Wow, that last chapter was a hit and I'm really sorry for the cliffie. Please don't hate me. Okay so hopefully this chapter will make up for it.
Okay see me at the bottom! Oh and again I don't own this stuff, SM does and I'm just playing with em. Except the O'Quinns, they're mine!
Chapter 15
"BELLA!" I heard someone shout and I looked up to see Edward bursting through the woods and he grabbed me up into his arms and I buried my face in his neck and cried.
"Shh, we'll get em back. Don't worry" he cooed and I shook my head.
"Edward, I could have...but I just froze...and she….my dad" I wailed
"Shh love, Bella I promise we'll get him back" he whispered as he held me on the ground and I noticed the rest of our family burst through the trees save for Emmett and Jasper.
"How did you know to come?" I sniffed
"Alice, I'm sorry love, she saw Victoria headed here but she didn't see her decision to take Charlie until it was too late" he cooed
"It's true Bella, as soon as I saw her make the decision to come here we took off, she had no plans to take Charlie, she wanted you, it was set but at the last second she changed her mind. I'm so sorry Bella, I really thought it would be you she would be trying to take. I was sure we were going to arrive her to see you in a battle with her" Alice said and I sobbed even harder.
I sat there in his arms just thinking how bad I had screwed up. How the hell could I have just froze like that? This was all my fault. If I hadn't went to that baseball game last year, if I had only just let my fingers spark, I could have sent her away or turned the forest into flames but I didn't. I let her take my dad. How the hell was I supposed to be queen of the supernatural world when I couldn't even keep my family safe?
"Bella are you okay?" Alice asked and I shook my head. I wanted to scream, cry and fucking break something.
"Bella, umm sweetheart, maybe we should get you inside and try to talk about this" Esme suggested and looked up to see the sky had grown black, the wind was gusting and I could even make out funnel clouds forming while lightning streaked across the sky.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm down so the weather would calm as well as they led me inside the house.
"He's okay Bella" Alice said and I nodded still too upset to speak.
"What am I gonna do Edward? She has my dad, he knows what she is and all but she could kill him. I can't believe I just stood there" I wailed again and put my head in my hands and cried.
"Bella, my family and I will handle this. We'll get your father back I swear" Edward stated
"Edward, you don't understand, she wants you. She wants a trade, you for my dad, I can't lose either one of you" I wailed
"You won't love, she can't take us all on. I want you to go to the Rez and we'll go get Charlie" he said and I shook my head.
"No, if I don't show up then she'll kill him" I didn't know whether to be upset or pissed off. The whole situation was seriously giving me a headache.
"Son, maybe we should all sit down and think this through, I agree that Bella should go to the Rez but we need to come up with a plan of attack that keeps Charlie safe" Carlisle said and then I sat there as plans were made to save my dad. I kept my mouth shut as they talked about contacting the pack to help and ambush her while I sat there and came up with my own plan. Alice was looking at me funny but I made sure to keep it general so she couldn't see what I was up too.
The pack was called and Jacob was only too happy to help, he was livid that she took Charlie and told Carlisle to send me down to the rez where they would have Brady and one of the other youngest wolves hang out to protect me again. I sighed and held my tongue when I knew that under normal circumstances I would have told them all to go to hell and that I could handle it but all I could think of was my dad.
It was nearing nightfall when I finally left my house; the pack had arrived a few hours ago and were on track to Port Angeles while the Cullens would be leaving as soon as I left. Edward wanted to come with me to see that I got to the rez safely but the pack wouldn't allow it. I thought he was going to tear his hair out but I assured I'm would be safe and to just please go get my dad.
He kissed me hard just before I got in the truck and I said the same thing to him that he did to me back in Phoenix last year and that was to protect my heart because I left it with him. He shuddered and told me that he loved me and then I watched as the Cullens disappeared into the forest.
I drove towards LaPush and halfway there I pulled off onto a tree covered road that Jake and I used to go dirt biking and parked my truck. I then took a deep breath and let the light flow over me and bring me to Port Angeles.
I was happy to see that it was getting easier as I appeared in an alley right across from the Native American bookstore where I got the book that helped me figure out what Edward was. Was that really only last year?
