Chapter 6

Pre and New

This was before I was a vampire. It was the summer…right before sixth grade. I was 11 year old Hazel and Edward was 16. It was one night when we were out in town just walking around. Papa was dressed in his old hat, pants, & shirt. Mama was wearing her old flower dress. Edward was wearing the same thing as papa and I was dressed in a skirt and shirt. I would have loved to wear overalls and get to play…but NO of course I had to be "ladylike" it was annoying anyway this was 1917.

Carlisle was 263 (though he was frozen at 23) and a vampire working at the Chicago Hospital (however this was unbeknownst to Edward and me) Esme was 22 in Columbus, Ohio and not a vampire yet; she married Charles Evenson hoping to attempt to be happy and please her parents. Her husband was an abusive man and was later drafted to World War I. Emmett was 2 and a BABY! I am technically older than him quite a concept huh? He lived in Gatlinburg, Tennessee He had two older brothers named Donald who was 5 and Walter who was 8 and he also had a younger sister named Nadine who was born in 1921. Rosalie was 2 and Emmett's age though she had absolutely no idea at the time. She was an only child until she was 3 in 1918 when she became a big sister to a brother (Ralph) and in 1921 to another brother (Albert). Jasper was 74 and a vampire already though technically he was frozen at 20. Alice was 16…the same age as Edward because technically they are the same age but she was frozen at 19 and he was frozen at 17.

As I was saying we were walking along the streets of Chicago it was around 8:30pm. We got ice cream and walked back to the house I got into bed because I was tired and school was the next day.

"Mum?" I asked since I used to have a bit of an English accent from my parents.

"Yes Hazel" mum said.

"Could Marilynn come over tomorrow after school?"

"Yes."

Edward walked into the room "I hope I'm not interrupting" he said.

I sat up "Edward!" I said laughing.

He ruffled my hair and kissed my forehead "what?" He asked pretending to be innocent.

"Come on children it's late and you have school tomorrow" mum said.

Edward proceeded to tackle me.

"Edward, say something" mum said.

"Children listen to your mother" papa said.

"But I'm not a child papa" Edward said.

"As long as your living under my roof you are" papa said.

"Alright; goodnight Haze" Edward said.

"Goodnight Eddie" I said.

Mum kissed my head and then I blew out the candle that was the light in my room.

I had the weirdest dream…it was later that we were vampires and Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, & Alice were there. It was like precognition or something I already had this weird sense that I could just tell if people were lying and I could know where someone was.

So the next day was the first day of school. I got on my dress shoes, long socks, black skirt, black blouse that was tucked in and buttoned down. Papa had already left for his job as a lawyer mum said goodbye to Edward and I and we left for school. It was September 19, 1917 exactly one year before our transformation. Of course we didn't know then but we walked to our 3 room schoolhouse in the Chicago outskirts. Edward kissed me goodbye and went off with his friends John and William. I spotted Marilynn and she eagerly waved to me I ran over to her.

"Good Morning Hazel" she said.

"Good Morning Marilynn" I said since this was like the elderly times we spoke very formally.

"Marilynn, would you like to come over to my house after school?" I asked.

"Yes that sounds wonderful" Marilynn said.

"OK why don't we walk home together and we can tell your mum when she comes to pick you up" I said.

"OK" Marilynn said.

Our teacher Miss. Newberry was standing outside the school ringing the bell and all of the children in my school lined up on their class line and it was chaos to have 3rd – 12th graders all lined up.

My class was 4th, 5th, & 6th grade. We were the oldest of the class; the sixth graders were Marilynn, a boy named David, a boy named Chip, & a girl named Anne. There were 15 kids in my class (five for each grade). I loved Miss Newberry she was an angel (literally) she was the sweetest young woman anyone had ever seen and she was beautiful too. In my early vampire days I would picture what she might look like as a vampire.

We had our regular morning classes and then we were dismissed to have lunch. Our lunchroom was an old worn out separate room. But it was BIG! So anyway we walked to the lunchroom and ate lunch the rest of the day was good.

