Possessed by Twilight

The morning light filtered through my window, casting shadows on the wall. I stretched, feeling well-rested despite the events of the previous night.

"Good morning, sunshine," Maze's voice held its usual sarcasm. "Ready for another day of supernatural drama?"

I rolled out of bed, my mind replaying last night's conversation with Edward. Cold Ones. Mind reading. The careful dance of partial truths we'd shared.

"At least put on something decent," Maze commented as I rifled through my closet. "If we're playing with vampires now, we might as well look good doing it."

I selected dark jeans and a deep blue sweater, remembering how Edward's eyes had lingered when I wore this color before.

"Trying to impress pretty boy?" Maze teased. "Though I must admit, his reaction to that color is… interesting."

Charlie had already left for work, leaving the kitchen quiet. I poured myself a bowl of cereal, eating mechanically while lost in thought.

"You know he's out there, right?" Maze said suddenly. "Pretty boy's been sitting in his shiny car for the past ten minutes."

I nearly choked on my cereal. "What?"

"Vampire boy, silver Volvo, looking all broody and beautiful in your driveway," Maze elaborated. "My demon senses might not be at full capacity, but they're good enough to spot a 'vampire' playing chauffeur."

I moved to the window, and sure enough, Edward's Volvo sat in the driveway, its owner leaning casually against the driver's side door.

"Well, well," Maze purred. "Looks like someone's eager for round two of supernatural show and tell."

I grabbed my bag, checked my reflection one last time (earning an eye-roll from Maze), and headed outside.

Edward straightened as I approached, his crooked smile making my heart skip a beat.

"Your human hormones are showing," Maze commented dryly.

"Would you like a ride to school?" Edward asked, his voice smooth as velvet.

I studied him for a moment. He looked perfect, as always, but there was something different in his eyes today - a mix of curiosity, caution, and something else I couldn't quite name.

"He's trying to figure us out," Maze observed. "This should be fun."

"I would," I replied, matching his casual tone. "Thank you."

Edward opened the passenger door with an old-world flourish that made Maze snort in my head.

"The manners," she muttered. "At least he's well-trained."

I slid into the leather seat, the door closing behind me with a soft click.

The car's interior felt intimate, charged with unspoken questions. Edward started the engine, but made no move to drive.

"I'm tired of dancing around this," I said firmly. "Let's be direct."

Edward's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "Direct about what?"

"He knows exactly what," Maze muttered. "Pretty boy is playing coy."

"I hear that," Edward said softly, glancing momentarily toward the space beside me.

"Well, hello," Maze purred. "Mind-reading works on demons too."

"I still just catch fragments," Edward clarified. "Not always full thoughts."

"I went to First Beach this weekend," I said. "Met some Quileute kids."

His posture stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"Look at him tense up," Maze observed. "Hit a nerve, did we?"

"Jacob Black told me stories," I continued. "About the Cold Ones. About your family."

"Incoming," Maze sang in my head.

"And what do you think about these stories?" Edward asked carefully, a hint of caution in his voice.

I turned to face him fully. "I think you're a vampire. But I don't care."

"Direct approach. I taught her well," Maze commented.

Edward's laugh was sharp, almost harsh. "You don't care?"

"No," I said simply. "I share my head with a demon who's tortured souls in Hell. A vampire doesn't seem that shocking."

"Aww, you're making me blush," Maze quipped.

Edward's eyebrow raised, catching her comment. "Interesting companion you have," he murmured.

"It's not that simple," Edward said, finally pulling out of the driveway. "There are things you should know."

"So tell me," I challenged. "No more half-truths."

Edward was quiet for a moment. "We don't sleep in coffins," he said suddenly. "That's a myth. We don't sleep at all."

"That explains the nocturnal creeping," Maze commented.

"The sun doesn't burn us," he continued. "But it does… affect us. I could... show you sometime."

"And the blood?" I asked directly.

"My family, we're different," Edward explained. "We hunt animals. It helps control the urge to…" he trailed off.

"To snack on humans," Maze finished. "Very considerate of you."

"But mistakes happen," he added quietly.

"Is that why you disappeared?" I asked.

