fire 21

I ascended the stairs entered my room and closed my door. I turned on my computer and waited for the ancient thing to warm up. I walked over to my bag and pulled out my science notebook.

I set it on the desk next to me along with my notepad and a pencil. The computer was finally done so I opened the browser. I typed in cold ones into the search engine and hit the find button.

A few minutes later a few entries came up . One of them as an excerpt from a book. I wrote down the book title and author's name. I would check the local book stores for that later.

I was stymied by the lack of information. It all kept leading back to vampires. So I wrote that down along with some random clues that were on this conspiracy site.

The questions were oddly marked, so you think your dating a vampire. I thought it was seriously funny until I started actually checking off positive answers to some of the questions.

Unnerved I closed out that site but added to my favorites for some reason.

Out of some weird reflex I typed in Forks hospital. The browser came back with the entry quickly and I opened their homepage.

I skimmed through their home page until I saw the staff button. I clicked on it and scrolled down the list of doctors name until I found Carlisle's name.

I clicked on it and read the impressive list of his accomplishments.

I wrote down the name of his Alma mater and his former position at another hospital.

I entered his former employers name first and still found his name on the website but a different school was listed. I wrote that down as well.

Then I went on the first school's website. I entered Cullen into the sites search engine and waited.

A whole slue of entries popped up. Donations and graduation photos. I clicked on the photos. There were four different graduation photos that caught my eye.

Carlisle was in each one and they were from four different graduating classes. I barely contained the urge to clap in my excitement. I printed the photos and took note of the years. Then I did a little math.

If they were really him he would be about one hundred and thirty years old. The oldest picture was dated in nineteen o seven. I typed in the other school and looked for the same entry.

Carlisle had apparently attended that school five times in the past century some of the older photos were hard to make out so I saved them to my photos because I doubted they would print well.

My mind was whirling if I was correct in my assumptions Carlisle had been practicing medicine for at least two centuries. I covered my mouth with my hand in shock.

"I guess Charlie wasn't kidding about the experience part of his defense of Carlisle" I muttered

If only he knew how right he had been. My wrist itched so I rubbed it then froze. If he had been practicing so long did he recognize what I was? My heart started beating faster in rising panic.

Charlie knocked on the door and I jumped with a yelp.

"Bells?" he said

I closed the browser quickly as my door creaked open.

"You ok bell?" said Charlie

"Yeah you startled me that's all I was so into what I was doing I guess I didn't hear you" I said

He nodded then he ran his hand through his hair and then rested it on the back of his neck.

"Well ok I'm hitting the hay got an early day tomorrow you try not to stay up too late you hear?"he said

I nodded

"All right dad I'm just going to finish this up then hit the sack" I said

He nodded and wished me good night. I waited until he was gone before I went back to what I was doing. I decided to forgo my current search when an add popped up that interested me.

I clicked on it and a web page opened. It was for one of those people search sites.

I read over the packages and decided to use my bank card to buy some information. I chose the one that said property records and adoption records.

I typed in Carlisle's name and clicked send. It took awhile to come back with all the records and when I saw how many hits the search yielded I paid the forty bucks for the rest of the information.

I printed out the page with all their properties listed. Some of which hadn't changed hands in over sixty years. I was shocked that they were still listed in his name.

Whatever he was he better start covering his tracks better. As a lark I put in Edwards name then Rosalie's, Jasper and the rest.

They all owned properties all over north America, Canada, Alaska and even in Europe. Carlisle actually had an island he named isle Esme. I thought that was completely romantic but also way over the top.

If what I was seeing was true why would Carlisle even bother working. I also had proven my point not only was there no way they could be human.

Not with these records. I went over them again and frowned. There was one record that was missing however that could blow there whole cover out of the water.

There were no adoption records and according to a newspaper article for nineteen twenty three. Rosalie Hale was dead . So was her fiancee at the time a Mr Royce King but he did die a year after her disappearance.

I didn't know what the others names had been originally so I couldn't look them up but I was pretty sure the photo in the paper was Rosalie. This was rapidly becoming a surreal nightmare

I looked over the photos again and couldn't help but stare at one. I froze in shock when I recognized what I was seeing. One row over from Carlisle was Edward and he was wearing a cap and gown too.

I stared in shock as I reread the date. I sat back in my chair and my mouth fell open. The date was class of 1945 which would make Edward a very old, old man.

I struggled to wrap my mind around what I was seeing in black and white. Unfortunately logic couldn't argue with the facts staring me in the face.

I was completely floored by what I had learned. Yeah I wanted to solve the mystery but this was unreal. I ran my hand down my face and rested my hand over my mouth.

"holy shit" I said softly.

I shook my head then after I saved the site I closed down my computer. I picked up the papers I had printed and stared at them. Now all I had to do was figure out exactly what they were.

As I looked at the papers I wondered what i was going to do with the information.

