Chapter Seven – Trance

Edward

I laid Bella on the couch as my mother rushed to get some more blankets. I leaned my ear against Bella's chest, confirmed my fear. She wasn't breathing.

"Mother," I called out. I tore open my jacket Bella was wearing and felt for her sternum.

"Edward," Mom gasped behind me. "Oh, God, I'll call for an ambulance."

"Don't," Hayley whispered from my left side. "Tell Gram not to."

"Mom, wait." I held up my hand, to give me a moment. "I need your help here." I pressed firmly against Bella's chest as my mother knelt beside me. "Breathe."

She breathed twice into Bella's mouth before I started compressions again. Bella's eyes suddenly shot open and she started coughing and sputtering – water.

"What the hell?" Mom looked as confused as I was, but I turned Bella on her side, her gasps shaky and labored.

"So cold," Bella mumbled. I was scrambling onto my feet to restart the fire when it instantly ignited. It was a full set of glowing timber and flames in seconds.

"What the –" Mom eyes were wide with fear.

"Hayley, where are you?" I looked around the room, having no idea that she had that level of power.

"It's not me, Daddy." Her voice floated around me.

My blood suddenly ran cold. Was the monster that had taken my daughter in my home?

"Then tell me who is doing this, Hayley." I turned toward the sound of my daughter's voice, and I heard my mother gasp from Bella's side. Shit. I hadn't mentioned that I could sometimes hear Hayley, too. I faced my mother, who was rubbing Bella's trembling arms, warming her. I shook my head and told her I'd explain later.

"Hayley, are you there?" I tried again.

"He's a friend of Bella's." Her voice whisper soft. "He said to call grandpa." Why would I call my father? I knelt beside Bella and stroked her cheek. Her eyes were blank and staring at something behind me. "Why, Hayley?"

"She's going through something."

"What?"

"A trance," she answered. God, was Bella at risk? What had that monster done to her? Just the thought that there were three spirits around us was enough to drive me into a panic attack. I had to remain strong, for my family, for Bella – for Hayley.

My mother's eyes met mine and her lip trembled. "Son," she whispered, caressing my cheek. "Can you hear Hayley, too?"

I nodded. "I do now, all thanks to Bella." I watched my mother's face go through a multitude of emotions before it settled on remorse and sadness.

I took Bella in my arms, wrapping her fully in a thick blanket, and sat back down with her on my lap. "Bella, angel," I whispered as I looked into her vacant eyes. "Talk to me."

"Edward?" my mother said softly. "Please tell me what's going on."

I explained how Bella had made me realize that my method of mourning Hayley had inhibited my perception of her. I also told my mother everything that had transpired since I'd met Bella. She asked about my earlier conversation about another spirit here with a grim expression.

"Bella's in a trance?" she asked.

"That's what her friend said," I said, shrugging my shoulders. Alice had mentioned she lost a friend recently.

"I'm going to call your father," she said. I nodded, because right now I'd do anything to bring Bella back to me. She'd been under this "trance" for well over fifteen minutes with no response to stimuli of any kind. I was fearful that she'd remain this way, because of me.

While my mother spoke to my father on the phone, I asked Hayley what we should do. "Um, he said she needs a paper and pencil."

I repeated what Hayley had said to me aloud, and my mother looked at me while on the phone, gesturing that she was going into my office.

"Why do we need that?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," Hayley said.

"Sweetie, is Bella's friend dangerous?"

"No, Daddy."

"Then why is he here?"

"He's watching over her and kept her from falling on the road."

I sighed, because I had known that she'd looked like something was holding her up. I shuddered a bit at the thought. All the lights started flickering several times.

"He said he's sorry," Hayley said. "He tried to pull Bella out the memory, but it was too powerful."

"What memory?" I asked warily, but she replied with silence. "Hayley?"

"Mr. Richardson was showing her how… how we died, Daddy."

I gasped and pulled Bella tighter against my chest. "Oh, God. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." I kissed each of her temples and pressed my lips against her hair. She'd been through so much her whole life, and now I was causing her more pain.

