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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 26, 2008 15:06:26 GMT -5
Jay jumped slightly as the door opened. The sight before he was not was she was expecting. Though in truth she wasn't sure what to expect. He looked young, handsome. She could see no sign of the others she'd heard speak but she caught their scent. Definately vampire. All vampire. She looked away for a second towards the driveway. Even now thinking about running, but instead she turned back to face him. Standing up straight and looking him in the eyes. She whispered; "I need to see Carlisle....Carlisle Cullen."
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Nov 26, 2008 15:18:10 GMT -5
Carlisle's smile remained constant in an attempt to exude a calm atmosphere - he could tell from a mile away that the girl was anxious about something.
"I am he. How may I help you?" he repeated, still trying to pinpoint her distinct scent.
A hybrid, maybe? He had thought that was impossible, but he had learnt in his long life that nothing was impossible. He wondered how she could have found out about him, who would have told her? Carlisle didn't really have any enemies to speak of, so he could only assume that she was referred by a friend or at least an acquaintance. Still, even with this assumption, that was all it was, he wasn't going to reveal himself as a vampire until he was absolutely sure of her nature and her own knowledge. A quick, diagnosing look told him that she wasn't in any outward kind of pain or trauma, so he maintained his stance in the doorway, on the one hand displaying a welcoming smile, and on the other, protecting his home and family should she try to intrude.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 26, 2008 16:15:27 GMT -5
Jayden stared hard at the figure infront of her. Her mind whirl with what to say next. 'I'm a half vampire', 'You knew my father', 'help I don't know what to do.' A million things at once filled her head waiting to be said, but in truth she didn't know what to say. She glanced down at her feet and picked a piece of lint off her shirt. She exhaled a breath she didn't know she's been holding. When she looked up again she was no closer to knowing what to say so she went with the most obvious; "My name is Jayden Murphy."
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Post by Edward Cullen on Nov 26, 2008 16:21:42 GMT -5
When Carlisle moved to answer the door, Edward instinctively moved to Esme's side, standing close to her in a protective manner (though she was obviously strong enough to protect herself, he still felt the need to try to keep his mother from harm).
He took a deep breath, taking in the woman's scent, not sure what to make of it until he heard her racing thoughts. Half vampire. So that's what this new smell was. He wondered how that was possible. And then he learned that Carlisle knew her father. Was the man someone that Edward had met as well? Her scent hadnt been familiar so he was sure he never met her.
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Nov 26, 2008 18:09:22 GMT -5
For a moment Carlisle thought he had misheard the girl that stood before him, and yet... He took in her scent again and scrutinised her appearance. There were bits of him, teeny, tiny, miniscule bits, but that could only mean one thing. And the name. That couldn't be a coincidence. The recognition registered in his throught, an image of his old acquaintance from the Volturi registering as a superimposed image over the girl before him.
"Related to Hayden Murphy?" he asked, simply, his curiosity piqued, though it did not make him alter his block of the doorway.
From the smell of it, Jayden was at least partly human - a hybrid seemed the only logical conclusion, though it was supposed to be impossible for a vampire to have enough control for a hybrid child to be carried by the mother full term. Whilst he knew that the Volturi hated anything different that they couldn't control, he couldn't be absolutely sure that they hadn't sent the daughter of one of their acolytes to gain access to the Cullen household to gather information. Afterall, the last time he had seen or spoken to Hayden Murphy, he was almost in the inner sanctum of the Volturi.
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Esme Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire
The Mother
Posts: 164
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Post by Esme Cullen on Nov 26, 2008 18:19:32 GMT -5
Esme instinctively lifted her foot to take a step, to follow Carlisle. But she instantly thought better of it and put her foot quickly back down. She watched Carlisle leave the room, and then watched as Edward came and positioned himself protectively in front of her. She flashed her eyes to his face, worry still the dominant emotion on her face.
