Alec's POV
Slow torture. That is the best way to describe my search for Bella. It didn't help that I didn't have the first idea of where to look for her. I must have searched every nook in all of Italy and have found nothing.
It has been two and a half weeks since I've last seen her and I was going absolutely out of my mind. I was growing tired of being away from her. I would kill Urlic the moment I saw him again. He took her to keep her safe, yes, but he took her without letting me know where she was, without even letting me say good bye and I had no idea if she was even still alive. Oh God just the thought of something bad happening to her was like a knife to the heart. I felt now, with everything I was, what Edward only pretended to feel. I could not continue to live (sort of speak) in a world where Bella did not exist. I could not continue to go on in this world for the rest of eternity without her by my side. I wouldn't. I couldn't.
So my search continued through the day under the cover of my cloak and through the night in my relentless effort to be with her again. I tried to replay conversations I've had with her to see if I could find some clue of where she might be. Nothing came to mind.
One thing did come to mind, but it wasn't anything I heard from Bella, but from Aro.
"Edward, how is my old friend Carlisle?"
"He is well."
"Still pity those humans he loves so much."
"Ah, yes, yes he does. He continues to work at a hospital in Forks Washington. You should come see him sometime."
"I think I just might."
Forks Washington is where I needed to be.
I hopped on the first flight and it was an agonizing fifteen hours between the flight and the car ride in traffic. I was starting to get hungry and could not stand the fact that I had to go hunting for animals when all I wanted was human blood. I made a promise to Bella, and as much as I wanted to forget all about it, I would keep it – forever.
As soon as I got in town I headed straight for the woods and found a deer that would hold me over for the time being. It was gross but effective.
I looked in the nearest phone book and looked up the hospital. Once I committed the address to memory I drove to the hospital. I parked in the visitor section and popped in my brown contact lenses. The last thing I needed was for someone to see my crimson eyes and start questioning me. I didn't have time to dispose of anyone who got in my way.
"I'm here to see Dr. Carlisle Cullen." I said to the woman standing across the white high top receptionist's desk.
She tilted her head to the side and licked her lips before answering.
"Whom may I ask is looking for him?"
"Alec Cross. You can tell him I'm from the Italian blood donor association. We call ourselves the Volturi." She bent over purposely revealing the drop in her shirt exposing her cleavage.
"Follow me." She said in a husky lust filled voice. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. I could have her do anything I wanted her to do, but I resisted. You cannot eat her, Alec. Bella would be very upset if she found out you drained that woman of blood.
I followed her down a winding hall until she stopped at a door with Dr. Cullen written on the front.
"Thank you." I said inclining my head a little.
"Anything else you need, I'll be right over there." Ah huh, I just bet.
I opened the door and walked in. Carlisle was already standing up waiting for me. I didn't have time for formalities. I got straight to the point.
"Where is Bella?"
"So you're Alec Cross." He said walking over to me and extending his hand. I ignored it.
"Is she okay?"
"Yes, she is."
"Please tell me where she is." He looked hard at me before walking back around behind his desk and sat down on his big brown leather office chair.
"Please take a seat, Alec."
"No." I said more than a little irritated.
"Do as I say now or you will not get another word out of me." I balled my fists but obeyed. I would do whatever I needed to do to find her. I just wished he would hurry.
"I cannot tell you where she is. All I can say is that I saw her the day she came. She is very unhappy that she is being held captive by the warlock, but understands that it is for her own safety. My son Edward…" at this he trailed off and the pain on his face was as clear as day. "Edward is still looking for her. He has come here twice in search of her and it is only by the efforts of the warlock that he has not found her. He can read minds.
I had to come back here to keep up the human appearance, but it has been tough. I'm sure that none of that is important to you, but I do want to let you know that Bella is part of our family and because of this so are you."
"Thank you." I was touched by his sentiments. I could easily see how she could grow to love this man…as a father.
"Now, Alec she is very unhappy that she is away from you so I want you to take comfort in the fact that she loves you very much. But I'm sorry son; I cannot tell you where she is."
"That is unacceptable."
"Do you not care for her safety?"
"Of course I do! I just don't see why I am such a threat to her. Why can't I be with her?"
"I'm going to have to agree with you on that one; however it's not up to me. I'm not the one making the rules. Ulric is. So if he says it's too dangerous for you to join her than I'm just going to have to go along with it."
My grip on the chair's arm rest was so tight I snapped it clean off. I threw it against the wall behind him and stood up, furious with him.
"You haven't seen the last of me. I am NO THREAT TO HER!" I shouldered the backpack I was carrying and stormed out of his office and back out the door.
"Bella." I said out loud once back in my rental car. "Where are you?" I let my head hit the steering wheel as I contemplated where I would look for my Bella next.
Bella's POV
Bella, where are you?
Alec's voice rang in my head so clear that I felt like he was standing right next to me. I sat up from the spot I'd been lying on at the beach and whirled around until I had spun in a circle three times trying to find him.
I was alone – there was no one around.
"Alec? Alec can you hear me?" I said screaming out into the ocean, the waves drowning out my voice.
"Please? Please hear me!"
No one answered me back.
I sat back down looking out at the dark water, the only light coming from the eerie moon. There were no stars in this strange place. When I asked Ulric where he had taken us the first day we arrived he simply replied, "Don't you mean when are we?" it was all I needed to know. We weren't anywhere; we were in some kind of dimensional black hole – in a vacuum of sorts. Up until that point I had a sense of hope that Alec would find me, but now…now I came out to this beach and stayed here all day and all night. I hadn't eaten in days. My eyes were pitch black. I was suffering in more ways than one and it was the way I wanted it. I could not be happy until I was back with him. I missed him so much.
"Alec, if you can hear me…I love you."
Alec's POV
"Alec, if you can hear me…I love you."
I snapped my head up and looked around me.
"Bella?"
There was no one in the car with me, but I swear I heard her voice…like she was right here with me.
"Bella, baby, where are you?"
I stood absolutely still, careful not to make a sound in case she spoke again. I didn't want to miss her voice.
Knock, knock, knock. Came a tapping on the driver side window. It was Carlisle. I groaned and hit the button lowering the window.
"What?" I said, not holding back my irritation at being interrupted.
"Take this," he said handing me a silver ring with a C imbedded into a red stone. When I looked at him questioningly he took my hand and put it in my palm.
"It's Bella's Cullen family ring. We had it made for her last year. She wore it while we were…away. She gave it back to me saying that she didn't want to be a Cullen; she wanted to be a Cross. I figured even though she didn't want it, maybe you would…to have something of hers."
I twirled the tiny ring around in my hands and looked up to see Carlisle walking away.
"Hey wait! I said through the window." He stopped and faced me.
"Um..thanks…for this." I said holding up the ring. He nodded once and walked back inside.
I rolled my window back up and kissed the ring. I took off my Volturi necklace and slid out the V that had so long been a symbol of my loyalty. I replaced it with Bella's ring. She was my loyalty now.
"I'll find you, Bella. I promise." I said out loud as I started up the car and pulled out of the hospital parking lot.