Chapter 61

Alice sat frozen in terror. She couldn't get the words out fast enough. Edward read her mind, and panic struck his face. He and Bella had just joined Alice and Jasper in a hunt, and had only left Charlie's house about a half hour before.

"Go now!" Alice choked out.

Edward grabbed Bella's hand and they darted off together. She was confused and now panic stricken, herself.

"What is going on Edward?" she asked frantically as the wind blew her hair back in all different directions.

"It's Charlie."

"What! What about him?"

"We have to get to him now."

"What is happening Edward?" Bella screamed as they continued to run.

Edward didn't look at her, but owed it to her to know what Alice had seen, "He's been bitten."

"What!?"

"Or, he's about to be. Alice was unsure, but it's happening."

"No," Bella screamed, "No!"

"Alice is gathering everyone else."

"Who did it? Who's the vampire?"

"Her thoughts were jumbled, but I think it's Gianna. Aro's..." His voice trailed off, not knowing what to call her.

Bella wanted to cry. She didn't want Charlie to have to deal with this, and she didn't want him to feel the pain of the transformation. Moments later, she could see their house coming into view through the trees.

"Charlie!" Bella screamed, "Dad!" She and Edward made their way to where Charlie was beginning to scream on the ground. His left hand clutched his right forearm, and a wound in the shape of teeth marks had formed.

"We're in time," Edward told Bella. The huddled over him.

"Dad," Bella said frantically, "It's going to be okay."

His face was covered in pain with the smallest look of confusion.

"Do it, Bella," Edward instructed.

She looked at him with fearful eyes, "Edward, I-"

"Do it!"

Bella scanned the world around her, that was now spinning.

"Hurry, Bella." Edward told her.

Bella dropped herself to the wound on her father's arm. She hadn't tasted human blood since she was human, and was forced to in order to keep her and unborn Renesme alive. The smell of it drove her wild at times, but like the rest of them, she had ignored it. Until now, she never really knew what it felt like to actually crave it. Now, she felt a sort of high that she imagined only vampires could feel.

Blood rushed out of Charlie's arm and into Bella's mouth. She was blinded by red; the redness of blood. It's all she saw, it's all she wanted. The look on Charlie's face was all but a blur, as were Edward's words somewhere in the background. She was focused; focused on the thirst, focused on the taste, on the way it made her feel.

"Stop!" Edward screamed.

To Bella, his voice was barely visible, but it was there. Somewhere he made sense.

"Bella! You're going to kill him. You're going to kill Charlie!"

Charlie, Bella thought to herself. She was latched to his arm. Her father's face came back into focus, looking weak and confused. She immediately found the will to release his arm, and Edward's arms wrapped around her and lead her away.

"You did good," he said, "You did good."

Bella looked over her shoulder at her father gasping for air as live began to flow back though his veins. She hadn't even realized how fast the others had gotten there. Carlisle, Esme and Alice were gathered around him.

"Is he going to be okay?" Bella asked as Edward continued to bring her away from him.

He wiped blood from her mouth with his sleeve, "Yes. You did great Bella."

"I heard you say I was killing him," she said concerned.

"He's fine now. Look at him."

Bella looked back again. Charlie was sitting up looking dazed and confused.

"Edward, did I almost kill him?"

He shook his head, "No. You stopped," he laughed to make her feel better, "Even sooner than I did when saving you from James."

She sighed and looked toward Charlie again, "What are we going to do now?"

Edward looked at him, too, "Well," he started, "We were thinking about telling him anyway."

"He does already know about Jacob," Bella said, trying to make herself feel better. She started walking back toward him, and Edward put a hand in front of her. She looked him in the eye, "I'm okay."

The promising look gave Edward enough assurance to let her go. He accompanied her back to the group.

"Dad," she said, giving him a big hug, "Dad. I love you."

Charlie hugged her a little tighter than normal, "I love ya, Bells," he said.

She never wanted to let him go. He was so fragile and so.. human.

Charlie remained sitting on the ground, looking up at everyone. His eyes made their way back to Bella, "What's going on?"