Another New Beginning

[shea]

It wasn't long ago that Esme imagined herself walking up to the gates of heaven. Free of the world she had known, the life that had brought her pain the last couple years. Esme had only ever wanted to please people; her parents by getting married, her husband by staying with him despite the abuse, and the child she carried. But nothing had gone as she imagined. She had hoped that leaving the man that constantly abused her when she found out she was pregnant would start a new beginning. That she'd be able to raise their child away from the abuse.

Esme didn't think it would be the end. She now found herself curled in a fetal position, burning in a fire as hot as the sun. She thought for sure she had done something wrong in her life, that was why she found herself burning in hell. That was why nothing had gone as she had hoped; the failed marriage, the death of her baby. Certainly she was being punished for what she had done wrong. She hadn't known what would happen as she made that last jump of her life; but she hadn't imagined it would bring this pain. If anything she'd hoped it would free her from the emotional pain.

But as she lay there, her caramel colored hair matted against her face with mud and bracken, her body only seemed to get hotter in one general area. Her heart. Hadn't her heart had enough pain though? Unbeknown to her, Esme was changing. The previous broken bones she had received from the fall were healed, the cuts and bruises gone, her skin was already paled, and she becoming beautiful.

Suddenly her heart sped beyond anything imaginable. The beats becoming one solid note, and the fire burning just there. As the pain became excruciating, and her heart only beat faster, Esme let out one last whimper of pain, and her heart stopped. The pain had ceased.

Esme lay there, unmoving, with her eyes closed. Afraid to open them because of what she might see.

[carlisle]

Edward had gone hunting. Carlisle had asked Edward to him handle this. To allow Carlisle to speak to Esme, and explain things gently before introducing her Edward and the rest of their world. Carlisle knew her heart was no longer beating, and that she could wake up any moment. Had he done wrong? Would she hate this life, and hate him for doing this to her? Would she have wanted this? No. No one wanted this.

When he had entered the morgue and saw her laying there, broken and hurt but not dead yet he had panicked. He knew he could not save her. When he had meet her when she was eleven as she cared for her broken leg, she had seemed to happy and full of life. How had she come to this?

So, Carlisle stole her, brought her to his home and bit her. That had been three days ago. The change took time. Carlisle knew that it was very painful. he wished he could spare her that. Spare her everything. He wondered when she would awaken. "Esme?" He said softly, so softly that unless she was really one of them, she would not hear.

[shea]

At the sound of the new voice Esme reacted. Her now crimson colored eyes flashed wide in shock. She sat up in a movement so quick that it should have blurred everything around her; instead her eyes could pick out every detail of the room she was in. And she inhaled a single shocked breath that caused her throat to burn in thirst. At the pain her hands flashed to her throat, clawing against the granite hard skin, attempting to smother the burn.

In the same movement when she had sat up she turned her head toward the voice, and let out a feral hiss. The action was instinctive, trying to frighten the stranger beside her. But as her eyes took in the unbelievably stunning man beside her, she realized he was not a stranger. But in fact a doctor that had treated her many years ago; Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

She said nothing as she stared at him, her lips slightly pulled over her sharp teeth, still unsure if the doctor meant harm.

[carlisle]

"Esme," He repeated in a soft, voice that he hoped would reassure her, and calm her enough to hear him out. "I am here to help you. Do you remember who I am? We meet a long time ago. I helped you then, too." He hoped that slight reminder would let her trust in him some. She had been beautiful before, and now she was stunning. Carlisle couldn't take his eyes from her face for a few moments.

"I know this is frighting for you. I can explain, and help it become easier." He had not said better. He did not want to make false promises, not to her. She would have reason enough to hate him once she learned what he had done to her. He would not add fuel to the fire. Knowing he had to explain, but not knowing how to tell her in the kindest way, he found him self stalling.

"You had fell from a cliff," He started to explain, "I found you in the hospital. You were almost dead....I...I brought you to my home to help you." He noticed her hands, "The burning will cool, once we have gotten you something to drink." Not someone. He hoped not ever.

[shea]

Esme let her pale lips relax back over her teeth as she listened to the words. The simple sound of his voice calmed her. She felt comfortable around him. It was new to her, she rarely found herself being comfortable around men since she had been with her husband. She slid her eyes across his face, the genuine kindness and willingness to help was unlike anything she had ever witnessed. Every word that came out of his mouth now, him being able to help her, she believed.

