Chapter 6: Desperation
A.N. Edward does something desperate in order to 'ensure' Bella's safety.
"There is, and always will be, only you."-Jacob Black.
Bella POV.
My heart thudded in my chest as my truck practically crawled to my destination. I was driving about 20 miles per hour under the speed limit—far too slow to be legal, yet necessary.
I was currently on my way to Edward's home. He had begged to see me after the fiasco that was down to his surprise return, and after a little kneading on his part, I caved. It seemed I was perfectly capable of denying Alice the chance to explain, but not him. I seemed incapable—and slightly unwilling—to say no to him.
My breath caught in my throat as I pulled into their mile-long driveway, coming out as an odd choking noise. To distract myself, I went over the conversation that I'd had with Jacob prior to my little escapade.
He had known that something was wrong as soon as he answered my call. I blamed my shaky voice for giving me up immediately. Traitor! As you'd expect, the conversation hadn't gone to well. He was, of course, livid with the very thought of me entertaining the idea and tried to dissuade me—of course my stubbornness would not give way to reason, resulting in a huge fight.
The imprint issue naturally come up, and with it brought the realization that no matter what happened between Edward and I, Jacob would get hurt. His temperament changed whilst we were talking, and I sensed he was about to phase. I hung up after a halfhearted goodbye and 'I'll be fine'. He wasn't buying it, of course, and not ten minutes later, I got a rather harsh text from Leah.
"I hope you know what you're doing to Jacob," she ranted. "After he hung up, he phased and went on a rampage. And right now he's currently prowling the border, waiting on an opportunity to cross."
The thought of causing Jacob so much pain hurt me to my very core and almost caused me to turn around. Almost!
I wouldn't return to him, though. I honestly couldn't; I was compelled to know the truth. I needed to well and truly understand why he'd abandoned me the way he had, especially when he'd been so adamant about my safety around my imprint. Edward had been so edgy since he'd found out about the two of us. It angered me that he'd act as though my life were threatened in the company of the wolves, yet he'd left without a second glance. I was hopefully determined to set the record straight in that regard, though I wasn't too good at telling him hot I felt. I'd always felt inapt around them— it was different with Jacob, I felt as though I just couldn't be myself, or that I'd never be welcomed in the presence of such graceful creatures.
I slowed to a stop in front of the wonder that was the Cullen mansion. Vast and white, the house stood out against the backdrop of the forest— just another thing that screamed perfection. The more I stared at the monstrosity, the more I realized it just didn't belong here—almost like them.
Alice's tinkling pixie voice brought me out of my thoughts. She ran excitedly down the steps and engulfed me in an icy hug, stumbling slightly as her body collided with mine. When I gained my baring, I freed myself from her grasp bu exclaiming I couldn't breathe. It wasn't entirely true, but it was a plausible falsehood, at least. I had honestly worried that the pain would return with such a brute force that I'd end up on my ass, passed out on the ground. Their presence still created strange sensations in my body.
"Sorry. I am just so glad that you are here. I knew my plan would work."
I bristled at her comment but held my tongue when I saw Esme gliding towards me. Elegant and flawless, her beauty had always entranced me. Time hadn't changed any of them, and it never would. I wasn't sure why I'd expected their appearance to have changed. Perhaps it was because they all seemed so human to me.
"Bella, it's good to finally see you," her voice tinkled like a melody as she embraced me in yet another icy hug. Only this time she seemed to sense my discomfort.
"You too," I croaked, clearing my throat and flashing her a smile.
"Let's go," Alice chirped, as she danced up the steps and into the house excitedly. "Edward is waiting." My heart dropped into my stomach at the mention of his name. I honestly wasn't prepared to see him again—yet I was here all the same.
XXX
Jacob POV
My claws scraped against the soil harshly, telling of my disdain. I was hidden amongst a scattering of trees that stood on the right side of the treaty line, awaiting on news of my imprint. She was currently in the presence of vampires—the Cullens. Letting Edward fuck with her mind yet again.
I was anxious about Bella's safety. Not that the Cullens were particularly dangerous vampires. After all, the head vamp was a doctor—but they were still vampires, regardless of their diet. No matter how invested they were in protecting human life, they were still our natural enemy. I was born to hate them—to kill them—in order to protect, and the fact that Bells was alone with them terrified me.