The mere memory of my daughter's death had almost killed her. She must've known the risk to herself on finding the truth of Hayley's kidnapping going in. She had done that for a complete stranger that debunked people like her.

She had such bravery and stupidity. I sat there, wondering if this was how her life was every day. Did she live alone? How was that even possible, considering she could slip into a trance at any moment? I had an overwhelming urge to keep here beside me to ensure her safety.

My mother returned with a composition book and pen. I shifted Bella to sit on my lap, her back resting against my chest. I laid the book on her lap and placed the pen in her hand.

"Daddy, I shouldn't be here for this," Hayley whispered. "I have to leave."

"Why?" I gasped. Just the thought of her leaving me had my heart rate spiking.

"I'll be back. I promise," Hayley said, her voice fading away. I sighed as tears prickled behind my eyes. In the back of my mind, I knew that I'd have to deal with her leaving me – forever. I couldn't think about that right now.

My mother took Bella's hand, holding it on a pen on the paper. Her hand starting moving quickly over the paper, but her eyes remained staring ahead, distant. It was as if her hand was possessed.

My mother started to read Bella's written words.

"Laurent, I need as much as possible. Liquidate everything."

I didn't recognize the name, Laurent. My mother continued. "I don't care about that. No. It's too late for that, because I couldn't get the bastard to marry me. I know I won't be able to touch my trust because of it. Just shut up and get me as much as possible. I have to leave the country.

"How long? Three days is too long. Damn it. Fine. No, but I suggest you leave town, too. It may have to do with the fact that you helped me dispose of their bodies and helped kill my parents."

"Jesus," I hissed angrily. "This must be a conversation that Mr. Richardson's spirit overheard." Money and murder was the underlying discussion, and with subtle hints of marriage and dead parents meant only one person – Kate. I said her name aloud with disgust.

My mother nodded as Bella started writing on the paper again. "Edward must say goodbye. It's time for him to let her go," my mother read.

I knew this, but the knowledge didn't make it any less painful. It felt like I would lose my daughter all over again. My mother's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

We tried talking to Bella, to get her to come back out of her trace, but to no avail. My father was on his way, but it would be at least another twenty minutes. "Bella," I said. I took her small hand in mine, kissing her palm. Her eyes remained stoic and unresponsive. Was she in shock?

"Please come back, sweetheart," my mother said, pulling some errand strands behind Bella's ear. She knelt in front of us and tried to coax a response from her.

"Bella, why should Hayley leave now?" she asked.

Bella's hand started moving midair, as if she wanted to write. "No, you have to talk to us, Bella. Come back, Bella."

My mother's eyes locked with mine; she nodded for me to try. "Talk to her."

I ran my hands over Bella's arms and leaned in close to her ear. "I noticed you in the seats in the auditorium. I thought you were so beautiful. Did you know you wear your emotions in your face and eyes? You have such deep brown eyes, Bella. But… right now they're so flat, sweetheart," I whispered, my breath fanning across her cheek. "It's because you're not here with me. Come back." I choked back a sob, tightening my hold on her. "I know it's Hayley's time. I knew it from the moment you said that she was still here because of me. I knew she'd have to leave soon, because she doesn't belong here."

I kissed Bella's temple and laid my cheek against hers. It felt for this moment as if we were the only people in the room. "I need you, Bella. I need someone to make this easier, and I know I can't do this without you. Please, Bella."

My breathing spiked as she shifted in my arms and her face nuzzled my chest. "Edward," she whispered. I gasped because my name from her lips was like a breath of fresh air. I exhaled loudly and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm here, angel," I said softly. My mother smiled at me; her eyes glistened with tears.

"Your father will be here shortly," my mother said. "He should be here for this."

"Why?" I asked.

"Time to say goodbye," Bella mumbled, her hand fisted in my t-shirt, sighing.

"Does it have –" I started, gasping for breath "– it have to be today?"

"Son," my mother said as she caressed my cheek "whatever happened out there, whatever that spirit has to say about Hayley, she shouldn't be here for it."

I sobbed, nodding and clutching Bella to my chest. "No. You're right. My little one shouldn't be here for all that."

