Oh my. Every chapter is getting better and better. I felt sorry for Carlisle when Rais lefted him. I know Carlisle might not feel this way but, the way you are making him be in this story i think alot of us can learn from it. Can't wait for more.

Author's Response:

I'm so glad you liked this chapter, it was one of the riskiest and is one of my favorites.  Every time Carlisle's heart is broken I'm sad. :*{

Carlisle definitely does not believe he is a good example yet, but he does continue to try to make the right choices, and he will believe in himself more and more in the future.

More is coming, the first chapter in the New World is already in the queue!

Okay, so Raisa isn't bad...she just caused him his first real heartache.I wonder if it made him change his approach with Esme.

I was so happy about the Anton thing when it was working out, but why did Aro feel it was necessary to break Raisa's spirit? Was it because Carlise didn't fear anything else except being lonely?

That was pretty cool with the four of them holding hands, however, why was it necessary for Carlisle to hold their hands too? Was it just so that Aro could read it? B/c it seemed to have let Carlisle in on their feelings instead.

I liked how you got Carlisle released. It made total sense. If he feared nothing, what could possibly keep him there? Brilliant!

Author's Response:

You have the best questions --

So Aro is a controller and he wants Carlisle to be ONLY his, he touches Raisa for the sole purpose of finding her greatest weakness so he can find a way to drive her away so he can have Carlisle all to himself again.

In the communication scene Aro was just wanting to read all of their thoughts at once because he was so offended that there was something going on that he did not know about.  None of them had any idea that Carlisle would be able to see the communication too.  Carlisle has an affect on every gifted vampire's powers that is different than anything they have ever encountered.  So it was unintentional and shows that he is more powerful than all of them...

Carlisle fears many things, but he does not fear his own destruction, and he does not fear the Volturi, which is why that was almost a "chicken" match: would they dare try to kill him?  What would happen if they tried and failed, and what would that do to their position of power?  In the end Aro had no choice, he had to let his favorite piece in his collection go or else risk losing EVERYTHING.

I'm glad you enjoyed it!  More to come soon!

Of all the chapters that you've produced, this one is my favorite by far.  My true favorite part of this was with Raisa.  She's an amazingly well written original character and her presence only served to add life and fire to these stories.  Her story was compelling and her motives were real and her reactions were realistic. 

One of the things that bug me about Twilight Fandom is when people paint vampire love as somethign static and instant, much like imprinting.  This is much more like real life.  You go out, you date somebody, you love them, you get hurt and in the end something drives a wedge between you.  It's not like you just run across your mate one day and that's it.  There's a story and a lengend to it.  He has loved and lost. 

The story of the immortal child in this was fantastic, it totally adds a new dimension to the old story of the immortal children.  It also brings in an old theme, the desire for children, much like Rosie. 

This chapter showed the true nature of the Volturi brothers, ruthless thugs obsessed with shoring up their power base.  As Marcus explained, their benevolnce is all propaganda.  That bit of vampire history back seven thousand years was really good and cool.  I'm an anthro student so we're studying that era in history.  :) 

For me, Carlisle's power isn't a tangible thing, not like Edward or Jasper.  He's like a Taoist priest, he's so virtuous that the fish will voluntarily impale themselves on his fish hook.  He has a goodness that people seem to recognize.  he doesn't bully, bribe or threaten and he doesn't ask or demand control or power.  He's a unifying force, a force of good and for that Caius and those like him percieve that he is their greatest enemy. 

So, Carlisle is my favorite Twilight character and you've paid him a fine tribute.

Ta

Master of the Boot

Author's Response:

I'm really glad this chapter connected for you, it was one of the scariest to post because I took so many liberties with the canon characters and many risks with the original characters!  I agree completely, the idea of "it was just meant to be" romance just does not hold water with me.  Edward and Bella's romance had a little more substance, the other characters deserve that too!

The immortal child part of the story came directly from Carlisle's line in the books "I met two immortal children in Volterra... to know them was to love them."  When I read that line I felt that there must be a MUCH bigger story behind just that one sentence.  Having children is such a primal instinct to humans, and it clearly does not fade with the transformation, I feel it would be such a bane to the existence of male and female vampires alike.

I looooved writing the history of vampires and the Volturi, I'm just a casual student of ancient history so I'm really happy that it all worked for you.

