Chapter Eighteen

Two days passed, and there was still no word about Charlie. Every time I asked Jasper, he said he didn’t have time or clearance to the dungeons; working for Maria was taking up all his time. I didn’t think he was doing it on purpose. For a vampire, he was looking pretty beat up recently.

I thought Edward would pick up the slack, but his method was just as fruitless. He went through most of the underground reading minds, but it was as if Charlie didn’t exist. Even with every depressing “no,” I refused to think the worst. Aro wouldn’t kill him. Charlie was his bargaining chip.

I had yet to find either Jessica or Lauren, despite searching the halls and getting lost numerous times. Edward had found her once, using my description as he hunted minds. He passed her in the hall and said she looked intoxicated, drunk off her ass as she clung to a guard’s arm. It was her owner, Demetri. From the way Edward spat his name, it was obvious they had some bad blood between them. Well, at least we had one thing in common.

I hadn’t been allowed to do much besides stay in the room—“for security reasons,” Jasper said—but he should have known I wouldn’t listen. Why would I let the vampires have all the fun? I wanted to find Charlie myself, but if Edward was turning every stone and finding nothing, what could I do? I, begrudgingly, tried to ignore the situation and let the vamps do their part while I went to find the Renfield room.

I tried to retrace my steps to get back to the Renfield room, but I took a wrong turn somewhere and smacked into James and some woman. The hall was kind of dark, but I knew it was him thanks to the shine of blond hair and eye patch. I thought she was just his bloodwhore. Turned out she—Victoria—was his lover, and it wasn’t the smartest idea to insult two vampires alone.

I quickly learned that Victoria doesn’t appreciate rude humans, and if Edward hadn’t been within range, I might have gotten more than a few scratches and bruised neck. I couldn’t draw my pistol fast enough—stupid of me to only wear my pistol in the first place. She nearly suffocated me; I was light-headed, my vision was running in streamers of black and white.

Edward didn’t appreciate my near-death experience. He called it reckless, idiotic and a few words in a different language that I didn’t catch. Ultimately, I was put on lock-down for a day and a half.

So here I was, sprawled on the chaise in my room, pouting and miserable. I’d already tried to read the books in the den, but they were all about philosophy, and that wasn’t interesting one bit. There was no TV or computer in the room. Just a lot of empty space for me to wallow.

Why did I let a vamp order me around anyway? He wasn’t even here! Edward told me to stay like I was some kind of dog, walked out the door without any indication where he was going, and I hadn’t seen him since. Was he out there looking for Charlie again? No, it didn’t matter where Edward was. What mattered was that he wasn’t here to reinforce my sentence; he wouldn’t even know I left unless I got in trouble again. It was a very big possibility, but I was a gambling kind of girl. That’s how I got stuck down here to begin with.

I jumped off the chaise and went for the door. I had to get back to the Renfields’ room. I didn’t really want to go—I didn’t want to see the fear on that guy’s face again, if he was still in the room—but something Ben said had me curious. Were there videos and books of the Cullens down here? Were they spilling their life stories? If so, I wanted to know more, especially about Carlisle and Edward. They were the two giving me a headache.

I peeked outside the door; the stairwell was empty. What about the hallway beyond? Jasper had said Aro went through once, and that was to go down to his room. He had yet to come out, so he was still down there. I shut the door, going back through the room to grab my shotgun; I was going prepared this time. I left the FAMAS in the bag, but slung the Striker over my shoulder. Between that, the sword, the pistol, and a few knives, I knew I was as protected as I could be.

I left the suite and hurried down the uneven staircase, racing down the hall before Aro could even think to grab me. If he was lurking around, I didn’t want to know.

I came out in the main room with its sparkling floor and domed ceiling. Was this where I had gone wrong before? No, Edward had taken me through the pillars on the left, so that’s where I went now. I followed the hall until it turned, and then there was the staircase we climbed. I might have gone wrong around here. This hall was wider than others and full of connecting hallways, but I thought it was the fourth on the right. It didn’t help that I had been glaring at Edward the whole time we were walking.

