Chapter 70

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Nate gently pushed open the study door, allowing Alice to step in first. The scent of wood and old books filled the air, mixed with the gray forest light filtering through the tall windows, illuminating shelves lined with impeccably ordered volumes.

Carlisle stood behind his desk, reviewing some papers with a calm expression. He looked up as he noticed their presence, and for a moment, Nate paused to observe him: the serenity in his gestures, the softness in his golden eyes, and that quiet aura that seemed to permeate the space.

Carlisle set the papers aside before circling the desk with silent steps, extending his hand to Nate with a genuine smile.

"Nathaniel," he said warmly, "thank you for taking the trouble to come."

Nate shook his hand firmly, noting the coldness of his touch.

"Just Nate is fine. It's good to see you again, doctor," he replied politely.

Carlisle nodded before gently releasing his hand. "First, allow me to apologize," he continued, a note of sincerity in his gaze. "Originally, I thought it would be more comfortable for you to speak in a more public setting, but I chose to call you here to reassure my family. They… feel somewhat uneasy with this situation. I'm sure you understand that, due to our lifestyle and nature, it is uncomfortable for us when outsiders know our secret."

Nate inclined his head slightly, keeping his composure as he cast a quick glance at Alice, who stood to the side with her hands clasped behind her back, observing the exchange with a light smile.

"I understand," Nate replied, a hint of honesty in his voice. "Based on what Alice told me about you and your family… I had already imagined that. I won't lie: I'm not entirely comfortable," he added with a touch of dry humor in his smile, "but I think, based on what I've seen from the Cullens, you've earned the benefit of the doubt."

Alice smiled softly, lowering her gaze slightly, while a spark of relief crossed Carlisle's golden eyes.

"Thank you, Nate," Carlisle said warmly before turning to Alice. "Alice, if you'd like, you can wait for us outside. I just want to clarify a few points with Nate."

He said it with that paternal smile that seemed to soften any tension in the room, but Nate caught the slight tightening of Alice's shoulders before she let out a light laugh.

"I'll stay out of the conversation," she replied lightly, then turned to Nate, raising an eyebrow with playful humor. "But I'll stay here."

For a moment, Nate's eyes met Alice's. He said nothing, but inwardly, he silently thanked her for keeping her word and not leaving him alone. Though he didn't feel afraid, Alice's gesture was comforting.

Carlisle let out a small laugh, a low sound that filled the study with warmth.

"All right, Alice," he conceded, before gesturing for Nate to take a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of the desk.

Nate settled in, resting an arm on the armrest, his back straight, and his gaze fixed on Carlisle. Alice leaned against a nearby bookshelf, watching them with a calm smile, though her eyes remained alert.

Carlisle returned to his seat behind the desk, carefully arranging the papers before clasping his hands over them, sitting calmly with no trace of aggression.

"There are several matters we need to address, Nate," he said serenely.

Nate nodded seriously, maintaining eye contact.

"First of all," Carlisle continued, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "I want to congratulate you. You are, by far, one of the humans who has impressed me the most in a very, very long time."

Nate raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised, though he kept his expression composed.

"Not only did you discover my family's secret," Carlisle continued, in a tone mixing admiration and honesty, "but you managed to outwit someone like Edward… who has the gift of reading minds. You even managed to turn his ability against him."

Nate offered a modest smile.

"Honestly… I was very lucky," he said quietly. "Maybe without Bella's presence, which rattled Edward so much, I wouldn't have discovered the second part… his gift." His gaze flickered briefly to Alice, who watched him from the side with a discreet smile, before returning to Carlisle. "But the truth is… There are things your children do that, to an observant eye, are strange. Small gestures, really. They don't eat, they don't interact with anyone, not even on a superficial level, and their absences on sunny days are too obvious. All it would take is someone with a slightly open mind to form a… crazy theory."

Carlisle smiled softly, a gesture tinged with nostalgia as his golden eyes reflected a faint glint under the gray forest light.

"We choose to blend in with humans because it helps us remember why we live the way we do, but it also carries a risk, which is why we prefer not to get too close," he said with a sigh. "Although I admit we should be better at it. After living so long… one inevitably lets their guard down a bit," he added with a calm hint of humor, letting out another sigh as his gaze drifted for a moment.

Nate watched him silently for a second, sensing the stillness surrounding the Cullen family's leader, before leaning forward slightly, resting an arm on his knee.

"If I may say so, doctor," he said calmly, with sincerity reflected in his voice, "I admire the path you've chosen… despite your nature."

Carlisle was silent for a moment after Nate's words until a small, warm smile formed on his face.

"Thank you, Nate," he said sincerely, his gaze reflecting a gentle light. "I'm proud of the family I have. My wife and children… they're my greatest joy. It took me centuries to build the life we have, but every moment, every sacrifice, has been worth it."

Nate, watching him attentively, tilted his head slightly, curiosity showing as he crossed one foot over the other.

"How did you come to live this way?" he asked with genuine interest. "Feeding on animals, helping people, living like this."

