Chapter 3

"So let me get this straight, you're telling me that I'm the last person in the whole of this world who can mortalise vampires?" Bella said calmly. "Well yes Bella we are" Carlisle replied giving her a sympathetic look.

"So what about my father? Does this mean that he was murdered by a vampire? And how come I wasn't murdered years ago?"

"Yes your father was murdered by a vampire, Victor in fact. And the reason why you weren't murdered years ago is because it wasn't known before that you existed, that your father had a child." Carlisle explained as everyone continued to look at her, probably making sure she wasn't going to suddenly run off screaming that all this wasn't true. If only.

"How come they didn't know that he had a daughter, me?"

"Well because before he died, when you were born, he didn't live with you and your mother. He kept you secret from everyone and made sure he was never around you too much. He did it to keep you safe. He knew that one day he too would be murdered just like the rest of the Swan family. Although he didn't realize it would be so soon, he was counting on not being found for a few more years. Your mother was heartbroken when he died, she'd known everything and knew what would eventually happen to him."

"So I take it you knew my father and mother then before he died?" Bella asked Carlisle whilst looking down into her hands resting on her lap.

"Yes we all did. We tried to protect him. We knew what would happen to him. It was us that suggested when you were born for him to live separately so as to protect you. As soon as he was dead we cut off all contact with your mother for your protection. We thought it had worked but as with most things it didn't last. We don't know how but somehow a few weeks ago Victor and his clan found out that there was still a Swan alive and went to find you, they were unfortunately successful. However we were lucky that we got there in time, luckily we had been watching your house that night, Alice had realized something was going to happen, although we were unsure at the time what. We thought at first it was just your decision to leave and then Victor turned up."

Bella looked up from her hands, "So what happens now? What will happen to me?"

"You stay here of course and we protect you. We will give you a new identity that will allow you to live a normal life and to carry on."

"What if they find me?" Bella asked.

"Then we do what we can to keep you alive. There shall be no unnecessary blood spilled."

"Thank you. Really…you shouldn't bother I'm not worth it." Bella said in shakey voice. As soon as she had uttered the last word there was immediate uproar.

"Don't say that! You are worth it!"

"No! Don't think that." Bella was surprised at their reaction. Everyone was looking at her like she'd said something really offensive, Edward especially looked distraught. He touched her cheek and said to her softly "don't ever say that, you are worth it. You are worth all the trouble in the world", he then smiled at her warmly and drew his hand back.

Bella smiled back "sorry, I appear to have offended you all. I am sincerely grateful for what you are doing for me. I'm just not used to such good hospitality and kindness. Thank you so much."

"That's fine Bella, thank you." Carlisle said smiling broadly at her. "It's our pleasure to have you here in our home, your home."

***

After that everyone decided that Bella needed a tour round the house, they all chivied her up and out of the room smiling at her and saying how lovely it is that she would be living with them. Bella felt warm inside now that she knew she was with people who wouldn't make her life misery and did want her around. Bella was amazed at the sheer size of the house and its beauty. "So where exactly are we?" she asked Edward who was walking along with her like her own personal guide.

"Well now we are entering the upstairs hallway…" he said in a slow sarcastic mocking voice. But then he chuckled and said "well we are on the very outskirts of London in the beginnings of the countryside. This is a very quiet place with only a small town nearby where we attend school."

"What…you go to school?" Bella said surprised.

"Yes, for appearances. You see Carlisle is well known in the town; he's a doctor at the local hospital and is well respected." Bella and Edward were now lagging behind the others who after finishing showing Bella around were descending the stairs. Edward took Bella back to the spare room that was to be her own and sat down on the bed; a feature that didn't appear in any of the others rooms. She'd asked Edward before why no-one else had a bed and he'd replied that vampires don't sleep. She was amazed at how little she did know about vampires.

"So you being a vampire, doesn't that mean you can't go out in daylight?" Bella asked Edward as she sat next to him on the bed.

"Myth" he replied with a smile "But we can't go out in bright sunlight though. Although we wouldn't melt or burn we would attract a lot of attention."

"Why?" Bella asked intrigued.

"Well…maybe I will show you sometime it's easier to show someone rather than explain. You get the full effect then" Edward said looking into her eyes with a thoughtful expression before looking away and staring out of the window. They sat there in the quiet for a moment; Edward appeared to be as absorbed in his thoughts as Bella was. She was thinking about everything that had happened in her life so far, all the crap that had been forced upon her. Both of her parents were dead; one murdered and one a suicide. What a mess she thought to herself; what a god damn mess. She must have looked distraught because suddenly Edward was wrapping his cold solid arms around her pulling her into him. He began stroking her hair soothingly and she relaxed against him and began to sob.

All the emotion she had been trapping inside her for years suddenly came crashing to the surface and she couldn't control herself. Her whole body shook with emotion as Edward held her and made soft soothing noises.

She didn't know how long she cried but it must have been some time and then suddenly she felt a release. It was like a weight had been lifted from her and she stopped crying. She looked up at Edward who was still holding her and was about to apologise when he suddenly kissed her softly on the lips. Bella was stunned and so was Edward by the look of it when he withdrew, staring at her. He looked repulsed, Bella was confused.

"I'm sorry I…I" Bella started to say.

"No…I'm sorry" Edward cut in "how dare I, your upset and I take advantage."

"No, don't say that…I didn't mind, I was more shocked than anything" Bella reassured him. Edward stroked her cheek with an icy finger and looked into her eyes with his mesmerizing gold eyes.