Chapter Text
We talked for hours. I was so happy neither of us were humans, as we didn't have to stop for breath or rest.
Edward was very eager to learn everything about me, and hoarded my every answer close to him.
“I don't wish to sound rude, I'm honestly just curious, but do you not feed on humans?” I hummed as I skipped off a boulder with grace and turned to look at him as he made the leap in a way that made me thoroughly appreciate his lean muscles I could spy pulling on his sweater.
“The short answer is yes, and no. When I plan to go into the more populated places I tend to feed on animals so my eyes will change color. Normally I can get them to about a brown color before I reach any towns or cities.”
Edward nodded, but still seemed unsatisfied. “I suppose the question I am really trying to ask is why hunt animals? How did you get the idea to hunt animals? And why not just stick to feeding on humans?” I smiled at his eagerness and took his hand in mine as I pulled him along down the mountainside.
“Well, I have no problem feeding on animals. The eye color difference is definitely a part of it, but also because I do it if I am too far away from any humans and I don't wish to leave the area or compromise our secret by killing a human on the subway train.”
“How did you figure out you could?” I shrugged. “I heard a rumor of a vampire who had been able to sustain himself on animal blood alone. I wanted to see if it was true and I was fascinated with the results.”
“A vampire? You mean-”
“Yes, probably you're adoptive father, Carlisle Cullen.” I was amused as he connected the dots. He was so smart, so clever. He was perfect.
“Have you ever met him? Carlisle, I mean.”
I shook my head, “No, but I’ve heard of him. He sounds like he's a very good man.” Edwards' face beamed a bit, and he nodded with a soft look about him. “He is. He's the bravest man I know.”
I smiled, “You seem very close with him.” He nodded, nimbly ducking around a tree-pulling me with him. Like we were dancing.
“I admire him very much. The strength and self-control he has are things I aspire to. I want…..that for myself.” He seemed ashamed to have said that aloud, like someone would make fun of him for such a sweet thing.
“There's nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself. Not at all.” I said it firmly for him.
He smiled at me, but it felt more like a placation than a true smile. He doesn't believe me.
That's okay.
I have time to make sure that one day, he does believe me.
I changed the subject, “What about your brothers and sisters? What are they like?” He gave a big long-suffering sigh. “Well, let's start with Emmett.”
He rattled on about his siblings for a few hours, countless stories dating from the very first time he met his siblings-to only a week ago.
“Jasper can take down Emmett quite easily, but he enjoys that Emmett is always ready for a fight. He likes to fight me, but well-” He paused, looking embarrassed, “I’m not that great of a fighter.” He seemed ashamed of that, to which I questioned him.
“Why does it look like you think that's a bad thing?”
He startled and gave an incredulous look, before he froze. “I haven't told you what my Gift is, have I?” I slowly shook my head, although-my own Gift is whispering to me.
mind/Mind/hehearswhispers/strongmate/sostrong/sadmate/WHYSAD
“I can read minds.” I stared, before tilting my head and asking the obvious question.
“Can you read my mind?” I expected a yes, but rather than that, I got a shake of his head.
“No, although a part of me wishes I could,” He gave me a sly glance, “I would love nothing more than to hear what you're thinking right now.”
I beamed, and kissed his cheek. “You. Always you.”
His failed attempt at making me flustered had backfired, and he seemed rather bashful. I basked in his perfection before I remembered something.
“So, you hear everyone else?” He nodded. I frowned, “That must be very difficult.” He snorted, and my frown grew. Edward shook his head, “It can be, but I'm also grateful.”
“Grateful?”
“It's useful for my family.”
I was about to respond when a loud rumble of thunder sounded from above.
Then the rain started.
I watched, amused, Edward cursed and leapt on a tree and away from the downpour. I giggled a bit, before leaping up after him. He was leaned on a thick branch with good coverage from the rain, in his hands he held his phone from earlier. He was typing something on it, clearly checking for water damage.
“It is okay?” I asked as I stepped onto the same branch he was on, he nodded but grimaced as thunder rang out around us. I eyed in damp shirt before taking off my backpack and digging through it. I let out an ‘ah-ha!’ when I found a hoodie. It was a dark navy blue, and still in good condition. I also dug out my own leather jacket, and zippped it on-and put on the hoodie that came with it.
