...continuing down the road.

Chapter 14

The car increased speed and Bella felt sick. Rose drove with one hand on the wheel like some kind of professional stunt driver. "How do I fit in? What about Sadie? You said he has a preoccupation."

"He's a collector, Bella and you my dear are the ultimate prize. Carlisle says he has never come so close to anything this extraordinary in centuries."

"I told you I'm not." Bella wondered what was wrong with people thinking she was special. It was nice coming from Jacob, but why did Old Quil think she had gifts and Carlisle believe she was a prize?

Rose drove on without a word for many miles until she finally jerked the car off the road. She grabbed Bella's wrist. Her fingers felt like ice, colder than she ever remembered Carlisle, but maybe her mind had tried to erase the memory of him. "I will tell you everything, but you must listen carefully. It's already too late for me. They'll soon find out I betrayed the family."

"This could be a trick. You're a vampire."

"Yes I am, but I have fought for you and Sadie since that first day. Carlisle sent me to take her when she was born. I came back empty-handed. He was furious. I told him it made better sense to let you care for her and bond. We could always keep tabs on you through Alice up until recently. She is our seer and Edward reads minds."

Bella didn't understand. Rose told her about how the family was first supposed to intercept her in Forks. "Edward was going to lure you into the family. That vision dimmed and Alice saw you in the Florida sun. We don't do well in the sunshine state."

Bella didn't know why, but she was curious who Edward was and then it came to her before Rose admitted it. "Mr. Masen?"

"Yes, creeper to the max. Bella, you're going to need the wolf pack, a big one."

"There is no wolf pack." Bella covered her mouth. She shouldn't give away information.

"Edward smelled him and he read the boyfriend's mind. He said he was close."

"He is, I think, but he it's hard on the body, apparently. Why me? Is this what Carlisle does? He collects women? Did you have a baby too? Are there other children?"

"You still haven't figured it out, have you?"

"How could I? None of this is even possible and yet I know it's happening. It happened to me. I saw the old pictures. Carlisle hasn't aged in over eighty years and neither has that weirdo Edward."

"Bella, we are dead, a living facade if you will on the outside, but completely dead on the inside. Carlisle needed assurance you would cooperate. He's never done this kind of experiment before, but he has never come across a human with this much potential. He feared if he changed you, you would be so much stronger than he's used to and could destroy all of us. He created leverage when he made Sadie. If he has your daughter, then you'll be more likely to do exactly what he wants."

"Wait, your choice of words. Created? Made? And you are all dead? What did he do to me Rose? Do you know?"

"Of course, I know. I was there. You fought the sedatives. We held you down. You don't remember any of it, do you?" Bella covered her mouth. "That's a blessing. He made you pregnant, but he didn't get you pregnant. That's impossible. You do understand Carlisle is a very experienced doctor? He tracked your cycle for months by scent and when the perfect time approached, he procured a sample."

"A sample? Whose?"

"The father?"

"Yes." Bella was stunned there was man out there she didn't know and he had no clue about Sadie.

"Some poor med student sap that had the misfortune of sharing some of the same characteristics with Carlisle."

"You don't know his name?"

"It hardly matters. Carlisle killed him when he had what he needed. Bella, Carlisle refrains from human drinking because he wanted to get closer to your kind to accomplish his goals. He couldn't be consumed with draining all of you. That doesn't mean he doesn't kill. He does more often than you would guess. He is the smartest of our kind even if he is second in command among the immortals."

"Second? Who is first?"

"You don't want to know. His name is Aro. He doesn't know Carlisle plans to annihilate him one day. He quietly secures his prizes. Aro won't have a chance. But you can change the future. Alice can't see you anymore. Aro doesn't know about you. Defeat Carlisle, destroy the coven and take back Sadie."

"I don't know how. I need Jacob. You made it here. Why didn't you bring Sadie to me and then this would be over?"

"No, that's not how it is. You and the wolves have to destroy them or it will never be over. I couldn't bring Sadie. I wished it was that easy, but unfortunately for now she needs him."

"What do you mean? He's evil. He isn't her real father. What are you not telling me? What's the long story?"

"Sadie's sick... really sick. I think it's the effects of being surrounded by us. It's unnatural. We can't take her in the sunshine as often as she needs. She did well at first. We spoiled her, lavished her with presents and special outings. The newness wore off and she begged to go home, refused to eat anymore. I'm not sure what he says to her to make her act like everything's fine on the phone to you, but it's not. It's very wrong."

