DISCLAIMER: I owm nothing of twilight or its characters I am but a slave to their will!
A/N: I hope you are enjoying it so far, lets continue!
(Edward POV)
CHAPTER 4
It's so dark here.
I stood facing the wall, my hands spread against it with my head leaning against the hard surface, my phone had been vibrating in my pocket the last fifteen minutes. I was in no mood to talk as I waited for Bella's return. Alice and Esme had headed to Seattle shortly after Carlisle had left to update everyone's Passports with 's, Incase we needed to leave in a hurry.
Emmet was still trying to reassure Rosalie that she was his only love; I knew Rosalie's temper and this would take months of begging and convincing, a laugh rose in my throat as I thought about it.
I pushed off the wall in frustration; it had been nearly two hours since they left. I folded my arms, now leaning against the wall with one foot up on it, and then I head a car turn off the highway and enter the drive.
I straightened up and waited to see her beautiful face as she entered the door, the wait was almost unbearable, then the door opened and Carlisle and Jasper entered but Bella was not behind them. I flew across the room to see if maybe she was just walking at her normal slow speed, She wasn't there, I spun around in a panic.
"Where is Bella Carlisle!.." I said as my eyes widened, my thoughts raced through all the things that could have happened to her, I didn't take the time to read his thoughts and get the answers there.
"We… couldn't stop her Edward" Carlisle said with his back to me in a low voice.
I flashed around Carlisle to meet his eyes, as panic ripped through me.
"Couldn't stop her from what!? Where is she Carlisle?" my voice was becoming stressed, my mind still clouded with horrible images of Bella being tortured.
Jasper put his and on my shoulder, I shrugged it off, becoming more impatient by the second.
Carlisle face was torn "I'm sorry son and held out his hand I looked down at it, opening my hand to him he dropped a little gold ring into my palm. The pain of what I saw, of what she has done made the ring seem to weigh tons, because it made me drop to my knees.
As I stared at the glistening band, I could now hear all Carlisle's thoughts of why this token of my love for her was no longer on her tiny hand.
'She did it for you, she must think she protecting you Edward'
"Why did you let her go?" I said as I jerked my head up.
"She left us no choice son" Carlisle said as he placed his hand on my head.
"THAT THING IS STILL AFTER HER CARLISLE!" I growled, jumped to my feet and heading for the door, in a flash Carlisle was blocking my path.
"She is with Charlie, she is safe for now, and I will send Emmett to watch over her for now. We will all take turns, till we figure out what we are dealing with" Carlisle words were meant to be reassuring, but were not to me.
"I will take the first watch" I said as I headed for the door again.
"No Edward, it's to Dangerous for you to be near her right now, just give it a little time. I swear she will be safe" Carlisle voice was pleading
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT CARLISLE, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE DESPERATION IN HIS THOUGHTS, HIS NEED TO POSSES HER, HIS PULL TO HER IS AS STONG AS MINE, HIS UNPREDIACTABILITLY ONLY PUTS HER IN MORE DANGER!" My voice was loud and alarming to the others.
Jasper tried to calm me. I was far beyond that now, I shot him a dangerous look and he lifted his gift from me.
Emmet entered the room, quickly flanking to Carlisle's side
"whad I miss now, Where's Bella?" Emmet added folding his arms across his chest, his brow raised again in confusion.
Pain shot across my face as I looked down at my mother's ring still resting on my palm.
"Whoa!" Emmet gasped as he looked at the ring in my hand.
"What happened? Why did she return the ring?" Emmett spoke in a quick low tone.
"To protect me" I hissed,
"Emmet I need you to go watch Bella tonight" Carlisle said his hand on Emmett's shoulder
"NO! I'm going" I said my anger building faster.
"Edward Let Emmet go, just till it gets dark. He can watch from the woods when the sun retreats completely you can go, you will have a better chance hiding from this thing in the shadows. Emmet and Jasper can Patrol while you are there, I will call Jacob, he and the Pack can also help, we don't know if he has hunted any other humans, they needed to be warned" Carlisle said looking at all of us.
"Fine, but if you see anything Emmet you call right away, No trying to take care of this thing by yourself that will leave Bella unprotected, we don't now how this vampires mind works, he is very skilled and determined" I said pulling my eyebrows inward.
