Happy Sunday everyone. I hope you guys have been enjoying your lives. If not, then I sincerely hope this helps. Please enjoy!
Chapter Thirteen
There were no other huts at the top of the trees, only Carlisle's and Esme's. The moonlight shined down brightly, giving me enough light as I stepped onto the platform that surrounded the hut. Before I stepped any further, I leaned over the railing and looked down; we were very high. I wasn't normally afraid of height, but this didn't make my knees a little weak.
"Alice, wake up," Edward said as he placed Alice on her feet. "Come on, go wash your face before bed."
Alice yawned and nodded. She walked over to the tall pedestal where a marble bowl sat and began washing her face. Once she was finished she walked into the hut.
"Do you want to wash your face Bella?" Edward asked.
"Is it mandatory before bed?" I asked.
"I think for the females it is," He said. "My mother makes sure to tell all of the females to wash their face twice a day. When they wake up and before they sleep. I think it has something to do with the Goddess, but I could be wrong."
"I don't want to upset your mother," I said as I walked over to the bowl. I leaned over into the water and started splashing my face. I copied Alice, who had simply splashed water on her face. When I leaned up, I jumped slightly, not knowing that Edward was standing beside me.
"Sorry," He said as he started dabbing my face with a piece of cloth. "My mother and Alice have their own drying cloths. I'll have to hunt one for you."
I smiled. "Thank you."
He smiled at me and placed his hand on my shoulder, guiding me into the hut. The hut was small, which didn't surprise me, but it seemed as though the only use for the huts were sleeping.
The floor was not wood, instead it was made out of very soft material. My feet sunk slightly as I stepped onto the floor. It took me a moment to realize that the floor was actually the leaves to the tree that the hut currently sat upon. I was a little nervous that the leaves would break, but if both Edward and Carlisle could stand on these leaves, then they must be pretty strong.
"Don't be afraid," Edward said as he thumped down beside Alice who was snuggled in the middle of the hut. As soon as Edward laid down, Alice shuffled closer to him. "The leaves will not break. This is our ancestral tree. It's where the Goddess and her mate birthed her first child. We have lived here since the beginning."
I found a place on the other side of Edward. I had tried to put some distance between us, but I found myself craving his warmth. Edward started purring contently as he wrapped an arm around me.
Alice growled and kicked Edward in the leg. "Stop! You never purr!"
"Hush Alice, go to sleep." Edward said as he started purring louder. She growled again and rolled over onto her belly. Edward chuckled and placed his massive hand on her back, rubbing it gently. After just a moment, I heard the soft sound of snoring. I lifted up to see Alice's eyes closed and her back rising and falling steadily.
"Is she asleep already?" I whispered.
"Yes," He whispered back. "She's still very young. The younglings fall asleep very easily. I know Alice hates it when my father or I purr. It puts her to sleep faster. She likes to act like she is an adult sometimes."
I giggled. "Well, I wish I could fall asleep that fast." I snuggled closer against him, basking in his warmth. I inhaled deeply and settled. "Can I admit something to you?"
"Of course," He said as he turned his face, pressing his lips and nose against my forehead. "You can tell me anything."
"I feel very safe with you," I whispered. "It's weird, because I've never felt safe with any other man besides my father."
"Do I remind you of your father in some way?" He asked.
"Not really," I chuckled softly as I closed my eyes.
"Well, I know females tend to pick males based on their fathers. My father and Jasper share the same style hair, which is why Alice is so smitten with Jasper. Emmett is as boisterous as Rosalie's father. Perhaps I remind you of your father. What was he like?"
I cleared the awkward lump in my throat. "I don't really like to talk about my father. It's nothing to do with you, I swear, it's just… how he died really… let's just not talk about it."
Edward's arm tightened around me. "Why don't you go to sleep? Tomorrow I can take you to the tree of healing."
I yawned, "I would love that."
He chuckled and nuzzled his nose and lips against my forehead. His purring continued and I found myself falling fast asleep just like Alice.
Three Hours Later
I slowly opened my eyes as I heard the soft whispers above me. I could see Carlisle, holding Alice in his arm and Esme positioned on top of him. Edward must've moved me too because I felt myself snuggled against the top of his chest. His tail was wrapped around my leg and his arms were holding me tightly.
"You think you've made a heartbond with her?" Carlisle asked softly.
"Yes. I feel it. I've never felt such a strong bond before. I thought I was close with Tanya, but I've never felt closer to anyone except for Bella."
I felt my heart skip a few beats. I quickly close my eyes as Carlisle shifted to look down at me. I didn't want to alert them that I was awake, I wanted to hear their conversation. It wasn't right, I knew that, but I couldn't help myself.
Edward started purring again and rubbing my back gently with his clawed fingertips. I shuddered and calmed myself; I didn't want to alert them.
"Is she alright?"
"A nightmare, I believe," Edward whispered as he started sniffing the top of my head. "She is okay now."
Carlisle was quiet for a few moments before whispering, "She is a very beautiful female. I can see the bond growing between you. You just have to find a way to have her open herself to you and reciprocate the bond."
"I am trying. It will take time. Bella was raised on the other side. I imagine the only good male she's ever encountered was her father."
"You must be quicker. Your mother says that Bella will have her first bleed in twenty-seven days. If she does not share the heart bond with you, then you will never be able to consummate your mating. She will not be able to accept your seed and bear your child."
Edward's arms tightened around me. "I will try my hardest."
"What will you do if she rejects you?"
Edward was silent for a few moments. "I would be very sad, but I would still provide for her and protect her."
