Chapter Twenty-One
..
"Family meeting, people!" Jenks shouted. "Five minutes!"
Breakfast was finished, except for a few stragglers. Bella, Jane and Lauren had made omelets, using the electric skillet and every burner on the stove and now they were washing up, Bella washing the dishes and Jane drying, and Edward putting them away. Well, he started to put them away, anyway, but got distracted exploring the kitchen gadgets in the cabinets, and then Bella lost her dish dryer when Jane sat down beside him and explained what the appliances and equipment did, making up fantastic explanations if she didn't know, making the both of them laugh. It warmed Bella's heart to hear Jane giggle like the little girl she was.
Hovering behind her, Rose cried as she watched. "Thank you," she whispered when Bella came near. Rose was so faint, so insubstantial. Bella's heart ached and tears of her own pooled in her eyes.
"Soon?" Bella asked her. And then she realized she hadn't seen Emmett all day. Yesterday, he'd been so faint Bella could barely make out his features, like a wisp of steam that disappeared in the cool air.
She heard Rose sigh. "Soon."
"Come on, people, gather round," Jenks called.
Bella tossed the sponge in the sink. Edward took her hand in his and playfully grabbed Jane's ponytail to "drag" her into the living room with them. Bella and Jane squeezed together in the spot left on the sofa and Edward stood behind them. Dave hopped up into Jane's lap. He turned around in circles before lying down because it made Jane giggle (and Dave really liked that happy human sound. Petting usually accompanied it.) Amun leaned against one of the glass walls, and every time Bella glanced in his direction, she found his gaze on her, that little smile playing around his lips.
"All right," Jenks said, when everyone was seated. "Everybody here?"
'''Cept for Ben," Forks noted. "He's out putting some sort of antenna on the boat."
"That's okay, he knows what's going on. Anyway, people, pack up your shit because we're heading out tomorrow morning. I want you all down here by seven and if you're not, your ass gets left behind. And don't think you're staying in my cushy digs, either. Cleaning crew is coming in afterwards and they're not terribly friendly, if you catch my drift."
He took out a notebook and pen. "Okay, plan is, we hit the East Coast of mainland U. S. of A. first. Who wants to jump ship on that side?"
Hands were raised. Jenks wrote down names. "Not bad. About half of you. Okay, here comes the hard part." Jenks went to the closet and pulled out one of the duffel bags an unzipped it. He reached inside, ripped the plastic wrap and started passing out bundled cash.
"Hard for me, that is, giving away all my lovely money. Pass this shit around. Everybody gets two bundles. In case your math skills are shitty, that's twenty thousand bucks. After we dump you off at your chosen destination, you're going to have to lay low for a while. I'm no sure how long, but I'm estimating a week. Split up, get to another city and hole the fuck up in a hotel room, and for God's sake, don't call anyone."
He tossed the mostly-empty duffel bag back unto the closet. "Anyone, got it? Not your Auntie Claire in Sheboygan who you know can keep a secret, not your booty call, not your fuckin' voicemail. No one. If you do, you'll get your ass caught and I don't know what they'll do to you once they've got you back. Likely just blow your goddam head off because, coincidentally enough, their fuckin' facility got blown all to hell. And don't expect Bella to come and fuckin' rescue any of you cocksuckers again, 'cause that shit ain't happening. You lay low and you wait."
His eyes swept around the room, studying each face to make sure that people were taking him seriously.
"You're each going to get a cell phone. You do not use this cell phone for any reason. When I give you that phone, it's gonna have a piece of paper taped to it with a word written inside. When it's safe for you to go home, you're gonna get a call on that cell phone and the person on the other end is going to say that one word. That is all. You toss that fucker out the window and go. If you don't get that call within a week's time, you're on your fuckin' own, and I'm sorry as hell about that. Any questions?"
"We don't have ID," Quil said. "How are we going to get through customs?"
Jenks laughed at him. "Any serious questions?"
"How long will we be at sea?" Esme asked.
"It's about two thousand miles from here to the Panama Canal. We're going to be traveling about about thirty miles per hour. You do the math. Oh, and I'll have to stop and gas up a few times."
