Chapter 12- Piecing together a trick

Bella's pov

I clutched onto Edward's arm tightly in a panic, as I watched his body stiffen and heard the growl that escaped his throat. "Edward, w-what is it?" I asked desperate to know what was going on. He had been acting strange all day, being over cautious (more than normal), looking at everything extra carefully, but also trying to lighten up every conversation we had, it was as though he was hiding something from me, as if something was wrong but he didn't want me to know. I hadn't questioned him over it until now as I didn't want to put any more pressure on Edward than there already was, whatever he was hiding was for my safety. But seeing Edward like he was now, tense and as if he was ready to kill something, made me change my mind, whatever it was I needed to know. I tugged at his arm again, urging him to answer me. "Mike, it's him he's close by, I need you to run, you've got to hide, I'm going to get rid of him, I'll find you when it's over, now go, be quick! I love you Bella!" he said turning to me anger still showing across his beautiful face, as he placed a kiss on my forehead, but it scared me it was a kiss that screamed out panic. It reminded me of the kisses you see in the films, where the couple is saying there last goodbye to each other, knowing that something bad was about to happen.

I didn't have time to hang around though so I told him I loved him too, squeezing his arm tighter again not wanting to let go, but then knowing I had to I turned on my heel and started running round to the back of the school, taking one last look at Edward as I turned the corner I saw him head off into the forest. I quickly made my way through a door that was at the back of the school building and found myself in a disused corridor, out of breath from panic I leant my back against the wall and sunk down to the floor. I was worried about Edward, what if he wasn't strong enough to fight Mike? Would Alice have seen what had just happened? Would the others get there in time? There was too much running through my head, and I felt so useless.

I was sat on the corridor floor, with my hands covering my face, when suddenly I felt someone cold touch my arm. My whole body froze; I knew that coldness was the body heat of a vampire as I had felt it many times before. But I knew it wasn't Edward, the hand was too small and the way they held my arm was stronger than Edward or any of the other Cullens would, although I could also feel they were trying to be careful and not hurt me. I worked up the courage to move my hands and see who the vampire was. When I looked up I jumped as I saw Jessica Stanley stood before me, her blue eyes replaced with red and her skin paler than it had been before. "J-Jessica" I managed to stammer, getting up off the floor. "I'm so sorry Jess, this should never have happened to you" I said moving forward to give her a hug. But she put out her arm and started backing away from me. "Stay away from me Bella, it's too dangerous, I don't want to hurt you" Jessica said dropping her head in shame. I suddenly understood, it would be very difficult for Jess right now to not bite me. I could tell by her eyes she had been surviving on a diet of humans, but I could see that it had affected her and she didn't like what she had become.

"I know everything Bella, you don't need to be sorry, and it's not your fault if I had listened to you I wouldn't have been silly enough to run off with Mike. He's evil Bella, and I hate what he has made me. I'm a murderer, you're lucky you have Edward and his family of vegetarian vampires. I don't know how they do it, we have been watching them, I wish I could behave like them and learn some control but Mike won't allow it, he says I'm his property and I am to do what I'm told. But I can't let him hurt you Bella, that's why I have come to help you and make sure you're safe." She said clearly upset. I sighed glad to hear she wanted to help and not to kill me. I believed everything she said, she seemed so ashamed of what she was and the way she spoke to me was from the heart. Jess had lost the bounciness and the lust for popularity she used to have and now seemed depressed and reserved.

"Where are we going to go? What about Edward I can't just leave him?" I said, my thoughts returning to Edward fighting Mike alone. "We can go back to your house Bella, Charlie is at work so it will be safer. Edward will be fine Bella, I need you to focus on going back to your house though Bella, so that Alice see's where we are going and can come and take you somewhere away from all of this, until it's over. Alice can't see my future because she only knows me as a human and not as a vampire, whatever she see's will not be clear enough, but she knows you well Bella, and once she see's you heading back to the house she'll understand what's happened and send the others to help Edward", Mike and his mate had definatly been keeping an eye on the Cullens if Jess knew this much. She started ushering me out of the school building and back into the parking lot (it was then I was glad that the rest of the school were in lessons, as she was meant to be missing). Jess had a car here and told me to get in quick, I didn't argue because I couldn't come up with anything better. The car was new and probably stolen, but was quick, so I didn't mind right now.

