I wanted to give you this chapter as well so I could clear up the Author note from chapter 1. This story is NOT complete; in fact, I am currently working on chapter 6. I MAY give you chapter 3 in a week, because it is the second part of this chapter.
Thank you to nicoleXben for her Beta help! I really appreciate it!
I did as much research as I could for historically accurate descriptions, some things may not be quite right. Just a warning.
When Souls Ignite
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
Bella POV 1917:
Just as I thought I was going to free-fall into the darkness forever, I felt my feet firmly on the ground again. It was immensely cold, and I could feel drops of snow hitting my nose. I opened my eyes slowly, cautious of the dizziness Ciaran warned me of. The ground was covered in white. The snow was absolutely beautiful, and it was the first time I had ever actually seen real snow.
I marveled at the snow falling from the sky until my hands went numb. The sky was getting dark when I finally decided to venture into the city and find the boarding house. After looking around to make sure no one was out here, I turned east and hoped it was the right way to the boarding house.
My dress made it difficult to struggle through the snow, and my trunk didn't have wheels. It was heavy and awkward to move the trunk, but I finally made it to the streets. Luckily, there were merely a few stragglers on the street, so I kept my head down against the wind and continued to pull my trunk.
Luck would have it that I was on the right street, and before long, I saw the sign for the boarding house. The snow was also starting to come down faster, so I was glad to arrive. I managed to get the trunk up onto the porch and knocked on the door.
After a few minutes, the door creaked opened, and a woman who looked just older than myself peered out.
"Can I help you?" She asked tentatively. She looked at me for a moment, and then past me to the road.
"Yes, I was wondering if you had a room for rent?" I looked into her eyes then, and she gasped.
"Oh my! Yes, please come in!" She opened the door wider, and I turned and grabbed my trunk, dragging it behind me into the house.
"Where is your driver? Did he leave you out here to fend for yourself? What company does he work for? We must file a complaint." My driver? I wasn't sure what she meant, after a few seconds it clicked though. Women were usually escorted in the dark. There was no need for any of this though. I wasn't escorted here in any way.
"Sorry, no driver, I walked here." I stuttered through my chattering teeth. Now that I was done exerting myself, the sweat on my body was cooling and making me rather cold.
"You must be freezing! Let me fetch my husband to take your trunk to a room, and you can come sit by the fire. We can talk a while and drink some tea." It took me a moment to remember what time period I was in.
"Please." I didn't really know the etiquette for such conversations. That was the best response I was going to be able to give.
She led me to what I assumed was the sitting room. "Please have a seat, and I will be right back with the tea." She returned a few minutes later with a tea tray. It was laden with cakes, cream, sugar, cups, and the teapot. She placed it on the table next to the chair I was in, and she sat in the chair on the other side.
"My name is Annabelle, and this is my mother's boarding house. She is away visiting a friend and asked if we would watch over it while she was gone. The rent is two dollars a week, all meals are included, and you are asked to help with tasks. These tasks could be either in the kitchen or in the garden."
"It's nice to meet you Annabelle. My name is Isabella. I have no problems with the rent, or with helping out."
"Good to know, rent is due on Friday. Now, let me show you around the house, then you may retire to your room for the night." I have a bedtime? What is this place? I'm going to need some help understanding this time period a little better.
Annabelle showed me around downstairs. We began in the parlor and then moved on to the living room. From there, I saw the kitchen and dining room before going down the hall to the downstairs bathroom. She then led me to the top of the stairs, where all the bedrooms were. They had six rooms total to rent out; my room was the first in the hall, and apparently the only room with an adjoining bathroom.
"We usually rent this room to married couples, but since you are our only guest right now, it's yours. Please feel free to take care of yourself, and I will see you in the morning. Breakfast is at seven sharp." With that she left me on my own, and I was able to really look at my room.
The walls were painted light beige, and the furniture was all dark cherry. The bed was a four-poster, with beautiful hand-carved head and footboards. Next to the bed, there was a nightstand with a domed clock. There was a vanity, a dresser, and a few chairs scattered around the room. On the wall near the window, there was a small writing desk equipped with a pen and stationary. The bathroom was small, but functional. It had a toilet, sink, and a claw foot tub, which looked very inviting at the moment. I thought about it, but decided a bath could wait.
I went back into the bedroom and opened my trunk. I didn't know what to do with my still damp clothes, but ultimately decided on hanging them on the towel bar in the bathroom. Rummaging through the drawers, I found something that looked like a nightgown. I put it on, and it was very long. How did women sleep in these things? I was so afraid that I was going to get tangled up during the night
I carefully settled into the bed, and it was surprisingly comfortable. I picked up my tattered copy of 'Wuthering Heights' and started to read.
The next thing I knew, it was morning. I was awake and ready to start exploring this 'new world'. I got dressed with the same routine as the day before. This dress was similar to the one I wore here, except it was blue and had lace over the skirt. This dress was blue with lace, and was the same length as the one I wore here.
After putting my hair into a braided bun, I concluded that my appearance was adequate I went downstairs. I found Annabelle in the kitchen kneading dough on the counter. Her apron was covered in flour, and she had some smeared on her forehead. I let out a giggle at her expense, and she looked up at me.
"Good morning, Isabella. Your dress is very pretty. If you are planning on helping me make breakfast for us, then please get an apron out of the cupboard."
