In the Grip of Twilight
By: Olivia Tannis Moore
Chapter Eight: Glitches
The Cullen home, ablaze with lights, was a welcome sight. Elena was not.
I do believe the feeling was mutual.
She must have been waiting on Edward in the front parlor, where she could easily see the front door. And so it must've been an aggravation when we came through the back door after dropping our cargo off in the utility garage. Edward had washed off in the small washroom there, and finally pulled a clean shirt over his head. Too bad she'd missed that, too.
Esme was the first to greet us. She was in the foyer putting together a floral arrangement of fresh daisies and baby's-breath. I didn't miss the look of surprise and delight in her eyes when she saw me walk in with Edward. "Bella!" She exclaimed, hugging me; and although her skin was icy-cold, her embrace was warm with sincerity. Just before releasing me, she kissed my cheek in front of Elena, who'd just walked into the foyer from the parlor.
Elena stood there pouting like a petulant child. In fact, that's just what I saw—a five year old in an eighteen year old girl's body. How could she live for hundreds of years and still act like a five year old?
To my surprise, Edward leaned in and put his arm around my waist. As I stood there enjoying the sensation, I couldn't decide whether he was reminding Elena of her vow not to eat the local fauna or not—we'd not talked or really resolved anything. Instinctively, I felt Edward was still angry and hurt by the things I'd said. But on the other hand, we'd just come through a harrowing experience…and those things always drew us closer. Like Edward used to say: 'Our love is an enigma wrapped inside a Chinese puzzle box. Nobody's going to solve the hows and whys.'
Elena screwed her mouth up into a little pucker.
"Edward," she called out louder than necessary, "you promised to help me with my homework."
For the first time, Edward looked directly at her. "Yes, I know. I'm sorry, but there's been an emergency." He sounded so diplomatic, dismissing her like that. I smiled, knowing Elena would think I was the emergency.
"Don't worry, Elena. I'll help you with your homework," a voice said from the top of the staircase, and I looked up to see Alice standing there. Good, sweet, beautiful Alice.
In two seconds she had whirled down the stairs and was hugging me as if she'd not seen me in weeks. "I love you to pieces," I whispered in her ear, not caring that Elena would surely hear.
"You can't help me," Elena said haughtily. "You're not even in my class. Besides, Edward promised he would help me."
Edward's arm tightened about my waist. He was obviously annoyed. I almost laughed, wondering how I could ever have been jealous of Elena. She had to be one of the most childish and mean-spirited girls I'd ever had the misfortune of meeting.
For a moment no one said anything. Then Esme smiled good naturedly. "My dear, Alice is a wonderful student and I have the utmost confidence that she can assist you. I'm sure Edward wishes he could help you, but he did say there was an emergency."
Elena changed her tone. Evidently, she knew it would be a mistake to go against Esme. "You're right, of course," she sighed dramatically. "I must sound ungrateful, and after everything you've done for me. Please forgive me."
Wonderful stage performance, I thought. And why not?—she'd had years to perfect it.
"Come on, Elena," Alice said taking her by the arm. "We'll go up to my room where we won't be disturbed."
***
We listened as Alice's bedroom door closed. Then we silently followed Esme to her study. It was one of several rooms in the large house that was soundproof, even against the extraordinary hearing of those who lived there. I'd been in this room only once when Edward had given me the tour my first visit here. It was a beautiful room with large oil-painted canvasses hanging unframed on the walls like tapestries. Victorian lamps on each side of the small reading sofa gave the room a warm, candlelight glow.
She shut the door behind us and we went to the small oval table in front of the window.
"Will Carlisle be home soon?" Edward asked Esme.
"Any time now," she answered, looking at her wristwatch. "There was a car accident in front of the Town Hall this afternoon. Minor injuries, but he stayed nevertheless. He called right before the two of you came in."
That reminded me…"I have to call Charlie," I said to Esme. "May I use your phone?"
And while Edward told Esme of our adventure with the wolf creature, I went to the sofa and used the phone there on the side table. I explained to Charlie that I'd been invited to the Cullen's for dinner and forgot to tell him. (My nose, I'm sure, would someday grow long enough to become a bridge to China.) He didn't seem upset, but he did ask me to be home by eleven. 'School night, Bella,' he reminded me.
"That's very disturbing…" Esme was saying when I got back to the table. "And Alice…"
Alarmed, I asked, "What's wrong with Alice?"
"Alice had a vision of the Forgotten attacking you—but it didn't come until we were on our way back here. For some reason her premonitions are coming too late to do anything about."
"Jasper is having some difficulties, as well," Esme added. "It's as if a wire is shorting out in each of us, giving unpredictable results. I think Carlisle will agree that we need to be very careful. I'd like to see us stay close to one another in the upcoming days, at least until we know what is going on."
I turned to Edward. He was already staring at me, plainly worried. I gave him enough trouble when everything was working right. I'm the classic Calamity Jane. And when trouble came knocking, I was usually the one that opened the door. There was a reason why his secret pet name for me was "Bumble-Bella".
His hand slipped to my chin and he caressed the little hollow below my bottom lip. It was his way of reassuring me that everything would be alright.
I didn't hear him tell Esme about the bite from the Forgotten. I wondered about that. Probably didn't want to worry her. But still, in a family where there were very few, if any, secrets, it was disturbing.
***
(Quick Note: Chapter 7 was the most heavily trafficked chapter so far, according to . If you're reading this story, please consider the review page as a Guest Book and say "Hi"—no last names please. I like to know who's reading my work—even if I am playing with Stephenie's toys. *grin)