The ride to the Cullens' place was a silent one.
Lost in thought, I watched the trees fly by while Carlisle focused on driving and allowed me to rest. After a phone call to Charlie, the vampire doctor convinced him to let me leave the station. Of course, that didn't mean I was free to go wherever I pleased. While the Captain had dismissed me as a suspect in the investigation, I was still the key witness. Until my memory came back, I wasn't authorized to leave town. Not that I had anywhere to go. I had no money, nobody to contact, and no identity.
Forks would be my home, for the foreseeable future.
As nervous as I was about meeting the other Cullens, I was eager to take a shower and change out of my horrid, dirty dress. It was difficult to think about anything else when wearing the blood of homicide victims. My wrist still hurt like hell, thanks to Edward. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so bitter, since his quick actions saved my life. But it wasn't like he'd done it because he cared about my life.
He hated me.
"Don't be nervous," Carlisle told me, as we turned onto the dirt road leading to the Cullen residence. "The others promised to be kind to you."
"Except Edward," I clarified, addressing the ugly, gloomy elephant in the backseat. Figure of speech; Edward actually rode home with Jasper and Emmet in a monstrous jeep.
"Ah, Edward," Carlisle chuckled lightly, offering an apologetic smile. "He'll warm up to you. He's just worried about our family. We've been through so much the past few years. Once he gets to know you, he'll stop trying to scare you off."
"I'm not scared," I said indignantly, crossing my arms.
Carlisle chuckled again. "I believe you. You're a tough girl. I only hope you remember your name, soon. I dislike having to refer to you so impersonally."
"You and me both," I replied with a sigh, slumping back in the smooth leather seat. Heat radiated underneath me, helping to fight off the hypothermia that had started to creep into my bones. Man, the car was incredible: I could only imagine how much it cost. Not only were the Cullens beautiful, they were filthy rich. Go figure.
"We're here," Carlisle announced, parking in the empty space of the driveway. There were several, expensive looking cars surrounding us, but they were only appetizers for the eye. Sitting in the clearing in front of me was an enormous house. There were windows that took up almost the entire walls, tinted to keep privacy and fill the place with natural light. It was the most beautiful work of architecture I had ever seen. Of course, I only remembered a few hours of life on earth, but that was beside the point.
"Wow," was all I could say.
Carlisle smiled proudly. "Thank you. We do love it here. It saddens me that we can't stay forever."
I pried my eyes away from the breathtaking house to look at Carlisle. The emotions inside me were a horrible, tangled mess, just like my mind. Whenever I saw the man smile, it warmed my heart but sent a stab of anxiety to my gut simultaneously. Don't trust Carlisle, the warning haunted me, repeating in my head every time I let my guard down. It was maddening.
"Come on, the others are waiting to greet you," Carlisle said, breaking me out of my thoughts. He looked over to see me wringing my hands nervously. "It's alright," he soothed, reaching over to touch my shoulder. "You're a guest here, not a prisoner. I brought you here for your protection. No one in this house will harm you, I promise."
Don't trust Carlisle.
I chewed my lip, glancing out the window toward the dark surrounding forest. It was my golden opportunity. Without Edward lurking nearby to read my thoughts, I had the element of surprise on my side. I could make a run for it, and possibly outrun Carlisle. Slim chances of that, though. After a long night of questioning, nearly being torn apart by a werewolf, and crying for a good thirty minutes, I was on the verge of passing out. More than likely, I would just collapse into a pitiful heap before I even reached the treeline.
Feeling the patient, curious eyes on me, I peeked back over at Carlisle. He looked expectant and I realized he must have asked me something, when I wasn't paying attention. "What?" I asked, blinking dumbly.
"Are you ready to go inside?" he repeated, as patient and kind as ever.
Casting one last glance toward my escape route, I decided it was best not to press my luck. "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied with a sigh.
"Alright, then. Hold on, allow me--"
Before he could finish his sentence, I opened the passenger door myself and started walking toward the house. He let out a good-natured chuckle, amused by my take-charge attitude. In a flash, he was beside me and escorting me toward the front door. My pace slowed as we drew near, so he placed a hand gently on my back, guiding me onward.
Carlisle grabbed the door handle, pausing to give me a reassuring smile, before ushering me past the threshold. I expected to see the Cullens gathered in the foyer, but it was deserted. Confused, I glanced up at Carlisle, who nodded toward the stairs.
"They're all waiting in the loft. Come on," he said, guiding me along. We climbed the stairs, while my eyes drank in the luxury of the place. It definitely beat hanging out in a police station.
"Shh, she's coming!" an energetic female voice said, hushing the low voices that came from the loft.
Well, no going back now. My breath hitched as Carlisle directed me to the doorway, placing me in full view of the vampires gathered inside.
Emmett and Jasper were the closest to the doorway, with the former perched on the back of a white sofa while the latter leaned against the arm. There were two girls with them; a breathtaking blonde and a stylish brunette. The blonde stood behind the sofa with her arms draped around Emmett. When she saw me, she tossed her beautiful, long golden hair and gave me the once-over, sizing me up. The other was seated with her spindly legs crisscrossed on the cushion next to Jasper. She had short hair that cut off at her jaw-line, framing her pretty, pixie-like face. The back was teased into a wild, punk-rocker kind of style. Her eyes sparkled and she beamed at me, the most excited one in the room.
