Chapter VIII
Edward Cullen
William the Weakling had his eyes closed and was whispering quietly. I couldn't hear what it was, but it was probably a quick prayer or two.
I waited impatiently until he opened his eyes.
I had decided that instead of injecting my venom into William's blood through my bite, I'll inject him by my syringe. I'll insert my syringe through all of William's fingers, and it'll be interesting to see his reaction after the injections.
"Have you finished?" I said impatiently. "Praying won't work."
"You'll always have faith in God," William murmured. "Even if you're-"
I had enough.
My first victim is from a religious family and now my second victim is preaching to me about having goddamn faith in God!
Fuck him!
Fuck everyone!
I don't give a damn what William thinks about God!
I angrily stabbed the needle into William's index finger and laughed as he screamed in pain. It was really hilarious watching him suffer! Once I inject the syringe into every single one of his fingers, William would be like an old man with Arthritis!
"Help me!" William screamed.
"Go to Hell!" I laughed, eating blood popcorn. "My! This is a delicious flavour of popcorn! I wonder why I had never ate it before!"
"Please! I need water! I need ice!"
"Ah, my young friend. You don't need ice. Ice'll make it more painful!"
"I NEED WATER!"
"No screaming in my house please. You can live without water. Now, I should tell you what's in this delicious popcorn. I made it myself. You see, in my youth, I loved cooking and experimenting with a variety of different types of food. My favourite ingredient, is blood. Blood can be cooked in such different ways! I made many cuisines with blood. Some aren't relatively successful, but most of my dishes turn out very well and are successful."
"HELP!"
"Haven't I told you to be quiet? Now where was-"
"I'M DYING HERE!"
"I don't give a fuck whether you're dying or living! Now be quiet! As I was saying, most of my dishes are successful. One of them happens to be the blood popcorn! Blood popcorn is perfectly nutritious for a fit, healthy vampire like me-"
"Wait a sec. You're a vampire?"
"You stupid boy! I had already told you I'm a vampire! You're not only an idiot, but a fish! How bad is your memory?"
For once, William had nothing to say!
"Oh, don't worry about your hands," I said carelessly. "Nothing bad will happen. The burning's just a natural feeling. It'll go away after a while, like around a couple of hours. You'll still be able to feel your fingers, but you won't be able to move them. Just think about your grandfather with Arthritis! You'll be just like him! It won't hurt much."
William stared at me, petrified.
"Now," I said, standing up. "What would you like to eat? My recipes are great, but not suited for a human. Any requests?"
"I can't eat with this pain!" cried William.
"True. You can't use any utensils. I'll get you something liquidy that has nutrition. Maybe jelly. I'll have a snoop around. Maybe the thing in hospital would be good."
"What hospital thingy?"
"Haven't you had an operation before? No? That's a surprise. There might be some tumour in your
brain that makes you stupider than you really are. The machine that feeds you as if you're a plant! With the needle stuck on your arm! Gosh, you are an idiot. Once I get it in here, it'll make more sense to you. I'm sure it will."
I left the room.
I regretted injecting William's fingers with my venom a bit too early. Now I need to find a way in feeding that boy without much fuss.
The only resources I could think of, was the nutrition liquid in hospital.
I knew the process of using it, but getting it, is a different story.
The only hospital I knew, was Forks Hospital, which was an easy and a hard place to search in. The doctors and nurses knew me when I worked in the hospital, and some of the females that worked there would do anything for me so I would take them out for a dinner or two. The bad thing, was that Carlisle worked there twenty four seven.
The only time he leaves work, is when it's his day to hunt.
And that will be days away.
I pondered on this situation.
To keep William alive, I have no other choice than to steal the equipment needed and risk meeting Carlisle in the hospital.
Dr Carlisle Cullen
After my initial rage subsided, I sent Alice and Jasper away. I shouldn't concern myself with tiny problems like theirs.
I have to find that Edward and crush him once and for all.
Not literally.
I summoned Rosalie into my office. Rosalie may not have a special ability, but she can always calm me down after I lose my temper (which seemed to happen a little more often nowadays). Rosalie will always be my favourite daughter.
"You called for me?" said Rosalie calmly.
"Yes," I said, feeling much better already. "I know I can trust you. I would talk about this matter to Esme, but she's out hunting. If we find Edward and bring him back to our coven, what should we do with him? He clearly needs to be punished. If it was up to me, violence would be the key to flatten Edward, but I have a feeling it won't work."
"Romance. He has none in his life."
"As far as I'm concerned, Edward's gay! It's been at least a century, and Edward still hadn't found himself a mate!"
"Who knows? He might find one."
"Rosalie darling, that's what I thought at first, when I first met him. I had hoped he would fall for you, when I changed you. You are very attractive and beautiful. I don't know why he didn't! When Alice came along, he didn't fall for her either."
"I'm sure you didn't call me here just to discuss that."
