And if you're still reading then you should know what's happened so far. I can say for sure that I'm really liking the way this story is playing out, and even though it hasn't gotten much attention as of yet, the attention it's gotten so far has been really good. So thank you to everyone who's read and more importantly to those who have reviewed. I love getting reviews. They make me happy. ;-)

Some of this chapter follows parts of Twilight for Carlisle's story, which was told by Edward in Chapter 15 and 16. I don't own any of it. It all belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just needed it for Carlisle to tell Keira about his life. But I did try to inject a few more references in there. Hope you like them.

Anyhoo. Not much else to say.

So, go on! Read!

Lecture

October, 1945

Keira

Though I'd been to Edward's house quite a few times before, this time was different, and it wasn't just because of what I now knew. It wasn't just because I knew Carlisle was going to sit me down and tell me all about whatever it was they were. This time was different because Edward was bringing me to his house to keep me safe from another one like him who was somehow different from him. Edward wouldn't tell me exactly how this one was different, and he wouldn't tell me how close they were. But just looking at him was worrying me about what was coming.

Emmett drove faster than anyone I'd ever seen, with an ease that didn't seem possible, and as the trees and rocky inlays along the road flew by in a blur, I forced myself not to look at the speedometer. I didn't want to know how fast he was driving, and it appeared Edward didn't want me to know either as he almost cradled me against him and urged me to lay my head against his arm. It didn't bother me that he was somehow colder now that I was wet, and he rubbed my arm in an effort to keep me warm despite the fact that it didn't really help. I chose not to tell him that, but then I remembered that he could hear what I was thinking, and he chuckled just as I shivered against him.

"We'll be there in just a few more minutes," Edward assured me, still rubbing my arm.

I blushed helplessly, bowing my head and trying to relax.

Carlisle was waiting on the porch when we pulled down the path to the house, and Emmett parked in his usual spot before Edward eased out of the car and helped me gently. Rosalie didn't wait, stalking to the house with barely a glance backward, and Emmett glanced at me apologetically, moving to my other side as Edward pulled me toward the porch.

"Don't worry about her," Emmett said. "She just doesn't like change is all."

I sighed softly, glancing at Carlisle and thinking maybe she and I might be more alike than I'd originally thought. "I know how she feels," I replied softly.

Edward laughed, easing his arm around me. "That would be quite the revelation," he teased, squeezing me gently.

We arrived at the porch then, and Carlisle reached for me.

"You look well," he said, glancing at Edward and then Emmett. "I trust you had a restful evening."

I glanced at Edward, seeing him nod and then looking at Carlisle as he pulled me up the stairs. "It was fine," I assured him.

"Then let's get you inside before you catch a cold," he offered, nodding to Edward and then pulling me inside the foyer where Esme was waiting with a towel. "I just have to talk to Edward and Emmett," Carlisle continued. "Esme will find you something to where while we dry your clothes. Then she'll bring you to the library."

Esme stepped forward then, draping the towel over my shoulders. "Come with me," she said softly.

I glanced over my shoulder at Edward, and he nodded for me to go with Esme while he followed Carlisle and Emmett into the library. I bowed my head then, following Esme's pull as she moved fluidly up the stairs to the second floor. I wasn't sure where Rosalie was, but I tried not to worry about that. I tried to worry about what I was going to find out, and I wondered how it would feel to know for sure what Edward and his family really were.

"How did you get so wet?" Esme asked, pulling me into a large bedroom and sitting me on the bed as she moved to the closet.

"Edward said he had to get me out of school," I explained. "So he pulled the fire alarm, and all the sprinklers came on."

Esme laughed softly, pulling out a long robe and turning to face me with it. "That does sound like him. Not very subtle sometimes, especially when he needs to be. Here," she said, laying the robe over the bed and pulling me to my feet. "Do you need a warm bath? It is quite chilly outside."

I blushed, bowing my head. "I'm all right. Thank you."

