PRAYERS ANSWERED

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

It was going to be by her hand that Felix was going to know pain and then to know that repentance by honest confession was good for the soul. After that he was going to die most painfully.

CHAPTER 36: TIME IS COUNTING DOWN

Delight got out of her car, but, not before reaching into the glove compartment and pulled out the gun her husband kept there and then slowly walked up to Felix's door. She was still weighing all the information that she had heard, but, at the same time it felt like she was on overload. So, many questions, but, the biggest one being, why? Why would he do that to someone he had deep feelings and was like a sister to both him and Edward? And, then came the question why would he allow Edward, whom he called brother, to take the blame? None of this she understood, but, intended to have answered along with many other questions before she dispatched him to hell.

Even though, she had these questions and others running around her mind unanswered at the moment, on another level she didn't doubt what she had heard for it wasn't something that her son would be telling his father if it wasn't true. Demetri knew how his dad would react when told such information. But, she did wonder how Demetri had come across the information and just how solid it was? However, that question held no merit since, like she reminded herself, he wouldn't be telling anyone, especially, her husband, if it wasn't true.

It was at this point as she stood outside the door that separated her from the truth that she became absolutely determined to get from Felix. All feelings she had had for this young man being another son had vanished the very moment she heard Demetri state that it had been Felix and not Edward that had killed R. J., her baby girl. That wasn't going to be allowed to go unanswered as far as she was concerned.

So, giving herself a mental shake as a means of strengthening her resolve, Delight raised a hand to knock, or, at least, that was what she had intended to do, but, instead, started pounding on the door. She was demanding attention immediately and wasn't about to let anything stop her; not at this moment.

Just as she heard movement on the other side of the door, Delight took a step back so the occupant could view through the peephole and see who his visitor might be. It didn't take long for an unsuspecting Felix to open the door for the lady he looked upon as a second mother. It also wasn't unusual for her to visit with him from time to time to make sure that he was doing okay. After all, the way she explained it, "isn't that what a mother would do for one of her children, adopted or otherwise?" Then she would give a slight stuttering type of laugh which showed the pain she was still experiencing from the loss of R. J.

As the door opened and Felix stepped into full view, Delight raised her hand as if to hit the young man standing before her, but, quickly thought better of that move. She wanted to get answers before deciding on a final course of action and felt that it would be better to maintain her regular façade for the moment. So, she placed her hand on his chest and applied just enough pressure to indicate that he needed to move out of her way so she could enter the apartment.

Once she was completely in the apartment and moving towards the couch, Felix closed the door then turned to observe her for a moment or two as if trying to gauge her mood. He was trying to determine if Demetri had mentioned anything to his parents about being suspicious of Felix and what Felix might have done or be up to doing; in other words, how trustworthy he might be in the future.

"Mama Carlson, what brings you here so unexpectedly?" He asked innocently, but, still being a bit weary of the reason that might not be stated. He knew that he would be able to detect her real reason once she spoke since she had always been transparent as far as he knew.

Delight looked around, gave a fake sniff or two while dabbing at the corners of her eyes as if she had been crying or to prevent from crying and was trying to gain some composure before speaking. Her actions prompted Felix to forget his need to be cautious and instead for him to go over immediately to take a seat next to her, to put an arm around her shoulders as he pulled her closer to his body while trying to convey comfort for a mother that is still suffering great loss.

So, while she nestled within his hold a sly smile quickly appeared only to disappear just as suddenly as it had tried to make itself known. It wouldn't do to allow Felix to see that he was being played like he had been doing to others for a while now. And, that led to her continuing to play the distress card for a bit longer until Felix had completely relaxed his guard and was no longer suspicious of this woman.

Conversation continued to flow at a normal pace until Delight was convinced that Felix didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary with her presence. She was about to ask her first question when there was a knock at the door. Both she and Felix looked over at the door, but, Delight was the quicker to rise and move towards the door. Looking through the peephole she saw both her husband and son standing there. So, without hesitation she opened the door because she recognized the hardened expressions upon their faces.

In they both walked, looked around, but, never uttered a word as both men, after a quick once over their looks gave Delight, then centered their attention directly upon the other person in the room: Felix.

Felix was feeling a little nervous, but, managed to maintain the front he had learned to project outwardly to the world. He smiled and walked over to the new arrivals with outstretched hand in greeting to shake hands with each one, as he said, "This is indeed a pleasant surprise to have you both here with Mama Carlson." When neither man said anything, he looked at them and then noticed that they were both looking at the woman standing by the door still. "Oh, you came to get Mama Carlson." He said as if his unspoken question had been answered.

But, as he spoke he drew both father's and son's attention back to himself. And, it was the look that was on the face of the older Carlson that caused Felix the greatest concern. In that moment, he knew that Demetri had spoken with his father, but, hadn't had the chance for Mama Carlson to know anything bad about him as yet. However, he was mistaken and the two men, husband and son, hadn't been observant enough to keep an eye upon Delight, just like Felix hadn't been.

Before anyone had a chance to notice any movement from the dear lady she had walked over to where her purse rested on the couch, reached in and pulled a gun that just so happened to have been equipped with a silencer. She fired, hitting Felix in the left knee cap and then demanded that he tell the truth about the death of her daughter.

The sound of the gun firing shocked the three men into a frozen state, but, the fact that human matter had exploded and was flying in every direction, released them just as quickly. Both men looked over at Delight Carlson and then their attention was caught by the fact that Felix was no longer standing next to them, but, had fallen to the ground and was holding on to the area of where his knee should have been.