My mother left Bella and me so that she could call my father again. We sat in silence as I rocked Bella in my arms.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

I looked to see Bella watching me closely. "Why are you apologizing?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I'm nothing but trouble."

"Oh, sweetheart," I muttered, squeezing her harder. "It may seem that way to you, but you're giving me something I've needed for so long."

She continued to hold my gaze, still cradled in my arms. "What's that?" she asked.

"I need the truth and closure," I said thoughtfully. "I think you may have given me my family back, too." She gave me a small smile and bit her bottom lip.

She stroked my cheek, moving some hair from my eyes. "I wished we could've met under better circumstances." Her gaze never wavered as her fingers continued to explore my face. Her fingertips brushed under my eyes, along my jaw and my lips.

I drew in a shaky breath, my eyes fluttering closed as Bella brushed her lips over mine. My hand cradled her head and pulled her closer as I pressed against her lips more firmly. We were both hesitant in this kiss, and when she suddenly stilled on my lap I knew she regretted it.

She pulled back and shook her head. "I'm so sorry. That was totally inappropriate."

I gave her a small smile, holding her gaze and pressing my lips over her eyes, nose and then finally her soft lips. "I didn't think so."

She smiled, sighing before her arms wrapped around me. I nuzzled her sweet-scented neck just as she did mine. "I don't understand why I feel this strongly for you so soon," she mumbled against my skin. "I can't help it. I should stay away, though."

"Don't," I whispered. "I know this is different in terms of meeting someone, but I don't want you to go away. I couldn't ignore my feelings for you even if I wanted to."

Her answer was short, sweet, and perfect. "Okay," she whispered, sending a surge of hope through every fiber of my body.

My mother came and checked on us a few times while she busied herself in my kitchen, making tea.

"Your friend –" I said but couldn't continue.

"He won't hurt her," Bella whispered.

"How did he die?"

Bella sighed and looked at me for a moment. "Do you remember that ghost I told you about on Potomac?" I nodded, waiting for an explanation. "I had told the boyfriend, who managed to walk away from the accident, to move away, because her spirit was attached to the street than him. When he moved away, she had no way to act out. She went after me, but I avoided the street and told my family and friends to do the same," Bella said, and then she choked out a sob.

"Jacob and his dad were coming home really late. He says that he was very tired and forgot –"

"Oh, angel," I whispered. I pulled her closer to my chest, and I felt her warm tears falling. "I'm so sorry."

"He refuses to cross over, too," she mumbled. "That makes it worse. I'm keeping him here."

"Shh," I whispered. "He's just trying to watch over you."

"Dumbass," she muttered.

"I don't think you understand how precious you are, Bella," I said, kissing the top of your head. "Since I've met you I've wanted nothing more than to protect you."

"Oh, no," she gasped. "Not you, too, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." I pulled away and looked into her eyes. I cocked an eyebrow and smirked, causing her to scowl. "I can," she said with a pout.

"I'm sure you could if you didn't have an affinity to cause all the spirits in the area to flock toward you."

"Not many know about me. I can't help everyone," Bella said. "I try to keep myself out of the media, because if more people knew, that would mean that more spirits would, too."

"Then you'd never get any sleep."

"Something like that," she said. "Edward, I think you're avoiding."

I sighed, because I was. I knew exactly what we needed to talk about, my daughter. "Are you going to tell me what happened out there?"

"I will tell you what I saw after Hayley crosses over." I bit my lip and nodded. "But Garrett was showing me some of the interactions he had with Katherine – what she said and did to convince him to take Hayley. How it all went wrong a few hours later when they met. How he and Hayley died." Bella grimaced and shivered. Between her eyebrows, a worry line appeared, and her eyes held sadness.

"It almost killed you," I whispered, smoothing out Bella's little worry line with my fingertip. Her skin was so soft.

"It was a really powerful memory, and he didn't mean to hurt me. I think I almost drowned with water I drew in from around me," Bella said as she shook her head. "I haven't had an episode like that in a long time."

"Are you telling me this has happened to you before?" I asked angrily. Even though I suspected this, her confirming it made me worry for her well-being more than ever.

"Yes," Bella mumbled, her eyes widening.

