Chapter Text
I pulled into the parking lot at Forks High School more on edge than I had felt in a while.
The day came with mixed feelings—it was the first time I'd spent my birthday without my mother or any other relative for that matter. Birthdays weren't exactly the highlight of the year for a witch, but this one was managing to put aspects of my life into perspective. So much had changed in so little time. Some of it was for the worse.
But some of it was for the better.
Edward Cullen was leaning motionlessly against his shiny, silver Volvo. He looked like a marble tribute to some god of beauty, and the perfectly tailored outfit he wore only added to the effect. His copper hair was darker than it was in the sunlight, though it was still effortlessly tousled. His skin was far paler than any human—including me—but there was an easy enough explanation for that.
Edward and the rest of his family were vampires.
Of course, that didn't much matter when you were a witch.
Edward straightened as he watched me pull in to my parking spot a small, crooked grin playing across his features. Just like every other day, he made his way as quickly as he could (without arousing human suspicion) to my side.
Alice, his sister and my best friend, followed closely after him. They weren't actually related; none of the Cullens were. That measly fact didn't stop their familial bonds from forming over the decades they had spent together.
Alice's eyes were alight with excitement. I could tell she wanted to fidget, but whatever she was holding stopped her from doing so. It was a small box wrapped in silver wrapping paper and tied with a metallic gold bow.
I sighed, defeated already. I told them that I didn't want to make a fuss for my birthday. To someone like me, birthdays didn't even really matter. My time on earth wasn't as short as a human's was—a concept I knew for a fact they could relate to. But Edward had taken to insisting I lead as normal a life as possible while I could. That's what I had wanted before being thrust into the world of vampires over the last year, but now I was mainly just doing it to make him happy. We both knew that normality was impossible for a witch… especially a witch with a vampire soulmate.
Plus, Alice loved planning and celebrating stuff like this. Who was I to deny my best friend from enjoying herself?
"Happy birthday, Emme!" Alice threw her arms around my neck.
I staggered under the force of it. She was absolutely holding back, but the tiny girl sometimes forgot her own strength. Edward immediately grabbed my elbow to keep me upright.
"Sorry," Alice grinned sheepishly. "Do you want your present now or later?" she asked, gesturing to the box in her hand.
I glanced around to make sure that no one had heard her outburst. "Later is fine. I don't mind you making a fuss, Alice, but I'd like to keep this whole birthday thing on the down-low to the humans."
Alice shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Edward's hand moved from my elbow and found its way into mine. His skin was smooth and cold—a stark contrast to my own. He leaned down, lips meeting my own before moving back up to my ear. "Happy birthday."
I shuddered.
He pulled away grinning smugly at my expression.
Alice rolled her eyes. "What time are you going to be over tonight?"
I'd finally managed to spend more time in my own home than in the Cullen's. It took a couple of months to get used to the emptiness of the large home my aunts lived in, but it didn't bother me as much anymore. I'd received a visit from the police chief of Forks, Charlie Swan, after he somehow found out that I'd been living alone. News travels in a small town, I suppose. An easy glamour cleared everything up, and I was left to my own devices. I was never really alone anyway, not when the Cullens had something to say about it.
"I didn't know I was coming over," I told her honestly. I'd known she was planning something—it was Alice—but she had forgotten to actually invite me to it.
"You can take the car home, Alice. I'll ride with Emme after school," Edward offered.
I smiled and squeezed his hand in thanks.
The bell rang, and the students that had been hanging out around the main building and in the parking lot began to make their way to their classes.
"See you two at lunch!" She sent me a grin—the wide smiled exposed her perfect, glistening teeth—then pecked me on the cheek before dancing off toward her first class.
I shook my head at her antics. Alice and I weren't alike at all, but that's part of why we got along so well. I trusted her completely. Our relationship was much different than my relationship with Edward who I was actually quite similar to.
We took our usual seats in the back of the classroom. Our schedules had "coincidentally" ended up almost identical. Whether it was Edward's doing or mine, neither of us knew for sure, but it was fair enough to assume that we both had manipulated the system to have it end up that way.
On the first day of my senior year, I had been the subject of gossip not unlike my first day of school back in January. This time it was because I was making an appearance after what must have looked like disappearing off the face of the earth for the last four months. The official story as to how I ended up unconscious for two months with one of my aunts dead and the other in a coma was a gas leak. I didn't know how the people of Forks managed to believe that story, but I was thankful they did. I supposed it helped that the one spreading the story was the most respected physician in a thousand-mile radius.
As if that wasn't bad enough, I had strolled into school on the arm of Edward Cullen. I'd forgotten that the last time anyone saw me we had only just gotten over stubbornly ignoring each other.
I should have called my school friends sooner, but beyond assuring them I was all right, I didn't talk to them much over the summer. I was much too busy trying to overcome my guilt over losing my aunts to be any sort of a fun person to be around—no matter what Edward, Alice, and even Emmett said.
