• Chapter one

    People crowded around the red wood casket. Some weeping others just staring at the pale angel girl inside. She had a pale pink dress on her red ringlets framed her heart-shaped face, her lashes were crescents against her cheeks. Rose petals were arranged gently in the casket and on the girl.
    If the people looked close enough, to bend over the body. They could have seen the pink tint on her cheeks, the warmth her body gave. The pale angel wasn't dead she was alive, only sleeping.
    “Rosalie, I only knew ye little, but I'm going to miss seeing ye bright face.” an old man said as he weeped over her casket. People came and went saying their final farewells to the pale maiden. Soon 3 men eased the coffin lid close and gingerly lifted the casket off the alter and carried it down the church steps. Then they took the casket to the graveyard in the back of the church to where a Mausoleum was. They couldn't bury her just yet, since the ground had a layer of ice and snow. They placed her up on a shelf then left the mausoleum, sliding a great slab of stone in front of the door.

    Hours Later...........

    Darkness fell and the mourns of the girl left. Leaving on the sleeping girl. But something always go bump in the night, some low life person who simply wanted to make a quick dollar. But he wasn't alone, he had an assistant.
    “hurry up you fool, before someone notices.” The man snapped as he climbed off the cart. He shoved a tarp wrapped around shovels and a crowbar into his assistant's arms. His assistant stumbled underneath the weight as his employer lite a lantern.
    Why am I doing this? The assistant thought. This is a new low for me.
    Burke Wiles, a grave robber who supplied corpses for medical students. His assistant Edward Hale, a medical student himself trying to go through the motions of studying but being raised on a farm with no money was a hard life. Burke glanced around making sure that no one was following and motioned for Edward to follow him.
    They rounded the church to the Mausoleum Burke pulled and strained to open the vault door. He took a deep breath. “Smells like death, don't ye think boy?” Burke said and lifted his lantern to peer inside. 4 neat coffins side by side, ready for their bounty to be plucked away. Edward tripped over the threshold throwing the tarp out and tried to catch himself by throwing out his arms.
    “shh.” Burke hissed and stood absolutely still, listening for anyone who may have heard. But the only person who heard was the dead. “Your lucky I need your help or else you would be joining the dead.” Burke threatened.
    “sorry.” Edward murmured and picked up the tools that were clattered all over the place.
    “Gimme that crow bar, turns out we don't need the shovels.” Burke said as Edward handed him the crowbar. He drove the end of the crowbar into one of the coffins and pulled, the wood squealed and popped open. Inside was an old crumpled man, who looked to be sitting in the Mausoleum for months. “Spread the tarp.”
    Edward did as he was told and spread out the tarp. Burke then lugged the dead body onto the tarp. Burke was panting when he threw the body carelessly onto the tarp. “Strip em down, I'll get the next one.” Burke said as he went to the next casket. The last thing they wanted was to get caught with their property. God Help me. Edward sighed and slipped his knife into the mans well tailored collar and pulled. The fabric teared and shredded, leaving a fresh trail of cold blood.
    “Crap.” Edward cursed.
    Burke spun around. “Quite damaging the merchandise!” Burke yelled and pulled Edward by the collar of his shirt and pulled him towards the caskets. “You pop the caskets, I'll strip em.” Burke said and went back to the dead man and finished the job.
    Edward grimaced and against his better judgment popped the lid on the next casket. Inside was another man, this time much younger than the first one, except he looked jaundice. Edward lifted the corpse which was recently dead, his eyes hasn't even sunken in Edward lifted onto the tarp where Burke had finished stripping the older man.
    “Next one.” Burke wheezed. At the age of 53 he was in poor health, even Edward could tell. He wondered in what twisted way did Burke Wiles think this was human. Edward went to the next casket and acknowledged the glossy varnish of the casket, a sign that the person inside wasn't a poor popper. Engraved on top the casket was a name. Rosalie.
    Edward sighed and slipped the crowbar into the casket and gently pried. The top came off with a quite pop. Edward lifted the lid and gazed down at the Angel inside, her skin looked porcelain soft and her lips a pale pink. A Rose lavender scent tickled Edward's nose, the girl smelt alive though dead. He went to pick her up but he froze, he saw her chest moving.
    Millions of questions went through his head. Was it his imagination? Did he hallucinate it? But what really made his skin crawl was her warmth coming from her flesh.
    “s**t someone's coming, grab the body and lets go!” Burke hissed and quickly threw together the tools on top of the corpses. Edward grabbed the body out of the casket and slammed it shut, he scrambled after his employer. They piled into the wagon and with the crack of the whip they were thundering down the road. Edward was still clutching the girl's body tightly against his chest, but he was preoccupied to notice, to feel the soft breath against his neck.
