Summary: Edward is dead, but there is still the threat of a newborn army to deal with.
Warnings: Contain OCs, grammatical errors
It was a huge mess to sort.
Shortly after Edward's death (a few minutes), Alice Cullen showed up. She was very frantic. The female vampire keep going on and on about Edward's future abruptly disappeared (Charlie later learn that she can see the future). The rest of the Cullen clan showed up not half a minute later. They look confused and wary. Before Charlie can say anything (Bella is too distraught to form proper sentence), the Quileute pack appeared. They are the biggest wolves Charlie have ever seen. Thank God Billy have told him beforehand. Otherwise he would already pull out his gun the moment they step into the backyard.
A huge black wolf took one look at his daughter before transforming on the spot. It turned out to be Jacob Black. A very naked Jacob Black. He attempt to move closer, most likely to comfort Bella, but Charlie tightened his hold around her. Alice still asking about Edward and tried to pry Charlie off Bella. He inwardly winced when her ice cold hand touched him. Jasper Cullen then pulled away his wife. He must have sensed Charlie's rising temper.
Hugging his daughter close, Charlie proceed to told them what happened. Edward caught in fire and now he's dead. Bella wailed harder at the word 'dead'.
The Cullens are horrified. Carlisle's mouth hang open but no words come out. Alice looked like she would faint if she were not a vampire. Jasper grit his teeth. Esme Cullen covered her mouth. Emmett Cullen looked extremely uncomfortable. Rosalie Cullen looked calm but she gripped her husband's hand tight.
The shapeshifters looked unsure upon hearing the news. Alarmed, but unsure. Charlie couldn't really tell. All but Jacob are still in their wolf form. He didn't miss the look of relief in Jacob's eyes though.
Then he got bombarded by questions. Mostly from Carlisle and Alice.
How did Edward got caught on fire? Why can't he put it off? How come I can't see it coming? Is that pile of ash him?
What exactly happened here?
By the way the wolves' ears perked up, they want to know too.
To their disappointment, Charlie is in no mood to explain. It's late. Bella need his attention right now. All these ruckus will attract the neighbor's' attention. They can talk about this in neutral territory on the next day. And for God's sake, Jake, stop being naked.
Reluctantly, the Cullens left the premises. The Quileute pack too left. Jake shot Bella one last look of concern before he phased and joined the others.
Charlie carried Bella inside. He didn't forget to lock everything. No more surprises tonight. Charlie brought her to his bedroom. Bella have stopped crying. Her eyes looked empty. Exactly like last year when Edward left her. This time though, he will make sure that his daughter will get the help she need. Immediately. Charlie stayed with her until she fell asleep. Once he's sure she is in deep slumber, he left the room and take out his phone. He dialed a number.
"Charlie…?"
"Sorry for bothering you so late at night, Anthony, but we have a situation here."
The next morning, Charlie contacted Billy Black (who is very alarmed and definitely intrigued) and the Cullens. They agreed to meet at neutral territory at noon. He then dropped Bella at the Claus residence. Anthony have been more than willing to keep an eye on Bella while Charlie and Belladonna meet with the others. He have been very calm with all these. Charlie is thankful for the Claus' support. Also, their home have many protective charms and wards. No vampires or other monsters will harm Bella while she's there.
When they got there, everyone is already present. The vampires are standing close to their mates. Sam Uley and Jacob Black stay human while the rest of the pack phased.
Belladonna seems to puzzle the hell out of every non human present. The vampires did a double take while the shapeshifters shot her wary looks. The girl just stare back at them, unimpressed.
Charlie introduced Belladonna to everyone. When he hesitated, she continued from there.
"I'm the reason Edward Cullen a pile of ashes now."
"But how?" Carlisle asked. The doubt is visible from his eyes. He have a hard time believing that a 13 year old girl can kill a century old vampire.
"A charm have been placed on Bella's window sill. It activated when Edward attempted to get in. He was set on fire."
The vampires went pale (if it even possible). Fire is a sure way to kill a vampire. Charlie have saw it firsthand. But magical fire? Edward never stood a chance. The shape shifters stiffens but neither Jake or Sam said anything.
Carlisle recovered first. "A charm you say? How?"
