Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.
All plotlines, characterizations, and details in Eternally Intertwined belong to the author: Bronzehyperion. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without the author's authorization. ©2009-2011 Bronzehyperion.All rights reserved worldwide.
What happened previously:
They were hunters.
I was the prey.
I tried to look away but then my eye caught sapphire blue eyes staring at me.
Sapphire Daggett.
My teenage nemesis stood there, smiling at me triumphantly.
"Are you happy?" she asked the woman next to her. She was as pale as the Cullens but her eyes betrayed she didn't stick to the same diet.
"Very much, sweetheart," the woman cooed.
"I love you," she added, stroking Sapphire's hair gently.
"I love you too, Mommy."
CHAPTER 47: RUNNING OUT OF TIME
(EDWARD POV)
Just when you think things can't get worse…they get worse. Much worse.
Two rampaging vampires on the loose. A new born vampire in the house. While that was very bad I could handle that.
To have my girlfriend missing without any sign of her whereabouts or her wellbeing, that felt like I was being tortured and ripped apart. I was feeling gutted and anxious, like I was slowly losing my mind.
Guilt and worry consumed me.
To say I was freaking out would be an understatement.
I had never felt more powerless.
Pacing around the kitchen, I tried to figure out what to do. But my brain didn't feel like cooperating. "Bella is missing, where is Bella," kept playing in a loop.
"We have to call Charlie," Esme said, as she entered the kitchen with Carlisle in tow. "It's been too long since anyone has seen Bella. He needs to know what is going on."
I frowned. Calling the Chief of Police who was already entangled in two similar cases – one with the girl dead – would be a very bad thing. Calling Charlie Swan to tell him his daughter was missing would be a disaster.
"No!"
"Edward," Carlisle interjected. "Esme is right; Charlie has a right to know."
"To know what?" I hissed. "That his daughter is missing? That she was last seen at the Daggett house? That Angela is a vampire; that Jessica was murdered by vampires?"
"Why don't we tell him about us TOO?"
"Edward, please." Esme pleaded. "Calm down."
But how could I be calm? Bella was out there somewhere; frightened and possibly hurt. She may very well be surrounded by rogue vampires who would see her as a tasty snack or wanted to change her into one of their kind. Either scenario could turn into a horrible reality.
"We need to focus. Put things in perspective," Jasper spoke calmly from the doorway.
I know you feel like going crazy, but try and stay calm. Don't let your anxiety get in the way of finding Bella.
Normally his soothing powers would calm me but right now it only seemed to intensify the anxiety I felt.
"Great, why don't you do that," I muttered. "Excuse me while I go and find Bella."
I stormed out of the kitchen with Esme, Jasper and Carlisle following me. Angela was in the living room with Emmett, Rosalie and Alice hovering around her shaking form. Apparently my shouting had upset her.
"She heard you," Alice explained. "It scared her."
"What happened to Bella?" Angela wondered quietly. "Is she hurt…did they get to her like with Jessica?"
"Is she dead?" she whispered.
"NO!" I roared which caused Angela to flinch.
I had no time to feel bad about snapping at her. There would be no speak of Bella being hurt or possible murdered. I would not allow that to happen so it was a moot point to bring it up.
"Edward," Esme scolded me. "I demand you to calm down!"
"Edward, she is right," Carlisle said. "I know you are upset but you can't go about rampaging and upsetting everyone. We need to stick together and think of a solution together."
Exasperated, I rolled my eyes before turning my back and heading for the stairs. If no one would help me, I would find Bella alone.
"Fool," Rosalie muttered, knowing quite well I would be able to hear.
"Shut up!" I growled before reaching my room.
Inside my room, I grabbed a back pack and emptied its content on my desk. All that was in there were some school books and some notes that I had doodled on. They were useless items.
I pulled out a small trunk from under my desk which contained items I barely used because I hardly ever needed them.
A small container of gasoline and a pack of lighters. A few fire torches. Two small blades with sharpened edges. Fire resistant gloves.
Everything I needed to slaughter a few vampires.
I put the chosen items in the bag and headed out the room.
Alice waited for me at the top of the stairs, arms crossed little foot tapping on the floor in a judgmental rhythm.
Meddlesome little pixie.
"Move," I hissed.
"You can't do this."
"I think I can. In fact, I will," I muttered sarcastically.
"Not alone."
"I really don't need your advice."
"You want to do something stupid?" Alice countered.
"I want to find Bella."
"You can't just go off by yourself," Alice pointed out. "You have no idea where to look for Bella."
