Chapter 3: Newborn

EdwardPOV

Chicago, September 1918

I stared. I couldn't stop. Everything was new. The colours, the light, everything was all new. And I could hear so much. There was cars driving down on the streets, there was music, breathing, heartbeats…Wait. My heart had stopped, I realized. But…I was still there…alive or sort of alive at least. How can this be? What am I? Why…Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted. A hand touched my shoulder carefully, but still I drew in a shocked breath, startled.

Millions of scents attacked me. Those made my throat burn very uncomfortably. And another uncomfortable thing was going on in my head. It felt like there was dozens of people speaking at the same time. In. My. Head. Am I crazy? What had happened to me?
Only one small second had passed. Only then I fully noticed that the blond man was still there. It was his hand which was on my shoulder. He was watching me intently, even smiling a little. I was just about to ask him, what was all this, but he started talking first.

''Hello, Edward, my name is Carlisle. Please let me explain…''
Then my concentration to his words was stolen away, when one of the voices in my head became clearer. I listened to it, instead of Carlisle.
~He looks to be all right, but frightened. I should explain him, but how to tell him he's a newborn vampire without scaring him even more...? This is complicated, I hope he'll listen to me…~
My eyes widened in horror because of the information the voice gave me.

''A newborn vampire?!'' I screamed straight to Carlisle's face. Then my frightened expression changed to a very confused one, because my voice was not my voice anymore. As if someone else had talked. And the man – Carlisle, right, looked even more confused. Even the stupid, bizarre voice in my head sounded confused.
~How can he know? But now there is even more reason to explain…~
And then he started to talk. The exact same words were echoed in my head, as he spoke.

''Edward, please listen to me first. Yes, you are a vampire, and I am too. I was the one who changed you. You were dying. But vampires aren't like the stories tell…''

He explained me everything. I listened to both him and the voice. The voice was fulfilling his story, because there had started to be pictures with the words. And as I was listening his explanation, I understood, what 'the voice' was. It wasn't 'the voice', it was his voice. I was able to hear thoughts. But how? Though Carlisle's explanation had been thorough, he hadn't said anything about hearing peoples thoughts. Could he hear me, too? No, obviously it was just me, because he wasn't responding to my thoughts.

''Carlisle?''
''Yes?'' ~Yes?~
He said and thought at the same time. It was very confusing. And all the other voices were distracting me.
~What's for dinner today…~
~I wonder…~
I tried to get rid of the distracting voices by shaking my head. It didn't work, and Carlisle looked confused. Confused, confused, confused! All of this is too confusing! I hate to be confused…

''I have a question.''
I finally managed to say through all the voices and my own CONFUSED thoughts. Infuriating…
~Of course he has questions…~ Carlisle thought.
''You can ask me anything.'' He said.
I swallowed something down my throat, and it hurt. I swallowed one more time, and tried to concentrate on Carlisle's golden eyes. It helped a little.

''I…I…There is…'' I stammered miserably. I tried to collect myself by breathing deep. That was a very bad idea. My throat flared and my hand instinctively rose to cover it, trying to soothe the pain.
~Ah, he's wondering about the pain in his throat. I forget it altogether. I should take him hunting as soon as possible…~
No, no, no…He understood all wrong…I wasn't going to ask about that. Well, not yet. But I had no time to correct him. He was already speaking, and I decided to ask my question later.

''A burn in your throat? Don't worry; it'll be much better after you've hunted.''
~I've doomed him into an eternal pain…But I'm still not sorry about changing him…I wonder if he wants to stay with me. I would enjoy his company so much…But now is not the right time to ask…~
If I want to stay with him? Of course I do, I don't know anything about this life. Even a single thought about being alone in this new world scared me. And then I made a big mistake, according to my decision about telling him later. I spoke my thoughts aloud.

''Of course I want to stay with you. I don't know anything about this life.''
Carlisle was clearly taken aback, but at the same time he looked delighted. It was a weird expression, and I laughed a little. I stopped when the voice came out all wrong. My voice was too beautiful. It was almost sickeningly sweet. I didn't like it at all. Then Carlisle recovered from the surprise.

''Edward…?'' His sentence trailed off. Though he was silent, his thoughts weren't silent at all.
~He just…What did he just? I cannot understand…~
''Carlisle...I think…I think I can hear thoughts. And I just answered your thoughts…I was about to ask it. How is it possible? Is this in common amongst vampires?'' I stopped my flood of questions and waited for him to answer. He remained silent. He looked…Shocked.
~(silence)~
Okay, he looked very shocked. I was about to stand up from the bed I was sitting, and do something. Well, I didn't know what something, but something. Before I moved, he collected himself, and smiled. Now it was my turn to be taken aback. Why was he smiling?

''You're gifted, Edward. Other vampires do have gifts, but each one is unique. I've never met a vampire with a gift like yours. Reading minds from a distance. Aro, the Volturi leader, like I just told you, can read every thought your mind had ever held, but he need to touch you while doing this. But I don't know how does it work. Well, actually I have a theory…But that can wait. You need to hunt.''
I had lifted my hand once again to soothe my sore throat, and he noticed. Hunting…I shivered involuntary to the word.

''I don't want to kill humans.'' I said to him. And he smiled again. In his thoughts I saw pictures of animals. There were bears, deers, wolves and others. And he was hunting those. My eyes widened.
''You hunt animals? Really? And you can live amongst humans?''
''Yes. I'll tell you my story later. And yes, I can live with humans without a problem. I'm a doctor.''
I just nodded to his words. It was a great relief to hear, that I could live without killing anybody.
''Shall we go?'' Carlisle was standing by the door. I rose from the bed, and walked over to him.
Oh, how graceful I was! I walked back to the bed and again to the door. So fast and still balanced…After a moment Carlisle laughed at me. I turned around and smiled at him. Only a little smile. Then I thought something.

