12. Choice
The crushing realization swept over her as she held fast to her dad.
Charlie - a vampire. Unable to shed tears, Bella mourned the tragedy of it all. His human life had been stolen, and he was being used as much as the rest of them. And for what?
When they finally parted, Charlie's hand held her cheek. "Thank God."
She had no words. What could she say? I'm so sad your life as a human is over, but I'm happy to see you again?
Bella found that she couldn't find the courage to look at any of them but steadied her gaze on her dad all the while feeling the penetration of Edward's eyes on her back. Charlie began to step toward them, his brows scrunched together tightly as though he was in pain. He approached each one with the oddest expressions, lingering on Edward the longest, but then turned to Carlisle.
"Did you kidnap my daughter?" Charlie asked Carlisle, suddenly all business. "Did you...do this to her?"
"Not at all," Carlisle said. "Bella came to us after she was already transformed. She's been living with us for over two months now, but she's never been under any obligation to stay."
"Oh," he said, appeased by Carlisle's words and casual manner. Again, his gaze darted toward Edward again but then moved to Jasper and then to Alice. "Well, I guess I found what I was looking for," he said. "We'll be on our way. Thanks for...uh...having her."
"Wait," came Edward's voice. "Bella doesn't have to go. She's part of our family now."
Charlie turned toward Edward. "Young man, I appreciate you giving her a place to stay, but I'm her family. I've been sick with worry since she went missing, and now that I've found her, I'm not about to let her go again."
"Won't you stay for awhile?" Esme asked, gesturing toward the interior.
"That's kind of you to offer, but I've got my orders."
Orders. Bella's heart felt like lead in her chest. Apparently, Charlie had been given a mission, too.
"Dad, you can stay here with us," Bella said quickly, turning to Carlisle. "Right?"
Esme and Carlisle chorused, "Of course."
"See? We don't have to go."
"Listen, she's gonna be fine. I wouldn't let anything happen to her," Charlie announced, his gaze following the line of eyes before him until they settled onto the still figure of Alice. "She's not in any danger."
At this, Alice's previously frozen gaze dropped to the floor. She was giving up. Defeat was not an expression that Bella was used to seeing on the clairvoyant's face.
Emmett was peering out the window, a deep frown on his lips. "Yeah? What about him?"
"That's just Jacob. He's my friend's son and I love him, but I'd kill him if he set a hand on Bella." All at once, he covered his ears with hands. "Bells, we gotta go. Now."
Edward and Alice exchanged a look at which Edward just shrugged.
Charlie's mouth set in a line. "We have to go, honey. Say goodbye to your friends."
"What about what Bella wants?" Edward asked.
"She's only seventeen- not even an adult yet. Bella's too young to know what she wants."
"I beg your pardon, sir, but human laws don't really apply in the same way."
"In every way that is important, they do," Charlie retorted with a note of angry finality. He tugged at her sleeve with one hand as the other braced his forehead. "Bells...we gotta go."
A sob broke out from Esme as she embraced Bella. "Please. She's one of us and we'll take good care of her, I promise. You can visit her anytime you like."
Bella looked with the last bit of hope to Charlie, who shook his head. She recognized that long-buried feeling of tug of war from when she was just a young girl - being pulled from one parent to the other.
"She's not yours to keep," Charlie insisted, and to her surprise it was Edward who gently pulled Esme away and nudged Bella in the direction of Charlie.
"I'm coming, too," Edward said, and Bella thrilled at his words, realizing he was just behind her.
"No," cried Esme, now clinging to Edward's arm, the anguish apparent on her soft features.
Alice shook her head to him, her eyes communicating some sort of danger. "Bad idea," she warned.
"I won't let that happen," Edward said.
"You can see it as clearly as I do," Alice said, though the stubborn set to his jaw prompted her to turn to the head of the family, her eyes wide with alarm. "Carlisle..."
Carlisle took his place on the other side of Edward. "Son, please," Carlisle urged. "We need you here."
Bella watched the glances and imagined the silent exchanges as they bounced around the room. She knew it was too much to hope for as the determination on Edward's face dissolved into wariness.
Nevertheless, she dutifully went to each member and hugged them, thanking them, leaving Edward for last.
"I can't say goodbye," Bella whispered into his ear as he held her close.
"Then don't," Edward said.
"I'm so sorry," Bella said, seeing no other way out of this impossible situation. Those were her last words to him.
After one last reassurance from Charlie that Bella would be safe, Carlisle extended them an open invitation for whenever they would like to return, and once they were off the front porch, they disappeared out of sight.
Alice's vision about her leaving had been right.
And now, there were three things Bella was positive about:
First, she was irrevocably in love with Edward.
Second, Edward would never forgive her for breaking her promise.
And third, she couldn't leave her father to do Victoria's bidding.
Nevertheless, Bella did what she thought was best, taking the image of Edward's heartbreak with her to burn in her flawless memory forever. To think of her happiness right now was selfish, and as many times as her mind held to the face of the only man she'd ever been in love with, she pushed it away to focus on Charlie.
The three had run about ten miles from the Cullens' when Charlie slowed to a fast human walking pace. He waved his index finger in the air, and Bella noted how the sun reflected the sparkles on the pale skin of his hands and face. Would she ever get used to seeing her dad with those telltale red eyes?
"I just knew in my gut that something was not right about them. Vampires."
"The Cullens aren't bad."
"They're just a bit much to be around, but I didn't say they were bad."
