As I drove my light blue, Mercedes, convertible up the long driveway to my home, I picked up a peculiar scent; a mixture of trees, fresh blood, rain, and the unmistakable fresh smell of a newly dead human. My mouth watered as I parked the car and entered the garage, smoothing my vintage white and black tea dress. I listened for any abnormal sounds from inside my home. Esme was in the kitchen, Edward was reading in his room, and Carlisle was doing… well I wasn't quite sure what, but I assumed it had something to do with that strange scent I picked up outside.

I ignored Esme and Edward as I went into the house and up the narrow staircase; following the smell of nature, human, and blood. I stopped at Carlise's office door and lightly knocked. My slim knuckles barely grazed the thick oak before Carlisle swung the door open. His usually impeccable hair was in total disarray and small speckles of blood stained the front of his lab coat. My mouth dropped open at the sight of him.

"Oh goodness!" I gasped, seeing the strained look on his face. "What happened?"

Shaking his head, he stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Carlisle… do you have a human in there?"

"It doesn't matter. Just leave it be."

I narrowed my eyes. "Your breath reeks of fresh blood. Your eyes are red. The evidence is all over your jacket. I go on vacation for a week and you shack up with a human… does Esme know?"

"She knows enough to know not to go into my study." He answered shortly, smoothing his hair back into place.

"What's in there?"

"I'm asking you to not think or say another thing about it. When the time is right, you will know. Now I'm asking you to not enter my office for any reason whatsoever unless I tell you otherwise. Is that understood?"

His strict tone confused me. I had never seen Carlisle this serious and it certainly concerned me. "Yes."

He patted my arm and gave me a small smile. "Don't worry about a thing. You'll know everything soon enough."

I sat in a comfortable armchair, brooding over Carlisle's secretive behavior. It was probably nothing, but the fact that he took such pains to make sure I didn't see what he had stashed in his office made me all the more curious. I knew that if I really wanted to, I could ask Edward what was going on; his little mind reading trick would make it easy to find out everything. However, I couldn't bear the thought of asking him for help. He was too cocky. Besides, he was still a little sore over my rejection of him and had been awfully sour these past few weeks.

"Darling, are you in there?" Esme knocked on my door, pushing it open a little.

"You can come in."

She sat on the edge of my bed and I turned in my chair towards her. The look on her face told me that something serious was on her mind. "Dear, your father and I have been talking and, well, we're worried about you."

"Worried about me?" I couldn't figure out what in the world she would have to be worried about. I was a vampire. I didn't drink alcohol, or have sex, or fail classes like normal teenagers did.

"You spend an awful lot of time by yourself."

"Opposed to what? You know I can't make human friends."

"I know… but aren't you a tad lonely?"

"Do you suggest that I begin spending my time with Edward? Because that would be absurd."

"No, no, no. I would never think…"

"Esme, what is this really about?"

"Carlisle and I were thinking… well, maybe you should find…. Something… that interests you."

"It's called a credit card."

Esme was clearly uncomfortable which only seemed to annoy me even more. "No, dear, that's not what I mean."

I rolled my eyes. "Just tell me what's going on."

"You spend your days shopping and your nights alone… have you ever wished that you had… someone to spend it with?"

I studied her face in the awkward silence that followed. She was so young when she was turned; barely older than myself when Carlisle found her; her body crushed from a deliberate fall from a cliff. I could see why Carlisle chose her. She was beautiful. And of course I would want a man to choose me like Carlisle chose Esme, but I knew it wouldn't happen for me like that. "I don't have a lot of options in that regard. I mean, look at me. I was turned so Edward could have a little girlfriend and that wasn't very fair to me. I couldn't do that to another person."

Her face fell. "I see." Standing up, she patted my hand tenderly and placed a delicate kiss on my forehead. "We just want you to be happy."

That night, while rearranging my shoes by color, style, and season, I heard the front door close and Esme and Carlisle get into their car. They were going to an art gallery opening and I was fairly sure that Edward was out hunting. With the house rarely empty, I knew this might be my only chance to find out what was in Carlise's study.

I tried the office door first but the lock help tight. I could easily snap the door off its hinges, but what would be the point in that? Instead, I went back to my room and stepped onto my balcony, surveying the twenty-foot drop to the ground. Without a second thought, I jumped over the wrought iron railing and soundlessly touched down to the forest floor below. I strode to the opposite side of the house, under the study's large window. I swiftly leaped up to the windowsill, balancing myself on the narrow ledge in my bare feet. I peered through the tinted glass, only seeing the bookcase-lined walls.

I slipped a bobby pin from my hair and pushed it between the slats of the French windows. I felt myself hit the lock and in a split second I was in. The office was empty. A pile of medical files was stacked on on his otherwise immaculate desk and, strangely, a line of light peaked out from under one of the bookcases. Curious, I stepped over to the case and inspected the seams. I had obviously heard about secret passages and rooms in old houses, but I had no idea there was anything in my own home.

I began pulling books off the crowded shelves, waiting to see if one was the "trigger". Of course I didn't know if one of these books would magically make the wall open or anything, but I had watched enough spy movies to assume that's what you had to do. When all the books were piled around my feet, I began pushing and lifting the empty shelves. Still, nothing happened.

Frustrated, I walked around the room, shifting tiny statues and moving books around, waiting for something to happen. Finally, and much to my surprise, I found the key. When I picked a small bust of Esme off a self a crossed the room for the door, it glided open. I stood there for a moment, stunned that I had seriously just found a hidden room in my house. Like, when does that seriously happen in real life?

I slowly entered the narrow doorway and looked around the secret room. It was blinding, sterile, white and smelled of bleach and alcohol. Medical tools and a huge freezer filled with bags of blood lined the walls. And in the center of the room, lit up by bright lights lay a medical table with thick, leather straps. And on that table lay a man.

I have big plans for this story so review to read more =)