Hello loves. Hope everyone is well. Nothing much to say here except this is just mostly a filler chapter to set up the next chapter. Forewarning here: in future chapters there will be stalking and obsession. If those are triggers for you, then skip ahead. I will mention at the beginning of the chapter when it happens. As of now, read on 😊
Chapter 10: On the Mend
Two days after the "introduction" Bella and Ava found themselves at the mercy of Dr. Carlisle Cullen whether they wanted to admit it or not. Bella couldn't say anything as it was obvious, he could be Ava's only chance at living longer, vampires be damned. And Ava didn't say anything because it was obvious, he wanted to help, and Bella seemed to trust him to a point. Stupid Cullens be damned.
"Now, I've worked with the lab to try a new medication for you. You will still take the required two medicines you've been on, but this new one is a liquid. Taken once a week with a meal of your choice, breakfast, lunch, or dinner, as long as it's taken the same day every week. And it needs to be refrigerated." Carlisle said as he showed the two girls the medicine. It was in a dark blue bottle. Ava took the bottle and turned the cap off and took a sniff.
"It doesn't smell," Ava stated surprised. Carlisle tried to hide his smile.
"No, but it does taste a bit…. well…. off. Like some medicines do. I can try and add flavoring if you want me to, but it's best to try it without first." He said nodding.
Ava nodded in response and asked Bella to hand her a measuring cup. Bella got up and got one from the portable table on the side of the room and handed it to Ava.
"How much?" asked Ava as she looked at the cup.
"Fifteen milliliters." Carlisle said.
"Only fifteen? Once a week?" Bella asked surprised. She saw Ava's face with surprise on it as well, looking also suspiciously at the bottle. Bella hid her chuckle.
"That's it. Keep in mind, this is trial based. Which you agreed to," Carlisle pointed out.
"Yeah yeah doc." Ava sighed pouring the liquid. It was clear. "Well down the hatch," Ava raised the cup and downed the medicine. She almost coughed it back up. "Well, it does taste awful." Ava coughed after swallowing.
Bella and Carlisle laughed.
"Well, I will add flavoring to the next bottle. Once it's mixed, I can't add anything else," Carlisle said sighing.
"I understand, this is a small bottle though," Ava said closing the lid and holding it up to look at it.
"It will do you for two months if taken correctly. However, if you do miss a dose, call me and we'll set up something to get you back on track, but it's best to not miss one." Carlisle said writing on his clipboard.
"Duly noted doc. Less of a headache if I don't miss one," Ava said sighing back into her bed. "Now when am I getting out of here? Did I not mention I absolutely hate hospitals?" Ava said seriously, adjusting her covers.
However serious Ava sounded Carlisle couldn't keep the smile off his face. "You may have mentioned it a few times," he sighed, "however, your legs require supervision. Once I'm convinced they're healing the way they're supposed to, I'll have the release forms drawn up. They're serious burns Ava. And from my previous physical I had on you when you were admitted, it seems you…."
"Enough, ok, ok. When they're healing." Ava said rather quickly looking out the window. "Isa, can you go get me a coffee please. I'm dying for some caffeine and something warm."
"Uh, sure, Ava, I'll be back." Bella said as she began to walk to the door. As she passed Carlisle, she glared at him and left, closing the door behind her.
A few seconds passed when Carlisle started, "Ava if I said something…."
"Isa and Dad don't know exactly what I've been through." Ava said as she turned her gaze from the window to Carlisle, and the look in her eyes, Carlisle nearly fell to his knees. "It's been rough Dr. Cullen. Isa and I may look the same as far as facial features and body shape, but the scars everywhere else, inside and out, say different."
"Ava, I'm sorry, no one, especially you, should have lived a life like that, you, and Bella, your souls are too pure for this world. It's unfortunate that there's people that would tarnish that." Carlisle said. He was calm on the outside, but inside he was furious. He'd have to investigate her adoptive parents as soon as possible.
"You're such a hypocrite," Ava whispered.
Carlisle was shocked, "how…. how so?"
"It's unfortunate that there's people that would tarnish it. You just said that to my face. Would you say that to Isa? There's only one person who "tarnished" said soul months ago."
Carlisle visibly gulped realizing his mistake.
"Your son. Your blood. Your kin. "Tarnished" one of the "purest souls" you're referring to. You allowed it. Apparently, everyone saw what he was doing to her, and no one stopped it. You didn't stop it. You know what Dr. Cullen? There are many evils in this world, two main ones to be sure. One, the people that do the dirty work themselves, and the ones that stand by and let it happen. Knowingly. Now, my "parents" for example, my mom abused the living shit out of me, my dad was kind to me. I actually felt something for him. It wasn't love, but respect for him to a point. She'd abuse him when I wasn't around, she had power you see. Money, the career, upstanding citizen crap. No one would've believed a word and more than likely, he would've gotten the blame, as most dads do. When it's not them at all sometimes. But you know what, when she'd go into a rage, he'd turn the tides on himself. She'd go from me to him and back again. We suffered together. But it got too much one night, and she stabbed me. She was going after him. He forgot to pay a bill. She found out; she was going to kill him Dr. Cullen. I knew it too. I pissed her off in turn, I yelled for him to leave." Ava finished staring out the window.
