Edward's P.O.V.:
What the hell?
Where did the time go?
Halley?!
I immediately sat up and looked down to my right.
"Mmm… Good morning." Halley mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning." I replied, watching her.
How the hell is she a vampire like me? She still seems so human.
But after all these years—that's just not possible; she still looks so young.
"Good morning!" Alice walked in, chipper as always.
"What's going on?" I asked, confused.
"Come on; we're all waiting for you to come downstairs. We've been waiting for you to wake up." Alice answered with a smile.
"You mean, you've been waiting for Halley to wake up." I corrected Alice.
"No… I mean both of you; you've both been sleeping for quite some time." Alice answered with that same smile.
"How long is "quite some time?" Did they find any of that cult?" I asked, standing up.
Alice just giggled or whatever and left to go back downstairs.
"Ok. Come on." I sighed, helping Halley to stand.
"Ok." Halley replied, following me out.
As Alice stated, we got to the living room to find everyone waiting for us.
"Good morning." Carlisle and Esme greeted with smiles. At the same time, Esme hugged me.
"Morning." Emmet and Jasper greeted with smiles.
Rosalie stood there, silent.
"Don't you even dare." I warned Emmet, seeing him smirk—and hearing his thoughts.
"Ah. There she is. Did you have a fun night?" Emmet asked Halley when she shyly peeked her head around me.
"Does she not remember us?" Jasper asked, watching Halley
"Vaguely; it's slowly coming back." I answered, moving to the side so everyone could see her—and she could see them better.
"Emmet…" I started, glaring at him.
"Did you have a fun night? Edward let you get enough sleep, right?" Emmet just had to go there.
"Yes." Halley answered with a soft smile, not getting it; it went right over her head.
"Oh, really?" Emmet asked with that mischievous smirk.
"Emmet, stop!" I snapped, beyond annoyed now.
"Take it outside. Don't destroy the house." Esme told Emmet and me.
"And try to be back in an hour." Carlisle firmly told us.
With that, Emmet ran out the back door.
"Did I say something wrong?" I vaguely heard Halley as I took off after Emmet.
"Hahaha! Come on, Edward; you'll have to be faster than that to catch me!" Emmet called, dodging trees and boulders.
What he didn't realize was that I was in the trees, jumping from branch to branch. That was until I dived down and tackled him to the ground.
"Gahh! Damnit!" Emmet yelled before tossing me off him and into a tree.
"Why'd you have to go and say that to her?!" I yelled, charging him again.
"Dude! You need to relax a little! You know I didn't mean anything by it!" Emmet yelled, dodging almost every one of my punches.
"That doesn't mean Halley does! And even if she did, it would be because she was raped—who knows how many times? What were to happen if she had a panic attack and freak out because of what little memories she has? We don't know what she's capable of!" I yelled, finally getting through to Emmet.
"Sorry." He muttered an apology.
"Can we at least find out what happened to her? Find out why she wanted to forget if she's the one who asked. And then, can we wait until I can figure out what to do and how to help her? We also need to let her get used to everyone; she's still a little apprehensive." I calmly spoke with Emmet, pleading with him.
"I suppose. But you can't expect me not to pick on her if she's going to be my new sister and living with us." Emmet replied, watching me.
"Fine. Nothing sexual, though." I let him have that because I know him and how he is.
"I can live with that." Emmet agreed with that smile I wasn't sure if I one hundred percent trusted. All I could do with trust him as my brother—and as Halley's new brother.
"Edward? Emmet?" We heard a familiar voice walking up from behind us. When I heard nothing but quiet—and his thoughts, I immediately knew it was Bella and Jacob.
"What are you doing here?" Emmet asked, narrowing his eyes at Jacob?
"Us? We should be asking you two that. You're just about on Quileute land. Now, what are you doing here?" Jacob explained before demanding, making us realize he was right.
"I won't let you have Bella." I heard Jacob direct his thoughts at me; it just made me chuckle.
"What's so damn funny?" Jacob demanded, snapping.
"Jacob, calm down. It's ok." Bella held Jacob's arm, holding him back to the best of her ability.
