Chapter Two

Edgard And The War

The depression ended, cutting off my food supply. No one train was enough for me any more. Then a stroke of luck happened. The Japs attacked Pearl Harbor. I could vaguely remember the first world war it had happened when I was only three. I realized that a war would be the perfect opportunity for me to get my vitamin H. Vitamin human that is the only thing I could have. I hated killing people but there was no other choice.

I signed up right after the newspapers showed that war had been declared. I was half mad with hunger by the time my training was completed. I was so relieved that I got to fight, I am ashamed to admit it but I cried. I was so tired of dirt I wanted real food.

"It's alright Edgard." Another solider that fancied me his friend said patting me. "We are all afraid, let it all out big guy." I smiled weakly big guy was their nickname for me.

"Thanks Albert, It's just that I have a girl back home." I told him.

"If the Japs come again you will have nothing but a pile of rubble back home." The general said short of patients. "Eat up your stew you will need it tomorrow you go to war." I picked at the food as the clatter and bang of plates went on around me.

"I am going to bed." I announced and headed to my hammock in the barracks. I was asleep by the time my head hit the pillow. I had my brother's embroidered sweatshirt and my nieces daisy chains hidden inside.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of a trumpet jumped out of bed and threw on my pants gathering my small possessions. It was transfer day.

"Recruits form in!" The general shouted and we marched like the good little solders we were. Our station was to be in Italy. We boarded the plane.

"I never have flown before." I said nervously, the plane was a new invention and indestructible or not I could still get seriously hurt if a bunch of metal crashed on top of me.

"Nothing to worry about Edgard, this baby is one hundred percent reliable." The pilot said trying and failing to reassure me. I will never forget my first flight, some people say flying is magical, well try it when it was just getting started. I vowed to myself that I would stay in Italy because there was no way that I would go on that again. The plane bucked and kicked like our old stallion when someone tried to ride it. I eventually had to take a sedative so that I could stop screaming. They shot it into my blood and I was out.

I awoke on the ground still clutching my pillow someone was shaking me. I trembling got out from the plane. "Well we Finlay found something you are afraid of Big Guy." One of my fellow recruits said. "Not the plane please not the plane."

"Once I stop trembling Madison I am going to pound you so hard that you won't be able to sleep for a week." I told him and he paled.

"Don't tease Emmett, he is after all the Bear." Albert said and I smiled at him. Within the week he was declared missing in action and I had also vanished.

There were plenty of opportunities in the war to take blood. I took it from the already dieing, the men I found out on the battle field. It was great to know that I was assisting these people's demise and easing their suffering, but one day that all changed. I had just started sucking upon a young man his eyes staring terrified up at me when I saw another vampire a few yards away. We were both so absorbed in feeding that we did not see each other until that moment. I had my pillow case stuffed inside my pants and I smiled with my teeth bloody at the stranger.

The st anger turned and stiffened. "Hello there." I said smiling and slowly he started to talk in rapid Italian that I could not understand at all. He then spoke two words in heavily accented English. "Come, me, American, find English speaker."

I nodded knowing that I could take him in my sleep. I spoke the only word I knew. "buono" I said and he smiled at me. He made wiping motions and pointed at my cheek I wiped away the blood and fallowed him. I didn't know at the time why until I found that his talent was making people fallow him. I just knew that I was tired of being alone.

He took me to this grey man, his skin was like old dried out leather and kind of gave me the creeps me out. "Hello my name is Aro." He said smiling, and took my hand. "You have the ability to sleep and your strength which although not a talent is nearly so."

"What do you mean the ability to sleep?" I asked him.

"Most vampires cannot sleep." Aro replied. "Without it after several centuries your skin turns like mine to that of cattle." He laughed. "I have never heard my self described like that. Would you be willing to join us to be my families guard. We can provide you with food and a room in return, I would like to see you sleep." Alright this guy seriously gave me the creeps me out, I remember thinking and then but what do I have to lose. He laughed again. "I am so glad that you have decided to join us."

"How did you know?"

"I can see a persons history in a minute and their thoughts. As long as our hands are touching." He stuck out his fingers. Long things that stuck to his bone, I shuddered involuntarily. "We will have a formal greeting for you and a banquet. I so love wars so many flavors to choose from." I nodded and smiled. "Marco will show you to your room."

I was dismissed I knew this from my time as fodder. I fallowed the other man and he took me to a room. It was amazing and I unpacked my small pillow touching the sweaters and the daisy chains gently. I then collapsed onto the bed and was asleep within moments.

I awoke to two faces staring down at me equally hideous. It ashamed me to admit it but I screamed like a little girl and shot up fists raised. The two strangers laughed.

"Not a morning person Edgard?" Aro asked.

"No." I replied and they laughed again.

"Word to the wise, try not to snore so loudly, you make us jealous." The stranger said.

"This is my coven brother Marcus." Aro said smiling.

"Nice to meet you." I said shakily.

"Would you like breakfast in bed as you obviously are hungry?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble anyone, I will just find something outside." They both hissed.

"Do not make kills in Volterra." Aro said.

"Alright, but how am I to eat?" I ask him.

"We will bring you humans at first and then you will give us the same favor. Or you can hunt vampires that break the rules, but at the moment you need to take training." I groaned and he smiled. "Don't worry you will like this training." He told me and smiled. "Martial arts, we have a man that knows all martial arts that will be invented."

"That is cool, mind if I get over my shock first?"

"Not at all." He replied smiling and he clapped his hands making a human appear. "Your breakfast." He smiled waiting.

"Are you going to leave?" I asked.

"We have a bashful bloody here." Marcus said. Could I blush I would have.

"We will leave you if you wish." Aro said and I nodded my head in thanks. I then bit down upon the human as it was with all my victims he fell asleep instantly. I caught him and continued to feed. His blood was hot and slightly spicy it flew down my throat. I smiled and licked my lips. I then left the room.

A man was waiting for me smiling, for the next twenty years he would make my existence filled with him and only him.