Chapter Fifty Three
Carlisle
We knew the Quileutes were here even before we saw Billy Blacks truck parked up outside and Jasper groaned
"Just what we need, the wolves adding their shit to the mix"
I pulled up and stopped him from opening his door.
"Jasper please be cool and let me do the talking. If you start a fight with the Blacks it's hardly going to help your cause now is it?"
He looked at me and I saw his eyes were still very dark,
"OK Carlisle. As long as they behave so will I"
I nodded, "That's good enough for me, come on"
As we rang the bell I heard voices inside. The Quileutes were warning Charlie about us but they weren't prepared to go as far as they could, and give away our secret.
Charlie
Dr Cullen and Jasper were standing there and I knew they were aware of my other visitors.
"Come in" I said opening the door wide to let them by.
I lead them into the lounge where Billy and Harry sat waiting. The doctor nodded in acknowledgement at them before taking the armchair and Jasper stood leaning against the wall behind him.
"Thank you for agreeing to see us Charlie."
I looked at the other two but it seemed they weren't ready to leave yet.
"Do you mind if Billy and Harry stay? They've got a notion in their heads that you might be dangerous in some way."
Dr Cullen looked at them before turning back to me,
"No Chief Swan, I don't have a problem with them being here. It might be quite helpful."
Billy and Harry exchanged a puzzled glance then looked at me.
Carlisle
I wasn't particularly pleased to see Billy Black and Harry Clearwater but I knew that making a fuss about it wouldn't help matters.
"Chief Swan. I have something to tell you and I think you might want to sit down to hear it."
Harry looked over at me,
"You're going to tell him?"
"I have no choice Harry. Bella is involved."
Charlie stepped forward
"Right enough of the cryptic remarks. What is it you are going to tell me that it appears everyone else in the room knows? And how is my daughter involved? And in what? If I find out you've done something to put Bella in danger I'll come after you with a shotgun"
I aimed the last at Jasper who stood motionless behind his father's chair.
"Chief Swan" Carlisle started.
"For Christ's sake, its Charlie. I'm sick of standing on ceremony and I think maybe I should have my badge off before I hear what's coming"
"Yes. It would be as well Charlie. Things aren't quite as they seem in Forks"
"Yeah I'm beginning to realize that. For instance my daughter was pregnant and I never knew."
Billy and Harry both started at this piece of news,
"Was?" Billy asked.
"Yeah. She lost it in the accident. What worries me most is that either she never told you" I said still looking at Jasper "or there is someone else involved."
Jasper moved forward but I stopped him with a raised hand.
"Let me, Jasper. None of us knew Bella was pregnant. She may not even have known herself Charlie, she was only about nine weeks." he didn't look mollified.
"So I'm supposed to be grateful that she didn't know. The thing is Carlisle that she had to be sleeping with someone to get knocked up in the first place, and that doesn't make me feel all warm and fluffy."
"Please Charlie this isn't easy to tell and I know it isn't going to be easy to hear. Bella is in danger from one of my family"
"Two" Jasper corrected me.
"Your family? Why aren't I surprised Doctor?"
"Its Carlisle, and please Charlie. I know you think Jasper is responsible but he isn't. His only wish is to protect her." Charlie laughed,
"Oh yeah I'll just bet it is. If he isn't the problem then who is?"
"I'm afraid its Edward and Alice. Edward has a thing about Bella and its got out of control. He is trying to kidnap her."
"What the hell for Carlisle? What kind of thing?"
"He is drawn to her by the scent of her blood Charlie."
"What!" Charlie looked at Billy and Harry but they were both sitting back grim-faced.
"Her blood? What is he, some kind of Vampire?"
Before I had a chance to answer Jasper did.
Jasper
All this dancing around the subject wasn't helping anything. Charlie was just getting more confused and pissed of and I was sick of him glaring at me.
"That's right Charlie. He is a vampire and so are the rest of the family." He looked at me then laughed.
"OK I don't know what's going on but I've heard enough. Just get the hell out of my house. You're all mad."
"You should listen to him" Billy said looking at his friend.
"What? You too Billy? Are you trying to tell me that there's a family of Vampires living in Forks?" the last was aimed back at me.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you, and two of them are a danger to your daughter. I'm trying to protect her Charlie, not harm her."
He still wasn't buying it although this friends attitude was worrying him.
"If that's true how come there aren't a load of dead and drained people around?"
"Because we don't drink human blood Charlie. We drink animal blood."
He looked sober now,
"You knew this?" he looked at Billy who nodded,
"Yes Charlie we knew. We made a treaty with the Cullen's many years ago. They can live here as long as they never bite a human."
"Years ago? Carlisle can't be above forty at a pinch and Jasper's about eighteen, nineteen at the most."
I shook my head, "Wrong again Charlie, Carlisle was born in London 1640 and I was born in 1844 in Houston. We don't age from the time we become vampires"
"Are you telling me that Carlisle is hundreds of years old?"
"Yes and I fought in the Civil War, I was the youngest Major in the Confederate Army. You can look me up in some of the books about the war, Major Jasper Whitlock."
"Does Bella know about this? That you are vampires?" I nodded,
"Yes she does and she still loves me. Charlie, I intend to keep her safe whatever you decide, that's not a threat just reality."
He finally sat down and put his head in his hands then he looked at Billy and Harry,
"How come you two knew about this and didn't tell me about it?"
"It wasn't our secret to tell. As long as they kept the treaty it wasn't necessary to tell you."
"OK but I'm still confused, you made a treaty with the Cullens but how did you intend to police it? If they are vampires what could you do about it? Aren't they supposed to be immortal?"
Billy looked uncomfortable and I couldn't help a smile at his discomfort.
"Well Charlie we have a secret too"
"Who? You or the tribe?" Harry stopped Billy,
"I think you better brace yourself Charlie. Some of the tribe are shape shifters"
"What the fuck are they?" he said getting up again.
"Some of the younger men can turn into giant wolves, wolves who can kill Vampires."
"You're telling me that Forks is home to Vampires and Werewolves? Bull, I've lived here all my life and I've never seen either."
"That means we've kept our secrets well" I said.
I knew he was still skeptical so I picked up the rifle he'd leaned against the wall ready to clean,
"Is it loaded?" He shook his head and I nodded,
"Watch" I twisted the barrel into a knot and handed it to him.
"OK You have a circus trick, that doesn't make you a vampire." I nodded again.
"OK. Is that gun in your belt loaded?"
"No I always carry an empty gun with me" his voice dripped sarcasm.
"Take it out then and shoot me"
He started back but unstrapped his gun and took it out, pointing it at my chest. I stood perfectly still
"Go ahead Charlie I'm a big enough target."
His hand shook and I knew he wouldn't do it but I was betting on Harry's animosity to kick in. It did and he took the gun from Charlie and aiming it at my chest pulled the trigger. The impact knocked me back slightly but that was all. Charlie's eyes widened and he walked over to me. The hole in my shirt was right above my heart and he put his finger through it to touch my cold hard skin. Then he pulled the shirt open to see the small hole, already closing up.
"Shit" was all he could manage.