I sighed and pulled her against my chest. "I'm sorry. I'm just not accustomed to how ghosts affect you. Not even Alice."

"I try not to get involved with all of them, but sometimes they find me," she whispered.

Bella continued to tell me how it usually worked for her. How she hated hospitals, because some spirits after dying, disoriented and confused, that they were unaware of their own deaths. That there hadn't been a day since her childhood that she hadn't encountered a spirit. Though she said most were residual, many were unaware of her perception. She liked it that way, but she felt bad for not being able to help everyone. She had come to realize that she couldn't help everyone, because it would consume and overwhelm her.

Bella blushed and climbed off my lap when my mother soon joined us with cups of tea. We sat down, discussing what we could do to prevent Katherine from leaving town. We heard two car doors slam from the front of my house.

"He's here," my mother said. She smiled warmly at Bella and me before she walked toward my front door.

Bella remained sitting beside me, still embarrassed that she had spent so much time on my lap. I didn't mind, but I knew she was just uncomfortable because of my mother's presence. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to my side. She sighed as she laid her head on my shoulder.

"Bella," a man's voice said. We both looked up to see my father accompanied by a man similar in age and with dark hair.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Bella looked from the stranger to my father. "Dr. Cullen?"

My father's pale green eyes were somber as he looked at us. "Hello, Ms. Swan."

"You know each other?" I asked.

Bella nodded. "I've been to the emergency room a few times, and he figured out my sixth sense," she said, blushing and biting her lip nervously.

"She has, and I knew the first time I met her there was something special about her," Carlisle said, tears filling his eyes. "I always feared that you'd confirm my suspicions about Hayley." My mother wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on my father's chest.

"Edward, this is my father, Charlie Swan," Bella said. "Dad, this is Edward." I stood up and we shook hands. Dad explained that he knew Charlie from the few times he had brought Bella to his hospital.

"Why didn't you call me?" Charlie asked. "It's a good thing Carlisle and I have gotten along so well since we met." He walked over to Bella and took her face in his hands. "What happened, darling?"

"I relived their deaths," she whispered, tearing spilling over her cheeks. With a trembling hand, she handed him the notebook she'd been writing in earlier.

Her father opened it and read the pages. I noticed something that hadn't been there earlier – a series of numbers and letters. Charlie's fingertip touched the numbers, and he looked up at Bella.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"They're coordinates to where Hayley's body lies."

I gasped, causing Bella to pull away from her father. I choked back a sob, but it was too much.

Everything that had happened since the previous evening came to me in a rush. The emotions overflowed, overwhelming me to the breaking point.

Bella climbed onto the couch and pulled me into her arms. I sobbed against her chest, my mother's own cries filling the room. It finally really hit me – all of us.

My Hayley was gone, and now there was a body to prove it. I sobbed incoherently, whispering Hayley's name in a chant.

Bella soothed me as she explained to her father what it would take to find Hayley's body.

She was still underwater, my poor baby.

Soon, after some discussions about what steps to take now, Bella's father left. I wasn't aware of anyone but Bella and the emotions coursing through me. My parents tried to get me to bed, pulling me away from Bella. I just shook my head and held on to her tighter.

Eventually, Bella laid back and pulled me with her, and I drifted off in a tearful slumber.

"Hayley, is that you?" I asked into the darkness. "Where are you, princess?"

"I'm here," she answered. "I'll always be here, Daddy."

I turned toward her voice as a warm light suddenly highlighting the area. I looked around and noticed it was my living room. Sitting in a soft cream recliner was Hayley with a book in her lap. I smiled and walked over. "What do you have there, pumpkin?" I asked, pulling her onto my lap.

She smiled brightly and giggled. "It's a book, silly."

I looked at the cover of the book in Hayley's hands –, The Wind and the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I smiled at my little girl and started to read.

"Daddy, your eyes are like the color of Mr. Toad's warts!" Hayley said, giggling. She kept calling me "Mr. Toad" as I tickled her.

"I think it's time for bed, pumpkin."

Hayley pouted and widened her eyes, something she did when she wanted something. "One more story, pretty please," she pleaded. She kept up her "pretty please" look until I relented.

