*Carlisle's story is NOT canon. I am using my creative license here for it. *
This is my last completed chapter… I am desperately working on getting the next one finished. But Alice is having a real hard time telling me her story.
It may be a while before it gets to you, but I promise, it is about three quarters done! I only have 2 more sections to write for it actually.
This chapter has not been edited. Any mistakes are mine. I am still looking for a Beta… Someone with a bit of experience.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
Edward POV 1918-1919:
I watched as Carlisle sunk his teeth into Bella's wrists, then I comforted her by whispering my love to her as she drifted off under the morphine's influence. She looked peaceful, as if she was sleeping. I would have sat there and watched her the whole time, but I knew there were things that I must do to prepare for my change.
"How long do you think she will be under Carlisle? Do we have time to go to my house and collect my things?" I asked as he stood there staring at Bella.
"We should, but I need to monitor Bella for a little while longer. I've never changed anyone before, so I wanted to make sure that she would be okay before we leave her. From my understanding the change should be complete in three days."
I nodded and sat in the chair beside the bed. I just wanted to get to my house and see what I could salvage before the city erupts with looters. What would I need to bring? What would I want to take? So many questions.
"Hmm…" Carlisle's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"What is it?" I asked in alarm.
"It seems that the morphine is working. I hope she isn't feeling any pain. We speculated that it would either keep her under and she wouldn't feel the burn, or that the morphine would paralyze her and make her unable to scream in pain. I just wish I knew what she was experiencing."
"She looks like she is sleeping. I hope she isn't in any pain." I told him the obvious.
"Yes. Why don't we leave her for now, I'm fairly certain she will be safe, and go to your house. It's late enough no one will see us."
"Okay." I sighed and stood. It was now or never. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face the demons I was carrying.
I still felt a heavy guilt for not forcing my parents to go to the hospital when they started showing signs of being sick. I felt guilt for Charles as well. But I knew I was going to need to let it go. There wasn't anything I could about it now.
Carlisle and I took my parents car back to their house. It was an eerie feeling pulling up to the driveway and seeing the house so dark. I pushed the fear aside and walked through the front door. The house has only been shut up for four days but it smelled of dust.
I couldn't even look at the couch in the living room as we passed the room. I figured it would be best to start in my father's office.
"Carlisle? What would I need to get from this room?" I asked, as I was unsure what would be important in here.
"I'm not really sure Edward. Perhaps the deed to the house, and any other legal documents."
I looked for the papers and found everything pertaining to the house. Did I want to keep the house? Would I ever return here? Again there were so many questions I just couldn't answer right now. I put the papers in a box and would decide later on.
I knew I wasn't going to need anything from the kitchen or dining room, after all I was to become a vampire, and those items would be useless.
Carlisle followed me upstairs as I went into my room, I decided to pack most of my clothes, and a few of my mementos, like my signed baseball from the last game my father and I attended together. I also took the pictures I had of my parents.
I went to reach for the blanket that was on my bed when Carlisle stopped me.
"Edward, you wont need any bedding. Vampires do not sleep."
"Oh." It was the only thing I could say.
I moved out of my room and went into my parent's room. I felt like an intruder in their private space, and I paused when I got into the room.
"Edward, it's alright. Perhaps you would like to keep your mothers jewelry." I nodded in reply and cautiously stepped over to my mother's vanity table.
I didn't look inside; I just picked up the box and placed it into the box of my collected items. I looked around, and then noticed my fathers pocket watch on his side table. I put it in my box as well.
I took one last look around the room, and didn't see anything else that would be useable or important to me so I turned to find Carlisle standing in the doorway.
"I think that is everything. Everything else can stay here." I told him and he nodded.
"Alright, if you're sure. I think it is time to get back home and check on Bella."
With that, excitement ran through me. Would she look different yet? Would she still appear to be sleeping, or would she be screaming in agony? Carlisle told me it was a painful process, and that it felt like you were burning alive.
I followed Carlisle out of the house, locking the door behind me, and hoping looters would not break into the house. I placed the small box on the back seat and allowed Carlisle to drive us back to his house.
"Carlisle, tell me about the time you are from, and tell me about your change." I asked curiously. The silence was too much all of a sudden.
