Chapter Forty One

Bella

Peter was all for storming the place but I wasn't having Charlie killed if I could possibly avoid it and I was aware that he would be Carlisle's first target.

"No Peter. I want to get Charlie and Billy out of this alive if possible."

"Bella, that ain't gonna happen. Carlisle knows they are all that's stopping you from going in with a flame thrower and frying his ass. There's no way he's letting them out this side of eternity."

I looked at Jasper who was leaning against the hood of the car and looking at the house intently.

"What?"

He looked at me,

"The emotions in that house are interesting. I don't feel any fear so to speak, and you have to ask why? Is it because Charlie and Billy aren't aware of their danger or is something else going on in there? I'm not so sure Carlisle had all his ducks in a row when we turned up and he's struggling to master the situation."

"Right. For the mentally slow can I have that in plain English Major cos I got lost."

He looked at Peter but didn't answer, he knew he understood, we all did, he was just lightening the atmosphere. Carlisle was struggling to command the situation which meant that Charlie and Billy might stand a better chance but it also meant that they could be in more danger than before because if the situation went to hell in a hand cart they were the most vulnerable bodies in that house.

"So, we just gonna wait?"

Peter sounded impatient.

I looked at Jazz and he took my hand in his,

"Do you trust me Bella?

"Of course.

"Then we wait."

I knew Peter hated the hanging around but I was surprised at his silent acquiescence.

Esme

I didn't think Carlisle was aware that I'd heard his words outside, he'd thought I was in the kitchen making a drink for our guests. I could hardly believe the exchange between my husband, my mate, and Bella. How could he even consider Bella giving up her mate to Raven under any circumstances? It led me to wonder how he would have acted under the same circumstances. How much was I worth to him? He was also prepared to threaten people who were guests in our house! How could he? The revelation that hurt the most was that it had been he who encouraged Aro to snatch Bella and turn her into one of us, not Edward yet he had blamed Edward for it to every one, including Eleazor and me.

Poor Bella had been changed against her will to pay for spurning Edward. I felt equally guilty for this, I should have seen Carlisle's anger at her action in turning away from our favourite son. I admitted to myself for the first time that he was the favourite but I didn't blame her for her change of heart. Edward had left her heartbroken and she wasn't prepared to chance him doing the same thing again. My life, my relationship with my mate, was crumbling around me as I watched and it was all because of Edward, his pain filled tantrums here because Bella had refused to see him any longer. Each one had cut both Carlisle and myself deeply, we felt his pain but to sentence her to eternity as a vampire for her actions was fundamentally wrong. The question was, now I knew, what did I do about it all?

Bella

I watched Jasper closely, looking for any sign of what he was feeling and I saw Peter doing the same while Charlotte had got back in the car and was sketching. They all seemed calm, as if this were just an afternoon outing until I looked more closely, Peters feet were tapping out a beat, Charlotte's pen strokes were harsh and staccato and Jaspers jaw muscle jumped regularly, then I realised they were ready for action at any moment. I wondered if there were any way of extending my shield to cover Billy and Charlie, but without knowing where they were in the house and visualizing them I knew it was hopeless, also I was possibly too far away. We hadn't tried over any great distances and I wasn't confident that I might not end up shielding the wrong people.

"How are things in there?"

Jasper looked at me and smiled,

"I have a sneaky feeling that Carlisle has less allies than he thinks"

That was all he said then he put an arm around me and pulled me in for a reassuring hug.

Carlisle

The waiting was making me impatient, what did they think would change while they stood there? Did they think I was going to change my mind and send Charlie and Billy out with a wave goodbye? If Jasper and his friends weren't coming in fighting or giving me the assurances I'd asked for then there was a good reason. I looked round the room, Charlie was watching me, Billy seemed unconcerned, while Jake watched Emmett warily, thinking he might be the greatest danger. Raven meanwhile was leaning back on the couch watching the rest of us, she seemed confident she could protect at least herself and in a confined space and as a bear she probably could. Emmett and Rose were watching me and I couldn't quite work out why, his eyes were puzzled while Roses eyes flickered between Esme and me. Had she said something to them when she went to get them from the garage, if she had then what? She didn't know anything, I'd been careful to keep her out of this. I didn't think she'd understand why I'd done it. She had a soft spot for Bella, saw her as another daughter almost. It didn't upset her the way it did me when Bella broke Edwards heart. My best creation, my darling first-born, and she had turned her back on him. I know I'd blamed him for what had happened but I had to or I wouldn't be able to monitor the situation and make sure the right people paid for what she'd done. He would understand in time, when I explained it to him properly.

Esme

I couldn't just stand by while our guests were used as hostages or killed but I knew I couldn't beat Carlisle alone. He was faster and stronger than me and I didn't know what Rose and Emmett were deciding. I hadn't had much time to tell them what I'd heard outside and no time to get their responses.

"Would you like more coffee Charlie?"

He looked at me about to refuse but something in my face must have communicated itself to him,

"That would be nice. How about you Billy as we're going to be here for a while?"

Billy shifted uneasily in his wheelchair but nodded, pulling a bottle of tablets from his jacket pocket,

"Something to wash a couple of these down would be great thank you Esme"

Carlisle looked at me hard then nodded his agreement,

"Here Esme let me help. I'll get water for Billy's pills while you make the coffee"

Rose followed me out not looking at Carlisle for permission, as if this were a normal day.