I almost cried....  My heart broke for Edward! He was almost willing to die, just to see his parents again. I can really see the dilemma Carlisle must have felt --'Do I take from Edward, the right to rejoin his parents in heaven; or could I possibly gain an adopted son's love by transforming Edward into a vampire for eternity here on earth? How tortured and responsible Carlisle must have been to make that final decision and claim Edward!  I enjoyed seeing a bit of Edward, Sr. as a loving and doting father instead here...sometimes I felt he might be seen as too stern, too busy or too 'distant' in his love for our Edward in SM's books. You vindicated Edward, Sr. for me......

I cringed, waiting for THE inevitable attack to happen, and when it did, I felt the terror of the attacking vampire and the pain our Carlisle felt! I wondered why the search party had one woman included and I said to myself, 'No, a woman isn't about to be thrust into danger, on purpose?!' But sure enough, that's exactly what did happen. How horrible for Anna to be used as beautiful "bait" in such a deadly dangerous plan!!! I wonder if Anna had survived? Or, if the leader incubus and/or the other vampires caught her? Women must have hated and feared being asked to participate in raids, with no rights to object ---for fear of being acused of witchcraft themselves!!! You cleverly built me up for the incubuses as sexual predators and feasters on human blood excellently before the search party scene!!! I hadn't suspected that Anna and other young females would be used in search parties for vampires, wizards, warlocks and witches back in 1600's London ---you really did some fantastic researching!!! This was a fabulous pre-quel!! Thanks!

How grateful Carlisle was and would always be, to Elizabeth Masen's love for Edward, no matter the cost for her own life! Elizabeth had so wanted a happy life for her son ---growing up, falling in love, marrying and having a family! Maybe in heaven, Elizabeth begged God to send Bella to Edward and the Cullens, almost a 100 years later?! 

A great story, except the sentence about her pulse accelerating, because, well, Vampires don't have pulses.  No criticism, I'm just saying.

this is so far my favourite of the series, it was sweet that carlisle felt such love for esme even when she was human.

dreamer. <#

i like it. it is a good interpretation of what happened and i believe it to be very accurate to what imforation is given.

dreamer. <#

This was kinda short but good *smile* I really like the way you used the old "Enza"-Saying.

I liked it. the only thing that appears a little odd is, that Carlisle takes her to the morgue while she is still faintly alive.

I really like how Edward acts, no displeasure or approval, and just oh so above it all.

Esme's baby was found in the crib....it's kind of vague, it just leaves me wondering why. 

I like how you mentioned that Carlisle visited Edward every night.

I liked the memory of a young Edward with the train, it's very rare that anyone ever mentions Edward as an actual child.

I don't understand why the head vampire changed Carlisle instead of draining him, in the book I think it said it was because the vampire was weak. Although there is no clear indication in this story that he weak, except for the part where he ran slow but it said as if to taunt him.

Also, I was always under the impression that Carlisle organized the group in order to prove something to his father.

I do like the fact that you do show that Carlisle does not agree with his father.

Really lovely.  You did a good job bringing Carlisle's conflict to life.