Bella drove to La Push and relayed everything to her friends there.
"Well, if that isn't your bloody luck," sneered Paul. "As if the situation wasn't complicated enough, that guy simply has to be friends with Aro!"
"Exactly. I'll try to find out more and possibly change his point of view," replied Bella. "You don't mind if I reference you as the source of my information, right?"
Bella spent several hours in her laboratory after that. Then she headed home to prepare food for Charlie. She went to her room after the dinner and found a message from Edward on her cellphone. He was asking her if she wanted him to come that night. Bella rang him once as a sign that he could.
Edward was at her house in a minute and jumped in her room through the window. He wasn't surprised much when he saw Bella's face which showed that she wasn't awed. For all he knew, she knew all along how he was getting inside.
"So, how much is your family pissed off?" she asked.
"Well, most of us, me and Carlisle included, simply don't know what to think since we've never experienced such thing. Rosalie thinks that you are a stupid arrogant human girl who's badmouthing somebody she should fear. Jasper, on the other hand, thinks that you're just being realistic. As for Emmett, you really made an impression on him. He was really amused by your opinion about the Volturi and he has spent the rest of the day at a computer, working on your theory. He's like child with a new toy. Carlisle is glad that he's thirsty for knowledge for once but he would prefer if it was something sensible."
"Well, Jasper and Emmett sound like open minded guys. As for you and Carlisle, you two might change your mind tomorrow. I was at the reservation today and I think we need to speak. Without the pressure of your whole family if it's possible, just you and Carlisle. I wouldn't mind Jasper either but I don't think he needs any convincing."
Edward nodded and replied, "I don't know what's this about but as you wish. What about tomorrow at the hospital, after Carlisle's shift?"
"That would be great."
When it was time to sleep, Edward made a notion to sit in the chair. Bella asked him what he was doing and he replied, "Well, I can just stand over here if you like. Not only I don't sleep but I don't need to be comfortable either."
Bella rolled her eyes and resolutely said, "None of that. I'm going to brush my teeth now and when I return, you'd better be changed in your PJs."
Carlisle welcomed them in his hospital office next day.
"Hello, Bella. Edward says that you have some more input about the Volturi," he said. His tone was polite but not as cheerful as previous day.
Bella started to pace in front of Carlisle's desk and spoke, "I talked to Quileutes yesterday. As expected, they knew all about the Volturi. They are very disturbed by the fact that you consider them your friends and claim that Ephraim wouldn't be so quick to agree with the treaty if he knew that. I have to ask you, do you maintain a regular contact with them?"
"No."
"Do they know about your family?"
Carlisle gave a negative answer again.
Bella nodded and said, "Good for you. If they knew, they would destroy half of you and recruit the rest."
Carlisle was almost outraged by that statement. "What? That's nonsense," he opposed.
"That's what they were doing in the past millennium and half - destroying any potential competition. When a coven gets too large or gains any unusually gifted members, they destroy them and recruit anybody they deem useful. Now, Quileutes really don't mind the destroying part - they never had to fight more than two vampires at once thanks to that. However, the Volturi have been getting gradually stronger and stronger witch each such conquest. Allegedly, they have means of enslaving those new recruits."
Carlisle sighed and told her, "Bella, Volturi destroy only those who break vampire laws and represent a threat to our secrecy and to the human society."
Bella laughed and said, "And how do they recognize who is guilty and who isn't? All that Aro has to do is to touch somebody and say whatever he wants."
"Aro isn't like that."
"Nope, he is even worse - he destroyed his own biological sister to prevent Marcus from leaving."
Both Carlisle and Edward were shocked to hear that. Carlisle asked, "And from where exactly do your friends gain their information? On the web, like you? Because I've heard this gossip as well and it's a lie."
"It's neither a gossip nor a lie. It's a fact and you should accept it very quickly if you want to survive."
Carlisle turned to a wall where he had his diploma in a frame, a photo of his family and such. Edward observed Bella carefully and wished he could read her mind. At times like that he realized how handicapped his gift left him.