''How fast I can run?'' I asked. I had been very fast before and I wanted to test myself now.
''Well, lets go and see. In the nearby forest you can run as fast as you can.''
Carlisle lead me outside and to his car. I stopped to take a look at it. It was just gorgeous. The newest model of Ford. It had four doors and an electric start-up. I knew the electric start-up wasn't supposed to be available until 1919. How did he get it this early?
Carlisle noticed my stare.
''Isn't it beautiful? It's brand new.'' He said and patted the car. Obviously we shared the passion for cars. I smiled to him. Next thing he said, surprised me. I didn't hear it in his thoughts. Well, I wasn't even listening. I wasn't used to it, and I was trying to tune the voices out, unsuccessfully.
''Would you like to drive?''
I smiled again, this time even wider. He would let me drive! But then I remembered that I didn't know how. My smile faded.
''I don't know how.''
''I'll teach you some time. ´´He promised, and smiled. He seemed to be always smiling.
__________

We were driving through the city. The wind was torturing me. It was blowing straight to my face thousand and thousands of the most delicious scents. My throat burned. Carlisle watched me and looked concerned. I tried to concentrate on his thoughts instead of the scents.
~He looks bad. It must hurt so much…I do remember my own first days…~
Then I got few flickers of those days. It was very interesting, but when he was remembering his own pain, it doubled mine, and I grimaced. He moved quickly to next topic, when he saw that. And it wasn't a silent drive. He was talking so much. It was mildly irritating, but I didn't say anything. I understood why he was so talkative. He had been alone so long. Only talking to his colleagues and patients. Never able to tell to anyone, who he really was. I started to listen to his thoughts again.
~I'm so happy to have a company...Hey...That man is going to…Oh! Blood!~

A man nearby had fallen badly down the stairs. Carlisle probably turned to me, but he was too late. I was already out of the car, running towards the man, only thinking of one thing: Blood!
It wasn't me who was running to that man, going to kill him. It felt like I was out off my own body, watching when the devil took the control.
I didn't have the chance to even touch the poor man. Something rock hard slammed into me just a millisecond before. Another vampire! He was going to steal my prey! I struggled against he hold of the man, and growled. That growl brought me back to my body. Was it really me, who did that sound? I stopped squirming, and realised that it was Carlisle who was holding me. His thoughts were screaming, but his voice was calm.
''Edward? Are you sane again?''
''Yes. Let me go…''
He did not let me go, but let me stand up, and took a firm hold on my arm.
''Hold your breath.''
He said simply and started to walk back to the car. I obeyed him and held my breath. I was shocked, disappointed at myself. I had disappointed Carlisle. This made me feel even worse. It was a strange feeling. I'd known him only few hours, and already I didn't want to disappoint him.

~I should have known this would happen…He is not me, and I should have been more careful…I'm disappointed at myself…Next time, if it will come, I'll be ready…~
After I had heard this thought, I was even more shocked. He was punishing himself about this. It was my fault!
''Carlisle, don't. It was my fault.''
He didn't say anything, just smiled politely. But I heard more in his thoughts.
~No…It was my entire fault. I should have mentioned about the possible reaction…Order him to hold his breath while we are inside the city…~
I snarled in frustration at his self-blaming thoughts and sulked silently the rest of the journey.

We arrived to the road which was going through the forest. Carlisle parked the car to the side of the road, and we carried it a little deeper, and covered it. I was amazed by my strength, and I wasn't sulking anymore. When the car was covered, I looked at Carlisle questioningly.
''What now?'' I asked. He thought his answer.
~Well, at first, you could try how fast you can run.~
He smiled, and I smiled triumphantly back at him. He nodded. I didn't hesitate, but started running as fast as I could. The feeling was exhilarating! And I could still see everything clearly! I laughed and pushed my legs to take even wider leaps, to go faster. I could hear Carlisle following me, but he was falling behind. I laughed again. I continued my run, but after a moment I couldn't hear Carlisle's thoughts anymore. There was a nothing. A silence in my head. It felt natural; the silence was that I was used to have. But at the same time it felt strange. I was already starting to get used to the constant hum of voices.
I didn't have any time to panic, when his voice appeared again, and then he was standing in front of me. His eyes were wide.
~Wow, that was really fast, even for a newborn…~
I smiled at his mental comment. I was fast, even for a newborn? But then my thirst reminded itself, and I turned to Carlisle. He understood before I was able to speak out loud.
''Just let your instincts rule. There's no humans nearby.''
I did as he said. He let me lead the hunt.
______

Afterwards I was all covered in blood and dirt. I watched myself in disgust. Carlisle was all clean, like he'd never even stepped in the forest. But he had thought everything. He handed me fresh clothes and I cleaned myself in a little river as well as I was able. Then we were able to leave and drive through the city without getting too much stares. My thirst was only tamed, but I could hold myself together. I didn't attack anybody this time.
Back to Carlisle's house I collapsed to the bed, though I wasn't tired at all.
''Carlisle, why I'm not tired? Is this a vampire thing?''
''Yes, it is. We don't sleep. Welcome to my world. You're now a newborn.''
And he smiled.
____________________________________________________________________

A/N: Whew! I'd been writing this chapter for ages! Sorry this took so long. And the next chapter will come also later. I'm leaving to a camp today.
Please, review, reviews are love!

Ps. About the Carlisle's Ford. I checked those things I wrote. Earlier models didn't have door for the driver, and they were started by using a crank handle. So Carlisle owns a very good car!