CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Edward
My family should be the ones relaxing on our white leather couches at this time of night. Instead, three government officials have taken their place, including a weapons-grade asshole who I could easily be convinced was a snake in a former life. I'm so gutted that he of all people had the satisfaction of witnessing my shocked reaction when Bella and I walked in. His smug sneer which I recall from when he was objecting to Alice's plea to save Jasper ten years previously, tells me that he's deriving pleasure from my discomfort. This is mitigated only by barely concealed astonishment that Bella is here, which is enough for me to discern what little he knows of the events in Forks.
So word hasn't got to Carver yet that Bella has escaped from the Compound and, most likely, what went down in the Gathering Hall. Well well well, my efforts with the mast were worth it then. The following conversation will be entertaining but is not my major concern. Why is Carver here? How did the security services know I would return from Forks tonight? He must have been informed about Charlotte's escape by now. Maybe that's why he's here. More important though, where are Carlisle and the rest of the family and how did he contrive to get them all to leave the apartment? I need that question answered before I wipe that superior expression from his evil face for good.
"What have you done with my family, Carver?" He ignores my question. Instead, he's looking past me to where I'm shielding Bella.
"I'm surprised you remember my name, Edward?" His tone is condescending. I snap back.
"How could I forget the only asshole who objected to my sister saving Jasper's life. Deriving pleasure from the misery of others is the sign of a sick fuck. That's what you are, Carver, a sick fuck, and one who's been promoted way beyond his abilities because of that disgusting trait."
Carver forces a laugh, but he's angry that I've called him sick anything in front of his colleagues. I can read his mind, and the woman's, but not the other man's. He looks harmless anyway. Carver collects himself and hits back.
"You curse all you like, Edward, but there's no way we're letting you keep that little girl who's hiding behind you. Your father signed … "
"I don't care what Carlisle signed," I interrupt. "All such agreements are null and void now. The Lympi Experiment is over. The people beyond the fence are done with the Elders interfering with their lives. They've had enough of being ruled by a band of leeches living off the fat of their land. You must have heard what happened in the Gathering Hall by now?"
"You are misinformed, Edward. Nothing happened there. You must know the Elders stopped the meeting before it could start, which is why we were confident you would slink back here tonight with your forked tail between your legs. Your plot to undermine our authority by using that girl has failed. So tell me, Vampire, how does it feel to be on the losing side for once?"
Oh boy! This is going to be good ...
"Oh, Carver ... dear Carver! I'm afraid it's you who is misinformed, which means the Elders haven't dared give you the latest news from Forks yet. My oh my! Someone in this room is going to be seriously pissed when they hear what's happened, and that someone sure ain't going to be me."
Carver squirms in his seat. He frowns at the other two. Both shrug their shoulders. The woman looks at her comms device, scrolling up and down before shaking her head.
"You're bluffing," Carver spits.
"Call the Compound if you don't believe me. Ask them what happened, let's see, must be five hours ago by now. Ask them to describe the people's reaction when Charlotte Swan entered the Gathering Hall after her eleven-year confinement in the Village. Listen to how she took great delight in telling the people about the Catchers and the medical facility, and where and how she'd been living since being cured. Surprise, surprise, Carver, it's all over. The people of Forks have kicked the Elders out. I presume you've already heard from the Dementia Unit that Charlotte checked out this morning? Well, that's where she is, with her family again, back in Forks where she belongs."
Without waiting for Carver's instruction, the woman springs from her seat and disappears into our library. Even Bella should be able to hear the heated one-sided conversation that follows …
"What do you mean she's gone …
"And why were we not informed …
"I know dementia patients regularly go walkabout but Charlotte Swan didn't have dementia. You were just meant to keep her secure …
"So you're telling me she walked out of a locked room and just vanished?
"It wasn't locked!
"Jesus wept!"
The woman reappears red-faced. I'm tempted to admit that I am responsible for the breakout because it wouldn't be fair for the staff to take the blame. She's guessed already though. Her thoughts about me are not charitable but I've also picked up that she despises Carver - interesting, and she's a believer. Even more interesting.
Carver's line of questioning has been thrown into disarray. Flashes of his recent confrontation with Carlisle had been passing through his memory during the call which I'm attempting to piece together. I'm staggered Carlisle went that far but relieved to know he supports my relationship with Bella and didn't rise to Carver's threats about our freedoms. I sincerely hope I'll have the opportunity to thank him.
But Carver's intention tonight is purely revenge, not only for losing face when his protestations to the government about Alice saving Jasper were ignored but also for Carlisle's takedown of him in front of his subordinates. He hates Vampires, and now he's struggling to think of a way to get his own back on me and the others other than roasting us with flamethrowers. I'm tempted to take him out now, but I have never killed or injured another human other than for sustenance and certainly wouldn't do that in front of Bella. Anyway, I need to find out where Carlisle and the rest of the family have been taken first and not put them in any additional jeopardy. Now I miss not being able to hear them.
