Chapter 25. The journey begins

When I went to the garage in the early morning, Alice had already been there, sitting right on the car's bonnet. I didn't expect to see my sister at home: I thought that Alice went hunting with Jasper, but she was there now.

My sister was waiting for me to say goodbye.

"I still don't like that you're leaving," she complained immediately.

"You don't like it because you don't see the future," I answered. "That's different."

Alice rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for reminding me about that… You have always been a terrible brother."

Offended with my words, Alice decided to leave. She jumped off the bonnet, ready to go, but I caught her easily. I was very fast – faster than Alice ever was.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to heart you…" I said in a quite tone. "Will you give me a final hug?"

Luckily, I didn't have to repeat my request. Alice turned back and hugged me. It helped us a little. We both were anxious at the moment, and family's love was all that could warm our dead silent hearts.

"I worry about you both," Alice said in a muffled tone. "And I hate being blind."

"I know. But you can always leave Forks… if you wish."

My family had been discussing our departure for a few days already. We hadn't found a common decision yet, but we all knew that the end was near. Our family couldn't stay in Forks for too long, and we had to leave that place, sooner or later.

"You know I can't do this, Edward," Alice said with a sigh. "I promised Esme to stay here. She doesn't want to leave Forks without you, and I don't want to disappoint her. She's the only mother I ever had."

That's right. Alice didn't remember anything about her human life, and we were all family Alice always remembered.

I sighed too. Everything was so complicated.

"You shouldn't worry about us. Bella and I will be fine," I promised myself to think about our plans later – not now, when Bella and I were going to have a wonderful journey together. "And if worry about the Volturi, Carlisle said…"

"I know. Carlisle said that the Volturi wouldn't go here. They don't like to leave Italy, and they always hurry to go back when they're away…"

"Right," I said, releasing Alice and making a step back to look her in the eyes. "So you shouldn't worry about us. Everything will be okay."

"I'll phone you if I begin to see anything!" Alice cried to me when I got into the car and started the engine.

I let myself to smile.

"Is that a prediction?"

Alice smiled back. Her smile was tired, but full of hope.

At first Edward suggested me to go to Seattle by car and then take a flight. We had to spend about four hours on board and would reach Chicago by the end of the day without hurry.

"It's only a little travel, Bella, just like I promised." Edward said. "Nothing special."

He tried to hide his anxiety by showing false indifference, but I knew that he was lying. To be frank, I worried about our little trip too. But who wouldn't?

I surprised Edward by suggesting another variant – travelling by car. The distance between Forks and Chicago was huge, and the road could take a few days, but I didn't care about that. I wanted to feel the whole journey, to see endless roads, small towns and big cities; watch different sceneries, even if the weather wouldn't be welcoming. I wanted to get some experience, something I'd like to remember… and something I'd like to forget. When I was trying to search for the Cullens, I also travelled by car, so I wanted to repeat that moment now. I wanted to see those places again and rewrite my past memories. Everything was wrong then, I was unhappy, but it was the past, and I needed to move on. I needed to say goodbye to that time, I needed to to cross the line. I needed to open my heart to a new future, and I was glad to share that experience with Edward.

I didn't know if Edward guessed the reason for my choice, but he accepted it.

"I have only one request," he said immediately when I told him about my plan. "We'll journey like real humans. We'll make stops for having dinner and spend night in a hotel room. I won't let you sleep in the car, and I'll take care about money. If you want to go to Chicago by car, your comfort is my concern."

My inner voice was persuading me to say no; in the end, it was too expensive. But I needed to change, right? I wanted to make that journey, so after some hesitation I agreed on Edward's terms.

The only thing left was to tell Charlie about my plans. I had to create a little story that explained why Edward and I were actually going to Chicago. Dad knew that Edward was adopted by Carlisle and Esme, so I told him that Edward had got some news about his real family and needed to go to Chicago to find everything out. That story was real, except for the fact that Edward's parents died about a century ago.

Charlie didn't really like the news.

"Why should you do that?" he asked, frowning.

We were sitting in the living room, in front of TV. I hoped that the game would help me finish our conversation a bit faster. That plan didn't really work.

"If Edward wants to go to Chicago to find the information about his relatives, it's his problem. He doesn't need you. Why should you actually go there? Especially, by car. The distance is too big… the journey must be endless."

"Well," I said, shrugging and hoping that it looked normal, "Edward described me this trip in such a good way, and I thought that it would be great to accompany him. I'm not sure that I'll able to have this journey another time. I don't want to regret the lost chance, you know."

Charlie gave me an examining look – the look of a working cop. I tried my best to look grown up and serious.

"It seems like you're really excited about this trip," he said, sighing. I hid a smile. I knew what it meant - Dad was almost ready to give up. "Well, you know, it's your life, and if you want to go… it's your decision."

"Thanks, Dad. I'm lucky to have such an understanding father like you," I said before going upstairs. Neither Charlie nor me were very talkative, but I felt that I needed to say that.

