Authors note:
Whoa! Didn't expect this chapter to be this long, but anyway, I hope you like it. [Rach: How could people not like what you write? Don't be crazy woman!! I'm loving this leaving notes thing- but tell Áine in a review if it's annoying you and I'll stop lol!!]
It is mostly filler but the next chapter is when the story will pick up, I promise. Just bare with me :)
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Chapter 2
Bella's POV
The news report cut back to the studio and the news anchor was literally stunned. It took him a few seconds before he continued with reading the news. He seemed almost nervous as he reported on something uninteresting.
The room now full of seemingly exposed vampires grew silent. Alice clicked mute on the TV remote.
"God… What are we going to do?" Carlisle sighed.
"It was just Channel Six, not many people might have seen it," Emmett suggested quickly.
"Hello! YouTube! It will be all over the world within seconds. It's not like this is just some drunken celebrity falling out of a pub. This is much, much bigger than that. Everyone will know about us!" Rosalie said almost spitting with disgust.
Edward growled and jumped from his seat.
"Why didn't the Volturi do anything?!" Edward yelled, consumed by his anger. Alice ran up to him and raised her hand onto his shoulder.
"Calm down Edward! It's not like they had me with them. They didn't see this coming," Alice said seriously.
Suddenly I felt a sense of calm force itself upon me. Carlisle stepped forward and nodded towards Jasper.
"Thank you Jasper. We should all just calm down. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for everything," Carlisle said in a tone that showed why he was the leader of this family.
"I say we run. Pack up and be gone by night fall," Emmett suggested.
"No, I think we should stay here and act like nothing has happened. Yes, the world may now know about vampires but they don't know about us. They think we all have red eyes, and we obliviously don't," stated Carlisle.
"Yes. No offence Bella, but humans aren't the smartest bunch so hopefully they will never make the connection with us," Jasper said trying to sound inoffensive. Edward calmed a little.
"Your right we will just have to be on our best… human behaviour," Edward agreed.
Suddenly the house phone rang. Esme stepped over to the table, picking it up and answering it.
"Hello?… Oh hello Eleazar… Yes I know… Here I'll hand you to Carlisle," Esme said down the phone. Carlisle nodded as Esme handed him the phone. As he began his serious conversation with the Denalis, Edward quickly walked over and sat down beside me. He took my hands in his.
"I'm so sorry for dragging you into all this," he whispered, almost sounding pained.
"It's alright, it's not your fault," I said half smiling as if trying to console him.
"I'm part of this family now anyway. Whatever effects you, effects me as well." I said sincerely. Edward squeezed my hand gently.
Abruptly, Jasper jumped from the couch and went to Alice's side. He began rubbing soothing circles into her back. Her eyes were glazed over, dead almost. She was having a deep vision. She began to stammer aloud while she continued to be bombarded by visions. Edwards froze beside me.
"I see… panic and screaming. The humans don't take it very well. I see protests and… ummm… flashing lights. Like cameras. I see… I see… blood, lots of blood and I see… death." she stammered, unnerved as she gradually came back to the present.
"Whoa… Morbid much sis?" Emmett said before Rosalie growled at him and then hit him on the back of his head.
Edward sighed as Carlisle said his goodbyes and hung up on the Denalis.
"Right, Carmen and Eleazar are flying to Volterra to find out what's going on and I said that I would join them. Edward and Alice I would like if you two came with us as well. Your powers would come in useful," Carlisle informed.
Alice nodded in agreement but Edward stood up sternly dropping my hands.
"No, I'm staying here with Bella," he said with too much force.
Carlisle agreed. Normally I would have just rolled my eyes at him but with everything that was going on, the last thing I wanted was Edward running off to those malicious and no doubt now enraged Volturi.
Jasper agreed to go instead, not wanting to be separated from Alice I assumed, and then both he and Alice excused themselves to book their flights over the internet.
Edward turned to everyone who was left in the room.
"I think we should stop going to school for awhile. You know keep a low profile," Edward suggested.
"No," Esme replied. "That would just cause some humans to become suspicious. We will act as normal. We'll tell everyone that Alice is visiting some relatives, Carlisle will be at a medical conference and well Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie are supposed to be at university anyway."
Everyone agreed as all of a sudden I heard my phone begin to ring. I stood up and walked out to the hallway where my coat was hanging and pulled my phone out of my large coat pocket. Edward followed quietly behind me.
I groaned when I read the caller id. It was Charlie. What would he want now?
"Bella! Where are you!" he yelled down the line.
"Well hello to you too, Dad. I'm at Edward's house," I replied.
"Oh, well the station called me to come in and work on a Sunday of all days! I came home and you weren't here!" he said sounding almost panicked.
"I know, I'm sorry I thought I would be back before you were home from your fishing trip," I responded truthfully.
"It's aright Bells, it just when the station rang me they said that there were people and families panicking, terrified even. They said that there was these things called vampires out there. That they really do exist and they're out there to kill us. It was on the news and everything."
"I know… I heard," I said sarcastically but I think it was too subtle for Charlie to notice. Edward who was standing beside me smirked.
