Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rural Ireland, 2023:

My flight came into Dublin that afternoon from Gatwick, London. From there I took a train, first through the city and then out into the countryside, where I had to grab a bus. Luckily for me, I was probably the only vampire who could travel in broad daylight. The journey on the whole took roughly five hours, with lots of waiting in-between. The bus was empty by the time it reached my stop; just a little bus sign out in the middle of mountainy, rural Ireland. I waved as the bus driver took off, leaving me there all on my own. With nothing but a backpack and tote bag, I then made my way down the road into the mountains. The trees were getting taller; the forest was getting thicker. From the moment I set foot in the greenery I knew there were werewolves here.

Slane Castle wasn't that far of a way from the road. Ok, well yes it was; it took me two hours by foot to get there. But I understood why they didn't have any direct roads leading to the castle. This castle was one of the only castles in Ireland to be owned by a vampire organization. Everything else, including the surrounding woods, belonged to the wolf clans spread across the county. Humans- and werewolves- were NOT welcomed at Slane Castle, for obvious reasons. It was the only resort in the world I could find catering to vampires in need of rest and help. A vampire went to Slane Castle if they wanted a holiday without temptation, or to be cured like me.

I'd called their reception from London a couple of days ago so they knew I was coming, or at least I hope they did. When I first saw the castle from a distance I was struck by how beautiful and ancient it was. What a gorgeous place! We vampires were so lucky we had somewhere like this we could stay at. It took me another half an hour to walk down there. By the time I was on the main walkway in, I had to stop for a moment. God, it's moment like this when I wish I had vampire-like speed. Oh well. After a minute of resting, I popped an electrolyte tablet and checked my vitals. Everything was a-ok. "Ok, good! This is going good so far." With that, I tossed my backpack over my shoulder and headed on inside the castle. It was a mix between Hogwarts from Harry Potter and Kilkenny Castle, if you've ever been there. The place was massive and had massive grounds both inside and out. The front and sides of the castle had large, well-cultivated lawns. Out back was a breath-taking view of the mountains and stream, with a bunch of pools and other amenities. I already loved it very much.

The inside was just as spectacular and ancient. It had this must to it; this smell that all medieval castles had. Just imagine what the inside of Hogwarts smelt like. The reception hall was this giant room at the end of the front walkway, which wasn't that long. The reception desk was huge, tall, and brown, stretching at least twenty feet in length. Heh, speaking of Harry Potter, the reception was the perfect amalgamation of Filch and the chief goblin from Gringotts. Preoccupied with his writing, he paused to scowl up at me like I was interrupting very important work. Taken back by this a bit, I still decided to put on a friendly front and smile; something which did not amuse him.

"Hi there. I'm Bella Swan; I've got a reservation for 2 July." The old grumpy vampire hissed before thumbing through his old-school reservation book. No computers in this place; I'm surprised they have a phone. Scanning the hand-written list with his bony finger, it paused at my name. "Nugh, Miss Swan, was it? Are you for the vegetarian diet?" "Uh, no. I'm….. I'm doing the fasting cure," my grin fell a little. It was embarrassing talking about it and look of distain on his face didn't boost my confidence. He scowled again, glaring at me like I was a disgrace to the vampire race.

"The fasting cure? I take it then that you can only drink human blood?" "Um, y-yes sir. B-But I haven't drunken any since London! I drank a full ten bags before I left for Gatwick. No, I….. I haven't had any blood since I've arrived in Ireland," I don't know why I felt the need to tell him all this; it certainly wasn't any of his business. Maybe it's because there's a stigma for vampires fasting- especially those like me- and I wanted to justify myself. I had a "human" body in all but aging, but the downside to that is I can only consume human blood. The vegetarian diet won't work for me; it's like other vampires eating regular food. It's either human blood for me or nothing….. And I've chosen nothing. That doesn't mean I plan to starve myself! It's just a fast where I don't want to drink blood for as long as possible. I hope to ween myself off my thirst with it, but perhaps that's too hopeful. Either way, I was just sick of drinking human blood and wanted a change…

I needed a change.

The cranky vampire picked up his quill- yes, he actually wrote with a quill- and twirled it in his fingers. "Now, let's see. Miss Bella Swan. Place of birth?" "Phoenix, Arizona." "Age?" "A hundred and eighteen," I was turned in 1922, the same year the Great Gatsby was set. The vampire who turned me was long gone by now, but I didn't like to talk about that. I still missed him greatly, the man who adopted me after transforming me into a vampire… He wanted a daughter and I….. I stupidly wanted immortality. At least I kept my flapper body frame all these years, even if the flat, washboard look did go out of style after WWII.

The man kept scribbling, periodically glancing up to me from time to time. There was a hint of curiosity in his glower now- just a hint. "I've never met a "human" vampire before." "Uh, yeah. I guess we're kinda rare," I blushed, rubbing the back of my head awkwardly. Being "human" meant that I could still break bones, get sick, need sleep, need exercise, not sparkle in the sun, and all that. That was supposed to be my vampire "gift", though I'd call it more of a curse. The only thing that made me technically a vampire was my immorality and ability to only digest blood. I figured it out though; it wasn't the blood so much I needed but the nutrients from the blood, which is why I started taking supplements again. It's not the same as drinking actual blood, just like it's not the same as eating actual food for humans, but it was better than nothing. Thank god my body could digest them.

After the vampire finished the sentence he was writing, he set down his quill and folded his hands together out in front of him on his desk. "Well, welcome to Slane Castle, Miss Swan. I'd say it's a pleasure to have you, but I'd be lying. You are the only vampire here doing a fasting cure; all the others are on the vegetarian programme. You are free to stay until the end of your fast, how ever many months or years that may be. I think it'll be no surprise to you that you are the only "human" here, or in the whole of Ireland I'd dare say. As such, you'll need to exercise precaution since you might tempt the other residents." "I understand, sir," I nodded my head compliantly. He waited a moment before continuing on with the lecture.

"You'll be put under the guardianship of one of our tenant vampires. He'll oversee your fast and monitor your wellbeing during your stay at the castle. Remember, Miss Swan, he's in charge; if he says you have to end the fast, you have to end the fast. Is that clear?" "Yes sir," I nodded again, a little slower this time. Guardian? No one said anything about having a guardian while I was here. Oh well, I suppose it's just standard routine. Felt a little restricting though, and if I thought that was restricting, it was about to get worse. "And it'll be no surprise for you to hear that the forest beyond our grounds is strictly out of bounds for any vampire on the property. You are not to enter the forest without written permission and your guardian's consent. Is that understood?" "Yes, sir, absolutely." "Mmmmmm, good. Last thing this place needs is another vampire death by one of those mangy wolves." Wait, what?! The werewolves I sensed back in the forest have actually killed vampires here before? I guess that shouldn't surprise me, but it was a little alarming to hear. And to think, I just walked through that forest all on my own too…. Maybe I don't smell like a vampire to them because of my "human" body? Heh, other vampires sure thought I smelt human enough.

The receptionist handed me a very old, brass key. I bet it was the same key used when they first built this place; I couldn't help but smile. "This is the key to your room. You'll be staying in the East Wing, room sixty-five on the top floor. That floor is empty except for your guardian's room. You must check in with your guardian once a day so the hotel can ensure you're still…" He paused here. My hand gripped the key unconsciously as my lips trembled a little. "Alive?" I completed his sentence for him. He eyed me momentarily and slowly nodded his head. Then his lips pursed for a second. "Look here, girl. I know you're technically a vampire but to the rest of us, you're as good as a human. An ageless human, granted, but one with warm blood pulsing through her veins." "Sir…" My mouth parted a tad in horror. His eyes sharpened onto mine. "If you want to survive, you'd better watch yourself. The other residents here are not your friends; you're still food to them and they're on a diet too. You're walking temptation, and you'd do good to remember that." He said this and my heart skipped a beat. He's right… I know he's right. I've done my best to avoid other vampires since Charlie died. Now I'll be living with a sea of them, and not just any vampires: vampires trying not to drink human blood like myself. I would tempt them being here, but it would be alright, wouldn't it? This place was meant to help vampires, after all. They must not want to drink human blood if they're staying here; why else would they come to the middle of nowhere in Ireland? That alone gave me some security, didn't it? Didn't it…? My train of thought was loudly interrupted by the receptionist plunking his registration book down on the desk in front of me and holding out a pen for me to take. His eyes- nay, his whole expression- were dark and grizzly again, glaring daggers my way.

