"Why is the police chief puling into our driveway with Angela's grandmother?" Charlie smiled as he heard the male vampire's voice coming from the house. He and Beatrice had discussed their cover story already so he wasn't too worried about them being hostile. The only thing he was concerned about was when the mind reader wouldn't be able to read his mind. That may cause problems but he was hoping his queen would arrive before things got out of hand. "They can't be here when Rosalie and Angela come with the dragon."
"It seems they know about the queen." Beatrice whisper low enough for only Charlie to hear.
Charlie nodded in response. Although he would hold back from believing it was actually Bella who was coming to the Cullen home he couldn't help the slight excitement he felt hearing them speak about a dragon. Stopping his car in front of the garage he walked around to open Beatrice's door and help her out of the car. He was unsurprised as he heard the vampire's arguing about how they were going to not only greet them but get them to leave as fast as possible. Ignoring their panicked whispers he held out his arm for Beatrice and helped escort her up the stairs to the front door.
"Always the gentleman." Beatrice couldn't hear anything coming from inside the house but she had a feeling she knew what they were talking about.
Before either of them could knock the door opened revealing a disheveled looking Carlisle Cullen. It seemed he was trying to smile at them but it came across as more of a grimace. "Chief Swan, Beatrice it's lovely to see you. What brings you out here?"
"I was looking for Angela. When I realized she was still on her trip I came over to see her when she got back.I figured she would come here with Rosalie." Beatrice took the lead as they discussed as she was the one who knew the Cullens.
Carlisle shared a look with Edward. Seeing Edward nod he relaxed his shoulders. It seemed Beatrice was telling the truth. "I see, well I'm not sure when they are going to get back so maybe you should call her. I would hate for you to waste your day hanging around in case she doesn't come here."
"Oh no, it wouldn't be a waste. I mean unless we're imposing of course." Beatrice smiled. This was actually kind of fun. She didn't get the chance to see vampires this uncomfortable. It was like Carlisle was fighting his nature of being a perfect host and wanting to throw her out.
"Of course you wouldn't be imposing. Why don't you come in and visit with the rest of the family? I'm sure Esme would love for a chance to catch up." Carlisle wasn't sure how but he knew they had to get these two out of his house. It wouldn't be good to have them here when Rosalie and Angela brought the dragon. Rosalie had assured him that the dragon had a human form so that she would blend in, she had also informed him that Bella was not very comfortable in the modern world. If she had been sealed away for as long as she claimed he couldn't imagine what she thought of the world they lived in.
"Welcome." Esme greeted their guest as they walked through the door. "Why don't we go to the living room and sit down. Would you care for some tea? I'm afraid we don't keep coffee here. We do have some sodas though if you prefer."
"No thank you we are fine." Beatrice took a seat on the love seat next to Charlie. She didn't think the vampires would attack them but she wanted to be safe. She knew Charlie would never let anything happen to her.
"So what brings you here Chief Swan? I didn't know you and Beatrice were friends." Carlisle was confused to why the police chief was there. The man mostly kept to himself and wasn't known for socializing. Carlisle couldn't recall Angela ever mentioning her grandmother spending time with him.
"Please call me Charlie." Charlie gave him a polite smile that seemed to unnerve the vampire a little bit. "I just came to give Beatrice a ride. Her car isn't working at the moment."
"I see." Carlisle looked over to Edward who was sitting on the couch next Emmett. The mind reader had a look of frustrated confusion on his face. Carlisle didn't know what to make of that.
"So how is your garden?" Esme asked to give Carlisle a chance to talk to Edward.
"Is he telling the truth?" Carlisle whispered softly thinking only the vampires in the room could hear.
"I don't know I can't read his mind at all." Carlisle snapped his head to Edward before he could stop himself. Never before had Edward's gift not worked "Angela's grandmother's mind is strange as well."
"How so?" Carlisle asked.
Edward made a face. "It's almost like her thoughts are too simple. Everyone has stray thoughts and don't focus on one subject but all she is thinking about right now is how much she is missing Angela. That wouldn't be weird but it's like she knows I can read her thoughts and she is purposely focusing to trick me. It's exactly like how you guys keep me out of your minds."
"Interesting." Carlisle held back a frown. He tried to think of a way that Charlie would be able to block Edward's gift. No one that they had ever met was able to. The fact that it seemed Beatrice knew Edward could read her mind was also troubling. He wondered if Angela had told her grandmother but then dismissed the thought. Angela protected their secrets more passionately than some of his own family. There was no way she would just randomly tell her grandmother. This whole situation was making him uneasy. First he gets a call from Rosalie telling him dragons are real as are witches, that there is a great threat coming so he needed to inform the queens and now Chief Swan and Beatrice show up wanting to see Angela and Edward's gift is being blocked by one and tricked by the other. Something wasn't adding up. The only problem was he didn't know how to go about addressing it incase they didn't know anything.