"I'll find her."
The problem was that while we had perfect senses and I would be sure to recognize her scent anywhere it didn't work if I wasn't in a one mile radius. If she was far away, I wouldn't be able to pick up on her scent until I was close enough.
And so, while I hated to admit it, Alice was right. I had very little to go on. There were no clues, no one to help…no one who knew these…
Wait.
There was one person.
"Angela!" I exclaimed. "She might be able to help."
I wanted to move past Alice to go to Angela and demand for her to lead us to the place in the woods where she had been changed into a vampire. But before I could, Alice held me back.
"Don't," she warned.
"Don't try and stop me."
"Edward, she is scared and traumatized. You can't expect her to help you. We can't put her through that kind of ordeal. Besides you acted like a jerk just now."
"She is the only one who can help. I don't care if it upsets her!"
"Edward…" she warned.
Don't do this. Not like this. Let me help. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, remember.
"What do you suggest?" I grumbled.
"I'll ask her if she remembers specifics about the woods and then you can read her mind."
"If we get a good description of the woods we could try and find Bella."
I nodded, because it was a plan.
Just not a plan I was willing to participate in.
"It's better than trying to bully something out of her."
"Good luck with that," I said before moving past her down the stairs and straight out the door.
(ALICE POV)
Edward was an idiot. An impulsive fool. Why would he not listen and run off like that. What was the point?
If Bella had been captured by the same vampires that had changed Angela than he might not be a match for them if he was alone and mentally all over the place because he was worried.
Edward's mindreading would be pointless if he wouldn't be able to focus. And if he wouldn't be able to focus, he would be at a disadvantage.
"Idiot," I grumbled as I stood in the living room.
"I could go after him," Emmett suggested. "Better to have some muscle there because our lanky brother is sure to have his ass kicked."
"No," Carlisle interjected. "We need you here for Angela."
At the sound of her name, Angela looked up. Her eyes were frightened and her muscles flexed against the restraints.
"It's okay, Angela. Emmett is only here to protect you. Not to restrain you," I said.
I turned to Carlisle. "Maybe we should release her. Those restraints seem unnecessary."
Carlisle frowned, thinking. I knew there were risks because Angela was still a new born which made her very strong and possibly volatile but so far she had behaved quite well. Jazz had told me he was impressed with her composure.
"I am not sure."
"Angela, do you want to be untied?" I asked her with a smile.
Angela's eyes found mine and in them I read fear and uncertainty. "I…don't know. I don't want to g scared and run."
"You don't have to. You can stay here, move around. I just don't want you to feel like a prisoner."
"Wait a minute," Rosalie interjected. "We can't just release her. If someone sees her, we are screwed."
"We can't risk the exposure."
"I wouldn't tell anybody…I would behave," Angela whispered. She sounded so broken. So submissive.
"Angela," I spoke softly, crouching down next to her with my back to Rosalie, who was huffing and probably rolling her eyes behind me, "we are your family now, if you want to put a name to it. You don't have to be afraid of us."
Angela nodded slowly.
"You know that Bella is missing. Bella is family too and we are all very worried. If we asked you to help us, even if you are scared, would you try?"
Angela gave me a sad smile. "You want me to go back there don't you? To the mill. To see if he took Bella there too."
"I wouldn't ask if I knew where she was, but I can't see…maybe if we take you there I can pick up on something."
I hated the fact I couldn't see. That my mind was like static white noise and that no matter what Bella decided I was unable to see anything beyond the fuzzy decision she had made to see Sapphire Daggett.
I didn't know why she had done this but knowing Bella, it probably had something to do with her silly stubbornness. That would be the only thing that could get her killed.
I poked around the edges of my brain again, hoping to set off a vision, but it was pointless. All the images stopped the moment I saw Bella driving down the road to the Daggett house. And Edward and I had been there earlier. No Bella. No truck. Her scent that led me two miles south of the house but no further.
It was like she had vanished without a trace.
A knock on the door pulled me from my ponderings. I didn't need a vision to know who it was because Angela started pulling against her restraints, her eyes wide and her nostrils flaring.
Something smelled badly. Or rather, someone.
"Don't worry," I assured her, while picking up on the awful stench myself.
"It smells like Jacob."
(ANGELA POV)
When I was little the woods had never scared me. My grandmother had lived in a small cottage near the woods and every time I went there to visit I had pretended to be a dream-like fairytale creature like Snow White or Little Red Riding Hood who lived in the deep dark woods and enjoyed the mystery of her habitat.
