Charlotte's peculiar nature often keeps others at bay, resulting in few friendships. Orphaned at a young age, she was taken in by her grandmother, her late mother's mother, who raised her with love and care. As Charlotte entered high school, her emo...
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The murmur of voices mingled together as darkness still enveloped me. Unable to distinguish whose voices they were, they sounded unintelligible, devoid of any recognizable meaning. I felt as though I was adrift in an endless sea of darkness, rendered immobile and unable to utter a word. It was as if I were weightlessly suspended, devoid of any sense of direction or control.
Gradually, the echoing voices grew clearer and more distinct, until I could discern Alice and Esme conversing. Soon after, Carlisle and Emmett's voices joined the conversation. Suddenly, a bright light enveloped me, and I felt my eyelids begin to flutter open.
As I stirred, my eyes met the ceiling of the house, finding myself comfortably reclined on cushions. The world around me appeared as a blur, but with each slow blink, my vision gradually began to clear and sharpen.
"What did her grandmother have to say?" Alice's angelic voice reverberated in my ears.
"She was worried," Carlisle began, his tone thoughtful. "And she explained that she must have overused her magic," he continued, a note of certainty in his voice that resonated with me.
"How long has she been resting?" Esme's motherly tone echoed in my ears.
"About twelve hours," Carlisle spoke softly, but I was taken aback by the revelation. Twelve hours straight. It became evident that my magic had taken a significant toll on me.
With a gentle shift of my body, I attempted to sit up, but the pounding against my skull and the ache in my bones persisted. However, I noticed that Carlisle and Esme were already standing before me. As I struggled to sit upright, the weight of the blanket draped over me slid down, revealing my efforts to regain my bearings.
"Charlotte," Carlisle uttered my name, crouching down to my level and placing a cold hand gently on my shoulder. "Do you remember what happened?" he inquired. I nodded softly in response, the memory of the devastation I had caused in the forest causing me to shudder at the mere recall. Carlisle helped me up and positioned me so my back was against the back cushions.
I released a deep sigh, raising my hands to shield my eyes, avoiding any potential eye contact. I feared witnessing their assessment of me, uncertain whether it would be critical or if they were simply relieved that I was unharmed.
"I... I'm sorry," I managed to muster the courage to speak, lowering my hands to meet Carlisle and Esme's gaze, which conveyed relief more than anything else.
"We're just relieved you're alright," Esme spoke with her characteristic maternal tone, approaching the couch. She gracefully settled beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. Though her touch, like the others, was gentle yet cold, I couldn't help but feel a warmth, knowing that she and the rest genuinely cared for me.
"What happened?" Carlisle inquired, taking a step forward. He then gracefully seated himself on the coffee table positioned in front of the couch. He aimed to ease the tension in our interaction.
