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Castiel was there the moment Dean woke up from being freed from hell and they have been fighting alongside each other since. The battle between angels and demons to break the seals has lasted a year now but the end is drawing near.
INTRO
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Dean and Sam were in a hotel going through ads and obituaries looking for their next case when Castiel appeared in the center of the room looking panicked. The angel immediately started pacing the room back and forth so quickly that his movements caused the papers the boys had scattered about the table to fly off into the floor.
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“Cass what’s wrong? You’re freaking us out over here.” Dean spoke loudly to grab the angel’s attention.
Castiel stopped mid stride and turned around facing the humans he considered his comrades, his friends. He walked up to their table and stopped. He didn’t know how to explain everything to them. He didn’t see this coming. Nobody could have predicted this change of events.
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“We………” Castiel fumbled with the right words. “have a problem.”
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Dean lifted one of his eyebrow’s while Sam snorted.
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“We always have a problem, what is it this time? Has another seal been compromised?” Asked Sam.
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“I believe you may find this worse..” Castiel sighed running his hand through his hair.
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“Worse?” Dean asked surprised. “What’s worse than the seals being broken and releasing Lucifer?”
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Castiel looked Dean in the eyes. He would just have to come out with it. He just hoped they wouldn’t be too angry with him for keeping her existence a secret.
“Your sister is in hell….”
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Dean and Sam looked at each other than back at the angel before they both began laughing. Castiel sighed irritated. “This is NOT FUNNY!”
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“We don’t have a sister Cass.” Dean chuckled.
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“Yes you do…. You just didn’t know about her. Your father never told you he had another child.”
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Both Winchesters immediately quieted their laughing. Their face’s taking on serious expressions. Deans worried. Sam’s pissed.
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“How do we get her out of Hell?!” Dean shouted jumping to his feet. He had been to hell already, if they truly had a sister he wasn’t going to leave her in that place!
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“Who is she? Where has she been? Why didn’t he tell us? How old is she?” Sam fired off every question that came to his mind. He didn’t understand. How could his father not tell them something this important? When it came to John Winchester there were always secrets but this is something they should have known about. This was family!
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“Her name is Bella Swan, your father left her with one of his old hunting buddies named Charlie Swan in Washington. She just turned 18 a week ago. She was a premature birth, very small. Your father didn’t want her in this life so he kept her secret. He didn’t want her to fight for her life after he almost lost her when she was born early.” Castiel than turned to Dean. “I can go to hell and retrieve her like I did you Dean but I will need your help. Heaven won’t be of assistance with this.”
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Dean slammed his fist down on the table. “WHY THE FUCK NOT? WHY WAS I SO SPECIAL BUT YET MY SISTER ISN’T?”
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“You were born to hunt Dean, plus you and your brother were the ones that started the apocalypse. You’re the only ones that can end it but your sister wasn’t raised the way you were. Heaven doesn’t find her….. useful in this situation.”
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Dean flipped the table over shouting profanities. Even Sam became outraged and he was usually the calmer of the two.
Sam shook his head. “She’s our sister. Our YOUNGER sister. I can understand now why dad didn’t say anything especially after some of the shit we have seen and been through… but heaven? This is ridiculous! She isn’t injured or something like that, no. She’s in HELL!”
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“Exactly.” Dean said grinding his teeth together. He was pissed off at heaven. Not at Castiel though, he knew that the angel was most likely not supposed to tell them anything. In fact he was going against the others in offering to help them save her. Dean took a deep breath than walked over to Castiel and placed a hand on his shoulder with a gentle squeeze. “What do you need us to do Cass?”
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“I have a plan but I need you both to watch my back while I rescue her, cause a distraction big enough that demons focus on you while I slip into hell to retrieve her.”
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Sam and Dean both had determination in their eyes. They had lost too much already. Nothing was going to stop them from getting back the only family they had left beside each other.
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“Let’s do it Cass.” The brothers chorused.
BELLA POV & Chapter One
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(a week before Cass tells Sam & Dean they have a sister)
Bella was scared. Not for herself but for everyone else. Victoria wanted HER, not the others yet they were all going to go to war to protect her. She wasn’t worth them all getting hurt. If even one of them died than she would have wished she died instead.
