This is a sister story to "Cornelia: A Tale of Twilight." For those of you who haven't read it, I suggest you do so if you wish to understand this story.

For those of you who have: Welcome! This is Carlisle's POV on the first "part" of the story. And only the first part. I will not be continuing past that point. As I mentioned before, I have other POV's written (Edward's, Jasper's, others that I can't yet tell you about...), but I'll publish those in a separate 'extras' story once I've completed the main fic.

For now, enjoy this new perspective. As you may notice, I've kept the same chapter titles respectively.

-Scarlet

Her Beautiful Trail of Blood

Carlisle's Perspective

Chapter 1: The Storm and the Stranger

I was dying.

It was a strange phenomenon, as I was already dead. Each day my heart grew colder... my life dwindled further. I had tried every external method of invigorating my life – leaving for the New World, to brighter shores – but it seemed as though it was impossible to live again. If I'd ever been alive. My memories often clouded and drifted like a forgotten dream.

The time I spent with Eleazar in Canada helped me greatly. However, I'd moved on for a very justified reason. A reason which, now, eludes me completely. I don't know what drew me south; the cold, perhaps.

I stumbled across Hoquiam quite by accident, really. I'd been neglectful of my thirst in my travels, and the alluring scent of the townsfolk called me there. I was quick to establish myself, and I became an apprentice to the senior surgeon there; one Doctor Peter Whittier. He was kind to me, as well as the others in town. I employed John Stockton to build my new home just outside of Hoquiam to the south. All was well for several years, other than the sinking depression that consumed me day after day.

The specific day in question was more miserable than most others. A tempest hung over town (a good thing in my unique case), and drenched the poor inhabitants thoroughly. I stayed at the clinic until the sun went down, and declined a dinner invitation from Peter before he left for the day. The day had been relatively uneventful, and I busied myself with reorganizing some medical reports before deciding to leave. I retrieved my hat, umbrella, and medical case from the cloak room, and ventured into the night.

Raindrops were just beginning to fall from the heavens. I pulled up my umbrella against the drizzle, which soon turned into a heavy rain. I walked at human pace, my bearing set for the stables outside of town.

When I was halfway to my destination, I crossed a strange trail. The scent was unfamiliar to me, and even odder because of it. It was more definitely non-human, and had been placed there rather recently. I turned around abruptly, and gazed down the empty main street of Hoquiam. Wishing to investigate the situation further, I allowed my senses to guide me along the trail.

It wasn't long until another figure joined me on the road. I saw her small, feminine frame from a great distance. Her steps were shallow and weary, and her shoulders were hunched under the torrent weather. She carried nothing with her, save the clothes on her back. The only thing that concerned me was the unbreakable gaze she held on me, forcing me to stop walking; her hand raised to block the rain from her vision. It occurred to me suddenly - the rain between us alone would have been unsuitable for normal human sight, leave be the distance. Is she the source of the strange scent? If so, what consequence will her presence create here?

Her scrutiny unnerved me. It was as though she knew all my secrets by one severe look. However, I heard her inhale once, and her steps halted quite suddenly.

Several moments passed, in which we exchanged unblinking stares. Her posture was stiff and defensive, and the stance surprised me greatly. She's knows what I am... but how could it be? I strode forward, and, like a polar magnet, she strafed back. Her youth, as well as her apparent knowledge of me, perplexed me greatly.

I began walking forward slowly, until I reached an acceptable speaking distance. "Hello?" I called, hoping she could hear my friendly tone over the wind. She didn't react at all, which lead me to believe that she hadn't. So, I continued walking until I reached her, and shielded her shivering frame from the rain with my umbrella.

Nothing could have prepared me for the next moment. I inhaled to speak again, and the scent that I breathed in was like none other. It held only a small resemblance to the trail that I'd followed; it was much stronger, more potent. It was sweet like sugar, tart like apples, and filled every one of my senses. I felt a small trickle of venom enter my mouth, and forced myself to swallow it. I was more tempted in that moment than I would be again for many years.

Her eyes were large as she looked up at me; the sight was amplified by her dilated pupils. The irises were aqua blue, or perhaps pale green – I couldn't be sure. Her skin was pale from the wet (or pale of its own) and raindrops clung to her cheeks and bare neck. Her chin was sharp and subtle all at once, and her shapely pink lips trembled. Her hair was dripping with water, and fell over her shoulders in thick brown waves. I heard her teeth click together softly from the cold weather.

Disregarding the allure she held for me, I became worried about her health. "Are you well, Miss?" I asked, in a voice that was hardly my own. I silently struggled with my worse half.

Her eyes, which had been lingering on my mouth, now darted up to my eyes. I felt myself falling through those blue-green depth, helpless against their attraction. It was as though they were black holes, sucking me in against my will. Fright filled them, more than before, and she stumbled back from me. "Y-Y-Your eyes!" she stuttered. Her small hand pointed accusingly at me face.

I found it puzzling that she focused on that detail. Granted, my eyes were different from others of my kind, but that wasn't what I'd expected for her notice forthright. I held out a hand in greeting nonetheless, hoping to distract her. "Forgive me. I am Carlisle Cullen."

Her eyes dropped to my hand, and she stepped back as though I would use it to harm her. "Er, Cornelia," she replied faintly.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said with a raised voice, dropping my hand. "May I ask what keeps you so in the rain, Miss Cornelia?"

Immediately, her head shook from side to side. Her eyes were wary now, instead of frightened. Perhaps she's decided that I won't hurt her... but she's still cautious. What has happened in her life to make her so apprehensive?

"Well, I suggest you get indoors before you catch cold," I said, putting as much condolence into my tone as possible.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you," she said cordially, "but I never take ill." Her tone was practical.

Her implication was apparent, but I chose not to see the truth. It made me very uncomfortable, knowing that she stood before me not quite human. I frowned deeply, but my concern for the small creature was persistent. "Might I at least offer you some shelter for this evening?" I suggested. "This weather is good for nothing."

"No, Mister Cullen," she replied curtly. "I must decline."

Her answer was almost predictable, judging by her previous actions. I could almost see her thoughts; she knew what I was. I nodded once, sharply. "Allow me to point the way to the nearest inn. I must encourage you to seek rest there," I said adamantly, pointing to the Wells' inn.

Her eyebrows shot up, in both excitement and confusion. She began moving away as she spoke, "Th-Thank you! It was a pleasure," she said hastily.

I watched her speed to the inn. Her steps were lighter than before – almost too fast to be within an acceptable human range. Theories and speculations formed in my mind as I stared after her. She was not human by any stretch of the imagination; she confounded me greatly.

After several minutes of standing there, I turned back for the stables. The encounter had been so strange, it almost seemed as though it was imaginary – too bizarre to believe. Yet, her scent lingered in my mouth, and her face stuck as a picture in my head. The strange girl had been as real as life.

As I resumed my usual mundane existence, I couldn't keep my thoughts from drifting to the young woman I'd found on the rainy street...

Cornelia.

Please review. Your feedback means the world to me, and then some. I don't have much of this started, so you can complain about the writing; if Carlisle is out of character or whatnot.

Thank you for reading. The next chapter is in the works.

-Scarlet