Chapter III – Storm Clouds

Charlie and Seth were staring gape-mouthed at Alice.

Alice had her hand over mouth and her eyes were huge. She'd apparently just jumped out of the forest, and I suddenly realized she hadn't seen them because of Seth. Seth was aware of the Cullen family's secret, after our battle with Victoria and the newborns, but it was doubtful he'd ever seen it displayed quite so obviously. Charlie was an entirely different matter!

He looked like he was staring at a ghost. He tried suddenly to speak. Clearly at a loss, he stuttered "A-Alice…w-w-what..."

I didn't know how to handle this situation, a thousand ramifications of Charlie's being aware suddenly flashed through my mind. I knew the moment was about to go terribly wrong if I didn't help Charlie get a handle on things, "Dad?" I said softly, as calmly as I was able to make my voice sound. Quietly even.

He dragged his eyes away from Alice slowly, and though he looked at me, I could tell he was still seeing her, "Dad, maybe we should go inside. I can explain, but it would be better to talk about it in there." I walked over and took his arm, and drew him towards the house. By the look on his face, I could tell that I was pulling him inside before he'd really understood what I'd said. Edward held the door open for us, and as I towed Charlie inside, he looked at Edward with marked suspicion.

I walked him over to the sofa took his hand, and sat down pulling Charlie down next to me. He was still glaring suspiciously at Edward, and his eyes widened again as first Alice, and then Jasper walked in after Edward.

As they closed the door I spoke to him again. "Dad," he didn't look at me, "DAD! Look at me." He turned.

He was still round eyed, "Did I just, was that…Bella, I…" he looked at Alice again, "Alice! What the hell is going on?"

My jaw dropped, Charlie rarely swore, "Dad! Don't be rude."

His eyes softened slightly and he frowned, "I'm sorry Alice. I didn't mean to be rude, but" and he looked at me, "explain then!"

Suddenly, I didn't know what to say. I looked at Edward imploringly, and he came and sat down behind me. "Charlie, the Cullen family has a secret you weren't ever meant to find out. It's going to sound unbelievable, but please try to remember what you've just seen outside. " He indicated Alice with a nod of his head.

Carlisle suddenly walked into the room, and Charlie visibly relaxed, "Dr. Cullen." He gasped, as though he considered Carlisle as sanity personified.

"Hello Charlie," he said, reaching out to shake Charlie's hand. "I'm sorry this has to be happening now, but I understand you must be very confused and I'd like to get this in hand quickly. I've never had to explain this under these circumstances before," I thought to myself that all the people Carlisle had told had likely already been changed before he had this conversation with them. How would Charlie take it? I was tense from head to toe.

"Charlie, my family and I are vampires, I can prove this to you in a variety of ways, but hopefully you will accept the veracity of Seth's word." Everyone looked at Seth, who nodded, though he was still staring at Alice, a little wide eyed himself.

Charlie was beginning to sputter out something, Carlisle interrupted him, "You should know, my family and I are committed to a lifestyle of hunting wild animals rather than the cliché diet of vampires. We have a treaty with the Quileute tribe in proof of this, made between myself, and Jacob Black's Grandfather, who was the chief at that time." Charlie looked again at Seth who again nodded his agreement, no longer looking wide-eyed now.

Charlie was very still, and suddenly he looked at Edward with fury, "You married my daughter, and you're a….a….."

I took the opportunity to stop this before Edward could say anything, "Dad, I married him too. I knew what he was, there were no delusions, I love him and that was all that mattered."

Charlie looked at Carlisle, "Is it safe, is she…safe?" he asked, fear tightened the corners of his eyes.

"Yes Charlie, Bella is part of our family now. We protect her, and we all love her. We're all happy to have her as part of our family."

We sat inside talking, for some time, about what the Cullen's being vampires meant. He wanted to know how Edward had told me, and how it affected our marriage. We had some problems when Charlie suddenly became more observant than I was comfortable with, and realized that my escapade in Arizona, might have been related to this revelation. When he learned how Edward had saved me, Charlie's demeanor towards him changed dramatically.

At one point Charlie also became defensive, "I told you to spend more time with Jacob, Bella. With him I wouldn't have to worry about-" he swept a hand around the room at the family, "this!" he ended sternly.

