Chapter 7: Irrational Fears (Bella)
I followed Edward through the woods. He never spoke a word, just ran like there was nothing else. Lucky for me I kept some of the speed I’d had as a newborn so keeping up with him wasn’t as hard as it could have been.
“Edward. Edward stop!” I called as he passed our favorite hunting spot. “Edward, please!”
The pleading in my voice did it, he halted, turning instantly and grabbing me around the waist before I could stop my own movement. He held me close, tight, breathing deeply. This was different, sad.
“Edward? Wha—”
His lips crushed against mine with an urgency I couldn’t understand. His hands ran up my back to my face until he was cradling my every curve. After a few long minutes I pulled away, running a hand down his face which was even more pale than usual.
“What is wrong?”
“I never want to see such a sight as that again.”
“Sight?” I murmured, unable to wane my human-like curiosity.
“You were gone.” He looked to the ground, his eyes sad. “I lost you. I failed.” He sighed. “Seeing you like that, cold, lifeless. It took all I had not to scream. Reach into Renesmee’s mind and pull you close, hold you, bring you back if possible.”
“Edward, it was only a dream.”
“The only peace that I have is that I followed.”
He stood silently for a moment, his expression contorting as though he would cry, “I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, and Renesmee. Should Aro return and ask for her to follow, I will fight.”
“I know that.” I nodded, “I will too.”
He shook his head, “No.”
I was suddenly fuming, “Edward, stop it! Why does it always have to be a fight with you? Huh?”
He didn’t answer nor look me in the eye.
“I will always be right here.” I grabbed hold of his hand as it gripped me tighter. “You are my beginning and end, Edward. You should know that by now. You should probably know how stubborn I am, too.”
He stared at the ground silently, his face hollow in stress and thought.
“But you’re blind to my strength because I am still that fragile girl you saved from the van.”
He still didn’t answer though his expression turned to one of agreement.
“Hey,” I turned his face to me. “It wasn’t real. It was a dream, we are not human. We’re indestructible.” I smirked, “I’d like to see Aro try something like that. He would never survive.”
“He has others to do his work for him.”
I caressed his cheek, smiling at his fear, “All the more reason to show no mercy.” I couldn’t help but feel proud. I was a part of a large coven—no—a large family. We were vampires. Strong, resilient and loyal vampires who would have each other’s backs the second it was needed. There was no shame in feeling a bit cocky.
“You have too much faith in me,” He said softly, as his fingers wove through my hair.
“I will have faith in you until the day I die. Should that day ever come, that is.”
“And I will be there with you on that day, no matter what it takes.”
I smiled, moving my hands up to cradle his face. He would always be there, I knew this. My only worry was Renesmee. What would become of her should we pass? I was sure she would be in good hands, but without knowing for certain where she was, or what had become of her I couldn’t be fully at ease.
“What are you thinking about?” He asked, running his thumb tenderly over my cheek bone.
I looked into his eyes, not realizing I’d let them drift off into the woods behind him, “Nothing. Just letting my thoughts wonder as usual.”
“Still getting used to the room?”
“Always,” I chuckled.
He offered me a half smile.
“Can we go back to the house now? I’d like to talk to Renesmee before she goes to bed.”
“Of course,” He said, kissing my forehead before twisting me around to face back in the direction we came.
We ran hand in hand straight through the back door.
“She’s upstairs,” Esme whispered from the archway to the dining room as we closed the door silently.
“Is she all right?” Edward asked lightly, taking a step toward his mother.
“She’s fine. Sleeping.”
“She’s a tough girl, Edward.” Carlisle said from his place leaning against the newel post. “She’s determined to hide her true feelings. I can’t say that I blame her. Too much stress and this family bolts.”
“We do not bolt.” Esme interjected sternly.
“We might as well.” I said softly, knowing what Carlisle was getting at. “We’re loners, solitary creatures by nature. Whenever something happens we break apart,” I began, lowering my voice a bit more as one of the girls on the couch bed moved in her sleep, “We each take a corner and stick to it. It’s hard for anyone to watch. I noticed back when you were preparing to fight the newborns.” Edward and Esme both lowered their gaze to the floor. “Everyone had a task, everyone had a motive and it was the same way with the Volturi. How do you think Renesmee felt then? All she could really do was sit back and watch the show. She knows how we all are.”
