Yin & Yang

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters, they belong respectively to Stephanie Meyer. These words however are my own.

AN: Sorry for the extremely long delay, I'm in the middle of exams so there is little to no chance of doing anything other then study.

I wanted to say thank you to alwaysgone for her lone review on my last chapter. I also want to thank ReaderRabid and limeygreeness as well as everyone else for the continuing support. It really means a lot to me!

This one is just to chop through all the angles and though I'm honestly not fond of this one and it may seem a bit boring at first, I really wanted to get some Father-Daughter time in there. But…soon I think its time for another lovely Edward scented lemon chapter don't you? Of course its probably going to need some extra spices due to the mushy love stuff all the way back in the 4th chapter. (Which is due to the fact that I had intended to stop after the 5th chapter but decided to keep going. It's something that I regret a little because I could have probably played this out better if I had stuck to my original plan…but that's all I can do I suppose. I just hope I'm not boring you guys!).

Geez…whatever happened to my short Author Notes? o.O

The sun was still splitting rocks as I left Emily's house with my father in his police cruiser. I shielded my face with the visor as we turned around the corner while the bright yellow rays stung my eyes; I blinked a little to regain my sight and glanced over at Charlie who was looking sideways at me.

"So, how was your night? I never was able to ask since there was so much going on at the Black's house. You heard about Jake's friend right, the one named Quil? His whole house was washed out to shore. I was talking with him earlier this morning and he seemed to be more concerned about some little girl by the name of Claire and her family then he was about his own safety". I had expected this, even if it was as subtle as Charlie hoped that it would be by making small talk to pry he still seemed in awe that the whole ordeal of the storm had such an impact on everyone.

If only he knew how much of an impact it really had.

I resisted the urge to give a nervous laugh a little at his expense just as a memory resurfaced of Jacob once telling me that Quil had imprinted on a toddler by that name. I hid a smile at how sweet that sentiment really was, even though I knew Quil would be tearing himself up inside to make sure that she was all right.

Just like I was doing now as I bit my bottom lip once the smile faded and clutched the phone a little tighter.

"Quil is really sweet like that" I ventured, being honest "My night was just fine. Detention was grueling and my poor truck died…"

I saw Charlie grimace and I made a face to match remembering how it had sputtered lifelessly until I pressed on with the conversation before he could ask to many questions about things I just wouldn't understand.

"But other than the storm everything turned out fine. I was keeping busy by helping Esme out with a few recipes that she was planning on cooking while Edward and Carlisle were out. I didn't see very much of Edward at all though" I made a face that I hoped looked really depressed by that fact, I was sure it worked however—after all I had months of practice a short time ago. I squeezed my eyes shut before forcing myself to look at Charlie again and continued on "I slept in the room with Alice of course and because neither of them returned until early this morning because of the storm".

Everything I had just said was a lie and a secret ploy all for Charlie's sake but it seemed to work as I saw a happier look flicker across his face, which was probably due his thoughts that I wasn't with Edward the entire night. I tried not to cringe at what he would do if he knew what the both of us had actually been doing. I was happy that my dear Vampire was bullet proof.

"Oh I see then…" My dad shifted a little and hit the gas after the traffic light we were stopped at flashed green. The car was silent for a moment before I pulled out my phone, I just couldn't take the agony of the tightness in my chest any longer and it seemed that we were through with the small talk for now.

I keyed in Alice's cell phone with rapid succession and I tried to settle my breathing rate in those few short seconds.

The phone rang once before it was picked up,

"Bella?" I could hear the relief swim into his voice and instantly the claws around my chest eased off a bit.

"Yeah, Edward its me" I switched the phone to my other ear as I saw Charlie look at me from the corner of his eye again. "Listen, I know you promised Carlisle that you would be helping out at the hospital like you were last night but I was wondering if maybe you could stick around long enough for dinner? I know Esme had her heart set on cooking with all of us there and I thought it might be nice to have a talk with the whole family".

Again I said all of this for my Father's benefit, as I knew it wouldn't be easy to convince him to let me go to the Cullens house again without some drastic reason, and this was the only thing I could come up with. I just hoped that Edward would clue in on the message behind my words.

"Bella, is something wrong?" I could hear the tightness in his voice; it sounded as if he were going to come through the phone at any given time just to be by my side.

