Chapter 19

Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters belong to Stephanie Meyer

AN (1): Apologise for this late and short chapter. I had to change the direction of this chapter and decided to publish the first part now, rather than delay while I develop the rest. I have no idea when this is going to end, only know that it will have a resolution.

AN (2): To all of my readers, reviews and friends I thank you, for your continued support.

AN (3): Please note that this chapter has been neither pre-read or beta'd, so all poor grammar is my own.

Carlisle sat next to Eleazar as the latter spoke fast and furiously with Aro in Italy; to say his friend was angry was an understatement.

Even if the head of the Volturi had nothing to do with the young man's death, and no one in the NY apartment believed that for a moment, the way in which he had tortured Edward with the notification was beyond the pale.

Edward could be heard in the next room talking quietly with Carmen, the odd sniffle and sob indicating that the young vampire was still struggling with his emotions after the traumatic shock. It was impossible for Carlisle to ignore the sound of his mate's distress, but he needed to be sitting next to Eleazar, listing to this conversation, because there was something he needed to say to Aro, something important.

Leaning towards Eleazar, Carlisle gestured towards the handset, Eleazer hesitated, eyebrow rasied in mute question. "Please," Carlisle begged. "It will be alright."

Eleazar turned the handset back to his mouth. "Excuse me Aro, Carlisle would like to speak to you." Wincing at Aro's response, Eleazar handed the handset to Carlisle.

At that moment two things happened, Carlisle relaxed the barriers around a tiny hidden section in his mind and Edward gasped then groaned, "Carlisle no…"

Carlisle has spent the last few years hiding a secret deep within his mind. It was a secret of hate and loathing against the two people who had almost destroyed his beautiful Edward; William Pearson and Carlisle Cullen himself.

Thanks to the love and patience of his mate, Carlisle had accepted that as a vampire sire and mate, he held a level of anger; fierceness and possession that was normal, and Edward may not always be happy with, he had encouraged Carlisle to embrace that part of his being.

Mulling these thoughts over in his mind, when absent from Edward, he had concluded that, as a vampire determined to protect his mate, his hate for William Pearson was not only normal it was expected. In retrospect he realised that it was the method in which he attempted to exert his right to protect his mate against a clear and present threat that had been his downfall. He had needed to learn the art of turning his jealousy not into fire, but into ice.

He had not disclosed any of this to Edward, he knew Edward would find it distressing, but he would in time accept it, as he had the other emerging vampire traits that they both learned to accept thanks to Eleazar and Carmen.

The reason for Carlisles deception was because these were the thoughts of a coven leader, a dominant mate, and at that place and time Carlisle was neither.

The situation had now changed, the human was dead at the hands of another; words needed to be said.

Before Eleazar could react to Edwards response Carlisle was already speaking.

"Aro, I would like to thank you for ending the life of William Pearson."

The shocked silence at the end of the line was palpable. Not waiting for a response he continued.

"I know that it was my right and responsibility to resolve this issue, but I also accept that my previous effort while entirely justified was not in accord with our laws. As a result of my actions I not only lost the right to protect my mate against the threat the boy held, I was also unable to protect him from my own rage." Carlisle shifted in his chair, noticing Eleazar watching him with a sort of proud bemusement.

"Due to my actions, Edward has continued to suffer, taking on the dominant role of coven leader completely against his nature which has resulted in his needs being unmet. While I know that this will not change soon or possibly at all, I wanted you to know that I am not sorry for what I did, only in the way that I did it."

He paused, realising that there had been no sound on the other end of the telephone. Beside him Eleazar continued to stare and then reached over to pat Carlisle on the shoulder in the manner of a proud parent.

"Well! Carlisle," Aro's shocked voice emitted from the telephone, "this is…unexpected."

"You have made progress my child, faster than I had hoped. Clearly leaving you in Eleazar's care was, despite my misgivings, the best thing to do."

Carlisle could almost hear the wheels turning in Aro's mind.

