chapter 10 meet the family

"You didn't call me last night."

Bella blinked as she held her phone. "Oh... Sorry Carrie..." She sat on her bed, finally released from the hospital earlier that day. Unfortunately, Charlie had another late night ahead of him, so Bella was on her own for that night. Her friends had been worried for her safety, and her mother had called in hysterics, after hearing from her father. But by that evening, everything had been settled, and she had decided to fill Carrie on what had happened the day before. By the way she sounded on the phone, she clearly though she had ulterior motives for not calling. "Things have been hectic," she began carefully.

"Hectic?" said Carrie. "How? Something wrong?"

"Well..." She played with the ends of her pant leg, picking her words with caution. "School's been hard... Biology especially." But not exactly for reasons she'd expect. "And... well... I sort of..." She chuckled nervously. "Well I sort of almost got hit by a car yesterday... Funny, story, actually..."

There was a pause on the other line. "You what? Woah, woah, woah! You almost got hit by a car?! What the hell...? When did this happen?! Were you distracted? What the hell happened?!"

"Calm down!" said Bella quickly. "It's ok... I'm not hurt or anything. The ice was really slick and my friend's breaks needed to be fixed..."

"Jesus, Bella... Why didn't you call me?" Her tone was relieved, with still that faint twinge of irritation from before. But a little more understanding now.

"I was in the hospital. But it was only for observation," she added quickly. "Really, Carrie. I'm fine. I'm still living and all that..." After a few more minutes of reassuring her that she was in fact very much alive and well, they said their goodnights, and Bella laid along the top of her bed. It was night, but not near late enough for her to sleep yet. So she figured she'd just lay awake, thinking until it was time. So many thoughts ran through her mind. Many of them circled around Edythe's mysterious family...

She said her father was upset. Would he do anything to her? Or rather, to HER? Carlisle now knew that she knew their secret. She half expected to wake up in some bleak castle, chained to a wall as Carlisle's prisoner. Then she wondered about the man himself. He obviously commanded a good deal of respect. With how fast rumors spread in the dinky little town, a man with the ability to keep opinions about himself personally while staying so secluded was an amazing feet. Then she wondered about him personally. Edythe mentioned that his dark gift was mind reading... Her curiosity began to perk up. What was Edythe's? They apparently differed... were their certain types? Were some more useful then others? Did it depend on personality? Did it depend on birth? Or who turned you to begin with? The way you were turned, perhaps? So many factors... It made Bella's mind throb with questions.

She heard a tap at her window.

Bolting up, she clutched her neck, only to remember that Charlie still had it in his possession. However, it wasn't like she'd need it. Edythe's face peered at her from behind the glass. She zipped up the light jacket that she was wearing so that she wouldn't notice it wasn't there. She had a feeling she'd be angry with her if she did. She went to the window and allowed her in. She paced, nervously, rubbing her hands together. "Something wrong?" she asked.

Edythe rubbed the back of her neck and turned to her. "Carlisle wants to talk to you... He's so pissed off..." Bella's heart dropped into her stomach. Carlisle... the head of an undead, demon clan wanted to talk to her. She sat on the corner of her bed, her legs having gone weak. Edythe saw her reaction and sighed.

"Relax," she said. "It's not like he wants to eat you. We're both in for a heavy lecture though..." She rubbed her eyes irritably. "My sister just won't shut up about how irresponsible I'm being... I swear, Rosalie gets on my nerves all the damn time..."

Bella shook her head, trying to regain her composure. "O-oh... When does he want to see me?"

"Right now would be good," said Edythe with a shrug.

"Now...?" Bella squeaked. "Like... right this second?"

"Your dad's working late again tonight, isn't he?" Bella nodded. "Then yes. Right this second."

"B-but... But I'm not ready! What if he interrogates me! What if he thinks I'm too much of a liability to be left alive! What if – !"

"Will you calm down?" Edythe said sharply, shutting her up. She closed her mouth, though her eyes still sparked with fear at the prospect of meeting Carlisle Cullen. Edythe sat beside her and took a breath. After a moment's pause, she turned to Bella and put her hands on her shoulders. "Listen," she said clearly. "I've known Carlisle all my new life. He wouldn't hurt you. And even if he tried to... I'll be right there with you. And I won't let him. Alright?"

Bella blinked at her. How odd... Edythe was trying to comfort her. The girl who had called her flat chested and even threatened her life before, fangs ablaze, was easing her troubled mind. It was... sweet, to say the least. And Bella appreciated it. She smiled slightly and patted Edythe's clammy hand. Then, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Edythe's cheek in a friendly fashion.

