* * *
It was later that afternoon when we had settled into a relaxing routine at the Cullen home when the newspaper article caught my eye.
It was the title that drew me in. The word “blood” sent an involuntary rush of saliva into my mouth. I’d just hunted, though, so it wasn’t really much of a response. I read the article, the feeling that this was important information pressing heavily. What did it mean?
Blood of 1918 flu survivors still protects against long-gone killer. Antibodies vaccine keeps all mice alive in study.
By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press, Deseret News, Aug. 18, 2008, p. A2.
WASHINGTON—Nearly a century after history’s most lethal flu faded away, survivors’ bloodstreams still carry super-potent protection against the 1918 virus, demonstrating the remarkable durability of the human immune system.
Scientists tested the blood of 32 people ages 92 to 102 who were exposed to the 1918 pandemic flu…
I paused in reading the article, remembering that this flu had been the reason for Edward’s creation. He had almost died, and his mother had begged Carlisle to save him in the way only he could—as if she knew the kind of saving Carlisle could provide. Life without Edward was an unbearable thought, and I breathed out a silent Thank You once more. I’d been thinking a lot about Edward’s mother lately, as if she could hear me.
I continued reading.
and found antibodies that still roam the body looking to strangle the old flu strain. Researchers manipulated those antibodies into a vaccine and found that it kept alive all the mice they had injected with the killer flu, according to a study published online Sunday in the journal Nature.
There’s no pressing need for a 1918 flu vaccine because the virus has long since mutated out of its deadly form and is extremely unlikely to be a threat anymore, experts said. What’s more important in this research, they said, is that it confirms theories that our immune system has a steel-trap memory.
“It’s incredible. The Lord has blessed us with antibodies our whole lifetime,” said study co-author Dr. Eric Alt-schuler at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”
I snorted at that line. I was a living testament to that! Vampires were the strongest beings I knew, and they all survived the worst pain anyone could possibly imagine to get there.
This is the longest that specific disease-fighting cells have lasted in people, said study lead author Dr. James Crowe, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
But these antibodies don’t just survive; they have mutated tremendously and now bind tighter to disease cells than other antibodies. That makes them more potent, he said.
I paused a moment, reflecting on that statement. A feeling of vast importance was attached to it, but I couldn’t puzzle out what it meant for me.
Crowe said he hopes to use similar techniques to boost potencies of vaccines that would be more useful now against newer bird flu strains that could become epidemics.
I stretched absentmindedly, a human action that I didn’t need. My ability to appear human had increased with age.
My mind puzzled over the article. I couldn’t see what it would mean for me. Blood had caught my eye, of course, and the flu epidemic that had created my Edward, but I had a strong impression that this article was meant for me.
I had read THE GREAT INFLUENZA: The Epic of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry, so I understood a little of what the flu had done to the world, but I had a distinct feeling that the words I just read had more to do with me as a vampire than me as a human. I puzzled for a moment, then Nessie and Jacob ran through the door. Nessie fairly sparkled with excitement.
“Oh, Momma, that was so much fun!” She moved over to give me a hug and kiss my cheek, then moved to Edward to give him a similar greeting.
Jacob and Nessie dropped on the couch. Jacob was grinning from ear to ear.
“So… tell me about your day.” I encouraged.
Edward had turned to face them from the piano bench, his eyes narrowing as he read their thoughts. He sat tense and quiet. I could tell I wouldn’t be getting any information from him.
Instantly, Nessie was very interested in an invisible pattern on her faded jeans. My eyes narrowed. I was suspicious things hadn’t happened quite the way they’d promised they would, but I, too, remained silent, waiting for Nessie to open up.
“Well, Seth came with us and Quil and Claire.”
I interrupted then, my voice rising in disbelief. “Quil let Claire dive off the cliff?”
Nessie looked up in alarm. “Of course not, Momma. They just played on the beach.”
I relaxed. That made sense.
Nessie looked down again, tracing the invisible pattern around her knee. “We walked up to the lower cliff and dived a few times.” She looked up, her eyes sparkling. It was hard to remember that I thought she was hiding something. “I loved it.”