I wrote to a reader below that Carlisle's power is one of connection, he is definitely a unifying force.  He his powerfully connected to humans, and his connection to vampires is already powerful but it increases significantly when he falls in love with one (which is part of why Raisa is so important to the story, besides teaching Carlisle more about the nature of love, he needs the emotional connection for his compassion for vampires to come to full strength).  So he now has compassion for both and he will start to participate in vampire society more, but on his OWN terms, as -- like you said -- a force for good.

There is a LOT more to come in Carlisle's story!  The next chapter is in the queue but will not be posted until after the US Thanksgiving holiday -- looking forward to reading your reviews of the rest!

Was Carlisle pulling in their thoughts completely by accident? And they realized and were scared by it?

I can't help but think about the advancement of technology when I think of Carlisle and his desire to doctor. Some places are already using fingerprint technology aren't they? What if some day the programs are all so intertwined that Carlisle wouldn't be able to work at a hospital for fear that his fingerprint would be traced by the government and they'd freak out... Even if it was several years inbetween... I bet they'd still have the record!

Though there is always stealthy smash and grab type operations for concealing identities... but that probably has to get harder and harder as technology advances too...

Sometimes I'm listening to a new song on the radio and I'll wonder what each of the Cullen's (mostly Carlisle and Edward) would think of it. haha

Author's Response:

Great question -- I don't think that he was accidentally hearing the Volturi thoughts, Carlisle experiences the powers of other vampires differently.  Neither Aro nor Carlisle knew what would happen when Aro touched him.  Carlisle affects every vampire he meets who has a gift: he made Charles want to tell him more truth than he usually would reveal to another vampire, Alistair was pulled toward him with a stronger force than he had ever experienced, he pulled Eleazar like a force of gravity when Eleazar would try read him, he made Aro feel inferior to his power, he made Marcus feel a stronger connective force from Carlisle than he had ever felt -- EVERY vampire, and especially those with powers are affected by Carlisle.  And they are all frightened of him in some way, but Aro didn't break the connection because he was afraid Carlisle was reading their thoughts, he was afraid of what Marcus was predicting.

LOL about the fingerprints.  I do not know of a hospital that requires fingerpad security, some labs do, however.  I agree that technology is a problem for vampires.  Especially things like airport security.  What happens when they get patted down and their legs feel as hard as stone?? LOL -- I choose to believe that Carlisle is savvy enough to find ways to deal with any security situation.

I think Carlisle likes any music that has an appreciation for the classics.  For example, I think he likes hip-hop that incorporates string instuments. ;)

I've had this on my mind ever since I first started reading your story and it just keeps popping back in at random times.

I keep thinking about how you showed Carlisle as an abused child and it both bothers me and makes complete sense. Actually I think it bothers me because it makes sense. I'd never thought of Carlisle as possibly having such a hard life before. It's certainly impacted the way I think of his personality. Which is hard to get from the real book *cough*

Author's Response:

Too true!!  I wrote to another reader (it's all running together now, it might have been you) that I actually originally intended that the Reverend would only be verbally/emotionally abusive (which I actually think is worse in some ways), but as I was writing their first confrontation the morning after Carlisle returns, suddenly the Reverend just exploded with his pent up anger, and I realized that the abuse was going to be more graphic.  And like you say, it's disturbing because it makes so much sense.  It also makes sense to me because some of the most calm and controlled people I know have faced abuse in the past.  It puts things in a certain perspective and sets up boundaries that they will not cross, like "I will never commit violence"  "I will never allow my anger to get out of control" "I will not let small things bother me because I know what matters".  This is of course not the case with everyone who is recovering from violence, everyone is different in their experience and coping mechanisms, but it fit Carlisle very, very well.

I love that you are thinking so much about the character, that is a HUGE compliment that he is becoming as real to you as he is to me.

I must say, you've exceeded my wildest expectations.  From start to finish, this chaper held my attention. 

I loved the history that you gave to Aro, usually he's just the tyrant with no past but here we an really see the tragic origins of the monster.  His history fits his profile like a glove. 

Truly I never thought of Carlisle as exceptionally powerful but you made me believe that he is.  I always thought that his true power stemmed from his abilty to draw people to him without force or bribes.  He just had a unifying rather than coercive power. 

But now another animal drinker.  Things only get more and more interesting.

