Chapter Eleven

Emmett

As we drove back Carlisle looked concerned,

"That went well"

"Emmett it's not funny. I just saw a man have his whole concept of the world ripped apart before his eyes. I hope I never have to see it again"

"Charlie took it far better than I expected"

"Yes Rose. He's a very unusual man."

"But he still expects us to find his daughter for him"

She pointed this out as we drove up to the house,

"Looks like our guests are here already. They didn't hang around"

Rose was out of the car as soon as it stopped and up the steps to the house, she was very fond of Carmen. When Emmett and I walked in the girls were disappearing into Esmes work room leaving us men alone in the lounge.

I invited Eleazor up to my study feeling he had something on his mind. When we were both seated I opened the conversation,
"It's always a pleasure to see you and Carmen but something tells me this isn't just a friendly visit."
He looked somewhat embarrassed,
"No Carlisle I have something to tell you. Something that I thought you would want to know about"

" Really? You intrigue me, go on"

"Edward was in Volterra recently I hear"

"Yes. There was a terrible misunderstanding with his girlfriend which they managed to sort out"

"Yes, a slightly unusual one"

"Bella unusual? In that she associated with us without fear yes I suppose she is"

" I was actually referring to the fact she is a human Carlisle. I also understand that the couple are no longer together"?

"No. She broke it off with him after they got back. Bella decided Edward wasn't right for her"

"I see, and did Edward tell you anything about what was said in Volterra?"

"Said? No, not really, why?"

"He didn't tell you that he informed Aro he couldn't hear her thoughts?"

"No he didn't. Is that true?"

"Yes and its in relation to this Bella Swan that I'm here."

"You're here because of Bella?"

"I was in Volterra only two days ago."

"Really?"

"Yes and she is why I was there"

"You were in Volterra because of Bella? You are insinuating that your visit was a result of what Edward told them."

"Yes, exactly. Bella Swan is a prisoner of the Volturi. Aro asked me to visit to see if she has a useful gift. When he heard about Edwards inability to read her mind it intrigued him, then he couldn't read her thoughts either. He didn't want to do anything to upset you, or Edward, he still has hopes your son might join him, so he let her go back with him but he had her watched and as soon as he realized they were no longer together he had her snatched."

"Neither we nor the Quileutes caught any scent of Vampire on the beach where she was snatched."

"I understand they use some human associates, but that's only a rumour."

"And Aro asked you to check her "gift"?"

"Well, not being able to refuse the invitation I went to see her."

"And what did you find?"

"She was very angry actually and I used that as an excuse to delay, I told Aro she was too stressed for me to tell so he's arranged a different environment for her, a Vineyard outside Volterra, in the hopes she'll calm down."
"You didn't answer my question"
"I have no intention of doing so until I know the full story Carlisle."
I told him the tale of Bella and Edward up to the time Alice took her to Italy to save him from trying to commit suicide.

"That boy was always prone to grand gestures Carlisle. The point is that because of him she is in grave danger and I thought you ought to know"

"What do you suggest I do Eleazor? I have no influence over Aro or the others"

"So you are happy to leave her to face this alone?"

"As I say, what can I do to help her?"

"That I don't know but I thought you would be eager to try something as Edward got her into this mess"

"Do you think we could rescue Bella?"

"Take her from the Volturi? Are you mad? Why don't you ask Alice what she sees?"

"Alice is no longer with us and I think perhaps she saw this coming. She told me she'd seen something but that for her to interfere would only make things worse."

"I fail to see how things could get any worse for Bella whatever Alice says"
"Perhaps if he thinks her gift is trivial he might give her up."
"Oh, so you not only want me to spring one of their prisoners, but lie to them too?"
"She does have a gift?"
"Oh yes. One I've never seen before, at least not this powerful. As a human she just stops others like Edward and Aro from reading her thoughts but she is in fact a shield. A very powerful shield and Aro will never let her go once he finds that out."
"What if we got her away and changed her ourselves? Would she be powerful enough to protect herself from the Volturi"
"Undoubtedly but what of us? I have a wife like you Carlisle, I'm not going to risk her safety by taking on Aro, would you? I'm sorry."
"Very well. Would you delay your return trip then? Give me time to try to organise something?"
He sat back thinking.

"Well I told Aro I needed a month for her to calm sufficiently, which gives you about three weeks, I could possibly delay a couple more days but that's it Carlisle. I'm sorry but I cannot, dare not, help more. Perhaps Alice could help you if you contacted her. Things might be different now Bella has been taken"

"Well, lets see if we can reach her"

I tried Alice's cell phone and this time it rang and she answered very cautiously,

"It was Bella you saw, she's missing and Eleazor tells me she's in Volterra. What can we do Alice?"

"Carlisle I am sorry but I've looked into her future and it's not good, I did find out one thing that could possibly help you."
"Well go on, we don't have time for your dramatics Alice."
"You must believe that I didn't know this until just a little while ago Carlisle, but I think Jasper is Bella's mate"
"What? How could you not see that when Bella came to Forks?"
"I can't see her very well Carlisle and I wasn't looking, only for her and Edward."
"You only think so?"
"Well its more or less certain so I think you should try to contact him"
"Yes Alice thanks for that"
She ignored my caustic tone as only Alice could, but when she rang off I cursed.

"I'm sorry to hear Alice and Jasper have also parted, it seems the family has many tragedies these days but you may have your saviour Carlisle. I don't think Jasper Whitlock will baulk at taking on the Volturi if his mate is threatened"
"It's not quite that easy Eleazor. I don't know how to reach Jasper. He left us without a contact number and his old cell phone is going unanswered, Esme has tried to call him a few times."
"Well you don't have long. Does he have any other friends?"
"There's Peter in Texas but I'm not sure he'll talk to me."
"You have to try, explain the situation to him, maybe he can get word to Jasper. Its Bella's only chance. Keep me informed and if I can I'll delay, I don't want to be on the wrong side of Major Whitlock myself any more than I want Aro as an enemy. I would be careful what I told Jasper though, I dread to think what he'd do to Alice if he even suspected she'd known about this and kept quiet."