Now that I was a creature that truly belonged in fairytales – or maybe nightmares – I found that the woods were terrifying.
Haunting.
And there was no time to play or pretend. It was real.
Bella was missing and the Cullens depended on me to help figure out where she was.
I felt frightened and cornered and wanted to run but I tried to focus on helping my friend. Easy it was not.
"It's okay," Jacob spoke softly.
I tried to breathe and let his scent keep me sane – Jacob didn't smell very appetizing but at least he didn't smell tempting and that soothed me.
My Dark Prince Charming.
The more time I spend around Jacob, the more I felt a certain pull towards him. It was energetic and quite powerful. I wondered if we would ever find the time to figure out what all of those unfamiliar feelings meant.
Grisham Mill was desolate and quiet. Eerie. I was scared and shaking and desperately wanted to hide. But Jacob's warm hand on my shoulder kept me grounded.
"Nothing will happen to you," he said. "I promise."
I wanted to believe in his words so badly because I couldn't imagine Jacob ever lying to me. Not because I knew him that well – in most aspects I didn't even know him at all – but because he simply couldn't lie to me, our bond – which I still couldn't quite explain – wouldn't allow it.
But the stir of something threatening in the air suddenly made Jacob's promise sound very feeble.
(EDWARD POV)
Mark Daggett was a man of mystery. But really when being a mysterious creature yourself, there wasn't much that could surprise you. There were still things about him I wanted to understand - like how managed to pull of the mind games - but ultimately he was "just" human and I would easily fight him off if I had to.
The one thing that frustrated me was that he always seemed a step ahead and there was nothing that could faze him. For a human, he behaved quite inhuman.
I was sitting in his office, tapping my foot rhythmically to the side of his desk, taking on a lounging position in his chair while I waited for him to come home.
Jasper had texted me earlier to let me know that Jacob had arrived at the house and he would help Jasper, Emmett and Alice guide Angela to the places she had been before, starting with the Grisham Mill. Since she couldn't quite remember what part of the woods she had been taken, we had to hope her memory would be triggered.
I was playing a different field. If the answers wouldn't come to us, I would come to the answers.
And Daggett held the answers.
And I would kill him and everyone else associated with him- including his family – if they would harm Bella in any way.
I looked at the family picture I had found in the drawer of his desk. Him, his wife and two small girls. Smiling, happy.
It was all such an illusion.
(BELLA POV)
Mommy?
This was her mother?
Daggett's presumably dead wife was a vampire too?
Wow, sucked to be him.
I tried to focus on the absurdity of it all because if I didn't, my mind would shut down and I would break down. And I couldn't afford that. I needed to stay focused and as calm as I could manage.
One thing was certain; it had been an incredibly stupid thing to go to the Daggett house, knowing what I sort of knew beforehand.
I had asked Edward if he believed Daggett knew about Victoria being a vampire. Edward affirmed my beliefs by saying yes. And then, when I had spoken aloud the assumption that Daggett might know about the Cullens as well, Edward's silence had been just as loud as any kind of affirmation.
Daggett knew.
And still I had gone to his house. Without thinking, without realizing that it might be dangerous.
Sometimes I truly was stupid.
As a result, I was tied up to a tree in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bushes and trees with thick branches that were mocking me with their creepy shadows on the ground.
It was probably almost night time. Near twilight, I guessed.
The best time for a vampire, Edward had once told me.
I wondered if he had meant his own kind by that or the kind that was currently eyeing me with lust and hunger.
Vicious vampires were circling me. I knew that the primal urge to scream would be useless.
There was no one around and the more I tried to fight this, the sooner it would be over.
And it couldn't be over just yet. I needed more time. More time for Edward to find me.
Strangely, I wasn't as afraid as I knew I should be. I believed with all my heart and soul that Edward would save me. He wouldn't let me down.
Though he definitely needed to hurry up.
"Well, sweetheart. Your friend here looks a little scared," the freakishly pretty woman next to Sapphire cooed.
I found her freakish because while her beauty rivaled that of Rosalie or Alice, her eyes were blood red and gave her alabaster face a harsh tone. And her hair looked odd with the way it was artificially curled.
A smug smile crept on her lips and I recognized that smile because Sapphire's lips were stretched into the same condescending smirk.
An unpleasant family trade, it seemed.
"Can't we just get it over with?" Sapphire wondered, almost bored. "Just kill her. I am cold and hungry."
"Patience little sister," another woman spoke. I figured this had to be Victoria because she looked like her mother and sister. Her hair was red like Sapphire's and artificially styled like her mother's.
