Chapter Sixty Seven

Charlotte

When I called Bella she told me that Megan was no better.

"She's made herself ill and I don't know what to do with her. She won't eat, she's been throwing up and she doesn't want to talk."

"Is there anything we can do? Do you want us to come over or should we stay away?"

"Come, Charlotte. Maybe she'll make an effort if you turn up and even if she doesn't I think having Peter around would take Jasper's mind off the situation for a while. I was thinking about calling Carlisle, asking him to come and see her."

"That's up to you but do you really think she's sick or is it all to do with the incident at the club? There's not much he can do about that. And she may be embarrassed because they'll have to know what happened."

"I don't know what to think, Charlotte. Do you think we should give her a few more days?"

"Well, she's not my daughter, but as you are asking, then yes. I would give her a few more days. Let her settle down and try to tempt her with her favorite things. She just needs to know we are all on her side. That we are all here for her."

"You know, I feel better just talking to you. Please come, I could do with some moral support from another woman."

When I told Peter what Bella had said he surprised me.

"You go. I have something I need to do and I'll join you in a couple of days."

"Don't you think the Major could do with some support too, Peter?"

He grunted, "If he needs me he only has to holler, he knows that. Besides, with you there maybe he can get on and do some jobs around the place, get out for a few hours. That would do him as much good as me hanging around."

I made it abundantly clear that I was not happy with his decision, but he wouldn't change his mind so I left him to it and drove over to Bella's alone the following day.

I was startled to see her looking so concerned but her face lit up with a smile when she greeted me.

"I am so glad you came, Charlotte."

"Well, I'm here now. How is Megan?"

She sighed and shook her head, "No better. She won't come out of her room and everything I take up for her to eat she just pushes around her plate and leaves basically uneaten. She says she feels too sick to eat. She complains of a sore throat and headache but I've taken her temperature and it doesn't seem to change much. It's a little higher than normal for a human but then she's not normal. All she wants to do is lay in bed with the drapes closed."

"That sounds more like depression than sickness to me."

"I suggested that to Jasper but he wants to call Carlisle and I'm afraid I'm fighting a losing battle trying to stop him."

"Can I go up and talk to her? Maybe she'll talk to an outsider."

"Be my guest. Right now I'll try anything."

Megan

I heard footsteps on the stairs and snuggled down closing my eyes and pretended to be sleeping although I knew it wouldn't fool a vampire and the house was full of them.

There was a tap on the door and then a voice I hadn't expected.

"Megan? Can I come in?"

I didn't say anything hoping that Charlotte would walk away but instead the door opened slowly and she came in glancing around. What did she expect to see? The furniture toppled over and scattered across the floor? Me with my head spinning around like in The Exorcist?

She came and sat on the edge of the bed and I knew she was staring down at me.

"I know you aren't asleep and you know I know so let's stop playing shall we?"

I opened my eyes and glared at her, "What do you want from me?"

"Well, it speaks! That's an improvement. Your mom says you're complaining of being sick. Is that really it or are you just punishing them for what happened the other night?"

I shook my head, where was the compassion I had expected?

"Well then, what's wrong? We all make mistakes but we don't hide under the covers."

"Your mistakes didn't almost get a man killed. An innocent man."

"Hardly innocent and please don't play the poor little girl act with me."

I couldn't help my anger as it rose. She had no idea how I was feeling or what it was like to be me.

"It's OK for you. You have Peter, mom has dad, and you all find it so easy to live among humans. I have no one and my life is a complete mess. I'm not safe around humans and I don't belong among the vampires. Alec showed me that."

"Oh, I see. Well, then I guess you'd better give up altogether. A poor little girl that no one loves and has no place in the world. I'm amazed you know. How did you cope growing up with only a vampire to look after you? How did you cope when you discovered your mother was a vampire too and all your friends? It must have been devastating for you. Whatever will you do? You have nowhere to turn, no one to rely on. Your parents really made a mess of everything. Do you intend to spend the rest of your life lying in bed and worrying the life out of everyone?"

"No one has to worry about me, I'm not looking for pity."

"Then what are you looking for?"

"Just to be left alone."

"There's just one problem with that, Megan. When people love you they worry, they care, and they keep on trying. I know it must be a real pain for you but that's how it goes."

"I wish dad had left me out there in the night. Maybe my real dad had it right, maybe I should never have been born. I'm a freak who should never have been created. I wish I had died when I was an infant."

"Don't you dare say that. Not after all your mom and dad have been through. You owe them to try. Not to give up the minute you hit a bad patch. Or are you just a quitter? If you don't care then how can we help you?"

I'd had enough and what did Charlotte know? She'd been a vampire with a mate of her own for so long she had no idea what it was like for someone like me.

"Just go. I'm tired and I'd like to sleep."

"Hiding isn't the answer, that's the coward's way out."

I felt my rage becoming a living thing with a life of its own.

"GET OUT. GET OUT AND LEAVE ME ALONE."

I was aware that I was screaming at Charlotte but I didn't care. I just wanted her gone.

She merely stared at me with pity in her eyes and that just pissed me over the edge, I didn't need her pity, I didn't need anyone's pity.

"Don't lecture me. You have no idea what it's like."

"Then tell me. Tell someone. Stop acting like you're two years old and talk."

I don't know what happened next, or I do but I couldn't stop it. I screamed and the room exploded lifting Charlotte into the air, arms smashing her against the ceiling and then the walls before finally holding her tight against the wall and slowly crushing her bones. I waited to hear her screams as they crumbled to dust. Putting more pressure on her neck so her head was wrenched to the side further and further until the flesh began to tear.

