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Post by Edward Cullen on Dec 17, 2008 0:02:08 GMT -5
Edward gave the slightest of nods in Carlisle's direction, appreciating that he had left the decision to talk about Bella to him. The more they spoke, the more Edward knew it would be inevitable to bring it up to her, and it seemed likely that the sooner the better would be the case. Especially as he knew it was possible that Bella may be stopping by later today, knowing that he would be at home and not going out because of the sun.
He then let his lips curl into a hint of a smile at Esme's mental apology. He knew that she had meant no harm by her offer, it was merely her generous nature, and he'd be sure to assure her of that when they were alone again.
When he realized that Jayden had detected his and Carlisle's relief at her decline of Esme's invitation, he felt a bit of guilt. He didn't want this girl to feel unwelcome. He gave Jayden a smile as she spoke of needing to hunt soon. He wanted her to know that it was alright for her to speak of things like that with them. "We can go in the next couple days if you like" He offered.
Though her next question was directed at Esme, he felt that since he may have offended her by his relief earlier, it may be advantageous for him to respond. "You're welcome to visit whenever you like" He said, pausing a moment, reminding himself that she had just mentioned that she didn't have a problem being around humans. "You should know that there is a human who visits here frequently..."
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Esme Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire
The Mother
Posts: 164
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Post by Esme Cullen on Dec 17, 2008 1:57:28 GMT -5
The conversation between the four of them continued, though Esme more so listened than commented. She remained perched on the edge of the couch beside Carlisle, moving every once in a while out of habit.
Esme nodded as Edward mentioned that they could go hunting soon. Esme didn't need to, and probably wouldn't go. She would let the kids take their new friend. At the thought of her other adoptive children she thought about the reactions Jayden would cause.
The ones she worried most about was Rosalie. Rosalie had a temper on her, and surely the idea of the vampire/human hybrid would upset her, but Esme had faith that Rosalie would not embarrass her with inhospitality.
She put the previous thoughts to the back of her mind as Jayden asked her a question. But it seemed as though Edward had already answered it. "Of course you're welcome, anytime," Esme added with a warm smile. There house was now open to Jayden.
Edward's next statement made her eyes tighten just a minuscule amount. This was the subject Esme had just attempted to keep a secret, she didn't expect it to come up so quickly. But surely Edward knew what he was doing, so she just waited for Jayden's response.
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Dec 17, 2008 15:24:57 GMT -5
Again, Carlisle listened carefully, squirreling away all the little pockets of information that Jayden was giving them about hybrid vampires. Of course he couldn’t be sure that all hybrids had the same characteristics as she did, but then he couldn’t be sure that any other hybrids were in existence. It was all very interesting though, it wasn’t often these days that he came up against something that he had no prior knowledge of. It seemed, the more she spoke, that she really had the best of both worlds; the appearance of a human, but the strength, skill and immortality of a vampire. Of course it wasn’t as simple as that, Carlisle had been around long enough to know that nothing ever was, but he could see a lot of potential for her in this town, especially with them to help her along the way. Hopefully, then, one day, she would be comfortable in the world on her own two feet.
He shook his mind out of the reverie as she turned to address him after Edward, and considered what she said with a thoughtful nod. “I’m sure you’ll do fine, Jayden,” he reassured her, extending a gentle smile towards her. He spoke truthfully as well, he could really see her doing something great with her life with the right support. “Nevertheless, I am certain that we can find you a decent yet understated little place on the outskirts of town. A little closer to town than here, I fancy. That was you can visit us any time you like.”
