Author's note: So, this is a rewrite of my previously published story "Controlled Desire." It will be completely different then the chapters I have previously written. I hope you enjoy. I do not own Twilight or the characters cannon to the story, but I do own my OC.
Carlisle POV:
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn."
Carlisle could not help but be struck by the quote from Romeo and Juliette as he, and the rest of the family, awaited Edwards arrival. They had all wandered back to the house, with various levels of enthusiasm, after getting word of Bella's survival and the success of the rescue attempt in Italy. Emmett and Esme being the most excited as Carlisle could hear them fussing around the house while he hid in his office. He imagined Rosalie and Jasper were doing the same. Hiding away, lost in their own thoughts and worries that occupied them. Rosalie, Carlisle knew, harbored the most guilt for the situation and that would not be appeased until Edward and Alice walked through the door again.
Carlisle grimaced as he thought that he should be writing a thank you note to Aro for the mercy he shown his eldest chider. To thank another for doing a job in which he had failed. A job that he prided above all others. A job that kept her memory close. Eliza.
Another wince began to form as memories of her began to swirl in his mind. Memories that he had tried to suppress since deciding to couple with Esme. Memories of deep blood red hair that struggled to be tamed due to the fiery curls it held. Of hazel eyes that held a gentle curiosity and adventure for the world around. Of a smile that charmed the coldest of hearts that he once vowed to never let see leave her face.
'But she left anyway,' Carlisle thought with a sad bitterness as he remembered that night long ago.
Flashback-
It was a cold morning, just before dawn, when he finally arrived home. They were still in Rochester, much to Rosalie's distaste, but were planning on moving on west in the coming weeks. Carlisle had hoped that the distance, after her revenge was complete, would help soften the girl to this new life. Nothing seemed to appease her, much to Edward's frustration, except for Eliza. She seemed to understand Rosalie, more that he and Edward, and caused to two women to be latched to the hip. Eliza seemed to make it her mission to help Rosalie though being a newborn. Which was why when Edward told him she has gone hunting he was surprised that Rosalie was still there.
"She wanted to be alone. She said wanted to have some privacy to sort out her thoughts," Rosalie said with an unreadable expression but sending a subtle glare at Edward. The knowledge of his mindreading ability did not sit well with her.
"She has been acting rather strange over the last few weeks or so. Has something been bothering her?" Carlisle asked, something not sitting right with him. He could feel the beast inside him beginning to stir and push upon the bars he was locked behind.
"I haven't noticed anything unusual. I am sure its nothing. Eliza always did hate being cloistered. I'm sure she just needed a little adventure to stretch her legs. I am sure she will be back soon," Edward answered. Only, she did not come back. Not that evening or the ones that followed and Edward and I could not find a trace of her. She was gone.
-Flashback ends-
Carlisle was brought out of his sad musing when he heard a car enter the driveway and the hurried footsteps towards the door the followed. When he made it down the stairs, he could see Alice and Jasper in a loving embrace while Edward was being hugged by a weeping Esme.
"Don't ever do that to me again, Edward. Ever!" She scolded him and she pulled away. Hurt and guilt were clearly etched onto his face.
"I'm sorry Esme…. I-I didn't-" He began but was cut off by the curt voice of Rosalie, who was locked in an embrace by Emmett.
"You didn't think! That is your problem Edward and has been since the start of this. Since Bella, you have stopped thinking about all of those around you!"
"That's enough Rosalie," Carlisle's calm but strong voice tried to mediate. Esme let go of Edward and walked over to him but did not embrace or touch him, which Carlisle was thankful. He had always held an attraction for Esme and the warmth she gave him. The desire to be care and be cared for. It was why they have started several love affairs over the decades, the last lasting the entirety of Alice and Jasper being a part of their family. It was only recently that they both came to terms that it was not Esme with whom he wanted to feel that warmth from. It never had. They were just waiting for a good time to tell the rest of them. "I am sure Edward knows how much he has affected us. I do not see the reason to punish him further."
Rosalie huffed in annoyance, clearly finding the situation and how everyone was reacting to it unfair. 'Though everything in Rosalie's opinion is unfair. Why would this be any different?' Carlisle couldn't help but think as he witnessed the silent tantrum and he did not want to be here when it became verbal. 'When will they learn that life it inherently unfair?'