I have to think quickly. Carver won't leave without a victory. He wears his vindictive nature like a badge of honor. He can't hurt me unless he has a flamethrower secreted behind the couch but he'll be dead before he has a chance to reach for it. No, he'll try another way to inflict pain before he leaves this room but he will lose. There's nothing he can do to hurt me or Bella now.
Bella has remained hidden behind my back. I can hear her heart racing and her stomach growling with hunger, and it guts me that not once have I considered her human needs since we left the farm. She must be starving and exhausted by now. This farce must end soon so I can care for her.
"So are we done here then," I spit at Carver.
"Yes, we're done, but Isabella Swan is coming with me. I presume you broke her out of the Compound where she was being legitimately questioned about subversion in Forks. When she's answered our questions, then you can have her back. Until we're satisfied, you and your family will not leave this building for any reason. From now on, I'm ensuring guards are stationed on all sides of this building."
I nearly lose it when he's speaking because he's imagining what he will personally do to Bella. Killing him will be my only option if he tries to take her because there's no way Bella's leaving this room without me. If he tries to grab her, he'll be through the window and flying across Seattle before he even touches her.
"Bella is going nowhere, Carver. If you think I'm going to hand her over to a twisted individual like you, then you're in a fight that you have zero chance of winning."
Carver flinches when I threaten him. An image of my family surrounded by guards armed with flamethrowers flashes through his mind. That is what is giving him the confidence to threaten me.
"Take her," he orders the other man.
"You must be joking," he responds without a hint of hesitation. "That thing would kill me."
Carver stands just as the woman's comms device buzzes. "It's the Compound," she says sounding surprised, then hands the device to Carver.
So they must have repaired the mast. This will be an entertaining call.
Carver's face distorts into a study of rage as the call progresses. Both sides of the conversation are crystal clear to me. I struggle to keep my face expressionless while Carver receives a report of the disastrous meeting in the Gathering Hall and the dramatic entrance of Charlotte Swan. When whoever is relating the story gets to the part where 'this Jacob guy who we thought was on our side transforms into a fucking great wolf and then picks a fight with Edward Cullen,' I have to concentrate hard not to laugh. The caller ends by saying the Elders are packing up the Compound and getting out of Lympi as fast as possible.
Carver hands the device back to the woman. He can hardly contain himself. His hands are in fists and I pity the next person who crosses him. I've won. He's lost, and he knows I know it. He thought he could maintain the upper hand because of Carlisle's long-held desire to be included in normal society, even though Carlisle told him unequivocally that the agreement was over and he didn't care anymore. Carver didn't believe Carlisle's protestations, so he was still looking for a win. If he couldn't incarcerate Alice and me for breaking the rules, he would transfer his vengeance onto Bella instead. He's had to accept that will never happen, and now he has a new security problem in the form of a fucking great wolf. Ha fucking ha!
Carver picks up his briefcase and heads for the door.
"Is that it then," I ask.
"My people will be back tomorrow to be briefed about the wolf issue."
"No briefing required, Carver … the wolves are coming to get you, and every other human, and not just in Lympi if this situation isn't handled perfectly. The only people who can do that are Vampires - you can pass that on to your boss for free. You only have one option now and that is for you and the rest of the assholes in Security to get down on your knees and plead for our assistance. Until you can bring yourself to do that, get the fuck out of my apartment, and don't come back without an appointment. Now I want my family back immediately, and if any of them has so much as a scratch, I'm holding you personally responsible."
Carver shudders but does not respond to my threat and leaves via the library room. The woman remains even though she's nervous. A flash of her thoughts reaches me before she speaks. My family is still in the building.
"Mr Cullen, your family is being held in the lobby surrounded by guards armed with flamethrowers. This morning, the government instructed Carver to place you all under permanent house arrest after Carver reported that Carlisle had verbally ended the agreement and would be leaving the tower. Your sister, Rosalie, was ambushed by the same guards after she returned here from a shopping trip. The rest of your family were ordered to join her downstairs or they would kill her. For myself, I sincerely apologize for their appalling treatment and will call the guards off immediately. I will also arrange for food to be sent up for your hungry friend. Good night, Mr Cullen, ... and ... thank you."
The woman closes the door. I mentally exhale. Bella comes out from behind me. Her first question bowls me over.
"Can you tell me now who Jesus or Jeepers is, Edward, and why was he or she crying?"
I take her in my arms and hold her as tight as I dare.
"Now that would be a very long story, Bella."
