{Chapter}
~Carlisle's Point of View~
As I walked into my house, my mind was still on the strange case that Virginia's granddaughter was presenting me. It was fascinating, that Liberty had her memories altered so seriously that she reacted as she did. I had grown use after all my time in hospitals to the standard cases that I was presented it, it was still very fulfilling in many ways, but this was a puzzle.
I smiled at my mate as she approached with a soft smile, the reason I loved her so much. Esme's compassion was beyond approach in this world. She cared in ways that I couldn't comprehend even in my long life.
"How was the day at the hospital?" She questioned as I pulled her into my arms
"Nothing of true concern" I whispered kissing her gently "What did you do in my absence?"
"I recently looked at another house to remodel" She said happily, and I smiled at her excitement "Alice will be helping me"
"No doubt she will take great joy in decorating" I said in amusement thinking of my youngest daughter, Alice was always the eccentric one of the family
"Yes, she has been holed up in her room since I choose this place" She said with a chuckle
"Where are the rest of our children?" I questioned hearing how quiet it was in the house
"Rose and Emmett are hunting, or so they say" Esme explained as I fought the urge to wince, knowing about what they tended to get up to was impossible with our hearing "Jasper is with Alice, no doubt taking in her joy"
"And Edward?" I questioned causing her to frown glancing at the ceiling "What is wrong?"
"He arrived home from hunting and hasn't spoken, it seems to be becoming more common" She explained with great concern
"Has something happened?" I questioned as she shook her head
"You know how he is, perhaps you could still talk to him? He listens to you" She said softly as to not be overheard as easily, no doubt Edward was already aware of her concerns
I nodded kissing her cheek knowing how much she worried for Edward. I knew that worry well. I worried constantly that I had changed Edward too young for him to take to the life as a vampire. Edward was talented, reading mind had put a weight on him. As much as I was proud of Edward, I knew his thoughts on being a vampire. I knew that he thought himself a monster, unworthy of the love we all wished he would find one day.
I was beginning to have my doubts, as time went on. Edward had interacted with plenty of vampires, females, and males. For a time, I had thought he would agree that Tanya was his mate. Just to be disappointed when he avoided her the way he had. I wondered if perhaps his attraction wavered to males and in the naïve state of mind being turned so young just made it impossible for him to accept. Still, Edward denied the notion stating that there wasn't anyone out there for him. The youngest of us physically was too naïve to life when I turned him, and I feared that would never change.
Still, I knew that the burden my son believed he carried while being frozen in such a mindset. thought having our coven grow would help. And in many ways, it had helped ease the worry I felt. As close as he was to Alice and Emmett, I feared even that would never be enough to keep Edward from the darkness we all saw consuming him slowly. I sighed pushing the thoughts away as I approached him knowing it wasn't fair to place such thoughts on him.
"Carlisle?" he questioned from his place just blankly staring out the window
'Are you okay?' I questioned him in my mind coming to look at him, I could see the distant look in his eyes
"Yeah, did you need something" He questioned as it suddenly occurred to me that Edward could perhaps assist in learning what was going on with Liberty's mind
"I have a bit of a case at the hospital that is troubling me" I explained seriously causing him to tense suddenly
"Thinking of turning someone?" he said clearly unable to hide his disgust at the notion, but it gave me pause from what I gathered about the girl she would make a good vampire "No"
"No, it is not a physical aliment that is troubling her" I explained gaining his full attention "There is this girl that was in an accident and when she woke up, she said some things of interest"
"What do you mean?" he questioned with a frown
"from what I have gathered she didn't lose her memories, she rewrote them" I explained causing him blink in confusion
"is that possible?" he questioned recalling his own medical training
"That is the question I am hoping you will help me with" I said honestly "I was thinking you could use your ability to help me understand what is going on in her mind so I may help her"
"What is so important about a human girl?" he questioned his brow furrowed with confusion
"her grandmother works at the hospital and has always been kind to me. It is unlike her granddaughter to act like this, Liberty is going through a difficult time, and she is young" I explained honestly as he blinked
"You believe that it is trauma?" He questioned after a moment with a serious look on his face
"Yes, and considering she is the only one to survive the accident. I don't wish to see Virginia lose the only family that remains" I explained as he nodded in understanding
"And you want me to read her mind, in an attempt to clarify if she truly doesn't remember or something else is occurring?" He questioned in thought
"If you are willing" I said gently knowing it would only make things worse to force him, but Liberty was a fascinating puzzle
"I can do that" He said in agreement as I smiled at him
