Chapter 5
The hunt had been very refreshing. All feelings of thirst were gone and they would be for a while. Vampires hunted neatly, the only trace from it was four drops of wolf blood on my shirt. Alice and Edward's eyes were now like caramel candies, bright and beautiful. My eyes were bright green with a hint of gold underneath. Edward and Alice noticed on the way back but remained silent. Edward kept staring at me inquisitively. At times he would squint slightly while looking as if concentrating on something about me I couldn't see. His lovely red locks brushed over his eye, reminding him where he was, and he quickly averted his glance.
While walking up the driveway I noticed that two of the Cullen's cars were missing. Also Edward looked a bit troubled and Alice kept shooting him worried glances. Upon entering the house Esme and Jasper greeted us. "How was your hunt?" Esme inquired sweetly. She was really quite hospitable and nice.
"It was nice, everyone got something good," Alice replied as she moved to stand next to Jasper. I nodded in agreement and smiled at Esme.
"I'm gona go," Edward said and he gestured out the door.
"Of course dear go right ahead. Don't be too late tonight," Esme called as Edward jogged out of the house, I heard a car start and pull out a moment later.
Esme turned to me, "Gill I'm afraid that Carlisle's gone off to work and won't be home until later. Emmet and Rose have also left for the moment."
"That's alright; I can talk to Carlisle a bit later."
"I think he'll be home around eight tonight dear. You can stay at the house if you like until then. Actually you may need to say a day or two so you can have a room."
"I couldn't do that, this is your house. I don't need a room anyway, it's not like I sleep. I can't impose." But it would be really nice to stay here because I don't have too much money with me.
"Please stay with us it would be nice to have you around!" Alice chimed in.
"If you insist but not for long, just so I can get Carlisle's help," I told them. That's a relief, I'm not sure I could pay for a hotel more than one night.
"Jasper will you show Gill the spare room dear?" Esme said this as more of a request, "You can get settled but then I want to talk to you." I nodded and thanked her before following Jasper up the stairs. It was less awkward with only a few of the Cullen's. The meeting in the living room with all of them staring had been quite nerve-racking. I grabbed my small bag and followed Jasper up the stairs, vampire speed. He led me to one of the doors.
"This is where you'll stay. If you need anything just ask."
"Well I have a question," He looked at me waiting for me to go on, "How long have you been part of this coven?"
"I'm the newest member actually."
"O that's interesting. Umm do you have an ability?"
"I'm not sure Carlisle would like me to tell you that yet."
"O, right. Sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's OK. Don't worry about it," Jasper flashed a quick smile, "Just go and get settled and we can all talk later."
"Thanks. I won't be too long. If you need me just ask."
He turned away and gave me a small wave. I quickly entered the room. The walls were cream colored and mostly blank. There was one painting on the wall facing the door; it hung over the small cherry wood dresser. The painting was medium sized of a vampire looking woman sitting under a tree. It was painted so you could see about half of her legs (horizontally) and just barely see the trees branches above her. You could see an Italian village in the background. There was a navy pullout couch on the left wall that faced the right one. The closet was on the same wall as the door and held various blankets, sheets, and towels. There were two shelves on the right wall that held books and various unused trinkets.
I placed my bag on top of the dresser and sat down on the couch. I studied the painting for a while from my seat. Without warning I abruptly stood and opened my bag. I tossed aside my sketch book, iPod, a T-shirt, and cell phone. I picked up the small book of photos I carried almost everywhere. The cover had a drawing of a barren tree and the back the same tree with leaves. It held pictures I had found of my human life and also new pictures of my vampire life. All the ones from my human life were black and white of me with family and friends. I flipped past the first pages and stopped in the middle of the book. I stopped at a picture of myself, the human me, with my extended family in our summer home. I then turned to the next page and found the picture I was looking for. Holy shit! That's impossible. It's just too crazy… There's no other explanation. That's why! I had found the reason. It was the reason he was so familiar. I had known him in my human life. He was the person standing close to me with his arm around my waist and smiling at the camera.
It was Edward.
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