Biloxi

To my astonishment Bella was able to get us out of the state of Washington in less than three hours. I remembered her from her human days, uncomfortable with any of us when we drove more than five miles over the posted speed limit. I'd expected more time to looking at our futures while on our way to Mississippi, but at the current rate were sped along we'd make it there within a day. As we drove into Idaho, my stomach began to churn as I contemplated my second return home in so many years. I can't remember a thing about my past and I knew only what I'd uncovered when Edward insisted our family leave Forks for the safety of Bella. At the time I uncovered the name of the mental institution, St. Dymphna's Home for the Mentally Disturbed, and found that it was still in full operation outside the city of Biloxi. It was in a new facility and no longer referred to as a home for the mentally disturbed, but rather St. Dymphna's Psychological Hospital. I was unable to access my old records at the time to discover the name of the doctor. I was able to look through old news papers to find more information about my family; unfortunately I was only able to find some pieces and almost nothing about my parents. I also knew I had a sister, whose daughter was still living in Biloxi. If nothing else I could find a way to meet with her and try to uncover any stories my sister told her about me. That was difficult to imagine seeing how my tombstone and the date listed on my admissions papers are identical. Either I was made on the same day I was admitted into the hospital, or my parents found it to be such an embarrassment that they decided to claim I was dead. I knew that the former wasn't possible because the first memory I have as a vampire shows that it was 1946, while I was buried in 1943. I spent at least three years in the hospital, under the care of a vampire much like Carlisle, or so I hoped. But then there was still the perplexing situation concerning the second doctor from my memories.

While I tried to figure out this problem I decided I would ask Bella if she could remember anything James had told her. She insisted that she couldn't remember anything that far back, especially since it was a human memory. I suspected she only wanted to spare me the agony.

"We're going into the south." Bella announced.

"Yes, why do you say that though?" I replied.

"Because, because I remember the stories Jasper told about when he became a vampire and how the south is completely different from the north."

"That's true. In the south vampires are more prone to form covens whereas in the north they are primarily nomadic. You're concerned that we will confront a coven in Biloxi?"

"Yes." She said sheepishly.

"Don't worry Bella, all will be ok. Besides, I doubt we will even be a bother to them since we won't be feeding off any humans."

"Er. I still don't like it, Alice."

I couldn't convince her that going into the south was completely ok and that no matter what we would be left alone. I was sure of myself because I hadn't foreseen any problems, then again my sight was a little on the fritz. I remained confident though because I knew if anything were to develop, I would be able to gain control over my sight to realize it before we were any real danger.

Taking Rose's new car was the best idea I had in a long while it seemed like. We drove straight through Wyoming and into Colorado before the sunset on us once again. We stopped quickly for gas just outside Denver before we hit the road once more. Once we crossed the state line into Kansas I decided to tell Bella about my visions concerning her father's phone call to her mother.

"Oh. I guess he has the right to call her." She replied simply.

"This isn't the first time I've seen him call her. What worries me is that I can't see what he tells her." She didn't respond to me after that, I could tell she had a perplexed look on her face. In the event her father did decide to tell her mother that Bella was recovered, Renee would board the first flight from Jacksonville to Forks. Bella's mother was more perceptive than her father, which would ultimately mean Bella would have to go through with her death and funeral. But she wasn't going to worry about all that now and neither was I, our mission was clear and we weren't to deviate from it. The state of Kansas blew by in a matter of hours as Bella kept the car at one hundred and eight miles an hour.

Finally, only twenty-six hours after leaving Forks we arrived in Biloxi just after sunset. We checked into the Grand Biloxi Casino Hotel & Spa, the spa part mainly for me to indulge myself. Before leaving Forks I reserved the presidential suite for us so that we could have a way to escape the sunlight, should it make an appearance during our stay; it also served as our base of operations. We assumed the identities of two medical students from Ole Miss under the direction of Dr. Carlisle Cullen. As medical students focusing on psychology, we would be given access to the records we needed to find out more information about my mysterious doctors. If nothing else, I would be able to tap into the resource of my niece who still lived in Biloxi with her husband and three children. We both took turns calling our loved ones and eventually turned in for the night. We had brought my newly acquired lap top with me to begin research. Carlisle's position as Professor Emeritus at Ole Miss granted us access to medical websites within the state of Mississippi. Bella made a trip to The Book Store on Beach Boulevard to see if she could acquire any information about the hospital's past.