Carlisle was about to try and retreat to the safety of his office, not ready to confront Edward, when the quiet voice of Alice cut through the silence.
"Someone's coming," She stated with a sense of uncertainty and Carlisle witnessed Jasper protectively tighten his grip around her waist.
"Whose coming darling?" Jasper asked and Carlisle could feel the comfort that he was pouring into his mate.
"I am not sure but-" Alice began but was cut off by the surprisingly enraged voice of Edward, who was suddenly in front of Rosalie in a flash. The growl of Emmett not going unnoticed as he reacted to the aggressive stance of the other male.
"Rose, what did you do?" Edward asked, his expression morphing between anger, horror, and sadness that Carlisle imagined was giving Jasper whiplash. Esme quickly came to his side to defuse the situation.
"Edward, please. You need to calm down," she stated calmly but it fell on deaf ears.
"I-I had to. She had the right to know!" Rosalie defended. Her expression indignant but her statement caused ice to flood through Carlisle's body. 'Oh, dear god, no.'
"Like I had the right to know about Bella?!" Edward screamed back causing Jasper to pour more peace and calmness to flood the room.
"Yes! If she had died would you have preferred not to know? No! You would have been even more angry if we knew and didn't tell you."
"What are you two talking about? Who's coming?" Emmett asked, looking at his wife in confusion that was reflected by the others in the room. However, it only took one look on Edward's face for Carlisle to know who their mysterious visitor is.
"Eliza."
Hours earlier in New Orleans, Louisiana. Third person POV:
The hustle and bustle of the French Quarter was well underway. The joyous gaggles of drunk party goers flooded Bourbon Street, causing a chaotic symphony to arise with the accompanied jazz to float through the thick night air. It was a noise the made the mystical city come alive and made the air tingle with the energy around. It was that energy that found its way into a hidden bar at the cusp of the upper French Quarter, that was nearly too far off the beaten track for the tourist to find, and one the locals gravitate towards above all others. The warmth that permeated through the dark wood created an atmosphere that hinted that the vail between realities were thinned here. That the mortal and supernatural realms merged within this magical city. It was a feeling that was attractive to many sorts of cryptics and mortal alike and one that its creator was proud to have created.
It was a surprisingly quiet night within this place, only a dozen or so locals meandered around the bar and surrounding pool tables that were in the back of the room. The old-fashioned lighting creating a dim golden hue amongst the shadows that aided in hiding the- peculiarities- of the patrons within and the establishment itself. It was within this glow around these pool tables were a group of three. The two men playfully jeering the other wile locked in a game and a woman standing off to the side. The woman's eyes were closed and the expression on her angelic face held a serenity the seemed out of place amongst noise of the world around her. She did not move, and her lithe body would have confused a passerby as an old statue of a youthful madonna if not for the modern clothing and the waterfall of dark red hair that fell to her waist. The woman would have been content with staying within the trance that she created for herself, getting lost in the activity around her that allowed a break from her own mind, if not for interruption of one of the men in front of her.
"What do you think Eliza?" The man, a tall, broad figure of African American decent asked with a smile. His deep voice held a laugher with the disruption he was able to cause their female companion which matched the smile on his bearded face. He watched as the woman's eyes snapped open, and its dark colors snapped to him.
"Of what?" Eliza asked, her tinkling voice cutting through the thick noise of the space.
"Come now John, leave her alone. She was clearly not listening to your ponderings," The other man, a tall thinner man with a mop of dark curly hair and salt and peppered beard, stated and made another shot in the game. The sound of the ball entering the pocket echoed in their sensitive ears.
"I do tend to block you two out on most occasions. You shouldn't be surprised," Eliza answered with a small laugh of her own that was returned with a huff from both men. John retuning to the game at hand. "But if I was interested. What were you asking me John?"
"Maybe I don't want to tell you anymore," He answered with a huff, shooting and missing the pocket. A low and deep growl was not missed as the frustration began to bubble.
"Don't be like that John, I was only teasing…. Mostly," Eliza said, moving closer to the two men and smiling up at the taller figure. "Please tell me," She said and the affect it had on the man was almost immediate. The man's seemly relaxed along with the rest of his body and the words began to flow out of him like water as if he was under a trance.