Carlisle nodded, “Well said.”
“It was only a nightmare anyway. She doesn’t have any precognitive gifts. Only Alice does and I don’t see her running in here with big news.”
As I finished the front door opened. Jasper guided Alice in our direction as she saw past the four of us, the walls, and the forest, Rosalie and Emmett on their heels.
“She demanded we come home.” Jasper said promptly, sitting her down in a desk chair and taking a seat of his own across from her. Alice shook her head as she came back to us, her eyes curious. She peered up at each of our faces.
“Did I have you that worried, Jasper?” She asked mockingly.
He sighed. You had to hand it Jasper. He was more of a romantic than he let on.
“I couldn’t catch much of that, Alice,” Edward said reflexively. It was so common for them to share Alice’s visions he found it odd she hadn’t replayed them for him.
“It was nothing. I was only worried about Renesmee.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed, “Renesmee?”
“Yes, I saw Carlisle collect you,” She gestured to Edward and I, “heard her name. Is she all right?”
“She had a nightmare. Nothing to worry about,” Carlisle confirmed soothingly, shooting a glance in my direction. He knew what needed to be done in order for Renesmee to feel comfortable.
“That’s it?” Emmett asked blankly.
Rosalie sighed, “Oh well. Come on, Em.”
The two of them strode out of the room before another word could pass. Maybe all of this contentment just wasn’t Emmett’s style. Rosalie on the other hand loved the quiet. Anything that could draw attention to us made her a force to be reckoned with. So why now was she looking for excitement?
I sighed.
“Are you ready to go home?” Edward asked, placing his hands on my shoulders.
“Not just yet. I’m going to check on Nessie.”
He nodded.
I touched his arm before turning and heading up the stairs.
I entered the bedroom quietly, closing the door behind me. The entire room was bathed in the silvery moonlight, bright and comforting. Renesmee slept peacefully facing the window, her curls shimmering in the gentle glow, her breathing slow and steady. I moved to the bed and lay down beside her, running my fingers through her hair. She seemed so calm, at ease. It was moments like this that I missed sleep and wished I could somehow emulate such restfulness. I played with one of her curls, twisting it around between my fingers. With a groan she stretched, rolling over and facing me. I need to know she’s having a pleasant dream, I told myself as I gently lifted her wrist and held her palm to my cheek. I closed my eyes as the scene from her mind grew brighter, more elaborate.
This was a field of wildflowers, pillows of grass and blankets of sun. The air was clean, pure, nothing like what she’d experienced earlier. She sat in silence reading a book, her hair blowing the breeze. She looked up over the tall grass, looking toward the trees in the east. After a few moments a large russet wolf emerged, its head hung low, its eyes friendly.
“Hey Jake,” She said with a smile, going back to her book.
The wolf ran its tongue up her cheek, finishing with a light bark of greeting before lying down beside her. She giggled, wiping the slobber from her face.
She leaned against him, propping her elbows on her knees to support her book. She stopped once more, looking to the same gap in the trees.
“More?” She asked him gently.
The wolf barked happily, panting in the heat.
I and the rest of our family appeared smiling and shimmering elegantly in the sun, followed by Seth and Leah in their wolf forms.
Renesmee grinned widely, “Hi.”
She went back to her book as we each took a seat in the grass around her. I was impressed with her need for conversation, or should I say, lack there of. She was completely content with just our company. I was so wrong about her; I thought she needed us to be on display, not just present and accounted for. I sighed.
I opened my eyes slowly, smiling gently at her insight. I had let myself eavesdrop on the peaceful silence of her dream for longer than I knew. The sun was rising outside the window wall and I could hear the subtle clanging of dishware from downstairs. I pecked Nessie on the forehead before leaving, making sure to glimpse back at her before making a final exit.
I stepped off of the staircase to find the scent of fresh eggs.
“So you just sort of, told on him?” Alice asked, rather enthused.
“Yeah, why keep it a secret. He’d done wrong, not us.” Kasie replied smugly.
I moved into the dining room. Kasie and Michelle sat side by side, there backs to me while Jasper, Alice, and Edward sat and stood across from them. I took a seat in a desk chair, crossing my arms, waiting for the impending interrogation.
“Good morning.” Edward greeted with a soft smile.
