Chapter 4: Interview with the Vampire

Disclaimer; S. Meyer owns Twilight

James carried his prey effortlessly, not that Bella was the least bit resistant. They made the miles vanish, James all the while using every trick in his repertoire to throw any pursuers off the scent. The expert was not only adept at tracking, but at covering his own tracks as well.

Bella hadn't eaten, nor slept now for more than 24 hours, their only pauses when she had to heed nature's call. Finally, they came to an abandoned home situated in a tangle of trees and shrubs, tucked away in the forest. The surroundings were lush and green, and if she had to guess, Bella would say they were back in Washington State.

The house was furnished, surprisingly enough. James seemed to have a taste for the finer things in life. He probably snatched all this right out from under the very noses of the store managers No doubt it was as if a blur sailed past each one, their eyes deceiving them. It was impossible to move such massive pieces of furniture. In their minds, there could be no explanation for the disappearances, but Bella knew better now that she'd become part of the supernatural scene.

Her captor eased her down to an overstuffed sofa. The red-haired, female vampire appeared a second later.

"What is she doing here? You bringing stray humans home with you now?"

Gesturing to Bella, James hooted, "Nah, just this one. You got a problem with that?"

"As a matter of fact I do. We'll have to feed her, clothe her and keep her clean."

"Not for long."

"Why the hell don't you just suck her dry right now, and dispense with all the responsibility?"

"And why don't you just keep your trap shut?"

James looked his mate up and down, snickering. "Ha, I see it all now. You're jealous, aren't you, Victoria?"

"Jealous, of a mere human? Don't make me laugh."

"Not to worry, I won't. In the meantime, go to McDonalds, and bring my guest here, a hamburger, French fries and a coke."

"Why don't you do it?"

"Because sweetie-pie, someone has to watch her. I kidnapped this little human, so that someone should be me. Besides, I don't trust you. You'll drain her herself, and I won't even get a measly sip."

With a toss of her head, Victoria's wild, red tresses swirled about her face like an animated Medusa. "I don't like this one bit, James."

"I don't give a damn what you like. Now get moving, and bring the girl something to eat, will ya?"

Glaring at him, Victoria left, and James immediately sat next to his prisoner. "Well, I guess I told her, huh? Can you believe what she said? She'd let you starve, and I can't have that. You'll be juicier with a full belly. Can't stand dehydrated humans. The blood gets thick and gummy. It sits in your gut like a cannon ball."

Bella said nothing, just sat there, hands in her lap, staring at him. He was beautiful, she had to admit—sandy hair, sensual lips, chiseled features—but those ebony eyes … She wondered if at one time, they had been a pale blue. The thought entered her mind that she might even have found him attractive if she didn't fear for her life.

James jostled her with his elbow. "So, Bella, tell me about yourself."

"What for? All you need to know is I'm your next meal."

"Touché. But, I'm intrigued. You walked right into my trap without flinching. For such a frail thing, you sure proved stout-hearted."

"Or stupid."

"Well, yeah, that. But still … I have to ask though, what the hell were you doing, hanging with the Cullens?"

"They're my friends."

His eyebrows rose, and his lips curled up in a smile. "They're also vampires."

"I know that, but they would never hurt me."

"Is that a fact?"

With flashing eyes, she spouted, "Yes, it is. For your information, they're vegetarians."

James rolled those coal black eyes. "That's a hot one. Vegetarians. Now, I've heard everything."

Nodding, she replied, "It's true. They only drink the blood of animals."

"Not exactly connoisseurs, eh? Must be a bitch trying to get all that fur out from between their teeth. They'd have to carry dental floss around with them."

She turned away, and murmured, "A lot you know."

He found it amazing that her heart rate had settled down, and her breathing normalizing. Bella should have been screaming, and crying, pleading for him to let her go. Instead, she seemed to accept the inevitable. How refreshing.

Actually shaking his head, James grinned at her. Maybe he should keep Bella around a bit longer. It would serve Victoria right. She was getting way too possessive. A little competition for his affection would do her good. Lately, the red-haired vixen was becoming so full of herself. Well, he'd fix that.

What was I thinkin'? There was no freakin' way I could keep tabs on Mr. Sparky 24/7. I had to eat, sleep, and make a trip to the can sometime. Turnin' to the pack was my only option. They agreed to take shifts bein' my eyes and ears.

Paul was on Edward duty this one afternoon, and he came knockin' at my front door. Openin' it, I was surprised to see him standing on the porch. He shouldn't have even been here, and when he wouldn't look me in the eye, I imagined the worst.

"Don't tell me. You lost him, didn't ya?"

Paul's arms opened wide. "He must've gone out some secret underground passage or something. By the time I spotted the streak in the distance, it was too late. I couldn't catch up."

I hit the door post in frustration, splinterin' the wood. "Great, just great! If I want somethin' done right, I should do it myself."

Pushing into the house, Paul brayed, "Wait just a damn minute, Mr. High and Mighty. I volunteered for this stupid detail. As far as I'm concerned, that girl can stay missing. She's messed with your brain ever since she moved here. That Bella is pure poison, I tell ya. The Cullens would do us all a favor if they'd suck every last drop of blood in her veins."

