t's peaceful out here . Ice covered ground crunched under his feet as he walked, plastic bag in one hand and metal poker in the other. He was thankful his brothers weren't there to see him, poor attempt at playing human in the neon orange vest that marked him as a park volunteer. They weren't kidding when they told Carlisle the park got bad during the holiday season, trash overflowed from every available trash can, people stupid enough to block the animal proof canisters from closing properly. Vermin of all kinds carrying trash throughout the park, coupled with the harsh winds that pushed hail onto the tree tops, made nature look, well, overly inhabited. He couldn't hear many heartbeats this far into the trail, the sound of two hikers that had passed him an hour ago fading into nothing as they ventured down towards the river trail, and the only animals that dared to let him get close at this speed were too high above his head for them to do more than stare intently at him.
He missed Lettie, that much was easy to admit.
Though the birds were silent as he walked, all too aware of the danger below them, he was able to create his own symphony of sounds to occupy his mind. He hummed lowly as he walked, matching his steps to the beat of whatever song overcame him, adding a skip here and there to maintain tempo. The bag in his hand rustled faintly, the world's nastiest maraca, and he gently tapped the stick in his hand against tree roots in a makeshift percussion. It was enough, for now, to distract him from his solitude. Or, at least, enough to stop him from going stir crazy.
This, he imagined, is what Carlisle meant. No distractions, no other mind to keep him entertained or bored or irritated. It allowed his thoughts to flow freely, uninterrupted, but, for once, they didn't instantly turn macabre. Instead, his mind kept drifting back to the one person who'd been by his side those last few months.
Though everyone knew about Lettie now, most kept their distance. Rosalie was fuming, keeping Emmett captive in their bedroom despite his desire to speak to Lettie. If they weren't… busy , she was rattling off another one of her concerns, angry words shushed quietly by her doting husband, who's mind flipped between how soft his mate's hair felt under his hand, and wanting to find other ways to calm her down. Neither Jasper or Alice appeared either, his brother too occupied keeping Alice drowsy so she could regain her energy as soon as possible. Alice took multiple baths throughout the night, pulling Esme away from their conversation occasionally to check on the water. Carlisle spent almost an hour trying to convince the wolves they knew nothing of the vampires on their land, and another half hour trying to get any information. Edward was thankful to Sam's reluctance to completely shut out the Cullen's, but there was still a long way to go before they would ever agree to work together. Esme hurried to Carlisle's side as soon as the call was over, not needing Jasper's power to know Carlisle was in desperate need of comfort.
So, he and Lettie returned to their routine. He played some of the new CDs he received for Christmas while he read Lettie's new old book allowed, the two perched on their leather couch. Despite Lettie's insistence that she'd read the book before, back when she was still alive, she still looked at him wide eyed as he revealed Frédéric's obsession, gasped when Frédéric and Mme Arnoux revealed their love, and scowled at the continued deception of the characters. He nearly laughed when Carlisle entered the room, pausing their reading session just as Louise learned of her fiance's deception.
The memory of her downtrodden face as he closed the book brought a smile to her face. For being quite content to lament his forced proximity to his family over the years, all it took was a day for him to miss them, miss their rowdy spirits and roving minds. He wasn't quite at the point of asking for any company just yet, namely Rosalie, but someone to talk to would have been nice, to fill the silence he was growing to hate.
"Well, well, if it isn't the gormless worm that stole my Leta." Edward immediately tensed, body reacting quicker than his mind. Though Samuel should have stood out against the bright landscape that surrounded them, they had a knack for finding the darkest corner to hide in; there, hovering just on the edge of the treeline, surrounded by darkness, did they look most threatening. And, Edward hated to admit it, an unwanted shiver ran down his spine.
He was, after all, completely alone.
"Samuel."
"Now, now, little vampire. No need to sound so hostile." Edward noticed how Samuel stayed concealed, keeping their form hidden from sight, beside the burning of their unnatural eyes. "I'm not here to stir up trouble. Just got my vampire direction confused, and, imagine my surprise when I come upon one of the creatures I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on. And, wandering all by his lonesome, all the better."
"My family would know-"
"Your family is nowhere nearby." Samuel shrugged off Edward's lie with a wave of their hand, as if they was shooing off a pest. "But, don't worry. I have no desire to play with you today."
No desire? He didn't know Samuel well, but there was something about the statement that felt…wrong. Incomplete. Edward narrowed his eyes, willing his vampire abilities to help him look through the smoke of shadow.
"No desire? Or no strength?" Samuel hissed, an unnatural sound that was closer to a leaking valve than human, refusing to take the insult. But, as their body jerked back, the shadows that once concealed thinned to a sheer curtain, it was enough to see there was more to the innate intimidation of hiding in the darkness.
