Chapter 49 - Time To Let Go

Carlisle's POV

So much had happened, so much death, so many lives lost. All I wanted to do was help, to save people, but I could not even save those closest to me. My daughters and eldest son were dead, my two remaining children had were also gone. They ran, I have my suspicions as to where, but I can do nothing to save them. Their wives are dead, their sisters, their brother. I know they went after James, and at one point I almost went with them.

I watched the flames burn away anything left of my youngest daughter. I wanted to protect my family, but I have failed miserably. Alice was my youngest child, my daughter. She had shown up on my doorstep, announcing herself as part of my family. She was so happy, so bright, she brought light into my life I had never known.

All my family had some past. Edward watched his parents die, Esme lost her child and killed herself, Rose was raped by a man she thought she loved, even Emmett had his problems. None of them chose this life and came into it miserably. But when Alice showed up with Jasper, he fit right in with the rest, and she forced her way into my heart.

Alice had no past, no dark memories she was running from. Only the future, she was full of love and brought a light I had never known into my dark life. She was my daughter, my baby girl in many ways. So young and childish, if she had a nice dress and pretty shoes she was the happiest person on the earth.

I loved that girl, I lived off her light, let it teach me to enjoy life, live like there was no tomorrow. I had never known true hatred until a man came along and took her brightness away. Just like all of my family she too turned out to have a dark past, but she had escaped from it, until James brought it back.

All that happiness, all that light, and he took it away. I would destroy him for what he did to her, and now she was dead.

I ran to where we were currently staying. Once inside I found the first heavy thing I could and threw it. Whatever large piece of furniture I had thrown left an equally large sized hole in the wall.

Three were dead.

CRASH

Three of my children.

SMASH

Edward, who taught me to be a mentor, a father.

CRUMBLE

Rose, who taught me to be a saviour.

BANG

Alice, who taught me to be a dad.

SMASH

CRUMBLE

BANG

Anything my hands found was destroyed.

The pain was unbearable.

The rage even more so.

I wanted to kill.

I wanted to hurt.

I wanted to destroy.

My body racked with sobs as I broke all I could find.

They were dead. The only rational thought in my mind.

I will find James, and I will DESTROY him for what he has done.

I was throwing around rubble but I didn't care, I would crush anything my hands found.

I turned to find something still large enough to hit and it wasn't until the back of my hand connected with cold hard skin that I realised what it was.

My mind cleared and the red that had clouded my vision faded until I saw clearly before me. I stood amongst the broken bits of rubble, each no bigger than my fist. And laying in the crumbled remains, just a few feet from me, was Esme. My wife, my lover. She lay crouched, crying, her hand to her wounded cheek.

I looked on in horror at what I had done. I could not move, I was frozen in place as I watched her cry.

The physical injury, while quite painful, would have been a light tap in comparison to her emotional pain.

I had struck my wife. I had caused her pain.

"Please..." She begged me, her whisper choked by sobs and I feel to my knees. What have I done?

"Please," she began again and I crawled to her side.

"No more." She begged, shying away from me. I stopped in my tracks, I had made her afraid of me.

"I cannot take it Carlisle." She gave into her sobs and I caught a glimpse of her eyes. She was crying, she was in pain, more pain than even I could imagine, and she was scared.

"Please no more." She looked up to meet my eyes. "I cannot bear to lose you as well."

I reached for her hand. "I am right here Esme." I assured her.

My wife pulled away from me and I felt a stab in my heart. I had hurt her enough to make her pull away.

"No you are not." She contradicted me, looking at me as though I were a monster. "You have not been here in a long while." Each word she said struck me deeply and I could not deny any of it, in some way, I knew she was right.

"I have watched you fade away," she told me things I had hardly noticed but could not deny. "Bit by bit, you left me. You left us all." She sobbed loudly, pain, loss, grief, and betrayal all showed clearly through those eyes I knew so well.

"When James came, you left. You turned cold, you pulled away from me, from us." As soon as she said the words I knew they were true. "I had never seen such hatred in you before. I do not want to lose you Carlisle, but I am, I'm losing you. I have lost so much, my children are dying around me and my husband is becoming... What are you becoming?" I reached out to brush away her tears and she leaned fearfully into my hand, as though accepting comfort from something terrifying. What had I done?

"I need you Carlisle." The woman I loved above all else begged me. "Please, I hurt so much, I need my husband back." She collapsed into my arms in tears and I held her close. "Three off my children are dead and the others are suffering so badly, we need you to hold us together, I can't do that without you any more." She broke down and cried and I just held her, realising all I had done.

My family needed me. It would hurt, but I had to let go of what I had lost to hold onto what was still here.

"I am here my love." I told her more determinedly this time.

"Are you?" It was barely a whisper but it cut me like a knife.

"I am now." I vowed and her arms wrapped around my neck in a tight embrace.

"Don't ever leave me again." She begged and I knew I never could.

"I am sorry I was gone so long Esme." I apologised, wishing that words could heal the wounds I had caused. "I am sorry I left at all. But I am back now, and I am here to stay." I hugged her close as she did me and we stayed for I have no idea how long. Esme was in my arms and my pain mixed with hers, each comforting, healing the other. How could I ever live without her?

"Come," I said when it felt we had lain there for years. "Let us find our sons."

I was brought from my painful memory by a knock on the door. Before I could move Esme had opened it.

"Charlie." She greeted the aging man and invited him inside.

"It is good to see you old friend." I greeted him with a friendly handshake. We had spoken many times, trying to find James and what had become of our wayward children, but over the years, our communication had lessened somewhat.

It was clear there was something on his mind and I was shocked by just how much the years had effected him. Almost all of his hair was grey and his wrinkles set deep, the man looked almost twice his age.

