The Masen-Cullen Journals
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter 1
October, 2019
Autumn in Chicago wasn't as bad as Bella Swan thought.
'The Sound of Silence' by Disturbed played in her ears as whips of leaves danced in whirlwinds from the breeze. It made them look like small woodland sprites, dancing just for her and anyone else who happened to notice them.
That made her smile.
She watched the leafy sprites travel down the street for a moment before they faded into the piles of rotten leaves that were bogged down by the muddy gutters. She could almost see the other dry leaves trying to reach and catch the wind before they were soaked with the morning rain.
A bright yellow car drove down the road quickly and again, the leaves happily took flight, dancing behind it while the others were crushed in their place.
Bella knew how that felt.
She knew how crushing life could be.
It was an escape of sorts.
At sixteen years old, Bella's mother noticed a man that resembled a baseball player she once saw on television. Renee said she would only be gone for a few minutes, but her mother left her waiting at the carousel at the Arizona County Fair.
It was sticky hot and so was the guy she had to bum a ride off of to get home.
A week later, two plane tickets sat on the kitchen table. One was for Bella to go to Washington to live with her father, Charlie Swan.
The other was for Renee Higginbotham to Florida.
There wasn't any question on whether or not Bella was invited on Renee's next adventure.
She wasn't.
Bella took a taxi to Sky Harbor Airport, checked her bags and got through security without anyone really noticing her presence.
She was just another face in the crowd.
A police escort greeted her in Seattle, though.
Charlie Swan stood by the baggage claim looking as threatening as one could in full riot gear.
All he was missing was his asp and k-9 companion.
"Where's Zeus?" Bella smirked at her dad before giving him a one armed hug.
"At home waiting for you, of course."
"Aww," Bella frowned before grabbed the handle of her luggage.
"Yep," He's almost as happy as I am to see you."
Bella swallowed back the bit of emotion that lodged in her throat. "I'm happy to see you, too."
"She lasted longer than I thought she would." Charlie whispered as they got into the police SUV. "I have to give her that."
"I know," Bella nodded. It didn't take the hurt away and that hurt was something that both she and her father felt deeply. "Doesn't take away the sting."
"Yep."
And that was that.
Bella remembered high school as nothing more than a blur of studying and dates at the local diner with her father. She didn't really seem to fit in with the kids that seemed to know each other their whole lives, nor did she really try either.
Perhaps it would've been different if she grew up with them, too, but alas.
As soon as Bella graduated high school she took the college scholarship for Chicago. She missed Charlie, but he had his dog and a new budding romance with a widow named Sue.
It made it easier to leave.
Looking up at the Chicago sky, Bella Swan couldn't believe that the universe would add rain to an already horrible day.
Her long, dark hair that lay over her shoulders was quickly saturated in rainwater and the tendrils she painstakingly straightened were quickly recoiling back into their normal curl.
A sharp wind hit her as a car drove by, too close the curb and sent a wash of sewer water straight for her. She barely made it out of the way of the back tires by ducking into an alleyway that seemed to be forgotten from the street.
It was filled with overgrown vines that had small flowers that had yet to succumb to the fall but it wasn't the romantic kind of vines that one would see bordering enchanted pathways in small Italian villa. No this one, Bella learned, was the kind with razor sharp barbs that tore you apart if you happened to be on the wrong side of them.
Which Bella was, of course.
They pulled at her hair and jacket as she fought for her release when she noticed a large, old wooden door with intricate figures. It detailed into a scene that she couldn't quite place but recalled seeing before.
Bella looked toward the street, and saw the vines swaying innocently with the rain filled gusts. She didn't know how she got so far away from the street. Perhaps it was when she was fighting the vines, but she quickly decided there must be a better way back to the main road if she went through the side door. She tried the handle and was relieved when she pulled back the heavy door with a grunt and swung open with Bella attached to it. She was immersed into complete darkness.
The smell hit her first. It was the smell of aged books, oiled paintings, parchment, and ink that swirled around with the musk of the old building.
A gust of wind hit her back as the door swung back open in a rush, trying to escape into the late afternoon storms. Bella quickly turned to shut it, leaving her again in the dark.
Pulling out her phone for a light, Bella did a quick search of her location, but came up with nothing. The whole building seemed to have been left off the map. She didn't know how it was possible.
Taking a look around with the help of her phone, Bella could tell she was alone in a vast space. The walls were lined in wall to ceiling shelves of books with wobbly ladders that seemed to reach to the heavens when she looked up while antiquated chairs were strategically placed around the cold, empty fireplace. Bella eyes quickly became accustomed to the warm ambient light that filtered in from high stained glass windows.
Bella felt a rush of air push past her so she grabbed the wood banister tightly to right herself. When she looked back up she could see candle lights popping to life, seemingly on their own. Stained glass windows arched several stories high, making her wonder if the building used to be a church at one point. She made a mental note to look online for old, abandoned churches of Chicago.
There were thin catwalk like walkways that marked each floor and stairs cleverly hidden behind another row of books under the stained glass. Bella took to the stairs, each step creaking with the sudden weight.
