The smell of breakfast woke me the next morning, and I stumbled out of the bedroom to find Edward making pancakes and bacon in the kitchen. He looked surprisingly unwrinkled while I was sure my cheek was creased from my pillow my hair resembled a haystack. Realizing how utterly horrible I must look, I quickly ducked into the bathroom for a quick shower, hoping Edward hadn't noticed.
He had breakfast on the table when I finally emerged. There was, of course, only one place setting on the table, and I greeted his breathtaking grin with a scowl.
"You cooked, but you won't eat."
He shook his head ruefully.
I devoured the short stack of pancakes while Edward once again cleaned up the kitchen. I would have protested, but there was a slight niggling at the back of my brain that was trying to form into a full fledged concept. If I could have, I'm sure I would have bored holes through the wall I was staring at while I nibbled a piece of bacon.
There was something about the Cullens, but I could not put my finger on it. They certainly looked human. They acted human. But were they human? I'd dubbed them guardian angels at one time. Could they really be angels? Had God sent them to cross my path and look after me Did He want to restore my faith in Him? As pragmatic and skeptical as I might have become, the faith was still there, ingrained in me from the day I was born. It was only more recently that I had buried it all and declared that God did not exist any longer in my world. My rational mind screamed at me that there most certainly was no God, and these could not be His angels. It was the stuff of myths and fairytales. What else could explain these otherworldly beings who seemed so much more than human? They had an uncanny way of knowing everything – both what had been and what would be.
Edward cleared his throat softly and I noticed that he had joined me at the table at some point.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking."
"I noticed." He chuckled. "I'm not sure what the bacon has done to you, but I wish I knew what you were thinking."
"Hmm. If you knew, you'd wish you didn't." I shook my head and dropped my gaze to my empty plate. "Can you imagine if we could hear other people's thoughts? How embarrassing would that be?" Idly, I traced a drip of syrup with my finger and brought it to my lips. Edward was staring at me. Or at my mouth. I immediately dropped my gaze once more, but there was no hiding the blush. Trying to save some shred of dignity, I pushed my chair back and took my plate to the kitchen. Or at least that was the plan. Of course my toe caught in the bump where the carpeted dining area met the linoleum of the kitchen and the ground rushed up to greet me. Only the impact never came. A strong arm gripped my waist and a white hand shot out to catch my plate before it hit the floor.
After he set the plate on the counter and I was steady on my feet, Edward let go of me, but didn't move away. He watched me intently. I don't know what he was looking for, but surely he saw the confusion in my expression. He looked like he was waiting for something, wary of my reaction. What I did know, was that he moved entirely too fast for a normal human.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine." I breathed. I studied him just as intently. Slowly, I reached out and took his hand in between my two. His skin was always so cold, and though I'd never made it a big deal, it was another piece of the puzzle. I rubbed the smooth skin of his hand with my fingers, exploring the texture and give of his flesh. There were no blemishes, no moles, no hangnails, no dry skin. His hand was perfectly formed and manicured. I ran a finger over the flat face of his fingernail and he suddenly pulled his hand away from mine and shoved it through his unruly bronze locks.
"What are you thinking?" He demanded.
"I'm trying to figure out what you are." I whispered, finally admitting my suspicions.
I heard his breath catch in his throat and he looked like he was ready to bolt out of the apartment.
Finally, he blew out a harsh breath and walked over to the couch to sit down. I followed, hoping this meant he was ready to talk.
"I wish you wouldn't."
"You could just tell me." I offered.
He shook his head. "What are your theories?" The corner of his mouth twitched, but otherwise his face was impassive.
I blushed, not wanting to confess what I'd been considering earlier.
"Tell me just one." He pressed.
I shook my head. "Too embarrassing."
"That is really frustrating, you know." He huffed, throwing himself back against the couch cushions.
"Oh really, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to know someone is withholding important information from you!"
He grimaced and met my eyes, pleading with me to just let it go. We stared at each for a while and it was obvious he wouldn't give anything away. I decided I'd had enough, and I couldn't stop the next words out of my mouth, as much as I wanted to.
"Just go."
I couldn't look at him, because all would be lost. I needed to stay strong. I trusted him with my life, but if he refused to tell me what was really going on, then I couldn't do this, whatever this was, any longer. We could retain our friendship, but giving my heart to someone keeping such a huge secret from me was too much to ask. I was sick of secrets. Secrets had dictated my life for far too long, and I'd be damned if I was going to get involved with yet another person keeping something significant from me.
