A/N. Am not Smeyer. Duh.
CHAPTER TEN (woo woo. Into double digits.)
JAY POV.
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Charlie's face swam before me; tired and wary. His heartbeat pounded in my ears as I watched, frozen in horror, as he stepped inside and engulfed Bella in a hug. They were talking: I could see their lips moving. But I couldn't focus on what they were saying. The heat left my hand in cold fright only making Esme clutch me tighter. I couldn't shift to smoke now. I was trapped.
Why such a big deal? He was only a weak human right? Right. But that didn't matter at the moment. Because he was the human that had probably just arrested my father. Oh my God.
I arranged myself so I was slightly hiding behind Esme's shoulder. She was much taller than me and I foolishly prayed that everyone would just forget about me. I just did not have it in me to confront Charlie about him now. Out of sight out of mind right? Wrong.
"…is Jay." My stricken eyes snapped to Carlisle's deceivingly calm expression and I shrank further into Esme's shadow.
"She is my cousins' child and will be staying with us for a while whilst they move to England on business. Jay, this is Charlie Swan; Bella's father." Yer I know, I thought absentmindedly. I broke his computer.
Then, Esme stepped to the side abruptly. I was caught unawares and couldn't mirror her action, therefore was left standing face to face with the Chief himself. Esme shot me a comforting look as if to say 'he is a lovely man. He won't hurt you.' I grimaced; so I was scared. Sue me.
Hesitantly, I looked Charlie in the eye and muttered a small hello. He didn't reply. A wave of déjà vu hit me as his face crumpled into the exact same one of puzzled recognition as Jake's had. Sighing, I braced my self for the inevitable.
"Have me met before?" His gruff voice startled me some after all the velvety smooth melodies I had been hearing. I shook my head frantically. Now everyone was confused.
"The forest?" I tried desperately not to look at Carlisle when he murmured this, too low for Charlie, and minutely shook my head.
"No Charlie I don't think so" I chimed in a falsely chipper tone. "But it is a pleasure to meet you Sir." I gave my most lovely award winning smile and his face softened immediately.
"It is a pleasure to meet you too." He chuckled. "You sure do make 'em polite Carlisle!" I saw Emmett grin in amusement before catching a look in Bella's eye. She glared at him for a second or two before he deflated and muttered "What?! It is just so perfect… newly wed prudes, brides' father…" I frowned a little at this but let it slip. It must be an inside joke. Edward was glaring at Emmett as well now. Jealousy laced through my system at this simple family moment.
"Bella! Where is my granddaughter?!" Charlie's face lit up as he asked this in a joyful, loving voice. It was only then when I looked at Bella properly and saw who was in her arms. I froze.
She was the most beautiful child I had ever seen. Even more beautiful then the angels around me and blimey was that saying something. My eyes were glued to her face as she slept peacefully in Charlie's arms. A like flush graced her cheeks and I listened automatically for a heartbeat. It was soft, delicate; like a hummingbird's. Entrancing.
So she was part human. And probably part – whatever the Cullens were. And let me tell you… I had my suspicions on that…
Dark bronze curls fell over her shoulders as she moved. They glinted red in the light and my eyes flew to Edward. He was staring adoringly at the girl, bronze hair falling into his eyes. So she was Bella's and Edward's child. The ninth person in their family. Were there anymore?
I listened half heartedly as Charlie cooed over… the girl. I tugged Esme's sleeve, suddenly frustrated.
"What is her name?" I asked, in tones too low for Charlie.
"Oh Jay dear! I am so sorry… This is Renesmee. She is" At this Esme paused and looked at Edward. He considered something briefly and then nodded once. Esme turned back to me. "She is Edward and Bella's child." Yer I knew that. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Wasn't that obvious?
"Yes I know that". Esme's eyes widened a tiny bit. I received suspicious looks from everyone else too. Who did they think I was?! Some spy from some organization bent on killing them all? I continued in a hushed tone.
"It's a beautiful name. I've never heard it before though. Where is it from?"
At this Esme's eyes lit up in delight. "It's Bella's creation. A mixture of her mother's name; Renee and my name; Esme." She shot a brilliant smile in Bella's direction and Bella smiled back. Oh. That was so… right, somehow. Renesmee. I smiled.
"We, er, we sometimes call her Nessie though" Esme continued awkwardly. Bella stiffened and I giggled. Not popular with the mom then. Esme giggled slightly too. "That was Jake's doing. He claims Renesmee is a mouthful". I thought back to the wolf-boy and nodded my head in agreement. It was so Jake. Even I could see that.