"You got it Bro"
"And Emmett, I don't want Jacob anywhere near Bella" I said through gritted teeth.
"He wont get with in sniffing distance of my little sis" Emmett smiled turning and bounding out the back door leaping the river with out pausing, Carlisle went straight to his study I could hear him pick up the phone and begin to dial numbers, Jasper was already talking on his cell to Alice no doubt.
I longed for her scent, to hold her, touch her face. I began to feel the anger build again but not toward this loathsome vampire but towards Bella, How could she do this?, how could she make it so easy for him to steal her life?, my life…, she promised me , promised me she wasn't going to do this, Stubborn Child! How could she think she was protecting me, she wasn't, she was destroying me" I thought as I clenched my fists into tights balls at my side, I remembered what I was still holding in my hand and released the pressure before I crushed it, and Placed the ring in my pocket. I dashed to the wall pressing the button and retracted the metal wall and headed upstairs to my room, where I knew he could see me if he was still out there or at least hear me.
I slammed the door and walked to the window
"FACE ME YOU COWARD!" I shouted
"AFRAID!" I taunted
"HA, HA, HA, HA, no not afraid, just…smarter "the voiced whispered invading my thoughts
My eyes searched the forest to try to locate where the sound was coming from.
"What do you want from us?" I said still looking for him.
"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to" the voice lightly chuckled.
"She is mine "I hissed back
"So naïve" he spoke now in a condescending mocking tone.
"I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO HURT HER" I said as my voice began to shake with anger.
"Hurt her? If I wanted to kill her, trust me she would be a rotting corpse by now… little boy, you arrogant enough to think only you can have her as a pet… I can offer her far better life, one that does not consist of dinning on filthy animals and she will soon learn to love me, you will be but a shadow from her past soon forgotten" the voiced seemed quite pleased and sure of him self.
"If you are so sure, why not make your self known let her choose?" I said in a challenging tone
"Choice's are as unpredictable as the weather young one, you choose her because her blood sings to you, you secretly yearn to taste it, to bath in it, is it so hard to believe there are others who wish to do the same?"The voice became sharp in my ears.
"YOU WILL NOT HAVE HER, I WILL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU TOUCH HER" I said in a clear loud voice, emphasizing each word as I spoke.
His laughter rang loudly in my ears bringing me to my knees, and then all became silent. I took a few unnecessary breaths waiting for more of his taunting, but no more came.
I felt my emotional flood gate burst open I was suddenly taken over by intense overwhelming emotions, helplessness, fear, rage, bitter sadness and frustration. The weight of all these emotion brought me to my knees.
My fists pounded the floor, then sat back on my calves and let out all the rage, frustration and pain that had filled my body in one loud thunderous cry.
Carlisle, Jasper, and Rosalie quickly burst through my door.
"EDWARD!" Carlisle Bellowed. I raised my hand in the air with my palm out to Carlisle stopping him from coming any further
"He's not going to stop until he has her" I said in a defeated voice, leaning forward resting my knuckles on the floor in front of me.
"We WILL stop him Edward" Carlisle said as he finished crossing the room.
"How? how can we fight what we cant see?" I said getting to my feet and turning to face Carlisle.
"We have to leave, he will make his move soon, I have to get Bella out of here" I ran to the dresser in search of my old passport.
"Edward we are stronger together you know this, taking off with Bella only puts you both in danger" Jasper said with his teeth clenched.
" what will you have me do Jasper, wait for him to take her, what would you do if this was Alice that was in trouble, would you sit back hiding in the house, no you would do anything you could to keep her safe" I said narrowing my eyes and looking to his face for an answer.
In that instant his face was an inch from mine
"I would trust my family Edward!" Jasper hissed
"ENOUGH!" Carlisle Screamed, loud enough to break my eye contact with Jasper and make me take a step back, Jasper did the same.
"you think you are the only one who loves Bella, she is part of this family, I lover her as a daughter, as does Esme, no one in this family wants any harm to come to her" Carlisle's voice Had regained the same peaceful tone he normally spoke in. my eyes flickered to Rosalie, her lips parted and her eyes widened. My gaze turned back to Carlisle.