I could already feel the ache in my chest as he stood to leave.
"If that's what you want." He spoke softly. I could feel his eyes on me, imploring me to look up at him, but I refused.
I nodded weakly, unable to trust myself to speak. His sigh was audible and I knew he'd be pinching the bridge of his nose if I looked up. He moved through the apartment gathering a few things and then headed towards the door. I chanced a glance up at his retreating back and his whole body was slumped in defeat. I quickly dropped my eyes, afraid he would look back at any moment. The door clicked shut and I wanted to scream for him to come back, but I knew it was best this way. I had to protect myself, and until he was willing to be up front and honest with me, this was best.
Simple Gifts started playing and it took me a moment to realize it was my cell phone. Someone had already programmed my ring tone to the first song I ever played on Edward's piano. I didn't answer. After another four tries, whoever was calling finally gave up. I figured it was probably Alice. It didn't surprise me to hear a knock on the door ten minutes later either, but I didn't feel like dealing with her.
"Bella, I know you're in there." Her singsong voice called through the door. "Open up. We need to talk."
I stood on my side of the door and rested my hand on the knob. "Are you going to tell me what you are?"
"Bella..."
I cut her off. "If you're not going to tell me, then leave."
"Just answer one question, Bella. Does it matter?"
"Does what matter?"
"Does it matter what we are? Would it change anything? Would you still love him?"
Did it matter? I guess not. I couldn't think of anything that would make me love him less. Edward was good and kind, caring and gentle. He was intelligent and talented and his very presence soothed me. If he were something other than human, none of that would change, but what would it mean for us? Even if there was something keeping us apart, I would always love him.
"No, I guess it doesn't matter, Alice." I admitted through the door. "But I can't live with any more secrets."
"I know." Her voice lowered and she sounded defeated. "We won't bother you again unless you call us. Well, except for Carlisle. You do have an agreement with him."
I slid down to the floor. Why couldn't anything ever be easy for me? Why was my life so complicated? Why didn't I get two parents who loved me, one and half siblings, a dog, and a white picket fence? It seemed like I'd been on one neverending roller coaster ride since I first set foot in Forks, and I really just wanted to get off. Just as things would start to look up, everything would come crashing down. I knew this one was on me though. It was my fault I couldn't deal with the secrets. I'd known for a while now that something was different about Edward and his family. Maybe I overreacted. Maybe I should have given him more time. It just hurt to know that he couldn't trust me. Of course I didn't give him any answers either. Maybe he thinks I don't trust him. Why couldn't I just tell him what I was thinking? Because I was afraid he would laugh in my face and never speak to me again. Maybe he felt the same way. Maybe he thought that if he told me his secret I'd laugh at him or run away screaming. That was a whole lot of maybes, and speculating wasn't going to get me anywhere. I guess we both have some insecurities to deal with before we can move on. I'd either have to man up and tell him mine, or be patient until he felt comfortable enough to tell me his.
This was certainly not how I imagined this morning going. After everything his family had done for me, I felt horribly guilty. Especially after Edward made breakfast for me too. Suddenly the apartment felt too small. I wanted to get out and go somewhere. I didn't know of any parks, but it wasn't raining, so the beach sounded like a good idea. I'd never been to the beach here and I wondered how it would compare to the one I went to with Sean. His calm, supportive presence would be very welcome right about now. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about this. Maybe I should call Alice and ask her...there go the maybes again.
I tossed some snacks, water, the book, and a couple towels into a bag before heading out to my truck. I realized when I cranked the ignition that I hadn't given Edward a ride home and assumed Alice had come to pick him up when she knocked on my door.