"Sign the register."

Chapter Text

The East Wing was near the rear of the castle, with lots of long and confusing corridors. There was noise at the front half of Slane Castle, not that I saw anyone besides the receptionist. With my two bags in toe, I waltz to my wing, which was four stories high. Mr. Receptionist Man said that my room was on the top floor, and there were no elevators in this place- fantastic.

There were endless hallways, which kind of reminded of a hotel. At the end of each of them was this massive lounge, complete with ornate fireplace you could stand in and two-story bar. There was a library with lots of dusty old books, several portraits lining each wall, and at the back of the bottom floor was this little greenhouse room with fancy sofas and lots of plants. Though the lounge was obvious well-kept, it looked like no one had been there in a while. "I guess that makes sense. My guardian's the only other one to live in this wing," I thought out loud to myself; a habit I was in. Maybe they didn't come here often. Who knows?

Setting my bags down on the floor, I took a good look around the area. Huh, it was nice; beautiful even. Very elegant and high class. This is a room you'd expect royalty or nobility to sit in, albeit perhaps a hundred years ago. Did Queen Victoria ever come to Ireland? I don't know; she was before my time. The place was stunning, but I doubted anyone like her ever stayed her; too out of the way, one would think. Still, I could see myself happily living here for some months. Maybe even years… depending on how my fast goes. Stretching my back, I stared up at the white, decorative ceiling with a hanging crystal chandelier for a minute. My hands planted on my back and a warm smile drew across my face. "I'm on my way, Charlie…" God, I wish he could have seen this.

He would have loved this castle.

"Hey! You there! What do you think you're doing in here?! Don't you know this wing is reserved for…" My whole body shot around in a flash to see another male vampire in the vicinity with me. His eyes were crimson, like his longish hair. He wore chains and necklaces around his neck, and dark clothes. His face sported a moustache surrounded by stubble. Now, clearly he wasn't in his late twenties really, but that's when I guessed he turned- late twenties or early thirties. His physical body was definitely older than mine. My jaw dropped a little the moment I saw him. I don't know where from, but something inside me was screaming that this man- whoever he was- was going to be very important to me someday. Someday soon most likely.

The guy looked just as shell-shocked to see my face once I spun around. His feet ground to an immediately halt and his yelling stopped. Standing at the top floor of the bar, he stared down at me speechless while I gawked upward. His fingers danced in the air a little and he slowly started to make his way down the stairs towards me.

"Are you… the new resident?" His voice was husky and rustic with a strong American accent; older than mine. There was some tentativeness in his tone, like he didn't know what to make of me. Curious of him myself, I grinned shyly and nodded my head. "Y-Yes, I-I'm Bella Swan. I just got here." "I can see that," he noted to my bags still sitting on the floor. He approached me with caution, almost calculating every step he took. His deep, dark eyes gave me a once over, his lips parting a sliver.

"You the human?" "U-Uh, well yes. I'm here to do the fasting cure," I knew what he meant by the term "human"; that's what most vampires called me, or vampires like me anyway. He gave me another once over, almost in disbelief. "Oh wow…. You're beautiful…" He would have gasped if he breathed. I blushed timidly and glanced away. "W-Well thank you. I uh…. I got to keep my flapper figure," my shoulder shrugged and his head shook. "I meant the warm blood coursing through your veins," was his blunt correction. Oh! Oh….. Well that's….. awkward, and uncomfortable. Not that this man noticed nor cared; he merely took out a folded paper he was carrying under his arm and looked it over.

"Isabella Swan… You're here for the fasting cure, you say? I take it to mean then that you can't do the vegetarian diet?" "Uh, no. I can only consume human blood… Not that I've had any since I got to Ireland! I've been fasting for two days now already." "Mmmmmm, and you're taking supplements?" "Yes," thankfully. He nodded his head and looked back at me. His expression was firm but sincere. He had this authentic sincerity about him, which I appreciated.

The longer he watched me, the firmer his face grow however. There was also a twinge of concern in it as well… "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?" "To fast," I thought that was self-evident, but shook his head. "No, I mean why are you fasting? The fasting cure can be dangerous if not done right. Most vampires only fast to gain greater self-control; that, or…" He stopped here so his eyes could wander about a tad, finally reaching back to me. His mouth hung open for a minute, waiting to say more. "The majority of vampires fast though to…. They don't make it through their fasting. Are you trying to starve yourself, Miss Swan?"

Wow, that's a direct question. I can understand where his worry comes from though. Lots of humans have starved themselves through extreme fasting thorough history, and vampires were no exception. Hardly any vampires even attempt the fasting cure to gain self-control for that very reason; it is really risky. But I wasn't too worried about all that; if that was the case, I wouldn't be taking supplements or even be here. Though I knew that if I did survive, I would be an anomaly.

I grinned to reassure him and shook my head confidently. "No, I'm not trying to starve myself. I just want to drink less human blood; eliminate most of my thirst if I can. I don't like drinking blood and…" I paused here to let my lips linger slightly. He waited patiently for me to continue. "And I think it's immoral to drink it. If it's not going to kill me, than I'd rather go without. Besides, I hear there are great cognitive benefits to fasting, even for vampires. Don't worry, sir; I want to fast, but I want to stay healthy too."

This wave of instant relief washed over his face; he must have believed me, and why shouldn't he? My smile instinctively grew as I watched his reaction and grin blossom across his face, exposing his teeth and fangs. "Oh, thank goodness. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. You're the second vampire I've met doing the fasting cure; let's just say it didn't end well for the last guy." "Oh! So that's why they want me to have a guardian?! Cause a vampire's died from it in the past here?" "He didn't die; he went crazy. He wasn't a human like you. Maybe that'll make it easier… And no. I'm your guardian because you're a child; well, in an underage body, anyway. Anyone with a physical body under eighteen years old must have a guardian or adoptive parent. It's for legal reasons, in case the feds decide to audit us or something," his shoulder nonchalantly shrugged.

I blinked at him wildly. "Guardian…..? So then, you're my…?" He beamed at me, sticking out his hand to shake mine. "That's right, princess. I'll be your guardian during your stay at Slane Castle. Name's Garrett." "Oh, well hello Garrett. It's nice to meet you," I took his hand. His fingers wrapped around the back of my hand, holding it close for a moment. His eyes lingered on my pale skin for a little too long, almost with a flash of desire in them. "Your hand's so warm…" He whispered this more to himself than me. Sensing this might get ugly, I immediately pulled my hand away and he instantly snapped out of it, gazing back up to my face with a startled expression.

This goofy grin returned to his lips, comforting me slightly. "Ah, sorry about that, kid. Didn't mean to scare you." "I-It's fine," still I clasped my hands together out in front of me. He picked up my bags, tossed them over both shoulders, and motioned for me to follow him. "Come on, I'll show you to your room. You don't need to worry about a thing; it's right beside mine and you've got the only key. I can be there in a flash if you ever need me." "Thank you, Garrett. That makes me feel better," it did, knowing he was so close to me. But then an immediate idea crossed through my mind as I trailed him up the bar's staircase and down the right hall at the top. "Are you a….. a vegetarian?" I was a little hesitant to inquire. He laughed. "Haha, no; I couldn't live off the swill those guys' drink. Only human blood for me….. But don't worry! I only drink donated blood from anonymous donors. And I won't drink around you, so you won't be tempted. Don't be scared, Miss Swan; you've got nothing to fear from me." I hope so, my eyes lowered onto his back.