"Thank you, could you stop by sometime tomorrow? The earlier the better, I have a feeling that I will have trouble keeping her there for long" I explained honestly as he looked amused at the information
"What do you mean?" He questioned as I chuckled recalling the upset earlier
"She gave the nurses the slip, it took nearly two hours for anyone to find her. She found an empty room on another floor and hid in the bathroom" I explained softly, even if confused I could tell Liberty was a handful that reminded me of Alice
"This is just about me reading her mind?" He questioned brow furrowing with worry and I understood he was worrying that I was attempting something more
"No, I don't plan on your interacting with her. Just saying near the room as I talk with her grandmother and her" I said honestly, it wasn't professional to just bring your son into a hospital room of a patient
"Okay" He said nodding "I will stop by tomorrow morning"
"Can I come?" Alice said popping her head in the room causing me to chuckle as Edward glared at her "Why can't I come? Maybe I can have a vision to see she will be just fine"
"You can come as well" I said softly stopping Edward from arguing with her, it wouldn't do any good because Alice was a force of nature when she wanted something
"Fine" He said with a growl before turning away from us "I am going for a run"
"Is anyone going with you?" I questioned and he gave me a sad look shaking his head "Perhaps Esme and I could join you if you are feeling up to some company"
"No" He said shaking his head "I am fine alone"
I frowned at the statement as he left without another word. That was the problem, that Edward thought he was okay being alone. He didn't seem to realize the loneliness in him, or he did notice it but lacked the knowledge of what was needed to change that. I looked at Alice who smiled happily causing me to become amused before heading off to find my mate.
~Edward Point of View~
I pushed myself faster as I ran thinking of my personal purgatory. I was consumed with boredom, of the eternity that I was faced with. I felt tired despite not needing or even being about sleep. Everything in my life had become routine, lacking excitement or wonder. There was a part of me that wish for it, for something to take me by surprise once more.
Every day, I heard the voices of the minds of others. When it came to human minds, I had heard them all before. The reactions were predictable, especially the teenagers that I attempted to ignore at school. Everyday, it was the same thing. Speaking the opposite of thinking, the rarity of a human that was pleasant. Hormones causing reactions and thoughts that tormented me. While uncomfortable, it was not unpredictable. They thought me to be perfect, if the only knew the monster I was.
Then there were the voices of my family. Their happiness that made me ache. The quiet moments where I stood alone hearing their interactions between mates. I was a freak, in the darkness alone, tormented by their happiness. Then there were their worries, Carlisle thoughts on my finding a mate. That we were not meant to live without mates forever. Esme wishing for me to find the love she felt I needed. Emmett's taunts as he thought of disgusting images. Rose thinking that I was helpless, that I would never find a mate. If there was anyone I agreed with, it was Rosalie.
Jasper's struggles were hard to listen to. He thoughts on Alice were calm and consuming, a think I could not understand despite hearing them since his arrival. Alice was a freak like me, visions of the future constantly consuming her. I watched and assisted in her interpretations of them. Alice's thoughts were hard to understand, jumping and inconsistent. It made it confusing, but I rarely had to attempt to block her. She was good at blocking me.
"You are really doing this? Going to the hospital to look after some human girl" Rose sneered as I looked at her, the vampire stated to be the most perfect of us
"Carlisle needs help" Alice said seriously as I growled at Rose
"This doesn't concern you" I said honestly, I didn't need her anger over nothing, I was tired of Rose's anger
"Fine, see if I care" She said rolling her eyes at me
I growled in frustration before getting into the car not waiting to remain longer. Rose was in a mood which meant I wanted to be as far away from as I could be. Rose was prone to angry thoughts directed at me directly then screaming in her mind at me for listening. She didn't understand how hard it was, to block out thoughts directed at me in such a way. It was the closest to a getting a headache that a vampire could get. And of course, Rosalie would be able to cause it.
"We will be back" Alice said happily stepping into the car
"Why are you doing this Alice?" I questioned as I took off for Carlisle's work
"Why shouldn't I?" She responded in amusement 'Not like you could have stopped me, Edward'
I frowned as she started hiding her thoughts from me. I wondered if this was just Alice's fascination with the humans, considering her lack of memories. It wouldn't do any good to make her angry, Alice was easily the most frightening of us when upset. I didn't wish to push her if she was just trying to understand the girl, perhaps finding her a puzzle as well.
~Time Lapse
I frowned as I approached the room knowing that Carlisle expected me to find the answers to this. I wasn't sure what he wanted from this situation. Carlisle glanced up at me as we approached, Alice practically skipping down the hall.