She stepped back a few steps, and I realized she meant for me to give her my wet clothes, blushing even deeper as I began to disrobe. I knew I was soaked through to my skin, and even though I didn't want to relinquish all my clothes, I didn't want to get sick. So it was with great embarrassment that I pulled off all my clothes and gave them to Esme before I pulled the robe on as tightly as I could to keep myself covered.

"It's all right, my dear," she soothed. "We're both women, and you're completely safe in our house. Not even Emmett would tease you about this. Now come with me. Carlisle will probably send Edward up to change once he's finished going over everything that happened at school."

I didn't argue, clutching the front of the robe to my chest as the hem dropped just above my knees. It was silk and had the most lovely pattern of roses over one side of it while the other side was a rich cream color. It felt so soft against my skin, and it reminded me of a few of my mother's silk robes. I didn't have anything quite this elegant in my wardrobe, and it made me feel like I was playing dress-up in my mother's closet.

Esme led the way back downstairs with my clothes wrapped inside her arms, and Edward and Emmett were just coming out of the library as we made it to the foyer. Emmett smiled and winked, bypassing me for the stairs to see about Rosalie I guessed, and Edward moved forward slowly until he was standing in front of me. He glanced over what I was wearing, but he didn't say anything, looking at Esme and then bowing his head to hurry upstairs. Carlisle came out of the library then.

"Keira," he beckoned, and I glanced at Esme before slowly moving toward him as he held out his hand.

The library was warmer now than it had been any time previous as the fireplace set filled with a few logs of wood, and Carlisle sat me down in front of it before he sat at my side.

"Edward said you had a fairly eventful day," he commented.

I laughed softly. "If you call him and Emmett getting stared at all day eventful, then yes, I suppose it was."

"Edward also said you didn't have any trouble going along with any stories he had to tell the teachers concerning his . . . absence."

My smile faded. "It was no trouble at all," I swore.

He smiled then, his vibrant blue eyes turning a shade of green in the orange hue of the fire. "I suppose you deserve an explanation as to why the stories are necessary," he said to me. "But first I need you to read something of mine. Would you?"

I nodded. "Of course."

He rose swiftly then, hurrying up to the second level of the library and then returning with a worn, leather-bound book just as Edward stepped back into the library wearing, of all things, a t-shirt and a pair of jogging pants. He looked much more comfortable than I did, and at that thought, I blushed when I remembered that I was naked beneath my robe.

Carlisle sat over the lounge chair with me, handing me the book in his hands, and I glanced at Edward to see him barefoot as he settled into one of the armchairs. There were no words spoken as I opened the book and looked at the first page.

"Dracula," I read, feeling a smile crease the corner of my mouth as I lifted my eyes to Carlisle's. "Really?"

"Well, I will admit that most of the tale is false. The ramblings of demented Irishman, but there were some parts Stoker took from real experiences with our kind."

I glanced at Edward, seeing him tense but otherwise observant as he sat more still than I'd ever seen him. "And that would be . . . what exactly?"

"You know what Dracula was, don't you, Keira?" Carlisle asked softly, opening the book further to the first chapter.

"He was a vampire," I stated plainly, since I'd only known of the book through one of my friends at my previous school, and Carlisle grinned again, glancing at Edward even though he didn't say anything.

A long few seconds passed as the room became quiet, and I looked at Edward again. He said nothing, leaning forward with his hands in front of him. Despite everything I'd seen up to this point, the idea of Edward and his family being anything like Dracula still seemed impossible.

"I don't understand," I said, watching Edward rise and move to sit over the lounge chair on my other side. "Wasn't Dracula . . . I mean, didn't he kill people?"

Carlisle turned me to face him. "Well, as I said, most of the tale is false. Dracula wasn't real, as most immortal creatures in fiction are created to prevent humans from knowing the truth that is right outside their door. But some of the things Dracula could do were real. He was more powerful than a hundred men, and he was faster than a race horse. But he could only survive off the blood of others. These were things Stoker was allowed to use in his tale to make it more believable. I wasn't one of those fortunate enough to meet Stoker, but I'm told he was a strange man who wanted every detail in his book to seem as real as possible."