Edward nodded. "Went hunting with Emmett. I was… worried about leaving you."

"Worried about leaving her, or worried about getting too thirsty around her?" Maze mused.

"Being alone with you like this," Edward continued, "it's dangerous. Your scent… it's stronger to me than anyone else's."

"Oh great," Maze groaned. "Of all the vampires in all the world, you had to attract the one who finds you especially tasty."

"I think I can trust you enough," I said simply.

Edward's laugh was incredulous. "You shouldn't."

"I have Maze," I reminded him. "I'm not exactly defenseless, you know."

"Damn right you're not," Maze agreed. "Let's see him try something with a demon riding shotgun."

The school appeared ahead, other students already filling the parking lot.

"This conversation isn't over," Edward said, pulling into a spot.

"No," I agreed. "It has just begun."

A sleek red convertible pulled into the spot next to us, Edward's siblings emerging with their usual grace.

"The vampire Brady bunch arrives," Maze commented. "And they look like they're ready to commit murder."

Edward glanced at the space beside me. "Rosalie is particularly furious."

A tall, impossibly beautiful blonde vampire glared directly at our car.

"Ooh, she's got some serious attitude," Maze observed. "Looks like someone doesn't approve of the new human."

"She thinks you're a risk to our family's secret," Edward said quietly.

"Tell her I've kept secrets for millennia," Maze retorted. "I've tortured souls in Hell with less drama."

Edward's lips twitched. "I heard that."

Jessica approached, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh. My. God. You rode to school with Edward Cullen?"

"Human gossip protocol initiating," Maze commented. "Prepare for maximum teenage drama."

"It was a simple ride to school," I said neutrally.

Jessica leaned in, her eyes darting between us. "But are you two… you know… together?"

"We're getting to know each other," I said carefully.

"So that's like a date?" Jessica pressed.

"Maybe," I said, deliberately vague.

"Dropping minimal information," Maze chuckled. "I taught you well."

Edward caught Maze's comment, his eyes flickering with barely contained amusement.

"A maybe?" Jessica's eyes widened. "That doesn't sounds promising!"

"We'll see," I said, maintaining my mysterious tone.

"Playing hard to get," Maze approved. "Nicely done."

Edward's soft laugh suggested he'd heard her commentary again.

When lunch arrived, I scanned the cafeteria. Edward sat alone at a table, watching me intently.

"Look at him," Maze observed. "Vampire boy has claimed his territory."

I walked over and sat down. Edward's golden eyes were intense.

"We agreed on truth," I said, setting down my tray.

Edward nodded. "No more half-truths."

"I noticed you can hear Maze's comments quite clearly now, you sure seem to react more to them now" I observed.

"Caught red-handed," Maze chuckled.

"Not just fragments anymore," Edward confirmed. "Her thoughts are… getting clearer."

"Does this bother you?" I asked.

Edward's lips twitched. "Quite the opposite. It's fascinating."

"What about your siblings?" I pressed. "Can they hear her too?"

"Supernatural family eavesdropping?" Maze commented. "How quaint."

Edward said. "Not like I do. But they can hear us talking"

I studied him. "And that's okay?"

Edward leaned forward. "Are you asking if it's a problem?"

"I suppose I am," I replied.

"It's not a problem," Edward said firmly. "If you're not afraid of answering anything."

I met his gaze directly. "I'm not."

Edward leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in his golden eyes. "I want to understand how this works. How Mazikeen ended up sharing your consciousness."

"Storytime," Maze commented. "Buckle up, pretty boy."

I took a breath. "It was supposed to be a simple possession. A brief Earth vacation after centuries in Hell. But something went wrong when she tried and ended up taking over my ten-year-old body instead of another."

"Worst vacation planning ever, maybe." Maze interjected.

"Instead of completely possessing me," I continued, "she got… stuck. Partially merged."

Edward's head tilted, listening intently. "And you've been together since?"

"She's been my protector, my confident," I explained. "Taught me everything from less awkward to how to read people."

"Made her marginally less helpless," Maze added.

"Your turn," I challenged. "Something about being a vampire that isn't common knowledge."

