"I hope he does not hate me for what I did to him nor for abandoning him. That was probably more wrong than changing him. Perhaps he can forgive me and we can be at least friends, if not the surrogate father and son I imagine us becoming."

Dr. Cullen, so he has come back after seven months. I will be civil though he will know I am displeased with his choices and actions. He was incredibly weak to abandon me as he did simply because he could not endure my suffering, which he caused.

Edward opened the door before Carlisle had the change to knock.

"Dr. Cullen, it is early and the sun is still high. Please step inside before one of the passing humans notices you." Edward greeted him formally.

"Thank you Edward and please, call me Carlisle."

Carlisle entered the house and Edward closed the door behind him then turned to face him and awaited the apology he knew was forthcoming.

" Edward, I must apologize for my lack of judgment and unwillingness to face what I have done to you." And for my weakness in abandoning you. You do seem to be doing well, I wonder how he managed to legitimatize this as his home.

"Yes, the first few months were incredibly difficult. I suppose I don't need to tell you how confusing it was nor how angry I am that you left me only a few words to explain this existence and my damnation. Though, as you can see, I have managed to purchase this home, under an assumed name; since you killed Edward Masen so nicely." Edward spoke in a subdued tone but, the venom in his words was not lost on Carlisle.

"You have every right to be angry with me." Though I wish you weren't. Carlisle replied in gentle understanding.

"Wish what you will. I am angry but, I am also a gentleman and I will not allow my anger to make this situation any more difficult than it already is." Edward was again calm and kept every trace of emotion from his voice and features.

So, you can hear my thoughts. Carlisle did not voice his comment.

"Yes, as well as everyone else's. Simply one more of the curses you left me with. Is it not enough that I am technically dead and therefore a soulless monster and that I must prey on living creatures to survive? Must I also hear the thoughts of every remotely intelligent being on this planet?

Curse? Such things are gifts. I would relish the ability to hear the thoughts of those around me.

"You only say that because you lack my gift as you call it. I nearly went insane until I learned to block the more distant thoughts! I do owe you one thing though, you did at least inform me that I need not kill humans and for that I am grateful."

" So Edward, is there any chance that you will ever forgive me?" Carlisle spoke with genuine hope and concern.

"I forgave you as soon as I realized that hating you or what you did to me would not alter what has happened. I imagine you honestly believed my mother knew what she was asking you to do thought she was probably as delusional as I was at the time. Forgiving you was not too difficult."

I debated that but, in that moment I also longed for a companion.

" A son you mean. Perhaps one day I will see you as a father figure but, now you are simply my creator and, perhaps could be a friend if I can let go of my anger toward you entirely." Edward spoke with sincerity and honesty.

"Edward, there is much I can teach you, things I should have stayed and taught you months ago." Proper hunting, not soiling your clothing when you feed, how to hide the bodies and how to use your incredible looks and charm to lure humans or a mate if you so desire.

" I think it's a bit late for that. I have learned that much on my own, though I have no desire for a mate and charming a human would simply lead to their death - intentional or not." Edward was sarcastic, the idea of a monster making love with anything was ludicrous. " I will need to hunt tonight, if you wish you can accompany me and see if there is anything you can teach me."

The months and eventually years dragged on and, Edward did come to see Carlisle as a father of sorts. They moved first to Michigan where Esme joined the family, then Rochester where Rosalie was brought into the family.

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September 1928

"NO! I am not the least bit interested in bedding my SISTER! Despite your views Rosalie is my sister, nothing more!" Edward's voice trembled in anger.

"Edward darling, Your father changed her for you, now he's gone with her to chose a dress you will approve of. She would accept you as her mate and, you are perfectly matched." Both beautiful and she is less than a year older physically, than you.

"You know, I really don't care how ideal you think she is. Rosalie is a shallow, vain, self centered BITCH and by the way, she hates this life more than I do. Tell Carlisle I might see him in a few centuries - if he can lay of the match making by then!" Edward was furious, this was only the most recent of several attempts to push him at Rosalie.

"You can't just leave." Esme pleaded.

"I can, as Carlisle says, It has always been my choice - I chose human prey!" Edward spat his words at Esme and stomped out the door then ran as fast a he could.

So, I am alone again, not that Carlisle needs me now. He has his companions and his mate. I have no need of either nor do I see a reason for this constant starvation save that killing innocents will only further my damnation.

