Chapter 15
Bella
"I need to ask you about the conversation I overheard yesterday". They looked very serious again, "I know Edward has been watching me at night and from what I heard I guess he's a danger to me. What I don't know is why?" Carlisle sighed deeply, "We vampires sometimes run across a human whose blood calls to us, we call them singers, and you unfortunately are Edward's singer. He is fighting against it but it is very difficult", "Yeah" said Emmett, "I killed both my singers, couldn't help it". Rose threw a pan at him which hit with a loud bang before falling clattering to the floor. "What?" he shouted, rubbing his head and looking at her glare. "Oh nothing Em. You just told Bella that you couldn't resist killing your singers. I'll bet that made her feel much better, idiot". He looked abashed as he turned to me, "Sorry Bells but its a bit different here". "Oh why?" I asked intrigued, "Because you got the best fucking guards in the vampire world" he said grinning at Jasper. I wasn't quick enough but I knew something had passed between the brothers. "I'll just go" Em said rising from his seat and moving too quickly to the door. "Good idea" said Rose, raising her eyes in exasperation before following him.
Carlisle took the seat next to me as I continued to look at the door, "Emmett is a little too apt to use his mouth before engaging his brain, so please make allowances". I nodded, "OK, but what did he mean guard?" Carlisle continued, "Well, Edward can't just leave in the middle of a semester so he will have to control himself until recess. Then he'll be going to stay with friends in Denali. It just means he will be leaving before the rest of us". "You're leaving?" I asked stunned. Carlisle smiled, "I'm afraid we have no choice Bella. As you have probably read, we don't age. I'm already causing comments as I'm supposed to be ten years older than I look now. After a while we have to leave an area and start afresh". I understood now, "Oh, so you'll all be leaving at the end of the year?" He nodded, "Yes I'm afraid so, but in the meantime Emmett and Jasper will keep an eye on Edward and if it all gets too much for him they'll step in". I thought about this. "Do you really think it's a good idea to let him spend every night up a tree watching my room? It seems creepy to me".
Alice had walked in at this point and she laughed, "Edward wont hurt you Bella, I would have seen. He just can't stay away. Your blood is like a siren call. It seems you call to all the men in this family, oddly". She looked at Jasper as she said that and I saw him look away. I wondered if he craved my blood too. "I don't understand Alice". Again the silvery laughter, "I see the future Bella, and sometimes I don't like what I see, but unfortunately sometimes I cant alter it". Again she looked at Jasper who got up abruptly and left the room. "You see the future?" She nodded "Yes, I saw you coming and I saw Edward struggle but I hoped once he'd met you it might change into something else. I was wrong". She was scowling again now.
"But he wont hurt me?" I asked. She shook her head, "Not unless things change, they do sometimes. People change their minds, do things differently than they were going to. That changes what will happen" she explained. I understood, sort of. "So that's why Emmett and Jasper are keeping an eye out?" She nodded, her pixie hair cut bouncing with the movement, "Yes...and no. I can't tell you any more Bella in case I change your decisions. But somehow I don't think I will. I think the future is mapped out for now". She sat looking at me, still scowling. "Well Bella, I'm sure this has all been a lot to take in but I hope you will trust us just for the next few months and then well be gone and Edward will be out of temptations way" said Carlisle. Alice murmured something too quietly for me to catch properly but it sounded like 'shame others won't be'.
"There is one thing I must stress though Bella. Under no circumstances can you tell anyone else about us. In our world there is a law, the only one really that is policed most strictly. No human must know about us. Do you understand?" I looked at him and couldn't help a grin, Dr Cullen do you really think anyone would believe me if did?, I'd be locked up in an asylum. I think it would be easier to keep your secret. But thank you for trusting me". "You gave us no choice" spat Alice. "Always watching and hanging around with the dog". So Jake was a wolf man! At the moment I'd got enough to think about. Esme spoke then, "It was very brave of you to come here. If you would like to visit any time you will be more than welcome". Alice snorted but at a glare from Esme subsided with a quiet "Sorry". I looked at her, "I don't think I'd be very welcome Esme, but thank you for the invitation".
"Would you like a tour of the house or would you rather we took you home now?" She asked. I really didn't want to go home. As bizarre as this evening was turning out to be, I liked the Cullens, well all except Alice and her problem intrigued me. She thought I was interested in Jasper, but why would he be interested in me? He had her. Had she seen something in my future or was she just a jealous bitch? I couldn't work her out. In the end I stayed on a few more hours. Emmett dragged me in to play a computer game with him and after a while Jasper came down with a book and curled up in a chair opposite. I tried hard not to notice him and I got the feeling he was doing the same. Rose came in and sat with Esme looking at some interior design plans and Carlisle wandered through with a smile.
It was like a normal family evening, that is until Edward came down. He sat at the piano and started to play, the tune was beautiful and I couldn't help looking over and asking him the name of the tune. "It's one I wrote myself" he said smiling at me. This time he looked a little less like he wanted to take a bite out of me but I was still glad to be sitting with Emmett and to have my other guard around too. Jasper looked at me and grinned then shut his book. "Its getting late Bella. I think Charlie might be sending out the search parties if we don't get you home soon. "Its OK, he's working tonight" I said turning back to the computer.