He smiled at her enthusiastically, now eager for her to find her feet in both worlds after trying so hard to fit into one. He looked up at Edward as he began to mention Bella and fell quiet, the calm smile on his face neutralising slightly as he waited for Jayden’s reaction. After what she had said, he was sure that she would be fine with the development, but you could never be sure, and it would quite possibly come as a shock to the hybrid.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Dec 18, 2008 16:28:05 GMT -5
Jayden smiled as Edward offered to take her hunting. She could tell he was trying to make her feel comfortable with the situation, but she wasn't sure how comfortable she would be hunting with others. She quickly reminded herself that this was a new beginning and not always been alone was part of that. She smiled once again as Edward told her she was welcome in their home anytime. However, that smile was short lived as he mentioned a human was a frequent visitor. It was purely shock that changed her features, but she wasn't quick enough to mask this sudden show of raw emotion. She quickly looked away from them all to hide her emotion. She looked out of the window and sniffed the air in reflex. She couldn’t smell an trace of human, but with the three vampires in the room the smell may have been covered. She listened hard for an human heart beat other then her own, but all she could hear was the stream and the highway. Jayden was not afraid of a human been close by. Or of even meeting one that was a friend of the Cullen’s. It was more the shock of perhaps meeting one so soon. Of knowing that these Vampires already had such a close relations with the human world and that they allowed one into their home, frequently. Jayden was worried about her own Human act. Worried how it would stand next to the genuine article. He also worried that the Cullen’s didn’t believe her about her distaste for human blood, ‘perhaps this is a test’ she thought to herself. Her mind was racing. This one sentence, one revelation from Edward had sent her mind reeling of in a million different tangents. And somewhere inside it all a voice scream for her to run. Scream that she had made the wrong decision coming here. Taking a deep breath to calm her heart she looked back at the others in the room. Careful not to hold eye contact with any of them. Her face was a mask of composure, but her mind spun with a million different thoughts. “A human.” She said allowed not directly to anyone. “Is it not - I mean. Are they here - not that it is any of my -” She stammered and paused, “That is truly unique.” She stammered again.
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Dec 21, 2008 10:29:16 GMT -5
Carlisle watched Jayden’s countenance go through the motions as Edward told her about Bella, or the unnamed frequent human visitor. As he registered the shock on her face, Carlisle began to wonder whether her assessment of her tolerance of humans was as simple as she had proclaimed earlier. He stopped himself from glancing at Edward, knowing that the thoughts circulating his head would be enough to share his concerns. He carefully inhaled as she turned to the window, worried that there would be a trail of scent - even if she didn’t want Bella’s blood, there was still the chance that their close relationship with a human would challenge her perception of their kind. It was never a good idea to challenge peoples’ preconceived ideas lightly. Happily, he could only smell the smallest hint of Bella in the air and he was fairly confident that was just because he could recognise it so easily. He waited patiently as Jayden stammered through her half-formed questions and statement. Shock then, it appeared she was shocked, which was understandable, though her face showed nothing. He nodded his head in affirmation of her point.
“Yes, it is quite unique, but that’s not something we shy away from here,” his smile grew from one corner of his mouth. “If we’re going to be a freak among freaks then we might as well go all the way.”
He bent his knee and rested an ankle of his other knee, still attempting to act casual, though the tension had risen slightly in the last few minutes. He left out the close personal relationship the human had with one of their own. If the very presence of a human was enough to shock the hybrid, then finding out that Edward and Bella were in love would do nothing to encourage her to acquiesce this new development.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Dec 23, 2008 2:34:23 GMT -5
Jayden smiled a little in spite of herself when Carlisle turned her own phrase back on her. Had she been thinking clearly it would have appeared to her then that maybe freak among freaks was just another way of saying unique. However, her mind was still reeling over Edwards’s revelation about the human visitor. Suddenly it occurred to her; did this human know what its hosts were? Were the Cullens really what they portrayed themselves to be?
Quickly she looked each of them in the eye. Simply to check their color not to drive home a point or pursue another conversation. Their eyes were the same and none had a trace of red in them. Yet her heart still raced. Jayden felt a little off guard, a little uneasy. She glanced back to the view outside the window and took another quick shallow breath before she asked the question she had to know an answer to. “Do the human know what you are?” She asked dryly without looking back into the room.
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Post by Edward Cullen on Dec 23, 2008 11:50:43 GMT -5
Edward watched and listened to Jayden's reaction carefully after he mentioned their human visitor. It wasn't something that he had been anxious to bring up, but he knew that if Bella should show up, he at least wanted Jayden to be aware that it occured, so that she woudn't be caught off guard. They all had to prepare for how she might react, especially if they had just given her an invitation to visit as she pleased.
Edward watched her smell the air, trying to pick up her scent. It made him nervous. Her thoughts were so erratic, switching from one to the next that there was very little he could interpret from them except that she was caught off guard. There was only one fully formed thought, as she wondered if it was a test. He knew that both Esme and Carlisle were also wondering if this was going to go well, and he was sure they'd be curious afterwards to her thoughts.
