only light. Only amusement. Only a knowledge slightly too deep for a young teenager. No digits, no numbers, no ratings. Just her.

She's smiling at me like she understands and I cannot fathom how.

My revelation is interrupted by a ringing in Edward's pocket. He pulls out a thin silver phone and holds it to his ear.

"Yes?" He glances at me. A small frown mars his forehead. "I … I can't."

Rosalie is looking at him now and she's rolling her eyes. The expression is somehow endearing on her.

"Go, Edward," she saw in a low lilt. "I'll keep Bella safe."

The crease between his eyebrows deepens and Edward is looking only at me, ignoring his sister completely. I'm not sure what expression I'm wearing but he must see something in it because his expression softens just a fraction.

"2 minutes," he says, and snaps the phone shut.

He turns to Rosalie then. "No leaving," he says to her, emphasizing his point with a threatening finger in her face.

"But!" she begins but he doesn't wait for her to speak.

"No leaving," he repeats. "No meddling."

"But, Edward -"

"And no wielding. Period." Wielding, I wonder. What does that mean?

Rosalie has given up on protesting at this point and just fixes him with an exasperated stare. He glances at me again, looking for all the world as if he wants to say something. But nothing escapes his lips and then he's gone.

Rosalie turns to me then, a look of pure mischief in her eyes.

"So," she says meaningfully, conspiratorially. "How powerful are you?" There's a glint of childlike excitement in her eyes as if she's just discovered a shiny new toy. I crouch further back into the couch then, politeness be damned. I can see the sharp edges of her canines in her smile and for some reason feel an inkling of fear. But that's ridiculous - she's only a little girl.

"Erm…" I mumble. "What?"

"I only saw you once through Edward of course, he's so protective of you, you know. Crazy." She rolls her eyes again and it's somehow the most elegant of gestures. "But you must be strong if an Alpha was coveting you. And to come through the veil yourself like that - it shouldn't have even been possible."

Alpha? Veil? I struggle to make sense of her words. My brows knit together and I blink at her, my head tilting to the side a fraction.

"I … don't have any idea what you're talking about."

She groans as if exasperated by my lack of knowledge. She reaches into the collar of her dress' neckline and pulls out a necklace on a gold chain. At its center is a glass pendant. Tendrils of gold criss cross over its surface. It looks well taken care of - polished and clean. Not a speck of dust or a fingerprint. What an odd piece of jewelry, I think.

"This," she places the pendant in her palm and holds it out to me, "is my blood ruby. Pretty, isn't it?"

"Very pretty," I agree. Though I think she might be going a bit mad. This isn't a ruby at all - but hollow glass.

"You should see it when it's full. It sparkles more than even the biggest diamonds then," she continues, her eyes full of wonder. "But I haven't been able to get out to hunt for ages, not with the Volturi prowling all over the city."

I haven't the faintest idea what she's talking about. Talking with Rosalie is almost as frustrating as speaking with her brother. But at least she's giving me details. I file away the terms in a safe part of my brain, trying to make sense of them. Alpha. Veil. Volturi. Alpha. Veil. Volturi.

"Of course, Edward tries to help. For my birthday he brought me a whole vial of Grade III blood. I made an entire bouquet from them - I smelled like Roses for an entire week! They're my favorite." Her wistful expression turns sad then. "I wish I could show you…"

I swear I see a lightbulb flash across her blue eyes. "You can help me! Just a drop - maybe I could make you a petal!"

"Uh…." I pause, not sure what I'm being asked to agree to. I'm getting whiplash just trying to keep up with all this confusing talk.

"It'll be totally painless, I've gotten quite good at that, you know. I use lancets." She puts her hands into the folds of her dress and pulls out a small orange rectangle to show me. "I stole them from an EMT," she grins proudly.

She grasps both of my hands in hers then and stares up at me, wide eyed. "Oh please, oh please, oh please, Bella. I haven't gotten to wield any magic in so long!"

There's that word again. Wield.

"Edward doesn't want you to do this." It isn't a question. I'm sure of it. The look of almost chagrin in Rosalie's eyes confirms my suspicions.

"No," she agrees in a whisper. "He doesn't."

I let a slow grin spread across my face. "Then we should do it fast," I whisper back.

Rosalie's features rearrange into the most striking grin, the smile reaching every corner of her face - pure joy. "You won't regret this!" She promises. And before I'm even aware of what's happening, she pulls one of my fingers into her lap, cradling it. She rubs it between her thumb and forefinger a few times, applying pressure, then taps the orange rectangle at the very tip. I don't feel a thing, but there on the very end of my left forefinger, a bead of blood forms. Bright red and shining.