"You need to be more careful! Seriously, Bells." "Sorry, Dad," I winced at his scolding. My father had found me with a wounded arm after tripping on a tree branch; I'd decided to go for a walk in the forest. Sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose, he then offered his hand to help me up. Then he proceeded to thoroughly inspect my bruised left arm.
"Does it hurt? Do you think the bone's broken?" Charlie hummed, flipping my wrist back and forth very carefully. "N-No, I think it's just bruised," I hissed; it didn't feel broken but it still hurt like hell. "You're not bleeding; that's a good sign," he let out another relieved sigh; I think he did that to appear more human to me. I still breathed, after all…
Not letting my arm fall, my adoptive father took my hand in his. He gave it a squeeze, as if afraid to let go. His deep, deep eyes were cemented onto mine just then. "I know you're technically a vampire, but your body's still mortal. One wrong move and that's it. You can't take any chances, Bella." "I don't! I'm very careful; I just accidently tripped. That's all." He didn't appear satisfied with this- not in the slightest.
His frown expanded in the corners as he continued to clasp onto my hand. "Humans can die from the smallest of scrapes; you know that." "But we're not living in the early twentieth century anymore. Medicine's come a long way since then," I countered, only to be rebuffed. "Not that far….. Listen to me, sweetheart; I know it might feel a bit suffocating, but your immortality's not like mine. Your body can still fail you, if anything should happen…" "Dad," my eyes grew in mild astonishment.
Charlie let out one final sigh, letting my hand go and wrapping his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closer. I could feel his rock-hard body press into my side. "I'm sorry, Bells. I just don't want to lose you." "You're not going to lose me, Dad. I'm not going anywhere; nothing's gonna happen to me," I grinned, trying to reassure him- all in vain it would turn out. While I wore a soft, soothing expression, his face was still firm and sincere. Our eyes met again, refusing to leave each other's.
"I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. You truly feel like my kid, honey….." His forehead drew in to rest up against mine. I smiled genuinely this time, leaning back into him. "And you're my dad. I'll always be yours- your daddy's girl." He breathed, shutting his eyes for a moment. He held me very close into him… "You know how vampires see humans- like children, like insects. I wish I could say it was different with you. Course I don't see you like an insect, but you're the same as a toddler in my eyes. A living glass doll that's so fragile and precious….. Something to be protected at all costs." "Dad….." "I've lived for so long now, Bella; so many pointless, drawn-out years with no light at the end of the tunnel. My life has lacked meaning; my thirst, all my aimless wandering…. It's all been for nothing. That is until I met you." "Dad," a tear trickled down the side of my cheek, which he wiped away with his thumb. "You've given my life meaning again. For the first time since I've turned, I'm grateful I am a vampire….. as it allowed me to save you. I will continue to save you, darling." His eyes opened a sliver as he paused for a single moment here.
"You are the first thing I've ever had worth protecting."
My eyes opened up to the beautiful scenery. After that run-in with Alice, I thought it best to go out to the back garden and see if I could find Garrett. He was nowhere to be found, as was anyone else out there. Still, I took the opportunity to take in the beautiful view of the mountain range. Ah, I've said it once and I'll say it again: Charlie would have loved it here. I wish….. I wish he could have seen it. This would have been perfect, if only he were here. It's so sad too; I miss him so much. He's been the only family I've ever known- that I was close with anyway. I doubted that I could love anyone as much as I loved him, and I didn't think I'd ever get close enough with anyone else to even try. Charlie was there, safe inside my heart… And there I was convinced he'd stay alone.
I didn't think there was room for anyone else.
I don't know what possessed me to glance over my shoulder behind me at that instant. Something just pulled my eyes and face without conscious recognition. I gazed up to the castle's roof, and my lips also unconsciously parted a tad. My left arm rested on the cement balcony on the other side of me as I stared up completely dumbfounded. High up there, close enough for me to see but not so close that I could distinguish his face, was a vampire. A vampire I'd never seen before… His body was young, about my age I'd say, and his skin was just as pale. There was something familiar about his figure-type, but I couldn't put my finger on it. He was staring back down my way with a desire- a thirst- I'd seen a hundred times before…..
And an intensity I'd never seen before.