Bella
Alice is the first to appear in the living room. She rushes over, kisses my cheek, and then hugs me gently.
"We're so glad you're here," she gushes before pulling me away from Edward and propelling me into what I presume is their hall or lobby. I don't know what they call rooms here.
I guess immediately which one is Carlisle. There is a nobility about this man … this Vampire … that stands out. He walks forward, takes my hand, and kisses it before introducing me to his wife, Esme, his son, Emmett, Emmett's immaculate wife, Rosalie, who is already looking me up and down with disdain, hopefully only because of the way I'm dressed, and then 'the newest member of our family, Jasper,' who appears more nervous than I suspect I am. All of them, except Rosalie, crowd around me with enthusiasm. Esme orders them to calm down and not overwhelm me, then jokes, "Children! Bella is not your new toy." Even Rosalie laughs at that.
Before I can respond to their kindness there is a knock on the door. My dinner has arrived, in a bag rather than on a tray. Edward takes the bag and leads me into a sparkling white kitchen. I need to shade my tired eyes it's so dazzling. He looks inside the bag, screws his face up then hands it to me. "Welcome to America," he says, then adds, "I'll leave you to eat this alone. The smell of fast food makes us gag, but you'll love it."
Inside the bag, whatever the food is, is wrapped in different thicknesses of what looks like paper. I recognize the thinly sliced, fried potatoes Mom occasionally makes when we have fish, but these are the thinnest ones I've ever seen, and salty. Nice though. I take another, and another. I could get used to eating these.
Next, I unwrap what looks like a standard bread roll. In the middle though there is a thick piece of something that looks like meat but doesn't smell like meat. A shiny yellow slice of I don't know what covers the meat with, thankfully, recognizable pieces of tomato, lettuce, and a strange type of cucumber on top of that plus a reddish sauce. There are no knives or forks on the counters and I don't want to start opening drawers so I presume I eat it without. Forcing my mouth open as wide as possible I take a bite, chew, swallow. Oh wow! This is so goooood!
There's a drink too. Black. Cold. Extremely cold. Fizzy. I retch after the first gulp. Nope, I don't like it. Give this a miss, Bella. Down the plughole it goes where I refill the cup with water. Yuk! That was horrible. Who the heck likes this stuff?
When I've eaten enough I clean up and wash my hands. There's nowhere obvious to put the bag so I'm forced to desecrate a pristine counter by leaving the offending bag next to the sink. After a few deep breaths for courage, I head back to the living room where I'm greeted enthusiastically again. Rosalie is not there but her husband, Emmett, gives me the widest smile which helps me relax.
"Have I done anything to upset Rosalie," I ask.
Esme stands and takes me by the hand. "No, Bella. Rosalie is a wonderful person but she is envious of every human woman. Of all of us, she most bitterly regrets what she is because she can't have children. We are all sad for her because there's no cure for that. Now come and sit next to me. I'm sure Edward won't mind."
Carlisle looks relaxed but there is tension in the room. Jasper seems the most on edge. Edward for some reason is side-eyeing him every few seconds. Alice moves to sit on Jasper's lap and whispers something inaudible in his ear. His hands let go of the chair's arms. Tension dissipates. What the heck just happened there?
"Edward has been bringing us up to date, Bella," Carlisle says as an opener. "You are a very brave girl … quite extraordinary in fact. Edward said that your grandmother has the same qualities. You certainly have made a mark on the peninsula."
"I had no option, Carlisle, but I would never have gotten this far without the support of my friends and Edward. I guess I would still be plotting the rebellion in my room."
"But you were the spark that lit the fire."
"I suppose I was. Maybe if there'd been a boy in Forks I was interested in enough to marry, I wouldn't have taken it this far. I'll never know. What bothers me now is what will happen to Forks and Lympi. Our whole society is built on sharing and cooperation. I haven't been in Seattle long enough to understand how it works, but I'd guess you have a different financial system here?"
Carlisle laughs, "Oh yes, Bella, we have a very different system to Lympi. Your system only works if it serves a small community such as an island, or a very very small country. Unfortunately, where you have a large population, human nature kicks in. People get greedy. Some will find ways to beat the system and then manipulate it to their advantage. When the people in charge of the money become anonymous, corruption happens and a previously cooperative society will quickly disintegrate. It's a shame, but that's the way of the world and these things will never change."
"So what happens to Lympi then? Will we be swallowed up by the government who rules here? I can't see my father being eager to swap one group of tyrants for another."
The family laughs. I'm glad I've amused them but I'm deadly serious. Carlisle continues.
"That's the dilemma this family has been contemplating over the last few weeks, ever since Alice warned us that Lympi could be on the point of collapse. We think we may have worked out a solution to everyone's advantage, including ours."
"You didn't include me in those discussions, Carlisle," Edward snaps. His tone is indignant.
