Chapter 9: Rushed
I wasn't surprised when Peter knocked on the door to the bedroom Charlotte had set up for me. Nor was I surprised by his slumped shoulders and ground cast eyes. He was a good person, but I also wasn't surprised as I tensed preparing for torture. This was not his fault, but rather years of being a pet. I would have to ensure he understood that. "Bella I want to apologize." He started glancing up at me. I nodded for him to continue. "I never want to hurt you, and I should have hunted more to prevent the slip, or fought the urge harder." I held up a hand to stop him.
"Peter you saved me from an attacker and even with a great thirst and your given diet you still resisted. You did not hurt me; you merely played with your food a bit." I joked. He shook his head still upset. "I'm not mad, and it's not you. I have been a vampire plaything for almost as long as I can remember. It is not your fault Peter. I appreciate your apology and will accept it even though it's unnecessary."
"Are you-" CRASH- the sound of the door exploding had my on my feet in a heartbeat. Peter turned to face the door before looking back at me fear and panic raging in his eyes. Charlotte was down there.
"Go," I said pulling a blade from my waste. He nodded and was gone. I listened to the chaos below. Furniture snapped and growls could be heard. The house groaned from its torment. Why don't they speak? If only there were words to be heard. Then perhaps I would know what was going on.
"Bella," called a voice. I instantly regretted every urge to hear the goings-on and fear flooded my system. That was not a friend, and this was far from a fair fight. Bracing myself for the sight I would surly find I raced out the door and down the hall to view the living room from above. There I caught sight of Ethan. It had been years since I'd seen this particular friend of Adam's. He must have been following me for awhile to have gotten this close. What was his angle? Two of his lackeys were also here. I felt a hand around my neck. Make that three lackeys.
"It's been so long since I've seen you Isabella. Are you as good as before?" He whispered pulling me off the ground by my throat. I heard the others chuckling over Jasper's snarls. I twisted slicing the vamp in the arm. He swore loosening his grip and it was just enough for me to get free. Thank you venom tainted blades. I jumped the banister and landed in the living room driving my dagger into the neck of a different lackey before moving away swiftly. "Now that's no way to act." The vamp from upstairs insisted joining me in the living room. I snarled carefully backing towards the nearest window. "Oh I don't think so." He ran at me pulling hair and throwing me acrost the room. I heard a screech and looked up to see Jasper holding him by the throat.
"Do not touch my guest." Jasper sneered ripping the man's head off. I looked past them to see more vampires had piled into the house, and this was far from a fair fight. I felt a hand on my arm and spun to see Charlotte beside me.
"Come on little lady. The Major wants me to escort you out of the house." She smiled shattering the window. I nodded ignoring my injuries once more and threw myself from the house knowing anywhere was better than here. Outside there was only a single guard that Charlotte dispatched with ease. Then we were running. I was so tired; she scooped me into her arms and I grit my teeth ignoring the pain in my ribs knowing it was lesser than the pain Ethan and his team would have brought. Thank goodness for Jasper and his southern war family.
By the time I had grown accustomed to the jolting and the speed we were slowing. She set me down and I surveyed the area. We were at a public motel, or rather we were in the woods just behind a public motel. No vampire could threaten exposure or risk the Volturi. This was probably the safest place we could go as a group. "Let's get inside." Charlotte brushed the leaves from her clothes before descending the hills into the motel. I followed as quickly as unsteady legs would allow into the office.
"One room with a king sized bed. I'd like it for a week if you have space for it." She said bating her eyelashes at the man behind the counter. I walked up swaying my hips hoping to play into the effect she'd already produced.
"What's got two beautiful ladies like you in a place like this?" he asked handing us the key.
"Oh, we're just here to have fun." She said winking at him. I almost vomited but instead I smiled shyly. "There's a concert a few towns over we're going to. We made a vacation of it." She lied easily.
"Have a good time girls. Feel free to find me if you need anything at all."
Charlotte giggled putting a hand to her mouth. "Will do." With that we walked out of the office I shuddered. Hopefully he thought I was excited.
