Chapter 107
Carlisle
Finding Edward was easier than I expected, he had booked into a motel under his own name, Darius checked it for me while waiting, and cursing the weather, to fly up to the mountain.
"You know Carlisle, between you and your wife my bill is going to be through the roof."
"You heard from Esme?"
"Oh yeah, I heard from Esme."
"What did she want?"
"A plane and a boat standing by, I guess she's getting ready to leave Italy via Spain."
"Right, well thank you, Darius, and don't worry, I'll cover your expenses when this is all over."
"Don't worry Carlisle I'll be there with my hand open. In the meantime though have a feeling The Major will have the matter on the mountain well in hand, it's just the blood that might be spilled that worries me."
"He won't hurt Bella, she's his mate."
"Yeah, but if he fails to keep to his agreement he will feel he's lost his chance with Charlie."
"Well, when you see him tell him Charlie wants them both back, with his blessing."
"Right, good."
Charlie nodded his agreement,
"If he keeps Bella safe he's already paid his dues to me."
We drove to Portland and pulled up outside Edward's room to see him sitting there clearly visible in the light from the TV, the drapes pulled back.
"You think he's expecting us?"
"I think he's decided to stop running and take his punishment, Charlie. I heard that in his voice when he rang."
"Do you think he's learned anything?"
"I think the punishment is exactly what he thinks it should be. He's ready to die, after all he has nothing left to live for. No one who cares any longer, he can't even get a place in Volterra."
Charlie sat in the car watching Edward who seemed oblivious to our presence though I was sure he must know we were here, he would have heard our thoughts.
"Well, I guess one of us should get out and speak to him or he'll be wondering if we planted an incendiary bomb under his bed."
"I never thought about that Charlie."
"Neither did I, maybe we should have finished this straight away, he looks like a hunted fox who decided to give up and wait for the pack of hounds to tear him to pieces."
I looked at Charlie curiously noting the strange tone in his voice.
"Are you feeling sorry for him Charlie? He's the one who started all this, he's the reason Bella is at the top of that mountain with a known killer."
He turned to look at me shaking his head,
"Nope, he's responsible for a lot of shit, but the last one is down to me. You know something Carlisle, I'm no better than The Major when it comes down to it. I never gave him a second chance."
"He almost got Bella killed, he had my family threatened with execution and he is responsible for you becoming a vampire. Don't you think that is enough? What do you want him to do? Is there anyone he hasn't destroyed yet?"
"Yes, himself. He can't put right what he did, but he can learn to live with the guilt, with help maybe."
I shook my head,
"Not from me Charlie. You want to let him live fine, but he does it alone and away from my family and me. If I see him I'll finish the job myself."
"Well that's your decision to make Carlisle and I guess I understand how you feel but I don't want to become a man like The Major, hunting down and killing others, I saw what that does to a man."
Charlie
I got out of the car and waited a second but Carlisle remained seated so I shrugged and went up to the door which I saw was already ajar. Pushing it open I walked inside, Edward faced me sitting on the bed, his fingerless hand wrapped in a bandage, his head turned slightly so his mutilated neck and ear were in shadow.
"Come in Chief Swan."
I pushed the door closed and leaned against it looking down on him,
"I guess there's not much point my speaking, you heard it all anyway."
"Thank you for coming in any way. It gives me the opportunity to thank you in person for your mercy. I'm sorry my actions got you into this mess. I'm sorry for everything I guess although Bella found her mate. Not that I have any reason to think it would make a difference to the way you feel about me."
"It doesn't. Personally I no longer care if you live or die, Edward, I'm more concerned about myself. You made your hell and now you have to live there. Carlisle, well you know what he said. I can't speak for anyone else, Darius, The Major even Bella herself so you might find you shook off one enemy just to be confronted by another."
"I understand that."
"Good, then I guess there's nothing else to say. You had it all boy and you threw it away on a whim, I just hope you can find peace somewhere."
"Me too."
I left then and walked back to the car,
"I guess that's it. Have you heard from Darius yet?"
"Just, he's picking them up first thing and bringing them back to his place in Portland. I'm going to ring Esme and Rose. It's way past time I spoke to them, I got the feeling Darius was holding back on telling me about her mood."
"She'll forgive you, Carlisle, I'm sure. Anyway where will you go? Home?
"I don't think so, we'll find somewhere new, too many bad associations. You will come with us won't you? At least until you decide where your future lies."
"Thanks, Carlisle but until I get Bella settled and you find a way to get Alice back I don't think either of us will be settling down any place."
"True, I'm afraid Alice has been forgotten in all this running around after Edward and Bella."
"Well, lets get ourselves to Darius' place and get Bella back then you can make your calls. I'm not forgetting Alice though, I'll be helping you get her free, after all Aro and I have a little business to conduct."
"Yes, I hadn't forgotten that either Charlie."
We joined Darius at his place although by the time we arrived he was getting ready to leave.
"I've got a three-hour window before the weather closes in again so I can't fuck about. Make yourselves at home in the meantime but leave the fucking computers alone."
With that, he was gone and we were left to our thoughts again. While I was hoping Darius would get Bella off that mountain safely Carlisle was busy ringing Esme and from the sound of it he wasn't in her good books. I could hear the conversation from the next room where I'd gone to give him some semblance of privacy and I suddenly wondered if having a wife/ mate was a good thing or a bad thing!
"Why didn't you keep in touch? Do you have any idea how worried we've been? I tried to contact you, to warn you that Bella was in danger..."
"Esme please allow me to get a word in. I'm sorry, but things have been confusing and a little hectic here. We got the warning from Edward."
"EDWARD"
That was loud enough for the whole building to hear!
"Yes, he rang with the warning."
"And you believed him? What happened to the new tough Carlisle?"
"He got tired of the violence Esme. Now how did you know Bella was in danger?"
"Alice of course. Remember her? The girl who was a daughter to us. The girl you forgot all about while you were swanning around frightening Edward and whatever else you were up to while we waited here and worried."
"Is Emmett there?"
Carlisle was trying to deflect her, but I could have told him that wouldn't work.
"No as a matter of fact he isn't. He's spending some quality time with his mate. It's a shame you don't think as much of yours Carlisle Cullen."
Oh, oh, he was in deep shit now. Once they used the full name you knew you were going under for the third time. I knew that from bitter personal experience.