I bowed my head, looking at the book in my hands and thinking of everything I'd seen already. I remembered the way Edward and Emmett had fought, and I remembered how fast Edward had gotten me back to the house afterward. He'd run even faster to my house the night before. I thought about Rosalie and how she always seemed to appear and disappear. They were all so cold and so beautiful. They never ate or drank anything, and after seeing Edward in the sun, I could understand why they'd left town for the few days they had. And their eyes seemed to change from various colors to black and then were suddenly colored again.

"It's all right, Keira," Edward said, easing his hand around my waist. "You're safe here. Trust me when I tell you we won't let any of the others hurt you now that you know."

I looked at him, thinking of everything that had happened so far and watching him bow his head before I looked at Carlisle. "How is this possible?" I pleaded.

He took the book from me, closing it and easing his hand over the cover. "This book was gift," he said with longing in his voice. "It was given to me by another vampire who knew Stoker. It was an unbound copy, made in 1896. Every now and then, I look through it, and I wonder how anyone could believe such fiction if it were true." He paused and gave the book to Edward, looking at me with a gentle grin on his face. "I was born in 1643, in London, England. My father was a pastor for the Church. While that in and of itself makes for interesting conversation, it was that very thing that led me to become what I am now." Again, he paused, rising and hurrying back to the second level of the library to put the book back before he returned within only a few seconds.

I could do nothing to hide my surprise, and Edward lifted his hand to my shoulder to soothe me.

"It's all right," he chuckled. "You know I'm much faster than that."

I blushed as Carlisle returned even though he didn't sit down, extending his hand to me.

"Come with me," he requested, pulling me to my feet and then guiding me up to the second floor slowly.

"My father was a God-fearing man," Carlisle said as we walked. "And as such, he was very black and white. He believed in evil and sought to destroy it, but in doing so, he actually ended up killing a lot of innocent people. When he grew old, he placed me in charge of his nightly sieges. Even back then, I had difficultly differentiating evil from fear. But I was much smarter than my father, and I was able to find a real creature he would have deemed evil. A vampire who had up to that point prowled the streets at night searching for food." He paused, stepping onto the second level. "Humans. I led a group of men into the sewers with the intention of killing the creature, but my intelligence only made it easier for him to attack us."

He stopped, stepping in front of the north wall of the floor where several paintings hung between the book shelves. One painting in the center seemed to recede into the wall slightly, and Carlisle continued softly as I looked over the landscape in the painting.

"The vampire I found was old and probably hadn't hunted for weeks," Carlisle revealed. "He could've gotten away, but he looked crazed. He attacked us, and I was his first victim. But he only bit me before moving on to two others and then escaping with a third. I was left in the streets bleeding."

I glanced at him, seeing a sad look on his face. "You must've been so scared," I said softly.

He looked at me like he hadn't expected me to say that, and I blushed for what felt like the millionth time.

"I knew what my father would do when he found out," he continued. "And when the transformation was complete, I began this new life despite knowing exactly what I was and what would happen to me when I met my death. I didn't want to kill anyone simply to survive, and I felt the only way to make amends was to die myself. I tried everything."

I glanced at Edward, discovering his head bowed solemnly, and then I looked at Carlisle. "You tried to kill yourself?" I asked, shocked that anyone as gentle and compassionate as Carlisle would ever dream doing such a thing.

"Many times," he confirmed. He paused for a few long seconds before continuing. "I knew I wasn't human anymore. I didn't want to hurt anyone, and I believed the only way to prevent anymore bloodshed was if I no longer lived. But nothing worked. No fall would break my bones or my body. No water would drown me. I even tried to hang myself. To no avail."

This time, he stopped, staring at the paintings in front of us, and I looked at them too, still having so many questions in my head. If Carlisle didn't want to hurt anyone, then how had he accomplished living the way he did now where he was so close to other people? How had he come back from the creature he'd been turned into to the warm, loving man I saw before me now? Edward stepped closer then, bringing my attention to the whereabouts of his hands as he now held my waist.

