Ghost of Ourselves (Twilight X Reader)

°Half Truths°

A statement that mingles truth and falsehood with deliberate intent to deceive.

"These cinnamon rolls are incredible, Esme," I say, taking another bite. The kitchen feels both cozy and intense, with seven vampires arranged around Bella and me like beautiful statues.

"Thank you, dear. It's Carlisle's mother's recipe, actually. From 1647." Esme's smile is warm as summer. "Though we've modernized it a bit."

"Speaking of history," Emmett leans forward, grinning, "when exactly did you figure us out? Because I had money on you noticing way before Edward's weird staring clued Bella in."

"Emmett!" Edward protests, while Bella nearly chokes on her cookie.

"What? I'm curious! Most humans are hilariously oblivious, but this one?" He gestures at me. "She watches everything."

"It was gradual," I say, carefully selecting my next words. "Little things added up. The way you move-too graceful, too controlled. How you never eat but always have food on your trays. The way you all go still sometimes, like you forget to pretend to breathe."

Jasper raises an eyebrow. "You're unusually observant."

"Or we're getting sloppy," Rosalie mutters, but there's no real bite to it.

"And none of this bothered you?" Carlisle asks, genuine curiosity in his voice. "Most humans have an instinctive adverse reaction to our kind, even before conscious realization."

I shrug, taking another bite to buy time. "I figured if you were going to eat me, you'd have done it by now."

Emmett's laugh booms through the kitchen. "I like her! Can we keep her?"

"We're not collecting humans, dear," Esme chides gently.

"But seriously," Edward persists, clearly frustrated by his inability to read my thoughts, "weren't you afraid? Aren't you afraid now, sitting in a house full of vampires?"

"Edward," Bella sighs, "not everyone panics about supernatural revelations."

"No, it's a fair question," I say. "And honestly? I was more intrigued than scared. You've chosen to live differently than your nature dictates. That's... fascinating."

Alice perks up suddenly. "Different than our nature... you know about the others, don't you? The ones with red eyes?"

The room goes still-that unnatural vampire stillness that they usually try to hide. I focus very deliberately on my cinnamon roll.

"The Quileute stories," I say carefully, "they mentioned that your family was different. That you chose animals instead of humans. Which implies others make... different choices."

"Have you seen any?" Jasper asks softly, his gold eyes intent on my face. "Others of our kind?"

I think of Laurent, of poetry in clearings and cold embraces. "Would it matter if I had?"

"Yes," several voices say at once.

"There have been disappearances," Carlisle explains gently. "In the surrounding areas. If you've encountered any nomads..."

"They're dangerous," Edward cuts in. "More dangerous than us. They don't have our control, our commitment to preserving human life."

"Some would say all vampires are dangerous," I point out.

"True," Jasper agrees, his Southern accent more pronounced. "But there are degrees of danger, darlin'. And some of our kind view humans as nothing more than prey."

"Like James and Victoria," Bella mutters, almost too quiet to hear.

I try very hard to keep my expression neutral at those names, remembering Laurent's warnings.

"The point is," Alice interjects, dancing over to perch beside me, "we're concerned. Your future is already blurry with all your wolf associations, and if you're meeting other vampires..."

"I can take care of myself," I say, perhaps too defensively.

"Sure you can, kid," Emmett grins. "Right up until you can't. Then you're lunch."

"Emmett!" Esme scolds, but he just shrugs.

"What? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. She's got the wolves wrapped around her finger, she's not scared of us, and now we find out she might be chatting up red-eyes? That's a recipe for disaster."

"I never said I was talking to red-eyes," I point out, arching an eyebrow at Emmett. "You all jumped to that conclusion pretty quickly."

"Defensive deflection," Jasper observes with a slight smile. "Interesting emotional cocktail you're giving off there, darlin'."

"And what about the wolves?" Edward presses, still frustrated by his inability to read my thoughts. "How did you know what the Quileutes were?"

I take another bite of cinnamon roll, chewing thoughtfully. "Well, let's see... I discover vampires are real, then hear ancient tribal stories about spirit warriors who transform into wolves to protect their people from the 'cold ones.' Doesn't take a genius to connect those dots."

Emmett's booming laugh fills the kitchen. "Oh man, she's got you there, Edward! What, did you expect her to think the wolf part was metaphorical after meeting actual vampires?"

"It's not funny, Emmett," Edward grumbles. "The wolves are dangerous-"

"Says the vampire," I interject dryly.

This sends Emmett into another fit of laughter. "I officially love her. Rose, can we adopt this one? She's hilarious!"

Rosalie rolls her perfect eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. "We've already established we're not collecting humans, bear."

"The wolves are unstable," Edward tries again. "Young ones can't control their transformations. One moment of anger-"

"Unlike vampires, who have perfect control?" I challenge, thinking of Laurent's careful distance that first day. "Everyone keeps warning me about everyone else. The wolves warn me about vampires, you warn me about the wolves, and meanwhile, I'm sitting here having breakfast with both species like it's completely normal."

"She's got a point," Bella pipes up, grinning. "We're hardly in a position to judge dangerous supernatural associations."

Alice giggles, her bell-like laugh mixing with Emmett's deeper chuckles. Even Carlisle looks amused, though he tries to hide it.

"I had a feeling you'd fit right in," Emmett says, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes. "Anyone who can sass Edward while eating vampire-made breakfast is automatically family."

"I'm not sassing," I protest. "I'm just pointing out the absurdity of supernatural creatures warning me about other supernatural creatures."

"While wearing a wolf-protection bracelet in a house full of vampires," Jasper adds with a knowing smirk.

I touch the bracelet unconsciously. "It was a gift."

"From one of the puppies, no doubt," Rosalie says, but her tone holds more amusement than disdain.

"You know what's really funny?" Emmett grins. "Somewhere on the reservation, there's probably a wolf having an aneurysm because he can smell vampire all over his favorite human."

I think of Laurent's reaction to the wolf scent and have to bite back a laugh. If they only knew.