All characters canon to the Twilight Saga are property of Stephenie Meyer, I just mess with their lives for my own entertainment.
AN: once again thank you bbtasha for all your help in finding a suitable man to personify Mr. Darlan. There is a link on my profile under the Amazed by Grace summary for those who might like to see a human version of the new character.
New Neighbors
BPOV
A deep fog settles through the abandoned streets. I walk along just off the pavement searching everywhere; where is she? A chill creeps down my spine as the deafening silence surrounds me.
I try to run fearing the shadows lurking in the fog behind me. My feet refusing to move. Low growls fill the air. "Bella." a mysterious voice whispers in the distance. "Bella, we must go, we must leave now." The voice urgently pleads. "You must come to me, I can't come get you. Please Bella, please try." The growls grow in volume and ferocity as the large black forms move closer. "Bella please, I don't want to leave you." The voice cries out. A swift breeze blows ruffling my hair. My body is thrown backwards, my ribs crushing under the assault. I open my mouth to scream, my parched throat closing around my protests. My chest burns, my heart stuttering, tightening as I am pulled into the darkness. The sounds of rain falling from leaves sputter on the forest floor around me. Opening my eyes I try to figure out where I am, delicate ferns rise above me. Sitting up I glance around. A tall figure stands at a distance in the dense cover of the forest. I crawl backward away from the figure fear taking over my senses. I glance around looking for an escape route, but there are none to be found. I don't know where I am. Looking back toward the shadowed figure I see only the pine trees surrounding me.
BEEP BEEP BEEP My eyes fly open frantically searching around me finding only the familiar walls of my bedroom. Reaching over I turn off the screaming alarm clock. Just a dream, oh thank god that was just a dream. I hope I'm not falling into a pattern of nightmares again, although lately I have been under enough stress to bring them on.
I drag myself out of bed and prepare for my day. Quiet voices float down the hall from Lenai's bedroom. I open Lenai's door and poke my head inside. "Hey kiddo, everything is taken care of at the school. You can go back today, you don't need to miss any classes. Good morning Edward."
"Thanks Gran. So is he going to be there today?" Lenai asks sounding a little worried.
"No sweetie, he will be out for the week and we will be keeping a close watch on him when he returns. There is no reason for him to even pass you in the halls." I assure her. The stress lines wrinkling her brow disappear as she turns to Edward.
"Um Edward, I need to get dressed." she says shyly.
"I'll just join Bella in the kitchen then. Don't take too long." He teases her tapping her nose lightly as he walks out the door shutting it behind him.
Edward sits at the kitchen table watching me prepare breakfast for Lenai and myself. "Edward, do you know of a Scott Darlan?" I ask casually making sure my voice does not belie my concern.
"The name is not familiar. Why do you ask?" He questions.
"I ran into Mike last night before the meeting at the school and his lawyer was with him. I was just curious if you guys happened to know him, well since," I pause trying to word it without sounding strange. "well since he is of your kind."
Edward's fingers grip the tables edge dangerously tight as his lips turn down into a scowl. "Where was he?"
"He was at the diner with Mike Newton. You remember him from school. Anyway, Mike invited me to eat with them. When I reached out to introduce myself I realized he was a vampire by his cold touch. His eyes are golden so I just assumed maybe your family might know him." I answer. Edward did not look pleased with this news at all. "He excused himself as soon as I joined the table. He said he had to get home to his wife." I finish quickly hoping to appease Edward who was looking very stressed over the entire exchange.
"So he is here in town?" Edward asks.
"Well I'm not really sure, Mike was just in town to sign papers on the store. I guess that really does not mean Mr. Darlan is local though does it." I answer suddenly feeling silly for my worries.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go talk with Carlisle. We like to know who our neighbors are." he states as he pushes his chair under the table. "Tell Lenai the others will pick her up for school. I think I may be busy today; you don't mind excusing me from my classes do you Principal Swan." He adds teasingly.