"As much as I might hate to say this, I'm actually glad you're at Cullen's and not at home alone. It's not safe with those vampire things around," Charlie said sincerely.
Edward was trying his best to hold back a laugh at the irony of Charlie's words. To be perfectly honest I was trying not to laugh myself.
"Okay Dad, I'll be as careful as I can," I replied.
"Okay Bells. I saw that you took your truck, so I'll call you when I finish work to come home. I really don't want you to be in the house by yourself."
I rolled my eyes but agreed. We said our goodbyes and hung up. Edward and I walked back into the living room to find everyone, including Alice and Jasper circled around the TV again. Everyone was giving it their undivided attention and soon so were Edward and I.
The same news anchor from earlier came on saying it was another emergency report.
"Earlier this day we reported that vampires exist. And yes, that fact is true- but as a result of that fact there has been a world wide panic. The government has released this statement: We urge family's to stay indoors and to calm down. No more vampires have come out of hiding. Yes, we have lived safely side by side vampires without knowing about them for many years, so we ask everyone to continue to live as normal: commencing with school, work, services etc. We are taking action on this vampire situation and they have become a threat to the people of this country and the human race in general. Any found will be detained like the one we have captured already. We will safely put an end to this massacre of human life."
"Ha! I'd like to see them try!" Emmett exclaimed. Carlisle scolded him, telling him to be quiet.
Everyone was stunned. I think everything that had happened today was beginning to sink into everyone. Until now I didn't realise how big of a deal this actually was. The whole world knew about vampires. Thankfully Edward and his family haven't been found out yet because I'd hate to imagine what would happen if people did find out.
Time began to pass slowly. The majority of us stayed in the living room while others hovered around getting ready for the departure to Volterra. We spent our time discussing today's events, trying to figure out a way to sort everything out and to figure out what the hell was going on. Countless news reports were shown on TV. Showing people's reactions and giving the little information they actually new. They even kept replaying that video of Victoria from earlier and apparently it had quickly become the most watched video on YouTube ever. The news really had spread all over the world.
Though tensions were high in the Cullen household, thankfully we all believed we could get through this. After Carlisle, Alice and Jasper left for Volterra. Edward and I excused ourselves and went up to his bedroom. The sun was beginning to set on this so far eventful day. As we entered his room we both sat on his bed.
"So, you never said how you really feel about all this," I said meaning it as a question.
"I know, it's just a lot to take in I guess," he mumbled as he pulled me into an embrace and we lay on the bed like we had been earlier.
"I wonder what Victoria's up to that she would do something like this? I asked.
"I don't know," Edward sighed. "But whatever she's planning it has got to have to be something to do with us."
"You can't seriously be blaming yourself for this," I said with a slight tone of irritation to my voice.
"Well when you think about it, it is our fault that all this has happened. Victoria is probably doing all this to get back at us because of James. I think that's why she was killing and creating all the newborns in Seattle, to come after us. But I don't really know why she would stoop this low though," he explained.
I began to panic, an army newborns after us! It might as well be a death sentence.
"Bella, calm down," Edward said quickly. "The Volturi are sure to deal with it now, especially after what Victoria has done. I'm actually surprised the Volturi didn't intervene earlier. And anyway, even if the Volturi didn't come I'm sure we would have been able to handle a few newborns."
I frowned and sighed. I would have hated if they had to go and battle the newborns. It was all my fault that this whole thing started with Victoria and I would have died if I someone got hurt because of me. As much as I hate admitting it, maybe it's a good thing that the Volturi will probably sort everything out. Even though it might be dangerous having them close to us.
"Do you think Carlisle, Alice, Jasper and the Denalis will be okay going to Volterra?" I asked with genuine concern.
"Yes, I hope so. It is important that they find out what's going on and what the Volturi are going to do about this. It might be dangerous, but going to Volterra is what they have to do," he said, obviously pained that his family members were risking everything over this.
"At least we have Victoria's interview to look forward to tomorrow," I said with obvious sarcasm, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes, you never know it might just give Anne Rice a run for her money," he joked, reflecting my sarcasm. Edwards expression changed and he sat up.
"Your phone's ringing," he said as he jumped from the bed and ran out the door at vampire speed. I couldn't hear my phone ring but Edward was a vampire after all. It was probably just Charlie ringing for me to come home.
He returned and groaned when he handed me my mobile. It was unexpectedly Jacob.
"Hello?" I said as I answered the phone.
"Hello Bella," he replied simply.
"So your talking to me again now?" I asked with an annoyed tone but secretly happy to hear his voice.
"Yes… Well no. I'm calling to tell you that we can't be seen together. Now that the world knows about leaches like your boyfriend, I can't risk the world finding out about my pack as well," he explained.
I felt like yelling at him. We practically ignore each other and then he calls me just to tell me this. I decided to hang up before I'd say anything I'd regret but before I could, Edward surprisingly signalled for me to hand him the phone. I complied.
