SM owns all original characters
Ch 6
BPOV
My mind should be overflowing with all of the new information I have learned, but it's not. They explained to me how much more powerful my new mind is, how it will absorb every detail and file it away with precision memory. I've heard about nomads, the Volturi, and covens. The only thing they all had in common was blood, that rich intoxicating elixir that chased away most of the burn in my throat. Some were ruthless and cruel while others handed out justice. Some hunted animals, though only the Cullens and one other family are known to do this.
For the next year they will keep me under heavy watch to make sure that I don't go on a killing spree that calls too much attention to our kind. That was the one rule, do not let humans know that we exist. It also bothered me to awaken to a new life as a serial killer, but I didn't say that thinking it may offend someone. After hours of talking I asked the one question that I had left.
"Now I know who and what I am, but who was I? I can't remember anything from my human life."
Carlisle sighed. "Human memories often fade during the change Bella and you suffered head trauma immediately before it. I am not surprised that you forgot your previous life, but Emmett looked into it for you." He smiled at me warmly. We had forgiven each other for earlier calling it bad timing on both our parts.
Emmett rubbed his hands together before coming to sit by my side. Despite his gigantic stature he no longer frightened me. I quickly figured out that everything about him was right there on the surface and that made me trust him as much as my instincts would allow.
"Ok B here's what I found out. Your name is Bella Swan and you're 22 years old. You lived in a nice apartment on the edge of the shitty part of town, sorry mom but there's no other way to describe it. You were going to college but I can't figure out what your major was. I hacked into their system to check your classes but they're all over the place. You studied literature and history type stuff a whole bunch. I'm guessing you were a loner because you've been gone for days and you still haven't been reported missing.''
That should have bothered me right? No one wants to think that if they disappeared it wouldn't matter to anyone, but I had and it didn't.
The realisation of my reality hit me like an arctic wind. "I'm alone."
The voices all started at once.
Esme said, "Oh Dear no, we are all here with you."
Charlotte screamed, "No sugar, we are all your family."
Most of the men just shook their heads. Jasper looked pained. Edward looked unsure. Peter and Carlisle were looking at me with something akin to paternal love mixed with discomfort of my emotions but understanding as well. Emmett hugged me around my shoulders and Rose came to sit by my other side. She took my hand and sighed a stuttering breath before looking me in the eyes.
"Bella my story is similar to yours except I didn't get rescued before I was assaulted. I remember my human life and in many ways that is what has caused me the most grief in this life. What I remember most is how much I wanted a family of my own and I hate that I can never have children. But I do have a family and so do you as unconventional as it may be. We are all here to help you through this since we've all been where you are. "
I felt Emmett lift his arm from me to reach over and rub Rose's shoulder. She was right. If I was such a loner in my human life then joining a family of vampires seemed somehow healthier. The misfits banding together.
"Thank you Rose. I feel much better now."
Through all of the conversation of the day I noticed the seperation within the group. The Cullens were one family and the Whitlocks another. There were three sets of mates who always made their way back to touching each other somehow. Then there were the others-Alice, Edward, and Jasper. They were often off in a far corner of the room involved in their own quiet yet intense conversation.
I pointed to them. "What's up with those three?"
Peter laughed making his shoulders shake. "I don't know sugar but they sure are being rude ain't they?"
I knew by the sparkle in his ruby eyes that he was egging me and my newborn moods on and damn him it worked. "Hey you three!" They all turned to look at me. "What's so important over there that you're ignoring the rest of us?" I arched my brow in question.
Alice glared at me. "I can't see you. Your future I mean. Edward can't hear your thoughts and Jasper only gets glimpses of your emotions. We were trying to figure it out but if you want to be an attention whore-"
"ALICE" eight voices remonstrated her.
Esme looked livid. "Alice Cullen how dare you be so rude! Rose shared her story with Bella, didn't you think she would want to hear yours? You don't remember your human life either and you could have easily offered that information instead of worrying about how this effects your visions. She is a day old Alice and I expect better manners and more understanding from you. If you can't manage that, perhaps you can manage to live without your credit cards!"
I don't know how but Alice managed to get even paler and her tiny frame shrunk impossibly smaller as Edward and Jasper glared at her.
Alice stuttered an apology before Carlisle spoke again. "There's no way to be sure without Eleazar but I would say that Bella is gifted with a shield. That can be a very handy thing to have but I do think it more important to help you settle in to your new life before we explore that too much. Of course it's up to you Bella."
A shield. Maybe that's why I had led such a lonely human existence. Some part of me naturally kept me seperated from everyone else. Once again something that I had never heard of made perfect sense. To be honest I was sick and tired of not knowing. It was all a mystery to me and I only had the word of those around me to go on and I think I'm the kind of person who prefers to figure things out on their own. Too bad I can't remember if that's a Bella thing, or a Bella the vampire trait.
Carlisle was right but that only raised another question."Yes I think that's best for now Carlisle thank you. But didn't you say though that gifted vampires don't mate?" He let that one out during his rather long speech about his almost four hundred years.
Edward had ambled over with the grace of a large hunting cat and now stood in front of me. "That is only a theory Bella."
I looked up into his golden eyes that glowed with intensity so strong I had to look away. Unfortunately when I did my eyes landed on Jasper's and they were so heated the gold swirled like a metallic whirlpool.
"Um, ok, right. I want to hunt again. How about some girl time? Ladies?" I needed fresh air more then I needed blood at that moment but I would take what I could get to escape the fiery eyes in that house. All of the women nodded and stood to follow me. Charlotte, Rose, and Esme all stopped to say goodbye to their mates. You'd think I was taking them for an extended trip out of the country the way they kissed and held each other.
Before I left the room I took one final look back to say goodbye to all the men folk which I now regret. Edward looked crestfallen, an incredibly beautiful pained angel. Jasper however stood still as stone as if restraining himself and his murderous glare was settled at Edward and I wondered what was going on between these too. Luckily my thirst gave me something tangible and infinitely easier to deal with.
After all, hunting is no where near as complicated as the minds of men.