Author's note: Well hellooooooooo! My last few updates have been done in pretty quick succession, so I apologise for the slight delay in posting this one. In order to earn your forgiveness, I am giving you two updates in one! It was originally meant to be one chapter, but, as I realised how long it was getting, decided to break it up into two. I hope you enjoy them and won't be too hard on me for trying your patience :)
Chapter twenty five
"Carlisle, what do we do?" Alice asked, her hands clasping in front of her mouth, as she started muttering to herself. "Sooner...I should've seenit sooner!"
Before I could wonder what her mutterings meant, Carlisle spoke.
"Is he in the house?" he queried.
"Not yet," she replied. "He's parking his car."
Carlisle released my waist and took my hand, before leading us out of the study and into the hallway, towards the large panes of glass, which offered unrivalled views of the forest surrounding Forks. Down below, a sleek, black car, not too dissimilar to Carlisle's Mercedes, rolled to a gentle stop, before the door opened and Edward Masen's lithe form exited the vehicle. The fear clutched my chest immediately and my fingers tightened around the wintry hand encircling mine. Carlisle responded by rubbing his thumb across my knuckles and I felt some of his newly regained calm pass onto me. I marvelled at his composure, wondering how he could switch from the strained person I had witnessed just moments ago, to the confident, collected man stood beside me now. A quick glance at his face told me he was in full authoritative mode, as his eyes swivelled down to meet mine. Despite the threat we faced, those butterscotch irises submerged me in nothing but adoration.
"Bella," he began. "What exactly did Edward say he knew?"
My eyes flew down to the car, but the vampire in question was no longer there. I pushed through the scrambling thoughts, back to earlier that day, trying to remember every single thing Edward had said.
"Um...well, he knows I'm aware of vampires," I began, before a sliver of optimism snaked into my voice. "But, he doesn't know how." I remembered his comment about me being an open book. "At least, I don't think he does."
Carlisle nodded, and I could tell the cogs of his brain were already working. Thoughts of his mind reminded me of Edward's other comments and I felt it best to mention them, too.
"He also spoke of you, Carlisle," I said and his preoccupied orbs focused on me, once again. "It was about when he saw you in Port Angeles, recently. Apparently, he heard some of your thoughts, just before speaking to you." I hesitated, wondering if I could admit I knew he'd been thinking of me that day, before quickly deciding the current situation left no room for modesty or embarrassment. "He...uh...he said they were of me."
I saw Carlisle's chest rise and fall, as he inhaled a breath of regret. I wondered what those thoughts might have been, and, despite Edward claiming he hadn't been able to get an in-depth reading, Carlisle's worried reaction told me his former companion had probably heard enough to raise concern.
"What'll we do with Bella?" Alice's fraught voice sounded behind me. "If he finds her here..."
"I am sure he already knows," Carlisle replied. "There is nothing we can do, but, greet him and hope we can talk our way through this. You will all have to ensure you keep your minds clear of anything that will immediately give us away."
Alice nodded and a purposeful knock at the door startled me. Carlisle's free hand joined the other to encase both of mine.
"Alice, let him in," he instructed, before his words exited his lips too low and fast for me to make out.
I'd never witnessed them communicate this way, before, and found it fascinating and perplexing in equal measures. Once their conversation was concluded, Alice nodded and threw one last glance my way, before heading down the stairs. I wanted to know what had been discussed, but, before I could ask, Carlisle released my hands and placed his either side of my head, bringing our faces close together.
"Everything will be alright," he promised and sealed the pledge with a brief kiss to my temple, which had the power to make me momentarily forget our current quandary. "Just ensure you are always facing my back."
I agreed to the request, although I didn't quite understand it and he clasped my hand again, as we followed the path Alice had just taken. In the lounge, two of the four vampires were already in position. Jasper stood near the entrance to the dining area, whilst Esme waited by the foot of the stairs. Carlisle inclined his head to each of them in turn, before positioning himself beside the archway separating the lounge and entrance hallway. I stood a foot or so behind him and waited with bated breath for the source of our anxiety to appear.
I heard Alice's musical tones echo down the hall, before she finally entered the lounge and stopped by the side of the archway opposing Carlisle. Edward then entered, his unhurried strides complimenting the self-possessed aura surrounding him. His footsteps ceased as he neared the centre of the ring formed by the other four vampires, and his ruby eyes took a moment to encircle his surroundings. They stopped on me in the process and a grin of worrying amusement slowly spread across his lips.
"I see you managed to relay my message, Isabella," he remarked, before his eyes resumed their circumference of the room. "In which case," he continued, his voice the same unnerving tenor that had managed to make my skin crawl during our earlier confrontation. "You will all know why I am here."