Locking the door Charlotte came to sit beside me on the bed. The room wasn't awful it held all the charms of a small hotel and all the privacy and lack of book keeping someone on the run needed. This just might work. "Bella, how did they find you?" Charlotte asked shaking me from my thoughts.
"I have no i- wait, yes I do. When we killed the man that would have attacked me. Adam knew him. That means his life or death would be watched. From there it was simple tracking from the store to your place. Or from anywhere my scent had recently been, but for them to be that close means Adam was planning on having me caught soon. Those vampires were to be my next round of torturers." Charlotte grimaced at the thought.
"We won't let them get you. I'm sure Peter and Jasper will be back soon with information." The strain in her voice clearly showed her worry for the two of them. "From there we can determine how best to keep you safe." She iterated mechanically. I grabbed her hand.
"They're going to be okay. They survived the southern wars, and they just hunted. I'm sure they just trying to take a different path." I assured her even as my own fear grew.
M/JPOV:
"Captain, I need an update." I yelled tearing the throat out of another enemy.
"More than half way there Major, but there still not running." Peter called back. Of course they had to be decent at fighting.
"Once we kill the two of you Bella will be mine for a week like Adam promised." I blond remarked. "I wonder if she still screams when you-" I had him pinned before he could finish the statement.
"That is my mate you are talkin' about boy!" I roared killing him. The red was growing stronger, soon there was only one left. Captain brought the lone survivor before me. The assholes eyes were black and his emotions showed his terror plain as day. I welcomed it. Perhaps he would talk faster this way. "Why did you come."
"W- we were supposed to get the girl. Ethan p-paid to have a turn with her." I snarled at his words causing him to flinch.
"Easy Major, or we'll get nothing else outta him." Captain warned. He was right. I took a deep breath before continuing.
"How did you find her?"
"We've been following her for a week. We needed the okay from Adam and with the extra vampire scents mixed with hers Ethan thought he was being cheated out of his turn, so we followed her here." He explained in a rush. "Please don't k-kill me." He begged.
"What were intentions towards my Bella?" I asked
"I was-wasn't going to hurt her. I s-swear." He was lying.
"Bella would have been beggin for mercy and you woulda laughed at her."
"No, I-"
"Stop lying!" I roared forcing him to feel all the fear Bella had when she answered the phone call from Adam. The vampire before curled up into a ball keening.
"Captain, set him and the rest of the filth on fire."
"Yes Sir." Watching from the hilltop the blaze raged before us. We had to be sure no one
escaped. They had all been torn to pieces so this was just a precaution.
"Sorry about the house." I intoned as the blaze began to die. He shrugged keeping his
eyes locked on the task at hand.
"Things happen Major. Now is Jasper coming back or am I bringin the Major to meet the
already shook up Bella?" He asked carefully.
"I'll give you Jasper in a bit. I'm still havin fun Captain. Besides we've gotta plan." There were so many factors to account for. Would Maria involve herself sooner or later? It was obvious she would come. A chance to get me back was not something she was likely to pass up. Then there was Edward: would he hurt her or was he content knowing what he'd sent her back to? Alice would see we were helping her. Did she know of her boyfriend's actions? The answers to these questions might lead a few Cullens to early graves depending. But for now Bella was my largest concern. The fire began to claim parts of the forest: besides mastering this blaze that is.
When the fire was out we grabbed the food, ID's, and money we salvaged jumped into the most average car we owned. It didn't have four wheel drive and it was probably a year away from needing to be replaced, or at least that's what it looked like. It had an engine pulled straight from charger. It might look like a '95 Jetta, but it certainly didn't drive like one. Pulling into the motel lot we followed their scent to the appropriate door. "It's Jasper and Peter Charlotte; let us in." I whispered so only she could hear. I saw Peter relax slightly at hearing it was me again. I couldn't blame him the Major ran a tighter ship than I ever had. After informing Bella, Charlotte let us in before shutting the door swiftly behind us. I surveyed the small single bed room. At least there was a desk and a couch. Plenty of space for the one who slept and the three who would plan. The musty air was disgusting, but perhaps that was because he'd spent so long outside and even from here he could detect the smog from the smoking floor.