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The Cullen’s and the pack both were going to fight against Victoria’s new born army but the red head had more on her side than we did. There was no way everyone was going to make it out alive. She wasn’t as oblivious as everyone seemed to think she was.
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Alice kept trying to stop her from worrying saying everything would be alright but Bella knew she couldn’t truly see anything with the wolves involved. After Edward dropped her off at home, Bella ran inside and threw herself on her bed. There had to be something she could do. Nobody could die for her. Her life wasn’t worth more than anyone else’s! What’s one life compared to a dozen others.
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Charlie wasn’t home yet and wouldn’t be until late, pulling herself up Bella decided to do some cleaning to distract herself. She put Charlie’s clothes in the wash while she cleaned the kitchen and living room. When the washer dinged she moved them to the dryer and cleaned their bathroom. Bella actually loved this little house the only problem she had with it was that it had a single bathroom. Next was her room and just as she finished it the dryer dinged. She carried the clothes into her fathers’ room, usually just leaving it on the bed for him to put away. Her mind was still running over all the lives at stake that she didn’t even realize she had started hanging up his clothes to. When she grabbed more clothes and began walking back to the closet her usual clumsiness came in suddenly causing her to trip and fly into the closet. Her shoulder slammed against the back wall behind the clothes hanging up. She braced her hand on the wall and went to push herself up when the wood cracked and her hand went through it instead. Bella pulled her hand back and sat on her knees. She moved the clothes sliding them to the end of the closet. What she thought was a wall was actually a small hidden door deep in the closet.
Bella moved the broken board out of the way than opened the door. She had to pull so hard that she fell backwards. It clearly hadn’t been opened in a long time. Dust flew around her causing her to cough as she reached for her phone to use it as a flashlight.
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The door couldn’t be taller than three feet forcing Bella to crawl through it. She felt like Alice in Wonderland, that thought caused her to snort. After she made it into a hidden room there was enough space once again to stand up. Her head bumped into a light bulb, turning her phone around she found a switch. Finally the room was bathed in light and she put her phone away.
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It looked like some weird apothecary and library. There were shelves filled with books and vials and bottles. In the corner was a desk with a box on top. Bella walked over to it and opened the box. The movement causing years’ worth of dust to float in the air choking her. She quickly waved her hands in front of her face trying to blow it away so she could see and breath once again. Inside the box was a journal and some letters. She sat in the old chair by the desk and grabbed everything inside the chest. One after another she opened each letter and read it, tears gathering in her eyes. Bella couldn’t believe it, she wanted to be angry to be lied to for so long but after everything she learned in these letters….. She couldn’t be angry. It would make her a hypocrite. Charlie had lied to her since she was born. Each envelope revealing more and more secrets. Bella wasn’t Isabella Marie Swan…. She was Bella Mary Winchester. No wonder she always preferred Bella over Isabella. It was her ACTUAL name. A man named John was her father and he was a hunter. Everything made so much sense now…
Charlie was this man’s best friend. They hunted supernatural creatures together. John’s wife was killed by a demon he still hunted to this day she assumed because none of the letters ever mentioned him finding it and killing it. These papers telling everything. The whole story. John hunting with Charlie. Him going on a hunt and getting close to finding the monster that killed his wife, only for it to turn into a dead end. John drowning his sorrows in a bar where he met a woman whose life he had saved a few years before. She was being haunted by a very violent ghost. Her name was Amelia and she took John home to sober him up and dress a wound that he himself hadn’t even realized he had, to numb from the whiskey to feel anything. John stayed with her for a while, one thing leading to another till he cared for her and found out she was pregnant with Bella. As she read her tears continued to fall.
Dear Charlie,
I know you quit the hunting game and I’m sorry to ask a favor of you but there is no one that I trust more with this. It’s nothing supernatural I assure you. In fact I want it to stay as far away from this life as possible. Easier said than done I know.
I have a daughter…. She was just born. I ran into that woman Amelia; you may remember her. We saved her from a ghost several years back before you ‘retired’. Anyways I’ll tell you all about it later but the point is we had a daughter her name’s Bella. Unfortunately Amelia died giving birth. I’m begging you Charlie. Please. You know I can’t keep her. God I want to. How I want to but I’m too tied up in this life and I won’t quit till I find the demon that killed Mary. I want you to raise her, love her and take care of her. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had in my life but for her own safety… I can’t keep her. It’s ripping me apart. My boys don’t know about her and its better that way you know it is. If they found out they would never leave her. Sam and Dean…. They are becoming better men than me and I’m so proud of them. They value family above all else but we can’t keep her safe and keep hunting. You can though. I know you still have my number somewhere so call and let me know what you decide. Please Charlie don’t make me leave my little girl in some damn orphanage.
