The hour had gotten quite late, I had been so caught up in my visit that I hadn't noticed the light fading from the sky, or the cool breeze that accompanied it. "I must be getting back. Charlie will be looking for me."
"Certainly you don't mean to travel by yourself at this time of night. The woods are no place for a woman on her own."
"You can talk."
"I will not hear of it. Edward and Carlisle would never forgive if anything were to happen to you. Besides, you should be taking it easy what with this Victoria girl around."
"You know of Victoria?"
"Carlisle filled me in, wanted to know if I'd seen her in my travels."
"I'm sure she's long gone. Edward would not have left me if he didn't think I was safe."
"He certainly does have his hands full with you." I smiled, a little embarrassed. Just then there was a tap at the door. The old woman answered it.
"There you are, I've been waiting for hours. I had to tell Charlie that you were staying at my place tonight." I couldn't tell if Alice was just cross or annoyed.
"How did you know where I was.. never mind." I should have known. "Thank you again Frieda, for everything."
"You're welcome Bella. Come again soon."
"I will." Alice held out a torch, for my benefit I was sure, and led me to her car waiting just on the outskirts of town
"Emmet drove you're car to our place. I thought Charlie would get suspicious if it was still in the school parking lot."
"Thanks. You won't tell Edward will you."
"Your secrets safe with me, as long as he doesn't read my mind of course."
"You're a true friend Alice. Thank you."
"Your welcome Bella, now lets get you home before Edward finds out. He'll be very cross with me if he does." Poor Alice, Edward always put her in charge of my safety when he was not around, I shouldn't be so inconsiderate of my consequences but sometimes I just feel so boxed in like I'm always being lost. A moment is all I ask, to be me, Bella Swan, human, oblivious to the world around her and in no danger at all. Will I ever be her again?
*****Alice and I were sitting by the fire chatting about boys and school and going shopping next weekend. Alice thought it her endless chore to ensure I had something respectable to wear and with the Halloween party coming up it was as good an occasion as any to go shopping. "We're back." Emmet declared as he and Rosalie entered the large living area. He brought with him a bag containing some pasta and chicken wings. "I kind of enjoyed that. It's been so long since I've had to order food. I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I'll love it. Thank you."
"You do us a favour." Carlisle added as he entered, "It helps us keep up the pretense if we are seen partaking in common human rituals"
"You mean buying take away food?"
"I do indeed." Emmett handed it to her and Carlisle gave her a plate and cutlery to use.
"You have a healthy appetite Bella." I blushed, it was true that I was not one of these girls who watched her figure, but compared to the Cullen's I must have seemed like a glutton. "Don't be embarrassed that's a good thing."
"Indeed." Jasper added, "In my day a fine woman was one who had a bit of heft about her. For those who did not oft succumbed to illness and disease."
"Great."
"Come Jasper, Emmett. We have much to discuss and I believe the girls would like some alone time." Emmett smiled his wicked smile. Jasper just nodded.
"Rosalie wont you join us?" Alice Asked.
"I'm afraid I have plans." She apologized as she headed to her room.
"Another time perhaps." I invited, hoping to make nice.
"Perhaps." She responded then disappeared
"Don't mind her." Alice quipped, "She'll come around eventually." Alice opened the pasta and started spooning some onto the plate for me. She loved playing house, and I sometimes got the feeling that I was her favourite doll that she could dress up and manipulate. I'm so glad to finally have some civilized company."
"Hmm. Thank you I guess." I took the plate and started eating.
"I know." Alice sprang up overjoyed at her own thought, "Let's watch Romeo and Juliet. I just love that Leonardo Di Caprio. Jasper reminds me a little of him don't you think?"
"Yeah. I guess he does."
"Fine then it's settled." Alice went over and opened a cupboard which exposed her vast video collection. She found the right disk and put it into the machine. The only thing missing was the popcorn as they settled back on the couch to watch.
****"Shhh." Alice whispered to Edward as he entered. She was still watching the end of the movie when he walked in. I had fallen asleep and was curled up in a ball at the end of the couch with a blanket placed lovingly over me to keep me warm. Edward smiled, blissfully unaware of my little escapade. "Happy travels brother?"
"The prey was a little thin. This modern generation has a lot to answer for. The time will come when there is no prey left at all."
"Don't be so melodramatic." Edward tried to read her mind, but all he saw were some very steamy images involving Alice, Leonardo Di Caprio and a beach in Venice. Alice grinned, she too knew what he had seen and relished in his embarrassment. "Serves you right entering a girls head without asking. Don't you trust me brother?"
"Trust is not the problem." He concurred as he leant down to pick me up.