Faces passed as I stood in the middle of the hall, debating on which way to try. Most of the bodies pushed past me, arms full of papers and books. Others couldn’t help staring. Yes, I’m Bella Swan! What’s it to you? I wanted to scream at them. Was it just the weapons, or did they know something I didn’t?

A broad shoulder hit mine from behind. I stumbled, but he caught me, turning me around while apologizing continuously as he set me upright. Then he got a good look at me. Damn it, not another one.

“Hey, you’re that Swan girl,” he said cheerfully. Looking up at him, he seemed kind of familiar. It might have been his skin, but all Native Americans have that natural tan, not just Quileute’s. He was tall and lanky, but he was broad through the shoulders so it made him look kind of awkward. “I was hoping to run into you. You’re looking for your dad, right? Did’ja find him yet?”

I tried to control the surprise on my face as I glanced around; bodies rushed by as if he didn’t say anything. I bit my lip, trying to keep my face neutral. I didn’t think Charlie’s capture was entirely public knowledge, and suddenly someone asks about him? Did someone further up the ladder know Edward was looking? If so, that meant I had to cover up his tracks. Fuck.

“E-excuse me?” I stuttered, relying on some weak acting. Ben might have known about my terrible acting skills, but this guy didn’t. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on, don’t play dumb. I know it’s you, and I know what you’re looking for. You are the talk of the inner circles right now. I mean, who else walks around with this much firepower?” He reached out to touch my shoulder holster. I immediately stepped back, bumping into someone, but I didn’t turn around to apologize.

No one touches the guns.

I turned my surprise into good, old fashioned anger and quickly dropped the acting. “What do you want?” I asked quietly, glaring up at him.

He smiled, but not in an intimidating way. “I want to help you.”

“Yeah, not buying that for a second. Who put you up to this? Just tell me what they want.”

“As far as I know, nobody is after you. What have you done in the past twenty minutes to ask that question?”

“Never mind,” I sighed. Maybe he wasn’t in Victoria’s vein of information; that was good to know. “Now, honestly, what do you want?”

“I told you, I want to help you. I know you and your Fangless are looking for Charlie, and I have an idea where he is.”

Who was this guy exactly? He wasn’t a vampire—he didn’t have the eyes—but there was definitely something fishy about him. If Edward had searched every mind and declared Charlie nonexistent, how did Smiley know about him? This was obviously some kind of trap, but I’d bite.

“You know where he is?” I asked.

He shook his head and touched his necklace. It was the same symbol I had seen on Jasper’s arm back in Forks. “I’m just a dog. I don’t know anything outside of my job, but I have an idea where he is. Unfortunately, people like me don’t have a voice in court. The vampires do whatever they want, not even caring who they hurt. It’s disgusting,” he growled. Growled, like an animal. “What Aro did was terrible, and I want to fix this. It was a huge mistake.”

“Mistake?”

He glanced over his shoulder then pulled me off to the side of the hall. He dropped his voice and answered, “I shouldn’t tell you this, but screw it. I’m tired of taking orders. There was a group of vampires on their way to Forks during the time of your attack, but someone tapped into our systems and took over, sending them over to Port Angeles with orders to capture your dad. It wasn’t anyone in Seattle, I know that for certain.”

“What are you talking about?” An outside source couldn’t really control their systems. These vamps were technologically advanced; they knew how to use this stuff. It had to be an inside job.

“We didn’t get the intruder out quick enough, and the vampires originally going to Forks changed direction. They went after your dad because of a mistake!”

“Who were they really after?” I asked.

“Absolutely no one. The orders were they show up in Forks, scan for any survivors to bring back, and that was it. They weren’t supposed to attack or capture anyone.”

I shuddered as his words sunk in. It was all a huge mistake. Someone on their side fucked up. The restraint I used not to scream showed in my voice as I asked, “How do you know all this? And why should I believe you?”

He shrugged. “You have no reason to believe me, but I know because it’s my job. I had to clean up the mess.”

I clenched my fists. “So it’s your fault he’s down here, probably near death in some dank cell!”

