Chapter Eighty

Esme

Charlie was trying much harder since his conversation with Carlisle and the attack on Emmett, I think Charlie was finally beginning to understand that his rage and lack of self control could mean death to those around him, friends, not only those who deserved to die. I was somewhat surprised by Carlisle's attitude to Edward as he had so far always stuck up for him. Even Rose questioned me about Carlisle's true intentions.

"You don't really think Carlisle would kill Edward do you Esme?"

"A few months ago I would have said categorically no but now, I don't know Rose. Edward not only betrayed Carlisle's trust in him by telling the Volturi about Bella and her links to the family but he also tried to defend his actions and then there is the small matter of Edward attempting to steal Carlisle's most valued possessions. Edward was the only one who knew about Carlisle's secret collection and he tried to steal it, I have my doubts that Carlisle will ever forgive Edward that."

"Do you have any idea what he was trying to hide?"

"Carlisle? No, but if he wanted me to know he would have shown me or told me about it."

Slowly Charlie began to improve but he insisted it was Bella's ghostly presence that was helping him. He appeared to be seeing and hearing her when things got tough for him and she talked him down. At first I wondered if he wasn't losing his mind but Carlisle thought there was more to it.

"Charlie could be incredibly dangerous to us yet every time he starts to flare up something intangible prevents him from acting. The first time he was thrown across a clearing, that wasn't merely a ghostly voice, it was something far more substantial."

"So what do you think it is?"

"I think perhaps Charlie may have a shield of some kind, a gift that is only now manifesting itself and he isn't equipped to deal with it yet."

"Do you think he ever will?"

"Of course Esme, he just needs someone to show him the way things are done and I have already started. He wouldn't speak about Bella's death before, only his own part in it. Guilt is a powerful emotion and I think it's this powerful emotion that is throwing him off. If only he could see that it wasn't his fault I think we might crack it. Its either that or a long hard road but either way none of us are giving up on him. I just hope Aro doesn't lose the argument with his brothers and they send The Major back to finish what he started although I don't see that happening somehow."

"I still feel guilty about leaving Charlotte, it wasn't right Carlisle and Rose agrees with me."

"I know but I did what was necessary at the time Esme. If it makes you feel any better I promise you once I have tracked down Edward and dealt with him we will go looking for Charlotte, it's possible she is still alive you know."

I shook my head, Rose and I would never agree with Carlisle on this topic, poor Charlotte was long gone and the bastards who did whatever to her would never pay for their sins unless we took up her cause, something Rose and I were quite willing to do.

While Emmett and Carlisle worked with Charlie on his self control and the shield Carlisle thought he might have Rose and I tried to work out what we could do to trace Charlotte.

"It won't be easy Rose, we have no idea where The Major and his side kick would have taken her."

"Perhaps Carlisle could ask Aro next time he talks to him, as a favour, just so we know what happened to her."

Personally I couldn't see Aro giving out any information on The Major's whereabouts and even if he did there was nothing to say Charlotte was even still alive let alone with them. Still it soothed Rose's conscience when Carlisle agreed to ask although he was so focused in on our "son" Edward that I thought it quite likely he might forget all about Charlotte when the chance of capturing or killing Edward came along.

AS it happened it was six months more before Carlisle decided Charlie was calm enough to handle himself among humans and not be a danger to other vampires around him, meaning Emmett and himself. In the meantime Charlie had destroyed most of the small stone house which of necessity had no near neighbors, He and Emmett became competent builders in stone as they carried on the almost constant repair work. I could see Emmett and Rose were becoming close to Charlie and I wondered if that meant he would stay with the family. He still spoke daily of revenge and The Major but he wasn't so enraged any longer, Carlisle said the slow burn had set in which was good for us but not so good for the target of the rage, The Major. We both hoped that hunting down Edward with Carlisle might give him some peace, after all Edward was ultimately responsible for everything that had happened. I had considered myself a soft and compassionate woman whose family meant everything to her and I suppose that still held true but I never expected to be willing the death of a member of that family. Yet every time I heard Edward's name I wanted to add "May he burn in hell."

Charlie

I finally felt I had a handle on my rage, I could control it and I hadn't attacked a member of the family for weeks now. The nascent gift Carlisle thought I had was beginning to gain in strength although I used it not as a weapon but to control my own feelings, to stop my rage becoming violent towards those I should be thanking for their patience and understanding. Then came the day when Carlisle had the news we had been waiting for.

"I had a call from Darius, there's still no sign of The Major anywhere but Edward is on the run from Italy."

"The Volturi set him adrift? I was beginning to think they would never do that."

"Yes Charlie so I hope you are ready for a long run and a hard fight, I don't just want to kill Edward, I want to destroy his life first. I want him to feel that the sky is falling down on his traitorous head and Emmett will be coming with us. Esme and Rose will go to Denali, it's safe enough there. I also heard another piece of news which pleased them, Alice is in Volterra and from all accounts she is leading them a merry dance. They can't decide whether she is lying and hiding her talent or whether Eleazar and I were right and her gift is a weak one. The longer she can keep them guessing the better for us."

"You plan on getting Alice out of Volterra don't you Carlisle?"

"I would like to be more confident and say most certainly but I will be trying. If Alice can continue to hide her gift its more likely. She is one of the family and we never leave one of our own in enemy hands if we can help it. But first Edward. Darius is keeping track of him and from the trail he is taking I would think he knows I will be looking for him.

His best bet would probably have been to scuttle to the Romanians and offer them his gift in exchange for his loyalty though that's a joke these days."

"So why won't he?"

"Because at the first sign he might be headed for Romania the guard will cut him down. The Volturi might not want him any more but that's not say they would be happy to hand him over to the enemy on a silver platter!"

"Right so where do we go first?"

"It looks like Edward is returning to London although what he hopes to achieve there now after attempting to rob my safely held secrets I have no idea."

"Perhaps he thinks it is the last place you would look for him Carlisle."

"Then he doesn't know me very well Charlie. I would follow that deceitful creature to the very gates of hell if necessary, he will not survive to tell anyone about how he deceived his "father".