P.S. Congratulations on your marriage to that Renee woman. I know this request couldn’t come at a worse time and I apologize for that.
-John Winchester-
Dear Charlie,
I’m so sorry about Renee leaving you and Bella. If I’d known that this would have caused so much strain on your marriage I would have figured something else out. You two seemed so in love I can’t believe she left just because she didn’t want to take care of a child. I’m glad you have the help of Billy, Harry and Sue though. That was smart to live next to a pack of spirit warriors. If they begin shifting you’ll be warned of other super naturals in the area and the tribe can protect you and our girl. Yea OUR girl. I may be her biological father and love her with all my heart but you’re the one raising her. You will always be more her father than I am. Thank you for sending me pictures of her. She sure is a beautiful girl, you may have to beat the boys away with a bat. I don’t envy you that. Or the ‘girl’ talk. Yea I’m laughing my ass off about that. You poor bastard. Better you than me. I’d just shoot any and all the boys that even looked her way. Lock her in a damn tower. I like the name change by the way. Thank you for incorporating my name for her in with the name you gave her. It makes me smile how determined she is to be called Bella though. That’s our girl. Stubborn. I know being a single father is hard. Damn do I understand it Charlie… but there is no one better suited to it than you. You’re a saint compared to me. I’m a monster and I know it. I’m damned, there will be nothing good left in me by the time this is all over. Sometimes you have to become a monster to destroy one but at least I can die a happy man knowing my princess is happy and safe. I can never thank you enough. You will always be a brother to me.
-John Winchester-
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Bella brought her knees to her chest trying to catch her breath. The tears refusing to subside the more she read. Demons? Ghosts? Wendigos? No wonder he left her behind, it was to keep her safe. Charlie not telling her she was basically adopted was for her safety. She wasn’t mad, after all not telling Charlie about the Cullen’s and Victoria was for the same reason. She just wanted him to be safe. Maybe….. Maybe it was time for the lies to stop.
Chapter Two
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Bella gathered all the letters and walked downstairs. She sat at the dining table waiting for Charlie to come home while praying that Alice wouldn’t see any of this. It was just too personal and she wanted it to stay between Charlie and her at least for now.
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He still wasn’t due home for a few more hours because of all the shifts he had been picking up lately due to the missing hikers. So she continued going through the letters. Her emotions going out of control. Everything she learned about the man who was actually her father and the brothers that didn’t even know she existed. Bella understood John’s reasoning for leaving her and she loved him for wanting to protect her but she was also angry. Angry with the way he seemed to put everything on Dean her eldest brother’s shoulders. Letters saying how John would leave Dean to take care of Sam while he hunted monsters. Dean was still a child to but it seemed like he was being the parent. John loved his children she could tell from the way he wrote about them but it was like he was afraid to be a father since he lost his wife and instead left Dean that responsibility. She read that John realized when he wouldn’t make it back to the boys during Christmas or Sam’s birthday that he would find that Dean would steal his brother a present or sale his own things to buy Sam something. John had to start leaving the boys more money in case his hunts ran long because he had come home one time to find out that they had run out of money for food and Dean hadn’t eaten in a couple days to make sure his younger brother had enough to eat.
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With each letter her love for her eldest brother grew, he was the kind of sibling she had always wanted. Bella was always taking care of Charlie. She loved it of course and he tried in his own way. Always making sure she had enough money for groceries and errands while being respectful of her privacy but Bella had always wondered what it would be like to have someone that would take care of her they way Dean took care of Sam.
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She even learned that Sam had decided to leave and go to college wanting a normal life of his own. John had been against it vehemently but again Dean came to the rescue lecturing his own father about how at least Sam would have a chance to survive if he went to college and how hunters like them died young. That was all it took to get his father to let him go. John had even made a trip every month to the law school Sam was enrolled in just to check on him.
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Bella didn’t realize how much time had passed while she was reading until she heard the front door open and close. The sound causing her to jump.
