Part Three
Weeks passed, Edward and Carlisle came to some tacit understandings and agreements. Carlisle would go to the hospital every evening and Edward would hunt. They never discussed this; Carlisle couldn’t avoid the reports about a monster stalking the streets of the city since they were virtually the only topic of conversation when he was at work. The death toll climbed every night, three one night, five the next. It was quickly starting to attract attention beyond the Chicago area.
The influenza epidemic continued, though there were signs that it was beginning to wane. Though the wards were still full, fewer new admissions were coming in and so some small amount of optimism could be found in the halls and nurse’s stations.
Dr. Cullen was singled out, to his embarrassment and over his objections, for his tireless part in helping to fight the rising death toll. Finally, one morning about two months after Edward had been changed into a vampire, Carlisle came back to his rented rooms to announce, “It’s time we left.”
Edward looked up from the book he’d been reading. “Excuse me?”
“I’m starting to attract too much attention at the hospital and your hunting is becoming to obvious, it’s time for us to go.”
Edward nodded; he’d suspected this would be coming soon. If nothing else, the fact that he’d killed almost a hundred people would be enough to make life here for them difficult. The police and the newspapers were in an uproar, the public was demanding that the monster among them be stopped, captured and killed. There were vigilante gangs roaming the streets and neighborhoods at night; something Edward found amusing and had made an easy game of avoiding. Carlisle would find him at dawn when he returned from his hospital shift and wait for his baiting taunts of how much he’d drunk that night, who they were and how they’d reacted when they realized just what it was that was about to kill them.
The victims always seemed so relieved to see Edward at first, a handsome young man, well dressed and clearly well-born, smiling at them reassuringly, approaching them calmly as thought to ask directions or perhaps offer to escort them safely home in these frightening times. It was only when he subtly steered them behind a tree or down a too quiet street and asked if they’d perhaps heard about the mass murderer on the loose that they might—if they were bright enough—suspect that the charming young man beside them wasn’t what he seemed.
Some would try to run, some wouldn’t realized the truth quite yet, some would stare, frozen in horror and some would beg him to let them live, promising that they wouldn’t tell anyone. It didn’t matter. In minutes their corpses were discarded and forgotten. None of his victims made any impression on Edward, any more than a human thinks too deeply about the chicken breast on his plate.
There had only been one woman he’d let go unharmed, who hadn’t any idea how close she’d come to death. She’d been leaving a saloon in a rough part of the city, somewhat the worse for drink. Edward had found that if he drank the blood of a drunk he would end up with an alcoholic buzz of his own. He approached her in the dim light and easily managed to lead her towards the lakeshore. Without warning the full moon broke through the clouds, bright enough that he could see the bronze color of her hair, piled on top of her head and looking enough like his mother that he was frozen into inaction. He left her standing there alone, wondering where the nice young man had disappeared to.
It was time for them to find new hunting grounds. “Do we pack or simply steal away in the night?” He was taunting Carlisle again; it had become his standard way of addressing the older man and had yet to get a reaction.
“We can leave whenever you’re ready. I generally leave a place fairly empty-handed; it’s easier to travel. Do you need to feed before we go?”
“No, I had good luck hunting, thank you. Shall we go now?” Carlisle nodded and Edward didn’t argue, he knew this was for the best.
They simply ran, heading north with Edward having no idea as to where they’d end up. Crossing over into Canada then heading northwest, taking their time and finally ending up, almost three months later, in the newly created Mt. McKinley National Park, about a hundred miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. It was winter and the snow was deep when Carlisle finally led them to a comfortable looking lodge hidden in thick and deep forests. “We’re here.” They’d fallen into the habit of speaking to one another with their minds.
“Where?”
“This is the home of some old friends, I think you may enjoy meeting them.” He knocked at the door, civilization’s manners in place.
The door opened, a stunning looking young woman with strawberry blonde hair smiled, unsurprised to see them standing there. “Carlisle, it’s been far too long.” They hugged and Edward thought that they related far more as siblings than anything else, though he read the woman’s thoughts and knew she was impressed by his own appearance. More than impressed. “You didn’t tell us you’d be bringing someone—introductions are called for.
