Chapter Forty Five

Carlisle

I received the call from the bank manager as I flew back from Geneva, uncomfortable leaving Esme and the children alone with this threat hanging over us. I was beyond furious with Edward, the one person I had thought, along with Esme, would never betray me but he had done so in the most treacherous way possible and once I knew the family were safe I would hunt him down however long it took and I would end the life I had created. I would tell Esme, she had a right to know and I knew she might try to temper my decision but this was one occasion when Carlisle Cullen the doctor and peacemaker would become Carlisle Cullen the avenging vampire.

Edward

I took the envelope and it's contents and walked slowly back to my hotel, the words burned into my brain. Somehow Carlisle had known what I was doing and had beaten me to it. Now not only would I never get my hands on his fortune but he would come looking for me and despite what everyone else thought they knew about Carlisle I knew he was slow to rile but he didn't forget a slight let alone treachery like mine. Now I had to find somewhere to hide, somewhere that would be safe from him. He wouldn't do anything yet, he would be too worried about the family's safety but once that was over and I didn't doubt Aro would make sure it died unknown by either of his brothers, he would try his best to hunt me down.

Volterra was the safest place, vendettas were not permitted in the citadel but Aro would never offer me sanctuary there, after all I was the cause of Carlisle's troubles so where could I go? Where else would be safe from my sire? The trouble was I couldn't think of anywhere on earth he wouldn't search looking for me, his Judas.

I sat staring at the note paper, the words printed in his distinctive hand and knew it was not merely a warning, it was a statement of fact, Carlisle never made threats. I had signed my own death warrant when I rang the Volturi and put the rest of his family in danger. The fact I had rung the one person who would be the least likely to act on the accusation was immaterial, it was the intent Carlisle would be looking at and he would act. I had thought myself so clever but I had merely delivered myself to the executioner.

Carlisle

When I got back Esme was relieved but she had news for me, Alice had gone missing and hadn't told anyone where she was going. Knowing I couldn't keep what had happened a secret I called the rest together, Alice would be told later, when she appeared and explained just where she had been knowing it was dangerous to split up under present circumstances. Charlotte offered to leave while we spoke but as I pointed out, by electing to stay with us she had not only put herself in the same danger as the rest of us but had also become a member of the family and I was seconded in this by not only Esme but Emmett and Rosalie too. I was proud of my family, they acted just as I had hoped.

They listened in stunned silence to what Edward had done and attempted to do.

"But you beat him to it Carlisle? You moved what you needed to?"

"Yes Rosalie I did. But that's not the end of it. I left Edward something to think about, a quotation from the Irish poet Thomas Moore. If you are interested you can look it up for yourself. It starts, "One sole desire, one passion now remains." What it means for me is that once I can be assured of your safety I will go looking for Edward and there will be a reckoning."

When I went up to my study I replaced the key to my safe deposit box where it always lay out in open view on my desk along with several others that belonged to my briefcase and other cases of medical equipment, there was no longer a need for the decoy. I had arranged with the bank that in the event I did not contact them in twenty years time they would contact Jenks in Seattle and he would take things from there. His instruction was to contact Esme or in the event he couldn't find her he was to send the bank details to Signor Aro Volturi, in Volterra, Italy. He would know what to do in the event we were dead, both Esme and I.

The next morning Alice reappeared and I took her to one side explaining what had happened with Edward.

"I'm sorry Carlisle, I wish I could have seen what he was going to do and warned you."

"Alice that's not important now, it's over and we have to deal with the consequences which brings me neatly to the question, where were you? Surely you understand how dangerous it is to be separated at the moment. The Volturi could decide to act on what Edward told them and will if Aro isn't able to keep the information to himself. I may be able to save our lives but only if we are together."

"I'm very sorry Carlisle I know I shouldn't have left but there was something I had to do."

Suddenly it hit me where she had been and I groaned,

"How is Bella?"

Alice looked startled for a moment before smiling at me,

"I should have known you'd figure it out. She misses us Carlisle and we miss her. I just wanted her to know we hadn't left because of anything she said or did."

"So you told her about the Volturi and frightened the life out of her? Was that wise Alice?"

She just looked at me and I sighed,

"OK you didn't frighten her, what exactly did you tell her?"

"The truth, I thought she had a right to know Carlisle."

"About Edward?"

"Yes, she was horrified, she couldn't believe he could do such a thing to us."

"To her you mean?"

"No to us. Bella genuinely loves us Carlisle, she even asked how Rose had taken the news. It's so unfair, we all got on so well and now….well we can't see her again and she hates that. I liked being around Bella, it made me feel more human, less of a monster or creature of the night."

"I know what you mean Alice, Bella was very gracious about our true nature, to her it didn't really seem to matter much. Still I really don't think you should go there again. Its not wise just in case the Volturi are watching our movements, or hers."

"I know, I told her I wouldn't be back and I won't go again. What do you think will happen to us Carlisle? Do you think the Volturi will come and kill us? I'm not sure how much I mind you know, is that strange?"

"No, not to someone who has lived as long as I have Alice. Sometimes immortality can seem a curse. We watch the people around us age and die and think how good it is that we aren't like them but we also see them fall in love, have families, mature and grow old and finally leave those they have brought into the world to carry on their name. We on the other hand are static, we don't grow old but neither can we bear children, watch them grow and help them along. Rose feels that most strongly I fear but then she was a young woman when she died, or left her human life behind. By changing her I saved her yes but I gave her a life that she didn't want, one where she never bear children, have a family of her own, so I understand that this life isn't for everyone who is pulled into it."

"Aro still wants me doesn't he? I only escaped him through the kind offices of Eleazar and yourself. I couldn't work for him, for the Volturi, I'd rather die with the family than do that."

"Let's not talk of dying just yet, so far everything is very quiet and maybe it will stay that way."