"I was just wondering what you think transpired in Volterra after you left. It seemed like there was quiet a stir. Mistress was all in a flurry about it when she found out and you are the only one with direct contact with them." After he stopped so did the spell he was seemingly under. John posture stiffened quickly, and he was clearly fighting back frustration. "That's cheating!" he bellowed.
"You should have known better John," The other man said with a chuckle, enjoying the show that was playing out in front of him.
"Stay out of this Magnus!" John yelled.
"Come on John, I have to enjoy using my power on you when it has its desired effect. The closer we get to the full moon you know it become more difficult, which I know you secretly enjoy," Eliza said with a teasing smile. "And to answer you question, I have no idea. What ever happened took place after I left, though I am sure I'll hear about it after during my next visit. Aro's a gossip."
"We will take your word on it love," Magnus answer, sinking his last shot and winning the game which resulted in John breaking the pool cue.
"You will be replacing that," Eliza said in a warning and began to set up for another game while John went to sulk at one of the tables.
"He is a bit of a sore loser, isn't he?" Magnus said teasingly, clearly enjoying the chaotic mischief in the air and not wanting it to die.
"Says the man whose practice for two hundred and fifty-one years. Frankly, it's almost unfair to play against the man who was there when the game was invented," Eliza answered but just when Magnus made the break in the game her attention was immediacy distracted by the figure of a young woman who entered the establishment. While she was far to young to be patronizing a bar, not more then thirteen, Eliza immediately recognized the girl as one of her children from the home she ran. The Masen Orphanage/ Children's home was a cornerstone of the supernatural community in New Orleans. A place where children of the supernatural, or who have been affected by the supernatural, would find a haven and protection from the cruel world around them. It was the first passion project Eliza engaged in when she entered this new phase of her immortal life and it was one of the only things that brought her peace.
"Bridget, what are you doing here?" Eliza asked meeting the girl in the middle of the room, not caring about the impossibly quick speed it would have seemed to others. Not that anyone seemed to care.
"I'm sorry Ms. Elisabeth but this was delivered to the home earlier today. Rita accidently opened it with the other mail and said it needed to get to you immediately. The gave it to me since I can fly over the crowds more easily than the others," Bridget answered handing Eliza and opened envelope. Bridget was one of the shifters who lost her flock to a group of hunters who did not realize the geese that they were shooting were not normal geese. Eliza remembered the mess it was to clean up the mess those mortal made, but it needed to be done to keep their secret.
"Thank you, Bridget. Now I want you to head straight home. While hunting is not permitted in the city, I worry about you being out here so late."
"Yes Ms. Elisabeth," The girl said with a smile and hug before darting back out of the door. Causing Eliza to give a warm grin to the retreating figure before examining the envelope. She recognized the handwriting immediately, but it wasn't until she read the context of the letter, while walking back to her companions, that a sense of dread and panic begin to seep into her. The change not going unnoticed by the two men who immediately met her with concern.
"What happened char?" John asked, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders while Magnus snatched the letter from her hand and began to read its contents. Understanding and sadness following not far behind.
"It seems that our question has just been answered. I am so sorry love," Magnus said, trading the letter and leading a dazed Eliza to a chair. John looked at the note with quiet confusion and Magnus could not help but roll his eyes. "It's her brother."
"Oh," was the quiet response that followed. It was not a secret between the two that Eliza had family she left behind when they found her in the bayou eighty years ago. It was a topic she rarely spoke about and in only small pieces. Magnus, having took the woman under his wing, knew the most except for their Mistress. It brought her too much pain and caused her to lock herself away within herself. It took many years for them to help her break out and become surer in herself and her abilities. However, even now it was a work in progress and Magnus began to witness that progress begin to backslide.
"I have to see for myself," Eliza mumbled quietly, seemingly to no one.
"Would you like one us to go with you?" Magnus asked softly. Over the years, he had grown to care for Eliza as if she were his own kin and seeing her begin to lock herself away saddened him.
"No. No I should do this alone. I-I need to prepare. John can you lock up for me?" Eliza asked as she began to make her way out, not needing to see the nod she received from the other man. Eliza was sure Magnus would be telling him about what was happening when she left.
"Where are you going to go?" She heard John ask as she made it to the door causing her to pause.
"Forks, Washington."