On the other side of the room, two other females sat on a larger sofa near the window. One looked closer to Carlisle's age, with a timeless beauty and a warm smile. She had her hands folded neatly in her lap and ankles crossed, seated like royalty. Beside her, a girl who had to be around my age sat, legs crossed and arms extended over her lap. A waterfall of dark brown waves fell over her shoulders, complimenting her pale, flawless skin. But her eyes were chocolate brown, unlike the golden color of the other vampires'.
After a quick sweep of the room, there was no sign of Mr. Gloomy.
"Edward took Renesmee to La Push," the brown-eyed vampire told Carlisle, breaking the silence.
"Ah, I expected as much," he sighed, casting me an apologetic glance. "Well, you'll have to meet her another time. Everyone, this is..." he paused, hoping I would miraculously remember my name. When I shook my head glumly, he continued smoothly, "Well, her name is still a mystery. For now, just introduce yourselves."
"She already knows us," Emmett pointed out with a grin, nudging Jasper. He winked at me and Jasper just smirked, while the others just looked puzzled; apparently, what happened at the station was an insider, for the moment.
"I'd love to hear about that," the blonde girl said, sounding almost envious like I was some threat to her.
"Oh, don't be sour, Rosalie," the punk-rock girl told her over her shoulder. Then she flashed a brilliant smile at me, before leaping off the sofa. She suddenly stood right in front of me. "Hi, I'm Alice," she chirped, taking my hand in both of hers. "I hope we can be friends!"
"Watch out, she might buy you an entire wardrobe," the brown-eyed girl said as she stood up, moving gracefully toward me. Alice nudged her, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated way.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault you were a fashion tragedy. I help those in need," she teased back.
The brown-eyed girl just let out a breathy laugh, before holding her hand out to me. "I'm Bella," she said with a reserved smile. "You met my dad, Charlie."
"Yeah, he's a good guy," I replied with a smile, feeling somehow comforted by her. She wasn't like the others. There was something about her that set her apart. Her lovely chocolate-brown eyes, for one. She was Charlie's daughter, which also meant she married Edward. He must have told her about me, but she didn't act like she distrusted me like he did. Probably because she was his better half.
I was about to ask Bella how long she had been a vampire, when the last yet-to-be-introduced vampire glided forward. She slipped past Bella and Alice, who parted so she could stand in front of me.
"Hello, I'm Esme," she greeted warmly, taking my hand in both of hers with motherly tenderness. "I hope you feel safe here. Think of this as your home. You're very welcome here. We're all eager to learn more about you."
"Thank you," I said, doing my best to put on a smile. It was genuine, but I was so exhausted it took a ridiculous amount of energy to stand upright.
"Well, our guest has had a very long, stressful night," Carlisle spoke on my behalf, planting a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Alice, Bella, please see to it she has a bath and fresh clothes. Emmett, you stay here with them. Rose, Jasper and Esme, we should go."
"Go where?" I asked, turning to look back at Carlisle.
He glanced at Esme as if silently requesting her input, before he said, "Don't worry about that, now. You're in good hands. We'll be back before you know it, just get some rest. There will be plenty of time to talk tomorrow."
With a nod at Alice and the others, he turned and headed out of the loft, followed by Esme and Rosalie. Jasper strolled leisurely after them, nodding in silent good-night as he passed me. He was a man of few words, evidently.
When Carlisle and the others were gone, Alice and Bella were tasked with giving the tour.
"Come on, Blondie," Alice said with bubbly personality, snagging my good wrist, "Let's find you an outfit from my closet! You're just my size, too!"
"Alice, try not to turn it into a fashion show. She looks like she's about to pass out," Bella called after her, as she literally skipped down the hall, dragging me behind her. Bella offered a sympathetic look, saying, "I'll get you a bath ready. And maybe some food."
"Okay, thanks for—" was all I could say before Alice yanked me into her bedroom. By the look of her enormous closet, she could open her own shopping mall. I tried not to groan.
* * * * *
Steam curled into the air, smelling sweet with almond and vanilla oils.
Bella smiled as the bathroom door slid open, turning to watch Alice push me inside. In her arms were the pajamas she picked out for me. A silky white robe with pink lace trim, a matching night-gown, and cute pink fuzzy slippers. Her first choice was a frilly pink number that reminded me of a flamingo. I fought her for about ten minutes until she put it back. She still had her heart set on pink, thought. Apparently, it was my 'color'. So, I ended up with the mostly-white-but-still-pink night gown.
Still, I couldn't really complain. Anything was better than the bloody thing still clinging to my filthy body.
"I hope you like vanilla," Bella said, watching as I cautiously dipped my fingers in to test the water temperature. "I was going to use strawberry, but..." opting not to finish that sentence, she cast an awkward glance at Alice, who tried to stifle a giggle.
I blinked, completely at a loss. "Am I missing something?"