"I'm Sorry Carlisle" I said hanging my head in defeat and shame, my arms fell limp at my sides. Carlisle crossed the room in a blur and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned my head forward into his chest ashamed of my weakness.
Carlisle released his hold on me and placed his hand on the sides of my head,
"We will do this together, as a family" Carlisle said with a confident smile
"It's getting Dark if you want to go relieve Emmet, you should leave now" Carlisle urged
As I neared the door Rosalie flew at me wrapping her arms around my neck, this I did not expect, her thoughts were flooded with fear. She then released her grip and fled from the room.
I heard her door slam down the hall and looked at Carlisle.
"I will talk to her" he said then motioned for the door
"Let's go Jasper" I nodded then headed down stairs, as I headed out the door I waited for the screaming in my head to start but it was silent. I flew toward Charlie's not really noticing I was leaving jasper behind but I could still hear him a little distance back trying to keep up. There was still no sound screaming in my head, I didn't know whether to feel Relief or fear.
I hurried to the edge of the forest near Bella's house, I could see Emmet now crouched on a branch ten feet off the ground; I leapt and landed next to him.
"Anything" I said in a whisper.
"No nothing" Emmett Shrugged.
The branch shook as Jasper Landed next to me, his eyes surveying the landscape
"Your girl has got some willpower; does she think she's fat?" Emmett spoke through the side of his mouth.
"What do you mean" I asked as an Irritated look crossed my face.
"Charlie has been trying to get her to eat, but she wont, she refuses the food, Says she's not hungry." Emmett said with an expression he wore often, Confusion.
"Oh Bella" I said quietly as my face fell.
"Where is she in the House?" I asked turning to face Emmet
"Her Room, she hasn't left it all day, I don't know how you do it man, if it's this boring while she is awake how can stand to watch her sleep!" Emmett's brow was raised and his tone high pitched.
I rolled my eyes and shoved him off the branch; he did a graceful front flip landing on his feet, turned and smiled at me.
I turned quickly and took a crouched position as I caught a scent, Emmet and Jasper did the same.
The scent wasn't vampire though, it was DOG.
I hopped down from the Branch and waited until Jacob came into view, as he did I noticed Quil and Paul coming to flank his sides.
"Carlisle Called told us what was going on, is she ok?" Jacob said his tone very nonchalant.
"Yes… she's fine" I said trying to restrain myself from ripping off both his arms.
"Did you guys see anything on your way over here" I said reining my anger in further.
"No nothing, Seth and Leah are out patrolling, we have covered a five mile radius in every direction and caught no scent or sight of this vampire, Maybe he left?" Jacob said almost sounding sure of him self.
"No… he is planning, he knows we are protecting her, he will find away around us eventually, that's why we must keep our senses sharp and our wits keen, He will try to divide us, he cant fight numbers this big. I have heard his temperament, he is not patient, he is becoming irrational, unfocused, there in lies our advantage." I said as I turned to look toward Charlie's
"Do you know what he wants with her; I mean does he just want to kill her, what?"Jacob asked as the confusion was present in his brow.
"He wants to own her, posses her body and soul" I said still looking at Charlie's
My head turned back to Jacob with a snap.
"No Jacob there is a big difference there" I said answering Jacobs's thoughts.
"Hmm" he retorted.
"Charlie has gone to bed Edward"Jasper spoke in a hushed tone.
"You and Emmett Help the pack patrol, I haven't heard from him since leaving the house, I don't know what he's doing right now…" I said to Jasper as I turned to leave.
"Wait you can't hear his thoughts bloodsucker, some help you're gonna be!" Jacob spat threw his teeth.
I spun around quickly.
"No…I can only hear him when he wants me to or if he is unfocused, when he lets his emotions cloud his judgment, he is an efficiently good at blocking me" I said as the anger built in my chest.
"Some great protector, she IS better off with me!" Jacob Scoffed.
I crouched as a growl rose in my chest; jasper leaned forward putting his hand on my shoulder. Suddenly there was a loud "Snap" behind me. I turned abruptly, Emmett had broken of a six foot tree branch and walked toward Jacob stopping only a few feet In front of him, smacking the branch in his hand like it was base ball bat.
