Chapter 14
"Wait, have we met before?"
The large woman, with a child on her hip raised her eyebrow as she looked at the person standing in front of her. Holding the door with her free hand as she was about to close it.
" Like I explained, I'm new to the area. Thank you for your time."
An angelic voice responded. The women in the doorway nodded and closed the door, walking to the sitting area. As she did, her eyes fell on a painting that was hanging in the hallway. Stopping and staring at the picture of a young woman with shy brown eyes and long brown hair falling down around her shoulders.
Turning she almost tripped, rushing to the door and opening it. "Wait.." But there was no one left to call for, the yard and the path leading to her door, both were empty. Frowning the women searched the yard one more time before disappearing back in her house.
London 1712
I blinked as I watched the door close. Knowing it was the end of the vision. Stunned I thought about what I had just seen. For the first time, the dreams or visions I had about other people hadn't been violent or frightening. But the mood of the vision left me feeling alone, so very alone it made my body shudder. I hadn't seen the woman, but I knew for sure. The woman with the child had been talking to Bella.
"Mary Alice, can you hear me?"
From far I could hear Carlisle call for me. Taking a deep breath, I sucked in some fresh air and slowly opened my eyes. At the side of my bed, both Esme and Carlisle were keeping an eye on me. Sitting on the chairs that had been pushed back against the wall for most of the week.
"What happened?"
Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes. Alarmed by the painful ache in my lower back at my movement a groaned. Trying to relieve some of the dull ache I felt, I moved both my hands down and rubbed the spot that caused me so much pain. As I massaged the area, the pain slowly faded.
"You have been asleep for most of the morning." Taking my arm, Carlisle gently pressed the tip of his fingers against the pressure point on the inside of my wrist. "Your blood pressure went up about an hour ago, and your heart accelerated but Esme couldn't wake you up." Letting go of my arm, he got up from his seat. I tried to smile, hiding the fact that his words made no sense to me at all.
"How are you feeling now?" Carlisle stared at me with a intense smile, his vibrant eyes searching my face with a strange expression. For a moment a sat and stared back at him, until I remembered one of the rules I had learned as a young kid that actually made senes, it was polite to answer when someone asked you a question.
"Compared to the beginning of the week, I feel great." Flashing the brightest smile possible at them. I wiggled my toes and pointed at the blankets. "See."
"Good." Carlisle chuckled. "I'll leave you with Esme, she can help you get dressed."
He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Get dressed. Looking down at my lap, I tried to hide my embarrassment. All week I had stayed in this bed, dressed in a large white night gown. It was the nicest piece of clothing I had worn in the past years.
" Would you like to have a bath first?" Esme asked as she got up.
A tiny burst of excitement rushed through me. "You mean, like a real bath. With soap and hot water?" Pushing away the blankets, I carefully sat on the edge of the bed and placed my feet on the ground. This time when my feet hit the floor, it didn't feel like a thousand little needles were sticking into my legs and feet. Slowly I stood up, smiling as I realised it was almost without pain. Esme was already at my side and placed an arm around my shoulder.
"Yes, you can have a bath with real soap and hot water. " Mocking me, she slowly helped me walk to the door. Opening it for me and leading the way down the hall. At the end of the hallway, a door was already open. As we approached, Carlisle walked out at that moment.
"It should be just the right temperature." Holding up the bucket, he smiled at us before stepping past us.
When Esme helped me move down the two steps, I found myself in a large room. At the far side, a big fireplace held a large fire. Above it was a large pot with steam coming up from it. What held all my interest however, was the large bath in the middle of the room.
It was the most luxurious thing I had ever seen.
Squealing I rushed forward, as fast as I could. Esme supported me until I reached the bath. Gripping the side, I looked down and found there was already a good amount of water in it. And from the steam rising up, I was pretty sure it was warmed to perfection.
"I guess.. you like having a bath?" Esme asked me with an amused smile on her face.
Laughing I leaned down and scooped my hand through the clear water. Bringing it up and feeling the hot water slide through my fingers. "I've never ever been in a bath, not like this."
"Really?" Esme sounded shocked. "Well in that case, what are we waiting for."
Stepping closer she placed my hands on her shoulders. Using her for support, I carefully stepped in the bath. She waited until both my feet were secure on the bottom before turning her back to me.
"If you want, you can bath in your gown or take it off. I will leave and collect you some clothes to wear. Soap and cloth are on the small table at the side, you should be able to reach."