A moment of silence allowed the words sink in. The instinct of flight Edward had provoked within me last time was rising once again and I had to clench my hands to control the nerves. Carlisle's body had been facing Alice, but, began to slowly turn, meaning I had to take a few steps to the right in order to comply with his earlier wishes.
"I must say I am surprised," he continued, completing his three sixty turn by facing the Cullen coven's patriarch. "Especially by you, Carlisle." Scarlet bore into gold, as the Volturi member began to tut mockingly. "Such reckless disregard for the rules." A soft, humourless chuckle escaped. "And at the expense of a poor, defenceless human. Just what were you thinking?"
"We didn't tell her," Alice said, Edward's attention caught by her step forward.
Carlisle used the distraction to turn a little more, which, of course, required I move, as well. I did so and realised that I had a clear path for the front door, should I need to escape.
"She managed to work it out for herself," the petite vampire explained. "She's surprisingly perceptive, you know. So, you see, no laws have been broken by us."
"The knowledge she possesses poses a risk," Edward stated, the dreamy aspect to his voice fading to become more assertive, as he encompassed the role of law enforcer. "And the fact that you have willingly overlooked it is a breach of conduct. The laws demand that all threats be eliminated and she-" he pointed a finger my way. "-No matter how innocent her intent, is still a threat."
"And what would you have us do?" Jasper's sultry voice argued. "The laws are there to ensure our concealment, so, killing the daughter of a police chief to enforce them is hardly conducive to their purpose."
Edward's body turned slowly and gracefully to face the speaker. I didn't need to see his face to know a malicious grin was plastered across it.
"Ah, Jasper," he sighed. "Perhaps I am even more surprised at you. The decades must have done wonders for your control, if you are able to be in such close proximity to young Isabella, here." He gestured towards me with an outstretched arm, before studying Jasper intently. "And not a sign of struggle...that I can see. Does it ever get to you, Major?"
I saw a flash of infuriation light up Jasper's eyes and panic sparked in my chest, as I sensed the rapidly growing hostility permeate the air. It wouldn't take much for things to escalate into a full blown brawl and, as the only human in the room, I was all-too-aware of my fragility. I wanted to run to Carlisle and curl myself inside his protective embrace, but, that would have only made the situation worse.
Edward continued to antagonise Jasper. "Does the steady thumping of a pulse no longer affect you, knowing it comes from an organ pumping that delicious crimson life force through those easily burst veins?"
"Not all of us are mindless slaves to instinct, Edward." The name was a snarl on Jasper's tongue.
"I beg to differ," the bronze-haired visitor-or intruder, as I preferred to call him-argued. "In the good old days, one sniff and you would have been in there like a shot, draining her sweet little body dry-"
"That's enough," Carlisle commanded, the dominance in his tone evident without the need for him to raise his voice.
Edward turned and quirked an eyebrow in displeasure. "Excuse me?"
"You may be Volturi," Carlisle said, not flinching in the least at the glare sent his way, which would've had me cowering in fright. "And I respect that authority, but, this is my house and I will not have you goading coven members into pointless fights, or terrorising our guest."
The scarlet glare landed on me, but, my eyes flew to the floor, before they could feel the full impact.
"Guest..." Edward sampled the word in his mouth, clicking his tongue thoughtfully. "Yes...that's an interesting way of putting it. And, you're right, of course. We should focus on the matter at hand." I didn't need to look at him to know his terrorizing gaze was still fixed on me. "Isabella."
My eyes were still rooted to the heels of Carlisle's shoes and the way my name rolled of his lips sent a shudder up my spine. It was enough to make me insist everyone refer to me by my middle name from then on.
"She is the reason we are here, after all," Edward continued, and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him take a measured step closer. "You call her a guest, Carlisle, but, there is something troubling me, especially given that all of you are very quiet today." He tapped his left temple lightly. "It makes me wonder if you have something to hide...or, perhaps, confirms my suspicions that you do."
My heart pounded against my chest and my knuckles were white from the tight fists my fingers curled into. He knew, he had to! Why was he dragging it out so long? It was sadistic and cruel, but, the few encounters I'd had with the Volturi member already were evidence enough to show that was his method of working. Wind people up with apprehension, so that, when he finally struck, his victims would be too wrapped up in their trepidation to react swiftly. Edward took a few more steps forward and my knees began to tremble, as I fought the desire to run.
"And, after speaking to you in Port Angeles the other day," Edward commented, less than a foot away from Carlisle, now. "I was left with one very important question that needed answering. I came here for that answer today, but, I can tell it will require a little..." A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Coercion to pry it from you."