"Magic," Belladonna answered. No one said anything for a while. To refute her answer is the same to refute the existence of vampires and shapeshifters. Magic sounds crazy but it's the only logical answer they have.
Alice hissed in outrage. "How come I didn't see it coming?! You're just a human!"
"Half human," Belladonna corrects her.
Alice blinked. They all did. Except for Charlie.
"W-what?" Alice spluttered.
"My father is human while my mother is not. That makes me a half human," Belladonna said.
"Who are you?/What are you?" Emmett Cullen and Jake asked at the same time.
"Belladonna Claus," She answered. "Demigod."
"Demigod? As in the child of a deity and a mortal? Like Perseus, Hercules and Achilles?" Carlisle questioned her.
Belladonna nodded. "They are examples of famous demigods."
"Impossible!"
"And yet here I am. Here you are. Shapeshifters and vampires," Belladonna gestured to the non humans. "Is there a registry I should signed first to be considered supernatural? Or an audition?"
Someone snorted at that.
"Back to the original topic," Belladonna waved it off, "I placed a charm on Isabella's window sill that will activate when a vampire attempt to get in from there. Chief Swan have clearly told Edward Cullen that he was not allowed to sneak into his daughter's room. Any attempt he make after that will be his last. The blame lay on Edward Cullen who didn't listen."
No one said anything (except for Alice who hissed). They are still in the middle of processing all these. Edward is dead. Magic exists. Gods and demigods exists. Charlie understand how they feel. Anthony and Belladonna have filled him in the day they came to his house.
Belladonna assured them that she have no interest to fight anyone here. Nor is she a threat to humans. They can discuss her heritage later on but they still have more pressing issue to address.
What happens now?
Edward is not coming back. Victoria and the newborn army are on their way. And then there's Bella.
After much talk, it is agreed that the Cullens will stick around until the newborn army threat is dealt with. They will fake a car accident to guise Edward's death. It's been known that the dead vampire loved to drive in breakneck speed. He didn't managed to turn his Volvo in time at a sharp turn at a nearby cliff. His car fell and something went wrong with the engine, leading the vehicle to be on fire. Edward didn't make it out in time. It will be a closed casket funeral. The Cullens will move away afterward. Edward's death will attract way too much attention to their liking.
Bella will go back to Arizona to be with her mother. There, she will get therapy and away from all the heartache here at Forks. Jake protested but Charlie put his foot down. As much it pained him for his daughter to move away, it's still better than seeing her waste away here.
Belladonna will aid them fight the newborn army. Forks is her hometown too after all.
They went separate ways.
That went better than Charlie initially imagine.
Charlie and Belladonna returned to the Claus residence. They found Bella curling up on the couch. Anthony told Charlie that she ate a sandwich and drink two cups of tea. At least his daughter have eaten something. Belladonna filled her father with in with what happened today. Anthony take it very calmly with the news of his daughter fighting vampires.
Belladonna put more charms around and in his home. Any vampire that touch any part of the house will be burned to death.
That evening, they received news of Edward's Volvo found at the bottom of a cliff, totally wrecked. 'Edward Cullen' is declared to be deceased.
After putting down his phone, Charlie take a deep breath and went to comfort Bella.
Bella sleep in the guest room now. Her original bedroom is too much for her to handle. Too many memories. Jake visited but his daughter is unresponsive even to him. She didn't go to school. It's understandable in this case.
The next day, Belladonna pay a visit to the Reservation. Charlie was told that she cast charms on the shape shifters' and their imprints' homes. Billy Black have been most intrigued when he heard about the demigoddess. Upon meeting, he asked her many questions. Belladonna answered all of them as best as she can.
Three days after Edward's death and two days after the 'fatal accident', a funeral was held. Bella cried a river. Anthony and Belladonna attended. They sit on the very back. Alice throw them dirty looks every few minutes. Aside from Bella and the Cullens, no one else really mourned for the dead vampire boy. He was arrogant and dislikable. Charlie gave his condolence but that's it. He is glad that no vampire boy will stalk and bully his daughter ever again. Bella will realise that too, when she get the help she needs.