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“Bella I’m home.” Charlie shouted while he placed his keys, gun and badge on the table near the front door. He came around the corner and stopped when he saw her sitting in a chair, tears streaming down her face. “What’s wrong Bells?” His face contorted with worry.
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Bella launched herself from the chair and into his arms. She gripped his shirt as tight as she could, afraid to let go and cried so hard she couldn’t catch her own breath. Charlie wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. “Ssshhh… It’s okay honey. Whatever is wrong we can fix it. You’re safe with me.”
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This only made her cry longer. “Daddy..” She hiccupped
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“What is it Bells? You haven’t called me that since you were kid having nightmares about the boogie man.” He chuckled at the memory.
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After a while, she didn’t even know how long. The tears slowed til she could breathe again.
“Thank you daddy.”
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“For what honey?”
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“For loving me and raising me even though….”
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Charlie looked down at his daughter, his head tilted to the side. He didn’t understand what had gotten into her.
“Even though what?”
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“Even though I ruined your marriage and I’m not your daughter.” She said lowering her head. For the first time. Bella felt hate. She hated Renee for leaving him. Charlie was a great man and a fantastic father. She had never known how much until now but he deserved so much better than that woman.
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“Bella what nonsense are you talking about? You are MY daughter and why would you think you ruined my marriage?”
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“I found the letters…. From John.” She whispered looking up into his eyes.
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His face looked surprised than it turned understanding before landing on solemn.
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“I see…” He sighed; Charlie didn’t know where to begin. “Bella I..”
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“It’s okay. I’m not angry and you’re right. You are my dad and I love you so much. You will always be my father.”
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Bella had never seen Charlie cry but his chin began to tremble slightly from him trying to hold it back but it was a losing battle. He gasped before pinching the bridge of his nose and shutting his eyes tightly. Still the tears started to fall… “Oh Bells…” He bent down and kissed the top of her head twice. “You’ll always be my little girl.”
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Bella smiled brightly; she was so proud of him her father. She kissed his cheek. “Thank you daddy.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the table that had all the letters scattered on top. “I think… We need to talk.”
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Charlie snorted than threw his head back laughing loudly, this caused Bella to giggle. “Yes sweetheart I think that’s a good idea.”
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That sat down at the table but next to each other. Both wanting to be as close as possible right now. This was a time of revelations and truths. It was probably going to be kind of hard on each of them.
Chapter three
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"I need to tell you somethings about what's going on right now. Between the Cullen's and I. The Quillete to and you're not going to like it but I need your help. Please." Bella begged Charlie while squeezing his hands in her own.
"Bella honey if it's about them being vampire's and shapeshifters, I already know. Gotta admit I don't like Edward. Actually honestly I hate him but you're young and need to learn about love from personal experience. So I've stayed out of it. I just want you happy."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised you know all that since you apparently used to be a hunter." She chuckled. "But no, that's not what this is about, however you knowing all that makes explaining things easier. What do you know about supernatural’s and their mates?"
"Any supernatural no matter who or what it is will always love and protect their mate at all costs. They would die for them and if they lose them.... they slowly die inside. First comes insanity than they become hollow no longer able to continue living with the whole in their heart. Why? Please God tell me you're not Edwards’s mate!" Charlie leaned his head back and groaned loudly. "Son of a bitch." He whispered.
Bella laughed loudly. "I'm not sure if I'm Edward's mate or not but I know I love him and he thinks I am."
Charlie sighed. "I hope not and I don't think he is." He grumbled.
"Why do you say that?"
"What?" He blushed not realizing he had spoken out load.
"Why do you think I'm not his mate?"
"Bella...."
"No. Please dad tell me why you think that. I want to know. The Cullen's being what they are never tell me everything. There's always a secret like they think I can't take it. Please."
Charlie sat up straight and ran his hands along his face taking a deep breath before speaking.
"My intention isn't to hurt you Bells, it's just I know how mates work and he's not yours."
"How do you know?"
"Because he left you Bella. Remember, he broke up with you in the damn woods."
"Of course I remember but how does that prove he isn't my mate? He said he left to protect me because of what he is."
"That doesn't matter. Mates can never be apart from each other without immense pain. The further they are from each other, the more pain. The longer they are from each other.... Well to put it bluntly, as a human you would have died after a month and he would have been screaming in agony unable to move after that long. I'm sorry I know you love him but you're not his mate."