"Hello… Yes it is and I want you to remember that the treaty is still on. Even though the world now knows about vampires I don't want you or any of the other dogs blowing my family's secret. Got that?!" Edward threatened.
I couldn't hear what Jacob said back but whatever it was it didn't sound too friendly. Edward growled as he hung up, handing me back to phone.
"I don't know why you spend your time worrying about him," Edward said to me annoyed. An angry furrow developed between my eyebrows.
"Edward, he's my best friend. I can't just-" I retorted before Edward grunted interrupting me.
He looked away. I knew he was just being stubborn but I stopped pushing this conversation any further. Though I knew I would eventually have to come back to it I knew I had to stop it now. Enough things had happened today and I didn't have it to involve a fight between me and Edward. I decided to change the subject.
"Maybe having the world know about vampires won't exactly be a bad thing," I suggested innocently. I caught Edward by surprise.
"Wait. What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"Well, I thought about this earlier but I didn't say anything," I paused but Edward just pressed me for more information.
"Now that the world knows about vampires I was wondering if I could stop lying to Charlie," I explained. Edward didn't say anything but his expression changed from being confused to a straight and emotionless one. He pressed his lips into a straight line. He was obviously contemplating what I just said.
"I know it's not my place to tell him anything it just-" I began but before I could finish Edward pulled me into a hug.
"Bella, I don't know. Telling him wouldn't just be giving away my secrets but my entire family's. Though I know how much it hurts you every time you have to lie to him," he told me truthfully.
He sighed and completely wrapped his arms around me. Pulling me up so we could lie together on the bed again. We lay in silence for a couple of minutes until Edward unexpectedly broke it.
"Maybe we could tell him but we will have to wait until after we find out what the Volturi are going to do to deal with this situation," he suggested.
I turned so I was looking him directly in the eyes. I placed a soft kiss of his cheek.
"Thank you," I whispered. He smiled gently.
"But I need you to remember Bella, it still could be dangerous having him know about my family. Though I know I can trust him with the secret. I know he doesn't like me very much but he'll probably keep it for you," he responded.
"Who knows, maybe he'll treat you differently when he and if he finds out. I mean when I was talking to him on the phone earlier he didn't seem to have taken the news of vampires that badly" I stated.
"True, but he might react differently when he finds out one is dating his daughter," he replied. I giggled in response.
"It's a good thing you're bullet-proof then," I laughed.
He chuckled along with me before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. He pulled away slightly as his expression became a little more serious.
"Maybe we could even tell your mother. But after her no one else. Only the people who need to know," he suggested.
I sat up quickly, pulling from our embrace.
"Oh my god! Renée! I never called her! I wonder what she thinks about all this? Somehow I don't think she took the existence of vampires as well as Charlie has," I exclaimed as I pulled my phone from my pocket.
Before I dialled her number I turned back to Edward who was slowly sitting up.
"I really am grateful that you're considering telling them Edward, I truly am. Maybe all this will make it easier for them when I become one of you. We won't have to hurt them by telling them that I'm dead. I might even be able to stay in contact with them and see them after I get over the newborn bloodlust," I said to Edward, my voice full of hope and genuine gratitude.
Edwards surprisingly frowned.
"About that," he said sounding almost guilty.
"About what?" I asked confused. He sighed.
"Oh, its nothing. Forget I said anything," he replied quickly as he went to lay back down on the bed.
I looked at my phone and dialled my mom's number. I brushed off what Edward just said to me reminding myself to ask him about that later.
The phone rang out ten times before Renée answered.
"Hi mom. It's Bella," I began.
"Oh hello Bella I have been meaning to call you!" she responded. "Its just been really hectic here with this whole vampire thing. At least things have somewhat calmed down."
"So you heard about it too. You seem to be taking the vampire news very well," I said hoping she would elaborate.
"Well at first I didn't know what to think. I even had a panic attack but everyone seems safe. I know everyone's saying that they drink our blood but I've survived this long without being attacked by one so hopefully I'll be okay. Phil seems to think it's the best the best thing ever. Saying he always knew that we weren't alone. How's everyone reacting in Forks?"
"Oh same as everywhere else I suppose. I've been at Edward's house all day so I haven't really seen anyone. Dad has had to work all day too," I replied.
"On a Sunday! I thought there wasn't even enough crime in Forks to last him the weekdays!" she said surprised.
"I know, but a lot has happened today with the world finding out about vampires and he is the chief of police after all."
"At least you're not at home alone. Good thing you have Edward to stay with. Just be careful Bella. Those vampires sound dangerous."
"Yes mom. I know," I said as our conversation then developed into unimportant small talk. After about ten minutes we said our goodbyes and hung up.
I shoved the phone back into my jean pocket and laid down back beside Edward. He wrapped his arms around me again but we stayed silent.
I lost count of the time that was passing as I laid in Edward's arms. There was a comfortable silence between us. I knew we were both coming to terms with what happened today.
I looked at my watch and it was now half 10. I began to get worried. Charlie never worked this late. I was about to pull out my phone to call him but Alice's clairvoyancy must be rubbing off on me as my phone began to ring.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the caller id read Charlie.