Chapter Fifty Eight

Charlie

I hadn't felt much different until I got up and found I was moving so much faster without having to think about it. All my senses were heightened, I could see every blade of grass individually, hear the insects as they scurried around and smell everything as if I were standing beside it. I stretched my body, no aches and pains, even my dodgy knee didn't complain and the back ache I'd learned to live with was gone. So far I saw nothing to complain about except a chronic sore throat that felt as if were seared by flames. I rubbed it and Edward nodded,

"That's the downside of being a vampire Charlie, or at least the most difficult one to overcome, your thirst."

"That's what the burning is? A thirst? For blood I take it?"

I couldn't imagine finding blood at all palatable but then what did I know about being a vampire? Only what I'd seen on late night movie channels and they only stirred at night and had long fangs. It was daylight as we ran into the woods so daylight being a killer was wrong and I knew my teeth hadn't grown, I'd checked with my tongue, it seemed Hollywood had got it all wrong this time.

Edward and Garrett stopped and I joined them listening, I heard a regular steady thumping noise, like a pump going and felt my mouth watering,

"Is that what I think it is?"

"I don't know Charlie. What do you think it is?"

"Some animal, an animals heart beating, that's why my mouth is watering isn't it?"

They both nodded,

"So what do I do?"

"Close your eyes and let instinct take over, it will come naturally."

"I guess the idea of hunting without a rifle seems a little odd."

"Your natural weapons are much more formidable trust me Charlie."

I closed my eyes and listened then suddenly just as they had said it would and I found myself flying through the trees, foliage blurring with my speed and then I was on them, several elk and I was sure they would be gone before I could reach them but I was wrong and the next thing I was holding a struggling animal and sinking my teeth into its hide. My teeth went through it like a hot knife through butter and then I tasted it, sweet and warm, the elk's blood flowing down my throat and the burn slowly died away until it was manageable but I chased after the others, I wanted more and only after the third did I stop, the burn almost gone.

I looked down and found very little blood on my clothes and only a little smeared my cuff as I wiped my mouth. Hearing someone coming I found myself falling into a defensive crouch knowing I could power off and attack if necessary but I recognized Edward and Garrett followed by Alice and controlled myself but not to my chagrin until after I had uttered a feral snarl. They stopped and held up their hands in the universal sign that meant they were no threat.

"You OK Charlie?"

I nodded,

"I am now that incessant burn has eased. Does it ever go away completely? I drained three elk for God's sake. Any more and I'd be sloshing as I walked."

"There's only one thing that quenches it completely Charlie but you won't like it, human blood."

"Oh right. I'll settle for easier then."

"You'll have to be careful around humans for a while Charlie. The temptation can be overwhelming especially for a new vampire."

"Not for me."

"Well maybe Charlie, perhaps you carried over the control you possessed as a human. Still we should get back, there are a few things you need to know, some of them a matter of life and death."

"And then I can see Bella?"

"That's not down to us Charlie. You'll have to persuade The Major that you aren't a threat to her."

"I'm her father for God's sake, I wouldn't hurt her."

"And he's her mate in protective mode, it won't be easy, he knows more than any of us about newborns."

"Yeah I remember what you told me earlier but I want to see her and the scum bag who abducted her."

"Now that's going to be even more difficult. Darius and Emmett are the only ones who know where he is and they are keeping him under wraps for The Major. I don't think they'd take it kindly if we went visiting."

We went back together and I listened carefully as they explained the ways things were in my new world.

"I won't let anyone hurt Bella, not even the Volturi."

"You might find that more difficult than you think, the Volturi are not only the vampire world's police force, the brothers don't take kindly to anyone who tries standing against them. It could get you killed Charlie."

"Well I'm willing to risk my life to save her, so if it comes down to a choice between my life or hers..."

"It won't Charlie, I can't see Bella or you but I do see Jazz and Bella together in the future so things will sort themselves out."

"You see? You see the future Alice? And Edward hears my thoughts. I guess having a gift is a good thing."

"As long as Aro doesn't want it, he tends to get what he wants."

"Good job I don't have one then or he and I might be banging heads."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Charlie. I can't see you or Bella so there's something blocking me."

"You mean a gift that stops you?"

"I guess we'll have to ask Eleazar."

"Why him?"

"He has a gift too, he recognizes gifts in others, it made him invaluable to the Volturi when they were setting up the guard."

"So he's Volturi?"

"He was, not any more. Aro reluctantly let him go after many years service. He found Carmen and wanted to travel with his mate. I must admit it is slightly out of character for Aro but then I guess he likes to keep us all off balance."

I thought about her words as we went back to the ranch, Peter and Charlotte's ranch that they had volunteered for me, people I hardly knew but then I didn't know any of these people except Jasper before Bella disappeared but here they were giving up their time and all their resources to find her. This was the kind of family I had dreamed of for Bella and now once she recovered she would have it and me too. Of course I understood Bella had to become a vampire too and I hated the thought of her going through that unbearable pain for days but it couldn't be avoided and everyone would be there for her.

"It might be worth speaking to Eleazar before you try to see Bella, if you have a gift maybe it will be one that makes Jasper more comfortable having you around his mate."

I nodded understanding without knowing what being mated meant and felt a yearning to find one of my own, a woman who would be mine for eternity, it had a certain appeal. After all I'd had no luck as a human. Then I remembered Renee, her pathetic corpse, and felt the rage building so I took some deep breaths which didn't seem necessary for my existence as a vampire but still worked to settle me down.

When we got back Alice rang Carmen, Eleazar's mate, to see if he'd gone back to Denali yet and found to my relief he was finishing some business in Seattle first with someone called Jenks who turned out to be the Cullen's tame lawyer! She agreed to ask him to delay his return and come back to see me leaving the girls to carry on with their journey.

"He'll be here sometime tomorrow Charlie and once you've spoken to him I'll ring Peter to find out how things stand. Let's hope you have a gift that might help."

"Yeah but one way or the other I intend seeing my daughter soon, I have to see she's safe for myself, I've been worried for her so long now and you can tell Peter I want to know where the bastard that killed my ex and her husband is."

"Now that is down to Darius and Emmett not Peter but I can arrange for you to speak to them too."