"I was born in London in the 1640's, I don't recall the year or month, but dates were not recorded like they are now. My father was a priest, and believed in an ancient evil roaming the world. Of course he was talking about vampires. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a priest as well, and also to join his crusade in hunting these evil beings. I was young, just entering my twenties and I didn't have the same beliefs that he had.
"One night, the town we lived in was in chaos, I didn't understand what was happening. My father burst into the house, thrusting wooden stakes and spears at me. He told me that it was time to fight, that the evil had come calling. I followed him outside blindly, I was sure that he had lost his mind, but I would entertain him because he was my father.
"There was movement outside, but it was happening so fast, I couldn't tell what was going on. People were running around and screaming, and then all of a sudden my father rushed off our porch and into the mass of people. That's when I seen the ghostly image of someone.
"They were a blur of movement up until they stopped right in front of my father. He threw his hands in the air, and screamed something, and then all of a sudden he was flying through the air. He landed at the base of a tree with his limbs bent in all different directions. I didn't need to go over to know his fate. And in a way I was glad that he was dead.
"I was torn on whether or not to jump into this odd fray, or to run and hide back in my house. I didn't know what these things were. The decision was made for me when one of them came up to me and grabbed me by my arm.
"I was dragged back forcefully. Then they bit me, the pain was unimaginable, I felt them sucking the life out of me, and then all of a sudden it stopped. I was too drunk on the pain to notice what was going on. I was tossed aside and left there, and the fire began to ravage my body. I managed to crawl myself to our cellar way, and rolled myself down the stairs. I crawled into the pile of our potato crop and buried myself there.
"I wasn't aware of anything else until suddenly the pain stopped and I opened my eyes again. I could see and smell everything. When I left the cellar it was night, and there were a few people walking around. I suddenly felt a fire in my throat and wanted to go after the people. I'm not sure how I managed it, but I was able to run away from them.
"I went into the woods, and stayed there for a long time. By this time I realized what I had become, and tried everything to end my life. Nothing worked of course, I even tried to starve myself, but then suddenly a deer crossed my path, and without thinking I hunted it and drank from it. That's when I realized I could survive on animals, and have done so since."
"I sat there silently for a few minutes, absorbing this information. Could I be like Carlisle and never taste human blood? Would it be possible to live his way of life?
"Wow, Carlisle, though I understand that your story is sad, it is truly amazing at the same time. Tell me, what you did after all of that, please."
"I think we will save that for later." He said as we pulled up in front of the house.
My nerves shook as I looked up into the dark house. How was Bella doing? When will Carlisle change me?
We walked into the house and it was still silent inside. I looked to Carlisle for direction, but he was already walking up the stairs, so I followed him.
Bella was still lying on the bed, seemingly peaceful and at rest. However, her breathing seemed labored.
"Is she alright?" I asked, worried that things might be worse than they seemed.
"Yes, she is fine. She is well underway. See how her skin is just slightly paler? I'm expecting her to finish her transition right on schedule, but we will see."
I was ready to join her, but I was nervous as well.
"I don't mean to rush you, or sound too eager here, but I am ready whenever you are." I told him as I walked closer to Bella's side.
Reaching out, I touched her cheek, and it seemed like she knew it was I. Her head moved slightly into my touch, but then her breathing became harder and I let go.
"We must wait until tomorrow Edward. Bella's directive was to wait two days before changing you. So I will do as she said and wait. The hope was to have her wake well before you, so I had time to calm her and help her hunt before you woke. That way she would be of sound mind to help you."
That made me happy, that she would want to help me through those first moments.
"Then what should I do in the meantime? I'm a little lost here." I admitted.
"Bella said she left you some food in the icebox, why don't you heat it up in the oven, have some dinner, then get some rest. You wont be resting for a very long time after tomorrow." He said with a wry smile on his face.
I went downstairs and did as he suggested. The meal was perfect, and tasted better than anything I have had before. I realized then that Bella always cooked food differently than my mother, and perhaps that was because she was from a different time. I finished my meal and headed to Bella's room to shower.
I walked back into Carlisle's office to check on Bella one last time. And she was still in the same position as I left her in. This didn't seem so bad. Carlisle was sitting at his desk reading a rather thick book and writing things on paper.
"Ah Edward, I'm just working on some research while I wait for Bella to make any changes in her progress. If I'm being honest, I'm waiting for the screaming." He said, looking over to Bella.
"Oh? Is it possible that she will just remain in this state the entire time?" I asked curiously.
