A/N: I want to thank my Beta…Oops! I mean, I want to thank the Highly Gifted One for all she could do for my little chapter. She struggled through it even though she did not feel well. Bless her heart. So any mistakes you find you can credit to me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 9

Carlisle sat down against a tree. It was not from exhaustion, for vampires did not tire, but from frustration. It had been two weeks of agonizing search without a clue to Edward's whereabouts. He had returned home after the first few days to retrieve money, identification, and other needed items. He had to have his belongings shipped to another address, one he had planned to share with Edward for a while. It was the place he was going to change him. Maybe the old wives' tale was true about not counting chickens before they hatched. Again he thought how God must be punishing him for his selfishness. Carlisle prayed to God, begging for forgiveness for himself and mercy for Edward. And then, as if in answer, Isaiah 41:10 came to him:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be thou not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Carlisle hunted again. He had no appetite but he forced himself to feed anyway. He fed continuously until he felt bloated. He wanted to be prepared to confront the nomad. Nomads were notorious for their wild and primitive natures and not easily reasoned with. More than likely it was going to take brute force to deal with the vampire. But how much longer could Edward survive? They generally fed as they travelled. And although it did not matter, was it a male or female vampire?

Carlisle looked around the dense woods. Traipsing about the forest several times had netted nothing. It was like looking for a needle in the haystack. Not knowing if Edward was alive or dead or what was happening to him was maddening. He pushed those disheartening thoughts to the further recesses of his mind in order to and continue on with his quest. But it was plain that another search tactic was needed and this one had to be abandoned. He had never been much of a tracker and never had a need to track anything before, but he recognized that he desperately needed help to find Edward.

Eleazar?

Maybe he could help him. But he needed assurance that Eleazar would not involve the Volturi. The Volturi would not allow Edward to live being human and knowing about vampires. Or perhaps because of his earlier ties to Aro, the Volturi would allow Edward to be changed. But would Edward want to become a vampire after being taken by one? Maybe after seeing how base a creature a vampire could be, he would change his mind about being with him. It was painful to think about it, but he would do all he could to give Edward back his life the way it was before they met, if that was what he wanted.

A few days later while Carlisle waited in the nearest town, Eleazar came alone, without Carmen. He did not to have her associated with their quest if the Volturi were to get wind of it. Carlisle told his old friend everything about his relationship and plans with Edward and then his subsequent disappearance.

Eleazar told of his theories and then tried to talk Carlisle out of the search. He hated seeing the pain and anguish in Carlisle's eyes, but he did want to raise his friend's expectations. He hoped he could get him to see reason before they went farther. It was unlikely they were going to find the human alive, if they found him at all. And it would be difficult trying to be discreet and openly looking for a human taken by another vampire. Nevertheless, he would put forth his full effort if only to end it quickly. Carlisle looked as though he was hanging by a thread. The spark was gone from his eyes. He was starting to look more like a vampire and less like the humans he emulated. He did not know if Carlisle could survive this.

Could the human actually be his soul mate?

"Carlisle, I'm afraid we have to start from the beginning. We have to go back."

They arrived back at Chicago in the dead of night. The smell of death and disease was still prevalent in the air as the death rate from the influenza had climbed. There were many unburied bodies as there were too many to dispose of in a timely manner. The streets were mostly abandoned with the wagons carrying the dead - the only vehicles seen for long city blocks at a time. If Eleazar was one to believe in bad omens, this would have been one.

They reached Edward's home and climbed in through the bedroom window. The windows and house had been kept closed; the air along with the scents, was still locked inside. Eleazar was able to pick up the scents as Carlisle had before, but focused on the vampire. He thought the best course of action was to focus on following the vampire more so than Edward.

Carlisle looked around the room. He had been reluctance to return but he knew it was the only way if they were going to start the search anew. It bought so many memories back to him as the home itself did. He could still picture Edward and the last time he saw him there in his room. It was difficult to think of some other vampire tainting that memory.

Eleazar saw that Carlisle looked pained standing near the window. He had not ventured any farther into the room.

"He must have been waiting for him, Carlisle, and he did not harm or take anyone else. He left the house with Edward only." Eleazar thought that it did not bode well for the human nor Carlisle, but he did not have the heart to tell him that.

"Come, my friend, let us go. We will follow the vampire's trail from here."

They left the house and travelled through the forest taking an entirely different route than Carlisle had previously. Eleazar had worked for the Volturi once, helping Aro find new talent for his citadel. He had tracked the new recruits with Demetri and picked up some techniques from him even though Demetri's skill came naturally.

Chicago was an imposing city and yet there were still large amounts of untouched forest surrounding it and in neighboring cities and states.

Carlisle suddenly ran quickly to a tree. Attached to a lower branch was a small tattered piece of cloth, worn and discolored, blowing in the wind.

A clue! Or was it a cry for help?

"It's Edward's. I recognize it as the material from his shirt, and although it is faint, it still has his scent. We are going to find him, Eleazar. We just have to figure out where he would have taken him from here."

Carlisle's excitement was heartbreaking for Eleazar to witness. He was like a small child who believed in Santa Clause.

"Carlisle, this was not a typical nomad. This does not look haphazard. I believe this was well planned. The vampire targeted Edward; he is not going to give him up that easily. And what if he has been changed? How would we be able to pick up his scent? Supposed the vampire abandoned him? It is forbidden but it happens."

