My Path To You
by Wizardtho
Chapter 6:
I shook my head as I cupped Carlisle's cheek. His eyes closed as he leaned into my touch, so I whispered, “You're safe now, Carlisle. I swear if I would have had a way to warn you, I would have called you the second I knew.”
Carlisle's eyes opened, seeking mine in confusion as he wiped the silent tears from my cheeks. He pulled me the rest of the way to him, then wrapped me in his arms, whispering, “What happened to you, Sweet Angel? What happened to make you think you could have stopped me from being hurt?”
I let out a long shaky breath, then whispered, “Let's start a fire. Then I promise to tell you everything.”
Once we were settled with the fold-back doors closed again, I remembered, “Oh, before I forget. The perimeter of the house is sound-proof. That's why I wanted to wait to talk here. If any of the outside doors or windows are open, that rule doesn't apply. When they're closed, anything said in the house can't be heard outside, even with the wolves pressing their ears to them and me singing at the top of my lungs. They couldn't even hear the alarm going off while the doors were closed.”
Carlisle chuckled, “Amazing. You always had a brilliant mind, Bella, and it's truly wonderful to see the physical proof.”
I smiled as I got a fire going, saying, “I'll show you on the property schematics, but there are cameras and sensors covering every millimeter of the perimeter of the property and the grounds inside it; I have the highest security known to man. I can literally lock down tighter than Fort Knox here. There's a hidden safe room for me in case of an emergency, but as soon as the perimeter alarm goes off, I can lock the whole house down to where the windows and doors are covered by thick sheets of titanium. One button is all it takes for any tv in the house to let me know where and what made the alarm go off.”
Carlisle smiled widely, then pulled me into a hug. I sighed at the contact, snuggled my cheek into his chest, then started telling him my story. “I knew none of you would stay. When he came to tell me you all were leaving, I knew none of you would stay behind. He told me things... horrible things. I knew they were lies the minute he spoke them. The only truth he spoke was that you all had already left. It broke my heart that some of you didn't even say good-bye, but I got on with my life. I had to push myself, or I would have broken down; I missed some of you so much. I studied hard in school, graduated, and got accepted to Yale. One day, partway through senior year, the memories of you all were strong, so I made my way out to Edward's meadow. That's where Laurant found me. His eyes were a deep crimson, Carlisle, so he wasn't on the animal diet. By then, his eyes should have been -at the very least- tinged orange from his time in Denali.”
I felt Carlisle nod and kiss the top of my head, but he didn't speak, so I continued. “He told me I was lucky he found me... that he'd make it quick. Just as he was millimeters from my throat, he said something about a mate-for-mate vendetta, but I couldn't understand everything with how loud the wolves growls were. They saved me from Laurant, which is how I found out about them. They took me in as one of their own from then on, and when I wasn't at school, sleeping, or working, I was on the rez. Everything was quiet after that.”
I teared up as my next words came out. “Charlie, Renee, and Phil had the biggest smiles on their faces at graduation. They were ecstatic about me getting a full scholarship to more than one ivy league college. Though Charlie was sad that I was leaving so soon after coming to live with him, I could see clearly on their faces how proud the three of them were for me.”
I sat up, took a long slow sip of my drink, then said, “Classes started, and I was honestly thriving. I was at the top of all of my classes, working hard toward my degree. Then one day, I was called to the dean's office as I walked through the door of one of my classes. The professor was worried when he told me it was an emergency. I was thinking that something was wrong with the class load I had applied for, but when Dean Harper ushered me into his office, my heart stopped. Henry, Charlie's Deputy Chief, was standing in the office... there was only one reason he would fly all the way out to Connecticut.”
Carlisle took my free hand, holding it tenderly in both of his. I cleared my throat before whispering, “It was Victoria. She killed Charlie on the one year anniversary to the day Edward left me in the woods... in the exact spot that he left me.”