He brought me to a two-door doorway where he stopped. With a confirming look at Garrett, he stepped aside and let me unlock one of the doors with my key. Inside… Ah, the inside was enchanting. Beautiful; simply beautiful. The walls were covered with silk carpet, the ground was all hard, shiny wood, and there was this massive window at the back of the room. There was another huge fireplace opposite the bed, which had a canopy and lots of gold trim. It reminded me of something out of Buckingham Palace or Versailles, it was that magnificent. I couldn't believe this would be my room for who knows how long. There was a bathroom and small balcony overseeing the forest and mountains in the near distance. In the bathroom was a clawfoot tub and massive ivory sink. As someone who lived through the roaring twenties, this was opulence I hadn't seen in decades.

My new guardian put my bags down on the bed and witnessed my reaction with a sort of detached amusement. He folded his arms and grinned at me. "Like it?" "It's beautiful…. Is this really my room?" "Yep. You get the best room in the castle, or one of the best anyhow." "I do?! Why?" This caught me by surprise. Why would they give me, a nobody vampire, one of the best rooms? That didn't make any sense to me. But it seemed to perfect sense to Garrett, who stepped over to where I was standing. "Because you're rare. You're a "special" vampire." "Oh, there's nothing special about me. I'm the same as any other human….. Well, except for the immorality and needing to drink blood things." "All the same, the managers here have a vested interest in your welfare. I'm sure your happiness is thrown in there somewhere," he smirked and I chuckled. Then my eyes met his again, softer this time. "I'm not going to die. That's not why I'm fasting." Garrett flung his hands up in the air. "Hey, I believe you. I'm just saying it's weird that the world's most fragile vampire would undertake something so….. strenuous. Forgive us for being a little concerned." "Lots of vampires fast; it's called "the fasting cure" for a reason." Garrett's smile began to vade here, his eyes still locked onto mine. "For a cure, it sure doesn't "cure" a lot of our kind….."

Grinning at him, it was my turn to wave my hand dismissively. "Bah, now who's worrying too much?" "Yeah right. Anyway, I'll let you get settled. Since you won't be joining us for dinner and you, you know, need to sleep and stuff, take some time and unwind. I bet you've had a long journey today and could use some rest." "Thanks, Garrett," I was already starting to like him. I don't know how many vampires here actually cared about my wellbeing, but he certainly did. I don't know where this familial affection came from either. He wandered back over to my bedroom and paused to peer back at me still in my room.

"Oh, and one more thing. The castle's resident doctor will be coming for a check-up this afternoon, so you know, don't go anywhere in-between now and when he comes." This made me perk up surprised. "What? Check-up? Already? But I just got here…" "It just a standard procedure for all vampires starting a fast. He's going to check your vitals and see if you're deficient on anything." "But I literally just started fasting two days ago." "All the same, Dr. Cullen will be here shortly. Don't worry, kid; I'll be right here when he comes. You won't have to be in the room alone with him." Wasn't really worried about that but ok. I nodded my head submissively, if not reluctantly. This pleased Garrett, who gave me one final cheery smile. "Don't worry, Miss Swan; you'll be fine. I'm always just a stone's throw away if you ever need anything. I'm here for you. Nothing's gonna happen….

Not while I'm around."

Chapter Text

Garrett was back in my room after I'd had time to have a nap. He was helping me unpack what little I brought while we waited for Dr. Cullen. The sun was just starting to set and I was about to put away one of my 1960's nightgowns when there was a firm knock on the door. One of the doors opened before Garrett or I had a chance to say anything. In popped the head of this older, friendly-looking male vampire and the grumpy receptionist from earlier. He glowered while the doctor, dressed smartly in a white lab coat, greeted us with a smile.

"Miss Swan, I take it?" "Uh, yes. Hello." "Hello to you. I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen, at your service," Dr. Cullen stepped in, leaving the receptionist outside. "I'll wait out in the hall," he gruffly said before slamming the door shut. I blinked startled while Dr. Cullen flashed me a sympathetic look. "Don't mind him; he's always that way." "Why'd you bring him along? You think he's absolutely necessary to have here?" Garrett crossed his arms unamused. Dr. Cullen's eyes wandered over to my new guardian intently. "It's just a precaution; nothing to be concerned about. Now! Let's have a look at you," Dr. Cullen then chimed to me. Still standing, he spun me around in place for a good examination. I noticed that Garrett was closely watching the doctor's every move, likely ready to intervene should need be. But Dr. Cullen ignored his watchful eye, focusing entirely on me instead. He grinned as I twirled for him slowly.

"Your body's seventeen years old?" "That's right. I turned right after my seventeenth birthday." He nodded and led me over to the bed. After sitting me down, he opened the small doctor's kit he was carrying around and pulled out a clipboard. Scribbling something down quick, he examined my face next.

"Let's see. Pale skin, slender figure, no obvious signs of any nutrient deficiencies….. You're here to do the fasting cure, yes?" "Yes," my head nodded. More scribbling from his pen. "How long have you been fasting for?" "Two days now. My last meal was in London." Even more writing. "And you're taking supplements?" "Yes. The usual: iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, omega three, vitamin B12, and so on." "Any sodium?" Dr. Cullen inquired. "Yes, it's in the electrolyte tablets I take," I nodded again. "Fantastic," gazing back down to his clipboard, he wrote some more stuff down and set it aside.

That was the end of the first part of the examination. The next part was the physical. He put on some surgical gloves and checked my pulse. He listened to my heartbeat and shined a light in my eyes and down my throat. He asked me to cough and do all that stuff. The last part of that exam was his taking my temperature with one of those forehead thermometers. Dr. Cullen checked the screen and shook his head in mild disbelief. I was curious what puzzled him but decided to keep my mouth, as did Garrett. When Dr. Cullen peered back up at my face, his eyes were wide and lit up with wonder.

"Wow. Your body is just like a regular human's. It's extraordinary; I've never seen anything like it…" Garrett's upper half leaned in slightly when Dr. Cullen stated this. "So, is she healthy enough to do the fast?" "Don't know; it's too early to say. My guess would be that she is, but she'll need close medical supervision. Luckily, I'm a resident doctor here," the doctor cracked a small grin at this. Garrett seemed only mildly satisfied with this; I think he was looking for something more concrete. I wasn't too bothered by Dr. Cullen's ambiguity though. I felt healthy enough to do the fast, and in my mind that mattered for at least something.

Garrett and I observed Dr. Cullen reach back into his medical bag and pull out a little needle and some empty blood tubes. His head then spun up toward Garrett as he held the needle in his hand. "Alright, time for you to leave. I'll let you know when we're done." Garrett's expression immediately hardened as his arms shot out at his sides. "What makes you think I'm leaving? The deal was you could exam her so long as I stayed in the room." "I get your concern, but I need a blood sample from Miss Swan and it's too risky to have more vampires than absolutely necessary around. It will only take two minutes. Wait out in the hall with Argus." Garrett's eyebrows rose with fury. "So that's why you brought him? To keep me in check, huh?" "We're not dealing with ordinary human blood here, Garrett. This is ambrosia, so we can't be too careful. You and Argus can stand guard just in case anyone else comes sniffing about. Please, Garrett; it's just too risky to have you in the room. Not until you and Miss Swan get better acquainted anyway…" Ambrosia? My eyebrow also lifted. I'd heard that term before but only in reference to Greek mythology. I don't know what Dr. Cullen was referring to just there…

Garrett frowned but eventually relented. He turned to exit the room but not before giving me one last look. "Holler if you need me," were his parting words to me. Then he went to join the grumpy receptionist, who I guess was named Argus, outside my bedroom door. I could sense the two men standing out in the hall in silence, probably listening for any sounds of distress from me.

Dr. Cullen waited until the door was firmly closed before gazing back to me. He twisted the needle in his glove and acted like he was almost hesitant to begin. But soon enough he reached for a cotton ball with his free hand. He cleared his throat, unable to look me in the eye for a second. "Um, p-please roll up your sleeve."

I did as I was instructed, eying the doctor the whole time; he appeared to be more nervous than me right now. As he cleaned a spot on my arm, I thought it was a good time to ask him my question. "Uh, Dr. Cullen?" "Hmmmmm?" "What's….. ambrosia?"

