A/N: Because my girl Esme needs some love. Don't forget to follow, favourite, and review. Hope you enjoy x
Chapter One
They never found the body.
All the police found was a splattering of dark blood that stained the sidewalk like a macabre piece of modern art.
Julian had raged, screaming and sobbing after an old friend on the force told him they had no way of knowing what happened, alive or dead. Officially, his sister was a missing persons case. But, either way, he was certain that someone had paid off the higher ranks, including a very shady Police Captain.
That caught his attention. Who was from one of the richest family's in Rochester? A family whose morals and business practices had always edged on the shady side of decency. The King family. More specifically? His sister's former fiancé.
Julian had never felt right around the man, the smarmy charm practically oozed from his pores. And the fact that he barely seemed to mourn after Rosalie's disappearance? It was suspicious to say the least. Three nights after she vanished, Julian was in attendance at a charity function, dragged there by his parents who seemed to be doing a marvelous job at pretending they'd only ever had a son.
Whilst drowning his sorrows at the open bar, Julian had glimpsed out of the corner of his eye a scene that made his stomach drop and his fists clench. Royce, flirting with a young deb, who sat half in his lap and half draped across his torso. It hadn't taken much for Julian to acquaint his fists with Royce's nose and jaw, but seeing the dark bruising and the crimson blood dripping down his face had satisfied a carnal urge in Julian's soul.
He spent a few nights in the police cells, but by God it had been worth it. It was almost a twist of fate that he'd been there, as it provided him with a solid alibi when the news came the Royce and his circle of cronies had been brutally murdered. Julian couldn't find it in himself to feel sorry for them.
And soon enough, the town of Rochester began to forget about the strange and unfortunate disappearance of young Rosalie Hale. Whereas all Julian felt was anger, red hot and furious, that pulsed and burned through his veins. The people he'd known his entire life, including his parents, seemed perfectly happy to allow Rosalie to fade into a long forgotten memory.
He moved out of the hell hole as soon as humanely possible, never to return, and chose to make his new home in Albany.
It was there that he met his wife, Candice, a beautiful young woman who knew just what he was going through, her own brother having gone missing and suspected dead. She had run away from home in her grief, hitchhiking and working her way from Tennessee to New York state. They were married within a year and soon after Candice give birth to their baby, a girl they lovingly named Rosa Emily Hale.
He joined the APD, determined that he would not fail a family like the law enforcement in Rochester failed him, where he showed his superiors a clear talent in observation, reading people, and solving complex cases. His strength and commitment to his work proved him popular with the higher ups, and allowed him the chance to work bigger, harder cases that normally would be given to far more experienced officers.
"Detective Hale," Candice had hugged him proudly as Rosa clung to his leg. "Very dashing, darlin'."
She pressed a lingering kiss against his lips, only pulling away when their daughter began to grumble and tug on Julian's trouser. He grinned and swooped down to pick her up, Rosa giggling as he lifted her into the air.
Julian was happy, for the first time in years he felt like he had something to live for. There was a lightness in his chest and a weight off his shoulders, his heart full of love for his sweet little family.
He should've known it wouldn't last.
There was nothing in the world that could prepare you for the death of a child. It was wrong, pure and simple. No parent wanted to live past their child, but when they haven't even reached their tenth birthday, it's sickening.
The loss of his baby girl almost pushed him off the edge, only the knowledge that he still had his strong, loving wife by his side saved him from falling.
But merely a year later Candice fell ill with the same sickness that claimed their little girl, and Julian felt his hope, his faith begin to wane each day as Candice's health worsened, until one day he could no longer bring himself to pray to a God who had abandoned his family so.
Julian stayed by her bedside day and night. He gripped her frail hand and pressed his lips to the soft tanned skin. Candice lightly cupped his jaw, her thumb stroking his tear stained and stubbled cheek.
"I- I can't do this without you." Julian choked out. "Please, please, don't leave me." He pressed his cheek to her stomach, holding himself tight to her delicate body, as his sobs wracked his body and the damp of his tears wet the blanket that covered her.
"Oh my darlin'." Candice's ocean blue eyes fell in sadness. She weakly ran her shaking fingers through his curly blond locks. "M'sorry..."
"No, baby," He turned his head into her hand, kissing the palm, his usually strong, deep voice shook. "Don't ever be sorry. I- I'm just being selfish."
Candice was fading by the hour and he knew that she didn't have long left. He carefully moved her, slipping into the bed behind her and wrapped himself around her. She sighed with a soft smile on her lips, and leaned back into Julian's embrace. She felt so small, so helpless in his arms, and he had to choke back his cries of anguish.
"Julian? I'm tired..." Candice breathed out, turning her head weakly to press a gentle kiss on his temple. "I think it's time..."
Julian took a sharp, painful intake of breath, and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Say hello to our baby for me." Julian breathed in her scent, her familiar perfume that smelt of bergamot and honeysuckle, and fought the urge to cry again.
"Rosa..." Candice murmured, a smile brightening her gaunt face. She hummed in happiness, "My baby..."
"Tell her that my two best girls better look after each other. That daddy loves her." His chin rested on her shoulder and he pressed his cheek against her own.
"Of course..." Candice smiled softly, her blue eyes locked into his own. Panic gripped his chest when he saw them begin to waver and close.
"I love you, Candy, I love you so much." He said, his voice shaking as the heartbreak flooded his body.
"Mm, m'love you, darl..." Her voice slurred and her eyelids fell shut softly, a gentle smile gracing her beautiful face.
The moment Julian felt her last breath leave her body, a harsh sob broke from his throat and he clutched her lifeless body tightly. He weeped, pressing wet kisses in the crook of her neck, and rocked her gently in his arms.
After Candice's death, he threw himself into work, reworking cold cases and burying himself in new ones, anything to keep his mind busy.
It was almost one year later, when, on a straightforward call out, he ending up chasing a suspicious suspect who would accidentally be the catalyst of his new life.
He followed the perp down a dimly lit alley, only to find himself in a dead end, no man in sight.
Julian spun around, his coat whipping around his thighs as he desperately searched for the suspect. He cursed in anger that he had so easily lost the trail and turned, only to find himself face to face with the man. Up close, Julian could see the man's unnatural features; blood red eyes and skin that seemed bleached of all colour.
"What the fuck!" He stumbled back in shock, moving to grab his gun, when the man grinned with a predatory snarl. The man shot forward in a blur of speed, knocking the gun from Julian's hand, before, in an awfully strange turn of events, he knocked him to the floor and latched his sharp teeth onto Julian's jugular.
It burned, by God did it burn. He wondered if this was the Lord's punishment for his loss of faith, for turning his back on the church. The excruciating pain seemed to go on for an absolute age. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he could see.
The man seemed to startle at hearing a noise behind him, prompting him to release Julian and flee without looking back.
Julian was sure he was dying, but with that thought came a surprising peace, a calmness that seemed to banish the fierce flames that coursed through his body. He would get to see his baby girl again, see Candice again. An image of another blonde haired Hale girl flickered in his mind, causing another numbing treatment of the burning pain. Rosalie. He could his beloved, long lost sister once more.
Julian was ready to die, ready to meet his family again, but it seemed the world wasn't quite finished with him. He shuddered in both surprise and horror when his body jerked, and he awoke to see two shocking red eyes peering down at him.
They introduced themselves as Peter and Charlotte Whitlock.