"I'm not sure, I've never heard of anyone using morphine before, so this is the experiment. I did want to ask if you wanted me to use the morphine on you as well?"
I looked towards Bella, taking in her still peaceful state. Do I want to risk it?
"Yes, I think I will also take the risk of the unknown and use the morphine as well."
"Very well. Why don't you get some rest, and I will see you in the morning." He said, and then bent back over his book.
Morning dawned, and I woke in a strange bed. It took a few minutes to remember that I was in Carlisle's home and slept in Bella's bed. I stayed there for a few moments, and then remembered what was happening in the room across the hall.
When I got out of bed, a strong wave of dizziness washed over me, and I had to grab the wall for support. Sweat beaded on my forehead and the back of my neck. What was happening?
I stumbled out of the room and across the hall. When I entered, Carlisle's head shot up from his book.
"Edward? Are you all right?" He asked, alarm clear in his tone.
"I'm not sure. When I got up I was dizzy, then the sweat came. Do you know what is going on?" My breathing was labored, and I felt like I was going to fall to the floor.
"Oh, it seems that you have contracted the flu. Come, we mustn't wait." He rushed out of his chair, took two syringes out of his desk and walked towards me.
He put his arm around me and walked me back to Bella's room.
"We're going to start your change now. I have a feeling that Bella will be waking tonight instead of tomorrow. So I would rather have you well underway before that happens, that way she wont be tempted by you."
"Okay, if you think that is the best course of action." I said in a haze.
Carlisle lowered me down on to the bed and removed all the covers, tossing them on the floor.
"Edward, I'm going to inject you with the morphine, then just before you go under I'll inject you with my venom, the same way as I did with Bella. Then, I'll see you on the other side."
"Okay, see you later." I mumbled to him, suddenly feeling like I was falling.
I felt the pinch of the needles in my neck and a few minutes later I felt completely numb. I didn't feel Carlisle as he lifted my arms and bit my wrists, but I did see him do it.
As I started to drift off, I felt an intense burning start to travel up my arms, and then the morphine seemed to pull me under.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
I didn't know if it had been minutes, hours, months, years, but when I surfaced from a seemingly peaceful rest, I was on fire. My entire body burned. I tried to lift my arm to rub the other, but I couldn't. It was as if I was strapped down and chained to where I was, wherever that may be. I couldn't remember.
I laid there, panting in my discomfort and the pain. I could slightly feel the rise and fall of my chest. I tried to open my eyes, but they were stuck as well.
I drifted off again, and dreamed of a brown haired girl, and a feeling of familiarity hit me. She was smiling at me, and leaning against a wall watching me.
When I woke again I could hear voices.
'I wonder how much longer? He's already into the second day now, and I woke up rather quickly. This anticipation may kill me.' I heard a female, but I couldn't place the voice.
'I hope the morphine is doing a better job then it did before.' This time it was a male, but again I couldn't place it.
Taking stock of myself, I realized that the pain seemed less, but there was an intense burning in my head. It felt like a headache but different still. My limbs seemed to be slowly coming away from the burning sensation, they did feel cooler, but I couldn't move them yet.
Then suddenly, the pain burst into my chest like liquid acid, it was burning me so intensely, surely I was dying. My fingers twitched at the sensation, and I heard the females voice again.
'Don't be afraid Edward. I'm here my love, it's almost over now.'
'Shit! He probably can't hear me, I hope he will not regret this decision, and if not, I hope he will forgive me. I cant live without him again.'
Who's voice was that? It seemed so familiar, but I just couldn't think!
My heart started to pound in a furious rhythm. It felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. The burning seemed to be concentrated in that area. The burning sensation was also leaving my head, but left a buzzing noise in place.
'It's almost finished. I hope he remains calm.' The male voice said.
A warm hand took hold of mine then, and I froze. An electric current seemed to be running through me now, and I wasn't sure if I was safe in this place.
My heart came to a shuddering stop after a few minutes and my breath froze in my chest. The hand that was holding mine tightened its grip on my hand, and I was instantly wary. I took a breath, and when I did I was assaulted with the smell of vine-ripened strawberries and sun warmed freesias. This scent comforted me, and gave me the sense of home.
I opened my eyes after a few moments and looked in the direction of the scent, and was met with the blood red irises of a familiar face. I knew this face, and I loved her. As my eyes cleared and my mind raced, I reached out to her.