The noise was horrendous, a crashing and wailing sound that hurt my ears. I found myself smiling as venom began to flow from the bitches neck and then suddenly I heard my name shouted above the din and turned to see my mom standing in the doorway hanging onto the door with all her strength to prevent it from slamming shut in her face.

"Megan stop it. You're killing Charlotte. Stop it right now."

It felt as if iced water was suddenly racing through my veins and I turned to see Charlotte, her head already partly detached, her eyes wide with fear and pain and everything went suddenly quiet. The furniture crashed to the floor, the drapes flapped down hanging in ragged tatters and Charlotte slumped to the floor.

Horrified at what I had done I used my gift to slide her out the door into my mom's arms then slammed the door on the sight of them both and closed my eyes. My shield wrapped around the room pressing up against the door and window sealing me in and them outside.

Bella

Hearing the commotion and fearing the worst I raced upstairs and stood unable to believe my eyes. Megan's room was almost invisible. Obscured by a whirlwind of objects that were being tossed and thrown against walls and ceiling splintering and splitting but still unable to fall. Then I saw Charlotte and screamed at Megan to stop. She had lost control completely and I feared that she might actually kill Charlotte without even realizing what she was doing.

I thought my voice hadn't carried to her but then she turned and looked at me and at that moment I knew we might lose her. There was madness in her eyes, madness and all-consuming rage,

Then just as I thought I would have to try a rescue myself Charlotte was propelled across the room like a missile straight into my arms knocking us both back down the stairs and as we fell I heard a tremendous crash as Megan's bedroom door slammed shut.

Jasper appeared in the doorway as we hit the bottom of the stairs and after a glance at us he raced upstairs calling Megan's name.

Much as I wanted to follow him Charlotte needed my help right now. Her head lay at a strange angle and venom poured from the gaping wound in her throat. It looked like she had been attacked by one of the Quileute wolves.

Holding her head in the correct position I watched as the wound began to slowly heal up, the spurt of venom growing slower until it was just a trickle and then I helped her to the couch.

What she needed was blood and lots of it but we only stored animal blood in the house and I wasn't sure that would be enough in her present condition.

Leaving her for a moment I grabbed what we had in the fridge and warmed it slightly in the microwave to make it a little more palatable. As soon as it was ready I took it through to Charlotte who was laying back on the couch looking shocked and drained.

"Here. I'm sorry it's not human but it's all we have. Drink up and when you feel strong enough tell me what happened. I went outside to see to the hay delivery for the horses and only came in as the noise started. What made her lose control like that?"

Charlotte sipped the warm blood cautiously and wrinkled her nose but drained the first and second beaker before stopping to answer me.

Her voice was weak and it was obviously difficult for her to speak.

"It was my fault, Bella. I thought if I could provoke her into an argument I might be able to help her talk about things. I should have realized how close to the edge she already was. I am so sorry, please don't go blaming her for what happened."

We heard several loud crashes and several oaths and then Jasper came back downstairs looking very concerned.

"She's barricaded herself in her room using her shield. I can't get in and she won't speak to me. All I can hear is the sound of things breaking and her crying. What the fuck happened, Bella?"

I tried to explain but I hadn't seen everything so he turned to Charlotte who was now sitting upright holding her neck and looking anxious.

Speaking with a strained voice she explained what had happened and Jasper grew more grave with each word.

"It sounds to me like you were provoking her. Why would you do that Charlotte? She's just a kid."

"I thought perhaps I could get her to break down and tell me what was going on. I didn't want her to get angry with you or Bella but she needed to snap at someone. It sounds like I only made things worse though. I am so sorry."

"Do you want me to call Peter? He should probably know what happened."

She shook her head, "No, he's not home. I'm not sure where he's gone but he'll call later and I don't want to worry him. I'll be fine but I should probably hunt. I'll heal more quickly that way."

Jasper looked up the stairs then sighed.

"I'll go with you, you shouldn't be alone. Not in this state. Can you cope for a while, Bella? Megan might calm down more quickly if she senses she only had you to deal with."

He was totally out of his depth right now, but then so was I.

I nodded, "Sure, you're right. I'll wait till you leave then I'll go upstairs and try to talk to her."

Charlotte tried to talk him out of going with her. I knew she felt guilty leaving me alone to deal with the fall out of her actions but he wasn't going to be deterred. He had always looked out for Peter and Charlotte just as they had always looked out for him.

I watched them leave, Charlotte leaning on his arm for support, then waited a while, made some warm milk and went slowly and apprehensively upstairs. It had gone very quiet, Megan's temper had cooled and I hoped I she might be willing to talk now she was calmer.

Her door was still closed and I tapped quietly waiting for her to invite me in. After a few seconds, I tapped again but still got no reply.

"Megan? Megan? Can I come in?"

Still no reply so I turned the handle and pushed but the door wouldn't budge. I pushed harder but it made no difference, it was as if the door was welded shut.

"Megan, open the door. Please. We need to talk. You aren't in any trouble but I need to talk to you. Charlotte is OK. She doesn't blame you for what happened, she's not mad at you. Come on sweetheart, let me in."

There was still no reply and I tapped more loudly then decided to try another way.

"I brought you some warm milk and cookies. I'll leave them outside your door. Get some rest and we can talk in a little while but you have to speak to us, Megan. What happened was dangerous and you need some help to learn control. That's all."

By the time Jasper and Charlotte got back, I had been up three times and the tray was still on the landing untouched, the door still stuck shut and Megan was refusing to let me in or speak to me. Now, we had to decide what we were going to do about our daughter and fast because if the Volturi were to hear about her outburst they might decide they had to step in or at least monitor the situation and I didn' want either. Megan was not a freak, just a scared and confused young girl with powers she had no idea how to control.