Interlude III

Opening quote

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
Francis Bacon

Renee waved goodbye to Bella and Charlie as they drove off to their hopefully happy weekend trip. She'd never really enjoyed La Push, and Nora was just too quiet for her taste. She remembered feeling like a gagged doll after weekend visits at the Blacks. Oh, they were fun, but they were just too straightlaced for Renee. Carlisle understood that bit of a dark streak in her. It perfectly complemented his own.

This weekend was bad timing as far as he was concerned. Renee had begun noticing the changes in the color of his eyes but he'd put off explaining them to her so far. Until today. Tonight he would have no choice anymore and he wasn't sure whether to dread the ensuing conversation or finally have it out of the way at last. Maybe a bit of both.

Renee hadn't even made it to the livingroom when Carlisle silently came in the backdoor. Even though she was used to his soft and silent movements by now, they didn't cease to catch her unawares. He left her no time to be startled though, just took her in his arms and kissed her. Deeply and passionately, making her catch her breath when he let her go. „Sit with me, Renee. We have to talk about something before we go anywhere," he softly said and she looked at him inquiringly. Then she looked again. She'd never seen his eyes that dark and she also saw he noticed her look. „Yes, that's what I need to explain to you. It's important, Renee," he insisted and she nodded, watching his hands settle on hers, soft as butterflies' feet. „I know you've seen my eyes change. You're so much more observant than the average human. You saw right through me the first time we met, which is why I told you what I am, what my whole family is. You see, there's two kinds of vampires. Those that feed on humans and do not hold human lives in high regard. Their eyes are red, due to the diet they keep, if you will. Then there's those like me and my family who only feed on animals. Our eyes are amber and that's how you can tell us apart. But when we're hungry and need to feed, we're all the same. Our eyes turn black. Stay away from any of us when you see that. ANY of us, including my family, Renee. I mean it." Carlisle's hands held hers tight now and she winced. Immediately he let her go. „This weekend we had planned to drive to Goat Rocks Wilderness to go hunting and your call made me stay behind. I realise now that was a foolish thing to do. All it accomplished was to put you in serious danger. So I think it will be best if I leave now." Renee gave him an incredulous look and reached for his hands once more. „Do you seriously think I could just let you go now?" she asked. „Do you think that once I leave Charlie, and make no mistake about that, I will, that I'll be willing to live in a place away from you for safety's sake? I have no plan to do things halfway, Carlisle. And this, this is part of US. So I suggest you take me along and let me cope with the consequences." He gave her a long measuring look, then he vanished up the stairs and was back before she even reached the foot of the staircase, holding a duffel bag out to her. „Here's what you'll need for the weeekend. Better get ready for a rough ride, Renee. Are you really sure?" She smiled, her eyes clearly displaying her love for him, and nodded. She locked up the house and they left through the backdoor. As soon as they'd entered the forest, Carlisle let her climb on his back and told her to hold on. Renee closed her eyes as he started running, knowing he would keep her safe and being completely unable to ignore her fear and dizziness as the trees sped by.