'I was just about to head in, she is in the room behind me' He directed as I nodded glancing towards the teenager sitting on the bed staring at some sort of binder, I vaguely recalled meeting her before.
"She is beautiful" Alice whispered stepping near the window causing me to growl.
"Alice" I said in warning, Carlisle didn't wish for us to be seen.
I tried not to think about Alice's comment on the human girl as I sorted through the thoughts around me. It was just finding her voice among the various voices to narrow my focus to her. I tried to recall what her voice was from the one brief interaction when she was shopping in the same store Alice had dragged me to.
"Good morning, Liberty, how are you feeling?" Carlisle voice questioned as I listened for her voice to make it easier.
"I am feeling fine" She whispered as I narrowed my mind searching her thoughts.
"What is it you have there?" Carlisle questioned as I tilted my head wondering where she was among the voices in my head.
"Virginia brought me a photo book" She explained holding it up.
"Are you still unable to remember anything from before waking here?" He questioned as I tried harder to find her voice getting confused the harder that I searched failing to find her among the voices.
"Nope" She said with a slight shake of her head as I got slightly closure looking directly at her trying to see her mind.
"What is wrong?" Alice questioned looking at me as I took notice of the growl coming from me as she dragged me back to the nurse's station
"I can't read her mind" I said in disbelief looking back at the girl on the bed "I can't hear her thoughts"
"Oh" Alice said in confusion looking at her.
"Did you know?" I questioned her in anger as she shook her head in a silly human habit.
"I didn't think that was possible" She said glancing at the girl as I growled lowly again.
I was just in disbelief wondering how it was possible myself. No one had ever been able to block me. I frown in confusion as Carlisle stepped from the room coming towards us.
"I tried my best to get her to speak of the trauma, today she just seems more off than yesterday" Carlisle whispered pausing not doubting noticing my disbelief "What is wrong?"
"I can't read her mind" I said softly as not to be overheard as his eyes widened in surprise as I glanced at the girl "That isn't the only thing either, Carlisle. I have met her before right after we moved here. I was able to read her mind then."
"Fascinating" He said in wonder glancing at the girl "Do you think the accident caused it?"
"Then more people would be able to block him" Alice said with a giggle looking at the girl "I think she is just special"
"I don't understand" I said in panic looking at the girl on the bed that was facing away from me "What is she?"
"I will think on this. Do not let this worry you, Edward. There has to be some sort of explanation for this" Carlisle whispered as Alice giggled shoving me to move
I couldn't concentrate on anything else though. This girl had managed to prevent me from being able to read her mind. I didn't know how she managed that. What the hell was she? I know that I read her mind that day. I remember it, that she was an open book. Now, nothing but silence from her mind. How was the possible? Panic welled up in me, did she know and found a way to block me? No, that wasn't possible. I had failed to read her mind, there had to be a reason. I had to have missed something. Who was this girl to have blocked me?
For hours, the human was on my mind. I knew I had to figure it out, figure her out. There had to be a way for me to read her mind. My family depended on me to watch out for the thoughts of human for threats, for them learning our secret. I couldn't let them down by failing to do so. My siblings didn't understand my frustration, Alice had all to happily explained that I had failed to read her mind at the hospital. I knew what I had to do, I had to try harder to reveal her mind to me. I would go back and try again.
~Time Lapse
"You are going back?" Alice questioned appearing in my room causing me to growl
"There has to be a way to read her mind, it is less crowed at this time of day" I explained tired of having the girl on my mind, if I could read her mind then she would simply be like any other human.
"I am coming with you" She said all to happily as Jasper frowned shaking his head.
'This would do nothing for you, Edward. Just leave it alone' He thought to me seriously as I frowned knowing that if I could, I would be leaving alone. I had to figure this out.
"I am going this time" Emmett said happily "Seeing your reaction to not being able to read someone's thought is too good to pass up"
I growled at the statement knowing he shouldn't be finding amusement from me. If I was failing to read minds, this was a big problem. I frowned in concern as Rose thought I was being pathetic. I was thankful that she wasn't thinking of coming as well, considering it a waste of time. She thought this was beneath her. Unlike Emmett and Alice. Alice was all to happy to be going back to see the girl, making me narrow my eyes on her. Was she hiding something? Did she know more about this than she let on?
I sighed knowing that they would be coming with me, no matter what I wished for. I needed less people to find her thoughts. I growled lowly knowing they would follow me. Carlisle just glanced at us as we entered the hospital before returning to the person before him. I could tell that his thoughts understood why I was here, that I wouldn't be able to leave it alone. His concerns paled in comparison to mine.
