“Edward is taking good care of you, I see,” came another new voice, and I looked up, shocked, to see a man – also chalky white – who I would place in his late twenties. “My name is Carlisle, I’m a doctor. Edward is my foster son, along with four others. I would be honoured if you would make it six, but we can discuss that later. We're currently living in Alaska.” Then he added (directed more at Edward than me), “I haven’t told Esme yet, you know how excited she would get.” Edward nodded quickly, allowing Carlisle one glance before his mesmerizing gaze returned to my face.
Carlisle stayed for a while, watching me silently. I was in too much pain to feel embarrassed or shy at the attention, but I think he could tell I felt a little uncomfortable with his staring. Finally he left, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “What’s the matter?” Edward asked quickly, “Should I call Carlisle back?” His voice was low and concerned, but he didn’t relax when I shook my head. He didn’t calm down until I explained. “No, I just get…shy. And then…I embarrass myself…” Edward chuckled softly. “So rather than worrying about us being vampires, you worry about embarrassing yourself…” he said, so quietly that I thought he was simply wondering to himself.
“So…why are you…this way?” I asked, between short bursts of breath. Edward looked at the floor, and I was worried that I had upset him, but he soon returned his comforting stare to my face. “I was seventeen years old, dying of the Spanish Influenza. Carlisle found me just as I was slipping away, and…changed me. He doesn’t do it to anyone that has another choice; he wouldn’t doom someone to this eternal hell if there was another alternative.” I nodded gently, and Edward reached out slowly with his free hand. Resisting the urge to back away from his approaching fingers, I concentrated instead on trying to breathe rhythmically. He slid his cool hand down my cheek, his eyes wandering over my face.
“You…” He seemed to be about to ask something, but he changed his mind at the last minute. “What happened that you had to be changed?” I narrowed my eyes as I concentrated, trying to remember. “I…I…don’t know.” Edward continued to stare curiously, so I elaborated slightly. “I don’t remember. The last thing…I was fine…at home, in bed…I wasn’t dying…I was falling asleep…then I woke up here, feeling…this…fire.” That response still didn’t seem to satisfy Edward, but there was nothing more for me to say. I simply held his gaze until he nodded.
The door opened again, and someone else stepped into the room. I spared them a glance, and then was forced to look back again. This boy was perhaps eighteen, and his honey blonde hair was styled into a controlled mess. His large, amber eyes were probing as they ran over Edward and me, and when he finally spoke his voice was softer than I expected. “Carlisle said I should perhaps help. You are refusing any pain medication?” I nodded unsurely, confused to his words. He answered me before I could ask, though. “I…some vampires have a ‘gift’ – a special talent. Edward can read minds; Alice can see the future. I can…affect people’s emotions. Calm them down, cheer them up, you know. That sort of idea.” He knelt down next to me, and I found him just as intriguing as Edward.
“You haven’t told her your name yet,” Edward said, his voice as muted as before, “This is Jasper.” I smiled and nodded at the newcomer, Jasper, who continued to look at me. If I still could, I knew I must be blushing furiously. But as soon as I thought that, a strange calming sensation spread through me. “W-what?” I stammered, but nobody answered me. I assumed it was Jasper’s ‘talent’, and instead focused on the conversation Edward and Jasper were now having. “She’s nearly finished. Her blood doesn’t smell human anymore, and her heart has slowed massively,” Jasper breathed harshly, and Edward nodded in agreement. “Oh thank god,” I said, relieved. “I don’t think I could handle much more of this.” I laughed lightly, but stopped as soon as both vampires stared at me, their eyes wide.