It was mid-September now, and the gossip had calmed down, thankfully. Not even Mike or Tyler looked at me though I single-handedly dashed their hopes and dreams anymore. That glance was now reserved for Edward, which he took great pride in.
It did make lunch just the slightest bit awkward, however. The Cullens used to sit alone, but now that Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett had "graduated," they sat with me at my insistence. Edward liked that I had normal friends, but he didn't exactly enjoy being around them. It meant he had to be extra careful. And my friends—Mike and Jess, Angela and her new boyfriend Ben, Eric, Conner, Tyler, and depending on what her mood was like, Lauren—mostly accepted that they were going to sit with us, though they weren't brave enough to include them as I did.
The Cullens made people feel uneasy. They weren't human, and those that were could sense it even if just subconsciously. I was the bridge that linked the two. I wasn't human, but I wasn't an immortal either. I managed to fit in with both for the most part.
The afternoon passed surprisingly quickly. I didn't like people to fuss over me, but I was a tiny bit interested in seeing what Alice had planned.
Edward walked with me to my aunts' SUV after classes ended. Ever the gentleman, he held open the passenger door and gestured. I hopped in eager to get out of the rain.
"Pick your poison," I commanded as he climbed in behind the wheel.
We had taken to choosing a different radio station every time we were in a car together, committing to one genre of music for however long we had to drive. It was Edward's turn to choose the station. He obviously knew more songs than I did, but I kept up more than the average teen would be able.
Edward reached over the armrest, taking my face in his hands. They moved gently down my cheek then back up through my loose hair. "It's your birthday, you should choose today." He pressed his icy lips against mine, much less chaste than what he had done this morning in the parking lot.
I couldn't stop myself from grinning against him and wrapping my own arms around his neck, pulling him closer still. He responded just as enthusiastically. My pulse quickened.
Until the radio blew, that is.
I jerked away from Edward with a yelp as sparks and then smoke came out of CD player. The stereo made a sharp screeching noise before fading away into silence.
Edward snickered.
I grumbled, annoyed about ruining the moment. My magic stemmed from my emotions. When I was with Edward, it was hard for me to concentrate let alone remember to keep them in check. It was just as hard for him to remember to be gentle with me when he could easily snap me in half or break my skin with his teeth. So far, he had been much more successful at self-control than me.
"What are the odds that Rosalie will look into it for me?" I mused as Edward pulled out of the parking lot and began driving toward his home. It was a rhetorical question. Rosalie tolerated me because I had saved her sister's life, but that was the extent of our relationship. She assumed that as a witch, I would bring their family nothing but trouble when they ought to be keeping a low profile.
Rosalie was right, of course, but Edward and Alice didn't care. The rest of their family treated me like one of them, no matter how much I insisted that I didn't deserve it. They wouldn't have been in any sort of trouble, to begin with, if not for me. They also would still probably be in trouble if not for me, though. It was only fair that they make their own judgments just as I had made mine about them and their kind. I'd never force Rosalie to like me, even though I easily could through magical means.
Edward snorted at the thought of his sister helping me voluntarily. Rosalie was almost as stubborn as I was. He pushed the Infiniti much faster than the speed limit allowed. I didn't mind. I loved the rush that speed brought. Driving with Edward was nothing compared to running with him. Maybe I could persuade him to take me on one later this evening.
"I know celebrating your birthday isn't important to you, Emme, but will you do me a favor?" Edward asked.
"Of course. You know you don't have to ask."
"The last birthday any of them celebrated was Emmett's back in 1935. They're all very excited about tonight."
"Almost all," I amended.
He rolled his eyes. "You know what I'm saying."
I smiled softly. "You know I'll play along. I wouldn't want to ruin their fun."
We pulled up to the Cullen house. Light shined from almost every window, making it easy to see their expansive front yard. The porch was lit by strands of fairy lights draped between the eaves. Greenery and flowers lined the railings and the staircase up to the front doors. The effect was almost ethereal. I had to give Alice her credit—the girl knew how to decorate.
Edward opened my door and led me up the stairs and into his house. Everyone was waiting for us in the foyer.
"Happy birthday, Emme!"
The attention of all seven Cullens at once made me uncomfortable—I wasn't exactly one that enjoyed the spotlight—but I pushed it down before rushing to Alice to give her a hug. "Thanks, Alice. Everything looks amazing."
Every surface that I could see was covered in candles and fairy lights that gave off a lovely, golden glow. There were vines of greenery and crystal bowls filled with lavender flowers everywhere. Combined with the beauty of the Cullen home, it looked pretty enough to be the site of a wedding.
Alice pulled me away from Edward and led me into his music room. It was normally an empty room with the exception of his grand piano and a scattering of other instruments. Now, it held a table with a deep violet birthday cake that looked as if it'd come straight out of a magazine. The top of the piano had a small pile of silver and gold wrapped presents.