"Relax. I'm not here for Bella in any way, shape or form. Emmet and I just got into a disagreement. Honestly, I didn't realize we were this close to your land. We're not staying and will taking our leave now. Right, Emmet? We need to get back because Carlisle wanted us back within an hour. We have to be headed out to visit a friend of his so we can help her." I calmly spoke to Jacob before speaking to Emmet, giving him "the look."
"Right. You needn't worry about Edward; he has a new girl!" Emmet backed off before shouting at Jacob.
"Emmet…" I growled.
"I'm coming. Halley's not going anywhere." Emmet replied, pouting a little.
"Wait!" Bella called.
"Bella…" "No, Jake. Edward, wait!" Jacob started only for Bella to take charge—like usual.
"What, Bella? I really don't have time right now." I replied, barely looking back at her.
"You said Halley. I don't know her last name, but are you talking about a young girl with light brown hair, a few cats, looks lost, and looks like she's from—your time?" Bella asked, getting our attention.
"What do you know?" I asked, turning to face her.
"Not much. I ran into her one day; she looked so lost and confused. I tried talking to her, but she freaked out and took off. She dropped this. I carry it around, hoping to see her and return it." Bella answered, holding some kind of patch.
I made my way over to her—with Jacob behind her just as fast.
"Relax. I'm not going to do anything to Bella. Let me see." I told Jacob before telling Bella; she handed me an old-fashioned school patch.
"Yeah… This is hers from school." I sighed, looking at the patch, flipping it over and over.
"So, this girl—she's a vampire?" Bella asked, watching me with interest.
"Yeah. I knew her when I was alive; she was a friend. She was changed years after I was—but it seems she doesn't understand it." I replied, backing up.
"How does that work?" Jacob asked, annoyed.
"Is she ok?" Bella asked, concerned.
"I don't know, Jacob. When I figure it out, I'll be sure to let you know. And no, Bella; Halley is not ok. She's lost, confused, scared, and has no memories except for her cats and me. Oh, and her cats are vampires as well. Now, if you'll excuse us; we really have to go. Let's go, Emmet." I answered Jacob and Bella before leaping next to Emmet.
"He loves her!" Emmet yelled just before we started running back, just as several other wolves began arriving.
"It's fine; they didn't break the treaty. We were just talking. Edward seemed—different. He's in no mood to even think about breaking our treaty." I heard Jacob telling the others before I could no longer hear anything except Emmet, the wind rushing past us, and the twigs and sticks crunching beneath us.
Normal P.O.V.:
Back At The House:
Earlier:
"Did I do something wrong?" Halley asked, looking around, becoming upset.
"Oh, no, Dear; you didn't do anything wrong. It's just Edward and Emmet being themselves. It's a brothers thing. Come, sit." Esme insisted, having Halley sit on the couch.
"Now—do you remember any of us—beside Edward?" Carlisle asked, sitting across from Halley, next to Esme.
"Ummm… You were the ones who found me and my kitties by the tree and brought us inside. Ummm… Esme and Carlisle?" Halley started answering more as a question than anything.
"Yes, that's correct." Carlisle replied, watching Halley.
"Do you remember our children?" Esme asked, looking around.
"Ummm… You said the guy with Edward is Emmet. He's with Rosie. And then, Jasper and Allie?" Halley asked, looking around.
"Close. This is Rosalie and this Alice. And you got Jasper correct. Now—and this is important. Halley, do you remember what year Rosalie told you it was?" Carlisle told Halley with a smile before becoming serious.
"Ummm… Edward said it wasn't 1924 anymore and that we were something called vampires. Ummm… Two thousand something? Are my kitties ok? They're vampires too, right?" Halley answered to the best of her ability before becoming flustered.
"Halley, it's ok. Please stay calm. You're correct: it's no longer 1924, but rather 2015. And yes, Bubby and the rest of your cats are also vampires and here as well. I don't know where in the house they are, but they're here." Carlisle calmly told Halley, slowly placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Jasper." Alice whispered to Jasper.
"Right." Jasper replied, using his calming ability.
"Ok… Yesterday, Alice went shopping and picked you up some clothes that match this era. And I think she's chomping at the bits to show you, so you can change. But before we let you go with her, so that you can pick something you're comfortable with; we have something we need to discuss with you. Alice, you may show her what you picked out for her but let her decide what she wants." Esme calmly spoke to Halley before firmly telling Alice, making her pout a little.