At Jayden's next question, Edward couldn't help but give a look to Carlisle, wondering if the truth was the right thing in this situation. Edward inhaled, needing the extra breath to speak,and picking up on the light scent of Bella still floating around in the air. "Our visitor" he started finding it hard to refer to her that way when there were so many more feelings attached when he thought of her. "She knows what we are...the other humans here don't, and we work hard to keep it that way"
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Dec 24, 2008 17:04:26 GMT -5
Carlisle took careful note of Jayden’s reaction to the revelation, the quick glance to the window, the sudden shallowness in her breath. He did hope that they weren’t overwhelming her. Perhaps they should have spread this conversation over a few days and allowed each surprising aspect of their existence to sink in separately? In a perfect world, maybe, but he knew that the more she knew now, the less a shock it would be when Bella turned up. Bella’s presence was almost a daily occurrence in the Cullen household, or it had been since the lift of Charlie’s grounding. The couple were still being cautious, not wanting to push Charlie too far, but nevertheless, Bella has a permanent impression in the house.
He caught Edward’s look and, with the hybrid’s back being turned, he allowed himself to nod back, ever so slightly.
Do what you think is wise, but I feel that the truth may be the answer here. We’ve gone so far with her, it would destroy the trust we’ve set up if she finds out we’ve omitted poignant elements.
However, by the time he had finished off the thought, Edward had already begun to explain to Jayden the truth of the matter. He sent out his approval through his thoughts and raised his eyebrows for Jayden’s reaction. He leaned forward a little.
“Edward is right,” he added. “We don’t make a habit of letting people in on our secret - we have to remain inconspicuous, you understand - but this is a special case.”
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Esme Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire
The Mother
Posts: 164
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Post by Esme Cullen on Dec 26, 2008 3:51:46 GMT -5
Esme carefully watched Jayden's reaction, as did the other two of her family in the room. She could see the shock this new revelation had caused the new girl, it was quite unusual for their kind to spend a lot of time with humans, let alone invite them into their homes daily. But Bella was part of the family now, a frequent visitor of the Cullen house. Esme watched the silent, barely noticeable exchange between Carlisle and Edward, that was something she had grown accustomed to and could tell when these exchanges were happening. She wondered what it could have been about, though she was sure it had something to do with the conversation they were having now.
Esme nodded slightly as Edward mentioned their need to keep their secret to the rest of the town. She watched as Carlisle leaned forward next and spoke, further explaining the reasoning behind Bella knowing what they were. The explanation was simple, not going into detail as to why Bella was such a large part of their lives. Esme smiled slightly at the thoughts of Bella and Edward, she still found it hard to contain the happiness she felt for the couple, Edward especially. But she did hold it in, not wanting to have to explain zealous reaction to Jayden.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Dec 26, 2008 11:52:16 GMT -5
Jayden continued to stare unseeing out of the large window. She listened as Edward explained that the visitor knew their most recondite of secrets. A rather bold move Jayden thought to herself. She listened again to his explanation and heard the gender of the visitor – she. With Edwards’s explanation and giving of the information it wasn’t difficult for Jayden to realize there was something more between Edward and the visitor. She was about to rant to him about the dangers of such a pairing when Carlisle spoke.
Jayden’s head involuntarily turned back to look at this wise man speak. Carlisle only confirmed Jayden’s notion that there was more as he told her this was a ‘special case’. No matter how much of a visitor she was Jayden had to speak up, but she tried to do it calmly as a part of her reminded the rest that she didn’t have all the facts or know anything for certain.
“Whatever the case, special or not, believe me when I say that nothing good can come from a close bond between a human and our kind. Think carefully before you let this human get too firm a grasp on our history and existence. Our world, and very existence, is too dangerous for humans. I should know.” She spoke evenly to each of them not laying blame on anyone. Nor contempt.
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Post by Edward Cullen on Dec 27, 2008 0:45:22 GMT -5
Edward could feel his parents support through their thoughts even though he felt incredibly guilty for putting his family through this. He had acted completely selfishly by pursuing Bella. It hadn't been in her best interest, or in his family's. The situation was now threatening to cause problems with their newcomer. Edward was just glad Rosalie wasn't there to gloat now.
Edward focused his attention on Jayden's thoughts, knowing they needed to be aware of her exact feelings on the situation. She was already suspecting their was more to it than just Bella as a visitor. She was smart.
"You're right, it is dangerous" Edward agreed, having no arguments that his world was too dangerous for Bella, but locking her out of it now was no longer an option.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Dec 27, 2008 20:21:17 GMT -5
Jayden couldn't understand Edward. If he knew it was dangerous, why did he still have this girl in their world? She knew it wasn't her place to be prying like this, but she couldn't help it. Been a product of a human/vampire match this felt a little close to home. Her mother had known of their world she had ended up dead and her father hurt, she didn't want that for anyone else.
"Edward, be careful." she advised, "What happens if she tells of your secret? My father said that They do not take kindly on us sharing with humans.'
