Sight Unseen 40

“Come on in my dad isn’t home.”Bella told Rosalie and Victoria after she unlocked the front door to her house and went inside. Victoria followed after her very curious to see where Bella lived. She looked into the small living room that had beat up furniture and a nice television. The kitchen looked like it was original to the old house and barely used. Walking up the stairs Victoria stopped and looked at each picture of Bella hanging on the wall. They all were Victoria guessed by Bella’s age taken before her parent’s divorce. It made Victoria wonder how involved in Bella’s life her father was until she came to live with him. Victoria made it to the top of the stairs and entered Bella’s bedroom. The room confused her because nothing was unpacked. There were stacks of boxes, trunks and duffel bags everywhere. No part of the floor was visible due to all the stuff crowding the room. The only thing that was being used was the closet that Victoria could see through the open door Bella had at least unpacked her clothing. Victoria didn’t know how long Bella lived with her father but thought that she had enough time to unpack.

“Why is all your stuff packed?”Rosalie’s thoughts were the same as Victoria’s. She thought Bella had enough time to unpack.

“I wasn’t planning on staying that long. I just didn’t have enough money to buy a truck yet.”Bella began moving her stuff out of the way so there was room to move around.

Victoria joined by Rosalie jumped in to help Bella.”How long have you lived here?”

“A little over a week. My mom got married and decided that traveling around the country in a bus with her new baseball player husband was a better gig than being a mother. She shipped me here because I am still underage.”Bella explained.

“Has it only been a week?”Rosalie felt like a lifetime had passed since she met Bella.

“What can I say life with me is exhausting. It always feels longer than it’s been.”Bella still couldn’t believe she wasn’t really old based on all the things she had done.

“You said you weren’t planning on staying long. Where were you going?”Victoria asked.

Bella shrugged as she kicked off her shoes and sat on her bed.”I didn’t have anywhere specific in mind. I just knew it wasn’t safe for me to live with a cop because of the crazy shit I get into. This house is small and you can hear what everyone is doing no matter where you are in the house. It was only a matter of time before my dad caught on that something wasn’t right.”

“He probably would have.”Rosalie took a seat on one side of Bella and Victoria took a seat on the other side.

“How involved was your father in your life after the divorce?”Victoria agreed that Bella’s dad would have caught her.

“Not much. He paid child support and as part of the custody agreement I was supposed to spend two weeks every summer with him but my mom thought it was to much of a hassle to arrange it so I never got to go. He didn’t push for it so that kind of tells you what kind of parent he is.”Bella didn’t really have any attachment to her father.

“That is messed up.”Rosalie didn’t like hearing that Bella’s parent didn’t actually care about her.

“I have been thinking about it a lot since Anne told me about the bonds and came to conclusion that I wasn’t supposed to have great parents because if I did I would reject Tanya and Irina. The fact that my parents aren’t the greatest leaves a hole for Irina and Tanya to fill and makes me actually want them to be my parents.”Bella thought her life was supposed to turn out the way it did. Even the parts of it she hated.

“I can see that being the reason. Fate is funny like that.”Victoria said.

“What were your parents like Rosalie?”Bella knew all about Victoria but knew nothing about Rosalie.

Rosalie grimaced thinking about her parents.”My parents were obsessed with status and wealth. Nothing was ever enough for them. They always wanted bigger and better things. During the depression we kept our wealth due to my father working at a bank but even then when we were basically billionaires compared to the rest of the country my parents weren’t satisfied. When it came to parenting I was raised by a nanny until I was 22 and got engaged. The only my actual mother took the role as mother in my life was when dealing with suitors or details with my wedding.”

“Were you engaged to a man?”Bella hadn’t even considered what her mates’ sexuality was.

“Yes but I didn’t want to marry him. My parents were forcing me to.”Rosalie considered things for a moment and decided this was the perfect time to tell Bella about her turning.”I want to tell you what led to me being a vampire. It’s not a happy story though so I won’t force you to listen to it.”

“I already knew it wasn’t a happy story based on what Carlisle’s father told me. That being said if you feel comfortable enough to tell us then we will gladly listen.”Bella wouldn’t push Rosalie to talk about hard topics.

I will gladly listen to whatever you feel like sharing and only if you feel like sharing it.”Victoria told her.

