Chapter Twenty Eight
Carlisle
I heard about the trouble in Forks through an old friend, Alistair who had been there to look me up and found that the Police Chief had been killed and his daughter had vanished after the funeral.
"The stench of wolf was all over the place and I didn't see a single one at all. Its my guess they are looking for the girl. Isn't she the one Edward got involved with? I thought I recognised the name."
"Yes it is. Thank you Alistair I think we might be tied up for a while."
"No problem, I'm not hanging around to get caught up in any trouble. When it's all cleared up perhaps you and Esme could visit me instead."
"We will and thanks for the news."
I rang Emmett and finally got the whole story out of him.
"You should have told us Emmett. Esme and I would like to help. I'll see if I can speak to the Quileute elders."
"Don't bother Carlisle they aren't going to listen, not after losing Jake and some other wolves. Beside Victoria started it and that makes us the bad guys."
"Then we'll join you, help to defend Bella."
"It's up to you but I'm not sure how warm a welcome you'll get."
"We will have to apologise to Bella and hope for the best."
There was something I could try while Esme arranged our flight so I rang the Quileute reservation. Harry Clearwater answered but when he heard my voice he just slammed the phone down. The only other alternative was to try to contact the leader of the guardian tribes but I didn't think I'd have any more luck there. Still I dialled the reservation in Denali and asked for Johnny H but it was a woman's voice that came on the line a few minutes later,
"Who is this please?"
"Carlisle Cullen. I'm not sure that will mean anything to you but I really need to speak to the leader of the guardian tribes."
"Dr Cullen, yes I know who you are. Until recently I understood you had a treaty with the Quileutes. What happened?"
"Could I speak to Johnny H?"
"I take all his calls but be assured he will hear everything you tell me."
"There has been a terrible misunderstanding. A nomadic vampire attacked a human and Jacob Black, one of the Quileute pack. She also killed another wolf I understand and fatally wounded the Forks Police Chief."
"And then one of your family bit him I understand. We are aware you see"
"Yes but only to save him for his daughter."
"Save him? I think we may have a rather different interpretation of that term Dr Cullen. Your "son" broke the treaty and the wolves want revenge for their losses. I'm not sure you are aware yet but your other "children" have killed two more wolves in rescuing the girl."
"No, I didn't know that but there must have been a threat of harm to Bella for them to act that way."
"You're sure about that are you Dr Cullen? The wolves are to blame? Is that what you are saying?"
"No, I don't know the details so I can only surmise the possible reason for their actions."
"What exactly is it that you want Dr Cullen?"
"A truce while I speak to both sides. If not, a lot of guardians will die"
"Arrogance is never a good trait doctor. A lot of vampires will meet their end too"
"Is either desirable?"
"I'm not sure you would like the answer to that question Dr Cullen but I will pass along your thoughts on the subject and if there is a reply I will let you know"
She put the phone down so all I could do now was travel to help my children and hope for a favourable response from Johnny H.
When I came downstairs Edward was arguing with Esme and I knew he was aware that we were going to help Bella and her father.
"I'm coming with you."
"I thought you said Alice had warned you to stay away from Bella and wait for your mate to appear?"
"I can't just stand around, I love Bella even if she doesn't feel the same way about me any longer."
"Well, do you blame her after the way you left, we left? If I were her I'd be waiting with a baseball bat at the ready."
"Esme!"
She turned to me,
"Well I would, Edward was an idiot to leave her and he'll be an even bigger one if he comes with us. If Bella doesn't kill him then one of the others well might and I for one wouldn't blame them."
Edward appealed to me next,
"Surely you understand how I feel Carlisle?"
"Actually Edward I don't. I gave up trying to understand the way your brain works some time ago. I think Esme is right but the decision is yours. All I can say is that if you do come be prepared for a hostile reception"
"I can live with that Carlisle but I can't just stay here and do nothing."
"Actually you should go Edward. Things have changed and your mate is headed that way. You'll meet her there, she's a friend of Garretts. I hadn't seen that when I spoke to you before."
So it was decided, Alice wouldn't accompany us, she didn't want to see Jasper again but she thought we would be victorious.
"It's difficult to tell Carlisle, I can't see the wolves and they are making my visions terribly cloudy but I think there will be more than just the wolves arrayed against you."
So my call to Johnny H hadn't done any good, I had hoped but realistically I should have known he wouldn't listen, not with so many guardians already dead. Esme had chartered a private plane to get us there as quickly as possible and we hired a car to be waiting when we landed, sometimes having money made things that little easier!
It was pouring with rain when we landed and we were glad of the waiting car, we may not get cold but wet clothes were still irritating. Alice had given us directions to the Whitlock place and we drove straight there but about five miles out it was quite obvious that the guardians were gathering. We stopped seeing a young woman surrounded by wolves, a vampire, and she looked to be in real trouble.
"Stay in the car Esme. Edward you come with me. Maybe you can talk to them."
As we approached another two guardians appeared, bears this time and we halted.
"They wont let us get any closer. They aren't fighting, just backing the wolves up. We can leave if we wish but they wont allow us forward."
"What about the woman?"
"She chose to continue"
As we looked at her slender figure surrounded by giant wolves the rain came down faster almost obscuring her and then it transformed into a water spout and lifted the wolves into the air. The bears watched as the wolves were spun faster and faster and then thrown in to the nearby trees by the force of the water, She turned and smiled,
"Come on quickly before they get back"
Edward and I got back in the car with her and drove past the watching bears. We were lucky, so far they didn't have orders to fight and I wondered if that had anything to do with Johnny H or my conversation with the female in Denali. The woman shook her wet hair and smiled holding out her hand,
"Hello there I'm Belisama and you are?"
Edward couldn't tear his eyes from her and I knew he'd found the girl Alice had referred to, his mate. Esme answered for us all,
"Esme and Carlisle Cullen and this is our "son" Edward."
She smiled at Edward and took his hand,
"I'm very pleased to meet you all. I take it you are headed for the same place as me?"
"If that's the Whitlock ranch then yes,"
She nodded and smiled again and I noticed she was still holding Edwards hand,
"Yes, Garrett said they could do with some help and I just happened to be travelling through the area so I decided to join him. They were guardians? I'm disappointed, they aren't so scary after all."
"Those bears weren't ready to fight yet or it might have been a different story Belisama"
"They don't like water though do they?"
She smiled and it lit up her face,
"That's your gift?"
"Yes I can control any running water, so rain was ideal for me. That looks like the ranch up ahead."
We turned and sure enough we could see figures moving about, they were concentrating on the opposite direction where other figures were running across an open meadow being pursued by a pack of wolves and two mountain lions. The guardians were certainly out in force and some at least were ready to fight now.
