Chapter 10

Bella's POV

"Ugh! I can't believe that!" Charlie exclaimed angrily as he changed gear.

"Don't they have they're own homes to go to? I mean, come on! They're on my private property! They can't just do that!" he practically yelled as he gripped the steering wheel. He was trying his best to control his anger. We turned onto the motorway and we gently mingled inconspicuously with the traffic.

"Well they are," I replied reflecting his anger. "And I'm sorry because as always this is all my fault!"

"No, Bella. Will you stop blaming yourself for everything! None of this is your fault. It's that Victoria one who's to blame," he said as he began to calm down. He was wearing an old plaid shirt and blue jeans with a heavy dark brown coat. Something casual. Since he was off duty today he wasn't wearing his uniform.

"Actually Dad, if you knew about mine and Victoria's history maybe you'll understand that actually all this is my fault," I responded before I realised what I was actually saying.

"What do you mean history?" he inquired confused.

Crap… This is going to be a long couple of hours.

I took a deep breath. There was no point hiding anything from him anymore. He knows about vampires and now even about the Cullens. Telling him the truth about the past might even be liberating.

"Do you remember when I ran away and ended up in hospital because I fell down a stairs and through a window?" I asked cautiously, gauging his reaction.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?" he questioned as he continued to stare at the road.

"Well, technically, I didn't really run away… well, not for the reason you think anyway. Remember I went to play baseball with Edward and his family?… Well we went to this clearing in the middle of the forest and as I watched Edward's family play three nomadic vampires showed up. One of them being Victoria," I began to explain. His face was emotionless as he still concentrated on the road so I thought it was safe to carry on.

"The other two that were with her were named James and Laurent. James noticed that I was human and you see James- not only was he Victoria's mate- but he had the power to track down his prey and for a number of reasons he wanted me. If it wasn't for the Cullens I'd be dead. Alice and Jasper brought me to Phoenix to hide out while Edward and the others stayed behind and tried to kill James before he could kill me. But he tricked me and attacked me. I never fell down that stairs or out that window. Edward and the others saved me before I died and they killed James. Now Victoria has done all this just to get back at Edward and I," I continued.

Once again I looked to Charlie. His was silent, speechless even. A few moments of awkward silence passed before he finally broke it.

"Bella I don't… What else happened that you lied to me about?" he asked with almost a grim tone to his voice.

"Dad, I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you at the time. It would have been too dangerous for you to have known. Believe me when I say this: it used to kill me to lie to you," I responded.

"What about when Edward left? Did he really leave or was he just turning into a bat someplace?" he asked with anger slipping into his voice mixed with his obvious sarcasm. I grimaced.

"No… He really did leave," I replied glumly.

"Oh," that caught Charlie off guard. Mentioning that time between Edward and I was practically taboo. He obviously felt like he had crossed a line.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said-" he apologised before I interrupted him.

"It's okay you have the right to know. He did leave but not because Carlisle got a new job in Los Angeles that was only a cover story for the humans. Edward left because at the time he thought it would have been the best for me. He wanted to protect me from the vampire world so I wouldn't get hurt, but leaving only seemed to make things worse," I confessed. For a second Charlie looked to me sympathetically.

"What about just before he came back, when you left to find him without even saying goodbye?" he inquired still emotionless. I was finding this harder to talk about more than I thought I would.

"I had no idea where Edward or any of the Cullens went… and while they were gone a few things happened and there was a misunderstanding. But we sorted it out," I said quickly wishing for a subject change. I really didn't want to talk about this. Heck! I didn't even want to think about it.

"So where did you actually go?" he asked seriously yet curiously.

"Dad please… I don't want to talk about this!" I begged. He practically glared at me. I could tell he was sick of all the lies, he just wanted to know the truth. I took a deep breath and sighed.

"Italy… I went to Italy… To Volterra" I finally but painfully confessed as the memories of that awful time came back.

"Italy!" he exclaimed holding back all this rage so he wouldn't rip my head off. "Jesus Bella, I've never even left the US."

"I know and I'm sorry but…" I never finished my sentence. The awkward silence returned though this time Charlie was trying his best to calm himself.