He shook his head wildly. “No, no, no!” His voice was dripping with strong assertion. “I didn’t start it; I couldn’t stop it, but I had to clean it up. That’s why I want to help you. Charlie is here for no reason, so I can at least drop a few hints here and there to help, can’t I?” He looked out over the hall, and I couldn’t help following his gaze. Our quiet conversation was starting to attract a crowd. I really hoped none of them had enhanced hearing. “Listen, I can’t stand around here and chat all day. If I were you, I’d check Isolation. They wouldn’t keep someone like Charlie in the usual cell.”

Someone like him. Did he know Charlie personally? “Where is Isolation?” I asked quietly.

“You’re here with some Fangless, right? One of them should remember. Everyone has spent time there at some point.”

I looked up to his big dark eyes, unable to find anything that seemed like betrayal. He really wanted to fix this. But didn’t he say it was Aro’s fault Charlie was captured? I couldn’t resist asking, “You’re not setting me up, are you?”

“I swear I’m not!” he said in a harsh whisper. “I told you, I’m not happy about what Aro did or what happened. I want that vampire dead, just like you do. I want to help you.”

I couldn’t stop the sarcastic grin from appearing on my face. “You have a lot of nerve, trying to stab your precious vampires in the back.”

“I wouldn’t call it back-stabbing, but it’s good enough. Besides, they don’t suspect a dog when things go wrong; they look to the food. When they’re intoxicated, they can’t keep their mouths shut. I just sit and beg at my mistress’s feet.” He sighed with a weak chuckle, and the seriousness left his eyes. Apparently our conversation was over with; I knew a mask when I saw one. Even he was tired of dealing with vampires. How long had he been down here?

He moved away from the wall, and I caught his arm before he could leave. I wanted to get his name, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t tell me. He said way too much that I could easily get him in trouble if I had been a real Renfield. But, in telling me about Charlie, he was also saying he knew I wasn’t truly a Renfield. He could get me in trouble too.

Either I was over-thinking the situation, or this guy was trying to give me a headache. It made me wonder if he was a vampire in disguise.

So instead of a name, I asked for something a little more useful, trying to quell the uneasiness circling my stomach. If this was a trap set for me, I’d have Edward check it out. I finally had a lead on Charlie. “Hey, can you tell me where the Renfield room is? It has all the books and tapes and stuff.”

I thought I was making no sense, but he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Oh, you mean the Athenaeum? From here, it’s the third hall on the right. Follow that hall, take another left, and you’re there. Anyway, I’ve got work to do, so I’ll see you around, Bella.”

I released his arm, and he continued down the hall as if our conversation never happened. I ignored questioning eyes as I followed Smiley’s directions, and in no time, I was in the dark, deserted hallway.

The door was just as impossible to find by myself, but I finally found it. After running face-first into the smooth wood, of course. Pulling the door open, it was a little brighter in the room; more people working today out here. Nettie wasn’t at her desk, which made me wonder where she could be lurking. I almost hoped it was her lunch break, but that meant some poor human was getting munched on. Still, I hoped I wouldn’t run into her.

Fighting with the curtain led to much cursing from me and a few giggles from the room. With the help of a disembodied voice, I found the split and stepped through, shielding my eyes from the bright other half of the room. When I opened my eyes, I saw the room was mostly empty compared to earlier, when Ben showed me around. Speaking of Ben, I didn’t see him anywhere.

Walking through the rows of bookshelves, I wondered how they sorted their collection. At first it seemed to go by language, but then I started to find others mixed in with English titles. Did the computers have a catalogue? It might have been smarter to check, but I kept searching through the shelves until I found a C, and carefully followed the line. When I found the Cullen books, I was supplied with a whole list; except one was missing. I figured Edward came by and stole Carlisle’s book, keeping more answers from me.

Seeing the thick book labeled Rosalie Lillian Hale Cullen, I pulled it from the shelf. I still wondered about Rosalie’s anti-human comment. It seemed a little odd that the rest of Carlisle’s coven was tame compared to Rosalie. Maybe it was related to her human life?

