THE CULLEN’S RESIDENCE

After Alice’s and Jasper’s hunting trip two nights prior, The Cullens had been on high alert.

Carlisle had missed a day at work.

Esme didn’t attend her garden party.

Emmet and Rosalie had to forego hunting until they were certain it was safe.

“We can always move and come back a couple of decades later,” Esme proposed.

They were assembled for another rare family meeting – this would make it the second one without Edward.

“What is your assessment, Jasper?” Carlisle questioned.

Jasper sunk into his thoughts, analyzed and re-analyzed the events that played out that night. He wasn’t able to see much since he and Alice had arrived after the car had crashed, but he could make educated guesses.

The tire marks on the road.

Where Xavier was standing.

Did Xavier look tired?

All of these clues and more added to a fairly sufficient combat assessment in Jasper’s eyes.

“Strong…” Jasper opened his mouth. “About as strong as we are, maybe even stronger. I would say a little weaker than Emmet.”

“What? No way!” Emmet chuckled, more out of amusement than concern. “Xavier is so skinny.”

“And?” Esme urged.

“Fast…” Jasper concluded once more. “Fast enough to catch up to a car traveling at nearly 90mph.”

“That makes him slower than us at least,” Rosalie was relieved -she clutched the family crest on her bracelet.

It was a common thing for her to do when she got nervous about a design… this time, she was nervous for another reason entirely – something that didn’t happen often.

“No…” Carlisle corrected. “That just means he was fast enough to catch up with the car – there is no conclusive evidence to say that he couldn’t go faster.”

“As fast as Edward?” Emmet voiced.

“I doubt it,” Jasper replied, but quickly corrected himself. “Still, I didn’t survive to today by doubting my opponents.”

“Is that what he is – an opponent?” Rosalie inquired, seeming more relaxed than her family.

“Rosalie?” Esme was surprised. “What changed?”

“I got to understand him better,” Rosalie admitted and started her psycho-analyzation with the degree she obtained a few years prior. “He is protective of humans, but also feels they are unworthy of his protection, which makes him more ruthless to them. He’s a very social creature so I doubt whatever he is lives very long – immortals tend to get tired of human ties.”

“Not necessarily,” Alice hummed and twirled. “He could just have been integrating for a couple of decades.”

“Possible, but…” Rosalie sunk deeper into her thoughts, analyzing all she knew and heard about Xavier Ikaris Aionios. “Xavier strikes me as conservative – not likely to act without two clear reasons.”

“And those reasons are?” Emmet frowned.

“One – he is sure that he can win,” Rosalie stated, raising a finger. “And two – a girl he likes is in trouble or one of the few males he considers friends.”

“So, very human-like behavior,” Carlisle concluded. “As protective of his people as we are of each other? This way, I can understand why he harmed those children.”

“Disgusting is what they were,” Rosalie scoffed. “I already know three girls from school who suited their tastes.”

“Still…” Emmet chimed in. “A danger is a danger because they have the power to enforce their will, and Xavier does have the strength to dish out his very own brand of justice.”

“Does it involve us?” Rosalie questioned. “Like really concern us?”

“It will in the long run if we remain at Forks,” Alice replied. “The questions may start with him, but pretty soon, it will change to what else is out there?”

Jasper slowly nodded.

“But we will be fine for the time being,” Alice squinted her eyes, searching into far possibilities until she glimpsed something particularly interesting. “And you will really like your discussions together Carlisle. I think he has some of the answers you’re looking for.”

“Then, I look forward to that conversation,” Carlisle whispered.

With that, a few more things were discussed, and Rosalie and Emmet were given the go-ahead to hunt as soon as night fell, but they were restricted to a dozen miles from the residence.

The meeting ended.

۞۞۞

When Xavier parked his car in the garage, he noticed the hummer was already there – the windows were blocked by the suitcases Angela had brought along.

On cue, Angela made herself known.

