Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. When it's not PG anymore, you can come back to me, genuflecting and know that I own it.
Carlisle POV
I sat in my study, reading a book from Jaspers library-like collection. I smiled as I heard Alice and Edward coming through the woods, finally finished hunting. I was jostled on all sides by my children as I went down the stairs. Esme waited down the bottom for me, blissful now that her first and favourite child was home safe (A/N: I know Jasper is older, but Edward was with Esme first).
We neatened ourselves up from the charge down the stairs, and walked outside, the picture perfect family. Edward and Alice were walking down the winding drive, cheeks flushed from feeding. Alice didn't shout out in greeting as usual, which was strange – until I saw the reason why.
Accompanying Alice and Edward was a female vampire, poised and confident, even near us, an abnormally large group. She walked towards the house with a feline gait, and out of the shadows her golden eyes were ablaze with delight. Her emotions emanated off her, much like Jasper with his ability. I heard Rosalie mutter, perplexed, "Wait, is that Bella, the new girl at school?"
I didn't want to have to protect my family by killing the vampire – Bella – if she attacked, but for some reason I doubted that I would be able to stop her, despite her delicate looks, she had a dangerous air. Her confidence alone was unsettling, especially as she was among a large force, outnumbered 7 to 1.
Jasper gave me a look, telling me that he was going to join Alice. I had no time to stop him, and was mildly surprised when Bella quickly swayed out of the way and let him pass, with only a small look back at the pair. She had good self-control, especially as Jasper had ran at full speed, a threatening move. I knew how Jasper worried when Alice was away, even when she was with Edward.
Bella turned back to me and started walking, and I thought I could see her smiling. Her hands were held out in a display of peace. Waves of calm were being sent out by Jasper, and she looked back at him, amused. She didn't seem to be affected by Jasper's ability. She stopped a polite distance away, making sure that I knew she wasn't threatening my family or me. I strode forward, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett following behind.
I put out my hand to shake, trusting that Bella wasn't interested in harming me. As she took it I couldn't help but recoil a bit from her touch. Her hand was very hard and cold. Vampires are always cold and hard, but they felt normal to other vampires.
Bella wasn't like that, her hand was freezing and marble to me, a completely foreign feeling. Even the Volturi, at least when I last saw them, weren't like that and some were hundreds of years my senior. She must be extemely old, regardless of her youthful looks. Bella cordially introduced herself in a soft voice.
"My name is Bella Swan, and it's nice to meet you all."
Esme came up behind me and smiled warmly at Bella. Rosalie stood behind the two of us, reluctant to go closer. Emmett did an extremely foolish thing. Without thinking of the consequences, he walked right up to Bella gave enveloped her in a bear hug. I stiffened, seeing her body tense and her fists clench into lethal little fists. Then, remarkably, Bella relaxed and allowed Emmett to put her back down.
A devilish light glimmered in her eyes and she gave Emmett a squeeze. Her arms didn't completely reach around his waist, but I could tell from the contortion of Emmett's face that the embrace was painful. Before I could intercede, Bella released him and he flopped to the ground, laughing weakly and clutching his stomach.
She helped him to his feet before skipping over and giving Esme a light hug. She nodded at Rosalie, who had an aloof look on her face, then spun around to shake Jasper's hand, who had just arrived with Alice and Edward.
I noticed the look in Edward's eyes. He stared at Bella with a mix of confusion, fascination, respect and charm. The only sign of fear and stress in his face were his eyebrows, drawn together in a scowl. Bella gave Alice and Edward a nod and a grin. At the angle that I was standing, I could see her face. I saw the wistful look in her eyes as her face turned from Edward's. Edward had been lonely for so long, and it seemed like Bella was just like him. It certainly looked they harboured the same feelings for each other.
Edward caught onto my train of thought and frowned at me, but his usually intensity was softened. I decided that she may as well come into the house; we had a lot to discuss. "Do you want to come inside, Bella? We may as well go in and have a seat. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."