"A herd of deer crossed my path quite by accident," Carlisle continued after nearly a minute. "I was so hungry that I attacked without thinking. I realized then that I didn't have to kill people to survive, and as I was unable to dispose of myself, I sought to live in a way that would keep the people around me safe from what I was. I'd found my reason to continue living, to better myself from the creature who'd created me without any regard. I began to learn everything I could then, and I planned my journey during the days while studying through the night. I left England, swimming to the shores of France where I could further my studies on this new life."

Esme's soft footsteps came up the steps then, and she emerged from the stairwell with a tray of food and a pitcher of tea with a small grin on her face. "Sometimes, I think that oven wants to keep me waiting," she joked, coming closer and beckoning me to her as she set the tray over a small table near the opposite wall.

I followed her lead, sitting in a chair next to the table and looking through the variety of cakes she'd brought. I smelled lemon and cinnamon, and there was also chocolate and vanilla. I picked up one of the lemon cakes, and Esme poured me a glass of tea as Carlisle moved to the other chair while Edward remained stood up in front of the paintings.

"So what happened after you got to France?" I asked, turning to Carlisle as he grinned slightly.

"I continued my education," he began. "I traveled all through Europe, to all the universities. I studied music, science, medicine, and I discovered what I could do as penance for living as I did by saving human lives."

"Do you like being a doctor?" I asked softly, to which Edward turned and looked at me.

"I enjoy it very much," Carlisle chuckled. "Much more than I thought possible, and it's much more rewarding than anything I've ever done before."

"But how could you be around people without wanting to . . ." I stopped, bowing my head.

"Kill them?" Carlisle finished. I nodded. "Well, it wasn't easy. Human blood is very potent, especially to those of us who choose to continue surviving on it. But I abstained. Human life is precious, and I wanted to survive a different way. It took two centuries to perfect my self-control, and it was more torturous than you can possibly imagine. But I never faltered. There were more times than I can mention when I thought I wouldn't make it, and there were many times when I wanted to give in. But I didn't. Not in over 300 years."

I was stunned to hear him speak so candidly, and I was sure it was showing on my face. Of all the things I'd been expecting, this was nothing in the realm of what I could've imagined. Vampires. Not only that, but vampires who didn't kill humans. I'd read stories about these kinds of things, but after spending so much time with Edward and his family, it just didn't seem to make any sense. I couldn't imagine any of them being described as monsters or evil. They were all so kind and welcoming — even Rosalie.

Edward laughed softly, speaking gently. "She really won't like that," he commented.

It got quiet, and I looked up at Edward as he stood there with a little smile on his face. I noticed how different he looked now that I knew what he was, but I realized the only thing different was that he didn't have to hide anything from me anymore. I wasn't sure what that meant, but I knew I was glad he didn't have to keep anymore secrets from me.

The smile on Edward's face faded slightly, and he bowed his head. "Are you certain you want me to be completely honest with you?" he asked softly. "Because once that door has been opened, it can't be closed. And the more you know, the less safe you'll become over time. The others out there who do kill people will see you as nothing more than a trophy. They won't see you the way I do. They'll only want to take you from . . . your family. Your friends. They'll only want to take your life."

I stood up from my chair and moved to his side. "And you'll protect me," I told him. "Just like you did yesterday. I know you won't let anything happen to me. And now I won't let anything happen to you. Any of you."

He grinned again, glancing at Carlisle, and Esme spoke when no one else did.

"Well, let us hope that will never be necessary," she declared.

Instantly, I was reminded of why we'd come to the house so early, and Carlisle stood from his chair after half a minute.

"So, it was other vampires who killed those campers," I said. "And now they're in town somewhere. That's why you wanted to bring me out here before school ended."

"Yes," Carlisle said. "Over the years, we've encountered others, but never like this. We live closer to Humans, and that makes it more difficult for those of us who do feed from Humans to confront us."

"Why?" I asked quietly.

"Because of the law," Edward said.

I grinned unconsciously. "Vampires have laws?" I inquired.

"One specifically," Edward nodded.

"And what is that?"