I remember the day that Marilynn was hanging out with the snobby girls of my grade; Hattie Van Se, Bessie Abington, Nora & Olive Smith. They made fun of me and bullied me because I was the only kid in the whole grade who wore glasses (it ran in the women of my family). So anyway that day Marilynn was hanging out with them and the girls walked up to me and said, "you are a four eyed dumb moronic idiotic tree."

I looked puzzled I had never known that my name (Hazel) was a tree (kind of stupid I know). Unfortunately for the girls my older brother heard every word they had said and he being Edward keeping his promise stood up for me. But not by physical use only by words; Edward and I had a pretty good year as being human beings.

I remember the last time I would ever see Marilynn. It was September 13, 1918 six days before our transformation. The Spanish Influenza had already out broken and people were being whisked off to the hospital and dying. In fear Marilynn and I planned one "last" hangout in case something happened to one of us. We had some homework to do and read a couple of history books. We also played with her dolls. Something she liked to do but not me. I never exactly felt like she was a friend though. I mean we were best friends sometimes but not all the time. A bit fair weathered as they say.

That night papa began coughing, had a stuffy nose, and complained of a migraine headache. Mama, Edward, & I stayed at his bedside all night fearing he would die. The next morning we summoned the hospital using our next door neighbor's phone. Papa was taken to the hospital and the three of us stayed by his side through it all.

The following day we remained with papa who was unconscious and was blue to the face. He was suffering from a 104.8 fever. Mama stayed overnight with him but she insisted Edward and I go home to sleep so we wouldn't get sick. We were both hesitant my mother put her hands on my shoulders and kneeled down to my height, "please Hazel, do as I tell you. Papa will be fine and soon we will be regular again but stay with Edward OK and Edward watch out for you sister please, its dark out."

Edward nodded but I felt a vibration in my head "lie, lie, lie" I heard a little voice in my head and mama kissed us goodnight. We kissed papa and as we were walking out we saw Carlisle.

"Please Dr. Cullen" I pleaded "please save our papa."

"I will do everything I can…Hazel" it was the first time he said my name.

Edward carried me home that night. I slept beside him in his bed and he was there to protect me. I started burning up in the middle of the night. My face was purple and I was having trouble breathing. I was also coughing up blood. Edward had a migraine headache. Despite his headache he carried me in his arms and ran to the hospital like a maniac. Carlisle was there and put me in a bed he gave me an oxygen mask and some quinine I immediately fell asleep but afraid I would not wake up. I woke up to coughing my brother was in the bed beside me and had blood smeared on his shirt.

My eyes were on fire and Carlisle said "here Hazel, this compress should help reduce your temperature. OK."

There was wailing in the other room and ten minutes later he returned but with a sad expression and grave news for Edward and I "children, I am deeply sorry to tell you this but your father has just passed away."

I froze…papa was dead?! How could this happen? I thought.

"It's the Spanish Influenza outbreak Haze" Edward said.

"Wait Eddie, how did you…?" I began.

"Don't ask" Edward said and I nodded, my mother was asleep in the bed next to Edward. It was September 16, 1918.

I did not sleep that night I listened to the slow steady breathing of my brother who lay beside me. My insides were burning up I wanted to scream to him but nothing would come out. As my breathing began to slow I fell asleep thinking I wouldn't wake up…It amazed me how just six days ago I was perfectly fine and playing with Marilynn.

I woke up in the middle of the night. Edward was still awake and hadn't slept at all. He reached for my hand and I took it. I felt as if my hand was on fire now because we both had blazing 104.2 fevers. Carlisle came into the room and changed my IV tank my eyes fluttered I was literally waiting for the dead. Edward was staring blankly at the ceiling. Carlisle felt my head as it continued to burn up his hand was soothing and cold to the touch. He ran freezing cold water and put it on my forehead on a compress it was the same for Edward and mama.

"Dr. Cullen" I said in my weakening voice.

"Yes Hazel" he said.

"We're going to die aren't we?" I asked.

"No…no you aren't going to die."

I felt a sense "you will never die…not a lie not a lie not a lie" I nodded "OK."

Edward was gagging and Carlisle ran to his side. He stuck a tube down his throat and then gave him water. He smelled him for a second and I squinted my eyes then fell back into unconsciousness.

