»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── SIX ──are you one too? ─⋅☾

Eleanor, who was already cranky and in a foul mood about everything, noticed the signs of her mother's distant behaviour. A week after Eve's encounter with Carlisle, Eleanor couldn't help but perceive the change in her mom's demeanour.

"Mom," she asked, genuinely concerned, "is everything okay? You seem off lately."

"Just tired, that's all," Eve replied, a weary tone lacing her voice. But despite her casual dismissal, a hint of something deeper lingered beneath the surface of her words.

Eleanor initially assumed the fight she and Eve had was the reason for her mom's distant behaviour. However, even though they usually resolved their conflicts, it was clear that this time was different.

The fact that Eve had fallen ill suggested that something was heavily weighing on her mind, and knowing her mother's tendency to get sick when she was stressed, made it all the more apparent.

...

Eleanor left for school, having very little insight into why her mother seemed off all of a sudden. However, she would soon find an answer, albeit an unexpected one, when Edward, approached her.

They had a rocky relationship, marked by initial hostility, which evolved into a truce and even friendship before he distanced himself. When he approached her that day, Eleanor was on edge, tempted to punch him in the face, but before she could act, he was already speaking.

"Eleanor, listen, I need to talk to you," Edward requested, his voice laced with awkwardness.

The words hung heavy on the air, and Eleanor responded with a hint of sarcasm. "Oh, now you want to talk, Cullen?"

At Edward's insistence, the desperate glimmer in his eyes caught Eleanor's attention, and she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ugh, fine, what is it?"

Edward fidgeted nervously. "I...," he started, but Eleanor cut him off with a scoff.

"Seriously, Cullen? We have class in a few minutes. Spit it out already or miss your shot."

She rolled her eyes, but before she could walk off, Edward caught her wrist firmly. Looking up, she met his gaze once more.

Edward's hesitation was reflected in the grimace etched across his face as Alice's voice resounded in his thoughts. He cast a momentary glance over his shoulder, where Alice and Jasper stood near their vehicle.

Looking back at Eleanor, he steeled himself and spoke, "I need you to come with me."

She looked at him sceptically for a moment. "Where?" she asked.

Edward released his grip on her wrist, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking. "You deserve answers," he replied. "Your mom...she's not herself lately because..."

Eleanor's brows furrowed as she recalled past instances when Edward had casually read her thoughts. The chill touch on her wrist still lingering, she recalled his persistent habit.

"You're doing it again," she muttered, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Reading my thoughts."

"Yes, I am," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of guilt. He looked at her directly, his gaze fixed with a seriousness that demanded her attention.

Despite her constant theories, Eleanor never confronted Edward about reading her thoughts. She observed that he frequently picked up on her unspoken musings, no matter how much she tried to hide them.

To test him, she would intentionally think about inappropriate or provocative scenarios when he was nearby, fully aware that he would invariably be able to sense her thoughts. She intentionally did this to get a rise out of him, much to his dismay as he stumbled upon some of her more risqué imaginings.

One other thing, was her intelligence, Eleanor put together key clues about Edward and his family's true nature. The cold touch she felt from him, his ghostly pale skin, and his otherworldly eyes were all evidence that they were not human.

However, she was hesitant to label her theories, as she couldn't be certain of what they really were despite the clear signs. Even considering all of this, she still felt a sense of uncertainty, not quite able to categorize them properly.

The decision to reveal their hidden identity to Eleanor was motivated by their concern for Carlisle's state. Edward's ability to read Carlisle's thoughts had enabled him to understand the situation all too well.

Consequently, it was for his father figure and the man he deeply respected that Edward took the courageous step, despite knowing the potential risks involved.

Edward could acknowledge the unique bond he shared with Eleanor, even if it began in a rocky fashion. She was more than just his blood singer; their connection had evolved, and he found himself genuinely fond of her presence.

Edward had contemplated the possibility of having romantic feelings for Eleanor but quickly dismissed the idea, knowing it wasn't reciprocated. Having the ability to read her thoughts, he was well aware that she didn't see him in that kind of light either.

He was content with his bond with Eleanor as a mere friendship for now. It was a relationship that worked well for him, and he wasn't in any rush to complicate matters further by pursuing anything more than that.

Eleanor looked at Edward, her thoughts deliberately leaking out, mainly about Eve. This prompted her to let out a dramatic sigh once more and say, "Fine, Edward, even though you've been a bit dramatic, I still considered you a decent friend regardless of how brief our friendship has been." With a playful huff, she added, "Where are you taking me?"