"Of course not. If he does fall in love, what do you think we should do?"
"Invite the girl into our coven. He might stop slacking off."
"And you're sure that it'll work?"
"If the girl he loves, loves him back, she can control him. If you use violence on him, it won't turn out well. Remember how Edward escaped in the first place?"
"How can I forget that…worst day of my life."
"Try the romance method."
"It won't work if we don't have the right girl for him. Who knows? What if Edward desires for a human girl in her human form? We can't allow a human to live with us! She might betray us and kill us all! We can't trust a human with our secret!"
"Why?"
"If this human betrays us, she would be betraying all the vampires in the world! If we die, the humans
will be convinced that there's vampires in the world, and will start a vampire hunt. That is something that we won't want."
"It'll be disaster."
"More than disaster! We won't even be buried with the other dead vampires in the Vampire Crypt in Italy if this happens!"
Rosalie said nothing.
I thought for a while. She had a point.
"Fine," I said finally. "I'll go with your plan. If we do end up with a human girl in our coven, it'll be your job to make sure she doesn't leave the house without you. I don't want her running away from here and telling everyone that we're vampires."
Rosalie nodded and left.
I paced around my office, not knowing what to do.
Ring, ring.
"Dr Cullen speaking," I said calmly. "Oh, it's you. What is it? Yes. I see. Dr Buckley's pregnant again? I wonder why I'm not surprised! Of course. I'll come to work straight away! When's she due? How much children did she have? Five? Oh yeah, I forgot the last one. Six. I'll be in Forks Hospital in half an hour. I need to gather my papers and change clothes. Yeah, I know that it's my day off, but I don't care. I have nothing better to do. No, I haven't found my Edward yet. Still not losing hope! Actually, judging by the time, I'll come here at one. Okay? Good."
I hung up.
I have work to look forward to.
I packed up my paperwork and placed it back in my brief case. I changed from my ordinary clothes into my doctoral clothes.
"Where are you going?" asked Esme, at the door.
"To work," I answered. "I know it's short notice, but it can't be helped. I have to fill in Dr Buckley's shift today. She's pregnant again."
"You promised we'll go on a hunting date tonight!"
"I know Esme! I'm sorry! Think about this. After I complete my shift, I get triple the amount of money I usually get! I normally get a hundred dollars for a two hour shift, but since I'm filling in for a fourteen hour shift, I'll normally get seven hundred dollars, but since Dr Buckley has the operation shift, I'll get two thousand one hundred dollars!"
"Will you buy me the jewellery set I want?"
"Yes! Once I get the money, I'll buy it for you. With the jewellery box. Are you pleased now, my darling Esme? We'll get more money!"
Esme smiled at me.
"Here," she said, handing me a bottle of animal blood.
"Thanks," I said, placing the bottle into my bag. "I think I'll need that today! Getting a bit hungry! I'll see you tomorrow morning."
I kissed Esme's cheek and went to the garage.
I climbed into my black Mercedes S55 AMG and drove to Forks Hospital.
After I parked the Mercedes in the Hospital garage, I was welcomed into the Hospital by my doctor friends (human of course).
"Nice to see that you can come," said Dr Joan Castella (a cardiac surgeon), a smile on her face. "I'm really sorry for calling you in on such short notice! I know you're a physician, so you won't be doing the actual operations. Just the paperwork."
"Good," I said, relieved.
"Come. You'll be using Dr Buckley's office today. I'll be doing a couple of operations today, and so will Dr Fong! You can have dinner with us today!"
"No thanks. I'll eat by myself."
"You always do!" protested Dr Andrew Fong (a neurologist).
"I'm sorry Andrew, but lunch and dinner times are times when I prefer to spend time alone. When I eat lunch or dinner, I use that time to think."
"Think about what?"
"Private affairs. Thinking of where my Edward is. I'm also considering whether it'll be a good idea to allow my children here for internships."
"You should!"
"Dr Cullen," spoke someone.
I turned around and saw the Head Doctor.
I walked up to him.
"Sir," I said automatically.
"Dr Cullen," said the Doctor, glancing at Drs Castella and Fong. "I see that you have agreed to fill in Dr Buckley's shift time today. You're a physician, not a surgeon. Dr Buckley had recommended you to replace her while she's on maternity leave. Unfortunately, your secretary didn't tell you everything. Yes, you get a salary triple times your usual one, and you'll replace her today. What he didn't tell you, is that it'll only be tripled if you agree to replace her until after her maternity leave."
"You mean, you want me to replace her as surgeon?"
"Until she returns."
"If that's what you want, Sir."
"Good. Dr Buckley's office is at your disposal. Dr Castella will take you to her office and tell you what to do. Until we meet again."
He nodded shortly to me and left.
Dr Castella led me to a section of the hospital I wasn't familiar with.
"This is the operation/surgery section," she told me. "Here's Dr Buckley's office. Make yourself at home and be comfortable."