"I hope it works out for you my son. I do not want you to become a lonely outcast. My heart could not take my son being casted out from the family after I'm gone."
"I know papa."
Carlisle reached out and placed his hand on Edward's cheek. "If Bella becomes your mate, then she must become the healer."
"Bella claims that she saw the Ektix."
Carlisle gasped softly. "Did you tell your mother?"
"Not yet. I did not want her to overwhelm Bella on her first day. Bella is easily frightened. I can feel her emotions. Her panic. It makes me panic. It makes me want to fight."
Carlisle chuckled softly. "You will need to tell your mother tomorrow. She needs to take Bella under her wing and guide her to becoming the healer."
"I now know why - denied the heartbond between Tanya and I." He said. "I must admit, for years, I felt anger towards -. I thought she had cursed me. But she was making me wait for Bella."
"I believe it was because Tanya was not well suited to become the healer. She is a good nurturer, and she is very beautiful, but she has a hard time remember everything the healer must remember."
I felt Edward nod. "Tomorrow, I must tell Tanya that I will no longer provide for her."
"I understand. Your first priority is providing for Bella and eventually the child you will give her. You could still help Tanya though. You are a very skilled hunter. You could provide for both until Bella birthed your child."
Edward chuckled. "I don't think I should. When Tanya fed me, I felt Bella become very angry. I even felt myself become enraged. If I had chased the feeling, I am sure I would have become blinded by it and I would have slaughtered everyone."
Carlisle chuckled again. "I told you, a fiery female. She reminds me of your mother, before she gave birth to you."
"So I have heard," Edward said before yawning, his chest rising so high.
"Go on to sleep son," Carlisle said as he settled down on the floor.
"Are you going to sleep?"
"Soon. I will be asleep soon."
I felt Edward's arm tighten around me and a few moments later, his breathing regulating. I waited a few more minutes just to make sure he was completely asleep. When I was sure, I opened my eyes.
Carlisle was still awake, but he was staring out of the hut. I watched as his ears twitched slightly at every noise that the night bring. The only noise that I had never heard in the night here were the soft crying sounds of a few babies. Every time a baby cried, Carlisle would smile and chuckle very softly when the baby was quieted.
I watched Carlisle for a few moments. He somehow seemed both at peace and alert at the same time. He let out a soft rumble before settling down, allowing his head to fall back some. He inhaled deeply before finally closing his eyes.
Now that Carlisle was asleep, I had no reason to stay awake, so I closed my eyes and followed suit.
A Few Hours Later
The sun was what woke me up now, and the sound of soft chatter. I opened my eyes and suddenly realized that I was the last one to wake up. Jasper was now in the hut, sitting beside Carlisle and Esme with Alice seated in his lap. Carlisle was still laying down with Esme on his chest as they listened to Jasper whisper about something. I was still laying on Edward's chest, but he was sitting up now, still holding me tightly.
I shifted so I was sitting up now and rubbed the sleepiness away from my eyes.
"Good morning," Edward purred gently as he placed his hands on my hips; I hadn't even realized that I was straddling his waist. I quickly readjusted myself to a more appropriate position.
"Good morning," I said as I yawned. After getting a whiff of my breath, I quickly clamped my mouth shut so no one had to suffer like me.
"Here Bella," Esme said as she grabbed the wooden bowl from in front of Alice and Jasper. "Eat some of the sogall, it helps keep our teeth clean and fill our stomachs." She said as she sat up now.
I reached over and grabbed a piece of the triangular pink sogall. It felt like a very thick leaf, but since Esme said it would clean my teeth, I was more than willing to try it. It tasted pretty good and my stomach filled up in a nice way.
Edward reached forward and dropped a few pieces of the sogall into his mouth.
"Bella did you still want to go to the tree of healing today?" Edward asked.
"Sure," I said as I grabbed more sogall. "I was wondering if maybe today we could stop by my boat and grab my stuff?"
"Of course," Edward said as he stretched out and pulled himself completely up.
"Great." I smiled, mostly excited to grab my sketch book.
Edward's tail started wagging excitedly. "Well, we better hurry to the tree of healing. The sun will be rising over it soon. It is at its most beautiful when the sun is rising above it."
"Sure," I said as I stood.
"Please do not forget to wash your face before you leave Bella!" Esme said as Edward stood.
"Don't worry, I won't," I smiled at her.
I walked to the face washing bowl and leaned down into it. I wanted to ask Esme why I had to wash my face every morning and night. I didn't mind doing it, I just wanted to know why.
Edward had walked out of the hut and stretched his arms out wide. Once I finished washing my face, I looked over to see his skin sparkling in the sunlight. I smiled softly.
"Your skin looks really beautiful when it shines like that." I said to him.
He chuckled. "Thank you. Would you like to ride on my back? We're going to have to climb up to the tree of healing."
"Sure," I said as I climbed onto his back. "Are you able to climb down with me on your back?"
Edward snorted. "Of course."
He easily climbed down the ladder with me on his back. As he climbed down, we were able to see the villagers as they were waking up. Several of them wished us a good morning as Edward made his way down.
Edward jumped down onto the ground, still holding me tightly. My fingernails had dug into his shoulders a bit as he jumped.
"Jerk," I uttered as my heart settled down. "I thought you couldn't use your abilities with me around?"
He laughed loudly. "I'm not using my abilities. I just jumped."
I rolled my eyes. "So, where is the tree of healing."
Edward turned and pointed towards over the top of the tree line. I squinted to try to see what he was pointing at.
"It is not too far." He said as he started walking in that direction.
