Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight
Songlines Ch21
"I can't believe we're doing this," Alice admitted as we parked the car.
"How can you say that? You were chirping last night about how you'd seen this happening," Bella protested as I held the door open for her to disembark.
"Yeah well, I thought maybe someone else would have a different idea and we'd be doing something else," Alice replied as she took Jasper's hand and we set off across campus.
"Maybe next time," Bella offered a consoling pat on Alice's shoulder before we began to split away from them towards the direction of our morning lecture. "Of course, you could have always stayed at home," she suggested, and smiled at Alice's huff of indignation.
"Remind me again why we're doing this?" I asked as Bella nodded a greeting to some passing students.
"We're doing this because life goes on," Bella replied under her breath as she offered another smile to a passer by.
"And on, and on," I sighed.
"Whatever," Bella replied with a careless wave. "I've got a paper due so I need to be at this class."
I shot her a curious glance but Bella kept her gaze resolutely forward as we walked towards the lecture hall. I didn't broach the subject again until we were sat in our usual seats at the back of the room. Bella seemed to be fussing unduly with her bag, setting it at her feet just so, aligning her notebook and pens with careful precision.
"Are you okay?" I murmured when she stopped fidgeting and sat when her attention resolutely focussed on the tutor who was getting ready to begin.
"Mm-hmm," she nodded.
I regarded her for a moment and then carefully reached out to take her hand. Her heart rate was thrumming at a faster pace than usual. My fingertips sought out her pulse as an automatic reflex. Rosalie's words occurred to me.
Count her heartbeats while you can Edward, they will be a long time gone.
As gently as I could, I traced the veins in her wrist, counting the beats all the while.
o * o * o * o
There had been extensive conversation the previous evening about the need to keep Bella safe. Once again I had raised the possibility of spiriting her away to somewhere that could be better defended. Unsurprisingly the loudest opponent to any of these offerings came from Bella herself.
"Don't you see what he's doing?" Bella had leaned forward in her seat to make her point. "He's trying to split us all up so that he can pick us off one by one. We're stronger together."
"As a family," Esme had mused, and her careful smile grew stronger when Bella gave a firm nod of agreement.
"You've got more balls than I gave you credit for," Rosalie drawled.
"Talk to this one," Bella gave me a nudge with her shoulder. "We established that I'm a no running, no screaming kind of woman."
"I don't like it," Carlisle looked unhappy but even he could see that Bella could not be swayed. "Surely you can postpone your classes until the danger has passed."
"I could," Bella agreed, "but we don't know how long that will take and I've got a paper due."
"That's what you're worried about?" Jasper scoffed at this, subsiding when Bella looked affronted.
"I've never handed in a late paper and I'm not about to start now," she said in a firm voice.
"Yes but surely-," Carlisle began to object but Bella waved him off.
"No way, no how am I going to front up to my lecturer and say I need an extension because a vampire's out to get me. They'd put me away," she concluded with gloomy relish.
Jasper considered her for a moment longer and then coughed to hide his amusement.
"Oh sure, laugh it up soldier boy," Bella chided. "It's okay for you, how many degrees have you guys got?"
"More than enough," Jasper conceded.
"And this is my first one, so c'mon guys, let me do it right this time around and then we'll take it from there. Besides, you'll be with me tomorrow and he's not about to try something in broad daylight. Let's think positive," Bella suggested.
We all turned as one to stare at her and she shrugged off the weight of our regard.
"I just think that positive emotion will trump negative emotion is all," was all she said.
o * o * o * o
Fine words to be sure, but now we were dealing with the reality of being together while the threat of James grew closer. As we had walked across campus I had left it to Bella to present the social façade. She had smiled and exchanged greetings as I studied our surroundings, scenting and tasting the air with every wind shift. I didn't allow myself to relax until we were sitting in the lecture hall, and even then I remained on alert.
"Will you calm down, you're making me nervous," Bella muttered as she slouched lower in her seat.
