Looking around quickly,my eyes followed up along a large tree and saw a tree branch higher than the wall of vines and immediately scaled the tree, escaping the growing branches around me. Leaping from branch to branch, climbing higher and faster than the vines, if my heart was still beating, it would have been bursting out of my heart, fear and determination coursed through me. I reached the branch and leaped clear over the wall of vines.
Yes! I thought, running at top speed now, running around the perimeter of Seattle, not wanting to run into any vampires or otherwise. Thought he could catch me, huh? Cocky bastard, I thought, relieved that his own confidence led to my escape. I took the cell phone out, knowing that I needed to call Jacob. I heard him answer the phone and before he could answer, I began talking.
"Jacob, I got away, please be safe, I don't know if they're going to attack you guys. I'm sorry for getting you guys involved," I said, watching where I was going as I ran.
"No Bella, I'm glad you did," he said, sounding relieved, "We'll do all we can do to protect La Push and Forks. Thanks for the call to let me know that you're safe—are you coming back here?" he asked.
"No, I'm going to Denali as planned," I replied, "Something big is going down in the underworld, as they say, and I intend to find out. The Cullens has something to do with it. I'm... afraid that there could be a war."
"A war? Among you lee—vampires?" Jacob asked, his voice horrified and confused.
"Of epic proportions, Jacob," I said grimly, hoping I was merely exaggerating, "they have price on their heads right now. So, please, keep yourselves safe. How's the girl doing?"
"Oh, she's... doing fine," he said, sounding momentarily distracted. "She doesn't remember anything that went on ever since one of them knocked her out at the camp site. That's the good part I suppose. She's quite distraught, understandably, as she lost her husband."
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, closing my eyes briefly, hating Kyle and Naomi even more for destroying things.
"Call me if anything comes up, all right?" he asked after a moment.
"I will, thanks, Jake," I said and hung up, putting the phone away. I came up to a highway and saw the sign that pointed the way to Alaska and kept going.
I hoped I would find the answers in Denali and maybe they even knew where the Cullens were. All my thoughts on my journey there revolved around different theories of what happened to the Cullens. Please, I begged to God, Please keep them safe.
I spurned on, trying to keep going at my top speed, wanting this waiting game to end now. I needed to find Edward and collapse into his hug and never let go.
Sometime later, it was about three in the morning, I came upon a city sign, welcoming people to Denali, Alaska. I felt the nervousness growing in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I was about to meet a coven of vampires I had never met before. I thought over the conversation I had with Kyle and Naomi, and I hoped this coven of vampires did not find the need to either turn the Cullens over or wanting to take the power from the Volturi themselves.
I would have to do this carefully so I called Jacob again, knowing that I would wake him up. It was better than the alternative—if something happened to me, he would never know what happened.
"Hullo?" a gruff voice answered.
"I'm sorry Jacob," I apologized.
"Bella?" he asked, sounding more awake.
"I just arrived in Denali, and I just... I'm nervous, Jacob. If what the rumors are true about the Cullens, things can go two ways, they either help me find them or..." I trailed off, letting my silence speak for itself.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked after half a minute.
"If I don't call by noon, then something's happened to me, and if the Cullens ever call you guys, tell them I came here," I said, gulping quietly. This was too much, I was terrified that something could have happened to the Cullens and not knowing what I was getting myself into made it worse. "But, please, don't come after me if I don't call. It's... important that you all stay where you are and pass the message on to them."
"Bells, I can't do that! If you really think it's dangerous, just come home," he begged.
"I can't! Something happened to them! I need to rescue them if it comes down to that," I said, making my way into the town. I could smell the many scents of vampires in town, heightening my senses. I worried that one of them might be out and about in the town.
"If it does come down to that, we want to help you too," Jacob promised. "So, please, call if anything of important, even if it's about the weather, call me."
I sighed, knowing that I might not call him for help but I lied anyway, "All right, I will. Good night, Jacob."
"Stay safe, Bells," he said and hung up. I still held the phone to my ear, standing there motionless with no thoughts running through my mind but my fear.
My fear of what's to come. I slowly closed my eyes, trying to get my wits about me again and I put the phone away. Suck it up, don't break down now, this isn't like you, Bella, I scolded myself and then with the memory of the address in my mind, I entered a gas station. Walking into the first aisle filled with maps and magazines, I found the map of the local area and quickly scanned, looking for the address. Once I located where I am (with the help of the cashier) and the final destination, I left, leaving the map behind. The house was only ten miles out of the city limit. Using my vampire speed, I made it to the destination in no time, not wanting to dwell on doubts building in my mind.
I saw the house at the end of a long driveway and approached it, smelling the scents. It was far more potent than it was in the town. I readied myself to run away at first sign of trouble, and at the same time, I made myself look casual, as not to raise any suspicion. I noted the house had four floors, and done in red bricks, looking like a house out of early 1900's. I climbed the long staircase and found myself at the door, swallowing thickly. I raised my hand and knocked.
A moment later of what felt like two minutes, a woman with strawberry blonde hair answered the door with a suspicious look.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked, looking up and down at me, wary as though she was ready to attack if I made any wrong moves.
My mind left me, and I couldn't think of anything. Do I say I'm looking for the Cullens? Do I mention my name? How much was too much in revealing about me?
"Is this the Denali coven?" I asked, studying the woman with topaz eyes. I already knew the answer but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Yes we are..." she said slowly, the door still not open wide.
"Um... ah..." I stammered, wanting to flee now and bury myself into a hole and never back out again. "How are you and Cullens doing?" I blurted and winced at what I said. She narrowed her eyes at me, studying me even harder.
"And what business do you have with them?" she spat. "If you think you can find out through me, think again lady."
"N-no, it's not I want to turn them over to the Volturi," I said, shaking my head, aghast.
"Who are you?" she demanded. I sensed other people behind the door and I felt even more in danger. I backed away, wondering if I should leave now. "If you think by changing your diet just to fool us into trusting you, it didn't work."
"W-wait, so, are you trying to protect the Cullens?" I asked and stopped moving as I reached the top of the stairs.
"No we aren't," she said coolly.
"Yes we are," another voice said at the same time.
"Eleazar!" she exclaimed, looking at the man behind her.
I felt a rush of relief through me and I sighed, feeling as though I was about to collapse, so I did. Using my arms to support myself up, all I could think was, They're okay, they're good. They must be, they're just trying to keep them safe. They're safe. These are good people.
"Oh god, this is too much," I muttered, hating the roller coaster ride of emotions.
"Who are you? What's your name?" the man that went by Eleazar, asked.
Have they told this coven about me? I wondered, staring at the ground for a moment, debating. If they do, then my name alone will do. Closing my eyes, I decided I would tell them. I swallowed and looked up at the man in the eyes.
"Is," I began to introduce myself.
"So, are these the old friends you were talking about?" a voice said from behind me. A chill rose up in me and I got to my feet and spun around, facing the two vampires that had followed me to here.
Shit! I forgot about the scent trail!
"What's this?" the woman asked, a warning in her throat. "Are you two trying to do something against us?"
Kyle seemed delighted at this piece of information, and said, "Why, I don't know who this person is."
I scowled, and looked back at the coven, debating.
"If you think you can find the Cullens through us, think again," the woman said, bending her legs as though ready to fight.