Esme sat back, blinking. At least three days until they reached Panama.
"We're going to have to make pit stops. I've arranged some along the way, but they're not going to be real frequent. We've got a head for you to use, but there's no galley."
"What do you mean, 'head'?" Amanda asked.
"A shitter," Forks said, helpfully. "We've got a shitter but no kitchen."
"And no nice, comfy beds for you, either. I'm gonna have Bella get us some of those fuckin' air mattress things if she's got time to go shopping tonight, but other than that, you're going to have to just curl up in the fuckin' seats. Sorry, people, but it's the best I can do. So grab some fuckin' books, some board games or whatever to keep yourself occupied because it's gonna be a long goddam week."
"Or we could take my jet," Amun said.
You could have heard an eyelash drop.
"Your jet," Jenks repeated.
"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Collin demanded.
Amun shrugged. "You didn't ask."
"I think we should take the boat," Bella said. "Stick with the original plan." She did not say that it was because she didn't want to be beholden to Amun, but it was probably obvious.
"Let's take a vote," Amun suggested. "All those in favor of the slow boat to China-"
"Fuck you, this ain't a democracy," Jenks said. "I've spent the last four fuckin' days putting this shit together-"
"I just thought using my jet would save you time. And money. And a lot of discomfort. But if you want to be stubborn about it ..."
"I say we take the plane!" Quil said. "God, why not? I don't think any of us are happy about the idea of living on your get-away boat for more than a week."
"It does seem easier," Esme said tentatively.
Jenks threw his notebook on the coffee table and tossed up his hands. "Fine. If that's what everyone wants. Bella?"
She couldn't come up with a legitimate reason to refuse and everyone looked so eager and relieved to avoid the discomforts of more than a week at sea. "If that's what everyone wants," she repeated.
"We can still leave in the morning," Amun said. "I'll make a few calls and have some cars sent out here to pick up everyone to take them to the airport."
"What about Homeland Security?" Quil asked.
Now, it was Amun's turn to laugh at him.
"I wouldn't do that unless you want your ass to be set on fire," Bella warned. Quil's face was red and he looked about an inch away from losing his temper.
Collin spoke up. "He's got a valid point. How are we going to fly in without someone wanting to check out the mystery jet from overseas? Homeland Security gets a little testy about those sorts of things."
"You've heard of the Stealth Bomber, haven't you?" Amun asked.
"Yes."
He shrugged. "Same technology. They won't even see us coming."
It seemed too easy. Bella shifted uncomfortably and Edward put his hands on her shoulders. He leaned down to murmur in her ear. "If you don't want to go with them, we don't have to. We can make our own way there."
Bella shook her head. She would stay with the group. They could need her for protection.
Jenks stood. "So, I guess we're flying. Someone go get Ben's ass so he doesn't waste his time setting up the new communications system. What time, Amun?"
"We can stick to the same schedule, departing at seven," Amun replied.
"All right. Meeting adjourned."
"Jenks, can I talk to you for a minute?" Bella asked. "In your office?"
"Sure, Bella, be up in a sec," Jenks replied.
Bella and Edward rose from the sofa and went up the staircase. They had to wait outside of Jenks's office because they didn't know the entry code, which Jenks refused to divulge to anyone. As promised, Jenks was only a couple of minutes behind them and he opened the door, gesturing for them to enter first. Bella took one of the chairs in front of his desk and Edward took his preferred spot, standing behind her.
"What did you need?" Jenks asked.
"I don't trust Amun," Bella said bluntly.
Jenks nodded. "That's probably smart."
"You don't trust him either, but you're telling all of us it's okay to climb onto his plane?"
Jenks waved a hand. "I'm not worried he's going to turn us in or sell us all to North Korea's program. In that respect, you can trust him."
"Did he really take down another facility?"
Jenks scratched his ear. "All I can tell you is what I heard, and that isn't much. The grapevine says he did it. 'Course, everyone thinks it was a weather research station or some shit like that and so they tell the story like it's an amusing cautionary tale. You know, like: Don't piss off Amun, 'cause he'll hunt your ass down even if you're in Iceland and burn the place to the ground."