Bella felt tears well up in her eyes. "He's a monster."

"We all are. I try not to be, but I'm not without blame. I made him turn a human just for me. I was lonely. We all technically are Carlisle's, but he gives us mates to suppress the boredom. Emmett is the only reason I've made it this far, but he warned me against ever crossing Carlisle. Time is running out I'm afraid. Carlisle is treating Sadie. Some days it helps, others she gets worse. Bella, I overhead Edward and Carlisle after his visit to your house. He calls you a shield. That's why you're powerful to him. Many vampires have enhanced powers but you are immune to them. I'm not sure Carlisle even has a plan to harness yours, but he sees you as the ultimate prize and Sadie has it too. Edward can't read her at all. She really hates him too, screams every time he comes around. When they realized you were affiliated with the wolves, Carlisle almost conceded his plans to acquire you. We don't perceive time as humans, Carlisle is patient enough to wait for Sadie to reach maturity. None of us realized how sick she would get and Carlisle will not change a child under any circumstance. They can't be contained."

Every detail Rose told Bella was worst than the one before. Bella tried to pay attention to the plan, but her heart sank. Jacob was barely hanging on and now she had the awareness her only child was suffering and in the care of a vampire doctor. He wanted them both for his collection. She and Sadie were human beings not pawns in a vampire vendetta. There was also the knowledge Carlisle wasn't truly Sadie's father, some unknown dead guy was. It was a relief, but just another betrayal of a different kind. Bella couldn't stand imagining herself spread out on a bed while he experimented on her with an artificial insemination. She felt no less violated.

"Please take me back. I need to find my wolf Levi. I have to speak to Jake."

"Not yet. You don't have the full picture yet. I have a list of places we've lived just in case Edward or Alice got a glimpse of my decision. They could move, but that's unlikely with the nature of Sadie's illness. You'll need to act fast. That wolf man of yours can't delay his transformation another day."

Rose had spun a story straight from a horror novel. This was not the Carlisle that captivated her attention years before. Bella couldn't comprehend what this shield even meant and how it would help Carlisle gain control of the immortals.

Rose also told Bella this was the first time he was visibly shaken and not making decisions as swiftly. He never made mistakes, but he miscalculated so much concerning Bella. He had taken some of his anger out on Rose. They should have stolen Sadie from the beginning, but they didn't because of Rose's soft spot for the mother-child bond. Esme, Carlisle's official wife sided with her.

"Wait, official?"

"We all belong to Carlisle, Bella. I thought I said that."

"By belong you mean?"

"Whatever he says, we do. Whatever he wants, we give. All of us, even the men."

Bella's eyes widened. "He is disgusting."

"There isn't a word to describe what he is and yet when I'm with him, I can't help myself. I want him to be happy with me. Why do you think it took me so long to tell you everything? I actually couldn't until you mated with the potential wolf or Alice would know in an instant."

Bella twisted in her seat. The conversation made her uncomfortable for many reasons and she shouldn't trust Rose. She admitted her dilemma. This could still be a trap.

"If he's so evil, why does he work as a doctor to save lives? What's with this animal blood diet? He is an enigma."

"Yes, but we have to stay under the radar. Immortals that cause a scene are dealt with harshly by the Volturi. That's Aro's official council which Carlisle is a part of to this day."

Bella had an idea. "My lawyers. Could you tell me something that might reflect badly on Carlisle?"

"Stupid human girl, you still aren't following me fully. That custody petition, the police, the judges, the paternity test, none of that is real. Keep your lawyers out of it unless you wish more people to die."

"He killed those people?"

"Anyone paid for services is dead."

Bella started shaking when something came to her mind. "He eliminates people that get in his way, doesn't he?"

"Yes, the step-father was a problem. Edward spied. He told Carlisle the plans to get you and Sadie out of the country."

"It was an accident, a horrific car accident!"

"Nothing has been an accident."

"My mother! Phil. They died because they loved me and Sadie."

"It was the first error for Carlisle. He pushed you into your father's life and straight into the arms of a shifter, in the den a volatile wolf pack. They have been lying dormant, but you have the key to unlock their true potential."

"How?"

