Chapter 4: Portland

[Bella's POV]

I wake up to the sound of Damon's phone playing the 'Yellow Rose of Texas'

I stretch. "How close to Portland are we?"

Damon glances over at me. "We are on the outskirts now."

He answers the phone. "What?"

I hear Peter giving him directions to a specific spot at the airport. "We should be there in ten minutes." Damon hangs up.

"I am going to kick his cryptic ass from one side of Texas to the other."

"You know he just loves to get a rise out of you."

"I know someone else that can get a rise out of me and I don't have to go to Texas for it."

I blush. "Thanks?"

"Sweetness, I'm going to teach you the fine art of flirting."

He pulls into a section of the airport that has a vehicle transport ready to load his Ferrari. "Wow Jasper doesn't mess around, he must like you." She points out.

"I think it's more for your safety and he wants you in Texas as soon as possible."

"Well there's that. Wonder what all this is about?"

"We will find out when we land hopefully. He places his hand on her back leading her to the private jet waiting on the tarmac for them." Jasper is going to great expense to get Bella to Texas. I am starting to worry about the reason.

Forks WA

[Charlie's POV]

I exit the Forks High School Building. I withdrew Bella from school here and had her transcripts transferred to an International Academy. I don't want anyone to track her. It was a close call with the Cullens. I'm not sure how Edward managed to ensnare her. Someone in their family is a mental manipulator; I'm not sure which one.

Damon will be good for her. I see their mutual attraction. He didn't deviate from the truth with the stone. The Cullens never tell the whole truth. Damon caught on quick that Charlotte is the psychic in Jasper's family. Grinning, wonder what Pete's going to do when that's exposed. He laughs, Charlotte will string him up by the short hairs for a few years for exposing her secret; couldn't happen to a better guy.

[Sue Clearwater's POV]

Just as I am leaving the council meeting my phone displays a message from Billy. He has Jacob on house arrest for the moment. I really need to knock some sense into the boy before he offends not only the spirits of our tribe, but the elementals themselves. I walk to the Black's house in the woods. "Jacob we need to talk." Billy asked to sit in on this discussion with his son.

The physical ramifications from grabbing Bella are fading quickly. "Jacob grabbing a woman is considered an act of violence. You also broke the rule about touching another's imprint."

Jacob protests, "Bella isn't someone else's imprint."

"You ignorant young pup; Elemental Leylocks have imprints also. You are going to stay away from Bella. I would give Charlie a wide berth for the time being also, he didn't take kindly to you grabbing Bella."

"What's a Leylock?"

"They are adepts at using Leyline energy. They have an affinity to the Elemental Spirits: Earth, Air, Water, Lightning and Fire. If and when you meet one of their kind you treat them with reverence and respect."

Jacob mutters something under his breath. A rash appears on his hand and forearm; the one that grabbed Bella.

Jacob quit being stubborn. "You will have that rash until you learn not to disregard our warnings. Don't ask me for healing. It is your lesson to learn."

[Alice's POV]

I open up the house. The others will want to return soon. I grab the keys to my car. Bella should be getting out from school soon. I park on the edge of the school property. My car is hidden from the campus view. I watch as the student's leave for the day. Bella's truck isn't in the parking lot. I wait until the teachers leave. Bella may not be feeling well. I'll check Charlie's house.

Bella's red truck is parked outside the house. Bella isn't home. Her scent is fading. I track it back to a cabin in the woods. It has a wet dog scent around the place. The Quileute's have started shifting again, I need to tell Carlisle. This could complicate my plans.

Mystic Falls VA

[Stefan's POV]

I resist the temptation to toss my phone across the room. Damon is not answering. He has blocked his location. Katherine is back wreaking havoc wherever she goes. Bonnie insisted that Damon give blood to Caroline to heal her aneurism. Katherine took advantage of the situation and Caroline is now a newbie vampire. Bonnie is pissed that Caroline is a vampire. She is refusing to make a daylight ring for her.

I finally got Elena to admit that she told Damon that she would always choose me. I found out Katherine told him the same thing an hour before Elena did. After waiting to free her from the tomb for one hundred and forty seven years, to find out she never was in the tomb and then to hear her say that; I understand why he took off. We really need him to be here though. Who knows what Katherine is going to stir up next. I truly hate Katherine.

Forks WA

[Alice's POV]

I look for any decisions being made about Bella. I'm drawing a blank. I decide to see what Charlie knows. His cruiser is parked outside the door. I knock on the front door.

Charlie looks at me quizzically, "What do you want Alice?"

"Can I see Bella please? Our family is unhappy in Rochester and we thinking about moving back to Forks. I would like to discuss it with Bella if she is available."

"Alice, Bella is out of state. She has the opportunity to enroll with an International Academy. They have schools all over the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. She left to explore her options. If you don't mind I want to get back to my dinner." He shuts the door on her.