"Is that really why he did it, because someone made him angry?"
Jenks shrugged. "That, I don't know."
"He told me it was for money."
"That, I can assure you is a lie. He's richer than God and that's just from his legitimate businesses. He doesn't do anything for money. I don't think he ever did. Unlike most people, he came into the game already loaded."
"From Egypt? Were his parents rich?"
"That I don't know. If he told you he came from Egypt, that makes you the most knowledgeable person alive in regards to his origins. No one else knows anything about this guy, and trust me, it's not for lack of trying. Other ... organizations have tried to track down his family for, you know, persuasion purposes, but they were never able to find anything, and these guys make the CIA look like Inspector Gadget."
"Maybe he's not human," Bella said.
"What, like a vampire or something? Bella, he eats food and I've seen him in sunshine before."
"Maybe he's ... like Edward."
"An angel?" Jenks laughed.
"No, like his opposite: a demon."
"Wouldn't you know?" Jenks asked Edward.
Edward shook his head. "I've never seen one, and I don't have any sort of supernatural detection powers. All I know about a person is the same things that you could gather from looking into their eyes, reading their body language, that sort of thing."
"But there really are demons?" Jenks asked.
"Yes, but they're not the way most people think, spreading mischief and trying to tempt people into sin. They don't belong to a person the way angels do, like I belong to my Bella. But, like angels, they work to keep people on the right course to make sure events unfold the way they're supposed to."
"Are they evil?"
Edward considered. "They're not created the way angels are. They're the souls of the damned, so, yes, in that way, they are evil."
"So, if Amun really was a demon, he'd be working for the devil to make sure fate unrolled properly?"
"Something like that."
"Why would the devil care?" Bella asked.
"It's not like you think, Bella. God and the devil are not moral opposites the way most human religious literature portray them. In the beginning, when humans first evolved, they were simple, innocent creatures. God wanted them to stay that way, but the devil wanted to 'nudge' humans toward sentience. Crossing over into self-awareness would make them eternal beings, give them souls, and they would understand good and evil. God agreed, but only on the condition that the devil would take the souls those who chose the dark path, to accept the consequences, in other words. They created Heaven as a place for the souls of light and then the angels, to guide and protect those souls. Then they created hell to house the souls of the dark ones. Hell is awful only because of the people in it."
Bella and Jenks were both staring at him, their mouths agape.
"So, even if Amun is a demon, he wouldn't have been sent here to try to tempt us or to cause mayhem. He would be here to make sure that everything happens as it's supposed to happen."
"From what Jenks said, it sounds like he's been here a long time."
"At least fifteen years," Jenks added.
"They don't go back," Edward said. "They're not tied to a person that they follow back at the end of that person's mortal life. If he really is a demon, he could have been here for centuries."
"How would we know?" Bella asked. "I doubt if he'd just admit to it if we asked him. Is there some kind of ... test, or something?"
"We could throw holy water on him and see if he melts," Jenks suggested.
"He's not the Wicked Witch of the West, Jenks."
"Would he have any powers?" Jenks asked. "Like that flaming sword thing that you do? Can he fly?"
"No wings," Edward pointed out. "As for powers, I don't know. He may even have been Gifted as a human."
"So, we're back to where we started," Bella said, with a frustrated groan. "Not knowing anything about him, or what he can do."
"If he is a demon, it sounds like he'd be safer than a human," Jenks said. "Humans can cause all kinds of mayhem and do evil shit just for the hell of it."
"Demons aren't prevented from doing evil," Edward said. "They just can't interfere with fate."
"Would he have been sent to destroy that facility?" Bella asked Edward. "You were sent to make sure I completed my task, but you weren't told what it was. Would he know? Would he be given tasks himself, not just to guide humans into doing what they're supposed to do?"
Edward raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more."
Something occurred to her. "Edward, does he know what you are?"
"Yet another thing that I don't know," Edward said. "I don't know if demons have the ability to recognize angels or not."
"It sucks that you don't know more about this supernatural shit," Jenks said. "Can't you, um, call God or something?"
