Michael and his family were leaving today, thank god. I found him to be utterly despicable but father insisted on inviting the Newtons to our estate. I made a point of avoiding him after breakfast. I wanted to visit our library anyways. I have always had a great love of literature and I was fortunate to live in a house with so many books. I scanned the shelves of the library trying to find something I had not read before. I picked out a think volume with a rich red leather cover and made myself comfortable in one of the armchairs. I must have read for hours for Angela, one of the maids was sent to fetch me to join everyone for lunch outside. Lunch and a game of croquet had been scheduled for this afternoon.
My thoughts about my vampire were much more peaceful today. He had been bathed and clothed and I assume fed. I could focus more easily on the taste of lavender lemonade and fresh cookies. Midway through our match the light conversation took an unpleasant turn.
Mr. Newton was Nosferite magnate. In fact most of the Nosferite products that one bought were from him, he practically had a total monopoly on the industry. I had given his business little thought before. I never thought it was pleasant but seeing its effects so close made it seem unearthly horrible. He and my father began to talk business. "Oh we've made some grand advancements in Nosferite technology. Why Michael here carries one of our newest devices, a gun that fires Nosferite bullets. It took forever to get approved because the Nosferite is so powerful. It's not enough to kill a vampire yet but I hope one day it will be. I made it especially for my family, some vampires forget their place you know and they bear a certain resentment to us Newtons." He chuckled at that. Resentment? For shame! I mean all the man does is invent torture devices for vampires, why on earth would they ever resent him? I bit my tongue. "You know I'd be happy to pass along some of our newer products to you and yours. I'm sure you've selected a wonderful vampire for your daughter but one can never be too careful."
"Thank you Mr. Newton but that will not be necessary." I choked.
Michael turned to me "Bella I know you have a kind heart and you perhaps even feel sorry for the pathetic creatures but remember they are monsters and we need to control them." Funny you should say that Michael.
"Could we please discuss something more pleasant?" I requested.
"As you wish darling." He replied with an oily smile. I loathed him calling me that. After the game he disappeared somewhere (with Jessica I would assume). I went back to the library to continue with my reading. I remembered to pick out a few for Edward as well. I didn't know what he liked, or how well he read so I chose a beautifully illustrated book of fairytales, one of my favorite novels, and two books of poetry. It was far too nice of a day outside to be cooped up so I decided to take my reading outside, perhaps beneath one of the old elm trees.
I was completely lost in my book when I heard a shot in the distance. It seemed oddly close for a hunting shot but I didn't pay much mind to it until I heard the scream. That scream was not like anything I heard in my entire life. I've never heard so much pain expressed by man or beast. Beast. Man. Michael! Oh hell's bells! I took off running in the direction of the scream; it wasn't far from the old elms. It led me to my old playhouse and when I saw them I gasped. Michael standing over Edward with the Nosferite gun in his hand and Edward on ground bleeding on the flowerbed. I ran to his side and shrieked at him "Michael! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"He was out of line, he insulted me." He replied coldly.
"So you shot him?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. Was this a duel on honor with only one party armed? This was utter madness! "Go get my father and yours, one of them is bound to know what to do, I hope." Most doctors didn't treat vampires. There were a handful of vampire doctors but I had no idea where the closest one was. I cradled him in my lap and stroked his forehead gently. "Someone will be here soon." I whispered "We'll get you help, I promise."
I decided to spend the day exploring the property since Bella said it was alright to do so. It truly was a magnificent house. I watched her play croquet from the window. She looked happy at first but then the fat man with the pointed beard began talking and her mood shifted. She looked uncomfortable, then angry. I wanted to strike him for making her feel like that, I wasn't sure why. After the croquet game ended I took a walk about the grounds. I found a little cottage on the property and peered through the window. Everything there was miniature; miniature table, miniature chairs, a child's tea set was out. It had obviously been built for her when she was a child. It reminded me of my grandmother's house when I was human. I did not realize such extravagance was popular, I supposed if the furniture were bigger an adult could live in the house. How odd, she was so spoiled by her father but she had the most wonderful temperament.
"How was the little virgin, degenerate?" I heard a snide voice behind me. I turned to see the boy who had beat me yesterday standing before me.
"I would not know." I said quietly.
"Was she revolted by you?" He taunted. "Don't worry I'll take much better care of her when it's my turn." I snarled at him. How dare he speak like that of her? It took every bit of strength not to tear him into pieces right there and then.
"She wouldn't ever touch you." I spat. I knew this was true, I saw how she looked at him. She despised him. I couldn't exactly blame her for it.
"What did you say you little freak?" He growled at me.
I was walking a very dangerous path but I didn't care. I was boiling over with rage. She was far too good for him. "I said," I repeatedly slowly "She wouldn't ever touch you."