"I'm fine," I shot back in an undertone as I kept my attention on her pulse.
"Right, so looking like you're ready to rip someone's head off if they so much as sneeze in my direction is perfectly normal?"
That got my attention. I looked away from her and scanned the room, noticing Mike as he flinched away from my regard.
"I just feel very … protective of you right now."
"Mm-hmm," Bella replied, "and that's different from all the other times … how?"
"Back then I was the only threat," I muttered. Bella turned and gazed at me in silence until I felt that it was my turn to slouch down into my seat.
"How noble," she murmured. She shifted her wrist away from my scrutiny so that she could lace her fingers with my own. "Just so you know, I can look after myself."
"I'm not saying you can't, but I want to help."
"I know," Bella admitted. She shifted in her seat so that we were sitting shoulder to shoulder. Six heartbeats went by and she relaxed enough to rest her head on my shoulder. "I didn't see this coming," she commented.
"None of us did," I replied, closing my eyes as I took in as much of her warm scent as I could.
"Except Alice," she corrected.
"Except Alice," I agreed.
"Whatever happens, we're good." Bella lifted her head to look at me, "as long as we're together."
Before I could reply the lecturer cleared his throat and called for everyone's attention. Bella looked to the front of the class, her focus on our topic of conversation diverted for the time being.
I gave a good impression of someone listening intently to the class, but all I could think of were Bella's words. My idea of keeping her safe was to break her heart and yet still she insisted of remaining by my side. It seemed that her decision was one that the whole family supported. I may have been older, but it was open to speculation as to who was wiser. Bella gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I felt nothing but smiled at the gesture.
o * o * o * o
"Was that so hard?"
"No," I sighed. The class had been useless as far as I was concerned but Bella seemed to feel satisfied with the outcome. "It really matters that much to you?"
"It does," Bella nodded. She had submitted her paper at the conclusion of the class and was walking by my side with an air of satisfaction.
"I don't suppose I can persuade you to ditch your study session?"
"Well," Bella wavered at this, much to my surprise. After her insistence on following through on her obligations it seemed that the afternoon was open to negotiation. Before I could offer any temptations however, Bella's cell phone shrilled in her pocket. She let go of my hand so that she could retrieve the handset; her pace slowed as she studied the small screen.
"Problem?" I ventured in a mild tone.
"Not really, although you might think so," Bella replied as she reached up to twirl her ponytail as she thought. That was enough to tell me that she was uncertain as to how to proceed.
"What is it?"
"They need help at the bookstore," she said at last, "it's only for a couple of hours."
"No," I stated categorically.
"Hey, c'mon," Bella gave me a defiant look, "it's not all day and I could use the money."
"We've got money. Plenty of money."
"Are we going to have that talk about my independence again?" Bella arched an eyebrow.
"All I'm trying to say is that you don't need to work while there's," I stopped when I saw Bella's carefully blank expression. "Can we at least agree that I'll stand guard?"
"You've got a class you should be at," Bella remonstrated as she reached for my hand and began to walk in the general direction of the bookstore. "Anyways, the mysterious Edward Cullen standing outside the store with nothing to do will look suspicious."
"How about one of the others? Jasper?" I suggested.
"Uh," Bella stumbled at this and I pounced on her hesitation.
"Stronger together, remember?"
"Dammit," she gave a breathless laugh. "Guess I'm not used to being wrapped in cotton wool like this all the time. It's …," she waved an inarticulate hand.
"Stifling?" I suggested.
"Confronting," she answered. "I've never had to live like this before."
"It's because we want to make sure you do just that, live."
"What are my alternatives?" Bella sidled closer to me as we walked and I took the hint and put my arm around her waist to draw her close.
"That you say no to the store and stay with me," I replied immediately and then smiled to myself. Bella noticed.
"What's so funny?"
"I seem to recall a time when thinking that leaving you alone was the kindest thing to do. Allowing things to follow the natural progression," I mused.