“Here, put this on.” I handed him the hoodie. He looked relieved, and threw it on. It was four times my size, but even still it looked huge on his slender frame. I shurgged at his searching look. “It's convient if I'm ever in a pinch with the sun.” His face softened, and he nodded.
“I can put your phone in my bag if you want? I can wrap it in some of the clothes I have in here too, just to be safe.”
“That'd be great, thank you.” He handed it over, and went quiet for a moment as I wrapped the black phone in a shirt.
Then he spoke up, “Actually do you mind if I carry it for you?”
Slowly I turned to look at him, bemused.
He paused, then seemed emabrassed. “I'm sorry, I know how that must have sounded but I don't doubt your strength, I just…..well. I just think it's rude to have you carry something the whole way with some of my things in there. Let me carry it for you, please?” He then proceeded to pout and how could I refuse?
I nodded as fondness filled me, “Sure. I don't mind.”
He smiled as he took the bag from me, and swung it on his broad shoulders. I took the chance to snuggle into his side, smiling up at him with my chin on his shoulder.
He was so shy, as he put his arms around my waist to pull me closer. For a moment, it was just us and the rain.
I hadn't forgotten what he said earlier about his Gift.
My love seemed to be somewhat self-sacrificing. Revulsion tore through me at the thought of it.
Yes, his gift was powerful and very useful. But I can't imagine what he must see and hear sometimes. Vampires are beautiful, it's part of being a predator to draw in our prey.
Human's can be very explicit in their minds. It's not their fault, they don't know that someone can hear they're thoughts.
But his Coven knows.
Did they do anything to help him?
A swell of anger ran through me, but I kept a tight lid on it.
“I'm happy you can't read my mind.” It was completely out of the blue, and I almost regretted saying it as soon as I did.
I felt him turn to look down at me. “Why do you say that?” He sounded baffled, which was true to form because of how random that was.
I feigned a casual shrug, “I like that I'm your safe space.” It was corny, but true.
I loved it. I loved that he could feel calm and feel safe around me.
I also liked that he didn't get to cheat and get to know me through my thoughts whilst I could reciprocate.
He moved his arm from my waist and gently pulled me back from my spot on his shoulder to look at me. His eyes were dark, and his face was hard to read.
“I'm happy about it too.” That shocked me, but I soon smiled and leaned into his space it nuzzle his neck.
“Can we stay like this for a while? Please?” I pleaded, but it looked like I didn't have tp because he encricled my waist and pulled me to throw my legs over his lap.
Then it was just us, and the rain.
We arrived at the house at 11:03 on Saturday night. My first imperssion of the Cullen home was how open it was. Huge ceiling to floor windows to show off the forest outside. Edward had already sworn to give me the grand tour after meeting his family and dealing with the human girl I was informed about on the way here.
I was quietly stressing over my outfit and wheter or not I could excuse myself to change into something else, but then the door to the back entrance opened, and a girl came speeding our way.
It took a lot to control to urge to throw Edward behind me and lunge, but I resisted.
The girl was small, almost pixie-like with angular features and a happy yet mischievous smile on her face. Her hair was short and choppy. She rushed at me specifically, her arms open wide for a hug.
I opened my arms to catch her, not even stumbling “Victoria! It's so nice to finally meet you!” I laughed a bit. She pulled back beaming at me, behind her the rest of the family emerged from the house to greet us.
“You must be Alice?” She nodded as a blonde man came to stand next to her. He was imposing, with his scars and tall height. “And you are Jasper?” He gave me a small smile. “Yes ma'am, it's nice to meet you.”
I nodded back, “Likewise.” Then a booming voice sounded in the calm atmosphere.
“Eddie! Your brought home someone huh? After all these decades of angst?” A man taller than Jasper hopped down the stairs with an animalistic lunge, and came prowling over with a playfully mean grin.
To my side, Edward growled. “Emmett.” He hissed. Alice also tossed the giant a glare, and smacked him on his chest. “Have some tact, idiot.” Jasper whispered at him as if I couldn't hear him.