"I see....." Bella's heart broke at this information, of course she believed her father and he didn't sugar coat it or try to hide anything like the Cullen's sometimes did. It didn't change anything however, after all she still loved him and she considered all of them her friends.
"I'm sorry Bells." He looked sad to, he didn't want to break her heart but as her father... At least the one that raised her, he thought she deserved to know the truth.
"It's okay daddy. I still love him though and his family. Alice, Jasper and Emmet are my best friends... And Esme, well she's like that mother all little girls wish they had." She looked up from under her lashes. Bella didn't want him to feel bad about her not having a mother figure. After all it wasn't his fault but of course growing up seeing all the other kids with their moms made her wish she had one to.
"It's okay I understand. So now why are you asking me about mates?"
"You remember when I ended up in the hospital a while back?"
"In Phoenix?"
"Yea, there were these nomads that came through. Three of them. James, Victoria and Laurent. Well James was a tracker and he considered me... a challenging snack.."
"God no Bella..."
Bella sighed, there was going to be no easy way to tell her father this. "Jasper and Alice took me away to keep me safe while the other Cullen's tried to throw him off our track. It didn't work..."
Charlie jumped up from his chair and began stomping around the table, pacing angrily. "Of course not, he was a TRACKER!"
"I know... The plan did work at first. We had dressed Rosalie in my clothes so he would follow the scent. She was rubbing my scent in several places by herself while Emmet, Carlisle and Esme kept an eye out for Victoria and Laurent in case they were involved as well."
"Were they?"
"I'm getting there. James knew how to avoid Alice's gift. She can see the future based off decisions. Anyways, somehow he had gotten my phone number. He called me when I was in the bathroom away from Alice and Jasper. When I answered he told me that if I didn't meet him some where he would kill and.... do things to Rosalie." Bella took a deep breath to calm herself.
Charlie went back to his seat and grabbed her hands once again. "It's okay honey, what happened next?"
"He sent me a picture to prove he could do those things. James was behind her! She didn't notice him. It was like he was up in the trees or something, the picture was looking down at her. Daddy that's how she became a vampire! Her fiancé, the man she LOVED raped her. Him and his friends raped her to death! She was about to die before Carlisle found her." Bella was crying again. How could someone do that to her. She didn't care if Rosalie hated her but nobody deserved that and she wasn't going to let her suffer through something that awful again if she could stop it.
"Jesus... That poor girl.." Charlie ran his fingers threw his hair. "You went to meet him didn't you? So he wouldn't..."
"Yes. I couldn't let him."
"I understand." Charlie grabbed Bella's face. A hand on each cheek and pulled her slightly towards him so he could place a kiss on her forehead. "I am SO proud of you Bella."
Bella shut her eyes, tears slipping through. She expected him to yell at her like all the other Cullen's except Jasper and Alice had done. Alice saw when James was torturing her, the decision made too late for it to be stopped. Saw how James rubbed it in Bella's face that she came willingly into his trap to save someone who hated her. He called her a fool. Only Alice knew she had given herself up to save Rosalie. It was their secret. Not even Jasper knew.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Losing you would have destroyed me but I know you only put yourself at risk to save someone else sweetheart. You know that's what us hunters do. Maybe you're more like John and I than you think." He smiled at his daughter. "So he hurt you obviously. How did you get away?"
"Jasper. James was about to bite me but Jasper got to him first. He killed him. Carlisle came in right after to help patch me as best he could before taking me to the hospital."
"Thank God for Jasper. This still doesn't explain the mate part."
"Victoria is James’s mate... She wants us dead. All of us but especially me."
Charlie felt his heart sink. Not his girl. He couldn't lose Bella.
"So you need help with Victoria?"
"Victoria has started a war. She's made an army of newborns and she plans on killing everyone. The Cullen's and the pack because they have been protecting me. I can't let them die daddy. One life is not worth a dozen others. How do we stop this without losing anyone? How do we stop an army of newborns...? I can't lose them. Any of them."
"Okay Bells. I won't let you lose anyone."
"You know how to stop it?"
