Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, if I did, it would be Carlisle's story. Not Bella's.

Chapter One; Stepping out.

Esme POV;

"Esme Anne Platt! Come here this instant!" Mother's shrill voice pierced the air and a flinch rolled through my spine as I looked up in fear. Was something wrong? Did I do anything wrong?

Rushed thoughts of fear climbed through my mind as I stood up from my paints and canvases. My fingers curling against the softly worn cloth of my skirt, bumps of fear rose up on my skin. She only spoke that way when she was angry. A list of things I could have done wrong ran through my mind as I took hesitant steps toward Mother's room.

The door was already open; not a good sign.

Taking a peak around the corner, I flinched again. She was glaring at me.

Mother wore a long dress that had large greenish welts marking her shoulders, her long dark brown hair ran down her back in curls and her pale blue eyes were narrowed in complete and utter distaste. Her lips turned down into what seemed like a permanent scowl. The baby, Nicholas, was curled into her arm in a deep sleep. I wish I could be like that, just to not hear Mother's yelling. He was the lucky one; the boy of the family. Always treasured and spoiled like a little prince.

I couldn't help but love him though; he was my favorite right now. Such a sweet one.

Mother cleared her throat and my attention snapped back up to her, fear stiffening all of the bones in my body. Her gaze always affected me that way.

"Esme Anne Platt," She said in a low hiss that sent irrevocable shivers down my spine, "tell me why I called you here."

Her request made the blood flowing through my veins freeze in their tracks and I held fistfuls of my skirt. My shoulders braced to accept whatever beating came soon after.

"I don't know, Mother." I said softly, and then squeezing my eyes shut, waiting for her hand to come down onto me again. Though no such thing happened and I peeked out one eye to see her staring strictly at me, her jaw locked in place and a vein throbbing in her neck. As if she was resisting doing anything. Her lips pursed into a tight line.

"Esme," She hissed again before her voice became soft, "A suitor has come for your hand. The priest will marry you tomorrow."

Elation filled me and I couldn't help but smile; all of my older sisters, and a few younger ones, have already been married off, I was the only one left. All of them were off happily married with children, oh how I want children. I took a safety glance at Nicholas, bless his soul; he was still in that trance inducing sleep.

"Yes, mother." I said softly before feeling a sharp stinging sensation come over my cheek. My eyes widened and I held back the tears of pain that so badly wanted to fall. The look of complete insanity came back her to eyes and she glared at me.

"Leave!" She barked and I scampered out of the room and out of the house, cradling my cheek and letting the tears flow. It was my fault. She wasn't happy and it was because of me. It was because I looked like him that she hated me above all of my siblings. From what Twila told me, he was there during my birth and left a while after. That's when mother began to go insane. Well, that's what Twila told me. That's what her mother told Twila and she told me.

I hid behind the large oak tree that was growing several yards from our house, my cheek cradled to my palm. Heat radiated from my cheek into my palm, embarrassment flooded my cheeks all the more. Stupid Esme! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Having Mother angry wasn't the way to go when you had to stay. It wasn't the way to make her happy, like Emily told me to. Emily told me to always make mother happy since she was the one that made me. I owed that to her. She would be the one in my life for eternity and that was all there was to be needed. To let her have every wish she wants of me, that included being married even though I was already happy about that.

Marriage.

A happy sigh escaped me as I leaned back against the tree and stared up at the clouds. Unfortunately, there weren't that many floating around the sky. The pale blue painted the sky delicately, before a loud snap caught my attention.

I caught a glimpse of onyx orbs before they disappeared, the lightest splashes of crimson curling on the ground.

Blood.

I could already feel bile climbing up my throat and I quickly swallowed to notice tufts of brown fur decorating the ground around it. Before I could stop myself, I stood and wandered closer. It was blood and fur. An animal? Was there a hunt? Mother would have told me if there was a hunt so I wouldn't come close to the forest.

I swallowed again and looked deeper into the forest, my eyes narrowed in a squint. Then, I saw it. How could I not, the pale skin practically glowed in the darkness of the forest. A mop of copper hair rested on top of the figure. It looked like a man. A slow shiver descended down my spine as I looked at the man closer, risking a step forwards.

The man's head jerked up and began to look at me; it felt as though the wind was pushed out of me angrily. This was a hunt, but not a normal one. His pale white face was painted with crimson around his mouth, his teeth bared.