"Let her get used to us and everything, and then I'm sure you'll be able to pick more of her clothes for her." Jasper told Alice, kissing her head.
"But moving on. Halley, we're going to be taking a little trip as soon as Edward and Emmet get back; we need you, Bubby, and the rest of your cats to come with as well." Carlisle calmly started telling Halley.
"We're? Where are we going?" Halley nervously asked.
"Don't worry, Dear; we're not going to give you to anyone else or leave you anywhere by yourself. You're stuck with us—so long as you want that as well." Esme immediately assured Halley, rubbing her back after seeing something in her eyes.
"No, of course not. I'm sorry if I made it seem that way. The entire family is going to go meet an old acquaintance of mine to see if he can help you with your memories. His name is Niko…" "Mr. Memory?" Carlisle apologized before explaining to Halley the plan until she interrupted him.
Edward's P.O.V.:
"Oh. You know him?" We heard Carlisle ask, sounding somewhat shocked.
"Know who?" Emmet and I asked, walking in.
"Niko. A.K.A. The Memory Man. I was telling you about him yesterday. It seems Halley knows him. But she called him "Mr. Memory." Very few call him that; the only ones who do, he feels some kind of connection to." Carlisle clarified.
"Slow down, Alice: you can show her all her new clothes in a few minutes. Halley: this Mr. Memory—can you tell us how you know him?" I told Alice before asking Halley, sitting next to her.
"What's that?" Rosalie questioned, noticing Halley's school name patch.
"Halley's school identity patch for if she ever got lost on a school trip or wherever; she dropped it when Bella startled her or something. Bella was hanging on to it until she would hopefully run into her again. But when she found out Emmet and I knew her, she gave me it to give to her. Jacob was so excited to see us; he informed us that we were nearly on their turf. But—moving on. Halley: Mr. Memory? How do you know him?" I answered Rosalie before asking Halley again.
"Mr. Memory helped me when I woke up on his grass. He took me to a place called Pennsylvania and told me I'd be safe as long as I stayed hidden. Then he left." Halley answered, thinking a little.
Looking into her mind, I could see another locked file cabinet or whatever: those memories were also erased.
"Ok… Don't even start that: you did just fine. I promise I'm not mad or upset—none of us are. Go with Alice; she'll show you to your new clothes." I firmly but calmly told Halley as soon as I saw her freaking out in her mind. I then told her to go with Alice, so we could get ready to head out.
"Actually, Rosalie: go with them. I'm not sure if Halley will understand century's clothes; she may need all the help she can get. Also, someone needs to keep an eye on Alice." Esme calmly told the girls.
"It'll be such great bonding time! We'll start with a shower and then pick out an outfit!" Alice excitedly exclaimed, dragging Halley away while Rosalie begrudgingly followed along.
"What's going on?" I questioned, watching Carlisle.
"We told every vampire we knew and a few that we ran into what was going on and to keep an eye open. Any vampire we met up with who fed on humans, immediately agreed—and about half of them only went after the vilest of humans, so it worked in their favors. Most of the vampires who are like us, and only eat animals, were a bit hesitant at first. But they quickly came around when we explained what these people were doing. There were a few that agreed to keep an eye out but wouldn't kill them. However, they did agree to find an official and leave an anonymous tip—or someone who would take care of the cults. In a few states, we found a few covens who already knew of the cults and had been monitoring their movements in their states. Some of the girls, they were able to save. Some girls they had no choice but to turn them. And unfortunately, some girls were unsavable. And then Rosalie found a few of the cult members—and took care of them. It took Emmet, Esme, and me to pull her away." Carlisle started explaining.
"What about Halley? You found something out about her, didn't you?" I asked, watching Carlisle closely, seeing something in his eyes. I could also see something in his mind, but he was trying to keep me from knowing by constantly changing what he was thinking about.
"Yes, I found something out—but not directly about Halley. This was something I remembered from my time with the Volturi. If I'm right, Halley isn't human—and never was." Carlisle's answer shocked and confused me.
"What? She looked and acted pretty human to me." I replied in disbelief.