Afterward, Charlie and Belladonna regularly meet with the Quileute pack to train. It was tense, to say the least. The vampires and shape shifters don't like each other but put up with it for the time being. The Cullens keep their distance from Belladonna, which is understandable. Alice keep glaring at her. The girl doesn't seem to care. Carlisle did asked Belladonna about demigods. She gave him short answers. The pack is more welcoming towards Belladonna, since she did take out a vampire and put extra protection on their home. Out of all the shapeshifters, she get along the most with Leah Clearwater. They bond over not being fully human and boots. The girl sympathise with Leah's struggling over imprinting. (Charlie have been told about it as well. He still doesn't know what to make of imprinting. Belladonna found it creepy.)
Sam Uley's imprint, Emily Young watch over Bella while they train. Charlie can't keep imposing on Anthony to look after her.
Since Charlie don't have the physical means to fight vampires (and newborns on top of that), they look for another way. Weapons. Anthony and Charlie melted Celestial Bronze at Anthony's workshop. It was tricky but they are able to make bullets out of them. A father of Athena's kid came up with the idea. Apparently his daughter is quite handful. Charlie and Anthony bond over being fathers of teenage girls. Anthony told Charlie about demigods' high mortality rate. There's fear and pain in his eyes. It give Charlie the impression that Anthony never really had the chance to talk about this with someone else. Someone human, an adult and a parent. Charlie gave him a manly clap on the back and reassurances.
Belladonna concocted a few vials of Greek Fire for them to use. Those are meant as last resort only.
The evening before the Victoria's army predicted arrival, Charlie and Bella arrived at the Claus residence. Just on time too, as Anthony and Belladonna about to booby trap the place. They settled Bella in the guest room before getting to work. Charlie asked where these two learn how to do all these stuff. Belladonna is one thing but what about Anthony?
"Hermes kids," Belladonna answered as if that explain everything. Anthony simply give him a enigmatic grin when he turn to him.
Bella didn't ask any questions. She doesn't even seem to notice the danger she's in.
The following morning, Seth arrived on the Claus' front door.
It's time.
Anthony pull Belladonna to a tight hug. He planted a kiss on her forehead. She hug him back and whispered something in his ear. Charlie stepped into the guest room. Bella is curling up on the bed, her eyes empty and glassy. Charlie stroke her hair and give her a kiss on the temple.
"Everything will be all right, Bells. Everything will be all right."
The Cullens and the pack are waiting at the clearing. The vampire clan is dressed in all black. The pack have shifted to their wolf form. Charlie wear his police vest over his shirt. He brought his gun and shotgun along. They don't have enough Celestial Bronze for both firearms, but Charlie brought along his shotgun anyway. Belladonna is wearing one of Bella's shirt. Bella's scent mixed with her own supernaturally delicious scent make the perfect bait. She have her potions and tools ready in her waist bag. She also brought a bow and a quiver full of arrows. The Cullens and the pack will battle the army up close. Charlie and Belladonna will attack them from the higher ground. Belladonna used magic to cloak their presence (and scents) the moment the enemies arrived.
The newborns didn't stood a chance.
The Cullens, having been vampires longer, have more experience in fighting than them. The pack then jumped on them, completely catching them by surprise. The newborns may be superior in terms of strength, but they have lost focus due to shock and hunger. Charlie counted two newborn decapitated when Jasper knocked down an enemy. Belladonna shot an arrow. The arrow hit its mark. The newborn turned to dust. A few newborns stilled, their mouth gaping in shock. Big mistake. A grey wolf, Leah, rip off a vampire's head. Charlie too aimed his weapon. This time it was Emmet who knock down a vampire. Charlie pulled the trigger. The vampire turned to dust as well.
Charlie and Belladonna move to a different spot. It's to prevent giving away their location to the enemy. Magic is not the solution for everything. With the army's number dwindling, they are confident enough to head to lower ground. It pained Charlie to see that all of the newborns are teenagers. He recognised some of them from pictures of missing kids in the police station. Will Bella be like them if she got turned?
The more reason to get her out of here. Away from the Cullens. There is still this possibility of the Cullens turning Bella. Even if Edward no longer here.
Emmet managed to restraint a newborn in a chokehold. Charlie take aim. The vampire disintegrate the moment the bullet hit him on the chest. Three times the charm. Seeing their comrades turning to dust for the third time sent the remaining newborns to a frenzy. They attempted to flee but the pack will have none of it. If anything, it make them more determined to kill them.
