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Chapter 23: Lies

"Emma!"

Bella flung herself towards Emma and engulfed her in a hug that would have knocked the wind out of her if she were human. Immediately Bella regretted hugging her like that because she had forgotten how hard vampire's bodies were. Emma gingerly hugged Bella back. "Sorry if I startled you." Emma said apologizing

Bella frantically shook her head no as tears began to slide down her cheeks.

"Now, now. No crying," Emma said wiping the tears away.

"I'm just…I can't believe that you're here!" Bella said stumbling over her words as a new round of tears began. Emma hugged her once again.

"It's all going to be ok," she calmly said, rubbing Bella's back to calm her down. She could hear Bella's heartbeat frantically racing.

"But why are you here?" she asked sniffling as she pulled out of the hug.

Emma could tell her the truth – 'oh Edward still loves you and is currently being hunted by Victoria in an attempt to protect you. But don't worry, he'll come back and grovel at your feet for forgiveness in June' – no that would surely send Bella into a full fledged panic attack. "Jasper and I were on our way to Denali to meet up with the family, when I realized that I needed something here. I made a snap decision just to check on you when I heard your screams. I took a chance at your window being opened."

"Then how did you know I was dreaming about werewolves?"

Another lie – 'Yeah Jasper and I know Jacob's Black furry little secret'. That wouldn't be the best thing to say. "Your room reeks of them. Did you like have an entire pack in here?"

"No just one."

Emma raised an eyebrow to look at Bella as she sheepishly looked down at her bed. "Bella what were you thinking! Vampires are bad enough, but werewolves too? You are a supernatural being magnet."

"I didn't know! Not until now."

"Promise me that you will be careful around…"

"Jacob."

"Black?" Emma asked playing stupid.

Bella nodded. Emma sighed. "You know that the Quileutes and my family don't exactly get along."

"Because they found you hunting on their lands."

"Not only that, but before the treaty, they attacked Rosalie and I. That was part of the reason for the treaty. It just seems that they had forgotten that little bit."

"No…I didn't know that you were attacked."

"We were. Carlisle was quick to calm everyone down and that was when the treaty was struck. But since then, I have had no respect for them. I am sorry."

"Don't be!"

"But it's obvious that you care about this Jacob."

"He's my best friend, so of course I do. But…"

She trailed off. Emma glanced up at her. "But what?" she gently probed.

"You are my family…" she answered in a whisper, looking away from Emma.

"Even after all that you were put through?"

Bella nodded. "I still love Ed…him. I will always love him until my dying day. Even if he doesn't love me."


Jasper waited patiently in the tree line for Emma. He sensed that things were going to be ok with Bella. But not being with Emma made him nervous. Something wasn't right.

In his pocket, his cell phone began to vibrate. He glanced at it. It was Edward, checking in.

"Hey bro. How are things going on your end?" he asked answering it.

"About as good as they could," Edward responded. I'm leading her thru the Yucatan peninsula the moment. My goal is to be in Rio by Saturday."

"You're leading her to Isle Esme?"

"Yeah. I figured that it would be the best place for a fight. Its secluded and I know the terrain. Do you think you and Emma could be here by then? I could use your help."

"Sure," Jasper said with a smirk. "I'm up for a good fight."

"Knew you would be. I'm not sure how many more times I can contact you, so tell me how is Bella?"

Jasper paused to think of a quick lie. "She's doing as well as she could be considering you broke her heart."

Edward took a deep breath. "I know. I have much to atone for. But I will see you two on Saturday."

Jasper ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. But a quick movement behind caught his attention. He spun on his heels and stared into the dark forest. He knew it wasn't Emma. He could still feel her emotions coming from Bella's house. Something or someone was in there.

A faint scent caught his attention next.

It was a scent that he vowed never to forget.

Caleb.


"Even if he doesn't love you?" Emma asked confused. She knew all too well that Edward still loved Bella more then anything. She was still his world.

Bella nodded. "When he left, he told me he didn't love me anymore and that I needed to move on and live a happy human life."

For once, Emma was speechless; Edward had a lot of explaining to do once this entire ordeal with Victoria was through. What exactly had he told Bella back in September?

Before Emma could say anything in response, her cell phone began to vibrate wildly in her pants pocket. She slipped the slender, silver phone from her pocket and glanced at the number. It was Alice. She hit ignore and turned her attention back to Bella. "I swear…."

Her phone vibrated again. This time it was a text message from Alice. She glanced at her phone and read the one word text message.

All it said was 'Caleb'.

A growl ripped from Emma's throat. What the hell was going on with him?

"What?" Bella asked.

Emma put a finger up to silence her as she answered Alice's second phone call. "This better be good."

All Bella could hear was the familiar sound of Alice speaking at vampire speed. It sounded like a buzzing to her. But Emma's facial expressions spoke volumes. She saw panic spread across Emma's flawless face.

"What?" Bella asked a second time once Emma had ended the call with Alice.

"Bella, I'm sorry about this, but I've got to go," she said leaning close to Bella. "I promise you that everything is going to be right once again. You trust me, don't you?"

Bella nodded. Emma leaned forward and kissed Bella's forehead. "I love you like my own sister," Emma said looking into Bella's eyes. "If I don't return, please promise me that you will stay safe. You have to for my brother. Don't worry about Jasper and I, we'll be fine. Just worry about yourself."

Another nod.

"Good," Emma said standing up and walking towards the window.

Bella watched as Emma leapt from the window and landed effortless on the ground below.

Without a look back, Emma took off in a run deep into the woods following Jasper's scent.


It didn't take her long to catch up with Jasper. She was almost to Mt. Rainer, when she found her husband slouching against a tree. She felt pain rolling off him in waves. His eyes were closed and he was grasping his arm. It was then that she realized his arm had been ripped off and he was holding it on as it reattached itself to his body. She wondered how many times this had happened to him in the past. "Jasper?" she gingerly asked, approaching him.

'Be careful Emma. He's still here.' Jasper thought without looking up at his wife. She knew exactly what he was talking about. 'And there is more then just him…'

Caleb had hurt Jasper and was still in the area. "Come on," She said, wrapping her arm around Jasper's waist. "We're getting out of here."

They had made it across a clearing before they were stopped again.

"I don't think so," Caleb said emerging from the tree line. Two other male vampires on each side of him flanked him. Newborns.

Emma could read nothing but bloodlust on their minds.

Alice sat up and screamed.

She had been following Emma's future when it mingled with Jasper's for all of a few moments. Then nothing.

"What is it Alice?" Ian asked concerned. "What did you see?"

"They're gone! I can't see them any longer!"