Author's note: The song that matches this reveal is I Know What You Are by Carter Burwell. Hope you enjoy.
As I stood there, staring into the eyes of a vampire that I had met years ago, I knew deep down that the truth was coming out, one way or another.
Especially since the love-sick puppy standing next to me could read his thoughts.
At that moment, although rather annoyed at the situation that I had gotten myself into, I was secretly glad. Every moment of my existence I have lied to all those who have passed. It would be nice to finally tell the truth. Yes, it makes me more human, but it also makes me exist. Something I have craved for a long time.
Killing them did cross my mind. It is not as if I care for them. However, I could not do that. I could not touch Jasper. The very thought repelled me like sun repels a storm. I was growing… attached. How horrid.
Never thought I would see the day where I would connect with a blood-sucker.
Since I could not kill them, I was left with one option. Show them.
Without breaking eye contact with Carlisle, I walked in the kitchen area and grabbed the closest knife. I could see the eyes of the two vampires who knew widen, while the rest were puzzled. Not even Alice could have predicted this.
Once I was back in my previous position, I directed my knife towards the area where my heart was. I proceeded to slice my skin in the shape of a cross, cutting open the scars that had only just begun to heal. Once the incisions were made I dropped the knife, where it clattered on the floor, and pulled out my heart. To make them even more horrified I slowly smirked in the most malicious of ways.
There it was, black as a shadow, still as night. My heart.
My form began to change. My skin slowly turned pale, while a black gown began to form around my body. It was knee length, with slits down the sides to tempt my prey with the most gorgeous of sights. Tightened around my waist, the fabric stopped at my neck in the most tantalising of V-necks, continuing down my arms until it flared at my wrist. Old fashioned perhaps, but tantalising all the same. My face began to shift, where my eyes became black as coal, my lips as red as blood and my teeth as sharp as stone. My hair elongated to reach my hips, long luscious black locks. A beautiful horror, that is what I am.
And I love it.
After returning my heart back to where it belonged, I breathed in properly for the first time in days, and could taste the fear of the occupants of the room on my tongue. How good that scent was. It made me growl with authority, the unearthly sound ripping through my throat and filling the entire space.
I knew I had them afraid on a physical level. It was time to move to the mental side of fear.
Teleporting across the room, I stood behind Carlisle. Each word that passed between my lips sounded sweet and lustful, lulling them into a false sense of security while making the hairs of the back of their necks stand up as they sensed a predator in the midst. "I know you." I began to walk forward, circling the man who was the current object of my attention. "Such a young boy, such a good boy." Each word taunted him, made him remember a moment he would sooner forget. "Yet in a moment of weakness, the scent was too alluring to resist." I did not try to hide my own reactions to their scents as I began to whisper. "You trained yourself so well. Not a single human drop of blood ever graced those fangs. But tell me Carlisle," his name fell from my lips in a unnerving purr as I moved so that we were nose to nose, so that he could see into my soulless body as the words pour out, "have you ever craved it? Been so close you could taste it? The sweet nectar flowing through those teeth, quenching a thirst that you have had for so long. Would it not be better to take a taste, just once?"
Edward, who had interpreted my words in reference to Bella, lunged at me with all the strength of a vampire. Pathetic. As he crawled closer I gave the lightest push, resulting in him crashing into the kitchen bench with such force that it broke into pieces. God I missed the fun of playing with my food.
By this stage the fear had properly begun to sink in. Looking at each of them in the eye, I saw then bow their heads in silent submission. It almost ruined my fun, I was counting on a fight. Harsh words escaped my lips. "I am no human. I have no fear. You are the ones who should be afraid." And then I smiled. "Do you fear me?" I received a simultaneous bowing on heads from each Cullen. The human was cowering in fear like the pathetic thing she was. I ignored her while focusing on the others, wondering who was bravest enough to speak first.
After a mere minute Rosalie asked the question that I knew was burning everyone's tongues like acid. "What are you?"
Staring straight into her soul, I began to answer. "A demon. Put on this earth for one purpose: to control one specific creature. Can you tell me what that is, Rosalie?" When I spoke her name she visibly shivered and whispered the word 'vampire'. Like a teacher, I told her that she was a good girl and then decided that they were frightened enough.
So I told them everything, answering every question that flew through their head. "My name is Aeliana. I am as old as the earth, created with it in order to save it from its inhabitants. As time grew on, and humans began to grace the soil, I recruited. Every year I would find a new human and transform her. My sisters. Together we control the world from the savage creatures that live on it, no matter what form. Whether out for meat or blood, it does not matter. I have experienced everything. I know all about every single moment of life each of you have had the luck and guts to live through. I have the strength, speed and smarts more developed than what you could dream of. And yes, Emmett, my food is standing in front of me. Looking so delicious." At those words I licked my lips in a way that guaranteed that even the dullest in the room understood the message. And gulped.
However, I decided at that moment that enough was enough. Transforming back into my human body, I gave a proper smile and said, "Everything that I have said is true. I am no human. However, I am no threat to you either. No matter how much I may dislike you," I gave quick glances towards Edward, Bella, Emmett and Rosalie, "…if you do nothing to invoke my wrath then you have no reason to fear."
Seeing Rosalie's look of disbelief I gave her a death stare that brought the fear back into her eyes again.
And then I faced Jasper. Throughout the theatrics earlier I had done my best to avoid him, no wanting to see fear on the face of the only vampire I ever cared about. He looked both scared and slightly angry, as I knew he would. However, it was the inner feelings that startled me like nothing else ever had. The complete and utter trust he had developed towards me.
I had to smile as he led me up to his bedroom on the second floor, away from the scene that I had created. He really had no concerns surrounding personal safety. However, unlike Edward, I knew that I could control myself around him instead of feasting. His little human really was in danger with him around.
The room was rather large. Two walls were pure glass, allowing the small about of sun to shine through. The first proper wall was covered with a large bookshelf that contained all of the classics. How very nineteenth century of him. The other wall housed a walk in wardrobe, a vanity that was obviously left over from Alice and a couch. All the items were shades of grey that accented the space perfectly. No bed, but no need for one.
I could tell that Jasper was at a loss concerning words, still recovering from my reveal. In order to give him time, I grabbed one of his books and sat on the couch, reading. It was these moments that we truly connected, both creatures of few words. The fact that we felt comfortable enough to remain silent around each other is truly telling: the fact that Edward and Bella cannot keep quite is a testimony towards Edward's fear of hurting her and Bella's self-conscious attitude concerning her humanity. We clicked, they did not.
I felt it when Jasper moved to sit next to me, wanting to know which of his books I was reading. He laughed when he realised it was Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne.
He asked me in a teasing manner, "What does an all-powerful demon have in common with a fictional tale of exploration? Would not Animal Farm be more down your alley: history and carnage linked together?"
Giving him a less than amused face that hid my own smile, I told him that George Orwell's novel was neither accurate nor truthful: animals do not converse. Jules Verne, however, explores the wonder of science and the edge of what was possible and what was improbable. "A true classic, this one is. Give me science fiction over talking animals anyday."
As we both laughed, I was once again amazed by how well Jasper was taking my true identity. And how well I was dealing with the fact that I cared enough to be amazed.
Indeed, so preoccupied we were the newly started debated over the best genre of literature that when he suddenly asked if I would join them for a baseball game I just nodded and promised I would be there, without concerning myself about any consequences.
Another mistake to add to the ever growing tally. And yet I do not regret a moment.
A heartless demon who cared. What had gone wrong recently in the world?