Chapter Sixty Four

Charlie

I couldn't help looking over my shoulder as we left, was Marcus telling the truth? Would Bella truly be free to leave Volterra with Jasper if she became a vampire? Is that what she really wanted? I wasn't at all sure I wanted my daughter in this life, not after the feelings I had found swirling around in my brain, the heat of terrible anger and the overriding thirst. Thinking about that made it worse and I rubbed my throat absently.

"Would you like to drink before you see Bella? Marcus is right, it will cool your throat and help you think clearly."

Drink? She meant blood of course and that thought should have disgusted me but instead I was excited at the thought and nodded.

We made our way down to the cellars under the building where I found to my initial horror some humans housed like animals and seemingly unaware of their surroundings.

"What the hell is this place?"

A young woman seemed to be in charge and she turned to answer my questions.

"Its a prison. Here in Volterra the humans are safe from vampire predation and the Volturi are the law. Any criminals are sentenced to a period here when found guilty. Its supposed to be a behaviour modification centre. They know nothing about their visit and any marks on their skin is explained as blood tests before treatment begins. Some of their blood is harvested before their memories are modified and they are released once more. None ever re-offend, the Volturi use one of the gifted vampires to make sure of that. They are no longer able to harm anyone without causing themselves pain. Its rather like your friend Jasper's gift except it bestows empathy to a degree on those it is used upon. Better this than years locked up in prison surely? The blood is stored and used for guests like yourself who aren't yet ready to hunt or kill for themselves."

I looked at the flask of blood she held out to me and took it half reluctantly half eagerly and before I had time to think about it I found myself draining the liquid.

Bella

We were about to go looking for my dad when there was a soft tapping on the door and it opened to reveal a young man bearing a tray laden with food and a jug of orange juice. It caught my attention, the smell of fresh bread and oranges and I sat in the window to eat while Jasper asked the guy about my father before he left with a smile aimed at me.

"Your father is calmer now and will be coming to visit you soon so you can relax and enjoy your meal."

"Thanks Jasper. I guess I should be more nervous than I am but I'm not scared of you or the vampires here, I guess this world couldn't be any worse than the one I grew up in with my mother."

"You don't talk about her much do you? It really must have been bad."

"It was, all I ever wanted was to be loved and cherished like all the other children around me but I can honestly say I don't remember a single time when my mother showed me any love or affection, I was just a burden to her, something to be suffered in order to receive money. I was a meal ticket that's all and yet when I moved to Forks I found everything I'd ever wished for, a father who loved me and wanted me to be happy, a home, and friends. Then I met you and suddenly my world was a different place."

"A dangerous place you mean and I was the cause of you losing all the things you had finally found with your father."

"No, you gave me even more, you showed me I was worthy of love in my own right. You were willing to throw away your freedom to keep me safe, how many girls ever experience that much love in a lifetime?"

Jasper

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, yes I loved Bella and I thought we were mates but to hear such things from her was more than I should ever have been blessed with. She didn't blame me for ruining her second chance at a happy human life. Bella truly loved me and I knew there would never be anything that could come between us and I relaxed again. I had feared the effect her father's words might have on her, I knew he wasn't a great fan of mine but I didn't think he stood a chance of persuading her to leave me, not now.

When he and Tanya arrived Bella had finished eating and was sitting with me on the couch while I told her exactly what had happened since I left to rejoin Maria leaving nothing out, she deserved the whole truth. When I saw Charlie's expression I knew he wasn't happy with the situation but decided to keep silent and wait to hear what he had to say. Bella flew into his arms and I tensed, after all he was still a newborn and she was human but monitoring his emotions I felt only love towards his daughter and when he led her to the balcony to talk to her I waited with Tanya in the room listening to his words.

"Are you OK dad? I'm so sorry you got mixed up in this, its all my fault, what happened to you."

"Not your fault Bella but those around you. I should have listened to Billy and the others when they warned me the Cullens were dangerous. I allowed a vampire into your life and look what it's led to. I can't go back to my old life Bella but that doesn't mean you can't. Its not too late for you, there's a whole world of experiences out there. You could go to college, meet a nice guy, get married and have a family, travel and do all the things you ever wanted to do. Surely that means something? I know you think you're in love with Jasper and maybe you are but don't get dragged into his world. Its hard to say goodbye when you think your world is coming to an end but the hurt will fade and you'll find someone else, we humans adapt, we heal. I don't want this for you."

"I know you are thinking of me dad but you have to understand that I know what I want. Jasper makes me happy, he completes me and I am his mate. I can't leave him, it only causes me physical pain and trust me that's not in my mind, its real. I lived with it and I couldn't do it again. Besides there's nothing for me in the other world. You are here now and I don't want to lose you. I know you didn't choose this life but neither did Jasper, he was forced into it just like you but I'm not being forced in any way, I choose it of my own free will. Jasper is the one I want and that means choosing his world. I'm sorry its not what you wanted for me but it is what I want."

Charlie

Well it was a pretty speech but I heard the truth in her words, Bella had thought very hard about her situation, mine too and I guessed it was for her to decide what to do with her life. After all she was an adult and I hadn't been there for her when she needed me, would Jasper?

"Look Bella, will you at least hold off on making any permanent decisions until I've spoken to Jasper myself, on our own?"

"OK but it won't make any difference and whatever you tell him or try to persuade him to do I know he loves me and he won't change his mind, neither will I."

We came back in then and I knew they'd heard our discussion but Jasper wasn't smiling in triumph or looking smug only genuinely concerned.

"So I guess you and I should probably have that talk Jasper. Shall we leave the girls alone for a while?"

I just hoped Tanya would do as I asked and explain to Bella all the pitfalls to becoming a vampire, if I couldn't get through to my daughter maybe she could.