I nodded, “Morning. You two are up early.” I scrutinized aloud, keeping up the human charade.
“We don’t sleep in too often.” Michelle said meekly with a sweet smile.
I could tell why Renesmee liked her. She was genuine; much like Angela had been to me. Kasie was as well but in a more outspoken almost devious sort of way. Despite her wily undertones
I could still see that she’d take a bullet, figuratively of course, for my daughter should such a moment come to pass.
“Do you have trouble sleeping?” Alice asked, getting technical.
I chuckled to myself, receiving looks from everyone in the room. I cleared my throat, “Sorry, funny thought.” I nodded to solidify my claim.
“Um, no,” Kasie continued, answering the question without recess.
“We just like to be up for as long as we can through out a day. Why waste too much time sleeping, right?”
“I couldn’t have said it better,” Edward said with a smirk.
“So, Kasie,” Jasper began, smartly singling out the sister who talked most, “what happened to your father? You told us he moved away some time ago, but what became of him.”
“He died,” She stated with repose.
“Oh, I’m very sorry.” I said softly. I should be an actress.
“It’s all right. We didn’t see him much.”
“How did it happen?” Alice asked as her eyes filled with profound sadness. Okay, so she should be an actress, but then again she’s had more practice than me.
“He was mugged.” Michelle answered softly, her hands twisting over each other without pause.
“Pretty cut and dry.” Kasie nodded.
“Oh, dear,” Alice said, taking Jasper’s hand theatrically. What a sneak.
“Was he beaten, may I ask?” Jasper asked almost flippantly.
“No. We don’t know exactly how he died. We assumed he was shot or something.” Kasie said pitilessly, looking down at her nails.
“He was cremated.” Michelle said, her head bobbing up and down quickly.
“Hmm,” Jasper replied with a glance to Edward who nodded once in accordance with his thoughts.
“Did your mothers decide to do that?” Edward asked curtly.
“No, he was just, burned, before we got to the funeral.” Kasie continued as Esme entered with a large tray of food. She served the girls with a warm smile. “Thank you, Esme.”
“No problem, can I get you anything else?” Esme asked politely.
“No, thank you.” Michelle said sweetly, digging into her meal. Esme set the platter on the buffet and wandered gracefully back to the kitchen to clean up.
“We’ll leave you to eat.” Edward said, rising from his seat.
“You’re not hungry?” Kasie asked skeptically.
“We ate hours ago.” Alice’s voice rang brightly as she stood and wrapped her arms around Jasper’s elbow.
“Oh.” Kasie said, glancing at her sister. “Okay then.”
We regrouped in the living room behind the stairway.
“What are you thinking?” Jasper asked of Edward, crossing his arms over his chest.
“It’s a little odd that he was cremated without consent.”
“Rogue, maybe?”
“Maybe.”
“Wait a minute.” I said, holding a hand up before me, “You think they changed him and when he wouldn’t follow they killed him?” I may have had an open mind, but I was a little lost in their vagueness.
Jasper nodded once firmly.
“It’s possible. I can’t imagine why else he would be burned.” Edward said lightly.
“I see.”
“What was that?” Edward turned to his sister, his face changing suddenly to understanding with a nod.
I stared blankly between them as they shared Alice’s thought.
“Yes, maybe. Excellent theory, Alice.”
“It’s been known to happen,” She shrugged.
“What am I missing?” I asked, a little impatient.
“Alice was just reminding me of an old epidemic. It was found at times that there were some people when being turned could not take the burning. In turn they would commit suicide, mostly by way of hand guns or severe bludgeoning, destroying the brain.”
My nose wrinkled in disgust.
Edward nodded, “It was pretty violent. The first recorded incident was in 1893 when a man, overcome by the pain, took a hatchet to his skull.”
Jasper nodded in comprehension, “And while venom can heal most things, after removing or damaging brain matter the victim cannot be fully healed.”
“Why not?” I asked absentmindedly. I should have known all of this information by now.
“Venom can easily repair damage to the skin, muscle tissue and skeletal system. But, since the brain, the mind, continues to function after a person is turned, any damage to it would impair their thought processes. Without the fading memories of being civil and human, they would be unable to behave normally.”
“The living dead . . .” Jasper said, trailing off at the cockeyed look he got from Edward.
“Hold on a minute, you mean like, Zombies? Walking dead, like to eat flesh, zombies?”