I willed my breath to remain steady, but, the occasional hitch betrayed my fear. What was he going to do? Carlisle promised me everything would be alright, but, I was having difficulty clinging on to my faith in his words. If the tension in the room were audible, it would have burst my eardrums and my body thrummed with unspent adrenaline. Carlisle and Edward continued their standoff, each waiting in silence for the other to make the first move. I spared a quick glance at the other three vampires, seeing each body tensed and coiled, ready to spring into action. Alice was no longer the delicate little pixie; she was just as dangerous and lethal as her companions, ready to defend her comrades at all costs. Jasper was in a fully defensive stance, all trace of the southern gentleman gone, as his amber eyes widened to focus entirely on the threat, currently blocking the view of his coven leader. Esme, the beautifully refined woman, who never failed to conduct herself with anything less than the utmost elegance and poise, projected enough raw power to forever remove any doubt that, beneath the gentle exterior lay a powerful and deadly creature.
Carlisle and Edward still hadn't moved by the time my eyes left Esme and I let them linger on the intimidating vampire long enough to see the smirk widen a little, before he spoke again.
"Silence is golden, eh, Carlisle?" The sound of that name, which never failed to fill me with affection and yearning, felt wrong coming from Edward. He managed to lace so much enmity and venom into the word that my ears couldn't bear to hear it. Had I the power, I would have forbidden him to ever utter the name again.
"Coercion, it is."
Before my human senses could even comprehend what was happening, a blast of air hit me and the ground left my feet. The wall came hurtling towards me, as I sailed through the air, my back colliding with the hard surface, before landing heavily on the floor. A spasm of pain shot through my right hip and shoulder blade and I lay on my stomach, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of me. Before I could even attempt to lift my head, someone was beside me, brushing dark locks of hair from my face and asking in a light, musical, yet distraught tone if I could hear them.
After several heaves of oxygen inhalation, I managed to look up into Alice's face and relief flooded her features. Behind her, the scene unfolding offered no comfort whatsoever. Carlisle and Edward were still facing off, but, this time, the latter was pinned up against a wall, with the former's hand wrapped tightly around his neck, as Esme and Jasper flanked their leader. Carlisle's other hand gripped Edward's shirt lapels and nothing short of absolute fury contorted the features of the man I loved. He looked even more frightening than when he had rescued me during my attempted rape, but, it wasn't fear of him that kept my pulse racing, this time. Cracks spread out from where Edward's torso had been slammed against the wall, but, the irremovable expression of perverse pleasure painting his face froze my soul. His bloody eyes were hooded, but alight with discovery and he let out a soft chuckle.
"It seems I have my answer," he remarked, his voice only just audible.
Carlisle's face morphed from snarling rage, to horrified shock and the fingers clutching Edward's neck and shirt immediately slackened. The other two vampires were ready to pounce, but, Edward's dark figure raced out of the room quicker than I could even register. Several minutes of silence followed, as the eyes of Alice, Jasper and Esme watched the black vehicle exit their driveway. That was when the trembling began. After slowly levering my torso up off the floor, I lifted a hand to brush several strands of hair out of my face and realised it was shaking uncontrollably. Seeing that only heightened the panic coursing through my body and one of the tears that had been waiting patiently to fall, began rolling down my cheek. I knew it was the adrenaline's way of getting itself out of my system, but, it didn't alleviate my concerns.
"Oh, sweetie," Alice cooed in a consoling whisper, before tucking the hair behind my ear and giving my arm a gentle squeeze.
I saw Jasper striding towards the front door, before Esme called him to stop.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Jasper halted and looked over his shoulder. "To rip that fuck limb from limb!" he growled and the level of aggression behind his words was enough to make me wince. I was scared of him all over again.
"Don't you dare!" Esme ordered, with equal ferocity. "Hunting him down will only make things worse."
Jasper's honey toned brows creased adamantly. "But we can't just let him-"
"Esme's right," Carlisle interjected, seeming to have recovered from his momentary shell-shock. "We have more important things to do, right now, such as discussing our next move."
His voice was level and quiet and there was something about his tone that worried me. It was too calm, almost dispassionate and I felt a fear beyond all others rise within me. Was he going to reject me again, decide that, against his own feelings and desires, we really would have to part ways? Breathing was a chore, as the heartbreaking thought of ceasing all contact with the person I loved above all others took root, especially when he had only recently admitted to also feeling something for me. He looked at me then, fixing me with a long, steady gaze, overloaded with so many emotions, I was unable to tell them apart. I wanted to run to him, wrap my arms around his waist and plead with him to never let me go, but, my body refused to act on my wishes. Instead, I just sat there, waiting out the excruciating silence.
