Chapter X

Arrival

We climbed into Carlisle's Mercedes and got settled in. I sat in front next to Carlisle, Jasper in the back seat. Carlisle, bless him, didn't waste a moment and launched right in. "Bella, Edward wrongly interpreted one of Alice's visions and assumed you were dead."

I gasped, and covered my mouth in disbelief. What was wrong with him, was I supposed to be some sort of one woman crusade?

Carlisle shot a look at me as I gasped, and watched me for a second before going on, "Because the Volturi were involved in your abduction, he refuses to even consider them, so instead he's gone in search of Jasper's old friends; Maria, Nettie and Lucy. Do you remember Jasper's story?" he asked.

I nodded, I couldn't imagine ever forgetting the memory of the history behind Jasper's many scars.

Carlisle continued, "Apparently only Maria survived. Jasper heard from Peter a few months ago, and was told that Maria is now in San Antonio. Edward has gone off to Texas. Alice refused to allow Edward to leave without her, so she's with him, Jasper, I'm sorry." I looked back at Jasper and his face was horrified.

"So what is my foolish fiance's plan to destroy himself this time?" Carlisle gave a tight half smile to me, appealing for patience I assumed. "He believes that if he antagonizes them, they will attack him." I wondered how he could do that, and Jasper voiced the question I was still forming, "He's not wrong, but how does he intend to antagonize them?"

Carlisle looked into the rear view mirror at Jasper for an extended moment, his face concerned. "He's going to use his abilities to block their attempts to kill. When they catch him, they will be frustrated, annoyed and hungry. I feel quite certain that Edward has found a most effective way of accomplishing his own destruction." Jasper nodded, dazed in the back seat.

I looked forward and worked through Carlisle's words. "We need to get to San Antonio." I looked at Carlisle. He nodded in agreement.

"We're going to the hotel so you and Jasper can change, and get cleaned up, and then we're flying to San Antonio. I already have our tickets booked. The Wingate is down the street from Charleston International Bella, don't worry, we'll be leaving right away." He said, recognizing my increasingly exasperated look.

We made it into the hotel and back out again in record time. Esme had packed bags for Jasper and I, so we were well equipped to face Alice, the clothes from our days on the island conveniently left behind in the hotel restroom.

Five hours later, the three of us were pulling out of a car rental place near San Antonio International Airport in a rented car. It was the only one on the lot with tinted windows. It was raining and very cloudy as we drove down the street.

"Do you have any idea where Maria can be found Carlisle?" Jasper asked from the back seat.

"No, and Edward discarded his cell phone keep us from trying to contact him and attempt to dissuade him, but Alice still has hers." Carlisle said, as he pulled a phone out of his pocket, "Alice. Yes, they're with me. Where are you?"

Carlisle was expressionless as he spoke with Alice. "Yes. Of course, yes. Thank you." he said to whatever Alice told him. He reached his hand back to give Jasper the phone. Jasper took it, his eyes round and attentive.

"Alice!" he exhaled in a great sigh of relief. From the former occasions of watching their reunions, I knew them to be very private moments. I didn't imagine their call would be any different, and so turned to Carlisle and spoke with him. "Carlisle, why did Edward think I was dead again? Didn't Alice tell him we were alive?"

Carlisle didn't look away from the road as he replied, "She's been getting very distorted views of what's been going on with the two of you Bella. She's tied so tightly to Jasper that sometimes it interferes with her abilities. Then of course, throughout your illness Jasper was too concerned, and too uncertain about your condition to make any decisions. Her ability works on the basis of the decisions and choices people make, and the effect those choices have on the future. Also as Alice has been seeing things with you, she's been dogged continuously by Edward who was frantic for any news."

Carlisle looked at me a little bemusedly, even with a little pride, "My son has a grave tendency to overreact when it comes to your welfare, Bella. I hope you won't blame him for his reaction, his actions are guided by his love for you, and he relies on yours for him."

Carlisle frowned at the road ahead, "Now that he's aware of what he's missed all those years before you joined our family, he simply can't imagine going on alone. I'd rather not go into it at the moment, but one day I hope to have the opportunity to tell you what those months we disappeared from your life did to him. I know it was devastating for you, I can say with perfect certainty, it was no less so, for him. I'm hopeful Alice will be able to use the end results of that situation to make him see sense on this occasion."

"I'm very proud of him for finding his way through his own arrogance and giving his heart to you, and intensely pleased to have you as part of our family, Bella. As is Esme. I do hope in the future we'll be able to provide you with better protection, though. It would be additionally gratifying to keep Edward from going to extremes." Carlisle smiled tenderly at me, and I couldn't help return the feeling, and the expression. His consideration of me never failed to please me deeply and I blushed. I wasn't sure having me in the family had proven to be much of a benefit, but I was deeply grateful to be a part of it.

"You are worth it, Bella, remember." Jasper's voice over the seats surprised me.

"Thank you." I said to him, smiling even wider.

Jasper leaned forward towards Carlisle's seat, his face grave. "Alice said Edward knew you were coming from what he read in her mind, and they're moving, but Alice was able to see where they're going. It's a large house in the old part of the city, across from the Yellow Rose Hotel..." Jasper sat back, exhaling. "It's where Maria is living."

I turned in my seat to face Jasper, and at the same time Carlisle's eyes went to the rear view mirror again. Jasper's face was crumpled with concern, and worse, fear. Carlisle spoke, compassion clear in his voice, "Jasper, it isn't necessary for you to come with us, if you prefer not to face her."

As the car went through a tunnel, the rain hitting the windshield stopped suddenly, and Jasper became only an outline in the darkness and comparative silence. I saw his head cast down, when he lifted it again, we came out of the tunnel, back into the light, and the rain began hitting the window again. Whatever the expression he'd worn in the darkness may have been, his face was now a mask of resolve.

"Thank you Dad, but I think it is necessary. My brother is trying to kill himself and he might get my wife killed in the process. I'm obligated to help them, I didn't protect Bella all this time only to leave her without Edward. I've put off a confrontation with Maria for long enough. It's time to face my past, so I can guarantee my future."

Carlisle turned to look Jasper in the face, "You may put Alice in graver danger by being there, Jasper. At the moment Maria may not be aware of your relationship to Alice and Edward. If she feels any animosity or resentment towards you, Alice and Edward could end up paying for that. I'm certain they can defend themselves against Maria alone, but Maria has a small, new coven. I'm concerned that our arrival may upset the balance enough to put them into a defensive mindset, which wouldn't be beneficial if there's any need to negotiate with them."

Jasper and Carlisle continued to look into each other's eyes, Jasper opened his mouth to speak, but then looked back down at Carlisle's phone which was still held in his hands. He looked at Carlisle who nodded once, and Jasper answered it.

Jasper began speaking in the way the Cullen's often did, I couldn't possibly hope to keep up, so I turned to look at Carlisle. It occurred to me that they'd only been speaking at human speed for me, and my heart swelled slightly as I realized their consideration of me.

The heavy rain pelted down on the windshield making an irregular rhythm. I was still looking at Carlisle when I realized he was speeding up, dramatically. I looked back at Jasper who was still talking, his lips quivering with the speed of their conversation, his eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and his eyes were tight. He stared at the road ahead as though willing it to pass us faster,

I looked at Carlisle who was also frowning deeply. Carlisle shot a quick glance at me. He took a deep breath, "Edward and Alice have arrived at Maria's."