(A/N- Much, much thanks to Rain4915 who reads through and makes this story so much better. My longest chapter by far so I hope you like it.)
Chapter 6-
Fast As You Can
DISCLAIMER- I OWN NOTHING. I DON'T OWN TWILIGHT.
"So how's your throat?"
I cleared my throat on impulse. "It's fine," I said annoyed. "Carlisle I think we're discussing something a bit more important than my throat right now."
"But your throat has everything to do with it, don't you see?" Carlisle said amused.
I wasn't laughing. Glaring to tell you the truth.
"Carlisle honey, she has no idea what your talking about. Neither do I for that matter." I gave Esme a grateful smile.
Carlisle raised his hands up as if in innocence. "I actually only put in my two cents. Alice was the one to figure out this mystery of Isabella Swan…"
I couldn't help but interrupt. "Please don't call me Isabella. Ever again." He still continued as if he hadn't even heard me.
"…and her eating habits." Alice was now smirking. Gloating over her discovery I expect. Esme was looking bewildered. Carlisle was extremely excited. His thoughts were revolving around my 'amazing aversion to a natural food source' as Carlisle put it. I felt like his specimen in some experimental trial.
"Care to elaborate?" Jasper asked looking only slightly annoyed towards Alice.
xxxxxx
I was now wandering around the house trying to block out the thoughts of everyone in the house. Carlisle was now explaining, for the fourth time, to Rosalie about my food source. After I had told Carlisle about my aversion to blood as a human, he said that that could explain it. That such a strong aversion had been passed on to my vampire life. He also told me that it would still be necessary for me to hunt but not as regularly as normal. Hunting was a need, not a want. Just like eating was to humans. Hunting and therefore, blood, was still necessary.
I was sick of hearing my story so I decided to explore the house. Apparently I couldn't go outside without a chaperone. Edward, being the only who didn't need to hear Carlisle and Alice tell their story of discovery because he deciphered their thoughts in seconds, was the only one available to watch me if I decided to go into the outside world. A chaperone in sheeps' clothes following around the newborn baby of the family. He was just as dangerous as me, if not more. I was living proof of that.
I was now sitting in the living room on the sofa across from Edward, glaring daggers at him. I have let my inner beast in too soon. I don't know how to live without wanting my hand on his throat. He sat on his piano bench, staring at the wall behind my head. In his thoughts he was thinking of just about everything, but also nothing in particular. He was so consumed by his own mind I decided to test him.
I got up slowly from my spot. Edward had not moved an inch. I continued slowly not making any noise, not even breathing, towards the door.
"If you want to go outside, I will gladly accompany you. You only need to ask." He didn't even look up. Just continued to stare at the wall where I used to sit. I had taken five steps, halfway towards freedom. Internal sigh.
I ran upstairs. Edward followed. I paused at the second landing. Edward was looking down at the ground while he continued up the steps at a human pace. Remembering our conversation from the previous day of invading privacy, I told myself not to invade his thoughts. Not that I want to anyway. Right…
I ran up the next set of stairs to the third floor. I passed by Carlisle's study quickly so no one would see me and make me sit through that torture chamber of questions again. When I got to the door of my bland and empty room (much to Esme and Alice's disapproval), I turned around to see Edward trudging down the hallway towards me. When he reached me, I leaned against my bedroom door and glared at him. He just copied my stance against the opposite wall and stared at the ground. I sighed out loud at his apathy and retreated into my room.
"You say you don't spook easy and you won't leave me, but I'm praying that you will." I may be soft in your palm now Edward, but I'll soon grow hungry for a fight and you will not win. My "pretty" mouth will form phrases that will disprove your faith in man.
Edward made a move to follow me, but I slammed the door in his face. Since he wasn't looking he ran into my door, splintering the wall by the impact of his granite skin. He fell back in surprise and tripped on his own feet.
I slumped to the ground and lay spread out on the floor in my room and started laughing uncontrollably.
"I thought vampires were supposed to be unendingly graceful." I choked out between gasps.
"I thought vampires weren't supposed to sleep." I stopped laughing mid- chuckle. By the way his voice was projected, I could tell he was laying on the ground like me. "You seem to break a lot of our rules that define us as vampires. Our own Rebel Without A Cause."