Eventually, his lips parted to release sounds and my ears absorbed them greedily.
"However," he began, still looking at me. "I must take Bella home, first."
Alice left my side and trotted over to Jasper, as Carlisle walked towards me. He knelt down and tentatively rested a hand on my shoulder.
"Can you move?" he asked and I nodded, whilst my eyes desperately searched his for the first warnings signs that he was leaving.
He nodded, before carefully helping me to my feet. With one hand holding my left arm and the other wrapped around my waist, I was pulled to my feet. When his grip brushed my right hip, I let out a hiss of pain and Carlisle paused, before lifting up the hem of my t shirt. The action revealed a large red mark decorating the skin just above my hip bone. My gaze didn't follow his, so I was able to see his jaw muscles tighten, but he remained silent and lowered my top, before continuing to walk me out of the house.
The other three vampires were all conversing together, but I paid no attention to them. I was preoccupied with Carlisle's worrying silence. Why wasn't he comforting me? The question wasn't fuelled by a babyish need for attention, but, a genuine concern for his out-of-character behaviour. In any other circumstances, he had always been the first to ensure I was alright, but, this time, he didn't say a word. He'd barely looked at the mark on my hip and didn't check my body for any other injuries, which was completely unlike the Carlisle I knew. His silence stretched on, as we exited the house and entered the garage. Normally, my eyes would have roamed the various showroom-worthy vehicles adorning the space, but, to put it crudely, I couldn't give a fuck at that moment.
I was helped into the Mercedes and hoped, once we began moving, that he might finally break his silence, but, there was no such luck. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead as we sped back to my home. Now that he seemed to have a task, his face morphed back into a stoic expression and, even his eyes revealed very little of his thoughts. Was he going to stay with me when we got to my house? I decided that he had no choice in the matter; he wasn't leaving until this had been resolved. From the corner of my eye, I saw the landscape flying past the window at a steadily growing rate and checked the speedometer, alarmed by how quickly it increased. He'd driven fast before and I'd never thought twice about it, but, in this sort of mood, I didn't like him racing through the streets in such a powerful vehicle, capable of tremendous damage.
"Carlisle," I called softly, hoping to get his attention, but there was no hint of a reaction whatsoever, as the road continued to hold his focus like a magnet. I pressed a hand lightly on his forearm and tried again, but, still, there was no response. Looking at his hands, I saw how tightly they gripped the steering wheel and was amazed it hadn't shattered beneath his fingers. Finally, in desperation, I settled for shouting his name.
"CARLISLE!"
That caught his attention and he blinked several times, as though waking from a trance. I felt the car begin to slow down and was relieved to watch the needle pivot back towards more leisurely speeds. His eyes still never left the road, but his hold of the wheel relaxed and he no longer looked in danger of spontaneously combusting. I kept my hand on his forearm, not willing to relinquish the tiny amount of physical contact I currently had. After today, who knew if I would ever experience it again?
We came to the driveway and I noted the absence of Charlie's cruiser. It was still daylight, but, I had no idea what the time actually was. Carlisle unbuckled his seatbelt and I followed suit, climbing out of the seat as he held the door open for me. As he pushed it closed, I stood beside him and studied his face. He still didn't speak and I began to get angry. It was the only way to deal with everything that had just happened. I wanted to be patient, knowing he had a tremendous amount to mentally sift through, but, I wanted a glimpse into, at least, some of his thoughts; this did now affect me, too, after all. Another moment of uninterrupted muteness passed and I stomped off towards the porch, my hip protesting with a twinge of pain as I did so. I fished the front door key from my trouser pocket, not bothering to look behind to see if Carlisle had followed. The door slammed against the inside wall, as I entered the house and headed for the lounge. I heard the door click shut, followed by soft footsteps against the carpet and turned to see his tall frame pass through the living room threshold. God, he was too beautiful for words and I was unable to contain the admiration, despite the frustration and confusion running through my mind.
Regardless of my appreciation, however, I'd had enough of the quiet. It was time to talk.
"So, are you just going to stand there?" I asked, as my arms folded across my chest.
He gave me a level stare, before slowly releasing the velvety smooth voice my ears just loved to embrace. "What do you want to know?" he replied, not so much asking for the topic of information, but wanting to know the order in which I wished to receive it.
No time was needed for consideration. "How about we start with who the Hell Edward is and what the Hell he wants?"
Carlisle's eyes rose heavenward, before his chest inhaled a deep breath and he began talking. "Edward is the first and last vampire I ever created."
A/N: Quick, on to the next chappie!