The True History of the Cullen Family

The Murder of Carlisle Cullen

LONDON 1666

Vampires were attacking the city of London, England.

Many a poor person, in want of some relief from the hardships of life, would often make their way to The Pedlar's Flask, where only the best drinks were served. There, they would discuss the effects that the plague had on people, who had died of that unfortunate disease, or the fires that nearly destroyed the city. Also, they would discuss people who had fallen victim to vampire attacks; more often than not, those people were victims of the plague who were tossed to the vampires, who would gladly devour them and rid the city of another plague victim.

But the minister of the church, a man named Roger Cullen, had condemned drinking and anyone who dared to walk in the streets drunk would be harshly reprimanded by him.

This man did not seem to stop at drunks; in fact, he accused various other people of witchcraft, consorting with the devil, and various other crimes. He did not care if they were innocent or not. Often, the unlucky victim was hanged, beheaded, or burned at the stake. The minister smiled grimly as he watched those poor people hurl curses and threats of judgments at him.

But he had one son, a son whom the people loved not just because he was the minister's son, but he was the exact opposite of everything his father was. Carlisle Cullen was seen as a kind young man who would help the people out, and he never raised his voice to say a cruel thing to anyone.

Roger Cullen was not pleased with how Carlisle was treating the people; he had repeatedly told the young man that it was his duty to make sure that the people were safe from any demons that dared to disguise themselves as humans and walk among them.

Now, Roger had set Carlisle up with a nice young girl named Elizabeth Hamilton, something that didn't sit too well with a young witch named Camille Von Meliskold. Camille's family was very rich and she and Carlisle had been the best of friends. The Cullen family was also rich, due to several inheritances that Roger had gained in his youth. But Roger wanted Carlisle to marry Elizabeth, for she was an orphan and was reaching the age of 18, when she could no longer be supported by the orphanage that she had lived in since she was a child.

Well, no one knew that there would be no marriage or any further life plans of Carlisle Cullen.

That was because some members of the Trublood clan had dared to attack the town and kill several people.

The people weren't all too concerned; the Trublood clan was known to prey upon the invalids that lurked in their town. Roger Cullen was known to have had executed many of those disabled people, and most people would welcome death from a vampire attack than to be tortured by the cruel minister.

Carlisle was drafted to go on the mission to capture and destroy the renegade members of the Trublood clan. Camille found out about this task and she refused to let him go. She was angry with how Carlisle's father had treated him and tried to tell him that all people were evil. If only the young man's mother had lived, then none of this would be happening, she reasoned to herself.

She quickly prepared a poison, smiling as she thought of the results: with Carlisle dead, he would never have to marry that pathetic girl or deal with his despicable father. She would even frame Elizabeth for the deed. The girl would end up in prison for the crime and later be handed to the Trublood clan for consumption.

But then she thought of Roger; Carlisle was his only child. He had no other children, not since his wife Mary had died in childbirth 23 years earlier. Is it really worth it to kill his son like that, she reasoned to herself. Yes, she thought. That man has never shown any love of compassion for his only begotten son, and if his son were removed from the picture, perhaps the old man would give up on his cruel activities.

She had just prepared drinks when Carlisle and Roger came in after discussing plans. Plans for a wedding that would soon be cancelled.

"Camille," said Carlisle, "have you come to join us?"

"Indeed," said Camille as she handed them the drinks. "I know it is dangerous for you to go out at night and do this mission, but I want you to know that I care very much about you."

"I'm very glad to hear that," said Carlisle.

"Indeed I am as well," said Roger. "However, we must remind Dagbert Trublood that he should exercise discretion when he sends his clan out to...feed. Mayhaps the ashes of those three vampires will remind him that while we allow him to live in this town, he must abide by our rules."

Carlisle said, "I'm sure he will learn that."

He sighed and said, "Well, I'm off." Roger and Camille nodded. "But first, a toast to our town."

They all raised their glasses and drank, not knowing that something tragic was going to happen. "If I don't return by morning," Carlisle said, "don't worry, for the people will be kind enough to give me shelter unit I can safely return here."

His last words to Camille were: "I have always loved you, and I know it is hard for you to deal with the fact that Elizabeth and I will soon be married..."

But before he could finish the rest of his epiphany, Carlisle Cullen suddenly fell to the floor and died.

Camille screamed in horror; of course she knew the poison would kill him, but she had to make it sound convincing. If she didn't, the old man would suspect that something was up. Roger gasped and said, "Now who would be this low as to poison my only begotten child?"

"It was that Elizabeth Hamilton, no doubt," Camille said. "That little bitch was jealous of what he had and what she did not have; she poisoned him for that!"

Roger looked at her, not knowing if he should believe what she was saying. "Are you sure that she had done this? Is there no other woman that we know of who could have done this?"

"I'm very damn well sure!" Camille snapped as she went out the door yelling, "CARLISLE CULLEN HAS BEEN MURDERED!!!"

Everyone in London was shocked; the son of the cruel minister was murdered just two weeks before his wedding day. And even more shocking was the fact that Elizabeth Hamilton, his bride-to-be, was accused of poisoning him. As for Elizabeth herself, she wept profusely and refused to leave her room.

Camille smiled, knowing that without Carlisle's wealth, Elizabeth would be doomed to a life of abject poverty, becoming a meal for vampires and werewolves or dying of some disease. But she was not done yet.

Roger was heartbroken, as if the fire of his life has gone out of him. He mourned his son's death and held an elaborate funeral for him; the people of London wept for a young man who had dreamed of being a doctor and helping people. Dagbert Trublood found out about Carlisle's death and he and several other clan members began to seek out who had murdered Carlisle Cullen.

After Carlisle's funeral, Elizabeth Hamilton was arrested and tried, with Camille saying at various times that she had wanted to be Carlisle's wife, but he was already engaged to Camille. Elizabeth, being jealous of Camille because of her wealth and beauty, had plotted to kill Carlisle and deprive Camille of her groom.

Most of the people believed Camille and the judge sentenced Elizabeth to death by hanging. At the last minute, however, a random citizen claimed that he had seen Camille stealing various objects from the alchemist's shop four days before the murder of Carlisle Cullen.

With her cover blown, Camille escaped to Germany and sought out her grandmother, Frau Margarethe Schumacher. She remained in Berlin for the rest of her life. Elizabeth was exonerated and she soon married Dagbert's son, Darius Trublood.

Roger Cullen, now bereft of a son, died one month after his son's murder; many people claimed that he was too heartbroken over his only child's death to even go on with his life. They buried him next to Carlisle's grave.

And as for the renegade vampires, they were never seen again.

But no one knew that Camille's wicked deed changed the world forever...