"So, this is her?" Emmett whispered looking at the window to see the girl sleeping on the bed "Doesn't look like much"
"She has been in the hospital for several days" Alice said grimacing at the hospital gown "Those gowns are hideous, and I still think she looks pretty"
Emmett rolled his eyes at her statement turning to me "So, what are you going to do?" He questioned as I frowned still not hearing her thought even when she was asleep "Still nothing?"
"Nothing" I confirmed in a growl of frustration "I can't find her"
"Then go in the room" Emmett said as I frown shaking my head "Maybe it is just out here you can't read her; did you try in the room?"
"No" I said seriously knowing that Carlisle would not like us entering his patient's room.
"Then come on" Emmett said pushing me as he opened the door and all thoughts of reading her mind left me.
As I was shoved into the room her scent hit me like a freight train destroying what humanity I grasped onto in a second. In that moment, I was suddenly nothing more than a vampire, and she had the most intoxicating blood that I had ever smelled. My body worked of its own accord as venom filled my mouth and thirst burned through my body as hunger consumed me. If I had known a scent like this existed, I would have searched to the ends of the earth to drink the delicious blood. I growl tore from my mouth wanting to claim her, as she was meant to be.
"Woah" Emmett said wrapping his arms around me as I struggled against him wanting that scent for myself "What the fuck man?"
I struggled against the arms wanting nothing more than to get to the figure on the bed. My mind shifted through various ways to claim the girl, to have her for myself. Emmett forced me from the room as Alice closed the door. The clean air filled my lungs, my head cleared for one moment, a single moment. The scent was so close, so close to take. The scent forever burned into my memory; no distance could prevent my desire to have it.
Suddenly, I was face to face with Carlisle. He was looking at me in concern. I growled in anger trying to cling to his image. I couldn't be the monster that I was seeing reflected in his eyes. I stubbornly clung to the way of life I chose seventy years before. Everything in me was burning with desire for her scent, to consume it.
"Edward" Carlisle said seriously as Emmett's arms tightened to keep me from the room when I began to struggle against him once more "Take him home, I will be there shortly"
"Okay" Alice whispered as I was aware I was being pulled away from her room causing me to growled lowly fighting against their hold
"Fuck, Edward, calm the fuck down" Emmett growled struggling to restrain me "You are causing a scene"
I froze at the statement taking notice of Carlisle standing in between me and the scent. The thought of disappointing him consumed me with pain that almost hurt as much as the hunger the scent was causing. I felt hatred at the creature with this scent. The scent was brought furth the monster in me. Who was this human to have cause this? What was she to smell like this?
"Come on" Emmett huffed out straining against my desire to remain rooted to pull me from the hospital as I tried to clear my lungs of the scent "Get in the car"
I shook as he shoved me in the back seat clearly ready to fight me should the need arise. Alice just glanced at me before driving my car. For once, I didn't fight her for driving it. My entire being was on fire with thirst, it was unlike anything I had ever felt before.
"What is going on?" Rosalie questioned as Jasper flinched sensing my emotions as I was dragged into the house
"We are going hunting now" Jasper said seriously as I nodded too afraid to argue with my control so thoroughly snapped at the moment
"Come on, we will make sure you don't go back there" Alice stated nodding at Jasper and Emmett 'We won't let you kill her'
They were my watch dogs pulling me from the house to hunt. I knew though that nothing in this world would compare to that scent. It was burned in my mind, inciting me in ways I didn't understand.
~Liberty Point of View~
I had enough of interaction after my grandmother returned to work. I had enough of questions and people saying they were sorry for my loss. I had enough, which is why when I saw them outside my room, I immediately pretended to be asleep. I fought the urge to tense when they entered my room. Then I heard the growl that forced my eyes open.
There before me had to be the thing of nightmares. Edward was growling his eyes unfocused as Emmett struggled to restrain him. Emmett, who was stated to be the strongest of the Cullens, was struggling to keep Edward from moving further into the room. Alice moved to help as the forced him from the room. I forced myself to remain still watching the exchange, knowing they were completely unaware I was awake. It wasn't until Carlisle arrived that I relaxed closing my eyes to pretend to be asleep.
I was distantly aware of someone coming into the room checking on me. I used every single ouch of training I had to keep my heart steady and appear to be asleep. I heard movement of him checking something, the sleeping medication that I was supposed to take. For a moment, I regretted not having taken it honestly. I just really hated medication, being forced to live the night terrors because you couldn't wake up.
