Okay, so I know we're not happy about what's happening, but I promise there's a light at the of the tunnel. But what good things don't get worse before they get better?
I don't own Twilight. But I'm seriously considering buying an iPad. Any arguments?
This is also un-beta'd, so any mistakes you see are mine.
Attempting Escape
It's more difficult than I thought to control the fear rising up my spine as Carlisle directs me away from the dining room to where Alice and Rosalie have dressed Bella in heavier clothes and boots for traveling. Emmett is pulling on a heavy coat, and I know the intention is for anyone in town to see him leaving with me and Bella. Once we're outside and away from prying eyes, he'll use his ability to get us further away, but he's not thinking of where. Something tells me he's doing this on purpose now.
Bella doesn't look scared or worried, but she's wondering where Jasper has gone. Alice and Rosalie have told her of our departure, but they've been vague as to whether Jasper is coming with us. The moment she sees me with Carlisle, she knows it's just me and her.
Rosalie holds out a heavy jacket for me, and I pull it on slowly, uncomfortable and wary of being away from Jasper for the first time in three hundred years. I know he won't understand this even if he'll know it's necessary for us to be safe. The way we're being taken from the apartment is underhanded and insensitive, but I've learned in a short period of time that this is how Carlisle operates where his plight against Aro is concerned.
"Emmett will take you to a safe location," Carlisle tells me as we all move away from the living room of the apartment toward the stairs that lead to the shop as it sets dark. "When we've done away with the guards, he'll come for you."
We make it outside, and I see that it's stopped raining now that the sun has ended its reign over the sky.
"Edward," Carlisle says, making me look at him. "You'll need to remain calm on this journey. Some things will happen that will rival your instincts to protect yourself. But I swear that I would not put you in any danger."
My eyes find Bella's, and I agree easily. "I understand," I nod.
He turns his attention to Emmett, and Alice passes Bella to me before she and Rosalie return to the shop. I've noticed Esme's absence, but I know where she is. I know she's keeping Jasper with her so Carlisle will be able to get me and Bella away. This isn't something that I appreciate. I want Jasper with us even if I know it's not safe right now.
There are no more words to be said as Emmett takes his place beside me and takes my arm in his big hand. I hold Bella close to me, knowing that Emmett is using his ability to get us away from the town. We walk away without so much as a goodbye to Carlisle as he watches.
A few businesses in town are still open, and their golden yellow lights illuminate the darkened dirt/mud road through the middle of town. I don't know if anyone sees us, but it takes minutes to get to the edge of town. It's muddy and cold, but Bella never complains. Her thoughts are still on Jasper, but she's holding me as tightly as she can.
Emmett hides us behind a tree and instantly transports us from the woods south of town to another wooded area that is decidedly less developed.
"Where are we?" Bella asks softly, pressing her cheek to my chest.
I'm disoriented, but I can hear water rushing nearby. The air is salty and heavier than it was in town, and even with the ability to see in the dark, I can barely make out anything but the trees surrounding us.
"Carlisle doesn't believe in old rivalries," Emmett says as he leads us toward the water slowly. "And he doesn't care about rules that were laid down because of old prejudices."
Rivalries? Prejudices?
"Werewolves," I say without a minute passing. "But they're dangerous! And it's a full moon!"
Instantly, a loud, piercing howl cuts through the air, and just as Carlisle said, my instincts are thrown into high gear. Despite Emmett's larger size, I hold Bella tighter and back away from him. But I don't make it far.
The growl that reaches my ears stops me in my tracks, and I turn to see three large wolves staring me down. I push Bella behind me as the wolf in front saunters toward me.
"Don't move," Emmett orders. "They won't hurt you."
There's nothing more I can do as the wolf before me demands all my attention.
His overpowering heat threatens to envelop my entire body, but something shocking happens as his thoughts permeate my mind.
Kneel, Vampire.
I obey instantly, pushing Bella away and dropping to my knees. Emmett's insistence is plain, and I know I shouldn't do anything to anger the wolf in front of me.
His snout touches my forehead and then my brow. It's clear that he's using his enhanced senses to verify that I'm not just any vampire. And because Carlisle just bit me and gave me his blood, I know exactly what this wolf will smell.
The verification process ends abruptly, and the wolf backs away from me only half a moment before the brush around us breaks under pressure. I smell fire burning, and three torches being carried by three copper-skinned, dark-haired women appear from behind coverage several dozen feet away.
"You've risked a lot to bring them here," the woman in front tells Emmett.
"We're running out of time," he replies. "And it's important for them to be safe. If everything's goes as planned, I'll return for them before the first cycle. Just remember what Carlisle said, Emily. You protect us. We protect you."