I hesitated a moment "Uh…Yes" and quickly added "And no. But I'm sure Carlisle won't mind waiting to start his shift a little later than usual right?"

There was a light pause on both our ends "I understand, where are you right now? Do you want me to pick you up?"

I wanted to say yes but I bit my tongue "I'm with Charlie right now. He's taking me back to the house so maybe you could pick me up there?"

I looked over to gauge Charlie's reaction, his mouth was set in a thin line but he sighed and shrugged. I gave a half smile, my way of thanking him, and proceeded to listen.

"I'll be there as soon as Charlie leaves" Edward responded firmly, and already in my minds eye I could see myself in his arms again.

"Ok" I nodded, even though he couldn't see it.

For a couple of seconds the both of us were silent.

"And Bella?"

"Yeah?" I responded, my breath hitching a moment.

"I love you" there was a short pause "Be safe"

I murmured that I loved him to and clicked the phone shut. I stared hard out at the window, venting all of my worry into anger and scowled at the sun. I was so intent on my focus at the bright yellow hydrogen ball that I hadn't realized that we had already arrived at home.

I pressed my fingers to the handle and let myself out of the car before slamming the door shut. I made it to the front step in a couple of strides when I heard Charlie call out my name from behind me, he was still in the drivers seat with the window rolled down when I turned to face him.

"Yeah?" I called back to him.

"I'm going to the Newton's store to pick up some supplies. Have your dinner with the Cullens and I'll order in some pizza or something later" he replied nodding in my general direction.

I hesitated a moment "Are you sure? I don--"

But Charlie just waved the words away "It's fine Bells, I'm probably not going to be home until late anyway."

I smiled a little "Thanks Dad"

He returned my smile, the edges of his eyes crinkling a little, and began to roll the window back up. I turned and made my way into the house before running up the stairs and thrusting open my bedroom door. I pulled the blinds up as soon as I was sure Charlie had safely pulled from the driveway and I craned my neck to watch him leave down the road and pull the last corner on our street.

As expected seconds later Edward's shiny silver Volvo pulled up alongside of the curb. I longed to see his perfect features staring up at me through the windshield of the car but its black windows prevented me from doing so. I turned away and quickly tugged off my clothing to replace them with fresh ones that I had grabbed from the closet. I then bounded down the steps two at a time and out the door and into his car.

As soon I sat in the passenger seat my head was tilted and cold lips were pressed against mine in a long and well-needed kiss. I adored it, pressing back, losing myself in the moment before breaking away to breathe a little air into my screaming lungs.

I grasped Edward's hand as it caressed my face with a tender touch. I stared into his eyes and noticed how light and topaz they were "I guess you needed breakfast sooner or later".

I smiled at him and he returned it, even though neither of ours were as relieved as they should be as I felt the car accelerate backwards and whipped into reverse and onto the street.

"Your hurt…" Edward commented, taking my hand and examining it "And you kind of smell like wet dog"

I scowled a little "It was Jacob's fault…but not in the sense you think it was!" I added quickly, once I noticed Edward's nostrils flare in sudden anger "I tripped, of course, but I did have an interesting talk with Jake and the others".

"Does this talk have something to do with you being so afraid?" I could tell that from Edward's reaction he didn't like the words with 'Jacob and friends' and me being scared used all at the same time. As we rolled to a stop in his driveway, having forgotten how fast his driving could be, I placed my hand in his as we both got out of the car and walked to the house.

"I think Carlisle might have to take the field on this one…" I noted as he opened the door for me "I'm just glad that everyone one is alright—you especially".

"Who's afraid? And why are you worrying if everyone is ok?" Alice bounded over to me, and then turned her face towards mine with an apologetic expression "Sorry Vampire ears are kinda tricky with the whole eavesdropping thing".

"That's why you shouldn't do it" Edward remarked and then inclined his head as Carlisle and Esme came down the stairs followed with the rest of the Cullen family.

"Bella has something to tell us" Alice prodded, looking to me "What's going on?"

Edward threw her a silencing look as Carlisle ushered us all into the living room. I took the seat next to him as the rest of the family settled into chairs and onto the large sofa. I took a deep breath, feeling anxious as all eyes stared at me, and began my account with Jacob leading right up to what Sam had said about the Quileute tales.