Edward nodded, “Imagine a newborn with unparalleled strength and speed but little sense of what they’re doing or what they want.”
“Unparalleled by all except for us,” Alice added uninterestedly.
“Isn’t that what most newborns are like?” I asked slowly, trying to keep my facts straight.
“Not exactly,” Jasper informed. Being the expert on newborns I was bound to trust his judgment. “Newborns have little sense, it’s true, but they can be trained, conditioned to live a certain way, eat a certain way, they can even find a companion. A newborn with little to no brain power would be uncontrollable. They would attack humans and their own kind automatically without a second thought.”
“And though newborns do, on occasion, attack each other they still have sense enough not to attack an elder.”
“So that’s where zombies came from?” I let out a wispy scoff. “Who knew?”
“We did.” Alice said with a sigh. “Who else could handle such monstrosities? That whole premise about shooting, hitting or removing the head, totally fake, what human would have the strength to do that? They’re just like us, you have to tear and burn them. Though most wouldn’t believe it, vampires destroyed the zombie race.” Her lips twisted around the title revoltingly.
“Race? There was more than one or two of them at a time?”
“Just like newborns in the south, ‘zombies’ were big in Canada.” Edward explained.
“Of course they were.”
“That’s why most zombie movies are based in larger, northern, United States cities like New York.” Jasper said with a half smile. It was obvious he found the whole idea just a little absurd.
“They were usually caged then set loose in large cities just south of their breeding grounds, hence the location.” Edward added, a little uncomfortable.
I nodded, “Huh . . .” My eyebrows rose, “So, moral of the story, burn all those who kill themselves before being fully turned.”
“Exactly,” He smirked lightly.
“Do you really think that’s what happened to their father, though?”
“It’s a possibility, but not at very likely one.”
“You did not interrogate my friends.” Renesmee stated clearly as she took a seat on the stairs, peering down at us. We hadn’t heard her enter; we must have all been too involved in our conversation.
“No, no Sweetie.” Alice said gently, sitting beside her in a flash. “We were simply curious about their family. Can you blame us?”
She glanced blankly between each of us, her eyes narrowed in thought.
“So we hear, well, I hear, they told you about their gift.” Edward said, attempting to keep the mood light.
She nodded. “They make so much more sense now.” She giggled lightly, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.”
“You did.” Alice said with a smile. “You sensed the connection quite well for someone without such a gift.”
“I guess.” She shrugged.
“Good morning, Renesmee, I thought I heard you out here. Are you feeling all right?” Esme chimed as she stepped into the room.
“Great.” Nessie shrugged again, rising from her place on the steps and descending. “What’s for breakfast?”
Esme smiled, wrapping an arm around Nessie’s shoulders, “Eggs, sausage, pancakes, bacon . . .” She continued with the list even after sitting her down in the dining room.
Alice faked a yawn, “I’m bored. I’ll see you guys later.” She moved off of the stair case and headed for the front door.
“Would you like me to join you?” Jasper asked unassumingly.
“Nah, I’ll be back soon.” Alice opened the door smoothly, taking a step over the threshold. “I think I’ll visit Charlie and Sue, it’s been a while.” She nodded to herself, shutting the door behind her.
“What’s with her?” I asked. Alice had been acting strangely since last night’s vision. She did everything she could to distance herself from us, especially Edward, unless her presence was expressly necessary.
“I’m not sure,” Edward said softly. “Her mind’s clouded with everything from music to quantum physics. I can’t understand why.”
Jasper shrugged, moving up the stairs solemnly.
I followed Edward through the woods. He never spoke a word, just ran like there was nothing else. Lucky for me I kept some of the speed I’d had as a newborn so keeping up with him wasn’t as hard as it could have been.
“Edward. Edward stop!” I called as he passed our favorite hunting spot. “Edward, please!”
The pleading in my voice did it, he halted, turning instantly and grabbing me around the waist before I could stop my own movement. He held me close, tight, breathing deeply. This was different, sad.
“Edward? Wha—”
His lips crushed against mine with an urgency I couldn’t understand. His hands ran up my back to my face until he was cradling my every curve. After a few long minutes I pulled away, running a hand down his face which was even more pale than usual.
“What is wrong?”
“I never want to see such a sight as that again.”