She grins but then smirks, moving closer to me as I'm still knelt to the ground. When she extends her hand to me, I'm stunned to discover her gentle and accepting. The two women with her surround me and Bella, and I turn my eyes to Emmett. He nods, silently telling me it's all right, and I return his nod before he disappears into thin air.
"Come with us," Emily says, pulling me and Bella away from the wolves as they remain stoic and guarded.
I don't argue, keeping Bella close and following our guide quickly.
The darkened woods hinder none of us as we walk through the thick coverage to come upon a small village with two rows of wooden houses in front of a large wooden building with a massive totem placed in front of it. A large fire burns in front of the building, and three elderly men are standing on the steps that lead into the building.
Emily leads the way to where they're waiting, and the tallest one moves closer as she stops and gestures for us to stand before him.
"We've been expecting you," he says. "Carlisle came to us and said you would be here soon. My name is William. Are you Edward?"
I nod. "Yes, sir," I acknowledge, grasping onto Bella's hand.
"Our village should keep you safe," he swears. "And we've prepared a space for you that should protect you from the coming light. But first, I'm afraid you'll need to destroy the clothes you're wearing. Emily will take you inside to change."
I glance at her, and she nods to the building behind William. She leads me and Bella inside, to a room in the back and then a set of boards in the floor that open up to stairs. There's no need to question what's happening, and we follow her into a small room under the building.
Once there, Emily takes Bella to a smaller room where a small fire is burning in an iron hearth. I wait for her to return to me, and when she does, I know what she wants. So I don't hesitate, disrobing slowly and giving her the clothes off my back. There are a few instances when she cannot hide her curiosity and gazes over my naked flesh, but her thoughts are mostly innocent, and then they're gone.
"There are clothes in the chest for you," she says with my clothes meant for burning in her arms. "We washed and dried them as Carlisle told us to. I'll help her, and then you'll be left to rest for the remainder of the night."
This is the last thing she says to me before leaving to perform her next task of assisting Bella. I find pants and a shirt, changing as I wait for Emily to leave, and once she does, I find Bella in the small room dressed in a pure white, cotton gown with her hair down. She steps closer to me, but I don't say anything, pulling her into my arms and holding her against me. We have a long wait ahead of us, and right now, I care for nothing more than Bella's safety.
The space around us includes a small bathing room and a bedroom, and though she slept most of the afternoon, I know Bella is still very tired. There's warm water in the bathroom, and after helping Bella pull her hair back, we wash her face and then lay down on the bed. She falls asleep in my arms, and I follow her shortly after that. I wish Jasper was here, and I'm worried about what he'll do when he realizes what's happened.
I don't know how long I sleep, but it's Bella's gentle caress of my brow that wakes me to the golden amber light of the hearth as it still burns brightly. When I open my eyes, I see her in front of me, and with little warning, she leans in and presses her lips to mine the same way she did earlier. But it doesn't surprise me the way it did before.
It feels normal, natural.
Her gentle caress becomes more persistent as she moves ever closer to me, and her tiny body feels so fragile in my hands. Just a day ago, I was laying her arms after just finding her, but this feels so much more different. Her arms encircle my neck and shoulders, and instinctively, I grasp onto her waist and then her back.
Though I've been with women, been inside them and then fed on them, it was all very detached and methodical. A means to an end, especially because I am so young and have desires that Jasper cannot always quell. I love him and always want to be loved by him, but even he senses this desire and does nothing to suppress it. He knows it is simply something that exists, and to fight it would mean causing me pain. Jasper could never hurt me.
But Bella is so innocent and delicate. What I feel for her is so different, and before Carlisle bit me, I could fight it. No more.
"Edward," she whispers, her soft voice pleading with me to acknowledge that she has not only found a place in my heart, but also I have found a place in hers.
I pressed my forehead to hers, seeing thoughts of her mother and father, and me and Jasper, and I knew how much she needed me to be here with her. Not wanting to cause her discomfort from the weight of my body on hers, I tried to remain on my forearms even while she pulled me closer.
"You won't leave me," she pleads, cupping my face in her small hands. "Swear it, Edward."
I kiss her on my own this time, caressing her cheek gently. "I won't leave you," I promise.
The screaming startles us both, and we have very little time to react when the door leading to where we're laying flies open to allow hurried entrants to our hiding place.
Two of the women from before, other than Emily rush into the room. Their thoughts are scattered, terrified and angry, and I know instantly that something has gone wrong.
"You must go," one of them pleads. "They know you're here. If you leave now, you can get away."
I don't understand, but I don't question her, gathering Bella up and following them out of the space under the building. A door leading outside is open and pointing away from the village. Grasping Bella's hand, I glance at the women, but they say nothing, gesturing for me to go quickly. So without another word, I lift Bella in my arms to hold her close and run out the door. I'm much faster than nearly every vampire I've ever met, and I know I can get far before we're found.
