Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the plot!
Summary: Edward Cullen has just gotten over his father Carlisle's death. But little does he know, his father leaves him a parting gift. Can Edward overcome his father's secret curse? And will his newly found curse stop him from finding love? Alternate universe. Normal pairings. All human
Chapter 1: Transcendent
Ok, I normally don't tell people about my personal life, but this is just getting ridiculous. I have been through hell and back, and I'm not even there to enjoy the fun parts! No pictures, no souvenirs, no ticket stubs. The hours of yoga and Claire de Lune tunings hardly do the justice to my stress levels anymore.
You probably look at me and think I am just a pretty boy huh? Well, you'd probably be right. And yet wrong, yes I said it, wrong. Behind this soft yet chiseled man body, perfectly feathered bronze head of hair that cannot be tamed and eyes so deliciously honey colored that you could just pop into your mouth…
(Yes go ahead and take a few seconds to fantasize, I will wait… No really, I don't mind, go ahead)
…lies a man, forget it, I mean a boy, an emotionally scarred little boy *tear*, who is about to break if I can't get my sanity back, my life back! *sniffies*
But oh shit, no, I mean oh crap, please, pardon my French.
*ahem*
Let's rewind shall we? Onto intros!
My name is Edward Cullen and I am a freak with a curse, some call it a gift, I call it a curse, I hate it, HATE IT!! But Bella doesn't think so.
Ahh, Bella, my McCutiepie with cheese…
Who is that you say? Haha! Too many questions, now let's get on with my story…
It all started the day after my father died…
Red and black roses filled the large ceremony room in my family's church we used to go to, and I say 'used to' for a reason, but we will get to that story another time. No one could really justify the cause for my father's death, the doctors just plainly said he left, that there was a part of him that didn't wanna be in this world. He stayed in his hospital bed for what seemed like weeks fighting his inner demons. I was actually there when he spoke his last words, or should I say word, "Couse". And to this day I still thought he said "house" but meh, I'll never know.
"Your father would have loved to see this Edward" a woman said to me, knocking me out of my daydream, "Carlisle was a great man, and an even better doctor" she ended with a soft wink. I shivered/gag to think of my father as 'the doctor who makes old ladies wink'.
"Thank you, that's very kind" I replied taking a swig of my Mr. Pepper in an attempt shake the thought of old winking ladies out of my mind, but, attempt failed. I strolled through the ceremony room glancing at the spot where my father's casket used to sit, of course he had already been buried a few hours before, and this was his wake.
I stopped at a window that allowed my reflection to bounce back at me. Straightening out the sleeves of my Armani suit, I ran my hands through my hair. They stopped at the tiny flower pinned to my jacket, "I really miss him" I thought. And being the younger of my two brothers wasn't easy either, sure I got pampered like a prince, but that also led me to think of myself more than to think that someone could really have my heart one day.
There was one girl though, Tanja? Tammy? Tanya? Tamara? No, it musta been Tina, who cares though, I gave her the cold shoulder a long time ago.
I have two brothers, Jasper, who's next in line on the Cullen men's totem poll, was always the odd one of the three of us. So quiet and reserved as I watched him from across the room earlier sharing a quiet, tender moment with his wife Alice, a short, cute, pixie of a woman. At times they could the most romantically sweet couple that it would make me wanna hurl my Cullen berries, and the look Alice would have in her eyes told truth to the saying 'be careful with the quiet ones, they'll surprise you' and then some.
And of course, the rather large, buff looking gentleman striding towards me like a running back from the NFL, whose reflection I could see through the window, was my oldest brother Emmett.
"Why the long face there little bro?" he asked picking me up. I greeted his massive bear hug with a polite shove to the face. "Is it just me, or are there a lot of dad's hott doctor associates here man?" he chuckled patting my shoulder, a thrust like Thor's hammer with every pat, I swear I lost 3 inches there.
*chills* back to old ladies again…
The absence of Emmett's diva of a wife made me peer around his massive body.
"Rosalie not around?" I asked. Emmett normally couldn't keep his hands off of her, she was a beautiful woman that's for sure, but next to Emmett it was a miracle she didn't need a wheel chair when you'd think of what he'd do when they would make boom-boom.
"Priorities man, priorities. I can't scope out cute girls with the miss's around" he said with a devilish grin, "I told her there was a blemish on her face, she's on a vanity call to go and find it".
That wasn't a joke, and neither was Rosalie's need to look good 24/7
I knew Emmett wasn't the type to cheat, that's not his style, nor is it for any of us under our father's guidance. Emmett was just a wild horndog at heart, 'at the zoo', so it was look but don't touch.
