𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐱 | 𝐚. 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 & 𝐣. 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞

eighteen | vampire

Persephone knocked on the door, glancing at the faded orange truck parked outside. Persephone had asked Bella at lunch if they could drive separately – she wanted to be able to go directly to Alice and Jasper, if needed, and Bella had agreed easily. Jasper and Alice gave her a strange look when she stepped into the lunchroom and sat down at their table, but accepted her kisses easily so she didn't question it.

The two, however, had clearly heard Persephone and Bella's conversations, and Edward confirmed that the two humans were doing research on their family today. It made Jasper anxious – he trusted Alice, of course, but he didn't know how Persephone would react at first. Maybe she didn't accept them for weeks, or months – Alice's visions didn't come with dates stamped at the top like old camera videos. His chest ached at the thought that Persephone would reject them, even if it were for a short amount of time, but all he could do was sit anxiously at home and wait for the human's reaction.

Bella opened the door with a small smile.

"Hi." She greeted, eyes glancing behind Persephone to the street. "Come in." She opened the door wider and allowed Persephone into the house, checking the street once more and sighing before closing the door.

"My dad isn't home yet. He normally doesn't get home for a while, so we have plenty of time to talk. Um, do you want something to drink?" Persephone smiled at the shy girl and shook her head.

"No, thank you. I'm anxious to get started, really." Bella nodded and gestured to the stairs, where she began climbing with Persephone following close behind. "I'm not surprised someone else has noticed things about the Cullens. You said your friend told you something about them?"

"Yeah, Jacob Black. He's part of the Quileute tribe — you know La Push beach?" Persephone shakes her head and Bella nods, opening the door to her room. "Well, it's a place on the reservation where Jacob lives. My friends and I went there, and Edward got mentioned. Jacob's friend got really weird and said something about the Cullens not being allowed there, so I asked Jacob what he meant by that. He said some of the older members of the tribes told stories of the Cullens – called them 'the cold ones.'" Bella glanced at Persephone, noting the girl's widened eyes. "What? Do you know something about that?"

"It's just.." She trails off, settling on the edge of Bella's bed as Bella sits at her desk. She boots her computer up and makes quick work of closing the pop-up ads as Persephone gathers her thoughts. "Their skin is always cold. Alice and Jasper, I mean. Like – freezing cold. Actually, Rosalie, Emmett, and even Esme have that, too." She glanced at the large book that Bella was fingering the pages of, and stood to get a closer look.

"Yeah, that's weird. Edward's skin is like that, too." She gestures to the book. "I got this from an old book store in Port Angeles. It's on the Quileute tribe and it's legends, so I figured this was as good of a start as any."

"You're right. I think this is perfect, actually." Persephone opens the book and begins skimming through the pages as Bella continues preparing her computer. She pauses at one page, and bites her lip in thought before getting Bella's attention. "This."

"Really?" Bella asks, incredulous.

"Yes. Let's just search it at least." Bella purses her lips and nods, typing away.

Vampire, the screen reads.

In the Cullen house, where the entire family waits anxiously as Edward sifts through the minds of the humans of Forks to find their humans, Edward suddenly breaks the tense silence by letting out a soft gasp.

"They know," He whispers, and the family room bursts into chaos.

—

i'm sorry for the wait - other writers know that writing takes time and energy, and i've experienced a lack of both these past couple of days. i have everything for the rest of the book planned, it's just getting that out of my head, onto paper, and adding details that is tiring sometimes.

anyways, i hope you all enjoy this. expect updates daily again from now on <3

-A