I thought it might be like a diary, but instead I was met with a standard biography. She was born in New York way back in 1915, had a normal childhood, nice family, and good friends. She was engaged to a banker’s son, Royce King II, before she was turned into a vampire. The book supplied a quote at the beginning of each new chapter. One quote caught my eye.

“I don’t see my creator as my killer. Royce took care of that long before a vampire caught me. I’m just glad to be alive now; I’m making the most of the life provided for me. I thank her every day for saving me.”

Her? But Carlisle was Rosalie’s master. I saw his power over her in action; then again, Carlisle bragged about never tasting human blood. I almost continued reading, but I wanted to know more about peppy little Alice. Rosalie’s answers could wait for another day.

Mary Alice Brandon Cullen had a thinner book. There wasn’t much information of her human life; she was born in 1901, she could name her family members, but that was all. Where Rosalie had several chapters dedicated to her childhood, Alice had none. Her parents placed her in an asylum when she was little because she claimed to have visions.

I flipped through the pages until I found a chapter titled “Vampire Life.” She was stolen from the asylum by a vampire and taken to Volterra, Italy, the Volturi’s original location. She was kept as a human slave until a few years later when James turned her, against her will, into a vampire. When James and Alice were on their way to the Seattle location, she escaped. There was a quote at the beginning of the next chapter.

“I saw visions of a man with golden eyes, and I knew he was important. Sometimes he looked lonely and upset, and other times he was happy and composed. Through my visions I saw his way of life, how he hunted animals; it was almost the same as feeding on humans. I used my talent to find him and steer clear of James’ attempt to call me back. When he tried, I found wildlife to prey off of, and gave myself to the thrill of the hunt. I thought of nothing but food, blind and deaf to whatever trick he pulled. Eventually, he gave up.”

It went on to explain how she met Carlisle, and then got back into the Volturi’s lair. The book declared she went back to kill James, but found Jasper and “put her plans on hold.” At least I finally got an explanation to her freak-out in Portland when I declared Carlisle killed her. Judging from the book, Carlisle saved her. It was her visions of him that kept her from becoming one of these vamps.

I set the book back on the shelf and was about to pull another, when I spotted a wall of tapes. I left the books, intrigued with the idea of seeing the Cullens from years before. I scanned the cases, and once again there was a line of Cullens, but no Carlisle. There was no way they had the entire coven except the master. I wondered why Edward was stealing everything about Carlisle. How bad would it be for me to know?

I grabbed a VHS labeled Ed.A.M Cullen from the shelf and went to the back rooms, finding one completely empty. I wasn’t sure if there was some kind of protocol to using the room, but no one had stopped me yet.

Wireless headphones lay on the table, so I turned on the wall-mounted TV and slipped the tape into the VCR. It started up with some static—they had flat screen TVs and computers, but couldn’t afford some DVDs?—but it smoothed away to reveal Edward’s stoic face. He had startling red eyes, and it looked like he hadn’t showered for days. I sat at the table and put the headphones on just before he opened his mouth.

“My name is Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, I was turned in 1918, and Carlisle Cullen is my master,” he said with a hint of malice. “I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois until the Spanish Influenza hit, and then I was snatched away from my dying parents by a monster masquerading as a doctor. I was content to die human, but then this happened. I tried to kill myself as this abomination, but Carlisle said nothing would work. And I tried everything from self-mutilation, to asphyxiation, to jumping from incredible heights. I finally had the answer—fire—but Carlisle stopped me with a pathetic plea for company. I stayed with him only to stop his whining. In 1928, he finally understood how unhappy I was and let me go, let me out of his demented lifestyle. Then I realized all the fun I could have.”

“So what did you do?” asked someone off camera. The interviewer had a thick accent, and I wondered if this was recorded in Italy.

Edward reclined on the stiff chair with an evil smile. I shuddered from the sight of it. “I killed. I terrorized the northeast as only a true monster could. I thought Carlisle might change his mind, find me and beg me for companionship again, but I never heard a word from him. I was his first fledgling; he saw me as a failure.