"You've hardly been here over the last four weeks," Carlisle snaps back. "And maybe you should answer my calls once in a while?"
Edward sinks back in his chair. "Yeah, you're probably right. Sorry, Carlisle." He glances over at me and shrugs. I smile back.
"So what is the solution," I ask impatiently. "Build a bigger wall and keep these f … err, people out?"
"No, Bella, but that could be a solution if you don't think our proposition will work."
"Okay, try me, but do it quickly, Carlisle. I need to sleep. I spent last night lying across four hard chairs in a freezing room and I haven't had an unbroken night's sleep for days. If I don't shut my eyes soon I'll fall over in front of you." (For some reason Emmett laughs at this - Edward mouths 'asshole'.)
Esme intervenes then. "Yes, Carlisle. Hurry up. The poor child is exhausted."
I'm not a child, Esme. Your son has fu … has done it with me on three separate occasions!
"Alright, Bella, … to put it simply, this family is no longer needed or wanted by this government. Our commitment to Lympi is over. Joe Carver said to me that as far as he was concerned, we should be banished to the wilderness and be hunted like animals again. This is unlikely to happen because we firmly believe we have a grateful public on our side who'll want us to stay close by. Jake's timely transition will also help our case to carry on being accepted as unique and vital protectors of human society."
"That's true," Edward agrees. "Carver's face when he learned about Jake confirmed that."
"So, we plan to leave this tower for good and return to live in Forks. But until our home by the waterfall is rebuilt, we will live partly in the Meadow House and partly here. Forks and the Forest House was where Esme and I spent our most contented years which is why we want to return. While this is happening and, of course, that is if your people accept our request to live there, we will offer to help restructure your community. I have sixteen hundred years of experience to offer. The others apart from Jasper have approximately a thousand each. Even Rosalie is enthusiastic, as long as she's allowed to travel back to Seattle to shop occasionally. Alice has agreed to accompany Edward and you to Forks tomorrow where you can put our case to the people and see what they say. What do you think of that idea?
Even one second of contemplation is not necessary.
"You mean if Edward and I stay together we could live in Forks?"
"What do you mean, if," Edward growls.
"Yes, Bella. But we don't want to be a replacement for the Elders. What we do want is for your community not to be destroyed by the changes that will inevitably come. Providing electricity to your homes will alter every aspect of your life - mostly good, but some not so good. I'm a doctor and would be happy to work with the Newton family and the other medics in Lympi to bring modern medicine to the peninsula. It would be an exciting time for all of us."
This is making me deliriously happy, but there is one obvious issue that would need to be addressed first. I have to mention it.
"I'm sure the people would be happy to accept your help, Carlisle, but they don't know what you are. Would you be prepared to come clean with them from the start?"
"Of course, Bella. If we don't tell them about Vampires and Werewolves and what that means, Joe Carver and his sycophants would make sure they found out and it wouldn't be the pretty version. I'm sure your gran will help with pleading our case. She's known Edward for eleven years and lives to tell the tale."
I go to stand up but wobble and fall back in the seat. Edward jumps up and helps me to stand again and stay upright.
"I'm sorry everyone, I just have to sleep. I think your idea is wonderful, Carlisle. None of us Lympians are equipped for modern life and I can't think of a better way to transition. Can we talk more in the morning?"
They all say goodnight while Edward leads me through the apartment and up the stairs to a beautiful room with huge windows overlooking the city. If tiredness wasn't overwhelming me, I could stare at the staggering view for hours. The sliver of moon that followed us across the Wastelands now hangs over the distant mountains. Behind those silvery peaks, my family and friends will also be preparing for sleep after experiencing the day of all days. I even spare a thought for Jake and hope he's still alive. He didn't ask to be like he is so I can't hate him for his violent attitude toward me and Edward anymore.
Edward slides his hands over my shoulders and kisses my forehead.
"I'm not planning to disturb you tonight, Bella, even though I'm desperate to make love to you again. We'll have plenty of time for that - either a human lifetime or for eternity but that will be your choice. Sleep well my darling. I'll be here when you wake in the morning. Until then, sweet dreams."
Edward leaves me to clean up and change into the beautiful nightdress I guess Alice or Esme has left out for me. With one last glance at the night sky, I slip into the deepest and most contended sleep I've had since the night after my seventh birthday.
I'm sure she is shattered after her day of all days.
So the final chapter has come (dabs eyes). Some loose ends to tie up, like what happened to Jake? Will Lympi and Forks cope without the Elders? Will the people accept the help offered by Carlisle? Will Charlie accept Edward as a suitor for Bella? Would he dare object after the Wolf incident! (Of course he won't).
I really hope you enjoy the last chapter!
Joan x