Chapter 38

Like father like daughter.

"Edward?"

Yes my love ? »

He sits up on his elbow and looks at me tenderly. I melt. We are in our chalet, lightly dressed, lying on the carpet in front of the fireplace.

"I would like to know what you know about me and my secret after reading my mind. »

I don't dare look at him. I'm afraid of what I might see. He places his index finger under my chin and forces me to raise my head. His eyes express neither anger nor disappointment.

"I was wondering when you would dare talk about it.

At first it didn't bother me, but I realized I was lying to everyone, including Charlie, and I can't live like this anymore. I don't want to hide anything from you anymore. The problem is that I still have the same restriction. And I don't know what else remains for you to discover.

If you want to talk about the game…"

I freeze.

" … I know. »

I stand up to bring my eyes level with his.

"Am I even real?" he asks me.

You are the most real thing to me, I respond with emotion, cupping his face with my hands. Just like my feelings for you...

But what we're experiencing isn't real, is it?

That's what I thought at first, but now I actually think it's all real. Otherwise the game wouldn't have warned me that I could die if I made the wrong choices... And what's certain is that my feelings for you are real.

I know, Edward murmurs, still looking helpless.

Sweetheart, I know this is going to sound crazy to you, but I think I'm from another world. In my world you are a book character. A book in which you and Bella are the main characters.

Does it have a happy ending? he asks in a neutral voice, without showing any emotion.

Yes, you have your eternity together... But for that, you go through a lot of trials.

I was able to see it… he remarks.

No, you're not there. These trials are even worse. This is why fans of the story try to modify the scenario with their own. And it is on this principle that the game Fantastic Book Online is based. Players can try to modify the original scenario with their own and aim to end the game with a happy ending...

A happy ending... Edward murmurs under his breath. This is why you made certain decisions without consulting us…

I had to stop certain things from happening to achieve our happy ending.

And for that you decided to make Alice believe that you were my partner… Edward complemented in an acid tone.

No ! I exclaim. It's true that at the start, I thought above all about my survival. But everything I told you, everything I experienced with you is real. I ended up falling in love with you. »

I place my hand on his cheek, caress it gently and continue:

"It's no longer a game for me. And to be completely honest, I don't even know if I want to go back to my old life.

What part of the story are we at? he asks, ignoring my last sentence.

Midway through the last book... We fight and win against the Volturi...

…And when you have your happy ending, you can go home, adds Edward, in a flat tone.

In theory… "

I sigh.

"According to the help windows I requested at the start of the game, if I complete the story, I can choose where I want to go...

Why do you look so hesitant? Edward asks, his eyes sad. You will soon be able to see your family and friends again. Take back your real life and your real body.

I... I'm not sure I want to get back to life, I stammer. With you, I discovered emotions and feelings that I had heard about without ever experiencing them. And at that moment, I didn't miss it. But now that I've realized it, I don't want to continue without it.

You will find love again and you will make new, more normal friends...

How could I? I exclaim, my lip trembling. While you are in my heart forever? »

Edward doesn't answer. He takes me in his arms and hugs me, stroking my hair. I would like to forget this conversation and melt into his embrace forever, but I still have something to talk about with him.

"Edward?"

Yes, he answers in a whisper. »

I can hear that our exchange upset him too.

"I have to tell Charlie the truth. I have to tell him that I'm not his daughter. »

Edward remains silent for a moment, then says quietly to me:

"He kind of guessed it. »

I jump up and look, startled, at Edward with a half-smile.

" What ?

Charlie is observant. He noticed you weren't acting like Bella.

But if he knows, why does he treat me like his daughter?! I am an imposter.

Why don't you ask him?

I have no right to be so direct... I respond, sullenly.

These crazy quests again... What is the penalty this time?

Oh... as usual... Death... I answer, in a falsely detached voice. »

Edward stops moving completely, he doesn't even breathe. I caress his cheek to reassure him.

" I will find a solution. I just need an opportunity…"

I sit down, deciding I need a break to come up with an idea. I turn to Edward and ask him:

"Can I play you a guitar piece?" »

He looks at me briefly, then suddenly he's no longer there. The next thing you know, he's back at my side with my guitar case. I take out my instrument, concentrate a little and get started. I anticipated a situation where I would be unable to tell Edward my secret and a song came to mind. A song I hadn't learned to play, but I knew the words and melody. Patiently, I practiced trial and error to find the best way to play it. It was time to see if these efforts had borne fruit.

I don't have as big a voice as Sofia Carson, but I think her song "Love is the name" is recognizable. I look Edward straight in the eyes when I say the sentences:

Life is a video game

And we could be in love

At the end of the song, he takes my hands, kisses them and confesses:

"I don't care if I'm a fictional character. All that matters are the times we spend together and the love we have for each other. I love you Éowyn… Forever and ever. »

He kisses me tenderly and I repeat his last sentence against his lips.

In the end, it was Charlie who came to me first. He suggested we go fishing. I warned him that he might have trouble catching anything with me nearby, but he insisted and I agreed. So here we are on a boat, fishing rod in hand in a silence that could have been comfortable if I didn't have something that I absolutely had to tell him. Once again, it was Charlie who made the first move.

"Bella?"

Yes Dad ?

How is it living here, with me?

These are the best moments of my life dad, I answer sincerely.

I'm not too boring?

You are the best dad in the world. And I don't find you boring at all.