About halfway to the beach, the truck's engine started sputtering. It was just my luck that nothing would go my way today. I really did like my truck, but desperately needed something more reliable. Or else I needed to take a few courses in car maintenance and repair. I pulled over to the side of the road where it let out one final wheeze before the engine died. I tried to restart the truck a couple times, but nothing happened. After banging my head against the seat a few times, I realized my brand new cell phone was sitting on the counter in my kitchen and not in my bag. Of course, it was just my luck to forget something like that. So I had two choices. I could either sit here and wait for someone else to come along and hope they could help me, if they don't kidnap me first. Or I could start walking back to town. The idea of being a sitting duck was unappealing, so I decided to walk. It was a nice day by Forks standards, and I could easily walk the distance. I decided to enjoy my little expedition and took in the surrounding forests, humming while I walked. For a few minutes I tried to project my thoughts to Edward and Alice, wondering if I could somehow summon them to come help me. They always seemed to know just when I needed them, so I thought it might be worth a shot, even if I felt completely ridiculous even considering it.
Imagine my surprise, when ten minutes later, a shiny silver Volvo zoomed down the road and pulled over, stopping right in front of me. Edward practically ripped the door off the frame and was moving so quickly, that it only solidified the fact in my mind that he was definitely not human.
"Bella, I know you're upset with me right now, but I need you to get in the car. We have to get out of here." He was only a foot away and reached for my arm, starting to pull me towards the car.
"What's going on Edward?"
"We just have to get out of here, right now. Please!" His jaw was clenched, causing his words to come out harshly. Of course, my first instinct was to fight him, but the panic and tension that was radiating off of him, made me shut my mouth and follow him. I could ask questions later.
I was just about to climb in the car when he stiffened and whirled around, pulling me between the car and his back. Alice and Jasper materialized out of the forest and had placed themselves between the woods and Edward. All three crouched defensively, as if waiting for something dangerous to emerge from the trees.
Edward turned to me, taking me by the shoulders and making eye contact. "Do you trust me, Bella?"
"Edward, what is going on?" I whispered.
"There is something dangerous in the woods, and I need to get you out of here. Do you trust me?" He shook me once with impatience.
"Of course I do."
He picked me up effortlessly and cradled me to his chest. "Close your eyes and do not open them until I tell you to. Do you understand?" I nodded weakly.
My heart was pounding in my chest and I wanted to know exactly what was going on, but I figured from the tense atmosphere that it was better to be quiet and obey. They were obviously protecting me from something. His arms and chest formed a cold steel cage around me and my head was tucked under his chin. I had the sensation that we were moving, though I didn't feel jostled. I could hear vicious snarls and loud crashes in the distance and was terrified that Alice or Jasper would be hurt by whatever was in the woods. Breathing was difficult, and I felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs as my entire body was being pushed forcefully into his.
It was minutes later when the pressure started to let up that I heard Edward speak.
"Alice and Jasper had two at the roadside. The third one followed me. He's a tracker and he won't give up without a fight." He gently set me on my feet, but held me as I tried to regain my balance. "You can open your eyes now, Bella."
I opened my eyes, but could barely see straight, as everything around the edges was blacked out. I was gasping for breath and my brain was struggling to make sense of everything. Dr. Cullen and Esme had joined Edward and were having a heated discussion, though I couldn't make out anything they were saying. Dr. Cullen quickly looked me over before nodding at Edward who made some kind of buzzing noise in reply. I was utterly confused as to what was going on. Apparently there was danger, so I was just going to let them take care of whatever needed to be done. It would do no good to interfere. Edward quickly embraced me and I think he pressed his lips to my hair, but I couldn't be sure.
"Esme is going to take you back to the house." His house? Were we that close to it? "I promise we'll explain everything later."
Esme's arms quickly encircled my waist to help hold me steady. "Let's go dear." She said softly as she started leading me away from the group. We didn't get very far before she stopped abruptly and I once again found myself cradled in another pair of arms, and that same pressure and sense of motion resumed. This time it was Esme, and I wondered how such a tiny woman could carry me so effortlessly. Yes, I certainly would be demanding explanations later.
Suddenly, there was a moment of intense pain, where I thought my whole body was going to explode, and then I was on the ground. I tried to make sense of the scene in front of me, but all I could make out were two blurred shapes dancing and whirling around each other. This deadly choreography was punctuated with sharp growls and cracks. There was a flash of red hair and Esme's caramel tendrils fanned out behind the shapes as she tried to keep herself between me and the red-head. The ferocity of the two women was terrifying, and I yelped when Esme crashed into a tree. With a small shake, she simply launched herself at the other woman again, seemingly unharmed. However the tree trunk where she hit was almost shattered and it was swaying violently. A string of expletives came to mind, but I couldn't find the breath with which to speak them. My head was spinning and my stomach churning. All of this took no longer than a few minutes, before everything stopped. Esme and the red-haired woman were facing off, but Edward and Dr. Cullen had joined her. The red-head snarled at me, and I made out one sentence before I watched her disappear and everything went black.