"Yes," she answered in a voice unfamiliar to her. Her eyes popped in wonder at who the sound had come from. When she realized the stunning voice had come from her, she continued her original answer, wanting to assure that it was in fact her voice she was hearing. "I remember you."

She listened to him explain, telling her he could help things become easier. She really hoped he could, everything was so new, and confusing to her. Not to mention the incessant burn in her throat. "I didn't fall," she hadn't meant to say the statement aloud and she pursed her lips as soon as she finished speaking. She quickly spoke again, "Why am I so thirsty?"

She pictured a glass of water in her mind, hoping that would cause her mouth to salivate, at least producing some moisture in her mouth. But she was surprised to find that it didn't, and more questions filled her mind. She couldn't single out a question as her newborn mind rotated nonstop between them all.

[carlisle]

"That would be--" He took a deep breath, "I am sure you have noticed the changes. Your hearing, your sight, even sense of touch is more then it was." He misunderstood what she meant as he keep speaking, "You did fall. You were walking along some cliffs and you fell. After your fall, some people took you to the hospital where I work nights. I did the only thing I knew how to do, to help you."

There was not gentle way to do this. He should have asked Edward to stay, so he knew what was in her thoughts. So he would know what she was thinking. It would be a help, in knowing how to break the news to her. "Esme, do you....what do you know of Vampires?" He managed to slip out. Trying to not hide the truth from her and get it all out for her to hear while not shocking her to much.

[shea]

She didn't continue to argue with Carlisle about her falling. She was ashamed of it now. But as she again thought of the fall confusion became the dominant expression, causing her light colored brow to furrow. She had jumped to her death, she had known that, but she wasn't dead now. She hadn't left the human world she had hoped she would have. And she was angered by this. She didn't want to stay on this planet, she had wanted to leave it, there had been no more purpose for her.

As her expression portrayed the anger inside she returned her eyes to the doctor. She had intended to say something, to yell at him for not just letting her die. But as she met his gold colored eyes, looking into his face stopped the anger. She found herself unable to yell at him. "Why did you have to save me?" she asked in a quiet voice, "You should have just let me die. It was what I had wanted." She intentionally added the had, because at the time it was what she wanted. But now as she peered into his eyes, she found that she couldn't wish death upon herself anymore.

One of her brows arched in confusion to the word vampire. They were monsters of myths, legends, scary stories told to townsfolk. "They're blood drinking monsters," she told him, "Monsters of stories. Of myths." At the simple word of blood, she found her mouth salivating and her throat burning. Her mouth not salivating with saliva, but instead the venom of her new body. As her body reacted to the word her mind clicked.

"No," she said, "No way. It's not possible." The words were intended for herself. She couldn't believe what she was letting her mind draw up. There was no way this could be what she was now. Though she tried to deny it, she found herself looking at the doctor in disgust, certain that the myth was now reality. As much as she hated to believe it. Instinctively she found herself in a crouched position, outraged, trying to protect herself. From what she wasn't sure, but she let a low, menacing growl escape her lips.

[carlisle]

If his heart could break, it would now. He knew she would hate for for this, but...He could not stop him self or explain his actions. He just, had to save her. "Esme, I--" Then it hit what she said, "What you wanted?" In his mind, he had seen what it must have been like, her falling. Now however, he saw her jumping. "W-why would you want to die?" He asked as if she was not on the edge of attacking him.

"Not all of us are monsters, Esme. Well, perhaps we might be, but not all of us are evil. I have never killed a human, nor drank their blood. They story's you know...." He wondered how to explain, but after a few moments knew he could not. "I am so very sorry Esme. When I saw you there, on the morgue table I could only see the happy little eleven year old girl that I had still not forgotten. I thought you fell, that your life had come unfairly to an end."

[shea]

Esme relaxed from her protective stance. Finding it well near impossible to bring herself to attack the man before her. He wasn't the one she wanted to attack. And she couldn't if he had been. She ducked her head to the side, letting her hair cover her face in shame as Carlisle asked her why she had jumped to her death.

"There was no purpose to my life," she whispered. To a human her words would have been inaudible, but to the vampire before her, it would be as clear as if she were whispering into his ear.

