Trust Factor

Chapter 16: There is No Such Thing As Luck

Friday January 23-9:00pm-Medow-Forks Washington

"They're coming. Where's Alice and Jasper?" Edward asked in as low a whisper he could, so low a human could not hear him.

"No one's seen either of them since we went to look for Cleo, whom we never found," Bella reminded them.

"Hold your places," Carlisle said as the Volturi emerged from the forest.

Up front, Marcus Aro and Caius followed by Jane and Alec. In their hands was the blond Rosalie and Bella saw in the airport, Bella Hartley was her name. She didn't look good, limp and almost lifeless in the two vampire's arms.

Aro walked up to the Cullens. Carlisle and Edward stepped forward. Bella C. stayed ready to defend her family if needed.

"I believe you know why we are here," Aro said.

"We in fact do," Carlisle said in a matter-of-factly voice.

"So where is she?" Aro asked turning to Edward, "You know who I'm talking about."

"She's not here," Edward started. "For reasons unknown, she disappeared early this morning. We've looked for her but she is most likely long gone."

Aro walked up to Edward. He took his pale hand in his and closed his eyes. Bella sucked in a quick breath as she waited for him to let go. It took a while, but Aro finally let go and looked Edward in the eye.

"Not only do you not know where the mermaid is, you seem to have lost Alice," Aro reported.

"Yes we have," Carlisle said. "So you can go. There is nothing you want here."

"You don't want Bella here?" Jane asked. She and Alec were holding Bella in place, but she was standing on her own.

"Oh, just give them the girl," Marcus said, "She's useless to us."

Then with Aro's nod, Jane and Alec pushed Bella H. towards the Cullens and left. Bella fell on to her knees in front of them, tears falling from her eyes. Bella C. tried to walk towards her, but she slid back.

"Now what?" Emmett asked.

Friday January 23-10:45pm-somewhere-between Mexico and Washington

Alice drove quickly on the deserted road. Nessie and Cleo were both oddly still awake, Cleo sitting in the back to keep Nessie company. With only a small light to see by, the night would soon take a real toll on the two of them.

"So what are we really doing?" Cleo asked.

"Well when we get there, we will check on your friend," Alice said. "Then we will see what this whole thing is about."

"So you have nothing really," Nessie asked quietly.

Alice looked back at Cleo who pointed over to Nessie and said, "She said it, not me. But that doesn't mean I don't believe it."

"I do have something, thank you very little," Alice said looking back on Cleo and Nessie for a split second. "I just don't want to share the plan. If you ask me, it's not that good."

Cleo sat back and started to watch the scenery go by her window. Not 30 minutes later, both Nessie and Cleo were asleep. Alice stayed put at the wheel, catching small glimpses of the boys riding behind them. It wasn't long till they crossed the border into Mexico. If it wasn't as dark as it was, and they weren't as preoccupied as they were, either Jasper or Alice would have noticed the red eyes watching them they're whole ride to Ash's.

Saturday January 24-7:00am-Ash's house-Mexico

Rikki pulled the blinds closed as the sun began to rise. Looking back at Emma on the couch she turned to Ash, scared written on her face.

"They're still out there," She whispered. "Not all of them, but Zane and that Katie girl are out there. Amelia must be with the others, and Lewis."

"Rikki this is bad," Ash said as if it wasn't obvious. "Her temp. is 35 now, and still getting lower."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Rikki looked up to Zane who just looked down at Emma. It took them a while to get up enough courage to go and open the door.

Outside on the door step, Cleo was standing with Seth close by. Jacob was holding Nessie and standing away from the door. Alice and Jasper were standing a bit more behind them. It took a while of waiting, but finally Rikki opened the door. Her face was paler than normal, and when she saw Cleo, she didn't hesitate to hug her.

"Oh, Cleo, are you ok? Why haven't I been able to reach you? Are you hurt? Who's he?" Rikki asked before she noticed the others in the back. "Who are they?"

"Rikki, can you let me explain?" Cleo asked and Rikki nodded. "This is Seth, and his friend Jacob," She started pointing to the tanner boys. "Jacob is holding Renesmee, and behind them is Alice and Jasper. They were who I'd been staying with, in Washington, US."

Rikki took a closer look at the two furthest in the back. Her eyes widened. She almost wanted to kill Cleo for working with them, until she realized one thing, no one was hurting each other, not even her or Ash, who had just walked up to see who was at the door.

"They can Help, Rikki," Cleo assured her.

Rikki nodded and said, "Please come in."

The six of them walked into the house and into the living room where Emma was lying. Alice took one look down at Emma and knew exactly what had happened to her. Jasper knew too.

"How's she doing," Alice asked in her music like voice pointing down to Emma.

"Not good," Rikki admitted. "Her temperature is dropping quickly, and she is unconscious."

"And she was bitten," Jasper confirmed.

Rikki and Ash nodded.

"You've been staying with Vampires?" Rikki asked in a low whisper that Alice and Jasper caught. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Actually, it is more dangerous to be around Seth and Jacob here than me, Nessie or even Jasper," Alice said was a small smile, "And it would be even more dangerous to be around Cleo or you on a full moon, than the boys."

Rikki looked at here and Cleo stepped in and said, "Yeah, hey did I mention I've also been hanging out with Werewolves. Yeah, until this happened and the Volturi came by things were great."

Saturday January 24-10:00am-Cullen house-Forks, Washington

"Alice, Jasper, Cleo and Nessie are nowhere in sight," Bella C. said as the searched the house.

"There is no note, message or anything about where they could have gone," Rosalie pointed out. "That just isn't like Alice."

"Leah's outside," Edward commented going to open the door.

Leah stood there, tears in her eyes and fear on her face as she said, "Seth and Jacob never came home. Please tell me they're here."