“I want to tell you. When I was 22 a man named Royce King Jr. showed interest in me. My parents were ecstatic because the Kings were the wealthiest most influential family in the area. Exactly who they wanted to be like. I have always known that I was a lesbian. I didn’t know the word for it nor did I tell anybody about it but I knew I liked women. When Royce asked me out the first time I declined. When my parents found out they were furious. After being threatened with being kicked out of my home and left destitute which my parents would have absolutely had done I agreed to go on a date with Royce. On that date I acted horribly in the hopes that he would be put off by my behavior and not ask me out again. It didn’t work at all. Eventually Royce proposed and my parents said yes.”Rosalie took a deep breath to prepare herself for the next part. She gave Bella a smile when her mate lifted Rosalie’s arm, wrapped it around Bella’s shoulders and the human snuggled into her side.

“Take your time.”Bella told her.

Taking strength from feeling her mate cuddled up to her Rosalie continued.”Royce put on the front of a perfect gentlemen when he was in front of other people. When he was in private he was crude, disgusting and extremely entitled. I dreaded marrying him. One night I was walking home from my friend Vera the ghost you talk to for me’s house when it had gotten late and the streets were deserted. I had thought I would be fine because I had walked the route home dozens of times. As I came around a corner I was met by the sight of a group of drunk men. I didn’t look at them and hurried my steps. The men began calling out to me. I ignored them so they ran after me. When I was surrounded I recognized Royce and his friends. I won’t give you the details but when they were done with me I prayed for death. Carlisle took my chance at peace away from me and turned me instead.”

“God I hate Carlisle. I am grateful he changed you but after something like that I wish he hadn’t. Rosalie I am sorry you have been living with that trauma all this time.”Bella wouldn’t wish Rosalie’s fate on anyone.

“I have been living with the trauma this whole time and have gotten no help to work through it. Carlisle acts like him changing me was the best thing that could have ever happen to me and now that I was part of his family it erased the event from happening. I have begged him to let me stay home and not go to school because I get trigged by human men. Especially ones who make sexual comments about me. Which I don’t mean to sound vain but those are the only comments men make about me.”Rosalie hated school and all the gross teenagers who attended it.

“You sound like you would be better off living away from humans.”Victoria said.

“I never wanted to live amongst humans. Many times have I asked Carlisle for the resources to go off on my own or join the Denali if they would let me. He has always said no that I was needed to fill my role in the family so we wouldn’t be exposed to humans.”Rosalie shook her head.”I am so embarrassed that we didn’t see the truth and Bella had to point out how insane our lives were.”

“I don’t think you should blame yourself. Carlisle is a master manipulator. He can convince almost everyone he interacts with that his point of view is the only one that matters. He started brainwashing you the moment you opened your eyes. You had no chance but to be anything other than what he wanted you to be.”Bella wasn’t fooled but she could see how others were.

“Does he have a gift?”Victoria asked.

“No he is just one of those people that have the talent of making people believe they are completely harmless. The way he holds himself, the tone and volume of his voice he uses when he speaks to you all play into the con. Even the way he dresses and styles his hair adds to the image of a wholesome man of god. I wish you guys could have heard Gerold. The man was priest and the language he was using when he was screaming at Carlisle I’m not even comfortable repeating. He was so pissed.”Bella shivered thinking of how the anger coming from the man felt.

“Is my body to cold?”Rosalie felt Bella shiver and worried her body was making Bella cold.

“No your body is just as warm as it always is. I was just thinking about how Gerold’s anger felt to me. Which is weird because I don’t usually feel the ghosts’ emotions.”Bella told her.

“You think my body is warm?”Rosalie knew she was cold. Humans had commented on it before.

“Of course you’re warm. Why wouldn’t you be?”Bella was confused as to why Rosalie was surprised.

Victoria laid her hand on Bella’s cheek.”Is my hand warm?”

“Yes it is. Why are you both being so weird?”Bella pulled away from Rosalie.

“We aren’t being weird Bella. The reason we are surprised is because a vampire is naturally ice cold. Meaning you shouldn’t be able to touch either of us for long periods of time without it being very uncomfortable.”Victoria explained.

“Every vampire I have touched was warm. Not just the ones I had bonds with either.”Bella didn’t know why that was however.

“Who can we ask about this?”Rosalie appreciated that Bella thought she felt warm because it meant she could touch Bella as long as she wanted without Bella becoming uncomfortable.

“I say we just tell Tanya and Irina. Those two will find an answer and we don’t have to waste our time on it.”Bella didn’t care why vampires felt warm to her.

“Bella you said that you usually don’t feel the ghosts’ emotions. What changed?”Victoria was concerned about how feeling the ghosts’ emotions would affect Bella.