"Thank you," she said kindly, drawing back. "That makes me feel better..." Her nervousness resurfaced. "Granted, I'm still really worried that I'll end up a walking zombie or something... but at least I'm not as worried anymore..."

Edythe just sat there, her lips parted slightly and her eyebrows to her hairline. She then took her hands away swiftly and stood, clearing her throat. "Y-yes, well..." She shifted around and fumbled, trying to regain her composure. "Anyway." She turned back to her. "We'd better get there now if we're going to come back in time before the sunrise." She walked over to the window, reopening it. "Get on."

Bella stood behind her, pulling on a thicker jacket. "Um... what?" She looked over her shoulder as she crouched on the window ledge.

"Get on my back," she said simply. "I'll take you there." Bella looked at her uncertainly for a moment, but walked forward and put her hands on her shoulders. She grabbed her thighs and hoisted her onto her back without so much as a wince or shift at her weight. Then, without warning, she shot off, leaping into the tree tops seamlessly. She yelped and clung to her neck, trembling at her speed. Her face was slapped with cold air as she sprang from tree to tree, moving in sharp, jagged motions. Bella felt her eyes sting, but she couldn't stand to pull them away. Instead, they directed outward and down, watching as the ground below them flashed by. For the few moments that they were airborne, Bella could see aspects of Forks, the details simplified to that of a doll town. She couldn't get quite a good picture of it, but the snapshots she did see clearly reminded her of Christmas cards and old, American oil paints. Her body felt weightless in those few seconds, and she felt like she was flying. Finally, however, they landed abruptly on the ground, leaves and dirt aroused and disturbed in the air about them. As Bella was set to the ground, her legs wobbled and her body was buzzed considerably. She couldn't even stand for the first few seconds. The moment she was placed on her feet, her knees gave way and she nearly tumbled forward, if Edythe hadn't caught her. Once she found her footing again, she assured her that she was fine and looked to where they were.

They stood out in front of an old, Victorian style home, looming before them like a dark, deep shadow. It was furnished with mahogany wood, almost blending in with the night around it. There were panes and ledges where windows would have gone, but the glass was replaced with wood matching the outer walls of the house. There were no cars, not even a drive way. The door that stood in their path was a large thing, probably made of oak. The porch was elevated and finely furnished, much like the rest of the house. From what Bella could see, there were two stories, the roof slanted with gray red tiles. It watched them, waiting for their next move. Edythe put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked to her. "Come on." She took her hand then and lead her up to the foreboding doorway. Turning the iron handle, she opened the large door, revealing a dark hallway, lit dimly with candles that hung from holders that rested on the walls. Edythe shut the door, causing the corridor to become even harder to see then before. From what she could tell, the walls were the same color as the outside, and the hallway floor was carpeted with deep, blood red fabric. Bella gripped Edythe's hand tighter as they moved through the hallway. Edythe paused a few steps in and frowned. She turned to her.

"I'm going to go see if he's in his study," she said to her. "Stay here. I'll only be gone a little bit. Can you do that for me?" Even though her nerves were now standing even more on end at the idea of being alone, she nodded, gripping her hands tightly to one another. "Good. I'll be right back, I promise." With that, she turned and left, her padded footsteps fading away into the darkness. She shivered, a cold front even stronger then the one outside washed over her. She gripped her arms, even though she was wearing two jackets. Just as the forest and the desert she loved, the house had a life of its own. But this one was not like the welcoming personas of her favorite places. No. This life form was a taunting, beast like aura. One that haunted the dark corners of her mind.

Bella...

Her stomach tingled as a strange, warm sensation began to flow through her veins. Her body – at first erect and immobile – slowly became relaxed, her worried mind coming to a strange, unnerving ease. Her head slowly turned to the left. A staircase sat beside her. Had it always been there? Her eyes trailed to the top, which faded away into shadow. Something was at the top. Something she wanted... She needed to go up there... Moving on its own, her body turned and walked her up the steps, slowly. A small voice in the back of her head tried to warn her. It tried to say that she had promised Edythe that she'd stay in one place. But it couldn't hurt to explore just a bit. Besides... what was beyond that staircase was more wonderful then anything Edythe could ever possess. How she knew this or why, she did not know. Nor did she care. She continued to trail up the staircase, being pulled along as though by a string. She couldn't turn herself around even if she wanted to. Her feet lead her to a room, her eyes now adjusted slightly to darkness. She looked inside.