"Esme!" My mother's voice shouted and I came back to reality before taking a couple steps back and running back into the house. Cold shivers cascading down my shoulders and throughout my body as I ran. Stopping at the door briefly, I looked back at the forest, just to see if I could still see that man. He was no longer there, but the memory was pressed permanently into my mind. "Esme!"

I rushed inside and saw Mother standing next to a tall, brawny man with hair on his chin. His hazel eyes stared down at me in satisfaction and a deceiving smile pulled out on his lips. This must be the man. I quickly pushed myself into a deep curtsy, hoping that my entrance wasn't rude. Risking a glance up, I saw a look of approval on Mother's face.

"Esme, this is Charles Evenson, your fiancé."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." I said softly, coming out of the curtsy and he pulled my hand up from my side and brushed his lips over my knuckles, a warm sensation tickled my cheeks.

"As it is to meet you, m'lady." He said gruffly, the same alluring smile on his lips. I returned the smile with pleasure.

"Wonderful," Mother said with relish lining her voice, "So the marriage shall continue?"

Charles Evenson took only a glance at Mother before turning back to her, "Yes, it shall."

***

Each stroke that brushed the canvas expressed how I felt. Well, it wasn't really a canvas, those were too expensive, it was more like large, flat pieces of wood that I would find when I went into the city. When I found them, I would clean them in a nearby stream since Mother didn't like it when I used the clean water from the well. It cost a lot of money to keep the well on the property that she owned now that Father was dead; she was looking for a husband as well. The governor only gave her a certain amount of time to find a husband before the property was taken away from her.

Taking my thoughts away from that, I remembered the silken feeling of the wedding dress that I wore. It was beautiful and felt like water under my fingertips. Charles looked beautiful as well in formal clothing. The wedding wasn't big, it was quite small. My mother, a few sisters and Charles' family were the only ones who actually attended. He took me on that night and it hurt quite a bit, but I managed to hide the pain from him. His wide smiles made my day.

A soft sigh of relish escaped my lips as I remembered Charles' smile, it was so bright and filled with hope. Taking a glance around the room I was in, I felt like I was living in luxury. It was a mansion that was set atop a hill with a few trees. Beautiful cars parked near the house that would cost more than Mother's house, this was truly a wonderful marriage. I have everything I've ever wanted, why should that change? It brings joy to my soul that it won't. The only other thing that made me ecstatic about today was that I was turning 16, just making the one year anniversary of marriage with Charles.

Esme Anne Evenson.

A dizzying sensation came over me and I felt like dancing. Charles was everything that one would want, I could ask for no more.

Just as I spun around the room, a shiver traveled through the house as well as a loud 'bang' of a door slam. My body went rigid for a moment before I heard loud yelling. The language wasn't English, but it sounded Spanish. How did Charles know Spanish?

My mind swam in curiosity as I peeked out of my room and rushed down the stairs. The silken night robe I wore lingered near my ankles. Before I could even reach the foot of the stairs, the door slammed shut again, making me jump. Looking around cautiously, I walked off of the stairs before walking into the parlor. He sat there with a cigar hanging off of his lip. Anger darkened his cheeks and eyes. He didn't notice me at all.

"Charles?" I whispered and his eyes flickered up to me, the same anger pulsed through his body, "Is something wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing, Esme," He spat sardonically. I winced at the tone of his voice.

"Alright," I said softly before taking a couple steps towards the door before he called me again.

"Esme," He called out almost mockingly, "Where are you going?"

"Just into the front," I responded softly, my fingers tangling into my hair. He was silent for a moment.

"Alright," He said, waving it off before I saw a puff of smoke receding from the parlor. A shiver traveled down my spine, such a nasty habit of his.

As I stepped outside, the refreshing scents of grass and pine greeted me. It felt good to be outside again. Though during the day would be much nicer. Looking around, I made sure no one was watching. Then, I approached my favorite tree and put a good foothold onto it; I began to climb up it. My lips pursed as I made sure to grab the right branches and to equalize my balance on the branches. Pulling myself up, I sat on one of the highest branches. I could see the entire village from up here and it looks beautiful.

A sigh of appreciation played through my lips as I allowed the wind to blow through my hair, making me feel as though I was flying. I suddenly felt as though something was pulling me backwards and I realized my robe had snagged onto one of the branches. I began to pull on it, only for it to pull me down.

A loud scream escaped my lips as I landed on the ground, feet first only to tumble over. Severe pain was running up and down my right leg. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked up at the sky again.

No stars, just clouds.

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