"I have been patient. I want it to end. Kill her and then change me," Sapphire pouted. "Mommy, you promised."
Change me. So that's what it was about. Sapphire wanted to be a vampire. I guess it made sense she had the desire since most of her family was already baring fangs but her reasons were probably shallower than that.
"Your sister is right," Momma Daggett spoke with authority. "We won't rush this. That is not part of what I have planned."
I frowned. There was a plan. What kind of plan? What were they waiting for?
I probably didn't even want to know.
"Besides, it would be rude for Isabella to miss the ending," she smiled darkly as she approached me.
"And surely you don't want to miss the ending, do you Isabella?"
I shivered at her closeness – an appropriate response. Edward would be proud to know I was capable of fearing his kind, though really these…beings were nothing like him and his family. The Cullens were human compared to the animals surrounding me right now.
"Are you afraid?" she whispered.
I didn't answer.
I took a deep breath and her nose brushed against my hairline.
"You don't smell scared. I suppose for you this is quite normal, given your association with the mystic. With vampires."
"My daughter says you are quite plain, but I have to say I disagree."
"Mommy," Sapphire protested. "Stop talking to her."
Her mother didn't listen as she continued to hover around me.
"You may seem a little dullish with your mousy hair and simple posture. But your eyes betray fire and passion. I bet that's why Edward Cullen is taken with you. Clearly it can't be your appearance but perhaps he enjoys your intellect and constant desire to die."
"Although once you die, I am sure he'll find that Sapphire has to offer everything he needs."
"He will be mine," Sapphire assured me.
Of course. The other reason Sapphire wanted to be a vampire was so that she might stand a chance with Edward.
I knew Sapphire and her mother were playing on my insecurities but I wouldn't let her. In fact, the way she spoke and Sapphire beamed at her words couldn't help but spark amusement from me.
Vicious vampire and vicious high school girl. It was all about beauty and looks. About winning. Shallow beings with shallow desires.
Like Edward would ever fall for that.
"I am pretty sure Edward has very little interest in your daughter," I spoke fiercely. "He's not a big fan of her scent and I think her mommy complex will appeal even less."
Sapphire huffed while her mother smiled. "See, I told you she has passion inside her. Spirit."
"You would make for such a nice vampire, Isabella. Too bad Edward didn't have the strength to turn you," Momma Daggett whispered as she stroked my hair.
Change me? Edward and I had spoken about it a few times and Edward had never been completely opposed to the idea but there was nothing set in stone. Besides, I liked being human. I didn't need to be a vampire for the time being.
"Kate?" one of the males spoke. He was tall and broad and reminded me of Emmett. His accent betrayed he was not from around here. Maybe he was Scottish or Irish.
Momma Daggett – well Kate – whirled around to face him. "What is it, Garrett?"
"Are you sure they will be here?"
"Yes, we just need to be patient."
"How much more patient?" the other guy with the blonde pony tail complained – this was probably that James figure who had harmed Angela.
"I am thirsty."
"I am too," Victoria chimed in, while eying me with a hunger that gave me goose bumps.
Kate Daggett sighed and turned back to face me. "Children can be very impatient, don't you think?"
"But I can't have them ruin my party, now can I?"
She moved closer to James and Victoria. "Why don't you go to Grisham Mill. See if our friend Angela has returned yet."
Biting my tongue, I choked back the desire to yell: "NO!" and spill the beans on Angela's current whereabouts by saying they wouldn't find her anyway.
"Garrett, I think you need to check in with my husband."
This Garrett was going to see principal Daggett? Would he come here too?
If he did, what would that mean? And who were "they?"
"You need me to relay a message?"
"No, no," Kate assured him. "He will understand once he sees you."
"Sapphire and I will keep Bella company."
Three of the four vampires left after Kate's dismissal, their movements blindingly fast.
With only mother and daughter Daggett here I wondered if I had a chance to fight them off.
It was probably an illusion to think I would.
"Now, Isabella, why don't we chat for a bit? Where do you plan to go to college next year?"
"Assuming you survive this, of course."
(EMMETT POV)
"They are close. They'll be here soon."
I loved kicking me some butt. I really did.
As I tasted the air on my tongue, I was pleased to find that we were about to have company.
Alice turned to look at me and then Jasper.
"Two vampires," she clarified.
Angela's head snatched up and she looked scared. "They have found me."
"Who?" Jacob wondered as he stood around her protectively.
"James and Victoria."