“I don’t know. Usually when I speak to a ghost if they are emotional I’m not effected. Even when they are overcome with grief, crying hysterically, incredibly happy or pissed off. Today though when I talked to Edward’s mother I could feel her anger like it was my own. I felt the urge to throttle him every time he tried to deny something or make excuses for his actions. It was worse when I talked to Gerold. You weren’t there Vic but at one point I got so pissed I jumped out of my seat and screamed at Carlisle at the top of my lungs. If Tanya hadn’t wrapped her arms me and physically put me in Irina’s lap to be held I would have attacked him with my bare hands. Of that I have no doubt.”Bella was still planning to kill Carlisle in the future. That urge hadn’t gone away.

“I don’t like hearing that a ghost got you angry enough that you were going to attack a vampire using your bare hands.”Rosalie didn’t want Bella to do something they all would regret due to being overwhelmed with a ghost’s emotions.

“I don’t either.”Victoria agreed

“Well there isn’t much we can do about it except for trying to keep the ghosts calm. Which none of them have ever gotten that angry until Edward and Carlisle got involved so I don’t think it will be a problem if I just stay away from those two.”Bella would gladly never see them again.

“We will keep them away from you.”Rosalie didn’t care that Carlisle was her sire and coven leader. Her mate didn’t want to ever see him again and she was going to help make that happen.

Being away from Carlisle brought a thought to Bella.”Vic did you hear Tanya and Irina say I don’t have to go to school anymore?”

“I didn’t but that is good news.”Victoria had planned on talking to the mated couple about Bella’s schooling when she got the chance. Now it seemed that she wouldn’t have to.

“It’s extremely good news because they are going to focus on getting custody of me so we can move to Alaska as soon as possible.”Bella couldn’t wait to get out of Forks.

“What are you going to do Rosalie?”Victoria hadn’t heard anything about Rosalie’s plans for the future.

“Even though Carlisle will disapprove I’m not going back to school either. Other than that my plan is to go to Alaska with both of you.”Rosalie would follow her mate even if it meant leaving her coven.

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone this so both of you don’t mention it to anyone else please.”Bella felt Rosalie would benefit from knowing.

“I won’t say anything.”Victoria promised.

“You can trust me.”Rosalie was excited Bella was trusting her with her secrets.

“Gerold made me promise that I would hack into Carlisle’s bank accounts and investment funds and divide the money equally to every member of your coven. There is enough in there that once you received your share you would you would be set for a long time. At least that’s what Gerold said. I’ll find out when I actually do it. I’m just not supposed to tell anyone I’m going to do it or reveal I’m one who did it after it’s done. Gerold was very adamant about you guys needing the money to break away from Carlisle.”Bella smiled when Rosalie laughed.

“He is going to be beyond pissed when he finds out. He is extremely tight fisted when it comes to giving us money. We even have to justify why we need gas in our cars.”Rosalie took deep breaths to control her laughter.”Thank you for telling me that Bella. You made my day.”

“I’m glad I could help.”Bella told her.

“You can hack bank accounts?”Victoria didn’t know that.

“It’s one of the things I had to learn to help a ghost.”Bella wasn’t proud of having the knowledge.

“Do you think you could hack Laurent’s bank accounts? I don’t know how much is in there but I know he had at least one.”Victoria wouldn’t mind taking ownership of Laurent’s wealth.

“No problem. We can do it tomorrow.”Bella didn’t feel like breaking the law right then.

“So Victoria can I ask how you were turned?”Rosalie was interested in knowing Bella’s other mate.

“I think it’s only fair that you know but please don’t speak to anyone about it.”Victoria felt that Rosalie being bonded to Bella had a right to know.

“I won’t tell anyone. You being Bella’s other mate makes me just as loyal to you as I am to Bella.”Rosalie would keep Victoria’s secrets just as closely as she kept Bella’s.

“I had an older sister named Anne. We were very close and did everything together. She was a year older than me and took her role of big sister seriously. When I was 15 and Anne was 16 our parents sold us to a brothel. We spend two years there when one day Anne disappeared. I was devastated and thought she was dead. Imagine my surprise when three years later I found her in my room sitting in a chair looking very different than I remembered. After our tearful reunion she explained to me that a woman kidnapped her and took her to a large manor. There the woman explained that she was a vampire and offered Anne the chance to become one. Anne agreed on the condition that the woman Gilda would change me as well. Gilda said that she would change me but only after Anne gained control of herself because she didn’t want to try and control two newborns. As soon as Gilda gave her the ok Anne came back for me and Gilda changed me.”Victoria smiled thinking about how happy she was to find out her sister was alive.