"Yeah; they normally do. Yesterday, you explained that Halley was not only born early with a homebirth, but that she also had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Without a professional doctor, she should not have survived her birth. Now, there was only one other like her before, and she went to the Volturi and asked to be killed. It was unsure as to why, but she couldn't handle being a vampire. It took time, but Aro granted her wish, and Caius and a few others killed her."
"I don't want to say Halley was replaced by a Changeling, considering Changelings don't normally take and switch places with a child until after they're born. Sometimes they wait until the child is no more than six years of age. I'm thinking Halley—the real Halley died during her birth and was replaced with a special—celestial being of some sort, I'm guessing. Not some regular Changeling because they can die just as much as the next living being. It could explain how her family treated her: sometimes they can tell—particularly the child's parents."
"I read Halley's file—and you saw the pictures; we both know there's no way she should've or even could've survived that. The girl Caius killed: I don't remember her name—or even if she told us. But she explained that she wasn't normal—not even for a human; she had all sorts of abilities while alive. After some time, I found out that Aro had been keeping tabs on that girl; he was terrified of her. And rightfully so. That girl—if she came under great stress or frustration; she would quite literally explode. Boom. She didn't know how many humans or vampires she killed because of that." Carlisle continued explaining, pausing now and then to let everything sink in.
"But wouldn't she have died as well—exploding like you say?" Emmet asked, watching Carlisle.
"One would think so, but no; she didn't. That girl, when ripped apart, her body parts return faster than we've ever seen before. It was no easy task, but with the help of some previous guards, they granted the girl's wish. I studied the body parts they left behind for a few weeks before setting them on fire as well. At first they just got rid of her head. I noticed that she had what looked like star tattoos on her lower and upper back. However, after further inspection, I deduced they weren't tattoos, but something else. Though Aro wasn't thrilled about having her killed, he was also relieved that she didn't want to kill us—because there's no doubt in my mind, that she could've. I think Halley's the same way. I know you probably don't want to hear this question, but have you ever seen Halley naked—or at least her back?" Carlisle answered Emmet before continuing. He finished by asking me.
"No, I never saw her naked. That one time I caught Cosmo raping her, I did my best not to look at her to give her some kind of decency. I also gave her my jacket I was wearing so she could cover up. If she was never human—and you don't think a Changeling per se, do you know what she was?" I answered and then asked.
"No. I discussed everything with Aro and Marcus, and all we could come up with was something celestial, but not what. She wasn't an angel—granted, her personality (long before coming to the Volturi) made her seem like one. Not much was known about her—just like not much is known abut Halley. That's why I'm hoping Niko can help us. I'm hoping to find out what I can about what Halley was or is, and if there are more of them out there." Carlisle answered with a deep sigh.
Oh, this was just eating at him.
Carlisle has been alive for centuries now and has learned all that he could about just about anything and everything.
Not knowing something quickly catches his interest.
Not being able to figure something out—or at least understanding it frustrates him a little.
But not knowing or understanding for this long—I think, is driving him up a wall.
"You left Rosalie alone with Halley?" I asked when Alice came flittering in.
"It's ok; she won't do anything to her. Rosalie is just doing Halley's hair. They'll be down shortly." Alice responded to my agitation with a smile before turning to Carlisle with an intrigued look on her face.
"Yes, Alice? Is something wrong?" Carlisle asked, watching Alice.
"I don't know. Rosalie told me to tell you that Halley does have two star-like tattoos: one on her upper and lower back. But she has also has two crescent moon-like tattoos next to the stars. Does that mean something?" Alice informed Carlisle before asking.
"Honestly, I don't know anymore. The last girl only had stars—unless the moons were on her head somewhere." Carlisle replied, even more frustrated.
"Don't worry about this so much. We'll get answers one way or another." Esme calmly spoke to Carlisle, rubbing his shoulders.
"Ok. There you go." Rosalie told Halley, sending her into us.
Rosalie was trying to sound hard, but she was kind of softening up to Halley. However, I could still hear the annoyance.
Wow.
That's a big difference.
I don't know what Halley's been through these last however long, but her hair was all over the place—a complete matted mess, reaching her waist.
Now, her hair was up in long flowing pigtails reaching her upper back. And even though Rosalie put a lot of her hair up in messy buns on top of her head with a thick braid at the bases of the buns, Halley still had long, thicker, wavy hair.
