Chapter IV

"He reminds me of one of the monsters I killed." Edward explained.

Bella replied by asking. "Did you kill him?"

He shook his head. "I didn't end- Franklyn Karters- that sick excuse for a human's life."

"Then who?"

"Bella, all you need to know is that the man got what he deserved." Edward replied and after a brief pause he added. "If you must know, one of his patients- one of his victims killed him, drained his blood."

"Drained his blood." Bella repeated.

"Yes, Bella, she drained his blood."

"She?!"

"Karters only did that to girls." Edward answered a question other than the one she had asked.

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She stared at the blank grey walls trying to ignore the pain.

"I know you like it." He whispered sadistically into her ear. She hated it yet, she couldn't scream. It would hurt more if she did- but she could take the pain. She barely felt it anymore.

No one would care if she screamed- so it seemed. Would it even matter?

His hand was suddenly at her shoulder. She winced.

"I'm sorry I startled you," It was Esme. "Are you okay, Alice?"

"I'm fine." Alice responded.

"That's not the truth is it?" Esme sat down alongside her. "Alice, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shifted uncomfortably.

"Honey, you can tell me." Esme responded. "You saw something?"

She was silent for a moment. "It wasn't a vision."

"You remember what he did to you."

"Only bits and pieces." Alice admitted somberly.

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"You would never do that. To anyone." Brann stated, shaking his head briefly. "Especially no to someone you loved. You'd kill yourself before you hurt her like that."

"And I'd kill myself if I ever so much as thought of it."

"And you'd kill anyone who did."

"They'd suffer too." Jasper responded. "Speaking of which, Brann, is your father still alive?"

Brann shook his head. "He died in 1920."

"Well then, I hope that he suffered." Jasper raised his voice for the final part. "And I hope he still suffers."

"A vampire killed him."

"Brutally murdered and or tortured would have been better. But having his blood drained works."

"I would say that no one deserves that- if it were true. But maybe he did deserve it." Brann reacted. "I would say that he was a sociopath who never understood why what he did was wrong. But that really doesn't matter, dose it?"

"No, it doesn't." Jasper answered with calm cruelty. "Because I don't care."

"I didn't expect you to."

There was a long silence.

"Do you have any children?" Jasper questioned.

"Why do you ask?"

"You kind of remind me of Carlisle." Jasper responded. "You kind of act like him…and look like him."

"My father could have been Carlisle's twin- solely in appearances." Brann informed.

"Oh-." He paused before asking once more. "Well, do you have children?"

"Yes, my wife Michelle and I had three children." Brann Rowbin told.

"That's a nice odd number. What were their names?"

"Jonathon Tobias, Alice Leonna, and Clementine Francine."

"Francine- after her grandfather?"

"More after her great-grandfather Franklyn Brandon. Who at times was about as pure as city snow."

"He was physically abusive."

"Oh yeah." Brann answered. "But at least he had a conscience. Either way I'm not as forgiving as my sister Eliza, who was able to name her oldest son Franklyn. Maybe it wasn't so much after our father as it was after our grandfather. Who killed himself shortly after meeting us because he couldn't live with himself anymore."

"He was remorseful." Hale reacted. "For good reason."

"He felt like it was all his fault."

There was another long silence.

"Were you a solider?" Jasper questioned referring to his worn army looking jacket.

Brann nodded. "Lieutenant in the American army during World War II."

"Major in the confederate army during the Civil War." Jasper informed. "Nice to meet a fellow soldier." He extended his right hand.

And Brann accepted it.

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"Sometimes, I hear his voice." Alice stated. "Is that normal?"

"There are times when I hear Charles' voice, even after all these years." Esme replied.

This time she met her glance. "You do?"

"Yes." Esme put a hand on her shoulder. "I think it happens because the words stay with you more than all the violence."

Alice's voice was soft. "Words do hurt."

"They do, and the sad thing is that some people never realize that." Esme stated not referring to anyone person in particular.

"Words haunt you, more than almost anything."

"In more ways than one." Esme agreed.