"I wouldn't say it's totally without cause." I mumbled under my breath. Apparently, he heard me.
"No, you're right. I would say it's with just cause."
We were both silent for a few minutes, thinking everything through. So lost in my thoughts, I jumped at the sudden break in noise. Emmet's booming laughter cut through the silence with a vengeance.
"Did she kick you out there Eddie, cause you're looking a bit depressed. Would you like to talk about it." Although Emmet's voice was low and completely serious, I could still hear the smile that was fighting a way onto his face. He couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a small chuckle, while at the same time I heard footsteps approach my door from Carlisle' study. Their thoughts attacked my own quiet ones.
What are those two up to now?I hope Edward's been a gentlemen.
Alice's bubbliness attacked me full force. Awww, how CUTE!! Seriously, who screams their own thoughts?
Carlisle was effectively blocking his mind. From me or Edward, I had no idea.
Rosalie was next, and just like every time I had heard her speak to Edward, her voice was snide. Looking a bit depressed Edward. Lovesick? I didn't need to see Rosalie to know she was smirking.
And what was with that? Everyone was associating me and Edward as if we were together. We had barely spoken a word to each other. Edward began to voice my opinions.
"You're all acting as if we're a couple," Edward growled.
"Yeah, what the hell," I said in agreement. I nodded my head but cracked the floorboards when my head came back down. "Oops, ow, that…actually…kinda hurt."
Do I sense some anguish from you Edward? Jasper asked.
I didn't have any time to make sense of the question before Carlisle started firing questions at me through the door. "Is the pain similar to last night? Perhaps like a migraine?"
"Umm…yeah, I guess you could say it's a bit like a headache." There was a flurry of movement on the other side of the door. Edward was getting up and Carlisle was moving closer. Carlisle started pressing me with more questions about 'how exactly' did I feel at the moment.
"Umm…" I so genuinely began.
"I'm going to go out…," Edward began, and everyone was already saying their goodbyes. "…hunting," he finished rather quietly, and turned on heel to leave. He was out the door before a second had passed.
"Hunting…HUNTING, yes of course," Carlisle exclaimed. "Bella," he pressed up against the door to talk closer. " I wonder if you would like to go hunting. I'd like to see the effects of blood compared to sleep. Would that be alright?"
Again I felt like I was part of an experiment. Carlisle' lab rat. Do I even have a choice? I thought to myself.
Before I could respond the door flung open, nearly off its hinges, missing me by a centimeter. I looked up horrified at Emmett as he towered over me. He smirked at me and then bent down to pick me up bridal style.
"C'mon little sis. We're going hunting," he said menacingly. Oh god.
XxxX
I finished sucking the blood dry from the second deer. I was covered in filth. With blood and dirt covering every clean square inch on my brand new clothes (courtesy of Alice), I was looking extremely macabre, but Jasper was still smiling.
"That was excellent Bella. Carlisle will be very proud." Esme thought it would be best if I had time to socialize with the "kids", to make me more comfortable here. So, she convinced a reluctant Carlisle to stay home with her. And here I am now, with Jasper and Alice getting my feeding lessons, while Emmet and Rose went off by themselves. We still hadn't caught up to Edward, but I could tell by his scent that he wasn't more than a five to ten miles away.
I turned around in a circle looking for anymore animals. Although the blood was still slightly nauseating, it had the same, if not better, as sleep. It was like some nasty, chalky health drink. I drank it to refuel, to replenish. I didn't drink for enjoyment, so it didn't bother me as much as it used to.
Alice let out a deep sigh and shook her head. Jasper voiced his concern.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Alice said sighing again. "It's just that Emmet found a bear." Jasper snorted.
"Is that bad?" I asked.
"Well, yeah, from the bears point of view. I would say death is a considerably bad thing," Jasper explained.
"They're his favorite," Alice added.
"Favorite, huh?"
"Yeah, nothing like an irritable grizzly, fresh out of hibernation for Emmet," Jasper said.
I mused this over to myself, and came up with a great idea for payback.