“I’ll bet.” I smiled back. Even though I had been a human then, I remembered well the thrill I had while I was in the air. The scary part was when I hit the water. Nessie was strong and an excellent swimmer, so I was sure the waves didn’t pull at her the same way they’d pulled at me.
She chewed the inside of her cheek a moment, a tremulous look crossing her face. “I know I promised we’d stay on the lower cliff, but…”
I hissed a low, angry growl, but I held my tongue. No wonder Jacob was looking like the cat that ate the canary.
Nessie hurried through the rest of her sentence, as if I hadn’t made a sound, “I really wanted to try it from the top cliff.” She jumped up and hugged me, pleading, “Please don’t be mad, Momma. I was fine, and Jacob watched out for me just like he promised he would.”
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t stay mad at her, either. I glanced at Edward, sending him a sheepish grin. He grinned back, our anger at the cliff stunt already forgotten. I couldn’t even be mad at Jacob. He’d always give Nessie what she wanted. He wasn’t physically capable of doing anything else.
Suddenly, I remembered two very usable motorcycles still sitting in Billy’s garage. I looked at Jacob through narrowed eyes. My voice was firm, “We need to talk.” I stood up and walked into the front yard with Jacob trailing behind me. From the tone of my voice, Nessie knew better than to follow us.
Jacob almost looked embarrassed—almost. “Umm, yeah?”
I glared at him. “Jacob, I know we used to have all kinds of fun…”
He smiled his old, familiar smile. “Yeah, we did.”
“As a mom, I am begging you to keep the motorcycles out of the conversation.”
His look of feigned innocence worried me.
“Jacob. I am telling you. I don’t want my daughter on those bikes.”
“Sure. Sure.” I expected that, somehow.
“We both know you won’t be able to say ‘no’ to her. The only way to keep her off them is to keep them out of your conversation and out of view.”
Jacob kicked absently at a clump of grass, not meeting my gaze.
I sighed, and I softened my voice, pleading with him, “Please, Jacob. I won’t be able to sleep at night...” Suddenly, we were both laughing. The idea of a vampire sleeping. How absurd. Surely that same phrase had passed through my mom’s lips. I was turning into my parents without even trying.
“OK, Bells. I’ll work on the out of sight thing.” He sighed. “But you know, if she comes up with the idea on her own…”
I rolled my eyes. “Can’t you just say ‘no’ even once?”
He grinned at me then shook his long mane. He had let his hair grow out. Nessie liked it that way as much as I had.
“Fine. Just keep them out of sight, then.” I stomped back into the house, feeling like I’d lost the fight before the battle began.
I looked at Edward, who had started to softly play my lullaby. I knew he was trying to calm me. I was feeling my d
aughter’s childhood slip away, and I was depressed. It was such an odd sensation. I certainly didn’t expect it.
I sat quietly on the couch and listened to my lullaby while Jacob and Nessie sat on the floor and started a game of UNO. My feelings were so intense that I couldn’t move. When Edward finished my lullaby and played a bridge into Nessie’s, I finally stirred.
I pulled my phone out. I hadn’t checked my phone messages for a couple of days—not that I ever had many. The only one that called regularly was Renée, and I wasn’t expecting her call until Sunday. To my surprise, “Message Received” was scrolling across my screen. I pressed the “listen to voice messages” key and waited for the phone to dial. J. Jenks sounded clearly. His voice carried to everyone in the room. If I’d been in a room full of humans, it wouldn’t have even registered. “Your items are ready. Please call for an appointment.” I shut the phone, and raised my eyes to three inquisitive pairs.
I grimaced. “I’m guessing you’re wanting an explanation.” I paused and looked at Nessie. “The papers to get you enrolled in school are done.”
Nessie’s eyes took on a worried look. She wailed, “Do I really have to go?”
Edward answered her, “Yes. We don’t want you missing too many normal experiences. Your growth has slowed enough to let you fit in with the humans.”
