The coven looked toward her, wondering what she was doing. Charles came over to her.

Bella had her head down. But she looked up at him. Her face had an inhuman expression on it. Sad, depressed, lost.

"What's the matter, my dear? We haven't given you reason not to feel comfortable around us, have we?"

"No. . .no. That's not it. I appreciate everything you're doing. I'm just deep in thought," she said, trying to force the thankful tone to come out.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, curiously.

She hesitated, not knowing what to say. "What's my dad going to say when I get home?" she said, forcing a small smile.

Charles frowned.

"Is something wrong, Charles?"

"Well, it's just. . .I had planned for you to live here, you see."

"Really? What about my father? He needs me, I have to help him. Laurent and Victoria will be after him without them here." She got up, and tripped over her own two feet as she tried to get up in a hurry.

"Who are Laurent and Victoria?"

"They are part of James's coven. James was Victoria's mate, and he killed him. Victoria will want revenge. She'll go after Charlie to get to me. Laurent was also in the coven. They are nomads," she said, remembering James. She grabbed her hand, where the scar would be forever on her skin.

Charles knelt down and gripped her arm to look at her hand.

Bella froze, holding her breath, letting him see the scar.

He ran this thumb across the scar, gently and carefully. It looked like a vampire bite mark. . .but it couldn't be. . .If a vampire bit her, she would be either changed or dead. "What is this?"

"James bit me. And he sucked out all the venom. I guess it's here forever," she said, still remembering it. Her eyes got tears as she remembered what he had done for her. She was unaware of it, though.

"Did you ask him to take the venom out?"

"No, he didn't like the thought of me being like him."

"So you didn't say anything to him."

"The venom was spreading. I was almost unconscious."

Charles nodded sympathetically and understandingly. "If it is ever your desire to become one of us, I would gladly oblige."

She looked at him, surprised. She was tempted to ask him to do it right there, so she could go to him. But she wanted her Edward to do it. His venom. But she knew that he would not. She held back the urge to ask him to do it. "Thanks," was all she said.

"Does your father know about the existence of our kind, as well?"

"No. They thought it would be better. Charlie would freak out if he knew. It would be bad, Ed. . .he assured me." She only got through half of his name; a stab of pain had shot through her. She wrapped around herself again.

"Of course it wouldn't be wise. He should be glad he doesn't know. But you. . ."

She looked at him. "But me what?"

"You're. . .it's difficult to say, because neither of you are safe." Charles thought. "However, your father only has a very high chance of being killed if the Volturi ever came across him. You would be killed without so much as the most miniscule hint of a doubt."

"Who are the Volturi?" She knew that there were other vampires out to kill her.

"They're known as 'vampire royalty', but they're much more like a totalitarian regime." Charles's disdain was obvious in his tone and expression. "Aro, Marcus, Caius, their wives, and over twenty guards, most of whom have supernatural gifts that make them all but invincible. They claim to be looking out for the best interests of our race by forcing us to remain silent about its existence under pain of death. In some ways, I suppose they are. But you can hardly accuse them of being humane and reasonable about it."

"Here we go. . ." Levi muttered across the room to the vampires beside him. Another rant about the Volturi. Not that they didn't enjoy listening to them, no matter how often.

"Oh, so what about Charlie? Should I stay here?" As she asked, she pictured herself in his room, on the couch.

Charles paused. He hadn't expected to be interrupted; he never was. "If you did, and they came looking for you, we would do everything in our power to protect you. I promise. As for your father, I cannot say – I've never been faced with this kind of situation. Right now, the best suggestion I could offer would be for my family and I to keep a lookout for these nomads, and kill them if they were found."

"Okay," Bella said. She was glad that they were willing to do this for her. But the look on his face was surprised, as if she had said something or done something. Suddenly, it hit her. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I interrupt?" she asked, feeling guilty.

"That's alright, don't worry."

"How long have you all been vampires?" she asked. Again, she said the word without fear or hesitation.

"Not long. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering. So. . .I'm staying here? If so, then I should tell Charlie that I'm at Jess's house."

"And if he calls. . .Jess? Or visits them?"

"Jess knows the drill," Bella said, smiling. "If he calls them, she tells him I'm in the shower or bathroom. And when he visits, Jess leaves for Port Angeles."

"If he visits, and Jess 'leaves for Port Angeles', where then does he expect that he will find you?"

"He doesn't find me. It's hard to explain, but it works."

"Alright," he reluctantly consented. "Just as long as you're sure."

"Positive," she said.

As she sat there, she let the memories of James wash over her. How he had led her there, thinking that her mother was in danger. Then in the hospital.

Charles decided to give her some time alone. He turned and crossed the room to the coven, taking a place on the sofa and starting to read. Meanwhile, the others stood around, not sure what to do. The huge, nearly empty room rang with silence, until Jesus snarled and tackled the newborn girl to the ground, prompting a fight.