Samuel, a once fearsome creature, was a mere shell of what they once were. Their arm had stopped bubbling, but it was still raised and scarred, a faint glow appearing in the cracks of their body. The weblike veins from the night before were faintly healed, but they stood out, something solid against Samuel's usual misty skin. They stood hunched, almost curling in on themselves, cradling their damaged arm against their body. Edward was surprised. Samuel was not a weak creature but this…this was no doubt the posture of someone who was bested. And they were not happy about it. A predator trapped behind the bars of a zoo enclosure.
"You didn't think I would take interest in just any pretty face, did you?" Samuel barked a laugh, but it was too strained to be genuine. "My Leta, what a creature she is."
"She is no creature, and you'd be a fool to come near her again." Samuel scoffed.
"And you'll do, what? Attack me and fail, as you have so many times before? Have your family stand by your side and fill you with a misguided attempt at bravery? No, no . Your bravery is nothing short of stupidity." Samuel's hand peaked out from the shadows, long fingers twisting as a rock rose from under Edward's feet. He stumbled back, a pathetic admittance from a vampire with superhuman reflexes, but he didn't allow himself to feel week. It was what made him lose more times than he ever wished, after all. "I may be weakened, but I am not weak ."
"No, but you can't hurt me in the state you're in." Eyes trained on both the hovering rock and the creature hidden in the woods, Edward took a step forward, trying to fill his chest with unearned confidence. He pictured Lettie behind him, strong Lettie who stood in front of him last time and almost lost her second life, filling his head with the instincts to protect the ones he cared about. As promised, his vampiric nature took over, and he felt his teeth elongate, his jaw puffing out as if he was about to attack an innocent animal. Though he failed last time, this lie fell from his lips as easily as truth. "And I will defeat you if you attack."
"You don't know how," Samuel replied, though it had a hint of hesitancy Edward had never heard from the poltergeist before. Edward used this to his advantage, taking another step.
"Is that something you're willing to gamble?"
They stared at each other, a game of chicken Edward was not willing to lose. After a moment, Samuel tittered to themself, then sighed.
"I guess you're right, little vampire, that is far too much of a gamble." Edward narrowed his eyes when Samuel's voice ended with a smile. "How lucky then, that I have some friends who can do the dirty work."
In an instant, the bag and garbage stick were on the floor, blown back as Edward ran, Samuel's cackle chasing behind him.
It would fall very much in line with Samuel's trickery to lie simply to set Edward on edge. They were smart, were probably more than aware of Edward's need to protect Lettie and the near reckless actions he would take to do so, and worst of all, reveled in Edward's misfortunes. It was possible they were lying, after all, they were too far from Lettie to confirm anything, but he was too unsure of Samuel's motive to wait on a call going through, especially with the spotty connection in the forest. So, he took off, not caring in the slightest that Jasper would probably be mad that he ignored the cardinal rule of fighting a stronger opponent: never turn your back on the enemy.
The run back to the house was without incident - he didn't even smell another vampire until he got closer to the house. It was well into evening now, winter's early sunset casting Forks into darkness before people could eat dinner. He knew Esme promised she'd take good care of Lettie, and yet, he couldn't stop the gut feeling that something could have gone terribly wrong. Not only was Samuel a pest and a danger, but they also seemed to be backed by a group of vampires who were reckless enough to wander into wolf territory. The treaty line wasn't commonly known, but the shifters on the reservation ran it frequently enough they created a line of stink that should have sent any sane vampire far in the other direction. If they were stupid enough to do that, then it made perfect sense they were in league with Samuel, as unbelieving as any sort of cooperation from the poltergeist was. Edward didn't know if Samuel could get a hold of Lettie's necklace, nor what they would do if they did, but it couldn't be anything good, not with the way they were always leering in her direction. Not a gaze of love, but of possession, one that left a bad taste in Edward's mouth.
The lights were on when he ran up the familiar path to the house, casting it and the forest around it in a soft, warm glow. Though this was usually a welcomed greeting, Edward could only think to compare it to a flashlight in a dark room, drawing danger to its obvious hiding spot. There was no sign of a struggle to be seen, nor the smell of an unfamiliar, unwanted guest, but he wouldn't put it past Rosalie to take the necklace far away and practically hand it to Samuel or the rogue vampires. The front door protested at his harsh tug, but he was mindful not to rip it from the hinges.
He couldn't hear anyone roaming around the house, all sounds loudly coming from the living room. And, to his relief, the loudest of them all was Lettie's excited voice.
"Oh! It is just as I imagined it!"