Clearly she waited for my response as she stood still. Looking down at the hot steam, I shrugged and pulled the long white shirt over my head and held it out in front of me. Without looking Esme reached back over her shoulder and I placed the shirt in her hand.
Holding on to the edge, I lowered myself in the warm water. Finding that once I sat down, it reached almost all the way up to my shoulder. Like she had promised, I only needed to reach over the edge with my right hand to find the soap and cloth to wash myself with.
"Thank you."
Hoping she understood, I was thanking her for so much more.
"You're welcome Mary Alice."
Disappearing from the room, Esme gave me some time alone. Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes and rested my head back. For a few minutes I just enjoyed the feeling of warm water against my skin until I couldn't resist any longer and grabbed the soap.
Bringing it to my face, it smelled fresh and clean.
Smiling I started to run the piece over my skin, scrubbing as hard as I could. Before long, my arms and shoulders were covered in a thin white layer. The scent prickled in my nose, making me giggle.
Placing the soap back in delicate little dish on the small stand next to the bath, I closed my eyes and placed one hand over my nose. Taking one last deep breath... and leaned back. Holding my breath and sqeeuzing my eyes shut as tight as possible. All noise faded away as water slowly surrounded my head. Staying under water, I pinched my nose so no water would run into my nose and mouth.
I held my breath for as long as possible, staying under water until my lungs started to burn. Sitting back up I gasped for air. Feeling water drip down my neck and shoulders.
Laughing I shook my head before letting myself fall back down, resting my shoulders against the bathtub and relaxing my head.
It was sitting like this, with a very satisfied smile on my face, Esme found me.
"I see you are enjoying your bath time." Placing some clothes on a chair, she stepped towards the bath. Holding out a large towel for me and closing her eyes.
Shy I stood up in the bath and grabbed the towel from her, wrapping it around me as tight as possible. When I was sure it would stay in place, I placed my hand on her shoulder and carefully stepped out of the bathtub.
"It was the most wonderful thing I have ever done... the most wonderful thing anyone has ever given me." I whispered when I finally stood on the ground, feeling the cold stone floor under my feet and shivering.
Esme opened her eyes and looked down at me, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she did. "You really had a tough time didn't you." Brushing my wet hair out of my face as she spoke.
Nodding I looked down again, shivering as the cold of the room started to cool me down.
"Let's get you dressed." Taking my hand she gently pushed me to the direction where a large pile of cloths was waiting on a chair. "Some of these are mine, but most of them are new. I bought them this week."
Picking up a lavender coloured dress, she held it up against my body. I collected it from her and held it in place. "You shouldn't have." Feeling the soft linen underneath my fingers, it was soft and smooth. But the thing that excited me most was the smell, just a hint of soap came from the fabric.
"Yes I did." Esme smiled back at me. "Now don't stand there, try it on." Handing me some undergarments she disappeared from the room again. Quickly I dressed, finding that indeed everything she had purchased fit me perfect. Running my hands down the skirt of the lavender dress again and again, I couldn't help stop smiling.
"Esme" Calling out as I stood in the doorway, I didn't have to wait long for her to show up. She stopped and smiled the moment she set her eyes on me. " How do I look?" Running my hands down my dress again, I couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Unrecognisable."
It was the best compliment I could get.
Later that day we sat in the garden together. I ate some food while Esme watched me eat. Not for the first time, I noticed she looked at the food with a slightly disgusted look. Why wasn't clear to me, everything she had given me so far, had been absolutely perfect.
When I was done, I pushed the plate to the middle of the table. Leaning forward with my elbows on the edge. Looking at Esme over the table.
"Can I ask you something?"
She looked up at me. A curious expression in her eyes. "Yes, you can always ask me anything."
"Why don't you an Carlisle have any children? I'm sure you would be great parents." Waiting for her response, I watched pain appear in her eyes. Giving her usually beautiful face an almost haunted look. Holding my breath I watched her jaw tighten as she pulled up her shoulders.
Panicked I leaned back, folding my hands in my laps and staring at Esme. Afraid to look away, in fear that she would disappear if I would. After what seemed like a very long time, her shoulders slowly dropped and her face relaxed again.
" Carlisle and I... we can't have children. But we weren't always alone. For a long time, I had a girl living with me. A young woman, I loved her like a daughter." Her tone was so sad and hesitant, It made me regret asking about the subject.