"Oh. I thought Victoria had been telling you that."
"No, she didn't say anything about them. But, I didn't realize that you even knew Victoria."
"Bella used to be one of us, Charlie," Jacob told him.
Bella glared at Jacob, and he cleared his throat. "I think I'm gonna get a head start while you two catch up."
"Is it true?" Charlie asked.
"Yes."
"So, you went missing and then Victoria found you?" Charlie asked.
"It wasn't accidental. She took me the same way she took Jacob. Laurent advised her that we had some sort of talent that would be valuable to her, and she took what she wanted. What happened to you?"
His brows were crinkled as he listened. "I was in the woods investigating some reports about large wolves. Harry and Sue Clearwater had gone missing, and I was gathering as much information, which was very little, as I could. The last thing I remembered was looking down at a huge paw print when I was attacked from behind. After that, I thought I'd been set on fire or was burning in hell. When I came out of it, Jake was there to explain things."
"Oh, Dad. I'm so sorry. When did this happen to you?"
"What month is this?" he asked.
"June."
"It was just about the end of April."
Bella looked down as she calculated. He'd probably been turned shortly after Bella had decided to remain with the Cullens. Had they been aware that Charlie had been missing?
He stopped and faced her. "Bells. You're here. And you're okay. I've been out of my mind thinking you ran away because you didn't want to come live with me. Or that you were somewhere I couldn't find you,hurt... or worse."
"You thought I ran away?"
"We both did. Renee blamed herself, but I told her I'd never stop looking for you until I found you." He smiled then.
"Pretty tough to explain to her now."
"No, I guess that's a part of our lives we just have to let go...but at least we have each other." He was quiet for a moment as they walked. "That boy back there was pretty heartbroken," Charlie said.
Her gaze was far away, past the branches of spruces and firs, past the waves of the ocean. "Yeah?"
He smiled. "A dad knows these things, but it will all work out."
"I don't see how."
"Aw, honey. You're thinking about this the wrong way. Coming with us is the right thing." He was silent for a moment. "Remember Grandpa Geoff? I don't remember a lot, but I do remember that since I was a kid, I always wanted to be like him. He was the chief of police and so was his dad. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do. Law enforcement is my life, and when Master Aro and them come around, you don't want to be mixed up with those other vampires. We're the good guys."
She clapped her hand to her forehead. "Dad. Please. You can't believe her."
Running his hands through his hair, he appeared confused. "So, how did you go from our coven to the Cullens?"
She winced to hear him say that. Our coven. "My mission was to..."
It was then that she caught the distinct scent of her - that hated yet familiar, almost overly sweet, floral fragrance that filled Bella with dread. Less than a millisecond later, the redhead appeared before them.
"Bella," she said, burgundy eyes filled with concern. Victoria took Bella into her arms. "I was so worried about you!" She then turned to Charlie. "Well done, Chief. You make me proud." Her smile was glowing.
Pulling away from Victoria's grip, Bella glared at her. "Let me and my dad go."
"Now, honey," Charlie began, but Victoria raised her hand to silence him.
"I don't know what kind of brainwashing they did to you, sweetie," Victoria said, "but it's a dangerous world out there for newborns. You're safe with us."
"I was already safe."
"They lulled you into a false sense of security, Bella. Make no mistake about that. But, now that you've gotten to know them, I want to know everything you've learned."
"Everything you've said about them is a lie. They aren't a threat to you or anybody."
"Now, I'm sure Aro would disagree."
Bella turned to Charlie. "She's making it up. They're not part of the Volturi, Dad."
"Of course that's what they told you," she said with a mock frown. "And I suppose that while you were there, they hunted animals for their blood."
"Yes, they did, and I did, too."
"I assure you, it was just for show. They're trying to keep the secret from you about the killers they really are."
"The Cullens?" Charlie asked. "Carlisle Cullen is a well-respected doctor."
"Yes, he hunts humans, but... sometimes he saves them. How do you think they all live in that house, so well-fed?"
Bella's jaw dropped. "Dad, you really can't believe any of this."
"Now, Bella, I never make up my mind about anything before I consider all sides. Victoria has been kind to me and helped me to adapt..."
"Adapt?!" Bella shouted. "She stole your life away from you and you're grateful?!"
"That's not how it happened," Charlie said.
"What do you mean?"
"What he means," Victoria began, with one hand on her hip, "is that when Jacob was out wandering, he caught Charlie's scent in the woods and nearly drained him before I got to your dad and stopped him."
Wide-eyed, Bella turned to Charlie and then to Jacob. "It's not true," she said. "Is it?"
Jacob finally met her gaze, but then it slipped quickly down to the ground. "I couldn't help myself."
"There now, Bella. You didn't stand a chance of seeing him ever again-especially if he was six feet under. For saving your father's life, you could be a little more thankful."
Horrified, yes. Astounded, yes. Thankful, now that was another story. How could Bella believe anything Victoria said?
"They'll come for me," Bella said, crossing her arms and hoping that her bluff might be enough to wipe that smirk from her face.
Victoria took her place between Charlie and Bella, linking her arms into theirs. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for."
A/N: Please have faith and stay with me. Thanks so much to those who reviewed the last chapter and I'm sorry I just didn't get a chance to respond. I appreciate your comments so much and have spent most of the day just tweaking this chapter. Since I'm back to a regular posting schedule, I will respond to reviews with a teaser (unless you don't want one, then please let me know.) Thanks so much and I hope to hear from you!