"How dare you!" He shouted. "Do you know who I am?" He took a deep breath through his teeth "I guess you will have to be put in your place." He drew a gun. I almost laughed out loud. Was he really that stupid? Did he not know bullets wouldn't even pierce our skin? This was going to be fun. He fired and much to my surprise the bullet went straight into my right shoulder. I unleashed a bloodcurdling scream. The pain. The pain was worse than anything, worse than the first time I ever was exposed to Nosferite. I couldn't stop screaming. I was unable to focus; the whole world became a blur of agony.
Bella, was Bella here? I could hear her voice I thought, she sounded angry. I didn't know who she was angry with me or him. I felt her pull me into her lap and her cool hands stroked my forehead. She whispered to me "Someone will be here soon. We'll get you help, I promise." I tried to focus on her touch instead of the pain. There were footsteps approaching. Two men were arguing, the boy's father and Bella's. Mr. Swan sounded very angry and the other man seemed mildly disgruntled. He seemed to be more peeved about being disturbed from whatever he was doing than his son's behavior.
"Well if you're that bothered by it, Dr. Cullen isn't too far from here. He treats vampires." He sneered.
"Do you see how upset my daughter is?" Mr. Swan shouted "That was a very expensive gift and it would be near impossible to replace a virgin male vampire! I want you to go to my driver at once and tell him how to get to doctor whatever his name's house!" I closed my eyes drowning in the pain, everything went dark.
We were extremely lucky Dr. Cullen's house was not too, too far away from our property. Still there was the concern of how far we were to edge of our property since it was quite extensive. The only way I knew Edward was not at his second death was his face was constantly contorting into new expressions of agony. My father didn't understand why I was so upset but he comforted me nonetheless. "It will be alright Bells." He assured me. He called Dr. Cullen ahead of time and explained the situation; he was already waiting for us at the front door of his house. His eyes met mine and he registered the concern on my face, he nodded knowingly.
Dr. Cullen had never had to remove a bullet from a vampire before since Nosferite bullets were a new invention. Esme, his wife assured me that Edward was in capable hands. She was young and extremely beautiful and there was an air of serenity about her. She sat me in their drawing room and offered me tea and toast. I could barely eat because I was so nervous. I was still cursing Michael silently. Esme had laid down a blanket on my chair so my bloody dress would not dirty it. How absurd! I'm having tea with someone in a dress covered in vampire blood.
"Miss Swan, may I ask you something?" Esme asked softly.
"Please, call me Bella Mrs. Cullen."
"Only if you promise to call me Esme." She replied "Bella are you upset that your property was damaged or is there something…more to this?" She sounded hopeful.
"I suppose I just do not enjoy watching anyone suffer." I told her quietly.
"Even a vampire?" She asked.
"I did not consider vampires very often before I had met one. My father did not wish for a vampire slave for himself at his age and I have very few friends, none of which own vampires." I laughed a bit at my solitude "But seeing one, meeting one made me suspect that they were not like the stories I've heard. Please let this be our secret but I suspect they are closer to humans than we give them credit for. They feel pain just as we do, they have fears and I suspect wants of their own that no one considers…." I trailed off nervously. Surely she would find me completely insane. Why was I babbling like a complete lunatic? I met her eyes and they were shining as if I had offered her some sort of fantastic gift.
"Bella, perhaps you would like to come visit me and my husband sometime." She requested "He would really love to talk to you under more pleasant circumstances. It is rare to meet other people with such compassion towards vampires, even others in his field."
I nodded "I would like that very much Esme."
Dr. Cullen appeared in the doorway. "Miss Swan, the retrieval was a success. I believe your vampire will be just fine. I have given your father an extra strong ointment for the wound. Someone shall have to reapply it every six hours for the next couple of days. Other than that make sure the vampire is comfortable and that his upper half is elevated at all times. I'll take one more look at the wound in a week or so just to make sure it has healed completely."
"Thank you Dr. Cullen." I said with sincerity. He smiled at me.
I could feel the tension in the car. Bella kept begging her father to let me stay in the guestroom instead of on my mat. She insisted the mat would be uncomfortable and I couldn't be propped up properly. Her father, though sympathetic with her cause denied her. He said it would raise questions among the servants and they were likely to gossip to servants at other homes. He did not wish for that kind of attention and suspicion. I sensed he felt strongly about keeping up appearances. Bella cared for him too much to argue. She sensed his weariness.
When we arrived at the house Jessica took me upstairs. She seemed to try her best to cause me at least minor pain. It was as though she had cause to despise me. I suppose being a vampire was enough for some people. She practically threw me on my mat and instructed me to not move "I'm sure Miss Bella would not want to be disturbed while she scrubs your filthy blood off of herself." She spat. I could hear Bella bickering in her room with her dressing maid who seemed very upset that her new dress was dirtied.