But the look of shame that had been on her face was quickly changed to shock as Carlisle tried to tell her they weren't monsters. She turned her head to look at him. "How can I not be a monster?" she snarled at him. "I have the urge to drink blood." Again her mouth filled with the deadly venom. She shook her head, clearing the grimace from her face.

"The happy eleven year had gone and passed many years ago doctor," she told him, "Oh how I wish I had simply fallen. But no, I just could not live with the constant pain. My heart couldn't take it. There was no more reason to live then." The saddened words were interrupted by a flash of the impatient thirst and Esme's hands again flashed to her throat, she let out a pained and annoyed groan.

[carlisle]

Slowly, he took a few steps closer to her, until he could lean over and reach out to touch her arm. He did not try to pull her closer, but gave her arm a comforting rub, that soon moved to her back. "I am truly sorry for you pain. I wish I would have helped you before it brought you to the cliffs."

"As for not being a monster, just because you feel the need to drink, you don't have to. You can live off of animal blood. It helps. You can live with out hurting humans. With out killing anyone, if you so choose" He paused for a moment before saying the last of his speech, "I can help you if you let me. Help you understand, and deal with this. Teach you to find what peace you can."

He would explain Edward soon, in case Edward came home early. He had been prepared for her instant thirst. Some. Reaching over for a canteen he held it out to her. She would smell the blood inside, even with the lid on tight. It was deer blood. It would only help her for the moment, but he dare not try to take her out of the house until he was sure she was ready.

[shea]

Though Esme had seen the doctor coming toward her, his touch was unusual and not something she had expected. Instinctively her newborn mind told her body to protect itself. Despite the comforting touch Esme spun away from his hands and let out a feral snarl of warning.

Esme straightened up and looked at the doctor. She could feel that he wasn't going to hurt her, but she continued to find herself trying to protect her. "Sorry," she mumbled in apology.

"Don't be sorry," she told him, "You weren't one to cause me pain." She let her lips turn up in a slight smile.

The burning thirst continued as Carlisle explained how she didn't have to be a monster. And certainly she didn't have to be a real monster of her kind, but she was still a monster. A kind monster. What an oxymoron...she thought to herself. But she could see what he was talking about. Surely if he could be a doctor and work in a blood filled hospital with people it was possible. So she had hope that she could become like the doctor before her.

The mere sound of the sloshing blood in the canteen had Esme crazed. It was surprising that she hadn't noticed the smell before. It didn't smell very appetizing, but any form of blood would help. She snatched the container rudely from Carlisle's hands, not paying attention to manners. She broke the lid off the canteen in her dire need to drink the blood, and quickly chugged the blood. It wasn't very lady like, but Esme did not care as the blood dripped down her throat, soothing the thirst and making it slightly more manageable.

[carlisle]

Carlisle had given her a reassuring smile when she jumped back but said nothing. He didn't want to assault her with to much to fast. He spoke while she drank. "It's not human." He said about the blood, so she would not feel any guilt. The smell, while was strong even to him, did not burn him as it did most vampires. He was able to not look like he was going to take it from her.

"Esme, may I ask you why you jumped? If you rather not say, I fully understand. I would be sorry for any amount of pain you were forced to feel. I can not imagine--" He stopped there, he could imagine what would drive someone to try to kill them self's. He had tried, once a long time ago. "--It must had taken something very painful to bring you there."

[shea]

As she finished the container of blood, which she now knew was not human blood thanks to Carlisle, she wiped her face with her arm. She was disgusted by what she had done, but was glad the burn was soothed at least a little bit. Blood drinking would definitely be something she needed to get used to. "Thank you," she mumbled to Carlisle, she still held the canteen, unsure of where to put it.

As Carlisle asked her what had caused her to jump that fateful day, she ducked her head, letting her caramel hair cover her ashamed face. Though she didn't really want to have to talk about it, she did anyway. "I had no more reason in my life," she told him quietly, "I was married, it wasn't a successful marriage. And then I escaped the abuse when I found out I was pregnant. Month later I had a newborn baby son. The joy of my life, and three days after he blessed me with being born, he was taken away from me. He passed of an infection. That's when I could not take it anymore, and had to escape." She found that it wasn't difficult to tell Carlisle anything.

[carlisle]

Carlisle reached out slowly, knowing she was still getting used to the changes, and placed one hand on the canteen. He waited until she let out of it before pulling it away to sit it down on the table, as he let her speak. Carlisle felt a emotion he did not recognize as she spoke. He wasn't sure what it was, and wasn't sure he even liked it. It was new. On the edge of rage, and jealousy, which was odd. He could understand anger, and the need to protect. Esme had this feeling she seemed to send off that made him want to protect her.