Her outfit suited her, but I'm not allowed to say anything about it until Alice does a whole big thing.
"Rose—I thought we talked about this. You were supposed to do buns OR pigtails." Alice scolded Rosalie.
"Hey! You asked me… No. You told me to put her hair up. Did you see just how much hair she has? Even after cutting all the split ends and extra dead hair, she still long-ass hair. She has way too much hair to try to put into perfect buns on the top of her head, so I did messy buns with simple tight braids to keep them still. And I thought my hair was a pain in the ass to make perfect. Besides: for her, this is simple and cute. That's what we're going for with her, right?" Rosalie became defensive, narrowing her twitching eyes at Alice.
"Ok. And of course, this is just perfect for her; it matches her and her personality. She's just absolutely adorable! Come on." Alice excitedly gushed before dragging poor Halley over to everyone, making her the center of attention.
"As you know, Rose did Halley's hair after scrubbing all the dirt and other stuff off her. I picked out her outfit. Just look at this adorable shirt. As you can see, it's baby blue with thin white and light purple striped sleeves, reaching her elbows. If you couldn't tell, the design on her shirt is a red heart made of roses. Her skirt is a lovely dark blue and black plaid schoolgirl skirt. Beneath the skirt is a pair of black legging shorts. Then we have light blue socks with a simple pair of black flat Mary-Jane shoes. I wanted to have Halley wear one of those schoolgirl uniforms, but Rose wouldn't let me; she claimed it'd be too much." Alice happily described Halley's outfit from shirt down to her socks and shoes before pouting slightly.
All I have to say is, "Thank God."
I don't know how I'd react to seeing Halley in one of those schoolgirl uniforms. And yes, with what's going through Alice's head: it was one of those uniforms they wear in Japan.
Yes, I'm sure Halley would look cute in one, but no. Just no.
The outfit she's wearing now suits her perfectly.
"You may thank me later." Rosalie sent her thoughts directly to me.
Right.
Yes, I will later thank Rosalie for keeping Alice from dressing Halley as a schoolgirl. But knowing Rose, it's going to be far more than a simple thank you.
"What do you think, Edward?" Alice asked, getting my attention—vaguely.
"What?" I asked, watching Alice.
"What do you think of Halley's new look?" Alice asked with that pouty face of hers.
"She's still just as cute as she was before." I answered, not thinking; it just kind of spewed out.
It wasn't until I saw Halley blushing that I realized what I said.
"Well, we should head out; we have a long trip. Halley, can you call Bubby and the rest of your cats?" Carlisle changed the subject, asking Halley.
"Bubby!" Halley called from the foot of the stairs.
"Yeah?" Bubby asked, walking halfway down the steps.
"Mr. Carlisle wants everyone to go see Mr. Memory; I think that includes you as well. Can you get the others?" Halley asked Bubby.
"Sure. But before I go: why is your face all red?" Bubby agreed before asking, causing Halley to blush even more.
"My face is not all red." Halley argued, flustered as Bubby ran upstairs again.
The rest of them were down in seconds.
"So, what's the plan?" Esme asked Carlisle.
"Well, the first thing I was told to do was take an X-ray of the newest cat." Carlisle answered, watching Halley.
"Sammy?" Halley asked, confused.
"What do you want with Sammy?" Bubby demanded, becoming defensive.
"I'm just supposed to get an X-ray. What I find on him will tell us what we have to find around the house." Carlisle answered, watching Sammy cling to Halley as she held him close.
"Would it ease your mind to get the X-ray with him? That is possible, right Carlisle?" I suggested, watching Halley.
"I don't see why not. Follow me." Carlisle replied before instructing.
Five Minutes Later:
"Ok… Just hold perfectly still." Carlisle told Halley once everything was set up.
Halley lay on a bed with Sammy by her head while Carlisle ran the X-ray machine over her.
Fifteen Minutes Later:
"Well, that's interesting." "What is that?" Carlisle and Esme spoke, looking at Sammy and Halley's X-ray results once they cleared.
"I don't know, but Sammy's not the one who needed the X-ray; Halley is. The thing on Sammy is in the collar he's wearing. Do you mind?" Carlisle replied before asking Halley.