"This isn't over."
~~**~~
There were cold hands touching me. Then I heard the buzzing of voices.
"Carlisle, it's been too long." Edward's strained voice was so clear to me.
"She'll come around when she's ready. Let her mind protect itself. Bella has had quite a day." Dr. Cullen's voice, he was always so calm and sure. "Maybe next time you'll take it a little slower."
His plaintive reply touched something deep inside me. "I can't lose her, Carlisle. Alice?"
"She'll open her eyes in forty-seven seconds. I don't doubt she can hear us now."
"Did she get away?" Esme asked quietly.
"Yes. She wasn't faster, just more evasive. She had us running in circles."
"But the other two...?"
"Taken care of."
"Do you think she'll be back?"
"Esme, dear, you should hunt and rest. We can talk about this later."
"Oh, I'm fine Carlisle. It's just a few bites. I'll heal."
Finally feeling like I was back in my own body, I managed to move my eyelids. I could feel them fluttering and everyone was quiet, waiting. When I could focus, I saw four pairs of concerned yellow eyes staring back at me warily, gaging my reaction.
"It's ok Bella, you're safe." Edward murmured as he cradled me in his arms. I managed a small smile when his cool fingers brushed a stray lock of hair away from my face. The relief on his face was quite evident.
Esme stood beside Dr. Cullen, his arms wrapped protectively around her, and Alice sat on the end of the bed. Everyone looked horribly disheveled. Their clothes torn and dirty, leaves and debris stuck in their hair. I'd never seen any of them look anything other than picture perfect. I didn't see Rosalie or Emmett, but Jasper hovered in the doorway.
"Is everyone ok?" I blurted out, as I tried to pushed myself up into a sitting position. My concern for these people who fought to protect me overwhelmed everything else. "Esme?" My eyes landed on her and I searched for any visible injuries. There were a couple crescent shaped marks on her arms and it looked like there was a larger wound on her shoulder.
She dropped down to her knees beside me, taking one of my hands into hers. "Oh Bella, I'm so sorry you had to see that. She came out of nowhere. We thought we could get you back to the house in time."
I shook my head. "Please, don't apologize for anything. Are you ok?"
She nodded. "It just stings a little, but I'll be fine."
"Is everyone else ok?" I looked up at Edward, hoping there was no bad news.
He rolled his eyes. "We're fine. How are you?"
"Confused?"
"That's completely understandable. Once everyone has had a chance to clean up, we'll explain everything." Dr. Cullen moved forward and checked my eyes quickly with a penlight, then deftly ran his fingers over my scalp and neck, gently tilting my head side to side. "Does anything hurt?"
I bit my bottom lip and shook my head. I did ache and had a slight headache, but it was nothing to complain about.
Edward snapped his head up and looked to Jasper for a long moment before turning back to me and narrowing his eyes. "Bella, the truth." He demanded.
I sighed. "I really can't wait for this big explanation because sometimes you are just plain creepy." There were a few light chuckles, but Edward remained completely serious. "I'm just a little sore, Edward, and I have a headache." He looked up at Dr. Cullen.
"The headache shouldn't be anything to be concerned about. If it gets worse or doesn't go away, or if you feel dizzy or have any vision problems, let me know immediately." I nodded. "As far as being sore, would you mind if I had a look?" He gestured towards my shirt. I blushed when I realized what he was asking and looked around at everyone in the room. Alice and Jasper quickly took their leave, and Edward started to go, but I grasped his arm, silently asking him to stay. I hesitantly pulled up the bottom of my shirt until it met the bottom of my bra and Edward hissed before I even had a chance to inspect the damage. When I looked down, I saw the bruises covering my ribs, and I could feel more on my back.
"I'm just going to feel your ribs, Bella, and make sure nothing is broken, ok?"
"Sure."
"This will be cold." He warned me, but I still jumped when I felt his icy fingers tenderly examining my ribs. "Nothing is broken. Just bruises. Do you hurt anywhere else?" He pulled my shirt back down for me.
"I'm pretty sure I have more bruises on my thighs and arms, but that's it."