I looked around the alley and shuddered as I remembered what happened last time I was here in an alley and immediately high tailed it out of there.
I had no idea where the old mill was and started to just glance around and see if I could see any old buildings that might look like it. I saw a few women standing around a closed electronics store and asked them where it was and they pointed towards the next street.
"Take the next left and then a right, it should be just around the corner then dear" one woman said. "Not sure what you'll find there dear, thing has been abandoned for years" she added and I told em it was a history project and then ran off shouting thanks.
The place was creepy as hell, it was dark, I could see the cobwebs and the plants that had overgrown giving the whole place this sinister haunted factory deal and I jumped as the sound of clanging came from nearby. I needed to get a grip and took another deep breath and ran inside hoping that the pack and the Cullens weren't here yet or at least they wouldn't sense me.
The place was just as black on the inside and my fingers were tingling but I managed to keep it at bay. As much as I wanted to light the place up I didn't want to signal to anyone that I was here.
I couldn't see my way around and blindly stalked the hallways to see if my dad was in any of them but I couldn't tell if he was. For all I knew she had him somewhere else and this could be a trap. Just a ruse to get me alone or kill Edward. I didn't care, I needed to get my dad back and I just prayed that I wasn't too late.
I felt like I was looking for hours when really it was just a few minutes but then I heard it; it was faint and muffled but I could hear it and ran towards it. I came upon a big room or at least it looked big and there was a single light on in what appeared to be the middle and my dad was sitting there and he looked to be tied up with a gag in his mouth.
"DAD!" I shouted as I ran towards him and took the gag out of his mouth.
"Jesus Bella, go, you need to get out of here" he told me and I shook my head.
"Not without you" I told him
"Bella, she's crazy, she'll kill you, go, get out of here" he whispered yelled and again I shook my head.
"You should listen to your father" I heard someone hiss and stood up slowly and watched as she slid out of the dark like a demon; Victoria.
"Victoria" I sneered
"Mmm, so good of you to join us Bella, where's your Edward?" she asked.
"He's not coming, it's just you and me" I told her pulling up my sleeves hoping that I looked tough and hoped that my heart wouldn't give me away.
"Pity, I was hoping to have him here to watch me kill you, no matter, I'll be sure to deliver your body to his doorstep" she spat and then crouched but then hissed as I heard his voice.
"VICTORIA!" Edward yelled as he landed in front of me and crouched and I saw the rest of the Cullens stand next to me while Esme wrapped her arm around me.
"Aww Edward, so good of you to join us. I see you brought your family" she sneered in a sickly sweet voice.
"That's right, you're outnumbered bitch" Rose shouted and crossed her arms.
"Mmm, yes it does appear that way, but you see I have friends of my own" she hissed and then I saw movement as about twenty more vampires appeared behind her.
"You see Edward, you're the one who is outnumbered, I will have my revenge. You took my James and I will have her" she shouted and signaled her army to attack and I saw my family brace themselves as some of her group launched only to be snatched out of the air by a wolf.
The few vampires who jumped were in shreds on the floor while the rest hissed and crouched and waited to see what was happening and I saw Victoria look on in fright as Jake and Leah stood up from their kill and growl as those in front of them. The rest of the pack flanked us.
"It's over Victoria" Edward shouted but she was crazed and then I heard Alice yell when in an instant she grabbed my dad and held him by his throat.
"NOOOOOOOO!" I screamed and made a lunge but Edward held me back.
"Bella, don't, it's what she wants, they are all newborns and won't hesitate to kill you" he said softly but I could hear the tension in his voice.
"But my dad, Edward" I wailed and he tried to soothe me.
"You want him? Go get him" she spat and threw my dad at the wall
"NOOOOOOOOOO, DAD!" I screamed and ran towards him while Victoria and the rest of her army attacked my family.
"Dad, daddy" I wailed as I picked him up from the floor.
"Bel, it, B" he struggled to talk but I could see blood coming out of his mouth and the next thing I knew Carlisle was there.
"Do something" I yelled.
"Bella, he hit the wall, his lungs" he started but I was shaking my head, I would not lose my dad, I couldn't.