Edward was amused. "No, sorry. I can leave messages in my prayers, but that's the extent of the connection I have with the Highest One."
"Well, whatever Amun is, I don't trust him," Bella said.
"I don't think he'd do anything to hurt you," Jenks told her. "He likes you, Bella. I've never seen him pay so much attention to a woman."
"Not interested," Bella said succinctly.
"Well, you know, it might not hurt to ... uh ... let him think ..."
"Jesus Christ, Jenks! I'm not going to lead the guy on!"
"Oh, don't act so shocked," Jenks said scathingly. "Girls do it all the time to get shit from guys."
"Well, I don't," Bella snapped.
"Fine, just don't be a bitch to him."
Edward growled, "My Bella is not a bitch."
Jenks recanted hastily. "I wasn't saying she was, man. I meant that she shouldn't be ... uh ... impolite."
"Don't worry. I won't be mean to him. Just, please, don't put me in any situations that could get uncomfortable for me, okay?"
"I'll try," Jenks promised.
Bella rose to her feet. "Try really hard," she said.
In the morning, the living room was filled with yawning, sleepy people, each carrying their personal items in a plastic shopping bag (Bella hadn't thought to buy them totes) and one of Jenks's black duffel bags. Lauren had made an urn of coffee and nearly everyone had a Styrofoam cup of it. Jane had started to pour herself a cup but Edward had stopped her. "You should get a glass of milk or juice," he said.
"Aw, come on, Edward. I like coffee," Jane whined.
"Juice or milk," he repeated firmly. Jane grumbled but she headed to the refrigerator and filled her cup with orange juice.
"I see the cars," Jenks said, stepping away from the windows. "Everyone ready to go? Got all your shit? Where's that little fuckin' dog?"
"I've got him," Jane called, scooping Dave into her arms.
He let down the staircase and the room began to empty. Bella looked around one last time. She was a little bit sentimental in that way, when leaving a place she knew she'd never return to. She'd liked living here. Her eyes lingered on the spot where Carlisle had left. (She had a feeling she wasn't going to have a goodbye with Emmett or Rose.) She ran her fingers over the back of the sofa and sighed.
"This is the kind of house we'll build," Edward told her.
Bella smiled at him and linked her arm through his. "On our tropical island where you don't have to remember to wear pants."
He grinned at her and she tried to smooth down his riotous hair, an exercise in futility. They went down the stairs together.
Amun was waiting at the bottom with Jenks, who hit the button to close the stairs after they reached the bottom. "Good morning, Bella."
"Good morning, Amun," Bella repeated politely.
His eyes flicked over her. "You look nice. That color suits you."
She was wearing a dark blue shirt that Edward had bought for her because he said the same thing. "Thank you," she said coolly. And, of course, it was his car that they ended up riding in to the airport. Edward sat between them, and Jenks took the front passenger seat.
"I brought you another copy of the dossier," Amun said, leaning over Edward to hand her the file.
"Thanks. I'll read it on the plane." Bella tucked it under her arm.
"Have you ever flown before?"
Bella hid a smile. "Not on a plane." She watched Amun out of the corner of her eye to see what his reaction would be to that, but he remained impassive, unreadable.
"I think you'll like my plane," he said. "Much more comfortable than a commercial flight. There's even a bedroom if you'd like to take a nap."
"Ooh, lovely. Perhaps Edward and I can join the Mile High Club."
That got a reaction. He scowled and sat back.
Edward gave her hand a little squeeze. "What's the Mile High Club?" She could tell from the twinkle in his eye that he had read the answer in her mind, but Bella cheerfully explained it while Amun stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched.
Amun's plane was huge, much larger than a commercial jet. It was painted a dull gray, part of the stealth system, a paint that absorbed radar waves instead of reflecting them. A set of stairs had been wheeled up to the door and the Gifted were already climbing aboard. Those in Jenks's crew waited at the bottom of the stairs for their leader, a small gesture of loyalty that Bella could see touched Jenks.