By morning I felt a bit less hot. A nurse was standing beside my bed with a tray of food a small bowl of mashed potatoes. I didn't eat any of it despite the fact I hadn't eaten since the night of September 14. Edward didn't eat either. We both just lay there and September 19 would be the day that changed our lives forever. Two families were also in our room. One was a whole family a papa, a mama, & two daughters named Marta and Louisa. The other family was a papa, a mama, a son named Henry, & their daughter Greta had died two days ago. I wanted to be with Edward but the nurses said I had to stay put. Mama had to have water constantly brought to her because she was in horrible condition. Louisa broke out in boils that were almost the size of a fist! Henry was moved to another room with his father because his mother had died and the other family was moved as well except Louisa and the mother stayed. Marta insisted so she stayed also. The father went with Henry and his father.

We were in the critical room. I needed to hear my brother's voice and tell him I loved him before I died which I thought was going to happen.

"Edward" I said in my weak voice. I wheezed a little and the nurse brought me my inhaler.

"Yes Haze?" Edward said in his weak voice.

"I don't want to die" I said.

"Oh Hazel" Edward said.

"I don't want to die and leave you here all alone" I said.

"Hazel, you won't die I promise you if you die I die." Edward said.

"But what about mama?" I asked.

We looked over at mama who was unconscious. I knew I couldn't let a tear shed from my eyes so I gritted my teeth and awaited death. Carlisle came in to see me later that day.

"When will I die?" I asked.

"Please Hazel you won't die don't ever think that you're 12 years old!" Carlisle said.

"What I'm sick in this stupid bed with the Spanish Influenza that's killing every damn person!" I almost shouted.

"Shush" Carlisle said softly he bit his lip and my mama looked at him.

"Doctor! Doctor!" She called out and I turned to look puzzled at Edward.

Carlisle went to my mother and said "what is it Mrs. Masen?"

"Save them! You must do everything in your power what others cannot do, that is what you must do for my children" she said

People told her to shut up and looked at her like she was a nut. Carlisle kneeled down next to Edward's bed and put a fist to his mouth it looked like he was about to cry. Edward opened his eyes and gave his look of sheer terror and I saw the look of purity on his face that I don't think anyone could ever forget to this day.

That night a nurse came and brought us fresher pillows. Mine were covered with sweat from my fever. She took my temperature it was still 104.3 and Edward's was 104.7. Mama's was 103.8. The nurse put cold compresses on our heads and put a bowl of chill soup next to our beds on the side table. Carlisle came in to watch over us.

"Please" I said my voice cracking "save my mama and brother…please Dr. Cullen" I pleaded.

He looked at me and then he put his fist to his mouth again.

"Goodbye…Hazel" Edward murmured.

"PLEASE" I cried.

Carlisle immediately picked up Edward's head and bit his neck. Edward's eyes widened and he jerked then he fell into a deep sleep. I felt my eyes closing as well…to die. Darkness was closing in on me and I didn't want to fight. I closed my eyes and then Carlisle picked my head up and looked me in the eye.

"I told you I wouldn't let you die" he said and bit my neck.

I felt a sharp pierce like I was being burned alive. I fell into a deep sleep still feeling the pain. Later I learned that Carlisle reached for mama but it was too late she had passed away within minutes of Edward's bite.

I woke up two days later and was not in the hospital anymore I was in a strange room. I looked around nervously for my brother and didn't see him anywhere.

"Where is Edward?" I thought.

"Right here Haze" Edward said.

"Did you just…where's…oh."

I found Carlisle and he was in the back room. I realized my apparent gift to know where people were had manifested into something bigger that I could actually track and get the image in my head, like spying on them.

Carlisle entered the room, "hello, I am sorry that this happened a little too fast but if you sit down I can get the whole story down" he said.

"What are we?" Edward asked.

"You are vampires" Carlisle said.

"Really?" Edward asked.

"Yes" Carlisle said.

I just sat there.

"Would you like to know the story?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes" Edward said "Hazel wants to also" he added.

I nodded and Edward put his arm around my shoulder. I saw his red bloodshot eyes and was horrified I hoped I didn't look like that.

