Chapter Fifty Five

Bella

From their stories of Peter's antics when the others returned it sounded like they had enjoyed their weekend almost as much as we had ours although I doubted the instructor James would agree. Maybe next time we should go along, it sounded like fun.

The last of the horses arrived the following week including a mare in foal who delivered a few days later. The tiny foal was so beautiful with large brown eyes and huge eyelashes. We called her Angel for her eyes and her lovely gold coat and white mane.

If the guy's plans came to fruition there would be more foals although I know they both favoured the two stallions they had bought to ride as well as to sire more horses. Peter's was a pure white except for a black patch on its chest and he called him Diablo although he seemed placid enough to me, for a stallion anyhow but what did I know? Jasper's mount was a Morgan he named Figure in honour of the sire of the very first of the breed.

"I rode one of these during the war named Hurricane. He was fast but boy he could turn on a dime and fight like a warrior."

Jasper very rarely talked about his days as a human or his part in the civil war and it was nice to hear just a little of his history.

The guys finally persuaded Rose and me to learn to ride but very reluctantly. For some reason the horses looked huge and very strong but once I became confident I wasn't going to make a complete horses ass of myself and fall off I began to enjoy it and soon the six of us were going on long rides into the foothills at weekends to a remote creek where we would swim and have monster water fights. Life was good and I guess we began to fall into a routine like any family.

I suppose we should have known that it was too good to last, when had things ever run smoothly for any of us? The first hint of trouble was a letter from Volterra which Emmett picked up on his way back from the feed store.

As soon as I saw his expression I knew it was bad news and he handed me the heavy cream envelope with it's beautiful italic written address without comment. By the time I had slit the envelope open the others had all materialized as if drawn like magnets.

I read it out loud.

Dearest Isabella,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to inform you that Alice Cullen is no longer in Volterra as per our agreement. We were not aware of her intentions beforehand or we would, of course, encouraged her to stay within the safety of the citadel. As of this moment, we have no idea of her whereabouts or any destination she may have in mind but if we should come into possession of any information I will, of course, pass it on immediately.

Yours

Aro Volturi.

So Alice was on the loose again!

Peter swore loudly and threw himself down on the sofa while Jasper stared silently out of the window. Rose sighed.

"This means trouble. Alice wouldn't have left Volterra unless she had a plan and whatever it might be you can bet it won't mean anything good for us. Anyone have any ideas?"

None of us did, she wasn't going to do anything predictable that was for sure but Jasper and I decided to visit Carlisle anyhow and see if he knew anything. Whether he would speak to us was a moot point but we should at least try.

Em and Rose offered to accompany us but I thought to go in mob-handed wouldn't be a good idea, he was more likely to speak to us if we didn't appear to be looking for trouble. Instead, they would keep an eye on Peter who was far too quiet for my liking. I could just imagine him turning up on Carlisle's doorstep with a blowtorch and big grin on his face looking for answers.

Jasper

I wasn't sure that approaching Carlisle head-on was a good idea but Bella still held him in some regard and refused to sneak around behind his back or threaten him which is what Peter proposed to me on the quiet. We knew he was still in the Seattle area although he had understandably moved from the house where Esme ended her life.

His new house was way out in the woods a few miles from the outskirts of the city, an old-fashioned comfortable looking house although with a slightly neglected look.

As we approached down the long winding track to the house, reminiscent of the house in Forks, I suddenly pulled up. Bella looking about quizzically was about to question me then stopped, mouth open and sniffed the air, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"Edward! Carlisle has Edward living here with him?"

"It would seem so. Do you still want to knock on the front door politely?"

She mused on this for a few seconds then nodded.

"Yes. We go in as if we don't know Edward is here. I'll shield your thoughts from him so he won't know we know about his presence."

"He's sure to know we'd have scented Edward."

She shrugged,

"Let him. He won't know for sure. Maybe he's hoping all this fresh air will blow Edward's scent away."

I drove up to the front of the house and we got out as Carlisle came down the porch steps to greet us by our car.

"Bella, Jasper. It's been a long time. How can I help you? Only I'm going to work in a few minutes and I can't be late, it's my surgery day.

Even I could tell he was nervous but I pretended not to notice.

"We just wanted to ask you if you'd seen Alice?"

He looked genuinely surprised by the question.

"Alice? I thought she was in Volterra."

"So did we, but Aro informs us this is no longer the case. I just thought she might have contacted you."

"I see. No, I haven't heard from her."

"And Edward?"

"No, I haven't heard from him either. I can't imagine him coming here with the possibility of you dropping in at any time."

"I'm sorry we didn't ring first, it was a spur of the moment thing. Well, thank you anyway."

Bella climbed back into the car ready to leave but I stood looking at him.

"I'd hate for you and me to be on opposite sides of the fence, Carlisle."