Carlisle's eyes held horror at my statement, so I nodded, “It was labeled as an animal attack, so I called the wolves while waiting at the airport. I begged Sam to check the woods where Charlie was found… to call me back to let me know. He told me it was the same female that had been trying to get onto the rez while I was in school. I didn't know she had been trying to get to me, but unknowingly, the wolves had kept me safe throughout most of my senior year. Something clicked with the way he said it, so Laurant's words 'mate-for-mate' rang through my head. I begged him to tell me that it wasn't a fiery red-headed female with a weird fur coat, which caused Sam to ask how I knew her. After telling him I promised to explain once the pack and elders were gathered, I asked him to meet me at the station with some of the pack, since that's where Henry was going first. Needless to say, it was a horrible and very long night.”
Carlisle wiped my tears with one hand, then cupped my cheek with it as I said, “I stayed with Sam and Emily while I tended to Charlie's affairs, but I was worried because I couldn't get a hold of Renee and Phil. I called and called them, letting them know to come, leaving messages on both of their cells and the house machine. They never not answered when I called... even in the middle of the night... so I knew something was wrong. I called the Jacksonville police station -the one only a few miles from their house. I explained who I was, who Charlie and Phil were. I begged them to go check to make sure Renee and Phil were alright. I asked them just to quickly stop by, check to make sure they were okay, and let them know I was worried. Phil had gotten picked up in the major leagues, so I was hoping that between me being a police chief's daughter and a major league baseball player's step-daughter, they would take me seriously. They didn't, though. It took one of Phil's team members calling and asking them to check before they did... several days later.”
Tears poured down my face. Carlisle gently pulled me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. I laid my head on his shoulder as I continued, “They were held captive by Victoria in the grove of trees on their property. She tortured them for days before she killed them, Carlisle. Their times of death weren't until a few hours before Phil's team called the station to have them check.”
Carlisle's breath hitched, so I lifted my head to look at him, “I know they wouldn't have been able to stop her from killing them, but maybe it would have tripped her up a bit if she knew they were being looked in on. The Jacksonville department called me while all of the rez family and a lot of the other high-ranking police officers Charlie knew were at his house after the service.”
I smiled sadly while noting, “Charlie's house was packed full of police uniforms and Quileutes... just like his life. Anyway, I got irate when they were telling me that Renee and Phil were dead. I told them that if their times of death were after my call was made, they would be looking at the biggest lawsuit they'd ever seen.”
Carlisle let out a heavy breath, but I continued, “Andy Johnson, the chief in Seattle? He was right there, so he took my phone. He explained who he was, what was happening, and asked several questions. When he was done, I just knew, because he told the officer that I had the police backing of half the state of Washington in my living room. He stated would personally be out the next day with me to tend to Renee and Phil's affairs, and that a suit would be filed. Once everyone left, I called Charlie's lawyer, who I had already been in contact with more than once. I needed to prepare him for what was getting ready to happen. I signed and faxed him my notes on the calls to Jacksonville, along with the release for him to pull my cell records, then flew out the next morning with one of the pack and Andy.”
My glass was empty, along with Carlisle's, so I stood to take them both back to the bar. After pouring our refills, I grabbed a tray. I loaded the bottle, our drinks, and a box of tissues on it. I took the tray with me back to Carlisle, handed him his drink, then wiped my face with a tissue before curling back into his side.
I sighed as I explained, “Our flights and the layover were horrible, so by the time our 11-hour trip was done, I was severely cranky. Paul dashed off to Starbucks as soon as we were in the terminal. I practically pounced him in a death hug, knowing I still had a long night ahead. Gavin Reynolds, Charlie's lawyer, was on speakerphone on my cell the whole time we tried to figure out what their story was. By the time we left the station and got in the rental car, I knew that they were pussyfooting. It was confirmed when we got the coroner's report, which showed that they were tortured for several days between the time they were taken captive and the time they died. I immediately got him on the ball about the case as we went to Renee and Phil's house.”