"What's your idea of a natural progression?" Bella asked.
"You would live out your life; a human life." I frowned a little as I said this. Bella thought she had so much to gain by choosing a life with my family, but she had to know the cost. We were nearly at the bookstore now. The crowds were thickening as students milled around the entry to the store and the nearby café. I scanned every face and mind that I could, ever mindful of the pocket of silence that walked at my side.
Bella looked thoughtful as I navigated us through the crowds.
"You'd watch me grow old by your side and then die? You'd leave me to go where you can't follow?" Bella looked sad at this and I slowed our pace as I ducked my head towards hers to speak in a low voice so that no-one would overhear our sombre conversation.
"I would miss you more than I could bear, but we would have had our time together."
"A limited time," Bella contradicted, jerking her chin and offering a quick smile to a called greeting before returning her attention back to me. "Why sell yourself short?"
"What is it that you want?"
"I want more," she said. "I want it all."
I was about to answer when Bella stopped in her tracks staring ahead with surprise.
Although she was carefully dressed in 'student casual' chic Rosalie stood out from the humans around her. She had been leaning against the doorway pretending to focus on her iPhone but was still the recipient of many admiring stares.
"Where did you come from?" Bella called as we approached.
Rosalie had been careful to demonstrate a lack of commitment to Bella's presence, save for a grudging acceptance in social settings. It seemed that given recent events she had decided to ratchet things up a bit, no doubt with Emmett's careful encouragement.
"Emmett wanted to check the place out, and Alice just told us what was going on," Rosalie shrugged off Bella's surprise. "Figured I'd swing by and see how things were."
"And this is you trying to act casual?" Bella was trying to hide a grin without much success. "Gotta say that it's not working. You kinda stand out."
To give her credit, Rosalie tried not to preen too much. I closed my eyes briefly against her mental hum of satisfaction, let alone the male approval in our immediate vicinity. She paced forward to stand a few feet away from Bella.
"When you say you want it all, you're forgetting something. Soon there's something you'll want even more than Edward."
I bristled as Rosalie referred to me as if I wasn't even there but held my tongue.
"What's that?" Bella asked. She unconsciously shuffled closer until her hip was pressed firmly against my own. I wormed my hand beneath the hem of her shirt and rubbed my thumb against her skim. Bella gave a ripple of reaction against my cold touch but subsided almost immediately.
"Blood," Rosalie said. She held Bella's gaze for a long moment before glancing over at my mutinous expression. "I know you think you know what we are, but theory is one thing, practice is entirely different."
"Humans thirst just as much for water," Bella said after a careful pause.
"True," Rosalie conceded the point with a nod, "but nothing has to die in order for you to get it. You could go vegetarian and drink water that falls from the sky without ever having to take a life. How does that rate against killing something every time your throat burns? Do you still think it's worth it?"
I growled under my breath, stopping when a passing student flinched and moved away without realising why. I watched him flick an anxious glance over his shoulder at the three people talking so intensely in the walkway before he rounded the corner. We were getting attention but for the time being it seemed innocuous enough.
"Yes," Bella lifted her chin. "It's my choice."
Rosalie and Bella held each other's gaze for a long moment and then to my surprise, Rosalie was the first to break.
"Alright then," Rosalie nodded. I know you're pissed, Edward. Just testing, and by the way, your girl's passed. Emmett and I will search the area and let you know if there's anything to worry about.
"Just like that?" Bella blinked.
"See you tonight," Rosalie offered. "Emmett's going to stay here a while and Carlisle is going to want to discuss some more options when you get home."
"I'm sure he does," I replied in a tight voice. It rankled me that Rosalie had been so deliberately provocative towards Bella. How many more tests were we going to have to face?
Rosalie looked amused as she turned and strolled away. Approaching groups of students parted and reformed in her wake. She never looked back.
"What the hell was that?" Bella looked up at me in bewilderment.
"Believe it or not, that was Rosalie being supportive."
