Chapter 7

A New Family

"Mildred….." Ebony says with a pleasing tone with a hint of motherly sound in her voice. Opening her thick arms to embrace her daughter-figure, Ebony smiles encouraging at the vampire. Mildred returns the kindness and tightly wraps her arms around Ebony with Renesemee keeping her curious eyes on the elderly woman. Renesemee's face is cynical as the elderly woman wraps her arms around Mildred.

Releasing her strong hold on Mildred's shoulder, Renesemee kicks off her back to jump into Bella's loving embrace. Without a invitation, Bella excepts her daughter into her arms, Renesemee draws up her small arms to wrap around her neck and rest her curly head on Bella's right shoulder. Their cold flesh collides, sending cold friction on their hard skin. With her head down, Renesemee keeps a close eye on the two women.

The two women embrace each other with a tight hug. Mildred's slender arms wrap beneath Ebony's arms and lock her hands upward on her shoulders. "It's good to see you, Ebony, it's been too long." Mildred murmurs into Ebony's ears before releasing her tight hold on Ebony but not fully letting go. Drawing down her arms, Mildred clasps her small hands into Ebony's. Allowing a small space between them, Mildred expresses a delight grin with the apples of her cheeks growing largely and her lips become thin.

"Yes, it has. You left so suddenly last time, where do you travel?" Ebony asks curiously, voice is soft and maternal. Her copper eyes stare in wonder at her daughter-figure and her thin, small eyebrows are lifting up, urging to her explain. Tilting her head to the side, her bangs fall in the same direction as the corner of her mouth rises up, encouragingly.

Mildred drops her eyes from Ebony's welcoming gaze in shame while biting her lower lip. Sighing in defeat, Mildred returns a gaze of disgrace. "I….um…I went looking for them again." Mildred stammers her confession while having a difficult time keeping eye contact with her mother figure. Rising one shoulder to her jaw line, Mildred waits for Ebony's unspoken words and hopes her disappointment will not be too painful. Knowing very well, Ebony dislikes that fact Mildred hold vengeances for these vampires.

Ebony stares poignant at Mildred before speaking, "I see." Ebony says in a plain tone, being very careful to not express her disappointment in Mildred's decision. "Well, I understand. I am glad you are well." Ebony confesses in a sweet and soothing tone while releasing one hand for Mildred's iron grasp. Softly tap her free hand on top of Mildred's ice hard hand in a way of comfort. Smiling wider at Mildred as her golden eyes darts to the guest behind her. "I see you have company….." Ebony says as her eyes come across the small children. Her smiling face immediately falls into a fearful feature and her jaw drops. Widening her eyes before glancing at Mildred. "Oh dear Mildred, You didn't?" Her voice is a whisper that holds much fear for her daughter-figure.

"No, Ebony, Bella gave birth to them…… their half vampires. The legends are true." Mildred fractures Ebony's worry feature with her calm yet beaming voice. Mildred eyes stare at Ebony in hopes of her approval.

Ebony composes herself as her face expresses an intrigue feature. "I see."

Mildred glances back at Bella and quickly tilts her head upward while rising her eyebrows, urging Bella to speak.

Bella catches Mildred's drift and immediately looks at Ebony's sweet gaze, "I'm Bella, it a pleasure to meet you." Bella speak fluently, voice is slightly wavering in confidence. Staring at Ebony, Bella eyes glitter in hope of approval.

"Of course." Ebony says gently, releasing her hold on Mildred and approaches her new guess. Reaching forth her hand, Ebony waits for Bella to except her invitation. Smiling a kind smile, Ebony copper eyes glow a warm feeling to Bella.

Bella notices her attempt and senses her sincerity and lovingness. Of course, her kind manners and sweet smile promotes Bella to smile back in warmth. Accepting her hand shake, Bella smile grows large in confidence as her cold hand grasps Ebony's olive hand.

"Well, it nice to meet you, Bella as well as your children," Ebony says with meaning before glancing back at Mildred, "Shall we go to the living room. We can talk more."

Ebony suggestion causes Mildred to notice in agreement.