With her eyes watching Edward's face, looking for any sign that the visitor meant harm (Edward would know her thoughts before she acted upon them), Esme listened closely to the conversation going on in the other room. She listened as Carlisle kindly greeted the girl. The girl responded with her name, it didn't sound familiar to Esme and she wondered why she had come to their house.
But Carlisle seemed to know maybe something about her. He asked if she was related to a Hayden Murphy, that name didn't sound familiar either. The worry on Esme's face turned to confusion; it was just a confusing day for Esme it seemed.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 26, 2008 18:21:12 GMT -5
The mention of her fathers name knoked the wind out her, but she didn't change her stance. The man in the door didn't backdown and neither was she. He did look like he was remembering something and Jayden took this chance to speak.
"My father was Hayden Murphy." She answered. The past tense of the sentence made her remember all over again that she was alone and in her minds eye she saw the retreating figure of her father.
She took a shallow breath but didn't falter, "He sent me to find you."
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Nov 26, 2008 18:46:22 GMT -5
Carlisle instantly registered the tone and tense of her statements and the compassion he was famous began to well up, consuming his chest and climbing up his throat.
"I'm sorry for your loss," he said in a quiet, consoling voice, his deep amber eyes staring deeply into the newcomer's face. His fatherly instinct was beginning to kick in and he wanted to invite the child in, get her story from her in comfort, but there was still the slight scent of danger. Trust wasn't gained lightly in the Cullen household. Especially to those that simply stumbled upon their doorstep.
"I'm sure you understand our need for wariness," speaking slowly, he half apologised without letting up the defense of his little castle. He thought for a second and then came to an internal resolution. He would just ask her right out - Edward would be able to tell if she was lying and he did not want to keep the young woman outside for too long, it was rude and he knew that Esme would not approve.
"Do you have continuing contact with the Volturi?"
If she hadn't heard of them, then there was no harm done, but if she had then it would be their responsibility to probe deeper to see if she posed any threat to their collective wellbeing.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 26, 2008 18:59:37 GMT -5
At the mention of the Volturi she felt anger and hatred, but most of all fear. She knew that is who her father had gone to when he left her. He'd told her of them as a bed time story, like that kind a human who be told of the Boogey man or the monster under the bed. The mere name scared her. As did the thought that this man she had sought out might have something to do with them. She stepped back from the door ready at any minute to run. "I've never met the Volturi. And i never wish too." She answered. "What connection do you have with them?"
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Nov 27, 2008 16:54:48 GMT -5
There was no mistaking that reaction and the compassion that had swelled through his body, thumped violently. He listened carefully for any sign of objection coming from the other room and, given its absence, he assumed that the girl was, to all appearances, being truthful. Carlisle suddenly stepped aside, his back against the open door, and gestured into the house. This definitely wasn't appropriate subject material for the doopstep.
"It's where your father and I met many years ago, but since then our contact with them has been sparse..." he told her, his topaz eyes scanning the horizon for anyone to overhear, though he couldn't smell anyone nearby. He had let his words linger, hoping to evoke confidence within the girl without divulging too much personal information. He cast a small, inviting smile at her. "It seems you have quite story to tell, Ms. Murphy. Would you like to come inside?"
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 27, 2008 23:06:43 GMT -5
As her step aside Jayden relaxed her defensive stance. She suddenly felt no need to run. His invite into his house didn't scare her, but she wasn't sure she'd fully let her guard down. She moved up on to the step and stepped inside. " He never explained how he knew you." She said moving into the house a little. "And i'm not sure its any great story. I'm sure we equally have questions." She said turning to face him. The house was chilled though this was something she knew a vampire wouldn't really notice. From another room close by she could smell th scent of the other.
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Esme Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire
The Mother
Posts: 164
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Post by Esme Cullen on Nov 27, 2008 23:30:59 GMT -5
Esme continued to listen carefully to the conversation. It looked as though Carlisle knew the girl's father through some connection with the Volturi. She listened as the girl's tone changed to a mix of fear and anger at the mention of the Volturi. Esme's natural mothering instincts took over and she wanted to go and comfort the girl she knew little about.