"So…this Hunter, is he really as bad as the legends say?" I finished, eyeing all of them with a knot in my stomach. What was I going to do if something happened to them?

Edward gave a small shake of his head and for an instant I felt a tiny shred of hope. But it was crushed when he locked eyes with me.

"There worse"

I paled, instantly feeling sick to my stomach.

"Wo—worse?" I croaked in disbelief "How can they be worse?"

Edward inched his hand towards mine and I grasped it tight not ever wanting to let it go. He drew in a deep breath and let it out again before continuing "The wolf legends only give one half of the story, the Hunter's path to righteous in cleansing the world of all evil".

He paused a minute, seeming to want to edit his story before heaving a heavy sigh.

"When you live as long as we do Bella, as Vampires I mean you begin to hear things, some of them good and some of them bad, such as tales of how we first came to be and why we are able to walk among the world as we do. Then there are other ones, the wolves and their vendetta against the blood drinkers for instance. But there is another story as, old as the legends themselves, they speak of the ones bestowed with a greater magic than all the evil in the world combined"

"They use magic?" I asked in disbelief "Like with wands and stuff?"

Edward chuckled a little and I found the sound to be somewhat soothing "No Bella, there not from Hogwarts".

"So no stakes or snappy catch phrases? There just regular human beings" I asked, a little astonished and more than a little frightened.

"Well, yes I suppose. The mantle is passed down from father to son, thus the duty is always ensured that it will be carried out the way their laws and rituals have intended it to be" It was Carlisle that answered this time and my attention was drawn to him.

"Still though Vampire hunting and Werewolf slaying can not be a very profitable job" Emmett said, slinking back into his chair.

Carlisle smiled, it was a grim one "Hmm…You would be surprised by that. How many people would trade their weight in gold for something as rare as the skin from an actual Werewolf or the hand of a Vampire?"

I shuddered a little and Edward rubbed my arm in a soothing way, it helped a little and I smiled at him.

"See…I always knew those horror buffs and comic book geeks were going to get us someday" Emmett teased and threw Alice a look after she batted him in the arm.

From the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle pinch the bridge of his nose, I turned to face him and was startled to see his face much more grave then mine or even Edward's, I stared at him a moment before realization dawned on me.

"That's not all is it? There's more isn't there…" My voice was barely audible and I felt my heart pound in my chest a little faster.

Carlisle looked to Edward, whose jaw was clenched, and sighed "No Bella it's not, these Hunter's don't differentiate between good and evil. In their eyes the end justifies the means and whoever stands in their way just become collateral damage".

"Which means…" I breathed "No one is safe".

I knew this was inevitable but I figured everyone would rally some sort of action or exchange some sort of plan in order to get to safety. I surveyed them, each and every one of them, and as they all looked away from my prying eyes I swore I felt my heart stop in my chest.

I gripped Edward's hand tight "Edward, no! You can't be seriously thinking of doing what I think you are."

His lack of response gave me all the information I needed. I vaulted from the chair to stare at everyone "This…this…thing is going around killing every supernatural enemy it can find and you all want to confront it?" I spat at them bewildered; I tried to read Alice's face before looking to Edward and then back at Jasper and everyone else. I wanted to stamp my foot, yell at them, grab them by the shoulders and shake them all…anything to get them to understand that this was a bad idea.

"You have to understand Bella that we are not only doing this for our sake" It was Carlisle again, his voice was low but it traveled easily to my ears as I faced him "But for you as well".

I was confused "Me?" I asked trying to decipher the message hidden in his words. He took one look at me, right in the eyes, and began again.

"Yes, for you and for everyone else. In their eyes this entire region has been infected with evil energy, it's only a matter of time before they start trying to cleanse it".

Edward stood up, and intertwined his fingers with mine, I broke from my gaze on Carlisle to look at the man I loved so dearly "Bella if we don't do something to stop this now the Hunter and its supporters are going take out everyone in Forks".

I felt my breath hitch in my throat and I clenched the front of his shirt tight for support waiting for the final blow.

"If we don't do this now…" Edward spoke, his voice sounded far away and I shook my head to clear it "Everyone will die".

The words had somehow collided with my brain, I took one last look at my lovely Angel to etch his face into my mind, before the world around me was engulfed into a sea of black.