She moved as quietly as she could, hearing the roar of thunder with the cracks of lightning outside. There was no way she was going to venture out there now. She could hear the waves of rain pounding the roof of the masonry building and quickly sat on one of the two old wood and leather chairs that were perched to look over the railing.
She couldn't fathom how such heavy chairs got up so high.
Bella didn't notice that a fire was quickly warming in the fireplace downstairs as she looked at the leather bound books that were unlabeled. She plucked one from the shelf and opened it.
Chicago, Illinois
September 1st, 1918
Mother invited her ladies over for tea. I was opposed to the idea, strictly based on the idea that it could be possible one of them could be ill and not yet be aware but mother disagreed, choosing a tea that would only help the calm their ailments.
I stayed in the den for time when one of mother's friends wandered into the room looking for the water closet since our home was one of the few that had such luxuries. I distinctly remember the sound of her retching just before she tried to give me soft smiles and a cool touch.
She was not amused when I didn't share her affections.
I opened my tin of dried mint leaves and offered her one, confident that it would help with the stench of her breath.
She refused.
-EAM
Bella giggled and closed the journal, looking over it as if it was a treasure.
On the front page in she saw the distinct writing:
.
The Journals
Volume Three
1918
.
Bella adjusted her spot on the chair and curled her legs underneath her before she opened the journal up again and read:
September 5th, 1918
Mother decided it would be best if I courted the daughter of Melissa Morgan from down the street. It does not seem to matter that her affections lie in child-like adoration and not a viable companion for romance. Pay no mind that I lack any of the attributes that she would find pleasing since I am not a daring prince on a steed like that of her fairy stories.
Mother laughed joyfully upon mounting me on the steward's steed. Perhaps she didn't need the carriage and wanted the amusement.
I decided to play along, of course, as I always do, and took the steed to the corner store for some sugar, eggs, and flour. Might come of use since more of the neighbors are falling ill to the flu and rations will soon get low. I know that mother already sent four baskets of fruit, teas, and breads to help ease them.
-EAM
.
Bella took a sharp breath in, seeing her birthdate in E's elegant writing over a hundred years past.
.
September 13th, 1918
I called for the doctor today. He should be here within the hour. Father succumbed to the flu the night before last and I fear her heart cannot take the heavy loss of the great love they shared.
I cannot help but be by her side, risking my health for these last few moments with my mother.
Seeing her unwell has hurt me to my core. I cannot fathom life without my beloved parents.
-EAM
.
The doctor just left.
The way he looked at me set my nerves on end. Perhaps he knows more than he said though I cannot figure out the intense, brief conversation between him and my mother.
He wouldn't share the conversation and said that I need to call him once I start feeling feverish.
I didn't tell him that I already was unwell.
-EAM
.
September 21st, 1918
Today will be my last entry. I fear my body has finally succumbed and everything hurts. It hurts to write and hurts to even think. I know I will soon be at peace and with my parents. My only regret was that I didn't get to see to courting a lady, not that it matters much now.
I should have thought more kindly to the widow, Melissa Morgan and her daughter.
They have also perished.
I have sent for the good doctor but fear it's too late.
-EAM
.
Bella wiped the tear from her cheek as she thumbed through the rest of the book but there were only empty pages. She put it back on the shelf with the others like it. Her heart couldn't take reading anything more.
"Hello there," A tinkling voice called from the staircase and Bella met the small woman's eyes in apology. She knew she was trespassing and invading the space but until that moment, she couldn't find it in her to care.
"Hello," Bella mustered a small smile as another tear fell over her face. How she could feel so quickly for a stranger was a new feeling for her.
"Hi," She smiled. "I'm Alice. Can I help you? Are you lost?" Alice's soft voice flowed through the air like a melody breaking Bella's concentration of the vast space.
"Yes, I suppose I am. It was pouring outside and I was seeking refuge," Bella gave an apologetic smile to curb the sudden embarrassment. "I'm sorry if I'm trespassing. I happened here on accident."
"Hmm," Alice, with her dark hair curled into a 1920's bob that framed her delicate features, stared at Bella for what seemed like forever even though it was mere seconds. "With the winds in Chicago, is anything ever really on accident?"
Bella could think of a thousand things involving her that were accidentals but instead she answered, "I suppose not."
"Well, welcome to the library of our home. Take your time and have a look around while I make some tea. Can I take your wet coat?"
Bella nodded moved out of her coat happily and handed it to Alice.
She gave Bella a small grin which didn't meet her dark eyes.
"Go make new friends with the books; I think they've waited long enough. I will come find you soon."
"Thank you, Alice."
Alice gave another soft smile before she made her way down the stairs.
Bella didn't notice the gust of air that brushed past her so quickly it made the candle light dance. If she had, she would have realized she wasn't as alone as she thought.
With her eyes closed, Bella grasped another leather bound book of the shelf and opened it up.
.
A/N: Yep. A brand new fic.
I've been sitting on this for a while and it won't let go til it's made its way to you. It isn't going to be Beta'd so there will be mistakes. My apologies. I'll try to fix them as much as I can as we go along. You should know this isn't going to be all journal entries, but the first several chapters will be. It will also be more of Edward's story, M, AU, and cannon coupling.