"Ok, and please just call me Bella. I prefer that." I found the aprons and put one on, as I took my place next to her, waiting for instructions.
"If you wouldn't mind getting the biscuits rolled, cut, and into the oven, I can get started on the gravy." I would just have to pretend I knew what she meant by gravy.
I took her place at the counter and picked up the rolling pin. I knew how to do this task at least. I had a tray of biscuits ready for the oven in no time at all. She took the tray out of my hands and slid it into the oven.
"Bella, if you wouldn't mind setting the table? Three place settings please. Thomas should be getting back just in time to eat."
The dishes were all arranged in a beautiful hutch in the dining room, so it wasn't hard to find everything I needed for the table. I finished my task quickly and went back to the kitchen. Annabelle was pouring the contents of the pan into a large bowl. She also had a platter with eggs, bacon, and sausage.
"Bella, can you take the platter and the biscuits to the table? I'll bring the rest out." I picked them up silently and went back to the dining room. She came out right behind me. Just as I was about to ask if there was anything else, I heard the front door close.
A man I assumed was Thomas entered the dining room. He wasn't that tall, but he was muscular. He was blonde with pale blue eyes.
"Annabelle, breakfast smells wonderful… oh hello! I forgot we had a guest in the house. Excuse my manners. I'm Thomas, Annabelle's husband. It's a pleasure to meet you." His voice was soft, yet sharp at the same time.
"Pleasure to meet you as well. I'm Isabella, but please call me Bella." He nodded, but he didn't seem very interested in the houseguests.
Annabelle brought out a tray with drinks, which appeared to be coffee and tea. I took a seat at the table once Annabelle sat down, and I waited to see what they did before I touched anything. This isn't something you read about in books, and I wasn't sure what to do. I'm sure it wasn't odd for me to wait; I was the guest after all.
"Bella, please help yourself." Thomas said to me. I guess guests went first.
After making our plates and silently eating for a few minutes, I caught Annabelle's eye.
"Bella, I usually ask when guests walk in here about their story and what brought you here, but it was so late last night I didn't want to overwhelm you. So please, tell us where you come from and what brought you here." Oh no! I hope I can make this believable.
"Well, I'm eighteen. My parents died about a year ago, and I wound up selling the house and our land so I could travel west. I have been searching for a place to set down roots, and I came here. In my travels, I heard that Chicago was doing well, and I should visit. I am hopeful that I will find whatever it is that I am looking for here." I shrugged after that; I didn't really know what else to say.
"I'm sorry to hear about your parents. You're eighteen? Didn't you leave behind a fiancé? Most girls your age are either already married, or engaged. Where did you live before?" What is with all these intrusive questions?
"Yes, eighteen. And I didn't have any suitors. None that were worthy anyways, nor did they catch my eye. I am from New York, in a small wealthy town just north of the Hudson Valley." I hoped my geography was correct, I would hate to have to explain a slip up.
"I don't mean to pry. But last night you showed up with no driver in sight, and you said you walked here. Can you tell me what happened?" Hmm, what do I remember about early cars?
"I had a driver, but the car overheated and we had to stop. The snow was getting heavier, so I told him that I would continue on foot while he fixed it. And I left before he could argue with me. I'm very stubborn, and it was no big deal." I hoped that was accurate.
"Hmm…" She shook her head slightly and frowned. Before I could think of a way to deflect the questions, she asked me another.
"Do you have a plan for while you are here? How will you make some money?" Oh this is an easy one.
"I have some money from the sale of my family home, but I plan on going to the hospital today and see if they have anything available."
Thomas's ears picked up on that, and he looked right at me.
"You want to work at the hospital? It just so happens that one of our doctors is looking for a new nurse, someone who can work at his side all the time. You would be responsible for only his patients. You would also need to assist him in the operating room." He seemed excited for some reason.
"That sounds perfect. What time should I go?" As I asked Thomas, he looked at the clock.
"I can escort you right after breakfast. He should be getting there now."
"Sounds perfect. Thank you for your assistance." We continued our breakfast in silence after that, excitement flowing through me. I was hoping this doctor was the one I was looking for.
I helped Annabelle clear the table and wash the dishes while Thomas got ready for his day at work. I went upstairs to get my coat, and then I met him at the door.
"Bella, the hospital is only four blocks over, if you don't mind walking. Otherwise I can call for a cab." He sounded concerned.
"No, thank you, walking is just fine." I wanted to take in the city at a slower pace.
Annabelle came to the door then, carrying Thomas's hat and gloves. "Bella? You don't have a hat and gloves! You'll freeze out there." I wanted to assure her that I would be fine, but she was gone before I could protest.
She came back after a few moments with a small bundle in her hands.
"Here you go dear. These are mine for you to borrow, maybe after you return today we can go to one of the stores and get you more appropriate attire for this cold weather." Was I not wearing winter clothes?
"I look forward to it." Maybe shopping in this simpler time would be easier on me.
She gave Thomas a kiss on the cheek and straightened his hat. "Be safe out there, and I will see you at dinner time. Bella, here is our address in case you decide to take a cab back. I'm not sure if you will start working today or not." I took the piece of paper from her outstretched hand, and turned to follow Thomas out the door.
The walk to the hospital was a cold one. The snow had stopped from the night before, and everything was covered in white. It was beautiful. I noticed that we were in a part of the town that wasn't heavily populated. There were more businesses here than anything else.