Charlie was confused and just brushed aside my compliment as if it didn't mean anything to him. I smiled, knowing that the words I had said were actually precious to him.

Instead of going to work early Charlie preferred to say goodbye to me and Edward. After having breakfast, Dad tried to take care about me, making me check my belongings in case if I forgot something. That was nice – and very unusual. Perhaps, Charlie was becoming too sentimental.

We went outside right when Edward was parking his car in front of the house. Charlie whistled, examining the car.

"Nice car, Edward."

"Thank you, Chief Swan," Edward said in a casual voice. "The car is really good."

"Well, I can see that," Dad was really impressed. "To be frank, when Bella told me about your plans, I worried about it a little. The distance is too big, and only reliable car can dro that… but I see that my worries were useless."

Edward smiled politely. I shook my head. Of course, he had already read everything inside of Charlie's head.

"We'll drive to Chicago without any problem. Don't worry about it, sir… And don't worry about Bella," Edward added. "I'll take care of her, I promise."

Charlie nodded. That were the words he wanted to hear… Bet Edward saw it in Charlie's mind too.

Edward was holding the door until I got inside. While he was going around the car to take his seat, Charlie bent down to me.

"Take care of yourself, Bells... Do you promise?"

There was something strange in Charlie's care. It really was. I tried to ignore it earlier, but I didn't like it now. It all sounded weird…just like Charlie was saying goodbye to me.

"Don't worry about it, Dad… Are you okay?" I asked back, examining his face and trying to guess what was actually wrong. "You look too… thoughtful, you know," I added.

Charlie grimaced.

"Well, I just worry about you, Bells… I have a bad feeling about all of this," he glanced at the car again. "Well, maybe I'm just getting old… Forget it."

I kept staring at Charlie's figure that was getting smaller when we were driving away from the house. Dad's anxiety passed to me too, and my heart squeezed with sudden pain. When did I become so nostalgic?

"He'll be alright," Edward's murmured, waking me up from my thoughts. I shuttered and turned my head to him. Edward stretched out his hand and touched my cheek softly.

"He really loves you, Bella… And he's going to miss you," Edward added.

"I feel like that I'm going to miss Dad too," I blurted out.

Edward chuckled.

"Why do think it's bad?"

Edward and I returned to the conversation we started in my room some time ago. He continued telling me different stories about the Cullens' past. Of course, Edward had a lot of stories to tell – enough to busy me for centuries. Edward made a pause only once. He was telling me another story when the news on the radio made him stop talking. He frowned, listening to every word.

The news contained information about two dead bodies found in New York. Again. I recalled the moment when Charlie told me about the same news when he drove me home from the airport. Moreover, Edward showed interest to that kind of news too – he watched TV at the reception in the hospital while we were waiting for Carlisle.

"What's wrong?" I asked, glancing at the radio and back at Edward, trying to read his face. "What's going on?"

Edward paused a little and then looked me in eye. He looked serious, almost frightening.

"I know what's going on," he pointed at the radio. "We all know what's going on, actually," Edward tried to make his voice sound casual. "It's somebody like us."

My hands turned numb involuntarily. My body still reacted to the news better than my brain.

"You mean, a vampire?"

I hadn't noticed the moment when I began whispering. I wasn't scared, but…

Edward nodded.

"Yeah. It must be a newborn vampire… or a group of them. The quantity of the victims is abnormally big. Jasper thinks that one vampire cannot be so hungry, so it must be a coven full of newborns."

"Is that dangerous?" I asked.

Of course, it was dangerous. For example, I was sitting in the car with a perfect killer. But how dangerous could it be? I had never met newborn vampires…

Edward's expression didn't give me a proper explanation.

"Not exactly. The main problem is that this newborn is too conspicuous. It looks like he really tries to be noticed. We don't understand it."

We paused a little, while I was trying to imagine a monster with red eyes, lurking in the shadows.

"How long it will last?" I asked. "These murders... They can't last forever, right?"

"Don't worry about it. It won't last for long anyway… The Volturi will never admit such kind of behavior. It's inappropriate."

At first I didn't get what he was talking about. Volturi. It seemed like I remembered that name, but had already forgotten it. Volturi. Volturi…

The painting from Carlisle's office flashed before my eyes.

"The Volturi are coming here, to America?!" I asked without hiding my shock.

Fairytales were going to become real.

Edward nodded.

"Yes. They are very scrupulous when it concerns rules. The Volturi won't let people find out about vampires, and they'll do everything to hide the truth. This newborn has already paid their attention. Such kind of stories happen time after time… and they have the same end. If the Volturi see any danger, even theoretical one, they solve the problem without any regret. We think they're going to interfere in this story too. We can't know it for sure without Alice's visions, but Carlisle thinks that they'll appear in New York in a day or two… The problem will be solved."

I got it. It meant that the newborn would be killed.

A new idea came to my mind.

"But the Volturi can't go here, can they?"

I began to worry about Charlie. I imagined him sitting on the couch in our small house on the edge of Forks. Sitting there all alone…

"No," Edward was quite confident. "Don't worry about it. The Volturi hate to leave home. Their interference is usually the last resort… And they have no reason for visiting Forks."