"No, no, he's strong, he'll fight. Change him" I screamed but then I watched in horror as my dad let out a wet cough and then stroked my face and I wailed as his closed his eyes and fell back.
I screamed again and just barely heard Carlisle apologize as the sky outside a nearby window grew dark and the wind howled throughout the place and everyone stopped to see what was going on.
No this couldn't be happening, not my dad. No he was strong, he would get through this and I tried waking him, I even slapped him as I screamed for him but there was no answer and I struggled against Carlisle's strength as he dragged me away from his body and to the safety of a corner while my family, wolf and vampire fought Victoria and her minions.
I searched and saw Jasper taking on three newborns while Alice pulled the head off another. Jake and Leah were taking care of a few and I could see Esme duck out of the way as a newborn lunged for her only to land in the jaws of Sam. I watched as Emmett tackled four to the ground and hold them while Paul and Embry tore them to shreds and then my blood ran cold as Victoria and another vampire had Edward cornered. He was holding his own but I didn't know if he could take two of them and I froze as the newborn managed to get a hold of him and Victoria caressed his chest as her slave held his arms. He was struggling and I saw her claw him and tell him that she was going to rip out his cold dead heart. Fat chance.
I lost it as the explosion of light, fire and wind burst through me and I landed on Victoria.
"YOU BITCH" I screamed as my fists that were now covered in the familiar green fire punched her in the face.
She threw me off her and looked at me in shock. "A witch, how interesting. Doesn't matter, you're still going to die" she sneered.
"You first" I spat and slammed my fist to the ground and let the fire surround her. She growled and flipped over the fire I made even as I commanded it to rise further but she got out of it. She made another lunge for me but I disappeared and appeared across the room. Didn't know I could do that. It was like a part of me had been woken from a deep slumber and I felt more complete than ever.
She made another lunge and I did the same thing again, disappearing and then reappearing only this time I did it right behind her and had a lightning bolt hit her chest. I was hoping it would set her on fire but it just stunned her and singed her clothes.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" she let loose a blood curdling scream, her eyes black in rage as she came at me again and I punched her with my green fist again and watched as she flew back again. She got up quickly but she hissed and growled like an animal caught in a cage. I could see my family gather around, the rest of her army killed and the fire pit in the back told me that they were being taken care of.
"It's over Victoria. You're little army is done lassie and so are you" I spat and wretched her forward, raising her above the ground and I relished as she looked at me in fright and struggled against my power.
"You hurt my family, you tried to kill my fiancé and you murdered me da, give me one good reason why I shouldn't light ya on fire" I sneered as my fingers lit up, the fire raising and swirling before her eyes.
"I'll kill you, I don't care what you are, I'll drain you dry. My only regret is that I didn't drain daddy dearest" she spat and I lost all self control.
"Wrong answer" I yelled and shot my fingers towards her face. She screamed and I watched with a smile on my face as the flames from my hands went in her mouth and down her throat and then we all watched as she started to burn from the inside out, her hard skin and clothes literally being turned to ash before us.
She screamed and screamed till I finally couldn't take anymore and wretched her head from her body and sent her flying into the pyre behind us.
I stood there seething until my world went dark and I collapsed to the ground as someone screamed my name.
I was walking down the sidewalk of Forks, my hand firmly holding my dad's as he led us through the streets to get me an ice cream. Mommy and Daddy were fighting again and he said something about me being too young to hear this and took me out.
"They fought a lot and I heard Mommy say something about she was tired, and didn't want to be here anymore. I asked her if we were all going on a trip, maybe to see auntie Dora but Mommy said that there would be no seeing auntie Dora but that me and her were gonna go on a vacation. How could we go on a vacation without Daddy?
Daddy gave me an ice cream and then told me to stay where I was, that he would be back in a minute. I happily ate my ice cream but after a few minutes I was lonely and started looking for Daddy but I couldn't see him.
"Daddy!" I yelled but he wasn't there.
"Bella, run!" I heard him scream and saw a red headed woman take him and then I was back in that room and watching as she threw my daddy across the room. Why was she hurting my daddy?
I cried for him but no one heard me and then daddy was gone.
"DADDY!" I woke up screaming and gasping for air while someone held me. The arms were cool and strong and the familiar scent of my fiancé swept over me.