“I didn’t realize you lived such a tough human life.”Rosalie’s trauma felt silly compared to Victoria being forced into a life of prostitution.

Bella easily picked up what Rosalie was thinking.”Your trauma is no less valid because Victoria went through that. Just like my trauma is not less valid than yours because it didn’t involve some kind of sexual act. It’s all equal because it affects each of us the same.”

“She is right Rosalie. What happened to you is just as tragic as the things I experienced in my life and just as tragic as the things Bella has been forced to do in her life. It isn’t a competition.”Victoria didn’t think less of Rosalie because Victoria herself went through something worse.

“If you think about it it kind of makes sense why I was bonded to each of you. You both went through extreme trauma and are dealing with the effects of it just like I am. Maybe I was put with you two because we are supposed to help each other. Like one of you wasn’t enough to handle my shit and I needed you both. That and you need me to help each of you.”Bella said.

“I don’t like that we aren’t bonded to each other though. It would be easier if we were.”Rosalie could see Bella needing two mates to help her deal with the ghosts.

“It really would be easier.”Victoria agreed.

“At least we found each other as soon as I was mature enough to have a romantic relationship. It was like it was predestine the way I found you both so close together.”Bella told them.

“It does seem that we were just waiting until you were ready for us to claim you.”Rosalie wished that she could properly claim Bella but it wasn’t the right time yet.

“So what should we expect to happen while we are waiting for Tanya and Irina to gain custody?”Victoria asked.

“Me personally I am going to live here until we leave for Alaska. I will even visit the Cullen’s house again. You two can stay here with me if you want. My plan for the immediate future is I’m going to finish up Ralph’s and Hank’s cases. After that I’m going to spend my time relaxing until a ghost makes me do something for them again.”Bella knew her mates wouldn’t want to be separated from her.

“I’m staying with you but I need to speak to Tanya about joining their coven. Then I need to tell Carlisle I’m leaving.”Rosalie wasn’t looking forward to that fight. She was going to ask the Denali to be there when she did it.

“He isn’t going to happy. I definitely don’t envy you.”Bella expected a big blow up to happen when Rosalie told Carlisle.

“I am also going to stay with you but I need to go shopping and buy some stuff.”Victoria needed a lot of things now that she was going to settle down.

“Carlisle was rude when he asked but I am genuinely concerned. Are you able to support yourself?”Rosalie wanted to know so that they could work something out to take care of Victoria.

“He was very rude and I don’t believe for a second he was asking to just help me. He had different motives than being helpful. To answer your question I am perfectly fine and will be able to take care of myself and Bella for centuries to come.”Victoria wasn’t offended because Rosalie was a part of her relationship with Bella.

“He totally was going to hold it over your head and use it as a way to make you indebted to him. I could see the glint in his eye when you dismantled Edward. That man wants you for your fighting skills. Especially now that Jasper left.”Bella said.

“I would never join a coven with him as leader or a member. I would go off of on own if his coven was my only other choice.”Victoria would never belong to a coven with Carlisle in it. She sure as hell would never take orders from him.

“Do you think Jasper is going to come back?”Rosalie hated that she wasn’t there to see the event leading to his leaving.

Remembering that Victoria didn’t know what happened Bella explained.”It was revealed this morning that Edward had been blackmailing male vampires forcing them to have a sexual relationship with him. Edward tried to deny it but the idiot kept pornographic photos featuring him with each man and in those photos it’s obvious the men were not willing. Jasper is Edward’s mate. While we were dealing with your situation he left.”

“I would have left to.”Victoria wouldn’t have stayed with Bella if she had done something like that.

“Me too but the bond punishes us if we are apart for too long. I wonder how long Jasper is going to stay away and how he plans on dealing with Edward in the future because I doubt that Jasper will ever forgive him. Jasper even though is quick to enable Edward when he is starting fights would never support Edward forcing men to have sexual relationships with him. Jasper does not approve of sexual assault. I think something happen to one of his human sisters because when Jasper found out what happened to me he got so angry he destroyed an acre of forest. After that he was quick to step in if Edward tried using the event as a basis for his insults.”Rosalie didn’t think Jasper would ever forgive Edward.

“I just don’t understand why he kept lying and trying to make excuses.”Bella turned to face Victoria.”I was talking to his mother and she was super vague so no one would find out what Edward did. All the idiot had to do is acknowledge that his mother was right and promise to be a better person. Instead he denied knowing the man who his mother named. It wasn’t until I threatened to call the man personally on the phone did Edward admit it was true. Then instead of taking responsibility for the act he made an excuse for why he did it that made himself look like he was the victim. That pissed his mother off more and then she had me reveal that he was blackmailing not just one man but many men. I pleaded with Edward to admit that he did it. He started denying it so his mother told me about the pictures. I warned Edward if he didn’t admit it he wouldn’t like what I had to say next but he didn’t listen so I was forced to expose his darkest secret.”