He gave me a raised eyebrow, but I shook my head, saying, “Since the house was undisturbed and the alarm never went off, the house was cleared. The grove, on the other hand, was taped as a crime scene. The whole house smelled so much like them when we got there, that I broke down in the entry. I got a hold of myself before asking if Andy could look through the study desk for their lawyer's number. As soon as he was out of sight, I told Paul we needed to check the grove out as soon as Andy was down for the night. When we did, Paul caught a faint hint of Victoria's scent in the tree she tied them to. He climbed it to find a letter from her... written in Renee and Phil's blood. She was sick, Carlisle. I'll never be able to erase the sight of that note from my mind. She told me she knew it wasn't the forest, but she couldn't resist the symbolism. She had thought about waiting until September rolled around again, but the opportunity to take two more people away from me so soon after Charlie, it was irresistible to her. She told me not to worry, though, because she was nowhere near done with me yet.”
Recognition lit in Carlisle's eyes, so I nodded. “If I would have had a way, I would have warned you all that very second, I swear. Edward took everything I had -as far as physical evidence of your family ever being in my life- when he left me that day... including erasing your numbers from my phone. Anyway, I sold both properties. Sam and Emily were gracious enough to take me in. I called Dean Harper right after I called the lawyer the night of Charlie's funeral, asking about my scholarship since I had the feeling I would need to postpone my schooling because of the possibility of a suit. He told me he would have to call a review hearing, so I flew out for it about a month after returning to Forks from Jacksonville. That was around the time I closed on both properties, and I was neck-deep in lawyer meetings for the lawsuit. I was lucky enough to get Yale to transfer me to WSU's online degree program, and achieved my masters in 3 years.”
Carlisle smiled at me, then I said, “I got my degree the week after the finalization of the trial. That's why I was surprised you didn't know. At first, I figured Alice would have known, then when the case went national, it was all over the news, tabloids, and radio. I couldn’t remember going a full week without seeing our faces or hearing our names, because the trial was so big. It hurt that none of you called, but I had so much going on, that I couldn't worry about it at that point. With Edward erasing all of your numbers from my phone, I couldn't even try to call. Then with no one contacting to ask if I was okay or give condolences, it seemed none of you cared.”
I took a breath, shook my head, then finally said, “Anyway, Victoria was quiet from the time I got her letter until tonight... at least, she was on my end. After I received my degree, I went for my license in Washington state. My first project was my anniversary present to Sam and Emily. I had planned to have an addition built to their small house for them as a thank you for taking me in, being that they always held pack meetings and such there. It was completed in a few short months. Upon completion, Sam figured that maybe since there hadn't been a trace of Victoria this whole time, I could start venturing out slowly. I did, and when it was clear that she wasn't making a move, I made one.”
I smirked as Carlisle looked at me worriedly, “No, Silly Vampire. Not that kind of move. I bought this property, then finished designing this house to have it built.”
Carlisle chuckled as he let a relieved breath out, then I said, “It took almost the next two years to have this place built to my specifications. When the construction and security companies I hired saw the plans for the first time, they thought I was insane. As soon as they realized who I was, though, they didn't say another word about all of the 'extra features' going into the house. Aaand, that brings us to now.”
Carlisle smiled while cupping my cheek, then shook his head as he whispered, “We never should have listened to him. We didn't want to go, Bella. Edward came back from dropping you off after your party, saying that you realized how dangerous it truly was for us to be around you... that you wished to have no further contact with us. He looked so broken up. I always feared our nature would be our downfall with you, so I foolishly believed him.”
I held his hand to my cheek, saying seriously, “Never. Though I may have been Edward's girlfriend, I cared for everyone in that house... some more than others, but I cared for all of you. I could never have wanted you to leave. I think putting you back together tonight proved that.”
Something hit me then, so my eyes went wide as I hurriedly said, “Shit... Jasper. You have to contact him, Carlisle. He isn't safe out there.”
He smiled as he kissed my forehead, then said, “Shh... calm down, Sweet Angel. I called Jasper before I returned from my hunt to let him know what transpired. He knows I am safe and healing, but I did not know if you would want us to stay. I can text him the safe code to let him know to call me, if you wish for him to come.”
I nodded emphatically, “Yes... hurry, please. I don't want him out there without backup, and you're not healed enough for an altercation yet.”
