Enjoy!
Chapter 6:
3rd person POV
Returning to the Cullen house felt stressful. They all rushed her inside and made her sit on the couch.
"Let me just go check in the bathroom," Athena said with a roll of her eyes.
"I'll go with you," Rosalie said and her voice made no room for argument.
Silently they made their way and once inside Athena threw off her top.
"You're certainly not shy," Rosalie muttered with a smirk.
"No I'm-" Whatever she was going to say was cut off when she saw the huge bruising on her chest.
"Athena!" Rose gasped.
"H-how?" Athena stared wide-eyed.
A large purple bruise had spread out over her hearts and up her breasts and a bit down to her stomach.
"I don't understand. Your skin is as strong as ours. A hit from those books should not have been able to do this," Rose whispered as Athena got rid of her bra.
"Well, I guess it means I have my weaknesses as well. I can't be as awesome as you guys." A sigh. She pulled over her top again. "I do have beating hearts so maybe the way to kill me is through my chest and my hearts." Athena shrugged.
"Athena! Don't say that! No one, and I mean it, is ever going to kill you!" Rose hissed, but her eyes were worried.
Athena's eyes widened. To be honest she really felt touched over how Rose was feeling, and it wasn't exactly expected. Though she did not seem to hate her. She touched over her hearts again and sighed. The pain was still there, but not as bad as it had been.
"I am grateful for your concern Rosalie-"
"Rose."
"…Rose. There is nothing we can do. Neither is it any explanation for why I am like this. I was bound to have a weakness. Can't say I'm happy about this but neither do I think it is the worlds end."
Rosalie took a step forward and grasped Athena's shoulders. She met Athena's eyes and for a long moment they stood there in silence. "You are a strong woman. It does not mean you should be afraid to seek help or receive it. We are here to support you," she said with a firm voice.
Athena's eyes filled a bit and she hurriedly wiped her eyes. "Maybe we should tell Carlisle then," she said with a bit of humor, her voice shaking.
"That would be wise," Rose said with a smile and left.
Athena wiped her eyes and took a long look in the mirror again. Nothing was different. Just her hearts.
Faintly she could hear the others whisper through the house. They had with no doubt heard her and Rosalie talk. She took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door. Carefully she peeked out. No, no one there. Silently she made her way to her room and closed the door behind herself.
What in the world was going on with her? She would not break down and fall apart. No, she was too strong for that. She could not suddenly fall into darkness now.
What is wrong with me? She wondered and sat on the edge of her bed, facing the windowed wall.
The feelings storming through her made her different somehow. She was a bit scared of herself, especially when it came to Bella. Earlier she really had wanted to rip her apart. But as fast as she was out of her presence the feeling died down. Even though she still felt the threat running through her veins. Truly, what was wrong with her indeed. Sure, she did not especially like Bella from Twilight, but she never wanted to kill her. And to be frank, she never thought she would have the urge to kill anyone. She shook her head. The pull within her hearts started to get stronger and wanted her to move. Move forward. She stood and started walking towards the door. She opened it and her feet moved by themselves. Down the stairs and to the living room. Most of the Cullen family were gathered there, except Carlisle. She stopped as the pull fainted and she looked around the room. At once their whispers quieted down.
"Are you ok, dear?" Esme asked as she got up from the couch.
"Feeling a bit better, yeah," Athena said quietly. Her eyes moving from vampire to vampire and so on.
"Do not look so sceptic," Rosalie scolded.
"Sorry," Athena mumbled and a faint blush covered her cheeks as she smiled.
"Don't worry about it, Athena. We understand that it can be difficult," Jasper said as he stood with Alice.
"Athena, may I buy some clothes for you?" Alice asked excitedly.
Athena raised a brow. Never expected her to ask. "Well, as long as it is nothing pink, if it is going to be pink it needs to be in a dark shade close to red," she said as Alice started to jump up and down in excitement. "And nothing yellow! That color just hates me," she added with a laugh.
"Deal!" Alice said happily and rushed out the doors.
"Do you want some tea?" Esme asked, as she was ready to leave as well.
"Why not," Athena replied with a smile as she went over and sat on the couch beside Edward. The pull got stronger again and she almost leaned in towards him. However, she managed to notice before she did and stopped herself. "Did any of you call Carlisle?" she asked. Knowing that indeed they had.
"Yes, Jasper made the call earlier. However, Carlisle could not speak with us yet. We will talk with him when he returns," Edward said, eyes fixated on the TV.
"Oh, ok…"
Jasper stood for a long time watching Athena. She was quiet and tense. So was Edward. And it was his emotions he could feel. It nearly started to give him a headache. Edward faintly looked his way and met his eyes. He raised a brow, no doubt hearing his thoughts.