I proceeded ahead and walked over the table overflowing with various foods the catering service provided; maybe a snack would calm my father's absence. Across the table was salmon and other various sea foods, Steaks and other bovine delights bathing in their own sauces, and of course a mountain of cheeses with names most people would never know existed. My eyes settled on an inviting plate of fruits, I readied my fork to stab a piece of pineapple with my name on it, I knew within seconds my mouth would be in delight from this succulent piece of yellow gold.
But something out of the corner of my eye took it before I could. A fork followed by a soft, dainty hand shot through the piece, my piece! I held my fork inverted like a dagger to take on this culprit who stole my piece, yet from what my eyes saw, this angel in front of me would and could steal anything from me, even my heart.
She was utterly and absolutely stunning, a festive and pleasurable roller coaster ride for the eyes. I knew if she was eye candy, my eyes would have cavities by now. I felt my mouth moving, but I hardly knew if there were words coming out.
I'd like to say that I smoothly told her "My name is Edward Cullen, and it is a pleasure to meet you" like I was Greeco Suave, but the only legible words to escape my mouth were "I…Edward for you". Not my best opening lines, way to blow it Neanderthal.
But I was immediately snapped out of my pre pubescent like fantasy when I heard a light shriek ringing in my ears. It was my fork, and it had indeed stabbed something alright, flesh not fruit. Great, the girl of my dreams was shouting at me for skewering her in my conquest for fruit.
"What the hell is your problem?" she shouted, retracting her hand.
She spoke to me! It was enough to hear this goddess' voice even if she was shouting expletives. The tiny pixie angels in heaven lifted me up to keep me from collapsing. Her curse words became cure words, and I couldn't help but think how cute she looked when she was angry.
"I am so sorry!" I replied grabbing a napkin filled with some ice. "Please, let me help you, that looks pretty nasty". She allowed me to cover her hand with the ice, while I was able to take a better look at her. She was a perfect ten in my eyes, long brown hair touched with a few shades of red, a face as if sculpted by angels, and an amazing body that was visible thanks to the black slim fit dress she wore.
"So um…Edward was it?" she asked, I nodded with a caring grin on my face. "I'm Isabella Swan, but you can call me Bella". She extended her hand towards me, the hand I luckily didn't maul with my fork.
She was very kind to have allowed me to still be standing next to her. "Yes, its Edward Cullen" I said taking her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Bella". My heart told me to kiss her hand, my body begged me to pounce her, but my father would have told me to get the nice young lady something to drink.
I reached for the ladle in one of the punch bowls to serve Bella a drink.
"I am sorry for your loss, I know your father was a good man, he's been our family doctor for years."
I nodded at her kind words knowing this angel just nudged me closer and closer to falling for her. She was about to say something else when Emmett raced past me.
"We are needed in the main hall Edward, dad had a video made before he past, so let's go" he enforced.
I agreed nodding my head, but not before pouring Bella a glass and excusing myself. I was sad to leave her, but I knew I'd see her again. Walking towards the hall Emmett flashed a glance to me.
"She's cute! You didn't give her punch in the left bowl did you?"
"Yes, what's the matter? Its just punch right?" Emmett's laughter was notorious for letting me know he did something bad. "What did you do to it?"
I should have known Emmett, of course he'd do something sleazy like that to lighten a party, but forget a party, this was a wake! He had put alcohol in it! "Where did he get alcohol?" I thought to myself, this is a church for crying out loud! I knew then I'd definitely see Bella again, I would just look for the drunken girl…
Back at the main hall the three of us were greeted by Esme, our mother. Old age has never affected my mother's beauty, and I still see the caring parent she was to us all our lives. She's always wanted to make us happy, and I knew she would support any decisions we would make.
"Before he died" she began. We could see the pain in her eyes, she was a strong woman, but Carlisle's death brought her sunny, serene face to a far redder shade of pale, filled with sadness and grief. "Your father wanted you to see this, he loved you boys very much and he was very proud of all your accomplishments" she finished.
The DVD was placed in the player and the face of my father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, appeared on the screen.
"Hello my sons, if you are watching this, it means I am gone from this world…"
There was my father, a man who marveled at everything in my eyes. I didn't care about sounding selfish when I believed that I loved him more than anyone of my brothers. I watched the video in deafening silence as my father described how much he wanted us to value our lives and how each one of us made him proud in all our endeavors. I couldn't help but notice he looked so restless, it looked as if he hadn't slept in days. I also noticed this was shot in the hospital room he was in where he took his last breath. I admired my father's strength for presenting himself in his best despite his weakened condition.