"Shh, love, it's okay, I'm here" he said softly while I sobbed remembering what happened in my dream.
"Edward, my dad, is he okay?" I asked and I could see his face fall. I knew it, he was dead, my dream was really a nightmare come true.
"I'm sorry love" he started but I was shaking my head, willing it to be untrue. My dad couldn't be dead, he was my dad, the chief of police, yes he got banged up and maybe a little rough but he couldn't die.
"No, no, no, no, it's not possible. He married a witch, he ran with wolves and fought against a vampire, he can't be dead" I said, my heart breaking at the thought that he was gone.
"Bella, come on love, just calm down, I promise Bella that I will do whatever I can to help, I'm so sorry Bella but he's gone" Edward said and I collapsed to the floor where he held me and wished that I could raise that red headed bitch from the grave and kill her all over again.
"Edward, we have to get out of here, the smoke and fire attracted some attention, the police have been called" I heard Alice say and I felt Edward pick me up and I managed to get it together long enough to send us all back to the Cullens'.
I vaguely saw them bring me into the house and I felt Edward clutch me tighter and he sat on the couch making sure to keep me on his lap.
"Bells, I'm sorry" I heard Jacob say and I looked up to see the tears flowing down his face I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed into his arms.
"He was a great man and will be sorely missed" Sam said while the rest of the pack hung their heads and I cried a little harder.
Suddenly there was a bright light filling the room and in its place was my aunt, my mom and "Daddy?" I squealed both in delight and complete shock.
"Jesus, what the hell is going on here, who died?" he chuckled as I launched myself into his arms.
"You did, I mean at least we thought you did. We all saw the same thing right?" Emmett asked and I saw my dad smile.
"Yeah, you did kiddo" he said
"But how, I held you when you died, Carlisle was right there" I stammered
"Now lass, did ya really think I was gonna stand by and let something happen to yer da?" my mother asked and I stood there with my jaw hanging open.
"Tis true Izzy, I told yer ma to do it. you can call it the ole switcharoo I guess. We just cast a spell to make it only seem like yer dad died. I'm sorry lassie, it had to be done" aunt Dora told me and as much as I wanted to be mad, I was just too happy to have my dad alive and with me.
"We're gonna talk about this later you two. As for you" I said and pointed at my dad, "Don't ever scare me like that again" I said as I smacked him in the back of the head.
"You tell him little sis" Emmett whooped and then it was followed by a slap and him saying "Dammit Rosie"
"Sorry pumpkin, your mom and aunt came to me before you got there and told me the plan, I'm sorry we had to deceive ya but it had to be done" he told me.
"Just do me a favor, next time you hear me shooting my gun and yelling at ya to run, then do it" he told me and I gave him a stern look.
"So stubborn" he said
"Pot, kettle" I said and poked him in the stomach and he chuckled as he hugged me tightly.
"I thought I lost you" I sniffled as my eyes filled up again.
"I know kiddo, I'm sorry, but I'm not going anywhere, not yet" he said softly while he held me tightly and then I felt a pair of warm arms wrap around both of us.
"Hey Jake, what are you doing here sport?" Charlie asked as my big bad wolf sobbed like a child.
"We came to help the Cullens save you. We thought we were too late that you had died. Glad to see that it wasn't true" Sam said and Jake nodded while my dad's cheeks reddened a bit.
"I'm fine you guys, now if ya don't mind, I'm going home and taking a nice long shower and a nap, your Mom and aunt told me that vampires have this smell that was supposed to lure you in, wrongo. That thing smelt like hot garbage and her little minions all reeked of human waste and onions. Nasty things, no offense" he said and motioned to the Cullens.
"Hmm, never ever heard of one of our kind ever smelling unpleasant before" Carlisle said
"We have" my mother and aunt said and I motioned for them to go on knowing that there had to be a reason.
"Aye, those blackened devils in Italy reek to the high heavens. It's a sign of evil. While we do not believe that vampires are evil, no more than witches or werewolves but like humans, there are evil ones and those vampires that are, stink. Of course humans usually don't catch the odor until it's too late but for those that get close enough can easily tell. The red headed banshee was beyond evil and needed to be done with" my aunt explained but I was done listening and just wanted to curl up in bed.