"Bella" her name came out of my mouth like a prayer, and I placed my hand on her cheek in a familiar way. Her eyes closed and I was transported back in time to when we met and the feelings it awoke in me.
'I love you so much Edward.' Her voice was familiar to me now, I knew who she was.
"I love you too Bella." I responded and her eyes opened wide as she stared at me.
"You heard me?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes. I don't remember ever being deaf." I told her.
"No Edward. I didn't say that out loud. It was in my thoughts."
"What? Your thoughts? How can that be?" I asked of her, and she let out a peal of laughter that sounded like bells.
"You probably don't remember much from our conversation when you were human, but let's go hunt and then we will sit and talk for a while." She spoke to me, and then looked behind her.
"Carlisle, I know we just went yesterday, but would you please accompany us again today? I would feel more comfortable with an extra pair of arms."
I looked in the direction that she spoke and seen a man with blonde hair. I didn't know this stranger and ripped my hand away from Bella's grasp and flew off the bed, crouching down in front of Bella and hissing loudly.
"She's mine!" I growled out. And the man put his hands up as if in surrender.
"Edward, son, I mean you no harm, nor would I ever dream of harming your mate." He said calmly.
"Edward, don't you remember Carlisle? Dr. Cullen?" Bella's tone was soothing.
I thought for a minute, and fuzzy images appeared in my head. Then I remembered him, and I felt foolish.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me Carlisle." I said as I bowed my head in apology.
"It's all right, I completely understand. But yes, lets all go hunting. It's fairly dark out so we should be able to avoid being seen."
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
Carlisle led us through the city in the back alleys, avoiding main streets. It seemed like a waste of time to go this roundabout way, but ultimately it didn't take us long to reach the nearest forest.
'Hold your breath, hold your breath.' Bella was repeating in her mind on the entire run. No one told me to, but I figured I would follow her lead and do as she was.
Running was an exhilarating feeling, and I really didn't notice the speed at which we were traveling. I could see everything just as clear as if I was standing still, except it was sharper in clarity.
When we stopped at the edge of the forest, I took a breath and was assaulted with an array of different smells, some of them good, some absolutely horrid. There were so many it was hard to separate them.
"Edward, when we get further into the forest, you wont be able to smell anything from the city. I'm sure your sense of smell is on overdrive right now." Carlisle spoke, and he was right, I was confused by all the smells.
"Come on, lets get moving." Bella grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. When our hands touched I was instantly distracted by the sensation that was creeping up my arm.
"What is that?" I asked her, as I stared at our entwined hands. She looked back and smiled, then looked at our hands.
"That is our connection, it's just our bodies reacting to being in contact with our mate." She told me with a look of love and longing in her eyes.
'I hope he remembers, and I hope after this hunt he will not regret the decision.' She thought to herself.
When the thoughts of others entered my mind it was disorienting. I left Bella's thoughts alone, hopefully in time I would regret this decision, it was in fact too soon to tell.
Bella started to pull me again, and this time I followed her. We ran for a few minutes until we reached an outcropping of rocks. It seemed as if we were on top of a mountain as I could see the vast forest that stretched out in all directions. I couldn't even see the city. How far did we travel?
"Carlisle? How far did we go?" I asked with great curiosity.
"About six hundred miles north. We're in Canada."
"Oh, wow." I was speechless for a moment.
As I stood there marveling at the distance traveled, and the seemingly endless forest all around, a burning sensation began to develop in my throat. I put my hand on my neck and rubbed trying to get the burn to go away.
"That's not going to help. It's time we go find something tasty." Bella squeezed my hand, getting me to focus on her.
I watched as she sniffed the air for a few moments.
"Edward, smell the air. What do you smell?" She asked.
I sniffed, and was assaulted again with various things. The air was crisp; I could smell the pine trees, the decaying leaves and pine needles on the ground. But then, off in the distance I could smell something else. It was musky, and smelled warm.
"I can smell something to the West, it smells musky and warm." She nodded in approval.
"Well, let's get off this rock face and go find out what it is." She smiled and then a predatory look crossed her face. I was aroused immediately, but I didn't understand why.
Bella led me down the West side of the mountain and into the valley below. She stopped suddenly and took my hand in hers.
