Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyers.
Chapter Eleven: Stregoni Benefici
It was another gray morning in London and there was a light drizzle as Bella sat in the kitchen eating her breakfast and talking with Esme. Edward hadn't gone hunting since the Cullens had left Forks. His eyes were starting to turn dark and the purple shadows under his eyes were even more prominent. Bella asked him to go hunting and let her spend the day with Carlisle and Esme instead. After much persuasion on Bella's part he agreed, telling her he would be back in a couple of hours. Alice, Jasper and Emmett went with him, eager to take advantage of the opportunity to hunt.
Carlisle walked into the kitchen as Bella was finishing the last of her breakfast and talking with Esme. "So, Bella, are you ready to explore some of my old haunts?"
"I can't wait, Carlisle. Edward's told me so much of your history and I would love the opportunity to get to see in person where you lived."
"Well, I'm glad to have this opportunity to show you, Bella." He turned towards Esme. "Are you ready, my dear?"
They took a cab to an older part of London, the part of London where Carlisle was born and raised. It was still lightly drizzling as they walked the old cobblestone streets protected by their umbrellas. Bella listed as Carlisle talked about the parts of his past that he could remember, memories of his childhood that he could still recall as well as some of the places and events from that time in history. He pointed out landmarks which had remained the same since his boyhood and those which had changed greatly.
"As you know my father was an Anglican preacher and his church used to be in this square. Unfortunately, all of the actual structures from my time, including the church, were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. I had already left the city when this happened, trying to come to terms with what I had become. At the time of the fire I had been hiding in a cave in the forest, weak from abstaining from blood. It was during this time I fed for the first time from a herd of passing deer and realized that I could live with what I had become if I could sustain my life by drinking from animals alone."
Bella was listening intently to Carlisle's recitation of his early years as a vampire. "Carlisle, how difficult was it for you when you realized you were a vampire?"
They had stopped on a small deserted street. Carlisle turned to look at Bella, considering her question. "I was repelled and horrified at what I had become, albeit unwillingly. I tried to kill myself in any way I could think of: starvation, drowning, jumping off cliffs. Anything that would have killed a human I tried before realizing my immortality made those ways impossible."
He looked off into the distance as he remembered those early years. "Then I found I could sustain myself on animal blood. As a human I was always felt compassion towards my fellow man and even though I no longer had a beating heart I still felt the same compassion, the same depth of feeling I had always felt to humans. I knew I would dedicate the rest of my existence towards helping save human life, not take it. I knew the rewards from living this way would be great and it was a choice that I've never regretted. It truly was a choice of the heart. It brought me my family and it was a choice that brought you to us as well."
Suddenly Carlisle tensed, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. "Bella, stand behind Esme and whatever happens do not leave her side." Carlisle turned towards a dark alley less than 20 feet away from where they were standing. Bella listened in surprise as Carlisle let out a low growl and hissed in the direction of the alley.
Esme had assumed a protective crouch in front of Bella, keeping her behind her back as she also let out a low growl.
"Esme," Bella whispered, nervous at what she couldn't see. "What is it?"
Esme pulled Bella behind her and stood in a protective crouch. "It's another vampire, standing in the shadows of that alley." Esme nodded in the direction of the alley.
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Edward, Alice, Jasper and Emmett were just returning to the city limits from their hunt when suddenly Alice went still. Her eyes were unfocused as the vision played out in her mind. Jasper darted to her side and asked Edward, "What is she seeing?"
Edward briefly closed his eyes before snapping them open. "Dammit!" he cried. Alice came out of the vision, her eyes terrified.
"Oh no!" Alice cried. "Edward, I didn't see it!" She turned towards Jasper and Emmett. "Carlisle and Esme are going to need us. There's another vampire who's trying to get to Bella. We need to hurry!"
Emmett growled angrily at the thought of another vampire trying to harm his family. The group quickly sped off towards the alley where Alice had seen Bella, Carlisle and Esme with the unknown vampire.
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Esme remained in a protective crouch, blocking Bella from view as Carlisle faced the dark alley. An evil cackle came from the dark shadows and a voice hissed, "Well, well, well. I had always wondered what had become of you. Come to visit your creator? I came back for you, you know, after I escaped that mob and finished off the other. I was deeply disappointed to not have the chance to finish you off as well."
"I had no intention of staying in the area." Carlisle said calmly as he continued to stare into the shadows. Bella saw movement in the alley and an older man came out of the shadows, eyes redder than blood, a cloak around his shoulders. Bella's eyes widened as she realized she was looking at the vampire who had changed Carlisle over 300 years ago, a creature of pure evil.
"Ha! You were right not to stay! You would have been chased and hunted down, just like the rest of us! What happened? Did you run away knowing that preacher father of yours would hunt you down when he discovered what you'd become?" the old vampire sneered.
"I loved my father, but I knew him well and he would have done the same to me as he tried to do to our kind. I could not allow myself to live the way most of our kind lives and made the choice to leave and never return."
The old vampire laughed a sinister laugh. "You fool! You can't change what you are! This is what we're meant to be." A small gust of wind blew through the small street, carrying Bella's mouthwatering scent in the direction of the old vampire. He breathed deeply, eyes closed and when he reopened them Bella could see his eyes had turned black and were now locked onto her person. "And that," he rasped as he started moving towards Bella. "That is what we're meant to feed on!"