"No." Halley softly replied, confused.
"What is all that?" I asked, looking at Halley's X-ray.
"Well, a good chunk of it looks like healed abuse—which you shouldn't see in vampires. But we shouldn't see whatever those sparkles are inside her—or anyone: vampire or human." Carlisle explained, perplexed.
"It looks like she swallowed a bottle of glitter." Bella spoke, walking in with Jacob.
"What are you two doing here?" Rosalie harshly asked.
"Rose." Carlisle and Esme scolded.
"But she is right: what are you doing here?" I asked as Halley sat up. The moment she saw Jacob, she and her cats retreated to a corner.
"I didn't do anything." Jacob spoke up.
"She's afraid of dogs. I think she was attacked by one when she was younger, but I'm not a hundred percent sure." I explained, walking over to Halley.
"Anyway: Bella felt like something was off, so she wanted to come here." Jacob begrudgingly explained why they were here.
"What are those?" I heard Jasper ask when Carlisle got whatever was in Sammy's collar.
"I don't know. Memory cards of some sort, maybe." Carlisle answered, holding up three small memory chip-looking items.
"Those are listening devices. Well, one of them is. The other two are mini spy cameras." Bella spoke up, looking at the items.
"How do you know that?" Emmet asked, curious.
"My dad and a few of his partners have them. Like the ones they have, those are police issued only. They're only a few years old. Well, those ones may be new. But they were only created and certified about six years ago, I think." Bella explained, looking at the devices.
"Police issues? Damnit! That son of a bitch!" I cursed, rushing downstairs along with the others.
Normal P.O.V.:
"What's going on?" Jacob and Bella asked, confused as Edward, Carlisle, and Jasper tore apart the entire downstairs. At the same time, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmet were upstairs, doing the same while Alice tried comforting an upset Halley.
Just as fast as they tore everything apart, everything was placed perfectly back in place after a few minutes—with several destroyed spy devices.
"What is going on?" Jacob demanded, annoyed.
"Earlier, we had a visitor—a vampiric cop called Brandon Bartholomew from Chicago. This same cop is the one who turned Halley into a vampire. Edward went to get something personal of his and Halley's in hopes of trying to get her to understand. Brandon followed Edward all the way back to here. We talked and learned a little about Halley's death and why he turned her. He had wanted her for his family, but swore he wouldn't take away her happiness, and let her stay with Edward and us." Carlisle explained, scratching his head.
"He seemed so polite." Esme added.
"Couldn't Edward read his mind to see what he was planning?" Jacob condescendingly asked.
"I was. Everything he was saying, he was thinking first." Edward answered, clenching his fist.
"Edward! I think Halley needs you; I can't get her to calm down! Jasper, please come up as well!" Alice yelled from upstairs.
"Go. Keep her calm." Carlisle firmly told Edward and Jasper before they ran upstairs.
"So, now what? What do we do?" Emmet asked, watching Carlisle.
"If he planted all these bugs without any of knowing, what else is he capable of?" Rosalie asked, annoyed.
"Well, it's clear he wants." Carlisle calmly spoke.
"Halley." Esme solemnly spoke.
"He won't get her!" Edward yelled from upstairs.
"He's protective of her, it seems." Bella noted with a smile.
"Very. He won't lose her again—not without a fight. My fear with that though, is that Brandon stated that he wasn't the only vampiric cop; he works with a few. And I really don't want to have fight break out in the first place." Carlisle answered Bella.
"What do we do if they show up while we're gone? We all need to go see Niko, don't we?" Esme asked, concerned.
"If you want, Jake, a few of the others, and I could watch the house for you while you're gone. I mean, if you really fear these guys coming to take Halley—and think they're a danger; Jake and the others could take care of them." Bella offered, watching Carlisle and Esme.
"That could work. It's painfully clear we can't trust Brandon's word. For several reasons, we can't just let him take Halley—not that she'd willingly go with him. But I don't think she's a fighter." Carlisle spoke, looking at Esme.
"If they'd be willing to do this, I wouldn't be opposed—not if it kept everyone including Halley here." Esme agreed.
"Do we get to kill these vampire cops?" Jacob asked, his interest piqued.
"Do what you must. For all we know, they may not have the same vegetarian diet we have." Carlisle answered with a sigh.
