DON'T OWN 'EM, NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL.

CHAPTER 16

"Bella, love, tell me what you are thinking. I can't bear not being able to see into your head. You're such a mystery."

I looked at him slightly confused.

"I told you I'm a vampire...well...sometimes when a person is changed they develop a gift. I can read people's thoughts. EVeryone except you! It's amazing, like you have a wall around your head! Alice can see the future and Jasper's an empath. He can feel and influence others' emotions. He helped me keep calm and not jump you the first second I saw you. He's quite useful!" He chuckled a bit after he said this, and I just continued to stare.

"So I'm the only one you can't hear? Can Alice see me?"

"Yes Bella. I'm not sure why I can't hear you though."

"Hmmm..." I was deep in thought.

"Bella! You have no idea how frustrating this is!"

"Sorry Edward. I was just thinking how it's nice. I'm a mystery! I love you, and I've really got to go inside and finish dinner. I'd invite you in, but Charlie wouldn't be too pleased about that!"

With a kiss from Edward I was off. I made some gravy and added it to the roast and made a quick survey of the house. Everything was in order and I set the table.

Charlie came home and called me down.

"Renee won't be home tonight. She's staying in Seattle until tomorrow. Some business function or whatever. So it's just you and me." He smirked and I brought him his dinner.

I went into the kitchen and put the food away and started the dishes. Charlie came in behind me and grabbed me. I almost dropped the plate on the floor but it slid into the sink.

He pushed me against the wall and hit me, hard.

I blacked out and woke up in his bed naked. Charlie was snoring loudly and I smelled whiskey.

I knew he wouldn't be awake anytime soon so I started to go to my room, that's when the smell hit me.

Blood.

I tried to not pass out while I went to the bathroom. I had a long cut accross my abdomen and blood was caked in my hair. I was still bleeding from my thigh and I couldn't get it to stop. My left arm hurt and I noticed it wasn't working right. I think it was dislocated!

I looked at the bed and saw I'd lost a lot of blood so I quickly dressed and wrapped some gauze around my thigh and stomach and made my way down the stairs to my truck.

I silently prayed he wouldn't wake up from the noise as the ancient truck roared to life.

I drove to the emergency room and went to the receptionist.

She gasped when she saw me and called a doctor. Carlisle came soon and was shocked to see the state I was in. A nurse followed him with a wheel chair and led me into an examination room.

"It's nothing, really. I just couldn't stop the bleeding and didn't want to pass out." I told him about my thigh and abdomen. I had to take off my shirt and he saw all the old bruises. He asked about them, but I couldn't bring myself to say the words My father beats and rapes me...I needed stitches. I hate needles, but he I knew he'd be gentle. I hope.. He wrapped a sheet around my arm to pop my shoulder back into place before he did the stitches on my side and thigh. He asked me numerous times what happened and I just couldn't tell him Maybe I can...

I looked up to him, tears blurring my vision.

"Charlie. My f-father. He...h-hits me sometimes. Renee lets him do what he wants with me. She knows and doesn't do anything. She's afraid. He shoved me aginst a wall earlier and I blacked out. I woke up and was all bloody.." I couldn't finish. I'd started crying too hard. I finally told someone. Now I just hope Edward doesn't hate me...He gently hugged me as he looked at the back of my head and asked a question I knew was coming but dreaded it none-the-less.

"Is that all he does..hit you? Or is there...more?" I should lie right?!

"H-he...he makes me...I never wanted to! And I feel so sick. I feel like puking, but they almost never let me eat. I haven't had dinner in years and I haven't had a week without him...I'm just so tired of it all. He's the chief of police though. I don't know what to do!" I was all out bawling now. He just stood there comforting me.

"I'm going to need to check you out. It's procedure. I can take your name off of everything, but if we have records...samples...it'll be better to prove what he's done. You can get away from him. You'll have proof and he'll know, he'll be too afraid to do anything. It's really important Bella"

My sobs were silent now. I was numb. "Okay Carlisle. Do whatever you want. I just don't care anymore" I feel so horrible.

He worked quickly, at vampire speed to make it as easy as possible. He was the only one in the room, and he gave me something so I was half unconscious.

He had to keep my clothes but he brought some stuff from the hospital and helped me get dressed. I was past being able to get embarassed at this point.

He was off work already and told me I was coming home with him. I tried to rpotest, but honestly, I don't think I could've driven anywhere, much less back there. He helped me into his luxurious black Mercedes, and drove off. I must've drifted to sleep because the next thing I knew I felt someone pulling me from the car.