I squezzed Edward's hand, before grinning. “Emmett right?” The bear of a man nodded proudly. “The one and only. So Victoria, how do you feel about depressed teenagve vampires who like to lament over their piano at four in the morning?” He waggled his eyebrows at me and Edward apparently had enough. I laughed as my love lunged at Emmett, taking him to the ground.
For someone who said he wasn't good at fighting, he seemed to be doing well right now. Next to me, Alice rolled her eyes and muttered, “Boys,” She turned to me, and wound her arm with mine, leading me to the pourch. “Don't let them rip her bag Jasper, she won't be happy!” Alice called back to her mate who nodded and then decided that was an inviation to join the fray.
On the pourch stood 3 people. One was a devastatingly beautiful blonde woman who eyed me with a mask of boredom and cautiousness, the other two were obviously a couple. The woman was the same height as me, with aubrun hair and a warm smile, and the man was a honey blonde with kind eyes and a kind smile.
Esme and Carlisle, and the other woman had to be Rosalie.
“Rose, Victoria. Victoria, Rosalie. Emmett’s wife.” Rosalie simply nodded at me before Esme reached out for a handshake, “I'm Esme and this is my husband and Coven Leader, Carlisle.” The man offered a handshake as well. “It's nice to mee all of you, and thanky you for allowing me into your beautiful home.”
Esme shook her head, “Please, the pleasure is all ours. Thank you for brining him home, but sadly- we have other things to discuss.” She looked over my shoulder before saying in a stern voice- “Boys,”
The fighting noises stopped behind us and three gusts of wind whipped behind us and a moment later, a familiar hand intertwined with mine. Esme fondly shook her head at their disarray, before waving us inside.
The following conversation of was tense one. They were kind enough to go into deeper detail, but Rosalie was especially scathing. Everytime she spoke, Edward would tense up-which made me frown.
At the end of their explanation, I was asked for my opinion.
“I don’t think I should have an opinion on this.”
Edward frowned, “Why not?”
I smiled a bit at him, and squeezed his hand. “I've been here for three hours. I don't think I should get an opinion on how your family handles this matter.”
Before Edward could argue, Carlisle spoke up. “You're a part of the family now. And, your opinion and experience would be greatly appreciated in this matter.” Carlisle smiled at me from his seat at the head of the table, and it hit me that he knew I was older than him.
I sighed inwardly. I don't really like acting my age.
I ignored the curious gazes from the others, and straightened my back to look the Patriarch in the eye.
“I agree that the girl is a security risk, but I can also see your moral dilemma.” It's true, I did see both sides. Rosalie was right, this could go very wrong if the girl decides to push the matter to the point where we have no choice but to get rid of her.
If she starts asking questions, other people are going to get curious.
But I can also see wanting to avoid killing an innocent girl, who has yet to turn eighteen yet.
Rosalie scoffed to my left. “So we just let her live?” I turned to look her in the eye.
“Yes.” I said simply. Her face contorted into a snarl but I held a hand up. “If you kill her now whilst she's asking questions and Edward’s incident, people will connect the dots. Then you're going to have to kill more people. It's a slippery slope Rosalie, one you do not want this family to go down.”
She wasn't pleased, “If Edward goes back into that room with her he will kill her. Then we'd have to do it anyway!” Ah, so prideful. Not wanting to admit she's wrong.
“He won't go back in the room alone.”
The room paused. “What do you mean, Victoria?” Carlisle prompted.
I leaned into Edward. “I’ll enroll. I can keep him from hurting her, and we can do some damage control and get the attention off of us in case we do need to get rid of the girl if she gets curious.”
Esme seemed saddened by that, “She might still have to die?”
I nodded, “When it comes down to it, I protect what is mine. If the girl has to die so that Edward can live without the Volturi coming down on our heads because a human found out about us, then it's not really a choice.”
Esme softened at that. And I’m pretty sure I caught a glimpse of respect in Jasper and Rosalie's face’s.
I turned to Alice, “How fast can they enroll me?” Her eyes glazed over for a moment before she focused back on me. “Tuesday if Carlise is generous with money. Do you want to k now what cover story we come up with?”
I smiled, feeling a little evil, “Please do.”
Isabella Swan, if you know what's good for you, you'll let sleeping things lie.
Though I have a very strong feeling she won't.