His hand froze here, but only for a moment. I doubt he was anticipating me to ask that, but he maintained his composure as he continued preparing me for the blood test. "Ambrosia is the medical vampire term for "human" vampire blood. Ambrosia is what we call human blood without an expiration date. You see, unlike regular humans, who age and eventually die, your blood will never change or spoil. In essence, your blood is as close to perfection as it can get- hence why it's called "ambrosia"." My cheeks instinctively blushed, my eyes widening a little. "You think my blood is perfect?" "Haha, well as near to perfect as blood comes- yes."

Only then did his face grow serious once more. His deep crimson eyes cemented onto mine, refusing to let them go. "You may be flattered to hear that, Miss Swan, but you've got to be careful. Ambrosia is ten times more potent than human blood to vampires, and a vampire bite can and will still kill you. Nothing sings to us so strongly as a human vampire's blood, which is why it is so dangerous for you, especially now that you're fasting…." He paused here before going on, as if to catch himself. "The longer you fast, the more delicious your blood's going to smell. If you're serious about fasting for more than a couple of months, you better prepare for any um, unwanted attention it may bring."

My fingers curled slightly on their own accord; my lips hung open a sliver. "I….. understand, Dr. Cullen." "I hope you do. What you're undertaking can be deadly, in more ways than one. Speaking of which, if you don't mind me asking….. Why are you fasting?" "Why? Because I want to ween myself off human blood. I'm tired of constantly being thirsty all of the time and…. and I don't like drinking blood. It would be fine if I could be a vegetarian but since I can only drink human blood…" My lips halted here for a second. Dr. Cullen waited patiently for me to continue, keeping his gloved hand on me the whole time. My eyes drifted aimlessly, finally resting on his other hand holding the needle. Heh, isn't that ironic? I never did get a blood test back when I was human….

"I always thought it was immoral to drink human blood, even if the blood was donated. I never would practice cannibalism when I was a human; I'd rather die than eat a fellow human… It doesn't feel any different now that I'm a vampire. I-I did drink blood since I turned…. But since Charlie died….. I don't want to; I never wanted to. I'm not trying to starve myself, and I realize that I can't fast forever, but at least it's a period where I won't be drinking blood. And maybe I can reduce my thirst permanently, or even temporarily. That'd be good enough for me…"

I finished speaking and Dr. Cullen just stared at me in awe for a sheer minute. His expression soon morphed from one of surprise to content. I flinched when he took my hand in his, giving it a tender squeeze. My head shot up, only to find him smiling back my way. "Don't worry, Miss Swan; you're not alone with this. I'll help you. If you want to fast, then I'll do everything in my power to make it so you medically can. In return, I need you to do as I prescribe. Deal?" Watching him also in a bit of astonishment, my blushing head nodded slowly, finally mirroring his grin after a minute. "Deal," my fingers curled around his. He then retracted his hand and brought the needle towards my arm. Again, he froze, hesitating. His lips parted a sliver as he couldn't meet my eye again. "This'll be quick," was all he said.

The needle went in, and for the first since I met him, I saw the world's quickest flush of desire, of thirst in his eyes. He watched the blood flow from my veins almost a little too closely, and it suddenly became apparent to me that this man had ample self-control. I doubt that any other vampire could have simply sat back and watched as he had just now. Even for him I could tell this was a struggle. And I suddenly understood why he had Garrett wait outside for this. Huh, I never knew how….. alluring my blood could smell, could be. I knew it was bad, but I didn't know it was THAT bad.

"You ok?" I heard myself blurt out, instantly regret it. Dr. Cullen's shoulders flinched, and he blinked up to my face wide-eyed. "Huh?! Oh…. Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine….. It's just I haven't been this close to ambrosia in….. in a long time. I'd forgotten how… strong the scent was." "Really? It smells like normal human blood to me." He chuckled, finishing up with the needle. He rushed to get my blood out of his sight. "You wouldn't be able to tell the difference. To us, your blood smells like our favourite food, and we haven't eaten in weeks. It's more than that though. It's like being locked in a room with nothing but your favourite food and being bombarded with sensory overload. The smell, the texture, the colour, even the temperature… They all sing- nay scream- to us, and it's almost impossible to resist." I tentatively considered what he said for a minute, chuckling nervously to myself. My fingers gripped the edge of the bed now. "So I take it you won't drink the blood once you're done with it?" "If I did that, Miss Swan, then you wouldn't wake up tomorrow morning," he put his tools back in his bag and shut it.

Pretty soon my bedroom door flung open again, with Garrett rushing in and checking me over. He was so anxious that he was speaking a mile a minute, repeatedly asking me if I was alright and if Dr. Cullen tried anything- i.e. did he try and bite me. Even Argus wore the faintest expression of worry. It made me wonder….. If I have ambrosia blood and it sings to all vampires, did these guys want to keep me alive because….. Well because… Because I was temptation to them? The forbidden fruit always just within their grasp? If I died, there would be one less human vampire in the world. Would that make any difference? Should it make any difference? Was it "me" these vampires cared about?

Or the precious, rare elixir I carried around in my body?

Chapter Text

I loved Dublin, but admittedly hadn't spent much time in rural Ireland before. Reminded me a bit of the Rockies back in North America- except a lot hillier and no bears. Garrett regaled me about the castle and surrounding land. I was right; it was wolf territory. Not surprising; Ireland was famous in "our" world for being the werewolf capital of Europe, or at least far out west here.

Arm-in-arm, Garrett escorted me out of the East Wing and into the main foyer. At the back of the castle was this grand hall with massive, tall, clear glass windows. I'm sure there were other vampires around but I didn't see them, and I think this set my guardian at ease. He certainly spoke so. Giving my arm a squeeze, he brought me over to the window overlooking the back courtyard and pool down below.

We chatted there for a while until I summoned up the courage to ask the question lingering in the back of my mind. "So…. how many other residents are here exactly? There's you, me, Dr. Cullen, Argus….." Garrett looked at me a second, hesitating slightly to reply. "Oh, you know; not many. There's not many of us living at the castle. I've been here fifteen years myself, Argus has been here since the forties, and then there's the Cullens." "Dr. Cullen has a family?" "Well, adoptive family. He's married to a sweet gal named Esme. They have five kids between them. They're all here, living in another wing somewhere." "Huh…. Is that it? Any more of us?" Garrett hummed to himself for a moment, his eyes rolling upwards as if he was actually trying to remember. "I don't think so….. Can't think of anyone else anyway. Me, Argus, and the Cullens are the only ones who've stuck around for more than a year. Others have come and gone, never staying for very long. Can't say a vegetarian lifestyle is the most attractive….."

That also reminded me of something. "Hey, yeah. If you drink human blood and aren't fasting, then why are you here?" "Me? No real reason. As you can probably tell, I'm American, like you. I stayed in Europe after I enlisted for World War II. Never spent much time abroad before then and thought I'd do some wandering. Heard of this place by chance and thought I'd come have a vacation after a couple of years of aimless meandering. They agreed to let me stay if I did the odd job here and there…" His shoulder shrugged as he paused momentarily here, staring out into space. "And that's it. Been here ever since." Also gazing downward, my head nodded on its own accord. I can see why he decided to stay here; it is a beautiful castle in a picturesque location.

I hadn't notice Garrett's eyes drawn back onto my face. A kind smile drew across his and he gave my arm another surprising squeeze. "Ah, life will be a lot more interesting, now that you're here." "Really?!" My head shot up; I didn't I was anything special or exciting. But he simply nodded in finality. "Absolutely. I've never been the guardian of anyone before. This'll be quite a change for me anyway- even if I'm no good at it." "Oh, I'm sure you'll be good! You're doing a bang-up job already." "Heh, bang-up. Spent some time in England before you came here, huh?" He chuckled and I grinned. "You're not the only one who's drawn to Europe." "Well you're welcome to stay for as long as you please, kiddo." "Thanks, Garrett; I appreciate it. It's nice to have a friend already," this made him beam at me.