The room reminded her of a dark princess' den, the walls draped with ruby red tapestries and cloth. A fire burned in a white marble place that stuck within the wall, the orange light flickering against the figure that was in it. It was a slender young woman, laying suggestively along a crimson, silken bed. She wore a slightly mid-evil style gown, her shoulders and swan like neck exposed. Her hair was cropped short, resting near her earlobes. Her skin was a smooth, white ivory, her eyes dark and beautiful. A smile curled from her red lips. She smoothly moved to the floor, standing up straight now. She stretched out one of her graceful arms, her hand held out to Bella.

"What an innocent child..." she said, her voice like the silk that covered her bed. "Are you lost, my dear...? Come to me, love... Alice will help you find your way... You sweet, poor little thing..."

As though her fingers pulled on her body, Bella gravitated towards this woman, her eyes locked on Alice's angelic face. It wasn't long before she stood just inches away from her. She was memorized – unable to tare her gaze away from such a being. Like a moth to the flame. Alice glided slowly around her, surveying Bella's features. She could feel Alice's eyes move up and down her body. Slowly, the sense of warning grew stronger within Bella, and she whimpered, swaying where she stood. She felt thin arms take hold of her.

"Oh shh, shh..." Alice sat the two down on her bed, her hand stroking Bella's hair tenderly. "Calm now, child... There is no need to fret..." Alice tilted Bella's head upwards, her gaze still foggy as she looked upon this woman. Alice leaned in, placing her lips against Bella's cheek. How cold those lips were. "That's a good girl... so sweet... so innocent..." Alice let her lips trail down from Bella's cheek... to her jaw... to her neck... "Now... be a good girl and let me drink from you..."

"Alice!"

Suddenly, Bella felt the fondling woman rip away from the girl, and a different pair of arms drew her in. Bella's mind began to clear, a scent filling her senses. She recognized this smell... it was Edythe's. She looked up to see Edythe's furious face, the fire light trickling against her skin. She turned her eyes to where the gorgeous woman was, only to find her different now.

Instead of the willow like, angelic figure that she saw before, Alice's form and face was much more similar to Edythe's. Gaunt and sullen, Alice's face had a very angular form to it, her cheek bones and chin pointed. Her shoulders, which were once so smooth, were now bony, her shoulders pointing through the skin. Her lips curled into a much more sinister smile. "Sorry," she said, her voice the same. "I couldn't help myself."

"Well try next time," Edythe spat, still keeping Bella close to her. She turned and walked her out, Bella confused and ashamed at the same time. Edythe grumbled to herself as they slipped down to the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry," she said. "I forgot she'd try to do that. Are you ok?" Bella nodded, wordlessly.

"Who was she...?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"My sister," said Edythe. "One of them. Alice... she was a nomad that we found a while ago. Her dark gift's seduction, incase you can't tell."

"Seduction...?" She put a hand to her chest, looking back. She didn't realize that Edythe had gripped her other hand yet again.

"Yeah," she said, continuing to walk. "Men, women, boys, girls... She doesn't care. She loves the game." Bella gripped her hand tighter and walked even closer to her.

"Is Carlisle in his study?" Bella asked quietly, wanting to change the subject. Edythe shrugged.

"Wouldn't know," she said with a sigh. "I was half way there when I realized that we stopped right in front of Alice's room." They headed up a second flight of stairs, when Edythe paused. "I smell sweat... Emmet must be working out... He's my older brother..." She turned a corner and peeked into a room. Bella did as well.

Emmet was much different then the first few vampires Bella had come to meet. As apposed to his sisters, Emmet was a tall, burly young man, with thick, tree trunk arms and short cut, brown hair. He stood in the room, his fists punching at nothing. They were moving so fast, Bella could barely register them. "He used to be a professional boxer," said Edythe. "He was supposed to be the next best thing in 1954. Rosalie fell for him after I convinced her to come with me to one of his matches. We were in Chicago at the time. Anyway, he developed a thing for her, too, and he started giving us back stage access. Unfortunately, he was in a car accident that made him paralyzed from the waist down. He told Rosalie that he'd give anything to just walk again. So... here we are."

"My ears are burning, Edy." Emmet's voice matched his outer appearance – strong and lion like. He turned his head, his eyes sunken like the others'. He smiled charmingly, pausing to wipe his forehead. "Who's the snack?" he asked, gesturing to Bella.

"This is the girl I saved," Edythe explained. Emmet's eyes brightened playfully.

