Chapter Twenty Five

Bella

I went into town to the library the next morning relieved that Edward hadn't made good on his offer to come with me. I went up to the medical section and scoured the books until I found what I was looking for then had the pages photocopied and took them back to the car sitting in the parking lot and reading them over and over. What did it mean? And if it meant what I thought then what did that mean? Why had the Volturi sent me the document? How much did they know and what did they expect me to do? I closed my eyes and rubbed them irritably. Had this all been a lie? An elaborate hoax? But if so then why? My only chance to find out was to confront Carlisle but that wouldn't be easy because I didn't want to do it in front of Edward and Esme in case they didn't know although I didn't know what to believe any longer and I didn't know who I could trust. If I didn't get any satisfactory answers I would take Gabriel and run, where I had no idea but away from the Cullens. I could ring Volterra, ask Aro what it all meant, maybe that would be the safer option. I didn't have the letter with me and cursed my stupidity because I wasn't going to find the Volturi number in any phone book now was I? I took the creased document out of my inside pocket and looked at it again then turned it over and noticed on the back a phone number in faded print. Was it a coincidence or had the Volturi given me a way to contact them? I started to dial the number then stopped, it had just occurred to me that if the Volturi had any more information for me or were prepared to tell me any more they would have done so. It was up to me to find out the rest and most important of all was to find out who was Gabriels biological father.

I was tense and nervous as I waited to confront Carlisle as the one with the answers but would he give them to me and if he didn't who would? Was there any other way of finding out who my sons father was? As soon as they walked in and Carlisle saw my face he knew there was something wrong but I doubted he knew just how wrong. They made a fuss of Gabriel as always and he was his usual angelic self. I heard Esme talking to Edward, trying to reassure him and decided now was as good a time as any to beard the lion so I suggested Carlisle and I leave the two of them alone with Gabriel and see what his behaviour was like as Edward always maintained he was good as long as I was there and Carlisle could hardly refuse although I thought he would have liked to.

As it was he went with me out of the yard and down the road until we reached the small park I often came to with Gabriel and I steered him over to one of the benches and sat down.

"Is there something wrong Bella?"

"I don't know Carlisle, is there?"

I handed him a copy I'd made of the document from the Volturi and he opened it looking shocked when he realised what it was,

"How did you get this Bella?"

"Edward's medical records? Does it matter? The thing that interested me is ringed Carlisle. Would you care to comment?"

He didn't say anything but the hand that held the document shook slightly,

"Well then let me. It states there that Edward contracted mumps when he was fourteen and as a result he is sterile. Care to tell me how he fathered a child after that? A second coming? A miracle baby? Or were you involved? Does Edward know? Is he in on the filthy little plot?"

Carlisle mumbled something,

"I'm sorry even with vampire hearing I missed that."

"No he doesn't know and I don't want him to"

"So you admit Gabriel isn't his son?"

"I didn't say that"

"Then tell me how exactly you managed that little miracle and don't tell me that becoming a vampire made him fertile again because that's bull and you know it"

"Its possible, our venom heals injuries as we transform."

"Sterility wasn't an injury though was it? And venom didn't cure him which begs the question what did you do Carlisle? It wasn't difficult to work out that you were responsible for my pregnancy, were you also responsible for my appendicitis that made your little sleight of hand so easy? Are you Gabriel's father?"

The very thought of that made me feel physically sick and I dreaded hearing the answer.

As it was he didn't answer me, remaining stubbornly silent,

"If you don't tell me why and who Gabriels father really is I swear I'll take this straight to Edward"

He ripped it up and stuffed it in his pocket but I think he knew I had another copy so I ignored his theatrics.

"Well?"

"Edward is over the moon with his son and so are you so why are you so angry?"

"Angry? I haven't even started yet, this is calm Carlisle believe me you'll know when I get angry. Don't tell me you made me pregnant just so we'd be happy besides it backfired didn't it? That's why Gabriel doesn't like doing things for Edward, somehow he knows which means his father was a vampire too, and a gifted one perhaps.. That narrows the pool of suspects, so why?"

"I wanted my family to be happy that's all."

"Well I'm not and neither will Edward be when I tell him"

"You can't tell him Bella it will destroy him"

"Then answer me Carlisle"

"I can't, I promised and I wont break that promise but you have nothing to fear. Gabriels biological father isn't interested in his son. As far as everyone is concerned Gabriel is Edwards son."

"I know and if you don't come up with some answers destroy him or not I will tell Edward."

"Look Bella, why would you want to destroy his happiness? You love each other and you have a son who will recognise Edward as his father in time. Everything is just as it should be so please leave it alone or you will break more than one heart."

"Carlisle, I don't care. You used me like a lab rat to try your experiment on. Well this rat has teeth that bite and I'm not afraid to use them."

"How did you learn about this?"

"You show me yours and I'll show you mine but don't be too sure this is all I have."

He laughed bitterly,

"Oh it is all you have I know that."

"Because either you didn't make notes or you did but you're going to destroy them. Well lets see who blinks first shall we?"

I got up and he grabbed my arm,

"Don't Bella, please"

"I don't owe you anything Carlisle and you certainly don't have my trust any longer so get off me."

I pulled free and walked slowly back towards the house, would he let me or would his nerve give out? How much did he want to shelter Edward? I had walked into the yard before he joined me,

"Listen Bella, I can't tell you any more except that there are others involved, others who would be hurt by any admission of the truth."

I knew then, Gabriel was Carlisle's son and he was terrified of Esme finding out because she had longed for a child of her own.

"Were you thinking of handing him over to a new mother Carlisle? Hoping I would die giving birth to him? Is that why you were away when I went into labour? I'm warning you now, touch Gabriel and I'll kill you."

I left him standing there and went inside, trying my best to hide my rage and disgust from the others.