To Jasper, my father left his estates in Paris for him and Alice to do what they wished to, more like a late wedding gift, this also included one of the Cullen jets.
To Emmett, my father left his cars, which included the Mercedes, the McLaren, and the Audi, and also left his summer homes in the Bahamas. Rosalie will love that
And finally to me, my father left…nothing, not once in his will did he mention me. A cold rush bellowed over my body as I felt so unneeded in that instance, why did he fail to mention me? I noticed a quick glance out of the corner of my eye from both Jasper and Emmett; I know they felt some remorse towards me. For once in my life, I didn't understand my father, I was speechless.
My father went on to pay his respects to us all one last time and thanking my mother for showing this to us.
"And so, it is with a heavy heart that I say this one last time my sons, I love you, may the world accept you as I have accepted you into my eternal heart…goodbye Emmett, Jasper and Edward…"
It was over…
Esme turned towards the TV screen to switch it off, but not the DVD player. I don't know if I was the only one aware of this, but Jasper and Emmett had already stood up to embrace my mother when I noticed it. I stood up to give her a loving hug when she placed her hands on my shoulders. She turned to make sure that Jasper and Emmett were out of the room before turning back to me.
"Edward" she said, "as your father's strict request, he asked me to show you what's left on the tape"
So I was right! I knew my mother acted so strange for a reason, I slowly nodded and sat back down as Esme turned the TV back on and left the room, I guess this was exclusively for my eyes only. The door closed shut and the DVD resumed…
My father was once again on the screen, still in the hospital room, still in his Sunday best. Except one thing was different, one thing was there that wasn't before in the background, me.
I was asleep on a couch near his bedside, this must have been shot on the night I stayed with him before he died. I leaned in to take in as much of this video as I could.
"Edward my son," he seemed more serious this time, and what seemed like, pain, "I have asked you to be alone during this part of the film for a very important reason. You thought I left u with nothing, but you are wrong, you my son get everything, the house, all our family's bonds, stocks, you basically have the future of our family on your back. You are so very special to me my son, and it is with my most solemn regret that I must leave you with something else, a burden, my burden, some call it a gift, but I must digress and call it what it truly is, a curse."
I was mystified by my father's words, not only was I confused more than I was before, I was scarred, terrified.
"Very few members of the Cullen family share this curse, I myself was given it at the age of eighteen just after I met your mother. It and as tradition goes I must pass it on to one of my offspring, I have chosen you Edward because you are a person of noble heart, one without greed, selfishness or material need. Jasper and Emmett are good boys, but they are nowhere near the pure heart you are Edward. In a process called Cullen's have performed for years, we call "the transcending", I am to pass my curse to you, but I do not do it because I want you to feel the wrath of this curse, but because I know you may be the hope our family needs to overcome it. I am afraid I do not have the strength anymore to carry it on, it has been your birthright, please forgive me my son…"
What shocked me was what I saw next, my father stepped up from his chair and walked over to my sleeping body on the couch. He gently placed his hands on the temples of my head and closed his eyes. His hands began to glow as my body followed, it was a luminescent light that made me shield my own eyes from the screen. When it stopped, he stumbled away from me, I was still asleep on the couch, as if nothing had happened, and he walked again towards his chair and sat down.
"This is your time Edward, the curse is now yours, please read the contents of the envelope I have contained atop the TV"
I noticed an envelope on top of the TV that wasn't there before, or had it always been there? I opened it with the edge of my finger.
"Before you read it Edward," my father interrupted almost as if he knew I'd have it in my hands, "I want to say something, I know you met someone today Edward, I did too the same day I was given the curse. Take care of her as long as you can, this curse is relentless. I love you so much my son…"
The DVD stopped and the screen was black.
I opened up the envelope and took out the small slip of paper that was inside. 'READ ALOUD', it read.
I licked my lips and started from the top:
"Some men take it, some men leave it,
Inside a man lies many gods, if you choose to believe it.
Stand strong and become the next bearer of this fabled curse,
For your ancestors pray that it doesn't get worse.
It is said that some men are men of few words and of many odds,
So accept your fate, for now you are a man of few Gods..."
I felt a very sharp pain in my head as I was immediately brought to my knees, and with my vision was blurred, my stomach queasy and my body cold I collapsed. Had I known the true meaning of those words, I would have never read them. This began my true purpose as a Cullen, a time for me to accept my burden, my curse…
To be continued…
I really hope you guys like it, thanks for reading, plz review!
DarkRedSlice