I placed my bag and brief case onto the desk and looked around.
The files were all placed neatly in a labelled cabinet, and there were diagrams stuck on the wall. There was something homely about this office.
I pulled the curtains away from the window.
I stared out the window, and felt blood rushing towards my brain.
Staring back at me, was Edward.
Edward Cullen
Half An Hour Later
I couldn't believe what I was seeing!
Carlisle was at the hospital, and today was a day he wasn't supposed to be at work! And why was he in the operation/surgery section?
I hadn't bothered to disguise myself, and now it seemed like a mistake!
"Edward!" called a nurse.
I tore myself away from staring at Carlisle and looked at the nurse.
"The machine you are looking for's in the Children's Ward," she told me. "Would you like me to get it for you, or would you like to get it yourself? You're not allowed to take it home, but I'll take your word for it, so be careful."
"Can you get it?" I inquired.
"Of course. And our deal?"
"I'll give you the money once I place the machine into my car. Ring me once you take the machine from the ward, and arrive in the car park."
"Of course."
I watched the nurse hurry off.
Out of all the nurses and staff of Forks Hospital, I had chosen the poorest and most desperate nurse of the whole bunch.
I had offered her a thousand dollars of cash if she would give me the 'plant' machine and allow me to keep it for a week.
The desperate nurse had agreed. I had a nasty feeling that I might be caught if I kill William and dispose
his body like I did to Angela Weber. I really regretted injecting William now. If I hadn't lost my temper, I wouldn't be in this predicament.
A few minutes later, I received a phone call from the nurse.
I went straight to the car park, and was met there by the excited nurse. I wondered whether she was excited for her little adventure in stealing the 'plant' machine for me, or looking forward in receiving a thousand dollars.
"Does it work?" I said softly.
"Yes," the nurse assured me. "It works out of the hospital as well."
"How do you use it? Stick the plug into a plug hole?"
"Basically. And this needle into the vein of your patient. The liquid in the bag will be all the nutrition and carbohydrates the patient will need to live."
"Good. Here's the cash."
I handed her a wad of cash.
The nurse was delighted.
"Thank you for your help," I said, giving her a dazzling smile.
"That's f-fine!" stammered the nurse. "Glad t-to b-be of h-help!"
I waved goodbye and drove back to my house.
I took the 'plant' machine from my car (once I drove my car onto the driveway), and carried it into my house and into William's room.
William looked at me fearfully.
"This is the machine that'll keep you alive," I told him, pleased with myself. "I don't know exactly what it's called, but to me, it's called 'the plant machine'. Through this needle, the machine will feed you all the nutrition and stuff you need. You might feel hungry, but you won't die of starvation. You'll thank me for this later on."
"Why would I?" said William weakly. "You injected venom in me!"
"That was your fault!"
"How was it my fault? You're a bloody vampire! You'll eat and drink my blood! Who knows, maybe you'll eat me too!"
"That's cannibalism! I'm trying to HELP you!"
"Yeah sure!"
"DO YOU WANT TO STARVE TO DEATH OR NOT?"
William was silent.
I set up the 'plant' machine near his bed, and plugged the plug of the machine into a plug hole. I cleaned the needle and joined it with the machine. I pulled William's arm out and stuck the needle into one of his blood veins. I taped it there.
William cringed in pain.
"You'll be in more pain soon," I growled.
"Please take mercy on me!" William pleaded. "What do you want from me? I'll do anything for you! I mean what I say!"
I snorted and left.
I had long believed that people will keep their promises.
Two Days Later
I visited William again, and was pleased to see that William's fingers were now painfully stiff. He had ceased screaming in pain.
"You have stopped screaming," I noted.
"It still hurts," said William softly.
"It's venom, what can you expect? At least the painful stage is over. Now, are you comfortable? Are you still hungry and thirsty?"
"Yeah. I don't think this machine works."
"It is. Trust me. It's working just fine. Now, your fingers are nice and numb. They don't hurt anymore, so
what can I do with you? Inject more venom? Nah, that's not much fun. Shoot you? Too boring. I know! I'll gut you, like how huntsmen guts animals! Be a good, little boy and stay here quietly. I'll come back to you in a couple of minutes."
I left the room and went to my room.
I could barely contain my excitement.
Burning Angela to death was entertaining, but this! This is more fun! I would be actually gutting him to death! A nice, slow, painful death.
I grabbed my knife set and went back to William's room.
His eyes were wide with fear and terror.
"Please!" begged William.
"Please!" I mimicked. "Oh, shut up! Lucky for you, I studied the human body and know where the best parts of the body are that are good for stabbing, skinning and gutting! I won't be gutting you sloppily. I'll be gutting you with great care!"
I dragged him from the bed and out of the basement.
I chained William (with the chains I used on Angela) to the wall, and picked up a butcher knife and studied his body.
Without hesitation, I ripped off William's shirt and sliced his chest.