"Come, sit," I invited him. "Tell me what is on your mind." I encouraged the man I had come to call friend.

I could hear his bones creak ever-so-slightly as he sat, Charlie was getting old, and the stress of everything that has happened is really taking its toll. "I was contacted by the police recently." He finally admitted when we were all seated at the table. "They said they had found something in connection with... Bella's abduction." I nodded for him to continue. "There was a fire recently, and when it was put out, the police found a letter, in a small metal box to protect it from the flames, addressed to me." He drew quiet, clearly not sure how to proceed.

"What did the letter say?" Esme asked, taking his hand comfortingly.

Charlie smiled sadly at her in gratitude and reluctantly went on. "It was from him." He told us, his voice was seething with anger as spoke of the man who took his daughter. "I couldn't read it all, I tried, but..." Instead of talking he placed a piece of paper on the table in front of me. "They wouldn't let me near the original, but this is a photo copy. I think you both have a right to see it as well." The request was there even though he did not voice it.

I reached for the paper and began to read the words scrawled upon it.

Dear Charlie,

I know we haven't met, but I know all about you. Your lovely little Bella told me everything. From what I hear, you are an honourable man. You and I have more in common that you think Charlie. You see, I too am a father, and I would stop at nothing to protect my little baby from all those who would dare to hurt her. But here is where we are different, unlike you, I actually keep my girl safe.

Another thing we have in common is Bella. Oh my Bella. She was yours once, but as soon I caught a glimpse of her I wanted her for myself. Her smell caught my attention and her screams caused my obsession. I couldn't let our Bella be like all the rest, you and I both know how special she is. So I took her, I made her mine. It took months of making her scream to make her give me anything, but when I am determined, nothing can stop me. And I was determined to have Bella for myself, but somewhere along the way I grew to care for her. It was no longer about just wanting her to give me everything, I wanted her to want to give me everything. See that I something else we have in common Charles, we both love Bella.

We had fun, her and I, but all fun must come to an end. I hurt her again and again, until she wanted it, and then, on her eighteenth birthday, I hurt her more than ever before; I stopped her heart.

Oh my sweet, beautiful Bella, nevermore shall I see the blood rush to her cheeks as I penetrate her body. Nevermore shall her body grow warm and her heartbeat increase as I use her body for my own lustful desires.

That is not to say of course, that I no longer use her body, it is just no longer warm. I sometimes even miss her cry's of pain, but I can deal without.

I know you will receive this letter because I know you are following me. I know you found yourself some friends who think they can stop me. I have caught a few of them following me, each on their own mission of vengeance. Each one of them has tried to stop me for taking something from them, a friend, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a lover, each has their reason and I know you are helping them.

I will not let them take what is mine. You are lucky you have never been close enough to catch me, or you most surely would be dead like the rest of them.

I am surprised at your desperation, aiding my jealous ex in hunting me down. The fool was convinced I would take her back, but then she saw my Bella, her corpse still fresh. I enjoyed watching the clingy bitch burn.

The boy was fun, we had a good wrestle, and his horror at what had become of my love was just precious. But he burnt too.

I liked the blonde, now she was a screamer. A fighter too, shame she died so quick.

The little one was no fun though, she didn't scream, or fight, she just died. That one has always been a spoil sport.

The boys were an experience I will never forget. The look of pure disgust on their faces when they caught me inside my long dead love is a memory to be treasured forever. And they put up a good fight, but now they are dead too.

Let me tell you Charlie, this girl you made is quite pleasant and I shan't ever let her go. I shall keep her corpse at my side forever, and I will use her body for as long as the flesh still sits upon her bones. Your little Bella is mine now. If you keep searching, when and if you find us, I will let you see what has become of her, I will let you watch me violate her cold dead body, and then I will carve you up. I will get you nice and close, so you can show much her body has decayed, and then I will cut you open, slowly, painfully. I will bathe her in your blood and lick it from her ice-cold naked flesh.

Your little girl is all mine, but if you are so desperate to see her again, by all means, continue to follow me.

And tell the good doctor I said, 'Good game, but I am the hunter, not the hunted. And your children send their regards, from the grave.'

-Yours sincerely, James. (Your son-in-law.)

My voice caught on some parts and Charlie broke down into tears sometime during my reading. Esme and I were both in tears and Charlie was sobbing uncontrollably.

Well there was the proof. All my children were dead, and Bella as well, although she just about counts.

We cried for a long time, none of us spoke the entire time. The most any of us moved was when Esme made her way around the table to hold Charlie.

We were silent for what may have been hours until I finally spoke. "I hope you will not think less of me, Charlie, when I do not continue to search for James. I have lost so much, we all have, and I think it is time to let go. All we can gain now is revenge, and I have no intention to go down that road. I still have something left, and I do not wish to risk losing her." I said to the table at which we all sat.

"I understand." My friend assured me and we continued to sit in silence, grieving our lost children.

Nothing would ever be the same again.

Authors Note: And so we have reached the end of our little tale. What do you all think of the tragedy? I was warned at one point, not to kill off Carlisle and Esme, I could not say it then, but this is the fate I had planned for them since the beginning, I hope I am not hated for this. In case it is unclear, James made it seem in the letter that Bella was dead because he found it amusing that that is what everyone thought. If you read it carefully, you will find he did not lie once in that little rendition, he just mislead and concealed the truth in many places. I hope you all enjoyed the morbid tale, I promised there would be no happy ending, and that was not entirely false. It all depends on your opinion of 'happy'. If you have any questions or comments, review or Private Message me, I will happily respond via Private Message or answer questions, but if you ask a question in a guest review, I cannot get back to you.

~SophieAngel69