So spending eternity with me is not a problem?

Dad, we've already talked about this, I say, sighing. That's not what concerns me. I just want you to be happy and not regret your choice.

Speaking of regret. Don't you miss your mother?

Renée, I mean "mom", has already distanced herself from me. It won't be difficult to maintain this distance for a while I think.

I'm telling you about your real mother Bella…"

I turn my face sharply in Charlie's direction.

" How …

On a daily basis... Your expressions, your character, your guitar skills and on the contrary your lack of interest in English literature... You sometimes write words in French in your text messages and you don't understand the advertisements in Spanish. »

The more he lists my mistakes, the more I freeze. I still wonder how he could have remained silent after accumulating so many clues.

"But, if you noticed that… I start hesitantly. Why didn't you confront me?

Because I loved the person my daughter had become, he says, looking at the horizon. I'm also ashamed to feel this emotion, because I love Bella and that won't change... But even before I understood that you weren't her, you had started to take a place in my heart...

You are the father I never had, Charlie, I confess to him in a small voice. At first, I tried not to get emotionally involved, but living with you, I had the chance to... You are a great father..."

I begin to sob, unable to produce anything other than venomous tears. I feel Charlie moving closer to me.

"I wasn't lucky enough to have a loving father, so when I met you… You made me so happy. I feel good with you. »

Charli puts down her cane and hugs me. He brings his face closer to my hair and places a big kiss there.

"Thanks to you, I felt the warmth of home for the first time in a long time and the pleasure of coming home knowing that someone is waiting for me and counting on me. You have as much place in my heart as Bella. »

At these words, I almost feel like my heart could start beating again.

"You are my daughter too. »

This last sentence finally relieved me. I feel so much less weight that I have the impression of having carried a semi-trailer under each of my arms until then.

"Eowyn… I whisper. My name is Éowyn.

Nice to meet you, Éowyn, Charlie replies in the same tone. »

"Quest validated, a reward will be granted to you. »

I can't help but think that I have already received my reward...

The next days went by like lightning. I saw Jessica and my friends from La Push again. Paul made all the stupid jokes he knew about our diet and the paleness of my skin and I responded by talking about his musky smell and his excessive hair in wolf form. Emily, Rachel and Jessica are all crazy about the kids and I've overheard whispers between Sam and Emily telling me that it's very likely that we'll soon have Cub Scouts on the reserve within a few months.

Jacob is a little possessive of Eline and this annoys both Edward and Rosalie. If the exchanges remain courteous most of the time, she still wanted to get a bowl for Jacob in his wolf form. For his part, he now calls her Blondie, much to Rose's annoyance. I guess some things can't be changed.

For my part, I work by correspondence. For all that, I developed a chronic illness while abroad and returned to Forks for treatment. Charlie took an extended vacation to care for his sick daughter, officially. Renée is of course not aware of this. She could show up without warning with force and bang and honestly, I'm not sure she could handle the situation as well as Charlie.

He is preparing for his transformation. Tanya and Carlisle tell him about the vampire community in the world of their history and the rules to respect. He takes it with great calm and serenity. I think that Tanya's presence and our exchange helped him to see more clearly in his life goals. From now on, he is no longer waiting for Renée to return, he is embarking on a new part of his life with people at his side who he loves and who love him.

I've been hearing moans in Tanya's room for fifty hours now. Charlie received Tanya's venom at her will after paying Billy one last visit. I thought he would be fiercely opposed to his transformation, but he just took Charlie fishing. When they returned from their walk, they were both relaxed, but I still saw their eyes red with wiped tears.

Finally, after another hour of agony, the moaning stopped. We all look up upstairs. There followed the sounds of broken objects. We rush upstairs, but Edward stops us by standing in front of the bedroom door. He shakes his head frantically. Carlisle is about to ask what is going on, when we hear rhythmic moans and thumps that leave no doubt about the activities of the occupants of the room.

We decide to escape the house as quickly as possible when the noises increase in volume. I don't think Edward has ever run as fast as he did in that moment. A ruined house later and a few days later, a sheepish Charlie walks through the door of the villa, under the mocking gaze of Garrett and Emmett.

"I am deeply sorry Esme about your house," he said to her with his head bowed.

Don't worry Charlie, it's nothing like the damage done by Emmett and Rosalie in their early years.

It's hard to control yourself when you have such a beauty in your arms, Emmett replies in a cheesy tone.

Pffff, sighs Rosalie half exasperated, half amused.

In any case, you have control again, Jasper notes, a little disappointed. It seems to run in the family...

You don't think you say that well, announces Eleazar. Not only does he have good self-control, but instinct can allow him to find the right words to control people.

This is his gift, Tanya asks, intrigued.

Yes, I don't know if it's her instinct that allows her to unite a group of individuals or if they are two distinct gifts but I now understand where Bella's talent comes from.

It's great dad, I exclaim, taking him in my arms.

However, Eleazar continues, I fear that this will arouse the curiosity of the Volturi.

Indeed, they did not seem to change their minds. Alice has tried several scenarios, but even giving them proof that I have been transformed, as well as Charlie, they will want to see us in person. Our gifts will please Aro and we end up having to face them. After deliberation, we decided to call on witnesses, as in the book.

This is how I find myself guiding Dracula one and Dracula two through the forest to our villa. Chip and Dale, as I decided to name them, join the vampiric Spanish Inn that we have decided to host…