A/N: Sorry so soon, but I feel I had to make up for such a short chapter last time. -Be warned; this is a cliff hanger!
Musical Inspiration: Red Mist - Twilight Score Soundtrack
Chapter 10 - Trouble
EPOV
The next day followed the same pattern; Bella woke, ate breakfast, trotted off to her historian, unknowingly, with Jasper in tow. Alice and I, however, were keen on finding a new hiding spot; the attic was getting rather old by now.
As evening fell, Bella had not yet come back, either to drop off her bag or to pick up anything. Alice and I decided she must be playing it safe and staying at her own house tonight.
That was a relief; we would be free to roam the house tonight… some of us should hunt, perhaps all of us could sneak out and find a bite of something and sneak back in without Bella being the wiser.
I suggested as much to Alice and Jasper after he had come back to confirm that she told her father that she had no plans to stay over at her friends' house.
We were all in agreement to have a quick hunt tonight in a neighboring state and slip back into the house before daylight.
We walked down the street to where Jasper had park their car and drove until we found a sufficiently wooded area far enough away from people that would hold game large enough to sustain us.
All the while, my mind kept drifting back to the sight of Bella sleeping in my bed. I was ready for the hunt to be over after my third deer, but I did not want to deprive my siblings, so I sat and waited.
BPOV
Mr. Burton had not found anything new, but we stayed and chatted, neither of us having anything else pressing to do, he was waiting on documents about the Cullens to be mailed, I waiting on him to receive them. He went on and on about Dr. Masen, he knew much more about the good doctor than any of the sources I had read from put together.
I listened with rapt attention until the sun began to set and I confessed that I had to go.
I went straight to the house I shared with Charlie and began dinner. As we ate Charlie asked what I had been up to the last few days. I told him my version of the truth, of course… that I had met a friend from school and we had found out that we had a lot in common.
She and I had grown to be quite close over the last few days and were nearly inseparable.
When he asked me her name I had blurted out the first name that came to mind without thinking… "Elizabeth Masen."
He asked if I planned to spend any more nights with her this week.
"Oh, not if you need me to stay here… it's no big deal really." I said, my heart falling… I hated the thought of not spending time at 'my house.'
"No, no… I'm so glad you've made such a good friend in such a short time… you spending time around a real family makes me feel better about not being able to give you what you really need." He said.
"Well, either way, I'm spending tonight here… she doesn't have internet connections over at her house, so, I planned to chat with Angela tonight." I said.
"Good, I'm glad you're not forgetting your old friends… you're a good kid, Bells. But I want you to know, you're welcome to spend as much time with Elizabeth as you like… just leave me notes when you don't plan to be home… don't worry about cooking for me on those nights either… I can grab something on the way home." He said as he put his plate in the sink.
"Thanks, Dad… I really appreciate it." I said as I finished clearing the table.
Charlie went upstairs to bed and I went upstairs to email Angela. We caught up together over AIM and I told her a little more about the house… but since Edward had asked that I not say too much, I decided to keep it as if I were simply allowed to visit the house once in a while… like a caretaker or something.
We talked until three in the morning and finally I decided to call it a night. After turning out my lights I decided to check on my house one last time before crawling into bed.
As I pulled back the curtains on my bay window I thought I saw movement inside the house… both upstairs and down.
I looked toward the front door… was it open? Were my eyes playing tricks on me?
I slipped on my crocs and crept downstairs… as unlikely as it was that anyone was in my house I would not be able to sleep until I was certain things were as they should be.
Thankfully, Charlie was a heavy sleeper; once he was out, there was no waking him until his alarm sounded at six a.m.
I pulled the front door shut behind me and crept in my shorty-pajamas across the street to my house, tiptoeing in the grass to the back door.
As I put my hand on the knob, I knew immediately that something was not right… I turned the unlocked knob and pushed the door open.
I walked quietly into the house… the kitchen came first, there was no sign of anyone in the kitchen, but I could hear voices now coming from the parlor.
