Esme sat tense, while her daughter slept. She knew the three denali sisters would not react without reason yet, she knew that they might find the brunette's existence a threat and attempt to turn her in to the Volturi (if need be). She knew the three blondes would not attempt to harm Bella themselves, most likely determining the girl to mean something to the caramelette.
As the floating countdown timer ticked down second by second, Esme found herself biting her nails. A rather nasty habit she had even while human. Her mind drifted off once again, thinking back to the past few years. Getting thrown back in time had made her old memories merge so she knew what was new (for the current time period). Before finding Bella, Esme and Carlisle had gotten into one of their rare fights, he had once again taken Edward's side and it pushed her over the edge.
She had left in a blind rage before the blonde man could use his pheromones on her. Her mind latched onto the topic of pheromones and she wondered how long he had been using them on her. While the caramellete knew other vampires could be affected by the scent of others and their "Dazzle". After telling the Denali coven what happened along with the truth (vague, but the truth nontheless).
A timer only she could hear rang out and she prepared herself as much as she could given the short period.
Four solid knocks rang out through the house, announcing the arrival of the three Denali sisters.
Esme got up and walked to the old wooden door opening it up for the blondes to come in.
Looking to the three she decided to cut to the chase, quickly gathering their attention by motioning to the sleeping brunette on the couch. Tanya tensed up and Kate grew serious for once yet, it was Irina who spoke.
"Esme... Why is there a young girl on the couch?" Irina said, memories flashing behind her golden eyes.
Esme looked at the three very seriously for just a second and motioned to the outside patio door.
"I'll let you know outside, she needs to sleep and you may get loud when you find out what is going on."
Esme looked to them again and motioned to follow, they did although with more caution and suspicion than before.
Esme started to talk to them quietly as they went, making sure to catch their intrigue.
"Carlisle and Edward had first noticed her." She started, knowing that the Denali sisters would listen better were she to bring the two males up.
"Her mother had left her while on a snow hiking trip with a guy, whom I later learned was one of many boyfriends. They were going to try and leave yet, Edward and scented her blood and tried to attack. Carlisle stopped him with the help of myself and they both left while I stayed behind to make sure she was going to be safe."
The four vampires reached the patio and Esme took to sitting on an outdoor rocking chair near an unlit fire pit.
"I decided to take her with me to the office of the hiking tour after her mother had not returned for around fifteen to twenty minutes."
"By the time I decided to take her with me she was barely conscious and had been laying in the snow." Esme continued, face serious.
Kate decided to interrupt Esme, seeming to be incredulous. Unnoticed to the younger blonde the other two sisters flinched at Esme's change in mood.
"Why not just let her die or kill her then? I mean you could've also left her at the office and she would've been returned to her mother. eventually."
Esme stared at Kate calmly, too calm for the other two Denali sisters. Before any of them could move the caramel haired woman stood in front of the blonde, gripping her chin like an angry mother.
"Kate." Esme said, annoyance in her tone.
"Let me finish and you will find out." she finished, eyes shifting from bright gold to an eerie silver gold. A sharp appraising smile spread across her lips, a threat very clear to the other occupants of the room.
Esme looked at the other vampire closely, showing her seriousness.
"Nod if you understand." she said, eyes boring into the three older vampires.
All of them nodded cautiously, Kate doing so in fear.
"Good."
Esme sat back down, appearing completely relaxed once again. Tanya looked at her sisters and sighed in relief, folding her hands in front of her mouth she thought about what had been told already and studied Esme more. The former Cullen was different, something was off. With how protective of the girl she was it was almost like...
No, it couldn't be...
Unless.
Tanya raised her hand slightly to catch Esme's attention. Looking the woman in the eyes she stated her question.
"Do you have a bond with the girl?" she asked, politely.
Esme thought for a minute and looked confused, before shrugging her shoulders slightly. Deciding to verbally answer the question she spoke.
"I don't know if I do. I feel connected to her yet, it is more like she is my own child rather than anything else."
Nodding the elder blonde filed the information away for later. Motioning for Esme to continue the other woman obliged.
"After finding the office I got the attention of the cashier there and the police ended up coming, long story short they let her stay with me."
Looking up she got a disdainful expression.
"Once I called Carlisle to let him know I was looking after her he seemed too excited. I had asked why he was so happy and he said Edward could not read her mind. I was confused about why this was so important when he said something irredeemable."
Esme took an unnessesary breath and continued.
"He said Edward thought the girl is his mate and they should spend time around each other. Stating that the more they interact the more compatable they would be."
"I told him that Edward had just tried to kill her and that it was impossible for him to be her mate. Mates can't hurt each other."
Tanya, Irina, and Kate blanched at the new information. Suddenly they felt disgusted and slimy, getting an inkling as to the next part.
"He said her being younger would help with the adjustment, I told him that was child grooming and it was wrong and he started to argue with me on it."
Esme massaged her forehead before looking to the three blondes once again. Seeing their expressions she spoke softly.
"Now you know why I am here now."
Esme looked at them seriously, knowing they might not believe some of the story.
"I understand if you may not believe me when I say this-" Esme started and was stopped by Irina.
Irina raised her hand to stop Esme from saying anything more. Looking at her sisters she motioned for them to follow.
"We'll be back Esme, I need to talk to my sisters."
Esme nodded and went inside, deciding to check on Bella.
Tanya and her sisters talked lowly to each other. They could all believe that Carlisle would say something to that degree.
Tanya started off by stating what they knew, while they could believe Esme's story much information should be gathered.
"We know that Esme would not want to be found by Carlisle. I would not feel comfortable subjecting that girl to the Cullens if all that was said is the entire truth." Kate said, for once being entirely serious.
Tanya nodded at her sister's words, she agreed with the youngest's opinion. While Esme told the truth, something is being left out. The elder blonde knew Irina and Kate didn't know this.
She knew her sisters forgot about her ability and often underestimated what it could do. Living as long as she did Tanya knew Esme was truthful (while excluding a detail).
For as long as she could remember Tanya could tell when something is being left out, or when someone is being dishonest. While her ability is not as evolved as Maggie from the irish coven, it still had uses. Experience had taught her that getting the truth out of someone is easier said than done.
Sometime during her thinking Kate and Irina started arguing, her nostrils flared in irritation.
While she understood their relaxed nature, she also knew that this is the first reset that changed Esme's behavior. Thinking back to earlier she remembered the aura around the young brunette.
Through the previous incarnations the girl had that same energy to a lesser degree. It seemed something had finally awoken.