“Sight?” I murmured, unable to wane my human-like curiosity.
“You were gone.” He looked to the ground, his eyes sad. “I lost you. I failed.” He sighed. “Seeing you like that, cold, lifeless. It took all I had not to scream. Reach into Renesmee’s mind and pull you close, hold you, bring you back if possible.”
“Edward, it was only a dream.”
“The only peace that I have is that I followed.”
He stood silently for a moment, his expression contorting as though he would cry, “I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, and Renesmee. Should Aro return and ask for her to follow, I will fight.”
“I know that.” I nodded, “I will too.”
He shook his head, “No.”
I was suddenly fuming, “Edward, stop it! Why does it always have to be a fight with you? Huh?”
He didn’t answer nor look me in the eye.
“I will always be right here.” I grabbed hold of his hand as it gripped me tighter. “You are my beginning and end, Edward. You should know that by now. You should probably know how stubborn I am, too.”
He stared at the ground silently, his face hollow in stress and thought.
“But you’re blind to my strength because I am still that fragile girl you saved from the van.”
He still didn’t answer though his expression turned to one of agreement.
“Hey,” I turned his face to me. “It wasn’t real. It was a dream, we are not human. We’re indestructible.” I smirked, “I’d like to see Aro try something like that. He would never survive.”
“He has others to do his work for him.”
I caressed his cheek, smiling at his fear, “All the more reason to show no mercy.” I couldn’t help but feel proud. I was a part of a large coven—no—a large family. We were vampires. Strong, resilient and loyal vampires who would have each other’s backs the second it was needed. There was no shame in feeling a bit cocky.
“You have too much faith in me,” He said softly, as his fingers wove through my hair.
“I will have faith in you until the day I die. Should that day ever come, that is.”
“And I will be there with you on that day, no matter what it takes.”
I smiled, moving my hands up to cradle his face. He would always be there, I knew this. My only worry was Renesmee. What would become of her should we pass? I was sure she would be in good hands, but without knowing for certain where she was, or what had become of her I couldn’t be fully at ease.
“What are you thinking about?” He asked, running his thumb tenderly over my cheek bone.
I looked into his eyes, not realizing I’d let them drift off into the woods behind him, “Nothing. Just letting my thoughts wonder as usual.”
“Still getting used to the room?”
“Always,” I chuckled.
He offered me a half smile.
“Can we go back to the house now? I’d like to talk to Renesmee before she goes to bed.”
“Of course,” He said, kissing my forehead before twisting me around to face back in the direction we came.
We ran hand in hand straight through the back door.
“She’s upstairs,” Esme whispered from the archway to the dining room as we closed the door silently.
“Is she all right?” Edward asked lightly, taking a step toward his mother.
“She’s fine. Sleeping.”
“She’s a tough girl, Edward.” Carlisle said from his place leaning against the newel post. “She’s determined to hide her true feelings. I can’t say that I blame her. Too much stress and this family bolts.”
“We do not bolt.” Esme interjected sternly.
“We might as well.” I said softly, knowing what Carlisle was getting at. “We’re loners, solitary creatures by nature. Whenever something happens we break apart,” I began, lowering my voice a bit more as one of the girls on the couch bed moved in her sleep, “We each take a corner and stick to it. It’s hard for anyone to watch. I noticed back when you were preparing to fight the newborns.” Edward and Esme both lowered their gaze to the floor. “Everyone had a task, everyone had a motive and it was the same way with the Volturi. How do you think Renesmee felt then? All she could really do was sit back and watch the show. She knows how we all are.”
Carlisle nodded, “Well said.”
“It was only a nightmare anyway. She doesn’t have any precognitive gifts. Only Alice does and I don’t see her running in here with big news.”
As I finished the front door opened. Jasper guided Alice in our direction as she saw past the four of us, the walls, and the forest, Rosalie and Emmett on their heels.
“She demanded we come home.” Jasper said promptly, sitting her down in a desk chair and taking a seat of his own across from her. Alice shook her head as she came back to us, her eyes curious. She peered up at each of our faces.
“Did I have you that worried, Jasper?” She asked mockingly.
He sighed. You had to hand it Jasper. He was more of a romantic than he let on.
“I couldn’t catch much of that, Alice,” Edward said reflexively. It was so common for them to share Alice’s visions he found it odd she hadn’t replayed them for him.