A million other questions burned in my throat then but I swallowed them. What was Jake and Seth's connection with this family? Why was Renesmee so… different? What were the Cullens? I sighed and tuned back in to reality.
"Another game on Emmett?" Charlie asked hopefully.
"Nah" he replied in a fake glum voice. Charlie didn't notice. I shuffled to sit on the stairs again and thankfully no one came to join me. I didn't want to intrude on their moment as Charlie and Emmett gambled over what to watch and everyone else stared at someone else lovingly. Rosalie breezed past me at one point with Renesmee and I wondered why they seemed so attached. Closing my eyes, I let the conversations wash over me and listened contently. Nothing could ruin my bubble now. Not this time, I thought fiercely. But it was then that people started making small talk. God I hate small talk. It ruins everything.
"How is work going Dad?" Bella's singsong voice was lowered a bit to make it seem more human. I stiffened at the mention of work.
"Oh it's fine Bells, fine" Charlie dismissed halfheartedly. I nearly sighed in relief and tuned the conversation back out again. Nearly.
"I was up all night though working on this new case I got." His tone became both confused and angry. I could tell everyone was listening.
"I got this random letter in my post box you know? Confession letter. Said a load of stuff about this guy who had recently moved to Forks. I can't tell you much Bells but it's pretty bad. He has a daughter and we can't find her. It's no wonder really. She was abused bad by this guy. May have committed suicide in Vancouver. A team is down there checking out this old house right now." His voice was sad as he concluded his little speech, completely unaware that everyone single being was listening in right now – frozen in shock. I used a hand to cover my mouth before I screamed. Charlie continued one last time. "I don't think we are gonna find her Bells. She just disappeared." His voice turned fierce. "Don't you dare disappear on me Miss Swan! Er, Cullen." He corrected thoughtfully. "You are all I have."
Silence smothered the room once again and I looked around. Everyone was looking at me. Shocked. Horrified. Angry. Sad. You name it. Not a muscle twitched in my body as I thought frantically about what to do. Unexpectedly however, Charlie continued, this time talking to Carlisle.
"I thought I would tell you Carlisle. You are a doctor right? If she turns up in any hospitals you make sure to let me know immediately. She had long, curly blonde hair, apparently. Small kid, fifteen years old. Looks a bit like – like… a bit like…" Charlie trailed off in shock. He turned slowly away from Carlisle's weak façade of calm. I watched horrified as he came to a stop, facing me where I crouched on the stairs. His eyes widened with emotion – I was too scared to place it. The tension snapped as Charlie uttered his last few words.
"She looks like her. Exactly."
I shifted to smoke and vanished.
A/N. Am debating whether to post it like it is as a sort of add on to the last chapter or make it a proper long one instead. Hmmm mmmm mmmm…
BREAK
A/N Proper long one I think. My are you guys lucky – wink –
Jay POV Still
Rain drizzled down my face in cold, wet streaks. I was crouched on the roof of the Cullen household, curled in a ball. It was a crude imitation of my time spent on Charlie's roof, except this time I could hear the frantic voices down below. They pounded against my skull and no matter how hard I focused on the rustling leaves or the patter of rain, they just didn't stop. I let out a small moan. Why doesn't anything ever go right?
My long hair was whipped across my face in matted clumps. With my eyesight compromised my hearing automatically became enhanced… a downside to having developed senses. Voices I was previously trying to dispel leapt into sharp clarity.
"What the hell did you think you were doing… hiding a runaway? We thought she was DEAD for Christ's sake!" Charlie's gruff, angry voice.
"Dad! We have said it a million times! We didn't know who she was! And aren't you listening to us at all?! It's better people think she is dead! She isn't the same! We are trying to help her!" Bella – desperate, pleading.
"Charlie, if we could just explain -" Carlisle.
"Save it for the station Dr. Cullen! I don't know what kind of game you are playing! You lot have done nothing but hurt my daughter-" "Dad!" "- No Bella! It's true and you know that. SHE JUMPED OF A CLIFF BECAUSE OF HIM! Then you lie to me! Say my daughter is dying when she is actually here with you doing God knows what!" I cringed at Charlie's livid tone and the helpless atmosphere I sense from below. Slowly, I stood and unfolded my beautiful, beautiful wings. Then, as if I had flown all my life, I glided to the ground. It was a sensational feeling; free and light. Making sure to stay out of sight of the windows, I touched my feet down and crept to the front door. I didn't bother to knock.
