A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you are enjoying the story so far. Still looking for one more beta reader. If you interested let me know. Happy reading!
When they got home, Carlisle told Amelia to pack anything and everything they could. They were leaving. She was shaken and scared. She didn't question him or ask where they were going. All she knew was she wanted to get out here as fast as she could and hide from those awful people. As she were throwing things in a suitcase and putting things in her trunk, she found tears following down her face. She did not want to cry or show weakness but she couldn't help it. Those men found her again. Her thoughts kept going back to the dark cell they kept her in. She could not go back there. She didn't know if she would be able to survive it again.
"Amelia?" Carlisle entered the room and saw how frantic she was. She didn't stop, she kept shoving things in her suitcase and throwing things she could in her trunk.
"Two minutes, I will be ready in two minutes. Is the carriage ready?"
"Yes, I just need to load your belongings."
Amelia put her toiletries in the trunk and shut it. "Here take my trunk, it's ready. I will be out in a few moments with my suitcases."
Carlisle took her things that were ready and loaded them on the back of the carriage. He left room and made a small bed for her in the covered part. He knew he was going to get them out of there as fast as he and his horses could. He hooked all four up to pull the carriage. They should be able to make a good distance before they needed to rest. Definitely overkill if you thought they were just passing through. He normally hooked two horses up to the front to pull and had two horses trail beside them tied to the side of it. Just as he finished putting her trunk in, Amelia came out with two suitcases. He threw them on the back with the other tied down things and helped her into the make shift bed area.
"I'm so sorry. I promise they won't hurt you."
"Please let's make haste Carlisle. They could come back at any moment." She pleaded and he closed off the area and jumped up front.
Amelia felt the pull of the horses as the carriage lurched forward. She felt safe in the little area converted to a bed even though Amelia knew she was never coming back to the little cottage. She was leaving her life behind here and moving forward with a man she fell in love with. There was something about him though that sent chills down her spine. She loved but feared Carlisle, especially after being kidnapped. Who were these men he associated with and what is he changing her too. What did that even mean? She let her imagination run wild. She couldn't help it. She found Carlisle's pocket watch in the jacket he laid back there since he was not using it. It had already been about an hour since they left. She felt herself grow tired as she paid attention the steady rocking of the carriage. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.
Carlisle heard Amelia's heartbeat slow as she fell asleep. Carlisle was angry with himself that he let it come to this. He should have moved them as soon as he found her. He tried to figure out Aro's angle and point of her kidnapping and torture. Carlisle was sure that Aro touched her to try to find any weakness to use against her. With that touch he would have known that she knew nothing of vampires. He sat and contemplated a good while before he realized he should probably stop for the night. Amelia didn't know he couldn't sleep. She knew nothing of his true nature. He found a secluded area of trees in a field right off the road. He led the horses in that direction.
When he stopped he jumped down and looked through the window of the carriage. He stared at Amelia trying to find a way to explain his actions. He knew he would need to. He knew she would have questions. Staring down at her, he wished he were human again. They wouldn't have any of the troubles they had now with the Volturi. Carlisle decided his number one priority would be to outsmart and outrun the Volturi to keep her safe. Once she was, he would have to do one of the hardest things imaginable. Carlisle decided leaving her would be the best option, the safest for her. Carlisle knew it would take some time before they would be safe, so until then, he pushed leaving Amelia out of his mind.
Amelia woke to the sun shining through the carriage window. She laid there for a moment trying to keep herself from falling asleep again. She felt Carlisle's cool arm wrapped around her. She didn't want to wake him up so she kept as still as possible. After a few more minutes she felt Carlisle's skin get a little cooler. She pulled their heavy blanket up over him to make sure he was covered and he wouldn't catch a chill. She heard many stories of people traveling in the winter months catching a virus and dying. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him now when they were on the run from those awful men. She wouldn't know where to go or who to turn to that could protect her. You wouldn't be in this situation if you just let him pass the night you met, her conscious piped in. Amelia shook her head because she couldn't imagine where she would be without Carlisle's generosity that night. She may have gone back to her ex-husband. Maybe she would still be out huddling in doorways trying to keep warm. Carlisle saved her that night and she had a feeling he was trying to do it again.
Carlisle opened his eyes, he looked up at Amelia who was still looking at him. She had tucked his hair behind his ear. He saw that she slightly shivered after touching him. Carlisle knew it was because of his cool temperature. He needed to make sure if he laid down with her again, he would have to warm his skin. "Good morning." He quietly said.
"I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about me darling. How are you this morning?"
"I'm good," She pause. "Well, as good as I can be in our situation."
Carlisle looked away and out into the open field. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to run because of me."
"Where else would I go? I'm in danger. I can sense it."
Carlisle gave a half smile. If she only knew, he thought to himself. Amelia got up and opened the carriage door. A slight breeze entered the carriage and Carlisle smelled the blood. His mouth watered. He hadn't eaten in a couple days and he knew he needed to feed soon. He let out a low growl.
"Are you hungry?" Amelia turned. Carlisle was surprised that she heard that.
"No, I can wait. I will get us ready to go so we can get you a proper meal. I think we are about 20 miles from the next village." Carlisle was hungry but not for food. He was fighting his urge to feed on Amelia. He waited a few minutes after she closed the door.
He took a few deep breaths, even though he didn't need to. It was still a stress reliever for him. If he were going to make it to the next town with Amelia, he needed to pull himself together. He needed to feed and this may be an opportune time to do it. There was a small wooded area about 500 feet away from where they were. He was bound to find something to eat in there. He would tell Amelia he was going to gather nuts or berries to see if they would be able to snack on them. She should be safe here in the carriage. He was not going to stray too far from it.
"I will be back in a few minutes. It looks like there may be some berries over there that we can snack on until we reach the next village." Carlisle said as he kissed Amelia on her check.
"Hurry back. I will stay in the carriage." She said as she lifted herself on her toes and kissed him.
He became intoxicated with her scent and he needed to taste her. He became greedy and let himself go a bit. He deepened the kiss. She responded the same. Carlisle then broke the kiss as he trailed down to her neck. He teasingly nipped her. Amelia giggled as Carlisle nipped again. This time Carlisle tasted a dropped of blood as Amelia ripped herself away from him. His eyes went wide as she grabbed her neck. She looked down at the her hand and saw a small amount of blood. She looked up at him and didn't know what to say.
"I'm so sorry." Carlisle said after realizing what he done. "I'm so sorry." He said as he tried to reach out for her. She said nothing and rushed past him into the carriage.
Amelia locked the carriage door behind her. She watched as Carlisle jogged towards the woods. She didn't know what came over her. She was embarrassed at her actions and his last nip at her brought her back to her senses. In her mind she pictured the frightful pictures she seen of night demons, vampires, as the sting of the bite happened. She pulled away to take a moment to clear the images. The small amount of blood from her neck scared her even more and brought those images back. She looked at Carlisle and couldn't' believe she mistook his playfulness as him being a monster of the night. That's why Amelia ran in the carriage. She knew she hurt Carlisle's feeling but she was too embarrassed to face him.
"What am I doing?" she said aloud hoping somebody would answer her. She didn't know what was going on anymore. She just wanted Carlisle to come back so she could explain her actions.