I shook my head as I cupped Carlisle's cheek. His eyes closed as he leaned into my touch, so I whispered, “You're safe now, Carlisle. I swear if I would have had a way to warn you, I would have called you the second I knew.”
Carlisle's eyes opened, seeking mine in confusion as he wiped the silent tears from my cheeks. He pulled me the rest of the way to him, then wrapped me in his arms, whispering, “What happened to you, Sweet Angel? What happened to make you think you could have stopped me from being hurt?”
I let out a long shaky breath, then whispered, “Let's start a fire. Then I promise to tell you everything.”
Once we were settled with the fold-back doors closed again, I remembered, “Oh, before I forget. The perimeter of the house is sound-proof. That's why I wanted to wait to talk here. If any of the outside doors or windows are open, that rule doesn't apply. When they're closed, anything said in the house can't be heard outside, even with the wolves pressing their ears to them and me singing at the top of my lungs. They couldn't even hear the alarm going off while the doors were closed.”
Carlisle chuckled, “Amazing. You always had a brilliant mind, Bella, and it's truly wonderful to see the physical proof.”
I smiled as I got a fire going, saying, “I'll show you on the property schematics, but there are cameras and sensors covering every millimeter of the perimeter of the property and the grounds inside it; I have the highest security known to man. I can literally lock down tighter than Fort Knox here. There's a hidden safe room for me in case of an emergency, but as soon as the perimeter alarm goes off, I can lock the whole house down to where the windows and doors are covered by thick sheets of titanium. One button is all it takes for any tv in the house to let me know where and what made the alarm go off.”
Carlisle smiled widely, then pulled me into a hug. I sighed at the contact, snuggled my cheek into his chest, then started telling him my story. “I knew none of you would stay. When he came to tell me you all were leaving, I knew none of you would stay behind. He told me things... horrible things. I knew they were lies the minute he spoke them. The only truth he spoke was that you all had already left. It broke my heart that some of you didn't even say good-bye, but I got on with my life. I had to push myself, or I would have broken down; I missed some of you so much. I studied hard in school, graduated, and got accepted to Yale. One day, partway through senior year, the memories of you all were strong, so I made my way out to Edward's meadow. That's where Laurant found me. His eyes were a deep crimson, Carlisle, so he wasn't on the animal diet. By then, his eyes should have been -at the very least- tinged orange from his time in Denali.”
I felt Carlisle nod and kiss the top of my head, but he didn't speak, so I continued. “He told me I was lucky he found me... that he'd make it quick. Just as he was millimeters from my throat, he said something about a mate-for-mate vendetta, but I couldn't understand everything with how loud the wolves growls were. They saved me from Laurant, which is how I found out about them. They took me in as one of their own from then on, and when I wasn't at school, sleeping, or working, I was on the rez. Everything was quiet after that.”
I teared up as my next words came out. “Charlie, Renee, and Phil had the biggest smiles on their faces at graduation. They were ecstatic about me getting a full scholarship to more than one ivy league college. Though Charlie was sad that I was leaving so soon after coming to live with him, I could see clearly on their faces how proud the three of them were for me.”
I sat up, took a long slow sip of my drink, then said, “Classes started, and I was honestly thriving. I was at the top of all of my classes, working hard toward my degree. Then one day, I was called to the dean's office as I walked through the door of one of my classes. The professor was worried when he told me it was an emergency. I was thinking that something was wrong with the class load I had applied for, but when Dean Harper ushered me into his office, my heart stopped. Henry, Charlie's Deputy Chief, was standing in the office... there was only one reason he would fly all the way out to Connecticut.”
Carlisle took my free hand, holding it tenderly in both of his. I cleared my throat before whispering, “It was Victoria. She killed Charlie on the one year anniversary to the day Edward left me in the woods... in the exact spot that he left me.”