Guilt swelled up inside me when I took in the scene. Alice and Jasper were sitting on the couch, frozen with shock and what looked like shame. Bella was sobbing quietly into Edward's shoulder at the piano. Carlisle and Esme just stood in the middle of the room, opposite Charlie. Charlie. Red in the face. Fists clenched. Nostrils flared. Tears in the corner of his eyes. Why did I have to hurt everyone? No, not just hurt. This was tearing up a family. Maybe I should just leave after this. Yes, I decided. I will. Maybe I will dedicate my life to finding ways for Phoenixes to commit suicide. A hint of a smile tugged at my lips. That would benefit everyone.
I shut the door with a sharp bang. Everyone turned at once to look at me and I kept my face perfectly blank. I had to be strong for this. For the Cullens. I had made this mess. I'll sort it. I stalked towards Charlie with quick, measured steps and stopped a few metres from him. I couldn't read his face at all. Way too many emotions.
"Charlie". He jumped slightly as I addressed him in a clear, commanding voice. "I would appreciate it if you did not include the Cullens in this. They have done nothing wrong at all. Whatever your past disputes, they are not relevant here. This is between you and me only". I waited patiently for Charlie to formulate a reply.
"Fine." He admitted grudgingly. "The Cullens will be left alone. However, you will address me as Chief Swan and I would like to speak to you about what the hell is going on here." I tilted my head in acceptance of his conditions.
"Where would you like me to start?" Recounting this was going to be hard but hey – what wasn't in my life?
"First I would like to take you to the station-" I cut him off right there.
"No Chief Swan. I am willing to talk to you about this but no other officers. We will talk here and now and I would like the Cullens to be present. I owe them a long explanation." I lifted my hand as Esme tried to protest. She fell silent.
Charlie however was not so agreeable. "I see no reason why this case should be handled differently to all my others." I sighed.
"Chief Swan…" my voice was softer now. I didn't know how he would take this. "Do you remember yesterday in the forest?" His face paled and I knew he did. "Jake showed you something. That something was a part of a whole other world that exists beside this one. I know you know that the Cullens are a part of that world. So am I, Chief Swan. And you are one of the only humans in existence who knows of it. That is why I can tell only you my story".
Only Charlie's labored breathes filled the room. Bella fidgeted uncomfortably as his face went sheet white. He squeezed his eyes shut and we could all here him counting to 100 under his breath. Finally, his face flushed again and he heaved a huge sigh. Without opening his eyes, he continued.
"In my post box yesterday, I found a letter. It had no stamps on it so it must have been delivered straight to my house. It was from a man called David Grayson. I know that he recently moved to Forks. No one had seen him though. I went to his house with some officers and took him into custody on the basis of what was written in that letter. He confessed that he had abused you and that you were dead." He opened his eyes and looked at me. I tried not to think too much about what he was saying, afraid of my reaction.
"That is all we know at the moment. We found his previous address in Vancouver and contacted the police there. They are looking at the house. Meanwhile, we have been trying to find the daughter – Jayme Grayson… you. The father could not tell us how she died or where to find the body so we were hoping she was still alive. However, a recent fire in Vancouver near your house caught our attention. There are people that claim to have seen you walk into that house and not out. Clearly, that is not the case as I find you here, alive and well." He glared fiercely at me when he was done, demanding an explanation. I couldn't blame him. This was getting confusing.
I suddenly felt very nervous. I was about to tell these people things I had hoped to take to my grave. My grave however, was a long way off. I would have to spill early. I took comfort in the earlier words that Esme had whispered to me – she understood. I really really hoped she could keep that up.
My hands began to tremble slightly and I clutched at my jeans. My face still betrayed nothing. Everyone was looking at me expectantly. I couldn't take that. I closed my eyes swiftly and began.
Flashback
There is a girl. She is only young at the tender age of five. The day stared normally; a bowl of her favourite cereal in the morning. Her Mom takes her to school. She had the longest conversation with her best friend Bethany. Bethany is getting a cat. The girl is really really jealous. But not in a bad way. Maybe she will ask her Mommy for a cat. She would call it Meggie. Like her Mom's name – Maggie – but different.
On the way home from school the girl s Mom seems nervous. She is carrying a plastic bag that clinks like glass with every step. The girl asks her Mommy what she bought but her Mommy just answers 'drinks for Daddy'. The girl asks if she can have a cat called Meggie. Her Mom answers sharply 'No!' The girl doesn't ask again.
At their house her Mom tells the girl to go play in her room. She can have tea in bed today – a treat. It will be her favourite; hot chocolate with toast and tomato soup. The girl takes the offer happily.
By seven o'clock however, Mommy hasn't come up for tea. The girl ventures out of her room and skips downstairs, singing happily. She stops when she enters the kitchen. She can't understand what she sees.
