Chapter Thirty Eight – Amber Alert

"Alright Nessie," Emmett called out loudly. "Come out, come out wherever you are. I give up." He shined the flashlight in the closet again. Her scent was all over his clothes, but she wasn't inside. He scoured the entire house and couldn't find her. She certainly found one hell of a hiding spot.

"Nessie!" He called out again. "You win!"

Rose came into the room and patted his shoulder. "Losing to Nessie. I think that's a new low for you, Em," she grinned.

"Why thank you." He replied sarcastically. "I enjoy hearing about my failures."

"You're so cute." Rose pinched his cheek. She walked over to the closet and began looking through her clothes. Wrinkling her nose she turned to Emmett, "What's that smell?"

He moved closer until he was right beside her. "Smells like some kind of chemical – sulfuric acid?"

She pressed her nose to Emmett and inhaled. "It's not you."

"Of course it's not ME!" He playfully slapped her backside.

"Emmett!" Rose swung back and missed.

Emmett moved directly behind her and pressed his body against hers. He reached around and cupped her breasts in his hand while he lowered his face to her neck. With delicate kisses he moved along her shoulder while unbuttoning her shirt. Rose let out a soft sigh while reaching behind her to caress his thighs. Emmett leaned over her shoulder and Rose turned her head to kiss him. While their tongues circled each other, his hands slipped between her legs.

Suddenly Alice burst into the bedroom. Her eyes were wide with fear. "Where's Nessie?"

Emmett broke away from Rose. "Ever hear of knocking?" He said sharply, but then saw her expression and fell silent.

"She's not in here." Rose held her shirt closed as she turned around.

"We have to find her NOW!" Alice ran from the room. "Nessie! Nessie!"

Emmett and Rose followed her down the hall as she frantically searched all the bedrooms.

"I already looked in here," Emmett said to Alice as he took her arm. "What's happening Alice?"

"I saw her," Alice's voice was shaky. She broke away from Emmett's grasp and dropped to her knees looking under the furniture. "And she was scared. Very scared." She got back to her feet and ran out of the room. "Nessie!"

***

Nessie stayed completely still waiting for the dizziness to pass. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she knew she wasn't in the closet anymore. She even suspected she wasn't home anymore.

"Think she'll be sick?" A deep voice inquired.

Nessie turned her head toward the vampire. He reminded her of the Volturri, Tall and menacing, with dark features. He was dressed in a suit, though it didn't appear that he was going anywhere special. She couldn't help noticing the long sword in his hand.

"She is half human – maybe you should get a bucket." Another voice replied.

That voice came from behind her. As she turned her head she saw the hand was still on her shoulder. Angrily she bit into it. The skin broke easily and the man's blood shot into her mouth.

Nessie gagged. It was by far the most bitter substance she had ever tasted. Coughing, she released his hand and regurgitated the small amount that she'd swallowed in a puddle on the floor.

"Insolent Child!"

The impact against the back of her head knocked her against the wooden floor and into the blood she'd just put there.

"EGAN!" The other voice shouted. "My God what are you doing?"

"She BIT me," Egan shouted back.

"Yes and I'm certain she'll never do it again." The vampire snorted as he gripped the back of her shirt pulling her to her feet. Nessie struggled to free herself punching and kicking, but the kidnapper simply held her at arm's length and watched her efforts with amusement.

"Let me go" she screamed still flailing her limbs. "Let me go!" She screamed louder. Maybe someone would hear her.

Egan stuck his fingers in his ears. "Can you shut her up?" he yelled at the vampire.

"Cease." The single word was enforced by the pressure of the sword upon her neck.

***

In less than thirty seconds Alice had put the entire coven on high alert.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Carlisle asked Emmett.

"Maybe twenty minutes ago, in the garage." Emmett replied.

"Then she came into the living room – Edward spoke with her, and then she went upstairs," Esme added.

"Did anyone see her come back downstairs?" Carlisle looked around for a response but none came. "Are you sure she wasn't outside?" he addressed Alice.

"No. She was definitely inside somewhere. And she was so scared." Alice's voice choked up. "I'm so sorry," she looked at Bella and Edward who clung to each other, their faces paler than normal.