I smiled and tried to be reassuring, “You’ll enjoy it, honey, and it will be easy for you.”
She frowned, “What will be easy?”
I stumbled on the words, not quite knowing how to explain, or even sure now if it was going to be easy. I’d been alive a lot longer than four years when I entered high school. “Well, your education will be easy. You already know everything, and you can remember anything you don’t already know…”
Jacob took over, “and you get along with everyone, so that will be easy, too.”
Edward and I exchanged a worried glance. She actually hadn’t been around too many humans. Maybe she wouldn’t know how to relate. My parents and the Quileutes hardly counted.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number for J. Jenks. He answered on the first ring. “Hi. Bella.” He must’ve programmed in my number.
“Hi, J. I was wondering when I could pick up my papers?” At his quick intake of breath, I wondered if I’d committed some sort of faux pas. Maybe I should’ve let Jasper handle this, after all.
“If it would work for you, I’m free at eleven thirty tomorrow morning.”
“That will be fine.”
He named a hotel near The Needle I was familiar with. It would be an easy drive. “Thanks, J. I’ll be there.”
Edward looked intense. “I haven’t ever met J. How would you like a companion tomorrow?”
I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully. I couldn’t think why it could be a problem, and I hadn’t gone on a drive with Edward for a while. I relaxed. “I’d like that.”
Edward smiled. He looked like he’d been a little uncertain of my answer. Perhaps our little tiff over Nessie that morning had bothered him more than he’d let on. I moved over to sit next to him on the piano bench, and he took up playing Nessie’s lullaby where he’d left off. I usually enjoyed watching Edward play. That night I was still preoccupied with my worry over Nessie.
Esme had been working on dinner while we were having our discussion over the day. She peeked out of the kitchen at us and invited Jacob and Nessie to dinner.
We were all trying to encourage Nessie to eat human food. It would make her life a lot easier if she could blend in with everyone else. My experience in high school with the Cullens was that people couldn’t help noticing the daily habit of throwing out trays full of uneaten food. It would be much better if Nessie could eat with the other students.
She had been doing well, but Esme’s cooking and the school cafeteria were two different things.
She hadn’t hunted since early in July. I hoped she would remain on her human food diet. Maybe the cafeteria food wouldn’t seem so bad if she wasn’t comparing it to blood. I stifled a sigh.
Jacob left shortly after the late dinner. He’d promised Billy he’d watch a game with him, and he was spending almost every night there.
I was sure Billy was overjoyed at having his son back. I wondered idly if Jacob had bothered to tell Billy that he was going back to high school. He’d be attending Forks and not La Push. We all knew he wouldn’t really want to be away from Nessie, and they wouldn’t have let him back in the high school at La Push. He was officially too old, and everyone there knew it. He wasn’t known in Forks.
With the vampires in the area, most of the Quileute boys had turned into werewolves. They looked very similar. It wouldn’t be hard to convince the school officials that Jacob was ready for his junior year. We just had to get his paperwork fudged a little—hence the reason for J’s help.
Nessie slept until her normal eight. Jacob must not have had another outing planned…unless he planned to do something while we were in Seattle.
Edward and I left just before ten. Edward couldn’t stand driving slowly—even during the day—so he cut our time close. Since we didn’t have the Volvo any more, it was either my Ferrari or Edward’s Vanquish. We only drove the Guardian when Nessie was with us. The Vanquish was dreamy, and my red Ferrari was way too flashy for daytime driving. I liked taking it at night, but bright red during the day. Ugh. I was glad Edward chose the Vanquish.
We reached the restaurant before the eleven thirty appointment. The maitre d’ showed us to a private room. It looked more like a small banquet hall than the private suite I’d been shown to the last time I did business with J, but we were the sole occupants, and the size didn’t really bother me. I wondered at his choice. Maybe Jasper had said something during his last visit with J that steered him away from a more intimate room. At any rate, I was grateful. A smaller room would’ve been a little awkward with both of us there.
