Apologies for the late upload, a promotion in work has kept me busy recently.
Nevertheless, here's the next chapter!
Rosalie of course finally makes that ever crucial decision of hers, and from here on it gets interesting! xo
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Entering the house, I ignored the forlorn look on the faces of Esme and Jasper who were currently in the midst of a chess game. I had no time to hear words of useless comfort, I didn't want to receive hugs. I found it unnecessary - I hadn't ever been one for showing affection. Perhaps that was because of my past, or maybe it's just my cold personality. Either way, I didn't ever respond well to affection, much to Esme's disappointment.
I knocked on Alice's door before entering, knowing she would be well aware of my presence before Edward and I had even left the hospital. She was lying on her stomach on the bed, fashion magazine clippings spread on the comforter, in front of her. A smile appeared on her face upon seeing me in her doorway, Edward close behind. She quickly skipped over until she was right in front of me.
"I missed you guys!" She squealed eagerly, bouncing on the balls of her feet and clapping her hands together like a four year old.
"Alice, now isn't the time for pleasantries." She stopped her bouncing and nodded, walking back to the edge of her bed and sitting down. Not that I enjoyed spoiling Alice's fun, though her constant energetic attitude could tire you rather quickly, particularly if you were forced to be around it for long periods of time.
"Isabella." I simply stated, entering her room and leaning against the desk opposite the bed, Edward choosing to remain in the doorway with his arms crossed. "What do you see for her now?"
"I see nothing but black - no decisions have been made to alter that."
"How could you not see the accident happening?!"
"Whoever was driving the van must have been changing their mind frequently before it happened, so I didn't see anything but Isabella going home as normal. I promise Rosalie!"
An involuntary hiss spat out at her words, as I began to pace back and forth. How could I now possibly have a choice in the matter? Isabella was going to die, or she would be one of us. I couldn't live the rest of this life knowing that I had now lost my other half, knowing I had lost any chance of having a future with my mate. No, I hadn't felt instant love and affection for my mate. But I felt the pull, I felt the urge to protect her after seeing her so close to death.
"Rosalie, you can't leave this decision undecided for too long." Edward spoke from the doorway. I turned to him with a menacing glare, causing him to quickly re-think about saying any other obvious and unhelpful comments. His know-it-all attitude was not something easily dealt with.
I was unsure as to exactly how long I continued to pace, nor was I aware at what point Edward and Alice had decided to leave the room to give me some time to think. The house was deathly silent, I took a guess that everyone had left entirely. I sighed at the tip-toeing that was now going to begin. My mind was made up, but that didn't mean it sat well with me. Either way I was going to hate myself. Either way I was going to destroy someone's life. Charlie would lose his daughter, one way or another. I would lose my mate. Isabella would lose a human life, or her life entirely.
My chest began to feel tighter, my body urging me to return to the hospital. But I couldn't seem to do so, I wasn't allowing myself to leave. The phone in my hand began to vibrate with Carlisle's name on the screen. I chewed at my bottom lip, huffing and finally answering the call.
"Rose, where are you?"
"At the house."
"You need to return, Isabella is deteriorating."
"I don't think I'm ready for this."
"You're going to have to be ready, Rosie. She needs you, you will need her. I understand this isn't how you wanted to find your mate, I understand that you're reluctant to do this. But trust me when I tell you that you will look back to this time in your life, in the future, and thank yourself for making the right decision."
Sighing and leaning against Alice's doorway, I knew he was right. I had waited long enough for my true mate. I had experienced enough in this world to know that life would come & go quicker for our kind, and it was best to have someone beside you to experience it with. I would learn, I would grow. I would hope that she would positively influence all of those things also.
"I'm on my way." I ended the call and ran out of the house just a few seconds after, my legs understanding the urgency of this moment. The pull was becoming increasingly demanding - if it was this strong now, I was curious as to how it would be once Isabella and I, had interacted. Up until now, as far as I knew, she hadn't seen my face since arriving in Forks.
The hospital was finally in my sights, Carlisle standing by the entrance with his phone to his ear, most likely speaking to Esme. As I approached, a tight lipped smile appeared on his face. It was dark outside once more, some patients deciding once again to take a trip out of the hospital for fresh air. I didn't see Charlie Swan's vehicle in the parking lot, that being a plus for myself.
"I love you too, sweetheart." Carlisle ended his call, and slipped his phone back into his pocket. I envied his relationship, I had to a certain extent resented his ability to love someone - just as much as I resented Alice and Jasper's relationship. Emmett was the closest I had gotten to having a mate. He and I were close, we spent many years travelling together, doing our very best to develop some type of relationship. We just weren't meant to be. It had always saddened me, but I understood that it could not be forced. We of course remained friends, at times taking advantage of being single with one another. But, there was never remotely any sort of jealousy or anger when we would part, and he would venture elsewhere with other women. It was a part of this life, being a single vampire meant enjoying the comforts of being single to an extent that humans could not, without being judged.