"O-kay," Bella sounded dubious, "good to know. I guess." She looked at the bookstore entrance and then gave me an artificially bright smile. "I guess I'll see you later."
"No guessing required," I murmured as I pulled her close for a gentle kiss. "We'll be here."
"Who's we?"
"Myself, Alice, Jasper," I recited. "We'll be watching."
"Perv," Bella wrinkled her nose at me and gave me another quick kiss before she turned and entered the store. I watched her go and licked the taste of her from my lips.
I hesitated outside a while longer, turning away with a reluctant laugh when Bella appeared in the store window making shooing motions with her hands as she urged me on my way. I walked away with careful nonchalance, resolving to backtrack and watch the store as best I could.
o * o * o * o
Three hours later I looked up from my casual lean against a pillar as Bella approached. She stepped up against me with a warm smile and slid her arms around my waist as she tilted her face expectantly for a kiss. I obliged and felt the curve of her lips as she smiled.
"How was your afternoon?" She announced when she came up for air.
"So-so," I shrugged.
I hadn't gone to class of course. I had maintained my vigil at a careful distance. Close enough to monitor the comings and goings of the store but not so close that Bella would be able to see me.
"All good then," Bella gave me a smug look and I indulged her with a martyred sigh. Her gurgle of laughter at my supposed annoyance was worth the charade. She leaned forward to kiss the base of my throat, leaning forward and humming with pleasure when I wrapped my arms around her to hold her closer. We parted at last but I kept my arm around her waist as we set off towards the parking lot where Alice and Jasper would be waiting.
"How was work?" I asked in a mild voice.
"Great," Bella enthused. "It was really busy and they want me back tomorrow." Bella cocked her head at me as I frowned over her words. "What?"
"If it's about the money," I began in a careful tone.
"No, it's more than that," Bella shook her head. "It's about feeling useful. Knowing that there's something I can actually do to help someone out instead of just feeling like a fragile little human."
"You're more than that," I remonstrated with a gentle smile.
Bella gave a noncommittal shrug at this, and I realised with an inward sigh that there was going to be more discussion about her working in the store. She was not going to accept our protection blindly, nor was she going to compromise any more than she felt was absolutely necessary. It was enough to make me wonder with a sense of rueful fondness if any legends mentioned the stubbornness of singers.
o * o * o * o
My gentle nudge met with resistance, as was to be expected. I tried again, rubbing her upper arm as I watched her face. Bella lay curled on her side with her back flush against my chest, her hands fisting the blanket. It was the same every morning, and I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
"Bella," I whispered, dipping my head to kiss her neck. This time there was a hint of movement as my lips brushed against her skin, her skin rippled with goose bumps at the chill.
"Mmph," she grunted and shifted a little, the movement pushing her bottom against my hips in a way that had me sucking in a sharp breath. Even when she was asleep Bella was the most beguiling woman I had ever encountered. I stopped trying to wake her and settled back to let her wake up in her own sweet time. Her eyelashes fluttered and I knew it wouldn't be long.
When she began to stir in earnest I relaxed my grip on her and moved back a ways to give her room to move. I knew the ritual by now, even if it was one that Bella was completely unaware of. She would frown a little, and then shift to give a full body stretch before subsiding into a boneless coil. A lick of her lips and then she would turn, instinctively seeking me out before she had even begun to open her eyes.
Sure enough, seconds after she had shuddered out into a long stretch she rolled over, reaching for my shirt to pull herself closer. Wriggling and burrowing into my chest she gave a sleepy hum as she tucked her head beneath my chin.
"Good morning," I whispered as I pressed a kiss against her hair.
"Time izzit?"
"Time to get up," I replied, trying not to smile as she shook her head and held me tighter.
"Ten more minutes," she bargained.
