Chapter 14: Rescuing Love

A/N: I am so so sorry…I have not updated in ages. I have not been able to concentrate on writing since I have been changing my mind over and over again about how I wanted Bella, Edward and Alice to act…And finally I finished with this chapter. Hope you enjoy reading it.

EPOV

My heart was straining and I was nearly gasping (if it is possible for a vampire to experience breathing difficulties!) when I managed to find Alice.

"Are you okay, Edward? Is it Bella?"

"Have you not had any visions of her yet? She is shutting me out Alice. Her phone is switched off…She doesn't…doesn't want me…"

"You are over-reacting and jumping to conclusions. May be her battery died out after she fell asleep. You will see her tomorrow and everything will be fine."

"I am not so sure Alice…I should have told her that we won't be in school today."

"The vision about Bella in our house and studying with you is still solid…so you should just relax."

"I am running home…you can take the car with the others." I did not wait for her to reply and took off running. I had hurt the one person who meant the world to me…I was an eternally damned creature…For the first time in this long 'life' I wished that I could cry…I ran directly to my piano and sat on the bench, fingering random keys…and before I realized I was playing a new tune…not a lullaby but a music that was filled with love and affection and sorrow…sorrow that we were not together…I retreated to my room once I realized that my family was nearly home. I was not in a mood to face any of them. The only person I wanted to see now was my Bella. I vowed to myself that I shall not repeat the mistakes that I had committed in the brief phase of love that I had experienced nearly a century back. I shall not leave Bella this time. I will tell her all about myself before I bring her home. I owed her that much. Treaty and secrecy be damned.

Soon, but not soon enough, it was time to head to school. I changed into a fresh set of clothes and was in my car, waiting for my family to join me. All their thoughts were about me…they were worried for my sanity. I shut them out, not wanting to hear their sympathy or words of fake assurance…

My eyes frantically searched for Bella's car the second the school parking came into my sight. No…no where to be seen. Bella was very punctual and she arrived at school well before the classes started. I knew then that things were not fine. I parked and was dialing her number before any of my siblings managed to move a micron.

Voicemail box…no Bella. This was not battery trouble…my intuition was right…she was shutting me out. I needed to find her…make her understand, even if that meant breaking into her house.

Alice's vision invaded my thoughts. I could see myself climbing through Bella's window. She was murmuring in her sleep…My hands were reaching out to her…to touch her pale skin…to feel the warmth permeate my cold hands…she was burning up!

Alice's vision ended and her eyes widened in panic.

"Find her and talk to her Edward. Now…"

I didn't need to be told twice…or even once was that matter. I revved up the car and was out of the parking lot in a blink of the eye and was racing towards the house I had seen in Alice's vision. It was just on the edge of the woods and away from most of the civilization in Forks. I parked in the driveway next to Bella's car and looked for the window to her room. There was no noise or thoughts from inside the building, except for the faint beating of a heart…Bella's heart. She was alone in this mansion and…sick. No one knew she was sick. She had told me something about her parents being away for the weekend. May be the maid was not there either. I was climbing up to her window as fast as 'vampirely' possible. Her window was shut but not locked. I made no noise in opening the window and saw her sleeping on her bed…murmuring.

"Edward…" and then a soft sob escaped her lips. My heart was cringing and rejoicing at upon hearing my name fall out through her lips. She was dreaming about me… but she was hurt because of me.

Before I could consciously react, my hands were around her fragile frame, consoling and comforting her. I could not stop myself from placing a soft affectionate kiss on her forehead. Her scent was weak and her heart beat was mild…she was definitely sick. I needed to take her to Carlisle.

"Bella…" I cooed in her ears trying to wake her up.

Another sob…

"Bella…I am here Bella…only for you…please wake up…"

Her eye balls were moving in the sockets and I knew she would come around in a few seconds…Her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes…trying to focus on me.

"Edward…" she whispered consciously for the first time.

"I am here, love…I am here. Its okay…"

She hugged me and stifled…She was running a fever and I had to take her home to Carlisle…I could not take her to the hospital in her state.

"We need to get you to the doctor, Bella. You are burning up."

"No…I am fine."

I groaned internally…she was as stubborn as …her…

"I am only taking you to my father. He is a doctor and will know what to do. I don't want you to get worse."

She whimpered in my arms.

"Bella, where is the house key? I am taking you to my house and Alice can come back later to get you an overnight bag. You are definitely not staying here in this state!"

Realization dawned on her face. "How did you managed to get in? Or find my room? No one else is home to let you in…"

She had to bring up that one topic which I did not want to discuss right now. I would tell her once she feels better. My priority now was to get her medical attention and the only person I would trust her with was Carlisle.

"Later, Bella…I promise"

She meekly nodded her head.

I quickly dialed Carlisle's number.

"Hello, Edward"

"Carlisle, I need you to do me a favor. It is an emergency. I am bringing Bella home. I want you to take a look at her. She is burning up, Carlisle."

"Okay. I will be there in 15min max. Don't get worked up. Just get her home soon." With that he hung up.

I then called Esme.

"Esme…I am bringing Bella home, now. She is sick and I asked Carlisle to come home. Can you whip-up something for her to eat. I am quite sure she has not had anything for a while now."

"Anything for you, Edward. I will be waiting for you to bring her."

Bella was half-asleep in my arms. I needed to find the house key.

"Love, just tell me where the key is."

"My bag…" and she pointed tentatively towards her study table in the corner of her room.

I didn't bother moving at a human pace. I found the key, picked her up in my arms, bridal-style and ran down the stairs to my car. I locked the house and got to the car.

I placed her gently in the passenger seat and buckled her in.

I got into the driver's side and started the car. I was taking Bella home…