The Change

Edward had taken to scanning Charlie's mind often. Charlie…was an interesting boy, that could be said. Edward saw so many stories…blue boas, animals by a cottage, and a million other things. Charlie had so many adventures…what was really interesting was that he liked his Renesme. Also all the children of the Red King smelled delectable and delicious, it made it amazingly difficult, and Edward knew he could not stay at this school for long. The only reason Bella had stayed alive was because he was irrevocably in love with her and couldn't bring himself to think about killing her.

These children however, no matter how sweet they were, were hard to resist…

Edward turned away from the window which he had been thinking by and sat down at his piano. He let himself fall deep into his complex rhythms, eventually drifting to his lullaby for Bella, amazingly sweet and scented and so utterly complicated it took your breath away. (I find that Yurima's River Flows in You is a lot like his lullaby but not nearly as complex, because if I, a kid, can learn it isn't complicated enough) Edward let himself float away into his music, until a knock brought him to a halt, wrenched from the lullaby. Charlie, for his lesson. The boy, with good intentions, was amazingly annoying.

"Come in," Edward commanded, irritated.

Charlie timidly came into the room. Edward stood up and backed into the shadows away from the sunlight. He was aware that Charlie knew what he was but the boy did not need to know explicit details. He read Charlie's timid thoughts.

Uncle Paton said he was good, but…he could kill me. Uncle Paton said I smell tempting more than others to him…like that's any help. He's been friendly, I'll just get on…oh crap, he can read minds, can't he? Well, he might not be now…but I should be careful. He looks irritated as it is.

Edward resisted a chuckle.

"Your scales, Charlie. I trust you've been doing finger exercises when you practice?" Edward implored. Charlie looked down guiltily. Edward sighed. "Do them now, then."

Charlie nervously flexed his fingers, considering he hadn't practiced at all. Edward had given him a piece to learn and Charlie hadn't even given time to learning it. He had been forgetting a lot of things lately. Paton had told him to hold a meeting at the Pet's Café and he had forgotten. Amy and Lyell both had told him it was all part of being a teen. What if Charlie didn't want to be a teenager? It sounded way too complicated.

Edward sighed, trying to make it sound impatient while really reading Charlie's thoughts. He remembered so long ago, those blurry visions of being a teenager. He had been forgetful also.

"Play your piece," Edward said, knowing full well that Charlie hadn't learned it. They were in for a long session ahead. Luckily it was Friday.

Jasper flitted through the streets, fully afraid in his own emotions. It wasn't right for a soldier to be afraid. Yet he was.

The thing that had followed them there was a vampire, and it's entire emotion was intent on revenge and hatred. Jasper wished he could tell more. He had the fleeting impression this vampire could hypnotize, because Jasper had blackouts, and then he would feel immensely satisfied after…the vampire was telling him to kill humans, and when Jasper had looked in the mirror, indeed, his eyes were redder than golden.

Jasper came to the sunlit streets. Was it worth it? But his moment of hesitation was too late. Jasper screamed and suddenly all went black…and then he was back in his senses. He tried to run away but couldn't. So now he was hypnotized but he could see. This couldn't be fun.

"It's wonderful to see you Jasper, I have a hold on you now," said a voice. Jasper wanted to snarl, so badly, but he couldn't.

The vampire turned to face him, but his face was unseen. It was under a hood, and immediately it was understood that he was one of the Volturi. Jasper couldn't even control the vampire's emotions…couldn't feel his either…

"Let's take a tour to your home, shall we?" he said, leading the way while Jasper reluctantly followed. He prayed with everything he had that Alice wasn't home, though it wasn't likely…it was sunny.

Alice froze on the couch. She saw a vision at last. But it wasn't a good one.

"BELLA!" Alice screamed. They were coming…and it wasn't going to be pretty, Alice could see that right away. The light was getting dark. A vampire war directly in the streets.

"Alice?" Bella said.

"Get ready," Alice said darkly.

"What is it?" Bella asked, afraid of the worst.

"It's one of the Volturi, they can hypnotize, and they've got Jasper," Alice told her, scared. Bella's eyes widened. She prepared her shield.

"Bella…"

"What is it?" Bella said tenderly.

"It's Edward and Renesme," she whispered, "They aren't going to make it."

Charlie got off the bus and rushed to Uncle Paton's home. It was seven and very dark already, and at Number 12 Charlie saw two beautiful women in the street, terrified. The vampires.

Charlie cautiously approached, but then they screamed, making Charlie jump backward…suddenly Charlie was engulfed in darkness, and he couldn't feel anything. He didn't see what was lunging for him through his darkness.

Jasper unwillingly saw the young boy, and suddenly the boy fell to the ground, limp and unmoving. Jasper ran toward the boy in an inhuman crouch, prepared to kill the thumping, oh so tempting blood that ran lusciously thick in his veins…

Bella knew even if she managed to throw a shield around Jasper, he might not be able to stop himself from Charlie's amazing smell.

Up the street, Bella saw Edward and Renesme, running for them, and the Volturi vampire turned and threw his hand up. Edward fell into the pavement as Renesme screamed. Then she too fell.

Bella was funneled and fueled with fury, and her shield blasted all around them, and a low vibration was felt as her shield was thrown. Jasper stopped uncertainly. The boy sprang up and started to run for Number 9 and Edward stirred, while Renesme's heart thumped and she shivered on the ground.

Alice growled low in her throat as the Volturi one sprang at Jasper, determined to rip him…Bella could not prevent physical attacks.

The Volturi one threw Alice away like a broken toy and still went after Jasper…then he froze. He sniffed the air, and Charlie froze, five meters from Number 9. Suddenly Charlie tore for the door…but too late…

The Volturi vampire sprang onto Charlie, his hood flying off. Bella gasped for a split second before all the Cullen's pulled the Volturi away, each one losing as Charlie was mauled…

The explosion reverberated around them and the glass got into the Volturi's eyes. He tore off at a blazing speed down the street, away, as Paton Yewbeam burst through the door, his feet crunching the glass from the bulbs he had showered upon the vampires. Charlie moaned, and was completely silent.

"Charlie…" Paton whispered, a tear coming down his cheek. "Will he…"

"No." Edward said, bowing his head.

Paton tried to hold back, choking on his tears, and then he lay over Charlie, sobbing, his nephew dying…when Alice put a hand on Edward's shoulder, sharing her thoughts.

"No, Alice. He is too young," Edward said firmly. Bella caught on immediately, for she knew that tone of voice from a blurry time.

"Edward, it's the only way. Save him."

Edward closed his eyes and shook his head. Alice let go and took a step toward Charlie, his life ebbing away…Edward yelled in protest and Jasper and Renesme stiffened, while Bella clutched her hands together…

Alice bit Charlie's wrist, and soon Charlie was screaming bloody murder.