Carlisle let out a sigh, though there was no regret in his gaze, only reflection.

"It wasn't easy," he began calmly, resting one arm on the desk while his other hand toyed with a piece of paper. "Centuries ago, when I was human, my father hunted what he considered monsters: witches, werewolves, vampires… anything that strayed from his interpretation of righteousness."

Nate raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Is it possible for a human… to hunt a vampire?" he asked with genuine curiosity, tilting his head just a bit.

Carlisle offered a small smile, though his gaze turned serious.

"As far as I know, no," he answered honestly. "Even for a vampire, it's difficult to kill one of our kind. You have to dismember them and burn the remains to ensure they can't reassemble." His fingers paused on the desk as his gaze drifted briefly before refocusing on Nate. "My father was actually a church pastor. But blinded by ignorance and fanaticism, he ended up killing many innocent people under the pretense of hunting witches or dark creatures… until, by pure misfortune, they encountered a real one."

Silence fell in the room, interrupted only by the patter of rain against the glass.

"And it was then…?" Nate murmured, his tone soft, though he was processing every word carefully.

Carlisle nodded slowly, his gaze calm but with a glint of old pain and nostalgia.

"Yes. That was when I was bitten," he continued with serenity, no resentment in his voice. "I was attacked by a vampire in the sewers of London while patrolling with my father's men. None of them noticed. I managed to hide during the transformation, which was… an indescribable agony."

His eyes moved briefly to Alice, as if finding silent confirmation in her of what he now valued, before returning to Nate.

"When I woke as what I am now, I understood my father had been wrong about many things, but not everything. I had become what he so despised. And I spent years running, avoiding feeding on humans by sheer willpower and the deep revulsion I felt toward what I was."

Carlisle paused, letting his words float in the humid air while Alice watched him with a gentle glint in her eyes, almost proud.

"Fortunately, I discovered I could live differently," he continued, his voice low but firm. "Feeding on animals, dedicating my existence to helping rather than destroying. It hasn't been an easy path, Nate. But each day, each sacrifice, each decision is worth it when I see my family living with dignity, with love… even with the hope of an eternity that might have meaning."

Nate remained silent, processing every word, feeling a mix of fascination and genuine respect for this man who, despite the monstrosity of his nature, had found a path to redemption through careful choices.

Carlisle held his gaze steadily, serene, before placing both hands calmly on the desk.

"That's how we came to be here, Nate," he concluded softly, while the rain continued to fall, like a constant backdrop to a story that seemed too old and too human to belong to a vampire.

A few seconds of silence settled in the room. Nate kept his eyes on Carlisle, carefully processing every word, while Alice remained quietly in her spot, arms crossed, observing them attentively.

Carlisle cleared his throat gently, inclining his head slightly before letting out a small, almost self-critical smile.

"Perhaps… we've strayed a bit from the topic," he said serenely. His gaze grew a little more serious. "Nate, there is something you need to understand about our kind."

Nate adjusted in his seat, keeping his full attention on him.

"We… have laws," Carlisle explained, calm but firm. "Laws that govern our existence, imposed by those who have proclaimed themselves the guardians of our kind. The Volturi."

Nate tilted his head slightly, curiosity visible in his eyes.

"The Volturi?" he repeated quietly, testing the name cautiously.

Carlisle nodded slowly.

"They are… a sort of royalty among us, though that term isn't entirely accurate," he explained in a low voice, his gaze drifting momentarily beyond the window as if seeing distant memories. "They live in Volterra, Italy, and for centuries they have acted as judges and enforcers of our laws. They ensure our secret remains safe."

Alice glanced at the window briefly, her face reflecting a faint shadow before refocusing on Carlisle.

"And what are these laws?" Nate asked calmly, though inwardly he felt a slight tension rise at the mention of vampiric authorities.

Carlisle looked directly into his eyes.

"The main law, the most important one that can never be broken, is that humans must not know of our existence," he said firmly, letting the words hang in the air. "For a human to discover us means… a risk to our kind, and the Volturi ensure that risk is eliminated."

Silence stretched again, heavy, while Nate blinked once, processing the weight of those words.

"If a human knows about us," Carlisle continued, a hint of regret in his voice, "there are only two options: they join us… or they are eliminated to protect the secret."

"That is why… my family feels so uneasy with your presence here, Nate," he confessed calmly, though there was a hint of weariness in his voice. "With Bella… even though Edward is against it, I know she will eventually join us. She will become one of us."

He paused for a moment, letting the words linger before continuing.

"With you, it's different. There is no certainty. You are… different. And according to the laws, the 'protocol' would be for you to be silenced permanently to maintain our secret."

Nate remained still, his eyes fixed on Carlisle, though he felt a slight tightening in his stomach at the harshness of that reality.

Carlisle breathed slowly, clasping his hands calmly while holding Nate's gaze.

"I need to be honest with you, Nate. Some in my family considered that option," he confessed frankly, not trying to soften the blow. "But Alice and Edward intervened on your behalf. They both insisted they don't believe you will reveal our secret to anyone."