Carlisle was now inviting the girl into their house and Esme relaxed her position into one that was welcoming and not so tense. Edward had given no warning that the girl meant harm. She stepped away from Edward's protective stance and looked up at him with a meaningful look, wanting him to behave and be welcoming.
Esme slowly walked out of the kitchen. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her right ear, a warm smile on her face. She stopped at the edge of the large staircase that was in the front room of their house to greet the girl.
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Post by Edward Cullen on Nov 27, 2008 23:57:59 GMT -5
Even though Edward knew that the girl's thoughts had shown no immediate danger to his family, he still found it hard to relax from his stance knowing that an outsider was coming into their home. With the smell coming from her, knowing she wasn't quite a vampire, he had a hard time being able to find any trust for her. He didnt know what half vampires were capable of. Edward heard Carlisle invite her in, they were going to try to be welcoming and polite. He saw Esme's look to him and for her sake tried to look softer, like he would around humans. He'd put on the charm if he had to.
As Esme left the kitchen to go greet the girl, Edward followed behind her. They were both moving at a slower pace, the one typical of humans. Edward stood in silence beside his mother as they got to the stairway.
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Nov 28, 2008 11:03:37 GMT -5
Carlisle followed Jayden into the main house, his expression calm and genuine to anyone that didn’t know him, though there was a slight edge that only his family would be able to pick up on - a slight stiffness to his movements. Standing behind Jayden, Carlisle caught Edward’s eye as he entered the room, his own a warm toffee colour with just a hint of steel.
She’s alone, Edward. We’ll keep a proper wariness about us, but this isn’t something that we can go through in a neutral location - it’s too dangerous.
As Carlisle’s directed thought trailed to an end, he took two swift steps in front of the newcomer and gestured towards Esme as he went to stand beside her.
“This is my wife, Esme and my son,” he shifted to gesture towards the younger looking vampire. “Edward. And this is Jayden Murphy, the daughter, as it seems, to my ancient acquaintance Hayden, from the Volturi days.”
He knew he didn’t really have to explain to his family, they would have overheard it from the porch, but he hoped to put the girl at ease with the introduction, with the intention of finding out just why his old friend had directed her towards them and just what had happened to the man.
“Please, take a seat, Jayden,” as he inhaled again, the scent discerned itself further in his nose and he consciously made an imprint of it in his mind. If she roamed afterwards and began to endanger their closely guarded secret, he would know about it. Though his expression remained neutral, he worried about having a hybrid - if that’s what she was - in the house. With the newborn drawing attention to Seattle and an unfulfilled promise to the Volturi hanging over their heads, the Cullens really didn’t need any more ‘publicity‘. They would have to mask the strange and distinctive scent once she left, that was for sure, but first he needed to know about her. They needed to secure her loyalty, but if this really was the daughter of his old friend, he owed her aid and he couldn’t leave her helpless.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Nov 28, 2008 11:55:59 GMT -5
As the man step aside and invited her in to his grand house the scent of the other two vampires increased. She first got a look at them as she stepped into the house following Carlisle. She was suspicious of him, and weary of stepping into his territory, but she knew this wasn't a conversation for the porch. As he introduced his wife she looked up at her quickly. Though Jayden had never had a mother she knew this woman would be a great mother. The look of warmth and love in her face made Jayden long for the mother she never had. The man next to Esme seemed ill at ease, she'd had enough practice reading other vampires to know that this one didn't trust her. This didn't bother Jayden, at this moment in time she didn't trust them either. However she had been raised well enough to be polite, she gave both of them a half smile and nodded as she said "Hello" She looked back at Carlisle, "Thank you for inviting me in. I'm sure we both," She guestered to the other two vampires "I'm sure we all have alot of questions for each other."
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