"Are you alright Carlisle?" Charlie asked. He found the fact that the doctor and the mind reader were panicking about Charlie and Beatrice being there fact that they caught on to Charlie's immunity to Edward's gift and Beatrice's attempt at tricking him amused him to no end. He knew that pretty soon Rosalie and Angela would be home hopefully with his queen and the vampires were probably panicking because they didn't know what would happen if they were still there when the trio showed up.
Carlisle jumped in his seat startled when he noticed all the attention of the room was on him. "Oh yes of course. I was just thinking about a patient that came in yesterday. That's all."
"If you're sure?" Charlie knew he shouldn't egg the vampire on but he was having fun and by the look on Beatrice's face she was as well.
"I'm fine thank you for inquiring though." Carlisle reprimanded himself for his lack of control. He really needed to keep calm. It wouldn't do to reveal himself to these two. He was already waiting for a phone call from the queens and didn't want to have to admit he revealed their existence to two humans. They would not react well at all to that.
"So has Rosalie contacted you about when they are going to get back?" Beatrice asked.
Esme nodded. "Yes they should be here soon. From what she said they had a wonderful time."
"It's amusing to me to think that Rosalie had a good time camping in the woods." Beatrice said causing all those in the room to laugh.
Before Esme could respond Carlisle's office phone rang. That only meant one thing. The queens were calling him back finally. Carlisle rose from his seat next to Esme. "I need to get that please excuse me."
"Of course." Beatrice said as she watched Carlisle rush out of the room.
Carlisle hurried to his office at a human pace shutting the door after he entered the room. Esme had soundproofed each bedroom of the house as well as his office as sometimes he needed to speak to patients. Answering the phone he greeted. "Hello Carlisle Cullen speaking."
"Hello Carlisle, I assume that you have something important to tell us otherwise you wouldn't have demanded we call you immediately." Tanya's voice seemed harsh over the line but Carlisle expected nothing less. It wasn't everyday that one needed to speak to the queens urgently so he knew to get to the point.
"Yes your majesty. I have learned from my daughter Rosalie that she and her mate have come across a dragon shifter." Carlisle stopped talking when he heard numerous gasps come over the line. He reasoned they had him on speaker phone.
"Are you sure she claimed it was dragon shifter?" Irina asked. He wasn't sure but Carlisle thought he heard an edge of excitement to her voice.
"The story she told me was that she and her mate Angela were walking through the woods of Canada while on their class trip and came across the ruins of a very old stone building that had crumbled over a floor that when cleared was covered in runes. After inspecting the floor it's seems somehow Angela was able to translate the markings and was able to break the seal and release the dragon. I'm not sure exactly what happened after that other than Rosalie told me that the dragon's name was Bella and she claimed to be the last of her kind and the were queen. She also spoke of a great challenge that was coming that could endanger your rule." Carlisle stopped breathing as he waiting for the queens to reply.
After a few moments of silence Tanya spoke. "She was absolutely positive it was a dragon? What proof was she given?"
"When the dragon was released she was in the form of an eight foot humanoid lizard. Rosalie admitted that she had initially thought they had summoned a demon. It was after the dragon shifted into human form that they are traveling home as we speak." Carlisle told them.
"So Rosalie never saw the dragon in dragon form?" Kate asked.
"No just the two forms I told you about." Carlisle said.
"I see." Carlisle could hear quiet whispers on the end of the line but couldn't make out exactly what they were saying. After what seemed like a heated discussion Tanya once again spoke. "Myself and my sisters will be traveling to see you as soon as we can. I want you to keep the woman who claims to be a dragon with you. I don't care what you do to keep her there but you will make sure she does not leave your sight."
Carlisle gulped. "Yes, your majesty. I understand, however if she is a dragon how do you propose I restrain her?"
"I don't care how just do it." With that the line went dead.
Carlisle leaned back in his chair and sighed. Usually the queens were easy to get along with and were rarely harsh except for when doling out punishments so he knew when they ordered you to do something that meant you had to do if you wished to avoid repercussions. The problem with the order he was just given was if this really was a dragon and he believed it was then there was no way he was going to be able to control it. Hopefully it would listen to reason and wait for the queens to show up. Rubbing his temples with his fingers Carlisle thought he felt a headache coming on. He had many things to stress about and that wasn't even considering the two humans who were in his living room that would be there when Rosalie and Angela brought the dragon home. Shaking his head he got out of his chair. As he made his way back to his guests he hoped that not only would he make it out of this alive but so would the rest to this family.
