Chapter Thirty

Charlie

So, the guy who turned my daughter into a vampire was gone and the Cullens wanted to take Bella with them. I was against that but Carlisle explained the situation,

"I understand your reluctance Chief Swan but when Bella wakes up she will need to be taught to hunt animals for their blood and like all newborns she will be very unpredictable and possible violent."

"Violent?"

I was horrified at that thought.

"Its only until her body and mind adjust to her new life, to understand and control her thirst and the new sensations she will be feeling"

I nodded at Esmes explanation which made sense of a sort.

"How long before she can control all this?"

"Possibly two years, maybe less."

"Two years?"

"Chief Swan you have to understand that Bella will be immortal, two years is nothing to us. We can keep her safe and teach her, guide her, until she can integrate back into your world without giving herself away. We are wiling to do this and we do have experience. Our own foster children, well all except Alice, were changed by me."

"You turned the children into vampires?"

"Yes but they were already dying so I didn't take their human lives away, I merely gave them a second chance. Edward was dying of influenza, Rosalie had been violently attacked and left for dead and Emmett had been savaged by a bear and was dying when Rosalie found him. Even my dear wife Esme was dying after tragically losing her baby and attempting suicide so you see I hope you will not judge me too harshly. If Bella stays here the Quileutes will try again and she will not be disciplined enough to protect herself. They will kill her Chief."

I knew he was right so with a heavy heart I agreed that they would take Bella with them tonight.

"We dare not wait, the wolves will either be gathering, those that are left or they will be looking for help from other guardian tribes. I promise you Chief Swan that as soon as we finds somewhere to live we will contact you and you can see Bella if its safe, if not then you will be able to speak to her."

"You'll look after her like one of your own?"

"She will be like a daughter to us I promise you"

Esme hugged me and after packing her things I carried Bella back down still very restless but silent. Emmett came over to take her from me and I kissed her forehead shocked at how cold it felt.

"Goodbye my darling daughter. I'm so sorry its come to this but I will see you again soon and these people will keep you safe"

I watched as the Cullens left in the monster truck headed for the interstate and god knows where. They'd already told me as much,

"We won't go back to the house, it's too dangerous but we'll send a company who pack up house contents and have it put in storage until we have somewhere new. Carlisle has warned Alice and Edward and they will meet us on the road. I'm truly sorry Chief Swan."

"Charlie, its Charlie, and thank you Esme for taking Bella with you"

Carlisle had given me a few last minute warnings,

"The wolves or their representatives will come for Leah. What you do about that is up to you unless you'd like us to take her too."

"What would you do with her?"

"Keep her sedated for a while and then speak to her father. If he will guarantee no reprisals we would send her home."

"And if not?"

"I can't answer that Charlie. I'm not a killer despite being a vampire. I suppose I would try hypnotism or something, I just want her home safely but at the same time no danger to my family."

"But if nothing worked you would kill her?"

"I'm hoping it wouldn't come to that, alive she is a hostage for the guardian tribes behaviour."

I was pulled in two directions, one part of me wanted to kill the bitch who had tried to kill my daughter but the other part thought she should go home to her father. I had lost my daughter but Harry shouldn't lose his too.

"I'll keep her here. If the Quileutes promise to leave me be and not look for Bella they can have her back."

"Its your choice of course Charlie."

After I watched them out of sight I went down to the cellar where Leah lay on the old blanket I'd put on the floor covered by another and looking very innocent in her sleep but then her eyes opened and I saw a burning hatred in them. She sprang to her feet unconcerned at her nakedness and I saw her shape start to shake, she was going to phase! I ran for the cellar stairs and just made it to the top and back into the kitchen as I heard angry snarls behind me and pulled the bolts across as her wolf form crashed against the door. There would be no reasoning with her as she was so I took the phone and sat at the kitchen table dialling Harry's number slowly, this was going to be probably the strangest conversation I had ever had with him.

Sue answered and I could tell she'd been crying,

"Is Harry there?"

"No, he's left. Do you know where Leah is?"

"How much do you know about what's happened Sue?"

"Enough to know the vampires killed almost our entire pack trying to save your daughter."

"So that's the official line is it?"

"Its the truth. Where is Leah? Sam said the Cullens took her."

"I need to speak to Harry."

She put the phone down on me and I stared out into the rain-soaked dawn closing my eyes against the terrible headache growing behind them. When the door bell went I got up slowly wondering who would be calling at this time of the morning but not wholly surprised to see Harry standing there.

"Can I come in Charlie?"

I stood aside and he walked through to the kitchen taking off his wet jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair where it dripped slowly onto the tiled floor.

"I just rang Sue, she said you'd left."

"Yes. I didn't know what the pack had planned and I don't agree with it but that's all too late now. There is only Sam left and he's already checked the Cullen house, they've left."

"I know."

"How is Bella?"

"I have no idea. Why don't you tell me."

"The pack didn't kill her Charlie"

"Not for the want of trying though Harry."

He hung his head but said nothing.

"Do you know where my daughter is?"

"You don't need to ask that Harry, Sam's already told you I'm sure. Now she's conscious I guess she's told him everything she knows including where she is. I could have let the Cullens take her. They offered."

"Why didn't you?"

"I've lost my daughter Harry, isn't one enough."

"Lost? Sam said she'd been bitten. He's using that to get the other guardian tribes to help hunt down the Cullens and kill them."

"So he's going to lie to them? One of the wolves bit Bella. She was bleeding to death, the vampire who bit her did it to save her Harry. My daughter is becoming a vampire because one of your guardians attacked a human, how do you justify that?"

"I don't. I'm very sorry for your loss and I'm sorry for Bella's sake but thee is nothing I can do to put things right."

"Were the elders involved in the plan?"

Harry didn't answer me for a long time then he sighed again,

"Some, yes but I think they've been punished enough, Billy lost his son, others their kin."

"To be honest I don't give a fuck about their losses. They only got what they deserved. You'd better tell them to stay away from me and from the town or I wont be accountable for my actions and if I hear one word about anyone going after my daughter I'll rain such hell down on that village they'll think its the end days. Do you understand?"

He nodded soberly and I stood up motioning to the cellar door,

"Leah's down there. Take her and go, and just so we're clear I never want to see you or her again."