Chapter 67

The Cullens house was filled with quiet whispers of the night they had all just experienced. For a night that was suppose to be upbeat and fun, it certainly didn't end up that way.

Masen seemed afraid to leave Carlisle's side as he followed him to the couch in the family room on the upper level. Where ever he walked, Masen was right there, as if he was ready to catch him if he fell. Carlisle finally laughed and turned to his son, "Masen. I promise you, I'm fine."

"You want me to leave?" He asked.

"No," Carlisle said, "No, of course not. You can spend every second with me if you want. I just don't want you to worry." He looked up to Esme who's actions were similar to Masen's, "And I don't want you to worry, either."

"I'm okay," she assured him. He knew she wasn't. "Carlisle, in the car I could see that you weren't yourself."

"I was still a little dizzy in the car," he admitted, "But since we've been home, I've gradually felt better."

"Are your ears still ringing?" Esme asked.

His eyes focused on random things around the room.

"Carlisle..."

"A little," he admitted.

Emmett creeped up the stairs slowly and waved politely. "Do you mind if I borrow Masen?" He asked, "Me and Edward want to talk to him."

Carlisle and Esme recognized the serious tone in his voice and nodded. Masen looked back at Carlisle, who nodded and told him to go. "You can come right back up when you're done," he assured him.

Emmett threw Masen on his back and the two of them disappeared down the stairs.

"We need to talk about this whole imprinting thing with Masen," Carlisle told her.

"You may be surprised, but I'm not all that worried about it," Esme admitted, "Renesme and Jacob's experience has been nothing but positive."

He nodded, "I think we'll have to have a serious talk with him sooner than later," he shook his head, "I just can't believe that happened."

"Leah was rough around the edges, but she has a good heart. She'll protect Masen whenever he's away from us. And eventually he'll be able to protect her."

Carlisle smiled, "Weren't you worried about being replaced as the only woman in his life?"

"I think it'll work out. I really do. I was thinking about it with Nessy, and the whole imprinting thing is kind of fool proof. He won't get his heart broken..."

"Yeah," Carlisle leaned back on the couch and outstretched his arms and legs, looking very relaxed. He patted the place on the couch next to him to get Esme to join him. She slowly made her way over and slumped into the place beside him. "Well if you don't want to join me, you don't have to," he joked.

She looked at him and rolled her eyes as if to say, 'you're crazy'.

"Cheer up," he said, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Esme asked.

Carlisle put an arm around her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"Where should I start?" she told him, "What a night."

"Well, it started off okay," he said with a grin.

Esme smiled, but let it quickly fade, "It didn't end so well. I know it was bound to happen eventually, but I didn't want Masen to see something like that. He's not old enough to see death and saddness."

"I know."

"He was so scared," she went on, "He thought no one could hurt us before tonight. He was so scared for you, Carlisle." Esme's shoulders slumped and sadness lingered on her face.

"Don't do this to yourself," Carlisle told her, "We're alright. We've been through worse."

"I haven't seen you like that before. I didn't know what she was doing to you," Esme said, "I can't get the image of you on the ground out of my head. And poor Masen, the look on his face and how he was crying to Edward. He was trying to be tough in front of his big brothers." She shook her head, half smiling and half upset.

Carlisle smiled and put his nose to hers, giving her an eskimo kiss, before a real one, "It's over."

"I know," she whispered

He pulled a blanket over the two of them and cuddled her up against him. "I may just be sensitive to high pitched noises or something," he told her, "And I just wasn't exposed to it until tonight."

"I hope that's all it was," she said, finding herself clutching to him tighter.

"Well, she's gone now," Carlisle said, "Although I would have liked to have asked her more questions."

"I'm glad she's gone," Esme said, "I wouldn't want to have to worry about that all the time, knowing she could... paralyze you like that."

Carlisle was about to protest, and say she didn't paralyze him, but didn't want to argue over it. "Things happen," he told her, "I wasn't in any real danger."

"How do you know for sure?" Esme asked.

"It was just.. discomfort."

She shook her head, "It was more than discomfort. You were in serious pain."

"Nothing more than what Jane did to Jacob," he insisted.

Esme sighed, knowing he would continue protesting in order to make her feel better. "It just scared me, that's all. I've never seen you in that state."

Carlisle kissed her forehead, "Well, like I said, it's over now. We can try to focus on Masen's imprinting situation."

From a distance, two shadows moved their way out of the realm of Forks. Felix and Demetri had witnessed the events of the party, and saw what became of Gianna. Rather than report back to Italy, Felix dialed Aro's phone number and gave him the news.

"She's been taken care of," Felix stated. Demetri stood beside him, listening in on Aro's side of the conversation.

"By whom?"

"Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie and one of the wolves jumped in," he then added, "And that high pitched noise she made that made Caius collapse - the same thing happened to Carlisle."

"Interesting," Aro said, his voice full of wonder, "I wouldn't call it a gift by any means, but I wonder why this ability she had only affected some of us."

"He fell strait to the ground," Demetri said, intervening, "Clutching his ears in agony. Too bad it didn't work on the rest of them. It would have been quite funny to see one reckless vampire destroy them all."

"And regain our status as the most powerful coven," Felix added sternly.

"You know," Aro's voice came over the receiver, "I know I've said it myself, but I'm sick of people thinking of the Cullens as a coven of equal nature to us," there was a pause, "Felix, Demetri.. don't do anything too disasterous, but have a little fun, be creative and send them a message."

"By not too disasterous..." Demetri started.

"Don't kill anybody," Aro stated calmly, "But let them be aware of your presence, and maybe give my old friend Carlisle another visit. He's the wise leader of their coven. If he goes down twice in a week, it'll leave them all in a state of panic."

Felix and Demetri smiled, "Your orders will be followed," Felix assured him, with delight in his voice.

"Good day," Aro said, and the line went dead.

Felix and Demetri smiled at each other again. "Finally," Demetri said, "A little fun."