As I held the papers in my hands I wondered what they would do if they knew I had this information. A cold shiver went down my spine and I opened my trunk.

I lifted the false bottom then stowed the papers and photos. I lowered the bottom back in place. re-stacked what was on top of it. I closed and locked my trunk.

Then stripped for bed. I dosed the light and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Angela called. Her and Jessica were planning to go into Port Angeles and get costumes for the Halloween dance. She invited me to go with them.

I usually avoided dances like the plague but it would give me a chance to get those books. So I agreed. They said they would pick me up after school.

I finished my lunch and watched some TV. About one o clock I went upstairs showered. not that I needed to because it was raining again today.

I dressed warmly in one of my more comfortable outfits and waited for Angela. Half an hour later Angela's Volkswagen pulled up outside and honked.

I locked my front door after leaving a note for Charlie saying I was doing some shopping with Angela for dance clothes.

I took my cell phone with me and grabbed one of my small purses. I walked as quickly as i could down my front steps. I got in the back seat when Jessica got out and leaned the seat forward.

I put on my seat-belt while they chatted about everything else again. Jessica was gushing about someone named Embry and I vaguely remembered Jake mentioning his name.

She was disappointed he wouldn't be able to attend our dance because he went to school on the reservation. The drive to Port Angeles was fun and I was starting to miss my friends at school.

"Edward was looking for you today" said Jessica

She sounded happy about it instead of catty. I was glad she was into Embry now because she had gotten quite jealous on my first days when she thought I was interested in Mike.

I think she still was because I had somehow managed to catch Edward Cullens attention.

"So what gives with him anyways I thought he had a girlfriend?" said Angela

I shrugged, ok so I had made a girl up for him but it was because I had gotten him labeled as gay on my first day here.

"Maybe he broke up with her who knows" I said

Jessica turned to look at me.

"You mean you didn't ask?' she said

She sounded shocked.

"Well no at the moment we're just friends" I said

We weren't officially dating yet and honestly I wasn't sure if I was going to date him given he was probably about the same age as Monticello. They didn't seem to get the hint however.

"Oh you see he is shy" said Angela.

She pointed it out as if she knew all along.

"Well then she'll just have to get his attention." said Jessica.

There was something about the way she said that, that for some reason had me scared. We pulled into town and Angela parked in front of the party supply store.

I followed them in and had to tell them no on several very skimpy costume ideas.

I finally decided to just pick something before they did for me. I quickly took it to the front after verifying I had the right size and paid for it.

The girls were still deciding so I told them I'd meet them for dinner at the cafe around the corner. I ducked out of the store before they could protest and headed for the bookstore.

I dug through the shelves for the books I was looking for. Bought the ones they had and started back towards the costume shop. It was dark and the street lamps provided very little light.

I couldn't help thinking this was like a scene out of a horror movie.

I heard footfalls behind me and sped up. A huge guy stepped out of the shadows behind me. I moved faster heading for an alleyway that led to a better lit street.

Another guy stepped out of the shadows in front of me.

I turned and headed in the opposite direction. A smaller more rational part of my brain realized I was being herded like a sheep.

My internal warnings were screaming at me to run but I had no where to go.

I stopped and wheeled around. I was in some sort of parking lot behind some warehouses.

I was convinced I was about to die. My fight or flight instincts were already kicking into gear. unfortunately there was no where for me to go. So fight it was.

I set my bags down at my feet and took a fighters stance. If I was going to die some of them were going with me.

"Hey baby we just want to show you a good time, don't be like that" said one of the guys. One was holding a baseball bat, one a chain and the other two were bare knuckled.

I felt the first one move before I saw him and just reacted to him.

I brought my elbow back hard into his rib cage. I heard him grunt and swear.

"Bitch your gonna pay for that" said the guy

By his voice I figured out he was right behind me. I felt his hand touch my ass and slammed my head backward into his. He screamed and fell down clutching his nose.

His friends started to close as he screamed and clutched his nose.

The guy with the bat moved forward and swung. I dove to the payment just as his friend stood up. Guy with the bat hit him full on in the jaw.

While he swung the bat I slammed the heel of my hand into the side of bat guys' knee. He screamed and went down hopefully with a dislocated knee.

Bare fist and chain closed on me. Chain swung and I rolled. I vaguely heard the roar of an engine coming our way. Chain swung and I rolled out of the way.

Bare fist bare chested guy grabbed me from behind and locked my arms to my side.

Chain guy laughed and closed lowering his weapon. I wrapped my legs around chain guys neck. I locked my legs in place and squeezed.

He fought to get free while his friend held me up off the ground.

A silver car pulled up blinding me with its headlights. A second later I was on the ground and the two guys were gone.

"Get in the car" said a familiar voice.

I grabbed my bags and purse and jumped in the car. I locked my door and waited. A second later Edward climbed in the car. He threw the car in reverse and squealed the tires as he pulled away.

The guys were gone when I looked back.

"Why didn't you run?" he said.