That did it! I hauled off and belted him right in his big mouth. We got into a scuffle, and Dad rolled up in his wheelchair.

"Break it up, boys." He shouted. "You two are pack brothers. You shouldn't be fighting each other, not while the enemy is out there. Now, what's going on?"

I lifted myself offa Paul's chest, and told him. "Go on, get lost. I'll deal with you later."

He wiped at the blood oozing from his lip. "Like hell, you will."

Dad gestured to my pack mate. "Paul, I think you should go while I have a talk with my son."

Scoffing, Paul replied. "You do that, Billy. He needs that talk"

Paul pushed open the door, and stepped over the threshold, muttering, "You should keep that son of yours on a leash."

He looked back over his shoulder. "And they all say I have a bad temper…"

Billy canted his head, and looked up at his son. "So, you want to explain what brought this on?"

I let out a big sigh. "Well, it's like this, Dad. Bella's been missing for days, and no one will give me the goods on where they've hidden her."

"And you think the Cullens have something to do with her disappearance."

"No—I'm sure they have something to do with it. Edward as much as confessed to relocating Bells to avoid some nomad tracking her."

With a long, exhaled breath, Billy whined, "That girl doesn't take good advice to heart, and now look where it got her. Did anyone tell Charlie about this? He's pretty worried."

I shrugged. "How can I tell her dad that she's running for her life from blood-thirsty leeches?"

"Hmm … I see your point, son."

Collapsing into a chair, I whimpered, "I haveta find her, but I don't even know where to start. I'd been watchin' the Cullen's house, but it got to be too much for me. So, I had the guys takin' shifts to trace his every move. Paul was on today, and lost him. Now, I'm lost too. That was my only lead."

I can see why you'd be upset with Paul, but how can you be so sure you wouldn't have lost Edward's trail as well, eh?"

"Guess you're right. I shouldn't have blown up like that."

Dad put one hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, then. You'll think of a solution."

"Yeah, I only hope it's not already too late."

"Oh, and Son, you will fix the door."

The door. Crap … "I will. Sorry, Dad."

Alice, Jasper and Edward dragged into the house, disappointed once again that the trail proved difficult if not impossible to follow. James was a master at confusing them. Every lead turned cold, their enthusiasm waning bit by bit. If only Alice could get a glimpse of where her friend was being held. Stymied, she and Jasper retreated to the back porch to go over the next strategy. Edward sat on a chair, his head in his hands.

Rosalie sauntered into the living room, flipping her blond tresses over one shoulder. "I overheard your altercation with the mutt the other day. Honestly, Edward, don't you think that by now, he deserves to know that Bella's been kidnapped? Personally, I can't believe you're all making such a fuss over one human girl."

Edward's head jerked up at the sound of her, and sneered at his least favorite sibling. "No, you wouldn't. I'm in love with her, Rosalie—something you know absolutely nothing about."

With fire in her eyes, Rosalie exploded, "Tell that to Emmett. You, Edward, are an insufferable bore. I'm going up to my room." She hesitated on the stairs, and faced him. "Someday, I hope to see Jacob take you apart; better yet, maybe Emmett can do it, and you can bet that I'll have a ringside seat, cheering him on."

Victoria returned to the house with a bag of food for the human. She dropped it with a resounding thud on the coffee table in front of Bella.

"Dig in, girl," she said in a sarcastic manner.

Bella looked up at the vampire standing over her. "Did you steal this?"

Arms akimbo, Victoria sneered. "Don't worry your pretty little head; I paid for it. I had to stand in a long line too. The least you could do is say, thank you."

Casting a glance at the bag, Bella muttered, "Thank you."

The female vampire, leaned forward, and pinched Bella's chin, tilting it up. "Look at me when you say that."

James stood, and with one arm, shoved his mate away. "Leave her alone."

"Why?"

"Because I said so, that's why."

"You're getting soft in your old age. What are you, 200 years now?"

"That's fifty years younger than you are, Grandma."

His mate would have rebutted that nasty comment, but she was distracted by the girl on the sofa. Bella picked up the bag, and unwrapped the hamburger. Victoria's mouth gaped open as the prisoner removed the meat from the bun.

With her black eyes widening, the female spouted, "What are you doing?"

"I'm a vegan. I don't eat meat."

Victoria's arms flew up in the air. "Oh, for the love of … Why the hell didn't you tell me that before I bought all this stuff?"

"Victoria!" James shouted.

"What?"

"Let it go, huh?"

"Let it go, he says. Let it go. Pfft! I'm going all right. I'm going for a run. It stinks in here."

James gave her a two finger salute. "Suit yourself, Red. I won't stop you."

"You bet you won't." With that, she huffed, and stormed out the door.

Bella, put the hamburger down after taking a few bites. "Are you going to sit there and stare at me while I eat?"

James leaned on the table, his face turned to her, and his chin resting on a fist. Never breaking eye contact, he said, "Yeah."

Holding up the round slab of ground beef, she asked, "Do you want this beef patty?"

He chuckled in a menacing manner. "No, I don't actually eat meat either. I'm strictly on a liquid diet."

No truer words were spoken. Bella nearly choked on the next bite.