"Let everything fall away Edward. Shut your mind down and use your senses. I'm going to stay here until you've hunted. The first time I came out here with Carlisle I almost attacked him when he approached my kill. So take your fill, then come back to me."
I was instantly worried, how would I find her?
"How will I find you? Won't I get lost?"
"No, you won't, our connection will not allow you to not find me. Just follow your instincts." I nodded at her, still worried.
"Go Edward. I will be right here."
I closed my eyes, letting everything in my mind fall away. My body reacted instantly and I took off in the direction of the musky scent. As I got closer, I could hear several heartbeats. I slowed my pace when the sound got louder. Just on the other side of some bushes there were six large elk grazing. I watched them for a moment, and then suddenly I lowered myself into a crouch.
My eyes locked onto the largest of them and I leaped at it. Landing squarely on its back I let myself swing around to take the elk to the ground. Then my teeth sunk into its neck. The blood poured down my throat freely. When the flow slowed I began to pull harder until there was nothing. I let the body of the elk go, and stood up.
Still lost in a haze, I followed the scent of the others. I found them quickly and took down another one. The blood tasted a little sweeter this time, and didn't seem to last as long as the first.
I stood when I was done with the elk and let the haze fall away. Taking stock of myself I noticed I had some blood splatter on my shirt. I needed to get back to Bella. It seemed to be the only thought in my head.
As I ran back in the direction I came from following what seemed to be my own scent, I didn't think about the two animals I killed and left behind.
'Here he comes, I was beginning to worry that he ran off.' Did she really think I would run away from her?
She came into view a few seconds later, and she was indeed in the same spot as I left her in.
"Of course I came back to you, I wouldn't dream of running away, well, not unless you were with me." I smirked at her as I came to a stop in front of her.
"Well, I hope you two decide to stay and not go away." Carlisle's voice came from above us. Then he jumped out of the tree that Bella was standing under.
"No Carlisle, I made you a promise, and I intend on keeping it." Bella told him.
"Now that Edward is back, I'm going to hunt quickly and then we can get back home before daylight comes." And with that, Bella was off like a shot quickly disappearing into the trees.
"How was your hunt Edward?" Carlisle asked curiously.
"It was rather easy, I didn't have any trouble taking down two elk. But now that I think about it, it is a little disconcerting to be able to take down an animal that is twice your size. I just left them there on the ground. Should I go back and bury them?" I asked at the end, my thoughts and feelings catching up with me now that the rush of the hunt was over.
"No Edward, other predators in the forest will eat the meat. And don't feel guilty about it; it won't help you in the long run. Bella had a hard time yesterday as well. As did I when I took down my first deer. I think it is a normal thing for us to feel, so please again just put it in the back of your mind, it is the only way we will survive."
I nodded at him, but stayed silent. Does this make me a monster? Or is it just like a human who hunts to eat the meat to survive? Knowing that the other animals will consume the meat does make me feel a little better about the loss of life in the long run, but I think I will need more time to adjust to this way of thinking.
'I hope he doesn't dwell on it too long, otherwise he will have a hard time adjusting.'
I looked at him for a long moment, trying to decide if I should answer him or not, but he was right. A few moments later, the air around me shifted and my skin tingled. What was this? Then a rustling in the trees alerted me to someone coming.
I growled and began to crouch down, but then suddenly Bella appeared out of the bushes to my left. I stopped my growl and stood back up. She was also splattered with blood, and I didn't feel so bad that I had also made a mess on myself.
"Carlisle, were you ever this messy?" She asked him, frowning down at her dress.
"Oh yes. It was horrible and much worse. You're better off throwing your clothes away rather than trying to save them."
"Perhaps I should borrow some pants instead so I don't ruin anymore of my dresses. I do miss the convenience of pants." She said back with a smile.
"Come on, let's get back home, we have to start making preparations." Carlisle said as he turned in the other direction and began running.
I took Bella's hand and together we ran behind Carlisle.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
The sky was just starting to get light when we got back to the city. We took the back alleys again to get home. We walked in and I was assaulted with the most delicious scent. I didn't know what it was, but my vision became sharper all of a sudden and I tensed myself in preparation to hunt down whatever it was.
"Edward? What are you doing?" Bella asked me as she came and stood in front of me.
"You don't smell that? What is it? I have to have it!" I said through gritted teeth.
I watched as she sniffed the air, and then laughed.