Shaking my head and laughing slightly I watch him go out the front door. It's nice having my family again. For all the comfort being with the Cullens again brings me I still can not quite erase the fear lodged in my heart from last night's dream. The phantom shadows and quiet silken voice holding residence in the corners of my mind as I finish preparing for my day.
EPOV
Running through the forest at top speed I make it to our house in a matter of minutes. Everyone is inside preparing for the day of tediously monotonous classes. Alice and Jasper sit on the couch quietly discussing ways to drive her irritating French teacher moderately insane without actually looking like she is doing it. That teacher must be pretty bad if she has managed to get Alice plotting against her. I smile at some of the childishly innocent yet most likely to be infuriating plans they have made. Lenai should enjoy French today at least. Emmett is upstairs being a not so human clothes horse for Rose as she decides what to wear today. The mental images he is enjoying are not very pleasurable for me. Shuddering and trying to ignore his thoughts I run up the stairs to find Carlisle in his office speaking to Esme about the situation at school yesterday.
I knock at the door to needlessly announce my presence out of politeness. "Come in." Carlisle calls.
"Good morning Esme, Carlisle." I greet walking into the room. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"
"Of course you can Edward." Carlisle replies. "What's going on son? You look stressed."
"Bella told me this morning of a vampire she happened to cross paths with last night; she thought we might know him." I answer.
"I haven't heard of any others of our kind near here. There are of course nomads that make their way through from time to time. I can see your reason for concern." He pauses as if trying to figure something out. "She is obviously okay."
"Yes, she says his eyes are golden. He is an attorney for the Newton family. They met at the diner last night, and he left directly after meeting her claiming a need to get home to his wife. I think we should find out more about them, and possibly pay a visit." I inform him. "His name is Scott Darlan."
"That is a good idea. I am sure we will all rest easier knowing more about them. I have to go into the hospital for a couple of hours but I will be home by noon. Why don't you spend the morning searching online for any information you may be able to find. If he is a practicing lawyer he should not be too difficult to locate." Carlisle replies. "I think we should make their acquaintance this afternoon."
"Thanks Carlisle." I say walking out leaving he and Esme to continue their conversation.
"Hey Alice. I'm not joining you guys today will you and Jasper please watch over Lenai for me?" I ask.
"Of course." Alice answers as she gathers her bookbag and joins the others heading out the door toward the SUV. "When will you be back?" she asks.
"I'm not sure. Do you mind hanging out with her after school if I'm not back yet?"
Alice gives me a mocking glare. "You can be so absurd." she states. "Rose and I can keep her busy this afternoon with no problem." The excited glint in her eye makes me a bit nervous, but I let it go. Lenai, unlike Bella, actually enjoys being Alice's human Barbie doll.
The search for Scott Darlan is fairly simple. His name is highly listed on several search engines. A list of five addresses both business and residential sits on the coffee table beside me as I wait for Carlisle to return. He works for a smaller firm that has offices in Port Angeles, Seattle, and Olympia. A quick phone call informed me that Mr. Darlan is working out of the Port Angeles office today, but that he will be out of the office after two. This should give Carlisle and I plenty of time to introduce ourselves and find out more about him.
'I'm on my way Edward. Have everything we need ready I want to head out as soon as possible.' Carlisle instructs me. I grab the list of addresses needlessly as I remember the information it contains clearly. The physical sheet of lined school paper gives me a physical connection serving to remind me of why we are looking for this man. I stand and walk to the door at human pace as I hear Carlisle's car turn down our drive. As he stops the car I climb inside handing him the sheet of information.
"He's in Port Angeles today." I tell Carlisle as we drive quickly back down the driveway heading toward town. "He will be leaving his office at two."
"It's a good thing I was able to leave the hospital early then. We should have a couple of hours at least to acquaint ourselves." He replies.
We arrive at the Law offices of Basden and Hansen at twenty till noon. A small electronic chime sounds as we walk through the door. A large plasma TV on the wall of the entry room comes to life with a digital secretary image informing us to take a seat and we will be helped shortly.
"I never thought I would say this but I miss the days of gum smacking ogling receptionists." I quietly joke with Carlisle as we ignore the television and walk down the hallway checking the brass name plates on doors till we find the office we are looking for.