Sam was on patrol with me, anxiously prowling the border right along side me. Bella was part of the pack now—all the imprints were—and the fact that she was within the company of the Cullens made him as equally anxious. His thoughts kept flickering to his own imprint and how he'd feel if she were in Bella's place. I nearly crossed he border when I felt a strange sense of anguish wash over me. It was a pain like no other. It felt almost like I'd been hit by a freight train, and I staggered under the weight of it, feeling worn and weary.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked through the pack mind.
"It's Bella! Something has happened—she's no longer in Forks."
"How do you know?" he growled.
"'Cause, it's like the place she held in my heart is nothing but a black hole." I gasped as the realization hit me that she might have been kidnapped. "Edward!" I snarled. I sent out a warning howl to my pack brothers Jared, Paul, Embry, Seth and our pack sister, Leah, before I tore off towards the leeches mansion.
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Bella POV
I fidgeted nervously as I sat on the lounger in Edward's room. He wanted to talk to me privately. It seemed silly considering that we were in the company of a house full of vampires with super sonic hearing. But whatever!
"How are you?" he asked lamely. He seemed nervous, an emotion that contradicted his nature. Edward had always been the epitome of calm.
"Fine,"
"I'm sorry that I left you like that. I'm not proud of how much I've hurt you," I let out a little huff of indignation. Unfortunately he wasn't finished. "I would like it if you could forgive me."
"Forgive you, Edward?" I asked incredulously, I bounced up and started to pace. "Edward, what you've done to me is not easily forgivable. I—I've suffered too much."
He looked at me with a pained expression before trying again.
"Bella, my love," he grabbed my hand and I tried not to pull my it away from his icy marble flesh. "I love you so much, and only left to protect you from myself. What happened on the night of your birthday scared me, and not because of what Jasper done, but because of what I done trying to protect you. I hurt you worse than you should ever have been. I realized then how much I could hurt you by being with you."
"So you decided to hurt me even more by leaving?" I scoffed and pulled my hand from his.
"I thought that I was doing what was best and I will have to live with that decision—and the fact that I destroyed what we had— for the rest of my existence." My breath became ragged as he stared intensely into my eyes. His topaz eyes were bright and full of passion, capturing me within their depths .
I only looked away when I heard a soft knock, one that I'd only associate with Alice.
"Enter," Edward said politely as she crossed the threshold, strangely enough carrying a glass of lemonade.
"Here, Bella. I made this for you. I thought you might be thirsty." I smiled awkwardly and took the glass from her. I drank the cool liquid greedily, nearly emptying the glass in one gulp. It was the perfect mixture of sweetness and tart from the fresh lemons.
"Thanks," I said awkwardly and sat myself back down on the lounger. Not two minutes later my head started to feel fuzzy enough so that I found myself unable to form a coherent thought. I looked at Edward and Alice I the eye and grimaced at the guilt that shone in the depths. I swallowed thickly when the room started to spin and dropped the glass to grip the chair, willing my environment to stay still.
"What?.."I couldn't even form a sentence and my world suddenly tilted sideways. I hadn't realized I had fallen over until Edward caught me mid fall.
"What did you do?" I tried to ask, but my speech was slurred. I tried to focus as Alice's face swam into view, but it was hard. I just caught the words "I'm sorry" before my world went black.
XXX
Alice POV
"Are you sure this is going to work?" I asked Edward as I glanced to the back of the car. Edward was sitting behind the passenger seat with Bella's head on his lap, her legs splayed across the other seats. He was holding onto her firmly as I swerved in and out of the cars.
We had left immediately after Bella had passed out, using the floor to ceiling window as our means of escape, stealthily avoiding the family. We ran for a mile before getting into the car that I had stashed away earlier.
"It has to, Alice," he growled, angry at my hesitation at this whole debacle. "She's my mate, Alice. I refuse to allow her to remain in that monster's presence a moment longer."
"You're forgetting that I've left behind my mate to do this!" I snarled angrily. Being away from Jasper was painful, and I didn't know how long I could stand to be apart from him. "He'd have no way of even finding us. He'll lose the trail a mile in."
"It won't be forever," he replied coldly.
"A mere five minutes is too much to bear!" I hissed, annoyed with his selfishness. He ignored me completely—which hadn't surprised me one bit—and went back to stoking Bella's hair.
