Quick Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. PROPERTY OF STEPHANIE MEYER!
Sidenote for Story: AU where Edward never met Bella (I'm not really a fan of hers)
"This is ridiculous. Have you seen this?" Rosalie complained, whipping the newspaper at Carlisle with such force, the table shuddered as the depicate paper skimmed its lustrous surface.
"Another murder? What is the total body count? 26?" questioned Jasper.
"I think they're dubbing him the Forks Ripper," chimed in Edward.
"But doesn't this pattern fit with the instincts of a newborn?" asked Rosalie.
"Not necessarily,," said Carlisle, pondering. Esme eyes swirled with disturbance as she read over the headline.
Man Found Sucked Dry Near River.
"Alice, have you seen anything?" Carlisle asked.
"No, which is odd. I doubt they would be smart enough to evade my power."
"You're right, but these are such spontaneous, single kills. It's definitely not a typical trait of a newborn, much less an army, to only kill a single human." Esme flinched at his words. "This has to be the work of a full grown vampire."
"But why kill so many people? It doesn't make any sense," replied Rosalie.
"Maybe a newly changed adult? They always excise a bit of control," said Jasper. At that moment, Esme stood up and dashed outside. Jasper made a move to stand up and follow her, but Carlisle beat him to it, nodding in the assurance that everything was alright.
"Esme!" he called out.
"Please, Carlisle, I don't want to talk right now."
"Alright," he said, continuing his movements until he had his arms around her, "but I'm not leaving you alone."
"Why do you have to be stubborn?"
"Why won't you tell me the cause of your abrupt departure?" He leaned down to kiss the top of her midnight black hair.
"It's…nothing," she stuttered, falling into his embrace.
"Esme, you can trust me."
"I know, it's just…all of this talk about… murders when we all know it's another vampire. Carlisle, something feels off."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think it's a passerby. I think whoever this is intentionally chose this spot."
"And why would he or she do that?"
"I don't know," muttered Esme, slipping out of his embrace.
"Where are you going?"
"To see if I can catch a different scent."
"I'm coming with you then."
"You think I can't protect myself, Dr. Cullen?" she retorted, smirking.
"Oh, I know you can't," he joked. In a flash faster than light, Esme had his arm pinned behind his back.
Leaning her lips down to his ear, she whispered, "Still have doubts?" In another blurred moment, Carlisle had flipped her onto her back and gripped her hands above her head.
Giving her a quick kiss, he breathed, "Not at all, darling."
"Seriously, stop being childish. Let's see what we can find," she forced out, practically dying of laughter. Not that a vampire could.
"May I remind you who started this charade?"
"Come on, Carlisle!"
"Alright then," he said, standing up , and extending his hand for her to grasp.
He observed how tiny her hand felt in his own. It was like a delicate flower— a daisy in the palm of a giant. Gently, he squeezed her fingers though Esme never required him to be gentle. In fact, she was as strong as him, and maybe, even stronger though one would never guess that from her physical appearance. Her petite frame was not a force to be reckoned with or underestimated. One minute she could emit a tranquility that even Jasper would be jealous of, but if she caught wind of any harm coming to her family, her demeanor transitioned in a fierce flame that Satan himself would be frightened of.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, looking amused.
"You," he said, grinning back like a schoolboy who had fallen in love for the first time.
"Honestly…," she began, but her head snapped around at the sound of a stick snapping under pressure.
"Someone else is here," whispered Carlisle, "I don't recognize their scent,"
"Neither do I," said Esme, her blackening eyes refusing to leave the direction of the disturbance.
Straightening their posture in preparation for their run, they took off among the snow covered bark of Burch and red oak trees, which had an uncanny resemblance to blood coursing through veins. Esme shook this image from her mind as she quickened her pace. Ahead by at least 5 paces, she watched as Carlisle evaded the tree obstacles that seem to continually appear. Suddenly, a fatigue fell over her, and she collapsed to the ground.
Keep going, her mind begged, but she could hear his footfalls turn around.
"No, keep after, Carlisle."
"Absolutely not. What happened, Es? Are you alright?"
"Yes. I don't know what happened. Let's just keep after…" but he had already stooped to her level.
"When was the last time you hunted?"
"I'm not sure."
"Esme, your eyes tell me it's been a few weeks! What were you thinking?"
"I…Carlisle, I just haven't felt the need."
"What are you refusing to tell me?"
"It's not important. You should have kept going!"
He pushed her hair away from her slender face and placed a hand on either side of her head.
"If it caused my wife to starve herself for weeks, it's important!"
"Trust me, please. I promise to tell you when the time is right."
"I'll hold you to that," Carlisle grinned as he brought his lips to her forehead. "Believe me when I say I will always be around to protect you." Once more, he brought her into a warm embrace.
Resting her face on his shoulder and lowering her eyelids, she muttered to herself, "How long is always?"