I looked at my friend with disbelief. "Remember when I said I didn't want to make a fuss about this, Alice?"
She chuckled innocently. "Yes."
I rolled my eyes but was prevented from saying anything else by Esme who pulled me into a warm hug and then passed me along to Carlisle. Then I was being ripped away by Emmett who hoisted me off my feet and spun me around as if I weighed no more than a feather—which was probably true.
Emmett had eagerly forgiven me for attacking him even if his wife hadn't. We'd actually spent a lot of time together over the summer. We both had competitive natures and didn't back down from a challenge be it over video games (I was so much better than him it was almost funny) or how long we could hold his Jeep over our heads (he beat me every single time).
"Set her down, Emmett," Alice demanded pointedly. "You have somewhere else to be."
He obliged and sent me a wink before leaving swiftly out of the room and through the front door without a word.
I narrowed my eyes, gaze following him out the room. It wasn't a very inconspicuous way to sneak off. He was up to something.
Alice skipped over to distract me, radiating so much happiness it was hard to ignore. I looked over at Jasper with a raised brow. He shook his head with a small smile conveying what I had silently asked: he had nothing to do with it. Alice's good mood was her own doing. I still found it hard to believe that someone could be so cheerful. Jasper was still cautious of me, but we were on friendly terms since I had risked my life to save Alice's. Plus, I had been teaching him more about witches, our magic, and our customs. He liked to be knowledgeable, just in case he ever came across another one of us. I couldn't say I blamed him. I'd done the same thing when I'd learned about vampires, after all.
"Present time!" Alice declared, handing me a light, small box.
The tag said that it was from Emmett and Rosalie. I glanced over at the gorgeous blonde, eyebrow raised. She shrugged indifferently. So it was from Emmett.
I tore open the paper and stared at the contents—something electrical. "Thanks?"
Rosalie snorted. "Alice mentioned you'd need a new car stereo. Emmett's installing it now. Kenwood."
I reeled around, giving Edward a panicked look. I hoped that Alice hadn't mentioned why I needed a new stereo. He was laughing openly at the look on my face. The others had too much tact to comment.
I changed the subject. "Thanks, guys. I can't wait to use it," I told them as Emmett appeared once more. And it was true. It was actually quite a thoughtful gift and an upgrade even from my previous stereo.
Alice reached out to grab another present from the pile. "Here, open this ne—"
But she didn't get to finish her statement.
We all waited, knowing already that she had fallen into a premonition. Unlike me, Alice had the gift of being able to look into possible futures whenever she wanted to, though sometimes, usually when they were important, they took over her sight without her looking for it. The latter was more similar to how my own premonitions worked.
The seconds ticked by. Edward stiffened and his eyes met mine. They were wary. He was concerned.
"What?" I demanded. My mind began whirring and immediately jumping to the hundreds of possibilities about the worst things that Alice was seeing.
Alice's eyes refocused. "Someone's coming. They were at your house, but now they're coming here."
"Who?" I wondered. I didn't know anybody here besides the Cullens and my aunt. "When?"
Alice shook her head. "I don't know. There are two of them. But I know they're looking for you—not us. They'll be here in minutes. They're moving faster than humans."
I looked at the others.
"I knew this would happen," Rosalie spat at me. She didn't leave though. She stayed rooted to the spot. Rosalie was protective. She wouldn't leave her family alone when the possibility of a threat was fast approaching.
My pulse quickened. I hadn't used any magic today—whoever they were, I'd probably at least be able to hold them off so the Cullens could make a run for it. Magic crackled at my fingertips.
Edward stepped next to me placing a hand on my shoulder knowing better than to touch my hand at the moment. "You aren't alone, Emme," he reminded me gently.
I forced my breathing to return to normal and tried to calm myself. He was right. We'd decided after the last incident that whatever was thrown at us, we would face together. We were more than capable of watching out for each other. I glanced at the seven others in the room.
Carlisle met my eyes. "We're with you, Emme."
The festive atmosphere was gone. We waited in silence until finally there was a knock at the door.
Carlisle straightened, moving to the door with Esme at his side. Edward gripped my hand now that it wasn't sparking… partly for comfort and partly to make sure I didn't do something stupid before we had all the facts. We both knew I was prone to acting before thinking.
"Can I help you?" Carlisle's smooth voice questioned the strangers.
"We're here for Emerine Wildes." The voice that answered was a woman's. It was cold, stern, and demanding. She didn't make an effort to hide her distaste for Carlisle.
Hearing it sent a jolt of shock through my body. I sucked in a breath of realization. I pulled myself out of Edward's grip and made my way through the door. He followed me closely, clearly worried.
Carlisle hadn't answered. He'd heard me coming and stepped out of my way, allowing me to face the visitor.
"High Councilwoman Corey?"