It was the rage and Jealousy that seemed out of place. On one hand, he wished she had never meet the man, and he wished he could have spared her that. There was also sadness. Would he had gained enough knowledge in his exsitance to have saved her son? Could he have spared her that my trying harder and moving faster and risking a bit more?

"I can not imagine the loss of a child. I am truly very sorry for your pain and loss, Esme. I wish I could have been there to change things. To help in some way."

[shea]

Esme didn't say anything as Carlisle apologized for her loss and pain. Talking about this was hard. She had only lost her son....It was now that Esme didn't realize what day it was. She didn't as though. The grief she now fealt made her want to crumble. She still hadn't gotten over the pain of losing her son, she wasn't sure she ever would.

It was several moments of silence before Esme said anything. Finally able to actually speak without her voice breaking. "Thank you," she whispered, "I'm not sure there would have been anything you could have done. He was just a fragile, tiny thing."

The small canteen of blood didn't hold back the sudden burning of her throat for long. Another flash of burn scorched Esme's throat as she inhaled a breath. She hissed at the discomfort of the burn.

[carlisle]

"I would have tried to spare you, your husband's abuse as well. Anyone who can hurt someone they should be protecting, is a monster. It's not what we are, but the choices we make, that make us the monster, not not." Carlisle wanted to help her find happiness. He wondered if she would ever be happy with this life. "I would like to take you hunting. It would help with the discomfort. The challenge would be getting you far enough away from the city to do no damage."

"I have a idea to help, however it might not be very pleasant." He walked to his black bag on the other side of the room and pulled a bottle out. "I could cover a rag with this, you would hold it over your nose, and until we are out of the city, you could not breathe. If you did, then this would help mask the smells." Maybe. If not, He hoped he was strong enough to at lest keep her from doing something they would both regret. They were not far from the woods. There was a good chance they would not see anyone while going there.

[shea]

Esme didn't say anything in reply to Carlisle talking about her husband. Esme had convinced herself that she had been the bad one, a bad wife. In fact, her parents had been the ones to counsel her on being a good wife. Certainly she had done something wrong.

Esme looked at Carlisle in shock as he spoke about hunting. She immediately thought about humans. She couldn't go hunt humans. "No," she said in fear, "I can't go hunt." Esme's mind had completely forgotten what Carlisle had said about not hunting humans, so she was now thinking the worse. Something she didn't ever want to do. She never wanted to take a human life.

It wasn't until Carlisle continued to talk that she remembered that important bit of information. "What if it doesn't work?" she asked, fear still apparent in her voice. She remembered how the simple sloshing of blood in the canteen had done to her. She couldn't imagine what fresh...warm...heart-pumping blood would do to her. Her mouth filled with venom and the burn flashed in her throat, she decided she would try anything and trust that Carlisle wouldn't let her do anything she'd regret.

[carlisle]

He could be honest with her, or he could lie and make her feel better. "I don't think we will pass any humans. We will move quickly. You will find your faster then you ever were before." In the end, honesty won out, "I should tell you, that should we cross a human's path, I might be able to stop you. Might. You will find, as well, your quite a bit stronger then me."

"This will get easier, Esme. The first year is the hardest. Then you begin to learn control, and your eyes--" He smiled, "Your eyes will reflect your choice. If you drink human blood, they will be red." He didn't add what shade, "If you stay away from them, then they golden like mine." Looking around quickly he didn't see a mirror but did see his reflection off of a glass cabinet. "May I show you something, Esme?" He asked holding his hand out to her.

[shea]

Carlisle's words only made Esme worry more. But she trusted Carlisle, completely trusted him, enough to know he wouldn't intentionally let her do something like hurt a human. The trust she now felt toward him was like nothing she ever felt before. In fact, how she felt for the man she knew very little about was different. If she wanted to run from him now, she could, but she didn't want to. Actually, she wasn't even sure if she could. And as she listened to him explain how she would be stronger than him, she found it hard to believe that just a few days ago she had hoped for death. Now she wanted anything but that.