“Why am I just finding out you have a super large arcade room?” She inquired.

“You’re the mistress of the house now,” Xavier explained, opening the back of the hummer to retrieve three suitcases. “Doors will not just open up for you,” he added.

Stolen novel; please report.

“I already like it here,” She admitted, reaching into the back of the hummer to retrieve the lightest remaining bag.

Xavier made three trips to put all of Angela’s things inside his room, and she started to unpack almost immediately. Thankfully, for both of them, there wasn’t much of Xavier in Xavier’s room.

No pictures on the wall…

No closet full of clothing…

There was ample space for Angela to store everything she had brought, and everything she would buy, and still have remaining space.

“Where’s Jessie?” Xavier inquired as he packed.

“She ordered fast food to celebrate me moving in, but she didn’t have money to pay for delivery so she settled for pickup,” Angela explained. “I can’t believe Jessie is living here with us,” She added.

“Why is that so hard to believe?” Xavier inquired, neatly folding Angela’s bras into a drawer.

“Well – you do call this place your Sanctum Centurium, you know?” Angela frowned. “I would never think that you’d let anyone inside – even me. Honestly, I think I am here because we share too many secrets already.”

“Right you are, madam,” Xavier joked.

The Eternal stopped his unpacking, extending a hand toward Angela, and spun the girl as soon as she accepted his gesture.

A short dance ensued – a music-less dance.

“We need music…” Angela groaned.

“Music…” Xavier ordered, twitching his fingers.

Sure enough, a soft, loving melody echoed throughout the house – Xavier drew Angela closer, situated her arms on his shoulders, and they started to dance in earnest.

His guidance was all she needed.

It was a mirror of their relationship – her absolute trust in him, and his promise to never lead her stray.

“Hold me close and hold me fast 🎵🎶

The magic spell you cast 🎵🎶

This is la vie en rose 🎵🎶”

It was an old-timey song rhythm.

For some inexplicable reason, as they danced, Angela felt as if she was on the Titanic – sinking with the ship into eternal darkness at the bottom of the ocean.

Still, she danced.

There was only her and Xavier in their sinking ship, and somehow, she knew everything would be okay.

Xavier spun Angela…

“When you kiss me, heave sighs 🎵🎶

And though I close my eyes 🎵🎶

I see la vie en rose 🎵🎶”

Angela flowed as each dance position reflected perfectly what happened at a different point in her and Xavier’s relationship.

Sometimes, he would push her away, but their fingers would remain touching, and she would feel gravity throw her back into his arms.

Xavier hadn’t even made the effort to reach her.

“When you press me to your heart 🎵🎶

I’m in a world apart 🎵🎶

A world where roses bloom 🎵🎶”

At another point, the movement repeated but instead of remaining touching, Angela pulled away completely – as if trying to escape their entanglement, but…

Once again, gravity pulled her back.

“And when you speak, angels sing from above 🎵🎶

Everyday words seems to turn 🎵🎶

Into love songs 🎵🎶”

Angela spun but shifted her weight and took control of the movement, forcing Xavier to come to her for once. This time, she had made her own gravitational force – though much weaker than Xavier’s.

They drifted all over the room.

“Give your heart and soul to me 🎵🎶

And life will always be 🎵🎶

La vie en rose 🎵🎶”

They circled each other like waiting predators as the music came to an end… then, Xavier pounced, dipping Angela low enough for her head to remain inches from the floor.

It amazed her just how precise he could be.

Then, they simply swayed to the rhythm of the music – indulging in a moment that would be cemented into their memories forevermore.

…

Angela was exhausted when the song finally came to an end. “You have to show me how to do that,” She requested.

“The slick dance moves, or the music?” Xavier replied.

“Both…”

“Then, it’s time for your first real secret,” Xavier’s voice turned mysterious toward the end of the statement.

Angela bristled with suppressed excitement as Xavier took her hand and led her out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and again farther down until darkness was before them.