I rubbed my hand over her back, following the line of her hip and down the back of her thigh. Arching into my touch Bella cooperated by hooking her leg over my hips to pull us closer still. I closed my eyes and lifted my head from the pillow in a bid to restore some self-control, but Bella was having none of it. Wrapping herself around me she licked and nibbled at my throat while I …
What was I doing?
I was torn between wanting to sink into her until the end of days, and wanting to move away from her clutches in case she got hurt. An exquisite torture to be sure, and all the more difficult when I managed to move further away despite her sigh of frustration.
Bella rolled onto her back and sighed again, pushing her hair off her face as she endeavoured to get her breathing back to normal.
"Never thought I'd be the one trying to lead you astray," she ventured at last.
By now I was sitting on the edge of the bed, swallowing back venom again and again as I clenched my fists against my thighs. Bella shifted and squirmed on the bed until she was kneeling behind me, hooking her chin over my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Sorry," she offered in a penitent whisper.
"I'm not," I shook my head. "Every moment with you is worth it."
"But the pain," Bella reached around to run a gentle fingertip down my throat.
I reached up to grasp her hand in mine and kissed her fingers. "Opportunity cost." I got to my feet and held out a hand to help her off the bed. "Come on, you need to get ready."
"Right, what day is it?"
"Thursday," I confirmed.
"I don't start work until nine, perhaps we could do something?" Bella got to her feet and only stumbled slightly against me before setting off towards the bathroom.
"We'll see," I smiled. "Alice wants to dress you today."
"Right," Bella paused and leaned her head against the bathroom door. "How bad is it going to be?"
"She's pleased with herself, but that's all I can get out of her," I offered as I began to lace up my boots.
Bella snorted at that and closed the bathroom door behind her. I made myself scarce before I could become too distracted by the fact that Bella was only a few feet away. Naked. It was her habit to invite me in to join her once the water was running, and it was becoming an invitation I was finding increasingly difficult to refuse.
o * o * o * o
"No way," Bella shook her head. Her tone was so firm that I found myself pausing outside the closed door and listening in. "No skirts, Alice. We've already gone over this."
"C'mon, at least just try it on," Alice said in a coaxing tone.
"Have you seen how white my legs are? I'd need a tan to be able to carry that off."
"Have you seen mine?" Alice retaliated. "Anyways, that's what leggings are for. Here."
All I could hear was rustling fabric and non-committal sighs and comments from Bella as she tugged and zipped.
"I love it." I could hear the smile in Alice's voice from where I stood.
"Seriously, what was wrong with my flannel shirt that I've got in my bag?"
"Nothing if you're a lumberjack. Now put this on with it while I find the shoes."
"No heels."
"But-,"
"Alice."
I grinned all the way downstairs. Esme looked up from the toaster when she saw me appear in the kitchen.
"How's it going upstairs?"
"If Alice wants a dress-up doll she's going to have to look further afield than Bella," I replied.
Esme gave a quiet laugh as she poured a glass of juice and set it onto the counter. The toast was next, and I watched as a bowl of cereal was poured.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you," I observed.
"I am," she gave a pleased nod. "It's like playing house." She paused and gave me a softer smile this time. "I know it won't last of course, but while she's human it's nice to have these little reminders."
The wistful tone of Esme's voice gave me pause. All around me there were reminders that Bella's days as a human were numbered by fair means or foul. It was an issue that I still struggled with, despite Bella's assurances to the contrary.
Enough.
Jasper had appeared in the room behind me and clapped a friendly hand on my shoulder. I relaxed and gave him a grateful nod as the mood in the room lightened. His timing was fortuitous as I could hear Alice and Bella approaching. I turned and leaned against the kitchen bench to wait for her.
Alice may have had to compromise but the finished product was still enchanting as far as I was concerned. Bella had kept the denim mini skirt but had added black leggings and an assortment of t-shirts and layers in a way displayed her womanly curves without making Bella feel too self-conscious. As strong-minded as Alice could be it seemed she had certainly met her match; there were no high heels to be seen. Instead, Bella was sporting her favourite Chucks, one of which she now lifted to rub the back of her calf. I raised my eyes to her face and saw her hesitating before my regard.
