For all of those I upset with my last chapter, this one should explain things somewhat. I'm aggrieved you didn't trust me! Jules x

Chapter Ten

Carlisle

I drove away from the Swan house feeling very low at the tricks I'd been forced by circumstances to use against Bella and Charlie. When Alice and Edward came to me with their story and the plan I wasn't at all happy to be the one who would be forced to implement it but I understood why. Alice had seen the Volturi sending out teams of the guard to look for law breakers after hearing a rumor that a human had been allowed into our world although they knew neither which vampires or even the sex of the human. Where the rumor originated she had no idea but she had seen the consequences for both ourselves and the Swans and none of it was good.

She and Edward had discussed how best to keep Bella safe, that was their main concern and showed that my compassion had rubbed off on them. Bella must be alienated from the family by some means that would also give us a valid reason for leaving the area. I suggested a row with Edward but Alice said Bella might well try to locate him if we moved under such circumstances and I thought she was probably right.

Despite his somewhat stifling attitude to the girl she did genuinely love him and might well try to find him if we just disappeared which would be even more dangerous. The only way to keep the Swans safe was to engineer a complete and final break. If we followed Alice's plan then Bella would never forgive us and as a result there would no longer be a connection between the Cullens and the Swans. I wasn't sure Edward would be strong enough to go through with it but Alice had talked him round and he saw it was the only way. I think she had pointed out that Edward might be confused by her blood and its strong call and perhaps she was right, perhaps there was someone else out there for him or maybe it was a little white lie said to help him through the pain.

Either way the burden lay heavily on my shoulders.

"I don't think I can do this Alice."

"You must Carlisle. I've seen the alternative, Charlie dead, Bella dead or changed, and the family prisoners of the Volturi. Is that a better outcome?"

"No, but Charlie will never believe my words. He knows his daughter too well."

"I know and you will have to be very persuasive, use your talents Carlisle."

I looked at her slightly alarmed, how much did she know?

Edward left, unable to talk about it any longer but prepared for the worst and once he was gone I turned to Alice.

"I'm not sure what you mean Alice".

"I think you do Carlisle. Everyone thinks you aren't gifted except for your incredible compassion to the humans but I know differently. Your gift is subtle but it works extremely well for that very fact. You could persuade Charlie of anything and unless you want to see him drained along with his daughter you must."

I sat silent for a while, trying to see another route to take but failing and wondering how Alice knew of my gift. As she said it was very subtle so never noticed. I could persuade patients to have a procedure or to stop taking medication, almost anything, and colleagues to listen to me or allow me to take over the care of a patient I knew would die without me but I had never used it for such as this and I really hoped I never would again. I felt dirty, as if I had just committed a crime, and all I could do was hope it would keep the Swans safe.

Edward

I hated every moment of this although I understood Alice's motives and knew she was thinking of my happiness. There was no other way, Carlisle would never believe that Bella could be guilty of betraying me with my brother even if he saw it with his own eyes. So Alice bent the facts to fit in a way he could find acceptable. Telling everyone about Bella's treachery would give it more credence but he had to have some noble reason for his part in this and the Volturi story worked as well as any. He would do anything to keep us and the Swans safe, even if it meant working outside his own strict moral guidelines.

It hurt that my own sire would believe Alice's story of the Volturi and not the real reason for this but she was adamant that if we just went with the truth Carlisle would refuse to cooperate and Bella would be able to continue her dalliance with Jasper, only hurting both my sister and myself. When she first came to me I hadn't wanted to believe her but what choice did I have when she told me of his behavior in the hotel in Phoenix and again since they had got back.

Reading Alice's thoughts was easier than usual and to see their actions through her eyes and all the terrible pain it caused her only steeled my resolve to back her all I could. I'd tried keeping a strict eye on Bella but it was impossible to be with her every moment especially as she insisted on going to the res sometimes. It was these times that Jasper too went absent, before Alice sent him away and she explained that they would meet in a glade just on the treaty line where she couldn't see them and we couldn't go, not without threatening the treaty and as Alice said that would bring disaster and the Volturi down on us. I wanted to call him out on his behavior but Alice was right again, I couldn't win, he was too experienced a fighter even for a vampire who knew his moves before they came.

"Edward he fights on instinct you'd be killed and what good would that do?"

I was thwarted at every move, Alice's way was the only way.

Alice

Keeping all my balls juggling smoothly in the air was a challenge but then I thrived on challenges. This game was turning out to be my best ever. To manipulate and destroy the intricate links between all these people was exhilarating, much more fun than hunting and it had only just begun! The little scene I stage managed when Edward got back the night before had been a masterpiece, only Emmetts stubborn refusal to see bad in Bella prevented it from being perfect but he wouldn't spoil things for me despite his best efforts. I knew, I always knew!