"Order them. Beg them. I don't know, whatever it takes. Sadie is running out of time. You are on borrowed time as well. If I got to you, don't doubt one of the others can't do much worse if you're left unprotected. I waited for that split second your one and only wolf let himself get distracted. The way back to the reservation is inputted in the car's navigation. Have the men destroy the car. I can't be traced to being with you. This could very well be the last you hear from me."

Bella didn't have time to beg Rose to wait. She vanished in a flash and Bella had more questions. There was so much she still did not understand. She wished she knew what happened to Levi. Rose's warning scared her. She was already fairly terrified after hearing the story from Billy, but alone on the side of the road in a remote location made her feel like a sitting duck. She scrambled to the driver's seat. A folded paper in the console caught her attention when she reached for the gearshift.

It was the list of addresses and locations. The top one was circled in red and Bella traced the marking with her finger. She saw. Just a flash, but Bella saw a large modern home on a wooded lot. It was only a few hours away. A crazy idea entered her mind. She felt like driving there and knocking on the front door. She shook that thought from her mind. Jacob needed her. Sadie needed Jacob and his pack more than anything. It wasn't the time to be crazy. There was no pack. Yet.

Bella stomped the clutch, moved her foot off the break and pushed the gas to the floor. She spun out in the gravel. The blue car broke the speed laws the entire way back. They were right. She didn't know how or why, but Bella could do and see stuff that wasn't explainable. The first order of business was channeling those powers and making Jacob phase. She had full confidence he could handle the rest on his own.

Bella made the turn toward Sue's clinic and met face to face with Levi again. He jumped on her hood and she came to a screeching halt. He must have noticed her disappearance. She rolled the window down.

"I'm back and I'm okay. I have to get to Jacob. Get down, boy! I'll bring him to you."

Bella flung open the clinic door. "Thank God, kid! I was about to put out an APB. What the hell were you thinking running off?"

"Dad, I didn't run off. I was taken."

"What? Taken by who?"

Bella couldn't explain. She had to get to Jacob. Billy tried to stop her. "Sue said he's taken a turn for the worse, kicked us out of the room. She was about to shock his heart once. It doesn't look good, honey."

That's all she could stand to hear. Bella kept going. She had to get through to him, it was their last hope. Sue had him hooked up to so much equipment, she didn't know what to remove first.

"Bella stop! What are you doing? He's critical. I was about to intubate him. His breathing is erratic."

"No, Sue! I know you mean well, but this is killing him not saving him. Old Quil is right. Jacob has to go into the woods and phase." Blood squirted out when she pulled his IV's. An alarm started going off when Bella ripped every lead off his chest. The whole time, she screamed at him. "Jacob! Wake up and listen to me. You know what to do. You tried to convince yourself otherwise, but you're wrong. Levi will show you the way. Take up the spirit wolf. Goddammit, Jake! Sadie's dying. They are killing her. Help me! Save us!"

Embry, Quil, Paul and Jared took over from there. They grabbed Jacob and hauled him out the back door where Levi was waiting. Bella ran after them. She yelled at them, told them to drape Jacob over Levi. As soon as he was on his back, Levi took off.

Everyone stood behind her staring in shock at Bella's actions. They probably all thought she unwittingly caused Jacob's death, but a long drawn-out howl stopped their second guessing. Exactly three seconds later, a second more pained howl echoed the first.

Bella fell to her knees. Embry and her father ran to her side. She was completely overwrought and barely could hold her head up any longer. Her words came out in pants. "He did it. He's okay. Everything's going to be okay now."

Embry helped her up, but supported her weight against his side. "How do you know?"

"I feel him." Bella looked up and saw Old Quil smiling and nodding his head up and down. "I can hear him too. I can't believe it. How is that possible?" Bella saw so much all at once like someone fast-forwarded life for her. Old Quil was right. She wasn't ready for so much at once, but just knowing that Jacob was okay, Levi was with him and he was about to fulfill his destiny was enough. She tried to take one step back inside, but never made it. Bella had the vaguest recollection of strong arms lifting her up before everything went dark.

~Thanks for reading.

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Well, well, well. Love changing things around, it's so fun. In case you hadn't noticed, Bella is more than just a shield in this one. Thoughts? Comments? Predictions? Wouldn't it be interesting to hear from Jacob? What is happening to him and how is he handling it? Yeah, I thought so too. Chapter 15 is just that, Jacob and Levi. I routinely cave to begging. Ask my friends. LOL! How soon do you want that next chapter?