He nodded. "I'll give you some painkillers and something to help you sleep, just in case you need it."
I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself. Edward had moved away from me after he saw the bruises. I knew they were from when he and Esme had carried me, and I wasn't upset at all about them.
"Edward, it's ok. They'll fade in a couple of days. I'm not upset."
"It's not ok. I hurt you, Bella. How can you say it's ok?" You could see the guilt swimming in his eyes.
"Because you saved me, Edward. I'm not an imbecile. I know you're not human, and whatever those creatures were out there tonight weren't either. I didn't have a chance against them. If your family hadn't been there, I'm pretty sure I'd be dead. Am I right?" I looked to Dr. Cullen for confirmation and he nodded slightly. "If I escaped death, only to have a few bruises, then I'm happy to suffer through a few days until they fade." Edward finally looked me in the eye and his expression softened.
"I don't ever want to hurt you again." He whispered and I just nodded along because I didn't know what he was and if that was something he could promise. Accidents happen, especially to me.
Alice arrived back in the room with a sandwich and a soda. "Here you go Bella. Eat this while the rest of us get cleaned up. Once we're done, we'll talk." She gave me a small smile, but her eyes were twinkling with excitement. She was always so full of secrets, but it seemed like this was one mystery she was eager to get out in the open.
Edward took some clothes to his bathroom, and the rest of the family filed out of his room, leaving me alone to eat. While my stomach still felt uneasy, I found myself devouring the sandwich. I must have been hungrier than I thought. The soda didn't last long either.
What a crazy day today had turned out to be. My head was still spinning with from all the danger, excitement, trepidation and anticipation. I knew none of the Cullens would ever hurt me, so whatever they were would not change how I felt about them. However, I couldn't help but feel anxious over the big reveal. I still couldn't wrap my brain around the idea that tiny Esme had been thrown into a tree and walked away unfazed. It seemed the only injuries she did endure were bites from the red-headed creature that had been intent on getting to me. Like a fierce mother bear, Esme defended me with her life. I was not sure if she would ever know how much that meant to me.
~~**~~
"Bella, you should tell them your theory first." Alice began the conversation once we were all assembled around the dining room table. She and Edward exchanged a look. He shook his head slightly and bowed his head remembering our discussion that morning.
I blushed a fierce red and shook my head. "Too embarrassing."
"It would mean a lot to everyone to hear how you perceive them before we tell you the truth." She whispered from her seat to my left.
How does she do that? I narrowed my eyes at her. "Fine." I huffed. The sooner we got this over with, the sooner I'd find out what I wanted to know. I ducked my head, making sure my hair covered my face. "I kind of thought...you guys sort of reminded me of...oh heck...guardian angels." I mumbled it out, hoping they might not have heard me. I expected laughter, but all I heard was silence.
After a few moments, I was brave enough to look up. Edward stared at Dr. Cullen in disbelief. Esme looked like she wanted to cry. Emmett had an amused smile on his face, while Rosalie stared at me wide-eyed. Alice was grinning and Jasper was frowning while he stared at his hands in his lap. Was I right? Why weren't they laughing at my ridiculous assumption?
"Um...so are you? Guardian angels then?" I broke the silence.
Edward answered me, chuckling nervously. "No we're not. More like the bad guys."
I shook my head vehemently. "You mean like demons? There's no way."
Only Dr. Cullen kept his head up, everyone else in the room looked down sheepishly.
"You're demons?" I hedged.
"Most people think so." Edward mumbled, not looking up.
I reached out and laid my hand on his leg under the table. "It doesn't matter."
His head snapped up and he looked at me incredulously. "What do you mean it doesn't matter?"
"It doesn't matter what you are. It won't change how I feel about you." I tried to reassure him, but he shook his head. He was so sure that the truth would send me running. After what I witnessed in the woods, I don't think there was anything he could tell me that would scare me off.
I looked back to Dr. Cullen expectantly. "So...?
He steepled his fingers under his chin and fixed his amber eyes on me. His calm, steady voice filled the room as he began to tell me his story.
"Our story starts with me. I was born in London, in the sixteen-forties." My gasp was audible and he nodded. "My mother died giving birth to me, and my father was an Anglican pastor. He believed strongly in persecuting evil. He led hunts for witches, werewolves, and vampires." His eyebrows arched meaningfully. Mythical creatures? None of the three he named fit what I had seen. The pieces of the puzzle were dancing around in my mind, but I couldn't fit them all together yet.
