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Chapter Three:
Impossible Possibilities
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They had communicated with the rest of their family at home and explained with as little detail as possible what had happened.
Carlisle had decided it would be best of he and Esme were the ones to deliver the news to Charlie.
…
It had been a half an hour since he had told Charlie what had transpired while his daughter had been in Italy with Edward and Alice.
Bella had been kidnapped after she decided to take a midnight stroll on her own while Edward showered and Alice rested after the full day shopping excursion. Something Alice had insisted upon as soon as they had arrived in Rome. They ran outside as they heard the tired squeal away in search of Bella but all they had found was her scarf. Authorities had been contacted immediately and a full on search had been done. Trained dogs had been put on her trail and none rested till she was found...but, by the time they had, it had been too late. The kidnappers had fled the scene and their trail had gone cold.
Charlie had gone pale, and was still silent. His eyes, unseeing, were set on the wall in front of him. Esme's quiet sobs were the only thing that could be heard. Carlisle listened carefully as Charlie's breathing finally began to quicken, the shock of the news finally setting on, allowing for his breakdown.
"My Baby girl...My Bells...gone...she's go-ooone." Charlie's sobs were cracking at Carlisle's calm demeanor.
Esme made her way to the broken man and held him to her, allowing him to hold her as tightly as s\he needed to find a slight console for this inconsolable situation.
After they mourned for a few more moments, Carlisle revealed he had a Hearst from the local funeral parlor paid for and waiting, that the arrangements were awaiting to be prepared and for Charlie not to worry. That it would all be taken care of.
All Charlie could do is nod, allowing fo r a moment of numbness to help him deal with the heavy emotional moment.
Charlie voiced his need for his friends but when he got to the kitchen and lifted the receiver he froze, "for the life of me, I cant remember my best friend's home number." breaking down once again, "Bella would have...she always remembered."
Esme took a hold of him while Carlisle dialed the number and prepared to speak to the Chief of the Quileutes in behalf of their friend.
"Black residence." A gloom rough voice responded.
"Good evening, May I speak to Billy Black, Please." Carlisle asked politely.
"He's unavailable. Preparing for a funeral." The response shocked the good doctor.
How could they know? "Hello? Still there?" The voice on the other side asked, that's when Carlisle noticed he had not said a word.
"um...yes. It is very gracious of him on planning to do so, but the preparation have not begin as of yet since the...remains are still en-route. I was merely calling to request his presence in behalf of Charlie in this harsh times." He relayed.
"What are you talking about? The preparations for Jacob's funeral have been arranged for this evening at dusk. Charlie should be here for HIS friend. Who am I talking to? Is this your idea of a bad joke?" The voice on the other side said, getting more and more agitated as the man spoke.
Oh my god... "I am Carlisle Cullen, calling in behalf of Charlie, who in this moment in time seems to share in Billy's sorrow more than any of us would wish, and I was calling to request for Billy to accompany him in his moment of pain...but I see that they might find company in misery for each other in this case." Carlisle said with a heavy cold heart.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LEECH? WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLIE?" The man demanded. Voices behind him asking what was happening and begging for him to calm down.
Carlisle took in an unnecessary long breath and let out a heavy sigh before speaking, "I am saddened to inform you of the death of Miss Isabella Swan. I was mistaken. I thought you were speaking of her funeral arrangements which are yet to be prepared since her body arrives later today from Italy."
"YOU...ARE DEAD! DO YOU HEAR ME, LEECH!
DEAD! SAM! THEY BROKE TH-!" The other mans voice was cut as the line went dead.
Carlisle hung the receiver and hung his head.
What a predicament. He found that with his extensive experience and knowledge, he didn't know what to do...and he was so...exhausted. He allowed himself this moment of weakness sobbed silently for his inability to have stopped this entire ordeal form the beginning. He should have stopped Edward from going leaving. He should have stopped him from seeking the aid of the Volturi. At the very least, he should have stopped Alice from going to Forks.
He excused himself and left an alarmed Esme consoling an inconsolable Charlie and walked into the path behind the Swan house to attempt explaining the precarious mess Bella had walked into when she went to Italy to save Edward.
He sat on the moist ground, legs bent, elbows on his knees, head hanging low, and leaning on a tree.
He felt their thundering paws, signaling their approach.
Then suddenly, "Hey Cullen! Where is the rest of your coven? Or did they leave you nere to pay for their sins all by yourself?" The same voice from the phone taunted.
"PAUL!" An authoritarian voice he was familiar with yelled.
"My wife is inside with the chief, offering a shoulder to cry on, Two of my children are on a plane to Sea Tac from Italy with Isabella's body and the rest at at my home. I am here to explain, not that it will do any good." Carlisle replied, resigned as to his coming fate.
"I am having a hard time understanding here, Cullen. The treaty clearly stated that if any member of your cov-" Sam began to demand, but uncharacteristically erratic, Carlisle began to scream in agony.
"SHE GAVE HERSELF TO SAVE ALL OF OUR PATHETIC LIVES! YOURS! OURS! AND EVERYONE THAT LIVES AND EVER HAD CONTACT WITH HER! THE VOLTURI MUTILATED HER AND TORTURED HER FOR THEIR OWN SADISTIC PLEASURE! AND SHE DID IT WILLINGLY! FOR A BLOODY TREATY OF HER OWN! So if you are going to kill me, just...please, wait till I have taken care of the arrangements for her funeral. Let me at least do as much." Carlisle begged at the end of his rant.
The pack was rendered silent after his speech.
Suddenly some thing clicked, and it felt wrong...
so, so wrong! "What do you mean mu-" Embry began, but choked back a sob, remembering what had happened to his best friend, "mu-mutilated?", like the word got stuck on his throat.
"I can't give you much in regards to answers. I am yet to understand the specifics myself, not that it matters. Edward only revealed to me that Alice has yet to speak after what she witnessed Bella go through. That the horrors are in a loop in her mind...and the tale is filled with such terrors which would make the heavens weep." The vampire said sounding exhausted.
"It matters because our brother was maimed, tortured and killed by some unforeseen force...and it just so happens that Bella shared the same fate? I don't buy into coincidences!" Embry retaliated.
"I don't believe it." Sam muttered, in shock of what he had just heard, "its not possible."
His whispered plea called the eyes of all around him.
"What is it Sam?" Paul asked, concerned for his alpha.
Sam began to retreat slowly, his eyes widening in terror, glancing at his brothers, catching Jared's eye.
"Oh shit!" Jared whispered, then yelled, "no FUCKING WAY! WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN, SAM!"
"WHAT-TA FUCK IS GOING ON? WHAT'S IMPOSSIBLE?" Embry said, barely holding on to his shape.
"the imprint."