Twilight
Stephenie Meyer
Contributed by Sung Miele
Chapter 17
Summary

Edward takes Bella to Carlisle’s office, where Carlisle is reading. Edward asks to show some of their history and Carlisle obliges, showing a painting of London in the 1650s. Carlisle excuses himself, as he has to fill in for Dr. Snow at the hospital, so Edward tells the story of how Carlisle tried to kill himself and starve himself after discovering he became a vampire, before discovering he could eat deer as a replacement for humans. Carlisle then swam to France - Edward revealing to Bella’s great surprise that vampires don’t need to breathe - and studied deeply at European universities. He took two centuries to perfect his self-control and has become immune to the scent of human blood, which allows him to be a doctor working at a hospital. In Italy, he discovered other vampires - and here Edward shows a painting by Solimena showing Carlisle with three other men, who Edward identifies as Aro, Marcus, and Caius. Edward continues that those vampires are still in Italy, and tried to convince Carlisle about returning to his "natural food source", but to no avail.

Carlisle then went to the New World seeking others like himself and as a doctor cared for Edward’s parents until they died, and finally turned Edward into a vampire when he was at the brink of death. Edward notes that he has stayed with Carlisle since, except for a time of rebellious adolescence about ten years after he was turned. However, this time away only confirmed the rightness of Carlisle’s belief and he returned as the prodigal son to Carlisle and Esme.

Having recounted his adoptive father’s history, Edward then takes Bella to his room, which has a view of the Sol Duc River and a huge CD collection organized by year and personal preferences. Bella asks if Edward is still expecting her to run screaming from all she’s learned and lies by saying she doesn’t find him scary at all. He then tries to scare her by jumping on her and holding her against his chest, but they are interrupted by Alice and Jasper asking to enter the room. Jasper says that Alice says a storm is coming and Emmett wants to play ball, and wants to know if Edward is interested. Alice adds that Bella should come, and Edward asks if she wants to go. She does, and Edward explains they have to wait for the thunder to play ball. Bella asks what they will be playing and Edward stresses that she will be watching while they play baseball.

Analysis

The Italian vampires will play a larger role in future volumes of the series. While the painter of the portrait of the vampires is referred to only by his last name, research makes clear that it is Francesco Solimena or someone from that painter’s family.

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