Chapter Fourteen

Carlisle

Edward and I were as quick as we could be but like Jasper we needed to keep our strength up and I needed a rest from my books, the hunt was not going well and was very slow even with Rose's help. Emmett said he was doing his own search on line but I didn't think he would find much there, still it made him feel useful, this was one occasion where brawn was not as important as brains. Edward had offered to help him but the two didn't get on that well so Emmett declined and I thought Edward was feeling a little out of things but I pointed out that by accompanying Alice to school he was fulfilling an important role, keeping her spirits up while we searched for an answer.

As we approached the house I formulated the important questions to ask Jasper but then I felt it, the dread and pain was back, Jasper had gone once more after just a few hours respite from the torture and I swore softly.

"Go find Alice, make sure she's OK, I'll check on Jasper then I think we will be forced to leave the house again. He hasn't had time to recover any strength, he didn't feed enough so things are going to be worse very quickly."

We found the others had resumed the rota, those not with Jasper fleeing once more to the garage and summerhouse. Finding Esme with Jasper I could see she couldn't remain there long, the room was thick with atmosphere, like a dungeon where tortures had been carried out for so many years that the very stones were thick with the horror of it. She lay with him trying to keep his flailing limbs still but could do nothing to stop the terrible cries from escaping his lips.

"How long ago did it happen?"

"About an hour. Carlisle he'd only been with us a few hours, seven at most, he can't survive this for long can he?"

"Physically yes but mentally? I doubt it Esme, no one can survive that kind of mental torment for ever. There has to be a solution, I just can't see it. I'll go back to my books, maybe today I'll find it."

"Rose is already working Carlisle."

"Where's Alice? This must have hit her very hard."

She nodded,

"She said she couldn't stand any more so she went for a drive. I told her to be careful but I don't think she heard me. I'm scared Carlisle, for all of us. What if the Volturi hear about this? What if a human from the town hears the screams?"

I went to her and pulled her from the bed,

"You need a rest Esme, come now. There's nothing we can do for Jasper in here, not while he's like this."

I sent Esme to sit by the river, her favorite spot, with Edward where I could see her from my study window hoping she might be far enough from the effects of Jasper's projection. Rose and I worked on for another day but then we too had to move all the remaining books to the summerhouse, Emmett helping with the removal. Esme took one of the thick tomes but it was in Latin and she didn't read or speak Latin or Greek so her help was appreciated but ineffectual. I allowed her no more than an hour to check on Jasper every twelve and Alice popped in after school. Emmett had gone into the garage with his lap top refusing to abandon Jasper altogether which was noble but also foolhardy as the projections were getting progressively stronger and the feelings of dread and torment were so strong now you could almost cut them with a knife.

No one could stand it in the house and the mental pictures the pain and torment conjured up were truly horrific, God knows what Jasper was actually experiencing. Whatever it was I knew with every passing hour we were creeping closer to the point of no return for my son and we were nowhere nearer any answers.

Emmett

I stared at the screen of my lap top wondering if I'd hit the end of the road. I had tried every site I knew and there was nothing then just as I was about to give up the search I saw a personal message box pop up in the corner of the screen, I'd been joined by another vampire apparently curious about my research.

"Hi Hercules, what are you looking for?"

I hesitated, I had to be careful here,

"Looking for vampires with long range gifts. Do you know any?"

"Not personally no. Can I ask why?"

"Its complicated."

"It usually is...is it important too?"

"Yes."

I waited, who was this and could they really help or was it just idle curiosity? The minutes ticked by and Jasper's cries drummed through my body like an electric shock. Putting a hand on the lid to slam it down in frustration some words appeared.

"Then you should try Eleazer in Denali. I'm sure the good Doctor knows him."

So my companion knew I was connected to the Cullens somehow, I hesitated then took a shot in the dark,

"Thanks Darius."

"My pleasure...hope you find what you're looking for."

So it had been the legendary Darius I'd been communicating with. I'd heard rumors of his abilities. A vampire who had made the world wide web his home, both the surface and the dark web. He was supposed to be ancient and extremely reticent. No one I had spoken to had ever met or spoken to him but they'd all heard of others who had. I was beginning to think he was an urban myth but it seems I was wrong. Either that or I'd just been played but the answer I got was a sensible one. Eleazer knew about gifted vampires, he'd identified enough for the Volturi in his time and as Darius had said, he and Carlisle knew each other.

Carlisle

When Emmett burst in Rose and I were still looking but without any results and I looked up startled as he brought his lap top to the desk and opened it up pointing to the screen.

"We should have thought of that Carlisle. If there is a vampire messing with Jasper then Eleazer might know about them. If not then maybe he'll know of someone with a gift that can help Jazz"

"Eleazer? Of course, its worth a try Emmett. Just give me a minute."

I could have kicked myself for not thinking of Eleazer myself but I had dismissed the theory of a gifted vampire doing this. As far as I was aware there had never been a vampire whose gift could work over long distances and the Quileutes had reluctantly admitted there had been no vampires close to the house.

Still Eleazer might know of someone who could help Jasper although I couldn't see how. We had no idea who or what was doing this or even exactly what they were doing but Emmett was right I had to try. I rang Denali only to be told Eleazer was in Egypt visiting Amun and wouldn't be in contact for at least another week. Amun refused any form of modern communication in his coven or within his area of influence so we would be forced to wait. If I flew out and could find them it might take just as long and I was uneasy at the thought of leaving my mate, my own coven while Jasper was under attack and the wolves on high alert. Emmett was frustrated but Rose calmed him and Alice took it stoically,

"Well I guess I have the dance to keep my mind occupied for part of the week. Do you really think Eleazer might know something or someone?"

"I have no idea Alice but he's the first lead we've had so we have to follow it."

"Who is this Darius? Could he be the one who's torturing Jazz?"

Emmett explained what little he knew but Alice wasn't impressed,

"So he's a ghost without a face, No body knows him or has spoken to him but they all know he exists? How convenient, he sounds like a nut case to me."

"Yeah well, he's a nut case with a suggestion Alice, unless you have a better one."

I stepped between my two children, the gap between Alice and Emmett seemed to be growing and that was another reason I didn't want to leave. With that and Jasper projecting it was like living on a powder keg juggling lit matches, extremely uncomfortable.