"You look great," I assured her as she paced towards me and stopped for a kiss.
"It was a struggle," Alice sighed as she appeared at Bella's side, "but you'll see my way is right in time."
"Sure," Bella laughed now, "how much time have you got?"
"All the time in the world," Alice said airily as she draped herself over Jasper where he sat at the table watching us all.
"We'll see about that," Bella stuck out her tongue, making Alice snort.
Bella made short work of breakfast, not noticing when Alice's gaze turned inward and she reached out blindly for Japer's hand. Somehow I managed to keep my expression neutral enough as we spilled out of the house and into the car as Esme called out a fond farewell.
"What did you see?" I asked Alice, keeping my voice low enough that Bella wouldn't hear it over the general noise of the four of us getting into the car.
Alice shot me a look and tightened her grip on Jasper's hand.
Not much. Not enough, she admitted at last. He's taken someone else, but I don't think it's anyone Bella knows.
She considered me for a moment and then gave a brief nod, which was barely enough time to brace myself for the barrage of images she projected. James was euphoric with the hunt but his motives were interlaced with centuries old cunning as he somehow managed to elude Alice's radar. One of the last things Alice had managed to glimpse was James' latest meal. I gave a soft hiss at the vision.
Wait, look again, Alice soothed me as Jasper diverted Bella with questions about her plans for the day ahead.
I looked and immediately felt a surge of relief that was tempered with guilt. It wasn't Bella, but the resemblance was striking.
He was sending a message.
o * o * o * o
"Stop fussing, I'll be fine," Bella batted my hand away from the nape of her neck. She immediately softened her rejection by leaning into my chest and gazing up at me with her warm, brown eyes. "It's just for the afternoon, same as the rest of the week. I'll be finished in no time."
"Easy for you to say," I sighed as I cupped her face in my hands and then smoothed her hair off her face. "At least you'll have something to do."
"You could study," she suggested.
"Perfect recall," I said.
"Maybe work on your assignments," she tried again.
"Already done."
"Take Alice shopping?"
"Now you're just being cruel," I looked pained.
"What is it with guys and shopping?"
"Try standing outside a lingerie section countless times over the decades and then tell me how you feel," I mumbled.
"Maybe you'll feel better about that now you've got a vested interest in the outcome," Bella suggested, giving me a mischievous look.
Never had I been more grateful for the inability to blush.
"I don't want to leave you," I admitted.
"I think we've established that," Bella replied as she reached up and undid the top two buttons on my shirt so that she could press a kiss against my chest. "Things seem to be okay though. Maybe the baddies have decided to move on."
"Let's assume they haven't," I suggested.
Bella's head went up at that and she narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.
"Are you assuming or knowing?"
I hesitated, and it was enough for Bella's lips to tighten as she flattened her palms against my chest.
"He's still here?"
I nodded.
"How do you … Alice, has she seen something?"
"She's seen something, although we can't be sure what he has planned next."
"Well, he's obviously clever so he won't try anything out in the open." She looked over her shoulder at the bookstore and then gave me a brave smile. "I've got to go to work."
"You don't have to," I said quickly.
"The last four days have been fine, I'll be okay," she nodded, although now I couldn't tell who she was reassuring. "Now kiss me quick before I change my mind."
Easy enough to say but once we were engrossed with each other, disengaging became that bit harder. I allowed my lips to part for the barest fraction as Bella lapped against the seam of my mouth, and felt my body's immediate response as her tongue dipped inside. I stopped and rested my forehead against hers.
"It's never enough," Bella admitted as she pressed another kiss to my lips before giving me a regretful smile. "Does it ever stop? The wanting?"
"Never," I shook my head with a wry smile.
"I think I like that," Bella's cheeks were flushed and she rushed her lips against mine for a final kiss before gripping the strap of her purse and turning towards the store. "I'll see you later this afternoon."
