A/N – Hello. Sorry for taking a little longer than normal to update. I hope you all enjoy this next instalment. Thank you for reading and please take my sincere best wishes with you, always. ESx
PS) Get well soon Aussie Royal, hope you're not giving those nurses too much grief ;-)
Chapter 74 - Esme
Alice gently wrapped her arms around my waist. Slowly her lips kissed the side of my neck as I leant back into her solid form. Her lips moved to the side of my ear and as she started to speak I could feel her breath stroke the side of my face, leaving a tingling sensation I had never felt before.
"We should speak to Carlisle, about what just happened" she suggested. As I nodded the tingling remained, as a slight tremor ran down my spine.
"Are you okay Bella?" Alice asked, turning me in her arms.
I felt myself smile.
"Yes, just adapting to my new senses" I replied as Alice grinned.
"Any sense in particular?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.
I leant in closer so my lips were inches from her own.
"Oh, I don't know… perhaps… sight" I answered, as I ran the tip of my finger under one of Alice's amber eyes. Alice started to purr as I returned her reaction with a wink.
"Anything else?" she enquired, winking back at me in the most endearing way imaginable.
"Mmm, well… my hearing is definitely getting better" I replied, as the same finger tip stroked against Alice's ear.
"Hear anything you like?" she asked, her amber eyes flashing.
"The sound of your voice" I answered, as I lent to the side and kissed her earlobe.
Alice shuddered slightly as I brought my head back.
"I think I like these… acute senses of yours" she whispered as I cupped her face with both my hands.
"I rather like my new found sense of smell, it certainly appreciates you" I whispered as I brought her face towards mine, inhaling deeply.
"And I certainly appreciate it" she murmured as I released her.
"I think you'll appreciate the last two more, Alice" I almost purred as Alice tilted her head to one side.
"Really?" she asked with a smile, as I quickly pulled her into my arms.
"Oh yes, really…" I answered, as I leant in closer, my lips so close to hers.
"And what would they be, Bella?" she asked, a little out of breath as I slowly smiled.
"Touch" I replied, as my tongue darted from my mouth and traced the outline of her bottom lip.
"And taste" I finished, as our lips finally met. The touch was gentle and light at first, as a breeze would kiss your face. As Alice opened her mouth slightly and whispered my name, the passion deep within me took control as I felt each sense overload. A deep growl escaped my lips as my hand cupped the back of Alice's head, bringing her in closer.
I could feel her smile against my lips as she moved back a little.
"I definitely, definitely appreciate these new senses of yours Bella" she whispered as someone whistled behind us.
"Emmet, go away" Alice responded without even turning to see.
I glanced over Alice's shoulder as Emmet winked.
"Now THAT was hot" he answered, as Esme appeared behind him.
"Emmet Cullen, where are you manners" she asked, as she glanced from him to me, a smile on her face.
"Hey, my behaviour is always correct socially Esme. But this isn't a social gathering, it's the kitchen…" his voice trailed off as Esme turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you being cheeky, Emmet" she softy enquired as Emmet seemed to gulp.
He was afraid of Esme?
"Oh, just joking…" he replied, looking a little sheepish.
Alice started to laugh as Emmet stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"I'm… sorry" he continued, as I started to smile too.
"That's okay Emmet, I know you're still hurting about the arm wrestle" I answered as Esme started to laugh.
"Is this gang up on Emmet day?" he whined as Esme shook her head.
"Emmet, less of the dramatics" she whispered as Emmet's hands seemed to disappear even deeper into his pockets.
"Okay, okay… I'm going…" he replied as Esme held out a hand to stop him.
"No teasing Rosalie about Jacob either" she warned as Emmet's eyes seemed to twinkle.
"I wasn't…." he started to reply as Alice interrupted.
"Yes, Emmet you were about to" she finished as she tapped her finger against her head.
"Sometimes Alice, those visions of yours can really be a spoilsport" he answered as he left the room. Esme walked across and smiled as Alice turned to face me.
"I think we need to tell Carlisle about what happened before" she suggested, as she then turned to face a puzzled looking Esme.
"What happened before?" she softly asked, as I nodded at Alice to continue.
"Bella's arm wrestle with Emmet resulted in… something a little unexpected" she answered, as I watched her relay the story to Esme. As Alice finished, Esme placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Are you okay Bella?" she asked gently as I nodded.