"Great. When do we need to be here?" Jacob asked, watching Carlisle.
"We leave as soon as Edward has Halley calmed down." Carlisle answered.
"She's calmer now. But she won't come down until Jacob's gone." Alice informed everyone, walking downstairs with Jasper.
"How long are we going to be here?" Jacob asked, watching Carlisle, sensing he was in charge—to a point.
"Edward's listening; he'll know the plan." Alice assured Carlisle.
"Our first stop is Pennsylvania: that's where Niko dropped Halley off. Niko gave me coordinates to where he dropped her off; he said it's nothing but empty land now. He then gave me more coordinates to some box he buried there; we're to go at night and dig it up. The box will have further instructions. Niko said this would be imperative to helping Halley adjust to being part of our family—and we may learn some about her as well."
"After everything in Pennsylvania, we go to the catacombs of Paris; Niko lives down there somewhere. He's lived there for the last hundred-fifty years. Surprisingly enough, he gave me a timeframe for when he saw Halley." "Why is that so surprising?" Carlisle answered Esme, explaining the plan until Emmet interrupted him.
"Niko is very secretive when talking over the phone; he never reveals anything until he's face to face with someone. But anyway: he said he first met Halley twenty-five years ago. But we'll figure out why Halley has no memories of much of anything except her cats and Edward. We may learn more about her herself. Now, because she's an anomaly that we know nothing about; I don't know how long Halley will be able to run—or if she'll even be able to keep up with us. So, we'll have to figure out how fast she can run. Once we figure that out, we'll see how far she can go. I can't imagine as far as us. I mean: she sleeps, eats regular food, feels warm, and soft. There's so much more, I'm sure. Otherwise, we'll just have to drive to Pennsylvania." Carlisle answered before continuing to explain the plan.
"Ooh. Road trip. We should just drive there; we can stop now and then to hunt if we need." Esme excitedly insisted.
"Ok. We'll be driving to Pennsylvania. Without stops, it's a two-day drive. With stops—two and a half or three. I'm sure we'll take a private plane to France. And Niko sounded like we'd be there at least two days, learning—maybe more. So—I'd say a week or so." Carlisle finally answered Jacob.
"Great. Come on, Bella; let's get you home and then I'll get the others." Jacob replied before dragging Bella out of the Cullen's.
Upstairs:
Earlier:
With Edward & Halley:
Edward's P.O.V.:
"Let me through." I demanded, walking over to Alice, Jasper, and Halley.
"Jasper's trying to keep her calm—and for the most part it's working. But she's still stressed or something." Alice told me.
Halley was sitting in the corner, crying and shaking with her cats; she was terrified. Terrified of Jacob. Of Officer Brandon Bartholomew, but not understanding why. Of my angry outburst: she never liked it when I or anyone yelled or cursed like the way I did.
"Well, it's clear he wants." "Halley." I heard Carlisle and Esme telling everyone what that cop wanted.
"He won't get her!" I determinedly yelled back before turning my attention to back Halley.
"Halley? Halley, it's ok; I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. None of us will. Ok? You're family now, and you will be treated as such—how a family should treat you, not how yours treated you. I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you earlier; I was just so pissed off that I trusted and fell for that cop's words. I don't know what he wants with you, but I promise I won't let him have you. Ok? Yes, you can come get a hug. Yeah, ok." I calmly and gently spoke to Halley before pulling her into a hug and responding to what Alice was thinking to me.
To her, my being able to read her mind was normal. Though I could never actually read her mind while we were alive, I usually knew what she wanted—or thinking. She always said I was a gypsy psychic mind reader. I never failed to amaze her—never. But in turn, she never failed to amaze me either.
The day Halley was born: something drew me to her then and there. I don't think I realized it then, but I think that's when I fell in love with her. But I didn't realize it until we were nine and sixteen. But she was only sixteen: that's why I never said anything. And now—I can't live without her in my life anymore.
I will not lose her—not again.
She's here with me.
She's here in my arms.
For a better lack of the word; she's alive—and with me and my… No. Our eccentric family.
"Edward…" I heard Halley moan before realizing she had cried herself to sleep.
At least I'm used to her being strange: that's not changed in the past hundred years…