Chapter 2
A/N: I'm floored by so many adding this to the favorites list when I've only written one chapter. That makes me feel very good! Thank you all for continuing!
Carlisle: (looks confused) "How did I end up in a college dormitory?"
Me: (chuckles) "You're a little new at this, aren't you? Whenever the fangirls start writing about you, you have to go visit them. You're a muse now."
Carlisle: (looks around at the clothes and pizza boxes in the floor) "How long must I stay?"
Me: "Until I finish this story. You'd better make yourself comfortable."
Carlisle: (sighs) "I should never have listened to Emmett and Edward when I made that left turn in the woods."
Me: (grins)
The woods were dark as Carlisle's heightened senses kicked in. Despite his pale skin, he blended into the shadows easily. The cold air contrasted sharply with the fire in his throat. He moved as silently as death itself. The scent of a deer caught his attention. If he'd had a pulse, it would have been beating in his ears. Venom began to coat his teeth, emerging from the glands in his gums. It felt like a hot tingle, the way your mouth feels when you eat a pepper. His dark onyx eyes gleamed with an animalistic light. This was one place that all of his careful inhibitions could be unleashed and he could be the creature of the night he was created to be.
A movement caused him to turn his head. Growling more with pleasure than anything, he dashed towards his prey. The poor thing didn't even know what hit it. Carlisle saw the buck only a split second before his teeth broke the skin. The animal jerked, getting loose only for a moment. Its heartbeat was a wet, squishy sound that slowed quickly. It dropped after only running a few yards. Carlisle caught up with it easily. His lips caressed the creature's throat, finding the vein closest to the skin. The blood gushed into his mouth and his vampire senses were intensified. The blood felt warm and smooth as velvet as it slid down his throat and pooled in his stomach. For a brief moment after he released the now drained animal, his breath came out in a cloud of mist from the blood's heat. He sat perfectly still for a moment as the sense of contentment washed over him. He saw another one and took off again.
Two or three later, he was feeling much better. Stretching out against a tree trunk, he sat in the cool grass. His belly was expanded from the blood and there was a small sloshing sound whenever he walked. It was peaceful out here in the woods. The cold air helped to calm his feverish thoughts. The moon shone on his pale skin, making it shine beautifully. He closed his eyes, dreaming that Esme could be here on such a beautiful night.
Now that his thirst was sated, the faint unfamiliar smell that had caused so much trouble didn't affect him quite so much. Carlisle felt an almost strange comfort with it. It somehow seemed closer tonight and he wondered if the source was living or not. Curiosity got the better of him and he stood. Moving slowly and quietly like a panther, he made his way through the woods. He'd never actually been out here before and was pleased to see new surroundings. All of this looked like something one would see in paintings or stories. The smell of water spoke of a lake nearby, or at least a pond. The next thing he knew, a shimmering pool spread out before him.
It was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. The pond wasn't terribly big, but there was a small dock and a little rowboat, enough to fit two grown people or four children in. Next to it was a gazebo on a small hill. A small path led him in a curve around the pond towards a clump of dense trees. The tantalizing scent he'd smelled earlier was getting a bit stronger here. The dirt path turned into carefully laid stones as he progressed. The path looked ancient and weather-worn, but the stones were perfectly smooth. He suspected that the most delicate human feet could walk bare here and not be hurt at all. As he cleared the trees, he was surprised that the branches formed a natural arch above him.
What he saw next was rather unexpected.
The ruins of an old castle stood here. One tower was still completely intact and even had glass windows. From here, it looked like stained glass. One wall seemed largely intact except for a few missing chunks. The rest of the castle had bits and pieces standing, but most of the bricks were crumbled on the ground. The moonlight lit the ruins and gave them a magical look.
