Esme/Carlisle

Advice, Paint, Love

(This takes place shortly after Carlisle changed Esme into a vampire, they are not in Forks.)

Esme POV

Sitting on a chair in front of the window looking out onto a lonely cloudy day I tell myself, one of the nice things is the sharpened senses. To be completely honest and uncharacteristically blunt, it isn't easy getting used to becoming a vampire. Edward told me to think about all the good things about my new self.

"It lessens the burden of knowing you can't change who you are," he said thoughtfully one day.

I keep repeating everything that I like about being my new self. The way I look, the sharpened senses…it isn't a very long list. I involuntarily sigh. I feel very vain, but it eases the pain a little bit each time I repeat my short list.

Before Carlisle left for his job, he took me out to a secluded forest nearby to eat. I'm still not used to the term "hunt." I still cannot get over the bright red of my eyes every time I look in the mirror. He takes me out there every night to tell stories or to just be with me.

The easel and paint that Carlisle had bought for me sat next to the chair. I take a hold of it and lift it to sit in front of me. That is another thing I like about being a vampire, my new strength. I turn to the wall and switch on a light that Carlisle had installed for me; specifically to help my painting. I angle the easel so that the light hits the canvas just right. The darkness of the midday clouds seem to deepen as the brilliant light shines down. A wooden brush with soft, fine-tipped bristles sits on the rich wooden desk next to me. I take it and hold it in my hand, it fits just right. I notice several large glass jars sitting in a perfect row next to the brush and a can of water. I slide the brush into the cool water and wipe it across my hand to make it damp. I dip the brush into a thick mahogany and start painting.

I hear Edward downstairs. He shifts his weight to sit on the piano bench and starts to play a beautiful, haunting melody. The song helps me immerse myself deeper into the atmosphere of the scene I am painting.

Despite the melancholy and nostalgic clouds outside, and the brightness and elegance of the room I am in, I am deep into the painting. I guide my brush to create rhythmic and therapeutic strokes that work together to form my scene. I can smell the musky odor of pines and nutty aroma of small rodents. The grass and dirt smell very earthy.

About an hour later…

I hear a car quietly move into the driveway and stop. A second later, I hear Carlisle walk through the door. He says a quick greeting to Edward and speeds up the stair and into the room that I'm in. I hear him stop in front of the door and I smell his lovely, subtle rain-washed roses scent.

I am still holding the brush in my hand as I turn around. I can't help but smile at him, he smiles back and his melted-butter eyes sparkle. He gestures toward my painting and says encouragingly, "keep painting, it's very good."

I nod and turn back to add a few strokes of green. I can hear Carlisle's quiet footsteps as he walks toward me at a human pace. I feel his fingers gently move my hair onto my right shoulder. I smile at my painting, but it's really for him. He bends down and softly presses his lips to my cheek. I stop painting and place the brush into the can of water. He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. I stand up and give him a hug, being careful to not use all my newborn vampire strength and accidentally crush him. I bury my face into his neck and close my eyes. He rubs my back slowly. The best thing about being a vampire is that I get to be with Carlisle.