Nate raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised, while analyzing Carlisle's features. He could see the transparency in his expression, the seriousness, and the weight of the confession he was not obligated to give. He took a moment before nodding, a faint glint in his eyes.

"Thank you for being honest with me," Nate said, his voice calm but sincere.

A few seconds passed before Nate leaned forward slightly, his gaze serious.

"How likely is it… that the Volturi will find out about me?" he asked serenely, though his mind was already weighing possibilities.

Carlisle exhaled softly, tilting his head.

"It's not certain, but it's a possibility," he explained cautiously. "It's not as if we have frequent contact with them. Decades can pass before we cross paths again. But… the possibility always lingers."

Nate looked away briefly, toward the window where the raindrops continued to stream in silvery threads, as he processed the silent risk hanging over his head.

Carlisle adjusted in his seat before continuing with quiet seriousness.

"There's something else you need to know, Nate," he said firmly. "Aro, one of the Volturi leaders, has a unique gift… he can read every thought, every memory, of anyone he physically touches."

Nate lifted his gaze again, his eyes fixed on Carlisle's.

"If Aro were to read the mind of any of us," Carlisle continued gravely, "he would likely discover your existence. And if that happens… it is most probable he would choose to turn you rather than allow you to remain a human who knows our secret."

Nate blinked once, absorbing the gravity of that statement before tilting his head slightly.

"Wouldn't it be easier to kill me than… educate another vampire?" he asked calmly, without fear in his voice, only cold, analytical curiosity.

Carlisle observed him silently for a moment, his golden eyes holding Nate's gaze, before a small, sad smile formed on his lips.

"It would be," he acknowledged honestly. "But Aro… craves power. He enjoys collecting talents, gathering those who could be useful to him in the future." His fingers intertwined calmly on the desk. "And you, Nate, have shown potential."

Nate raised an eyebrow slightly as he processed the weight of that statement.

"All it would take is for Aro to read one of our minds," Carlisle continued with quiet gravity, "to learn how you discovered everything you know, how you managed to notice details that no one else had seen in centuries." His gaze flickered briefly to Alice before returning to Nate. "Even if your mind alone wasn't enough to catch his attention… You also demonstrated combat skills."

Nate briefly recalled the wet, cold night in Port Angeles, the blood on his knuckles, the four unconscious men on the ground.

"When you fought to protect Bella, you demonstrated not just skill but determination and composure," Carlisle continued with a hint of respect in his voice. "Aro is a cunning man. He may see merit in turning you… and waiting for you to develop before making you part of his guard."

The study fell into a charged silence, broken only by the constant murmur of rain against the glass. Alice kept her gaze fixed on Nate, her eyes intense but calm, while her crossed arms loosened slightly as she registered his reaction.

Nate kept his gaze on Carlisle, his face serene, eyes focused.

"In your opinion, Carlisle," he said calmly, with the cold analytical clarity that surfaced in his moments of greatest focus, "how do you think I should proceed?"

Carlisle remained silent, as if weighing each word carefully before speaking. His golden eyes, so full of centuries of memory, softened as he replied.

"To me, Nate… life is sacred," he said serenely, but with firmness. "I've spent centuries trying to preserve human life whenever I can; I don't want to do the opposite, even when the laws of our kind demand it."

His gaze drifted briefly to the window before returning to Nate.

"Becoming a vampire is… the last resort," he continued with a hint of regret. "Every member of my family was turned only to save their lives, not because they wanted this existence. I believe that if you have a choice, you should live your life as a human. Have your years, grow old, fall in love, make mistakes… live each second fully while you can."

A flicker of sadness briefly crossed Alice's eyes upon hearing these words, though her posture remained firm.

Nate remained silent, absorbing each word with that impossible calm that seemed beyond his years.

"Then… the best thing we can do now is hope for the best," he finally said calmly, though his voice carried the tempered steel of someone who had already considered every possibility. "There's no sense in making a decision we don't yet need to face."

He glanced back at Carlisle, a glint of cold logic in his eyes.

"In the worst-case scenario, if the Volturi discover that I know… You can always argue you planned to turn me. That way you can protect your family," he said with a clarity that was more acceptance than fear. "As for me, I'll stay close. Even if I left, they would know I know the truth just by reading one of your minds. Running would only put a target on my back. When they find out, that will be the moment I decide whether I die… or I turn."

Alice closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling softly, while Carlisle held Nate's gaze with silent respect.

"It could also be," Carlisle replied calmly, "that decades will pass before the Volturi cross our path again. That you live a normal, full life… and this conversation becomes a memory of a possibility that never came to pass."

He let the silence settle in the room as the murmur of the rain enveloped them like a bubble of suspended time.

"At this moment, Nate," Carlisle continued with gentle firmness, "only fate will decide."

Nate's eyes remained fixed on Carlisle's, accepting that reality with unshakable calm, while Alice, from her spot, remained silent, a witness to a conversation that was far too calm for the weight of the decision hanging between them.