GODS & MONSTERS | TWILIGHT

CHAPTER ONE

ONE — TWO CLEAR FUTURES

The Pacific Northwest air was cold, so cold that the majority of the previous night's frost had still yet to melt, and it was nearly sundown again. Off in the distance, a lone bird chirped. A few times every few seconds, seeming to wait for a response that wasn't going to come. A labored sigh passed the lips of Marie Cullen, though she really had no reason to be breathing in the first place. Painters block had struck once again, leaving the vampire sitting in the frosty forest with cold tubes of paint and an empty canvas for hours. The sound of car breaks screeching, and a car quickly stopping on gravel, caught her attention. It must've been her siblings, back from school, though upon hearing a door open, seconds later close, and the car speed off again she felt confused.

It was only a few seconds before she was back at the Cullen family home. Before she entered, she could hear her mother making cookies. It was Friday, meaning Esme was baking cookies for the nurses that worked for Carlisle at the hospital, like she did every week. Sure enough, Esme was at the counter measuring ingredients when Marie stepped through the door.

"Your siblings should be home soon." Esme spoke, not having to look up to know it was Marie. "It's ten after, usually doesn't take them this long to get here. I wonder if Jasper's driving."

"I don't think so..." Marie set her painting supplies on the counter island before leaning against the sink next to Esme. "I heard a car stop and leave when I was just outside. Some people got out too."

"Oh." Esme paused for a moment, thinking. "Maybe Edward just wanted to go see your father, then, I don't know." As soon as she'd finished speaking, the front door was thrown open-quite literally. Marie heard the familiar sound of the hinges cracking, but the door never hit the ground.

"Sorry mom!" Emmett said, and Marie could hear Rosalie muttering to herself about getting her tools to reattach the door. Jasper and Alice appeared in the doorway, Alice looking more than concerned.

"Something's wrong with Edward." Esme immediately stopped what she was doing, looking over at Alice with a curious expression.

"What happened at school today, Alice?" Marie asked.

"I don't know!" Alice's fists balled up, she was obviously frustrated. "I was too busy focusing on Jasper that I wasn't even paying attention to Edward! I never have to, usually, because he never does anything!" She let out a scoff. "All I know is that the Police Chief's daughter just moved here and she started school today and when Edward got in the car after school he was clearly disturbed and I saw two clear futures!" Alice's voice raised with her stress, but Jasper laid his hands on her shoulders and even Marie could feel the calming energy from where she was standing. Alice didn't say anything, just took a moment and put one of her hands over Jasper's for a moment.

"In one, he left us. He ran away, somewhere with a lot of snow-maybe Alaska?" Once again, it was obvious Alice was frustrated with her own lack of knowledge. "In the other..." This time, Alice paused, and Marie didn't miss the pair of quick glances in her direction. "He was stalking Bella Swan through her kitchen. He...she was dead..." A thick, heavy silence filled the house. Jasper clearly hadn't heard this yet, and from the pause in sound from the living room, Marie could assume Rose and Emmett hadn't either.

"Edward wouldn't do that." Esme was the first to speak, slowly restarting her movements. Eventually, Rose and Emmett did as well. "He's stronger than that, now. And if he needs to go away for a while to make sure he doesn't do that, then we're all going to support him." This was, of course, a given, but Esme still felt the need to remind her children. Rose and Jasper specifically. Jasper was newer to the Cullen's vegetarian diet, and didn't see slip-ups as much of a big deal as Edward did, though he did still try with every fiber of his being to not kill any more humans. Rose, on the other hand, had never killed a human and would never pass up an opportunity to kick Edward while he was down-it was just how their relationship had always been.