The World's Last Hope 6

“They are here.” Carlisle whispered low enough he thought only the vampires in the room could hear not knowing that Charlie could hear as well. Carlisle had spent the last hour trying to figure out a way to get his guests to leave but every time he began to mention them going either Charlie or Beatrice quickly changed the subject. Carlisle had started becoming suspicious of the pair as not only was their arrival odd but them being so comfortable around a group of vampires was also unheard of. Usually a human’s survival instincts kicked in realizing they were in the presence of predators but neither of them seemed uncomfortable at all. If Carlisle wasn’t mistaken it seemed that the two humans were amused with the whole situation.

“It sounds as if Angela and Rosalie are home.” Charlie had to hold back from running out to meet the group. He had heard not only Angela’s heart beat but the faster heartbeat that he associated with the dragon species. It seemed that this was actually his queen.

“Yes it does. How about we meet them outside.” Carlisle didn’t know what type of mood the dragon would be in and wanted to be able to defend themselves if it was hostile. Even though he wanted Charlie and Beatrice to wait inside he didn’t want to leave them unprotected.

“Splendid idea.” Beatrice herself was feeling the same as Charlie. She wanted to race outside and meet the queen. It felt like she had waited her whole life for this moment and the anticipation was killing her.

Carlisle held back a sigh as the pair followed behind him to meet Angela, Rosalie and the dragon they called Bella. He motioned to Esme, Emmett and Edward to flank them so the could defend them if necessary. He wished Alice and Jasper were there but they had yet to come back from their hunting trip. Carlisle had texted them and they promised to come home right away but they weren’t very close to home so it would take awhile. As he got his first look at the newcomer he began to doubt that Rosalie actually found a dragon shifter. The girl he was looking at seemed to be just a beautiful human.Nothing about her seemed to indicate anything special about her at all.”Welcome home Rosalie, Angela who is your guest?”

“My Queen.” Charlie ignored all the surprised looks and knelt before his queen. He had seen each of Bella’s forms and knew right away this was in fact the monarch.

“Your majesty.” Beatrice knelt next to Charlie bowing her head. Charlie’s confirmation was enough for her to believe that this was in fact the dragon queen.

“Charles of Darth it is good to see you are well.” Bella walked up to the human by his side. “You I don’t know.”

“I am Beatrice, descendant of Melinda, grandmother to Angela.” Beatrice replied quickly,holding out her hand for the queen to read her.

Bella shook her head. “There is no need for that child I do not need to see your memories to know you speak the truth. Please rise.I assume you have something for me.”

“Yes your majesty I have the amulet.” Beatrice stood on shaky legs and gave Charlie a grateful smile when he reached out a hand to help her. Once upright she pulled an ancient looking leather pouch from her pocket and handed it to Bella.

Taking the pouch Bella opened it pulling out a round gold disc that was covered in runes adorned with different jewels. Angela had never seen it before and didn’t know exactly what it was. “Grandma how long have you had that?”

Noticing Beatrice sending Angela a look of reproach Bella quickly reassured her. “It is alright, she and Rosalie have been my guides so they have been permitted to speak to me informally and I hope that you will as well Beatrice.”

“Thank you my queen.” Beatrice couldn’t believe the great honor the queen had bestowed on her. She would have to ask Angela what had happened to get the queen to allow them to be so informal. From her research even Melinda only spoke formally with the queen and from all accounts they were friends.

Carlisle who had been watching the scene from the side was unsure how to go about addressing the queen. He assumed that because the others were able to speak informally he would be as well. He had never been so wrong. “Welcome to our home Bella.”

“You will show the queen respect vampire.” Charlie growled as he grabbed Carlisle by the throat and slammed him to the ground. During his time Bella was feared amongst the vampires and he felt it was only right to set the tone for the rest of the interactions as well.

“I’m sorry. I misspoke.” Carlisle choked out. He would have to remember to warn the queens of the dragons preferences as well so they didn’t insult her.

Bella laid her hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “It is alright old friend. They are young and only have memories that stretch as far as what was written.”

“You will watch yourself in the future.” Charlie looked around at the wide eyed vampires and a fearful looking Angela. The only one who wasn’t bothered was Beatrice but she knew that Bella wouldn’t hurt her or Angela as she claimed them as friends. “All of you will.”

“Yes, of course.” Carlisle promised as he stumbled to his feet taking the time to spread venom on his neck to heal the cracks Charlie had left. He was surprised with Charlie’s strength and with the queen knowing him Carlisle started to wonder if Charlie was human at all.

“Now that we have that out of the way there are things that need to be done. Charles I assume you have living quarters I can stay at.” Bella wanted to take a minute to settle in, get some food and rest before they discussed all that had transpired.

“Yes, your majesty. Although they are not grand I own not only a house that will allow privacy but many acres of woodlands for you to be able to hunt. I apologize that it is not large enough for you to hunt in your proper form but I wished to stay near Melinda’s family and they migrated here.” Charlie hoped the queen wouldn’t be disappointed with his offerings as they were not what she was accustom to but it was all he had.

“I’m sure they are fine Charles. It will at least be better than the hole in the ground I have lived in for many millennia.” Bella joked trying to put her guard at ease. “What is important is that you kept Melinda’s bloodline safe.”

“You watched over us?” Angela asked. She didn’t remember ever meeting Charlie or seeing him around while she was growing up.

“Of course. I was the queen’s personal guard so I was entrusted with the task to make sure that Melinda’s offspring and future generations were safe so they could one day release the queen.” Charlie was very proud to have been chosen. “That brings about another point, we need to alert the other guards of your return my queen. We have all been awaiting this day for a very long time.”