    They rounded a corner where Burke's hideaway was -which was an old coach house. He pulled his wagon to the side and hopped out.
    “s**t I'm told old for this s**t.” Burke grumbled as he rolled his sore shoulders. “Come on, we need to get rid of her clothes.” Burke said lugging the 2 corpses out of the wagon. Edward was still clutching the girl tightly, but when he pulled her face away from his neck Hazel eyes were staring at him, questioningly.
    Good god she's still alive! What's going on here!?
    He was about to yell for Burke when a soft hand stopped him. He looked back to the pale- alive- girl. She used her other hand to put a finger to her lips, a gesture to remain quite. “Please don't tell.” she whispered.
    He nodded once and she removed her hand. “You aren't dead.” he said, loud enough for her to hear.
    “no.” She said. “If you help me get away I'll tell you.” She said. Edward looked back at the cabin, he had to figure out a away to fool Burke.
    “Fine.” Edward said. “Your going to have to act like a corpse for a while. “ Edward said. Rosalie nodded and she went limp in his arms again, looking almost exactly like the pale corpse she was minutes ago. Edward strode into the house carrying dead like Rosalie.
    Burke was guzzling down hard liquor from a cabinet in the room when Edward came in. “nice haul tonight 3 for the price of 1.” Burke said gulping down another swallow.
    “Y-yeah.” Edward said and gingerly laid Rosalie on the tarp along with the other corpses. The room was small with a bed, cabinet, fireplace and a chest. Burke stumbled over to where Edward laid the girl and looked down at her.
    “what a looker eh?” Burke chortled and lifted her delicate Hand which was encased in a pale pink glove and inhaled the scent of her wrist. “if she was still alive I wouldn't have hesitated to take her to my bed.” Edward shuttered, if he only knew she was still alive. “Well lets have a look-see eh?” Burke said and pulled out his knife.
    Edward watched as The girl bit her lip, Burke didn't notice but advanced on her. “Wait I want my pay.” Edward blurted, thinking of a way to keep him away from Rosalie.
    “You'll get your pay boy, as soon as the jobs done.” Burke said still advancing on the girl.
    “No, I've spent hours with you digging up corpses and I want my pay.” Edward demanded.
    Burke grumbled and stopped. “fine, I'll get your pay. Finish with her.” Burke said and went to the box stashed underneath his bed where he kept his money.
    “so any more plans this week?” Edward said, kneeling by the girl.
    “I've gotten word there is a funeral not tomorrow but the next day.” Burke said counting out Edward's pay.
    “Time?” Edward said. “I still gotta study and there is lessons tomorrow.”
    Burke hacked up a glob pf phlegm and spat it on the floor. “If you need time off, just say boy.” Burke said and handed Edward his pay. “You say that school means you a lot. “ Burke reached for his bottle again and took a long drink.
    “Your looking a little pale there Burke, I think you need to lay down.” Edward said. He knew if Burke laid down now, he would sleep and that would give him a chance to steal the girl away.
    “yeah, sure. My joints are achin'.” Burke said and deposited himself heavily on the bed. Minutes later the bottle he was drinking crashed to the floor and his snores were echoing against the wall. Rosalie's eyes slowly opened to stare into the blue eyes of Edward's. Rosalie stretched her body out before sitting up, her body aching for being in the same position for 2 days.
    “Are you okay?” Edward asked helping her to her feet.
    Rosalie nodded and walked around the room, quietly. She didn't question the bodies, she didn't even flinch. “Thank you, I was thinking you were going to give me away.” Rosalie said in a sweet tone followed by a smile.
    Edward shook his head. “no problem.” Edward said and glanced at the sleeping blob of man. “Come on, if Burke wakes up and see you alive.....” Edward's voice trailed. Rosalie went to the door and pulled on it, she understood and just had to get outside.
    “Can I get a moment?” Rosalie asked as Edward followed her outside. Edward nodded and Rosalie scurried 5 feet away to go behind a bush where she relieved herself. She came back to Edward's side where she blushed, Rosalie petal pink blossomed underneath her cheeks. “umm, I hate to trouble you anymore...but can I....come with you?” Rosalie whispered. Edward frowned, Why was she in the casket in the first place? Edward thought. “I'll answer all your questions in time.” Rosalie said.
    “Okay, I'll get my horse.” Edward said and rounded the house to where his horse was tethered. He brought an old gray horse where he brought from the farm to Rosalie who was smiling and facing the moon. “Here you ride up front.” Edward said and formed a boast with his hands. Rosalie swung into the saddle and Edward settled behind her. Edward stiffened, when he first laid eyes on her beauty he though she was dead. Now that he knew she was alive, he felt like Burke -wanting to take her to his bed. He shook his head, he just met her and he didn't want to be like the disgusting man he called boss.