Her Mom is on the floor. Is she… crying?! Yes. Her Daddy stands over her. He looks funny – like he is ill or something. Maybe he is. If he wasn't, why would he be kicking Mommy?
The girl realizes something is wrong and asks Daddy why he is making Mommy cry. He turns and she suddenly gets very scared. She doesn't like Daddy like this. He walks towards her, smiling but not quite smiling in an evil way. Like the baddies in the girl's book of fairy tales. But Daddy can't be a baddy. Can't be.
Tears slip down her face. Her Daddy comes closer. Then he does something that had never happened before. He hits her.
The girl runs. She doesn't know why but she does.
In her room she tries to remember what she has done wrong. She can't remember. She had been bad she knows it.
She goes to bed that night without tea and she cries even more. She wishes Mommy were here to say goodnight.
That would be her earliest memory.
BREAK
The girl is seven today. It's her birthday – October 31st. normally for her birthday she would get presents from Mommy and… and her Daddy. She wanted a book this year. But she didn't dare ask for one. Daddy would hit her. She shouldn't want such things. That was bad of her.
But she did want these things. She wanted a book. And a calculator for school. She wanted to go Trick or treating with Bethany this evening. But she hasn't spoken to Bethany for a year now. She wants to see her Mommy smile.
The girl doesn't want to go to school today. So she lies down in bed and cries. And cries. She misses the start of school. Then lunch. She is hungry but she ignores it. At some point her father comes into the bedroom and hits her. He shouts at her for not being at school. She just stares back at him. Mommy says you should never talk to strangers and her father is a stranger now. That night she does not cry. She bleeds though. Her father will be cross. The sheets are all dirty. Stained with blood. But she can't help it. She is bad like that.
BREAK
The girl is ten now. She had no friends. She has no Mommy. When Mommy died it tore a hole in her heart. She got hit some more. It was her fault Mommy died – she just knows it. She can still remember the dead weight of Mommy's body in her arms. She can remember the blisters on her hands she got from digging with the old spade so much. He hit her with that spade. She remembers the scratch of dirt in her shoes. She remembers the mud and tears that run down her face. She remembers burying Mommy in the East side of the garden under her window. She remembers it took her five whole days to dig the grave.
BREAK
The girl is twelve. She is standing on the corner of a street. A man walks up to her. He is dirty and smells. Without a word she gives him the money. He scares her. She waits. And waits. And then he is back. He hands her the bag. It looks and sounds just like the one Mommy was carrying that day. She knows it is filled with beer. She knows that when her Father has drunk it he will hit her even more. She knows she is running out of concealer. She buys some more on the way home to cover the bruises.
No one at school talks to her anymore. It's better that way. At home she lies on her bed and stares at the ceiling. She had learnt to move silently, like a ghost. So no one hears her when she steals into her father's bathroom and takes his spare razor head. She uses scissors to free the blades. She doesn't cry as the bloods runs down her arm. She does it again and again and thinks that maybe if she gets rid of all her blood there will be none left for her father to spill.
BREAK
She is thirteen now. She looks into her teachers eyes as her talks to her. He thinks she is hurting. Is there anyway he can help? His eyes look tired and unhappy. She doesn't want to make that worse. She turns and walks away before he is finished talking. He calls a name – 'Jayme! Jayme!!' – But it is not hers. She does not deserve a name. She is just a shell. A shell that bleeds.
BREAK
The day before they moved to Forks, Jay tried to kill herself. She stood by the side of the road. It was a main road and she shouldn't have been there but no one noticed her. She was used to that. She waits for a gap in the traffic. She watched carefully as a Wall-mart delivery truck approached. She reckons it is going quite fast. Lithe as a cat she sprints into the middle of the road and stands before the oncoming truck. She doesn't feel scared. Or happy. Or anything really. She watches as the truck swerves and just misses her. The cars behind the truck have noticed something is wrong and slowed. Jay sighs and slouches of the road. She can't do anything right. Not even end her life.
Later, people that were driving on that road create a road- block. They call the police. They are still looking for the young girl that tried to kill herself. They don't find her. No one does.
End Flashback.
Those are my most vivid memories. I have repeated them time and time again in my head. I am prepared now. I do not break down when I tell them. Not even one tear escapes. This is my life.
I still don't open my eyes although I can hear that almost everyone but me is crying. No one tries to move, or say anything. I silently thank them for that.