"So Alice… where exactly are Emmet and Rosalie right now," I asked Alice.
"Hmm…probably about a mile, mile and a half north from here, why?"
I didn't answer just took off running. She tried using her 'sight' to see what I would do, forgetting she had no power over me, but I saw the vision myself.
Better than I imagined, I thought to myself.
XXX
The three of us reached Rose in seconds. Our scent had reached her when a breeze picked up. She looked up from examining her nails as she leaned against a tree to give me a quick smile. She then looked back at Emmet with an annoyed expression.
God, I wish he would hurry up. Why does he have stalk out a bear every time he sees one? I could be at home right now doing…
I blocked out her thoughts as I tried to focus on Emmet. He hadn't even noticed the rest of us. His only thoughts were…
Bear…bear…bear…bear…
I almost laughed out loud, but I needed the element of surprise, so I choked it down. I stepped forward towards Emmet as quietly as possible. Not even breathing. I was stalking him like predator to prey. Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, were all questions non stop, but not speaking, knowing I needed silence. I just turned around with I finger to my lips. They understood.
I continued to follow Emmet, while he circled around the bear. He had a five foot diameter. Perfect.
I crouched low as Emmet did the same. He was still oblivious to everyone around him.
I crept a little closer.
A half a second before he was about to pounce, I jumped onto his back, leapt off his shoulders, and on top of the bear. I snapped the animals back before it could flinch. I looked at Emmet' dumbfounded expression before I sunk my teeth into the matted fur of the bear (shudder). The bear had a momentous amount of blood more than the deer so I felt this was the last animal needed from this hunting trip, thankfully.
When I was done drinking I looked up to see Emmet glaring at me. Rose, Alice, and Jasper were all bursting out laughing at his murderous expression.
"That. Was. MINE," Emmet spit out through his teeth.
"Well, sorry. You were taking so long… I didn't think you were interested. Plus, the bear seemed a bit too big for you. I was only looking out for your well being. What would I have done if my older brother had gotten hurt? And not only me but think of Rosalie. She would have been heart broken. How could you have done that to her Emmet?" I finished off with an innocent smile. I nodded off to Rosalie, telling Emmet to look at her. She gave him a stern look, but you could tell a smile was threating to come through by the way her mouth twitched at the corners.
If you really want another bear Emmet, just tell me before hand so I can take it down for you. We don't need you acting all brave honey," I said as I reached up to kiss and pinch his cheek. He was absolutely fuming and spluttering on a comeback.
"I was…I'm fine by my…I can handle…"
"Of course sweetie. Don't worry. We won't tell anyone. Will we guys?" I looked over my shoulder at everyone else. Looking completely serious I nodded at them telling them to answer. Alice and Rosalie nodded with huge smiles. Jasper overly effected by everyone else, fell over and started laughing on the forest floor.
Alice and Rose finally allowed themselves to laugh. I cracked a smile at the severely annoyed Emmet.
"Rosie," Emmet whined.
"Sorry…Em," Rose said between gasps. Emmet crossed his arms and turned his back on us. I let out a small laugh at his childish behavior and turned around to find the way back to the Cullen home.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him. Edward.
He was watching me from a distance of about two hundred yards away. Just staring. His face was scrunched up in concentration.
"You should know by now that it's not going to work," I said barely above a whisper. "No matter how hard you try." He took a few steps forward.
I know but that won't stop me from wanting to know…Why? Bella I want to tell you…
He trailed off when he noticed Jasper get off the ground while everyone else gathered around me staring back at him. He stopped mid step and looked to Jasper.
Jasper looked dumbfounded while looking at Edward.
What? Are you serious? Jasper exclaimed.
Jasper then looked at me, forgetting that his power wouldn't work, his empathy rebounded off me. Jasper was apparently surprised, which I had already gathered from his thoughts. He was also extremely annoyed when he realized what he had done.
Sorry Bella. Forgot. He apologized.
"That's alright," I said with a small smile. " You're not the first." I looked back at Edward. He was frowning at Jasper. His eyes then flickered back to me. He stared at me for a long time, before walking backwards. He finally turned around breaking our gaze and ran back towards the house.