"I'm.. I'm sorry." Stuttering, I struggled to find words. Trying to make up for my mistake but nothing seemed adequate enough to apologise for causing her to remember something that obviously caused her so much pain.
"Don't be sorry. I just told you, you can ask me anything you want. Besides having you stay here with us, softens the pain I feel a little bit." Looking into my eyes, I could still see the pain but the warmth in her voice made me relax a little bit.
"Her name.. the girl who stayed with you for a long time. Her name is Bella isn't it?"
Whispering softly, I wasn't sure of she heard. But she did because I could a sharp intake of breath as she gasped.
"It is."
Breaking the eye contact, she stared into the garden. Looking at something I could not find. As she did the memory of the wild dark haired girl flooded my mind. The red of her eyes and the feral way she had attacked men twice her size.
Silence stretched out between us as we sat and stared into the garden. Finally I managed to find my voice.
" Esme?"
Looking sideways, I waited for her to look at me. When she slowly turned to face me, I noticed the liquid gold in her eyes had slightly darkened. The change in eye colour was weird and part of me warned me. The warning didn't make any impression on my unsteady mind. Besides warning me, my mind also recognised something else.
In her eyes was hope. Hope... as she waited for me to continue speaking. It made me regret what I wanted to share, but at the same time. I hoped my sharing the fear I felt for this girl I had never me, would help me and her.
"Esme... I think, I know...something really bad is going to happen to Bella."
Esme's eyes flew wide open as she heard what I said. Leaning closer over the table, she grabbed one of my hands. A tight and cold grip.
"What do you know about Bella."
Desperate the words had rushed from her mouth, telling me the girl had meant so much more to her then I had understood. Could it be the answer to my question, why were they being so nice to me? Leaning back I dropped my head and let my hair fall around my face.
I'd thought they liked me, but now I understood how stupid I had been. By saying her name out loud, I had given them hope that perhaps the girl they had lost, could be found through me. But how could I explain to them, the girl in my visions… the one that tormented my dreams.. she is a monster.
Esme let go of my hand and a second later, I felt her hand on my shoulder. The sudden movement made me jump and I almost fell from my chair, afraid of being touched without warning. It reminded me to much of the years I had spend on the streets. I wanted her to let go, but she didn't let go. Instead I could feel her other hand gently brush the hair out of my face.
"Mary Alice, please trust me. You can tell me, even if it is something terrible. Carlise and me, we want to help you. But if you don't talk to us, we won't be able to help you."
Her words were low and soft, close to my face. I wanted to trust her. Could I trust her? Nodding slowly, I knew I had answered my own question.
"I'm not like other people. I see things."
Taking a deep breath, I allowed myself to remember some of the vision I had in the past years. The visions that had kept me awake at night, the visions that had given me the label of being a freak. Those visions, flooded my mind.
Bella… stalking through a dark forest like an animal stalking a prey.
Fast and silent like a ghost as she followed a group of men at night.
Bella….watching something from the shadows of a dark alley.
A tall dark man with a drink in his hand as he staggered into the dark alley, smiling and making kissing sounds as he noticed … leaping at that same man and ripping him apart in rage.
Her eyes a bright crimson red as she released a body and let her head rest back. When she did, I could see her licking her lips. Catching the last of a few red drops.
Then my memory reminded me of something else, another vision filled my head.
Bella and myself, walking hand in hand. Laughing and walking down the street. Giggling as men turned their heads to watch us.
But this time when I looked at her, there was no crimson red in her eyes.. This time, her eyes were the same color as Carlisle's and Esme's eyes.
"What kind of things are you talking about. " I could feel Esme let go of me and lean back. She was pulling away from me. As she did, out of nowhere Carlisle seemed to have appeared.. When I looked up at him, I recognised his clothes. They were the same he had been wearing in my vision.
"All my life, I've had dreams. The last 5 years, most of the dreams have revolved around a young woman, a girl. It wasn't until a few nights ago when I met you, I learned her name by accident. She….Bellla does things…... Terrible things." Taking a deep breath to steady myself. I felt both Esme and Carlisle looking at me.
" I don't always understand what she does but I've seen it in my dreams. They have kept me awake and haunted me for such a long time and I still don't understand them. How could I possibly make you understand them."
Turning to Esme I clung to her body, ignoring how cold and awkward she felt. Wanting more than anything to find support as I struggled to find words that could possibly explain.
"Mary Alice?"Carlisle carefully called my name. Making me look up at him.
"Yes." Letting go of Esme. I sat up and watched him move closer to me. Taking Esme's place in front of me.