Carlisle finally spoke, "Tell your friends that they don't need to be afraid. The Volturi won't learn anything. In fact, it's in our own interest to keep them about learning any of this since Aro would have a few words for me as well. We aren't naive and we recognize how dangerous they are. In fact, they were at the forefront of our minds every time we discussed you."
Bella smirked and replied, "If the Volturi learned about any of this, it would be your family that would be in the greatest danger."
"Well, you should warn them not to be so overconfident. Volturi already destroyed hundreds of werewolves and even if the line in La Push died out, they wouldn't hesitate to slaughter them."
"Well, the Volturi, or at least their inner circle, know that there things out there that shift into wolves and aren't the Children of the Moon. They would probably avoid them like you do."
Carlisle shook his head and asked, "And why would they do that?"
"Because unlike you, the Volturi are aware that the magical world is somewhat larger and that they aren't the only big player in it. They have bigger on their mind than a bunch of natives who are perfectly happy to sit in their reservation."
"Bigger?" asked Edward.
"Indeed. Do you remember that lawyer? Quileutes know him and his kind."
Both Cullens stared at Bella. She continued, "He's same as Aro - and his two brothers to some extent. They are some kind of ancient vampires - not in a sense of age but a generation."
Edward laughed, "Generation? It seems that Emmett is no longer a sole supporter of your theory."
Bella replied, "Well, they are real, obviously. They are extremely rare since most of them were destroyed. The Volturi themselves participated on that. The only ones left, apart from the Volturi, are those without ambition who just want to pull through their... existence. They are very different from you. On one hand, they aren't feral. On the other hand, there are almost no human feelings left in them. Which is maybe the reason why you were unable to understand their way of thinking."
"And his eyes?" asked Carlisle.
"Well, they told me that the lawyer didn't feed neither on animals nor on humans. Allegedly, he had something even stronger."
"Stronger? What could be stronger than human blood?"
Bella just shrugged her shoulders. Carlisle thought about his answer and Edward, hearing his mind, nodded sombrely.
Carlisle then said, "Look Bella, I'm a man of science and I've spent almost three hundred years learning about my kind. Tell your friends that I can't accept these far-fetched stories without a solid proof."
Bella chuckled bitterly and replied, "Well, the problem is that they don't see it that way. They gave you a warning and they don't give a damn if you believe it or not. Also, they don't trust you enough to give you any proof or explain anything in greater detail. However, when I talked to them, I could sense that they know much more than they were telling. If I were you, I would at least act as if all I told you was true unless you want them to consider you a liability. Also, you really shouldn't leave the town until the things clear out."
"I think we can agree to that," replied Carlisle after a moment.
"Good. Because I think that something is happening out there."
"What are you talking about?" asked Edward.
"Haven't you heard any news from your world?" retorted Bella. Upon receiving negative answer, she elaborated, "It seems to me that Quileutes believe that the Volturi are stirring. Something pricked them, something that exceeds your world."
"Wait a moment. What exactly have they told you?" asked Carlisle.
Bella looked down and carefully answered after a moment, "I'm sorry. Like I've said, they don't want to share too much until we know that you can be trusted."
Carlisle shook his head and replied, "I'm afraid I'm going to need a little more than that."
Bella looked him in the eye and snapped, "You've been warned. Quileutes might not like you but they don't want anyone from your family to be recruited by the Volturi any more than you do."
Edward and Bella turned to leave. Before they opened the door though, Bella made a sudden decision and told Carlisle, "Look, no hard feelings, I hope. I'm just a messenger."
"Of course not, Bella," said Carlisle with a forced smile.
"I would like to prove that I can be useful. Can I meet your family at your house when the sun comes out next time?"
Carlisle and Edward agreed. Bella refused to tell them why she made such a request though.
When Bella and Edward laid in the bed that night, Edward considered asking Bella if she knew what she was getting herself into or something like that. In the end, he decided against it because he already knew that Bella's answer wouldn't be very nice. Instead, he decided to poke into another nest of wasps.
"Bella, I've been thinking about how little have you told me about your life before Forks," he asked carefully.
