Chapter Twenty One

Bella

I took Alice's advice and kept my eyes down and my hands clasped hoping it would save me from the advances of Nathan the beast as I named him. If we had been alone I had no illusions but that I would have been raped and murdered. It was only Alice's presence and Peter's vigilance that kept me alive and safe for now. It hadn't hit me at first, but these two men had the same pale skin as the Cullens and I had wondered if beneath their shades they had the same golden eyes but then Nathan had removed his a little while ago and I noticed with shock that they were crimson.

I had anticipated pink eyes if they had been albino's. I'd had a friend in Phoenix who was one and she had the white skin and hair and pink eyes, but these were blood red and scared me more than any threat Nathan had made. There was something going on here and I didn't understand it. Alice had been kidnaped for some reason and I had been snatched too only because I was with her. She had told me we were headed for Mexico and I could only hope my dad would understand I was missing and maybe alert the authorities. I knew if a minor went missing the Mexican border patrols were automatically alerted.

Alice

I was relieved that Nathan was ignoring Bella for now as if he had become tired of her submissive way. I'd been right, but it had still been a gamble and she would be in no less danger when we reached Mexico. I had heard rumors of Maria's newborns and her commander The Major and nothing I had heard made me feel any better. She was cold and utterly ruthless when it came to anyone who upset or defied her and her commander was no better.

Bella's only hope of survival would be if I could find a way to prove to Maria that I needed Bella in order to continue seeing the future, but that wasn't going to be easy. Whoever had told Maria about me would know I had visions before Bella came along. Perhaps the best thing for my friend would be a speedy death if Maria didn't find her interesting or had no need for more newborns. I was afraid Bella might be given to the newborns as other humans had been. She would die yes, and probably quickly if they were thirsty, but there was a chance Maria might want some fun and then God knew what kind of death she might inflict on my friend. Panic was threatening to overwhelm me and that wouldn't do either of us any good, I must try to stay calm and Peter's insistence on keeping Bella alive helped with that, he must know or suspect something to act on her behalf.

Bella's heart was beating fast and I knew she was terrified, my words in the diner had done little to comfort her, but I just couldn't tell her lies, she deserved better than that. At least she had no idea what we really were, that might have been too much for her to take, but I wished we had come clean when we met her, she could have stayed away and she wouldn't be in this mess now. Whichever way you looked at it this was all my fault. I just hoped Carlisle hadn't been misguided by my call and think it was the Volturi who had snatched us.

Would he think of Maria? It was doubtful, why should he? She wasn't known for kidnapping in North America or even of wanting gifted vampires. Hers was a brutal war full stop. She wanted to own Central America and was doing a good job of it by the accounts I had heard. I was glad in a way that I had met Garrett although he hadn't told me about Carlisle, that had been a little white lie to keep my gift a secret until I knew the Cullens better. He had however told me about the Southern Covens and the most dangerous of them was Maria's, mainly because of her commander The Major.

We stopped once more at my request so Bella could use the restroom and get something to eat but this time Peter went with her into the diner while I was forced to stay in the van with the others.

"So you're the one Maria has her sights set on, you don't look much."

I had nothing to lose, Maria wanted me alive so Nathan had to be careful with me,

"Neither do you if it comes to it and frightening a young human is probably about your mark."

He laughed at my words,

"Well aren't you the brave one. Just remember that when Maria is finished with you, she'll hand you over to me."

"So you get her cast-offs as well as The Major's, what a sad life you do lead."

His fists balled but he held his temper, he couldn't do what he wanted to do so he would have to be patient although I didn't want to think about what he would do to me once as he said Maria had tired of me which she would as soon as she understood I couldn't conjure my visions when she wanted them.

When Bella and Peter got back she glanced at me and I hated what I saw in her eyes, she was confused and frightened, just as I had seen her in my vision. The only comfort I could get was that I had seen the two of us in a little cabin, so Nathan wasn't going to kill her before we reached Maria. I smiled reassuringly and she nodded clutching the sandwich and can of soda that Peter had supplied her with. She was also very tired but too scared to sleep and there were large black smudges under her eyes making her look somewhat like one of us. I was thirsty too, but I tried to ignore it wondering how long it would be before the two men needed to hunt. Peter banged the side of the minivan and it took off once more but instead of staying on the highway it turned off towards a small town and I understood my question was being answered, the vampires were going to hunt.

Bella

I was so tired but too scared to close my eyes again and when Alice asked Nathan for another stop for me I was grateful. I had been desperate for the toilet for hours but too frightened to ask them to stop. When Peter got out with me this time I was relieved and while he walked me to the restroom he didn't say anything and when I got out, there being no one inside for me to ask for help just like the last time, he took my arm and lead me through to the small store putting ten dollars in my hand and watching me as I picked up a soda and a sandwich and paid for them giving the change back to him.

The guy behind the counter had started to ask me if I was OK, but a look from Peter stopped him. Maybe he would report the incident to the police, perhaps not but I knew we must be getting close to the border now. Peter took me back to the minivan and said something quickly to the men in the cab before climbing back in with us and indicating they could go. When we turned off the highway I was surprised, weren't they going to Mexico after all?

The minivan parked up in a picnic stop which was otherwise deserted and Nathan got out stretching then leaned back in,

"Don't worry darlin' I won't be gone long."

I flinched as he touched my cheek and he laughed disappearing in the darkness that was slowly being chased away by the rising sun. Peter too got out leaving Alice and I alone although he didn't move far, making sure we didn't make a run for it.

"Where have they gone, Alice?"

"It doesn't matter, they'll be back before long. I thought they would have to stop soon."

"What's going to happen to me, Alice? What's going on? I need to know. My dad will be looking for me soon."

"I wouldn't bank on your dad finding us Bella, once we cross the border it will be like we vanished into thin air."

"You know these people, what do they want you for?"

Alice grimaced,

"They think I can do something that I can't."

"Like what?"

"Like tell the future Bella."

I frowned, tell the future? What was that all about?