They climbed the stairs, which Edward did not like because they could not go up side by side as he preferred. His instinct was to go first, to protect Bella from any unknown dangers in a new location, but he did not like Amun following her. Bella finally made the decision, heading up the stairs first, with Edward following. She heard Amun chuckle as if he had enjoyed Edward's obvious conflict.
The interior of the plane looked like a luxurious, well-decorated living room. Plush cream-colored leather sofas were scattered around the cabin with little wood end tables and lamps perched atop. The only difference from an ordinary room was that they were bolted to the floor, which was covered with lush Oriental rugs. Bulkhead walls with little hallways on either side divided the space into multiple rooms, but still had a comfortable flow.
There was a gorgeous painting on the bulkead wall of a bridge over a stream. Bella stopped to admire it for a moment.
"Do you like it?" Amun asked. "Monet."
Bella couldn't help but be impressed. "Really? A real Monet?"
Amun smiled, his teeth brilliantly white against his honey skin. "Really real."
"Bella, we're blocking the aisle," Edward said.
"Oh!" Bella stepped back and took a seat on one of the sofas. Edward settled beside her. Jane bounded over, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Bella, you need to see this place. The bathroom actually has a shower and there's a great big bed in the back!"
"After takeoff," Bella said. "I'll come exploring with you. Take a seat and put on your belt."
"What about Dave?" Jane asked. She put the puppy beside her and dubiously examined the seat belt.
"I'll hold him," Edward said. "It will be just as safe as a seat belt."
Dave jumped over to Edward's lap and stood to lick his chin respectfully. Bella leaned over to lay her head on Edward's shoulder and got a lick herself before Dave settled down into the crook of Edward's arm. The seat was as soft as a cloud and she was so comfortable. Edward wrapped his wing over her, and Bella snuggled into the warmth and safety of her angel's embrace. So warm. So comfortable ...
Bella.
Bella.
Bella sat up, looking around in confusion. She lay on a white canopy bed with gauze streamers that floated in the breeze. She could see rolling fields through the open vine-covered archways on the wall. It looked like she'd fallen into a painting in an Italian restaurant. Bella giggled at the thought. She was dreaming, she realized, but such a strange dream.
Edward came into the room, his bare chest gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. His wings were invisible; he appeared as a simple human man. "Maybe you're supposed to be an olive farmer, and I'm your wife," Bella said.
"Works for me," Edward replied. He came over and knelt on the bed beside her and Bella twined her arms around his neck. His hands softly glided down her sides before sliding around to her back and down to cup her backside.
"Oh, Bella," he whispered. His kisses were soft and warm against her face before they moved down to her throat and then to the vee of skin revealed by the neckline of her dress. Bella moaned and arched against him. "Edward, Edward, I love you."
His hands slid down to her thighs and he pushed up her skirt, his hands hot against her bare flesh. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, and his hot black gaze bored into her very soul.
Black?
His eyes were black?
Bella tried to pull away. Something wasn't right.
He smiled at her and pulled her hips down to the edge of the bed. Bella looked down and saw his honey-colored hands contrasting with her pale skin.
Honey?
She tried to speak but no words would come out. His hair was darkening as she watched to coal black, the same color as his eyes.
She tried to scream.
Button by button, he opened the front of her dress. His face was changing, the jaw widening, the forehead shortening and now it was Amun's face that bent to her body. She was paralyzed, frozen.
Edward! Edward! She screamed in her mind.
The bedroom wall exploded and Edward charged through, his flaming sword in hand. He slashed at Amun and-
Bella woke, panting, terrified. Edward had her in his arms but was it really him? Bella struggled.
"Shh, baby, I've got you," Edward said, and warm relief surged through her. It was him, his warmth, his scent, his voice, his wings' soft feathers against her arm. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I couldn't get in."
Bella looked around. Jane was sleeping on the sofa across from them, Dave curled up in front of her. She saw Esme reading on another sofa toward the front of the plane and Jenks was seated with Collin in front of the massive television on the wall, playing a video game. The normalcy of it slowed her racing heartbeat. She took deep breaths.
And then she saw Amun. He was leaning against the bulkhead, his eyes gleaming at her, that wicked little smile tugging at his lips. Bella closed her eyes and burrowed into Edward's chest.