I didn't open my eyes when he left untrusting that he wasn't out there waiting for that. I knew the price of keeping secrets, and theirs was a very dangerous one. I knew that I had an unfair advantaged considering the twilight series. I had enough of the shocks that kept coming in my life and surprising their fucking secrets were no where near the top. I knew that reaction, I was apparently Edward's singer as well. As confusing it was, I didn't have the energy to really think on it.
The only reprieve came from earlier today when I discovered without a doubt that he could not read my mind. I am a soldier and taking notice of my surrounding was extremely needed. I saw him out there, having expected Carlisle to bring his son in to learn my mind. To confirm I was insane and needed to be committed. To my surprise, the look on his face and that frustration confirmed that I was shielded from his ability. The last thing I needed was him in my fucked-up mind right now.
I took a breath knowing that sooner or later I would have to deal with it but for now breathing seemed to be the most important and hardest task of my life. So, I close my eyes and prayed that I would at least get out of this hospital soon.
~Edward Point of View~
Who was this creature? Why did I have to lose everything because of her? Why did she have to exist? Why did this human have to ruin what little peace I had? I didn't want to be a monster and she couldn't make me. I couldn't harm her and live with the disappointment that Carlisle would feel. I couldn't put my family in danger. I glanced at Emmett who was still on guard as Jasper hit me with another wave of calm. Even hunting had done little against the need, the thirst consuming me.
While waiting for Carlisle, I fought myself between wanting to kill her and my father's beliefs. These were the longest hours of my existence as I sat as directed trying to control the war raging inside of me. I inhaled again trying to maintain my sanity. I was angry at myself and hated this girl for causing this torment. Most of all I was ashamed for putting my family in danger. Of the monster raged at the thought of living her alive. I struggled even from the distance as I could not get the scent to leave my mind, it burned into me and enraged the monster that wished for nothing more than to claim her life as our own.
"How is he?" Carlisle questioned coming into the living room glancing at my guards
"He tried to leave a few times" Emmett explained as I growled lightly "Nothing I couldn't handle"
"Despite hunting, he is still feeling the effects of whatever happened at the hospital" Jasper explained barely in control of his own thirst most likely from all the talk of how potent she was
"What happened at the hospital?" Esme asked me softly as I shook my head to ashamed to explain
"Edward" Carlisle said seriously gaining my attention 'I need you to explain, I may have an idea of what occurred'
"I couldn't read her thoughts, we entered her room believing that perhaps being in the same room would help" I explained grimacing slightly "Then I smelled her scent, it was unlike anything I had ever smelled before. She has blood that pulls me in, it was impossible to fight the urges"
"She didn't smell that strong to me" Emmett said looking confused "I entered at the same time, but you lost it Edward. I almost wasn't able to restrain you"
"Alice?" Carlisle questioned as she smiled at me sadly
"She smelled normal to me too, I didn't see this happening either before anyone asks me that" She said with a glare as Rosalie narrowed her eyes on me
"Does this mean we have to move again?" Rose questioned clearly hating me for putting our family in danger "Why can't we just kill the girl? There is no way she doesn't know there is something wrong now"
"She was sedated" Carlisle explained as I felt a weight lift off me knowing I hadn't exposed my family with my actions "I checked her to find her sleeping and her chart confirmed she was providing sleeping medication to assist her resting."
"Then we should just take care of it now, ensure she doesn't find out" Rose said causing me to roar in anger taking her by surprise as Jasper moved to hold me back
"You will not harm her" I growled in hatred, she would claim her life, it was mine
"No one will harm her" Carlisle said sternly forcing me to look at him "I will need to look into why her scent caused such a reaction from you and not the others. I am unsure if you can adjust to it"
"That isn't the only thing" I whispered with a frown recalling another important detail I had again overlooked "When I met her before, I was closer to her"
"What do you mean?" Carlisle questioned in confusion and the thoughts of the room held the same confusion
"She was closer to me" I stated glancing at Alice "That day in the store, she was within a foot of me, and her blood didn't smell like that"
"How is that possible?" Emmett questioned with wide eyes "Humans don't just change the scent of their blood"
"I don't know" I said hating this girl for being able to do so
"We will do nothing until I conduct some research, Alice will watch her until then and Edward you will remain here or with another member of the family" Carlisle said as I nodded understanding the need for me to be watched 'This is fascinating, first the problem with the memories and then this'
I tensed at his thoughts as he was excited to begin research, to solve to puzzle that she had presented him. This girl wasn't a puzzle, she was a threat. She had the ability to block me and blood that made me want to drain her or something. I couldn't understand it, but until it was understood I would have to rely on the others to keep her alive. To keep me away from her and her alluring scent.