"Hey Jacob" he chided, leaning his head to the side and relaxing his shoulders, as I read Emmet's thoughts, a large smile crossed my face.
Emmet took one large stride back and launched the branch into the air with a fierce growl, it flew like a rocket out into the darkness, then looked back to Jacob.
"FETCH!" Emmet shouted in his face, Jacob took a step Back his eyes now narrow slits.
"Disgusting Leech!" he barked at Emmet
Emmett's Smile grew so that you could even see his Wisdom teeth and quickly clicked his teeth together as if biting the air; I heard Jasper let out a laugh he could no longer contain
"Try to make your selves use full and not to get in our way, we will take the north and east, you leeches take the south and west" Jacob hissed then took off
"We should get a dog, I never had a dog!" Emmet laughed
"Yeah I can really see this, a dog catching the tree you launch at it, we'll have our own little pet cemetery, probably not the best idea Emmett" Jasper said patting him on the back.
"We wont be far Edward" Jasper said over his shoulder as he and Emmett darted into the forest.
I looked down the hill at Charlie's It was dark, I walked to the back yard springing over the fence landing on the balls of my feet, with no sound except the rushing air.
I listened for Charlie, I could hear him in his room snoring loudly in a deep sleep, I rounded the house to Bella's window and leaped to the eve, but it was shut and locked, as was the other one I peered in the window she was asleep curled into a ball with no covers her body seemed to shiver.
"Oh Bella" was the only words that could escape my lips, she looked so frail and weak so damb breakable, like a glass Christmas bulb, the slightest amount of pressure and it would burst into a million tiny shards.
I hopped down searching the house for an open or unlocked window, but the only one I found was in Charlie's bedroom, I slipped through stopping at the foot of his bed to look at him, I started to get angry, his snores were so loud he wouldn't hear if Bella needed help, I shook it off. I knew it wasn't Charlie's fault, I continued out of his room to Bella's.
I crept through her door and to her bed, I noticed a plate of food that had not been touched resting on the night table, I sighed a quiet sigh, Then carefully picked up the blankets she had thrown to the floor and placed them gently across her body , She smelled wonderful ,my heart ached to touch her face. But I resisted pulling my hand back, and retreating to my usual position on the chair in the corner of her room. There was a book near the wall laying open face down on the floor, though there were several books laying about the floor, practically a small library. Along with clothing she had simple discarded, she was always in a hurry, which brought a smile to my face.
I watched as she tossed and turned, occasionally calling my name, I wanted so much to hold her in my arms. The night passed to quickly, I would have to leave soon. I loathed the sun, cursing its approach from the east as it ripped away my dark heaven; the pain in my chest engulfed the cold heart that had not beat for almost nine decades. I walked over to the table next to her bed, leaning over her taking in the every ounce of her scent that I could.
"My sun sets and rises with you" I whispered, I stood up slowly reaching in my pocket, I Placed the ring on her table and left.
As I was entering the forest Jasper flew to my side, His face blank of expression
"Carlisle Called Edward he thinks he found out whom this vampire is"…
I flew for home not waiting for Jasper to explain any further, hope filling my chest as I pushed my self faster.
As I entered the door I found them all seated at the big dining table.
"What did you find out Carlisle?" I said as I leaned both hands on the table and searched his thoughts before he could answer this time.
"A rogue member of the guard?" I said looking confused.
"I called Italy today just taking a chance that the volturi sent someone for some treachery they thought we committed once again. I talked to Felix, he knew of nothing that would cause the volturi to return. I told him of the situation we were facing and of the gifts that this particular vampire posse, he immediately spoke the name Aleron, mentioning that he had traveled with them as a member of the guard when they came to take care of the newborns. But he had not joined them on the return trip home, they had assumed he had gone hunting and would join them in Italy at a later time. He is well respected there so they gave no notice to his extended absence. Felix also mentioned he has a will power to match our own, and he loves to play mind games with his victims" Carlisle just lowered eyes and shook his head .
"Are they sending someone for him" as my eyes flickered behind me as Jasper entered the room and took the seat next to Alice, she immediately began catch him up on what he'd missed in the conversation.