That even is not necessary, if I must live with the curse f hearing the minds of others then I can at least use that to insure no other woman faces the fate Rosalie was dealt. I will hunt and destroy those that would destroy countless lives were they to live out their wretched little lives.

Driven my rage and motivated by the love he did not want to feel for Rosalie, Edward made is way to Buffalo and began his new method of hunting, scanning the minds of humans for the vile rapist or murderer that would become his meal.

The first of these meals turned out to be a young, rather handsome and very drunk man who had plans to rape the woman he has encountered in the tavern he was now leaving. Edward casually leapt down from a rooftop just out of the man's sight then, dashed in front of him, seeming to appear from nowhere.

"Good evening. I might suggest you simply return to your motel room and not do what it is you intend with the woman you are waiting for this evening." Edward's voice was low and almost too polite but somehow menacing as well.

"You must have mistaken me for someone else. I have not met you before." The man answered calmly.

" No, I believe I know exactly who you are, Shawn Dorsey and, I believe you intend to have your way with the brunette from the tavern despite her wishes to the contrary." Edward was nearly chiding now.

"How… who are you and how do you know me?" The man was beginning to panic.

"Who or what I am is for you to decide but I will tell you that you will not rape that woman and you will not escape what you rightfully deserve tonight." Now Edward made no effort to disguise the immortal timbre in his voice.

Avenging angel, God, Satan.. Oh God, He's going to kill me for the other three I've raped! RUN !

The man barely thought to run before Edward seized him and snapped his neck deftly. Now working purely on instinct, Edward sank his teeth into the man's neck and greedily welcomed the sweet, rich, superbly satisfying blood. Too soon the crimson, life giving fluid was gone. Edward further mangled the body to make it seem the man had been stabbed repeatedly then left him behind a dumpster.

Had I known humans were that tantalizing and that satisfying, I would not have hunted animals for the last decade. I have also prevented several women from being raped, quite the good deed for a monster. No doubt my eyes will again be red, if not now, in a few weeks but, that is a small price to pay for such satisfaction. Perhaps I am more selfish than I thought, not that selfishness is bad when one has only themselves. I must walk this earth for all eternity, awake and alone, I may as well take what pleasure I can from it, I will make this world my own kind of heaven and, make it a safer place for innocents as well.

Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, New York City, Saint Louis, Albuquerque and finally Phoenix all bore wrath self righteous vengeance of Edward Anthony Masen.

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September 1931

Once again Edward prowls the streets of yet another city, seeking his meal for the week. Phoenix is a large enough city that he can afford to be choosy and so he bypasses several would be criminals, in favor of finding a crime, preferably a rape already in progress. He knows it is more exciting to stop such predators in the act than to prevent them for acting out their dark desires. Then a hint of what may prove to be a meal came to his mind and he followed the thoughts of the woman.

Why does he want to do this to me? I'm not even married, I wish he'd keep his filthy hands off me.

Much To Edward's surprise there were no male thoughts, only the woman's. Curious he approached and found that she was safely in her bedroom alone.

Why me of all people? Now I'll have a child out of wedlock. I'll love the child of course but a Swan born like this is wrong. Now I'll have to raise the child alone. Damn him, why was I so foolish as to give in, he'd have married me if I hadn't allowed him THAT.

Edward realized it was simply the hurt thoughts of a woman who had allowed a man she cared for to have his way with her before they were wed. Unusual but not entirely unheard of in that day. So Edward continued prowling the city to no avail.

Five long nights Edward hunted, or tried to hunt, still there seemed to be no criminals in all of Phoenix that week. Finally, in desperation he headed north and soon found a small herd of elk. He took one of those to at least put his thirst a bay for another week.

Not so musky as I remember and it was nice not to hear the last anguished thoughts of my victim. Victim, yes, not prey VICTIMS is what I have been taking. Sentient, human lives. I have destroyed countless hopes, dreams and families and for what? Women still get raped every day, people get murdered and children get molested.

Who am I to think one vampire can make a difference any more than one human can? A selfish monster with a god complex. Like my victims, it isn't about right, wrong, good or evil, it's about power. Innocent or not, any human would give me that same sense of power yet I cannot kill innocents.

Animals is what I deserve, nothing better, only lowly animals. I am no more sentient than the lion when I hunt and would not a lion who fed on humans be destroyed? I should be destroyed but, that is not so easy and so from this day on, my penance will be to exist, feed on only animals and, make amends with the family who has never shown me anything but kindness. Perhaps Carlisle will allow me shelter with him or, if he cannot, then perhaps he will take mercy and destroy me.