Our conversation was interrupted by the dinner bell ringing. We both perked up alarmed and Garrett withdrew his arm from me. "Ah! Time for dinner. Uh, I'm gonna go join Argus in the kitchen now. You can just hang around until we're done." "Ok, but why aren't you eating in the dining room with the Cullens? Do you never drink together?" "Never. Those guys are all vegetarians while me and Argus prefer human blood. I'd invite you to join us but I don't want to tempt you, considering you just started your fast and all…" He seemed almost sorry to tell me this. To quell any worry he might have, I flashed him a warm, understanding grin. "No, I get it. I'll be fine; I'll just go take a walk outside. It's such a nice evening out."

Garrett hesitated here, his face morphing to one of clear reluctance. "Ok, but just don't go past the garden walls. It's dangerous in those woods, even for a regular vampire." "I'll be ok. I won't leave the courtyard. You just go and enjoy your dinner; we'll meet up later when you're done." "Alright…" Still obviously uncomfortable with the idea, he left the grand hall with one last look in my direction. I waited until he was gone before exiting out through one of the panel doors. It led out into the circular greenroom was a lovely view of the outside. From there I found a staircase which took me down outside into the back courtyard. The place was empty, which shouldn't be a surprise. If Garrett is right and there's only nine other vampires staying here, then I doubt we'd randomly bump into one another in this gigantic castle. Or at least not often.

Once outside, I went over to the edge of the courtyard to get a good view of the mountains and river. My god, what a stunning place…. Closing my eyes for a second, my head tossed upwards so I could soak in all the sensations around me. Beautiful castle, beautiful courtyard, beautiful scenery; I felt like the luckiest girl, er vampire, alive. The warm summer breeze bustled through my hair, sending the strands out in front of my face. It was like a scene out of a movie- I was that entranced.

Or I was anyway, until I reopened my eyes and gazed forward off into the distance. I looked and my heart stopped. There, standing far off on a mountain ravine amongst the grass and flowers, was this humongous brown wolf. And not just any wolf- a werewolf. He was far enough away that I didn't feel in any immediate danger, but his appearance did catch me off guard. Despite being a distance away from me, I could see that the wolf had also spotted me. He saw me… and was staring at this point. My eyes locked onto his massive brown, glossy ones.

Neither of us did anything right away. I didn't know what to do…. I'd heard of werewolves' existence before, and sensed their presence here and back in North America, but this was my first time actually seeing one. I could tell this one was male, and in a young body…. He had this air of youth about him, but I thought he was older than me; age-wise anyway. I don't know how I knew that, but I did. Maybe it was something in his eyes…..

I could also tell by the way he stared back at me that he too didn't know what to make of me. He appeared to be….. confused, is the best way to put it? Like he didn't know what I was. My best guess is that he's never seen a "human" vampire before; maybe he didn't realize the difference.

Whatever may be the case, we merely gawked at each other until something exterior interrupted us. "Bella! You out here?" I heard Garrett's voice call out for me. "Uh, yeah!" I yelled back, not taking my eyes off the wolf. By now my guardian had opened the outside door and was on his way out to fetch me. Only then did I glance back him from over and my shoulder.

And when I looked back to where the wolf had been, he was gone.

Chapter Text

There wasn't any tv or radios here; probably too far out to get any reception. Don't get me wrong! There was still lots to do at Slane Castle- swimming, walking, reading, etc. It's just weird living without a television again; feels like I'm back in the twenties. I did have fun in the roaring twenties; I'm not gonna lie. Charlie always made sure I wanted for nothing…. Back when he was alive.

Garrett and I retired to the castle library for the evening. I hadn't told him about the werewolf I saw earlier and didn't plan to; it would only make him worry. It's strange…. We'd only known each other for half a day and he's already taking his duty of guardian so seriously. There was rarely a moment, aside from when he was drinking his dinner, that I was out of his sight. Speaking of dinner….

I groaned a bit and clenched my stomach with the hand that wasn't currently holding a book. Garrett immediately looked up from his reading at me. "Thirsty?" "A little," I winced; I'd never gone this long without blood before….. His nodded gave a slow, single nod, as if to reassure me. "I'm doing some research on human fasting. Bouts of hunger pains are normal during longer fasts. But don't worry; it'll go away in couple of hours. The books say it doesn't get worse, only subsides if you're patient enough." "But I'm a vampire. Is it the same with me?" His shoulder shrugged. "I should think so. You may drink blood but your body's still human in every other regard….. uh, minus the aging thing," he said, and I laughed. "Thank goodness for that; I like being permanently seventeen years old. But I'm sure you're right; just gotta wait it out, I guess….." A sigh left my lips as I slumped down into my cushy, leather chair. Garrett grinned my way and reached his hand out to give my forearm a squeeze. "You're doing great, kiddo. Just have some vitamins before bed; you'll feel better in the morning." My face mirrored his pleasant one. I wasn't sure if it was the unconscious- or conscious- sensation of my warm blood that pushed him to be so nice to me, but I chose to believe that wasn't the case.

We then quietly returned to our readings; him on human fasting practices and me a Jane Austen novel. I had just gotten to the part where Elizabeth Bennett was about to meet Mr. Darcy for the first time when the library door suddenly opened. Both our heads turned up to see who it was. A girl and guy I didn't recognize entered and Garrett instantly frowned, unhappy with the current situation.

"What are they doing here? I told Carlisle that we'd be in the library tonight," my guardian muttered under his breath. "Are they….. the Cullen kids?" I inquired to Garrett, not taking my eyes off the pair. The girl had long blonde hair and the guy was swoll. This immediate feeling of awkwardness overcame me as they stopped in their tracks, suddenly staring back in our- or rather my- direction. It was apparent that they weren't expecting to find us in here; I guess Dr. Cullen didn't pass on Garrett's memo.

They froze and Garrett rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ugh, could they be more obvious? See, this is why I keep to myself; the Cullens got their own thing going on." "W-What's wrong with them?" My lips quivered a little. "Mmmmm? Oh, nothing. They just weren't expecting you to be a human, I guess. Haven't had one of your kind stay here in a loooooooong time. The blonde girl's Rosalie and that's her husband, Emmett." "Husband?! They're married?" "Oh yeah, most of the Cullens are married- to each other, I should add."

The two vampires, Rosalie and Emmett, were quickly joined by two other vampires; another couple. There was this little brown-haired girl and another guy, who had the most distinct reaction when he saw me. The atmosphere in the room flipped on a dime and all eyes were square on him now, especially his concerned partner. The brown-haired girl took the blonde-haired guy by the arm, whispering something indistinguishable to him. Garrett seemed like he was about to stand up and physically get between us but refrained for the moment. I could tell he was on edge by peering at him from the corner of my eye.

Nothing happened for a moment, and I plucked up the courage to break the stifling silence. "W-Who's that?" "Alice and Jasper; another married Cullen couple. The girl's fine but the boy…. Personally, I think there's something wrong with that kid but that's just me. Don't be scared; he's just the newest vegetarian vampire so it's a little hard for him. He must not be used to the smell of ambrosia." I can't imagine that many vampires are….

Realizing her husband was in distress, she took him by the hand and began to lead him back out of the library, but not without one last look at me. The other two left with Jasper, leaving Alice the last one in the library with us. She didn't look at me again but at someone else. A fifth unseen entity had appeared and halted just shy of the doorway; enough for us to know he was there but not close enough for us to see him. Garrett relaxed in his seat slightly, still watching the two at the doorway. So was I…

"Who's she talking to?" "Dunno; must be Carlisle's fifth kid- the single guy." "Guy?" My eyebrow raised. He nodded, lifting his finger up to his mouth. "Name's Edward; he turned when he was about your age. He's Carlisle's first adoptive kid, if I'm not mistaken." "Oh…." I pondered, glancing back over to the door. Alice was talking, or rather quietly arguing, with the fellow still concealed from view on the other side. This time she was speaking loud enough for me to barely hear- just barely. Gotta love average human-level hearing.

Her arms bent up at her sides exasperated. "Yes, she's in here. Why'd you think we had to get Jasper away?" A response I didn't catch from this so-called Edward. Alice's face lit up in surprise and dismay. "What do you mean you can't read her mind? Has that ever happened before?" Huh, so I guess mind-reading was Edward's vampire power; neat. Wait, did she just say he CAN'T read my mind? Why would that be? I'm just a human- granted an immortal human, but still. I had no special powers besides; being "human" WAS my power, and not a very useful one. Well, excluding when I wanted to go out in public areas without worry of getting caught.