"Thomas, why aren't there more houses in this part?" I asked cautiously. I knew one mustn't be too curious, especially a woman.
"Great question. Our house was kept here in this part of the town for travelling workers to have a place to stay. There are four houses that were turned into boarding houses. The others are located near the factories, and honestly, they are not as nice as ours. We were thankful that Annabelle's mother's house was near the shops. I heard your hesitation when you asked, and I understand that you are not from around here, so please do not feel bad for your curiosity around me, at least. I completely understand. I am a doctor after all; I am naturally curious myself."
"Thank you, Thomas. Can you tell me more about this doctor I will be working with?" I asked, letting a little of my excitement leak through.
"Well, lets see… I don't really know much about him. He's a very private person, and stays away from just about everyone. All his nurses quit on him after two weeks, with the excuse that they feel uncomfortable but can't explain why." Sounds like Carlisle to me. Well, at least I know he won't scare me away.
"I guess it's a good thing I like a challenge, and I am a very stubborn person. I'm sure I will be fine." I was more confident then ever.
Thomas just nodded his head and turned the next corner with me at my side. He said hello to a few people he passed, and they looked at me curiously. After another corner, the hospital came into view.
The building was tall and white. There weren't many windows on this side of the building, but there was a small red cross near the door to indicate that this was indeed the hospital.
When we entered the doors, it was very quiet, and there was a strong smell of bleach. There was a nurse sitting behind a desk just inside the door, and she looked up and smiled at Thomas. When her eyes glanced at me, she frowned.
"Who's this, Thomas?" She asked with disapproval in her tone.
"Ah, this is Isabella. She is a border at our home and is looking for work. Another brave soul to work with Dr. Cullen." The nurse smirked, and it wasn't a friendly one either. Despite her obvious distaste, my eyes lit up at the confirmed mention of Carlisle.
"Well, he's here. I think he is in his office. I'll call up ahead for you. Please escort Isabella to his floor." And with that, she turned her back on us and picked up the phone.
Thomas led me to the stairs. We walked up four flights and went through the doors. The hallway was stark white and very long. The lighting was a little dim, but I could still see just fine.
As we were walking down the hall, a nurse walked out of one of the rooms. She looked franticly up and down the hall, and she seemed very nervous. I wondered if it was because she was working for Carlisle.
Thomas led me down another hall and stopped at the first door. The door read 'Dr. Carlisle Cullen' in beautiful painted script. Thomas knocked twice and waited for the quite reply that came from the other side. My heart rate picked up slightly at the sound of his voice, and I almost ran through Thomas to get to him. I quickly checked myself though, and patiently waited for Thomas to open the door and usher me in.
I walked in first, and knew I was going to have to be careful. This Carlisle didn't know me, but I was just so excited. I wanted to hug him!
"Dr. Cullen, I'm so glad I caught you while you were still in your office. This is Isabella, and she is looking for work. I knew you were looking for a new permanent nurse, and she is up for the challenge." Carlisle's eyes roamed over my face, then to my clothes quickly, and he smiled.
"Thank you, Thomas. I'll interview Isabella and then if she fits what I need, I will give her the tour. Please tell Nurse Bishop she is dismissed. She can take the rest of the day off, and then return to her regular post in the morning. I think she has had enough of me for the day." He chuckled at some unknown thought.
"Good day, Carlisle. Bella, I'll meet you at the entrance at six to escort you home." I said good-bye and turned back to Carlisle.
"Isa-" I quickly cut him off.
"Please, Dr. Cullen, just call me Bella. I prefer that." I smiled at him then, wishing he knew me.
"Okay, Bella then. Let me ask you a few questions." I was suddenly nervous, not of Carlisle of course, but I had no medical background. I'm essentially a high school drop out.
"How old are you Bella?"
"I'm eighteen."
"Ok, good."
"Judging by your attire, you are not a skilled nurse. Have you had any training? I need someone that I won't have to babysit."
Oh no! I hope this doesn't hurt my chances with him.
"Honestly no, I haven't had any training. I am a quick learner though, and I promise you won't have to babysit me. If you can take the time to show me what the instruments are in the operating room, I will learn them quickly and by tomorrow. It will take time to learn your preferences, as I am sure you know."
He studied me for a moment, and I saw his eye brows scrunch in thought, just like they always do.
"Something tells me to take a chance on you, Bella. Today is an easy day here; I only have four patients, so I do actually have time to teach you and show you around. Let's see how you do. Please take this pen and paper and follow me."
I took the pen and paper from his outstretched hand and followed him back out into the hall. He led me into the room three doors down from his office.
"Bella, this is John. I just operated on his broken leg last week. He is recovering well, and should be able to go home next week. Our goal is to get him up out of bed and moving around with crutches in the next few days. He will need to be repositioned every four hours to avoid sores. John, this is my new nurse, Bella. Please be polite."
I wrote down everything Carlisle said to me about John, said good-bye with a smile, and followed Carlisle out into the hall. We went into the room across the hall and found a little boy in the bed.
"Bella, this here is James." I couldn't help it I shuddered at the name. The little boy had blonde hair and stark blue eyes with sharp features. He looked just like the monster that hunted me.