As he stepped through the high archway, his relief was overwhelmed by his confusion. Lettie, perched on her heels as she sat on the floor, sat mere feet from the TV, craning her neck to look at the flat screen playing Esme's favorite movie. He was relieved to see she looked almost completely back to normal, body no longer translucent and weak. Esme was sitting on the edge of one of the nearby chairs, her hands on her knees as if she wanted to reach out and pull Lettie away, her thoughts fretting over Lettie hurting her neck and eyes from sitting so close. Alice was sprawled on the sofa, a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a cup of hot water in her hands, laughing at Lettie's excitement. But, most surprisingly, was Jasper, who was reclined in an imitation of relaxation, lips pulled into a slight smile. From his slightly stiff shoulders, Edward could tell Jasper was still wary of the ghost in front of him, but her excitement was addictive, smothering his empathic abilities with her awe.
Jasper was the first to notice his approach, the feeling of being watched pulling him away from the TV. He gave a small nod of understanding, their fight still too fresh in his mind to do anything more, but he did nudge Alice's foot to redirect her attention.
"Eddie!" she exclaimed once she noticed, hot water sloshing over the side of her cup, though no one seemed to care. Both Esme and Lettie whipped their heads up at her exclamation.
"Welcome home, dear," Esme said, a smile gracing her lips as she paused the movie. Though, it wasn't any of their greetings that brought a smile to his face.
"Edward!" Lettie scrambled to her feet, legs tangled in the excess fabric of her dress. He rushed over, managing to get a hold of her arm to hoist her up before she could trip. Despite being semi translucent, he was glad her corporeality had returned. She sent him one of her radiant smiles, looking him over not so inconspicuously. It seemed, just as it had for him, she spent a majority of the day worrying about his safety. "You have returned!"
"Careful," he scolded playfully, reaching out to smooth her dress. She slapped his arm lightly as he brushed over her hip, though she didn't stop him until the fabric was laying flat once more. He felt his tension slowly ease as he stood near her, reassured she was okay. "I take it you had fun today?"
"I only wish you had remained by our side," she said with an enthusiastic nod. "You were terribly missed, but your Mother allowed me to accompany her as she painted in the forest, and your dear sister showed me many of her clothes. I have never seen such garments before!"
He couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled out of him, a lightness in his step he hadn't felt all day.
"And you're ending with a movie? Seems you've had a productive day."
"Not as much as yours," Alice teased behind him, playfully pinching her nose. "You stink."
"Why don't you wash up, dear?" Esme suggested. Lettie looked between her and Edward, a small pout on her lips, her mind running through all the things she wanted to tell him while he was gone.
"Finish the movie," he said with a smile, guiding her towards the sofa. "We can talk once it's over." She seemed hesitant to sit close to Jasper, who tensed when they approached, but she didn't dare say anything aloud, opting to give him a small nod of acknowledgement.
He was surprised, then, when it wasn't Jasper who trailed behind him, but Alice. She looked a lot better, her parlor seemed to have returned to normal, and there was no more of the unusual coldness that radiated from her skin. Though, she was missing her carefree smile, and that set him on edge more than her returned health could combat.
"I saw the decision, back in the woods," she whispered as they trailed up the stairs, mindful to only start talking as the sounds from the TV returned. Edward eyed her warily. "About you running away, and even the one to fight Jasper and Carlisle."
Edward nodded, though it was less sure than he was willing to admit. Was he that set in his actions? Or, was it unconscious, his need to keep Lettie safe so clear he couldn't use the loophole in Alice's visions?
"I would have helped you, and you would have made it to the airport. Lettie would have a panic attack before you could board, and you would've done anything to help her. You came back, because she didn't want you to be away from your family."
"Why are you telling me this?" It would have been easy for Alice to hide this, to keep it locked away with all the other futures she'd seen over the years that Edward hadn't.
Alice shrugged, but continued, "She's nice."
Alice filled her mind with the memories of the day. She and Jasper, walking back from a hunt, Alice still too cold to do so at a normal vampire pace, though her stomach sloshed with fresh blood. Running into Esme and Lettie as they painted near the house, Lettie bringing a smile to Esme's face as they chatted happily. Lettie fretting over Alice when she noticed them, warning her of some human symptoms during the recovery, recommending another warm bath and a massage to encourage the muscles to work as they should again. Alice trying to hug her in thanks, but falling through her still transparent body. Jasper moments from bursting with rage, but Alice's laugh reassuring him everything was okay, comparing Samuel's coldness to Lettie's warmth. Lettie apologizing profusely, even as Jasper waved a hand through her body. Lettie trying to break the tension by complimenting Alice's hair, causing Alice to swell with affection, latching onto Lettie for the rest of the day, Jasper reluctantly tagging along to watch Alice do a fashion show for the hundredth time.
"And you didn't have any…trouble?" Alice shook her head, confusion evident on her face. Edward sighed, turning to look at her fully. "Alice, you know that vampire. James."
"I don't," she replied instantly, even though it was clear even she wasn't sure. "Okay, maybe I do. I don't have any memories of him, but, when he looked at me…" Alice shuddered, face wrinkling with disgust.
"He knew you."