"That we keep the existence of our kind a secret," Carlisle informed me. "It's the one law that is enforced regularly by the Volturi."

"The what?" I asked, looking at Edward.

At that point, Carlisle extended his hand and gestured to another painting that was much bigger than the landscape I'd looked at only moments earlier.

"I was in Italy when I discovered other vampires," Carlisle began again. "They were far more civilized and educated than the one who attacked me."

I lifted my eyes to the painting, gazing at the four figures standing on the highest balcony while chaos went on below them. The closer I looked, the more I recognized the golden-haired man. I looked at Carlisle, seeing him with a sad smile on his face.

"My aversion to killing Humans amused them," Carlisle commented. He gestured to the other three men in the painting, two dark-haired, one brilliant white. "Aro, Marcus and Caius. The Volturi. I was only with them a short time, a few decades perhaps, but it was a learning experience. There was so much I learned from them, and there was so much they learned from me, but I was somewhat of an oddity to them. Aro, their leader, he was constantly attempting to persuade me into doing as they did. But I value human life. There are so many more vampires who prey on Humans. It's so much more important to me that they be protected from our world, and now that, by extension, includes you and your family and quite possibly everyone you've ever known."

I glanced at Edward, noticing how his head was hung, and I remembered what he'd said while we'd still been in school. "But Edward said they would only smell me," I told Carlisle, "because I've been around you the most."

Carlisle also bowed his head. "That is, for the most part, very true. You are in much more danger than your parents or your brothers. But if the others in town find you, the very next thing they'll do is go after those of your family who have interacted with us, however minimal."

I suddenly remember Abigail, and Edward turned me to face him.

"I'll keep all of you safe," he promised me. "Emmett and Rosalie will help — even if she won't like it."

"But aren't they all in danger now?" I pleaded. "If I'm here with you and those other vampires are in town."

"No, it won't happen like that," he insisted. "They've smelled us, and they'll come to us first. I wanted you to be prepared if they find you without me, but I won't let that happen no matter what I have to do. I swear."

"It won't come to that," Carlisle added. "We're the only vampires in the area, and they'll be curious about us. Just as I was curious about the Volturi. It's possible we'll be able to diffuse any hostility that has already arisen, but you need to be prepared for anything that might happen."

"It's like I said," Edward reminded me. "I'll be with you until it's safe."

"This won't be easy, Edward," Carlisle interrupted. "You should've been more careful, but because you weren't, it's put Keira in more danger than necessary. It isn't just about these vampires in the area. If the Volturi discovered her knowledge of our world, it would open up a new variety of problems that no one would be able to prevent. You know this, and now we'll all have to be very careful."

Edward sighed softly, still facing me as he glanced at Carlisle and then pulling me to the stairs. I glanced back at Carlisle and Esme, but I didn't say anything as Edward led me up to the third level of the library and then opened a door that revealed the inside of a large corner room with windows that lined the walls and gave me one of the most beautiful views I'd ever seen in my life.

"This is my room," Edward said.

I looked at the room as completely as I could. While the outer walls were lightly decorated with a large desk and a beige lounge chair, the inner walls were lined with four tall shelves laden with books and vinyl records. It looked like there was just as many books here as there were downstairs on the first level of the library. It took me a few minutes to realize something that should've been obvious.

"There's no bed," I pointed out.

Edward laughed softly, and I turned to see him lingering near the door. "No, I, uh, I don't sleep."

"Ever?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. Never. None of us do."

"So what do you do at night?"

He stepped closer to me, looking over my robe and causing me to wrap my arms around my chest. "I read," he said gesturing to the shelves of books. "I write. Sometimes, I listen to music. But mostly, I think."

"About what?"

"All kinds of things," he revealed. "After nearly 30 years as a vampire, I've probably spent enough time thinking of what my life would've been like were I not a vampire. I've probably thought too many nights on what it means to be what I am. It hasn't been an easy existence, but . . ." he stopped, bowing his head.

"But what?" I pressed.