"We should search for all medical staff at the hospital during the years of 1940 and 1945." Bella suggested.

"That's a good idea. If we can at least find the names of those doctors who worked at the hospital, maybe we could cross reference them with old newspapers and photographs." Yet despite my confidence, this turned out to be a difficult task. Between those years approximately three hundred different doctors all worked in the hospital. Of those three hundred, only fifteen had photographs we could find online; none of these men were the two vampires. We decided to incorporate the year 1946 into our search since it was possible the two vampires were only on staff for the one year. Unfortunately of the thirty new names that appeared on the list only two had photographs and neither were the men from my vision. So with over three hundred names left to investigate, we were left with a feeling of defeat. My records at the hospital on microfiche didn't mention the name of my doctor. Our only option left was to find biographies on these doctors in hopes of finding out where they all went. We were lucky with this and found that fifteen doctors left the United States within ten years of their time at the hospital. Ten doctors all died while still employed by the hospital, and so I figured the best place to start was with the names of those ten doctors.

"We'll have to make a trip to my niece's home to see if she knows any of the family secrets." I told Bella, feeling uncomfortable about interacting with a decedent who believes I died years before her birth. I wasn't entirely certain given my date of death that my sister would have told any of her children about me. If she did, and she happened to shown pictures of me then Bella and I would be in for a very difficult day. But it was resolved, Bella and I would visit my niece Catherine tomorrow during the day while her children were at school and husband was at work.

"Do you see that, Alice?" Bella asked as we drove up to the house said to belong to my niece.

"Yes." I said in an unpleasant tone. My niece apparently was a little superstitious because she had a cross on her front door with garlic surrounding it. "I can't believe she actually thinks that would warn off vampires."

"Well until I met Edward I thought all of that was true." Bella retorted.

"Let's get this over with, I feel uncomfortable as is." Bella and I got out of the car and walked to the front door. I knocked lightly on the blue wood while ignoring the beautiful brass door knocker, which was obvious more for decoration than actual use. At first no one came to the door and I was about half ready to dart back to the safety of the BMW when suddenly Bella reached out and rang the door bell. Within a few seconds the door opened to reveal a short, middle aged woman standing there wearing jeans and a blouse. This had to be my niece, she looked so much like me that it was impossible for her not to be related. She stared at Bella and I, obviously shocked by the slender pale models standing at her door.

"Hello Mrs. Martin. My name is Bella Masen and this is my friend Alice Cullen. We are medical students at Ole Miss and were wondering if we could talk to you for a moment." Bella seemed so at ease, while I was shaking like a leaf.

"Of course, please come in." My niece said very politely. "What can I do for you two young ladies?"

"We are both psychology students and were given the assignment by our professor to investigate rare instances in mental health facilities. We came across the name of your aunt Mary Brandon while we were looking into the records at St. Rita's. We noticed she had the ability to see the future, or so she claimed." Bella was strikingly helpful, if I had come alone or with Rose I doubt we would have gotten this far.

" Why yes, that is my aunt. What is it about her case that you would care to know?" Catherine inquired once more.

"Well you see ma'am, we would like to get the whole story about your aunt from you if you know it. The hospital doesn't seem to give much information, just the basic name and vitals. We don't even know the names of the doctors who treated her." Bella said once more.

"Please, come in and sit. Would you like anything to drink or eat?" Both of us politely refused.

"Where shall I begin? My mother often spoke to me about my aunt. They were terribly close and my mother looked up to Mary. My mother was thirteen the first time her sister had a vision. Mary was all of fifteen at the time and she saw my father entering into a bar and being propositioned by a prostitute and accepting. Well, she told my grandmother and when he got home she confronted him about it. My grandfather laid into Mary something fierce when he discovered she was the one who told her mother about what happened. He was convinced my aunt had snuck out of the house and followed him to the bar; he wouldn't believe that she had seen it all in her head. I believe the name of the doctor who treated Mary for her injuries suffered at the hands of my grandfather was named Nathaniel Greene. He was an interesting doctor, but the only one my grandfather fully trusted. My mother always claimed that Dr. Greene claimed to be forty but looked no older than twenty-five. Regardless, my aunt didn't mention to anyone about her visions besides my mother for the next year."

