CHAPTER TWELVE

Edward settled into the back of the chauffeur driven limousine that had arrived at the airport to collect us as if he did it every day, while Jacob and I were like a pair of children, climbing in and raiding the fridge. Lucky for Jacob he could sample the contents, while I watched jealously. Edward didn't comment on us giggling and bouncing on the seats, as he took out his phone and rang Carlisle to confirm we had reached London and been collected by a representative of the Volturi. Jacob was going to be dropped off at New Moon, the hotel where we would be staying. It was owned by a werewolf and a vampire, hidden in a quiet district on the outskirts of London, with a mass of land where we could hunt undetected.

As he got out of the car and collected his bag, Jacob paused to give me a quick hug and then turned to Edward.

"Look after her," he said. Edward scowled at him.

"I always do," he replied. He had been on edge since we landed and I had an idea why; he didn't want to see Jonathan, but knew that he was the only one that could lead us to Elizabeth. Once we were alone, I moved across to sit beside him, resting my head on his shoulder, willing him to respond to me. To my relief, Edward's arm came around my shoulder, drawing me closer and his lips landed on my forehead.

"Do you think he will help us?" I asked, softly. Edward sighed.

"He will help you I have no doubt," he muttered. I sat up and looked across at him; his lips were downturned and he looked miserable.

"Edward, you do know that I love you, don't you?" I asked. He nodded and I grabbed his hands. "And do you trust me?"

"I trust you; I don't trust him!" he replied.

"There is nothing he could say or do that would make me cheat on you, Edward," I said, watching as his eyes darkened. The car stopped then and I looked out of the window to see a large, modern building, all mirrored windows and a large foyer. The driver opened the door and handed me out, though Edward grabbed my hand as soon as he emerged, growling softly at the driver, who winked at me as we walked away. Inside the building, there was a large foyer, with a human receptionist sat behind a large desk, filing her nails. She looked up as we entered and placed her nail file in a drawer and then stood up.

"Can I help you?" she asked, in a frosty voice. Edward glared at her tone and she shrank back a little behind the desk, which gratified me a little.

"We are here to see Jonathan. He is expecting us," replied Edward, his tone as cold as hers had been.

"I see. Can I have a name?"

"Edward Cullen."

This seemed to wake her up a little as she fixed a false smile on her face and turned to the phone on the desk, calling through to Jonathan I assumed. Her smile faded a little as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone and I saw her skin whiten. As she hung up, she glanced up at us.

"I apologise for my rudeness," she said, quietly. "Mr Campbell will see you now. If you take the lift to the twelfth floor, Mr Campbell's office is the first door on the right."

Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the lift, ignoring the snooty receptionist. As the doors closed he muttered under his breath and I stared at him wide eyed.

"Bitch."

"Edward!"

"Who the fuck does she think she is? Damned human receptionist..." He carried on muttering and I sighed.

"What did she think to make you so angry?"

He gave me a piercing look.

"You don't want to know," he replied. I shivered; figuring she must have thought something about me that he didn't like.

The lift doors opened and we stepped out onto a light and airy corridor. Edward didn't bother to knock on the door of Jonathan's office, he just pushed it open, to reveal a large desk with an equally large leather office chair facing away from us towards the window. An accent that could have cut glass rang out from it.

"Edward Cullen as I live and breathe. It has been too long."

"Maybe for you," muttered Edward. The chair turned to reveal an incredibly attractive man with an angular face, short dark hair and a pair of the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I stared, open-mouthed and the man facing me laughed at the expression on my face. My lips twitched into an answering smile.

"You must be Isabella. Welcome to England, darling. I am Jonathan Campbell; the Volturi's British representative. It is a pleasure to finally meet your acquaintance."

He got up from his chair, came round the desk and took my hand, bowing over it to bring it gently to his lips. He lifted his eyes to meet mine and a wicked smile held my gaze.

"I see you are still wearing those ridiculous contact lenses," said Edward, sounding somewhat irritable. He glared at Jonathan who simply grinned back at him, before returning to his desk.

"Oh Edward, always so serious; so ashamed of being a vampire, but so determined to do nothing to hide what you are."

"I have no idea what you mean," said Edward, stiffly.