He was busy cussing and demanding an answer as to why 'the bitch' had shot him. Delight didn't waste any time as she tried to fire again aiming to take out the other knee cap as she demanded once more an answer to her question, "What is the truth about R. J.'s death?"

Carlson rushed the last few steps to get to his wife before she could do any more damage while Demetri ran to the bathroom to grab some towels to wrap around the wound in hopes of helping to absorb the blood flow from the wound. Demetri, during a brief moment, saw that his father had gained possession of the gun and was on the phone calling for a cleanup crew. And, Delight was trying to reach for the gun that was being held out of her reach as she was still demanding answers.

"Delight, stop! Stop and think about what you're doing and where you're doing it. This isn't the place. I'll handle things from this moment on, but, when it's time I'll allow you to have your satisfaction."

"Mom, listen to dad. Let us handle this situation at the moment so the police aren't involved before we're ready for them to be." That statement from Demetri was what brought about a halt to Delight trying to regain control of the gun her husband had taken from her just minutes before.

XXXXX

"Are you kidding me? She discussed all the missing years with you?" Charlie asked of his wife in an incredulous sounding voice. "How did you manage to bring the subject up? What made her so willing to talk about it?" He continued to ask question after question not really realizing that he wasn't giving Renee a chance to answer one question before asking her another.

Finally, with a deep sounding sigh, she stemmed his flow of questions by saying, "If you would hush a moment and allow me time to speak I'll tell you." Then she described to him in more detail how the discussion had come about.

"So, you know the names of the persons that took her?" He asked and then once more, without waiting for an answer he demanded to know the names so he could get a manhunt started for them. "The sooner the better."

But, before he could utter another sound, Renee told him to slow his row and to think about what she had told him. "Charlie, there isn't a reason to start an all-out manhunt for them since they are already dead. Think about what I've told you." She patiently told him. Renee understood how important this information was for her husband the same as she understood how he felt that Bella had even volunteered to have this type of discussion this early regarding everyone getting acquainted with and getting to know each other. It felt like a big breakthrough for all of them.

"So, she was asking about Edward and the Cullen's as well?"

"She was, but, I can tell you that she is still withholding a lot of information back. I don't know if it's because she is just being cautious or if she has another reason, but, there is a lot that she isn't saying. A lot she still isn't saying about her years away from us as well."

"Do you think now is the time for us to press her to talk to us more about what she might not be saying?"

"No, I don't, but, I do know that she had more information about Edward and why certain things have been happening than what we do. And, Charlie what she told me is important for Carlisle and Esme to hear; maybe, even his sisters."

"Good or bad?" Was all Charlie asked, almost as if he was even afraid of what Renee might have to say.

"Charlie, I don't really want to discuss it over the phone. I'm going to be coming back shortly after Bella wakes up and knows where I've gone and that I'll be back. Something tells me that she needs that reassurance at the moment."

"Okay, drive safe and we'll see you shortly."

So, with the call ending, Renee did go back into Bella's room only to find that her daughter was already awake. There was a look of sadness that had been on Bella's face as Renee walked in, but, it quickly disappeared when Bella saw who had entered her room. But, with a smile from Renee and an attempt at one from Bella the two settled down to spend more time together, getting to know each other better.

After a little time had passed Renee told Bella that she needed to leave and explained why she was leaving for a little while. "I promise that I'll be back as soon as I can, but, the information that you've shared with me about Edward needs to be told to his parents to give them some hope. It will take away the pain of loss that they are experiencing at the present time."

"I agree with you, they do need to be told. However, I don't know what will be remembered or what won't be if Edward is successful in his quest to bring the real murderer to justice." Bella told her.

"I do understand that and I'll make sure that I explain that fact very clearly to them, but, it doesn't really matter since they will have the hope of their son being returned to them." So, with just a little bit more discussion, Renee did leave and returned to the Cullen's.

She wasn't surprised to find all of the Cullen family waiting rather impatiently for her arrival as she walked in the door. Charlie hadn't wasted any time in gathering all of them together once more. And, it was Esme's impatience that didn't allow Renee time to get comfortable before she demanded to know what Renee had discovered from Bella.

XXXXXX

The cleaning crew arrived shortly after older Carlson had called for them, but, before they did arrive he proved once more why he was feared. He made it very clear as to what Felix was going to do. "And, make no mistake, Felix, I will know if you lie about even the smallest detail. If you do lie I will make your life hell on earth, the little time that I shall allow you to live will be the most painful that any human being could ever feel. Your life is now mine to do with as I wish, fail, hesitate, or lie in any way and whatever your mind can imagine about pain understand that I will triple that many times over before you beg for mercy and death.

"Demetri will take you to the hospital so you can be treated for accidentally shooting yourself in the knee. They will call the police to report your wound because of it being a gunshot wound. Once they arrive you will confess about being the one that killed our daughter and framing Edward Cullen.

"You will tell them every damn detail about what you did and the reason why you did it. But, understand that not once will you mention my wife or any other member of my family being involved in your confession and other than your conscious was bothering you that is the reason you are now confessing.

"Remember what I told you would happen if you fail in doing what you've been told to do."

A/N: Is Felix wise enough to do as he's been told to do, or, will he try to go a different direction? How are the Cullen's going to react to what Renee has to tell them?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to your thoughts and reviews.