Chapter Seventy One
Carlisle
I was relieved to see the others had sensibly stayed out of sight and hearing and I followed Charlie understanding that they would follow us at a safe distance. Now I could have used Emmett's help but I would manage alone. I really didn't want Charlie to become a human hunter, he would have to live with the guilt once his rage faded and he became his true self once more but in this case I might not have any say in the matter. I saw lights ahead and realized we were heading for a village at the base of the mountain, the closest humans came to the vampires that lived above them.
I almost ran into Charlie as he watched from the trees, at least he was self controlled enough not to rush straight in and start killing, that could have made matters very awkward for all of us. I approached him carefully but he still swung round in a crouch ready to attack. Putting my hands up I kept coming talking all the while,
"Charlie I want to help you. I really don't think you want to kill any humans now do you? Remember your human life when you were a cop?"
He straightened slightly and smiled at me grimly,
"Yeah I remember my human life Carlisle, I was a cop who killed his own daughter and let the man who forced my hand walk away. So you see I understand exactly what I need. You're right, a clear head but I need strength too and killing will give me that...call it collateral damage Carlisle if you need to justify my actions."
Once more he was too quick for me, we'd both heard the unmistakable sound of a shepherd and his flock approaching and Charlie had marked his target and gone to attack. I prayed it would be the goats that he attacked and fed from but when I reached the scene I could tell immediately I had been wrong. The goats were milling around nervously but there was no sign of the shepherd. I eventually found his drained body in a patch of dense vegetation, so at least Charlie had attempted to hide his kill, which was a good sign.
What I had missed was his hiding place, I had been reckless enough to leave myself open to attack, not watching my back and he sprang from the trees to land on my back his teeth snapping far too close to my throat. We went down rolling over on the ground and I managed to keep him from my throat but he was stronger than me and it was only a matter of time before his teeth sliced into me. Then a dark blur appeared and knocked him from me. Emmett had arrived and not a moment too soon. I staggered to my feet shaking my head to clear it then went to help Emmett subdue him. It didn't take long with the two of us although even Emmett's sheer bulk was only just enough to keep Charlie pinned down while I tried to reason with him.
"Charlie you'll wake the whole village and then the game will be up. The Fraternidad will kill us all to protect themselves and if we managed by some miracle to survive it would only be to fall into the clutches of the Volturi. We need to work together, keep calm and plan our actions carefully. A blitz attack just isn't going to work."
He struggled in Emmett's arms but for now at least he was pacified,
"OK, so what do we do? You were right about the human blood by the way, it's far superior and I guess we'll see just how well I can handle the guilt won't we? Where do we go from here?"
Emmett and I watched him carefully as the girls arrived, if he threatened them neither of us would be able to help acting, we'd kill him ourselves but he just nodded to them in recognition then looked at me again,
"Well?"
"I'm not sure but we can't go back to the Fraternidad, they are far too nervous at what you might do. I'll ring Darius and see if he's heard anything."
Esme approached Charlie carefully and seeing he relaxed she smiled,
"You must be very confused Charlie perhaps I can help you with some of your questions while Carlisle speaks to his friend?"
They went to sit down on a log not far from the body of his victim although he couldn't be seen. Before we left we would have to make sure the body was disposed of better. For now I dialed Darius and waited impatiently for him to answer, in truth I wasn't sure where to go with Charlie, a newborn was far too unpredictable to mix with humans and now the Fraternidad had made their position clear we couldn't stay here either.
"Carlisle, I just got off the phone with Raoul, he isn't happy at the idea of Charlie returning so I'm guessing you will be looking for somewhere to hole up?"
"Yes, I'm sorry if we upset your friends."
"Don't sweat it Carlisle, they need me a hell of a lot more than I need them. I guess it was a little naive of me to expect them to offer shelter to a newborn, especially not one of their own. There is somewhere but it means crossing the border into Italy. I know that isn't exactly what you were wanting to hear but when I tell you that I've located Edward in Italy you might be a little more amenable."
"You have? Is he in Volterra?"
When Darius told me he wasn't it shocked me but then I understood, Marcus and Caius would be afraid Aro might get his hands on their informer if they tried to shelter him there.
"He isn't in a place you can get to him easily for now but a little bird tells me he may not be in his present location for too long. It seems even those he thought he could rely on for help aren't that keen on a traitor. I'll keep an eye on him, you have your hands full with the newborn. I'll send you all the details and some fresh paperwork. You get to Barcelona and I'll have a boat waiting to take you to Livonia. It will be better than trying to cross borders with a newborn. How is Charlie doing?"
"Better in some ways, worse in others, I'm hoping he'll continue as calm as he is right now but I'm beginning to think he's not going to be easy to teach."
"You'll do it Carlisle. you love a challenge. Besides he has every incentive if he wants to live long enough to avenge his daughter."
"Do you know where The Major is?"
"No, not yet. He seems to have disappeared but don't worry I'll trace him eventually. It'll be more difficult because he's low tech but I'll get him never fear."
I went back to find Charlie pacing up and down deaf to Esme and Rose who were both trying their best to keep him calm. He turned to me,
"Well?"
"Darius will help us, he's going to arrange a boat from Barcelona to Livonia, once there he will have found us somewhere to stay until Edward is somewhere we can reach him."
"Fuck Edward, what about that bastard The Major? He's the one I want. I know I'm stronger and faster than he is for now."
"You may be but he has years of experience you don't have Charlie. If you don't calm down and use your head instead of your heart he will win again by killing you."
"And you think that concerns me Carlisle? I murdered my daughter, do you think I want to live with that guilt? I just want my revenge, if it kills me I don't care."
"Well you should, if not then Bella died for nothing. What do you think she'd be saying to you if she were here now?"
"That's immaterial Carlisle, she isn't. Now get out of my way or show me how to find Edward and The Major."