"It's my human scent Edward. This house is saturated in it. At least me being your singer didn't change." She said in wonderment.
"My singer? What is that?" I asked curiously, and then a whisper of memory flashed through my mind, but I couldn't catch it.
"Well, I was told it was rare, but sometimes a human will smell better than the others, and you wouldn't be able to control yourself. You would hunt this person down without though and drain them. When we met in Forks I was that person to you, and you almost killed our entire biology class to have me. Your control was truly tested that day, and you fought with yourself for an hour. After that you wound up leaving for a week and went to your 'extended family' in Alaska. When you came back you tried to ignore me, but it didn't last long. Not only was I your singer, I was also your mate.
"You battled everyday, but eventually you were able to get used to my scent and not want to kill me quite as badly. It was a struggle for you, and for me as well. This is why I had Carlisle change me before he changed you. I didn't want you to wake up before me and kill me. But when I realized that now you can hear my thoughts, I wondered if I wouldn't have been your singer either. But this right here showed that that didn't change.
"I'm trying to understand why you can hear my thoughts now, when you couldn't in Forks. I'm sure we will figure it out later."
I sat for a long moment thinking about this. My feelings for her were so strong I couldn't imagine myself wanting to harm her.
Someone approaching the house interrupted my thoughts their mind was frantic.
'I hope he is still here, I don't know where else to go if he isn't. Please be home Dr. Cullen!'
"Carlisle, someone is coming looking for you." I told him, and Bella's eyes widened.
"Quickly, you two must go upstairs and stay there. Go into my office." His tone was severe, and hard.
We made it to the top of the stairs just as there was a frantic knock on the door. Bella pulled me into the office just as Carlisle opened the door, but it was too late. The smell from the human instantly saturated the house.
I tensed as my throat instantly burned me. The smell was wonderful and warm, and promised to douse the flames. I went to reach for the doorknob, but Bella grabbed my arm and spun me away from the door.
I looked into her eyes and they were black as pitch. Why were they black? What was going on?
"Bella, your eyes. Why are they black?" I asked her alarmed.
"Because I am struggling too Edward. You can't eat the visitors!" She hissed at me, and I was alarmed at the sound.
"Your eyes are black too Edward, did you notice how your eyesight got sharper when you caught the scent? That's what happens when you hunt, your eyes turn black, they also turn black depending on your emotions or if you're thirsty."
"Oh." I tried to calm myself, but it wasn't working. I pulled my arm out of her grasp and headed for the door again, but this time she grabbed me and flung me across the room and into Carlisle's desk chair. It shattered under the force.
"Listen to me Edward. That person down there has a family, he is probably getting ready to start a family of his own. Think of him as a person; find it in yourself to let him go. Listen to his mind if you have to, but I cant calm myself if you're like this too." She pleaded with me.
'What was that noise?' The human thought.
"Bella? Is everything all right?" Carlisle called up the stairs. And we both froze.
"Yes Carlisle, sorry about that, I fell into your chair while I was carrying this box." She said smoothly, but I could hear the underlying tension in her voice.
I stopped short hearing Carlisle's voice, remembering where I was.
"I'm so sorry Bella. I don't know what came over me." I told her, lowering my head in apology.
"Edward, don't be sorry. We're both new to this life, and it is understandable for us both to struggle with this. Also, you were still on the hunt for my ghost scent. I understand your struggle. It's hard to be here with the lingering of our human scents."
"But still." She cut me off with a kiss to my cheek.
"No Edward, it is going to take time to gain control, and we will work on it together. Carlisle will understand about the chair, there is no need to apologize. I'm sure he would rather it be his chair and not the human. Listen, he's leaving now, and we got through it."
I smiled at her, of course she would protect me, and I knew I would do the same for her. And then I heard Carlisle's light footsteps coming up the stairs. His eyes were wide when he opened the door to his office and he froze in the doorway.
"What happened here?" He asked, shocked at the damage.
"I'm sorry Carlisle, we were both struggling with the human in the house. Your chair was the casualty in the struggle."
"Well, no matter, the chair is replaceable. I'm glad that you two did so well. Do you think you will be fine here for a few hours? I need to go tend to an emergency at the hospital, and then we will sit down and talk. Perhaps while I am gone you can work on packing the house? It is time for us to move. It is too dangerous for us to linger here in the city."
"I think we will be fine, so go ahead and we will start packing up." Bella told him with a smile. Then he turned to me.