Ta

Master of the Boot

Author's Response:

I'm so glad you've enjoyed my version of the story ;) I have always envisioned that they politics in Volterra are quite complicated, not as simple as Aro is the leader and everyone follows.

I decided a long time ago that there had to be a SIGNIFICANT reason why the Aro would be so interested in Carlisle, and would elevate him to the level of one of the Volturi.  They have always seemed quite threatened by him, thus their actions in BD.  I have also been dissatisfied with SM's description of his power which I knew had a LOT of potential, so I have played with that quite a bit.  See my explanations on that which I wrote to another reader below!  I'll be curious to know what you think of what I have done with Carlisle's power!

The next chapter is already in the queue!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS STORY! I WISH IT WAS IN A BOOK SO I COULD SIT UP ALL NIGHT AND READ IT.

Author's Response:

LOL I'm so glad you are still enjoying it ;)

Next chapter is in the queue!

I like this start, and am particularly fond of your envisioning of Carlilse as being attracted to the art of carpentry. It is more than a little appropriate.

Author's Response:

I'm glad you are enjoying it.  The idea of the carpentry came directly from the cross that Carlisle still has in Twilight.  It's a craft of discipline, and that fits Carlisle perfectly. :)

I look forward to reading what you think of the rest.

Now you can see why Carlisle spent so much time in Volterra and why he thought of Aro as a friend!  It's an interesting relationship.  Aro, trying to continue his existence by finding things that enamour him and spur on his lust for knowledge.  And Carlisle, learning much about the history of his kind and the mindset of the ruling vampires, as well as the longest continuing companionship he has ever had since becoming a vampire.  He doesn't seem too interested in pursuing whatever power they have detected in him, but simply wants to live his life serving others for humanity's sake.  He must truly be an enigma to Aro!  Can't wait to hear more of Raisa, and what Carlisle must be feeling!

Author's Response:

It's funny, I'm not sure I'd say that Carlisle thinks of Aro as a friend, but there is definitely mutual respect and admiration.  They kind of dance around each other, standing at arms length, and constantly evaluate each other's intentions and motivations.  Carlisle has NEVER been interested in power, but he has found himself caught up in the battle for power his entire life.  He is pretty much the antithesis of Aro, and that is truly an enigma to him ;)

Next chapter is in the queue!

Thanks again for a wonderful chapter -- well, two.  This is, in my NEVER humble opinion, the best story on twilighted.  I really enjoyed Alistair.  He's one of my favorite subcharacters.  I like that Carlisle's gift is compassion.  I always think that Aro doesn't really have any gifts unless you count limitless ambition, narcissism, and curiosity.  I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.

Author's Response:

I'm so glad you're still reading TO!  And thank you for the compliments, I only hope the entire story lives up to the hype ;)

I LOVE Alistair too, but Eleazar has a very special place in my heart!

LOL I'd say your appraisal of Aro is just about right.  And Aro's gifts, while scary and intimidating, pale in comparison to Carlisle's power.  Stay tuned...

*Doofy grin* Glad to see that you used the explanation you gave me to it's fullest extent ;)

Huh. You gave Aro and Eleazar another way to express their talents. I never expected something like that. I am not displeased though :)

I have no good explanation for this, but I just busted up laughing at this line "and even Aro seemed slightly startled"

And now... zomg! Denali mother!

Author's Response:

LOL it was a popular question! :)

I wanted to expand the idea of the gifts/talents.  I tried to make them in the same spirit but with more dimensions!

I suppose we don't often see Aro startled??  Seeing him jump would def be giggle worthy.

And VERY VERY VERY good guess, but I must say NOPE!  Not Denali mother!!  The entire Denali coven is at least 600 years older than Carlisle!  And Sasha was killed by the Volturi at least a few hundred years before Carlisle was even born as a human! ;)

My theory is that Raisa hails from the same source of vampires, but she is not DIRECTLY related to the Denali coven.  There may be a vegetarian tendency among that clan  due to the scarcity of humans in that part of the world tho...

OMG! I've been looking around for a Carlisle backstory fic ever since finishing the saga! You're doing an amazing job. Keep up the good work! It's really original and well-written!

Author's Response:

I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.  I'm almost done uploading the Old World chapters, we're getting closer to Carlisle's arrival in America!