Disclaimer: None of this is mine, nor will it ever be (sigh). I like to play with the characters that Stephenie Meyers created and make them do pervy things or become angels with a bad attitude.

So, we met Carlisle. He's a Dominion, Lordship which is the second level of angels. He pretty much takes care of the lower angels. Does he have a mate? What are his powers? Are there angels stronger than him? And what about Riley? When will he rear his ugly head again?

Chapter Eighteen

BPOV

My conversation with Carlisle was quite enlightening, to say the least.

And by enlightening, it scared the shit out of me. I'd met the man who adopted Edward as his own, but was, for all intents and purposes, his boss. As I puttered in the kitchen, Carlisle stood and shifted uncomfortably. "I can help you, Bella," he said. "I should be serving you."

"What's this?" I asked, laughing and pointing to Edward's Keurig.

"Um, a blender?" he chuckled with an adorable crease between his eyes. I shook my head. "Grill pan?"

"Nope! It's a coffee maker," I giggled. "Don't worry about helping me with making breakfast. I've survived most of my life fending for myself." Carlisle frowned deeply, frustration marring his handsome face. I ignored it and I made myself some oatmeal, adding some fresh berries to it, along with cinnamon and nutmeg. "Would you like some?"

"No thank you," he said, wrinkling his nose. "I don't need to eat."

"Really? I know that Edward has to eat if he's been injured. Sleep, too," I said. "Is that true for you?"

"Only if I'm gravely injured with a poison arrow from Lucifer," Carlisle muttered. "It happened once, during the last invasion by him and his evil minions. My mate, Esme, who is also a Dominion, was able to heal me and I slept for almost a month, devouring an entire cow."

"Was that when Edward was exiled?" I asked. "Well, before he was exiled?"

Carlisle nodded, sighing deeply. "What happened was not entirely his fault, but it was a part of the reason why he was exiled. Edward is a good man, a strong man and he hates when there is anyone in his region in pain. He felt the fake pain of Lucifer, trying to help him and it was a gradual change. By the time, he realized that he was helping Lucifer, he tried his hardest to stop it. He freed so many concentration camps, including Jasper's. He used all his powers, trying to end it all and it helped tremendously. He used his power of persuasion, tricking the human inside of Lucifer's minion. The human, Hitler, died at his own hand, but it was under Edward's mind control and his guilt that caused him to kill himself," Carlisle said. "The war ended, but He was so upset, desperate to recycle Edward. He'd committed the worst crime that an angel could commit. Alice fought for him, his team fought for him, but it was my testimony and my belief that he could be redeemed that sent him to exile down to Earth."

"And now?" I asked.

"And now, Edward's been redeemed and is now working for me once again," Carlisle said, sitting down across from me. "Bella, you are important to him, to us."

"Everyone says that and I don't understand why," I said, moving to the sink and doing my dishes, scrubbing my bowl with a little too much vigor.

"I'm not at liberty to say that, but you cannot fall for Lucifer's tricks. If you become a part of his plan, unknowingly joining his minions, you would tip the balance of power to evil, to the darkness," Carlisle growled. "Did Edward tell you how to know if someone you know is under Lucifer's influence?"

"Black eyes," I whispered. "No color."

"It's more than that. There's no white. The entire eye is black, Bella," Carlisle explained. He took out a cell phone from his pocket, hitting it on the counter. "How does this work? I have a picture on this contraption."

"Give me that," I said, swiping my finger across the screen. "When was the last time you were on Earth?"

"World War II," he replied, smiling wryly. "Technology has changed. And Alice likes to tease me that I'm older than dirt."

"Are you older than dirt?" I giggled.

"Stone Age, Bella," he chuckled. "Before the written word."

"Whoa," I breathed. "And yeah, you're older than dirt and language."

"Did you get that thing opened?" he asked, pointing to the cell phone with a look of frustration.

"Password?" I said, handing him the phone. He nodded, using his index finger to punch in his password. He pushed it back, with a picture pulled up. "Is this someone under Lucifer's influence?"

"No, a picture that Alice found on Gaggle. They're contact lenses, but you get the idea of what you need to keep an eye out for," he said, tucking his phone back into his pocket. I snickered. "Did I say that wrong? Is it Moogle?"

"Google, Carlisle," I laughed.

"Google," he replied, elongated the double-o sound. "Got it." He sobered, looking at me and cocking his head. "You've had too much pain in your short life, Bella. No one should endure such suffering."

I shrugged, scrubbing Felix behind the ears. "It's the hand I was dealt. I could bitch and moan about it or move on," I said, blushing furiously. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't cuss."

"Bella, I've heard Edward's language. And even Alice's when she's upset. Don't censor yourself on my behalf," he chuckled. "I've heard worse, in numerous languages." His smile dropped and he leaned forward, taking my hands. I felt warm, like I was protected by an impenetrable barrier of energy. "Despite what happened to you, you still have goodness in your heart. You love your children …"

"They're the only children I'll have," I said, frowning. "I give everything to my students, even if I have nothing to give. I'll be there biggest supporter, ally and protector. I didn't have that when I was growing up, so I'm determined to do that for my kids."

