Chapter Seven
Bella
It had been a close run thing, they'd almost caught up with us this time and how they knew we were in Paris no one could, or would explain. Charlie had been picked up from the Security job they'd arranged for him and I was just leaving for lunch when I saw our handler appear in a van with blacked out windows gesturing frantically. It seemed we were never to find any safe refuge. Every time we moved we thought this would be it but each time somehow they found out and we had to run yet again. I sometimes wished I had been in that Cruiser they sacrificed, at least it would all be over then. During the day I kept busy with the various jobs they arranged for me or keeping our latest set of rooms tidy and cooking for Charlie, keeping my misery hidden so it didn't increase his guilt over our situation. My nights were a different thing entirely, I never went out and would be awake until it got light and I felt somehow safer. If I did sleep I dreamed and they were the worst nights. My memories were all I had left, I hadn't been able to take anything of my old life with me except my memories. Books and CDs I'd collected again as I went, old and familiar friends like Heathcliffe and Romeo but photographs, my favourite clothes, all had to be left behind. The greatest sacrifice had been my moth eaten teddy that Renee and Charlie had bought for me when I was born, after all I couldn't replace him.
Nights were definitely my worst times, I dreamed of Edward and The Cullens, Jake, Billy, Harry, Renee, and each dream seemed to destroy my soul a little more. If Edward was still with me I wouldn't need to worry any longer, he would have protected Charlie and I from our enemies but the handlers who looked after us appeared to have a leak. We would have been better on our own but that wasn't the way it worked in the world of the Drug Enforcement Agency and they were the ones calling the tune. So at night I surfed the internet, staying away from the Seattle news sites and only rarely checking on the Jacksonville news. Renee and Phil were safely out of it or at least I fervently hoped so but with someone still after us I guessed it would only be a matter of time before they too were targeted. Charlie had spoken to our handler about it and he'd promised to get some agents watching them but we weren't told anything more. I hated France but apparently the USA had some kind of agreement whereby they helped each other with relocating vulnerable witnesses. I longed to be back in the States where at least I understood the language. I'd struggled ever since we got here although Charlie was, surprisingly enough, fluent in French, an evening class he'd taken some years ago. It made our lives here easier but I hated having to rely on him.
Tonight I'd been woken by a vivid dream of James and Victoria, the old days, my old life, the one I'd hoped to share with Edward and his family before it all went so horribly wrong. I clicked on the Jacksonville News site scanning through the articles fingers crossed there would be nothing there to worry me when my eyes scanning the personal column passed over a message then skipped back, my heart beating its way out of my chest. It couldn't possibly refer to me, could it? If it did, then it meant Edward was trying to find me. I took a deep breath to calm myself, wiping away the tears that started to fall on the keyboard of my laptop. Grabbing a piece of scrap paper I wrote the message down and switched the computer off. My hand was shaking so violently that I couldn't hold the paper still and I couldn't have read the words on it in any case for the tears blurring my vision. When they finally stopped I wiped my face and looked at the words scribbled in a shaky hand on the paper. "The Lion fell in love with the Lamb. Golden eyes." It couldn't be a trap because no one knew the truth about the Cullens only me, and no one except Edward or one of the other Cullens would know what he said to me that day, the day I found out what he was, the day we declared our love for each other.
I had no ideas what to do, I couldn't discuss it with Charlie because he didn't know the Cullens secret nor could I tell anyone else. I took out my cellphone and looked at it hesitating. If I rang the number attached to the Ad would I hear his voice, Edward's beautiful voice? Or was it a trick? If I rang the number and it was a trap I would be leading our enemies to our door. I decided to wait, see if any more messages came from Golden eyes. Charlie noticed I was unusually preoccupied at breakfast and assumed it was to do with the recent evacuation.
"I'm sorry kiddo. I hate the thought I got you mixed up in this, and in danger. I was hoping once he'd been put away it would be over but his son is still looking for us, payback I guess. If I could I'd turn back time and do things differently"
I reached over and patted his hand, an unusual move for me and it surprised him,
"Its OK Dad. I don't blame you, you did the right thing. We'll find somewhere safe soon I'm sure."
He nodded unconvinced then got his coat,
"I'll be late home tonight. There's a ball game at the School and I have to wait till its over before I can lock up."
I nodded but it wasn't fair. Charlie had been a good Cop and here he was, Caretaker of a School in a small French village in the Alps. Why we couldn't go somewhere sunny I had no idea. Since Edward had left me I wanted the comfort of the sun, the heat. The cold reminded me too much of him. His cool touch on my arm, his cool lips on mine. I stopped myself, all I needed was a crying jag today! I had an interview at a café in town, merely a formality, the job was already mine, care of our handler. I hate the idea of serving the tourists coffee all day but it would while away the endless hours and hopefully make me tired enough to sleep dreamlessly for a few hours each night.
I got the job and I started straight away because they were busy, it being the Skiing season. I was rushed off my feet and found myself enjoying the sensation of doing something, talking to people who could speak some English, if a little stilted. I was picking up the language slowly and quite a few of the customers helped me out. It wasn't until I got home and saw the piece of paper that I remembered the message. Still undecided I cooked dinner and put Charlie's in the microwave for later, laying the paper on the table while I ate.