"I don't know what became of them. When I left, I left, no turning back. I don't know if he's still alive or not. I don't know if she's looking for me, or not. Probably told everyone I got offered a scholarship somewhere. Knowing her." Ava whispered.
"Ava…." Carlisle didn't know what to say.
"Two evils, people that do, and people that see or hear, but don't act honestly. He tried to protect me, did you try and protect Isa?" Ava's blue eyes stared deeply into Carlise gold ones.
"I do appreciate everything you're doing for me Dr. Cullen. In reality, the longer I live, the longer I can protect Isa, and Dad, from people like you and your son." Ava's eyes started to tear up, but she didn't back down from her stare.
"Everything okay in here," Charlie's voice came from the door as he knocked and came in with Bella who looked like she was going to cry. She had heard everything.
"Yes yes," Dr. Cullen coughed.
"I'm in pain a bit, but Dr. Cullen gave me some meds. Should be okay in a bit. On the mend dad, on the mend," Ava said sitting up and wiping her eyes. "By the way when did you get here?"
"Oh, honey, it's okay," Charlie said coming to sit by Ava and rubbing her shoulder. "Got here just now. Saw Bella ordering downstairs."
"Here's your coffee, dad wanted one too," Bella said handing the cup to Ava, who looked at it gratefully. "Got myself a tea."
Carlisle went to take the blue bottle, "I'll label this as taken starting today, and we'll follow up next week then. Bella, Charlie," Carlisle said nodding to them, and he took his leave and closed the door.
Carlisle leaned up against the door and heard them talking. He decided to give them some privacy and made his way to his office nodding at the staff as he passed them. He hoped Bella and Charlie didn't hear what just occurred. He must've been out of it because he didn't hear them approach.
When he got to his office, he closed the door and locked it. He stood at the door for a moment then went to his desk and unlocked the fridge that held the perishable items. He opened it and looked at the bottles that contained blood samples, medicines, all from different patients. He put the blue bottle of Ava's on the top shelf of the door and stared at it. He got a label and marked it with the info and put the label on the bottle.
"This will work, this will work," Carlisle muttered to himself staring at the bottle. Anyone on the outside would think he wanted the trial to be a success and would start a mission to help others, but Carlisle himself knew the real reason. Even the mighty fall. Even those who deemed themselves pure have impure thoughts. Those that seem perfect have imperfections.
Carlisle drifted back to centuries past, a conversation he had with an old friend.
FLASHBACK
"Dear friend, you are much too droll," Aro said sipping on his wine chuckling.
"I can assure you Aro, no one will be that desirable. No one has power like that, except for mates." Carlisle said looking at Aro's collection of books.
It was the year 1715, Carlisle was staying with the Volturi in Italy for a short time to learn their ways and became fast friends with their ruler, Aro Volturi. Aro was eccentric, long black hair to just past his shoulders, but sometimes tied back with a ribbon. He stands at five feet, ten inches, but often seems taller with the way he carries himself. He may seem carefree and often he is, but he is ruthless and takes no shit from anyone. His gift of reading all thoughts from a single touch is often a vampire's undoing. Although Carlisle took to a diet of animal blood as opposed to human blood, Aro still valued his friendship with Carlisle.
"Oh, my dear, dear friend, La Tua Cantante is no mere small thing. It can be the beginning of the end for most vampires if not dealt with discreetly. It often leads to false mates, needless deaths of newborns, many many, poor situations. Tis a sadness sometimes." Aro said sighing.
"Blood doesn't appeal to me the way it does to you. Call it my gift if you will. I shall never have that problem. I just want to help people, humans and vampires alike. That is my mission Aro. I will stand by that." Carlisle said assuredly.
"Aye my friend. I hear you. To be a doctor. But even the mighty fall. You are so sure of yourself," Aro said getting up from his chair and going to stand in front of Carlisle, taking his hand and reading every thought he's had, "that when and if that singer comes along, she will be your downfall." Aro let go of Carlisle's hand and walked to the balcony to look out over Volterra.
"You're wrong, once I meet my mate, this singer will have no power over me. If she ever comes along that is. A mate bond has more power than anything else, and my gift of not wanting human blood, well, that says a lot." Carlisle said as he went to stand by Aro on the balcony.
Aro glanced at Carlisle. "If you say so my friend. But. If it does happen, call me will you, before you make a mistake you'll regret."
"I'm not promising that Aro. It won't happen," Carlisle said.
Aro just shook his head. But Carlisle did not see.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Surely not," Carlisle mumbled to himself closing the fridge.
"This is something different. Feelings with her are different. Her blood is not "singing" to me. It's because of something else. It's because I desire to see her live. I desire to see her help, Bella. Ava's right. I did Bella a disservice by not stepping in with Edward. I need to help Bella in this way. Ava is my mission; I want to see her thrive. I want to see her live. I desire…. I desire…" Carlisle mumbled as he remembered Ava's blue eyes staring back at him.
"I desire to see those blue eyes and that beautiful soul every day from now on," Carlisle finished as he looked out his window watching the rain fall.
Sorry my loves. I know I've been rather absent. My youngest came home with a bad cold and well, what happens, everyone including me came down with it and it's a damn bugger getting rid of the thing. Stupid coughs and a bunch of tissues have been my friends lately. But I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter sees Ava finally going home, and well, a funny thing called a pet. Stay tuned!