Chapter Sixty Three

Charlie

It was driving me crazy, no one knew where Bella was, only that Jasper had her and was trying to get through to her. I'd flown back to Forks but only long enough to arrange sick cover for a month, I had to find Bella and that meant visiting the Cullens.

"If he fails Charlie I'm afraid she'll draw the notice of the Volturi and that is bad news, they wont tolerate a newborn going around blowing people up and declaring open season on vampires."

"Maybe I could get through to her Carlisle, I should at least try"

"Charlie you're a human, we know she's killed humans and she might just feed on you."

"Well that's a risk I'm willing to take so you get word to Jasper...now"

I waited as Carlisle phoned the number he had but it was Jaspers friend who answered and I took the receiver from him,

"This is Charlie. I want to see Bella and speak to her."

"Yeah well there's a lot of things I want and can't have so you'll just have to go on wanting."

"You give Jasper my message. If I don't get to speak to her I'll put out a APB on her and then he'll have every police force in the country looking for her. I will see my daughter one way or another so get the message to him. I'll be waiting for his answer and it had better not be too long in coming, I'm getting mighty impatient."

Peter

As if we didn't have enough on our plate we now had Charlie causing problems. I didn't think his threat meant much but it would mean we'd have to be even more careful.

"Peter you have to tell Jasper, let him decide"

"You want me to serve up her dad for Bella to feed on? Good thinking Charlotte."

"Don't you think you're being a little dramatic? With us there I'm sure he'd be safe enough and maybe he could reach her where we can't."

I swore as I dialled his number hoping I wasn't interrupting anything important.

"What?"

He sounded annoyed at the interruption,

"Hey, shove the attitude Major, I've got Bella's dad breathing down my neck, he wants to see his daughter. He's chewing Carlisle's ear off at the moment but we're next"

"It's too dangerous"

I heard another voice in the background then he came back on,

"Did you get that?"

"Yeah Bella wants to see her dad. Is she gonna chow down on him or talk?"

"I think she wants to accuse him actually but it might be a good idea. You and Charlotte come too, just in case"

"You got it Major."

I rang Carlisle back with the news and Charlie drove up with Esme the next day much to my dismay,

"You Cullens got a death wish or is there something in the fucking water in Boston?"

"I thought I might be able to help Peter, after all I was the one who lied to Bella about Garrett."

"Yeah I'm surprised he's not here too or has he tucked his lying tail between his legs and slunk off?"

Charlie intervened at this point,

"Look I'm not interested in your problems with the Cullens Peter, I want to see my daughter now."

"OK then come on. I just hope you don't get sea sick"

He looked at the boat tied to the jetty frowning,

"Where are they?"

"Out on Grape Island, its empty this time of year and safe."

"Safe?"

"Yeah no humans trampling about to get eaten, well unless you count yourself of course. Get in"

He did so followed by Esme and Charlotte and I headed off to the island,

"So, what do you expect to achieve?"

"I need to explain things to Bella, try to make her see sense. She can't go on like this, it isn't my daughter to be so vindictive and angry. Bella was a kind soul, she wouldn't hurt anyone let alone commit murder. I put it down to becoming a vampire although I never had a problem with any vampires I've met before"

"That's because you only met the pet ones like Carlisle and his family. No, insult intended Esme"

She glanced at me without speaking but I could tell she was scared and feeling guilty.

"Pet vampires?"

"Those who pretend they're really sweet little kittens who only drink animal blood and wouldn't harm a human for any reason."

"So enlighten me, what are vampires really like Peter."

Charlotte beat me to it,

"We are blood drinking monsters Carlisle, cursed beings hated and feared but we didn't ask to be this way. Its not a life choice but thrust upon us unwillingly. Some try harder than others and some don't try at all but just revel in the darkness."

"So where do you two fall?"

"Somewhere in the middle, we do what we have to in order to survive but we aren't indiscriminate killers and we do have feelings. You might want to remember that."

Arriving at the island Charlie helped Esme out of the boat and followed us towards the cabin hidden from the mainland by trees. Before we got too close I stopped him,

"Just remember, Bella is a blood drinker and a newborn which means she might not be as controlled as you expect. Do not get too close and try not to upset her. OK?"

He ignored me pushing past and knocking on the cabin door a few minutes later. We all heard The Major invite him in and followed to see Bella sitting in one of the chairs, he'd given her the leg back but she was minus a hand so shed tried something already.

"Bella"

"Hello daddy dear, come to see what all the fuss is about.? Or are you here to apologise? Everyone seems full of apologies these days."

"Both. I'm sorry I didn't save you from becoming a vampire, I'm sorry this happened to you honey but you can't go on the way you have, killing people."

"People? I killed a wolf and it was retribution, after all he helped to kill me. You do know I'm dead don't you Charlie. This..."

She pointed at herself

"Is just an animated corpse, just so you know"

"I don't believe that and neither do you or you wouldn't be fighting the world so hard"

Bella looked behind him and spotted Esme,

"I thought I smelled a Cullen and just the one I wanted to see. Another liar, I seem to be surrounded by them. Did you know Esme lied to me Charlie? She told me Garrett had changed me, she told me Garrett was in love with me, she let me loose with him and once he found out I wasn't interested in hunting humans like him he left me, just like you did and like he did"

She pointed dismissively at The Major.

"And that's why you went on this crazy killing spree?"

"Hardly a spree...yet. I only got Sam Uley but I'm working on it."

"So are you going to kill me too? And Esme? Where does it end Bella? Or do you just go on killing until you've forgotten why you started?"

"Oh no, I have a list and once I cross the last name off I'll stop, despite what Jasper here says. I know exactly what I'm doing."

"No you don't, you have no idea. Listen to me, to Jasper, you cannot kill others without killing a piece of yourself and when all the pieces are dead that's when there is only an animated corpse left. Is that what you want for yourself?"

"Did you two read the same script? The only difference being that he'd like to get in my bed."

Charlie looked at Jasper and I saw his expression,

"Careful Charlie, she's getting to you, I told you she would"

"What did she mean Jasper?"

He wasn't listening to me.

"I told her I was in love with her, that we are mates. I don't think she believes me yet but she will."