IN the next room, the sitting room, two love seats dress in passionate red fabric and a dark brown wooden frame. A white Persia rug is beneath the couches and resting against dark hard-wooden floors. Paintings made from the slave-owner times hangs on the wooden walls with dramatic and beautiful compositions. The room itself is small but comfortable, several windows are slightly cover by deep red curtains with a golden trim and the sunlight sneaks through the openings in the curtains. The light shines across the wooden floor, leaving a glittering polish feature.

The room is dim but with the sunlight from outside, the pure light gives the room a lividness sensation.

"It sounds like you've been on a roller coaster, Bella, its good to see you are well. It's always nice to come across another vampire that share our ways." Ebony confesses, voice is appraising Bella with a high pitch tone. The elderly vampire sits on the edge of the love seat with her left leg tuck beneath her right and her olive tone hands clasping gently in her lap. Her back is straight and posture is elegant. "It's very rare."

Bella couldn't help but smile to Ebony's kindness and compliments. Her life story of what she remembers seems to be a struggle and with a little appraise, it makes those difficult times like a passing dream.

Bella sits across from Ebony with her straight back posture. Renesemee sits in Bella's lap with her small hand mimicking Ebony's hand position and her eyes never leaving the elder woman for she feel fascinate by her. Like a grandmother, Renesemee feels much warmth coming from her. Luken leans his upper body against Bella's back while playing with her hair and once awhile sticking the strand of hair into his mouth.

"Well, I'll be honored to help your children learn the ways of not hunting humans" Ebony chimes in with her hands slightly opening up in an inviting gesture. Her eyes then glance down to Renesemee, who is mimicking her action and couldn't help but chuckle at the youngling, the chuckle is a deep laugh that is calm and merry. Already fond of Renesemee, Ebony is graceful to see and experience what her family went through by the images that Renesemee place into her mind.

"Where are the others?" Mildred suddenly asks, voice is curious and slightly frantic. Mildred sits next to Ebony with her back resting against the cushion and her shoulder slouching forward. Her sudden curiosity causes her to sit up and crank her neck to either direction to sniff the air for the others. Mildred's nose flares with each inhale but immediately stops when only smelling the children's aroma. Showing no signs of trying control herself to their scent, Mildred leans back against the cushion and looks up at Ebony.

"Oh, there hunting…." Ebony replies, rolling her eyes for the others enjoy a good game of hunting lame animals.

Then in a blink of an eye, a whoosh of air breezes through the room and ruffling anything light. Bella's hair limps to the side and out of Luken's grasp. Luken immediately reclaims her hair with his lower lip pushing forward. Some papers fly into the air and slowly casting down to the floor.

"I thought I smelt something odd." A teasing tone awakes in the room from a deep male voice in the door fame.

Casting her eyes to the door frame behind her, Bella leans her forearm on the cushion and stares at the character leaning casually against the wooden frame. Bella notices his handsome looks and not to mention good body.

His body is lean but muscular as his arms flex when his arms are crossing his chest. IN his cool demeanor, he crosses one leg over the other and his shoulder crushing against the wood, forcing his shoulder to rise to his jaw line. He wears a long sleeve cotton shirt that frames his tone chest and has dark blue jeans. The jean is fit loosely with a black belt showing beneath his shirt. Dark brown boots with a small heel confine his feet. The vampire has an oblong shape head with pale thin lips and straight nose. He has light brown curly hair that is close to the scalp with a thin go-T. Of course handsome looks especially with his cocky half-grin and has fresh golden copper flowing within his irises.

Bella's jaw slightly drops to this insanely-gorgeous creature leaning on the door frame. With him standing there, Bella can senses goodness from him and see how carefree he is.

Bella immediately closely her jaw when hearing Mildred's squeal of delight. IN a flash, Mildred hops from her seat and sprints across the room. Widening her arms with a large grin on her face, Mildred springs into his arms while she exclaims, "Julian!" Mildred cries with delight, voice is high and thrilling.

Julian brushes off the frame before being clout by Mildred's tight embrace. Mildred wraps her cold arms around his neck along with her legs encircling Julian's hips. Her hold tightens around his neck as Julian's feature brightens.

"Miss me much?" Julian asks teasingly when Mildred slightly loosens her arms to look at Julian masculine but sweet face. By the looks of it, Julian enjoys Mildred's reaction to his presences.

