Self Control [Carlisle Cullen]

34

"No sleeping, super strong, super fast, cold and as hard as stone, you drink animal blood and your eye colours change when you're hungry or either satisfied," Anna summed up as she ate another slice of banana bread.

She sat in the lounge with the rest of his family. Edward and Alice tried playing chess, and Bella and Anna were watching them intrigued. Since Edward could read minds and Alice could see the next moves, it was nearly impossible for them to play.

"Is that about it?" Anna looked at his family for their approval, as if it was some kind of test.

"Don't forget the sunlight," Bella said smiling and she leaned against Anna. She tried not to shudder, since Bella was really happy Anna knew and became more comfortable around them. The coldness of her body started to numb Anna's right side.

"Sunlight?" Anna asked curious. "You didn't tell me that." Blaming she looked at Carlisle. He sat on the other side of the chess table, also looking at his children, wondering who would win.

He locked eyes with her again, smiled. Anna hated the way her heart would jump( every time he looked at her, spoke to her. Especially now, since everyone could hear it.

"You turn to ash? Or do you burst into pieces?" Anna guessed and the Cullen family started laughing again.

"No, not any of that," Edward said smiling and made his third move.

"Then what is it?" Her curiosity burned inside of her, as she looked at every single Cullen in the lounge. They all shared meaningful looks and chuckled.

"You'll see one day," Alice promised her, looking up from her chess game.

"When?" Since Alice seemed to know nearly everything what was lying ahead for Anna, she just had to ask.

"Soon." Alice smiled at her, broadly and radiating. "You just need to have patience. And be ready to skip school."

"I'm always ready to skip school," Anna laughed and finished her banana bread. "So Bella, you were 'reborn' in 2011?"

Bella smiled and leaned with her cheek against Anna's shoulder. "After our honeymoon I was changed. It wasn't easy."

"Why?" Anna looked at Carlisle, but he shook his head. She frowned—he hadn't been a part of it? Then who did change her?

"Well, there have been a lot of complications in the past," Bella hesitantly said. "Just to keep it short: a lot of vampires wanted to kill me and the royals nearly did because of my child."

Anna almost choked on her water. "Sounds like there has been a whole lot of drama revolving around you."

"Luckily it's over now," Edward mumbled and watched how Alice made her next move in the chess game.

"And it's over now?" Anna asked. "And wait, royals? You have a kid?"

Proudly Bella showed a picture of a woman, together with a young man who looked like a native. "Is that her?" Anna asked and took the phone. She definitely had Bella's eyes, Edward's hair and other facial features. "She's pretty."

"Her name is Renesmee," Bella said. "And I got pregnant of her when I was still human. After she was born, I was turned. She's half vampire and that caused a lot of trouble."

It sounded like Bella didn't want to say more about it. And Anna didn't feel like listening to it.

"It's getting late," Carlisle said as he got up. And he was right—it was nearly 45 minutes back to Seattle and during this time of year, it got dark early.

Besides, Anna's head was so filled with all the new information, that she might burst. She was exhausted. "I'll drive you home," he promised her.

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