"A week after Mary's seventeenth birthday she had another vision of my grandfather being beaten in the middle of the street at the dead of night. This frightened my grandparents when she brought it to them. Grandpa didn't believe her obviously and went to work that night as though nothing was going to happen. When he came home the next morning he went to find Mary and tell her that she was right, but that because she had warned him he was able to get away without injury. He wanted to take her shopping for a new dress to repay the debt he felt he owed to her. It was a trap though; my grandfather instead of going to work went to visit Dr. Greene who introduced him to his close friend Dr. Silas McGivney who had just taken a job at St. Rita's. He told my father that he would be happy to admit my aunt as a patient, and that he would personally oversee her case. That was the last my mother saw her sister outside the hospital. The date was June 6, 1943 and Mary never came home. A week later they went to her funeral, the story was that on the way to the store Mary fell and hit her head. Of course my mother knew the truth and visited my aunt as often as her father would permit."

"My aunt was the only person ever admitted into St. Rita's for the ability to see the future. This intrigued Dr. McGivney and he kept his promise to my grandfather to personally oversee my aunt's case. This is around the time that Mary began to see a strange man watching her whenever she would be taken outside for her daily walk. She said he had bright red eyes and was pale as a ghost. Whenever she mentioned this to Silas he assured her that it was just a hallucination. My mother wasn't quite as certain as the doctor and was willing to accept what her sister told her as truth. This began approximately two years after Mary was admitted into the hospital. In January of 1946, Silas went missing as did my aunt; my mother also told me that Dr. Greene had abruptly quit his job and moved to Europe. She never saw her sister again but once in a while she thought that she saw her in the shadows whenever she and my father went on dates. The last time my mother thought she saw Mary was May 6, 1955, the day I was born."

Bella and I turned to look at each other for a moment. I felt a little embarrassed that I had neglected to remember these instances. Bella turned back to Catherine and thanked her for all the information she could provide us with and then curiously asked about the crucifix and garlic on the door.

"Well you see ladies; my mother always suspected that Silas and Nathaniel were vampires. She once touched Dr. Greene by accident when he was examining her and said he felt frigid. They both had maroon eyes and were deathly pale. She believed that the women she always saw in the shadows was her sister, but she had been turned into a vampire by Silas. My mother was afraid that her sister would come to her and kill her and her family. So she kept a crucifix and garlic on the front door and that is why I have it there."

"You believe in vampires?" I asked, she seemed startled when I spoke.

"Yes, I do." She quickly responded.

"Well, we thank you for your time and we are sorry about the intrusion." Bella interrupted.

"Oh, it was my pleasure ladies and I hope you both become very successful doctors." Catherine showed us to the door with a great big smile and watched as we got into the BMW and drove off.

I sat there quietly, hoping Bella would ask me about seeing my sister the way I did so often in those first nine years after I was turned. But much to my chagrin, she asked anyways. I didn't really have a good excuse other than that when I first woke up I saw Jasper's face in my head and then I saw Carlisle and his family. I was alone, and didn't know what was meant by the images in my head. When I realized I could follow the sent of my sister I did so, trying to watch over her and protect her. I never actually thought she saw me, but apparently she did. Then I confided in Bella something that only Edward knew about me, that I had fed off of only two humans in my whole life; those who were responsible for locking me away in that hospital: my parents. Bella was understanding and didn't judge me for what I had done. Even when I explained that it was three years after I was turned and I knew very well what I was doing she still wouldn't chastise me for what I had done. Like Edward so many years before, Bella was only interested in comforting me. At that moment I realized that while my sister was dead, some greater power had sent to me another loving and understanding sister.

"So I guess that the vampire you saw when you went outside was James?" Bella inquired politely as we walked into our hotel room.

"Yes, it must have been. I still don't know why he was after me though. I never saw him but those few times I was allowed outside. I think I need to call Carlisle and tell him about Nathaniel and Silas. Hopefully he will know more information about the two of them than Catherine did." I responded quickly while reaching for my phone. I pulled it out and dialed Carlisle's number; he answered after the first ring.

