A Vampire's Heaven (on Hold)

Chapter 6

Rhea's story contd.

"As I said, I think I knew subconsciously, and so I ran, without alerting anyone, in the general direction of the doctor's house. I knew he lived at Apple River in the Jo Daviess County. I reached the village easily, but finding Carlisle's house was a task in itself. I got lost a couple of times but in the end, found the house at the outskirts of the village, nearly in the forest, where no one could hear the bloodcurdling screams coming from inside even in the dead of the night.

I had barely reached the place when I heard the worst sound I ever could. It was my brother screaming my name. He was in pain and the worse kind for sure. I ran inside blindly and found him strapped to another gurney. I tried to undo, cut, untie the strong knots, but they were bound to secure a vampire. I failed, miserably. The only thing I could do anymore was sit beside Ed as he screamed all kinds of profanities in the two languages he knew. All I could hear was my brother pleading and screaming at me, to kill him because he burned badly. All I could see was Edward writhing on the bed. There was only so much I could take. It must have been a few hours now. Ed was in some kind of a daze now, neither asleep, nor awake.

I saw a surgical knife lying where I had thrown it after realizing it won't slice Ed's restraints. I took it up and sliced my wrists vertically in an impulsive stroke. I counted the seconds, as I felt clammy, lethargic, dizzy, and lightheaded. Suddenly I was starving for air and you couldn't get a full breath. Finally, after counting up to 1735 I lost consciousness."

I had held back most of the details of my first death back, as not even Edward knew much. And I didn't want Nessie to faint on me. I could see everyone was feeling sad. Jazz sent a soothing wave through me again. Taking strength from my new brother, I smiled and continued.

"Exactly 5 seconds later, dad rushed in, smelling the blood and fearing the worst. As soon he reached me, he knew what must have happened. He thought himself to be the worst kind of monster, thinking he had not only taken a person's choice and another's life."

I paused once again as I looked lovingly at dad, reinstating to him how I felt about him. I continued further.

"The best he could do now was clean me up and put me to bed for the time being. The first day for Ed was nearly up and the wait continued. Exactly 48 hours later, a few hours before Ed finally woke up, Carlisle was home for the night and had taken leave from the hospital forever now, after helping as many people he could. He had just finished telling Ed how they were only going to hunt animals after he completed his change, when he heard a single thud.

He couldn't be sure as it could have been Ed's heart but suddenly there it was. Another sound, overlapping Ed's continuously slowing heart. The only other person in the house was I - or at least my body. Carlisle realized that he had not been paying attention to the change in smells. Though there was smell of my blood in the room, there was a similar yet sweeter smell, coming from the other room. He rushed to the bed where I lay and heard, distinctly as my heart restarted one beat at a time and then suddenly, it was beating as strongly as ever.

I woke up with a loud gasp, feeling as if I had been drowning. I was awake and very much human as Carlisle could hear from the blood in my veins and beating heart and see in my blazing cheeks. Carlisle was baffled. He was a doctor and had made sure that I was indeed dead when he had finally cleaned me up. How was it that I was awake and looking up at him confused yet with knowledge-filled eyes?

'Is Ed like you yet?' I asked him. I sounded and seemed the same yet different; but now, with my question he knew I was no longer human, however much I may look, sound, feel like one. I was something different. Even I knew that.

Therefore, he decided to be truthful and told me everything. He got me a few clothes and told me everything he had already told Ed and some other things I wanted to know. He told me Ed had about two more hours possibly. He was only guessing of course. It was then, that I remembered how much of an immoral person I have been. I had a younger brother, merely 14 years old, waiting at home for his sister, the only living relative, to come home and help him. I was so ashamed I could do nothing but cry.

Carlisle, like a true father figure, calmed me down and told me what to do. I had to stay away from Ed for some time anyways so that he could recuperate and get ahold of himself. I left for my home. There was enough money left and many loyal ministers. I put my brother in a boarding school. He understood what was happening. I promised him I would visit regularly. Wherever I went, Ed and I visited him, as long as he studied. I found a great girl for him, set up a business and once he had a good life, disappeared. He thought we were dead, but I always kept tabs and deflected anything bad. In the meantime, Ed learnt the ways of a vampire. Exactly 3 days after Ed was changed, Carlisle realized he answered our thoughts. Ed had a knack of reading people correctly, since always. I always looked to him when it came to handling new people in our lives. His abilities were increased tenfold. There never were secrets amongst us so it didn't trouble me then."

"Why does it trouble you now? What are you keeping from me Ri?" Ed interrupted me. I looked up and couldn't help as my eyes slid from Ed and stopped at HIM for a sec. I covered up instantly; making sure no one knew my mistake. I had to answer. Thankfully, there were many answers to the question.

"I have undertaken many assignments in these 80 years Ed. Most of them are confidential. I'm not even allowed to share the details with my overseer, Damien. Even in the council, each member knows only the small part they should know. Only I know the whole and have been ordered to keep myself shielded from everyone at all times." Ed nodded, understanding, even though he didn't like it. I heaved a silent sigh of relief. It wasn't exactly fabricated but there was another, bigger reason and I had no interest in giving my secret up. My eyes swiveled to the said secret, unintentionally. No! I couldn't let anyone know. No one could know! Especially not my brothers. I have no idea who they'll side with, or who they'll kill.

Here's another chapter within 24 hours darling readers. A gift and a sorry for the last two late updates. Also this chapter is dedicated to LittleCinnamon for the beautiful quote from her book that got me writing. I'll upload the image a few days later, once my phone gets working again. Enjoy, vote and comment everyone. I would love to know your thoughts :)