Edward audibly scoffed, and Charlie cast a challenging glare at Edward, as if asking him to prove him wrong. Carlisle was again the voice of reason, "Actually Charlie, Jacob Black is a werewolf." As he had so long ago when I'd first told him I was dating Edward, Charlie looked like he was having an aneurysm.

"WHAT!!!!!" he finally yelled, shooting up off the sofa. "I'm not supposed to just believe in vampires all of the sudden, now werewolves too? It's a lie!" he was suddenly looking at Carlisle accusatorily.

Seth, who had been mostly forgotten during this exchange, and who still stood by the door – as though he'd prefer to run out than remain, took a step forward, and spoke up quietly, "Jacob isn't the only one Chief Swan, I'm a werewolf too, and so is Embry Call, Quil Ateara, and Sam Uley…" Charlie winced when Seth mentioned Sam.

Charlie's legs went out from under him, and he dropped back onto the couch. Anyone could tell he'd heard enough. It was time for me to rescue him, "Dad, come out to the kitchen, you could use a coke I think, and then Seth can head back home with you." I looked at Seth, "You had something you wanted to talk to Edward about, right?" Seth nodded. "Ok, you two talk, we'll be back in a moment, and then I think it's time for Dad to get home." I looked at Charlie urging him to agree with my eyes, and he seemed almost grateful to comply.

I gave Charlie a coke, and gave him some bread with butter to snack on. Esme, bless her, always had wonderful fresh baked bread in the house for me. I didn't envy Seth the conversation he was going to be exposed to on his way back to the house.

Alice walked into the kitchen, then. She looked appalled. "I'm so sorry Charlie, I didn't mean to frighten you." She was almost whispering. Her expression was heartbreaking.

Charlie had always been very partial towards Alice, and this wasn't an expression he could accept from her. He stood up and walked over to her. "Ah Alice, you've been the best friend Bella ever had, you shocked me, I can't deny that. You didn't frighten me, though." He leaned forward to hug her and she stepped back, disconcertingly fast, surprising Charlie again.

I stood, understanding her reaction, and walked up behind Charlie. I put my hand on his shoulder; Alice began to step forward again cautiously. "Dad, remember, vampires. When you move too fast, sometimes it catches them off guard. Carlisle was telling the truth when he said they only feed on animals, but the smell of human's is still a temptation to their nature. Apart from Carlisle, Alice and Edward are the most inured, but neither is infallible. Also, you should know, their skin is cold."

Charlie looked back at Alice, he reached out and cautiously touched Alice's face tentatively. His eyes widened as he felt her coolness. He was visibly sorry for his actions, but being Charlie decided to make light of the situation, "I'm sorry Alice, I…but if you think I move fast.." he chuckled. Alice laughed then and stepped forward. She hugged Charlie and they both stepped back smiling.

At that moment Alice froze again, and her face went blank. Recognizing the expression, I froze too, "Alice!" I said, "What is it?"

"Bella, you need to get Charlie out of here, right now!"

I didn't need to be told twice, I grabbed Charlie, and started yelling for Seth. Alice's sudden vision, and her reaction could only mean one thing. Aurelio was about to arrive.

We met in the living room and headed for the door. I was pushing Charlie out the front door and calling to Edward, "We have to get them to safety Edward." Charlie was looking over his shoulder at me, questioningly. Edward closed the door behind him, and stepped off the porch. It was raining again.

Edward stood expressionless for a moment and then looked Charlie right in the face. "Charlie, give me the keys."

Charlie was going to argue, I could see it, so I reached into his pocket and grabbed them throwing them to Edward, "Trust him, Dad. He drives much better than you do." Charlie gave in with bad grace, but pulled open the passenger door and flipped the seat so Seth and I could climb into the back seat. Then he climbed in to the front and slammed his door.

Edward had the car turned around before everyone was even buckled in; I looked at Edward in the mirror, "How close Edward?"

"He's only about 10 minutes away. He's using the roof to guide him here."

Charlie looked back at me then, "Who are you talking about, Bells?"

I groaned, what a time for explanation, "Dad, there's a vampire, a bad vampire, who's angry at Carlisle. He's coming to attack the family. He doesn't share the same eating habits as the Cullen's so we have to get out of here."