"Come on love, let's get you and your dad home" Edward suggested and I nodded.
We made our way out to the car but not before I hugged my mom and aunt telling them thank you.
"No need to thank us baby, you know, I did love him once, still do and I would never let any harm come to either of ya" my said as she hugged me tightly and then her and my aunt disappeared into the light again.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, that is so freaking cool" Emmett whooped and my dad muttered something about needing sun glasses and then we got in the car and drove off.
Once we were home, Edward left and told me he would be back later and then my dad and I both fell onto the couch heavily. We didn't say anything but I sat as close as I could to him and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.
"You alright kiddo?" he asked
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I snickered
"Yeah well I'm your dad, it's my job but I promise I'm fine" he said and then got off the couch and came back with a glasses and I wrinkled my nose at the scent of what was in them.
"What the heck is that?" I asked
"Whiskey" he shrugged
"Since when do you drink whiskey?" I asked
"Not very often, pretty sure I've had this bottle since yer mom and I got married, it's Irish and was given to us by umm what's his name, the cook, Ralph?" he said and then handed me a glass. I looked at the glass and then at him.
"Yeah I know and this is not an invitation for you to drink under age at all and I would never do this, I'm the chief, but after today I think we could both use a drink" he said and I agreed and downed the shot that was in the glass.
It burned like hell and tasted awful and I coughed once the drink was gone.
"Good god that was nasty" I spat while I choked
"Yeah well at least it will deter ya from every drinking it again" my dad smiled and then shivered as he swallowed his own shot.
"Good lord, I didn't like this stuff back then and I don't like it now. How the hell your mom and aunt drank it by the bottles I'll never know" he shuddered and I laughed at the mental image of my mom and aunt taking shots.
"Alright, I'm going to bed and then I'm gonna head down to the rez in the morning. I think I may have to explain to Billy and the boys that I know what they are before Billy comes here tomorrow and tries to give me some stupid excuse of why the boys were up there and what I think I saw. Man can't lie to save it his life" my dad said shaking his head.
"Oh and when I get back, you and I are gonna talk about the ring on your finger missy" he said and I paled.
"Umm what?" I gulped
"It's fine sweetheart, I was ticked but your Mom told me some things and I'm okay with it. I still don't like him but if you're happy then so am I. Just do me a favor and tell him to at least come and talk to me. I won't apologize to him for shooting his ass but I at least think it's high time I got to know my soon to be son in law, just don't make me a grandfather yet. You're not pregnant right?" he said and I shook my head, too stunned to speak.
"Okay then, well night pumpkin, see ya tomorrow" he said and kissed my head and I watched dumbfounded as he walked up the stairs.
I huffed loudly as I sat back against the couch and I was still reeling from the events of today. I felt my eyes well again as I thought about how close I came to losing my family today, especially my dad. I understood now why Edward shied away from the idea of us in the beginning and why he ran so many months ago. My dad was human and yet he was involved in such a dangerous world, how long before he cracked under the weight of information or worse, how long could I keep him safe?
"You know if the wind changes your face will stick like that" I heard a soft voice in my ear and I smiled as I turned around and sank into his arms.
"That's not true and you know it" I sniggered as he picked me up and then made his way slowly up the stairs.
"Edward, my dad" I whispered
"Shh love, he's sound asleep and dreaming of fishing. Quite the feat with what he witnessed today" he said as he let me down and shut my door.
I made my way to my dresser and go ready for bed. I was going to take a shower but I was just too tired to do it so instead I stripped off and crawled under the covers with Edward snuggled up next to me.
"Goodnight Bella" he said softly as he tucked me against his chest and I was out before I could even say it back.
You didn't think I was going to kill Charlie off did ya? I'll be honest, I thought about it but I just couldn't do it. What did ya think.
So I just wanted to take this time to thank all those who are following this fic, those who have favorited it and those that reviewed. You lassies rocks. Also I wanted to thank my pre-reader Oona4, loves ya girl.
So that's it for me, I'm on holiday next week so hopefully I can get another update out to ya then.
Later
Greeneyes84