Esme just nodded as Carlisle promised that things would get easier. She had to believe him, she could see that it would. He could now work in a hospital around humans and blood. She sighed out of human habit as he mentioned the first year being the hardest. It was something she wasn't looking forward to, but she hoped Carlisle would be around to help.

Esme wondered what color her eyes were now. "What color are my eyes now?" she questioned just before he asked her if he could show her something. She hoped they weren't red, but before Carlisle could answer she replied to his question. "Sure," she told him, reaching a hand out to his.

[carlisle]

"When you first change, your eyes are red," He said again, leaving out the shade, "As time passes, the shade will change. If you do not hunt humans, then they will turn golden, as I have said." He was making sure she knew her eyes would not be this way forever. Taking her hand he lead her at a quick but human speed over to the cabinet. He moved so he was behind her and she would be able to see her self.

His eyes watched her reflected face. She was beautiful. Not that Esme had not had the power to turn his head before. He was close behind her,but was careful not to touch her. After giving her a moment to look at her self, he reached around her and touched the glass, tracing her reflected jaw line.

[shea]

Esme stayed quiet as Carlisle directed her to the front of the cabinet. Explaining how her eyes would be red now. She couldn't imagine what they'd look like, and hoped that she could quickly get them to be the golden hue his were.

As Carlisle positioned her in front of the glass she kept her eyes tightly shut preparing herself to look into her red colored eyes. She took a deep breath before popping her pale eye lids open.

The person that reflected back at her in the mirror was not who she was prepared to see. the lady was gorgeous, absolutely stunning. With beautiful pale white skin as smooth as marble, caramel hair that was silky and vibrant. Then there were the eyes. Terrifying, blood red, orbs that stared back at her. Esme was not prepared for this, this unknown being being reflected toward her. She pulled her pale lips up, baring her sharp, straight, bright-white teeth. The woman in the reflection copying Esme. It was then that Esme realized she was only threatening herself and she let her lips fall back over her teeth.

She turned to watch Carlisle touch the glass, and her pale brows arched, wondering why he had done that.

[carlisle]

"It's not a clear refection, but I am sure you can see the difference in your self." He said keeping his voice even. When she had bared her teeth at her self he had thought she was cute but he stayed where he was, and did not laugh at her. When she arched her brows in the silent question Carlisle simply gave her a smile and took a half step back, not wanting to over whelm her with whatever emotion had made him touch her fefection.

"In the coming hours, you will notice more changes." He hesitated, unsure for a moment before speaking again, "I know this is not something you asked for, however, I would like to try to make it as easy for you as possible."

[shea]

Yes, she could see the difference. She didn't even look like her old self, except for a few subtle things. For one, she still had the gentle, heart-shaped face. And her hair was still the same shade, a soft caramel color. But everything else looked different, beautiful. She wasn't sure if she should feel horrified or amazed at these changed. The mix of the two emotions was clear on her face.

As Carlisle spoke of there being more changes she couldn't help but growl in frustration. How many more changes could one person go through? She turned to face him in one blinding movement. "How many more changes?" she growled, the frustration consuming her newborn mind. His words about making this easy did not ease the frustration.

[carlisle]

Giving her his best reassuring smile, Carlisle knew the best way to tell her was to show her. "Lets go for a run, Esme. Let me show you things that I can't explain." He could see she was having trouble taking all this in. "Your still who you were on the inside." He said knowing that for the first year it would be hard to tell that. It would take him for her personality to over power the vampire needs. "Your not a monster, or a villain unless you choose to be."

He walked to the door, and opened it slightly. "I will do everything in my power to protect you, even from your self for as long as you need me Esme."

[shea]

Esme raised both her caramel colored brows as Carlisle mentioned running. Esme had never been the athletic type, and women rarely ran anywhere. She was sure to tire out easily, and she was unsure if she really wanted to risk embarrassing herself in such a way. But she could feel the strength pulsing in her muscles. That alone made her feel like she could run for miles without tiring, punch through several walls with no challenge, and crush a large boulder without breaking a sweat. Though she felt this way, she was still hesitant on the running.

Esme listened as he explained that she was still who she was on the inside. She could sort of feel that, beneath the burning thirst that hadn't been masked by the earlier taste of animal blood, beneath the newfound strength, and beneath the stunning appearance. She could still feel the faint sign that she was the same person. She nodded, acknowledging his words.