    He gently urged his aged horse into a easy lope. He then became aware of the girl trembling in front of him, in fact she didn't even know his name. “My name is Edward by the way.” Edward stated.
    “I Rosalie, I'm sure you saw it on my.....coffin.” Rosalie said and shivered again. When she was in her casket she was warm and comfortable, now that she was out in the cold, she was uncomfortable. Edward then unbuttoned his coat and pulled Rosalie closer to his chest so that his coat- which was a size to big for him- could fit around her. “thank you.” Rosalie said and sank into the inviting warm of Edward.
    Rose's hair smell invaded his senses, she smelt like a breath of fresh air with a tint of Rose and lavender. Never had he felt this way about a women, he wanted to turn her around and meet her soft lips while she pulled his hair. He shook his head and concentrated on the road. The sound of cobble stone underneath the horse's hoofs were like an ax on wood, the sound was deafening to Rose.
    Edward soon pulled up to a shabby looking Inn and he sighed, soon he would be in bed with a full belly and off to dream land. Except the young lady squirmed, reminding him of her presence. He got off his horse then helped Rosalie off, “Its not much of a place, but its habitable.” Edward said placing her on her feet.
    Rosalie nodded and followed Edward up the stairs to the very top where he pulled a key out from his pocket and unlocked his door.
    Inside was a simple room with basic necessities. Bed, fireplace, Stove, Sink, Cabinet, Table and few chairs. Rosalie stepped inside and shivered, the room was just as cold as outside. Edward came inside and knelt by the fire, few seconds later a fire was going. Edward brought a chair by the fire and gestured for Rosalie to sit.
    “Are you hungry?” Edward asked going to the cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread and hunk of cheese all covered in a tea cloth. Rosalie frowned, was he so poor that he didn't have much to eat? She didn't question him but took the offered food.
    “Where would you like me to start?” Rosalie said before she took a ravenous bite of bread and cheese.
    “The beginning.” Edward said.
    Rosalie took a breath before she spoke. “My Full name is Rosalie Marshall. My father Dr. Henry Marshall wants me to marry his colleges son, Ash Kingston.” Rosalie said and took a breath. “But Ash.....raped me and I ran from him. I tried to tell my father but he laughed it off and told me I was marrying him. So I ran away 3 times and they found me each time. so......I faked my death.”Rosalie said.
    “wait Dr. Marshall. Friends with Oliver Weldon Holmes who helped promote hygiene?” Edward said, his jaw on the floors.
    “Yes.” Rosalie sighed.
    Edward mentally kicked himself. Dr. Marshall was currently teaching at the hospital where Edward was studying at, if he knew that he was hiding his kid away. Let alone robbed her of her casket, he was a dead man. Edward rubbed his eyes. “Dammit.” Edward sighed and leaned back in his chair.
    “Is something wrong?” Rosalie asked.
    “Your father is my teacher, I'm studying under him.” Edward said and didn't mention that he knew Ash. Rosalie frowned and looked almost on the verge of tears.
    “Good lord, why do you hate me so much.” Rosalie cried, delicate tears washing her cheeks. “Everywhere I go you force me to be with someone who hurts me.”
    Edward felt bad for the young women, she's gone through hell and back. Now she was suppose to marry someone who abused her. Edward reached out to Rose, gently hugging her shaking shoulder to him. “I'm sorry, I won't tell.” Edward said.
    Rosalie pulled back suddenly, a look of shock on her face that was almost funny. “what?” she asked.
    “You've been through hell and back, women shouldn't be treated like garbage.” Edward said. “if you ask me women are taken for granted, they shouldn't. “ Rosalie was touched, she was ever rarely talked too seriously. Edward realized what he'd done and pulled his arms away his face flushing. “Well you can stay the night here, but your going to have to leave. Like you said your family will find you.”
    Rosalie looked down to her feet, too in awe to speak. Edward got to his feet and pulled the extra blankets off his bed and sat them on the chair. “Here for you bed.” Edward said and went to go sit at his table where he pulled to him a worn copy of anatomy. Rosalie knew what was in the anatomy book since when she was bored she would listen to her father's teachings and would look at the anatomy book. Rosalie then began to move the chairs so she could make her bed. Once that was complete, she unbuttoned the top layer of her dress, her under dress was a peach color. She draped it across the back of the chair.
    She then went to peep at Edward who had bent down over his studies. When Rosalie looked Edward had fallen asleep studying his books. Rosalie scooted his book away and placed a heavy blanket across his shoulders. Rosalie threw a few logs on the fire before curling up on her makeshift bed, soon she fell asleep.