"Athena. I want to thank you for what you told Edward earlier today. It surely gave my siblings something to think about," Jasper said with a nod her way. Her head had shot up and their eyes locked. For a moment he could feel her emotions as it happened.
"No problem Jasper. I'm just sorry I forgot to tell you earlier. I mean, it does make sense," she replied.
"Yes, it does. And we were all quite stupid to not realize it earlier," Jasper said with a small smile.
"Eh, maybe." Athena giggled.
"It is quite easier when you know, which brings us back to those books you spoke of," Edward said, gaining Athena's attention again. Her eyes narrowed.
"I would prefer it if everyone were here. It would make things easier," she said and looked over to Rose and Emmett. They were both watching her, but neither of them revealed any emotions.
"Maybe it is for the best. You need rest and any of us can tell Carlisle." Esme's voice was firm as it carried through the room. She placed a cup of tea on the table in front of Athena and she silently thanked her as Alice came back and sat down on the opposite side of Athena with legs crossed.
I guess there is no arguing with mama vampire, Athena thought and nearly snorted.
"Soooo…The Twilight Saga. There is four books. The last one got three parts. But let's start with Twilight, the first book…" Is it any easy way to say this? Nope, I don't think so. She drew a deep breath. "Ok. So it is about Bella Swan. She moves to Forks and she meets Edward. Eventually they fall in love. Her blood sings to him. He can't read her mind. He literally stalks her at night. Nomad vampires come across the Cullen family and Bella when playing baseball. The hunter James wants Bella. You all try to throw them off her trail. She, Alice and Jasper go back to Phoenix. However, James knows and calls her. She manages to get away and confronts him alone. He bites her before any of you reach her; however, Edward sucks the venom out again. And they are still together by the end of the book." She stopped and looked at all the frozen vampires around her. It was quite short, but she felt she had said the most important parts. At least for now.
Edward was the first to recover. "Me and Bella Swan?" he asked skeptically.
Athena nodded.
Rosalie snorted. "Like that would have worked out."
Athena leaned back and rested her head on the couch and waited.
"There is more, that much is obvious," Esme said silently. Trying to think of how it would have been without Athena in their lives.
"New Moon," Athena started. "Bella is turning eighteen and she does not want to become older. To be honest, she's kind of obsessed with turning into a vampire. Of course that can be seen from different point of views. Anyway, Alice planned a birthday party, which goes wrong. She gets a paper cut and Jasper charges for her. But all of the vampires in the room could smell the blood. And well, Jasper was very much affected by that. She ends up with stitches and Edward decides to leave shortly after. He takes her into the woods and practically say he does not want her anymore. That she was a distraction… So she runs after him hoping to catch up I guess. But no luck there. She is later found by wolf boy Sam. She goes through months with depression. A real zombie. She hangs out with Jacob Black and she is ok. But then he changes to a wolf and keeps his distance. She takes her own walking trip, run into one of the nomads that wasn't killed and the wolves save her. She figures out that James' mate Victoria is after her and for revenge. Mate for mate. Then she figures out that Jacob and several others are wolves. Some after that again she goes cliff diving, because every time she does something dangerous she seems to hear Edward's voice and kinda sees him as well, which makes her do it even more. However, Alice does not see her get out of the water and think she's dead. She comes to the Swan residence. Bella is not dead. Rose told Edward, who in turn goes to Volterra to get himself killed. They manage just in time to save him. But leave Volterra with the promise that Bella will be changed. Eventually. Edward still do not want to 'condemn' Bella to the life of a vampire, but seriously it's her choice. So she decides for a vote. So she will be turned. At a later time of course. After graduation sometime. But for Edward to change her, he bargains in the way that they have to marry first, but it's not so much about that in this book." Athena took a deep breath.
"Are you out of your mind?" Esme asked, looking at Edward.
"What did I do?"
"Getting yourself killed! Or trying!"
"Erhm..guys. It's not like he has done it," Athena pointed out.
"You're quite right," Jasper agreed and smiled.
That was a much longer explanation, Athena thought, and almost felt out of breath.
"Why did I not see her getting out of the water?" Alice asked.
"Because you cannot see werewolves. At least in the books," Athena explained.
"That's not fair," Alice said quietly.