"No." Mildred playfully pouts with her lips before allowing the corner of her mouth to curve upward. Her dead heart flourishes with happiness to reunite with an old friend. Releasing her tight hold on Julian, Mildred returns her feet to the ground. "Did you miss me?"

Julian huffs in amusement, "Of course not! I could never get use to your stench." Julian replies playfully, voice is pretending to be serious but fails miserably. One side of his lips rises in a half smile that is cocky and mischievous.

Mildred huffs in fake disgust before slapping her hand into his shoulder follow by a soft chuckle in enjoyment. A soft thud comes from her playfully smack as Julian cringes his arm and laughing deeply.

Bella watches their performance with pleasure. A soft smile grows on her lips and showing little teeth. Renesemee stares at Julian as her eyes growing wider to his beautiful features. Soon, a smile grows on her lips as her eyes glitter in delight.

Ebony notices Renesemee's face and smiles to her childish-like fascination. Then her eyes stare off into space as her good sense of hearing detects feet running across the ground from the outside. Ebony refocuses her eyes before saying, "Ah, right on time."

Bella flashes her eyes to Ebony's strange statement when another whoosh of wind glides into the room. Once again, light object flow into the air as the paper flow down in a waving motion. Of course, Bella's hair is snatch from Luken's grasp which promotes his pouting feature.

At the corner of Bella's eye a glimpse of another vampire appears in the room, nearby Ebony. This male vampire is much different from Julian. His expresses are hard and serious. Sharp, chiseled bone structure appears on his diamond shape head. His eyes are a bright golden copper with a hard look. Dark chocolate hair is straight and ties into a small hair band with short strands of hair lying lifelessly against the nape of his neck. A few strands of bangs drape down his serious but beautiful face. His body is sturdy, chest is bulky and his arms are thick with muscle. A V-shape torso, the male vampire has broad shoulders that lift.

His copper eyes stare intensely at Mildred, for a moment, Bella notices passion in his eyes. Bella glances her eyes at Mildred who is returning an uncertain stare and soon, Mildred fidgets with her fingers. "Hello Paul." Mildred says timidly, voice is slightly shaky. Mildred's eyes stay on Paul's as her eyes reflect longingness, almost. Soon, she drops her eyes, shyly as Paul returns an unmet expectation. Paul locks his jaw before casting his chin to a different direction, away from Mildred and cross his arm across his chest.

Bella's eyes bounce between the two with suspicion with her eyelids slightly squinting. At the moment, Bella drops her eyes from them, not wanting to be rude.

Ebony sat up in a swift and graceful moment. Standing between the two male vampires, "Paul, Julian this is Bella." Ebony informs in a sweet tone while gesturing with her hand. If it's possible, Bella would be blushing to the sudden attention. "And these are her children, Luken and Renesemee. They are half human and half vampire."

Julian head immediately snaps up to Ebony with astonishment. "What? Is that even possible." Julian voice is strain, skeptical and full of wonder. Furrowing his eyebrows deeply, Julian waits for Ebony to answer his question.

"Yes." Ebony says in a firm tone. "I was able to see this through Renesemee's thoughts." Her eyes momentarily glance at Renesemee who eyes are still on Julian. Remembering the images of Renesemee's short life makes Ebony even more protective of the children.

"How do you know they are telling the truth?" Paul speaks with doubt, voice is rough and deep. His words are soft-spoken and there is edge in his voice that would any girl crazy for him. Paul uncrosses his arm and slightly shifts his body to face Ebony.

Bell couldn't help but feel pain from Paul's accusations. Then, Paul's hard eyes find her and glares at her. Immediately, a sensation of fear crawls from Bella's stomach to her chest and swell greatly in her.

Julian furrows in his eyebrows in thought to Paul's words then stare at Bella's head. "I can't get into your mind." Julian murmurs in shock and hint of wailing grows in his words. His face expresses bewilderment to this fact as fear of wondering if his power no longer works.

"What?" Bella ask in confusion, tearing her eyes from Paul and glances back at Julian who is trying to use his power on her.

"What do you mean? This has never happened before?" Paul asks gruffly, his eyes darting to Julian's focus ones. Slightly feeling frustrate to Julian sudden disability in his power, Paul glances back at Bella with a harsh stare. "What did you do?" His voice is harsh.