Capturing my attention, Carlisle cleared his throat and gestured to the doors, stepping aside for me to enter first. "I believe that we should go to my office to talk… before anything is to happen."
Walking quickly through the building, greeting nurses and doctors who smiled as we passed. Carlisle was the most successful and decorated doctor in this tiny hospital - they respected him and our family greatly. It helped with keeping up appearances. Though Carlisle still found it difficult to remain at one job for more than five to ten years due to always looking so young, and never tiring on the job. I hadn't ever enjoyed visiting his workplace. The smell of blood, and death, wasn't exactly appetising in one sniff of the air.
Upon entering his office, I took note of the blood bad laying on his desk beside some files. I eyed him skeptically as I remained standing as he chose to sit behind his desk, hands clasped together as he rested them on the files in front of him. He gestured to the chair moments later, understanding that I was reluctant to fully relax, or at least attempt to relax. I shook my head, crossing my arms in front of my chest as he sighed.
"What is the decision that you've come to?"
"I…" I cleared my throat and pinched the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut and wishing that this didn't have to be on my shoulders. Wishing that I could have met Isabella in any other circumstances. "I need to change her, Carlisle."
I lifted my head just in time to catch a slight smile on his face, that was quickly removed for a more serious expression, hands grabbing at the file on his desk and opening it.
"I believe that you're making the right decision, for both yourself and for Isabella."
"I hope that you're right." He gave me a sympathetic look and stood, picking up the blood bag before walking around the desk to hold it out to me.
"You're changing your mate, and you shouldn't have any difficulty in you doing so. But, for your own peace of mind and for your mental strength, would you like to drink this beforehand?" I screwed my nose up at the bag of blood. I had yet to swallow a drop of human blood, and I refused to do so now. I shook my head and pushed it away, Carlisle smiling proudly and tossing the blood back onto the desk. "We should discuss how you're going to change her."
I simply nodded at the request, to which his eyebrows furrowed. I hadn't changed anyone previously - Emmett being changed by Carlisle upon my request after seeing him so violently mauled by a black bear, whilst passing through Tennessee. As much as I disliked feeling less intelligent than others, Carlisle had more knowledge in the whole vampire-changing-process department.
"I'm going to give her a large dose of morphine, to completely numb and… somewhat paralyse her for the change. This will stop any nurses, or even her father, from noticing the change happening in her body. It will stop the screams, stopping her body from thrashing during it also." I winced, faintly remembering the fire that burns throughout every limb, almost seeming never ending. "Once the change has finished after a couple of days, her body will lose it's pulse. We will have to remove her body instantly. We're going to have to move out of town."
My trademark hiss appeared at his words. We had to leave because of this mess? I couldn't help but be frustrated at the events that would unfold after Isabella's change. Of course we couldn't remain here with a newborn whose father lived in the same town, I hadn't considered it the entire time I had been mulling over changing my mate. But it seemed like such an obvious thing to do, how would we remain here safely?
"I handed my notice in to the hospital earlier today, they believe that there has been a loss in the family and that we're leaving tonight." I smirked, knowing exactly what Carlisle was getting at. "Because we're leaving tonight, that means that when Isabella's body is missing in a few days, I will not be a suspect in the disappearance. Of course, we won't actually be leaving, more so keeping a low profile until we must take Isabella."
"I like your plan."
"We'll be moving to Alaska, near our cousins the Denali's. They'll be helpful with Isabella's newborn training, Kate especially." A growl slipped between my lips at the thought of my mate being shocked by Kate. Her shocks could be particularly nasty, if she felt like putting some real strength behind it. "She'll be helpful, Rose."
"I'm worried that she'll hate me for changing her, for forcing her into this life." Carlisle's face changed to one of thoughtfulness. He slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. Though I don't appreciate affection, our vampire-father radiated protection and love. It was hard not to relax into him slightly.
"She couldn't possibly hate you. Our true mate bonds are too strong, more so after they've been completely developed and some time has passed. I'm not suggesting for a second that once she wakes, she'll be jumping into your arms and demanding you take her hand in marriage," I couldn't help but laugh at his words "but she'll be understanding. She will love you."
I know he was right, I know he was giving me reassurances because of his own experiences throughout his long life.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
He led me back through the hospital corridors, the number of nurses and doctors now dramatically decreased due to the time of the day. The corridors were dimly lit, visiting hours being over and only the night staff being inside of the building. Carlisle stopped outside of Isabella's room, and gestured for me to enter.