Jayden thought for a moment. Never had se felt the need to share her secret. Nor had she ever been close to any human she would share with. The very idea to Jayden was unfathomable. She looked to Carlisle; he of all of them should know that this was a definite breaking of the rules. She didn't want to sound self-righteous or high horsed, but this very news could effect her decision to stay here in this town.
"How can you let this been?" She asked Carlisle. "What if They find out?"
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Post by Carlisle Cullen on Dec 28, 2008 16:14:51 GMT -5
Carlisle worked carefully to keep his countenance neutral at the direction in which the conversation had gone in. He should have seen this coming, he thought to himself, he should have been able to predict a reaction so obvious after it had happened. Of course the girl would have issues with a human being involved with them in such a way, especially given her own heritage and the history associated it. He did have to admire her sensibility, though, and appreciate the fact that she wasn’t driven away, that she stayed to discuss it, rather than anything else.
His amber eyes flicked up to Edward as he spoke, knowing that he was prone to passionate outbursts where Bella was concerned, though he did have faith that he would have more tact than to do or any anything rash. Thus, whilst there was a hint of warning in his thoughts, the main thread was one of support. No one in their family, bar Rosalie, had a problem with Bella’s knowledge of their kind, some were ecstatic about it, to be honest. However, as he heard the direction change after her pose, he returned his attention to Jayden.
“The human is welcome here,” he told her, calmly, with the confidence of authority - the voice he used when there was no room for argument, though he would patiently explain the situation. He understood why her father would have warned her about the Volturi’s staunchly kept rules when she challenged the majority of them. “She is, for all intents and purposes, a part of this family now and we will protect her accordingly. Just as she will protect us by upholding our secret.”
He had never doubted that Bella would remain true to them, though he knew that it must be difficult for a stranger to accept at face value. He had realised that he hadn’t truly covered the Volturi’s ultimatum about Bella’s knowing their secret, but he considered that to be another aspect of the couple’s life that he had no right to tell anyone else. He would leave that to Edward, his intent was to let Jayden know that the human fell under to acceptance and the protection of the family as a whole - she was not a negotiable point.
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Esme Cullen
Dazzled
Vegetarian Vampire
The Mother
Posts: 164
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Post by Esme Cullen on Dec 30, 2008 1:00:05 GMT -5
Esme continued to observe the conversation before she spoke. She could tell Jayden was getting upset by the idea of Bella, a human, being so close to them, vampires. But there was still so much Jayden didn't know, Edward and their family had already gone through many what-ifs. And they all knew Bella would not let their secret out.
"Jayden, Carlisle is right," Esme said in a soothing voice, trying to calm the girl, "Bella is part of the family now. We trust that she will not share our secret with anyone." Esme smiled reassuringly at the girl.
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Post by Jayden Murphy on Dec 30, 2008 2:26:19 GMT -5
The human…Jayden was shocked how they could put so much faith in a mere Human. She was shocked that Carlisle, whom her father has thought wise, not only let this happen, but supported it. Even the mothering like kind words of Esme did little to calm Jayden’s racing thoughts or bubbling confusion and disbelief. This was all too close to home and too raw for Jayden. Had her father had this discussion with his close friends? Had he assured them her mother would keep the secret? Why couldn’t this family see that keeping the secret was not the only danger?
She looked to Esme and tried to calm herself before speaking in reply to Carlisle. “I would not harm a human, I told you that before on a different subject yet it still stands here.” She paused for a brief second to check her anger, “But you can not know what you are doing bringing this human in to your family. I do not believe her biggest danger is unknown vampires, but those closest to her.”
Jayden glanced at Edward for a moment, but it was then that she caught the human’s name. “Bella?” She repeated looking at the all in turn, “What is she? A pet? A fascination to while away a few years? A curiosity?”
She looked to Edward. Part of her had desperation to understand yet another Vampires desire and fascination to be this close to a human. However, parts of her longed to push this human from them and stop her from becoming a victim like her own mother. It was that majority rule which spoke out.
“You can not play with humans; their emotions or their lives. They get hurt, break easily. You may trust her with your secret, but how can you trust yourself with her?” She held her head firm and her body ridged. She wanted to turn away from them and this raw emotion but she pushed on, “We are not meant for their world nor are they meant for ours. There can be no grey areas or crossovers! It is not a fine line I tread between the two, but a fault line on a chasm. Do not condemn another to the short existence my mother had in our world. Do not make another choose between the worlds as I do everyday!”
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