Alice couldn't resist, blurting out, "It's Edward's favorite smell."
"Oh," I replied. Please excuse me while I throw up.
"So, anyway," Bella said, quickly changing the subject. "Are you hungry? I can grab you something."
"Maybe after..." I replied. Learning what smell got Edward's rocks off really didn't help my appetite.
Bella studied me thoughtfully for a moment. She could tell I wanted to be alone. "Okay, well, we'll be outside. If you need us, don't be afraid to ask. Come on, Alice."
"I'll show you to your room, later," Alice said as Bella dragged her out of the bathroom. Bouncing on her heels, she pointed to a cupboard in the corner, adding in a rush, "Oh, and the towels are right over—"
Bella slid the door shut, cutting Alice off. I smiled despite myself. Honestly, I never expected any of the Cullens to be so nice to me. As I stood there, watching their shadows disappear, I felt a cold hand crushing my heart. Part of me had to wonder; did I really deserve their kindness?
With that depressing thought, I eagerly peeled off my soiled dress. Underneath, my underwear were soaked through with muddy water. Good thing Alice found a whole drawer full of under-garments that still had tags on them. She was generous enough to hand me a pile.
The room was lit only by vanilla-scented candles. The dim, flickering light was gentle to my eyes. A relief, after spending hours in the harsh light of the Forks police station interrogation room. Sliding into the hot bath, I let out a sigh of contentment; the water felt amazing to my aching muscles. Propping my sprained wrist on the indentation along the inner edge of the tub, I closed my eyes and leaned back against the neck cushion. Heat seeped deeply into my flesh, gently cleansing away the blood and dirt.
The milky water quickly turned brownish-red.
Finally, I felt relaxed. There was no need for the effects of Jasper's ability; no soothing words from Carlisle; no father-like support from Charlie. Just the warmth and the light, sweet smell of vanilla. Everything would be okay. The Cullens weren't my enemy. They were going to help me find answers. They wouldn't hurt me...
"Stupid girl, what did I tell you?"
That voice. An icy fear flooded my veins, the kind of cold that bathwater couldn't soothe. My green eyes snapped open and my throat closed up, choking back a scream. Dangerous white teeth glistened in the candle light behind grinning lips. Soulless black eyes pierced into me. There was no white around the iris, just pure black. They weren't just black, they were a deep, bottomless black that swallowed the light. Sitting at the other end of the tub was a nightmare; the man from my fragmented memories.
I couldn't move. I couldn't call for Bella or Alice. My body was paralyzed by fear.
The man—no, demon—inched closer toward me. Everything about him was black. His frightening eyes, his shoulder-length mess of black hair, the trench coat draped over his broad shoulders. Everything but his pale white skin.
I drew my legs up to my chest when he closed in, curling myself into a little ball against the side of the tub. "Stay away from me!" I whimpered. The bravado I kept up with Edward and the others crumbled to dust.
He only grinned, snagging hold of my face. Sharp fingernails dug into my cheek, drawing blood. "Look at you, naked and helpless in the house of your enemy," he sneered viciously.
"They're...they're not my enemy!" I protested.
"Poor little girl. So clueless. Do you really think they care about you?"
Heat flushed into my cheeks. "They do...they're not evil."
"Oh, but they are. You'll see. Go ahead, play along, let them treat you like family. Just remember..." he paused, and to my horror, he transformed. Suddenly, it was Carlisle staring at me with those soulless black eyes. "Never trust Carlisle."
With a wicked grin, he lurched forward, viciously sinking his sharp teeth into my neck. I screamed in agony, as fire burned in my veins. My screaming alerted the Cullens. The bathroom door was ripped away, revealing a furious Emmett.
"Who's in here?" he demanded with a snarling lip, ready to tear someone's head off. When he saw my naked body huddled in the corner of the otherwise-empty room, the rage diminished and became puzzlement. "Uh..." he muttered, unsure what to do. If vampires were capable of blushing, his cheeks would've been red as tomatoes.
"Emmett! What are you doing?" Alice cried, appearing behind him. He whirled around with wide eyes, realizing what it looked like to someone who walked up at that moment.
"I just heard her screaming, Alice!" he explained defensively, utterly flustered and somewhat offended she would conclude otherwise. "What makes you think I'd—"
"Whatever, just get out!" Alice shouted, grabbing his hulking shoulders and shoving him out of the bathroom. "Out, out, out!"
Bella rushed past them, appearing right in front of me. Her eyes weren't that lovely brown, anymore. They were the same golden color the other Cullens had. Trembling like a cornered animal, I instinctively slapped away her hand when she tried to touch me.
"Please, go, leave me alone!" I hissed at her, doing my best to hide my naked body.
Bella dropped her hand, but refused to leave me. She just reached for the towel Alice handed her. She placed it over me carefully, as if afraid I would shatter at the slightest touch. "It's okay," she told me gently.
Feather-light, her hand rested on my shoulder before venturing to grip my arm. She tried to help me stand up, but my legs were jelly. Clinging to her sturdy, slender body, I couldn't endure the waking world any longer. Fatigue finally overpowered me. I went limp in her arms and the world was swallowed by darkness.