He took another step toward me, taking my hands in his and then lifting his eyes to mine. "I've never met anyone like you," he said softly. "And believe me when I say that, because it's true. But I didn't want to put you in danger this way. I tried to avoid you, but you wouldn't go away. Now I don't know what to do. But I won't let anything happen to you. I won't let anyone hurt you. No matter what I have to do."

The gravity of his words was enough to send a set of chills through me, and even though I'd never met anyone like him either, I knew I was too young to be thinking what I was thinking. I blushed again, embarrassed, and he laughed softly.

"I don't think I could've found anyone more innocent than you," he commented. "And it's for that reason that I will protect you."

For several more seconds, it was quiet as we stood in the middle of his room, and I started to think about how much time had passed since I'd been here. It was still light out, but with Edward's windows facing away from the western horizon, I couldn't see the sun setting. It was cloudy outside, threatening rain for the night and probably the next morning, and I focused on that for the moment.

A thought came to me then, and I spoke spontaneously.

"Have you always been with Carlisle?" I asked softly.

"Almost always," he said, guiding me to the lounge chair and sitting down with me.

His pause was enough to pique my curiosity, and I scooted closer to him. "What happened?" I asked him.

"I wasn't always the, um, reserved boy you thought I was when we first met," he said gently. "I suppose you could say I went through the typical growing pains anyone in a new life would. I was quite rebellious for someone with my upbringing. About ten years after I was . . . created, I'd become somewhat resentful towards Carlisle and his life of abstinence. And I thought I could make it on my own for a little while."

He paused again, sitting with his hands folded in front of him and his head hung the way it had been earlier. I thought about what he was saying, and for some reason, it made me think about Fisher and how he wanted to go off on his own when he was old enough. I could imagine Edward alone on a deserted street, maybe hunting, maybe sticking to the shadows, but alone, and I didn't like how that image played out in my head.

"You have no idea how close you are," he said quietly. "You see, I can hear what a person's thinking from sometimes several dozens of feet away, and I thought that if I picked those criminals who were stalking the innocent people that it would somehow make up for what I was or what I did. I thought perhaps if I rid the world of what it perceived as evil that I in turn would be granted absolution for whatever sins I'd perpetrated. They say no good deed goes unpunished, and they're right. Did you know that when a vampire feeds off of Human blood, his eyes turn into rubies?"

Unconsciously, I shivered, shaking my head.

He hung his head again, sitting up straight and staring off into the floor. "It only lasted a few years before I returned to Carlisle. I thought I could rid myself of the feelings that accompanied having a conscience, but as time went on, I began to see the monster I'd become. And I had to go back before I lost every piece of humanity I had left. I was afraid they would be disappointed in me, but Carlisle and Esme — they welcomed me back with open arms. It was more than I deserved."

Slowly, I extended my hand, touching his face again and making him look at me. I was surprised to see how much it looked like he could be crying, but there were no tears. He lifted his hand to mine, and for several more seconds, we only sat there. I tried to think about how difficult this was for him — telling me something that could potentially get me into more trouble than I'd ever been in my life even as short as it was.

"You're more human than any other boy I've ever known," I told him softly. "And I think the important part of your story is that you did come back. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have met you, and I promise you, this is definitely something I'll tell my children."

He took my hand in his, holding it in his and seeming to collect his thoughts before he spoke again. "You would really tell your children that you met an animal-killing vampire who had to protect you from all the human-killing vampires he ever encountered?" After a few seconds, he grinned.

I blushed again. "No. Silly. I would tell them I met the most amazing young man, someone who was kind and gentle and probably saved my life even though he would never have admitted it. He was so hard on himself, and he always tried to do the right thing."

He laughed softly. "That sounds much better," he chuckled.

"I mean it," I pressed. "It's okay. It doesn't take absolution for you to know that you were only doing what you thought was right. It's very human of you."

If he could've blushed at that moment, I think he would have, and he turned his attention to the horizon outside as it got darker. Even though I knew I would need to get home soon, I felt like we could sit there for another few hours. At least until Edward's hands tightened around mine. And I knew something was wrong.