"You're safe." Bella said relieved echoing my thoughts. I sat on the bed beside her taking her hand in mine. The thought of what they had planned for her. No, I would focus on Bella. She had to be scared.
"Of course I am Darlin'." I said doing my best to sound cocky. She smiled shaking her head at me. Her hair bouncing around her face. It didn't reach her eyes. Even without my gift I could tell she was far from happy, and so very tired. "You should get some rest." I suggested moving off of her bed. She shrugged biting her lip. "We won't let them hurt you. I promise." A true smile this time it just barely hit her eyes, but it was there: hope. I would do anything to see that smile again. To feel that faint shadow of hope again.
"Okay Jasper. We'll talk in the morning." She stated firmly.
"If that's what you need Darlin'" She nodded.
"We need a plan. I'm not going to let anyone die for me. It's my job to save you. Not the other way around." She yawned getting into bed. "But thank you, all of you. I haven't had help in a long time." She muttered falling off into sleep. It might not be peaceful, but at least it was a chance for her body to recover. She was so small, too small. Bones protruding awkwardly, and bruises lined the parts of her that lay exposed. Her neck was the worst. My anger flaired. How dare they hurt her.
"Careful," Peter muttered. I reeled myself in immediately not wanting to affect them with my anger while they were striving to assure the other they were safe.
The wait till morning was a long one, but at least I was not the only one who tensed at every opened door, footstep, or other sound. We were all on edge and I took comfort in that. When with the Cullens despite the danger headed our way the others had always remained blissfully unobservant. I always wondered how they had survived so long, but it probably had something to do with Edward and my ex-wife. It wouldn't have surprised me in the slightest. As the sun began to rise I became hopeful that Bella would rise, but as the sun reached its peak then began its decent it became apparent that she was far more exhausted than even I'd realized. Who knows how long it had been since she'd been permitted to sleep in a bed -uninterrupted. I shuddered once more at the thought of all she'd endured and for a family she'd thought betrayed her. She truly had an unparalleled amount of strength and kindness. She was still the girl the Cullens had met in Forks despite how we had all betrayed her. I shook my head at the thought. As the sun set again I began to get worried. Pacing was the only way to alleviate stress.
"Should you wake her up?" Peter asked at midnight.
"I don't know. She's not distressed, her heart rate is not up, her breathing is regular, and I don't want to startle her." I was so frustrated. How the hell was I going to solve her large problems if I couldn't even help her get through the night?
"She's been through much. Her body probably needs time to recover. Look she's stirring." Charlotte soothed. It was true Bella was starting to move slightly. Muscles flexed and her breathing changed: she was waking. Exactly 49 seconds later she bolted upright taking in the room around her. Seeing Peter, Charlotte, and myself she relaxed.
BPOV:
I gazed at the three vampires before me, taking in the dark sky and worry in their eyes. "How long was I out I haven't felt this awake in ages?" I inquired taking in how refreshed my muscles were.
"Over a day." Jasper admitted watching carefully for my reaction. My jaw dropped. How as that possible?
"I haven't slept for more than a few hours in one go in –well I don't know how long." I muttered. It was their turn to be shocked.
"How were you even able to keep functioning?" Peter muttered. I gave him a pointed look to ensure he knew I had in fact hear him. He adverted his gave to the desk he and Charlotte were seated upon. Good, at least he was ashamed for doubting me.
"That's quite a hard way to live." Charlotte stepped in. She looked at me with compassion, not sympathy it was a nice change. I did not need pity. It did not ease my joints or fill my stomach. Compassion on the other hand filled my heart, and while I was still starving it was almost enough to make me forget that fact.
"Here," Jasper handed me a bag which I took with a raised eyebrow. Upon further inspection I realized it was food. While some of it required a lot of work to turn edible the peanut butter was an easy enough protein fix.
"Thanks," I said, and meant it. A tub of peanut butter later I was full, so full I thought I might burst. Nausea rose in me, but I beat it back. No, this was my food. Food, they had most likely salvaged from a vampire torn house. It was going to stay down. As the nausea passed I smiled victorious. It was the small things that mattered now. With that out of the way I turned my eyes to the vampires before me. "Now, we talk."