“It didn’t bother me at all that he ignored me. I was building an empire and legacy while he pretended to care about humans. I thought what he was doing was sickening. Saving humans? Feeding on animals? He was a lunatic—still is. It’s repulsive.”

“Tell me about your legacy,” the voice prompted.

“Do you know the story of the incubus, a demon that feeds on sexual energy? I started those myths in America. They spread quickly, leaving housewives quivering in their aprons with fear and lust. I liked a little spice with my food; I played with them. From the beginning, when I had enough control over my bloodlust, I noticed women were naturally drawn to me. So I seduced them fully. It was so easy, and the rush I got was unbelievable. You have never fed until you fucked someone to death.” He chuckled cruelly.

“And your empire?”

“I went back to Chicago and started making a name for myself. By 1934 I ran the city. I had a penthouse, whores, fledglings, and all the money in the world. I was content; I was complete.”

There was a bit of silence. “That’s very impressive for a sixteen year old vampire,” the interviewer said. “How did you ever find the strength to do all that?”

Edward shrugged, starting to look bored with the interview, as if it was below him. “I guess it came from my master,” he replied. “Carlisle was always patient and disciplined. When you think of it like that, owning a city at sixteen isn’t so surprising. I had the ambition, and I had ideas the public was interested in. Minds are amazing things.” He tapped his temple, like we needed a reminder about his power.

“And how did you lose this empire?”

Edward sat up, getting angry again. “Carlisle had visited the Volturi and gained some insight to controlling fledglings. He came to Chicago around 1940 and made me destroy my life. He watched happily as he ordered me to kill my fledglings, release the women, and burn everything I owned. He would have made me step into the flames if I didn’t agree to go with him back to Seattle. He needed me for some demented plan, and he was building a coven, an army, to make sure it happened.”

A throat cleared beside me, and I jumped out of the chair, the headphones clattering to the floor, as I turned off the TV. Edward was half-sitting on the table, his arms crossed over his chest. His black eyes gave me a hard, angry glare. Oh, he was not happy I went poking through his past. I almost felt the need to explain myself, but I wasn’t sorry. Edward knew I wanted answers, he should have known I’d find some way to get them. And damn, did I get some. It reminded me that even if Edward acted like a gentleman, he was capable of being a sadistic killer worse than any normal vampire. He was no better than the vamps under Aro’s control.

“I thought I told you to stay in the room,” he said sternly. “It’s very hard to track you down when I can’t read your mind.”

I took a deep breath and slowly released it, calming my racing pulse. I hated that I let him sneak up on me. “Next time I’ll leave a note, if you promise to wear a bell,” I snapped. Maybe the lame joke would help ease the tension?

Not even a twitch of his lips.

I bit my lip briefly. “How long have you been there?”

“A matter of seconds, but long enough.” He picked up the VHS case, eyeing the label. “I see you’re taking advantage of all these resources.”

I ejected the tape and he let me have the case so I could put it away. My voice was almost nonchalant as I replied. “I found some interesting stuff, too. Rosalie was a New Yorker, Alice was put in a nuthouse . . . oh yeah, and you are some kind of sadistic bastard that feeds on sex.”

He sighed, the anger dispelled. Now he just looked tired. He tugged at his hair as he answered, “Bella, I don’t know who that is. It was recorded in 1943! I was young and arrogant, still upset about my losses. I exaggerated most of the details. What Carlisle did—forcing me to destroy everything—was a lesson long overdue. I don’t hate him for it. I know now I needed to be stopped.”

“You really think I’m going to believe that?” I snapped.

“It’s the truth.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure it is. And which one is the real you? This docile monster, or the rapist?”

Edward flinched as if I slapped him. He pushed off the table and towered over me in a flash. I nearly stepped back from the raw hatred in his black eyes, but I was stronger than that. I clenched the tape to resist pulling my gun and matched his glare.

“Yes, I started the incubus myth in America. Because of the endorphin rush, I could go days without feeding; it was like drinking raw sex,” he said in a dark whisper. It caused me to shiver, and not in a good way. “It was addicting and awful of me to kill all those women the way I did. But I never—never—resorted to rape.”