Carlisle raps loudly on the dark mahogany door before opening it and stepping through without waiting for a response.
The older tall blonde haired vampire stands immediately, an expression of shock crossing his face. "The Cullens." I raise my eyebrow at him as he politely dismisses his phone call. "Yes, Edward I know of you." His disarming voice doing nothing to ease the tension in my neck. Him knowing of us and obviously my talent is extremely disconcerting.
"Carlisle, Edward welcome. I was wondering when I would see you." He greets in a cordial voice stretching over his desk to shake hands with Carlisle and I.
"Yes, it's always good to know those in one's community. I am glad to meet your acquaintance." Carlisle replies very calmly. "May I ask how you know of us, as we have never heard of you before this morning."
"Yes, well that is a long story my friend, although I assure you I am a friend." I am no threat to you or your humans, although a threat there most definitely is. "Would you mind if we adjourn to my house for the remainder of this conversation; I try to keep my personal life as far from my work as possible. I'm sure you understand." Mr Darlan asks.
"Yes I can understand the need for such separation." Carlisle answers.
"I will only be a moment. I need to clear my calendar for the rest of the afternoon." He sits once again in his large leather office chair and types on his computer momentarily before standing and escorting us out of his office. We follow him through the back to the staff parking. "I'm afraid your nice sedan will not survive the drive. You don't mind taking my vehicle do you?" He asks as we approach a midnight blue Jeep of such large proportions it would make Emmett's look like a compact car.
"This is definitely an interesting truck. How far is your ranch?" Carlisle asks with genuine curiosity.
"Much like yourselves I like my privacy. My ranch is not very far at all, but there are no easily accessible roads leading to it. I don't like to be intruded upon by unexpected company." He answers pointedly. "Shall we?"
The drive out of town goes quickly. Just outside of Port Angeles heading toward Seattle Mr. Darlan turns off the highway in the middle of a field. We drive through the field for ten minutes before he climbs out of the Jeep to unwrap a section of barbed wire fencing blocking our path. He climbs back in the Jeep pulling through the fence before putting it back in park and climbing out to reattach the barbed wire. "Wouldn't want the girls getting out." He jokes as pictures of horses fill his mind. Who is this man? No more is said as we drive further into the field before turning off on a very narrow trail through the forest. Within minutes we are parking in front of a large rustic stacked log ranch house. A large steel barn with individual side entry stable doors stands one hundred yards from the house. Several beautiful horses of different breeds stand in their stalls whinnying at our presence.
"Shhh girls, they're friends." Mr. Darlan commands them giving us an amused look. "Welcome to my ranch, The Wife." I lift an eyebrow giving him a curious glance. Is this the wife he had to hurry home to last night. "The name makes for a good exit out of uncomfortable situations." He answers my unspoken question with a good natured wink.
We follow him inside the large house. "Please have a seat." Mr. Darlan says leading us into a very masculine living room. "I'm sure you have many questions for me."
"Mr. Darlan," Carlisle starts only to be interrupted.
"Scott, please. I intend to be counted your friend before you leave so formalities are not necessary." He states his mouth turning up in the corners in a disarming smile.
"Thank you, Scott. How long have you been in Port Angeles?" Carlisle asks leaning forward, his elbows on his knees his hands folded under his chin.
I mimic Carlisle's posture and listen intently for Scott's reply.
"I grew up in Port Angeles. I have lived here since I was a baby." Scott's mind is quiet giving me no more information than he is sharing with Carlisle. "But that is not what you are asking." he states darkly. "Five years ago I was on death's bed. I was quickly loosing my battle with cancer. My doctor informed me of a new clinical trial for my specific form of cancer that was showing many great results. This clinic was in Estonia. I of course was shocked, I had heard that eastern Europe was quickly becoming the medical mecca of the world but had never put much store in those tales. Being the typical American I assumed this country was offering me the best care possible. Within the week I was on a plane to Estonia. The plane landed in Tallinn and all of its occupants were ushered directly into a tour bus. I knew something was not right."
