Grace's POV
"My dearest friend Sarah, I am glad to hear that you are well. You last letter arrived this morning and I could not open the envelope fast enough. To read that you and your mother are doing well fills my heart with happiness. When I heard that the planes bombed London I automatically feared for your safety. I am also doing well. I am settling well in the hospital. The other nurses have been very welcoming. The days we work seem endless and the nights even more so. Yesterday I lost my first patient since being here. He was a young man called John...only 21...four years older than I. He had been caught in a blast and had lost both legs. It was hard to say the least. On a happier note they say that the war will soon come to end. I know that I will be seeing you and your mother again. Until then, all my love Grace. "
I placed the pen down on my small, worn table and picked up the envelope. The letter fit perfectly and I laid it down, ready to be sent the following day. The day had been long as I had told Sarah but I knew I was doing a good thing. Yes, a lot of lives were lost, and many more would be lost but if I could save just one person then it is all worthwhile. Looking down at my dress I saw that my day was not over. The blood of some unfortunate man was speckled across it. I immediately felt sick. I pulled off my dress and threw it on the floor. The dress fell lightly and the dark crimson reminder seemed to taunt me. A slight laugh escaped me. It is strange really and somewhat ironic that I, a vampire, would feel sick at the sight of blood. I don't really understand myself. It's just an instant reaction I have. Of course it helps that I don't need to breathe. It is however a useful tool when trying to be 'normal'. I don't remember how or when I came to be a vampire. All I know is that it happened. I have come to accept that I am a vampire but what I will not be is a monster. It is hard but unlike my transformation I do have a choice. There are others like me. Often I feel their presence, I know they're there but they do not show themselves to me. They just watch. It's a good thing I'm not a paranoid pers- vampire. Otherwise I would presume I was being followed. The truth is most of the time I am being followed. For as long as I can remember there has been the presence of other vampires. Not like me, pretending to be normal to fit into society but staying hidden. Only once have I heard of them. A passing vampire told me before he left for Italy. I would not have known he was a vampire if he had not approached me. He looked just like a human. He told me about other vampires. He said they call themselves the Volturi. From what I could find out they were the royals of the vampire world. They are in power to prevent their ...our race from being uncovered. Accordingly, there have been vampires who have placed our kind in danger of being discovered. The other vampire briefly explained that they would then be disposed of. I stopped him there. I did not want to know the details. That was a part of this world I did not wish to know about. That was the only time I have come into contact with another vampire but they have always been present around me. My thoughts are broken by a loud noise from outside. Probably another animal of the night. I close my eyes and focused on the animals vibrations. A cat. I walk to the window and open the decaying wood panel. Smiling that I was right, I step onto the ledge and checked to see if there is any other life outside. Seeing that there is none, I leap from the ledge down to the concrete. Twelve floors in total; a leap that would have seriously injured anyone else. As I straighten up from my crouch the cat looked at me in almost a puzzled way. Before it could run I had it in my hands. "Sorry little one" I said to it as I broke its neck. I did not like killing them but if it was a choice between a human life and the life of a cat then the human would be spared every time. I wrinkled my nose as my teeth sunk into the flesh. This was my way of life and I knew it would remain like this for eternity. The sun began to rise just as I was finishing my 'meal', signalling it was the beginning of another day and time for me to clean up and go to the hospital.
Edward's POV
"This is going to be great for all of us" Carlise began to explain to us. I knew that we had stayed in America for too long...people were beginning to talk. We moved around every 6 years. Looking 17 forever becomes a problem when everyone around you but your family ages. Just another complication of what we are.
"But why did we have to leave now? We could have stayed for at least another two years Carlisle". Rosalie, my adopted sister, never did like moving. She had become quite settled in Washington. Carlisle had promised her that we would return in a hundred years or so. I, on the other hand was happy to be in England as was Carlisle, my 'father'. He was the head of the family and one of the only compassionate vampires I have ever known. Instead of taking lives, he saves them. Being a doctor is his way of denying what he is, going against all traditions and the basic animal instincts that are embedded in us all.
"Don't worry Rose; we're all going to be just fine here. You will end up loving it here, I know you will", my other sister, Alice commented with that smile that echoes the secret knowledge she possess. When it comes to Alice you believe her when she says 'I know'. Some of our kind has abilities that others do not. Carlisle's, in my opinion, is his compassion for life. He disagrees and claims it is what he needs to do and not what he is. Alice's 'gift' is seeing the future. Not the definitive future as it can change depending on choices and change of circumstances. But I would never bet against her...not again anyway.
"Edward, let's go". Esme, my mother, snapping me back to the present. The whole family were here. Jasper and Emmett, my brothers, complete our family.
"Here we are, the Cullens, ready to take on England". Emmett said barely being able to contain himself. He was just looking forward to seeing what type of 'delicacies' England has to offer. "I never thought I would say this but I was beginning to get bored of the grizzlies". I laughed at this. "I never thought I would see the day that Emmett Cullen would tire of the grizzlies". I saw Carlisle and Esme trying to contain their laughter. "Come on guys, let's go" Carlisle said. I know Carlisle was eager to see the hospital he would now be working in. As we began to walk to our car, the front page of a newspaper blew past my feet. I bent down and picked it up. The headline read 'Britain questions 'Will the war ever end? as death toll rises' "Carlisle!" I shouted to him as he began to cross the deserted street. He turned and looked at the paper in my hands. "Looks like you couldn't have come at a better time", I called to him. The look on his face said it all.