January 6, 1923
Once I reached home, I went straight to the basement. It had a old sofa, a few odds and ends, a table, and we had recently ran electricity for an overhead light. I laid her gently on the sofa, listening intently to her heart. I wasn’t sure if I had time to save her. I couldn’t explain it to myself, this burning, urgent need to save her. A separate part of my mind was wondering how I would even find the words to make Edward understand how I would do this thing without even counting the cost. Ahh, all good things simple and pure. Looking at her face I silently willed her to survive…… for me. I tilted her head and brushing the long curls aside to reveal her slender neck, I sank my teeth into her flesh. I injected venom into her neck, wrists, ankles and for good measure I ran my tongue over the worst of her wounds, trying to seal the skin where I could. I wanted to try to get as much venom circulating in her bloodstream as possible. She never moved and her heart stuttered with a few rapid beats before returning to the faint almost nonexistent rhythm. I wondered vaguely if she was going to survive. Well, I had done what I could and I had a few things to arrange. I quickly moved upstairs and gathered some bedding. Rummaging through the bathroom cupboard selecting towels, washcloths and a wash basin, I thought for a short moment and remembered a chest in the attic, and silently went to the attic to investigate…….ahhh, yes…. clothes from a former owner of the house. I found a few woman’s garments and thought it was certainly a sign of good fortune that they looked close to her size. What was her name? What had occurred that caused her to be hurt so badly? So many questions. I gathered a few articles of clothing and made my way back to the bathroom to collect the rest of the stuff I had already set aside. As I reached the kitchen, Edward was entering the back door. He knew (having listening to my thoughts as he approached the house) that there was a human, an injured human in the house somewhere. He also knew after only a second what I had planned. Edward expressed some displeasure in my plans but agreed that perhaps it was the only thing I could have done under the circumstances. I could tell the direction of his thoughts by the expression on his face. I tried to explain that I wasn’t sure exactly why I wanted to turn her. I really hadn’t thought to turn anyone except for him. I enjoy Edward’s company. He has a pure heart, responsible and kind. Intelligent, a good person through and through. And I assured him I wasn’t out to create a village of vampires. But something inside me just couldn’t let her die. Not without trying everything. Edward decided to go “hunting” and I could only let him know through my thoughts that I wanted this to work. My mind swimming with different sentences seemingly jumbled but somehow understandable I was sure. Please Edward, understand what I see for us and come home soon. Had I made a terrible mistake? What a wonderful son Edward was. He had doubts, questions of his own, yet he would support me in this. On that I was almost certain. We could work together and it would have a positive outcome. I thought of the next few days, we would have a little time for planning and discussing the future together with or without, depending on her and her own decisions if she survived. Back in the basement with my supplies, I made short work of cleaning the young woman’s wounds, wiping away the dirt and blood. Replacing the torn rags that was the evidence of her recent trauma I realized that she must have been beautiful, her skin pale and soft as a baby’s. Her hair spun silk, a soft brown hanging in soft waves just reaching her shoulders. I couldn’t help but notice being a doctor as I was; her body bore the signs of motherhood. Very recent motherhood, I was sure. Of all that was holy, what had I done? Was there somewhere a family looking for her? The questions worried me. Every scream is like physical pain to me and I apologize over and over as I explain what she is becoming and how she will soon feel. I hope this will help her adjust more quickly. Edward said it helped him believe and adjust faster. The woman woke to her new life and after I explained how I found her and because I simply had to save her….. Well, she had a few moments of difficulty accepting all of it but eventually I took her on her first hunt. She talked of her life; there wasn’t much to tell it seemed. Her parents forced her to marry someone she didn’t really love. He wasn’t much of a husband, I’m thinking. He drank and a few times he hit her. She had a baby and the poor thing tried, but was unable to live for very long. Just a week. She said he struggled to breathe sometimes and wasn’t gaining weight. Why couldn’t she do anything right? I have on occasion wanted to right the wrongs that sometimes happened in the world. I have had to learn to let the wheels of justice turn. Of course, I might make an exception in this man’s case though. How do you justify treating a woman so badly? Did he not see the jewel before him? Esme is her name. She had only wanted to be a teacher. Her baby died, she never loved the man she was forced to marry. So naturally she tried to kill herself . She thought she was a failure. The poor woman jumped from a cliff. She had sunk into such a deep depression I doubt anyone could have helped her. No one would look for her. Her parents moved to Florida right after her wedding, and when the baby died her husband left. If I was agreeable she would much rather stay and be my “housekeeper” while she adjusted to the new life she would be living. After she was comfortable with being who she now was she would decide what to do with herself. I must say, I am amazed at how easily she seems to be settling into being a vampire.
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