"No worries, little one," I said gently. "No one is going to harm you."
I liked Angela. She was a more timid version of Bella and Bella was like a little sister whose cheeks you could squeeze while making cooing sounds.
I guess in a way I had always remained a little human. And plenty of childish according to my family.
Humans were awesome sometimes. Their responses were a lot funnier than your basic vampire humor. Assuming some had any humor to begin with. Edward certainly had very little.
I mean, I cared about my brother and his reactions were priceless but Edward was no comedian, unless unintentionally.
In fact he was more of a party pooper and it had sucked when he had ran off on his own because I would have loved to help him kick some ass and find Bella.
So I had grabbed the opportunity and the promise of some action when Jacob Black had shown up at our door and we had convinced Angela to go back to Grisham Mill in hopes it would give us a lead on Bella.
Angela had struggled less than I had imagined. She had been fidgety and anxious but she didn't run. She had even allowed Jacob to guide her around the mill and its area.
The place had looked gloomy and depressing and I'd wondered how Angela would have managed to stay here on her own and not completely loose her mind.
The entire expedition had seemed pointless and without action until Alice's head had shot up and she'd locked knowing eyes with me and Jazz.
The wind stirred the air differently and announced our soon to be here visitors.
Finally some action.
"What are we gonna do?" Jacob wondered. "Wait and see if a big bad leech shows up?"
"They are close," Alice said. "They will show up…"
"You gonna stay human? Or slip into wolf mode?" I asked the bulky boy in front me. He may have smelled strange but I liked his tattoos and muscle.
I had seen a couple of wolves a long time ago, back when Edward, Jasper and I had been present when Carlisle had signed the treaty with Ephraim Black. Admittedly, they looked badass. If I wasn't already a vampire I would definitely want to be a wolf.
"I am not sure," Jacob said hesitantly. "I don't know what will protect her better."
"Clearly staying human won't be an advantage," Jasper intervened, while Angela clung to Jacob.
"But maybe your human form is more soothing to Angela," he added.
"Jacob, whatever you do, you better decide quickly, because they are here in approximately 30 seconds," Alice intervened.
We all crouched close to one another, hiding Jacob and Angela from view.
It was two against three; surely we would be able to kick some ass without their help.
"I think we'll be able to handle them on our own," I boasted.
We all zeroed in on a bunch of trees that surrounded the open field of the mill. Their branches were swaying like a welcome greeting.
Listening closely, there were light but determined footsteps.
I grinned to myself. "Boys and girls; it's show time!"
(EDWARD POV)
It was after 7.00 PM. I knew because I had checked the clock on Daggett's desk every few minutes. Bella had been missing for hours and it felt like I was running out of time.
Like I was fighting a broken hour glass that had the sand slip through much faster than I could handle.
Where the hell was Daggett and why had he not arrived home yet? How much longer did I have to wait? This was time consuming and it was time I didn't have.
I pulled out my phone and tried to check in with Alice but her phone went straight to voicemail.
I knew that if she had something to share she would contact me, even if I had acted like a jerk before.
I rifled through the files on his desk, paced around the room until finally –finally – the headlights of a car reflected in yellow-silver beams on the wall.
Daggett was home.
I waited casually –though internally I was ready to rip him apart – until I heard footsteps on the gravel path outside and the unlocking of the front door.
I could hear him walk in, his shoes squeaking on the wooden floor. The click of locking the front door behind him. The soft padding of footsteps going up the stairs.
They echoed every second I had to lose.
I turned to the window and looked outside, acting like it was completely normal to be in Daggett's office with him about to step in.
When he did, I expected some kind of physical reaction, some sort of shock.
But his heart remained steady and there was no shaky intake of air indicating he was surprised or frightened.
Because he wasn't.
"Edward Cullen. I have been expecting you."
A/N: This story will have 2 more regular chapters and an epilogue.
After that I will take a small break to prepare for Volume 2. So the story as a whole is far from over, but some things will be resolved by chapter 50.
My other story Bring on The Wonder has been nominated for the Twinklings Walk of Fame Awards in the Hidden Gem category. It would make me really happy if you voted for it: http:/twinklingswfa(dot)com
- I am very proud to be a part of a New Countdown. Countdown to VDay The Misplaced love Letter: www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6618121/1/
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Check out this blog: angst-thenewfluff(dot)blogspot(dot)com/ if you want recommendations on good angsty stories, inspiring debates on fanfiction and so much more
As always, thanks for all the support. I truly appreciate people sticking with this story!
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