"No Edward" Carlisle continued "they are not going to help, Aleron has broke no rules, they simply see it as fight at the dinner table. Bella means nothing to them, Aleron holds seniority, precedence over Bella's life, and they're not going to intercede"
I pushed off the table as all the hope that had built inside me vanished.
"So we are no better off then we were before!" I said as I grabbed the vase full of flowers throwing it across the room and watching it smash against the far wall into a shower of glittery splinters.
"No Edward we have learned a lot about Aleron, that will help us better know his mind, this is another advantage" Carlisle spoke with the same hope I had had only moments ago.
" We now know he has two gifts, of which we have already seen, but Felix told me his mind ability has a limited range only a short distance and he can only focus on one target at a time, but its his second defensive ability which allows him to get as close as he does, and also makes it easy for him to hide, since its impossible to pinpoint his location, Alice had been trying to get a better look at him, his thoughts started to slow. She caught bits and pieces but nothing that would suggest a location, but then he vanished completely, she cant find him anywhere, it appears as though he has left."
"That's what he wants us to think, so we will let our guard down, maybe he's not as smart as I was giving him credit for or he thinks us very stupid" I said with annoyance ringing though my voice.
Esme stood up from the table and walked to me placing her soft hands on my face. Her eyes filled with the most sincere love and concern for me.
"Edward when was the last time you hunted" as she peered into my eyes.
"I'm fine there is more important matters at hand"
"Edward you need to keep your strength up if you want to be able to protect Bella, go with Carlisle he needs to hunt as well" Esme's voice was so soothing I couldn't help but smile at her.
"Ok" I said as I leaned forward kissing her on the forehead. Carlisle bagged nearly as many as I had which was not like him. I don't know if it was more of a competition for him to day or if he was storing up for the winter, I laughed as it looked like while he was trying to take down a rather large Elk that he was riding it instead, I hadn't laughed in so long it seemed an odd sound.
We raced back to the house, letting him enter it first, as we walked in the front room I noticed everyone standing around Alice, her expression blank.
"How long has she been like this" I asked as my body tensed
Just as you walked in, "Alice what do you see" Jasper shook her shoulders.
Alice remained frozen then spoke in a loud tone "BELLA NO" I flew over to Alice placing my hands on her face "Alice what is it, "ALICE" I screamed this time she blinked twice.
"Edward, she's leaving, Charlie doesn't know, she's already outside, she's getting in a cab"
"Where is she going Alice?" her mind seemed overpowered with fear as I raced through her thoughts.
"The airport" I gasped
"You can beat her Edward if you run, we will be behind you, GO NOW!" she screamed.
I raced toward the airport as fast as I could, my thoughts screaming "Bella love don't do this!" wishing she could hear me, willing her to hear me. When I finally reached the outskirts of Port Angeles my anxiety only grew having to move at such a slow pace, a human pace. It felt like it had taken me hours to get there. I searched the faces of people around me to see if anyone had seen her. I ran inside I knew there was no way she had made it before me, I studied face after face franticly searching for some hint of her beautiful features, as the minutes past there was still no sign of her, panic rippled through me, what if she had changed her mind about coming here and went to a train station. My head whipping from side to side from face to face, minutes passed by and still nothing. Then there it was in the face a middle aged man, who was wishing he was 20 years younger. My head shot around from left to right and there she was, her dark hair falling at her shoulder, her arm in a sling, sunglasses' rested on the faded bruise on her cheek.
I walked toward her, her back to me. she was now only inches from my grasp I leaned forward and whispered" were you really not going to say goodbye Bella" I said hoping she didn't hear the break in my heart , but she didn't move, didn't turn, didn't answer.
"Tell me goodbye Bella" my voice became low and harsh, her scent was making it difficult to concentrate.
She still did not turn "If you love me, you will tell me good bye"my voice became louder.
"I can't she " her voice was shaky and broke as she said the words, then took off running across the airport it only took me a second to catch her from behind, I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her close
"Please Edward you have to let me go" I could feel her tears hit my arms. I held her even closer.
"Never, never Bella" I said as I pressed my head next to hers, and clenched my eyes shut tight. I took a deep breath, I could finally breathe, and I could feel my heart beat beneath her chest, I was alive again.
