Dangerously Beautiful • Carlisle Cullen

Chapter 19: Humanity

"If vampires can't cry, why can I?" Cole asked Carlisle. "I'm not sure. I will have to do some research." He told her. "So I'm just some science experiment?" She asked. "You're just something we haven't come across before." Carlisle told her gently. "Can I ask a question?"Edward asked, and Cole nodded.

"How did you change into Bella?" Edward asked. "What?" Looking at Carlisle, he shrugged. "Edward is the only one who saw it." Carlisle told her. Cole rolled her eyes, a huff coming from her. "How am I supposed to know something if only one person saw it?"

"What about this? When you threw yourself into the corner, when Edward startled you, what did you think of?" "My quickest escape route and how I  would get there." Cole told him. "It must be a defense mechanism." Carlisle said softly, thinking.

"What kind of defense?" Cole asked. "You didn't change for me, or for anyone else. That means one of two things, you can only do this for one person, or it's only when you feel genuinely threatened." Carlisle told her.

"You said she turned into Bella?" Carlisle asked his son, and Edward nodded. "Bella?" Cole asked, "why her?" "She's his mate." Carlisle said and a small growl slipped from Colette's mouth. Both of the men looked at her.

"Sorry. I'm still getting used to the term." "There has to be something else." Carlisle said aloud. "It may be her gift? Mental manipulation to help her escape?" Edward suggested as the door opened suddenly, Emmett standing in the doorway. His eyes locked onto Cole , but instead of adding to the conversation he could easily hear, his eyes were blown wide with fear. "Maggie?"

"Emmett, who's Maggie?" Carlisle asked. "My little sister. She died years ago. She was twelve when I was mauled." Emmett said softly, not taking his eyes off of the young girl. Her brunette pigtails, green eyes, and freckled face, a carbon copy of the girl he had to leave all those years ago.

Carlisle and Edward looked to where his eyes were locked and Colette stood there in a crouch, again, ready to attack. "Cole , it's okay. Emmett won't hurt you." Carlisle told her.

Standing up slowly out of the crouch, she made her way to Carlisle, almost hiding behind him. Emmett blinked and instead of the little girl with brunette pigtails, he saw Colette. " What happened to her! Bring her back!" Emmett pleaded. "Emmett, it wasn't real." "What do you mean? I saw her!" He shouted. "We didn't." Carlisle told him. "It's a defense mechanism. It wasn't real." Edward told him.

"What?" "Like I saw Bella. You saw your sister. What are the similarities?" Edward asked. "She is the one person I could never hurt." Emmett told them. "Bella too. I could never hurt her. That makes sense, Carlisle. She wouldn't change for you. You could never hurt her. She would always be Colette to you."

Carlisle looked at his mate, a smile coming to his face. "You are extremely powerful, Colette. Astral projection of someone's dearest memories as a defense. I've never seen anything like it." Carlisle announced.

"Enough defense talk, she needs to feed." Esme told the trio. "I could go for food." Cole told them and Esme smiled. "Not that type of food sweetie, Carlisle." Esme motioned out the door, and he nodded. "Hunting." Carlisle told her and Cole grimaced. "Is this a bad time to tell you I was a vegetarian!" Carlisle laughed, and so did Emmett. "You ordered a cheeseburger every time you could in the hospital, but good try." Carlisle told her. "Do I have to?" "Yes, I want to test a theory."

Cole raised her eyebrows and he sighed. "I'll make you a cheeseburger and we'll see if you can eat it." "Can Esme make me a cheeseburger?" "You doubt my cooking?" "You've been alive for how long?" Colette asked in a teasing tone, but took off into the forest before he could answer.

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Carlisle was able to catch up to her, Colette, looking at a small stream that she could see the fish in as the water tumbled through. "Beautiful isn't it?" Carlisle asked, glancing at the stream, but keeping his eyes focused on her. "It is." She glanced up at him only to notice where his eyes had been the whole time. A light blush rose to her cheeks, making her pale skin look somewhat alive.