Edward forced a smile, replying, "Somewhere secluded."

Eleanor made a face and dryly joked, "That sounds like something related to a murder plot."

She noticed his posture stiffen, making her snort, "It was a joke, Edward," she added, stifling a chuckle. She then tightened her grip on her bag and shot a cheeky grin at him.

"Besides, Charlie provided me with some self-defence equipment."

Edward glanced at Eleanor's bag, he was aware that all of the items inside would be ineffective against him, but he concealed this realization. He then signalled her to follow him, leading her towards the forest area near the school.

Eleanor trailed silently behind him, her footsteps quiet as she followed his lead.

They walked in silence until they reached a secluded clearing, secluded and away from the prying eyes of passersby. Edward came to a halt, turning to face Eleanor. He spoke softly, "We're here."

The young girl observed her surroundings before turning back to Edward. She asked with a question laced with curiosity, "We're in a forest. What is it that you need to show me?"

Edward responded by turning to her and speaking softly, "You know well that my family and I are not human."

Eleanor glanced in his direction, and confirmed her thoughts, saying, "Yes, I've acknowledged that many times in my mind."

With her arms crossed over her chest, she retorted, "Are you going to finally reveal what you really are, or shall we engage in a guessing game?"

Edward observed her closely, his expression taut. He questioned her, his tone puzzled, "Why are you so at ease with the reality that we aren't human?"

Eleanor paused, lowering her arms. Contemplating her response, she allowed him to hear her thoughts, her narrative painting a picture of a young child.

Lost and alone, Eleanor felt fear as she heard menacing laughter. In the darkness, she glimpsed a pair of red eyes that seemed to gaze upon her. However, the events that transpired afterwards eluded her memory, leaving only that fleeting moment intact.

"I was actually adopted by my late father," Eleanor began, delving into her background. "Before that, I was essentially an orphan. I spent my time on the streets, barely surviving. When I was eleven, I learned about the vast world that existed."

She paused, her expression turning grave as she bit her lip, recalling the unsettling memory.

Her voice lowered, tinged with a hint of trepidation, Eleanor revealed, "But that one experience, with those red eyes. It was terrifying... but someone with the same eye colour had intervened and saved me."

Edward listened intently, hanging on to her every word. As soon as the vampire connection was dropped, his demeanour grew more solemn. He swallowed, his voice hushed, confirming the truth she spoke of.

"Vampires."

Eleanor nodded, her gaze never wavering. "Yeah," she agreed, resolute. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him and asked boldly, "So, what are you?"

Edward paused, contemplating whether it was wise to reveal the truth about himself. However, as the weight of Eleanor's past trauma with the same kind as his began to sink in, his confidence wavered.

With a sense of hesitation, he responded, "I..." He began, struggling to find the right words to say.

"Are you one too?" Eleanor inquired, her observation catching his hesitation. He eventually confirmed it, nodding reluctantly.

"However, my family," he began, "We feed on animals, not humans. That's why we don't-"

"Have crimson eyes," Eleanor interjected, to which he nodded in agreement.

"Yes," he affirmed, "Our alternative source of sustenance involves animals."

Eleanor crossed her arms before taking in her theories, while she was somewhat nervous and scared, her thoughts were once again consumed with Eve," So, what does it have to do with my mom?"

Edward continued, "Since your mother isn't aware of our true nature, Carlisle had to turn down her offer to go out for dinner. He knew it would not end well."

"Ouch," Eleanor sighed, leaning her head back. "Great, now what?"

"There's more to it," Edward began again, prompting her to turn to him. "But before I explain, I think it's best if you talk to Alice. She will provide better insight into the situation."

Eleanor agreed, "Fine with me. I always wanted to talk to Alice , so it'd be nice to chat with her."

She then flashed a cheeky grin, saying, "How it feel that your sister is already my favourite? and you were my friend."

He flinched, "What will it take to become friends again?"

Eleanor hummed, then donned a mischievous smile, before mentioning what she wanted, prompting Edward to shake his head and express, "No, not helping with your homework."

She retorted, "Seriously, cut it out. You're cheating by reading my thoughts."

"I'll try to work on it," Edward said, "but you think out loud sometimes, it's kind of hard to resist."

Eleanor led the way back to school, but as she thought about skipping class, Edward chuckled and said, "You're not ditching school. You live with the Police Chief, that's a bad idea."

Eleanor huffed, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Boring."