"Oh Alice don't be so fretful! You know how clumsy I am and how many times my dresses have been covered in mud or blood or both."
I heard Alice laugh a bit "I apologize Miss Bella. I'll have a nightgown chosen for you for when you get out of her bath." I suspected Alice was more than a friend to Bella, that she was a confidant of sorts. There seemed to be tenderness in their interaction. "Shall I have dinner sent up to you?"
"Yes that would be nice, I am quite weary after today." Bella replied.
When Jessica came up with dinner I could hear her giving Bella an earful. She was completely out of line as a servant, or civilized human being for that matter but Bella handled it quite diplomatically. "Miss Bella, I may speaking out of my place but I cannot understand why you would upset Mr. Newton like that over a little thing like shooting a vampire. I mean they are not even people! He was very angry when you left, just pacing around the drawing room and ranting. You know he is normally such a gentleman. Perhaps in the future you should consider his feelings more."
"Thank you Jessica, you may go now." Bella replied. Jessica huffed and muttered something under her breath. Some time passed and I assumed that it was because Bella ate slowly and carefully like a lady should even though she had no one to impress. I changed into my pajama pants for it was getting late.
"Edward, could you please come out here?" I stepped out and looked at her. That peach nightgown was going to be my undoing. She caught me staring and blushed. "I was thinking if you'd like you could stay in my bed tonight." She blushed even more. It was positively adorable. "I'm sure I could sleep on the far end of the bed and I would not disturb you. I just thought you would be more comfortable on a soft bed than that dreadful mat and we would be able to prop you up. I can keep a light on so you may read. I picked out some books for you. If you don't like them I can pick out other ones…" She trailed off aware she was rambling.
"Thank you, I'd like that very much. And I don't need light to read, we vampires have excellent night vision." She propped up the pillows on the left side of the bed and fluffed them for me. I took that as my cue and slowly climbed into the bed. It was unbelievably soft. The mattress was soft, the pillows were soft, and of course the sheets were soft. It felt like climbing into heaven's clouds. She disappeared into my room for a moment and when she returned she had the small white bottle from Dr. Cullen. I completely forgot it must have been six hours. The ride to Dr. Cullen alone was a solid hour and a half in one direction.
The pain in my right shoulder was still severe but Dr. Cullen assured me it would be virtually nonexistent in a week. I just had to keep it covered up and apply the ointment. I thought there was a chance I could apply it myself but I didn't want to risk the pain of using my right arm and a part of me was aching to be touched by Bella. Gingerly she removed the bandage now stained with blood. She dabbed the cream on her finger and very slowly and cautiously ran it over my wound. I groaned, even with her gentle touch it was still painful too touch. What kind of Nosferite was in that bullet anyways? Vampires have no risk of infection so she used the same bandage as before. Despite the pain it felt so good to have her touching me. Especially when her fingers brushed up against the outskirts of the bandage. I wanted to pull her close to me and feel her body against mine, to feel her breath on my skin, I wanted her closer than she would ever want me. The realization hit.
Bella was waiting to be in love. Perhaps she was in love with someone already, I wouldn't know. And despite her kindness no human could ever love a vampire. A new kind of pain ripped through me. The pain of inevitable rejection. Someday she would meet someone and marry them, there would be no use for me anymore. I would be sent to the factories or resold. But the anticipated torture wasn't the worst part, the worst part was being without her. To know someone else was kissing her and making her blush, that was the true agony. She turned off the light by her bedside and made herself comfortable on her side of the bed. I tried to read but I kept sneaking glances in her direction.
Her mahogany hair was spread out on the pillow and her skin glowed in the moonlight. She spoke "No Michael….please….stop it…." Had he hurt in the past? Gun or not I would be forced to kill him if that were true. "No Michael…don't hurt him….he's…." She was dreaming about today. Tears ran down her perfect cheeks. Had my pain meant that much to her? I wanted to wrap my arms around her and comfort her. Her body shook with sobs. I couldn't take it anymore. She had done the same for me; I was going to wake her from her nightmare. "Bella! Bella!" I said shaking her softly. "Wake up!" She opened up her teary eyes and gazed at me fearfully. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest. I held her there as she fell asleep again. I told myself it was for her but the truth was I didn't want to let her go. I closed my eyes and buried my face in her hair. She smelled sweet, like strawberries and freesia. She was so warm and lovely, I would be content to hold her for all eternity.
Here it is! The little house is based off of something I saw at a museum in Newport RI. In fact a lot of Bella's life is based on Astor/Vanderbilt/Rockefeller crowd.
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