"It doesn't matter. Even if he was changed, I would know his scent. I would know him anywhere. I would only have to follow my heart."

Eleazar knew that Carlisle was not to be deterred.

"The vampire would need a food source to feed Edward whether he has changed him or not. We must find the nearest town."

They headed toward Michigan running at a fast pace due to Carlisle impatience. Eleazar stopped him on the way once to plan their strategy but he could tell he was wasting his time. He doubted if he would be any different had it been Carmen although he shuddered to think so.

No sooner had they come into a clearing that Carlisle picked up Edward's scent and started racing at breakneck speed. Eleazar was unable to keep up and began frantically calling from behind him. They needed to be careful. They had no clear picture of what they were up against.

"Carlisle, please wait! It could be dangerous."

Carlisle paid no heed to Eleazar's calls as all thoughts of personal safety were forgotten. His only thought was seeing Edward again. He saw a house in the distance and stopped to look for the best way to enter. Eleazar was able to catch up to him. He could detect the scent of the vampire they had been following but there was the scent of another vampire as well.

"Carlisle, it is not safe. Please, you don't want to come this far to lose him. If you are ambushed, you will be no help to Edward."

Carlisle abruptly stopped and turned toward Eleazar.

"My friend, I want to thank you for bringing me this far but you must go back. I do not want to put you in any further danger."

"No, Carlisle. I will not leave you when you need me the most. What type of friend would I be? We will face this together."

Carlisle was secretly happy to have him stay; finally realizing how much he still needed him. He knew he was not thinking clearly with his emotions in turmoil since Edward's disappearance. They both walked determinedly forward to the house. As they got closer, they could see no lights shining through the windows. But vampires had no need for light. Then it dawned on Eleazar first. The scents had not gotten any stronger as they should have by that point. He quickened his pace to the front door, barely beating Carlisle there. The door was unlocked and slightly ajar. Carlisle entered and raced up the staircase. He followed Edward's scent to a room left of the stairs. It was a simple room with a dresser, desk and chair, and a bed. Carlisle walked into the room and proceeded to rip the bed apart.

"Carlisle, what are you doing? Let us go. They are not here and I don't believe they are coming back. I believe we have just missed them."

"Carlisle did not answer him and continued to throw the splinters of wood across the room, his face an expressionless mask. The bed linens torn in tatters at his feet with the feathers falling like a snow storm around him. Then Eleazar could smell what Carlisle could not verbalize or accept. Carlisle was, therefore, trying to erase the only way he saw how, because for vampires, blood and lust usually went hand in hand.

Eleazar approached him slowly and placed a hand on Carlisle's shoulder.

"Come, Carlisle. This will not help. I know it sounds like a terrible tragedy but his body is not here. The vampires that took him are keeping him alive in one form or another. Come on; let us search the house for more clues to their possible whereabouts. It seems your young man is the enterprising type. I wouldn't be surprised if he left something here for you."

Eleazar kept talking to Carlisle, trying to bring him out of his stupor.

"Carlisle, you have to stop this. Edward needs you." His name did the trick. Carlisle started frantically searching the room, disrupting feathers in the air again. Eleazar walked over to the desk and opened the roll top. There, as clear as day, was a letter. "Carlisle, it's addressed to you."

Carlisle took the letter from Eleazar, fear and anxiety causing his hands to tremor.

Dear Carlisle,

If you have found this letter, then there is a possibility of finding me. Please don't look any further. They know about you and it would only be a trap. It is too late for me anyway, Carlisle. It's not meant to be. Remember me as I was and I will hold on to the memories of us and what could have been.

Eternally yours,

Edward

Carlisle took the letter out of his pocket and read it from time to time. It was a week later and they were in Indiana, having found no other clues in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Eleazar looked across at is his young friend as he stared across Lake Michigan. Carlisle had been changed as a young man, only a few years past adulthood. His father was an angelic minister, yet he had been still innocent to the ways of the world and still eager to explore new ventures. Idealistic to a fault and a knowledge seeker, academics spurred him on with a purpose after feeling condemned for so long after being turned.

His piety was still evident as was his faith. When one really looked at him you could see goodness radiating from him. Most vampires saw this as a weakness, underestimating the strength his faith and righteousness provided him. He would not start a fight nor run from one when unavoidable.

Through the years he had known him, he had seen him contented and even smile over some new discovery or subject. But he had never really seen him happy. His loneliness was palpable, especially around other mated pairs. His path of being a vegetarian vampire was an extreme, to live among humans was another.

Now he had fallen in love with a human, a human taken by another vampire. Another uncharted territory. How many more conventions could he throw in the face of other vampires?

The human was that vampire's prey or pet. The vampire would kill to protect it.

Carlisle stood stone like, not moving for over an hour. His meticulous appearance had deteriorated since they had started their search. His clothes had become dirty and tattered, and there was a sadness in Carlisle's eyes that he had never witnessed before, giving him the appearance of someone older than his human 23 years.

Carlisle, my friend, we will find him. We will return him to you."

He held out his arms and Carlisle fell into them, clasping on to him as if it was he who needed to be held together. He consoled him as a father would a child. Carlisle trembled in his arms and openly cried for his loss. Sobs resounded across the shore.

"There, there, Carlisle. We will find him."

The water was turbulent and the sky was overcast. A storm was coming.