"Edward, it's all right son, I would much rather a broken chair than murder." He placed his hand on my shoulder briefly as he walked past me.
~~~~~~~~WSI~~~~~~~~
Ashland, Wisconsin:
Our move to Ashland was uneventful. In fact, we traveled the four hundred forty one miles overnight. I had never been out of Chicago in my life, so it was a little disconcerting at first. It was also a little confusing that we had traveled six hundred miles in about an hour while running, yet it took us just under six hours to travel the four hundred plus miles to our new home in the car.
Bella and I had strict rules for while we were living here. We were only allowed to leave in the dead of night, and we had to travel right into the woods, hunt, then come right home.
I was struggling with my mind reading during the day when the humans were awake. It was like a million bees swarming my head. The thoughts were loud, and I had a hard time separating them to be able to hear them.
We learned about Bella's shield one day when I had screamed out because the thoughts were so loud it actually felt painful. She rushed into the room and found me on the floor gripping my head in my hands. When she touched me, the thoughts went silent, and I was instantly worried that there was something wrong.
"Edward! What's the matter?" She spoke softly, but worriedly.
"The minds of all the humans, it's too loud. I need it to stop." I said through the pain.
And just like that, they were gone. I opened my eyes to find Bella staring at me in concentration.
"What did you do Bella?" I asked her.
"I'm not sure, behind my eyes I saw something that looked like a film covering myself, so I willed it to cover you too. Tell me what it did." She asked excitedly.
"All the voices stopped, I cant hear anything, not even you." I told her and she smiled.
"Well, that's interesting. Perhaps I can still keep myself silent from you when I want." She said with a sly grin.
"Please don't. Your mind is the only one I really want to hear." I told her seriously.
"Hmm." Was her reply.
"Come on, Carlisle should be home within the hour, lets go hunting." I knew being out in the wilderness would help calm my frayed nerves.
Hunting with Bella was always an experience. We learned that we both favored the mountain lion, something about the way they tasted. Watching her hunt and then taking down her prey made me want her in ways I couldn't really explain. I always found that I couldn't keep my hands off of her when she finished. And the same was for her.
We shared a lion once, a few weeks ago, and the experience was something I will never forget. Our eyes were locked as we both took the blood, and when we were finished I slammed her into the nearest tree and took her there, tearing her clothes from her body like a savage.
She must have been thinking the same thing as I watched her take her prey. As she left the elk where it was as she stalked me with a predatory gaze. Her mouth found mine quickly. Tasting the lingering blood on her tongue sent me into a frenzy. I went to pull her shirt off, but she stopped me.
"It's still light out Edward. We will need our clothes to get back home."
I slowed my movements and carefully removed our clothes. And her mind reeled. Hearing her thoughts as we made love in the forest drove me wild. It was hard to explain to her how it made me feel to hear her mind in these moments.
We made it back home just as Carlisle was getting home as well. He looked at the sky, and then looked at us.
"You're not supposed to be out here." He said calmly. But in his mind I could detect the hint of anger.
"I'm sorry Carlisle, the fault is mine. The thoughts were too much and I needed to hunt before I went crazy. We did find something out about Bella." His eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh? Do tell." He said.
"It appears that I can stop Edward from hearing thoughts, including mine. I had thought since he could hear me now, when he couldn't hear me in Forks that something went wrong. But I guess it is just different now." She told him, and he smiled at her.
"That is interesting. Perhaps we should hunt down my friend Eleazar, he was part of the Volturi Guard. He has a gift where he can sense the gifts of others, and I'm sure he could identify what your gift is Bella. But I don't know where he is now." He said thoughtfully.
"When we were in Forks, he lived in Alaska with Carmen and three others. I know one of them was named Tanya." Bella said with a hint of tension in her voice.
"I don't know that name, so I don't think he is there. But it wouldn't hurt to go see."
'She hasn't lied to me yet; I should start trusting her more. I wonder if Eleazar was still hunting humans or if he switched to animals. I'd love to see my old friend.' His thoughts were contemplative, and it made me smile. I'd love to meet others of our kind.
"We can't go Carlisle. It's time to hear Esme's story and find her." Bella said, and Carlisle looked at her shocked.
"Alright…" He said cautiously, as he tensed.
What was going on? Who is Esme? I didn't remember mention of her….