Chapter Four

Jasper's POV

I storm into the house to find the children. The moment I open the playroom door, I am attacked by Christine and she clings to me. I hold my girl close to me, knowing she saw what happened just seconds ago. Manny and Christian remain at the window with angry looks on their faces. I let Christine go to get Annabelle, since she is crying so hard her little chubby face is all red.

"It is okay, sweetheart, papa is here," I say to my baby girl.

"What are we going to do, papa?" Christian asks.

"We pack your things and I am taking you to your grandparents for a bit," I say.

"No, I want to go with you! I am old enough to go and get mama back!" Manny says. I smile when I see Marinna in our oldest and her quick temper.

"Emanuel, we will talk about it later. Help you siblings pack while I go to call Meme," I say. Manny nods and goes to get their suitcases. I kiss Annabelle's curly hair and walk to the living room to get the home phone. My frozen heart breaks as I think about Marinna and what could be happening to her. I press one on the phone to speed dial Carlisle and Esme.

"Hello?" Esme answers the phone.

"Esme, I need your help," I say. Annabelle sniffles and babbles a bit.

"Is everything alright?" Esme asks quickly.

"Marinna has been kidnapped by Aro and I am bringing the children to your house. I am not sure what I should do, Esme," I say, my voice breaking a bit.

"Jasper, it is okay. I will let Carlisle know and have Emmett come over to help you get the kids ready. Keep the children calm and you need to remain calm. I am sure Manny is beyond angry right now," Esme says. I smile and look at my little Annabelle. Her beautiful baby blue eyes sparkle as she looks at me with a big smile. I smile at her and imagine Marinna holding her and smiling with her. "Jasper, she is not gone for good. I am sure Marcus is going to keep her safe."

"Marcus was the pawn Aro used to lower her guard," I say softly.

"Dear me, Jasper," Esme gasps a little. "Emmett is on his way and I am waiting for you. I will make something for the children to eat."

"Thank you, Esme," I say. We hang up and Annabelle grabs the phone to put it to her ear.

"Meme," Annabelle babbles. I smile and kiss her chubby cheek. "Mama, Meme."

"Mama will be home soon, my sweet Belle," I say softly. Annabelle drops the phone on the couch and pats my cheek just like her mama does when I worry. Christine comes in holding her old doll and her music book. She has tears falling down her face and she sniffles a bit.

"Will mama come home safely?" Christine asks. I kneel down with my other arm open for her. She runs into my arms and she cries a little.

"Yes, mama will be home and she will be okay," I say. The doorbell rings and Christine jumps a little. I take her hand to open the door to see Emmett standing at the door with anger in his whole body. He reaches down for Christine and he holds his niece close to him.

"I am sorry," Emmett says. I shake my head, moving to the side to let him inside. Manny comes down with their bags, his face is stern like Marinna's when she is thinking. Christian comes down the stairs holding Ethan's hand and the two of them are talking about the fun things they can do at Carlisle and Esme's house.

"Christian, go with Uncle Emmett to the car and buckle your brother and sister in. Wait for me and Manny there," I say. Christian grabs the keys and their bags, before following Emmett to the garage. Manny puts his backpack on silently and I put Annabelle down for a moment. "Emanuel, look at me."

"Yes, papa?" Manny asks. He looks at me with eyes full of so much emotion, he was about to break at some point.

"Listen very carefully, you are the big brother and your job is to keep your brothers and sisters safe. I want you to remember that because you are going to have to keep an eye on them. I know you want to go and save mama, but we need you to take care of your younger siblings. You know the emergency plan, yes?" I say.

"Yes, mama put it in a notebook for me," Manny says. Annabelle babbles and crawls over to her older brother. Manny picks her up with a big smile. "I will keep them safe, papa."

"That is my little soldier," I say with a big smile. We get the rest of the bags to take them to the car. I stop to look around the house once more, not knowing how long we will be gone from here now. Marinna's voice echoes silently in my head, her calling for dinner or calling to the kids to stop running. My heart aches a bit, making me close the door and lock the door to activate the security system. I will get my wife back no matter how long it takes.

Esme hugs me when we walk up to the front door. I smile while giving her a hug back. The children into the house happily, but Manny walks up behind me slowly while holding Annabelle. Esme looks at the upset boy and smiles at him.

"So much like his mother," Esme says with a small laugh. Manny smiles a bit and goes inside. Annabelle waves to her grandmother and babbles to Manny about something. Carlisle is upstairs in the library waiting for me. I walk into the room to see that he has Edward, Bella and Alice.

"Where is Matthew?" I ask quickly. Alice points outside where Matthew was standing along the tree line with a stiff back. "Has anyone told Jacob or Sam?"

"No, I want them to stay out of it," Carlisle says. Emmett walks into the room with Annabelle glued to him. Everyone smiles at a big guy carrying a little girl. Emmett ignores them and he sits next to Edward. "Now, I need you to tell us what Aro said to you."

"He said he would take care of Marinna and he wants Matthew and Alice at their castle in one week. He has some kind of plan for Marinna since she has shown potential with her gift and...breeding," I cringe at the last part.

"You don't mean that he is," Bella stops before going on. I sit at the end of the table and cover my face with my hands.

"No, he would do something to her knowing she is Marcus' daughter and part of our family," Carlisle says.

"He has been after Alice for years now, but why Matthew too?" Emmett asks. Annabelle claps her hands on the table and I look at her happy face. She looks at me for approval and we share a big smile with each other. The door opens to let Matthew in and his eyes are red rimmed from lack of sleep. With Billy's funeral and now Marinna's kidnap, he is not doing so well.

"He wants to make more of us? More of things like me and Marinna? He has no idea what he is asking for," Matthew says. He walks out of the room into the living room. Alice goes after him to calm him down.

"I am not sure what he wants exactly with Matthew, but we need to find out a way to get Marinna back without giving him Alice and Matthew," Edward says. Annabelle coos and she crawls over Edward's lap to get to Bella. My little girl is a distraction right now for me and I am unable to keep my eyes off of her. Her baby blue eyes glitter as she smiles at Bella. I think about Marinna again, her laugh and her beautiful smile. Annabelle giggles just her mama and I smile a little.

"Jasper, we will get her back. So stop thinking about her as if she is gone for good," Edward says, pulling me from my thoughts. I look at him with the sadness still sitting in my mind.

"I just want her back home and in my arms alive and safe," I say. Edward smiles and nods head, knowing exactly how I am feeling.