"We'll find her," Carlisle told them. "Everyone spread out – check every inch of this house."

The group disbursed, but Rose hung behind. "Carlisle."

"Yes Rose," His voice was tense.

"I think you should come upstairs. There was a strange smell in our bedroom." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Right where Nessie scent was the strongest."

"Show me." Carlisle followed her up the stairs and into the bedroom. Rose led him to the closet and gestured to the pile of clothes on the floor. She inhaled deeply and was surprised to find the odor was much fainter now.

She watched Carlisle's nostrils flare as he too, caught the scent. His tense face turned to terror. Rose saw a tremor of fear ripple through his body. And that was terrifying.

"Carlisle?" She said his name hesitantly.

"She's hurt!" Alice's scream came from down the hallway. "I see blood on her. BLOOD!"

Carlisle pressed his fist to his forehead "please no" he said softly before fleeing from the room.

Rose stood there clenching her fists. NO ONE was going to hurt Nessie, without consequence.

***

Nessie sat cross legged in the center of the bare floor. Her hair was mussed and Egan's blood marred the front of her shirt. She watched the two men closely, waiting to see what they would do to her next.

Alavaro held her down while the warlock drew a large circle on the wooden planks. He added several different symbols around the perimeter while chanting in a language she'd never heard before. When he was finished, the vampire pushed her into the circle. As soon as she crossed over the line she felt the strength drain out of her. Remaining in a sitting position was all she could manage. It came at the expense of talking, she was that tired.

Her head would drop to the side every once in while, as if to remind her how weak she was. But she fought against whatever magic was holding her captive. Neither of her kidnappers seemed to care as long as she stayed quiet. She closed her eyes for a brief second. Even though she couldn't see them, she paid close attention to every word they spoke to each other.

"You knocked the tree down, right?" Alavaro asked the warlock. "Loud enough so they could hear it."

"Yes I knocked the tree down," he replied between crunches. He was eating something. "Though I still don't understand the importance of that."

"I don't want them tracing the teleportation." The vampire replied. "So I thought I'd create a bit of a diversion."

"Knocking over a tree in Lycan territory is hardly a diversion." Egan snickered.

"Oh it's not the tree" Alavaro smiled wickedly. "It's what's inside."

"Be as cryptic as you want." The warlock snorted. "There's no way they'll ever find us."

"Don't underestimate Carlisle. He's very resourceful."

"I do not fear a coven of vampires. Let them find us – I'll destroy them all." Egan shrugged.

They heard a whimper coming from the child and glanced her way.

"Oh that's right" The warlock rolled his eyes. "What are we going to do with that?" he gestured to Nessie.

"Keep her here until Femke gets back." Alavaro replied. "Speaking of your lady, has she checked in with you recently?" the vampire asked.

"Not since she left." Egan took another bite of the peach. "But yesterday I scryed for her and she is in Jamaica. So I performed a looking glass spell and saw her resting peacefully in a coffin. I suppose catching some rays on the beach wouldn't be the best idea." He chuckled.

"A coffin. Really?" Alavaro shook his head at the thought. "And she has the nerve to tell me that I'm living in the past."

***

"Jasper! Edward!" Carlisle barked. "Use your abilities to their maximum distance. Look for any sign of Nessie."

"Carlisle what's going on?" Edward demanded. He'd tried to read the doctor's mind, but it was a jumble of thoughts overridden by an amount of fear he'd never expected from Carlisle.

"A warlock has taken Nessie. And EVERY second is critical", he replied. "Esme! Where is my bag?"

"I don't understand", Bella was close to tears. "What's a warlock and why would it want Nessie?"

Carlisle looked at her sadly. "Bella, warlocks are the most evil creatures in existence. Trust me, you do not want to know what they do to little girls."

Edward's jaw clenched so tightly he nearly broke his own teeth. He heard Carlilsle's thoughts and he was not going to let ANYONE touch his daughter.

"Why?" Bella sobbed covering her face. "WHY Nessie?"

"Which bag?" Esme inquired as she came into the room.

Carlisle gave her a trying look. "The magic bag, Esme."

"Carlisle what are you going to do?" Esme asked fearfully.