"The Volturi?" Carlisle questions.
"Yes."
"Then how are you here today?" He asks pointedly.
"They led us through several hallways along which a small number of the guard stood each with a predicting gift of one type or another. One grabbed my by the arm and took me to a separate room where I was kept for several days with no light or food. There was a bucket of stagnant water in the corner of the room, without that I surely would have perished." He answers looking Carlisle directly in the eyes the entire time. An expression of anger etched on his face his posture rigid. "How long has it been since you have been to Volterra?" He asks.
"I must admit that is not a proper place for me and my family. I have not returned since I left quite a few centuries ago. Why?" Carlisle replies.
"And you Edward?" he asks me.
"I have never been, and I must say I find no reason to wish to go either." I answer.
"You are truly wise. It is not the place for those who have chosen our way of life. Anyway, I digress. I was taken out of the room and led to a large antechamber to stand before Aro, Caius, Marcus and several other members of the guard. The guard who had pulled me out of line spoke to the power which he believed I might posses if turned. Aro read my past and seeing the signs the guard had alluded to I was selected to be changed. After my change I was tested and initiated into the guard." He pauses waiting for our reaction.
Carlisle sits perfectly still his face belying no emotion. A low hiss fills the room as I tense preparing for attack. "Edward, calm yourself! If he is with the guard an attack is the last thing we should do. We need to find out why he is here so we know what our course of action should be." Carlisle reprimands me. I relax my stance but instinct still controls my thoughts. I am prepared to defend myself and Carlisle if necessary.
"Very good, just the reactions I was expecting." Scott states. "Your family were my first assignment. It seems not too many years ago a certain vampire, I am sure you will remember from your past, by the name of Victoria complained to the Volturi about your questionable relationship with a certain human girl. She had explained her fervent efforts of capturing and killing said human many times only to be thwarted by a pack of overgrown wolves. The Volturi were not pleased at her story, and even less pleased after Aro agreed that what she had spoken was truth. I was sent to find your family and bring you in for questioning. I watched your family from a distance for over a year deciding what I should do. You did not appear to be a threat, and I learned a great deal from observing you, such as my current life style. I returned to Volterra and informed them that any such threat had passed. I also asked for freedom to live on my own. Aro was disgusted at the life I have chosen to live and dismissed me with a warning. Our kind are no longer considered friend to the Volturi. Our choice to live with humans has placed a mark on us. I am afraid castigation will soon be coming."
Neither Carlisle or I speak for several minutes as we digest what Scott has just told us. He opens his mind reliving his last encounter with the Volturi affirming his statements.
"You mentioned you have an ability the Volturi find useful; may I ask what that is?" Carlisle questions him.
"I am afraid I wish to keep that to myself at this time, as I am sure you understand, but I will give you a warning I am sure you will heed. Stay close to your friends, Bella and her granddaughter, there are dangers much more serious than a group of young shape shifters." He gives us an incredulous glance to meet our questioning gazes. "Yes, shape shifters. Your werewolves are nothing of the sort. This was determined after recognizance on the Volturi's behalf after Victoria's visit. Werewolves are one of the most dangerous creatures for human kind not their protectors." Scott states smugly as if amused by our mistake. "These wolves of yours may be one of our greatest assets soon. You need to renew your pact with them, and find a way to agree to protect those humans around you. Trouble is coming, and we will need all the help we can get. A call to your friends in Alaska may not be such a bad idea either."
Shock leaves me paralyzed as I see the truth of his words in his thoughts. Flickers of a scene more terrifying than the worst horror film pass briefly through his mind. Bella standing amongst several darkened deadly creatures, her body laying in the forest bruised and broken, Lenai's terrified pain filled scream echoing through the forest. My chest rips open exposing shredded nerves as the meaning of these visions fully forms. NO!
"Please accompany us to our house. You need to meet the rest of our family." Carlisle requests clearly shaken by what he has heard. His caring fatherly gaze upon me does nothing to ease the terror flooding my body. I'm sorry son. We'll find out more, we will protect them.
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