“They didn’t know what they were getting into,” I argued. “You forced them.”

“They came to me out of lust and intrigue. I warned them of the outcome, but they didn’t care.”

I had to step back, shaking my head. “That’s disgusting!”

He sighed heavily, the rage going with it. He sounded tired but adamant as he continued, “No, it’s atrocious. I had no remorse back then. I only warned them because it scared them; the way their blood pounded made them more desirable. But now . . . now every face, every name, every last fearful gasp or scream haunts me. I was a monster, completely out of control . . . yet that’s not me anymore, Bella,” he said harshly.

I glanced at his eyes and saw him vulnerable, years of pain reflected right on his face. I wasn’t sympathizing with a vampire. He seduced innocent women into giving up their lives just so he could get a fuck and a fix. How psychotic could one vamp get?

“Whatever,” I muttered. I didn’t want to hear anymore. The subject had to change, and fast. “What have you been munching on recently to turn your eyes black?”

Edward groaned and ran a hand through his hair, causing it to nearly stand on end. “You’re still angry. Why? I told you the truth. You know that isn’t me.” He gestured to the tape in my hands. “You were the one who couldn’t sit still, who couldn’t leave the past alone. All vampires—no, everyone; all humans and vampires—have something they’re not proud of. Don’t hold this against me. I didn’t tell you to come here and watch this.”

I poked his chest with the tape, standing on tip-toe to get in his face, but trying not to look into his eyes. I wasn’t in the mood for another mind-fucking, especially now that I understood his charm. “Maybe if you would just give me some answers, I wouldn’t have to resort to this!”

His jaw flexed again, and he snatched the tape. “You think I want to spread this? Not even my family knows the full details of my past. If I thought they couldn’t handle this, why would I tell you?”

“Why do you care so much what I think of you?” I challenged.

That got him. He frowned, clearly confused, and stepped back, closing his eyes. It took him a few seconds before he answered. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “I just don’t want you to think of me as that creature. Because of him, his actions and his thoughts, I swore off human blood. I’m different; I know better now. I am not him.”

The unspoken words hung thickly in the air. I’m scared of becoming that monster again.

He was afraid of who had been; he wanted someone to tell him it was okay, that he was strong enough to control himself. God, it was as obvious as Fork’s weather, and I completely ignored it.

I wasn’t sure what Edward felt he had to prove to me, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. I stepped back, the air around us becoming uncomfortable, stifling. If he was going to break down, I was leaving. I’d had enough of emotional crashes to last a lifetime; I had no idea how to deal with a vampire’s emotions.

“So why are your eyes black?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject once again. I was almost suffocating on the awkward atmosphere. I really wanted to ask about Carlisle’s army and why he would need one, but I doubted Edward would answer it.

“I haven’t fed for a while,” he answered quietly, opening his eyes. “When we fast, our eyes get dark no matter what our diet is. It relates to how much blood we have in our system. The brighter your eyes, the more recently you’ve fed.”

“Why don’t you go eat?”

“Aro isn’t transporting animals down here. I’d have to go to the surface, outside of Seattle’s boundaries to hunt, which means you would be unprotected.” He held up his hand to stop my protests before I could even think them. “Yes, you have your guns and Jasper, if he can find you in time, but I know how you like to cause trouble.”

He wasn’t going to let that go, was he? I crossed my arms over my chest, my fingers discreetly touching my pistol for comfort. “I can take care of myself,” I huffed. “It was one time. I got here by myself, not a scratch on me. Just let it go.”

The metaphorical rain cloud disappeared, and Edward smiled crookedly, shaking his head in exasperation. “You are truly something else, Bella Swan. Come on, we need to get back to the suite. We have preparations to make.”

Preparations? After the bomb he dropped on me, my mind was running a bit slow. It took me a second to actually comprehend his words. “You found Charlie?” I asked, nearly screaming with excitement. “We’re finally getting out of here?”

“No,” he answered with that crooked grin, “we’re going to dinner.”