"I know someone who can. How to get ahold of someone who can..." Charlie hunted demons, he didn't bargain with them... But for Bella, to keep her safer he would do anything. He wanted to keep the Quillettes safe to. They were his friend's. He knew Sue had two children that were shifters and Billy's son was to. They were all too young die. Charlie had never been prouder of his daughter. Yes losing her would have killed him but to know she was willing to face death head on for someone else gave him courage. He would follow her example. Charlie had a good life, there was no regrets. He'd already lived longer than most hunters and raised an amazing young woman. He could die proud. His soul was a small price to pay for her future and happiness.
"Who?"
"Don't worry about it Bella honey. Let me take care of this. I love you."
Charlie stood up and placed another kiss on top of her head before climbing the steps up to his bedroom. He had a demon to summon and a deal to make. Damn... He had always hated crossroads.
Chapter Four
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Bella wasn’t about to sit back and watch someone else try to fix things but she knew her father would do anything to protect her and help her. She would just have to keep an eye on him, he was up to something. She took the stack of letters into her room and read some more. Bella wanted to know everything she could about the family she didn’t know. She was ecstatic when she opened one letter and a picture fell out. Looking at it, it was easy for her to tell who was who from the descriptions she had read already. It was her brother’s. From the date on the envelope the picture was taken right before Sam had left for college. Even though he was the younger of the two he was still slightly taller than Dean. Sam’s hair was the same color as her own while Dean’s was blonde. His blue eye’s shined in the sunlight. Bella placed the picture in her pocket, just having it with her made her feel stronger.
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The time flew by again as she went through the letters and thought about her siblings, wondering what they were doing now. She looked at her clock to see it was after midnight. Bella heard the floors creak lightly and knew her father was up to something and that he would probably check to see if she was asleep first. She decided to trick him and follow him. She quickly but quietly covered up and made it look like she had passed out while reading the letters. Sure enough her door clicked open and she could feel his eyes on her but she didn’t move. After a couple minutes he closed the door silently and began down the stair. When she heard the front door close she ran to her window and looked down. Thankfully he didn’t get in his car, that would have made it harder for her to trail him. Instead he headed into the woods.
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She quickly grabbed a jacket and threw on some boots than ran out the door and in the direction her father had done. She walked quickly while trying to avoid stepping on any twigs and branches that would alert him of her presence. For a moment she began to worry that she had followed him too late when she couldn’t find him but after about 20 minutes she saw his figure off into the distance. She slowed but stayed far enough away that he wouldn’t notice her. Bella had never been in this direction before and couldn’t figure out what he was up to. He kept going deeper and deeper into the forest and she continued to trail him. She had no idea how long they had been walking but it almost felt like a couple hours if she had to guess. Eventually though there was a break in the trees and they had come across some old dirt roads.
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Her father stopped in the middle of where the two-road crossed over each other. Bell quickly ducked behind one tree and observed what he was doing. She had to squint her eyes and focus because it was so dark but she made out a small box in his hands. Charlie sat on his knees on the ground and dug a hole deep enough to bury the box. After he covered it back up he stood straight and shouted, “Come out I know you’re here somewhere.”
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Bella grew worried, had he noticed that she had followed him after all? As she contemplated stepping out in to the open with him she noticed a woman appear out of no where right next to her father. It was a beautiful woman in a tight black dress with shoulder length black hair. The stranger smiled but something about it gave Bella chills. It didn’t look right… She looked wicked.
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“Hello Charlie.” The woman purred before blinking showing her eyes completely black. Bella had to clamp her hand over her mouth to quiet her gasp. The woman blinked again causing her eyes to go back to normal.
“Demon.” Her father growled.
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So this was what a demon looked like and they had black eyes. Bella almost couldn’t believe it. The world was even larger than she had learned from the Cullen’s. She imagined that they probably didn’t even know this much was out in the world.
“So what is it that you want hunter?”
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The evil woman’s voice drawing Bella’s thoughts away and back to the conversation happening before her.
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“There’s an army of newborns vamps that are going to attack this town and my friends. I want them and their leader eliminated so that everyone is kept safe. Can you do it?”
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“Of course I can. Vampires are weak. Nothing compared to us you know this. Still a whole army is quite a bit. A lot of work.”
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“Let me guess, instead of letting me live the usual ten years before you bastards drag my soul off to hell its going to be less.”