"What's happening?" I asked softly.

He moved his finger to my lips, shaking his head and telling me to be quiet without saying a word. He pulled me to the door and then out into the bright white hall before we moved to the stairs. His ears were picking up on something I couldn't hear, but the closer to the second floor we got, the more I realized what was happening.

The other vampire.

We met Emmett and Rosalie on the second landing, and they immediately turned to go downstairs in front of us. Edward held my hand tighter, keeping me behind him as we walked and keeping me as close as he could without appearing possessive. I wasn't really worried about that. The more connected to him I looked, the more I hoped this other vampire would leave me alone.

"It might be too late for that," Edward whispered apologetically. "But just stay with me. We'll protect you. I promise."

I said nothing as we walked, wrapping my other hand around his arm.

Finally, we made it to the first landing, able to see into the foyer as Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie all stood in front of a tall, dark-blond haired youngman in what appeared to be a black suit. He looked to be a little older than me, maybe 19 or20. His hair was curly but not unattractively so, and despite his pale complexion, there was a hard set in his jaw and a gleam in his eyes. Edward stopped in the middle of the staircase, pushing me behind him further, but I looked around him, watching as Carlisle and the man spoke. Even from where I was, I could see this man wasn't like Edward and his family.

"I truly hope I didn't cause you too much distress," the man said, glancing at Edward and then me. "I had no idea another coven was in the area."

"Yes," Carlisle said, "well, we've only been here a short time, but we try to keep a low profile. I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused somewhat of a problem for us."

Again, the man glanced at Edward and me. "Then allow me to apologize. I suppose it was rude of me to presume I was alone here. I should've checked my immediate surroundings. You have a beautiful home. Much more so than I would've expected. All the others I've met could only dream of having such amenities."

"For that, I have my wife to thank," Carlisle gestured to Esme. "She's spent the last several months getting everything together. Are you traveling alone, Mr. Shaw?"

"Actually, no," he replied. "And please, call me Connor."

Carlisle finally seemed to realize Connor's interest in me and Edward, turning slightly to see us and then speaking casually. "My other son, Edward," he announced. "And his friend."

I noticed how careful Carlisle was not to say my name, but I could only stare at this new visitor as he inhaled deeply and grinned in a not-so-friendly way.

"It's very nice to meet you all," Connor said, appearing to overlook the fact that I was the only one whose name he didn't know. "And again, I apologize. We were just passing through."

"It's quite all right," Carlisle said, his voice cordial even though his whole body was tensed up.

"Of course, if I'd known there were other vampires in the area with a pet, I would've introduced myself sooner."

Something set Edward off instantly as he pushed me behind him completely, and it sounded like a growl escaped his chest even while Carlisle attempted to keep control of the situation.

"She isn't our pet," he told Connor. "She's Edward's friend. And she's here of her own free will. It would be helpful to you if you don't presume to know our situation here. Perhaps it would be best if we spoke in private, Connor."

Carlisle gestured to the library where I'd just been, and even though Connor kept his eyes on me and Edward, he nodded and followed Carlisle away from the foyer into the library. As soon as they were gone, Edward turned and lifted me in his arms to hurry back upstairs. Esme and Emmett seemed to follow him quickly, and we were inside Esme's room inside another half a minute.

"Change," Edward commanded, the calm gone from his voice and surprisingly replaced with a strong undercurrent of possession. "And then we're leaving."

I didn't argue, and Esme replaced him with my dried clothes in her arms, handing them to me and then shooing Edward and Emmett into the hallway. My heart was already thundering inside my chest, and I was sure Connor could hear it. But I could do nothing to stop it.

So. New vampire in town. And he appears to be very interested in Edward and Keira. I tried to make him a little more civilized that Laurent, James and Victoria, and I wanted his encounter with the family to be a little different from Twilight. But he's bringing trouble with him. So stay tuned.

And again, I wanted Carlisle's explanation to be a little different from Edward's, but I still had to keep a lot of the elements the same, and it wasn't easy. So I hope I did a good job.

Until next time!