"And they love you for it," Carlisle said, squeezing my hands. He guided me to the couch, sitting down stiffly. He scratched at his back.

"Are your wings squished?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "I'm used to allowing them to be free. I don't have hide them up there, but down here on Earth wings are not considered normal."

"Edward chose this house because it's well-hidden," I said. "Let them loose." Carlisle arched a brow. I nodded and gave him an encouraging smile. Rolling his shoulders, his wings pushed through his sweater. He sighed, stretching them wide before letting the hang. "They're blindingly white."

"All Dominions have white wings. It shows our sense of status," he explained. "We are what most people picture when they imagine angels. White wings, warm glow and soft spoken. What people don't know is that we're warriors, stronger than anything. However, our weakness is that poison arrow. It's far deadlier for Dominions than angels like Edward. It would kill an Arch Angel instantly."

"What would it do to a human?" I asked.

"You'd die, but it would be painful and ugly," Carlisle grimaced. "The only thing that would stop the pain, the ugliness, would be to transform you into an angel, like Edward or Alice. That's not without its risks, either. It's not a sure-fire cure for the poison."

"I couldn't be healed?" I asked. "Or any other human?"

"No. When we heal, we take on the injuries upon ourselves," Carlisle mused. "As you know, the arrow poison is lethal for us and we can't … Love from our mates is the only cure for the poison, as you well know. Your love healed Edward."

"I haven't told him," I whispered. "I'm afraid to."

He cocked his head, no doubt listening to my thoughts. "He knows, sweet girl." He sat back, testing out the couch. Felix jumped up between us, putting his head on my lap and his tail thumping against Carlisle's stomach. He chuckled, rubbing the dog's butt. "Bella, I'm pulling Jasper off your detail."

"You don't trust him," I said.

"I trust him, but not with you and definitely not around Edward," Carlisle muttered. "We preach forgiveness, acceptance and love, but Jasper is incapable of forgiving Edward. If he doesn't change his tune soon, he will be recycled. Both Edward and Jasper are now a part of my team, but I doubt Jasper will look past Edward's discretions and forgive him. Ever."

"Is this move permanent? What about Alice?" I asked.

"Alice will stay. She's entrenched in the situation and it would be difficult to find someone as familiar with all the players," Carlisle said. "Jasper will monitor from above, not to interact with you or Edward." He gave me a soft smile. "Get some rest, sweet girl. I know that all this is overwhelming."

"I don't want to be rude," I frowned.

"You're not. I can feel your exhaustion, your weariness, emotional and physical," he said, offering me his hand. I took it and he led me to Edward's bedroom. Felix followed, hopping up on the bed. Carlisle bent down, picking up the fluffy teddy bear. He smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. Tucking me into the bed, he handed me the bear. "This one will protect you always."

"Edward got him for me," I blushed. "I never had any toys or stuffed animals as a child. It's stupid. I'm in my mid-twenties and I love this guy more than anything."

"He gave you back a moment of your innocence," Carlisle said. He ran his hand over my forehead and I felt exhausted. "Sleep, sweet one." I nodded, snuggling into my bear and burrowing under the mountains of covers. Within moments, I was down for the count. When I woke up, hours later, the house smelled delicious and I was missing my bed-buddy, Felix.

I showered, dressing in a pair of jeans and one of Edward's shirts, needing to feel him, smell him. Out in the kitchen, Carlisle was cooking and not doing that badly. He beamed, settling me at the table and fed me a four-course feast for a late lunch before challenging me to a game of chess. I'd learned in one of my nicer foster homes. One of my foster brothers was a savant at the game and he taught me everything he knew. The first game, I'd lost, but I think that was due to Carlisle reading my mind. The second game, I kept my thoughts blank and I beat him, feeling Edward return just as I knocked over Carlisle's king.

"Check mate," I smirked. He left and I was left with Edward, feeling more at ease than I'd felt in years. Edward and I spent the weekend in his house. He hovered, showering me with affection – soft touches, tender kisses, warm embraces and protective wings around me while I slept – I loved every moment of this. It helped me forget the stress and drama in my life.

Unfortunately, Riley was still out there and from what I was told, he was not going to stop. I wasn't going to let Riley rule my life anymore. Yes, he was under the control of Satan, but I refused to have my life be controlled by Riley Biers or anyone else.

I wanted to truly live. I wanted to smile, laugh, fall in love and be able to share it, willingly. I wanted to give Edward everything, because he'd given me solace, compassion, protection, and unconditional love.

Why was I so fucking scared, though?

Good things come to those who wait, right? I've waited long enough. Why can't I take that leap?

Because almost ten years of abuse and conditioning will not improve overnight, Swan. Don't force it … start slow … and go from there.

Slow is doable. I can do slow. We can do slow.

A/N: So, you heard from Bella and about her day with Carlisle. Up next will be Edward's conversation with him and his reasoning behind pulling Jasper off Bella's protective detail. Also, we're going to experiment with Bella and her version of slow.

Thank you for reading and a picture of Dominion Carlisle is on my blog. Thank you to Clo for the manip. She's so freaking amazing at making the manipulations. It's perfect … Mushy hugs to you, girl! Leave me some loving! ;-)