Honey (Book 1)

Chapter 18

They both look at me with such sad expressions, regret and disappointment evident.

"Look, I don't know what happened but it's no big deal. But like, if you'd tell me what you meant about my blood, that'd be nice." I shrug, uncomfortable and nervous.

Emmett snorts. "We're vampires."

"I didn't want this to ever happen, let alone be the way you found out about us." Rose chimes.

"You can't change the past." I say.

Mostly, I think I'm in shock over what happened. I've never seen someone so.. so. Someone so fucking scary. All my instincts told me to get the hell out of there with the way they all looked with dark eyes and the growling and everything else! It's not fucking natural, the way they looked. The feel they gave off.

It most certainly wasn't human.

But vampires? Really?

Rosalie sighs before she walks over to a rather large rock and plops down, seemingly exhausted. I take a few steps towards them as Emmett takes his spot at her shoulder.

"There aren't very many of us, but we do have rules and people who make sure the rules are followed." She starts, tone low and sad. Almost old. "Carisle is the one who..changed us. All of us but Alice and Jasper. They joined at a different time with two very different stories. Carisle has always lived off of animals, instead of drinking from humans and that is the way we live as well. That's why our eyes are gold instead of red."

The hair on my body stands on end.

"I actually hated Carlisle for the first decade or so for what he did. Changing me into a lifeless monster, stuck at 17 for eternity. Frozen. Never moving. Never changing. After a few years, though, I found Emmett. Things were better but I still hated being like this. I still do sometimes."

"I don't understand." I say, desperately trying to understand, I take another step forward.

Emmett place his hand on her shoulder and squeezes.

"We're impossibly fast, incredibly strong. I can hear people driving past our road, right now. I can taste the rain in the air and smell the blood pumping in your veins. We are the world's greatest predator. Everything about us luers you in. Our looks, our smell. But it's a struggle. Living with this white hot burning in your throat as you can feel the heat and blood from a human less than a foot away. When you don't want to hurt them and your instincts scream at you to do it anyway. We try to play human, and it mostly works but that fight is always there inside you. It is easier over time, especially for those like Carlisle. But sometimes we slip up. We make a mistake and then we leave." Emmett speaks with his eyes shut, face down.

"We move every few years, playing as young as possible to last in that place longer. Us not aging prevents us from staying too long. We always move after at least four years. Sooner if suspicion arises."

"There is one good thing about this life, though." Rosalie says it with a small smile. "Vampires have soulmates. That's how I found Emmett."

"Yeah, good thing too. Got me just in time as this bear was gonna finish me off. Ran miles and miles back, with my torn apart in her arms so Carlisle could change me. I still think she was strong enough to do it."

"A bear!? Emmett!" I don't know what to say.

"Deep breaths, Bella. Its was a long time ago, I've long since got my revenge. What do you think I like to hunt the most of, huh?" He laughs and i just can't.

"That was too much, Em." Rose snaps.

"It's fine. Uhm, so what...what did you mean strong enough?"

"Neither of us have actually tasted human blood but we know that, when you bite a human, a sort of frenzy starts. Your instincts are harder to control, as everything is heightened. Emotions and senses. All of it. Its almost impossible to stop from killing them, changing them is harder."

I sink my shaking hands into my jacket pockets. As freaky as this all is, its actually really interesting.

"Wait. Soulmates? Actual soulmates?"

"Vampires bonds with one another are usually very shallow but a bond with a soulmate is entirely different. It's like a life force. They are important to you. To keep them safe and happy."

"And Emmett is yours?" I wonder, a little upset I didn't know sooner. This is embarrassing.

"When I was changed, after the initial bloodlust- that consumes you in the first year- faded I felt this space in my chest that was heavy and empty at the same time. When I saw Emmett the first time it swelled and i was consumed with the need to get him safe and better." She pulls his hand from her shoulder to kiss it lightly and then stands up, slowly walking towards me. "And then, around 18 years ago, I felt this new space. It scared me because I immediately knew what it was. It felt wrong that the universe said Emmett wasn't enough for me but that is not the case."

She grabs my hands in hers, pulling me close. "Next to Emmett's space in my heart, there is an equally great amount of space that opened for my second soulmate. Completely equal and similar but not the same. That space is yours. From the first moment I saw you and realized it was you. You are my soulmate too."

She grabs my face in her hands. "I understand you may feel it a bit and humans do not have soulmates but just know that it is an amazing thing to meet them. I'm so glad I met you."

Leaning in, I meet her half way and slam my lips into hers. What was meant to be short and sweet turns a little heavy, and I have to pull away for air.

"You don't even breath!?" I say mostly joking, face red.

After a moment, I gulp and ask, "So, earlier Jasper-"

"Jasper is the newest to our diet and he also has a.. gift." Rose explains lamely.

"He can feel and manipulate emotions." Em says.

"Jasper is an Empath. With him being newer to the diet and his ability to feel all of our bloodlust, he lost a bit of control. He did a good job though, controlling himself this time."

I swallow nervously, ignoring the 'this time' part. I understand now. "So..an empath? Do you guys have a 'gift' or whatever?"

"Alice can see the future, it's rather complex. And Edward can read minds, but besides that it's just them. Not every vampire has a gift." She bites her lip.

"Unless you count Carlisle's super self control-" Emmett laughs.

Cutting him off, I all but screech: "Edward can read minds!?"

The both of them laugh, "Everyone's mind, expect yours."

"What?!" That's amazing! "Is there a reason or..?"

"Probably a gift you have, actually." Emmett says, then fails to dodge Rosalie's elbow to the gut.

"Me?"

"Dont think about that now, Bella. I think you've gotten too much information as it is already. Let's head back." Rose says, flitting over and taking my hand in hers.

"Okay," I mumble. She's probably right. But then Emmett is there, throwing me on his back and scooping Rose into his arms in a bridal carry.

"Emmett," the blonde warns. "Dont you dare."

"And off we go!" He shouts, "hold on tight, spider monkey!" And then shoots off like a rocket.

I tighten my grip on him until my legs are cramping around his waist and my knuckles are white, locked and cross in front of his throat. Rosalie scolds him, thumping his chest lightly.

"We both know you can get out of my arms if you wanted." With that, Rose does, spinning and flipping out of his arms to run at his side, the forest blurring past.

"Holy shit." I mumble, Emmett goes fast.

"Be careful!" Rose all but screams.