"You have made progress my child, but I would like you to grow further and think that spending time, you and I, together will help with that growth," Carlisle went to interrupt, there was no way he would allow Edward anywhere near Italy again, and there was no way he could go alone.

Sensing Carlisle's unspoken protest, Aro quickly clarified, "Of course you would not need to visit Italy to speak to me; indeed it might be better to speak in absentia. I doubt that your mate and coven leader would protest my speaking to you, indeed I would suggest that he be involved as must as necessary."

While slightly put out that he would need to go thought vampire 'training' with Aro, something Carlisle had resisted in the many years since meeting the elder. Carlisle knew that this was the only chance to help Edward return to his rightful, comfortable place in the relationship. He also had to admit that he was interested to learn more about the vampire nature and would accept the tutorage if only to express his gratitude to Aro for resolving his current problem.

While he and Aro, finalised the details of their first phone session, Carlisle became aware of murmuring in the back room. Eleazar had risen and left the room allowing Carlisle to return his focus to his phone conversation, assured that his friend would resolve what even issue had arisen in the next room.

Aro did not ask to speak again with Eleazar and ended the call with Carlisle, promising to speak to his agent at a later time. Replacing the handset Carlisle rose and stretched, the phone call had eased the last of his guilt and self-flagellation on wanting William Person dead, it had been cathartic and his relief was palpable.

The only thing that remained was the disappointment in himself; letting Edward down by hiding his thoughts, he would now strive to ensure that he restored and maintained Edwards trust in him and then make it his goal that they each regain their proper place and move forward.

Walking into the sitting room, Carlisle was instantly aware that something was amiss. Carmen sat alone in the room, her face pensive. Lightly tapping the seat beside her, she encouraged Carlisle to sit.

"Do not worry my dear, Edward needed to get some air and Eleazar has followed him." Carlisle glanced at her.

"So Eleazar and Edward have gone for a walk together?"

Carmen sighed gently, "Not exactly. Edward was still distress at the news of the humans death and then your revelations."

Carlisle winced at the news.

Carmen continued, "As soon as Eleazar realised Edward had left, he went after him. We all know where Edward will go, Eleazar just wanted to make sure that in his distress Edward was not missing anything he needed for the sailboat. Eleazar will be back soon, and you know Edward cannot be away from you for more than a day. You gave him a shock, dear Carlisle, he just needs to recover."

A noise at the door, heralded Eleazar's return, his smile tainted with apprehension. Sitting on the other side of his wife, he raised her wrist to his mouth and kissed it gently.

"Did you catch up with him, love?" Carmen enquired.

Eleazar shook his head, looking apologetically at Carlisle. "He had already cast off when I got there, but we can assume Carlisle that he will not go far, Edward needs to feel the calming effect of the movement of wind and water. He will be home soon."

The last statement was made with a slight tightening of his eyes; which his mate knew was a sign Eleazar was not being entirely truthful.

Later when they had made sure that Carlisle was well fed and relaxed reading in a room far from their bedroom, Carmen raised her concerns.

"What did you not say to Carlisle?" she asked while resting in her lovers arms.

Eleazar sighed, "I do not think it is anything to worry about but I did not wish to upset Carlisle. Edward did not take the sailboat and he did not head for the open ocean."

Carmen sat up, leaning on an elbow, Eleazar continued, "Edward took the speedboat, and according to security he headed towards the river."

Running his hand down her voluptuous body, Eleazer tried to keep his attention on their conversation, "It is not about the speedboat, I mean I would not want it damaged,"

Carmen gave a gentle laugh, she knew her husband's boat was his pride and joy, and moved so her body was flush with his own.

Eleazar groaned at the sensation, "the problem is I don't know where his is going, or more to the point, I suspect I do and I don't want to tell Carlisle…let alone Aro."

Deciding that they had talked enough, Carmen captured her lovers mouth, rolling on top of him, pressing her body again his areas of most need. For that moment all thought of their stricken friends vanished as his body responded to hers.