Esme pulled Bella further behind her as Carlisle moved to block the old vampire's view of Bella. The old vampire again let out a sinister laugh as he mocked Carlisle to his face. "Do you think you can stop me? I know who you are! Imagine my surprise when I heard tales of Stregoni Benefici and realized it was the young man I had created those many years ago. Oh yes, I knew it was you. Even amongst our kind here, there were tales of the vampire who was compassionate, who did not live off human blood but instead drank from animals. I knew it had to be you." He sneered as he feinted to the left, but Carlisle matched his move, not allowing him to take any further steps towards Bella.
Carlisle's voice was hard as he continued to match the old vampire's moves. "Then you should know that I value human life. I work to save human lives and I will defend human lives against our kind, in particular the life of this member of my family."
"A member of your family? You have a human as a member of your coven?" the old vampire laughed at Carlisle's words. "And what is it that makes this one so special, other than her tantalizing blood? Is she your pet?"
"I wouldn't expect you to understand," Carlisle replied. "This young woman is special to myself and to my wife and children. She is the mate of my eldest son and we will defend her against any threat, so be warned. I do not want to destroy you, but if you try to harm my daughter I will not hesitate."
"Then I guess you'll have to try, won't you?" the old vampire sneered as he and Carlisle started to move from side to side as the old vampire tried to find a way around Carlisle. Suddenly the old vampire lunged to the left and Carlisle lunged after him.
A tremendous growl came from Carlisle as he fought with the vampire. Bella couldn't see through the blurred movements. She could hear the loud snapping of teeth as well as the gasps of surprise and shocked hissings, but she couldn't tell who was making them. Esme continued to stand in front of Bella in a protective crouch as she watched the battle between her husband and his creator.
Suddenly there was a roar and growl as Bella again heard the familiar sharp metallic snap, snaring in horror as a head rolled in the direction of the alley. But whose head was it?
At that moment Alice and Edward came running onto the street. Edward's expression was wild and frantic as his eyes searched for Bella. He saw Esme straighten from her protective crouch in front of Bella and darted to Bella's side, pulling her close and hugging her tightly, while quietly thanking Esme for protecting Bella. Esme caressed his cheek with her right hand as she nodded and then went to stand with Carlisle who was staring down at what was left of the old vampire.
Jasper and Emmett had rushed onto the street and after taking in the scene they shred what was left of the old vampire and burned his remains. The Cullens quickly left the street, hailing taxi cabs for the ride back to the house.
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Edward carried Bella into the house and into the sitting room, placing her on the couch while he quickly started a fire and went to sit next to her, wrapping her in the thick blanket that Alice had thoughtfully grabbed from the closet.
"Are you okay, love?" Edward asked as he held her tightly. "Alice didn't see until we were already on our way back. We got there as quickly as we could."
"I'm fine, Edward," Bella replied before noticing Edward's skeptical expression. "Really, I mean it, I am fine. Carlisle had the situation under control and Esme was with me the entire time. I felt perfectly safe."
"What am I going to do with you?" Edward whispered into her ear as he continued to hold her close. "My little danger-magnet…" he teased half-heartedly, but it brought the desired smile to Bella's face.
"Well, we both know the answer to that, don't we?" Bella replied, referring to her transformation which would be taking place after the wedding.
For once Edward didn't argue or cringe at the mention of Bella's change. He sighed as he said to her, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish that day were here already. Then I would know you were safe from harm." He joked half-heartedly, "It's said to be impossible for vampires, but you just might turn my hair gray if you keep this up…"
She sensed his need for comfort and brushed the hair from his forehead, softly kissing his brows and nose before pressing her lips to his. "Well, I don't know about that. I happen to like your hair the color it is now," she teased. "In the meantime, you and the rest of the family are keeping me safe and for now that's enough for me."
Carlisle and Esme stepped into the room. Esme handed Bella a cup of hot tea which Bella accepted gratefully, sipping carefully at the sweet brew.
"Bella, are you alright?" Carlisle asked as he kneeled in front of her, the concern clearly showing on his face. "You look a little flushed and your temperature is a bit elevated, no doubt from the scare…"
"No, Carlisle, not from the scare, just from the rain. I never, not for one moment, felt scared for my life because I knew you and Esme would never let anything happen to me. Thank you Carlisle, for defending me as you did. I know how you feel about these types of confrontations and I'm sorry you were put into that position…"
Carlisle stood up and sat on the couch next to Bella and Edward. He looked at Edward who released his hold on Bella as Carlisle took Bella's hand in his. "Don't ever apologize for what you perceive as me being forced to make a choice. If I had to do it again, I would without hesitation. You are my daughter, Bella, and I would give my life if it were to save yours, just as I would for my other sons and daughters. I made a choice of the heart…my choice was to protect and defend my daughter. It's a decision I will never regret. You are a Cullen, now and forever. We protect our own."
Bella's eyes started tearing as she hugged Carlisle tightly and whispered, "Thank you…Dad."
Carlisle closed his eyes and tightened his hold on his youngest daughter. When he opened his eyes he saw the rest of the family had gathered around them, smiling as they watched the touching tableau in front of the fire. This is what Carlisle had dreamed of for so long. All those years of loneliness before he had changed Edward and Esme, Rosalie and Emmett, and before Jasper and Alice joined the family, they had been worth it because now he had the only thing he had ever wanted in his whole life, a family that loved each other and watched out for each other.
A/N: What did you think? I've been trying to keep the chapters lighthearted and funny but with the Carlisle/Bella chapter I wanted to show how Carlisle is fiercely protective of his family, especially his youngest, Bella. Please review…I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!