"But I don't know how. I don't know if it's before my transformation, or after." She lowered her voice, and this time, he knew it wasn't just to keep Lettie from hearing. "Edward, he might have been the one to change me."
"If he was, it wasn't the first thing he thought when he saw you." Edward sighed, running a hand through his hair. Ugh, he definitely needed to shower.
"What did he think?"
"Nothing good," Edward answered vaguely. It wasn't that he didn't think Alice could handle it, she had, after all, watched a vision of her own arm being ripped off while being kidnapped, but James' mind was filled with only one thought.
It's you .
"Nothing else?" Edward shook his head.
"I couldn't hear anything over your vision." He looked at her, eyes running up and down to reassure him of her health. "You're okay, right? That wasn't the prettiest thing to see."
"There are plenty worse things to see," she said nonchalantly.
"He might come after you again."
"Please don't tell anyone. Not yet."
"Alice, they should know." He felt like a hypocrite as the words came out, rolling his eyes when Alice shot him an accusing look. "Okay, pot, kettle, I get it. But this is a threat we can help with."
"I just need a little time. He might not even be a threat anymore, if the wolves got him." She sighed, slumping against the wall. Below them, Lettie let out a delighted laugh, Esme's soothing voice just barely louder than the movie. "It's been too tense around here for too long. I'll feel much better telling them once I have a better idea what's going on."
Edward leaned down, pulling Alice against his side, rubbing a hand along her back.
"Okay," he agreed instantly. Alice wrapped her arms around him in turn, squeezing him tight. "But let me know if you need help with this."
"Thank you," she whispered, then disappeared down the stairs.
He didn't intend to take a long shower, but there was something about Samuel's presence that chilled him to his bones, without the need to pass through their body. The hot water was too good to pass up, washing away the stress of the day, and the minor guilt he felt for ditching his volunteer work early.
But, hey, they thought he was a teenager. It probably wasn't unusual for them to be ditched anyway.
By the time he returned downstairs, the movie had reached its climax. was strolling side by side to a bashful Bennett, the grainey nature of the film not enough to hide her cheeks rosy from revealing her true feelings. Rosalie and Emmett had joined the family, practically sitting on top of each other in the lounge chair, furthest from where Lettie was sitting, the very same place he left her in. Alice was back under her blankets, this time cuddled up to Jasper. All of them were watching with rapt attention as Carlisle and Esme mimed along to the movie, lines flowing between them as easily as the actors on screen. Even without their vampiric memory, they'd seen this movie hundreds of times, more than enough to know every scene by heart.
"...dearest, loveliest Elizabeth," Carlisle whispered, pulling Esme close to kiss her, despite the movie behind them showing no such thing. Lettie practically jumped in her seat as she gave them a roaring applause, Alice and Emmett more than happy to play along and join with their own loud cheers. Esme and Carlisle both bowed playfully, then sealed their scene with another kiss.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Lettie cheered. "It is as if I've been transported to the theater."
"It's much nicer to have such a captive audience," Carlisle joked, playfully glaring at his children. It was fair; they had seen Carlisle and Esme quote that very scene so many times over the years it was as commonplace as regular dinner conversation, but none of them ever minded, too happy to see their parents in love to do more than complain as all teenagers do. It was one of the rare instances they had of feeling like a real human family.
"How marvelous your love is," Lettie sighed. "A fairytale come to life."
"If you think they're sickly sweet," Alice said, laughing, "you should see Rosalie and Emmett. When Rose isn't fighting, they'll rot your teeth."
Rosalie looked indignant, opening her mouth to retort, demanding they keep her out of their conversation - she was, after all, a reluctant participant in their unplanned family movie night - but Lettie beat her to the punch.
"I am honored to have seen the little I have. Their love is truly earnest."
"Hear that, babe!" Emmett laughed, pulling Rosalie closer to him by her hip. "I'm 'earnest'!"
"You're really alright with this?" Rosalie's question brought the room to silence, the once jovial mood disappearing instantly. Edward stepped in, ready to step between her and Lettie if he needed to. "Not even a day ago we were ready to kick this girl to the curb and now you're acting all buddy buddy with her as if she hasn't been spying on our family for months!"
When no one spoke, Lettie stood, turning to Rosalie with her head bowed.
"I'm sorry, , truly, for I have caused you incredible discomfort. While I understand that I may never be granted your forgiveness, I would very much like to rectify my mistake, if you are willing."
"The only way you could ever make this up to me is by leaving my family alone."
"Rose!" Esme cried, but Rosalie wasn't done.
"She's bringing unnecessary danger to us."
"She has only improved our lives!" Edward snapped, keeping his eyes on Rosalie even as Lettie whipped around to look at him. "If it wasn't for her, we might not have blended in so well."
Rosalie stood instantly, face alight in fury.
"I KNEW THAT YOU DIDN'T COME UP WITH THOSE IDEAS ON YOUR OWN!"