We were speeding down the road in no time and before long we had arrived at my house. Jess hurried me inside and told me to go upstairs and wait for her. It was strange taking orders from Jessica Stanley in my own home but she seemed pretty sure of her plan so I agreed. I made my way up stairs while Jess locked all the doors downstairs (not that it would be much of a barricade for a vampire), I made it to the top and opened my bedroom door, when suddenly I heard Jess scream "Bella no, don't, there's a…", I didn't hear the rest as I was pushed back against my wall, and a hand was wrapped around my neck. I looked up to see a man with long blonde hair tied back into a pony tail, he was wearing a black leather jacket with his bare chest showing through the middle of the coat. He was extremely pale and had completely black eyes. I gasped as I realised I was face to face with another vampire.

Jessica Stanley came crashing through the door in seconds, "Bella, I'm so sorry, this was never meant to happen I thought you would have been safe" she said to me shaking her head. I just looked back utterly confused, and also too worried about the vampire who had his extremely strong hands around my frail neck to think straight. "James how could you do this, you tricked me James you had this planned all along didn't you? ..answer me! Jess yelled trying to pull his arm away from me. "Of course it was planned, why do you think Mike asked me to create you, Bella here would never have trusted a stranger" he laughed flinging Jess away from him in one swift movement. I suddenly understood what was going on and could only let out a whimper as James threw me on to my bed. "Now stay here, while I go and let Mike know the good news" James said glaring at both me and Jess. He walked out of the room shutting the door behind him, a couple of seconds later I could hear him talking on the phone downstairs.

I looked over at Jess who was still apologizing quietly over and over. "Jess it's not your fault, you weren't to know I'm just sorry you got dragged into this mess, I just don't understand why Mike wants me so bad?" I said trying to understand and make Jess feel better. She looked up at me "Mike wants you so much because he's never not got his own way before, you're the one thing he can't have, and he'll do anything to get it. He has powers of persuasion Bella, if you look him in the eye he can make you do anything he wants you to, it's a big advantage". She explained. "So what about James where does he come into all of this, why is he so insistent on helping Newton?" I asked trying to work it all out in my head. "I'm not 100% sure but when James tells Mike his creation story sometimes, he says that he found Mike changing in the middle of a clearance one night, he said that he could have finished him off then and there but when he heard Mike calling out a girl's name he was interested in why he wanted her so bad. You see James is a tracker he hunts for a game, and when he came across Mike who was desperate for you it became his biggest game yet and will do anything he can to hunt you just for satisfaction, and that's when James turned me as well.

Mike cornered me as I was getting out of my car, he looked different but like he had grown up he was better looking than before and truthfully I was pleased he was paying me attention rather than you for once" at this point Jess looked up guiltily before continuing "I was pleased to see Mike safe so I agreed to go to Portland with him if he promised he was coming back for good. I got into his car and he started driving, it wasn't long until I realised that we weren't going the right way, it was then when he drove into the woods and dragged me out of the car. I screamed for someone to help but only James showed up. He bit me and before I knew it I was writhing around on the floor in pain" she said wincing as she recalled her transformation "the rest of the time I was told lies, and had to listen to their plan to get you Bella, they have thought everything through, but now I'm confused Bella I didn't know they were going to use me" she said honestly, moving herself to sit next to me.

Suddenly James was stood back at the door laughing. "Well Jess, quite the story teller aren't we, but now Bella is well informed I think it's time we left, Mike is ready for her" he said grinning across the room at me. I shivered at the thought of what was about to happen, but then panic suddenly ripped through me "Edward!" I cried out loud. "Ah lover boy I wondered when you would ask about him, mike said to tell you he fought bravely but he just wasn't strong enough" James answered pulling me over his shoulder. I was frozen and couldn't even bring myself to resist the blonde vampires hold. What did that mean? Was Edward dead? Or had Mike just got away? I couldn't think straight, if anything had happened to my Edward I didn't want to live anymore, I couldn't go through all the hurt again.

James had carried me downstairs in a few seconds and we were out in the open air in no time. Jess was following close behind. James headed for the forest and dodged the trees with ease as he ran; he wasn't as fast as Edward but everything blurred as we passed. I closed my eyes shut, starting to feel dizzy with all the worry and panic as well as the speed, I hoped Alice could see what was happening, and prayed Edward was alright and Mike had been joking. We had been travelling for about 10 minutes when suddenly we came to a halt. I dared to open my eyes, expecting to see Mike stood before me but instead we were deep in the forest, no one else was here. James growled and took a swipe at a nearby tree. I flinched as I saw the marks he left and it was only then I realised Jess was gone. I didn't have a clue when she had stopped following us as my eyes had been shut, but I could only hope that she was going to get help, as James had started to run again and I had a feeling it wouldn't be long until I came face to face with Newton.

A/N: Thanks so much to those of you who have read and added this story to your favorites or signed up for alerts. It made me smile when I saw people had. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review :D this fan fic can also be read on .com and .