“Are you sure we are going the right way?” She inquired, noticing they had been walking in one direction for a couple of minutes. “I mean… are we going in circles or something? I know your house isn’t this big.”

“Depends…” came Xavier’s suppressed reply.

Finally, light blossomed at the end of the dark corridor and Angela’s eyes were met with an empty room – almost empty, if not for a singular white pole at the center.

“Your fingers here, and your forehead there,” Xavier pointed.

Angela could barely recognize the small grooves in the pole, and though she thought Xavier was playing a joke at her expense, her instincts told her to just listen and do as she was told.

As soon as her forehead and fingers were in the appropriate grooves, Angela felt a pinch on her forehead and the burning of her fingers.

“Your first test,” Xavier voiced. “You have to bear it.”

Angela stood and gritted her teeth, enduring the pain of her fingers burning and her forehead throbbing for five minutes. Then, the pain suddenly lessened and disappeared entirely.

“What was that?” Angela was angry.

“Implants…” Xavier explained. “Usually done surgically, but… I thought you could ensure it and you did. Though, that will probably remain there…” He twirled his fingers, projecting Angela’s face on the wall.

Angela almost flew into outrage at the permanent red dot on her forehead, until she realized that it was particularly well-placed, appearing more of a fashion statement than anything else.

“I know… it’s cool, right?” Xavier bragged.

“What’s so cool about thi—” Angela paused, wiggled her fingers and she suddenly understood. “Oh… you’re right, it’s cool,” She admitted.

Angela felt as if certain finger movements were obstructed by water flowing in the opposite direction, and depending on the resistance, she could determine what the sensations were meant to mimic.

“What is this?”

“If you combine it with intentions like this…” Xavier guided Angela, gesturing to the red dot on her forehead, turning to the projected image, and twirling his finger – the dot disappeared.

“The cerebral implant reads the subtle electric signals from your brain, and when combined with specific finger motions,” He demonstrated again, this time performing a wiping motion – removing Angela’s head from the rest of her body.

“Please stop…” Angela exclaimed. “I would like to keep my head, even if it’s just a projection. Feels a bit too foreboding…”

Xavier proceeded to show Angela more of the ins and outs of the thought-motion technology – his parents had taken to calling it Kinematics Technology.

With a couple of minutes of demonstrations, Angela had mastered the technology on its most basic levels.

------------

Xavier and Angela departed the room, and it was only on making their way out that Angela realized why she had never discovered the room before – it was a layer deeper than the basement.

The packing resumed.

The three suitcases were emptied.

“I have a gift – a welcome home presented,” Xavier announced.

Angela gave The Eternal a critical look, knowing he was about to do something stupid.

“What is it?” She was suspicious.

Xavier spun and smoothly withdrew something from his pockets, kneeling as he presented the object to Angela.

She took the object from Xavier with an incredulous expression painted on her face. “Sanitary pads?” Angela questioned.

“Whisper Custom Ultra Clean Sanitary Pads,” Xavier explained. “I got the full package – one for daytime and nighttime, and I got it custom. Perfect for your size which is 27—”

Angela stuffed the package into Xavier’s mouth before he could continue – she knew he knew a lot about her female issues, but she never imagined he paid this much attention to her.

“You say anything about my period, pads, makeup, or anything else ever again,” She threatened. “I will kill you in your sleep… understood?”

Xavier nodded.

“I asked if you understand?” She repeated.

“Yes, mam…”

“But…” Angela paused and quickly pecked Xavier on the cheek. “Thanks for getting me these – I really needed them. I totally forgot after my mom gave me the talk.”

Xavier smiled.

“I think I am owed a reward,” He pushed for more.

“A small one,” Angela agreed, linking her arms around his neck.

Xavier scooped his girlfriend into his arm, and exited the room, heading for the bathroom.

It was a blissful and bubbly night for them both.