"Hello James, this is Bella. She is my new nurse, and I hope you wont give her a hard time. Bella, James will be ready to go home in three days. He has been here for a month after falling from a tree and breaking his collarbone and shoulder. It's still tender, but he is mobile and able to use his left arm pretty well. He is still taking pain medication, and he doesn't like it, so he will be difficult. Medication is administered twice daily." I again wrote the information down and said good-bye to James. I was going to have to try to get over the adverse affects that name was having on me.
We walked down the hall and into the room that I seen the flustered nurse exit when I came in with Thomas.
"Bella, this is Anna. Anna is in a coma, and we're not sure if she will come out of it. Your only job here is to check the machines, and make sure her fluid lines stay full. At this point there is nothing else we can do for her."
We left quickly after that. I felt bad for Anna. I hoped that she woke for her family's sake. We entered the room right next to Anna's to visit the last patient.
"This is Melvin. Melvin just had his left leg amputated after a streetcar accident. His wound and dressing will need to be cleaned and changed four times a day to avoid infection. Also pain medication is to be given at those times. Melvin, this is Bella, my new nurse." Melvin looked at me for the first time and his eyes widened.
"Hello Nurse Bella. You're a pretty little thing. Are you married?" Oh um…
"It was nice you meet you Melvin. And no, I'm not married." I had to think that the medication he was on was making him so bold.
"Bella, come on. Let's head to the operating room so you can get acquainted with the instruments." Carlisle seemed upset about something, but didn't voice it on our way down the hall, so I shrugged it off.
The operating room looked just like the ones I've seen on TV, except it was missing the more modern equipment. It was all white walls and floors with stainless steel and glass cupboards. Carlisle led me to the table in the middle of the floor and showed me the equipment on the little metal table next to it. Some of them looked familiar, but others looked like torture devices.
I diligently wrote down everything from left to right and labeled them according to Carlisle's preferences. It really didn't seem that difficult to understand, and everything had some pretty easy names, so it wouldn't be hard to memorize them.
"Alright Bella, that's it for the tour. We need to get you a uniform. Go back down to the front desk and ask Margret for one. She's the nurse stationed at the front desk." Oh no! I hope she is in a better mood than she appeared to be when I came in with Thomas. I was going to have to find out what her problem was.
I took the stairs back down to the first floor, and walked to the desk. Margret was sitting there looking over a paper. I waited for her to look up at me because I wasn't sure if the paper was important. After a few minutes though, it became clear that she was blatantly ignoring me.
"Excuse me, Margret. Dr. Cullen sent me down here to get a uniform from you." She finally looked up at me. The look of fire in her eyes would have scared me if she were something more than human.
"Did he now? You mean he is actually going to hire you?" I couldn't believe this woman had the audacity to act this way. I thought everyone was raised with manners.
"Excuse you? What did you just say?" I almost growled at her. I was this close to losing my cool with her.
"Well, I mean look at you. You're dressed like some high-class lady, and you come in here looking for a 'job' and you just happen to land it with Dr. Cullen. Who everyone knows is a very eligible bachelor. You know, there's a name for women like you." Did she just call me a prostitute?
"Oh my. Margret, I would be offended if your outburst held any truth to it. But let me just assure you that I have no interest in Dr. Cullen. That's not my goal, and if you ever call me a prostitute again I will personally rip your face off. Now, I am here to stay, do my job, and build my own life here. So run along and do your job."
Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. She just stared at me.
"If you're too incompetent to get me my requested uniform, can you at least point me in the direction, and I will get them myself. And also, just a thought, perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to judge people. It's rude."
Margret was visibly shaking when she stood up and practically ran down the hall to a storage room. I guess even in this time, where people were raised proper, there were still some who thought themselves better then the rest. She reminded me of Lauren and Jessica.
She returned a few moments later and handed me a pile of uniforms.
"Since you seem adamant that you will be working here permanently, I went ahead and got you a few extra sets of uniforms. You'll need them working in the operating room. And I must apologize; it is so easy to assume the worst in people sometimes."
"Still, it's unprofessional and I should report you, but I wont. However, if I catch you treating someone else like you did me, then I will." I didn't wait for a response; I took my uniforms from her and headed back to the stairs.
When I exited the bathroom, Carlisle was coming down the hall. His eyes were alight with humor, and he was smirking. I knew he heard my conversation with Margret, but I wasn't going to let him know that I knew.
"There, now you look like a proper nurse. Why don't we go down and get some lunch. Nurse Bishop did all the morning rounds before you got here, so we have some time."
"Thank you Dr…" He cut me off.
"No, if I am not allowed to call you Isabella, then you must call me Carlisle."
"Carlisle then, thank you." I smiled up at him. And he led the way to the small cafeteria.
The food wasn't awful, but it definitely wasn't what was I accustomed to either. We, well I ate in silence, and Carlisle pushed his food around. I wasn't going to say anything about him not actually eating. I knew better.
"Bella, I'm really hoping that you work out as my nurse. I have had six nurses in the past month and I can't quite figure out why they don't like to work with me."
"Not to gossip or anything, but from what Thomas told me, all those nurses felt very uncomfortable around you, but couldn't explain why they felt that way. I however feel very comfortable with you, so I don't understand either."
"Hmm. Perhaps it's because I am very demanding of the care my patients receive. I'm pretty sure I ran those nurses off by expecting them to be here constantly. I hope you will be able to keep up."