"I'll be waiting," I called after her.
"I like the sound of that too," she answered back.
A blushing wink over her shoulder at me and then she was gone.
o * o * o * o
I lingered outside the store for an hour after Bella had left, sitting and slouching in a variety of different locations so my presence wasn't too obvious. I endured the occasional hopeful thought from female passers-by but for the most part the surroundings seemed innocuous enough. Once I had reassured myself that there seemed to be no immediate threats I got up and made my way across campus to where I knew the others would be.
"Still looking," Alice advised as I approached where she and Jasper were sitting in the afternoon shade. "How about you, any luck?"
"None," I grunted as I pulled out a chair and straddled it. "You?"
"Flickers at best," Alice pulled a face, "but nothing solid. He's changing his mind and second-guessing himself all the time. All I know is that he's still in the area."
"Can you tell where?"
"No," Alice was unhappy, "but his latest meal will be on the news tonight."
The three of us sat in sombre quiet as we considered this.
"He's getting sloppy," I said at last.
"He knows we're still here, it's his way of sending a message," Jasper corrected.
"By drawing that sort of attention?" Alice frowned. "Even nomads know that discovery is forbidden."
"It doesn't matter to him, this is all a game. We're the best diversion he's had in decades. The bodies will start to pile up but as far as he's concerned they're just collateral damage."
"Two campers, then Lauren," Alice ticked them off on her fingers, "and now another one. The first two were accepted as an animal attack but not anymore." Her gaze shifted and she frowned again. Jasper reached out to rub her back in a soothing gesture as her mood spiked.
"Will there be others?"
"Maybe," Alice hesitated, "but there's something else you need to know."
That got my and Jasper's attention.
"The latest one was chosen because she looked like Bella. He's going to establish a pattern for them to follow, and if all roads lead to Bella then-,"
"All roads will lead to us," I finished for her.
Jasper was silent as he sat formulating strategies for both attack and defence.
"Edward, I don't think we can wait for the fight to come to us."
I sighed at his words and rubbed my forehead with a weary hand. What I wouldn't give to be able to lose myself in sleep for a few hours. The ability to withdraw from the world had never seemed more precious. Jasper had a point, and I knew that Emmett was chaffing for action.
"I know we'll be okay in a fight but Bella's so vulnerable," I said at last.
"Not that vulnerable," Alice chided. I looked up to see her shaking her head at me. "Still, we could always split up, Jasper and I could take her somewhere safe and you could track James."
"I can't leave her," I admitted. "Not any more. Not ever."
And they said the Age of Wonder had passed, Jasper's mental voice was droll and I wasn't able to entirely suppress my exasperated snort.
Alice was about to laugh when her head snapped up. Her face was blank as she stared straight ahead.
"Alice, what-," I began and then gave a grunt of pain as her hand shot out to grab my own.
"Sweetheart," Jasper remonstrated, "c'mon back."
She had my full attention now; enough for me to ignore that she was crushing my hand.
"Show me," I ordered, slapping my other hand on top of hers.
Alice gave a jerky nod and dropped her shields as Jasper watched us with concern.
Bella rounding an aisle in the bookstore and stopping short when she realised she had nearly collided with the person who had been waiting for her. He had reached out to grasp her upper arms with a grip that brought a wince to her face. She had remonstrated with a teasing smile that had faded when she looked up and saw his face.
How foolish we had been. We had thought we would see James approach, but had not even considered that he would already be waiting for us.
He was in the store. I stood up so quickly that my chair fell backwards with a clatter that drew attention. None of it mattered now. Eyes wild, I turned and stared in the direction of the bookstore. We were nearby but could only move at human speed.
"He's not going to … wait," Alice said brokenly as we began moving at a near-run.
Definitely getting attention now. Heads were turning to follow but I couldn't have cared less.
Bella. He was with Bella. He had touched her.
Mine.