And Esme didn't want to be a monster, though she still felt like she was. At the though her expression became frustrated and she felt the urge to voice the frustration in a growl, but held it back. The simple act of holding it back took all that she had, her newborn mind was difficult to control.

Her crimson colored eyes watched every move Carlisle made as he walked to the door. The words that came out of his mouth made her body feel odd, it wasn't a feeling she had experienced before. She wanted him to protect her, and she realized she did need him. The feeling didn't last long before they were masked by the newborn feelings. The urges to hunt down whatever had pulsing blood.... She made her legs move to stand just behind Carlisle at the door. "Where are we going?" she asked in the still unfamiliar voice.

[carlisle]

Carlisle reached down and took her hand, locking his fingers around her's in gentle pressure. It was both for reassurance and for protection against her self. He glanced out the crack of the book to inhale a and test the smell for her, it was clean. Edward was still young, they tended to avoid places with a high human sent. Turning back to her he grinned slowly. "Trust me." With that he opened the door more and gently pulled her though it.

Moving a a pace a human would not be able to keep up with, he lead her down the hall and to the back door. It was only forty feet to the woods. "Keep a hold of my hand." He pulled out the rag he had told her about earlier, offing it to her. Her choice. "We will fast, and swift. Once we are a few miles in, you will be able to remove this....I just want to be away from the smells of the city before we let you move freely." Smells of the city meaning, humans. Once they were a few miles in (Which would take no time at all), then the smells would be clear. It would only be the smells of the forest, and animals. Perhaps Edward might be close, but Carlisle doubted it. Edward liked bigger game then what he was leading Esme to.

[shea]

Esme watched as Carlisle reached out and took her hand. Instinctively the initial reaction would have been to rip her hand away from the grasp of the doctor's, but rather she let her hand stay there. Under all the new senses, the burning thirst, the distractions, there was a feeling of completeness. Though it was very drowned out by everything else, it was still there, but not enough for Esme to realize it. Esme nodded as Carlisle told her to trust him as he pulled her through the house.

Esme took hold of the rag, covering her nose and mouth with it. As she took a burning inhale most of the scent was whatever was on the rag, with the faint touch of the surroundings. Esme just nodded simply in understanding to Carlisle.

[carlisle]

Carlisle have her gand a tug and started them off. He wanted to get this part over with, and he was slightly worried now that they were here. Moving as fast as he dared move them, since he did not want to worry her with how fast she could go now, he lead them into the woods. He did not speak again, until they were a mile and a half into the woods.

"If you would like to remove that, you can. The air smells fresh and clean. We should go a few more miles in before hunting however." He looked over at her, "to be safe." He loved the woods here. It always had this old look to them. A classic painting style look. The trees were thick around and tall. The leaves huge, and branches spidered out as if to grab them. There was room to move, and hunt and... He smiled, there was room to play.

He didn't let go of her hand, but it wasn't for her protection this time. He wondered of she would assume that was the reason. He had never felt this way about a human or vampire. It was as if his human emotions that he was aware that he had, were more predominate, and realer then they had been in years and year and. . . Since he because a vampire.

[shea]

Esme followed Carlisle into the woods. The speed they were moving at was unbelievable. It was refreshing and was quite a rush, Esme felt as though she could go on forever without getting tired. She grasped tightly on Carlisle's hand the entire way into the forest, not wanting to let go. She obeyed when he said she could take the rage off of her face, as it was removed the scents of the forest rushed down her throat. She could taste and smell everything, it was quite overwhelming.

"What are we hunting?" Esme asked quietly once the rag was free from her face. She didn't look at Carlisle as she asked the question, but instead she let her eyes roam around the surrounding trees. With these eyes she could make out every little detail of the forest, that too was overwhelming. With all the heightened sense everything became too much, stressing her out, the stress was prominent on her face, her breathing slightly quickened.

[carlisle]

Carlisle thought for a moment. "That would depend on you." He told her, wondering what she would want to hunt. "We never know what we might find out here." Even as he said it he could hear a few different animals far off in the woods. "But the hunt is more of a lesson." If the phrase 'Crash Course' had been punned back then, he could have used it. The hunt was meant to show her the new skills she had, and what she could do.

When they were far enough from town, Carlisle slowed them to a human walk, then stopped. "You've seen, how you see clearer and sharper. Your smell, and your stamina, and speed. All have grown. Your hearing as well. Use them, and tell me what else is out there." He still, did not release her hand.