A peek into the past

Renesme pressured "Come on Jake? You know you want to."

The two of them had finished hunting and were just sitting on the bank of river together. Jacob put his hand on top of Rename's "Ness, if Esme got rid of it, this book can't be anything good. Now just give it to me and I'll put it where no one will find it."

Renesme pouted "Please just one little peak; one little peak won't hurt anyone. No one even has to know we looked."

Jacob wanted to protest further but Renesme was right. He wanted to know more about the Cullen family. He needed to know what made Esme tick. Because of this Renesme only needed to pout for a matter of five minutes.

Renesme smiled when she saw Jacob's face fall and she turned to the first page she read a few sentences silently before she exclaimed "Nanna lived in France! France as in Paris! Jacob you have to take a look."

Esme's point of view

I was back stage listening to the everyday commotion of the opera house. I've practically grown up here since I was seventeen. I've always loved the opera house. It was my favorite part of the city of Paris. When my father died I moved in to one of the dormitories and was raised and tutored by a kind elderly woman named Elizabeth Mason.

When I was eighteen Madame Mason got me a job on the set. She was hoping to get me to take the place of the leading soprano Carlotta. We had no such luck. Instead I was given the quote pleasure of being her costume girl. I hate that woman with a fiery passion. Carlotta is the most insufferable pain in my ass I've ever had the misfortune of working for. She treats me like a worthless waste of space. I'm not the only one she treats that way. The hair and makeup staffs are at her mercy just as much as I am.

She insists on inspecting her costumes before every dress rehearsal and before the first fitting. Today is the last rehearsal for tonight's opera Hannibal. Carlotta's costume for the third act has been the most painstaking project. It's a huge silk dress with lace and beading. Heaven forbid if one bead or piece of lace is out of place. Hence why I'm in the position I'm in now. I haven't finished that dress yet. The only part of the costume I did finish is the hat.

Twenty minutes later Carlotta is in her dressing room and I tell her calmly that I don't have the dress finished yet. She of course made a big stink snapping "Don't you know how to do anything right you stupid frump of a girl? Now what am I supposed to wear for act three?"

Then the manger came back stage and demanded to know what the problem was. I took a deep breath and started to explain myself. Then that stupid woman cut me off "She didn't finish my costume for act three! She's worthless! She doesn't do her job and when she does she sticks me with pins on purpose!"

I felt sorry for the poor man as he tried in vain to calm Carlotta down. However when he called her the goddess of song I almost threw up. Carlotta can't sing a note to save her life. Her voice is terrible. Eventually the manger got Carlotta to calm down and agree to sing. I and the rest of the stage hands covered our ears to help block out the noise that could beak glass.

It was no help though and I could still hear that terrible woman destroy one of my favorite songs as she began to sing "Think of me. Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in awhile. Please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free."

I was shocked when the singing stopped and I heard screaming. I came from back stage and saw the curtain had fallen on top of her. The other stage hands were chattering in fear about the phantom of the opera. I wasn't sure what I believed.

Madam Mason was beside me in an instant. She put her arms protectively around my shoulders and then asked me a question I could have sworn I had misheard. When I asked her to repeat it she said "My dear Carlotta refused to sing tonight. The mangers want you to sing for them. You told me you've been taking lessons from a great teacher. This is your big chance Esme."

My breath caught in my throat. I had never in my life thought I'd get a chance to sing. I couldn't speak for the fear my voice would break. I only nodded and walked out onto the stage. The conductor spoke in a quiet and gentle tone. He told me where to stand and then asked me to sing the song from the beginning.

I closed my eyes and began to sing "Think of me. Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in awhile. Promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free. If you even find a moment spare a thought for me. We never said our love was evergreen or as unchanging as a sea. If you can still remember stop and think of me. Think of all the things we've shared and seen. Don't think about the way things might have been. Think of me think of me waking silent and resigned. Imagine me trying too hard to put you from my mind. Recall those days. Think back on all those times. Think of the things we'll never do. There will never be a day when I don't think of you. Flowers fade. The fruits of summer fade. They have their seasons so do we. Please promise me that sometimes you will think of me."

