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♤ Chapter 22 ♤
Official Introduction
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THE SOLEMN YET LOUD NOISES IN THE FOREST echoed through the night as the Donovan found himself sitting on top of a cliff by the river. It wasn't that far from the Cullens' home, he was sure that he saw Emmett and Anastasia going there for a couple of times.
For the past years, Sebastian considered his life as painfully dull and uneventful. Like wanting to end a boring movie that doesn't have an ending. But the following weeks were anything but dull.
He found the Cullens, he found Rosalie. Sebastian wouldn't admit but he was also happy that Ana was still with them. He would never admit that out loud specially when she's there, but she became the annoying little sister that you can't get rid off. Also, there's the catastrophe called Bella Swan.
Edward was anything but stupid. The man wasn't a risk taker, at least before. He didn't like things that are unknown or unpredictable. But it seems like Bella Swan turned him inside out. Love does have that effect on people.
As the insects buzzed and the sound of the flowing river engulfed his senses, Sebastian couldn't help but think about what Edward did. Somehow, he could look at it as brave yet stupid in a way.
He had guts, he'll give him that. The Donovan wondered, what if he did that with Rosalie? Would she accept him? Will she have a different fate?
No. The Volturi was very wary with them. Specially when Carlisle and Sebastian just left their ranks. Aro was watching their moves like a hawk stalking its prey. He was even surprised that the Volturi didn't interfere with the events at Rochester.
Edward had freedom. He had a family to support him. Carlisle had many connections now, friends who can help them when things go south. Sebastian did not. If he did tell Rosalie about their secret when she was still a human, they will meet death sooner than expected. Him, Carlisle, Rosalie, everyone involved. He couldn't risk that. Not the way Edward is doing.
The chances of Rosalie Hale living the life that she wanted was higher if she didn't know. Perhaps, you can call Sebastian a coward. But he preferred letting her go for her to get a chance at happiness. He didn't care if his heart would forever ache.
But what his biggest mistake was not asking Rosalie what she wanted. All his actions were based on assumptions. How would he know if Rosalie would still be happy without him? What if Rosalie was ready to risk it all? All the what if's, all of them unanswered and left lingering on his mind.
Soft steps halted his raging thoughts. For once, he found himself off guard as Anastasia took a seat next to the male at the edge of the cliff. "This is Emmett and I's spot." She mused.
"I know. I've seen you come here for a quite some time." Sebastian replied.
"What's on your mind?" Ana didn't beat around the bush, asking him directly. "You're unusually not very verbal."
The Donovan scoffed lightly. Let's see, Anastasia was there, maybe a second opinion would be nice. "This whole situation with Isabella Swan. I couldn't help but get a sense of familiarity with it."
"Rose." The Evans muttered.
"Yes." He nodded, confirming the woman's assumption. "I have so much regrets, but I couldn't bring myself to vision the old me, choosing a different path. I hate to say this but am I a coward for doing so?"
Anastasia sighed heavily, she owed this man a lot. While many described him as cold hearted and ruthless, without Sebastian, she's probably already dead or doing something she doesn't like. And to see him so torn over something, it wasn't a good sight. Specially, if they're someone who almost never breaks.
"No. Your situation back then was different with Edward's." Ana replied, shaking her head lightly. "You can't keep comparing it, Sebastian. He's had it easy. And from what I've learned over the years, all of us would've been executed including Rosalie if you didn't do what you did. The Volturri isn't actually forgiving."
"I could've turned her if she wanted."
"Are you hearing yourself? Would you really want this for her? Hell, does she even want this life? Look at her now." The blonde snapped. Maybe a harsh reality would be the answer for all those unanswered questions. "You know she's miserable before you. Now, I guess not so much."
"I suppose not." Sebastian muttered, scolding himself mentally at his ludicrous ideas. "How was she when she was first turned?"
The Evans hesitated slightly. "Confused? Afraid? Angry. No, she was enraged. After a few hours of Carlisle explaining it to her, she was out for blood. Well, not literally. She wanted her revenge, Sebastian."