I drove overnight before Edward was satisfied that we were far enough away. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Joyful! I pulled into the first decent hotel I'd came too and hopped out of the car, walking straight into the hotel without even helping Edward with Bella. I heard him sigh as he lifted her out.
I confidently walked up to the concierge and ran the little bell upon the desk to attract his attention, he smiled at me and walked over. "May I help you miss?" he asked politely continuing to smile.
I flashed him my winning smile and batted my long lashes for emphasis. "I certainly hope so," I said as Edward entered the lobby. "My friend fell asleep in the car and we need a room to crash on for the night." I gestured to Edward and Bella but he barely spared them a glance.
"Hmm," he hummed thoughtfully as he clicked away on the computer. "I apologize, but all we have is the penthouse suite."
"Perfect," I said delightfully and handed him my limitless, black credit card.
"Right away, miss," he said gleefully snatching the card from my hand and clicking his fingers at the bell hop and ordering him to take our bags.
Ten minutes and a very slow elevator ride, we found ourselves in our suit. It was a lavish room, with three large bedrooms that surrounded the living quarters, each with spacious en-suits and quality furniture, all of which was decorated in various shades of gold. Floor to ceiling windows showcased a beautiful ocean view. All in all, it was a lovely room, though, in my opinion, the designer could've used a tad less gold. It felt the 70's had vomited all over the walls. Esme would've cringed. Ah well, it was home for God knows how long, and it'd serve its purpose for the time being.
Edward tucked Bella in to one of the oversized beds and lay beside her, waiting for her to wake from her drug induced sleep.
"This better work," I snapped, he ignored me once more so I settled for going for a nice long relaxing bath before going for a hunt.
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Jacob POV
We reached the Cullen mansion in record time, and I phased at the entrance so taking the steps, two at a time, desperate to speak with the inhabitants within. Not surprisingly, Carlisle had the door open before I could even knock. He could tell that something was wrong.
"Check every room in this place," I ordered the pack, and they stormed the house, not even questioning my position to give out orders, due to the severity of the situation.
"Jacob, what's wrong?" Esme asked worried. The rest of the bloodsuckers formed a little group surrounding me, all bar Edward and Alice.
"Bella gone," I growled.; the trembling of my body matching the beat of my heart.
"She's with Edward and Alice, in Edward's room," Carlisle said, confused. The pack thundered down the stairs, and split up, checking the lower level. Sam who'd been just a hairsbreadth behind me, phased back and pushed his way into the circle.
"She's not. We picked up her scent in his room. It seems they left through his window." Sam growled. At this bit of information, Jasper broke away, rushing upstairs. He came seconds later, with a heartbroken and angry look upon his face.
"They're right, she's gone. Even Alice!" his voice broke at the realization that Alice had gone, without him.
"One of the cars is missing," Leah said, now phased back. "God knows where she is now."
My legs gave way and a heart-wrenching cry tore from my lips. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, anxiety robbing the oxygen from my lungs, as my mind and heart processed her absence. I vowed then and there that the leeches would pay for what they'd done to my Bella—my mate.
"He'll die for this," Sam growled, reiterating what I couldn't.
"Like hell he will," Emmett snarled, dipping into a crouch. The pack drew closer to him, but he didn't budge.
"He's violated the treaty, and he will pay for such."
"How? He's only took her because he thought he was protecting her," Esme said.
"She's Jacob's mate," Sam roared. "Bella is his imprint. The spirits of our ancestors have bound them together, she's one of us now and he's taken her against her will."
"You don't know that," she said gently.
"We do, there was an almost empty glass of lemonade in the room, with traces of something in it" Carlisle took the glass of him and sniffed it. "Benzodiazepine," he said expertly. "And it seems to be a high dose, enough to put her to sleep."
Another painful wail escaped my lips and I doubled over in pain, unable to stand the nslaught of agony that no plagued my body. Leah lifted me up, and stood me on my feet. I leant most of my weight on her, unable to support myself any longer.
"He could die without her," Sam explained. "The only way Edward would get a reprieve is if they bring her back—tonight." And with that he grabbed my other arm, helping Leah support my weight, and the two of them dragged my despindent body out of the house.
A.N. So what do you think? Will Bella forgive him? Will she come back? And if so do you think she'll be able to save him from the wolves? Review please!