That was true. Bella was always evasive when the topic came up. Of course, she told him about everything she was doing at Forks. But before that, nothing.
"Do we really have to talk about it?" growled Bella.
"Well, I've told you practically everything about myself. It would be nice to learn something about you as well."
Bella sat up in the bed and mumbled, "There isn't really much to tell."
"Did you live with your mother before Forks?"
"Not always," answered Bella evasively. It wasn't a lie. "Then I decided to come to live here." Bella hoped that Edward's attention would be redirected by that. She was only partially successful but it was enough.
"Why did you leave your mother?" pressed Edward.
Bella quickly thought and then decided to throw him something. "Can you keep a secret?" she asked.
Edward nodded.
Bella continued, "Billy Black and the others asked me to come to live with Charlie. They told me how depressed he was and how he needed somebody to take care of him. I really didn't need much convincing and after I met him, it was clear to me that Forks was my home. And with a home, I've also gained an extended family in the Quileutes and some good friends in your family."
But Edward was not to be deterred. "And what about your mother?" he asked.
"What about her?"
"You make it sound like it was easy for you to leave her."
Bella hesitated and then said, "My mother and I, we don't really have a good relationship."
"Why?"
"Because we absolutely hate each other!"
Edward gasped when he heard the venom in Bella's voice and asked, "What? Why?"
Bella decided to lead Edward's attention back to Forks and said, "You have no idea what's she like. And I am ashamed to admit that I used to think for a long time time that my father was same so it never occurred to me to came here earlier. When I learned what my dad was really like, I was quite elated - though we've never really developed a proper father-daughter bond. However, I'm quite satisfied with the relationship that Charlie and I have and I'm certain that many daughters and fathers could envy us."
Edward, disturbed by those revelations, attempted to learn more about Bella's mother but she refused to discuss the matter any more.
Two more weeks passed. Bella evenly divided her time between Charlie (along with homework and household), Quileutes (and her work in laboratory and training with guns) and the Cullens. The strain between Bella and the vampires relaxed a little. She mainly hung out with Edward but Jasper and Emmett came to see her as well. The former explained some things from the "Century of Warfare" that were unclear to her and the latter held her hostage for two hours and discussed her "theory" with her. He even bought a few books about vampires in Mesopotamia.
Once, when she and Edward were lying in her bed again, he told her, "Alice says that it will be sunny next weekend."
That gained Bella's attention. "When are you leaving?" asked Bella.
"Actually, we wanted to leave at Friday evening."
"Edward, I really need to meet you at sunlight. You won't regret it."
"Yeah, Alice already saw you meeting us at our house at Saturday morning. However, she can't see what's going to happen."
"She can't?" asked Bella and raised an eyebrow.
"No. It got her curious and me as well," replied Edward.
"Well, your curiosity will be sated next weekend then. If it works."
Bella laid her head on the pillow and tried to sleep. After ten minutes, she lifted her head again.
"What is it, Bella?" asked Edward.
She bit her lip and slowly said, "You know, I was thinking about trying something."
He looked at her questioningly.
"Please, lie on your back and fold your arms under you," she told him.
Edward was bewildered but he did as he was asked.
"Now, don't move. Keep your mouth closed."
Soon, it was clear to Edward what it was all about and he tensed. Bella got on all four and hovered next to him for a few seconds. She closed the distance between them quickly and brushed her lips against a corner of his mouth briefly before retreating to a safe distance.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Edward just nodded, since he wasn't breathing. Bella gave him a minute and then lied back next to him.
"You know, I'll have to give you a mouth to mouth respiration if you don't start breathing on your own," she said after a while.
Edward laughed at that.
When Bella fell asleep, he received a text message from Alice. It read, "Little kids in a kindergarten kiss each other like that!"
"Why are we waiting for her again?" asked Rosalie indignantly.
"Because this is a fine opportunity to observe what's causing those disruptions in Alice's visions," snapped Edward.
"Speak for yourself. I'm waiting for her because I want to tell her my conspiracy-theory," nipped in Emmett.
"What conspiracy theory?" asked Jasper bewilderedly.
"The one about our origin, which else?"
