Fated
Chapter 11
A/N: Chapter 11 became too large so I split it into 2 chapters. I am posting Chapter 11 now and will post Chapter 12 tomorrow, Sunday.
Please excuse any mistakes. I have been too excited about getting my chapters up and am placing them up before StormyMonday gets a chance to review them so please know all mistakes are mine!
I hope everyone enjoys! Thank you all for your wonderful, encouraging comments!
After Edward dropped me off at home, I slept on my couch for several hours. I sit up on my couch, rubbing my eyes. My migraine is gone and I feel energized from my long nap.
"How are you feeling, Bella?" I turn toward the kitchen and spot Alice sitting at the island.
"Oh, Hi, Alice. I had forgotten you were staying here. I'm feeling much better now. Do you really think it's necessary for you guys to have to keep watch over me all the time? I'm sure you all have much better things to do."
"I was just on the phone with Edward telling him that I don't think you are in any danger any longer. If that Original was still after you, he would have made another move by now. Edward probably scared him off."
"Good. I hope Edward agreed with you?"
"Yes. He did, Bella. You don't have to be watched anymore."
"Thank goodness. I was beginning to think Edward was going to babysit me my entire life." Alice and I laugh.
Alice pulls out her cell phone and punches in numbers. "I told Edward I would call him when you woke up. He wants to come over and see if you or I can pick up on any visions of where the vampire coven is by using a map. I told him I've never done it before but it's worth a try."
"I'd love to try it. Tell him to come on over," I say.
"Hi, Edward. Bella is awake. She said to come on over. Okay. Bye."
"He's on his way now. You're doing really well with your abilities, Bella. You're a natural at it," Alice says.
"What I was able to do with Edward touching me was amazing. Do other psychics who mate with dragons get special abilities too?"
"There are not that many dragons in existence to have much information about them, but there are rumors that dragons can amplify and even create new abilities in their psychic mates, what those new abilities are there is no information about. I think you are going to find you can do some amazing things as your abilities grow and your connection to Edward solidifies."
Three knocks at the door interrupt our conversation. I trot to the door and throw it open. Edward, gorgeous as ever, is on the other side. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him as he wraps his arms around me.
"How are you feeling?" His voice is soft and sexy. His warm breath caresses by my ear. I let go of Edward and look him in the eyes.
"I'm doing good. I recuperated much faster than last time."
"Good," Edward smiles.
"Come on in." We walk into the kitchen and Edward unfolds a large map and sets it down upon the kitchen island. He, Alice and I lean over it. Alice and I listen as Edward talks.
"All these areas I marked in red are bars along the river. As you can see, there are quite a few of them. If we have to, we'll go to every bar and look for the bikers, but that's going to take days. If either of you can receive a vision on which bar they are at or even an area, that would cut down on our time searching for them."
"I want to try but I have no idea what to do," I say.
"First take a few deep breaths and try to clear your mind," Alice says. I close my eyes and take several slow deep breaths, emptying my mind of all thoughts. I open my eyes and look at Alice for further instructions. "Try placing your hand on the map, palm facing down, and see if you get any visions," Alice instructs. I place my palm on the map and close my eyes once again trying to receive visions for over a minute. Then I open my eyes.
"I'm not getting anything. Can I try holding the matchstick while I touch the map?" I say.
"Sure." Alice pulls a little case out of her jeans pocket, opens it up and takes out the matchstick. She hands it to me. I keep it in my left hand while keeping my right palm pressed against the map. I still receive nothing.
"Nothing," I say.
"Do you want me to touch you, Bella? To see if that helps?" Edward asks.
"Yes. Let's try that," I say and Edward places his hand on my shoulder. I still receive nothing.
"I'm sorry I'm just not getting anything," I sigh, disappointed.
"It's okay, Bella. You can't expect to receive visions every time you try. I'll give it a go now and see if I can get anything," Alice says. Alice places her palm flat on the map and closes her eyes. After a minute or two, she moves her hand above the map and holds it in the air, staying silent. Finally, she looks up.
"Doesn't look like I'm getting anything either. Sorry Edward," Alice says.
"It was a long shot. Thank you both for trying. I guess we are just going to have to go there and search every single bar that's on the Hudson River. It will take days but we have no other choice," Edward says.
"When do you want to leave," Alice asks.
"Let's leave first thing in the morning. The quicker we get there, the quicker we get home."
"Sounds good," Alice tells Edward.
Edward turns toward me. "Sorry. It looks like I'm off again for a few days."
I frown. "I wish I could have helped." A thought enters my mind and I perk up, excited. "I could go with you two and see if I receive any..."
"Absolutely not!" Edward's voice cuts in, stern and authoritative. "That's too dangerous. It's out of the question!"
"I was able to help when we went to PA. I may be able to pick up visions if I go with you tomorrow!"
"That was different, Bella. We knew the coven was no longer in PA so I thought there was no danger and look what happened anyway. A vampire picked up on your scent. There is no way you are going to go anywhere near a vampire nest. I forbid it."