"I was born in 1643 and my mother died giving birth to me" Carlisle began.

I raised my hand.

"Hazel, you don't have to raise your hand" Carlisle said laughing.

"How are you still alive if you were born in 1643?" I asked softly.

"We'll get to that part later, anyway my father was a priest and he was in charge of hunting down witches, vampires, & werewolves. As my father grew older he put me in charge of the hunting when he died he left his will that I as his only son continue to do his work. I was 23 years old. I was different from my father. I was more persistent and not as quick witted to jump to conclusions. One night we went on a hunt for a coven of vampires that lived in the underground sewers, smelling our blood the vampires came out. We made the hunt at night because we thought that, that was when they would come out. As I was saying the vampires were thirsty so they attacked the other two men who were with me. They thought I was dead but because of a miraculous source I was alive. I hid in a potato cellar for 3 days and despite the pain I didn't cry out. I knew anything bitten by the monster would be destroyed."

"What did you do then?" I asked.

"Well I ran from the city to the woods. I hated myself and wanted to be destroyed. I tried jumping off cliffs and choking but there was no other way. I tried starving myself but I just grew weaker and weaker. One night I was walking in the woods and I smelled some deer I wildly attacked. I realized that I didn't have to be a monster that I could feed on animals instead of people. I swam across the English Channel to France and lived there until 1746, that's when I moved to Italy to live with the Volturi the royal vampire coven. I didn't want to be one of them and I realized that in 1775. I swam across the Atlantic Ocean and moved to Chicago where I worked nights at the Hospital. I was lonely and would have liked a companion but I didn't want to put anyone through that kind of pain. But then your mother…she begged me to save you and I…I couldn't let you die. You were such nice children and the innocence in your eyes right before your 'death' was too much for me so I bit you and transformed you and now you are here" Carlisle said.

I looked at Edward "that's a long story" I mumbled.

"Now I assume you two are thirsty so come on I'll teach you how to hunt" Carlisle ushered me and Edward out the door and to the countryside where we were in the woods.

I smelled something overwhelmingly good it smelled like the wonderful cooking of mama and I could hear her voice. I ran but I didn't run like usual instead I broke out into a flying run of some sort. Edward tackled me and growled I hissed back at him and Carlisle grabbed us both.

"NO!" he said firmly as trying to teach us something.

I scowled but said nothing.

"It smells so…good" Edward said.

"Yes, it's a human smell but we are hunting for animals…try and pick up the scent not the human scent or I can take you somewhere else" Carlisle said.

"Definitely somewhere else" Edward said.

"Yes, I'm sorry Dr. Cullen it's way too tempting" I said.

"Please call me Carlisle and don't be sorry Hazel you're still a newborn the human scent is too much to resist."

However, I could pick up a light scent of…an animal maybe. It smelled like somewhere north.

"Carlisle" I said.

"Yes Hazel" he said to me.

"I think I've caught a scent somewhere north."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows and then Edward smirked "very good Hazel" he complemented me and I raised my eyebrows.

"Edward…" Carlisle began.

"What?" he asked pretending to be innocent much like he did when we were humans.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" Carlisle asked.

"I…I don't know" Edward said and I felt a vibration.

"You're lying" I told Edward Carlisle looked amused "can we discuss this later my throat is on fire here!" I said.

Carlisle and Edward laughed. "Hazel can be funny like that" Edward said.

"Shut up Eddie" I said glaring at him.

"Yeah lets go catch some animals" he said after hearing my thoughts we ran north and Carlisle was very impressed that I was able to detect that some mountain lions were walking around and so were some grizzly bears. Edward and I looked puzzled and Edward said, "What do we do and Hazel wants to know how we're supposed to get past their hair."

I grimaced.

"It's easier than it sounds. Watch me" Carlisle said and with that he tackled the grizzly bear and I noticed he bit its neck much like the way he did to me and Edward when we were transformed except now instead of pulling away he sucked at it and slowly the grizzly bear closed his eyes and then went limp.

"Here, Edward go for the mountain lion" Carlisle said.

Edward lunged onto the mountain lion which scratched and clawed Edward and he bit its neck.