Edward's words helped me a little. I nodded and made a deep breath, trying to calm down. When I was younger, I wasn't afraid of anything, but it changed. I was grownup now, and I definitely had something to lose. Still, I wished the Volturi had never come there. The supernatural world was too big…

Edward sighed, and that sign awoke me from my thoughts. I glanced at him. Edwards looked concerned. My pulse quickened immediately. What did I miss?

"What happened?"

Edward looked at the wing mirror.

"Nothing…" he murmured. "I just saw Tanya's car passing by... It's a bit unexpected."

When Edward just said that, his phone rang, and he signed again, showing his displeasure.

"Hi, Tanya," his voice sounded bored, almost tired. "Yeah, it was me. No, I'm a little bit busy…" Edward gave me a quick glance. "Yeah, you saw it right. Bella's here with me… it's a long story…"

I looked around and realized that we actually reached Seattle's border. It reminded me about something, and I looked around again, trying to recognize the place we were passing by. We were in Seattle suburbs, and… Well, maybe Tanya's appearance wasn't unusual. Dave still lived there.

A new idea came to my mind, and, to my surprise, it didn't scare me at all. On the contrary, it sounded fine, just like the end of the past, just like liberation, just like a new beginning and the start of a new page.

Edward was going to finish his conversation with Tanya, but I interrupted him:

"Edward, may I say something? I have one idea…"

Bella's suggestion of introduction Tanya to Dave was unexpected and very generous. Bella was so brave. I had never met any human like her.

"Are you sure about this?" I whispered to Bella. Tanya was waiting for my answer patiently. "You don't have to do this…"

She surprised me again when I saw a smile on her face.

"No, it's fine... It feels right," Bella confessed after a short pause. "Let's do this."

We organized everything almost immediately. While I talked to Tanya, Bella called Dave, and, luckily, he was at home. There was only one little thing left. Bella dictated Dave's address to me, and I repeated it to Tanya; about ten minutes later I was parking my car in front of the house. The sound of Tanya's approaching car was heard behind us.

"We need to explain Dave the reason for introducing them," Bella noticed, examining the house that she called home one day. She barely felt some nostalgia, and that thought comforted me a little.

My brain worked fast, and I recalled the day when Tanya came to Forks after Alice's prediction.

It was in the morning, when I was driving to Vancouver. I had to visit big city – bad weather had damaged the house. The roof needs rebuilding…

I smiled.

"It's not a problem. Actually, Tanya really needs help of the specialist like Dave. She was searching for the person who could help her rebuild the house."

"Oh… It seems like their meeting is meant to be," Bella said quietly. "That's strange, don't you think?"

I nodded, although that fact didn't surprise me. I had already known a lot about Fate's jokes.

When Tanya arrived there, I introduced her to Bella hastily. Bella looked friendly and a bit shy, but she seemed have been impressed. Vampires always blinded humans, and Tanya was no exception for that. She was pretty… in some kind of way.

Tanya examined Bella too, but preferred to leave her thoughts quiet. That was easy. She still didn't know what was going on.

Where are we, Edward? What's happening? she asked in her mind. What are we doing here?

I smiled.

"I think that Bella can introduce you to somebody… very special," I explained in a quiet tone.

Everything turned into right place when Dave noticed our cars and went outside. We all turned to him, counting his steps, waiting for Dave to join us. Bella waved Dave and gave him a polite smile. He smiled back, and finally noticed Tanya.

Their gazes met, and then something changed immediately. Tanya's thoughts changed its course, changed its colors, and the mixture of feelings burst out of her soul. She was surprised, she was confused, she was shocked and… amazed? Tanya was staring at that ordinary man without understanding what was going on and why all these feelings were rising inside of her. She knew how bleak he was, but something still fascinated her. Something she couldn't explain yet.

Tanya was ancient, but she had never been in love before, and the force of a new feeling cut the ground from under her feet. I chuckled quietly, reading Tanya's thoughts. Love at first sight looked really amazing.

Everything happened very fast. After a short conversation, Bella and I let Tanya and Dave enjoy each other's company. We returned to the road by the end of the hour.

"I can't believe that everything turned out to be so easy," I confessed, breaking the silence.

Bella smiled absent-mindedly.

"Yeah, that was amazing... And Dave seemed to like Tanya."

Really? I hadn't even focused my attention on that. It was much more interesting to watch Tanya's thoughts than read Dave.

"Are you upset?" I was a bit scared to hear Bella's answer. What if she would say "yes"?

"No," Bella said quietly, and I breathed a sigh of relief. "But I envy them a bit… everybody wants to experience something like that."

I nodded, realizing that it was my chance to change everything. If I really wanted to change my relationship with Bella, I needed to use that moment. I needed to make that journey as good as possible if it could help me win Bella's heart. We both were ready for changes, and we both needed love. Fate joined our lives too, we needed each other, and I just should remind Bella about that.

We crossed Seattle's border to continue our journey.