“It was nothing. I was only worried about Renesmee.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed, “Renesmee?”
“Yes, I saw Carlisle collect you,” She gestured to Edward and I, “heard her name. Is she all right?”
“She had a nightmare. Nothing to worry about,” Carlisle confirmed soothingly, shooting a glance in my direction. He knew what needed to be done in order for Renesmee to feel comfortable.
“That’s it?” Emmett asked blankly.
Rosalie sighed, “Oh well. Come on, Em.”
The two of them strode out of the room before another word could pass. Maybe all of this contentment just wasn’t Emmett’s style. Rosalie on the other hand loved the quiet. Anything that could draw attention to us made her a force to be reckoned with. So why now was she looking for excitement?
I sighed.
“Are you ready to go home?” Edward asked, placing his hands on my shoulders.
“Not just yet. I’m going to check on Nessie.”
He nodded.
I touched his arm before turning and heading up the stairs.
I entered the bedroom quietly, closing the door behind me. The entire room was bathed in the silvery moonlight, bright and comforting. Renesmee slept peacefully facing the window, her curls shimmering in the gentle glow, her breathing slow and steady. I moved to the bed and lay down beside her, running my fingers through her hair. She seemed so calm, at ease. It was moments like this that I missed sleep and wished I could somehow emulate such restfulness. I played with one of her curls, twisting it around between my fingers. With a groan she stretched, rolling over and facing me. I need to know she’s having a pleasant dream, I told myself as I gently lifted her wrist and held her palm to my cheek. I closed my eyes as the scene from her mind grew brighter, more elaborate.
This was a field of wildflowers, pillows of grass and blankets of sun. The air was clean, pure, nothing like what she’d experienced earlier. She sat in silence reading a book, her hair blowing the breeze. She looked up over the tall grass, looking toward the trees in the east. After a few moments a large russet wolf emerged, its head hung low, its eyes friendly.
“Hey Jake,” She said with a smile, going back to her book.
The wolf ran its tongue up her cheek, finishing with a light bark of greeting before lying down beside her. She giggled, wiping the slobber from her face.
She leaned against him, propping her elbows on her knees to support her book. She stopped once more, looking to the same gap in the trees.
“More?” She asked him gently.
The wolf barked happily, panting in the heat.
I and the rest of our family appeared smiling and shimmering elegantly in the sun, followed by Seth and Leah in their wolf forms.
Renesmee grinned widely, “Hi.”
She went back to her book as we each took a seat in the grass around her. I was impressed with her need for conversation, or should I say, lack there of. She was completely content with just our company. I was so wrong about her; I thought she needed us to be on display, not just present and accounted for. I sighed.
I opened my eyes slowly, smiling gently at her insight. I had let myself eavesdrop on the peaceful silence of her dream for longer than I knew. The sun was rising outside the window wall and I could hear the subtle clanging of dishware from downstairs. I pecked Nessie on the forehead before leaving, making sure to glimpse back at her before making a final exit.
I stepped off of the staircase to find the scent of fresh eggs.
“So you just sort of, told on him?” Alice asked, rather enthused.
“Yeah, why keep it a secret. He’d done wrong, not us.” Kasie replied smugly.
I moved into the dining room. Kasie and Michelle sat side by side, there backs to me while Jasper, Alice, and Edward sat and stood across from them. I took a seat in a desk chair, crossing my arms, waiting for the impending interrogation.
“Good morning.” Edward greeted with a soft smile.
I nodded, “Morning. You two are up early.” I scrutinized aloud, keeping up the human charade.
“We don’t sleep in too often.” Michelle said meekly with a sweet smile.
I could tell why Renesmee liked her. She was genuine; much like Angela had been to me. Kasie was as well but in a more outspoken almost devious sort of way. Despite her wily undertones
I could still see that she’d take a bullet, figuratively of course, for my daughter should such a moment come to pass.
“Do you have trouble sleeping?” Alice asked, getting technical.
I chuckled to myself, receiving looks from everyone in the room. I cleared my throat, “Sorry, funny thought.” I nodded to solidify my claim.
“Um, no,” Kasie continued, answering the question without recess.
“We just like to be up for as long as we can through out a day. Why waste too much time sleeping, right?”
“I couldn’t have said it better,” Edward said with a smirk.
