I sat studying at my desk, researching a rare disease that one of my patients has. I'd been researching since, well, one o' clock in the morning but that didn't make a difference to me in the slightest. It's not like I sleep or anything. This was, in my opinion, one of the advantages of being a vampire. It was six o' clock now, so I had to leave for work in 1 or 2 hours. I would go earlier, but when you live in Forks, a town with a population of 3,120, you don't have that many casualties.

"Good morning honey. How's the research going?" I flinched. Even though I knew the love of my life, Esme, was right behind me, I was so deep in my research that I didn't notice her come in, or run in at vampire speed I should say. In my opinion, I don't consider vampires the same species as humans. We are closely related, by all means, but not the same. We are probably as similar to humans as apes are. I mean, of course in layman's terms we are referred to as "immortals" or "the undead" but I do not believe that this is the correct terminology. After all, how can one compare oneself to a creature they believe to be fictional?

"Hello, Esme. Wonderfully thank you. I think I may have found the cure to Miss Wong's curious disease. It isn't anything out of the ordinary. You know how fascinated I am with human life." Esme sighed fondly. She thought my interests for humans were so… quaint at times. She leaned in closer to me, running her fingers through my rather unkempt blonde hair. She seemed at ease, which somewhat soothed me. She had been rather restless as of late worrying about my favourite son, Edward. He has always been reserved, that much has always been clear to me. However, lately he's been completely antisocial. Shutting himself up in his room for days on end with only his masses of music for company for example. What worried me most however, was the fact that he hadn't hunted in two months. The fact that he was starving himself for God knows what reason quite frankly scared both me & Esme very much. It seemed like Edward was back to his usual self though, judging by the smile on my wife's face.

"Uhm…" she sighed, clearly enjoying herself." You work too hard Carls. You need to loosen up." She kissed me briefly, a playful glint in her golden eyes.

"My apologies ma'am," I said smirking. She ruffled my hair briefly before turning on her heels and graciously walking away towards the door. She paused for a moment outside the door frame. She turned around and said,

"By the way, Edward would like to have a word with you. He's downstairs." At last! I know I can't see into the future like Alice, but used as I am to his ways, I know only too well that when he has a problem, or feels socially inept, he comes to me. I noticed this shortly after I changed him. I was always curious to understand his feelings and the way he reacts to certain things, though I was never quite sure why. Perhaps because he was my first son or that he was different from the others. Esme always hinted at the fact that something wasn't quite right with him, as if he was missing something. With his gift being that he was able to read minds, he never saw a reason to show how he felt, thus the reason for why he is reserved, and I respected this. However, I must admit, I did feel incredibly privileged to be the only one who he openly shared his feelings.

With a certain eagerness about me, I opened the study door and walked as slow as a human down the stairs, where I found Edward. He was reading the 'Tempest', though judging by his dismissive gaze, he wasn't concentrating on the content. I coughed lightly, not wanting to startle him. He turned around, obviously noticing my presence. He thrust the book on the glass coffee table and came up to greet me, a sense of longing in his eyes. He had definitely hunted before he had requested to see me. A sea of words came swarming out of his mouth, one flowing into the next and I could hardly make out any of what he was saying. "Carlisle, you don't know how grateful I am to talk to you. I feel that you are the only one who won't judge me, or feel over-protective of me. I must have put you and Esme through a lot of grief, and the others as well. I shouldn't have acted that way. I was only thinking of myself. I am so deeply so-"I raised my hand to cut him off in mid-speech. He understood and recomposed himself.

"Slow down Edward. Calm yourself. Try telling me again, slower this time."

"Of course; I meant to say that I am just so grateful for your existence. You have always been so willing to help me, even when I wanted rebel against you. I will truly be forever in your debt, a few decades at least."

"Son, no – one blames you. You've been going through a tough time, not having a partner and all. I know how it feels; it seems as if there is no reason for existence. It takes a lot of getting used to. After all, it took me a few centuries to find you. Before then, I had no-one. So go ahead Edward." He took a deep breath, trying to bore deep into my brain, trying to bore deep into my brain to try and see what it was like for me. However, this didn't seem like it was his only problem. It was clear that something had been troubling him, and probably still was. His topaz eyes flickered down to the ground. I think he was embarrassed by the fact I had partially uncovered what the cause of the increase of his ineptitude was. I am just hoping it wasn't too serious.

"I am hoping that you won't think it's too serious. Then again, it does involve you… indirectly." I hadn't a clue as to what he meant. How could I possibly be involved? I admit, it is in an indirect way but if so, who is the main victim, so to speak. After all, Edward was not melodramatic like Rosalie, nor was he pointless. He always had reasons for his actions. I doubt it would change here. He certainly couldn't be going crazy… "It's nice to know that you don't think of me that way," he grimaced. Now it was my turn to act embarrassed as my gaze shifted towards the large window to my left. I should've kept my thoughts to myself. "Do not worry Carlisle. I'll do everything in my power to ensure that sh- the main victim is safe. Well, as safe as a vampire can be anyway." I'd had enough of this. Edward was using one of his manipulative mind tricks to get me more annoyed and want to know more – a common trait of his. At first I didn't mind them, I just considered them an unconscious self-defensive reaction. Now however, they were getting on my nerves and the thought of being deceived, especially by someone like Edward, was overwhelming. My casual slightly upturned lips were immediately replaced by my gritted teeth and a low but distinct snarl coming from the pit of my stomach. Edward on the other hand, kept his sullen expression.

"Enough with the circumlocutive speech!" I shouted, not a care in the world if anyone else heard me, "who's this victim you constantly talk about? It's driving me insane!" I shook my head slightly. I was acting slightly irrationally but I kept that thought to myself. I certainly wasn't apologising, even I know I should. Edward understood my anger somehow. It was as if he had planned for this to happen. Had he?

"Very well Carlisle. You would find out sooner or later anyway," he began, his voice dying down to a stage whisper. I supposed he didn't want to mention this victim's name out loud, in case they heard. "I've been worrying about… Esme." I froze. "And Alice." Alice wasn't my main concern though. Esme was the only one I cared about now. If she was in the slightest bit of danger, I would be completely encompassed in ensuring her safety.

"Why Esme? What sort of danger is she in?"

"This is the problem. I don't exactly know. All I know is that she is involved with some sort of letter and…" His voice drifted off, as if he didn't want to finish his sentence.

"And?" I asked, more anxious than ever.

"… And another man. One who wants her, in this stage in time, dead." No. No, no, no, no! This couldn't be! This cannot be the end. She means everything to me. More than Edward and the rest of them put together. She is my existence, which means I will do everything to save her. Even risk my own life, if that is what it takes. Then I remembered: what about Alice? What was her part in this… madness?