"Edward please don't you understand, this is all I can do for you" her voice grew soft and angelic, but her words felt like a dagger sharp and painful.
"For me? " I said releasing my hands and taking a step back "You would steel my soul, leaving me to rot in hell for eternity, that is your last gift to me?"
She spun around pulling off the sunglasses; her eyes were red and swollen, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"Edward your love for me is going to get you killed and you don't seem to care, but I do, I wont let you risk you life again" she said lifting her left hand and there placed securely on her finger was my mothers ring.
"Why did you come?, do you know what could have happened to you?…" her eyes searching mine for an answer.
"I will always come for you Bella" I said taking a step forward, she took a step back, as I advanced forward again she began to retreat further stopping only when she had backed herself into a corner.
"Edward it's not safe for you to be near me, that's why I have to go, it's the only way. I now understand the reason you left me before and I don't blame you, you were trying to protect me. And I'm going to do the same." The pain in her voice and face was unmistakable and unsettling.
I flew across the room quicker then I should have, not caring to see if anyone had noticed. I placed my hands on either side of her blocker her exit.
"Bella I don't need you to protect me in not the one in danger, he doesn't want me, he wants you. Why are you making this so easy for him Bella? Why can't you understand what you mean to me? what do I have to do?" I said grabbing hold of the sides of her face, her skin so soft and warm. Not standing it another minute I crushed my lips against her pouting mouth, drinking in every moment our lips were pressed together, a thirst that could never be satisfied. I would never stop wanting more, my throat burned like never before. I embraced it, all of it.
She dropped the sunglasses to the floor and reaching her hand around the back of my neck she pulled herself tight to my body. She seemed to suddenly change her mind and tried to pull herself back. I reluctantly released only my lips feeling her hesitation, pulling my head back a few inches to see her eyes.
"Edward I can't…" she paused staring into my eyes
"Well I can!" I said with a smile as I pressed my lips to hers again.
"Ugh… this could take awhile" I heard a voice say, I shook my head as I turned to see Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper standing against the far wall. I couldn't help but smile at my rather dysfunctional looking family. I turned my attention back to Bella; her cheeks had filled with blood. I ran the back of my fingers across the blushing cheek as she stared at the floor. I ran one finger under her chin and raised her face to meet mine.
"So what's it going to be love, do we stay or do we go"
"Tell me we have a chance of winning, Edward; tell me we will both come out standing in the end." Desperation flooded across her expression.
"As long as we are together love, we have already won, don't you see Bella; he wants to separate us, to drive us apart. He knows nothing of our bond. Bella He will never know a love like ours, that's why he picked you. For a vampire to love a human so deeply is a riddle to him, a mystery he must solve, he simply wants what I have. He wants you to love him, to teach him what you have taught me, its actually quite simple Bell, its Envy not love that drives him, that why he can never win." I picked up her sunglasses off the floor and held out my hand to her, she looked from me to my family and placed her hand in mine.
We walked toward the others, Alice bound over throwing her arms around Bella and kissed her on the cheek "ya know you shouldn't scare us like that Bella, and that wasn't nice, trying to block me with all those Nursery rhymes, I have been singing BA, BA black sheep in my head ALL DAY she giggled and skipped to Jaspers side.
Emmett was next to greet us, squeezing between us he put his arm around Bella " I just wanted to thank you personally for the great service you have done this family by sticking around, he would have been one miserable bastard had you left, in turn making us all miserable. Keep that in mind if you plan on trying to make a break for it again." He turned to me and I could have sworn he read my thoughts, as He was able to duck before my hand made contact with the back of his head.
Rose gave us both an approving smile as she nodded holding Emmett's hand and walked toward the exit. Carlisle and Esme were outside leaning against the car, but when she saw Bella emerge through the sliding doors she also flew to her throwing her arms gently around Bella, telling her how she was never to do this again. Bella nodded her head several times. Carlisle told her the same as he rubbed his hand on Bella's back.
I took Bella's hand in mine again and whispered "Let's go home"
A/N:well there ya have it Bella stayed but with the lack of reviews im not not sure if I should keep posting chapters so please let me know what you think and if I should continue I have more written but wont publish till I know you want to hear more so let me know please!