I walked quietly toward it, trying to stay in the shadows…. I peeked around the corner… three figures were silhouetted against the parlor windows.
My breath caught in my throat, my heart began to speed up… I began to shake all over.
Just then I heard a noise from upstairs… footsteps coming down… four more figures joined the three… I felt my throat begin to close.
Suddenly there was an ice cold hand on my bare shoulder. It spun me around and another cold hand caught my mouth before I could scream.
As I opened my eyes I realized I was standing before a very small, female figure, not one of the tall masculine ones in the parlor.
Her hair was black, her skin palest ivory, and her eyes stood out most of all as bright, glistening honey gold.
She mouthed the words 'Come with me,' and, with surprising strength for her size, pulled me silently into an adjoining room. As we entered what I now recognized as the dining room, two other figures swept by us, absolutely silently… as if they were spirits rather than flesh and blood.
I heard a bit of scuffle and then all was silent. After what seemed like an eternity, but could only have been a few seconds one of the male voices called out.
"That's all of them, Alice... you can come out."
His voice was deep and beautiful, smooth like the sound of satin on silk, with a slight drawl to it.
Her icy hands still on my shoulders she pulled me along with her into the parlor. A tall blond haired male turned a knob on the wall and the room was washed in light. The bulbs, which obviously had not been changed in several years, were dim, but there were enough of them to sufficiently light the room.
I turned to look at my captor and marveled at her strength once I saw her more fully. She was nearly a head shorter than I, but her eyes seemed friendly and kind… now I was thoroughly confused.
I looked to the blond male and he was staring back at me, an odd grin spreading across his face.
My mouth moved as if to speak, but I could not force out any words. The blond male must have noticed my quandary, because he stepped forward and extended his hand politely.
"You must be Bella, my name's Jasper, ma'am. Pleased to meet you, finally." He said.
I was in complete shock. The young woman was next…
"And I'm Alice! Sorry I had to pull you away like that, but those men were up to no good, I assure you. I didn't mean to frighten you." She said sweetly.
Once again I could feel my mouth moving, but again my voice was lost. I didn't have long to stand there in my newfound silence; both the blond man and small woman turned to face someone entering the room beside me.
"That's done… they won't be bothering anyone else… tonight." Said a strangely familiar male voice.
I turned to look at the owner of the voice that could only be described as liquid velvet.
I gasped as my eyes fell upon none other than Edward Cullen.
I remember the room spinning just a bit and after that, nothing at all.
The next thing that I remember was an awful smell, like rubbing alcohol and ammonia. It would come and go, come and go, until finally I could stand the burning in my nostrils no longer.
I reached up to rub it out of my nose and a cold hand touched my face.
"She's coming around, Edward." A female voice said somewhere in the distance.
I tried to force my eyes open, but everything was spinning and blurry… I could not focus on anything.
"Don't try to fight it, Bella, go with the spinning, relax… relax your whole body… it won't take long to come out of it… just don't fight it." Edward's glorious voice sang.
I tried to relax and focus on feelings and surroundings rather than sights and sounds.
I noticed the softness of the blankets around me… I was gently tucked into the bed I usually used on the third floor.
Finally my vision and full range of hearing came back and I could open my eyes and see more than just colors.
Three figures surrounded me on the bed; the blond male, the dark-haired female, and Edward Cullen.
"You went down awfully fast there, Bella." Alice said merrily.
"What are you doing here?" I said to no one in particular, though I was directing the question at Edward.
"Funny thing… we'll get to that later. How are you feeling?" Edward asked.
"Um, fine I guess… still a little dizzy." I said, focusing now on him alone.
"Good. That will pass in a little while, you just fainted." He said.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"Yeah, um, I thought you were staying at your house tonight, so, my brother, sister and I thought we'd stay here for the evening. We went out for a bite, and were just coming in when we noticed the thugs… and you." He said.
"But what are you doing here?" I asked again. I knew I should be more specific, but my mind was still cloudy from the fainting spell.