"On to book three?" Athena suggested. She received six nods in return. "Eclipse. The love triangle book," she started and snorted. Edward raised his eyebrow. "What? Oh, right. Sorry." She coughed once. "Since Edward left before, Bella is still afraid that he will leave her again. She do not want to fall back into depression, since he's basically her life." That is kind of depressing. "Edward is still talking about marriage and she is arguing several times, in the end she does give in. While Victoria is hunting them – Bella – and creating a newborn army. She's still friends with Jacob, which Edward does not like. He swears he'll fight for her, because he wants her to choose him. So she's kind of dragged in two directions. But she's hurting both of them in the process." Don't go further with your opinions, Athena, she told herself. "The wolves and vampires stand side by side to fight the newborn army, but Bella is afraid that Edward will get hurt. So she convinces him to stay with her under the battle, with one wolf together with them so they can keep an eye on the situation from afar. Then more complications between Bella, Jacob and Edward. Anyway, they win the battle, though Jacob does get hurt, but Carlisle help him heal. Bella chooses Edward. That much is obvious. And what is left is to plan a wedding and tell Charlie." Not the best way to tell, but it was the basics… Maybe I left out too much? Nah, we'll say it's fine, for now.
"That's… interesting," Emmett mumbled.
No one else said a word.
"I guess the fourth book then," Athena said and yawned. "Breaking Dawn. Part 1. Starts with Bella in her new car, thinking back to when she and Edward told Charlie, then Renee, which went better than thought. Some stories about the Denali family and immortal children, gave her nightmares before her wedding day. The wedding is beautiful. No problems there. After and later, Jacob comes by who have been missing for quite a while. Stirs it up a bit. Edward and Bella leaves for their honeymoon and they go to Isle Esme." Athena smiled and looked at Esme, who blinked in response and shook her head a bit. "Anyway they do have their honeymoon, but then the next day Edward is out of his mind just because of a little bruising. No idea that the first time actually made her pregnant." Athena snorted and the vampires stiffened.
"What do you mean by that?" Rosalie wondered, curious.
"Male vampires can get children with human females," Athena explained. "Half-vampire and half-human the child will be."
"I never heard…"
"Let me continue, ok? Well, she contacts Rose on the way back for help, because Edward wants to get rid of it."
Rose snarled and Emmett held her back.
"Again. It has not happened," Athena pointed out.
"Part 2. Jacob's part of the story. And to be honest I skimmed through it. But they do figure out that Bella needs to drink blood while pregnant. It helps a lot and if they had figured it out earlier, Bella might have been able to keep her food down from the start and been healthier. The pregnancy lasted about a month. She almost died, but Edward had filled a syringe with his venom and gave the shot straight to her heart. The venom spread. She did not scream even if it hurt. And this by the way is more into part 3. Sorry, I got lost a bit there in my own head," Athena apologized.
"Do not worry, dear. Continue when you are ready," Esme said softly and came to sit beside her.
"Well, part 3 – to make it official – is Bella's point of view again. She awakes and is in perfect control of herself. She does not have the same bloodlust as normal newborns. She feels the burn but she's in control. Edward takes her hunting. She smells a human, resists and run the opposite way. Going back after the hunt she is ready to see her child. Renesmee. Jacob comes out first as a test. She pass, obviously. Then in the house they have to explain about the human. Soon she holds Renesmee, gets to know about her gift, then that Jacob imprinted on her daughter and she snaps at him. Hurting another pack member instead, Seth. Renesmee grows really fast. Out on one hunt Irina comes by and see Renesmee, goes to the Volturi, thinking she's an immortal child. Well, she's not. By the time they come they gathered a lot of witnesses and many wolves were supporting as well. It was fatal that Alice left and found another hybrid like Renesmee though before the Volturi left in peace – sort of. They figured out Renesmee would grow to look between sixteen and eighteen after seven years, and stay immortal after that. And they lived happily ever after." Athena breathed. "Phew, that was a lot." She chuckled lowly and yawned again.
"That was certainly interesting," Jasper muttered.
"Oh! I forgot! Bella is a mental shield. A very strong one too. But you – they – did not figure it out before after she had become a vampire." Athena wanted to slap herself.
"Well, that explains why I can't read her mind," Edward muttered and got up. Then he left the room.
Athena raised a brow.
"It can't be easy for him. Knowing. This was supposed to or is an alternative to our lives," Esme said and held an arm around her.
"I know, I just feel bad," Athena said softly.
"Don't," Jasper started. "I felt his emotions. It was good for all of us to know. Thank you," he finished and then nodded.
"Well, I am for one glad that you are here instead," Alice said excitedly and kissed her cheek. Then she left with Jasper.
"I am as well, Athena. You mean a lot to me," Rosalie said and hugged her.
"Me as well, little sis," Emmett said and pulled her up from the couch in a huge hug.
"Aw, that is so sweet," Athena said and sniffed. Feeling very touched.
"Now, you better go to bed young lady," Esme said with a teasing tone. "I'll make sure to inform Carlisle when he's back. I know you are tired."
"Yes ma'am," Athena said and yawned.
Emmett flung her over his shoulder and she complained as he carried her up and placed her on her bed.
"Sleep well," he said with a grin as he closed the door after him.
"Thanks," Athena whispered to the empty room. Knowing they had heard her.
Tell me what you think!