"Isabella, it is such a pleasure to have you here. It is such a shame that you had to bring him with you," said Jonathan, but there was dry humour in his tone. I giggled, despite myself, but stopped as Edward's eyes darkened. "Edward, relax." The short command from behind the desk caused Edward to turn back to Jonathan, his eyes narrowed to slits.

"We have come here to ask for your assistance in finding a vampire," he said, through gritted teeth. "If you could just direct us to Elizabeth Witherdale, we will be on our way."

"Where would the fun be in that?" asked Jonathan, with a wide grin. "Tell me Isabella, have you ever been to London before?"

"No," I said, quietly, still held by those unusually blue eyes. Even though Edward had said they were contact lenses, they looked so natural; so beautiful. He was without doubt the most attractive man I had ever seen in my life. I was staring openly at him, taking in every inch of his flawless skin, his dark grey suit, with a matching perfectly knotted tie in a white shirt. His build was similar to Edward's; toned without being bulky. But it was his face that drew me; it was so perfect; so flawless. His eyebrows were immaculately trimmed, his lips a Cupid's bow. My tongue flicked out to lick my own lips as I looked at his, at which point Edward suddenly seized my arm in an iron like grip and then turned to Jonathan.

"Stop it," he snapped. I blinked and looked up at him.

"Sorry," I said, immediately, but he wasn't looking at me.

"Leave her alone, Jonathan. She is mine," he growled.

"So possessive, Edward," said Jonathan and for a moment the air in the room tensed and I feared they might resort to violence, but then Jonathan leaned back in his chair, visibly relaxing. "There is no great rush required to find Elizabeth. It would be my greatest honour to show you some of the sights here in London, before we go off on a wild goose chase."

"You don't know where she is?" I said, all of the hope whooshing out of me. Jonathan gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Darling, I can find her; have no fear. But I see no reason to rush about. You have never been to the most beautiful city in Europe; London is full of history. You'll love it! And I will love showing you around."

I glanced at Edward a little nervously, as Jonathan looked across at me, a warm smile on his face.

"We are here to find Elizabeth, Jonathan, not go sight-seeing," he growled. Jonathan turned to Edward and his eyes narrowed a little.

"You don't have to come with us, Edward. I am more than happy to show your little mate the sights alone," he said. His voice had suddenly changed and I felt a shiver of apprehension; there was something sinister about the way he called me Edward's mate.

"Have some respect, Campbell; she is not one of your damned humans," snarled Edward, his eyes blackening. Jonathan barked out a laugh.

"Unlike my receptionist I suppose?" he said. He smiled across at me. "I do hope she apologised for her rudeness."

"She did," I said hastily. Suddenly I wanted to put some distance between myself and Jonathan. I could see something in him that I hadn't before; he was dangerous. Edward heard the change in my voice, the sudden nervousness and he grabbed my hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Jonathan saw the gesture and laughed.

"Oh come my little bird, surely you are not afraid of Jonathan Campbell? I am Volturi, but I am not a monster."

"Jonathan, leave her alone," said Edward. "She does not need your mind games. Now, are you going to help us or not?"

"I think maybe I will, but on one condition."

"What?" Edward and I both said it at the same time and Jonathan laughed again.

"You will agree to spend a week as my guests first," he said. Edward went to protest, but Jonathan held up a hand and that expression crossed his face again; the one that intimidated me before. "I will tell you nothing unless you agree. It suits me to see a little more of you both; to see how this curse has effected you."

"Surely that much is obvious even to you," snapped Edward.

"I see that you are even more arrogant than you were the last time you were here, Cullen," said Jonathan, his tone neutral. "And that you have become somewhat more irritable. But then again, you always did have a problem with your temper. Are you quite sure that this is a curse? Or is it a good excuse to behave in a more obnoxious manner than usual?"

"Please, Jonathan," I said, before Edward could respond. "This is not a joke. I am afraid that if we do not find a cure for this one or both of us might end up dead."

Jonathan was silent for a moment, contemplating my words. His gaze softened a little and he got up, crossing the room to place a hand on my cheek, gently. Edward growled, deep in his throat, but Jonathan ignored him, as he leaned down to me and brushed his lips against mine. Shocked, I took a step back, but Jonathan's hand at the small of my back kept me in place and I felt a shock of lust. Before I knew what I was doing, I was kissing him back, forgetting Edward's presence completely.