As we were waiting, I remembered the time I’d picked up the papers from J just before our battle with the Volturi. I’d been holding my hand close to the flames of the flickering fire to warm it up before J came in. I thought it might make my hand a little warmer for him. At the time, I’d suddenly had the morbid thought of sticking my hand in the fire. I wondered again if my hand caught on fire would my whole body follow? I looked at Edward and blurted out, “How flammable are vampires?”
He looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I know that vampires have to be burned up to be killed. Cutting them into pieces isn’t enough. The pieces can reattach as if nothing ever happened. Does it work the other way? Does the vampire have to be in pieces to be killed by fire?”
Edward’s brow furrowed in thought. “The killing of Irina was very fast. I don’t think they did more than detach her head before she was set on fire. Our skin isn’t flammable. It’s like rock, but every vampire I’ve ever seen die has burned very quickly. I imagine that our insides must be like tinder, but I’m not sure.” He looked at me like he was trying to will my shield away. “Why are you asking?”
“I’m just curious, that’s all.” I lied glibly. I was wondering about fighting the Volturi, and I was trying to think of any weakness they might have. My shield had been a defense. Nothing more. How can we mount a good offense against them?
J’s entrance distracted me from my disturbing thoughts. He stopped short at the sight of Edward. He hadn’t been expecting another visitor.
His pale face grew even paler, and he swallowed convulsively. Edward politely reached out his hand and J shook it weakly, dropping his hand quickly, as if Edward’s cold touch burned him. Edward introduced himself. “I’m Edward Cullen, Bella’s husband.” He paused, listening to J’s thoughts. “I just wanted to thank you for all the outstanding work you’ve done for us over the years.”
I was afraid J would faint. I’d never seen him quite this sickly shade. I smiled at him, hoping his heart rate would slow down. I really didn’t want the poor man expiring on the ornately decorated carpet.
<
br /> “D-don’t mention it.” J stuttered, then recovered himself. He sat heavily at one of the tables and took out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat dripping down his face. His balding head glistened in the light, and I could see a vessel pumping wildly at his temple.
He pulled out a large manila envelope and opened it for me. He knew I’d been a little reluctant to look over the papers last time. This was a subtle reminder for me to look everything over. I pulled out the papers and glanced at them. I didn’t really know what to look for, so I handed them to Edward. He quickly scanned the paperwork, nodding in approval. “Quality work, as usual.”
I pulled out the money, clipped in $5,000 increments so I could count it out quickly. I knew J wouldn’t count the money—at least not in front of me. He never did, so I counted out for him. Edward didn’t seem bothered by the enormous sum. Faking papers was a normal way of life for the Cullens. It was still new to me.
J didn’t even bother inviting us to dine with him. It would’ve been a wasted effort. We all knew it. We left quickly, and J seemed relieved to be showing us out the door. His color was almost back to normal as we said our good-bye’s.
“I’m looking forward to serving your needs in the future.” J was courteous, as always.
Edward nodded then opened the door for me. I was happy to be out of the room. It had seemed stuffy. J’s discomfort had filled the room with his warm, human scent. Scared humans seemed to exude waves of wet delicious scent. He’d been more fearful with Edward in the room. It had been uncomfortable for all of us. Maybe I’d just come alone next time. He didn’t seem as scared of me.
I let out a long sigh as I settled into the Vanquish. “I’m glad that’s over.”
Edward was just starting the Vanquish. It purred. “Me, too. He does quality work, though, and we’ve never had any problems with the papers he’s produced. Hopefully Charlie will never need to look at Jacob’s new driver’s license. It says he’s quite a bit younger.”
I laughed. “Somehow, I don’t think the Police Chief of Forks would take kindly to Jacob driving around with a faked license. I have a feeling he’s never seen one faked up younger. I would imagine most faked licenses are designed to make the owner seem older.”
Edward patted my hand idly. “Unless Jacob starts speeding in Forks, I don’t think there will be a need for Charlie to look at his license. If he ever pulled over Jacob, he’d probably let him go.” Edward smirked. I laughed. Since Charlie had seen Jacob phase into a horse-sized wolf, I was sure he was right.