"I was his only son, and as he grew older, he expected me to take his place and lead the raids. They killed a lot of innocent people in those days, while the real creatures they sought were much more difficult to catch. He was quite disappointed in me, when I refused to see demons where there were none. However, I did discover a real coven of vampires."
"Wha.." I sputtered. They were the creatures of nightmares. Truly, he didn't expect me to believe they were real?
He held to fingers to his lips. "Let me finish, dear girl. These vampires stayed hidden in the sewers, only coming out at night to hunt. I organized a mob and we gathered with pitchforks and torches. We waited where I had seen them exit into the streets." He chuckled darkly. "Eventually one emerged. When he caught the scent of the mob, he ran off through the streets and we pursued him. He suddenly stopped and turned, attacking me. The rest of the mob were close behind and the monster turned from me to defend himself. He killed two others and took off with a third one, but left me bleeding in the streets."
I kept very still and very quiet, unsure as to how I should react. Unsure as to what this might mean.
"I knew my father would destroy me – anything infected by these monsters would be burned. So, in order to preserve my own life, I crawled away and stayed buried in a bin of rotting potatoes for three days. Somehow, I managed to stay quiet through the most agonizing pain I've ever felt. When it was over, I knew what I had become."
He stopped there, gaging my reaction. I remained stoic, though I was sure my heartbeat would give me away as it hammered against my ribs. Then, inexplicably, I began to feel more at ease, a calm warmth spreading through me, though my mind was still racing.
"Impossible." I murmured.
"Why do you say that?" Edward stared at me, his face a calm mask.
I shook my head. How could they be vampires? It just didn't add up. "How can you be out during the day?" I blurted out one of the many questions churning through my head.
"Myth." Emmett replied, and his booming laugh made me jump. I don't recall ever hearing him speak before.
"Sunlight doesn't bother you?"
"Well, we're different in the sunlight, which is why we stay indoors on sunny days. But it doesn't hurt us. We don't burst into flames or anything." Edward explained, like it was perfectly reasonable.
"Stakes, garlic, holy water?"
Dr. Cullen shook his head, smirking. "Myths."
"No fangs?"
Edward flashed a toothy smile at me. "Nope."
"Then how can you be vampires?" I almost whined. The two images not lining up in my mind at all.
"Many myths were either made up or perpetrated by our kind in order to keep our true nature secret. The humans believed we were not vampires if we proved we could go out during the day, or endure holy water and garlic." Edward shrugged.
I just stared at him.
"Aren't you concerned with our diet?" Rosalie asked snidely.
"Blood?" I whispered.
She smirked and nodded. Rosalie was intimidating to begin with, but when she wanted to, she could be quite menacing as well. I swallowed loudly and found myself unable to look away from her. She broke away first, her eyes flashing in anger at Dr. Cullen when he cleared his throat.
"There's no reason to try to scare her Rosalie." He chided.
The amazon blond stood, clearly upset. "She should be scared Carlisle. It's not right for her to be here. She shouldn't know." With that, she huffed out of the room and Emmett wasn't far behind her, though he shot me an apologetic smile first.
"Please forgive Rosalie, Bella. She is very protective of her family." Dr. Cullen tried to explain her behavior. I nodded absently. "It is true though, we need blood to survive."
Edward dropped his head, as if he was ashamed. Instinctively, I reached for his hand under the table to comfort him. "I don't want to be a monster, Bella."
"You're not." I assured him, but he shook his head disbelievingly.
Dr. Cullen cleared his throat and I looked back up at the man who was actually a three hundred and sixty year old vampire. It was impossible to reconcile. "None of us want to be monsters. When I knew what I had become, I tried to destroy myself. It is not easily done. I was so repulsed that I refused to feed. I thought I would surely die from starvation. I grew hungry and weak, but it did not destroy me. I stayed far away from any human settlements, avoiding the temptation as my willpower weakened. Once night, a herd of deer passed by and I was so wild with thirst that before I knew what I was doing, I had decimated the herd. But as I grew strong again from the blood of the deer, I realized that there was another way. Just as I had eaten venison in my human life, I could survive off the blood of animals as a vampire."