She pulled out a book from my bookshelf that I didn't recognize and settled back on my lap. "What's this?" I asked.

"This is a new story, Daddy," Hayley whispered.

"What's it called?" I looked the front of the book, letters forming suddenly on the cover.

Daddy & Bella

By Hayley Leigh Cullen

"I – I don't understand," I whispered. Bella appeared by my side, reading over my shoulder. She was smiling at Hayley and me, glowing. She was so beautiful.

Hayley opened the book to the first page; there was a drawing of Bella sitting in the auditorium. I turned the page, and there was one of Bella and me by the chalkboard, a glowing figure beside us.

I gasped and continued flipping pages. I turned to look at Bella, who only smiled knowingly.

Page after page, there were images of Bella and me in my truck, of us asleep in Hayley's bed, and the dark figure. The last picture was Bella and I lying on my couch, my cheek pressed against her chest, our legs tangled.

The last pages of the book were blank.

"Why are they blank?"

Hayley gave me a small smile. "Your future isn't written yet," she whispered, frowning. "I think it all depends on you."

"Why?" I asked.

"So much will happen soon, and you'll look for someone to hurt, to blame," she explained, frowning.

I gasped and shook my head. "I wouldn't hurt her," I said. I looked at Bella, and she started to back away. "I'd never hurt you."

"I hope not, Daddy," she said, touching my cheek. "You need each other." I returned my attention to Hayley confused.

"I need you, too, Hayley." I turned back to Bella but found that she was no longer there. My instant thought was to run after her.

"I know," she whispered. "But it's time."

"Time?" I asked, my confusion running rampant.

"It's time to say goodbye."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but warmth soothed my sadness. "I'll be okay, Daddy," Hayley said. She kissed each of my cheeks and then my forehead before brushing the tip of her nose against mine. It was a kiss routine that we used to give each other every morning and evening.

I sobbed a bit, and her cold fingertips wiped away my tears. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, Hayley."

"Edward," Bella said, pulling me from my dream. "Edward, honey, it's time."

I felt warm fingers run through my hair and over my face, soothing me. "Time?" I mumbled.

"To say goodbye," Bella whispered.

I nodded and we untangled ourselves. I looked around and realized that we were alone. "Where are my parents?" I asked, stretching.

"They gave us some privacy, but I can call them."

"Not yet," I said. "I had a dream."

Bella winced but tried to compose herself quickly. "Good or bad?"

"Good, I think."

"Hmm, I did, too," she said softly. She rolled her neck and stretched her arms over her head popping her shoulder. I grimaced.

"I'm sorry for –"

"It's fine, Edward, "she said, cutting me off. "You have every right to mourn your child."

"Maybe," I said.

"Mr. Toad," she said. I smiled. "I dreamt of you and Hayley reading, and now I know why she calls you that," Bella giggled and poked my side, "Something about your warts."

I scowled and playfully tickled her sides until she was laughing aloud, both of us tumbling back on the couch. "Stop!" she cried, laughing heartily.

Then someone cleared their throat. We both stopped moving and looked to my parents, who were both smiling. I laughed harder, pulling Bella in my arms.

"Oh, son," my dad said. He looked between Bella and me, a large smile on his face. He looked back to my mother whose eyes were filling with tears.

Bella stilled in my arms. "Bella?"

"It's time, Edward," she said quietly. I sighed and nodded, letting her off me. She sat beside me and looked at my parents.

"Before we get started, I'd like to examine you," my father said. "From what I understand, you stopped breathing for a couple of minutes."

Bella nodded and scooted away from me, while my father knelt in front of her. He checked her eyes with a penlight and checked her breathing. She only complained of a slight ache in her chest and a sore throat. After he finished, Bella asked for him and my mother to sit across from us.

"I have to call for her," Bella said. She closed her eyes and cleared her throat once. Her lashes fluttered as she took a deep breath. "Hayley." Though her voice was hoarse, I detected a tiny echo of my daughter's name.

She called out again, and I realized that there was something otherworldly about how she spoke. I'd have to analyze that later.

The room significantly cooled as Bella's eyes slowly opened.

"She's here."