Carlisle's eyes held horror at my statement, so I nodded, “It was labeled as an animal attack, so I called the wolves while waiting at the airport. I begged Sam to check the woods where Charlie was found… to call me back to let me know. He told me it was the same female that had been trying to get onto the rez while I was in school. I didn't know she had been trying to get to me, but unknowingly, the wolves had kept me safe throughout most of my senior year. Something clicked with the way he said it, so Laurant's words 'mate-for-mate' rang through my head. I begged him to tell me that it wasn't a fiery red-headed female with a weird fur coat, which caused Sam to ask how I knew her. After telling him I promised to explain once the pack and elders were gathered, I asked him to meet me at the station with some of the pack, since that's where Henry was going first. Needless to say, it was a horrible and very long night.”
Carlisle wiped my tears with one hand, then cupped my cheek with it as I said, “I stayed with Sam and Emily while I tended to Charlie's affairs, but I was worried because I couldn't get a hold of Renee and Phil. I called and called them, letting them know to come, leaving messages on both of their cells and the house machine. They never not answered when I called... even in the middle of the night... so I knew something was wrong. I called the Jacksonville police station -the one only a few miles from their house. I explained who I was, who Charlie and Phil were. I begged them to go check to make sure Renee and Phil were alright. I asked them just to quickly stop by, check to make sure they were okay, and let them know I was worried. Phil had gotten picked up in the major leagues, so I was hoping that between me being a police chief's daughter and a major league baseball player's step-daughter, they would take me seriously. They didn't, though. It took one of Phil's team members calling and asking them to check before they did... several days later.”
Tears poured down my face. Carlisle gently pulled me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. I laid my head on his shoulder as I continued, “They were held captive by Victoria in the grove of trees on their property. She tortured them for days before she killed them, Carlisle. Their times of death weren't until a few hours before Phil's team called the station to have them check.”
Carlisle's breath hitched, so I lifted my head to look at him, “I know they wouldn't have been able to stop her from killing them, but maybe it would have tripped her up a bit if she knew they were being looked in on. The Jacksonville department called me while all of the rez family and a lot of the other high-ranking police officers Charlie knew were at his house after the service.”
I smiled sadly while noting, “Charlie's house was packed full of police uniforms and Quileutes... just like his life. Anyway, I got irate when they were telling me that Renee and Phil were dead. I told them that if their times of death were after my call was made, they would be looking at the biggest lawsuit they'd ever seen.”
Carlisle let out a heavy breath, but I continued, “Andy Johnson, the chief in Seattle? He was right there, so he took my phone. He explained who he was, what was happening, and asked several questions. When he was done, I just knew, because he told the officer that I had the police backing of half the state of Washington in my living room. He stated would personally be out the next day with me to tend to Renee and Phil's affairs, and that a suit would be filed. Once everyone left, I called Charlie's lawyer, who I had already been in contact with more than once. I needed to prepare him for what was getting ready to happen. I signed and faxed him my notes on the calls to Jacksonville, along with the release for him to pull my cell records, then flew out the next morning with one of the pack and Andy.”
My glass was empty, along with Carlisle's, so I stood to take them both back to the bar. After pouring our refills, I grabbed a tray. I loaded the bottle, our drinks, and a box of tissues on it. I took the tray with me back to Carlisle, handed him his drink, then wiped my face with a tissue before curling back into his side.
I sighed as I explained, “Our flights and the layover were horrible, so by the time our 11-hour trip was done, I was severely cranky. Paul dashed off to Starbucks as soon as we were in the terminal. I practically pounced him in a death hug, knowing I still had a long night ahead. Gavin Reynolds, Charlie's lawyer, was on speakerphone on my cell the whole time we tried to figure out what their story was. By the time we left the station and got in the rental car, I knew that they were pussyfooting. It was confirmed when we got the coroner's report, which showed that they were tortured for several days between the time they were taken captive and the time they died. I immediately got him on the ball about the case as we went to Renee and Phil's house.”