Alice rolled her eyes at him. "No, don't go inside then. Are you crazy? She's a human, just like Carlisle said." Another pause here. "That's because she's fasting, you idiot. I can smell her blood from here too." Insert pause. "Listen to me, Edward; just leave. If you think you can't control yourself, then go. We'll have a family meeting about this later. Just stay away from her until you talk to Carlisle." Edward must have said something that made Alice roll her eyes again and huff. "How am I supposed to know how long she's going to stay for? You're the mind-reader; read Argus's mind or someone who does. Look, we're wasting time; let's just join the others." One final pause. "What? Oh, uh brown….. She looks like a regular human, but with really pale skin. She has deep brown eyes instead of crimson…..

And her hair is also brown."

Chapter Text

We were driving through Germany toward Austria in 1932. Charlie was adamant that we leave Germany after the German National People's Party was gaining momentum for the upcoming election. Its leader was some guy named Adolf something or another. I didn't know much about it, but Charlie was worried. "It's best we leave while we can," he told me back in our hotel in Habsburg.

So we did! We bought ourselves an old, used, cheap car to drive across the alps. Beautiful countryside; that's something I would come to miss in later years. It was so peaceful, with lots of little rustic alpine villages scattered everywhere. Of course we could only travel after sunset and when the weather was bad, but we didn't mind. Charlie drove while I sat back and enjoyed the scenery. We were just about to pass through the Austrian border when I let out a contented sigh.

"Beautiful…" I hummed and Charlie nodded in agreement, keeping one hand on the wheel while relaxing his chin in the other. "Sure is." "It's incredible how fast you can get anywhere in cars now. I remember back when street cars were a luxury." "Yup, motor vehicles have changed the world; there's no doubt about that. Back in my day, you'd have to use a horse-drawn carriage to get anywhere. If you told me that cars would have existed someday, I wouldn't have believed you." "And who knows? Maybe flying will be the next big travel innovation? They're making real headway on planes now." Charlie chuckled at this, lowering his head slightly. "I don't think flying will ever become a common thing, Bells; not like cars or trains anyway. It's too expensive. Flying is something mostly militaries will use, I should think." "Mmmmmm, makes sense; most plane technology has developed from the war. We're lucky enough to have cars anyway."

My adoptive father nodded his head again, keeping his eyes on the road. "Right, but don't ever let me catch you driving one. These things are like tanks; one accident would destroy that fragile human body of yours." "Haha, don't worry; I don't ever plan to learn to drive. Why would I? Lots of countries don't even allow women to drive anyway, and I have you to chauffer me around." "I'll take you wherever you want to go, so long as we go together….." Charlie sighed and I smiled at him. "We are together. You're my dad; where am I gonna go without you?"

He shrugged. "I know you've wanted to go see the tropics someday….." I waved my hand dismissively in the air. "Bah, we can do that together. We've travelled everywhere else without getting caught, after all. Why would someone south be any different? We just…. have to be extra careful." Charlie watched me a moment from the corner of his eye before stretching a hand out to cover one of mine. "Don't you worry. I'll take you to Hawaii and the Caribbean one of these days. You can count on it, sweetheart." And my smiled shown back his way as our fingers intertwined with familial affection.

"I know I can, Dad."

"Are you sure it's not going to be a problem if I stay here? I don't want to make the other residents feel awkward or uncomfortable in their own home." "It's your home now too, kid. Look, don't worry about the Cullens. This is a hotel where vampires come to rest and recover; you're undergoing a fast, which means you'll need plenty of time to recover." "But…." I hesitated. Garrett was walking me back to my room in the East Wing. It was my first-ever night sleeping in the hotel and the reaction of the Cullen kids had me on edge. My guardian acted like they were more of a nuisance than anything, treating the whole thing flippantly.

We arrived at my door and Garrett flashed me a reassuring expression. "Would you stop worrying about it? I'll go have a chat with Carlisle and Esme; we'll sort this all out. Leave it to me, ok?" "Well, ok… But I don't like putting it on your shoulders like this. You and the Cullen parents didn't ask for any of this trouble." "Neither did you. Look, you're not doing anything wrong, Bella; you're allowed to be here. That Cullen boy was just being a brat. They should have enough self-control not to go berserk by the smell of your blood. I mean, come on," he rolled his eyes. I was still reluctant, letting my hand linger on the doorknob for a minute. My eyes drifted down to the carpet in-between our feet.

"Ok then, if you're sure….." "It'll be fine; you'll see. By the time you get up tomorrow morning, this'll all be sorted. You can count on it," Garrett gave me a thumbs up. My heart skipped a beat; my eyes widened. "W-What did you just say?" "Huh?" He blinked at me, surprised by my dumbfounded reaction. I blinked too, instantly regaining my composure. "N-Nothing; it's….. nothing. Have a good night, Garrett." "You too. See you in the morning. Remember, don't hesitate to call for me if you need anything," he began to walk away, giving me a wave as he did. "I will!" I yelled back before going inside my room. I went inside and immediately locked the door; you can never be too careful in a castle full of vampires.

I got ready for bed in the usual way; brushed my teeth and hair, and got changed into my classic white nightgown I'd brought with me. After changing, I made my way over the giant clear-glass window in my room. Drawing back the huge, very heavy curtains, moonlight poured onto the floor and over to the wall. I stared up at a minute, letting my hands rest on the curtains' edges. The night was so bright and quiet, and you could see so many stars from here….. I'll never get over how lucky I am to stay in such a place.

With the curtains drawn open, I walked back over to my massive, canopy bed. On the nightstand beside it I put a picture of Charlie and me; it was taken back when we were in Austria that first time. We were grinning ear-to-ear, and he had his arm draped over my shoulder. Looking at the photo a moment, I smiled to myself, or rather to it. My eyes lowered tenderly a tad. "Good night, Dad. Sweet dreams." Then I shut my eyes, remembering sweet memories as my mind lulled off to a soft, dark place.

It stayed there until a crack from outside woke me up all of a sudden. My eyes shot open and I was instantly awake like you after something frightening happens. All panic subsided after a few seconds as I came to realize I probably had a nightmare or something. Checking my phone, the time revealed that it was the middle of the night- fantastic. I'd have trouble falling back to sleep now.

You know that feeling you get when someone's watching you? Well, out of nowhere, literally seconds later I felt that. It hit me like a shot; someone or something was watching me sleep. "Could it be that wolf from earlier?" I pondered out loud as I pulled back the covers. More curious than scared, I grabbed my housecoat and wandered over to the window. Since there was no one else in my room with me then the observer must be outside somewhere.

Upon looking out from the glass, nothing immediate came into view. I don't know why, but I was looking off into the distance at the mountains first. When nothing out of the ordinary appeared there, my vision drew downwards towards the courtyard. Only then did I see something! The figure of a man stood there, staring up at my window. Whoever he was, he must have known that I saw him because in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Well that proves he's a vampire- only vampires can move THAT fast. Other than that single fact, and that he was a guy, I knew absolutely nothing about him. It was too dark to see any distinguishing features and I don't think I've seen him before here either. My first thought was…. But no, it couldn't be Edward. Why would it be? Why would he stand outside my room to watch me sleep? That's just weird. No, it can't be him; it's probably someone else. Who, I don't know; I'm overthinking this. Still, I did close my curtains for rest of the night.

With a yawn, I next went back to bed and promptly forgot about the whole thing.

Chapter Text

Ok, so maybe that first night at the castle wasn't the easiest. I woke up earlier than usual the next morning, gasping profusely. I'd never gone this long without blood before, and the effects of extreme thirst were starting to hit me. Garrett told me that my thirst, like ordinary human hunger, wouldn't get worse than this and would die down eventually. But man, like…. when? This was torture, or close to it. I see now why many vampires never fast, opting to be vegetarians instead. If I lived through this- which I planned to- this would be the hardest thing I've ever done.

Well, except for getting through those first few days after Charlie died.

