17 Days.

Everything can happen in so little time.

17 Days can be everything.

Even to a vampire, where time is nothing.

-Prologue-

I stood on the ledge of a stone building, the building was ancient and the stone was raw from years of abuse from the weather. My body pressed back against the wall, the fear of falling did not exist. I could easily survive a two story fall. My golden eyes glanced up at the dark sky, them back to the ledge. I quickly stepped to the side once, then twice, and finally a third time. My foot hit the ledge of the balcony.

I stepped over the ledge and twisted my body to land silently on the balcony floor, crouching. The scent of another vampire hung in the air like a beacon calling for my attention. I stood up straight, golden brown eyes scaling the side of the building. I slowly made my way to the door of the balcony; hand grasping the smooth metal doorknob.

It twisted under my hand, causing my hand to pull away as the door swung open.

"Edward…" I heard myself whisper.

He looked up at me from under his hair, his red eyes burning. He didn't smile, he didn't frown. He just stood in front of me, expression empty and dull. He wasn't wearing a shirt, pants dirty and worn out.

"Carlisle."

My hand dropped to my side, my brain rushing to try and piece this boy to the one I had known once before, but my mind just could not connect this. It was too much; it made ME want to vomit.

"Edward, son, please come home," I said quietly, unable to look at him. It hurt too much. I wanted to cry for him, I wanted to hold him and tell him everything was going to be okay. But I couldn't make it better, I never could.

Even if this was my fault.

His red eyes shot from me to the mood, the reflection in his eyes burning brightly. I could see every detail of the full mood in those frightening crimson circles. He was silent, weight shifting to his other side; a habit we all picked up for blending. His eyes darted back to me, catching my eye which made me wince.

His eyes were so empty.

"Bite me, Carlisle."