Yesterday's Memory

Chapter 2

Meeting Carlisle

The Vampire was going by the name Edward currently when he was in Merry Ole England. It was in the 1700 the rule of James the First. Politically England was becoming unstable due to James beliefs of the Monarch's Divine Right and Parliaments demanding more rights for the Commons and Lords as well.

Edward was sitting in the very back in the darkest corner of a pub he could find when he overheard thoughts that didn't seem quite human to him. After listening for a little while longer he came to the definite conclusion that he was hearing another vampire.

This was the first time he'd run across another vampire who wasn't interested in slaughtering every human in sight. To introduce himself, Edward had the bar maid take a flagon of ale to this strangers' table. When the vampire inquired who'd sent the ale, the bar maid pointed to Edward, who leaned forward into the light so the other could see him. Edward motioned with my head to the back exit to which he close to.

The other nodded his thanks to Edward. Pretended to drink, put the flagon down and left the pub. Edward threw some change on the table and exited the back way. They greeted each other and shook hands. With that they ran from the city to a place in the forest where they could talk. The other vampire's name was Carlisle. He was close to 100 years old at this time and bored with where he was and what he was doing. He was ready to move along to somewhere else.

They talked for several hours, in fact they only became aware of how long they had talked when the sky began to lighten. During this discussion they'd shared their past histories and had decided to travel together from then on.

They went to Italy, Greece, Egypt – where Edward had been born – they even looked up Edward's family to see if there were any alive. There were some relatives, but none of the ones were still around that he'd known. It was the same for Carlisle. None of those he'd known before his transformation were still alive.

During one of their many conversations, they decided to form their own immortal family. If they ran across others they were particularly drawn to, and they were willing to refrain from taking human life, they'd ask them to join their family. Even though Carlisle was the younger vampire, he'd been older, almost 30, when he was transformed. He and Edward agreed that for family purposes, he'd be the Patron. Edward would be his first born, followed by whom ever else came along.

Edward shared his longing for his lost mate so many many years ago, and how he'd been always a little too late in finding her again. His desire to be there at the right time was his goal, and Carlisle vowed to be of as much assistance as he could because he could see just how sad Edward was.

Many more years passed and Carlisle and Edward had many adventures and several very close calls before they found themselves in the New World. Carlisle had mastered the skills of being a physician and surgeon. Edward had mastered it all also, but did not gain the satisfaction Carlisle did. Edward's pull was to the arts of music and painting, and business.

Edward was very restless. He asked Carlisle if he'd like to go with him to South America and do some exploring. Neither of them had been there before so they both learned Spanish and Portuguese and left after a couple of weeks preparation. While there they met with some very different vampires who, while they were human blood drinkers were still willing to just sit down and talk with them without threatening to dismember and burn them. There were 3 sisters, after a fashion in particular they'd met that Carlisle wondered if perhaps the myth of Amazon Women had originated with them. It was something he'd research at a later date.

While they were in the Amazon, Edward discovered he had a taste for the big cats there, jaguars and panthers . Their blood was more like that of humans. Bears were ok, but didn't have as good a flavor as the big cats had. That made him wonder if perhaps he shouldn't go to Africa and go on safari. He asked Carlisle if he'd like to come too. Carlisle declined that trip saying he needed to get back to his human patients and his surgery in the New England area of what was the United States.

Edward left for Africa the next morning. He said he'd swim the whole way. Which he did. While in Africa he met up with other vampires who were native to that continent. They tended to stay away from others, especially if they were white men. However with Edward's ability to read minds, he discovered another mind reader, though not as strong or talented as Edward was. However, they did manage to strike up a reasonable peace accord between themselves, so they could at least have a conversation with out the mayhem that usually accompanied rival vampires meeting.

They sat on a mountain and watched life and death unfold beneath them. Edward found out some very interesting information about African Vampires and shared some things about those in Europe. A friendship was forged between the two vampires and his new friend vowed to visit him in the New World someday soon.

Edward did manage to do some big game hunting and even killed an elephant, but decided he didn't like the taste of it's blood at all. He allowed the big cats to have at it, then he stalked the big cats. Yes, he definitely enjoyed big game cats blood very much. He would miss it in the New World, but that was the way things went. He'd come back some day and hunt here again.

When he got got to the New World, Carlisle had moved from New York, to Boston. There he'd found a dying woman who's blood sang to him. He'd been able to just catch her in time before her heart stopped and turned her. Her name was Esme, and she would become his mate. She'd felt the attraction also, and told him before she'd thought she was dying that she'd fallen in love with him. That was all the encouragement he needed and was able to pronounce her dead and no one ever was the wiser.

Luckily Esme was the mothering type and Edward at once felt she was a member of the family he and Carlisle were forming. Now all they needed were a couple of others with their mates and they'd have a good solid foundation and assurance them that other vampires would not mess with them.