"I have no doubt that I will be able to. I'm happy to be here." I smiled at him, and he smiled back.
"Let's get back upstairs and check on everyone. It's about time to administer meds, and Melvin needs his dressing checked." Carlisle stood and took both our trays to the garbage, and we walked back upstairs together.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
The past two weeks flew by. Between working at the hospital with Carlisle and doing chores at the boarding house with Annabelle, I was exhausted. Carlisle was impressed with my quick learning of his preferences and my attention to detail.
Sadly, Anna passed away while still in a coma; there was just nothing anyone could do, and without the aid of modern medicine, there was no way to get scans of her brain to see what was wrong. And poor Melvin, despite all of our efforts, he still got an infection and had to go back into surgery to remove the infected tissue. Carlisle was worried that he may have to amputate the rest of his leg up to his hip.
John and little James had a full recovery, and they were both discharged right on schedule. It took me a few days to get over my aversion to James' name. I knew that he wasn't the same person that hunted me, so I was quick to recover.
The hole in my chest was ever present, and I knew somewhere in this city I would find Edward. I've wanted to talk to Carlisle and ask him if he knew of the Masen's, but I've been too nervous.
"Bella, I thought you had the day off today? Why are you here?" At least Margret's attitude has changed over the past two weeks.
"It is, but Carlisle needed me to come in and assist him on a research project he has been working on." I said politely to her.
"Oh, sounds exciting. I'll let you get to it then."
I sluggishly took the stairs up to Carlisle's office. It wouldn't have been so bad if I weren't up at the crack of dawn teaching Annabelle a new recipe for chocolate cookies. They had two new boarders check in for a long-term stay, but I haven't met them yet.
When I reached the office, Carlisle was at his desk pouring over some papers he had scattered everywhere.
"Bella, thank you for coming in today. I wanted you to help me organize these papers, and perhaps help me file them."
"Sure Carlisle, whatever you need. Is there a particular order you want them filed in?" My tone was soft as a result of the exhaustion, but I was really trying to hide it from him.
"No, not really. Just file them so early notes are in the front, and more advanced notes in the back. I feel like I am really on to something here about coma patients, but I still have a long way to go." I sat down at his desk and began my task of sorting through the mess of notes. It did make it easier that he had the papers dated.
Despite the papers being dated, it still took me a few hours to get them sorted. I almost fell asleep twice reading through everything. Carlisle had left the office several times to check on his patients and to go down to the emergency room to see if they needed assistance. The hospital was always pretty quiet; people weren't as stupid as they are in 'my time'. When I finished the papers, I sat back in the chair and closed my eyes. I must have drifted off to sleep, because when the office door swung open, it startled me.
"Bella? You're still here? Its nearly 8 o'clock. It looks like a snowstorm is blowing in. Would you mind staying at my home? I could get you there faster than I could get you to the boarding house, and I will telegraph Thomas and let him know that you are safe with me." Wait what? A snowstorm? There were no windows in Carlisle's office so I didn't know what was going on outside.
"If you're sure it's okay with me in your home, I'm fine with that." I desperately needed some sleep, and I didn't care where I got it.
"Gather your things; I'll send the telegraph. Meet me at the entrance when you're ready to go." He left the room, and I put on my coat, hat, and gloves before heading downstairs.
The wind was so fierce when we stepped outside that I could barely see through the snow that was falling. The wind seemed to change directions constantly and pushed me around. Carlisle grabbed my arm to help keep me steady in our slow walk to his home.
I was surprised that the walk was so short. He lived on the next street over from the hospital. It was darker out than usual because of the storm, and I couldn't make out the details of his house. Carlisle unlocked the door quickly and turned on a few lights.
"It's not much to look at as I am at the hospital more often then I am here, but I do have a spare room that you can sleep in and a shower. I don't have much food either." I smiled at the fact he didn't have much food. Of course he didn't.
He showed me where the bathroom and spare bedroom were. Since I didn't have any extra clothes, I was going to have to wear this dress again tomorrow. I showered quickly, redressed, and went right to bed.
It was light out when I woke, and sun seemed brighter through the curtains. I went to the window and everything was covered in a thick blanket of snow. I was facing the street, but I couldn't see it. There was too much snow.
"Good morning, Bella." Carlisle greeted me when I came down the stairs.
"Good morning, Carlisle. What time is it?" I had to ask; it seemed so late in the morning.
"It's nearing eleven. I tried to wake you at seven to go into the hospital with me, but you wouldn't wake. I realized that you have been running non-stop for almost two weeks now, and I felt terrible, so I let you sleep. There is a covered dish warming in the oven for you whenever you are hungry. I'm done at the hospital for today, so I figured we could just stay here while we wait for the roads to get cleaned up."
"Thank you, Carlisle. Please don't feel bad about my working. I like the work, and it helps keep my mind off other things." The need to ask him about the Masen's was really pressing on me, but I didn't know if I had the courage to ask him just yet.
I went and got my plate out of the oven, and I was surprised to find pancakes, sausage, and eggs. On the table was butter and syrup. I ate happily and washed the dishes when I was finished. Carlisle was still in the living room when I returned.
"Bella how is life at the boarding house?" His question was polite, and I knew he was naturally curious so I had no problem answering him.
"It's all right. Though sometimes I am so exhausted from working that I have a hard time helping with the chores around the house. I manage though, and get it done without complaint." His eyebrows scrunched in concentration at my statement, and he was silent for a few moments.
