Chap 20
Carlisle
Jake was forcing our hand. If Charlie heard of trouble between him and Edward he would know we were keeping something from him so rang Billy.
"We can't wait any longer Billy not now Jake has started to look for Edward. We have to tell Charlie"
Billy's sigh was audible and the pause short,
"Very well. I'll talk to Harry and Old Quil and meet you on the outskirts of town, we'll see Charlie together. He's off duty today at home so hopefully he won't hear anything before we get there, give me an hour."
After ringing off I told Esme what I planned,
"Do you want me to come along, support for Charlie?"
I thought about this, he might need someone to talk to and Esme was a very good listener.
"OK, but let Billy and I deal with the situation first."
Billy
I rang Sam first but Emily said he was already on his way and would try to stop Jake doing anything rash although he knew how Jake felt. Old Quil was too sick to accompany me but Harry came along and we met Carlisle and Esme just outside town. He had parked his Mercedes up on the side of the highway and stood waiting for us.
"Do you want me to follow you?"
I shook my head,
"I think we need to show a united front, at least to Charlie. If he thinks we are fighting among ourselves he wont have much confidence in any of us. Hop in."
They took the back seat and there was an uncomfortable silence until we pulled up outside Charlie's. He was in the yard supposedly chopping logs but really staring into space over the axe. When he saw us he walked over wiping his hands on his jacket and shook hands.
"I guess this isn't a social visit and by the look of your faces it isn't good news so I guess you'd better come in."
We followed him into the lounge and sat down as he watched us nervously.
Carlisle
I thought the onus was on me to start this particular conversation,
"Charlie I have news of Bella"
"She's dead isn't she?"
His voice was thick with pain and Esme went over and took his hands in hers,
"No Charlie she's still alive, in a way at least"
He looked at her then as the penny dropped his face crumpled with shock,
"Oh God she's one of you isn't she? You told me you didn't know anything about her disappearance Carlisle"
"I didn't Charlie, until I got a phone call from Jasper,"
I'd decide go keep Eleazor out of this, it would only complicate matters,
"She was taken by our governing body"
"This Volturi you told me about? And Jasper? That's one of your sons isn't it?"
"Yes Charlie. Jasper went to try to help Bella but he was too late"
Charlie turned to Billy fury gathering on his face,
"Wait just a minute. Your Wolves never found any scent of Vampire at the beach and they're supposed to be your enemies how could you miss it?"
I decided to field that question for Billy,
"I was informed that the Volturi use humans sometimes, and their scent wouldn't have been picked up among all the kids on the beach, not even by the wolves Charlie."
"Humans? That might explain something. I got a call last night from the Chief down the coast, they found an empty boat floating outside the harbour and later recovered four bodies. They'd had their throats cut and bled out, he thought it was a drug deal gone wrong. Now I'm not so sure, what do you think?"
"It sounds about right, the cut throats would explain the drained bodies, and explains her disappearing without a trace. If they came in by boat and snatched her then the scent trail would be covered by the tide very quickly and none of us would have seen anything significant in human scents on the beach in any case."
"So what now? How do I get her back?"
Esme sat on the edge of his chair and put an arm around him,
"You can't Charlie until she's able to cope around humans and even then it might not be wise"
I cut in then,
"Don't forget what I told you about the Volturi and the danger they pose to you now you know about us."
"Whatever happens she's still my Daughter and I want to see her. I'll go to Italy myself if I have to. And what the hell am I going to tell her Mother?"
"I think nothing would be the best thing for now. As far as she knows Bella is still missing"
Billy coughed,
"Charlie, we both know Renee and she'll never cope with finding out Bella is a vampire. I think you have to accept she can never know the truth. You can keep up the pretence of looking for Bella because believe me no human will ever find her."
"So who is with her, apart from your son Jasper?"
"Jasper and his friends Peter and Charlotte are there and they will help her to adapt to her new life."
"Is he trustworthy? Will they look after her right?"
"Oh yes Charlie you can count on that. Bella is his mate, he would die for her."
"Mate? As in mate...?"
"Yes Alice told me when I rang her. He was Bella's only hope of not being drawn into the Volturi and their way of life."
"Alice? How did she know and what way of life? Everything you say just gives me more questions."
"I'm afraid things are very complicated Charlie but I'll try to explain everything to you. Alice is gifted, she can see the future or at least as it stands."
"What does that mean?"
"The future is fluid and changes if people change their minds. Alice sees the future as it stands at the time she looks. She saw Jasper and Bella as a couple, mates in our world, and she was convinced that wouldn't change. As for the Volturi way of life, well we live on the blood of animals but they live on our true food source"
"You mean humans? My Bella might end up drinking human blood?"
"That's what Jasper will help her with Charlie. He has extensive knowledge of newborns, new vampires."
"So how long does it take for her to become one of you and settle enough to see me?"
"The process itself takes about three days but the newborn phase, as we call it, can last some years"
"Years? You mean I can't see Bella for years? Who's going to look after her? What about money and a place to live?"
Esme patted his arm and smiled gently,
"Don't worry about that Charlie, Jasper will provide for her and we will make sure she is OK"
He looked a little happier so I went on,
"It depends on how well she adapts. As soon as I hear from Jasper again I can tell you more."
"So why did these Volturi guys want her? She wasn't just a random selection was she?"
"No, true."