Carlisle and Esme

26. Falling Off The Wagon

Chapter Twenty-Six

Two years passed and summer came. Along with summer came days of rain and no sun and of course, graduation.

I took the day off work to sit with Esme and Emmett to watch as Rosalie and Edward received their diplomas. We clapped them on as they walked on the stage in gowns and caps of dark blue.

"You know... I was thinking." Esme murmured as other people received their diplomas.

"What?"

"Well we have all these graduation caps... Your five, my two, Emmett's one, Rosalie's two and Edward's three. Why don't I make a collage?" I looked at her in surprise.

"That's a good idea!" She smiled.

"Don't act so surprised! I just fancied doing something to keep myself busy. And we can continue to add to it as they continue their studies." I smiled too.

"It's a great plan. It'll look fantastic on the wall."

After the graduation ceremony, we met up with Rosalie and Edward. Both of them were dressed smartly under their gowns which they were now taking off and putting in the car. Esme rescued their graduation caps before they were tossed in the trunk too.

"Congratulations," I hugged them. "I'm so proud of you both..."

"Thanks Dad." They echoed each other. Esme hugged them too and Emmett slapped Edward on the back and kissed Rosalie's cheek.

"Okay let's get going home." I clapped my hands in order. Emmett was holding the car door open for Rosalie when a gust of wind whipped around us. With the gust of wind came the scent of trees, grass, car exhaust fumes, people... and one particular delicious scent. The smell of blood... Human blood.

Four thirsty vampires whipped their heads around. I was by Emmett in a second. I grabbed his thick bicep and pushed him into the car.

"Get in." I growled. He snarled at me but I shut the door behind him. Edward and Rosalie slid in the other side to sit next to him. Esme was in the passenger seat so I got in the driver's seat and drove off. Emmett was grunting quietly.

"Emmett. Focus. This is NOT who you are." I told him. I drove straight home. As soon as I had stopped, Emmett tumbled straight out and ran off into the trees.

"Edward?" Esme was half out of the car.

"He wants to clear his head." Edward explained. Rosalie bit her lip.

"Is something wrong?" I looked at her.

"What if he's thinking that to be a distraction so he can go after the human?" I exchanged a quick glance with Edward then we both got out of the car.

"I'm coming with you!" Rosalie cried.

"No! Stay here with Esme!" I ordered her as Edward and I followed Emmett's scent into the trees. Emmett had taken a roundabout route before going back towards the school. Edward and I pushed ourselves faster, still following the scent. When we got to the school, Emmett's scent had followed the scent of blood and human. As we followed the multiple scents, it became clear that the blood scent was starting to get less obvious. The wound had been dealt with. The scent of human ended at a party.

"Graduation party..." Edward murmured.

"Is he here?"

"He's close." I nodded and followed Edward, still running. He led me round the side of the house and in to the garden then beyond the garden into the forests surrounding it. I could smell the scent of Emmett and the human. It wound around the forest, past houses, heading towards the school again. It stopped not far from the building. That's when we saw Emmett. He was sat against a tree, his knees up against his chest, his arms around them and his head down. Not far from him, was the pale body of a girl. I moved to her and put my fingers at her throat to check for a pulse. The girl was not breathing and she had no pulse. She was dead. She had two small puncture marks at her throat.

I turned to face Emmett. He was shaking, crying with tearless sobs. Edward was kneeled in front of him. Emmett looked up at us. His eyes glowed red in the dark.

"I'm so sorry..." He whispered brokenly.

"It's okay... But we'll have to leave now. People would have seen you leave with her." Edward told him.

"Emmett... I want you and Edward to go home now."

"I'll stay." Edward said.

"Please... I'll stay... I want to make it right."

"Rosalie is worried about you. You should go home. And Edward should go with you just in case... In case it happens again."

Please Edward... For God's sake.

"We should go." Edward said. Emmett looked from me to Edward then back.

"Please, Carlisle... Forgive me." I sighed and moved to kneel beside Edward and in front of Emmett.

"I do forgive you my son. But you must leave now. Please, go." Emmett looked at me then nodded and got up. He and Edward left, leaving me with the dead girl. I picked her up in my arms and took her deeper and deeper into the forest. Animals got bigger as I got deeper into the forest. Eventually I lay the girl down and took off her shoe. I threw the shoe randomly into the forest. I then took off her shirt and tore it into pieces, sprinkling them around the trees at random. The bigger piece of her shirt, I attached to a low tree branch. I then took the lighter from out my pocket and set fire to her body. The flame caught and spread. I put the lighter away again and ran back home.