I noticed Seth beginning to quiver next to me. Oh no! How could this day get any worse, "Seth, Seth please, keep it together!" I pleaded, "Charlie's cruiser can't hold a wolf!"

Seth calmed slightly for a moment, "I have to let Sam know Bella. He has to know about this." He looked at Edward in the mirror as I had, "I need to get out Edward."

Edward looked back at him, "I can't Seth, I have to get Bella and Charlie to safety first. You can make it to Charlie's house."

He turned back to the road, which was flying under the wheels faster than I cared to consider. The engine was screaming. Suddenly Edward let out a stream of profanities, slamming on the brakes and yanking the wheel so that we swerved sideways and I felt the cruiser lurch as he punched the gas pedal again, I could hear the wheels trying to get traction on the rain-slicked road. Edward never had driving trouble, my eyes flashed in every direction to see what was going on. I saw him one minute before I saw the passenger side door open. Charlie looked over in surprise, and yelled as he was pulled out.

Edward slammed on the brakes, threw the cruiser into park, and was out of the car before my brain had even caught up with the situation. I heard another scream from Charlie, and Edward dove over the roof and was rolling with another stone white body. Aurelio had long dark hair, not smooth the way the Volturi's had been, but wavy. I couldn't really see what he looked like, rolling with Edward as he was. I wasn't even aware I was climbing out of the cruiser until I felt the rain. It was coming down in buckets now.

Charlie screamed again, and I was running across the pavement. Aurelio disentangled himself from Edward at that moment, and shot into the forest. Edward glanced back at me, turned back, and snarling took off after him. I looked to where Edward had disappeared into the trees; fear froze me until Charlie screamed again.

He was sitting up and holding his leg. There was blood pouring out of a huge gash there. I heard a strange noise behind me and turned to see Seth change, one moment he was Seth, then his frame quivered and he was a wolf. I turned back to Charlie who said the one thing that could chill my heart utterly, "It burns, my leg is burning!" I turned back to Seth, "Tell them! Tell them now! Screw the treaty." Seth whimpered, his wolf eyes on Charlie. I took that to mean he'd understood and turned back to Charlie. The hair on the back of my neck rose a moment later, when Seth suddenly emitted an ear-shattering howl.

"BELLA!" Charlie shrieked my name.

"Dad!" I hadn't realized I was crying until my voice broke as I called to him. I kneeled next to him, "Dad! Did he bite you, did he?" But Charlie was beyond recognition, beyond pain. I knew that feeling; I'd been there. All he knew was the burning, and I was powerless to stop it.

I began to scream Edward's name then, hysterically. Edward could save him, only Edward. Charlie looked up at me, "Bells?" I looked at him, "What's happening? Am I,..oh God it burns. He bit me, does that mean.." and then he screamed again. Suddenly a deep voice spoke from behind me.

"He's becoming one of them Bella, you know what this means" I turned to see Sam Uley standing behind me, his face disgusted. Seth, Embry and Quil were with him too.

Seth shook his head, "No Sam, none of the Cullen's did it, it was a vampire who is after the Cullen's." Sam's expression smoothed then, and he exhaled.

I was trying very hard to think rationally about what to do, but I was becoming hysterical. "Do something! Help me Sam…Dad!!" I sobbed, Charlie was screaming again, he kept yelling, "It's burning. It burns." He stopped for a moment, struggling. He looked at Sam piercingly. "Kill me! KILL ME!"

I yelled out, "NO! No-no-no! Dad NO, Edward can save you, he can. He saved me, remember." I was talking to a wall. Charlie had begun screaming again. No. He wasn't screaming, he was shrieking. I began screaming for Edward again. I grabbed Charlie's arm, willing the venom to stop spreading. "Edward, Edward! EDWARD! Sam no, Edward can save him, he can do it."

In that moment, as my Father lay slowly succumbing to vampire venom, screaming out loud at the hellfire burning his veins, and I matched his screams praying for my savior, an explosion rocked the ground beneath us. I stood and looked back, smoke billowing from the direction I knew we'd come from. It came from the Cullen house. My head craned, watching the smoke billowing up.

Edward.

My knees buckled, and everything went black.