"Ooooh..." he said, realization coming to his face. "So you're the trouble maker, eh?" He laughed at Bella's uneasy smile. "Ah, don't worry. We all know Edythe's a little impulsive."

"If not a bit reckless." They turned as a hand came to Emmet's shoulder. The young woman who stood beside him once more looked exceedingly different then the prior vampires. She was well rounded and curved, with blond hair that shot down to her lower back. It curled around her ivy face, her dark eyes burned into her skin above familiar circles. She was a head shorter them Emmet, the two making an attractive pair. She turned her eyes to Bella and surveyed her. Bella felt as though she was under the same judgmental eye that Edythe first had the day they met. But whatever Rosalie's thoughts, she didn't voice them. Instead, she turned her gaze back to Edythe. "Even so, we had no idea she'd be this irresponsible now of all times."

"Ugh, here we go..." Edythe mumbled, rubbing her eyes in her irritated habit.

"I mean, it's bad enough that nomads have shown up," Rosalie continued, "but you know how big of a risk Carlisle's taking by letting you go to that human school. We might have to move because of you. You're endangering everyone in this family."

"What was I supposed to do?" said Edythe, frowning. "Let her blood spill on the floor? Oh yeah, that's a great idea. Then the entire school could watch as I ran forward to lap it up like a dog."

Rosalie looked as though she wanted to say something else, but was stopped by Emmet's large hand on her shoulder. "Give it a rest, Rosie. You know Edy's got a head thicker then cement." She sighed and folded her arms across her large bosom.

"Just try to be more careful," she said, in a slightly more pleading tone. "I don't want any more trouble for Carlisle... You know how the natives are treating him now." Edythe nodded.

"I know, I know... I'll try, Rosalie. Now stop nagging me." She turned and lead Bella down the hallway once more. The girl glanced behind her in curiosity, before looking to Edythe.

"What's Rosalie's story?" she asked, having been told about Emmet and Alice already.

Edythe shrugged. "Carlisle just came home one day with a new member of the family. She still won't tell any of us how it happened."

Bella nodded. "Oh..." Rosalie seemed to be the type of person who valued secrecy above all else. She seemed to be a perfect fit into this secret family of vampires... That's when Bella remembered something else. "Don't you have four siblings?" She looked up to Edythe. She began to look a bit uneasy.

"Oh yeah... Jasper, you mean. He usually keeps to himself. We shouldn't see him today." However, as they rounded a corner, Bella jumped out of her skin as a face popped out of nowhere, staring at them. The appearance of the figure didn't seem to phase Edythe in the slightest. "Oh. Jasper. So you did decide to come out today."

Jasper – like Laurent – seemed to have once been black, but the lack of pigments left him an ashy gray. His hair was mucked and disheveled, sticking wildly from his hair. He was thin enough to be considered stick worthy, his face highlighting each and every bone in it. His clothes were far too big for him, and he wore no shoes. He hunched slightly, the whites of his eyes peering through his gray face. He didn't speak. Instead, he looked over to Bella, and backed away a couple of steps. Edythe sighed.

"She's fine, Jasper. She's only going to be here for a little bit." His eyes darted to Edythe. "Yes, I promise." He stared at Edythe a bit longer, before shoving his hands into his pockets, turning, and stalking off down the hall. Edythe scratched her head. "Sorry about that," she began. "Jasper... isn't very trusting of strangers. Especially white ones I mean he trusts us because we are his adopted family..."

"White?" Bella repeated.

"He was a slave just before the civil war," said Edythe. "He escaped once only to be found by three female vampires. He said he'd trade anything for freedom." She turned to her. "You see, the only way a human can become a vampire is if they give their blood willingly. They may not always know what they're asking for, but they ask, none the less. We found him wandering across the country twenty years back. He's still uneasy of white women, so Carlisle had to convince him to stay."

"He seems to be a generous man," Bella commented. She tapped a finger to her jaw. "Edythe... what's your story?" She turned back to her.

Edythe paused before continuing on. "My parents were killed by nomads. They would have killed me, too, but I was too stubborn to die. When Carlisle found me, I was only half alive and half sane. He knew I was going to die either way. So he asked me if I wanted to live. I said yes." There was a pause. "A while later, I asked him why he didn't just let me die after that... And he said, anyone who chooses life deserves to live it." She smiled at her. "Sounds like a fortune cookie, doesn't it?"