"Yes, yes. I know who Silas and Nathaniel were. Last I heard Nathaniel had trekked to India." Carlisle seemed uncomfortable as he talked about Nathaniel, he knew him personally when they lived in Chicago at the time Edward was created. "I will have Edward and Jasper look into Nathaniel; maybe I'll call up to Eleazar and see if he can provide me with any information." He hung up the phone shortly after that promising to call me as soon as he heard something more about Nathaniel. I could tell easily which Nathaniel was and which was Silas when I revisited the vision. Nathaniel wore very casual clothes when he visited me that day in the hospital, while Silas wore a long white doctor's coat and more professional attire. While I attempted to discover more from the vision, Bella watched the local news.

"You know, the entire time I was human I never figured out why you always watched television like you were so engrossed in it that you couldn't pull yourself away. But now I know you were really just starring off into space, this stuff is so boring." Bella abruptly said.

"Sometimes it's more interesting, but you're right, to a vampire television is boring." I answered without opening my eyes. Suddenly a vision came to me; Catherine was coming to our hotel. She apparently called around to the hotels in the city to find Bella and I. "Catherine will be here in twenty minutes Bella."

"What, why?" Is all Bella was able to muster after hearing the news.

"I don't know, this seems very odd but we need to be cautious we can't afford to be tangled up her. It is unsafe and I won't allow my only niece to be put in harms way."

There was a quick knock on the door, Bella and I didn't move. Then another knock, this time Catherine spoke, "Hello? Alice, Bella? This is Catherine, I came to speak with you some more." Bella finally got up and walked to the door.

"Hello Catherine, what can we do for you today? Please come in." She gestured as she held the door open. Catherine walked through and had to squint as her eyes were not accustomed to the faint light that came through the windows. She looked around our suite while she gathered her thoughts.

"Aunt Mary." She said after a prolonged silence. "Don't worry Alice, I know that you are my aunt. My mother gave me a picture of you, one she took while she escorted you around the hospital grounds that last time before you died; she gave it to me before she died. When we you came to visit me earlier with Bella I was so shocked to see you. I never expected to run into you, my mother said that after grandma and grandpa were found murdered she only saw you one or two more times."

I stood there shaken for a moment; how could she know who I was? I was stunned by what she explained but tried to find the courage to speak to her, to acknowledge that I am her missing aunt Mary. "Yes Catherine, you're right. I am your aunt. I didn't want to intrude on your life, but I had a flash back to my time in the hospital and had to find answers to the men I saw in my vision. I saw no other way of doing this except to ask for your assistance in telling my story. You see, when I became a vampire I didn't know who I was or what I was. I could smell Cynthia close by and went to investigate. I passed by an empty store and saw my reflection in the window; I was stunned by what I saw. I was able to find Cynthia that night but I promised myself I would never approach her; I never thought she saw me. You must understand that I never intended to become a monster, but I was so furious with my parents for putting me into that hospital, to allow this to happen to me that I had to kill them. I didn't even realize who they were until very recently. It was three years after I became a vampire and I was walking down the street one night. I caught their smell as they came out of a restaurant and I recognized it. I must have known deep down who they were because they were the only two humans I ever felt a desire to kill. I am so sorry for what I did to my parents, and I am sorry for intruding on your life. My sister Bella and I will never bother you again."

She paused for a moment, a look of terror struck her as she looked at me and then glanced quickly back at Bella. Then she spoke, "Alice, you do not need to apologize to me for what you did to grandma and grandpa. I know that what they did to you was uncalled for and I am not the one to offer forgiveness or blame for something I can't say I wouldn't have done myself. And I am glad that you and Bella came to me, I was so worried after my mother did that I was all alone. After she had me she had complications which made it impossible for her to have more children. I felt so alone after my mother died and now I feel as though I'm not alone, not with knowing you are still here. I just wanted to come here and tell you that I recognized who you are and I wanted to introduce myself."

"Thank you Catherine. And let me formally introduce you to my sister. This is Bella Cullen; she is married to my brother Edward. When I woke up after being transformed I saw two visions; one was of the man I was destined to live the rest of my life with: Jasper Hale. The second was of a family, the Cullens. They are vampires who refuse to feed off of humans. The patriarch is Carlisle, and his wife Esme. I have another sister Rosalie and a brother Emmett. We currently live in Forks, Washington."