" There is nothing to be afraid of. Some people are different, they go through life alone or in fear. Hiding themselves, afraid to show other people they have gifts. It sounds like you have a gift, and I'm guessing that your gift has made your life very difficult."
His words couldn't be more true and as I look at him a hot tear slips from my eye. Wiping it away I focus on Carlisle to stop myself from crying. "You plan to go out and find Bella?" I confront him. " She's dangerous".
His eyes however do not show any sign of shock or fear. Instead he relaxes and smiles at me as a he nods. " I see." Somewhere deep down I realise that he does know, but what does that mean. Does he know what Bella does, could they be this forgiving? Hope ignites inside of me as Carlisle crouches down in front of me and takes my hand. '" Yes, you're right. I'm planning to go out and find Bella. There has been rumors of a girl with her description arriving at the harbor a few days ago. Could that be true?"
Nodding at him I try and confirm to him it is the truth. Searching in my mind for any signs that the flashes of this other girls life that have haunted me for so long can help him find her. As he let's go I finally find what i'm looking for.
" The woman." Remembering the reaction of the woman with the child. The woman had thought she recognised Bella from a painting. If Carlisle knew where the painting is now, that would help him get closer to Bella.
"Earlier I was shown images of Bella. She went to a house, somewhere outside the city. In the house was a painting, a painting that had a picture of a young girl. The young girl looked like her."
Carlisle looked at me, then at Esme. They both smiled and it made me realise, I had described something they both recognised. Facing me Carlisle tried to contain his enthusiasm but could hardly hide his joy. "The house, did it have a large orchard?"
"Yes I think it was apples?" Frowning I tried to remember any other detail but knew that was the best I could do at the moment. "I'm sorry for not being more helpful."
"Swan house." Getting up, Carlisle placed a quick kiss on Esme's cheek. "I'll travel as fast as I can." Before I could stop him, he had disappeared from the garden.
Stunned I glanced around, finding just me and Esme in the garden, it was as if Carlisle had disappeared into thin air. Not for the first time, I started to feel uncomfortable. A nagging voice in the back of my mind warned me that perhaps like Bella, both Esme and Carlisle weren't completely normal either. Testing my theory I took a deep breath and grabbed Esme's hand.
"Esme, there is something you should know about those dreams. They don't just show me places and people. They also show me what they are doing. In my dreams, she kills people, hunts them like animals. Drinking their blood and hiding the bodies."
Watching her eyes, I could see a flicker of emotions as her mouth opened and closed. There was surprise and something else, but the one thing that I didn't notice was shock or disbelieve. Nervous I glanced around me. Suddenly I felt uncomfortable being alone with her. If my confession was accepted so easily and without surprise. What did that mean.
Thinking back about the past week, the days I had spend here.
Not once had I seen them eat anything but both of them seemed strong and healthy. In fact Esme was very strong because she had lifted me from the ground like I weighed nothing more than a feather.
They had also been extremely generous and caring. Almost loving in their care, soft and gentle. Giving me the feeling they liked me… perhaps even loved me. But was that a misunderstanding? Could they be more like Bella than I had realised. Could they have another motive to keep me here?
Looking at Esme's sad face in front of me. I struggled to keep breathing. She stared back at me, waiting for me to continue talking. As she did, a pinching feeling started at my temple. And before I could do anything, my eyes rolled back and I could feel my entire body tremble with the images that filled my head.
Bella was standing in the middle of the woods. She looked down at a deer, the animal was large and lying at her feet. As she looked down, she smiled proud. The smile however disappeared as a group of men stepped forward from the woods. She stood for a moment before turning around and starting to run.
It was the fastest I had ever seen her run. Crashing through low shrubs, she ran in a straight line towards a crumbled group of buildings. As she came closer, someone caught up with her.
A large man with dark hair jumped on her back, pushing her to the ground before she could reach the door. As they fell to the ground, I caught one last look of her face. It was covered in dirt but one thing stood out. Her eyes…. After the red crimson had haunted me for years, they now stood out to me.
They were a dark brown with gold around the edges.
The next thing I could see was hands, placed at either side of her face. She closed her eyes as they did. All resistance had faded as she said one final thing.
"Please tell them, I love them."
The words made me come back to reality.
They had been so soft and gentle, it sounded like she was addressing them to me.
Whispering, I repeated them to the person they were meant for.
"She loves you."
A/N Share your thoughts, still reading?