He gave me a raised eyebrow, but I shook my head, saying, “Since the house was undisturbed and the alarm never went off, the house was cleared. The grove, on the other hand, was taped as a crime scene. The whole house smelled so much like them when we got there, that I broke down in the entry. I got a hold of myself before asking if Andy could look through the study desk for their lawyer's number. As soon as he was out of sight, I told Paul we needed to check the grove out as soon as Andy was down for the night. When we did, Paul caught a faint hint of Victoria's scent in the tree she tied them to. He climbed it to find a letter from her... written in Renee and Phil's blood. She was sick, Carlisle. I'll never be able to erase the sight of that note from my mind. She told me she knew it wasn't the forest, but she couldn't resist the symbolism. She had thought about waiting until September rolled around again, but the opportunity to take two more people away from me so soon after Charlie, it was irresistible to her. She told me not to worry, though, because she was nowhere near done with me yet.”
Recognition lit in Carlisle's eyes, so I nodded. “If I would have had a way, I would have warned you all that very second, I swear. Edward took everything I had -as far as physical evidence of your family ever being in my life- when he left me that day... including erasing your numbers from my phone. Anyway, I sold both properties. Sam and Emily were gracious enough to take me in. I called Dean Harper right after I called the lawyer the night of Charlie's funeral, asking about my scholarship since I had the feeling I would need to postpone my schooling because of the possibility of a suit. He told me he would have to call a review hearing, so I flew out for it about a month after returning to Forks from Jacksonville. That was around the time I closed on both properties, and I was neck-deep in lawyer meetings for the lawsuit. I was lucky enough to get Yale to transfer me to WSU's online degree program, and achieved my masters in 3 years.”
Carlisle smiled at me, then I said, “I got my degree the week after the finalization of the trial. That's why I was surprised you didn't know. At first, I figured Alice would have known, then when the case went national, it was all over the news, tabloids, and radio. I couldn’t remember going a full week without seeing our faces or hearing our names, because the trial was so big. It hurt that none of you called, but I had so much going on, that I couldn't worry about it at that point. With Edward erasing all of your numbers from my phone, I couldn't even try to call. Then with no one contacting to ask if I was okay or give condolences, it seemed none of you cared.”
I took a breath, shook my head, then finally said, “Anyway, Victoria was quiet from the time I got her letter until tonight... at least, she was on my end. After I received my degree, I went for my license in Washington state. My first project was my anniversary present to Sam and Emily. I had planned to have an addition built to their small house for them as a thank you for taking me in, being that they always held pack meetings and such there. It was completed in a few short months. Upon completion, Sam figured that maybe since there hadn't been a trace of Victoria this whole time, I could start venturing out slowly. I did, and when it was clear that she wasn't making a move, I made one.”
I smirked as Carlisle looked at me worriedly, “No, Silly Vampire. Not that kind of move. I bought this property, then finished designing this house to have it built.”
Carlisle chuckled as he let a relieved breath out, then I said, “It took almost the next two years to have this place built to my specifications. When the construction and security companies I hired saw the plans for the first time, they thought I was insane. As soon as they realized who I was, though, they didn't say another word about all of the 'extra features' going into the house. Aaand, that brings us to now.”
Carlisle smiled while cupping my cheek, then shook his head as he whispered, “We never should have listened to him. We didn't want to go, Bella. Edward came back from dropping you off after your party, saying that you realized how dangerous it truly was for us to be around you... that you wished to have no further contact with us. He looked so broken up. I always feared our nature would be our downfall with you, so I foolishly believed him.”
I held his hand to my cheek, saying seriously, “Never. Though I may have been Edward's girlfriend, I cared for everyone in that house... some more than others, but I cared for all of you. I could never have wanted you to leave. I think putting you back together tonight proved that.”
Something hit me then, so my eyes went wide as I hurriedly said, “Shit... Jasper. You have to contact him, Carlisle. He isn't safe out there.”
He smiled as he kissed my forehead, then said, “Shh... calm down, Sweet Angel. I called Jasper before I returned from my hunt to let him know what transpired. He knows I am safe and healing, but I did not know if you would want us to stay. I can text him the safe code to let him know to call me, if you wish for him to come.”
I nodded emphatically, “Yes... hurry, please. I don't want him out there without backup, and you're not healed enough for an altercation yet.”