It doesn't take long before they finished the last of them.
The Cullens and the pack gathered the newborns's remains and burned them. Charlie feel bad for them and their parents. The newborns won't be able to grow up and learn about the world. Their parents will never knew what really happened to these kids. No one on their side is injured. Belladonna pull off the magic cloaking. There is a sole survivor. A dark haired girl, younger than Bella. She didn't join the fight. Carlisle and Esme found her before she can get away. She look at them fearfully. Charlie can see her trembling. Most likely from hunger. Her eyes widened to saucers when she landed her eyes on Belladonna. The demigoddess looked at the girl warily.
"Is this the last of them?" Charlie asked.
"No," Carlisle said grimly. "We haven't caught a glimpse of Victoria and one more person."
It was as if the Gods are watching them at the moment, for Charlie's phone ring right after that. He read the caller ID.
Anthony
"Hello?"
"Charlie? Don't worry. Bella's safe. A vampire tried to get into our house. He got burned."
Charlie let out the breath he's been holding in relief.
"Seth noticed someone else. He is chasing after them at the moment."
He take another deep breath to calm himself. "Thank you, Anthony. Don't let your guard down now. Keep us posted." Charlie pocketed his phone before facing the others. "At least two vampires tried to enter Claus' residence. One got burned. Seth is pursuing the second one."
"That must be Victoria," Carlisle said. The newborn girl shifted in discomfort at the mention of the name. "She have a gift of survival. She managed to slip away from us before."
Victoria. The vampire that have a vendetta against his daughter. The monster who turned all these youths to vampires. The one who won't stop chasing after Bella unless someone stopped her.
Today they are going to stop her. For good.
Wolf Sam let out a huff, snapping the rest of the werewolves to attention. They are going to chase after Victoria as well.
"Wait!" Charlie called out. The wolves paused. The russet brown wolf, Jacob, look at him questioningly. "Take me with you. I want to see this through."
Sam looked at him before a moment before letting out another huff. Jacob trot towards him while Leah to Belladonna. They crouch down to let them climb on.
"Just to remind you all, I can't cover everyone. Leah and Jacob, keep your distances from the others to avoid collision." Belladonna said before she start to chant. The magic cloaking hide them once more.
They took off. Alice, Jasper and Emmet came along. Charlie grip onto Jacob's fur. The pack members in their wolf forms are unbelievably fast. He have to be careful or he might fall off. That might cause his shotgun to go off. Or breaking the vials. Both are recipe for disaster.
Thankfully, they found Victoria rather quickly. She is fleeing from Seth. Victoria is a red haired woman with fierce looking red eyes. Charlie grab his shotgun. Victoria look around her, taking note of the increasing number of enemies. They finally cornered her at the cliffs. The pack have her surrounded from all sides. Victoria chose the vertical route. Climbing the cliff. The pack can't climb. Emmet, Jasper and Alice went after her.
Belladonna put off the magic cloak. Victoria paused and turn her head around. The two Bellas' scent must have got her attention. She leapt off. Her eyes trained upon Belladonna.
It turned out to be a mistake.
The wolves got her while she's in midair. Thank goodness vampires can't fly. Charlie didn't even blink when pieces of Victoria fell to the grown.
Belladonna started a fire. The three Cullens and the pack gathered Victoria's remains. They throw them into the fire. Charlie picked up the last piece. Victoria's head. He grab a fistful of her hair, walk towards the fire and throw it.
Victoria is no more.
They wasted no time to head back. Well, Jake and Leah take Charlie and Belladonna to her house. The others went to rendezvous with the rest of the Cullens. They still need to figure out what to do with the newborn girl. Anthony is keeping an eye out from the window when the four of them finally arrived. Charlie quickly hop off Jake and ran inside the house. Bella is sitting in bed, staring into nothing. She blinked blearily when Charlie hug her.
"...Dad..?"
"Everything is okay, Bella. You're safe now."
"Okay, Dad..."
Okay, I give in. I have to write down what happened after Edward is dead.
The next chapter will be the epilogue.
Thank you for reading.
NO FLAME PLEASE