"Leave her, the fire is warm and she is sound asleep. It will do no harm to let her lay here tonight." Suddenly they were interrupted by Carlisle,
"Oh good your back."
"Why. What's wrong?"
"Shall we talk in my study?" He gestured towards where I slept. Edward looked again at Alice, who shrugged an admittance that she had seen nothing.
****Emmet and Jasper were already there, looking over some old charts. Pinpointed on them were several unexplained disappearances that had occurred in the area within the last month or so. "Carlisle."
"Emmett and Jasper have been doing some digging and it seems that no less than eight people have disappeared without a trace in the local area within the last two months."
"Disappeared?" Edward asked confused.
"One of whom Emmett says he saw hanging around the local town this very night."
"For what purpose?"
"Spies." Jasper offered, "Sent to find Bella and report back anything they may learn."
"Report to whom?"
"Victoria." Edwards blood boiled
"With James and Laurent gone Victoria is no match for us alone, she must know that." Carlisle tried to console his son.
"We need to find them, now. Where did this man go?.." Emmett looked up at Edward not sure of what to say.
"No. I believe we should wait. We have no idea of how many of them there are, or what they are planning. If we grab them now we may not get them all or worse yet fall into their trap."
"Carlisle is right Edward." Jasper added in his smooth southern voice.
"And what, leave Bella out there as bait in the meantime. No. No way. I will not allow it."
"Son, I know your feelings but I urge you be calm and think about this clearly."
"I will not risk Bella's life like that."
"We risk it more by acting in haste."
Listen to him Edward." Emmett cared for Bella almost as much as Edward, "We need to gather more information." He stood a step closer, "I promise you brother. I will not let any harm come to Bella." Edward was outnumbered.
"What is your plan?"
"To track them down, follow them to however they report their information too. Find out just how many we are dealing with and then to lay our trap with misinformation."
"Why did we not sense them?"
"There are not immortal, they are simply deceived men."
"Then how will we know who they are?"
"They will be drawn to Bella, frequenting where she does, the school, the main town. We will soon learn who they are if we do the same and keep a keen eye."
"Bella must not know." Edward pleaded,
"She has a right.." Carlisle began,
"Carlisle please, trust me on this. She must not know until the time is right."
"All right." Carlisle said for them all.
"I'd hate to be there when he finds out." Emmett sniggered. Edward smiled, he too knew how angry I would be once I learned the truth.
*****Edward spent the rest of the night in the chair by the fire, watching my every movement, trying to gleam my thoughts. I barely recalled my own thoughts. I was walking, no running through a forest, it was dark and I was being chased by something. I couldn't see what it was just that my body and soul knew that should it catch me I would not make it out of the woods alive. The harder I ran the darker it got until suddenly I couldn't see anything at all. My pace slowed and I felt a hand upon my shoulder, "No. EDWARD!" I screamed… and then I was awake. Edward held me in his arms, a hand brushing the hair from my face,
"I'm here Bella, it's just a dream." He whispered. I leaned in to grab him around his waist, to pull him close. I squeezed him tightly afraid to open my eyes and then, I was asleep. He lay me back down on the couch, covered me with my blanket and took his place again in the chair, bringing it closer so as to caress my forehead while I slept. I did not wake again till morning.
"Good morning sleepy head." Emmett teased as he walked out to find me only just waking. My hair a mess.
"We can't all be as handsome as you. Tell me how long did it take you to do your hair this morning?" I couldn't be sure, but I think I saw a smile form on Rosalie's cheek.
"You'll keep." He threatened.
"Alice put some things in the bathroom for you if you'd like to wash up." Edward offered.
"Thanks." I said wrapping the soft blanket around me and heading upstairs.
*****"Does she always scream like that in her sleep?" Emmett asked as he and Edward made pancakes for my breakfast. "More and more lately. She won't tell me what she dreams about though."
"I'll give you one guess."
"And what do you suggest I do about it?"
"Distract her, fill her mind with sunshine and flowers." Emmet whisked the batter as he spoke, "Edward, Edward oh Edward. Yes Bella, Oh Edward hold me."
"Shut up Emmett." Alice who had just entered flicked batter in his face. Emmett went one better and flicked a whole handful at her. Edward scooped some up and threw it back at Emmett. Alice laughed, Emmett went to throw the entire bowl over Alice but Edward was too fast. He grabbed the bowl and poured the batter all over Emmett.
"Nice." Esme came in to see what all the fuss was and started laughing. I was right behind her.
"I take it there won't be any pancakes for breakfast then." I joked, glad someone had bested Emmett.
"Come on Bella, we'll go get something to eat from the diner before school." Edward grabbed his coat, wiped off the pancake batter from his cheek and ushered me to the front door.