Carlisle had stopped believing in fairy tales long ago, but he couldn't deny that this place had a strange, tragic beauty about it. He could imagine many battles taking place here, swords clanging together and dreams dying with the last breath. Vines snaked up some of the crumbling ruins, coating them in leafy softness. The trees and the crumbling stones cast shadows everywhere and they moved slightly like living, breathing things. He stood perfectly still for a moment, listening and taking in the surroundings.
Something in the back of his mind told him that he should stay away from the castle. There was no physical danger, as even if one of the towers fell on him, he could punch his way out easily. But there was something else there; a kind of warning sensation. It was as though this place had lain untouched and forgotten for centuries and he was about to violate something sacred.
But he cautiously stepped forward anyway. The smell was at its strongest here. He was startled when he started to move towards the castle and he banged face-first into something solid. Puzzled, he backed up. What was that?
He was confused. There was nothing more than thin air where he stood. Cautiously, he stretched out a hand and smacked at the air. Something invisible, yet perfectly solid resonated with a bang.
An illusion?
Who or what was living out here that needed to hide this badly? He walked along the invisible wall, feeling for some sort of opening. If this being was dangerous, he didn't want to upset it by smashing a hole in it. Unfortunately, he had no such luck. He couldn't find one. It was almost like being blind!
After a while, he gave up and wandered around in bigger and bigger circles from the castle. He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for...was he hoping he'd figure out whose or what's scent was making him crazy?
When he returned home, nobody asked. He said nothing to anyone as he went straight up to his own room. Closing the door quietly behind him, he settled himself into the window seat. It would have been just as comfortable without the piles of pillows there, but Alice insisted that his room needed a "makeover". He shoved most of them out of the way before getting situated.
His room faced those woods. Staring into the silent, dark trees, he wished he knew their secrets.
She had watched him from inside the castle. His teasing scent had caught her nose as he was hunting. He was giving off the tiniest bit of heat more than usual, indicating that he was very active tonight. She could sense his painful thirstiness, then his intense gratitude as he fed. His energy began to get stronger and louder. He had ventured right up to the castle without very much fear at all...brave man. She admired him for it. She had the giggles when he smacked into the wall and was feeling around for an opening. It made her smile when he realized that the open air was an illusion. Thankfully, he was feeling too high to discover her secret entrance. If he had dropped his hand to the level of his hip, he would have found it almost immediately after realizing it was an illusion. He was a clever one, yes, but a bit too cautious.
For now, she was grateful that he was so cautious. Despite her lust and hunger, she knew it was not quite time for him to discover her home yet. An artist such as her should not rush these things...matters of the heart took time.
She would never forget his beauty in the moonlight, the childlike curiosity of his face as he wandered around. His skin had shone wonderfully in the moonlight. Knowing she must somehow capture this, she hurried to her special room. Working feverishly into the night, she spent a great deal of time mixing the colors just right. Her paintbrush moved across the canvas almost of its own accord. Shades of blue, silver, black, and gray appeared first, then highlights of unexpected colors came in to give it depth. Soon, she had a near-perfect image of Carlisle standing at the edge of the pond, staring down at his own reflection with the moon behind him. The smell of acrylic paint had filled the air. She opened the nearby window to let it escape. Carefully framing it in a smoothly sanded oak frame, she carried it towards the wall. A charcoal sketch of Carlisle kneeling next to Esme's grave already hung there as well as what was supposed to be a "family portrait"--all of the Cullens together with Carlisle right in the center and what she imagined Esme to look like drawn transparently like a ghost in the background. By the time she finished cleaning up, it was almost daybreak. Satisfied, she bathed herself to rinse away the paint smells and got ready. Transforming into her human form, she got dressed and headed towards the mall. Today was a working day and she would be doing what she did best. She was only too aware that today was good Dr. Cullen's day off. Her mind-reading wasn't nearly as good as Edward's, but she knew they were planning to go to the mall in preparation for Renesmee's upcoming birthday. The girl was only two years old, but she looked ten.
He was sure to come along. She smiled to herself. He would see her for the first time. The illusion of the dream she'd given him was sure to keep him on his guard for her.