He laughed a bit before replying… "I actually never made it home… possible business problem came up and I stayed here to take care of it. It's unresolved as yet, and my brother and sister came to be with me for… moral support."
"Oh." Came my dumbfounded reply.
"I think a better question would be… What are you doing here at three in the morning when you should be in your own bed? Or at least I thought that was the plan…" he asked.
"I was… but then I stayed up late talking to my…friend online, and I checked out my window…before getting in bed… and I thought I saw movement." I stuttered.
"Bella, it's not very smart to try and check things out by yourself in the middle of the night if you have reason to believe there are intruders… you could have been seriously hurt." He chided.
"I know, but… my house… I didn't want anyone to…" I stuttered again.
"I understand, just don't go getting yourself into any more trouble, okay? Let me walk you home." He said.
I nodded and tried to stand. With help I was able to walk down the stairs and across the street. Edward stood at the door as I assured him I did not need assistance up to my bed.
As I turned to go in he spoke quietly behind me.
"Thank you, Bella. For loving my house so fiercely you'd put yourself in harm's way to protect it. That means a lot to me."
I looked up at him.
"You're welcome. It means a lot to me too." I said before going inside, locking the door and heading upstairs to bed.
I slept most of the morning, but when I woke I showered and dressed quickly and made my way across the street to the Masen house.
I let myself in the back door and realized I heard shouting voices coming from the third floor.
"You have to tell her, Edward… she'll figure it out anyway!" Jasper shouted.
"If I tell her then she's in more danger of the Volturi… what happens if they find out?" Edward shouted back.
"Boys, please! We can settle this without fighting!" Alice shouted.
Without realizing it I was making my way quietly up the stairs as they continued to shout.
"What are the chances they'd find out, Edward, honestly? They hardly care about human affairs… especially a little girl… who would believe her?" Jasper shouted.
"They care plenty if they think it will blow their cover! Besides…she might not be our only problem, what about the historian?" Edward yelled back.
"I'll take care of him if the time comes!" Jasper yelled again.
"And everyone else who gets tipped off by Carlisle's paper trail? There's not much of one, but neglecting to sign my death certificate could certainly be our undoing!" Edward shouted again.
By now I was standing just outside the bedroom I slept in.
All grew quiet.
"She's here." Alice said and all head instinctively turned toward the door way.
I peeked in.
"Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt anything." I said as I turned to go.
"You're not, especially since it concerns you…" Jasper said.
"Jasper, we will not discuss this in front of her!" Edward shouted.
"You already have, Edward." Alice said quietly as she walked toward me puling me into the room and onto the bed.
Edward was holding the journal I had found two nights ago.
"She's heard enough to put two and two together I'm sure." Alice said as she grabbed my hand protectively.
"Oh… I… I didn't really hear anything… I just heard shouting that's all." I stuttered, scared out of my wits that they were somehow talking about me.
Jasper shot an angry look at Edward. "Either you tell her or I will, Edward. This search is going to stop here; better one person know that fifty." He said.
Edward shot a look back at him, defeated but defiant. "She doesn't need to know, Jasper… for her sake, please… let it go." He said.
"No, Edward… she needs to know the truth; you've lied to her long enough." Jasper said quietly.
"Bella,' Jasper said turning to me, 'We know you've been looking into the history of the Masen family. We know that you seen to have come to a dead end on the issue of a certain Masen's death and burial records and we also know that you've involved a historian named Matthew Burton to try and find out more."
I opened my mouth to speak, but Edward cut me off.
"Bella, when I told you that you could have free run of the house I asked that you're questions about the family be directed to me. I left you my address and everything. Why didn't you just ask?" Edward asked me icily.
"I did… I mailed it the day after you left, but while I was waiting on your reply I stumbled across the burial records for Elizabeth and Edward Sr. – I thought I'd get a copy of Edward Jr's to complete it and when I went to the courthouse there was none." I said quickly.
"You really shouldn't have done that, Bella." Edward said as his golden eyes met mine.
A/N: Okay, so how was that for a midpoint? Hmm? Thanks for reading!