"Yep."
She pursed her lips, and stared up at me, a hint of accusation in her expression. I paid better attention later. Are you going to tell them that she knows?
"Oh," Bella said a little tensely. Now wondering what the rest of the family would think about her knowing their secret. She couldn't help but be a little reminded about their conversation after the van accident and it made her shiver. But surely they wouldn't be so hostile about her this time, right?
I sighed. "Yes. Later."
I won't say anything. Do me a favor and tell Rosalie when I'm not around, okay?
Jacob chuckled at that. "I'd like to see that one."
Bella just flinched.
I flinched. "Sure."
Bella took it pretty well.
"Too well."
Alice grinned at me. Don't underestimate Bella.
"I knew I liked her," Bella smiled.
I tried to block the image I didn't want to see - Bella and Alice, best of friends.
"There is nothing wrong with that," Bella said firmly.
"Of course there is," Jacob said just as firmly. "I'm your best friend."
"Sure you are," Bella rolled her eyes, and laughed when Jacob pouted.
Impatient now, I sighed heavily. I wanted to be through with the next part of the evening; I wanted it over with. But I was a little worried to leave Forks...
"Alice..." I began. She saw what I was planning to ask.
She'll be fine tonight. I'm keeping a better watch now. She sort of needs twenty-four hour supervision, doesn't she?
"Argh," Bella groaned, now Alice was going to be watching her, too.
"At least."
"Anyway, you'll be with her soon enough."
I took a deep breath. The words were beautiful to me.
"Go on - get this done so you can be where you want to be," she told me.
I nodded, and hurried up to Carlisle's room.
He was waiting for me, his eyes on the door rather than the thick book on his desk.
"I heard Alice tell you where to find me," he said, and smiled.
It was a relief to be with him, to see the empathy and deep intelligence in his eyes.
Carlisle would know what to do.
"I can relate to that," Jacob said, thinking of the many times he had gone to his dad for help with things. This right here, really made Edward seem human to him.
"I need help."
"Anything, Edward," he promised.
"Did Alice tell you what happened to Bella tonight?"
Almost happened, he amended.
"Yes, almost. I've got a dilemma, Carlisle. You see, I want...very much...to kill him." The words started to flow fast and passionate. "So much. But I know that would be wrong, because it would be vengeance, not justice. All anger, no impartiality. Still, it can't be right to leave a serial ra**st and killer wandering Port Angeles! I don't know the humans there, but I can't let someone else take Bella's place as his victim. Those other women - someone might feel about them the way I feel about Bella. Might suffer what I would have suffered if she'd been harmed. It's not right - "
His wide, unexpected smile stopped the rush of my words cold.
She's very good for you, isn't she? So much compassion, so much control. I'm impressed.
Bella blushed at this, taking this as conformation that Carlisle approved of her.
"I'm not looking for compliments, Carlisle."
"Of course not. But I can't help my thoughts, can I?" He smiled again. "I'll take care of it. You can rest easy. No one else will be harmed in Bella's place."
"Good," Bella said looking relieved. "But then again... that doesn't really mean anything does it... He's still out there... only in this book is he being taken care of."
"We'll just have to make sure to tell someone about this guy," Jacob said.
I saw the plan in his head. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, it did not satisfy my craving for brutality, but I could see that it was the right thing.
"Aw," Jacob said, he wouldn't have minded a little brutality.
"I'll show you where to find him," I said.
"Let's go."
He grabbed his black bag on the way. I would have preferred a more aggressive form of sedation - like a cracked skull - but I would let Carlisle do this his way.
We took my car. Alice was still on the steps. She grinned and waved as we drove away. I saw that she had looked ahead for me; we would have no difficulties.
The trip was very short on the dark, empty road. I left off my headlights to keep from attracting attention. It made me smile to think how Bella would have reacted to this pace. I'd already been driving slower than usual - to prolong my time with her - when she'd objected.
Bella shuddered and Jacob laughed.
Carlisle was thinking of Bella, too.
I didn't foresee that she would be so good for him. That's unexpected. Perhaps this was somehow meant to be. Perhaps it serves a higher purpose. Only...
Bella smiled at that... yes she really liked Carlisle, too.
He pictured Bella with snow cold skin and blood red eyes, and then flinched away from the image.
Yes. Only. Indeed. Because how could there be any good in destroying something so pure and lovely?
I glowered into the night, all the joy of the evening destroyed by his thoughts.
Edward deserves happiness. He's owed it. The fierceness of Carlisle's thoughts surprised me. There must be a way.
"Oh, there will be a way... I'll make sure of that," Bella said firmly.
I wished I could believe that - either one. But there was no higher purpose to what was happening to Bella. Just a vicious harpy, an ugly, bitter fate who could not bear for Bella to have the life she deserved.