Parallax

Chapter 7

The three of them got out of the car and while Jasper and Alice started taking out their luggage, Bella stared at the house in front of her. It looked like there was no one living in it but Bella knew better. She knew, that the rest of the family and the Denali coven were all waiting for them inside.

Bella hugged her jacket tighter when the cold wind blew her way. She wasn't used to feeling cold anymore and she was thankful for the extra clothes.

"Let's get you inside so you could warm up" Jasper told her worriedly and Bella couldn't help the blush from coloring her cheeks. Bella groaned again with her body's reaction.

Alice and Jasper led the way while Bella trailed behind and before they can even knock, the door opened to reveal Carlisle and Esme waiting for them.

Esme did not waste any moment and she went straight for Bella and held her hand. "My sweet child... you're here. Come in... Come in. Oh, how we missed you. "Esme ushered her inside and Bella suddenly missed how Esme used to mother her when she was still human.

"Thank you Esme. I missed you too" Bella smiled at the woman in front of her that Bella already considered her second mother.

"We're all glad that you could make it here safely" Carlisle told her then towards Alice, "Could you take Bella's things upstairs?"

"We're on it" Bella turned away when Jasper grinned at Alice and her enthusiasm.

As soon as the two left for her room, Bella was left in the doorway with Carlisle and Esme.

"Thank you for having me Carlisle... Esme" Bella nodded in greeting then she looked around, wondering where the others were.

"Rosalie and Emmett are out hunting with the Denali Sisters. It's just us and Carmen and Eleazar that stayed behind to meet you. "As if on cue, Carmen and Eleazar appeared below the stairs and Carmen was the first to greet her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. Such a beautiful name"

"Thank you"

"Why don't you get comfortable? Please, sit down" Carmen and Esme led her towards the sofa on the middle of the living room.

"This is Carmen and her mate, Eleazar" Carlisle introduced the two vampires before her. Bella didn't really need the introduction as she had known them the moment that she saw them but she didn't stop Carlisle.

Eleazar was staring at Bella curiously, his forehead creasing in concentration.

"Is there anything the matter, Eleazar?" Carlisle asked his friend and Eleazar was shaking his head. He walked towards Bella and sat on the empty chair in front of her.

"Curious. Isabella, do you know that you have a gift? I've never encountered one so pronounced while still human, ever since I've met the twins" He leaned forward from his chair as he explained and Bella knew what he was talking about. Eleazar was also the first person who identified her gift as a mental shield.

"Yes, I am aware that I am a shield" Bella told him and this was a surprise to everyone.

"Oh, I didn't know that you are familiar with the term" Bella nodded. This was something that she didn't have a hard time sharing with them.

"Amazing! I can't believe that you just chanced on encountering such a talented person, Carlisle"

Carlisle just shook his head. Carlisle was indeed lucky. When some of their kind would go to all the trouble of finding gifted vampires, he just happened to have almost all of his family members be gifted but unlike others, Carlisle was not one who looked at his family members based on their gifts. For him, they were just his sons and daughters.