“He is an idiot. If he had just admitted he was wrong and that he was the one who purposely did the crime his mate wouldn’t have abandoned him. It’s his own fault.”Rosalie blamed Edward for Bella revealing his secrets. Bella gave him many chances to make it stop but he didn’t take it.

“Based on what I experienced I’m not surprised he thought he would come out on top in that situation. He seems like the type of person who truly believes that they are smarter than everyone in the room and they can turn any situation around to be in their favor.”Victoria met a lot of people like Edward hanging out in the places she did with James and Laurent.

“He is that person and then when he realizes that he won’t win an argument he physically attacks someone. Which is stupid because he gets his ass kicked every time.”Rosalie actually liked when Edward physically attacked someone because Carlisle couldn’t punish them for hurting Edward if the mind reader started it.

“Which one do you guys think is going to show up tomorrow to see me?”Bella knew one would she just didn’t know which one.

Victoria thought about it for a minute.”I think they will send Esme because your mothers aren’t here. Their thinking will be that you would be polite and welcome her into your home where she will spend hours charming you. Their hope being it will make you see her as your only mother.”

“I agree. It’s going to be Esme. You reacted badly to the other two and only ignored Esme or told her your mothers would take care of you. They will expect you to believe she is harmless and invite her in to spend time with you. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she brought you food.”Rosalie could see the three sending Esme over to try and convince Bella that the Cullens were better than the Denali.

“Well they would be wrong because I’m not letting that crazy woman in my home. I’m not even going to answer the door. I’m just going to leave her on the doorstep and ignore the fact that she is there.”Bella smiled when both Rosalie and Victoria laughed.

“I think that your mothers would love it if you did that.”Victoria was all for Bella ignoring Esme’s presence.

“When she comes we shouldn’t talk about it at all. She will be able to hear us so it will frustrate her more if we don’t verbally react either. Especially when she tries to get mine and Victoria’s attention.”Rosalie loved the idea Bella had to mess with Esme.

“It sound like we have a plan.”Bella couldn’t wait to find out how Esme was going to react. She put her hand over her mouth to cover a yawn.

Rosalie looked at the time on her phone.”It’s late you should go to sleep.”

“I am tired.”Bella was still catching up on her lack of sleep over the past week. Standing up she went to her dresser.”Vic you can use any of my clothes you want. I would recommend that both of you put pajamas on in case my dad comes home and checks in.”

“I didn’t bring pajamas.”Rosalie actually didn’t own any.

“You can borrow some of mine too.”Bella told her.

“Thank you Bella.”Rosalie was more than willing to wear her mate’s clothing. She would prefer Bella had worn it before her but her scent would still be on the clean clothes.

“I don’t have extra blankets and pillows so if you are both comfortable with it you can lay in bed with me while I sleep.”Bella offered.

“I would like that.”Victoria wouldn’t pass up the chance to be close to her mate.

“I’m sure we can all fit.”Rosalie breathed a sigh of relief that she was included in Bella’s sleeping plans. She had feared that because she deceived Bella on the trip that Bella wouldn’t let her lay with her while she was sleeping.

“I’ll just lay on top of one of you if I need to.”Bella said.

“I would enjoy that very much.”Victoria smirked seeing Bella’s red cheeks.

“Noted.”Bella grabbed her clothes and rushed to the bathroom. She hadn’t really given thought to what it meant to have two mates. Since Anne told her what mates were and that she had two all Bella was focused on was saving Victoria. Now she was faced with the fact that two very mature vampires were waiting for her to join both of them in bed. She had been comfortable making out with Rosalie and doing some light fondling but hadn’t even gotten to kiss Victoria yet. Bella didn’t want their first kiss to be in front anyone though. She wanted it to be a private moment between the two of them that they could look back on and cherish the memory. Bella got that with Rosalie and it was only fair to Victoria that she get the same. Not that any kissing would be happening any time soon. Bella was to exhausted. She predicted it would be only a few minutes after she settled that she would fall asleep. Hopefully she wouldn’t be woken up in the middle of the night by anyone. Bella made a mental note to have Rosalie check all the locks on the windows and doors. Bella wouldn’t put it past a vampire to try to break in.