"Wait Volterra?… As in the place Alice was killed by the val… vol… v… what were they called?" he inquired.

"Yes, the Volturi," I answered grimly. "Remember what I said about rules and it would be too dangerous for you to have known about vampires? Well the Volturi are a coven of ancient vampires that enforce these rules and punish those who break them."

"That's why they killed Alice isn't it?" he asked. I nodded. I still don't seem to have accepted or have even come to terms with the fact that she's actually gone.

"But you knew about vampires. If they killed Alice why didn't they kill you too?" he asked.

I hesitated. I couldn't tell him it was because I'm going to be changed into a vampire. Though I realise that he deserves to be told I also realise that his reaction could go terribly wrong. I should wait until Edward and I could tell him together and explain to him that I'm not just doing it for my safety but for Edward. Somehow I just hope he understands that my love for Edward is why I want to be changed in the first place.

"I… I… Don't know," I lied.

"Hmm it just doesn't make any sense. If they were so strict about their rules about us not knowing about them then why did they just leave you. It sounds kind of hypocritical to me," he stated nonchalantly. There was one thing you couldn't doubt: Charlie was smart.

The silence returned but it wasn't awkward this time. I stared out the window as I watched the beautiful green landscape of the Olympic forest go by. I didn't know how much time had passed before Charlie broke me form my daydream.

"How did your talk with your mom go?" he asked as if it was another piece of trivial small talk. I groaned. Charlie heard me.

"That bad huh?"

"No!" I exclaimed.

"Yes…" I sighed. "It's just we had a fight, that's all."

"About what?" he asked pushing for more information.

"Everything… From vampires to Edward. I really have to call her and tell her I'm sorry. I have to try and get her to understand," I divulged.

"Who knows? Give her some time, she'll come around," he responded. I stared a Charlie incredulous. Who the hell was this and what had they done with my father. He just continued driving as if nothing happened. That's it, after everything we have talked about so far on this journey I think I've finally plucked up the courage to ask him what was going on.

"Dad, can I ask you something?" I inquired sheepishly.

"Sure."

"Well…," I paused taking a deep breath. "First you can't stand the sight of any of the Cullens and then they're your best buddies. What's going on?"

"Hmm" he mumbled as he continued to look straight a head.

"Look, I'm not going to lie to you Bella. Sometimes I forget how old you are. At first I did dislike the Cullens and you know how Edward and I haven't always seen eye to eye, especially after he left you. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I just saw the Cullens as mindless killers… Vampires. In my line of work Bella I've seen a lots of terrible things. I know you might think that sounds crazy as I was a police officer in a town like Forks but what goes on behind closed doors would surprise you. I just thought they were taking advantage of you, that they were going to hurt you. But I was wrong. When Emmett broke into your room I just wanted to shoot him in the face but when I saw how distraught Esme and Rosalie were… Well, things changed. When Esme said something along the lines: that if losing three children wasn't bad enough, that got me thinking. I couldn't imagine what she must be going through. I mean if I lost you well… I don't know what I'd do. It made me realise that they're just like us. They hurt like us. They're the same family they were before I knew what they really are," he confessed.

It was so unusual for Charlie to be so open but I was glad he was.

"Wow… thanks Dad, for sharing," I replied to Charlie's speech.

"Hold on, I'm not finished yet. I just want to say something about Edward. I've seen the way he looks and you and the way you look at him. Even though the Cullens drink animal blood after all the things you told me about: James and Victoria, the Volturi, I've realised that maybe your relationship is more serious than I thought. I just want to say I'm proud of you Bella. You seem to have risked everything for him, even your life. I can understand how hard things must be for you both and though I'd might not like to admit it you're an adult now and you have to make your own choices in life. Some will be mistakes and others will be for the better. But if your willing to do all this for a vampire then I'm willing to accept the fact my daughters going out with one," he continued.

"Thank you," I replied. "Really, for everything. For taking me to see Edward and for everything else. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."

Charlie smiled. "Oh! Just one more thing."

I looked up. I was practically in shock over what Charlie just shared with me. What else had he left to say?