Jasper shook his head and reminded him, "And since when there's any conspiracy in it?"
"Since I've uncovered it! You see, those Mesopotamian necromancers, Templars and US government..."
He was interrupted by an explosion from the engine of Bella's truck. She parked in front of their house soon.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. It would be pointless without strong sunlight," she said when she saw the Cullens all prepared for departure.
"That's all right," said Alice.
They went to the backyard. Bella seemed unfazed by their sparkling skin.
"Edward, could you please take your jacket off?" she asked and took out a ceramic jar from her bag.
Alice was getting slightly anxious, the disruptions were only seconds away. Edward slid his jacket off. Bella opened the jar and dipped her fingers in its content. She started to coat Edward's arm with the substance.
The other Cullens didn't understand at first but then they gasped in amazement. The smeared parts of Edward's skin stopped sparkling. Bella kept rubbing the ointment on Edward's arms, on his face, ears and neck. He couldn't but notice how pleasant it felt.
"Well, it seems it works," commented Bella dispassionately.
"That's amazing!" said Edward as he was looking at his hands, which didn't cast a single sparkle even in full sunlight.
"I'm sure you've already used something similar before," uttered Bella in the same tone as before and handed the jar over.
Carlisle shook his head and replied, "Never anything that would be invisible to human eyes! We tried to find something suitable but the only things that would stop the sparkling were almost opaque. Not to mention that vampire skin is too smooth for any coating to stay on it."
"Well, this should last for a whole day. It's also water resistant but not against seawater so beaches are still out of the question. I might try to improve it though."
"You made this?" asked Carlisle.
"Of course. I started right that day when I revealed what you were."
"You were in La Push that day," commented Alice.
"Yes, that's where my laboratory is."
"You've got a laboratory there?" asked Edward.
"Well, if you can call that way," replied Bella.
After a while, the unavoidable came and Carlisle asked, "What is it made of?"
Bella shrugged and answered, "You really don't want to know."
Emmett, who was putting a coating on his face, hesitated a little when he heard that.
"Bella, it's important," insisted Carlisle but Edward already knew that Bella wasn't going to say anything.
She bit her lip and said, "I'm not telling until Alice and Rosalie put it on their faces!"
That shifted the attention of the family to the two girls who were suddenly hesitant to use it. Edward and Bella sat on a swing and watched the others while they applied Bella's gift. Finally, everybody was perfectly spark-less. The ointment shrouded everything from Alice's vision but only at the beginning. Slowly, she started to see around it.
"So, what's in it?" asked Emmett anxiously, expecting something juicy.
He wasn't disappointed because Bella replied, "My urine."
The resulting commotion bought her only a minute or two, the Cullens asked again afterwards.
"You know what? Let's add it on the list of things we'll discuss later. In the meantime, I'll try to make next batch before the sun comes out next time," she evaded the question.
"What's wrong about now?" asked Rosalie icily.
"Can't you just thank me and get over it?"
Esme silenced Rosalie and said, "Of course, Bella. Thank you."
Bella grinned. She stood up and said, "Well, don't let me keep you, I'll be on my way."
"No way, Bella!" stopped her Edward.
Carlisle nodded and said, "We have to use this opportunity to appear in front of people in sunlight. It will make us to appear more normal to them. We should cancel the trip and just go for a quick hunt tonight."
The whole family and Bella went to the town. Esme and Carlisle stopped at a store for the usual show of buying groceries, Edward and Bella visited a music store, Alice and Rosalie a drug-store and Jasper and Emmett bought a new issue of a PC gaming magazine at a cigar-store. Then they hung out at the city park where other people were basking in sun as well.
There was a moment when a family with small kids passed by them. Rose watched as the children skipped around, squealing and laughing. It was only a brief moment before she looked away but Bella managed to catch it. She noticed the longing in Rosalie's eyes and narrowed her own. It was definitely something to be stored for later reference.
When noon came, Bella bought two pizzas and returned to Charlie where she was joined by Edward after the food. All three of them went to the backyard where Charlie tried to interrogate Edward a little before Bella stopped him by her glares.