Chapter 4 – Keep a Secret

Bella's Pov

Carlisle called in for a family meeting, so we all silently took our places around the dining table. I sat next to Charlie and Edward and next to Charlie was Carlisle, who was next to Esme, who was next to Rosalie, who was next to Emmett and next to Emmett were two empty chairs where Alice and Jasper should have been.

"Where are Alice and Jasper?" I whispered to Edward.

"They've gone hunting, Jasper needed some time alone." He whispered back. I felt sorry for Jasper; he must be feeling really bad. I wanted to tell him that it wasn't his fault. I knew all along, that the party was a bad idea, with my luck.

"Charlie, everything you saw and heard today, needs to be kept a secret." Carlisle said in a calm voice, "The existence of us vampires shouldn't be known to humans." He continued, "Unless...we intend on turning the human into one of us." He finished looking at me. Charlie nodded with the slightest hint of fear and confusion on his face.

"I promise I will, keep a secret. Just out of curiosity may I ask...what will happen if...a human does spread the word about the existence of...vampires." Charlie asked. He hesitated for a second before he said the word vampire, clearly shying away from it, just like I used to shy away from the word when I first came to know about vampires.

Carlisle thought through his answer carefully before he answered Charlie, "There are a large group of vampires called the Volturi. They are the closest thing our kind has to royalty, they are old and powerful. They set the laws for our kind, mainly most of the laws focus on enforcing the existence of our kind to be a secret. They punish those who disobey these laws."

"How?" Charlie asked very quickly, his voice strained.

"They kill all those who are involved, both vampires and humans." Carlisle answered his voice calm.

Charlie shuddered and Carlisle smiled trying to lighten the mood

, "It's alright, don't worry, Charlie, nothing would happen if you keep it a secret and tell nobody at all. It's only between us." Carlisle said, putting his arm around Charlie and his voice comforting.

"I will surely tell no one, I promise." Charlie said weakly.

All the Cullens smiled, to my immense surprise even Rosalie smiled, although before her expression held a bit of fury, now there isn't even a hint of it.

Just then we heard the door open and shut. We heard footsteps coming closer to us. Everyone relaxed in their chair, besides Charlie, Edward and I as Alice and Jasper came into view. They stood a metre away from the table, her right hand and his left hand interlocked. Alice's face was unfathomable and Jasper's deep golden eyes burned with guilt as our eyes met. He looked down quickly and when he looked up, he stared into my eyes, and spoke with earnestly in his voice, "Bella, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to, I can't believe I lost control. You don't know how sorry I am, I apologise to all of you. I just..." he sighed as he trailed of, closing his eyes and bowing his head.

He looked up when I spoke, "I understand Jasper, it's not your fault. I am not badly hurt and neither is anyone else so it's alright." I spoke as soothingly as I can.

"Thank you Bella." He said and both Alice and Jasper smiled in unison. Smiles spread across everyone's face and everyone laughed as Charlie and I yawned in unison.

"Sleep time for the humans." Esme announced.

"What do you mean, you guys don't sleep?" Charlie asked confused

Everyone laughed again, "Nope. We can't sleep."Emmett said, laughing while he spoke.

Charlie's mouth dropped as he was dumbfounded for a second, but then he spoke, "Predictable I guess, I shouldn't be astonished."

Everyone laughed once more before wishing Charlie and me a goodnight. Edward drove us home. When we got home, Charlie went straight to bed; probably his mind was boggling with all the things that he had to take in today.

I slept well that night in Edward's arms. I was relieved that Charlie took it all very well, without making a fuss. As I slowely drifted off into sleep, the last thing I heard was Edward humming my lullaby.

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