"What was that all about?" Emmet asked and everyone but Jasper shrugged. He was still watching the spot where Edward had disappeared.
XXX
I was lying face down into the bed in my room, surrounded by pillows on all sides of me. Alice was prancing around my room, criticizing my taste, or lack there of.
"Bella, there's nothing in here. It's so bland. Even your bed. Just plain black sheets? I mean it's so drab…and gloomy."
"I like it the way it is," I mumbled into my pillow.
"I can't understand you Bella, when you mumble," she said with her hands on her hips. She had finally stopped her rant and was no longer pacing my room.
"I said I like it the way it is. Black is my favorite color," She was shaking her head in disgust. "Just let me explain. It's a pure color, it's solid, and it goes well with anything."
"You're right. It does mix well with anything, but you don't have anything for it to go with. You room is EMPTY," she emphasized.
I sighed and tried to find something to change the subject.
"Alice?"
"Yes," she answered.
"Did Jasper tell you why he had acted so weird towards Edward today?"
"No he wouldn't say," she said, obviously annoyed at her husband. "He said when Edward wanted to tell me, that he would talk to me himself. I've looked into Edwards future, but when I try to see what happens…I just get a blank wall." She was silent for a moment before continuing. "I'm thinking that he's probably talking to the whole family because I know that I wouldn't be able to see it if you're there. It's just been bothering me so much you know? Because I have no idea what it is. I know for sure that he's not going to the Volturi, because if he was I'd have been able to see that. Maybe it's got something to do with where we're movi…"
"Wait, wait," I cut her off from her rant. "Nobody actually explained this to me…who or what is the Volturi?"
Her mind flashed with images of a castle somewhere in Europe, of papery skinned men, red eyes…
She took a deep breath. "They're like royalty to the vampire world. They keep order. You don't mess with them."
"Well I don't understand…what do they have to do with Edward?"
Suicide.
"I don't really want to be the one to tell you these things Bella. Maybe I should get Carlisle he knows much more about them than I do. I mean he's met them personally…"
"You know enough. You've already told me." She grimaced and looked down to her feet. "It's alright Alice, these are things that I need to know to avoid any bad confrontations from Volturi members. Just tell me why he would go to them for…you know…" She understood my inability to say the word.
"Like I said…you don't mess with them…unless you have…" She cringed. A death wish, she finished.
"When Edward had changed you," my turn to cringe. She noticed. "Please understand Bella. He was having just as hard a time as you. He wanted to die from the guilt. He hates this life just as much as you, and felt beyond horrible that he had made, in his words not mine, "a monster just like me." He had been thinking of going to Italy, to Volturi non stop since you had venom running through your veins. He knew they were his only option since Emmet and Jasper vehemently refused to do the job for him…"
"GOD DAMN RIGHT EDWARD. AND DON'T YOU FORGET THAT." I jumped at the ridiculous booming of Emmet's voice in my doorway.
I heard Edward move around in his room at the end of the hall as he put on some music to blast out Emmet's voice. Emmet laughed at that but didn't comment. He just looked to me with a smirk on his face.
"Time for payback. Ms. Bella Swan, you are challenged by I, Emmet McCarty Cullen, to an arm wrestle." He was smiling like crazy and Alice was glad for the change in topic and began to give a small smile as well. Time to get my dignity back, Emmet added in his thoughts. I laughed out loud. Emmet swore under his breath.
"I accept this challenge."
XXX
My left hand was under my chin as I arm wrestled Emmet one handed. His face was scrunched in concentration, but mostly anger as I slammed his hand down for the fourth time. I just sat there giving him a lazy smile looking as bored as ever.
I was anything but.
Thoughts and ideas of the Volturi were swirling around my head. Ever since my conversation with Alice, nothing else had occupied my thoughts. I was fighting Emmet half heartedly and I was still winning.
"One more time," Emmet demanded.
XXX
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing
Run its route
(A/N- Bella's ability to sleep has still not been fully explained. You'll have to keep reading to find out. Maybe I might even say something if you review. I don't know if anyone's even reading this story because I haven't been getting much love for this story, so review and tell me your still reading.)