"I don't mean to sound forward or anything, but how would you feel about moving in here with me? This place needs some life; don't you think?" I almost choked when he said life.
"You want me to live here? Won't people think that's a bit inappropriate?"
"Does it matter? We're nothing more than friends who work together. Wouldn't it be easier to be closer to the hospital? To not have to juggle the chores at the boarding house along with my demanding schedule?" His tone was sincere but serious.
It hit me then. If I lived here with him, I could tell him that I knew his secret and of the life he will lead. I could tell him where I really came from. If he could trust me, then I knew he would help me with my mission.
"All right, I will accept your proposal. It does seem more convenient to live here." I could see the relief in his expression at my words.
"Thank you, Bella. I've been alone for so long; you wouldn't understand." Oh Carlisle, I do understand… more than you know.
Later that evening the roads were cleared enough so that we could walk to the boarding house. I was thankful that the wind was not whipping, but it was still lightly snowing.
"Bella! I was so worried about you last night with that awful storm!" Annabelle greeted me when I walked in the door.
"Yes, thankfully Carlisle offered me his spare room last night."
"Oh! Hello, Dr. Cullen. Would you please join us for dinner? Bella, could you please help me?" I looked to Carlisle and he nodded at me. It would be rude to refuse. And I would just tell her that I was moving out over dinner.
I helped Annabelle finish getting dinner on the table. It smelled wonderful. Roasted chicken with vegetables. For the first time, I met the other boarders; they were a funny pair. Apparently they travel together finding work in the cities. Their names are Frank and Walter. Carlisle was tense beside me, and I wondered if he was having a hard time with the food. I tried watching him from the corner of my eye to see if he was all right, but he relaxed again after a few moments.
When dinner began winding down, I decided that was the best time to tell Annabelle that I was moving out. In order to avoid speculation, I knew I was going to have to say it in the right way.
"Annabelle, Thomas, I wanted to let you know that Dr. Cullen has offered me his spare room. It is more convenient given our demanding hours at the hospital, and he lives so close. I will of course pay you for this full week, but I will be leaving tonight."
They both had a look of understanding; they had people come and go so much that I am sure they were happy to have the room available for families again.
"That sounds wonderful dear. Thank you, Dr. Cullen for taking Bella in. I'm sure she will be much happier closer to the hospital. And hopefully she will have more opportunities to find her own place."
I helped Annabelle clean up after we were finished eating and then went upstairs to repack my trunk. As I was getting ready to drag it down the stairs, Carlisle appeared at the top step and took the trunk out of my hand.
"I'll take that, Bella. I wouldn't be a gentleman if I allowed you to cart this all the way over to my house." He picked the trunk up with ease and carried it down the stairs with me following behind.
I said my goodbyes to Annabelle and told Thomas I would see him around the hospital. We left after that, declining the offer to have them call a car for us.
"Bella, I know I don't have any food in the house, so how about we stop at the market tomorrow sometime?" The offer was nice, but he didn't have to make himself uncomfortable. And I knew that he didn't partake in making his home a prop until after he met Esme and Edward came back from his rebellion.
A shot of pain ran through me when I thought about Esme and Edward. I knew we would all be together again; it was just going to take some time.
"Carlisle, I can go to the market on my own, no need for you to go as well. Is there anything particular you want? I can just pick it up." His smile was rueful. And I felt guilty for stringing him along. I was going to have to come clean to him. Maybe I should just get it over with.
"No, just get whatever you would like. I eat at unusual times and I am okay getting my own meals." I just nodded, not knowing how to respond to that.
The rest of the walk to his house was silent. I was trying to figure out how to go about talking to him about all of this. When we reached his house, I still hadn't come up with the 'right' way to tell him, so I was just going to have to let it sit a while longer.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
It wasn't until a week later that the opportunity to talk to Carlisle finally presented itself. I had noticed that his eyes were getting darker by the day, and he was getting more irritable. On the way home from the hospital, I tripped over a stick that was lying in the middle of the walkway.
"Jesus, Bella! Watch where you're going!" Carlisle snapped at me, and if I wasn't mistaken, I heard a low growl in his voice.
I said nothing until we reached the house. This wasn't something that should be said outside where you didn't know who might be listening. As soon as we were in the house, I hung my coat up on the coat rack and took a seat on the sofa.
"You know, Carlisle, I don't know why you let it go for so long." I said simply. It got his attention quickly, which was my goal.
"Excuse me? What are you talking about Bella?" He was still snapping at me. I took a breath and held it for a moment.
"Your thirst, Carlisle. Why stretch it for two weeks, when obviously you need to go hunting now? Do you not notice the change in your moods?" If he could have gotten paler he would have. His eyes widened, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times before speaking.
"How… how do you know what I am?" Ah, the question. Well, he would need to go hunting before we continued.
"I know a great deal about you, and I would love to tell you about it. I would prefer that you went and took care of yourself before I tell you my story, though."
"Bella, I think this takes priority over my thirst." Was he really going to argue?
"No, Carlisle. I promise to be right here when you get back, and then we will talk."
"Alright, I'll go. And I am holding you to your word." I wouldn't expect anything different. I nodded at him.
"I promise, and… you can trust me Carlisle."
