Chapter Eighty Five

Darius

I was going to enjoy seeing this arrogant little prick taken down a peg or two, I knew they weren't going to kill him, that would be far too easy. For now I just let them know Renee was safe and wouldn't be back until I gave her the word. They reckoned on being here in about an hour and a half so Edward and I had plenty of time to become better acquainted.

"Now are you going to behave? Or do I have to keep watching you every second?"

"You know they'll kill me when they get here. Carlisle I mean and whoever he brings with him. He doesn't have the guts to do it himself, he's a doctor and his oath will stop him killing me personally."

"Really? I didn't know the Hippocratic oath applied to Vampires."

"It applies to everyone according to him. You know he's rich don't you. I can get my hands on his wealth, we could share it. That way we both win."

"So you'd share Carlisle's wealth with me? What's the catch?"

"No catch, we share it fifty fifty and you let me go."

"Its tempting, how much are we talking about?"

He shrugged,

"I don't know, a lot of it is in artefacts but we can sell those, museums are always ready to snap up a genuine antiques or relics. I know some of the stuff wasn't worth anything at the time, it was just reminders of his father but these days relics from the 17th century are worth a mint."

"And just where is this hoard?"

Edward smiled, a look of avarice and cunning on his face,

"You don't really think I'm going to tell you that do you? I'm not stupid."

"Really? Personally I would question that, after all you tried to rip your sire off, isn't that rather stupid when he has friends in high places, friends who can track you down?"

"Are you speaking of Aro Volturi? He wouldn't let anything happen to me, I'm too valuable, he will stop Carlisle you can be sure of that. If you are talking about that ass hole friend of his I told you, he couldn't find his ass in the dark with both hands."

I smiled,

"Is that so? It sounds like you don't have a very high opinion of him."

"Well you don't see him here do you? You beat him to it and I'd like to know how."

"I'm sure you would. Now back to this treasure. You must have it somewhere safe or you couldn't be offering to share it."

"Of course. He thought he'd fooled me with an old safety deposit box but I was wise to that, I just let him think he'd gotten one over on me."

Hearing a car pull up I walked to the window and looked out to see Carlisle and Charlie followed by Emmett pile out.

"It would have been fun to talk longer Edward but it appears there are others even more eager to talk to you than me."

As I turned he jumped me, did he really think I hadn't seen that one coming? I twisted round grabbed his right hand and crushed his fingers smiling as I dragged him to the door and threw it open.

"Carlisle, Charlie, about time. Where's Emmett?"

"He went round back, we didn't want Edward trying to avoid us."

"Oh he wouldn't do that would you Edward? He's been looking forward to it. I understand he has possession of your mementos of your former life, he offered to split it with me. I declined of course but the offer came right from his black heart. I also heard all about your friend Da...Darius was it Edward?"

I dragged Edward back into the center of the room by the now well mangled hand and Charlie followed him inside looking murderous.

"Well it looks like you two have business here so I'll go talk to Emmett, catch you later."

Carlisle

As Darius let go if Edward's hand he collapsed to the floor though whether in pain or relief I had no idea, nor did I care.

"You have my secret hoard? That's funny Edward because last time I checked it was still in place, nice and safe. You see the only treasures I care about are my mate and my family which ironically once upon a time included you."

"I'm still a Cullen, I accept I was wrong, I shouldn't have tried to steal your wealth but I was desperate. After all Bella did to me..."

He didn't get chance to say any more before Charlie attacked and I think Edward hadn't realized he was a vampire until then. Charlie was over him teeth snapping but I knew he hadn't lost control because Edward wasn't already dead. He was keeping to our plan as he snapped his teeth together and severed the fingers of Edward's left hand. His right was presently too mangled to do much with. Edward screamed and then screamed again as Charlie took a lighter from his pocket and burned the fingers in front of him.

"You mention my daughter again and next time it will be your tongue you weaselly little bastard."

Edward

This was far worse than I anticipated, I thought Carlisle would do what he always did, lecture me then welcome me back with open arms. The fact he had brought Bella's father with him this time boded ill for me. I watched in horror as Charlie burned my fingers thankful they weren't from my right hand but I understood he meant his threat and decided to keep Bella out of this which would make things difficult to say the least.

"Carlisle please, I only spoke to Aro, I never meant for this to happen."

"This Edward? Exactly what is this?"

"You know what I mean, I told Aro because I knew he wouldn't let you or your family get in trouble."

I flashed a quick glance at Charlie knowing if I mentioned Bella he was ready to carry out his threat.

"Its not my fault that Caius and Marcus became involved, someone else must have told them. I wanted to warn you but I knew you might not believe me so I ran and hid, I was going to contact you once things settled down. I...I'm sorry Charlie I never meant for you to become one of us."

Charlie smiled wolfishly,

"Oh I bet you didn't Edward, you expected the Volturi to kill me too I guess. Well it looks like your plans went west, just where you're going."

I cowered away as Charlie stepped forward menacingly but Carlisle held out an arm to protect me.

"Charlie remember what we decided."

Charlie looked at him and nodded,

"Yeah I remember. OK Carlisle. You want to tell him the way its gonna be or shall, I?"

"I'll let you Charlie."

I was confused now, Carlisle had stopped Charlie from killing me but now he was deferring to him, I was in more trouble than I expected. Charlie walked up until we were toe to toe and I could see my death in his eyes.

"You made my life a living hell Edward and Carlisle has kindly allowed me to decide your punishment. I intend making your life the same. I'm gonna be watching you and every time you think you are safe, every time you settle for more than a few minutes you turn around and you'll find me there and every time you see me I'll take something new from you, a finger, an ear, an eye, every time. So you'd better start running boy and you better never stop."

I turned pleading eyes on Carlisle,

"You can't let him do that to me Carlisle please."

Carlisle shook his head,

"Once upon a time I would have begged for your life but not any longer Edward. You betrayed me and now Charlie had taken your place in the family so you see, not only do you have Charlie watching you, we will all be there with him."

"Count me in."

I whirled to see Emmett standing in the doorway with the stranger and I could see no pity in his eyes either. The stranger straightened up from his stance leaned against the door frame and smiled,

"I guess you should get what head start you can before that spotty, hunchbacked computer nerd starts tracking you."

Emmett turned to him questioningly,

"Damn you hide that hump and those spots well Darius."