Big thanks to Fakin' It for giving me a hand with the summary... is it just me or are they really hard to write? So thank you for the advice and support for a relative newbie :-)
CHAPTER 09
"Did you think I was gone, my pet? I have been watching you very closely. Edward Cullen is dangerous, Isabella, far more so than I. I am warning you, for your own safety to stay away from him. I watched you last night, letting him put his arm around your waist. His hands belong nowhere on your person! You are mine, Isabella! And I am coming for you. Even now, as you lay sleeping, I am watching... waiting. Remember what I am, Isabella. Remember what I can do to you if you do not do as I say..."
I sat up with a small cry of fear and then tried to work out what the piercing sound was that had woken me. Finally my eyes fell upon the mobile phone on the floor next to the bed and I picked it up, sleepily.
"Hello?"
"Bella? I need you to listen to me carefully and whatever you do, don't panic," said Jacob. My grip on the phone automatically tightened.
"What is it? Is it him?" I asked, a little breathlessly.
"I said don't panic, Bells," he said, with an exasperated sigh. "You have to make sure you stay at the club for the next few days; don't even go out in the garden. And when you're inside, stay with someone. Preferably that bear Emmett."
"And you don't want me to panic?" I gasped.
"Ok, I know. I don't want you to panic, but I know you will do. James has been spotted in town again or at least someone who matches his description. The only bit I couldn't verify was the red eyes."
"Whereabouts in town?" I asked.
"Near the club," he said, eventually. "As long as you stay inside, you'll be fine."
"Do you think I should say something to someone here?" I asked.
"No! No, Bella. That could make the whole situation a whole lot more dangerous. My pack... my boys that is will sort this. We don't need interference from the Hales or the Cullens. I put you there because they will keep you safe from anything; they don't need to know the specifics."
"Ok, I won't say anything. Jake, I'm scared," I whispered.
"I know, sweetheart, I know," he said. "But we won't let him get to you."
When I hung up, I felt tears burning my eyes for a moment, before my stomach turned over and I rushed to the bathroom. When I was done, I picked up my phone in trembling hands and dialled Alice's number.
"Alice?"
"Bella, are you ok? You sound awful!" she said.
"Actually, I don't feel too good. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can work tonight," I said, trying to keep the tremor from my voice.
"Do you want me to come up?" she asked.
"No, no, I'll be fine. I'm just going to go back to bed. I'm sorry."
"Stop apologising, Bella. Just get back to bed and I will come up tomorrow morning."
I thanked her and hung up. Within minutes of me putting the phone down, there was a knock at the door. I rolled my eyes; I had told her not to come up. I opened the door, ready to tell her, but it was Edward that walked in. He looked at me closely.
"You aren't well?" he queried.
"Just a bit sick," I stammered. His cold hand came to my brow and he narrowed his eyes.
"You have a fever. You should be in bed."
"I was going to bed, but someone knocked on my door," I pointed out. Edward simply glared at me, before taking my arm and guiding me back to the bed. He pulled the covers over me and then went through to the bathroom to fetch me a glass of water.
"You need to keep hydrated if you have been sick," he said.
"Thanks Dr Cullen," I muttered.
"That would be my father," he replied. I didn't respond to this, feeling another wave of nausea, but luckily it wasn't strong enough for me to actually be sick. "What has caused this? Have you eaten something you shouldn't have? Or caught a bug?"
"I... I don't know. I was sick earlier, but I don't think I will be again," I said, wanting to reassure him as he seemed more concerned than I was. But then I knew what had caused this; anxiety about James coming for me.
"Do you want me to go?" he said, suddenly getting up from the bed, as if it had occurred to him that he had barged his way into my room and pushed me forcibly into my sickbed. But the idea of being alone didn't appeal much, even if it did mean him seeing me in this state.
"No," I grabbed his hand. "Please, will you stay a bit? Unless you've somewhere else to be..."
"No, I have nowhere else to be," said Edward, sitting down again, stroking my hair back from my face, gently. We stayed in the same place in silence for a while, him absently stroking my hair and me dozing, until my phone ringing broke through the tranquillity. I picked it up, checking the ID and flinched; it was Jacob.
"Jake?" Edward looked away as I answered my phone, getting up to give me the illusion of privacy.
"Bella, we have tracked him to Forks. He's gone back to your dad's old place. We can't get in there; he's got it well and truly secured."
"Why would he go there?" I asked, feeling those waves of nausea threatening again.
"He's playing mind games, Bella. He knows the anniversary is coming up soon and he's probably hoping you'll head home..."
"But I don't even own that house anymore..."
"Like he cares! Bells, he thinks you'll head back to the area. You have done the previous two years, so..."
"Oh God, Jake, you think he's been watching me ever since Dad...?"
Jacob sighed deeply at the other end of the phone and I chewed on my lip, my hand worrying at the bed-sheet.
"Just stay where you are. A few of my guys are patrolling down that way..."
"Will you be safe?"
"Don't worry about me, Bells. I can handle myself. Just stay inside, ok?"
"Ok," I agreed, softly. I hung up and only then did I look up at Edward, who was watching me through eyes that I was certain had been golden brown when he came in, but were now the deepest black I had ever seen.