With that he left. It was twilight out, so I knew he would be able to move through the shadows and make quick work of taking care of his thirst. While he was gone, I fixed myself some dinner; might as well take care of myself while I was preaching about him. I also had time to straighten up my bedroom.
It was a few hours later when Carlisle returned, and I was sitting on the sofa reading my worn copy of Wuthering Heights when the door opened, bringing in a blast of cold air. Carlisle sat in the chair opposite the couch and stared at me intently with his now golden eyes. Sighing, I put my book down and sat up straighter.
"Now that I have hunted, please tell me everything you know." He seemed very nervous.
"I guess I need to start at the beginning. I'm not from this time Carlisle. I came here from the year 2005." I paused so he could absorb this information.
"That's impossible. Don't lie to me!" Oh lord!
"No, Carlisle. You know it's not impossible. Do you remember meeting Ciaran?" His eyes lit up at the mention of Ciaran.
"Yes, I met him about ten years ago."
"Did you learn of his talent?" I asked. I hoped I didn't have to explain it.
"Yes, now that you mention it, I did. But I didn't know he could send someone else back in time." He was excited now.
"Yes, he figured it out. Anyways… I moved to a small town called Forks; it is located in Washington. I met you, and your family…" He cut me off.
"Did you just say family?"
"Yes, Carlisle, your family. I'll tell you all about it soon.
"So I moved to Forks, and met you and your family. Things were rough at first. Your 'eldest' son wanted to kill me. I was his singer. And I was also his mate. He overcame his thirst, and we fell in love. Then on my eighteenth birthday, there was an accident, and I was almost killed by another member of your family. Your son left me, and made you all leave as well. I was in agony and still am, but I was at your house and Ciaran appeared. I told him everything that happened. Since he knew you, he wanted to do something to say thank you for changing his life around. He offered to send me back here to meet my mate as a human, and to take it from there. So hear I am. I figured if I befriended you first then you would be more likely to help me find my lost love."
"That is quite the tale, Bella. So tell me more about my family."
"Next year, the war will end. And when our soldiers come home they will bring the Spanish Influenza with them. It will spread like wild fire, and it will hit here in Chicago. You will meet a woman named Elizabeth Masen; she is the mother of Edward Masen Jr. She will die on a bed right here in the hospital that we work in. She will beg you to save her son in ways that she couldn't. You will change Edward and then flee the city with him. I was told that he was nearing death himself because of the fever, and you knew no one would think twice about him 'missing'.
"The Masens? You mean Edward Masen, the lawyer?"
"Yes, that Masen. He will pass away first, at home."
"Wow. So why is this family important?"
"Edward Jr. is my mate. It is important that you change him so that we can be together."
I didn't wait for him to ask a follow up; I knew this part would make him very happy.
"Next, you will change your mate. Esme…"
"Wait! Esme?"
"Yes, Esme… I believe you have already met her, what was it, back in 1911, she was 16 at the time, and had a broken leg."
"When will we see her again?" His curiosity was definitely piqued.
"We wont see her again until 1921. Her story is tragic though. Do you really want to know right now? We can't change it; we must let it happen like it is suppose to." I waited for him to decide.
"No, I don't think I want to know. I know the ache you are feeling all to well, and I think hearing it would kill me. But you'll let me know when it's time?"
"Of course, Carlisle. Do you want to hear the rest about your family?"
"Of course I do. However, I would really like to know what your plans here are."
My plans? I haven't really thought too much about them. Other than finding Carlisle and Edward, I wasn't sure what to do from there.
"My main goal was to find you. Then find Edward. I want to get to know him as a human, and I was hoping to ask you if you knew the Masens. I didn't know how to ask you without telling you my story because it would have seemed odd for me, who claims to be from New York, to ask about a family in Chicago. But now that you know the truth… can you tell me where the Masens live?" I asked hopefully.
"Everyone knows where they live. I'll take you there myself. I'm really hoping everything works out for you." I smiled. Finally, I would hopefully be reunited with Edward.
"Now tell me, Bella, how many members will be in my family?"
"If everything goes according to plan, there will be eight members in your family, Carlisle."
"Eight! That is quite large! What are their names?" Here we go. I hope he won't get mad.
"There's you and Esme, Edward and I, Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper."
"Wow! That's amazing!" He went quiet after that, probably thinking about all these people.
I stood after a while and started heading up the stairs to my bedroom when Carlisle called me back.
"Bella. I don't mean to sound untrusting, but I really hope that you are being truthful and not lying just to get what you want." I should have been offended that he would question my character like that, but in reality, I couldn't blame him.
"I would never do that, Carlisle. Now we know each other's secrets, and I hope you will see over time that I would never lead you astray. Not over something as important as your family."
"Very well. We will see." His tone was final, so I continued up the stairs to my room.
I was awoken the next morning by someone pounding on the front door. Just as I got to the bottom of the stairs, Carlisle opened the door. There was a young man standing there, hunched over and breathing heavily.
"Dr. Cullen! Come quick! There has been a street car crash and they need you at the hospital." The man breathed out. My eyes widened. We haven't had any kind of action at the hospital since my arrival.
"Bella, go get ready. It's going to be a very busy day." He was gone in a flash to get his things, and I sprinted back up the stairs, tripping on my way, to change into my nurse uniform.
Carlisle matched my pace, a brisk human walk to the hospital. I could hear the sirens and see a cloud of smoke in the distance. Once we rounded the corner and could see the hospital, I noticed that the entrance was a flurry of activity.