“Of course, forgive me. Tanya, please meet Edward, Edward, Tanya.” They moved into the main room. “And this is Kate and Irina. Ladies, Edward.” There was the usual exchange of pleasantries and Edward was privately amused to think his mother would be pleased top know that good manners were observed by vampires.
“Carlisle, you’ve both been travelling; would you care to join me on a hunt now or would you prefer to wait?”
He and Edward exchanged a brief mental conversation. “I’d be pleased to join you but Edward is all right for now. Perhaps Irina would be good enough to interest him with the story of how we all met while we’re gone, Tanya.”
* * *
A few minutes later Carlisle and Tanya were half-heartedly stalking a large moose a few miles from the lodge. “His eyes are red, he’s killing humans; is that why he isn’t hunting with us?”
“He fed a few hours before we got here and he’s still a newborn, give him time, Tanya. He’s intelligent, he’ll understand soon enough.”
They slowed to almost human speed, just walking along side by side. “Is he your lover, is that why you made him?”
“No, he’s a companion; I think of him as a son, of sorts. And I made him for a number of reasons.”
They walked along, neither one caring about the hunt. They’d merely used that as an excuse to speak privately. “He has a bond with you already, that’s apparent. Have you thought about what you’ll do if he refuses to adhere to your beliefs?”
Carlisle had, indeed, thought about this. “I’m confident that Edward will come around when he’s matured, the question is how long it will take. He’s still very young, both as a vampire and as a person. It could take a few years; not a great deal of time to an immortal and I can wait that long. When he does decide to make the change, and I’m sure he will, then Edward can become the partner I’ve hoped for. He has the intelligence and the sensitivity, the background and grounding to enjoy and pursue the finer things the world has to offer; fine art, music, travel, research, expanding one’s mind and sharing knowledge with others just as thirsty to use their brains. Edward has even begun to ask questions about medicine and said he might enjoy attending medical school, become my assistant. Harvard had sent him a letter of acceptance a few weeks before he’d taken ill with influenza, all we have to do was write back.”
“But if he takes longer to decide or if he comes to think that being vegetarian isn’t for him, then what?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem, Tanya. I chose him carefully.” But in fact he was concerned. Edward was strong willed and if he opted to lead a conventional vampire life then there would be little to be done to change his mind.
* * *
Later that day, with no one around to see them, Tanya took Edward out to show him the wonders of the park and get to know one another a bit. “You know that we consider Carlisle to be our big brother, you’re our baby brother now.”
He almost glared, staring at her.
“It’s an adjustment, we all know that, we all understand what it is you’re going through now, Edward. It’s difficult but, with time, you’ll see it’s a goof life if you allow it to be.”
She gently took his hand. “And you know that you’re not alone in this; we all want to make this as easy for you as we can.” She gently rubbed his fingers with her own as he continued to stare at her, almost looking into her. Tanya was starting to feel disconcerted by his intensity but wasn’t about to admit it to this newborn.
“Why are you doing this? Is it simply that you want to sleep with me or is there something else?”
She was startled, something which hadn’t happened in decades. He was in her mind.
“Yes, I can read minds, hear your thought; Carlisle didn’t tell you?”
“No; I take it that this is since you’ve been changed?”
“Yes.”
“Anything else, moving objects with your thoughts, perhaps?” She was teasing him just a little. He shook his head.
“I like you, Edward. I like you very much and I think that we could be friends if you’d like.”
“What about Carlisle?”
“What about him? He’s reasonable and he seems to want what’s best for you.” She carefully brushed some hair out of his eyes. “You’re young, I’d enjoy teaching you things. I think we could teach one another quite a lot.”
He pulled back, his face neutral and hard to read. After a moment he carefully disentangled his hand from hers and spoke aloud. “I’m flattered, Tanya. You’re probably the most beautiful woman I’ll ever meet and I’ve no doubt that there’s much we could share…”
“But…?” She knew a brush off when she heard one.
“But right now I still have too much to learn from Carlisle and too many decisions to make to begin anything with anyone.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “Perhaps in time we could think about this again.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek like an affectionate sister; he was a sweet boy, just as Carlisle said he was. Yes, she’d bring this idea up again when the time was more right. “We’ll see each other again, Edward.”
TBC
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