"Once you taste blood…just suck" Carlisle said and Edward did and pretty soon the mountain lion went limp. "Now your turn Hazel" Carlisle said and I was scared Carlisle and Edward had both done good but what if I screwed up?

"You won't Haze it's really easy" Edward assured me.

I tried to decide which was better and Edward must've told Carlisle what I was thinking because he said "mountain lion…it's easier and tastes most like humans."

I shut my eyes and concentrated on how to attack but I was so thirsty that I just thrust myself at it like it was my one thing for survival it scratched my eye but I quickly bit its neck through the hair I might add at first I thought that he didn't have blood or something but then I tasted it, it was sweet and tasted like punch or something perhaps a little on the edgier side. When I felt no more blood sucking I jumped up and attacked a grizzly bear and it had a whole lot more blood than the mountain lion. Edward tackled me and bit the bear so I guess you could say we shared it. We both brushed off our knees and stood up.

"Well done" Carlisle said.

But my throat was still on fire. I spotted a deer on the way back and attacked and then attacked a second grizzly bear. By then my throat felt as cool as a cool fall day.

When we arrived back at Carlisle's apartment he said "I have to go to work OK someone is coming over to watch you."

I frowned but knew why Carlisle was afraid that we were newborns and couldn't leave us alone. Edward didn't seem to care.

"Kyle? Someone named Kyle" Edward said.

"Yes his name is Kyle Weismann and he is a very good friend of mine. Still looking for companions to start a coven Kyle prefers to be alone." Carlisle said.

"How old is he?" I asked.

"He was born in 1858" Carlisle said.

"So he's 60" I said.

"Yes but he was frozen at the age of 21" Carlisle said.

"What do you mean frozen?" I asked.

"Well you guys aren't going to get any older your hair will not grow your nails will not grow you will stay exactly the same except for your eyes, speed, agility, & strength right now you are newborns and have more than older vampires." Carlisle said and at 7:30 pm that night Kyle Weismann came over he greeted Carlisle and shook his hand.

Kyle approached Edward and I who were standing in our rooms which Carlisle had made for us it was basically one room but with a curtain in between to give us both privacy there was also a separate door.

First he shook Edward's hand and said "nice to meet you Edward I hope you will find this new vampire life amusing"

Carlisle laughed "don't encourage him Kyle."

"Nice to meet you too" Edward said.

"And you must be Hazel" Kyle said turning to me.

"Yes" I said he smiled at me and I smiled back.

"It's a pleasure to meet you" I said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too" he said and shook my hands "ouch you've got quite a grip there" he said to me.

"Sorry" I said.

"No it's a good thing" he said.

Edward smirked at me "Kyle's impressed."

"Mind reader I see" Kyle said.

"Edward, Hazel, Kyle I have to run I'll be back in the morning."

"OK" we all said.

"So what do you two want to do?" Kyle asked.

"Don't know" Edward said.

"You're lying Edward you want to go and play chess" I said.

"Do you want to?" he asked Kyle.

"Sure, you're a lie detector" he said to me.

I shrugged, "I guess so."

Kyle chuckled and we went to get the chess game Carlisle kept and I could tell Edward was thirsty and so was I. if Bella were right in front of us right now we would be dying right now because it took me a year to be able to be around a human.

After our rebellious first year as vamps we were actually very well controlled compared to most vampires and in 1921 Edward and I were in the hospital with Carlisle. We were in Ohio and our cover story was Carlisle was our father and our mother had died. So anyway it was a casual day in Columbus, Ohio and Carlisle was summoned to the morgue he told Edward and me to stay where we were in his office. We were playing cards.

"Ace" Edward said putting down an ace.

It was very hard not to think about what I had so I just thought of something else and grabbed my first card Edward smirked.

"Ugh!" I said.

Edward laughed, "sorry Haze you know it's not my fault" but he was lying.

"EDWARD!" I said

"Children, if you can't be quiet than we're going to have to send you home" the nurse came in.

"Sorry…my sister was just um…in pain" Edward said.

I grimaced and the nurse said, "My word is she OK?"

"Yes I'm fine" I said.

"Tsk" the nurse and Edward laughed.