"Clean this up. Now!" I heard Esme scold them and then Alice and Emmett bickering as to who would get the mop.
"I hope I didn't disturb anybody last night?"
"Not at all. I quite like having you over. So does Alice."
"I didn't scream out did I? I remember having this dream. I was lost in the forest I ran deeper and deeper. I was looking for you but you weren't there…"
"It was just a dream Bella."
"Oh god I did didn't I?" I threw my hands over my face, embarrassed. Edward pulled me closer to him.
"It could have been worse."
"I don't see how."
"Well at least it wasn't Jacobs name you were shouting. That would have taken some explaining." Edward smiled. "Emmett thinks I need to distract you."
"You spoke to Emmett about me?"
"Rather he spoke to me. His concerned about you."
"Great," Edward pulled into the diner and escorted me inside, we chose a seat at the back of the diner, Edward sat facing away from the wall so he could keep an eye on the whole room. He was very jumpy this morning, and the fact that he hadn't even mentioned what was making him so jumpy made me even more nervous. What could be so bad that he couldn't tell me about it?
"Hey Bells I haven't seen you in a while. What have you been up to?" The waitress asked.
"Not much just school."
"Well what can I do for you today?"
"What have you got?"
"Breakfast special is strawberry pancakes with hot maple syrup." Edward laughed, the waiter MaryAnn looked at him like he was having a joke on her behalf. I shot him a look that said 'stop it' "Thank you it sounds lovely." I told her and handed her the menu.
"And for you.."
"Nothing, thank you. I already ate."
"Very well." As the waiter left Edward went back to scanning the room. I knew almost everybody there, there were only a handful of strangers I could recall. There was this one guy though, sitting in the corner, baseball cap pulled down over his face, sipping on a cup of coffee. He seemed oddly familiar like I'd met him before but I couldn't tell from where. I must have been staring at him because Edwards face was frozen in concentration, trying to read his thoughts.
"Edward, what is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Don't tell me nothing, you've been on edge all morning. What is it?"
"No I literally mean nothing, I can't get anything from him. He's blocking me."
"Who is he?"
"I don't know, I've never seen him around here before. There's something about him though.."
"I know what you mean. I think I've met him before."
"Where?" Edward asked intrigued.
"I can't remember."
"Okay, here are your pancakes Bella now is there anything else I can get for you."
"No thank you." I said a little short, upset at having our conversation interrupted.
"Thank you" Edward echoed, smoothing things over for me. I hated the way every woman seemed to swoon over his every word. As if my inhibitions and hang ups weren't enough to deal with.
"Bella" he looked at me taking my hand in his, "It might be very important. Try to think where you saw this man." I closed my eyes and thought very hard, "I'm sorry I can't."
"That's okay."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on or not?"
"Not."
"Damn it Edward."
"Not yet. But soon, I promise." Edward encouraged me to eat my pancakes, I took a bite, they were good. Very good. He sat there watching me eat bite after bite until I could eat no more. As I wiped my mouth with my napkin I noticed that the man with the baseball cap had disappeared. I looked out the window into the car park. I couldn't find him at first, but then, in the shadows, I saw him being dragged into the woods by… no, what the hell was going on? Why was Emmett kidnapping that man?
"Edward?" I turned to ask but he was already at the bar paying for my meal.
"Come on." He said, ushering me out of the door, oblivious to what I had seen, "We're going to be late." I decided to keep my mouth shut, for now. Edward and I continued on in his car. As I looked out my window I searched my mind for the mans face. Where had I seen him before?
"Market."
"What?"
"I remember now, I bumped into him at the market last Sunday. I was getting the groceries. He asked me if I knew somewhere good to eat and I told him about the diner…"
"What else did you tell him." Edward seemed concerned, who was this man?"
"I don't know. We talked about the weather in forks, how he worked for a trucking company and was just passing through."
Bella listen to me. It's not safe for you to be talking to strangers at the moment. Least of all strangers who are interested in you."
"What are you saying? What's happening?"
"Emmett and Jasper have heard whispers, people have been asking questions about you in town."
"What kind of questions?"
"You're routines, your friends, family, you're… vulnerabilities."
"Who are they?"
"We think they are working for Victoria, that they've been bewitched by her."
"And they want me?"
"We're not sure. Emmet noticed one following you the other night, and now today…"
"I saw Emmett at the diner. What is he going to do to him?"
"Whatever it takes to get some information."
"Just tell me one thing Edward. Am I safe… really?"
"I wouldn't have kept you in the dark if I didn't think you were."
"And my father?"
"Jacob's watching him."
"I want you to find her Edward."
"I will."
"Find her and end this. Whatever it takes"