"Piper!" he called once he and Belle were inside their house while shutting the door behind him.
Little Belle just watched her father, clueless, as he ran into their room and carried a bag to pack some clothes into it.
Lady Piper walked out of the kitchen with an apron tied to her waist and a cooking glove on her hand, as she had just finished baking some bread.
Seeing her husband packing and the worried look on his face, she didn't need to be told what was really happening. "They found us." He clarified her doubts.
Edward had gone to buy the sweets for Belle, and not too long after, he noticed one councilman and his men moving from one stall to another while showing the people around a portrait of a wanted person.
Though it was common for one to be arrested for a crime, the townsfolk were still curious to know who the offender was. And like them, he didn't see any harm in knowing who it was, as he wasn't even from the town and had come only for the fair.
But as he got closer, he got a glimpse of the person in the portrait and quickly shielded the lower part of his face with his arm raised, then turned around to walk away.
Untying the apron from her waist, she asked, "Where are we going to stay?"
He was silent for some time before he answered, "You and Belle will go to Zack's place at Lasburgh." The distancing in his words didn't go unnoticed.
"I am not leaving here without you, Eddy. So, we can just stay here and wait till they come for us." Piper was very angry at Edward for even allowing the thought to cross his mind.
Stubborn as always. He thought. Seeing her reluctance, he went to her before explaining, "We have our little Belle with us now, and I won't stand and watch you two get hurt." Their eyes now fixed on their daughter, who was now playing with her doll.
They had always run away whenever they were found out because their kind were not treated fairly. Though Piper was a human, that doesn't mean her husband and daughter were. Even if she loved them as much, she knew people would still be people.
But still, she wanted to believe that they could continue living in peace, as Branchwood was the only place they had dwelled for so long.
"But-"
"Just stop it already." He deadpanned before turning around to go meet Belle, a small white furry cloak in his hand.
When Edward started wearing Belle the cloak because the weather in Lasburgh would be too harsh, she asked,
"Is everything alright, papa?"
"Of course, my angel," he answered with an assuring smile on his lips. "Why?"
"Because mom is crying."
"Your mom is just happy that the two of you are going to go visit Uncle Zack." Seeing the excitement in her eyes, he asked, "Excited?" to which she nodded in response.
"Are you not coming with us?" a slight frown on her face.
"Papa has a lot of work to do here, so he will come later." He said before hugging her, unshed tears on the rim of his eyes before blinking them away.
He continued, "Always be a good girl, Belle."
"I have always been a good girl, papa." He hummed in response.
"Time to leave," Piper announced.
Standing up, he went to hug his wife. "Stay safe."
"Stay alive." He smiled at her words; just like him, she knew how pathetic they were. "I love you."
"I love you more. Stay in the illusion I created and take care of Belle and yourself for me." He said finally before placing a kiss on her forehead.
Giving one last look at her husband and their home, they walked to the local carriage stop to get a ride to Lasburgh.
When they got close to the stop, she heard the coachman announce, "Last carriage from Branchwood to Lasburgh!" and her feet quicken.
"Two bronze coins for the two of you." The coachman informed her when Piper was about to enter the carriage, his eyes moving from Piper to the little girl in her arms.
Dipping her hands into her purse, she brought out the bronze coins and dropped them on his palm before climbing in.
Another man came to join them inside the carriage before it left Branchwood for Lasburgh.
Piper now ran her hand through Belle's hair, as the little girl had fallen asleep on her lap.
The ride continued, and the path they soon reached was not a smooth one; the bumps were so great as the wheels of the carriage moved up and down on the rocky lane that it woke little Belle from her sleep.
A light yawn escaped her lips as she asked in a sleepy voice, "Are we there?"
A smile spread on her lips at her daughter's cute action. "No, we are not there yet; just a little more." She coaxed her tired child.
Back in Branchwood, the councilman and his men walked towards Turner's residence.
"Is this the house?" The councilman asked the man who showed them the way, who gave a nod. A not-so-friendly smile on his face. "Bring him out and every other person there with him." His men went into the house, not once trying to be discreet, which soon called for unwanted attention from the neighbors.
Not long after, Edward was dragged outside and pushed to fall on his knees before the councilman. "You look petty for an angel." The councilman commented, "Where is your family?" He questioned but got no response.
A fist landed on Edward's face, making him spit out blood before he looked at the councilman and said, "I am alone and only human."
"Liar!" pointing an accusing finger at Edward. Mr. Norman, who had led the councilman, continued, "I met him at the fair with his daughter, and her face glowed but then disappeared like it was never there. I saw it." His tone was serious and determined; there was no doubt that one might be compelled to believe him. He glared at Edward, who was trying to buy his way out.
Edward, who heard Norman, was not surprised that it was him who had brought them here, but he was shocked upon hearing his confession.
'Had Belle glowed at the fair and he did not notice it?' he thought.