"Now now, Edythe," came a calm, motherly voice. "You know Carlisle's a wise man." They looked up to see a woman smiling at the two of them. She was a small, delicate looking thing, her thin body proportionate to the rest of her. Her light brown hair was pulled up into a bun, and her face – though the sullen face of a vampire – had a warm, caring glow to its features. "I assume this is her?" She glided over to Bella, her cold hands resting on Bella's cheeks. "Such a young girl... You can call me Esme, alright dear?" Bella nodded and Esme sighed. She looked to Edythe. "He's waiting in his study... Prepare yourself for a tongue lashing, Edythe..."

"I know," said Edythe with a frown. "But I couldn't have just let her die, mom..."

Esme put on a gentle smile, a few wrinkles showing in her face. "Yes. I know, honey." She kissed her cheek and patted her shoulder. She then smiled to Bella and left the two alone. Bella watched her go and turned back to Edythe. Before she could even ask, she answered.

"Carlisle fell in love with Esme when she was still human," she said, watching her mother leave. "But she was married. Had a child, too. So he watched from afar, torturing himself with something he couldn't have. But one day, her child became very sick. He cared for the little girl as much as he could, but medicine wasn't as advanced back then. She ended up dying. Esme nearly went insane after that. She jumped off a cliff to try and end her suffering, but she didn't die. Carlisle found her and offered her a life free from guilt. She accepted the offer..." She turned to Bella, who looked at her, distraught at such a story.

"That must have been terrible," she said sincerely. And Esme had such a youthful face. How old was she when she almost died? Or when she even had her child? And she seemed like such a kind woman...

"Edythe," came a voice. "Bring her in."

The voice was sharp and held authority, coming from the even tone of a man in charge. It seemed to come from nowhere, but soon Bella recognized the voice floating from behind an open door. Taking Edythe's hand, the two walked in. Bella's eyes fell over a man who sat in an a comfortable looking, red chair. He wore all white, and popped out of the chair in an alarming contrast. His pale, blond hair was slicked and sat atop his head, his eyes the only dark thing about him. He wore reading glasses, looking at a piece of paper. He waited until the two of them were in before taking them off and standing. He towered over the two of them, both in height and grandeur. The air with which he held himself was that of a king's. He looked to Edythe. "Do you have an explanation?"

Edythe looked at the floor, hand still attached to Bella's. "No sir," she mumbled.

"Speak up," Carlisle snapped. "Lift your head. There's no use moping." Edythe did so, but didn't look Carlisle in the eye. "Now. Do you have an explanation?"

"No sir," said Edythe, more clearly this time. "I... it's just that she would have died otherwise, sir."

"Yes, you told me that before." He turned his sharp eyes over to Bella, making her cringe and squeeze Edythe's hands tighter. "Have you told anyone of our secret?" Bella fumbled with her words, unable to really call her voice at the moment. Carlisle waited, unimpressed with her bumbling. Finally, she cleared her throat.

"N-no... no, sir. Not a soul. Um... sir..." She shifted from one foot to the next, unable to break away from Carlisle's astounding stare. "Really. I haven't told anyone. And I don't plan to... sir." Carlisle narrowed his eyes, before turning away.

"Well at least you're telling the truth." He pulled out a book and flipped through its yellowing pages. He turned back to her. "I cannot exaggerate to you the gravity of this situation, Miss Swan." He put on his reading glasses and offered them seats as well. They sat down, watching as he fingered through a few pages. "Though I suppose the best place to start would be the beginning, wouldn't it? You are aware of Quileute history, are you not?" He turned the book to show her a black and white picture of the Native Americans.

Bella nodded. "I know one, actually. Her name's Julie Black and – "

"Yes, we know all about that," Carlisle cut off. Bella shut her mouth and watched as he turned a couple more pages. "And are you aware what they did to European travelers who came to their lands?"

Bella felt her stomach tie in knots. "Oh... yeah, I think... They took them as slaves, right?" Carlisle's eyes lifted from the page.

"Indeed," he said smoothly. He looked back to the page. "I was a young man of 24 when I arrived at the new world. I was traveling on a British ship, ready to explore the wonders of what would await me, as I've heard everyone said. However, almost the minute we stepped on land, we were taken as property."