“So, Kasie,” Jasper began, smartly singling out the sister who talked most, “what happened to your father? You told us he moved away some time ago, but what became of him.”
“He died,” She stated with repose.
“Oh, I’m very sorry.” I said softly. I should be an actress.
“It’s all right. We didn’t see him much.”
“How did it happen?” Alice asked as her eyes filled with profound sadness. Okay, so she should be an actress, but then again she’s had more practice than me.
“He was mugged.” Michelle answered softly, her hands twisting over each other without pause.
“Pretty cut and dry.” Kasie nodded.
“Oh, dear,” Alice said, taking Jasper’s hand theatrically. What a sneak.
“Was he beaten, may I ask?” Jasper asked almost flippantly.
“No. We don’t know exactly how he died. We assumed he was shot or something.” Kasie said pitilessly, looking down at her nails.
“He was cremated.” Michelle said, her head bobbing up and down quickly.
“Hmm,” Jasper replied with a glance to Edward who nodded once in accordance with his thoughts.
“Did your mothers decide to do that?” Edward asked curtly.
“No, he was just, burned, before we got to the funeral.” Kasie continued as Esme entered with a large tray of food. She served the girls with a warm smile. “Thank you, Esme.”
“No problem, can I get you anything else?” Esme asked politely.
“No, thank you.” Michelle said sweetly, digging into her meal. Esme set the platter on the buffet and wandered gracefully back to the kitchen to clean up.
“We’ll leave you to eat.” Edward said, rising from his seat.
“You’re not hungry?” Kasie asked skeptically.
“We ate hours ago.” Alice’s voice rang brightly as she stood and wrapped her arms around Jasper’s elbow.
“Oh.” Kasie said, glancing at her sister. “Okay then.”
We regrouped in the living room behind the stairway.
“What are you thinking?” Jasper asked of Edward, crossing his arms over his chest.
“It’s a little odd that he was cremated without consent.”
“Rogue, maybe?”
“Maybe.”
“Wait a minute.” I said, holding a hand up before me, “You think they changed him and when he wouldn’t follow they killed him?” I may have had an open mind, but I was a little lost in their vagueness.
Jasper nodded once firmly.
“It’s possible. I can’t imagine why else he would be burned.” Edward said lightly.
“I see.”
“What was that?” Edward turned to his sister, his face changing suddenly to understanding with a nod.
I stared blankly between them as they shared Alice’s thought.
“Yes, maybe. Excellent theory, Alice.”
“It’s been known to happen,” She shrugged.
“What am I missing?” I asked, a little impatient.
“Alice was just reminding me of an old epidemic. It was found at times that there were some people when being turned could not take the burning. In turn they would commit suicide, mostly by way of hand guns or severe bludgeoning, destroying the brain.”
My nose wrinkled in disgust.
Edward nodded, “It was pretty violent. The first recorded incident was in 1893 when a man, overcome by the pain, took a hatchet to his skull.”
Jasper nodded in comprehension, “And while venom can heal most things, after removing or damaging brain matter the victim cannot be fully healed.”
“Why not?” I asked absentmindedly. I should have known all of this information by now.
“Venom can easily repair damage to the skin, muscle tissue and skeletal system. But, since the brain, the mind, continues to function after a person is turned, any damage to it would impair their thought processes. Without the fading memories of being civil and human, they would be unable to behave normally.”
“The living dead . . .” Jasper said, trailing off at the cockeyed look he got from Edward.
“Hold on a minute, you mean like, Zombies? Walking dead, like to eat flesh, zombies?”
Edward nodded, “Imagine a newborn with unparalleled strength and speed but little sense of what they’re doing or what they want.”
“Unparalleled by all except for us,” Alice added uninterestedly.
“Isn’t that what most newborns are like?” I asked slowly, trying to keep my facts straight.
“Not exactly,” Jasper informed. Being the expert on newborns I was bound to trust his judgment. “Newborns have little sense, it’s true, but they can be trained, conditioned to live a certain way, eat a certain way, they can even find a companion. A newborn with little to no brain power would be uncontrollable. They would attack humans and their own kind automatically without a second thought.”
“And though newborns do, on occasion, attack each other they still have sense enough not to attack an elder.”
“So that’s where zombies came from?” I let out a wispy scoff. “Who knew?”