I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding and gasped for another. My body trembled with relief. The remaining vampires at the table smiled wryly.
"That doesn't mean the temptation isn't still there." Edward warned me quietly. "We are mostly able to control our more primal instincts, but you are never truly safe in our presence."
"I don't believe that." I whispered back. "I've only ever felt truly safe when I'm with you."
"Well, now you know. You're not." He clipped.
"I'm not afraid of you." I shot back, defiantly.
Anger rippled across Edward's perfect features. "Are you just going to completely ignore what happened this afternoon?" He growled at me.
"So they were vampires too?"
"Yes."
"They wanted to drink my blood?"
"Yes" He ground out.
"And your family stopped them. You protected me."
Edward nodded.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did your family protect me?"
"We are not like the others of our kind. We respect and revere human life. We care for you, Bella."
"Ah, and there it is. How am I not safe with you then?"
Edward stood up suddenly, huffing in exasperation and left the room.
I looked to Dr. Cullen expectantly.
"I believe Edward's point is that it is possible for any one of us to lose control unexpectedly. Like if you were to cut your finger in our presence, it may awaken the blood lust and one of us might..." He trailed off, waving his hand.
"Make me a meal?" I quipped tersely. He nodded.
"But you work in a hospital." I countered.
"I've had over three hundred years to practice my control. I'm practically immune to the scent of human blood now." Dr. Cullen shrugged.
"I've never tasted human blood." Alice chirped. "Neither has Esme or Rosalie, or Carlisle of course."
"Oh. Then Edward has?"
She nodded gravely. "That's his story to tell."
"I'm still not afraid of him." I murmured.
"I know. He won't hurt you. I don't think he could." She replied confidently.
"How do you always seem to know everything?" I asked. I'd always been curious about that.
"Oh, I can see the future." She grinned widely at me and shrugged.
"What?" I exclaimed. "You say that like it's no big deal!"
"Well it's something you just get used to after eighty years." I choked and she laid a cold hand on my back. "I was born in nineteen-oh-one and was turned in the nineteen-twenties."
"Wow." That was all I could manage. How old were the rest of them? 's centuries just seemed unfathomable. Alice being born over a hundred years ago was almost impossible to comprehend, nevermind the concept that she could see the future. How did that work? Did she see me coming back? Is that why she let me leave? She must have seen me leaving too...then as if she knew what I was thinking, she spoke again.
"I don't always see everything." She explained further. "My visions are subjective – based on the decisions others make. They can always change if someone changes their mind."
"Can all of you see the future?"
"No, just Alice. Some vampires have special abilities." Dr. Cullen answered.
"Do the rest of you have any special abilities?"
He nodded. "Edward can read minds. Jasper can sense and manipulate the emotional environment."
My mind went blank and my face flushed immediately upon hearing that Edward could read minds.
His familiar voice spoke from behind me. "Yours is the only mind I can't hear, Bella."
Relief. "Is there something wrong with me?" I asked quietly.
Edward let out a harsh laugh. "I hear voices in my mind, and you're worried you're the freak?"
I shrugged. "There must be something wrong with me I'm the only on you can't hear."
"There's nothing wrong with you, Bella." He murmured, resting a hand on my shoulder.
Dr. Cullen pushed himself away from the table. "I believe that is enough for today, Bella. It's been a long day for you, and you should get some rest. There will plenty of time later for any other questions you may have."
"Thank you all...for protecting me, and for trusting me with the truth. It means more than you'll ever know." I told them sincerely.
"You're a part of the family now, Bella. We'll always be there for you." Esme assured me.
After exchanging a few more words and a couple of hugs, Edward and I were left alone in the living room.
"Did you want to stay here tonight or would you prefer your apartment?" He asked.
"If I go home, will you stay with me?"
He regarded me with one of his most serious expressions. "Until we are sure Victoria is no longer a threat, one of us will always be with you."
I felt the blood drain from my face at the realization that one of them was still out there and still wanted me, or my blood. A nod was all I could manage as I shakily headed for the door with Edward. There were probably thousands of questions running through my mind, but right now I wanted a comfortable bed to lie down in, and the soothing presence of my vampire to keep me safe. How anyone could see this amazing creature as a monster was beyond me. Regardless of what I learned tonight, Edward would always be my angel.