"You were a Quileute slave...?" said Bella, intrigued. "But... then you'd have to be – "

"Three hundred years old?" Carlisle finished. "Yes. Well, technically I'm two hundred and sixty four. Not counting my human life before it." He leaned back in his arm chair, still looking at the book. "I was enslaved for just a few months before nomads showed up. The Quileutes called them the 'white demon'. I knew of these creatures from my life in England. They were vampires – the same as the monsters who migrated from Transylvania to the other countries. It was then that I was faced with a decision. I had monsters on one side of me, and monsters on the left. The only difference was, I knew one better then the other. So one night, I escaped my binds in search of the nomads. I knew the Quileutes would come looking for me, so I needed to be quick about things. They spoke English, much to my relief, and agreed to help... On the condition that I joined them." He looked to Bella. "I accepted. After being free of both the tribe and my humanly self, I traveled with them for quite some time. However, their ways were barbaric. It made myself sick to truly realize that this was what I had succumbed to. So, I was able to break off from the others – but not before getting quite the beating for my betrayal. Soon, I was on my own. It was difficult, but I survived. Some how, I wound up back where I started – at the Quileute tribe. That's when we made a pact. If I abstained from eating their people and protected them from nomads, I'd be able to stay in peace near the mountains without fear of exposure to humans." He leaned in, setting the book aside and taking off his glasses. "It is no longer about me," he said lowly. "I now have my family to think about. We haven't dealt with hostile nomads in a long time. If things go awry, then it decides the fate of all of us. Do you understand now, Miss Swan?"

Bella stared at him, her lips parted. Slowly, she nodded, glued to her seat as though it were a lifeline. Carlisle's speech hit her like a ton of bricks, weighing her down with responsibility. He stood and put the book away. "It is possible that you can coexist peacefully with us," he continued. "But for now... I'm afraid Edythe cannot attend school until this is over."

"What?!" Edythe shot up to her feet, staring at him in ernest. "What do you mean...? You said I could! Please, Father! Don't take me out of school!"

"Being in the public eye will not help our chances," said Carlisle firmly, turning to his "daughter". "The farther you are away from humans, the better. Once the nomads are gone, you can resume school."

"This isn't fair!" said Edythe. "I've been controlling myself for months now! Please let me stay!"

"That is my final word," said Carlisle, his voice raising dangerously. There was a silence, and Edythe looked away. "Now then. Be so kind as to take Miss Swan home, please. It's still rather dark out." He signaled for them to leave, and Bella stood, Edythe once more taking her hand and leading her out of the house in a fit. She grumbled to herself, stomping out and slamming the door behind her. She then turned and shrieked at the house, her fangs bared in anger. Bella backed off, covering her ears at the sound. Edythe panted then, unaware that she was even watching her. She looked to the side and kicked a tree, knocking it to the ground.

"I hate you!" she screamed at the house. Bella jumped, pressing herself to the tree and staring at her. This was scaring her more then the night she fed. After seething a little longer, Edythe calmed and turned her eyes to hers. She sighed and walked over, head low. "Sorry," she apologized. "I'm just angry..." Bella didn't move. Edythe looked away and knelt down. "I'll take you home." Slowly, Bella got onto her back, and she once more thrust upward, hopping from tree top to tree top until she landed in front of Bella's house. Shakily, she slipped down, glad she kept her footing this time. She looked at her timidly.

"Why do you want to be in school so much...?" she asked, careful about what she said. She paused and looked at her for a minute, before turning away.

"It's a long story," she said simply. There was a silence between the two. Edythe turned back to her. "Do you want me to walk you in?" Bella looked to the house and sighed.

"Yeah... ok..." Her eyes then lingered to the driveway. A frown came to her face. "Charlie's not home..." Indeed, the police cruiser was no where to be found. Bella didn't like that. Especially because it was getting particularly late. They walked up to the porch and Bella once more allowed her inside. She looked around for any note, but none were in sight. He didn't even stop by to grab some left over dinner... Maybe he had gone to a diner? Probably... This was starting to worry Bella... The phone rang, causing her to jump. She was still jittery from the meeting with the Cullens. She rushed to the phone, hoping it was Charlie on the other line. But instead, it was Steve – one of Charlie's deputies.

"Bella? Hey... did I wake ya?"

"No," said Bella quickly. "No, you didn't. How's dad?" A sigh came out of the other line.

"In the hospital... He's been attacked by somethin'."

"By what...?" Bella's heart pounded in her chest. Though she already knew the answer. "Steve... Steve, listen... When you found Dad, was he wearing a cross?" The deputy was confused. "Was my dad wearing a crucifix at all? Around his neck?! Please tell me if he was!" She leaned forward on the counter and stopped, feeling something beneath her palm. Lifting her hand and looking down, the phone slipped from her palm.

The golden cross was laying there beneath her hand.