“We did.” Alice said with a sigh. “Who else could handle such monstrosities? That whole premise about shooting, hitting or removing the head, totally fake, what human would have the strength to do that? They’re just like us, you have to tear and burn them. Though most wouldn’t believe it, vampires destroyed the zombie race.” Her lips twisted around the title revoltingly.
“Race? There was more than one or two of them at a time?”
“Just like newborns in the south, ‘zombies’ were big in Canada.” Edward explained.
“Of course they were.”
“That’s why most zombie movies are based in larger, northern, United States cities like New York.” Jasper said with a half smile. It was obvious he found the whole idea just a little absurd.
“They were usually caged then set loose in large cities just south of their breeding grounds, hence the location.” Edward added, a little uncomfortable.
I nodded, “Huh . . .” My eyebrows rose, “So, moral of the story, burn all those who kill themselves before being fully turned.”
“Exactly,” He smirked lightly.
“Do you really think that’s what happened to their father, though?”
“It’s a possibility, but not at very likely one.”
“You did not interrogate my friends.” Renesmee stated clearly as she took a seat on the stairs, peering down at us. We hadn’t heard her enter; we must have all been too involved in our conversation.
“No, no Sweetie.” Alice said gently, sitting beside her in a flash. “We were simply curious about their family. Can you blame us?”
She glanced blankly between each of us, her eyes narrowed in thought.
“So we hear, well, I hear, they told you about their gift.” Edward said, attempting to keep the mood light.
She nodded. “They make so much more sense now.” She giggled lightly, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.”
“You did.” Alice said with a smile. “You sensed the connection quite well for someone without such a gift.”
“I guess.” She shrugged.
“Good morning, Renesmee, I thought I heard you out here. Are you feeling all right?” Esme chimed as she stepped into the room.
“Great.” Nessie shrugged again, rising from her place on the steps and descending. “What’s for breakfast?”
Esme smiled, wrapping an arm around Nessie’s shoulders, “Eggs, sausage, pancakes, bacon . . .” She continued with the list even after sitting her down in the dining room.
Alice faked a yawn, “I’m bored. I’ll see you guys later.” She moved off of the stair case and headed for the front door.
“Would you like me to join you?” Jasper asked unassumingly.
“Nah, I’ll be back soon.” Alice opened the door smoothly, taking a step over the threshold. “I think I’ll visit Charlie and Sue, it’s been a while.” She nodded to herself, shutting the door behind her.
“What’s with her?” I asked. Alice had been acting strangely since last night’s vision. She did everything she could to distance herself from us, especially Edward, unless her presence was expressly necessary.
“I’m not sure,” Edward said softly. “Her mind’s clouded with everything from music to quantum physics. I can’t understand why.”
Jasper shrugged, moving up the stairs solemnly.
Hey!Here's a new story!!It's about the family,Bella,Edward,Nessie And Jake!On how Jake and Nessie Deal with there Feelings.Also on How Bella and Edward will do as Parents!!Jacob hasnt told Nessie about the inprint yet!!And there is a new Pair in the House Maggie!!
(She was in breaking I cant remember what she looks like but im sure she's about 15/16 and will look about Nessie's age)
And Maggie has a mate Names Camden,he 15/16 too!They are a very cute couple and we will find more about him as the Story goes on!!Nessie and Maggie are BFF's and are going to forks high school!!(Maggie and Camden changed there eating habits)
- - - - - - Rate and tell me what u think and what else you think i should add!!!
Ps,i might change Camden to Alec From the Volturi,It might give it more crazyness!!Alecs about 15/16 and if i do he will have golden eyes!!and changed his diet!!!And if i do have add alec How will Jane feel????What do u think??
(She was in breaking I cant remember what she looks like but im sure she's about 15/16 and will look about Nessie's age)
And Maggie has a mate Names Camden,he 15/16 too!They are a very cute couple and we will find more about him as the Story goes on!!Nessie and Maggie are BFF's and are going to forks high school!!(Maggie and Camden changed there eating habits)
- - - - - - Rate and tell me what u think and what else you think i should add!!!
Ps,i might change Camden to Alec From the Volturi,It might give it more crazyness!!Alecs about 15/16 and if i do he will have golden eyes!!and changed his diet!!!And if i do have add alec How will Jane feel????What do u think??