Bella never utters a word, holding me tight and pressing her face to my neck as I slice through the darkness in no direction in particular. I don't recognize the area around me, but surely if I run far enough, I'll find the town and Carlisle. Jasper.
But then something happens that I don't expect as the trees begin cropping up around me in places that do not make sense. The forest seems to be growing around me, and within minutes, I can no longer run without the fear of hitting a tree head on with Bella in my arms. A figure appears to my right, and I try to run, but then it's on my left. I have to stop to get my bearings back, but as soon as I do, the figure converges on me at a speed that is impossible — unless it's a vampire.
The sky is still dark, but the air has changed its smell. Dawn is not so far away anymore, and even though I can see no stars and therefore know it is still clouded, this does not assure me of anything.
"Edward," Bella whispers, holding me tighter as the figure approaches us more quickly with each step until I know it's a very large, very tall man in a cloak.
I need no clues to tell me who this is. I saw his face in Carlisle's mind.
Felix.
And now I know what he has done to me.
The screaming wasn't real, nor were the women who showed us out of the village.
It was a trick to get me away from the wolves. And I believed it, like an idiot.
"Please," I whisper. "Do not hurt her."
Felix grins but says nothing.
A new presence makes itself known behind me, and I hold Bella closer as another vampire steps around to be in front of me. I know his face too.
Demetri.
"You'll come with us," he informs me, "and neither of you will be harmed. Unless you wish for the coming light to burn you where you stand."
I have no choice but to follow him as he and Felix lead me and Bella away from the woods. This makes no sense. They weren't supposed to be here until in the morning. Carlisle said —
He lied to me.
He knew they were coming and would be here before he could convince either of us to help him. So he made it absolutely impossible for me to deny his claim. But how does this help keep us safe? If he knew these guards would sense me before they sensed him.
After a long walk, we find ourselves at a port where several ships have been docked.
"This will please Aro much more than any report from Carlisle," Demetri says as we walk to the end of the port as a steam ship is waiting for us. "We knew he was collecting new members, but a human is another matter altogether."
"How did you find us?" I ask suddenly. "And the wolves."
"Those beasts are no matter to us, and even their horrible stench wasn't enough to hide her from me. And you have Carlisle's scent all over you. We were waiting for him to make a mistake, and now it looks as though he has."
When we reach the end of the port and have to board the ship, we're surrounded by three more vampires — two females and a male. Neither Bella nor I are restrained, but we're taken below deck to a state room where we're locked in and left alone.
"Where are we going?" Bella asks softly, clinging to me with all ten of her fingers.
"I don't know," I say honestly. "But I won't let them hurt you. I swear. Just stay close to me, and I'll protect you."
She huddles next to me as I back us into a corner and hold her behind me so no one will be able to take her from me. Almost as soon as I sit down, I'm overcome with the need to shut my eyes. I try to fight it, but it's impossible. A shiver shakes my body, and Bella grasps onto my hands tighter than she has yet. But it's no use. The floor is opening up and swallowing me whole.
And then there's nothing.
The next time I open my eyes, I'm not longer in the state room, and I'm alone. Instead, I find myself in a large, ornately decorated room with old world lounges, desks and chairs across the room from a four-poster bed laden in a golden duvet. The first thing I do is run to the door, but it's locked, and even with my strength, I can't open it.
"Bella!" I yell. "Bella!"
An unseen door slides open, and from behind it appears the one man I never wished to see again since the last time when Jasper claimed me in front of him.
"It's so good to see you again, Edward," he says with a fake smile on his face.
"Aro," I gasp.
He moves closer to me, and I back away from him.
"Where's Bella?"
"Your human? She's safe. As are you."
"Where is she?" I demand.
He shakes his head. "Do not worry, my friend. She'll be here shortly. She has a very intriguing ability, doesn't she?"
His thoughts show me a succession of images as he tried to determine how extensive Bella's ability was by having her burn one of his coven members to very brink of death before his own body manipulator healed them completely.
"Please," I whisper. "Don't hurt her. She's innocent, I swear."
He waves me off with a shrug. "She is in no danger. I would never harm anyone so unique. She would make an intriguing addition to our family, don't you think?"
His words ignite my anger, but before I can allow it to grow, he lays his hand over my face and sends a crippling vision through my head so quickly that it drops me to the floor.
In it, I see Bella hard, cold, dead, but she's not a vampire. She's no longer immortal. My heart is hardened by her death, and nothing anyone does will heal me. I will not survive losing her.
This is Aro's way of having my submission.
Whatever he asks me to do, he knows I'll do it — even if it means my own death.
And I'll bet NO ONE likes Carlisle right about now, huh? He's not behaving. We'll get him turned around.
And the next chapter will be in Jasper's POV before we hammer out a new posting pattern.
See you next week!