Bella is unable to speak as her body freezes to Paul's callous tone. Luken senses his mother's distress and immediately glances at Paul. A rumble from Luken's chest awakes in the room as his upper lip curls up and he releases a deep-childish hiss.

Paul looks at Luken's expression and returns the same deep voice that is more menacing than the young boy.

"That's enough, Paul!" Mildred voice is cold and harsh, slightly strain to her anger. Taking a few steps towards Bella, Mildred's face is hard and serious. Standing behind Bella with her arm crossing over her chest, Mildred stares down at Paul as he backs down from his stance. "Did you even consider that fact that she might be a shield?"

Paul considers her words and drops his eyes to the ground. He definitely does no want to upset Mildred even more, even through his intention for his harsh words are purely to protect her and his family.

"Of course." Ebony whispers out loud to herself, her eyes staring off in thought.

"You mean a mind shield?" Julian asks Mildred, voice is curious. He takes several steps towards Mildred and is oblivious to the fact that the young girl is stare ogling at him.

Mildred turns towards him with a hopeful expression and nods once.

"Are you a mind reader?" Bella ask curiously, rising her eyebrows at Julian and waits patiently for him to answer.

Julian directs his eyes towards Bella with a friendly feature, "Not exactly, I can't read minds but I can see into people's memories." Julian confesses with a hint proud in his voice. "I can even extract and add memories into people's mind, if need be, of course." Julian winks at her which promoted Bella to smile softly at him. "Paul jump higher than any other vampire I have crossed paths with." Paul rolls his eyes in annoyance.

Julian smiles at Bella before shifting his eyes to Renesemee who is staring at him with relentless force. His mind links to Renesemee and scans through her memories as many image appear into his mind. Julian absorbs her memories as his eyes fall deeply into her mind. Shortly after a few minutes, Julian's smile grows large. "Interesting young one…." Julian says politely then moving his eyes to Luken. His mind works hard to get into Luken's but no success. A simple 'hmm' comes from his throat, "The shield must have been past down to Luken." Julian says coolly but in fascination.

"Wonderful!" Ebony says intrudingly, her smile growing large.

Paul groans leaning his head to the side and receives a low hiss from Mildred. Paul remains oblivious to Mildred's hissing and maintains his harsh features.

Bella glances at Paul and hopes her present does not disrupt this wonderful household. Biting her lower lip thoughtfully, Bella feels at home in this place. Thanking her lucky stars that Mildred deicide to come here. For a strange reason, this family remains her of another…..but nothing comes to mind. Her flashback has remain dormant for the past week. A need to hunt for her lost memories grows larger in her gut, yet fear seems to keep her here.

"Well, Paul, Julian………Bella and her children will be staying with us. Bella wishes to teach her children the ways of a vegetarian." Ebony says happily, clasping her hands in front of herself as her eyes glance at both Paul and Julian with hope.

Julian eyes light up to the new family members but Paul remains harsh. Paul casts his eyes elsewhere ignoring anything that involves them. Mildred stands like a statue while staring at Paul.

Paul looks at the corner of his eye at Mildred and notices her plain stare. A hint of wanting him to approve swells in her irises. Soft lips of Mildred's slightly part as her eyes fade off into a longing stare. But soon, Mildred drops her eyes in despair.

"Come, I'll show you to your room." Ebony says calmly, voice has a hint of cheerfulness. The elder vampire approach the three as her arm open widely, welcoming Renesemee to her arms.

Renesemee reluctantly looks away from Julian and looks up at Ebony's open arms. An encouraging smile grows on Ebony's face as Renesemee accepts her invitation. Hopping from her mother's lap in the elder vampire's arms. Wrapping her cold arms around Ebony's neck, Renesemee leans her head against Ebony's chest. Ebony begins to stroll away.

Bella rises fluently to her feet with Luken clinging onto her back. She follows Ebony to the flight of stairs. Without a sound they walk up the step without a sound.

Mildred remains still as the two stroll up, quietly. She levitates her eyes to meet Paul's intense stare. A familiar sensation grows in her chest, a feeling she is so desperate to cast away but can't. Almost painful feature swims in her eyes before she reluctantly walks away from him.