I can't believe it! I actually sang on stage! Madame Mason is very proud of me. The mangers want me to sing more often. They told me that I have the chance to be the next Carlotta. Now that the show is over I can allow my life to return to normal.

Every night since my father died I have gone into the basement alone and lit a candle for my father. I miss him so much. When he was dieing he promised me he would send me the angel of music.

I might not believe in the phantom but I know deep inside my heart that there is an angel of music. I know this is true because while I am down in the basement completely alone I hear a soft gentle voice singing to me. At first I thought it was a stage hand playing a trick. Then that night while I was dreaming I heard that voice again. I don't know his name and I have never seen him. However I know he's there. He's been teaching me to sing.

I was just about to get changed when my friend Meg came into the room. She hugged me and exclaimed "Esme where has that perfect voice been hiding? You are so lucky to get to have a private Tudor. You did so wonderful tonight!"

I blushed pulled back from the hug. One of my angel's rules is no one can know who he is. If I tell anyone about him he would have to go away. Instead I took a deep breath and sang softly "Father once spoke of an angel. I used to dream he'd appear. Now as I sing I can sense him and I know he's here. Here in this room he calls me softly. He's somewhere inside hiding. Somehow I know he's always with me. He's the unseen genius."

Meg had a hand over her mouth. She looked like she wanted to say something. I lightly nudged her and she sang "Esme you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't come true. Esme you're talking in riddles and it's not like you. Who is this angel? Angel of music hide no longer secret and strange angel."

I hugged Meg again she gasped at the coldness of my hand "Esme you shouldn't light a candle tonight. Your hands are cold. You'll get sick down there. I'll have mother get you something warm to drink."

I only shook my head. I had to light a candle for my father. I had to not only because I missed him. I also had to do it because that was when the angel would come to me. My instructor wouldn't come to me if Madame Mason and Meg were in my room.

Soon after Meg left I got changed and started to go into the basement. I turned around when I heard a voice say "You sounded amazing tonight."

I looked into the eyes of my husband to be Charles. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "Get changed. I'll take you to dinner."

I looked away from him before I mumbled "I have to light a candle for my father. You know I do this every night."

What I said was true. However that didn't make me any less afraid. Charles had a temper. If I didn't do exactly what he wanted, he became mean and abusive. My fears were confirmed when he whiled around and backhanded me across my cheek.

I learned very early not to cry out or scream. That just resulted in worse beatings. He landed several kicks to my ribs before he brushed his hands off and sneered "Now get changed and we'll go to super. Say you love me Esme."

Third person

Renesmee dropped the book and started to cry. Jacob hugged her gently "Nessie what is it? What did you read?"

Renesmee sniffled "Nanna had it bad. No wonder she was so sad before she met Pops."

Jacob hated seeing Nessie cry. He wiped away her tears "Why don't we put the book away for a while. Your parents are probably looking for you. Are you going to be able to keep your thoughts to yourself? If you are too shaken up we can always go to La push."

I think I can do this. Aunt Alice showed me a fun way to block daddy."

Jacob sighed, "Alright Nessie. Let me just phase and we can go. Tie my pants to my leg would you?"

Renesmee tied the pants to Jacob's leg after he had phased. Then the two of them raced home. They were met at the door by Bella. She noticed her daughter's tear streaked cheeks and pulled her daughter into a hug "What happened sweetie? Did Jacob say something that upset you? Did you hurt yourself?"

Renesmee quickly answered "No mom. I'm fine. Jacob just ran a little fast. My eyes are running because of the wind."

Bella wasn't sure she believed the story but she didn't press. Instead she kissed her daughter's forehead and said "It's past your bedtime. Your father will play your lullaby for you. Goodnight my angel."