Chapter 5
Bella:
"I'm here because I believe I know who your mate is."
The only part of being a vampire I'm yet to experience is having a mate. I have, of course, heard the rumours about what having a mate is like and what it's like to meet your mate. The love is supposed to all-encompassing and nearly overwhelming. Every single part of you is in tune with this person like no other. You would do anything, be anything for them. Your existence isn't just for yourself any more, far from it. You exist for them, with them.
What I've never heard of before is two mates being brought together on purpose.
Mates usually meet randomly, from what I've heard. Sometimes when the vampires are hunting and their paths cross. Other times when one is a vampire and the other is a human on the brink of death, who is then saved by their beloved. These tales all sound like the epitome of romance.
An arranged meeting, however, does not inspire romance.
"Your mate is a man I consider to be a brother. We used to live together, as a family. Along with four more vampires, two sets of mates," Alice goes on to explain.
"Why did you find me? You said he'd be angry if he knew. Does he not want a mate?" I ask.
I know if it could my heart would be beating rapidly in my chest. I've never given much thought to what my mate might be like. With Maggie, I've always been very happy with my life. I've never needed more.
Until now…
Just knowing the supposed other half of me is out there, somewhere. I can't remember ever feeling so alive.
"He doesn't know about you. Not yet," Alice answers.
"Why are you trying to force us together then?" I ask angrily. I feel Maggie reach over and place her hand on top of mine, her way of reassuring me. I give her hand a gentle squeeze back in thanks.
"You said you used to live with this guy. What happened?" Maggie asks.
"There used to be seven of us, all living together. It was Jasper and I, and then there was Rose and Emmett, two others we consider siblings, and two more vampires we consider our parents, Carlisle and Esme. It's just the six of us now, but there was your mate-"
"Wait! Carlisle…I've heard that name before. Cullen, right?" Maggie says, interrupting Alice.
"Yes…how do you know?" Alice asks, frowning. Jasper also looks a little concerned now.
"My creator, Siobhan, and her mate, Liam, know Carlisle. They spoke about him to me," Maggie says. "They always said how kind he was and they always spoke about his family."
"Why aren't you still with them?" Jasper asks Maggie.
"We went our separate ways after I met Bella. They wanted to travel the world, but I wanted to stay in London with Bella. We still speak occasionally, when they're not so far away," Maggie answers.
"Ok, this is great and all, but this still doesn't explain why you set out to find me. Why didn't you just tell this guy where to find me?" I question.
"I didn't tell him because I have spoken to him in nearly ten years. He's sort of… He's gone off the rails a little bit. I thought that maybe, if I could find him and bring you to him, then he'd come back. I miss Edward so much and I know Carlisle does, too," Alice explains.
My mind gets hung up on the most crucial bit of information in Alice's explanation, though.
"His name is Edward?"
A/N: Thoughts?
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Sidenote: In this story, my take on the vampires doesn't involve the whole skin-glowing-in-the-sun thing. It's purely to make the travel elements easier and to avoid having to always having to have the characters cooped up inside and in dark, dreary places! And they can cry! I'm not sure if that's an actual Stephanie Meyer trait or just something I've read in fanfic, but these vampires can definitely cry and shed tears. Is that a spoiler? No, I hope not, anyway! I'm quoting creative liberties as my excuse! (all other vampire features remain how Stephanie Meyer wrote them)