Connection
EPOV
Victoria would not give us anything. We have used torture, threats, every thing we can think of, but she would not tell us anything. We even threatened James, which did nothing. This process would only repeat itself if we killed him.
Finally, to vent my frustration, I threw my beloved piano through the wall. I also decided to make that hole bigger by punching it to the point where the house would have collapsed if I kept going. Esme would not have been please—no one would.
We all were racking our mind for a way to get Bella back. At least to know where she is. Victoria was right; this was going to drive me mad if I didn't find her. We had to get Victoria to break, but how?
Edward?
It was Alice. I walked to her room and sat on her bed. "What is it, Alice," my voice was grave to my own ears.
"Edward I have an idea."
I looked at her signaling her to continue.
"Victoria said Bella is a witch, right?" I nodded.
"Well, I was thinking: you and Bella have a connection, one that can't be broken. Your love sees to that. Couldn't it be possible for you to contact her?"
"Contact her?" I asked. I could hear the doubt in my tone.
She nodded, "Yes, and I don't just mean telepathically. If you could at least feel her—feel if she's alive, in pain, something—then we should be able to find her, if James even has her.
"You don't believe James has her?"
"Doubt is a better word for what I'm feeling, Edward, but if you could contact her—"
"How, Alice? How could I contact her?"
"I don't know. Concentrate, meditate, do whatever you have to, but at least try."
"It's not a bad idea, Edward." I saw Carlisle standing in Alice's doorway.
I looked back and forth between the two and sighed. "Alright, I'll try."
Carlisle nodded and Alice gave me an encouraging smile. I started walking to my room when Alice stopped me. "Here, Edward," she said as she handed me a pillow. "It's Bella's. She left it when she slept over the other night. Maybe being able to smell her scent will help."
"Thanks, Alice," I said as I walked the rest of the way to my room.
I shut the door behind me and sat on my couch. I pressed Bella's pillow to my face and inhaled. It didn't smell exactly like Bella, more like the second-hand scent of her. But it was all I had of her and I decided to cherish it until I had her back in my arms.
A pang of anguish shot through me then. I couldn't have let myself feel it when I was torturing Victoria, and afterward I was too angry and frustrated. This is the first bit of pain I have felt since I accused Carlisle of taking Bella away from me.
I felt no other choice but to let it consume me, so I let it. And I began to sob dry tears.
About an hour later I had quieted.
I felt hopeless, at a complete loss. And then I felt it. I felt her. I knew it was her, she was feeling the same things I was. I could feel her mind humming thoughts; I couldn't make out what she was thinking, just that her mind was frantic.
I called out to her, with my mind, heart and soul, Bella?
Her feelings and mind came to a standstill.
No! Bella? Bella!? It's Edward. Please, talk to me, sweetheart. Bella!
She gave me a tentative, Edward?
Yes, darling, It's me. Where are you? Are you hurt? Where is James? I'll kill him. If only I could just—
Bella broke into my rant, One question at a time, Edward.
I could feel she was tired. Are you hurt?
Sort of, I'm in the process of healing now.
Did James do this to you?
Yes, she replied. I actually growled at that.
Bella, do you know where you are?
Not exactly, but it's dark and there are no people around from what I can hear. I'm it a forest though, I can smell the trees.
That's good, Bella, that helps. I needed to keep her hopeful. She'd be stronger that way.
A pause and then, Edward?
Yes, Bella? I tried to keep my thoughts gentle.
Did Carlisle tell you about…? She let the sentence drop off.
Yes.
Oh, Edward I'm so sorry. I was only trying to protect you. It hurt me so much to leave you. I couldn't let James hurt you or Carlisle and I knew Esme would be coming soon… I had to protect you.
She was sobbing now, not just in our minds, but physically, as well.
It's all right, sweetheart, I soothed, It'll be all right.
However you are doing this Edward, keep doing it. Please don't let me go, She pleaded.
I won't Bella just imagine that we're right next to one another at home. It'll be like that soon. The thought seemed to comfort her. I held her pillow tight, pretending it was her.
I only knew two things: Bella was alive and we were running out of time.
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