Sebastian clenched his fist, remembering what Rose told him a few days ago. Rosalie Hale was a sweet woman, with big dreams, and a life to grow. But then, Royce King was someone who ruined other people lives, including hers. And that is how the Rose, grew thorns. "Her memory?"
"She didn't know Carlisle, Edward, or Esme." Anastasia replied. "You should've seen Edward. He was so against turning Rosalie, says you wouldn't want that."
The raven haired scoffed, "Who cares about what I want? It's her permission that they should've gotten."
"We really couldn't, you know that." Ana sighed, how can you ask a person on the brink of death? "We should get back. Bella and Edward's arriving soon."
And so, the two vampires trekked down the cliff, not using their superhuman speed. They took their time, talking about what happened over the past few years with Sebastian being gone.
"What do you think about her memory?" Sebastian blurted as they had a glimpse of the tarmac leading to their house. "Did she have any moments where she had vivid recollections of the past?"
"Sometimes, yes. But she couldn't describe it, says it's too cloudy to be put into words. My guess is just about the same as Carlisle." Anastasia nodded, "People tend to want to forget the pain that they have, they want to make it disappear, for it to stop hurting, along with the person who caused it."
And that's when Sebastian decided that it's enough for now. "Right."
As they neared the estate, a tinge smell of gas lingered. Fire crackling, and kitchen utensils bustled in the house.
"Is—is someone cooking?" The Donovan asked, bewildered. "What the hell is going on?"
"Esme is cooking for Bella." Ana chirped, getting in through the side door. "Naturally, everyone has to participate."
"My dear, are you mixing salad?" Sebastian snickered, making the blonde glare at the vampire. Esme was grating cheese, Emmett was chopping something, and Carlisle was sautéing something while watching some sort of video tutorial online.
"Is she even Italian?" Rosalie complained.
"Her name is Bella." Emmett deadpanned.
"And why is he not helping?" She continued, pointing at the Donovan who was watching them with amusement.
"You'd know if you remember." The raven haired vampire let it slip before he could even realize. Pertaining to the time when he cooked in Rose's birthday with a certain Marigold. A conflicted look on his face as he watched Rosalie's turn into confusion.
"What?" She mumbled lowly, a faint ringing sound entered her ears as her vision blurred a little. Rose stumbled a bit, she felt a pair of arms circle around her shoulders.
"Are you alright?" She heard a voice ask, too disgruntled to recognize who. Even if she wanted to reply, Rosalie couldn't. As her vision cloud, and as she closed her eyes, a faint silhouette of two people seemingly playing or arguing(?) with each other.
It was a tall man, and a child? No more than nine years old, she presumed.
They were in the kitchen, pots and pans everywhere. "Surprise!" The child yelled while the man mumbled the same word normally. That was the last thing she saw before all of her senses came back to her.
Rosalie looked around, everyone had stopped what they were doing. All looking at her with concern. And the man who caught her earlier, was unsurprisingly Sebastian.
As she stared closely, and as he asked if she was okay, she wondered why the Donovan looked vaguely similar to that man in her vision just now. And how their voices were almost the same. It was too blurry to confirm anything.
"Rose?" Sebastian once again asked, "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." She replied through gritted teeth, the sensation still hasn't left her and the blonde was more on edge. "Get a whiff of that."
And with that, Edward and Bella emerged from the staircase, arm in arm. Rosalie wasn't wrong, the human's smell was strong. They watched as she awkwardly trailed behind Edward, eyes wandering. "Here comes the human."
"Bella, we're making Italiano for you." Esme informed her, with a welcoming smile. Bellas scratched on her face, stuttering out a reply.
"This is Esme, my mother for all intents and purposes." Edward cut in, introducing the woman before them.
"You could've just said she's your mother. Period." The raven haired whispered with a snark on his tone. Bella didn't hear of course, but that didn't stop Edward from rolling his eyes at the remark.
