Chapter Forty Three

Bella

I was exhausted after the shopping trip even though I'd had an hour sitting down for lunch accompanied by Alice, these girls took their retail therapy seriously! I was still looking for something to give Jasper for Christmas and hoping Alice might help me when I saw her eyes glaze over before she smiled again and looked at me knowingly,

"I think someone just made a conquest Bella."

I looked round but there was no one I recognised then I thought about Jasper back at the house with the three sirens. I think Alice must have read the look on my face because she rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"Not Jasper silly. He wouldn't look at another woman now, not even the Denali sisters. No, its Charlie."

"My dad? You mean Charlie has been seduced by one of the girls? They're half his age for Gods sake."

"Actually they aren't Bella, if you want to be accurate, he's the baby in that relationship but that's not the point. I think he's found someone to spend time with and she is over the moon."

"Who? What happened Alice?"

She hesitated then took my hand,

"Bella you must swear you wont say anything until he does then I'll tell you."

"OK I promise."

"Its Tanya"

"Tanya? Look at me I'm so sexy Tanya? And Charlie?"

"Yes Bella, now pick your jaw up off the floor and eat."

I could hardly swallow for the thought of my dad and Tanya. Was it possible? Well I guess he was a guy and he'd been alone a long time. I had no idea about his sex life, it wasn't something I had ever thought about and I really didn't want to think about it now!

Alice

I got a strange feeling we were being watched and I looked round the restaurant for a familiar face. At first I didn't see anyone but then a figure walked into view, smiling and headed straight for us so I quickly turned to Bella.

"Someone I know is headed this way, let me do the talking OK?"

She nodded and turned her head to see a vampire walking towards us and I wondered what she thought of him, most women fell at his feet but not Bella she merely turned back and carried on eating which suited me. I got up and held out my hand,

"Hello Dante, its been a long time."

"Yes too long Alice, where have you been all this time? Hiding from me?"

"I've been around, I'm here shopping with a friend."

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your charming companion Alice?"

"Of course, Bella this is an old "friend", Dante this is Bella."

He took Bella's hand in his and kissed it but I smiled to see Bella still wasn't impressed.

Dante pulled a chair out and sat with us his eyes on Bella as if trying to decide how she was related to me.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"We're visiting friends."

"Really, I heard you were mixed up with that strange coven headed by Carlisle Cullen."

"Yes I am."

"And you Bella. Are you?"

"Yes, I suppose I am in a way."

I'd very much like to meet this Cullen. I also heard that The Major, Major Whitlock was with the Cullens and I'd very much like to see him too Alice. Are they close by?"

He looked around inquiringly but I shook my head.

"No I told you I'm shopping with friends but I'll tell them you are interested in their way of life if you like."

"Please do. I'm here for a week so maybe they could look me up, or I might have to find them."

Bella looked at Dante more closely and I just hoped she wouldn't say anything so I nudged her under the table and she picked up her glass taking a sip of coke as he continued,

"My friends are always hopeful they might get The Major to change his mind and agree to aid them."

"I don't think so Dante, as far as I know he doesn't do that any more".

"Tamed by the talented Cullen coven, such a pity. Still its worth while having a talk with him, you never know. Do you think he would agree to see me, if he knew who I represented?"

"He wont."

Dante looked at Bella with more interest which alarmed me slightly.

"I'm sorry?"

"He wont change his mind. He never does from what I hear."

I groaned inwardly, by talking to Dante she had brought his full attention to her and his eyes narrowed,

"And how would you know such things Bella?"

"I know Jasper well enough to know that when he makes a decision he sticks to it."

"Really? For a human you are very perceptive. Alice talk to The Major, ask him to look me up just for a chat, no pressure. Stefan will be interested to hear that I saw you, that the Cullens were so close, and would think it very remiss of me if I didn't at least say hello in person to him. I'll leave you to your meal, sorry to have interrupted a shopping expedition, I know how much such things mean to you Alice. It was...interesting to meet you Bella, perhaps we will meet again in the future."

He bowed low and walked out and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Who is he Alice? He's creepy."

"That's Dante, he's a scout for the Romanians, he looks for gifted humans to change for them."

"Who are the Romanians?"

"The Volturi's predecessor and they want the throne back but they're too weak. If Dante is here it means he's tracking just such a gift."

"Not you?"

"No, he knows he can't persuade me, I stay neutral especially these days but I don't like him asking about Jasper. He has a reputation that still lingers."

"I know, he told me a little. So the Romanians want him to fight for them against the Volturi."

"Yes but he wont. I wonder if Dante felt anything in you."

"Me?"

"Yes you block Edward so you have at least a hint of a gift and I don't see you at all well Bella, so you're shielding yourself from me too. If he thought you were useful he could be a nuisance to us."

"How will you know?"

"Oh if he turns up again I'll know but he wont take you, it would be too dangerous, especially if he finds out about you and Jazz."

"Is that why you asked me to let you do the talking? Sorry Alice but he's so sure of himself, so superior."

"He likes to think so Bella but Jasper would soon put him in his place. Dante wouldn't have spoken to us but he knows if it got back to the Romanians that he'd passed up a chance to speak to The Major he'd be in real trouble."

Bella

There were more dangers in their life than I had thought of, being a vampire didn't make you invincible, not to other vampires and there were the same squabbles and fights in both worlds but far more deadly in theirs I would guess.

"Do you think he'll follow us?"

"I doubt it but if he does what can he do? There are a lot more of us and Dante is a coward at heart, well where it should be anyway. Finish up Bella and we'll go find something for Jasper then meet up with the others. Esme will be mortified to think Tanya seduced your dad!"

"Not as mortified as I am Alice, I'm not sure I can face him now I know."

As I finished eating I had to smile, it would be interesting to see the look on dads face when we got back, would he sat anything or would Tanya? My dad with a woman, it just didn't seem right somehow. Still I was young, I guess maybe I'd feel differently if I were older. If he and Tanya did hit it off I wanted to be listening when Renee found out, no doubt she'd have something to say, she always did!