I really dislike when he gets in his authoritative, bossy mode. There is just no reasoning with him when he's like this. I take a deep breath, square up my shoulders, and stare defiantly into Edward's eyes, preparing myself to do battle. Edward stares back at me, determination set on his face.
"You forbid it? What makes you think..." I start to say.
We hear a knock at the door. I sigh and relax my body and walk over and open the door. Charlie is standing on the other side.
"Hi, Bella. I was in the area and thought I would stop in for a quick visit."
"Hi, dad! It's so good to see you." I step aside, allowing Charlie to enter and then hug him. Together we walk over to the kitchen. "You remember Edward." I don't realize I'm still giving Edward a dirty look until I see him raise his eyebrows at me.
"Hello, sir," Edward says as he shakes Charlies hand.
"Hello, Edward. Nice to see you again."
"This is Edward's partner, Alice," I say as I gesture toward Alice. She steps up and shakes Charlie's hand.
"Hello, Mr. Swan. It's so nice to meet you," Alice says.
"Please. Call me Charlie," Charlie says and then notices the map on the island.
"Is someone trying to find somewhere?" Charlie asks as he leans over the map, looking at the area of Athens where Edward placed red marks. Charlie can never see a map and leave it alone. He thinks he's the world's authority on giving directions. Unfortunately, Charlie has never given me a direction somewhere that has not ended in my getting lost. I joke with Patty and tell her if Charlie ever gives her directions, she can get where she needs to go by going in the opposite direction as Charlie says.
"We're mapping the area of an investigation we're working on. Trying to find a biker gang in Athens in a bar near the river," Edward tells him.
"Oh Yeah? A biker gang you say? I've got some friends on the Athens PD. I can give them a call and see if they can steer you in the correct direction," Charlie tells Edward and Alice.
"That would be great if you could get any information for us, Charlie," Edward says.
"Bella, Could you draw your father a picture of that symbol we were looking at?" Alice says. I go into the living room and pull a notebook and pen out of my backpack. I rip off a piece of paper and draw the half circle and a line underneath it and take the paper into the kitchen and hand it to Charlie.
"At least one of the gang has that symbol tattooed on their finger," I tell Charlie. He looks at it for a moment and then folds it up and sticks it in the front pocket of his flannel shirt.
"I'll fax it over to my buddies and see if they know of anyone with that tattoo and ask about biker gangs in the area," Charlie says to Edward and Alice.
"That would be a great help. Thank you, Charlie," Alice says.
Charlie then turns to look at me. "I had no idea you were interested in police business, Bella. I have so many stories to tell you," Charlie says. I open my mouth while thinking of an excuse to tell him for why I don't want to hear his cop stories when I see a tormentive smile cross Charlie's face. I smirk back at him.
"I'm going to head home and will call my buddies then and will get back to you sometime tonight," Charlie says to Edward and Alice. He gives me a hug and shakes Edward's hand and shakes Alice's hand. "Let me know when you can come over for a Sunday dinner, Bella. It's been awhile."
"I will dad. Soon, I promise." Dad's Sunday dinners are always spaghetti because that's all he can make. It's been so long since I've had a Sunday dinner with Charlie I actually miss his spaghetti and microwaved frozen meatballs.
Charlie lets himself out as Edward's phone rings.
'Hello. Where at? Okay, Alice is with me now. We will get right on it." Edward ends his call and turns to Alice and myself. "We have another body. This one was found in a cemetery. They think it was there from last night. I told captain we would get right on it," Edward says to Alice.
"Right. We best get going then. See you later, Bella."
"Bye, Alice," I say.
Edward turns to me. "We may be awhile. Captain is getting frustrated and wants answers. We have to try to track the killer again. I may not see you tonight. Will you do me a favor and text me when you get home from the bar so I know you made it home alright?" Edward asks as he places his hands on my hips, looking into my eyes.
"Sure. I will text you as soon as I get in and don't worry, I'm not going to drink too much."
"I hope not. I know you like to party once in a while but you really need to keep your senses about you in this city, especially when I'm not around."
"I know, Edward. You don't have to worry about me."
Edward leans in and brushes his full, warm lips against mine as his hands slowly slide around my waist. "But then what would I do with all my time," he teases in that soft, sexy voice of his.
"I'm going to wait in the car. You guys take your time saying goodbye. The body isn't going anywhere fast," Alice says as she disappears out the front door.
"She is always so considerate," Edward says as he pulls his lips away from mine momentarily.
"Yes, she is," I reply.
Edward kisses me again. I wrap my arms around his neck as he leans his body in against mine, pushing me up against the kitchen island.
"Bella, I better get going," he says softly. Regrettably.
"Will you call me tomorrow?"
"I will if I don't talk to you tonight. Make sure to text me when you get home. If I'm available, I'll call you then. Bye, Bella. Be good tonight!"
"I will. Be careful." Edward slowly pulls himself away from me and walks out the door.