"Yes, at the time I was… perplexed… I suppose I still am, but things are starting to make sense, a little" I answered honestly as Esme patted my shoulder.
"Alice, why don't you go to Carlisle and tell him what happened" Alice nodded as Esme continued, "Would you like to talk about it Bella" she asked, as I also found myself nodding.
Alice leant in and kissed my cheek softly before leaving the room. I followed Esme into the living room and sat beside her as she took my hand in hers. Her hold was gentle, loving and almost nurturing as I felt my fingers lock around hers tighter.
"Thank you Esme" I replied, as she smiled. Somehow she knew I needed this comforting contact.
"Bella, I know you have a mother and father that love you very much, but please know, I feel maternal over you. To me, you are my daughter too" Before I realised, I was in her strong and protective embrace.
"Thank you Esme, you have no idea what that means" I whispered, as her hand stroked through my tresses.
"I would imagine everything seems… hazy and confusing to you at the moment Bella" she replied as I leant back a little, her hand still in mine. I nodded slowly as her amber eyes gazed into mine, her look thoughtful.
"Becoming… a vampire…almost seems natural to me" I answered honestly, adding "When I met Alice, I couldn't imagine my life is she wasn't going to be part of it"
Esme smiled as I continued, steadily.
"I wanted to tell her, tell Alice that this is what I wanted. What I thought about, but I never got the chance…" I watched as Esme visibly flinched as her hand tightened on my own.
"I'm sorry for the way it happened, but I am not sorry for becoming one of you Esme, I am not sorry for becoming part of you family" I finished, my voice now a little hoarse. Esme placed her hand on my cheek.
"And we are glad to have you as a member of this family" she finished, as I smiled.
But the gift… what does it all mean Bella? Where did it come from?
As if reading my thoughts, Esme inched a little closer to me.
"The… ability you now have… this is causing you to be a little anxious?" she asked as I sighed.
"A little… I mean… what does it mean Esme? Why do some vampires have gifts and not others? I never had this ability as a human, so why do I have it now?"
My questions were urgent as Esme nodded her head.
"Bella, I wish I could answer these queries, but the truth is, nobody knows for certain why some vampires have gifts and others don't. Perhaps, once Alice has told Carlisle, he will be able to answer at least some of your questions?"
I watched as her face changed into a smile as she mentioned Carlisle's name.
"You love him very much" I replied as she smiled.
"To love someone, that alone is a gift Bella, but to have that love reciprocated… it is beyond words. I'm sure you know what I mean" I smiled as a vision of Alice appeared in my mind.
"How did you… I mean, you and Carlisle..." my voice trailed off as Esme started to laugh.
"How did I meet Carlisle?" she asked, as I nodded. I watched as Esme tilted her head to one side, her gaze now beyond my own as her memories started to circulate around her mind.
"I was a vibrant and very young girl when I first met Carlisle. He treated me for a broken leg. I'll always remember those kind eyes, soft and gentle…"
I found myself concentrating on Esme as she smiled and continued.
"My life became... somewhat complicated as I aged Bella" she whispered, as she subconsciously placed her free hand on top of mine.
"Esme, I don't want to pry… I…" Whatever words were about to escape my lips seemed to get lodged in my throat as my vision started to blur.
Esme immediately leant in closer.
"Bella? What is it?"
Esme's face became obscure as I felt myself being dragged away… to another time and another place…
"I… it's happening again" I heard myself whisper as Esme's grip tightened on mine.
"Its okay Bella, try and relax… remember, nothing can hurt you now…" Esme's words became muffled as the room seemed to slowly spin on an invisible axis, round and round, making me feel slightly dizzy…
And then I saw her…
"I can see you, Esme" I heard myself mumble as a vision, clear and precise seemed to appear in front of my very eyes.
"Tell me what you can see Bella" she whispered, as the Esme standing in front of me turned and smiled.
"You're… younger…" I whispered as I watched the vision unfold…
"Please don't make me go see the doctor, it's just a sprain, I'll be okay" Esme pleaded with her father, who was holding her in his strong arms.
"How many times have I told you, Esme? How many times" the man replied, with a slight smile on his face.
"Hundreds" the younger Esme answered, as she continued to grip her leg.
"You're going to the doctors, because you've broken your leg little one" the man continued, as Esme visibly started to shake.
"Father…"
"No, Esme. I'm taking you, and that is final"
"You broke your leg, falling from a tree" I whispered, as Esme nodded.