I notice though, that Charlie is not making a noise either. I peek at him and then open my eyes fully. No one gives him enough credit. He is standing tall. Serious. Grave. He may only be human but that does not make him a lesser man. I look into his eyes and I see that he understands. He is a father. He has a daughter. He understands. He is looking back at me and we stare at each other for an immeasurable amount of time.
In his eyes I see dedication. His life's work is to prevent this kind of situation. And I admire him for that. More than I admire any of the Cullens. He tries his best to bring justice to this world. How many other cases of abuse had he seen? He understands. And now he had been plunged into a mythical world. One that he did not know existed. It is dumped onto his shoulders and he nearly lost his daughter to it. And he still stands tall. Still assures me silently with his eyes that I will not go through that again. He will see to that personally.
I do not know what he sees in my eyes. My mask must have slipped because his Chief Swan face softens and Charlie appears again. I see his love for his daughter and his work shine through. I do not see pity. He knows that I am strong. I have made it this far. I do not need it. The ghost of a crinkly smile tugs at his lips, encouraging me to continue. I do.
My voice is monotone – like I am bored. "My father old me that we were moving to Forks. I did not know why. He took the car and left me at our house to get the train or something. He told me to burn our house, so no one could find forensic evidence in it.
"I didn't want to burn the house. It was the only place I could remember my mom in." My voice cracked a tiny bit. "I knew there was an abandoned house on the same street and I decided to burn that one instead so my father would see a fire on the news and think it was our house.
"I used the whisky he had given me to drench the floors and upholstery." Now my voice was quiet. Charlie must've had to strain to hear it.
"I wasn't going to commit suicide. But when the house caught fire I just… I just didn't have it in me to move. I felt so, so tired all of a sudden. And I just let the fire burn around me. Eventually I passed out."
I couldn't hold it in any longer. Salty tears cascaded down my cheeks and I sunk to my knees. I stared at the floor and didn't move, didn't sob, didn't breath. I watched as Charlie's shoes stepped closer and eventually his face came into view as he crouched down with me. He was in police mode now.
"S'ok kid" he whispered. "It's over now. If you don't want to talk that's fine." Then, he layed a hand on my shoulder. IT felt like something a father would do and I looked up into his kind face. If I stopped now I wouldn't be able to continue. Defeated, I finished my story.
"When I woke up again (Charlie frowned a little at this before nodding to himself) I was different. My eyes used to be green you know. The house was still burning but the fire felt cool to me, natural. I walked upstairs and looked in the mirror. It was then that is realized I wasn't human anymore. Different.
"There were people outside but it didn't matter. I now had ways of getting around unnoticed. I took my bag and left for the train station. I went to Seattle and then got a taxi here. I went to my father's house and convinced him I was dead. That he was seeing a ghost, or an angel. I think he was drunk at the time so it wasn't so hard.
"And then I went to your house, Chief Swan." HE looked a little surprised at this. "I was going to just leave you a letter but then Jake came round. I followed him and you into the forest and watched as he phased." Charlie cringed. I however, was smiling a little now. "I realized then that I wasn't the only non-human out there. He mentioned the Cullens and I knew that I had to find them. I knew that I couldn't be allowed around humans anymore and so they were the only options I had. First though, I put the letter I had written from my father in your post box."
"Hang on… you wrote the letter?" Charlie was frowning at me now. "But Mr. Grayson admitted to that. It was in his hand writing as well. And it had his finger prints on it… You can't have written that letter." He finished this sentence with conviction and I could tell I would have to prove it. I closed my eyes and remembered what it had said.
"Chief Swan. My name is David Grayson. I have a daughter called Jayme Grayson. We recently moved from a house in Vancouver. The address is over leaf." I heard a crinkling sound and saw Charlie draw the letter from his jeans pocket along with a notepad, astounded. I continued and watched as his eyes skated across the paper.
"In this house you will find the evidence of the physical abuse I inflicted on my daughter. You will also find the evidence for the murder of my wife. It was me that hung her. Her body is buried in the garden. I am an alcoholic. I am writing this letter in confession to my crimes and would like to be brought to justice. I am sorry. So, so sorry.
Yours Sincerely, David Grayson."
I finished quietly. My voice croaked. I felt as if my heart had been tugged out then hung drawn and quartered. I had turned in my own father. My father. And I didn't feel guilty. I knew everyone's eyes were on me. I couldn't even begin to describe how the situation looked. Too many emotions. Too much. Just too much.
Cold arms caught me as I keeled over sideways in a dead faint.
A/N. Phew! Intense no? I hope you liked it. Tell me if it was boring or not! Plus… what would you like to happen next? Give me idea please! Thanks for reading.
So this was a very quick update! The next one should be in a few days. –K-