After some time of writhing in agony in my bed, I eventually found the strength to pull myself out from under the covers. Planting my feet down onto the cold, wooden floor, I clenched the edge of my bed with both my hands, staring forward into nothing. This was all my best effort to steady myself. "Ok, Bella; you can do this. The thirst will be gone in a few hours; you can last until then. It'll get easier….. It WILL get easier," I think I was trying to convince myself this was true more than anything. Still, I did feel a little better, or more hopeful now at least anyway. I checked the date on my phone, which still had no reception. "Day three of fasting- alright….."

Setting my phone down, I wrenched myself up off the bed and made myself stretch out my limbs. Then I put on my housecoat and made my way over the window. It was a bright sunny day outside; perfect for a walk in the garden later. Without realizing what my eyes were doing, I found them being drawn back to where I'd seen the figure last night. Of course there was no one there now. I also looked to the spot where the werewolf had been yesterday. He too was nowhere to be seen. Not that I was surprised; I doubt if I'd ever see him again. But that other mysterious man outside my window….. My hand pressed up against the glass. I wonder who he was or what he was doing out there…. You know, besides staring into my bedroom. I couldn't help but be curious whatever happened to him afterwards…..

An unexpected knock at my door made me jump. Thinking it was Garrett come to say "good morning", I didn't hesitate to call back. "Come in!" The door opened and imagine my surprise to find not my guardian but the grumpy receptionist on the other side. He entered, looking as annoyed as usual, carrying a silver tray in his other hand. He scowled at me, setting the tray down on the table near the fireplace with a clunk.

He's not happy to be here, I immediately recognized. For the sake of politeness though, I forced a grin and turned toward him completely, my hands clasped out in front of me. "Good morning, Argus," my voice was its typical chirpiness. He visibly tisked. "What's good about it?" Oh boy, what a charmer. "Where's Garrett?" I asked, sensing Argus was wishing it was him here instead too. "He's doing a round of the castle. Here, your majesty; I've brought you some breakfast," he tacked on a sour smirk.

I gazed down at the tray. It contained a bottle of assorted vitamins and supplements. Slid under the bottle was a little folded note Argus then handed to me. It had some handwriting on it I didn't recognize. Opening it, I read the message aloud for some reason. "Dear Miss Swan. I'm pleased to inform you that your bloodwork has come back fine. You are perfectly healthy and have my consent to continue fasting, with the provision of regular medical supervision. I've assigned you some new supplements for the duration. Do let me know if you experience any drastic physical changes or feel too fatigued. Your humble servant, Dr. Carlisle Cullen."

Argus snorted. "Like those pills will do anything. You're a vampire; there's only one thing for it." "Are these all the supplements Dr. Cullen's prescribed to me?" Ignoring his quip, I picked up the container to examine its contents. "Should be. Didn't double-check the list or anything….." He crossed his arms. I set the bottle back down and smiled at him again. "Thank you, Argus. I'll get dressed, then take these."

With a roll of the eyes, he went back over to the slightly open door. Setting his hand on the doorknob, he couldn't resist flashing me a mocking, satisfied grin- a very malicious one. "Thirsty this morning, are we?" His tone….. Oh, his tone just then. I stared back at him, wide-eyed and silent. How did he know….? Could all regular vampires tell? I couldn't tell when they were thirsty, except for the expressions on their faces.

Chuckling sinisterly to himself and shaking his head, he left, making sure to shut the door tight behind him.

Chapter Text

After getting dressed and taking my supplements, I decided to go explore the castle a bit more. Perhaps this wasn't the brightest idea on my part, but I was curious and rarely had the opportunity to wander about medieval dwellings by myself.

The halls were quiet; there wasn't another soul in sight. "Boy, you'd think this place is deserted," I muttered out loud descending the main staircase into the front foyer. Going aimlessly through the corridors, I eventually found myself in a ballroom of some sort. There were these massive clear windows lining the side and back wall, with this huge balcony overlooking the mountain range at the end. I walked over to it, examining its structure with interest. Hardly anyone lived here anymore, and it's probably been that way for a long time now. I didn't know whether to feel sorry for this magnificent place or happy for it. I could only dream of being in such a ballroom back when I was a human- really human.

This playful smile crept across my lips. My mind may be so much older now, but my body's still that of a young girl; the type of girl who would have had such fun in this sort of room back in its heyday. Spinning away from the window, I curtsied as elegantly as I could. Then I gazed up at nothing, grinning. "Dance with you? Why, I'd love to, my lord," my mouth declared to the pretend suitor. My hand took hold of his make-believe one and we began to waltz; I had to play orchestra music in my head along with each step and glide. I did this for about a minute or two until an unexpected voice caught me off guard.

"Dancing with anyone in particular?" Immediately stopping, my feet twirled around in a flash to see that young, brown-haired vampire girl propped up against the doorway. Her arms were folded across her chest and she was watching me with an amused sort of look on her face. Of course this made me falter with embarrassment and apprehension.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there!" I'm not sure why I was the one apologising; it just felt like the right- or least awkward- thing to do. She must have realized this, shaking her head softly. "No need to apologize; I'm the one who interrupted you. Never seen anyone dance in here before, heh, which is ironic for a ballroom when you think about it," she chuckled sweetly. My hands rubbed together nervously. "Maybe I'm not supposed to be here. I'll go right….." "Why would you need to go? You haven't done anything wrong. Me and my family just aren't dancers; that's all," the vampire named Alice cut me off. Our eyes met, locking onto each other's. "Y-You're doing the fasting cure, aren't you?" Her voice was a little more shakily, but only for this time. I nodded and my lips instinctively parted a sliver.

"Uh, should we be…..? Should you and I be…..? Is it safe that we're in the same room like…..?" My pointed finger kept moving between her and myself. She blinked, as if not to understand me right away, but quickly figured out what I meant. Alice stood up straight, letting her arms fall down at her sides; all the while she tried to gaze comfortingly at me. "Oh, right; I guess you would be worried. Don't worry; you got nothing to fear from me. Heh, I have more self-control than my siblings, which I'm sure you've picked up on….." "B-But the other two? Your husband and brother…. Won't they…. smell me on you?" My hand rose up slightly, exemplifying my point. Her eyes blinked again before she smiled with warmth. "You mean Jasper and Edward? Er, yeah. You're right; unfortunately they don't have the same self-control as I do. You'll have to forgive my husband; the vegetarian lifestyle is still very new to him and he's struggling to cope," her hand rubbed the back of her head awkwardly at this. I continued to watch her with an intent stare. "And Edward…..?" Was all I could bring myself to ask.

Alice blinked for the final time, lowering her hand slowly. "I'm not really sure about him. He's been vegetarian for a while now and has never acted that way around a human before. Maybe it's because you're a….. a….." "A human vampire?" I finished her sentence with a grin. She looked at me and nodded, also smiling. "Yeah, that."

My head shook as I closed my eyes for a second. "Heh, wouldn't be the first time. I've heard my blood is alluring, but I didn't know it was this bad before….." Just makes me realize what great self-control Charlie must have demonstrated all those years….. Alice waved her hand in the air dismissively, making that "pffffft" sound. "Ah, it's alright. Yes, you've gotta be careful, but you're in no great danger here, Miss Swan." "Thanks, Miss Cullen; I appreciate that," I smiled back at her.

We gazed upon one another again, letting our eyes linger a tad longer this time. She instinctively smiled, and so did I. I already liked her; I barely knew this girl and I already liked her. She seemed so soft and genuine… Traits I admired in my friends. But the moment couldn't last forever and Alice ended it with a single shrug of the shoulder. She turned to leave the ballroom, but not before resting her hand on the doorway. Her head spun back to face me from over her shoulder, almost sad to go so suddenly like that.