“Other guards?What exactly are you Charlie?” Carlisle asked. He felt it important to get as much information from the pair before the queens came.

“I am a lycan.” Charlie told them proudly.

The group collectively gasped. “You can’t be a lycan they were all killed off.”

“No, they were believed to be killed off.” Charlie corrected. “Myself and the others including many were creatures simply went into hiding.”

“That is good to hear and another thing we must discuss. Let us go to this house you own and get settled.” Bella looked to Beatrice. “You of course are more than welcome to join. As it seemed Angela didn’t know of the existence of witches or dragons and thought you had lost your mind I assume you would be the one to be able to contact the others to inform them of my return.”

“I would be honored.” Beatrice was more than excited to get a chance to spend time with the queen. She was so afraid that this was a dream and she would wake up soon that she kept pinching her leg to make sure it was real.

Carlisle started to panic as the group was obviously leaving. His queens had told him to keep them with him and not let them out his sight. He wasn’t sure how to go about that exactly. “Uhm would it be alright if I joined you as well?”

“What rank do you hold with the vampires?” Bella asked. She didn’t want to waste her time with someone who held no authority. Sensitive subjects were going to be discussed and she didn’t want just anyone to hear.

Carlisle gulped as the attention of the dangerous woman focused on him. He couldn’t lie for fear of the repercussions but he had his orders. “I am of no rank within the vampire world however I am the one who contacted the queens. They asked that I don’t let you leave.”

“So you think you can keep me here?” Bella laughed followed by Charles and Beatrice laughing as well.

“It’s just that I have my orders and I don’t want to go against my queens.” Carlisle wasn’t sure who was the worse threat. The dragon before him or the vampire queens.

Bella tried to contain her mirth. This weak vampire thought she would listen to him and would be able to stop her from leaving. Although she understood he was following his orders Bella didn’t bow down to vampires they bowed down to her. “I understand however you and your vampire queens have no authority over me. It’s a good idea that they learn this right away so there are no misunderstandings in the future. If your queens wish to meet with me have them contact Charles and we will set up a time.”

“I understand but they do rule over the americas and you are on their territory.” Carlisle knew he was grasping at straws but he had to try.

“I see, so you think because the vampires rule over these lands that they have a valid claim. Interesting. I guess I will have to properly challenge that claim when we meet.” Bella didn’t think the vampires would try to control her but there were many she had met that thought they could.They of course were taught different and it seemed it would be the same with these vampires. Their memories were short so Bella would have to remind them why she was considered a queen.

If at all possible Carlisle thought he might faint as he realized he somehow directly challenged the dragon setting up a conflict as soon as she met the vampire queens. His job was to keep her there not make her hostile towards vampires. This was beginning to unravel rather quickly and Carlisle didn’t know how to save it. “I don’t think they wish to challenge you. I misspoke.”

“Still I think it best if you and the other vampires in the area to stay away from myself, Charles and Beatrice. As Angela’s mate is a vampire, Rosalie is exempt from this rule. I however will warn you if you try to use Rosalie and Angela in anyway to spy on us I will deal out the proper punishments.” Bella warned. Motioning to Charlie and Beatrice Bella spoke. “Now Charles why don’t you take Beatrice and myself to your home. I don’t wish to waste anymore time with these vampires.”

Charlie bowed his head and quickly walked over to open the cruiser passenger door. “Of course my queen if you would just get into the vehicle we will be on our way.”

Carlisle and the rest of the group stared open mouthed as Bella and Beatrice got into the car and Charlie drove them away without a backward glance or any word of goodbye. “I don’t know what I am going to tell the queens.”

“The fact that you directly issued a challenge to a dragon on their behalf is something you need to tell them right away.” Rosalie didn’t know whether to laugh or scowl at her sire. Bella had been nothing but polite and engaging the entire time she was with her and Angela. It was surprising how arrogant Carlisle was to think that he could tell not only a queen what to do but a dragon queen at that. It was no wonder Bella didn’t invite Carlisle to be involved in their talks, he had insulted her right away by using her first name and then basically demanded she stay with them. Rosalie wouldn’t have blamed the dragon if she decided to take his head off.

“How do I even explain it to them? I don’t even know what I did wrong.” Carlisle was at a loss as to how things got so out of hand.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. “I think the fact that even though everyone was treating her as her status as a royal demanded you decided to be informal with her was the first strike. The second was you not asking her to stay but basically ordering her to.The rest was you thinking that you had any authority over her.”

“I agree with Rosalie. Bella was more than willing to answer any of our questions and treated us well but in return we treated her with respect. You didn’t even try to. I don’t know how but you really need to figure out a way to smooth this over because I have no doubt that she will not treat the queens peacefully after you insulted her.” Angela desperately wanted to distance herself from the Cullens. She thought of them as a part of her family but after finding out all the things her grandmother told her was actually true she felt she had an obligation to her biological family. She could also admit to herself that she was kind of excited to learn about witches. It seemed that not only her grandmother had knowledge but Bella knew more than her grandmother. If Bella was willing she hoped the dragon would teach her what she knew. Then there was the amulet. Somehow her grandmother had kept it’s existence a secret and Angela wanted to know what it did.

“I guess I will have to call the queens.” Carlisle wasn’t looking forward to it but he knew it had to be done. They needed to know what they were getting into when they got here. He wasn’t looking forward to whatever punishment awaited him for his failure but knew it was deserved. Making his way into the house he looked at his family. Being the religious man he was Carlisle prayed to god that whatever happened his family would be spared.