"Oh my, such a large family you have. And Bella, it is wonderful to officially meet you." She immediately responded. We talked for a few hours before she realized the time and had to go home to meet her children home from school. She invited us over after dinner to meet her family. Bella and I looked at each other and Catherine said that she would mention nothing about our true nature. We agreed to come visit. We stayed at her place for two hours after they finished eating dinner. I met her husband, Jack and their three children William, Mary and Timothy. I was so enthralled with my niece's family, and it appeared that Bella too had a great time. We were sorry we had to leave and told my niece when were alone it would be best if we did not have much contact with her. I gave her my cell number and asked that she only call on rare occasions and told her to put it away some place to have someone call me when she finally passed away. She smiled and gave me and Bella hugs and then we left into the night back to our hotel. When we finally returned my phone rang and it was Carlisle again. Jasper and Edward found nothing on Nathaniel's whereabouts, but Eleazer had given Carlisle some information. It turned out that Nathaniel has been working for the Volturi for centuries and that after failing to deliver me to the Volturi he was sent to India by Caius to find werewolves. More startling, it appeared that James was once a member of the Volturi as well. He was to be their second tracker and to prove himself Caius sent him to Biloxi to see if he could track me, turn me and deliver me back to the Volturi. Apparently I was to be made a seer for the brothers, a way of knowing if vampires were breaking the laws. It upset Caius when he found out that I had found my way to Carlisle and his family. As far as Eleazer knew, Nathaniel still was living in India.

"There is something more Alice. You and Bella need to return to Forks immediately. Charlie made a phone call to Renée and the urging of Sue Clearwater. Apparently Sue convinced Charlie that it was time Renée knew about her daughter's recovering from that terrible illness. You know what this means Alice; I know you've seen it before." Carlisle hung up the phone after that and I turned slowly towards Bella.

"What did he say Alice? Does he know anything more about Nathaniel?"

"Yes, but that doesn't matter right now Bella. Charlie called Renée and told her that you had woken up and were better. We have to get back to Forks, you will have to die Bella."

"What? No! You can't kill me Alice I won't let you."

"Bella, it is best. Your mother can't afford to know that you are alive and well. You know it yourself, Renée is a very perceptive woman she will know the truth about you. Charlie is willing to pretend there is nothing wrong with you or us, but if Renée knows anything it will prompt the Volturi to return and kill us all. The only solution is to put you in the hospital without Charlie knowing any different." I was able to calm Bella down and we both quickly packed to head back to Forks, our mission in Biloxi over.

It took us less time to return to Forks with me driving than it took to get to Biloxi. Edward and Jasper were waiting for us in the garage as we pulled in. They embraced us as though we were gone for years rather than days. Edward then welcomed me home, and Jasper welcomed home Bella. We got inside and Rosalie immediately asked for the keys to her car and went to inspect it. Carlisle was waiting for us on the sofa when we got into the living room.

"Bella, I assume Alice has told you what has happened over the last couple of days?"

"Yes, she informed me."

"Very well then, I have secured a wing of the hospital that we will be able to put you in. Our story to Charlie and those at the Reservation will be that you came down with the Brazilian virus again. Your mother will come into town and will be brought directly to the hospital to see you. We will have you in a breath tent so that she can't fully see you. She'll be explained that you are cold to the touch because of the virus. You will say your good byes and then I will unplug the heart machine I will use. You will need to hold your breath and pretend you have died. Once we are able to roll you out of the room, we will tell your mother and father that your wishes were to be cremated. Meanwhile, Charlie believes that Jasper and Edward went on a camping trip. They will go to Olympia and check into a hotel under a false identity. Alice will go with them, and it will be said she went to find Edward to tell him what happened to you. Edward will return on the appointed day to take you back to Olympia with you. Jasper and Alice will return and inform us that Edward is too grief stricken and will be unable to make the funeral. We will give your mother your ashes." Carlisle was so careful in the way he explained the plan to Bella, in order not to upset her. She seemed ok for the moment; she had the chance to come to grips with what was going to have to happen when we made our return trip. Edward, Jasper and I immediately left for Olympia while Carlisle and Bella went the hospital to prepare for her death.