"I see no reason why we should be, Jasper."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that, Carlisle."

I got back in and reversed the car out of sight before turning and making for the main road.

"Now what?"

"Pull in off the road, Jazz. I want to see what happens next."

Edward

I listened in as Bella, then Jasper spoke to Carlisle about Alice. So that's why they had turned up here after all this time. I couldn't hear Bella's thoughts but then again I'd never been able to see in her head. The slightly more worrying thing was that I could no longer read Jasper's thoughts either. Now, was that because he was mated to her or was she deliberately shielding him? If it were the former that was one thing, if it were the latter it was more worrying because it might mean that they were aware I was here.

I waited nervously for Carlisle to come back into the house.

"Do you think they know I'm here, Carlisle?"

"What did you hear, Edward?"

"Nothing, was she shielding him or was it just that they are so close it spills over into him? Should we go? Do you think I'm in danger?"

"No, Edward, they might be watching for that. Stay here and keep quiet, stay out of sight and I'll be back in a few hours."

"Do you have to go? I don't feel safe here alone."

"Yes, I do. I told you I have obligations to my patients. But while I'm away I'll see if I can find out anything about Alice's departure from Volterra."

I stared at him uncomprehendingly, Alice?

"Alice has left Volterra? Why would she do that? Where do you think she'll go? Do you think she has a plan? You don't think she'll turn up here do you?"

"Edward, whatever Alice has planned I know nothing about it but if she were to contact me I would do all in my power to aid her."

He put his arm on my shoulder and I patted it aware he was trying to comfort me while I, in turn, was feeling sorry for him although I thought he had lost the plot when it came to my sister.

"I'm sorry for all that you've lost Carlisle but you do realize Alice is at least partly to blame? You should steer clear of her. If she turns up here and Bella gets even an inkling it will put us both in danger."

He shook his head, blind to the faults of others as usual.

"No, Edward. Much as I would like to blame someone else this was all Esme's doing. I'd give anything to have my family back but that will never be. Anyway, I have to go now, son."

Carlisle

I drove slowly up the drive so that if Bella and Jasper had held back they could see I was alone then went straight to the hospital, parking in my marked bay, and making straight for my office. I hadn't seen anyone tailing me but that didn't necessarily mean they weren't, Jasper was very skilful at such things. I just hoped they wouldn't stay at the house or if they did then Edward would be careful and stay out of sight. I couldn't lose him too, if I did then I may as well kill myself as my life would mean nothing then.

It was more than three hours later that I finally found enough free time and privacy to phone Italy and I was lucky to find a contact willing and able to talk to me.

"Carlisle? There's been a lot of talk here in Volterra recently. I was shocked to hear about Esme. How are you old friend?"

I said as little as possible, it was still far too painful, and quickly turned the subject to that which interested me, Alice.

"Alice? Oh yes, that's quite a talking point here too. It appears she went missing about a week ago, no note and not a word to anyone. It's a puzzle because everyone knew she had begged the Volturi for sanctuary. Aro was quite angry, he felt she was making him look a fool for taking his offer of help and then running off without a word of explanation or even a note.

I think he sent word to the Major about her disappearance and now we're all waiting for the fireworks to start. There are two schools of thought, one, that she'll try to come home to you, or two, that she's up to something and that something involves revenge on the girl and her ex-husband. Personally, my money is on revenge. Alice was very angry about Bella and Jasper Whitlock. Do you know the real story? There are plenty of rumours floating about but Aro was very tight-lipped about the whole thing and no one really knows the truth."

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss it Ralph, but I would appreciate any information you might gather."

He sounded a little disappointed but I was not about to air my dirty laundry in public, not even to him.

"Oh well. If I hear anything I'll get word to you, Carlisle. It was nice to hear from you again even if you did have an ulterior motive."

Bella

Well, Carlisle hadn't taken Edward with him in the car unless he was hidden in the trunk and somehow I didn't see that. Edward wouldn't feel safe trapped in such a confined space with us sniffing around. That meant he was probably still in the house and presumably looking out for our return.

"Do you want to go back for him?" Jasper asked me.

I shook my head.

"We know where he is and he knows I'm not likely to start trouble at Carlisle's place. Alice is our more immediate problem, I'm sure she's up to something and we need to locate her as quickly as we can."

"Do you have any idea what she might do?"

He shrugged.

"Knowing Alice it could be anything but I think she'll be focused on you. She always blamed you for our break up and she's convinced you are the reason her family fell apart. Alice never takes responsibility for her actions if they result in problems."

"So, how is she going to hurt me? Especially as I'm now a vampire too."

"I have no idea but it will be clever, she's cunning so it won't be readily apparent. You need to be careful and stay with us, or at least some of us, at all times."

At this point, we decided to go home and talk to the others. After all, if Alice was out for revenge it wasn't just us involved, they might well be in danger too.