"I'm going to leave the building from the entrance, since we're supposed to leave tonight. I'm going to need to clock out, and return my badge and keys to the night receptionist. The receptionists were changing shifts when you entered, so you're fine. I'll return through the window of her room, and we shall begin the change." He turned and disappeared down another corridor, leaving me alone outside of her room.
I took an unnecessary breath, and entered. I was immediately assaulted with the smell of infection and decay. Her blood wasn't an issue, her being on the very edge of death was however. I frowned at the casts that covered her body, it made her look even more vulnerable. The heart monitors beeped at a steady pace, though I knew it wasn't to last. I sat in the chair beside her bed, taking her free hand in my own, and pressing her knuckles to my lips. I let my lips linger upon her soft skin, treasuring the moment incase it did not occur again once she was changed.
I was terrified of the aftermath, terrified of how she would react to not only being changed, but to being my mate. She was going to be surrounded by a dozen vampires, and if that wasn't scary enough, she would be leaving behind her father with people she didn't know. What if she rejected me? Would I be strong enough to handle it? Could I handle this life knowing my mate had left, but was alive and well? I could not chase her and force her. I did not beg, I was simply not the type.
Carlisle climbing through the window interrupted my internal dialogue. He was now in his usual shirt and slacks, minus his doctor's coat and usual armful of files. He smiled warmly at me and checked the drip attached to Isabella's arm.
"I know you have already smelt the damage to her, it's very hard to miss, no?" I nodded in response. He nodded afterwards, walking to her heart monitor and pressing several buttons.
"What is it that you're doing?"
"These heart monitors come with a test system. The test system plays an example of a steady heart rate. So, Isabella's heart rate is no longer being monitored." He walked back around to Isabella's other side, and checked several other wires that were attached to her body. "So, when the change begins, her heart rate spike won't be monitored and the doctors won't suspect a thing. I'll of course still be hopping in and out, and you'll be ever present whilst Charlie isn't here."
I stood from the chair, and kissed the skin on the inside of her wrist. I had witnessed Carlisle turning Emmett, and knew I would need to bite her both on her wrist, neck and above her heart to pump as much venom as possible into her system. Carlisle was putting morphine into a needle as I readied myself. I watched as he found a vein in her arm, and looked up at me before he placed the needle into her arm, beginning to fill her bloodstream with the numbing liquid.
"Wait until I say so." Carlisle placed the now empty needle into his shirt pocket and rubbed the spot that he had injected into, attempting to hide the mark. I watched him intently, waiting nervously for the sign. My foot began to tap against the floor, hand slightly shaking upon the bar of the hospital bed. Carlisle glanced at me before finishing off with her arm. He straightened his shirt and walked around the bed to stand beside me. He trusted me, but not enough to leave the room and leave this on my shoulders entirely. "Remember Rose, wrist, neck and above the heart. Go."
"Forgive me, Isabella. I pray that one day you will understand the choice I have had to make." I kissed her wrist once more, before sinking my teeth into the thin flesh, the blood hitting my fangs instantly. I moaned at the feeling, allowing myself to taste just one drop of her blood. Her blood tasted sweet, sweeter than that of an animal. Her blood tasted like innocence, untainted. The morphine was definitely there, not affecting myself.
"Push the venom into her blood, Rose." I did as he instructed, pushing as much venom into her as possible before releasing her wrist from my mouth. I instantly leant further up the bed and removed the neck brace from around her neck, latching my mouth onto it instantly. Again, forcing my venom into her and sealing the wound before replacing the brace around her neck.
The last bite was crucial. The last bite was above her heart, forcing the venom directly to her heart, speeding up the changing process. I removed her hospital gown until it revealed her upper chest, still covering her from the other set of eyes in the hospital room. I kissed once above her heart, before plunging my teeth again into her skin, finding that a lot more blood rushed to the surface in this particular spot. I allowed myself the chance to taste her blood once more, relishing the sweetness of her essence. I pushed yet more venom into her body, feeling her react ever so slightly whilst the morphine was affecting her entirely.
"Nicely done." Carlisle checked her wrist before moving her hospital band to cover the bite, the bite not being entirely visible to human eyes anyway.
I wiped my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt, stepping back and taking an unnecessary breath to test the air. Her scent was still her, the smell of decay was also still present. Though now I could smell the venom in her system, now I could hear her heart struggling against both the venom and the morphine in her body. Her body was still, limbs very much remaining flat on her hospital bed and in her casts. Carlisle patted her wrist and sat in the chair, legs crossed and hands clasped together under his chin.
"And now we wait."