TO BUILD A HOME
A/N: Title above is from Cinematic Orchestra's To Build A Home. Such a heart-breakingly beautiful song – recommend it.
"Well this is great…" I murmured sarcastically, my eyes still raking over the dark hobbit hole of a house that my f - Damon was living in.
He shrugged and I was surprised to see he shared my disdain. "Not my idea"
I dropped my bag onto the floor with a loud thump and continued to look around. "I get that you're vampires but do you have to advertise it by living in the haunted house?" I asked and my nose scrunched up with the dust motes thickening the air.
"Stefan's the one you should be talking to" he informed me and we both stopped at the shadow creeping up from the corner. "Speaking of the devil…" he muttered beside me and we watched as my uncle's shadow was brought into the limited lighting from the window.
"Isabella…" he welcomed me with a grin and I arched an eyebrow. "What an unexpected surprise" he said calmly and I studied him for a second, wondering what was different.
"You seem…strange" I decided, noticing the blankness in his once anguished eyes.
He waved the comment off with a shrug of his shoulders and held out one hand. "Come, let's get you a drink" he offered and this lifted my spirits.
"I think I like the new Uncle Stefan" I cheered and took his hand, only to have my other one pulled back.
I looked up to Damon who now glared at me disapprovingly. "No drinking" he warned, a cautionary glare now settled onto me.
The audacity had me gritting my teeth as I yanked my arm away. "You've had no say in how I lived my life for the past 50 years so what makes you think I'm gonna listen now?" I shot back and walked away from him, sweeping past Uncle Stefan and towards the parlour slash living room.
Regardless of my mind trained on the idea of liquor, I still heard my uncle's discreet chuckle. "That's my niece"
He met me a few seconds later and was the one to fill up a glass, handing it to me. After sending him a grateful smile, I accepted it and brought it up to my lips, only to have it slip from my hold, crashing onto the ground with a resounding crash.
The sound acted as a catalyst as my sight blurred and the images flashed past.
DPOV
Before I could stop it, the glass shattered by Isabella's feet. Sharp shards now splayed across the floor beneath her and I was about to scold her or tease her for her clumsiness but was stopped by the look on her face. Her pale complexion worsened to a familiar ash and her wide brown eyes were now hooded, close to a pitch black. Her lips parted but no breathe left her.
I stepped towards her nervously, "Isabella…?" I asked but as anticipated, she gave no reply. I glanced at Stefan but my brother wasn't feeling very helpful today – just watched on curiously. Rolling my eyes at thinking I could turn to him, I looked back to my daughter and reached out. "Isab-"
Finally she blinked her eyes and the colour returned to her cheeks. Bewildered and confused, she turned to me and the wall she always up around me was dropped as she bent down to her knees. "I-I'll clean it up"
In a flash, I bent beside her and grabbed her hands to stop her. "What is it?" I asked and she dropped her head, still numb and lost. "What did you see?" I elaborated so she knew I understood. Her mother had been the same.
"I need to go to unpack" she hastily murmured and pushed away from the floor. The mask had returned and she ignored my protesting calls when racing out of the room.
"Isabella get back down here!" I tried but knowingly failed.
My brother, helpful as ever, chuckled beside me and held up a drink for me. "You've gone soft" he pointed out and laughed into his own drink.
I ignored him and looked towards the staircase with a frown.
Something was definitely wrong.
BPOV
I kept seeing his face.
Now, downstairs – that had been what I could only assume was the tenth time those blonde locks and blue eyes had assaulted my visions. Each image growing stronger and more vividly and I soon realised it was the face that sent witches crouching away in fear. The very face that had haunted my mother's dreams and now mine.
Was he here?
The thought suddenly had me feeling paranoid and I reached over to lock the door behind me. My body then slumped back onto it and a heavy sigh left my hollowed lungs.
Would my father really put me in such danger?
Father…
That was another thing about the vision that had shaken me up.
The image of the unknown man was followed with the picture of my father, gasping for air as his vulnerable eyes bored through, bringing me back to reality.
As vague as the message had been, I knew I could count on one thing.
The mystery man would be my father's undoing…
…and I couldn't let that happen.
DPOV
"Oh shut up" I sneered at my brother.
I forgot that he was such a dick when he turned his emotions off.
He now held up his hands defensively and shook his head. "I didn't say anything" he defended himself and I rolled my eyes.
"You didn't have to" I countered and gulped down the rest of the drink, hissing in pleasure at the sting it left in my throat. I had forgotten how stressful life as a father was and just that thought piqued up my guilt as I added more scotch.
"You can't really expect her to behave" Stefan said, walking around to seat next to me on the sofa. "After all, she shares your DNA" he added with another laugh.
Suddenly, we were interrupted Elena who appeared from the doorway. "Who are we talking about?" she inquired and I straightened up, placing my glass aside and standing to greet her.
"Isabella" Stefan piped up and I cursed under my breath, annoyed that I had fooled myself into thinking I could keep my daughter a secret for a while. Not because I was ashamed but because it would be safer for her…and I could only imagine the reactions to this news.
"Who's Isabella?" Elena asked and I found joy in the accusatory glare she sent me. The venom in her tone suggested her jealousy and I prided myself in it for a few seconds.
After that emotion was lived to the fullest, I decided to assure her. "Isabella is my…daughter" I revealed and sucked in a deep breath, waiting for her to blow
Elena's eyes widened and she gaped up at me. "You have a daughter?!" she yelled after processing the words.
"Stefan, deal with this" I muttered and hastily headed towards the door. "I've got an angsty teenage with daddy issues upstairs" I added and raced up the stairs.
Once I made it to the hallway, I pushed away Elena's screaming voice. Hopefully Stefan would explain everything and I wouldn't have to endure her scolding me like a child.
The thought left me hopeful as I strolled towards the door opposite mine. I knew that was the one she had chosen because the door was locked.
Angsty teenager indeed…
My fist raised up and I rapped on the door, quiet enough for her to hear but not loud enough for her to make some grumbled complain about how she could hear me. However, no reply or sound came from the other side of the door so I tried again.
Still….nothing.
I frowned and hated the pit in my stomach, warning me about something I already knew was true.
Just to confirm it, I grabbed the handle, twisted it and pushed it.
The window had been left open, leaving a cool breeze circulating in the empty bedroom.
It's gonna be pretty difficult keeping the love-child a secret now.
A/N: So Bella does care to an extent…
Question: Any ideas as to where she's gone? What do you think of emotionless Stefan? Any other reactions you're looking forward to?
Before I go, I was PM'd by a lovely fanfictioner – vampires-suck1993. She wanted me to inform you that she is doing her own awards called Bloodlust Awards. She wanted to do this because Ice Princess didn't finish it off and is hoping that you guys nominate and vote.
You can e-mail her at bitelilwest93 or you can send the nominations by PMing or leaving a review. Not so sure about the review thing but just go to her profile.
