(Thank you to Nami for her lovely support as usual, even when I throw stories out for no apparent reason. and thank you also to LaBelled'Italie for reading at all. That truly is encouraging and makes me feel special. I also got a few alerts, thank you so much for that too! It fuels my writing and that is such a happy feeling. So please enjoy chapter two)

"Carlisle is it? HAHA Caius, Marcus, look" clapped Aro happily. Marucs seemed extremely unimpressed. His eyes watched Carlisle barrenly. Carlisle felt uneasy about being there, in the presence of these immortals.

They held the complete opposite values as he did. They killed humans, unsuspecting, innocent humans. Carlisle shook his head, trying to release the thought.

The trouble was, he wanted to stay there. He was curious and wanted to know what he was, what he was capable of. Maybe he could be helped. His thoughts traced back to when he had come.

Italy seemed like such a timeless place. Beautiful. Everywhere he went he felt like he wanted to stay there.

Voltera was a place of great beauty. The people there seemed open.

A guard, a dark haired girl, beautiful as an angel with red eyes and white skin, like him caught him. She said she had sensed what he was and her Master would want to speak with him. Carlisle had no choice but comply.

He had been led into an extravagant room full of vampires. All deathly pale, eyes bright as blood.

"You are more than welcome to stay with us." Aro cooed.

"Aro..." Caius turned at him incredulous.

He laughed, shaking a hand at the immortal.

"What harm could it do?" Aro asked.

"He does not share our taste." Caius argued.

"He doesn't have to. He will learn." Aro said dismissively. Carlisle thought the same of them. Maybe they would try the lifestyle he'd found.

"Do you honestly think he will change his ways?" Caius asked. Aro beckoned Carlisle forward, touching his hand lightly. He seemed distant, focused for a few moments then shook his head, his smile returning.

"You are a very pure person." Aro commented. Carlisle narrowed his eyes.

"I can read your thoughts through contact." Aro explained.

"You have a talent?" Carlisle asked.

Aro nodded, blowing it off as if it were something he did not care one way or another about.

"Does everyone?" Carlisle asked.

"No." It was Caius who answered. "Not everyone is gifted." He looked at Aro. "It seems that you do not."

"You may stay with us Carlisle, I am interested in your views and wish to see how you plan to live your life." Aro smiled. Carlisle nodded, returning it.

"Thank you." Carlisle said. A guard led him away to a room. Simple with extravagant furnashings. Carlisle gaped for a second. The guard seemed utterly uninterested in him, leaving.

He spent many days in this room, many nights out trying to find kill. Aro had requested he not directly kill in the city. Carlisle had no problem agreeing to that.

Days were spent up, experimenting with his talents. He learned languages, Italian, Spanish, Latin, French, Greek. He only had to read words once, he realized he comprehended things quickly and never forgot them. He would go to the cross he had stolen from his father and pray.

He sometimes felt foolish praying to someone he didn't know accepted him or not, but he thanked God. He thanked him for giving him another chance, and in return he swore not to kill. He requested God lead him, teach him what God wanted him to do.

It seemed God didn't answer prayers for a few years, but Carlisle continued on. He kept up his studying everything. Finally, a few decades later he tried medicine. He had steered clear of it, knowing he could break his promise to God if he wasn't careful. He decided it was worth a try. He read and studied, practiced until he had perfected his art.

There were many arguments with the three Volturi leaders that continued through the years. Carlisle had gotten more comfortable with them and was able to hold his own. Usually the arguments ended with a laugh from Aro.

A few unfortunate times it was the wrong timing, and the argument ended as people were brought into the chamber. They were staring curiously at the architecture of the hall.

Carlisle left as soon as they were brought in, not wanting to kill them himself. Aro tried to force him to stay, to not deny his nature. He would say there were no lions who ate leaves so they didn't eat the lamb and it went against nature, but Carlisle persisted.

The last time he watched a small, fragile looking girl with dark skin. He ran, not being able to stand by and watch anymore. He knew enough he was ready to go to the New World where everyone said there was promise there, a new life. He could expand his talents to help people, not hurt them.

"You wish to leave?" Aro asked. Carlisle nodded.

"I wish to start a life in medicine." Carlisle said, sounding slightly like he was asking permission.

Aro thought that was quite amusing by his howls of laughter.

"Carlisle, it has truly been a pleasure my friend. Please, come back and visit us." Aro said.

"Of course." Carlisle responded.

"And Carlisle, you know all our laws, we will be paying attention very closely to you." Caius reminded.

"I will remember that." Carlisle said respectfully.

"Goodbye my friend." Aro said.

-T-W-I-L-I-G-H-T-

The first boat for America left four days later, and Carlisle sat on the dock waiting. He had borrowed enough money from the Volturi to get him there. One of the guards had escorted him from the city. He had been told it was the 1800's.

The ride was somewhere between three to four weeks long. Time meant little and people easily lost track.

Carlisle stood over the boat rail, letting the wind blow at his hair. Night was falling over the boat. Stars twinkled around him.

He let out a sigh as he watched the waves lap over each other. The blue that mixed with the foamy green.

This is what freedom truly felt like. He had no rules now. He could breath and life the way he wanted. Freedom tasted sweet.

-T-W-I-L-I-G-H-T-

He walked from the dock onto a place he had only dreamed of. His feet hit the soil.

Yes, this was what freedom felt like.

(Okay that was kinda like the boring but required chapter. Next will be fluffy joyousness which I'm already almost half way through. :) Enjoy and have a great week! and i apologize for for time issues i may have miscalculated. reviews are loved and so appreciated

love

haru