Edward considered. "We remember everything. Every moment since we were turned. In perfect, excruciating detail."

"Sounds exhausting," Maze muttered. "I prefer selective memory."

"Does it hurt?" I asked. "Remembering everything?"

A shadow crossed Edward's face. "Sometimes."

"Supernatural trauma is universal," Maze observed. "Whether in Hell or… wherever vampires come from."

Edward caught her comment, his lips twitching with a hint of a smile.

"Tell me about your family," Maze said directly. "How does a coven of vampires decide to play house?"

"Carlisle found me first," Edward began. "He's a doctor. Compassionate. He transforms those near death, giving them a second chance."

"A vampire with a savior complex," Maze observed. "Interesting."

"Esme is his wife. She's the heart of our family. Loves us unconditionally."

"Rosalie and Emmett are… complicated," Edward continued. "She found him, saved him. They're together."

"Supernatural romance," Maze snorted. "How quaint."

"And Alice and Jasper?" I asked.

Edward's smile was subtle. "They found us later. Alice can see possible futures. Jasper can manipulate emotions."

"More supernatural abilities," Maze mused.

"Now," Edward said, his tone shifting, "tell me about the van. And the alley in Port Angeles. What exactly happened?"

"Amateur predators never stood a chance," Maze declared.

"In the van," I explained, "Maze took control. She moved faster than I could, protecting me from being crushed."

"And in the alley?" Edward asked, his attention focused.

"Those humans thought they could threaten a body with a demon inside," Maze scoffed. "Rookie mistake."

I described how Maze systematically disabled the attackers - breaking bones, crushing joints, inflicting precise, non-fatal damage.

"Impressive control," Edward observed. "Precise. Calculated."

"In Hell, we have entire departments dedicated to lesson-teaching," Maze said dryly.

The intense supernatural discussion began to ebb, falling into a more natural rhythm.

"Tell me more about yourself," Edward said. "What do you like? Your favorite things?"

I considered the question. "I love reading. Classical literature, mostly. Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters."

"Romantic human literature," Maze scoffed. "As if love is ever that simple."

"Favorite color?" Edward asked.

"Brown," I said. "Like autumn leaves. Or… like your eyes before they change."

"Smooth," Maze approved.

Edward turned slightly. "And what about Mazikeen? What does a demon from Hell enjoy?"

"Torture. Blades. Controlled violence," Maze declared. Then, more thoughtfully, "Battles. Strategies."

"Where were you before? Phoenix?" he continued.

"Yes," I said. "Warm. Sunny."

"A stark contrast to my hellish home, but entertaining" Maze quipped.

"What does a demon consider entertainment?" Edward asked, genuinely curious.

"Cosmic-level chess with souls," Maze explained. "Not your human board games."

"Don't mind her, Edward," I said with a smile "She doesn't have a social filter."

Edward's response was quiet, contemplative. "Interesting how even in darkness, there's a form of… order. Strategy."

"Are you judging me, pretty boy?" Maze challenged.

"Not judging," Edward said softly. "Wondering about the complex nature of existence. Good. Evil. The spaces between."

"Philosophy from a vampire," Maze scoffed. "How unexpected."

"God's design is more complicated than humans understand," Edward murmured, a hint of his early 20th-century religious upbringing emerging. "Even for beings like yourself."

"A vampire lecturing a demon about divine design?" Maze's mental laughter rang out. "Now I've heard everything."

"Tell me more about living there, if you could call it that." Edward said, his tone a mix of curiosity and caution.

"I tormented evil, Lucifer wasn't just a boss," Maze explained. "He was my purpose. In Hell, I was his most trusted lieutenant. Chief torturer, personal bodyguard, the one who carried out his most difficult tasks."

Edward's religious background surfaced. "The Devil's most trusted servant?"

"Not what you're thinking, pretty boy," Maze retorted. "Lucifer isn't evil. He punishes evil. He makes people face their deepest sins. I was his instrument of justice."

"Justice through torture?" Edward asked carefully.

"Precise punishment," Maze corrected. "In Hell, we don't just punish. We make criminals confront exactly why they deserve their fate. Lucifer makes them see their true selves."