Later in the evening, the sun has fallen from the world's view to allow the stars to twinkle in the night. Bella's new room is small with a full bed in the middle, a small rug on the end of the bed with a small window on the far wall. The window is wide open, allowing the fresh cool wind to breeze into the room while grasp the royal blue curtain in its hold. Renesemee and Luken sit on the large window seal, leaning forward into the wind as the air follows through their hair. Renesemee's small curls limps into the wind as her eyes close to the wonderful feeling of the wind breezing on her cold, hard skin.

Luken wondrous eyes stare up at the stars with amazement. The star twinkle like glitter, Luken's good vision intakes the beautiful scenery.

Bella sits on the edge of the bed; the mattress forms a small dent to her weight. Leaning back with her palm resting on the white comforter and her shoulder slouching up to her jaw line. Bella legs hang over the mattress with her pale feet on the wooden floor. Her motherly eyes watch with delight at her children. A small smile grows on her lips while watching her daughter's curls below in the wind.

"Wait….." A voice from a different room comes to Bella's ears. Widening her eyes slightly, Bella cranks her neck to the door. The voice comes from down the hall. "Don't go." The voice is pleading, it's Paul. Bella furrows her eyebrows, never hearing the softer side of Paul's voice.

"I can't, Paul! I won't! I Don't feel that way Paul" Mildred voice is strain from the amounts of emotion in her voice. Her word tremble even saddens Bella to hear them. Soft creaking sounds from the wooden floor echoes to Bella's room. Guessing Mildred is walking away, Bella tries not to listen anymore to their conversation.

A deep huff comes from Paul, "Then why do you keep coming back. I know you, Mildred, you can't hide you emotion from me."

"I come back for Ebony and Julian! And Bella….."

"Oh come on, Mildred! You honestly believe everything she says?" Paul voice is skeptical and accusing which makes Bella cringes to his voice.

"Julian has looked into Renesemee's memories, her words are true….What prove do you want?!"

A deep growl of frustration from Paul awakes. Bella shivers to the sound and her children immediately look her way with worry expressions. Noticing her children's worry expression, Bella shakes her head side to side with a small smile. The children look at each other between returning to their previous interest.

"If the Volturi find out about the children, we will be doomed. Why are you putting us at risk for them?" Paul whispers furiously without any harshness in his voice. Guessing that he'll never intentionally hurt Mildred, to this fact Bella holds no resentment towards him.

"Because….." Mildred says quietly with no way to argue with her reasons. But her reasons remain a mystery to Bella and so, she listens intensely to what are her reasons. "I lost my family; I know what its like to be alone! To have no one….She has no one but her children, she needs us. She needs this family…whether you like it or not she is part of this family now, get use to it..."

Paul sighs in despair; his breath is long and hard. "Mildred….." His voice is soft, full of concern and emotion. "If anything happens to you……I…I don't know what I'll do. I love you…..and they can bring danger to us, a danger that I might not be able to protect you from."

Mildred inhales a deep breath that is shaky, "I'm not yours to protect." Mildred says slowly, voice is full of internal sorrow and fear.

Bella heart aches for Paul, listening to him pour out his heart to her to only be spilt out. Bella's eyes soften dramatically. Silence swells between the two but no sounds of movement come to Bella's ears.

"If that's the way you want it…." Paul recovers his hard voice. Soft movements of Paul's shoes lightly hitting the ground as he sprints from Mildred.

Bella wishes to comfort Mildred but does not want her to know that she has been eavesdropping on their conversation. Although, this information explains their intense stare in the sitting room. Mildred breathes in a deep inhale follow by dry sobs. Her gasps tuck on Bella's stone heart as her face express saddens to these sounds. The question to why Mildred refuses Paul remains a mystery, even though she claims to not love him and yet, cries for him…. Bella feels rather confuse and hopes to help her new friend.

Bella remains on the bed momentarily, and then strolls to her children.

To be continue......

Sorry for the long wait. The vacation was fun until I caught the fever!

I hope this chapter wasn't slow. Don't worry it'll pick up. So what do you think about Mildred and Paul?

I hope you like the new characters, I want you to gradually get to know them. So, I had fun writing Julian and Mildred' relationship. I'll be adding more of them.

But anyways thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed. Leave a Review!