She nodded at me, "I'd be delighted Dr. Carlisle. Don't worry about me; I won't hurt your family." So she knew more about us than I thought. I wondered how much Alice and Edward had told her, I moved my gaze ever so slightly to rest on Edward, who shook his head slightly from side to side in answer to my unspoken question. Neither of them had told her anything at all.
I started towards the house, aware that I was vulnerable to Bella with my back turned, but convinced that she wouldn't hurt anyone. Everyone dashed up to join me, and Bella gave a silvery, tinkling laugh. My family flanked her, but she ignored us, running lightly she kept pace with ease. Bella revelled in the beauty of the majestic trees and the moonlight that filtered through it in tiny streams. She appeared oblivious of our presence, innocent and childlike with the blissful look on her face.
The slivers of moonlight scattered in rainbows off her skin, making her glimmer like a diamond. She reached the house and serenely walked in, looking around her with curiosity. She beamed when she saw Edwards' piano, admiring the quality of it. They had the same tastes as well. Edward saw her fixation and gave me a wry look, which turned exasperated as he read my thoughts.
Bella turned back towards me, wistfulness in her eyes. Suddenly she raised an eyebrow. Catching my confusion, she casually tapped the side of her head. I felt my mouth fall open as she turned away and sat down in a chair. She could read my thoughts?
Bemused, I sat down and put my head in my hands. Raising my head, I saw my family looking at me, waiting for me to start. Bella took the lead.
"Okay, I'm Isabella Marie Swan, eternally seventeen years old. I'm a vegetarian vampire who has never feasted on a human. I've killed thousands of red-eyed vampires, but I don't kill golden-eyed ones, such as you. I moved to Forks two days ago. I'm enrolled at Forks High. What else do you want to know?"
I gathered myself together, but Alice beat me to the punch.
"Why don't our abilities work on you? Why didn't we sense your approach?"
Bella sat back in the chair, a thoughtful look in her eyes. She said, "I've got to think on that, I'll tell you later."
I leant towards her. "How old are you, Bella?"
She recoiled from the question, turning into unresponsive marble in her chair. She abruptly looked up, an insolent look in her eyes. "Seventeen years old," she replied.
I sighed, knowing that she was in distress, not wanting to push her further. "That's okay, Bella. I won't make you answer anything you don't want to. What powers do you have?"
She gave a quick glance at Edward, who had an impartial look on his face. I knew him well enough to know that he was interested. I gave him an exasperated look. There was no need to be so hurtful, and the look on his face was hurting Bella. She tore her gaze back to me.
"I can read and influence minds, causing illusions of sensations such as pain. I can read the future, locate people, alter peoples senses like smell, hearing and eyes. I can read and influence emotions–"
Edward cut Bella off by storming out of the room, an angry look on his face. I heard him dash up to his room on the third floor and slam his door as hard as he could without breaking it. Jasper had a look of suprise on this face, the no doubt intense emotions hitting him, hard. Bella was disconcerted by this display of violence, and looked down at the floor. I could see that the sudden show of feeling had hurt her. Esme and Alice immediately ran to her side and hugged her, murmuring reassurances, telling her that that it wasn't her fault. I guess it was one of those womanly intuition things. I walked upstairs to talk to Edward, knocking lightly on his door. He was lying face down on the golden carpet.
I knelt down beside his prone form. Putting one hand on his shoulder, I was shrugged off, and in the next second he was copying my position. He looked at me, a harsh look in his eyes. I whispered a question to my first son, my first child.
"Edward, what's wrong?"
I know that this took ages to do, but I've been studying for my exams. Although my brain is so good that I don't need to study much, I don't want to fail. Maybe some of you don't care, but I am going to set my ninja sporks on you! R&R please! Also, for those with sick and twisted minds, Carlisle doesn't fancy Bella, no matter how he describes her! Eww people! Just a little warning - my year is going on a trip to celebrate the end of exams next week, so I will writing like I'm insane, but be unable to post. If you be nice (and maybe review) I will send my friend a looooong few texts on my mobile, telling her to update using the story in the texts. Its my credit on my mobile and my time, but you guys are worth it!
Ninja Spork