"I'd better get going. It's nothing personal; it's just that my family…." My hand flung up to stop her. "I get it. You gotta put the needs of your family first; I'd do the same if I were you," I really would regarding Charlie. Alice seemed relieved at my saying this, relaxing her face muscles a little. Her eyes lowered onto me slightly. "Thanks for understanding, Miss Swan. Hopefully we can get better acquainted soon." "I'd like that! It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Cullen," I beamed, as did she. "The pleasure was all mine. Heh, now if you excuse me, I've got to go take a shower." "Huh, why?" This made me blink in confusion. "Again, it's nothing personal. I may just smell like…" She hesitated to go on. My fingers snapped in realization. "Oh… Oh! I understand. Uh, sorry; I don't mean to make it hard for your husband." "It's not Jasper I'm worried about," her said in a low tone. I blinked again at her astonished. "Huh? What do you mean?" I asked and she chuckled, lowering her head a tad. I noticed her hand clench onto the door tighter in the instant.

"If you think Jasper lacks self-control around you, you should see my brother."

Chapter Text

"You need to be more careful! Seriously, Bells." "Sorry, Dad," I winced at his scolding. My father had found me with a wounded arm after tripping on a tree branch; I'd decided to go for a walk in the forest. Sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose, he then offered his hand to help me up. Then he proceeded to thoroughly inspect my bruised left arm.

"Does it hurt? Do you think the bone's broken?" Charlie hummed, flipping my wrist back and forth very carefully. "N-No, I think it's just bruised," I hissed; it didn't feel broken but it still hurt like hell. "You're not bleeding; that's a good sign," he let out another relieved sigh; I think he did that to appear more human to me. I still breathed, after all…

Not letting my arm fall, my adoptive father took my hand in his. He gave it a squeeze, as if afraid to let go. His deep, deep eyes were cemented onto mine just then. "I know you're technically a vampire, but your body's still mortal. One wrong move and that's it. You can't take any chances, Bella." "I don't! I'm very careful; I just accidently tripped. That's all." He didn't appear satisfied with this- not in the slightest.

His frown expanded in the corners as he continued to clasp onto my hand. "Humans can die from the smallest of scrapes; you know that." "But we're not living in the early twentieth century anymore. Medicine's come a long way since then," I countered, only to be rebuffed. "Not that far….. Listen to me, sweetheart; I know it might feel a bit suffocating, but your immortality's not like mine. Your body can still fail you, if anything should happen…" "Dad," my eyes grew in mild astonishment.

Charlie let out one final sigh, letting my hand go and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closer. I could feel his rock-hard body press into my side. "I'm sorry, Bells. I just don't want to lose you." "You're not going to lose me, Dad. I'm not going anywhere; nothing's gonna happen to me," I grinned, trying to reassure him- all in vain it would turn out. While I wore a soft, soothing expression, his face was still firm and sincere. Our eyes met again, refusing to leave each other's.

"I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. You truly feel like my kid, honey….." His forehead drew in to rest up against mine. I smiled genuinely this time, leaning back into him. "And you're my dad. I'll always be yours- your daddy's girl." He breathed, shutting his eyes for a moment. He held me very close into him… "You know how vampires see humans- like children, like insects. I wish I could say it was different with you. Course I don't see you like an insect, but you're the same as a toddler in my eyes. A living glass doll that's so fragile and precious….. Something to be protected at all costs." "Dad….." "I've lived for so long now, Bella; so many pointless, drawn-out years with no light at the end of the tunnel. My life has lacked meaning; my thirst, all my aimless wandering…. It's all been for nothing. That is until I met you." "Dad," a tear trickled down the side of my cheek, which he wiped away with his thumb. "You've given my life meaning again. For the first time since I've turned, I'm grateful I am a vampire….. as it allowed me to save you. I will continue to save you, darling." His eyes opened a sliver as he paused for a single moment here.

"You are the first thing I've ever had worth protecting."

My eyes opened up to the beautiful scenery. After that run-in with Alice, I thought it best to go out to the back garden and see if I could find Garrett. He was nowhere to be found, as was anyone else out there. Still, I took the opportunity to take in the beautiful view of the mountain range. Ah, I've said it once and I'll say it again: Charlie would have loved it here. I wish….. I wish he could have seen it. This would have been perfect, if only he were here. It's so sad too; I miss him so much. He's been the only family I've ever known- that I was close with anyway. I doubted that I could love anyone as much as I loved him, and I didn't think I'd ever get close enough with anyone else to even try. Charlie was there, safe inside my heart… And there I was convinced he'd stay alone.

I didn't think there was room for anyone else.

I don't know what possessed me to glance over my shoulder behind me at that instant. Something just pulled my eyes and face without conscious recognition. I gazed up to the castle's roof, and my lips also unconsciously parted a tad. My left arm rested on the cement balcony on the other side of me as I stared up completely dumbfounded. High up there, close enough for me to see but not so close that I could distinguish his face, was a vampire. A vampire I'd never seen before… His body was young, about my age I'd say, and his skin was just as pale. There was something familiar about his figure-type, but I couldn't put my finger on it. He was staring back down my way with a desire- a thirst- I'd seen a hundred times before…..

And an intensity I'd never seen before.

Chapter Text

No one had ever looked at me the way he did…..

The vampire standing high above me… His eyes were glowing with an intensity I'd never witnessed. They were burning so bright, I swear they were almost glowing- actually glowing. He was looking, nay ogling, me like I was the first woman he'd ever beheld. I was the first woman to walk the earth in his eyes; the first "human" woman….. That thought stuck in my throat nervously a little.

I felt like a lamb- pure, innocent, and naïve- being eyed by the world's most ravenous tiger. I could tell it took every last drop of strength he had not to come down here and suck every last drop of blood from my veins. He was more monster than human in that instant; he was rightly and truly a vampire. There existed nothing in the world but me and my blood to him just then; he wanted me, he craved me, he needed me, lest he fall down and parish of thirst. He saw me, and I knew that his thirst would be unquenchable from this moment on… He would never again walk on earth not knowing a yearning this intense. I almost felt sorry for him…..

Being a "human" myself, I didn't have the same fundamental vampire DNA make-up as the others. It's like we were two different species of vampires, which I guess we were. Blood acted purely as food- nourishment- for me like it would for any other human. I drank it, digested it, and moved on with life. Charlie told me though that for other vampires, it was another story. Your typical, traditional vampire's DNA was as solid as diamonds. It didn't change, and once it did, it could never change back. Anything that happened to a normal vampire after turning was permanent, etched into who they were as living entities in a way I'll never understand or experience. My bodily and mental experiences were all the same as a regular human's; their emotions and transitions were completely alien to me. All I knew was that Charlie grew to love me as a daughter, that became a permanent part of who he was in a way I would never know myself.

And here… Here I saw the same thing happen again before my very eyes. This man, this vampire- whoever he was- took one look at me, and I could tell his DNA, his very essence had forever altered. This part of me, this untiring desire for me, would follow him for the rest of his life. He would never forget my face, or my scent….

It all happened in the blink of an eye. My foot slid back slightly and my hand unconsciously raised up to my pounding heart. I didn't know what to think right then. I know he wanted to suck my blood to quench his own thirst, but the sad part is that even if he did drink all my blood, he'd still be thirsty for it afterwards. Even if I was no longer here, he'd still desire me. It wasn't until I died; it was until HE died, which made it all the more tragic. And I'm sure he knew this; he must have known this somewhere deep down inside. Gorging on me now would only temporarily solve the problem. I couldn't donate my blood periodically to him either, cause once he got a taste, I wouldn't be alive much longer.

The shimmer in his eyes also revealed something else. Something interesting and a little insulting…. He stared as if he didn't know what to do with me. I was an anomaly to him; a mystery, a riddle to be solved. He knew I was a vampire, like him, but he also saw me more of a human than fellow vampire. The lines on his face reminded me of those on Charlie's face. Not just a human, but a child; a helpless entity in need of constant protection and supervision. You'd think an inconvenience also, like this was something they HAD to do, whether they liked it or not. Of course I did not see it this way, but I had the sneaking suspicion that what I thought- or wanted- was of little consequence. He saw me, and that's all there was to it. He would be bound to me forevermore, and judging by his expression he was not happy with this revelation. It's akin to a werewolf imprinting onto me, someone he so desperately did not what to. This male vampire did not want to be tethered to me, and yet he had to have me. This was purely a need to possess, to hold and keep near, to own. At first all he wanted was to possess me- nothing more.

First possession, then came love.