"Yes, I was sixteen and my father was angry with me, although he could never remain that way for very long" I heard her reply, as the younger Esme and her father seemed to slowly dissolve in front of my very eyes.
And then I saw him…
"Carlisle was your doctor" I continued, as Esme smiled.
"He moved away from my town soon after that, but I never forgot him" she whispered as I felt my eyes close.
"Esme?"
I could hear Alice as footsteps appeared…
"Its happening again" I heard Esme answer, as Alice was immediately by my side on the sofa.
"Bella, I'm here" she whispered, as Esme's hands remained in my own.
All was quiet for a few moments, until I saw someone else appear in my mind… a tall, dark haired man with a sly smile… I watched as he leant over something… no… someone… and then…
"NO" I heard myself shout out as Esme's grip became firmer.
"Its okay, Bella…" she whispered as the image became sharper.
"Who is he? Why is he hitting you? He has to stop..." I heard myself scream as Alice ran her hand up and down my back.
"It's alright Bella" she whispered as I started to shake my head violently…
"No… its not alright… he's… Esme, he's hitting you" I continued, my voice now hysterical as Esme brought me into her embrace for the second time that afternoon.
"These are merely echoes of the past my darling, I feel no pain" she whispered as the scene seemed to disentangle before my very eyes.
"Charles, please believe me, I haven't left the house today, you must be mistaken" Esme cried out as another fist came into contact with her already bruised and broken body.
"Don't you dare lie to me, I saw you! I told you to stay inside yet you disobeyed me, again, your husband… you know the punishment for that…"
"He has to stop, or he'll kill you" I whispered, my voice now cracked. The scene seemed to pause as I tried to gain focus on what my mind was showing me. Slowly it seemed to fade, and then vanish completely as Esme's words vibrated in my mind…
"He nearly did" she whispered as her hold on me became more secure.
"Why? I don't… I don't understand" I whispered, my eyes still firmly closed as Alice continued to stroke my back.
Before she could answer, I felt my entire body start to shake as new flashes of colour flitted across my eyes…
"I'm so very, very sorry Esme but we were unable to save him… he was too weak, we did all we could…"
I watched as Esme brought her knees up close to her chest, gripping at them tightly she started to rock back and forth…
"No… you must save him… he's my son… he's all I have" she whispered, as the nurse brought her arm around Esme.
"I'm so very sorry, Esme" she whispered back as Esme started to weep with a convulsive catching of breath.
"No… No… NO…" she screamed…
"Your son… died…" I whispered as Esme kissed the top of my head.
"Yes" she merely answered as I felt my whole body react to the vision that was playing out in front of me.
"I can't… I can't watch this… I don't want this…" I managed to mumble as Esme's raw pain, from both then and now, hit me forcefully. I hated feeling the pain... now I understood Jaspers plight…
"Esme, I can't watch Bella go through this" I heard Alice whisper, as Esme continued to hold me. And then I understood exactly how deep Esme's hurt was…
"No, NO you can't" I screamed out as I reached out …
"Don't jump, please Esme, don't jump" I whispered as Esme started to rock my in her arms.
"It's okay Bella…" I heard her soft response as the final vision seemed to slot into place…
"He… saved you…." I mumbled as I watched Carlisle Cullen rest his pale fingers on the side of Esme's neck…
"Your heart was still beating" I finished, as the final scene ended. Slowly I opened my eyes as Esme shifted away from me, still holding my hands.
"I understand" I whispered, as Esme nodded.
"I'm so very sorry you had to… witness that Bella" she also whispered, as Alice pulled a protective arm around me.
I slowly nodded as my eyes moved upwards, to where Carlisle was standing and watching.
"How do you feel now Bella?" he gently asked as I ran a still shaking hand across my temple.
"A little… drained" I replied, as Carlisle nodded.
Slowly I turned to face Esme.
"You have a gift" I murmured as Esme tilted her head slightly.
"The gift of warmth Esme, you have an unparalleled ability to love those around you passionately" I continued as Esme cupped my cheek once more.
"You have no idea how much that means to me, Bella" she whispered.
I understood Esme now, understood her maternal instincts, and understood why she had such a strong spiritual and intellectual bond with Carlisle. They were devoted to one another, as Alice and I were.
"I love you, I love you all" I whispered just as a crashing sound appeared from the kitchen…