"And you enjoyed this?" Edward pressed.

"I was created for this purpose," Maze said. "Demons like me don't have the human concept of 'enjoyment'. We have purpose. For me, that was serving Lucifer, protecting the cosmic balance."

Edward's lips twitched. "Surprisingly philosophical for a torturer."

"We contain multitudes, vampire boy," Maze quipped. "Even demons evolve."

"I would like to hear more if you let me," Edward said, his eyes locking onto mine "but bell's about to ring, and we really should get to class"

"Let's go," I said, smiling "We still have biology and maybe after school we can talk more?"

"Sure" Edward said with a smile.

As we walked to Biology, Edward's hand brushed mine, sending an electric current through my skin.

"Your heart rate just spiked," Maze observed in my mind, her tone both teasing and protective. "Remember what we talked about, little human - don't let any one, make you lose your focus."

I smiled, appreciating her concern. The weight of her celestial blades, hidden beneath my clothes, gave me a familiar comfort. Edward noticed my expression.

"What amuses you?" he asked, catching my smile.

"Just thinking," I replied, keeping my response vague.

"Vampire boy is very observant," Maze commented.

Edward's lips curved upward. "I heard that. And yes, I try to be."

"You can hear her more clearly now?" I asked, curious.

"More than before," Edward confirmed. "Though still not as clear as human thoughts. It's like… hearing someone speak through water."

"Probably because I'm not exactly from this plane of existence," Maze mused.

"That's… an interesting theory," Edward responded to Maze's thought, then turned to me. "Your mind, however, remains completely silent to me, Bella. It's both frustrating and fascinating."

"Good," Maze approved. "The little human needs some privacy from nosy vampires. Besides, you wouldn't want to know half the things I've heard from her."

I rolled my eyes, hoping the blush spreading across my cheeks wasn't too obvious. "She thinks she's hilarious," I muttered. "Trust me, she's not."

Edward's expression shifted to one of admiration mixed with curiosity. "I'm beginning to see that. You're unlike anyone I've ever met, Bella Swan."

"Wait till you see what else we can do," Maze commented cryptically, making Edward's eyebrows raise slightly at the implied threat in her thoughts.

The rest of the school day passed without incident, though I caught several curious glances from Edward's siblings - ranging from Alice's friendly smiles to Rosalie's icy glares.

"The blonde one really needs to work on her poker face," Maze commented as we walked to Edward's car after school.

True to his word, Edward drove me home, and to my surprise, accepted my casual invitation to stay. We settled in the living room, homework spread across the coffee table as a pretense, though our conversation drifted far from Biology and Trigonometry.

"You two are worse than teenagers in a romantic comedy," Maze observed as Edward explained the intricacies of his family's lifestyle. "Though I suppose technically, he is a perpetual teenager."

The afternoon slipped away, and when the clock approached five, Edward tensed slightly. "Charlie will be home soon."

I nodded, rising to head to the kitchen. "I should start dinner. He'll be hungry after work."

"Don't forget to thaw the fish from his last trip," Maze reminded me. "The man catches enough to feed an army."

I pulled out the wrapped fish from the freezer, grateful for Maze's perfect memory of my household routines. Edward watched from the doorway as I prepared a simple but hearty meal, his presence both thrilling and comforting.

"I should go," he said finally, his voice reluctant. "Your father's thoughts are getting closer."

"Supernatural radar comes in handy," Maze quipped.

After Edward left, I finished preparing Charlie's favorite fish recipe, my mind replaying the day's revelations. As I served dinner and listened to Charlie's fishing stories, I couldn't help but marvel at how ordinary this moment felt - sitting here eating dinner with my father, while a demon shared my thoughts and a vampire's scent still lingered in our living room.

Later, as I climbed into bed, Maze's voice was unusually gentle in my mind.

"You know this changes everything, right, little human?"

"I know," I whispered into the darkness.

"Get some sleep," she said. "Something tells me tomorrow will bring even more drama."

I drifted off to sleep, my dreams filled with golden eyes and the comforting presence of my eternal protector.