Chapter Forty Nine
Bella
Dad was in a much lighter mood when he returned from town and I guess we were too by the knowing look he gave us.
"I'm going back to town on Saturday, if Mary turns up then I guess she's going to join me. How do you feel about that Bella?"
"Dad if she makes you happy then I'm happy. Besides I hate to think of you all on your own, we aren't meant to be and you've already been alone far too long."
"I'm glad you feel that way Bella, it makes things much easier. I guess we're finished now, the Volturi have Edward and his mate and Johnny H has sorted out the Sam problem so we're free at last."
He looked around,
"It's very quiet, where's Peter?"
"Still out with Charlotte, hunting or maybe just enjoying a little time alone"
"Like you two did you mean?"
If I'd still been human I would have been blushing but as it was I just grinned innocently.
"Have you seen Emmett or Carlisle?"
Rose looked a little concerned when I shook my head.
"Don't worry we'll find them Rose, come on"
We all headed out following Charlie and tested the air for their scent trail. It led straight into the woods and for the first couple of miles it was pretty obvious that Emmett had still been tussling with an irate Carlisle but then we came to a small clearing in the trees and we could tell they'd sat talking for some time, the scents were much more concentrated here.
Finding the path they'd taken from here we went another mile before we found Emmett, a bear carcass by his side looking satisfied with himself. When he saw Rose he jumped up and ran to her, showering her in kisses, they were always so demonstrative no one seemed to take any notice.
"Where's Carlisle Emmett?"
Emmett looked at Jasper his arm tightly around Rose,
"He calmed down eventually although I don't think he'll ever forgive us for what we did to Edward. He said he was going to find Esme. We crossed her trail close by and I can tell you his hackles were up when he smelled she wasn't alone but I worked on the principal that Garrett can take care of himself again now and I needed to hunt myself after fighting Carlisle."
"Fair enough. Then I guess we should get back."
We followed Charlie back to the house to find a fight already in progress between Garrett and Carlisle with Esme watching stricken from the side lines, her lip split and oozing venom. Who the hell had hit her in the face and why?
Carlisle
If they thought I would ever forgive Bella for what she'd done to my boy they were very much mistaken but for now I would hold my peace, collect Esme, and travel to Volterra. She was my mate, his mother to all intents and purposes, and she would come with me if I had to drag her there. When I crossed her scent and caught Garrett's too my anger started to rise. I prided myself on being able to cope calmly with almost any situation but this was different, my mate in company with another male? One she had been getting way too close to recently? I didn't think so. I tried to hide my anger from Emmett and as I knew he was thirsty I was able to leave him hunting and track them back to the cabin where they sat way too cosily on the porch, Esme laughing at something he said then she leaned in and touched his hand. That was it, I launched myself at the pair hitting Esme in the face with my elbow as I passed her and knocked Garrett over. He may be a fighter but I knew a little about fighting myself and I managed to hold my own, at least to start with, but then I heard the others returning and I knew if I didn't act fast they would take his part.
I fumbled in my pocket for a lighter, planning to set him alight and step back, but then I felt a tremendous blow on my back and turned slightly to find Esme standing over us with a baling fork in her hand, she had hit me with the damn thing! I pushed her backwards and she stood a hand on her lip as Garrett struggled out from beneath me two of his newly attached fingers laying on the ground wriggling slightly. I determined to have the rest of Edwards parts back too and grabbed at the newly mutilated hand and caught hold of two more yanking as hard as I could. I felt them coming free as another weight hit me but this time it was a body, Charlie's body, and he wrapped his arms around my neck pulling my head back to expose my neck. The pain as his teeth sank into my throat was terrible and I screamed out as they sank further and further in then there was a terrible wrenching sensation and my head came free of my body to fall to the floor as I screamed in agony and fear.
Charlie
There was no way that bastard Carlisle was going to kill Garrett, the only way he'd been so successful up to now was because Garrett wasn't back to full strength. Carlisle's screams as I ripped his head off were strangely satisfying and I picked it up turning it to look into his eyes.
"You know something Carlisle, you don't deserve a mate like Esme but you do deserve to spend eternity like this with your precious son Edward so guess what? I'm gonna box you up and send you to him."
I meant every word although I did expect opposition from Esme but she just nodded, her arms around Garrett's shoulders holding him close,
"Good idea Charlie, send him to his precious son, it's where he'd rather be but let me have his body."
Before anyone could stop her she let go of Garrett and seized the decapitated body throwing into the centre of the yard and setting it alight. As he watched the rest of him burn Carlisle screamed once more but this time in despair.
Bella
Peter and Charlotte were really upset they'd missed all the fun but Peter offered to post the box to Volterra, to Edward himself.
"They can fucking share what they've got left then can't they?"
"What about Aro? Wont he see it as a threat?"
"No, I don't think so Bella. You see I'm going to deliver it personally"
Esme walked to the table and picked up the box flanked by Garrett,
"But first we are going to look for Garrett's own fingers. If we find them I'll personally burn Edwards before his eyes."
"Is it safe for you to visit Volterra Esme?"
"I think so, I have nothing Aro wants and if he tries to prevent us leaving I'll just mention your name Bella"
I nodded, it sounded like a good idea, I only hoped they would be able to find Garrett's missing digits and his eye. He looked strange with one red and one muddy brown one.
"Good luck both of you".