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“I think five years is worth it and still a good deal for a man your age hmm. Five whole years to spend with your precious daughter before daddy dies.” The woman glanced quickly to where Bella was hiding and smirked evilly before looking back at Charlie who was running his hands down his face groaning.
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“Fine. Deal.”
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“Gotta kiss me to seal the deal.” She winked at him and took a single step forward before Bella came running out from where she was hiding in the trees.
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“NO DADDY!” She yelled as she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back away from the woman.
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“Bella what are you doing here?!” He shouted
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“I can’t let you die. This isn’t what I wanted. There has to be another way.”
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Charlie sighed and hugged his daughter. “I’m sorry sweetheart but there’s not. Not with a whole army coming and besides it’s like you said. One life is not worth dozens. I’m an old man Bella. I’ve lived a good life and I’ll still have a few years left to spend with you. Let me do this.” He kissed the top of her head.
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“Aww isn’t this sweet.” The woman commented sarcastically. “Can we get back to the deal? I have other souls to bargain with.”
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Bella let go of her father and spun to face the demoness. “There has to be a better deal!”
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“Well there’s not ‘sweetheart’.” The woman sneered. “Deals usually let you have ten years before your painfully ripped apart by hellhounds and dragged to hell to be tortured for eternity.” The woman smirked when she saw Bella flinch at that new information. “But that’s usually for simple things. Like being famous or money. Curing cancer or some other boring things. But the price to wipe out a bunch of immortals’ piss pots to save dozens of lives. Well the price is steeper. It costs more just like any other deal. So no, there’s not going to be a better offer unless you have something to bargain with.”
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Bella felt more tears gather in her eyes. She didn’t want to lose her father. He deserved better after everything he had done for her. She couldn’t let him die this way. Five years wasn’t long enough and she would never be able to live with herself knowing that his time was coming up and she wouldn’t be able to do anything as he suffered and died just to go to hell. He didn’t belong there.
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“It’ll be okay sweetheart.” Charlie tried to comfort his daughter.
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“No.” Bella said angrily. “If you have to take a soul than take mine!”
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“I won’t allow it!” Charlie shouted.
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“Just add wiping his memory to the deal! Make him think I went off to college or something instead and take me!”
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Charlie grabbed Bella and placed her behind him. “We’ve already made a deal. Let’s seal it and be on our way.” He demanded to the demon but she just smiled.
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“I don’t know…. Such a young innocent little thing. I could impress the boss with a soul like hers. SO much room for corruption…” She purred.
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“Three years than! And you can have me.” Charlie demanded.
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“Very well. The sooner I can collect a new soul the better.” The woman sighed than took a step forward.
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“I’m sorry daddy…” Bella said softly. Her father looked at her confused. “Do what I asked and make him not remember any of this. You can have my soul now!” Bella shouted than shoved her father out of the way. As soon as he fell to the ground Bella grabbed the demoness by her dress and pulled her close kissing her and sealing the deal.
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“NOOOOOO!” Charlie shouted scrambling to grab Bella.
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The demoness pulled away and smiled. She snapped her fingers and Charlie fell unconscious.
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Bella ran to her father.
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“Don’t worry he’s only sleeping. He will wake up and think you went to college just like you asked.”
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“Really?” Bella asked looking up to the woman with tears in her eyes.
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“Yes.”
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“And the army? My friends?”
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“The army suddenly caught fire and died in a tragic accident. Your friends are fine.”
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Bella breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, it was worth it she told herself. She didn’t care what happened to her as long as everyone she loved remained safe.
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“Thank you.” She said
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“What a silly little thing you are. Thanking a demon.” Still the woman was taken by surprised. She stole souls and ruined lives; everyone she made a deal with knew this and treated her with hatred even though it was them that approached her most of the time. Not the other way around.
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“Still I know what I asked for and you kept up your end so thank you. I’ll pay the price. The deal was more than worth it to me.” Bella smiled weakly at the woman.
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“I….” The woman cleared her throat and nodded with respect at Bella. “You are welcome. Now I’m afraid comes the painful part. There is nothing to be done about it…”
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“I know. It’s okay. You’re just doing your job. I’m ready…”
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“For a human…. You’re not so bad girl.” The woman said softly as the howls began. She watched as three hounds surrounded the girl. She had scene this happen a thousand times but for the first time she had to look away as the hounds descended onto their victim, cringing when the screams began.
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And so it was done….