"Dr. Cullen! Thank god! It looks like twenty people were injured. We were able to establish a triage and assess the ones that were critical and ones that only needed minor medical attention. We've dispatched messengers to several other doctors, but of course you were the first to arrive." It was Margret, and she seemed flustered. No doubt from not seeing an accident like this before.
"Very well, where are the critical patients?" His tone was friendly, but demanding.
"Right this way please. Oh, hello, Bella." I followed them into the hospital, and down a hall on the first floor.
The room was filled with people who were either crying or moaning out in pain. One man had his femur bone sticking out of his leg. Another man had a large gash on his head and was bleeding profusely. A woman clearly had a broken arm, and next to her was a little girl with a cut across her back. It was hard to see this many injured, and my vision wavered just a bit at the smell of all the blood. I centered myself and ignored it, deciding to focus on assisting Carlisle where he needed me.
The day was long, and we were in the operating room until late. Fifteen of the twenty people needed surgery, and only one died. It was a good day by any standard in an emergency. Carlisle didn't let any other doctors in the operating room with him, and since he now knew I knew his secret, he was able to work at his pace. It made the surgeries go a lot quicker as well.
I was dead on my feet when we finally left for the night. Carlisle half carried me home.
"Bella, I'm sorry. I forgot you were only a human today. I will get a different nurse to help me tomorrow. I want you stay home and rest." He sounded upset with himself.
"I should be fine after some sleep, and I'll be good to go again for tomorrow. No need to make me take the day off."
"No, I insist. You won't survive working like you have. No need to wear yourself out and cause an illness." No, I definitely didn't want that.
"All right, if you are going to be so insistent about it." I yawned while talking, but I am sure he still understood what I said.
My bed was my only thought when we entered the house, but Carlisle called me into the kitchen.
"Bella you should eat something before going to sleep for the night. Why don't you go get ready, and I will see what I can find for you." That was not something he needed to do for me, but at the mention of food, my stomach grumbled loudly. I sighed; I didn't want him to take care of me, but I was too tired to argue.
I turned the water on as hot as I could get it and let it fall over me. My muscles loosened immediately, and there was a rush of relief. I wanted to stay there forever. All too soon, exhaustion washed back over me, and I got out and went downstairs to see what Carlisle had found for me in the kitchen. I found him standing at the stove stirring a pot.
"What ya got there Carlisle?" He growled slightly and turned to face me.
"It's the soup you made the other day… I think." He shuddered as he said it. "It smells awful by the way." I laughed at him.
"Well, thank you for your efforts." I peeked over his arm to look into the pot. It was indeed my soup. And it was boiling.
"Carlisle, that soup is efficiently hot enough. You can shut it off now." He turned it off and pulled the soup off the burner.
I had to let the soup cool before I could eat it, so I busied myself wiping down the counters; even though they were clean, I needed to do something. After about twenty minutes, I ladled some soup into the bowl and ate it quickly. With a stomach full of warm soup, I said goodnight to Carlisle and sluggishly walked up the stairs. I flopped into my bed, face first on the pillows, and that was all I remembered.
I didn't wake up until the afternoon. The clock read one and I felt fully rested. I dressed and went downstairs with my book. After lighting a fire in the fireplace, I moved the chair closer and settled in to read. I was so immersed in my book that it startled me when the door opened and clicked closed. I didn't hear Carlisle's footsteps, but I knew it was him.
"Hello, Bella. How was your day?"
"Very restful. Thank you, Carlisle. How are the patients today?"
"Everyone is recovering quite well. They are all awake, thankfully. I expect everyone to be released in a few days so they can recover comfortably at home."
"That's wonderful news! I need to go to the market and get some things. Care to join me?" The look on his face was priceless, and I laughed. Clearly he didn't want to go.
"Carlisle, you can refuse. I know you don't want to go. I'll be back soon." I grabbed my small change purse and my coat before heading out the door.
The walk to the market was short. The air was slightly warmer than it had been all week, and I was grateful. There seemed to be a charge in the air, but the sky was only overcast. I hadn't heard any reports of another storm coming in, so I wasn't sure what was going on.
I walked around the market trying to decide what I wanted to buy. I didn't necessarily need anything, but I wanted something different for dinner. I came across a case with fresh steaks and decided that steak and potatoes would be a wonderful dinner. I also knew we needed some milk. I found a small case with milk, and as I was pulling the bottle out, I felt an electric shock go through me.
I stood, and then everything in my hands went crashing to the floor when I saw the person standing next to me. Nothing mattered to me at that moment. Not the milk that had splattered all over my dress and was in a pool on the floor, not my dinner items. All that mattered was the boy standing next to me staring just as openly as I was.
"I'm so sorry!" It was all I could say to him in that moment.
"No worries, I didn't like these pants anyways." He flashed me his crooked smile and I melted. "I'm Edward. Edward Masen."
"Nice to meet you Edward. I'm Isabella… Bella for short… Swan." I stuttered out. While extending my hand out to him, apparently I wasn't over the shock yet.
He reached for my hand, and it seemed like it was happening in slow motion. Once our hands connected, it felt like a shockwave went through me. My knees almost gave out at his touch. His eyes widened, and he gasped. I knew he felt it too.
"Bella…" He sighed out and smiled.