"Come on Eddie!" I said.

With that the nurse came in again and said "Dr. Cullen says you two need to go home."

"Are we in trouble?" I asked and Edward almost spoke but then controlled himself.

"No he says that your aunt was in a car accident in England."

Well that was a big lie because I had no aunt in a car crash but that was what Carlisle had told her.

"OK, come on Haze" Edward said letting me hop onto his back for a piggyback ride. When we got home Edward called out, "Carlisle…Carlisle?"

"He's right here Edward" I said tracking him and pointing to his bedroom. Edward knocked on the door.

"Come in" Carlisle said.

A woman lay in his bed she was twitching I slightly recognized her as Esme Platt who Carlisle treated 10 years ago I remember being there and we were introduced to her.

"What happened?" I asked.

"She tried to kill herself" Carlisle said and Edward and I gasped.

"Oh my gosh" I said.

"She's joining us" Edward said.

"Yes" said Carlisle. "I just activated the transformation process about 4 hours ago so we will wait a day or so for it to be complete."

My eyes were wide with both amazement and fear for Esme.

On April 23, 1921 Carlisle came out of the room and said "Edward, Hazel meet the new Esme Platt" and Esme came out of the room her eyes were that red crimson color.

"It's so nice to see all of you again" Esme said.

"It's nice to see you again too" Edward and I said.

"You're a vampire" Edward said answering Esme's thoughts.

"Really but…"

"Yes they do exist" Edward said.

"Why don't we teach Esme how to hunt?" I asked.

"Hunt?" said Esme.

"Isn't your throat burning" I asked.

"Yes more than anything" Esme said.

"So come on follow me" I said

"OK" said Esme.

Edward and Carlisle followed me and Esme out of the door to the cabin we were staying in. Carlisle and I carefully held onto Esme in case she lost control and Edward said ,"Watch me" with that he tackled a deer and sucked its blood just like the way Carlisle taught us.

"You'll get it right, it's easier than it looks" he said after reading her thoughts again.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?" Esme asked Edward.

"Edward has an extraordinary gift more than the normal vampire structure as does Hazel" Carlisle explained.

"What does Hazel do?" Esme asked curiously.

"Well I can detect lies and can track people and get the video/image in my head…like spying" I said.

"Wow" Esme said.

Well Esme pretty much nailed her first hunt and we soon moved locations this time to Poughkeepsie, New York where Edward and I attended school for the first time since we became vampires. Carlisle wanted Edward to look out for me so we went to the same school. Even though I was only 12 I attended high school with Edward and I began to excel in my studies. Often at night I would sit and just read books because I got so interested. I wished I could go to college but I doubted I could pass off for 18. We graduated on June 1, 1924 and thus moved to Metroville, Wisconsin where we attended, 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade once again this time our story was that Edward and I were cousins and I was staying with him and his family. At first it was hard for Edward and me because we weren't really used to being around humans. It was also hard for us to keep our abilities down to a level this was especially hard for Edward because of his mind reading abilities. We could hear people whisper about us because of our reclusiveness and paler skin than our peers. We remained switching locations for 12 years and after Wisconsin we moved to Canada. In 1932 we took a break from school and Edward passed as Esme's brother and I passed as Carlisle and Esme's adopted daughter.

Carlisle worked nights in a Rochester hospital Edward, Esme, & I would stay home in our apartment that was very small. We transformed our kitchen into a library (using the refrigerator and cabinets to store the books) reading was how I normally spent my nights and Edward played his piano. Esme would paint the three of us made great use of our time and during the day we would just sit in the apartment with the shades drawn. People began to notice and Carlisle told them that Esme and I were allergic to the sun, Edward had a rare sun disorder and he had sun sensitivity. People began to call us oddballs and I would just laugh it off. It really seemed to bother Edward though. But I would just tell him to not listen to those lunes and he would just laugh.

One unusually cold April night we were coming back from hunting and smelled human blood…dying human blood. Carlisle & Esme raced to the scene and told me and Edward to go back and wait at the apartment. We did…this was how Rosalie was found. Emmett joined us two years later and in 1950 we were joined by Alice and Jasper. Just a little Cullen history there.