"You're grounded," he said seriously, his smile fading.

"What!?" I exclaimed stunned. "Why!?"

He laughed and I began to get very irritated.

"When we get home remind me to buy locks for your new windows," he said with a smirk.

My jaw dropped and I could feel the blush rise on my cheeks, no doubt I looked like a tomato.

"Though then again, I don't know if simple pad locks will hold back Edward. Maybe I could get garlic ones or something," he teased.

"Dad please!" I begged. Someone kill me now! Actually someone kill Emmett now! "Garlic doesn't work on him anyway."

"Oh, I know, but who knows the smell might drive him away. I hate that stuff," he chuckled.

"Ugh…" I moaned as my blush increased.

We continued on our journey and silence once again grew between us, though this time it wasn't in anyway awkward. I lay my head against the head rest, trying to relax and let my mind wander. I was drained emotionally and now physically as my sleepless night began to catch up on me. I let my self reminisce about Alice. I tried to be positive but to little avail. The pain wouldn't budge, not that I expected it to or anything I just hoped at least one tear would come. As always my wish wasn't granted.

We finally made it to the city. I thought of the last time I was here. It was with Alice, she dragged me here shopping. Who knew that the next time I set foot in this city would be to visit Edward in prison. The past few days have just been so surreal.

Traffic was heavy but thankfully Charlie knew exactly where to go. Whereas I had no clue. We finally made it to this big security gate joined to high concrete walls, crowned in barbed wire. Much to my annoyance there were well over a dozen photographers stood outside but there was a security guard at the gate who wouldn't let them pass. Charlie showed him his badge and some paperwork and he quickly let us through. As we pulled away, a fat balding man recognised us but we got away before he could tell his cameramen friends. We travelled up the winding drive to find a car park. It took you a few minutes to find a place among the other squad cars.

The building was huge. It was gray, matching the exterior concrete wall. It emanated this cold eerie feeling though. I didn't like it one bit and I didn't like the fact Edward was locked up in there.

Thanks to Charlie using his squad car we didn't have to use the public car park. We got a place near the main entrance.

As we left the car behind and headed inside I quietly followed behind Charlie. I was acting like a shy child. We made it inside and we were in a reception type place.

"Ah John!" Charlie smiled as he greeted his old friend. John Reynolds looked around the same age as Charlie if not older. He was in uniform and began leading us through stairs and hallways.

As Charlie and John talked, the nerves in my stomach began to churn. I couldn't understand why I was so nervous. Don't get me wrong I was over the moon that I would get to see Edward but I was also worried. How where they treating him here? Was he alright, comfortable, hurt? I had to see him and fast. I was desperate.

The amount of police officers became noticeably larger as we continued through the prison. We arrived at a large metal door, surrounded by officers, some were even armed.

"We've separated him from all our other prisoners. Victoria is being held in the female section of the prison and she is under the same conditions as Edward. The cells we are using for both are the most secure we've got. Two armed guards out front and two inside. Four security cameras and a dead bolt door. Five inches thinker than what was on the Titanic. Even vile vampires would have a problem escaping that," John explained. I frowned when he used the word vile and I seriously doubt that would hold Edward back if he really wanted to get out.

Charlie and I were then searched and we had to show our IDs. I had to hand my bag to this female officer. She took my phone, iPod, hair brush, keys and wallet saying I wasn't allowed bring them in.

"What are these?" she inquired emotionlessly, this was just a routine part of her job. I felt slightly embarrassed and I didn't know what to say except for the truth.

"They're presents for Edward. Am I allowed to give them to him?" I asked hoping the answer would be a yes. She looked to the older man who stood beside her and she asked him would it be okay for me to bring in the things I brought for Edward. I let out a sigh of relief. He said yes. I took back my bag pack and walked over to Charlie.

"Okay, open the cell please," John ordered as both Charlie and I were finished with our searches.

I held my breath as the thick, heavy, large metal door was unbolted and pulled back. The armed officers stood aside.

The cell door was finally fully open but I couldn't see past a tall guard. I pushed myself forward even though Charlie called me back.

I gasped. There he was.