Chapter 2: Carlisle
I was not a violent man by nature at all. Very few things riled me and shook me. Calm and composed was my usual aura. I didn't fight, I didn't attack. Life, to me, was sacred; a gift from God. And despite the creature I had become, I would not use it as an excuse to destroy life. It was not who I was. Killing was not something I took lightly. The only times I took such an action were to protect my family. And even then, I would never relish the thought of killing another creature.
Cassie had changed something within me, despite only knowing her for less than an hour. She hardly talked. But I could see she was honest, kindhearted, gentle and empathetic. She was too gentle to be hurt such a way. And she was brave, she was strong. Her blood sang to me a sad song. And melancholy settled in my heart as her sweet, enticing blood was spilled for someone who was more of a monster than I. Never before had I wanted revenge so badly. What had this woman done to me? Why was I now feeling emotions far more greatly than before? Protectiveness, anger, sorrow… confusion. But even if I wanted revenge, being a killer was not in my nature.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the vile stench of the man who was here and began to hunt. Alcohol burned my nose with its intense fumes as I found it was laced with the scent of the man. It was a mix of alcohol, whisky in particular, cigarettes, sweat and body fluids. I wanted to gag with disgust. Sometimes humans could be vile creatures. I never let the red haze cloud my mind as I followed the trail through alleyways. The deep throaty cackle of laughter brought me to a halt. The rapist was laughing to himself, too drunk to function as he stumbled along the deserted street. He hadn't managed to get far in his inebriated state. I wrinkled my nose and bit back a snarl as he mumbled to himself. As much as I tried, with some people, it was hard to see the good in them.
"Carlisle?" I jolted out of the fog of anger that had clouded me for that split second and turned to see Alice and Edward running to me. Of course, Alice would see what would happen. She looked worried for me and also a little… smug? I couldn't place it.
"You met your singer?" Edward was shocked as he heard my thoughts of what had happened. I ran a tired hand over my face.
"She deserves so much better than this." My voice was so low it was almost a growl. "He caused her pain. And I have no doubts he would do it again to others." My gaze fixated on the drunkard who had collapsed down an alley, having stumbled in his stupor. Alice and Edward seemed to share a glance, and I had no idea what they were thinking.
"Let us take care of this." Edward said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "You've had a tough night." At his touch, I finally straightened up out of a crouch that I had automatically assumed when the monster had laughed. I grimaced at myself, since when had the roles between myself and Edward reversed?
"Carlisle, you need to hunt." Alice said to me. The burning in my throat since I had smelled Cassie's blood had been subtly bothering me more than it should have. "Don't worry, we will send an anonymous tip to the police and leave him outside the station." But I hesitated. I wanted revenge for what he had done to Cassie, I wanted him to feel how much he had hurt her. Alice interrupted my thoughts again: "Cassie will be fine, I've seen it." She smiled conspiratorially. I frowned at her, puzzled by her reactions to the situation. I shot a final, anger fueled glance at the drunkard, at his position on the cold, paved street. I could smell the lingering blood; I could smell the crimes he had committed. But it would do no good to me or Cassie to linger on my furious thoughts. The things I had seen in this life, they were both beautiful and horrid. It was a curse of immortality. Before I could get too deep in my thoughts, I turned to my children, sending an apology in my thoughts to Edward.
"Thank you." I said to them both before I took off to finally hunt. Cassie burdened my mind. Her vulnerability, her despair, her beauty despite pain, her strength. So much like Rosalie but so different. Why could I not get Cassie out of my head? I growled as I finally breached the forest, needing to feel the soothing trickle of warm blood down my parched throat.
Never before had I felt this way. It had been many decades now since the scent of blood affected me so. It was worrying and it was potentially dangerous- not that I would ever harm her. But it sent a thrill through me. What was happening to me?
A growl ripped through my throat as I leaped on my prey. I refused to let the frenzy overtake me.