"Bongiorno..." Bella awkwardly replied, unsure of her own thoughts.
"Molto Bene!"
"You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time." Carlisle said, moving towards the couple. "I hope you're hungry." Esme added.
"Y-yeah absolutely—" she stuttered, not before getting cut off.
"She already ate." Edward deadpanned.
And that was probably the last straw for Rosalie. The headache, the buzzing, the cloudy feeling, and finally, Edward and Bella making it seem like all their efforts were no use.
She gritted her teeth as her hold on the bowl absentmindedly tightened, until it became hard enough to make the bowl actually shatter, glass shards and the salad falling into the ground.
Bella could only look at Edward, as if asking why did he say that. The girl had no problem eating what they prepared.
"Perfect." Rose huffed, stepping away from the mess before her.
Sebastian naturally followed, standing behind her. "Calm down." He attempted to diffuse the situation, wrapping an arm around the blonde's waist.
"Yeah, it's just I know yo— I know you guys don't eat—" the girl reasoned out.
It was the truth. Bella didn't expect them to cook for her. But they actually went out of their way to cook for her. She's willing to sit down and eat with the family. She didn't want their efforts to go to waste.
"That's considerate of you." For the first time in a while, Bella heard Sebastian speak to her. She still haven't asked Edward how he was part of the family.
As far as she knows, He's just a transferee just like her. "And not you, Eddie."
Edward furrowed his eyebrows as Emmett snorted beside the two. Anastasia sighing once again, tapping her husband's shoulder.
"Just ignore Rosalie, I do." Edward mumbled. Great job Cullen, add more fuel to the fire.
"You ignore everyone who tries to talk some sense into you." Sebastian shrugged. "No offense, Swan." Bella nodded, unsure of her response.
The blonde didn't know how, but somehow things were just getting more irritating for her. "Yeah, let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us."
"I would never... tell anybody anything." She replied, trying to express her sincerity.
"She knows that." Carlisle added, nodding unsurely.
Sebastian wondered, how could she? "Does she really?" He spoke out. "No really, how can you tell Carlisle? Was she ever hunted by a hoard of vampires before?" The Donovan asked flatly, no hostility or any sarcasm in his voice. Just a plain statement that felt like a huge wrecking ball hitting over the two.
"Again, no offense, Isabella."
"It's—uh...just Bella." The pale girl replied unsure of what to say after the vampire's retaliation.
"Right, Isabella." Sebastian smirked.
"Don't bother, he's not gonna change it. You'll get used to it, Bella." Anastasia chuckled, knowing full well that Sebastian will call you however he likes to, having experienced it as well.
"Uhm, the problem is the two of you became public now so..." Emmett added, shrugging his broad shoulders.
"No, she should know." Rose continued. "The entire family will be implicated if this ends badly."
Bella audibly gulped, "B-badly, as in I-I would become... the meal." She trailed off, her heart beating faster than it is.
And this time, Sebastian couldn't help but snort out a chuckle. "Maybe she'll be fun to be around." He nudged the grumpy blonde beside. Rose's lip twitched upwards a bit, even she found it funny. However, that small moment was turned inside out again when she recalled the vision that she had earlier. Who was that man and that little girl?
"Excuse me." She panted, pushing her way out through the back door. Where Alice and Jasper have emerged. The two wondering why the other Hale bolted out.
Edward and Rosalie didn't get along much, but when the woman reminisced that vision, it popped up back in her mind. And naturally, Edward saw what happened. The vampire looked at Sebastian intently, as if trying to convey a message. The latter caught on, maybe Edward cared even for a bit huh.
"Perhaps, I should follow her." The Donovan replied, pointing outside where the blonde was nowhere to be found. "Welcome to the house, Isabella."
He didn't care less about the human settling in. Heck the rest of the family was there, they didn't need him or Rose. Which means, they had a lot of time alone in their hands.
And most certainly, they needed it.
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♤ End of Chapter 22 ♤
Official Introduction
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heyy, as promised, here it is!
05 - 02 - 2023