It was only when Alice whimpered that I realised I was still clutching her hand in mind as we broke into a jog. I relaxed my grip a fraction of a second before Jasper slapped my hand away so that he could pull Alice towards him. My protective instincts were broadcasting at full strength and Jasper had been taken by surprise. As we passed people I was dimly aware of people drawing closer to each other; their hands reaching for reassurance from a nameless fear that wasn't their own.
"What else?" I snarled at Alice.
"He … I can't …," Alice stuttered as she tried to keep up with the rapid decisions that were appearing and being discarded at a frenetic speed. "Edward, she's gone."
I said nothing but increased my pace. The sooner we got there, the sooner I could find out where she might be.
Only a couple of minutes had elapsed since Alice's warning but it had been enough. By the time we reached the front of the store the area was thick with the scent of conflicting scents.
Bella was gone. Her distinctive aroma eddied around me as I paced back and forth trying to follow it. Jasper stepped around me and went further into the store.
Holy shit, his eyes …
I looked sideways at the frightened mental voice. The woman nearby flinched away from my regard but not before I caught what she had seen. My eyes were black with the hunt and I was standing still. Too still. With a monumental effort I took a deep breath and shook my head. Stuffing my hands into my pockets I made myself stroll down the nearest aisle as Alice followed in the direction that Jasper had gone. A careful circuit of the store later I had precious few clues to go on, but they were enough.
His scent is saturated towards the back of the store. He must've gotten here ahead of Bella to wait for her. Jasper supplied as he strolled towards me calling out a casual greeting for the benefit of other customers who were giving me suspicious looks.
I tasted the air, struggling not to growl Bella's scent in the air shifted and I could detect the sharp spike of adrenaline. I stood there tasting her fear and felt utterly helpless. Her scent consumed me and I stood shaking with anger until a wave of calm flowed over me. Jasper appeared at my elbow. He was doing all that he could but I was still radiating enough rage to have customers leaving our vicinity in a confused exodus.
Alice had approached the sales assistant at the counter and had struck up a conversation. It was only when she asked after Bella that they realised she had disappeared. Mild confusion entered their voices as Alice questioned them further. No, they hadn't noticed who she was talking to. No, they hadn't heard anything that sounded odd. I felt another growl begin in my throat at their useless ignorance.
"Focus," Jasper hissed at me, "there were others here."
I frowned at this and glanced at Jasper as he gripped my elbow and turned he a few degrees to my left. The scent hit me enough to make me cough under my breath. The thick musk was as disgusting as it had always been. Turning my head this way and that I followed the trail as Jasper circled around the store in the opposite direction. By the time we met up near the entrance where Alice was still talking we had more questions than answers.
The wolves had been on campus too, although their scent trails were so intermixed with that of James it was difficult to tell where one trail ended and the other began. The common scent between them was Bella but we had no way of knowing if she was with friend or foe. All I knew was that Bella was gone and there would be no peace until she was back with us again.
Alice turned and walked towards us, stopping to scoop up something that was lying on the floor flush against the base of one of the bookshelves. She cradled it gently in her hand as she walked to Jasper's side, and handed it over to me when I reached for it. I turned the slim casing over and over in my hands, handling it as carefully as I would a dandelion.
Bella was gone as far as we knew she had no way of contacting us.
o * o * o * o
"Anything?" Esme looked up as we returned home from another scouting run. I shook my head and watched her shoulders slump in disappointment.
"Faint traces here and there, but nothing fresh," Jasper clarified. "Any word from Em?"
"He and Rosalie are moving further out," Alice called in a distant voice. Jasper crossed to her side. Alice was participating in the conversation on a surface level, but her gaze was focussed inward.
Alice, Jasper and I had searched campus as comprehensively as we could. The scent trail had been muddied by time, and so the best we could determine was that they had taken her in a direction that led out of town. My mood was violent, and Jasper was exhausted from soothing everyone's emotions as the hours went on.
"Alice?" I spoke as gently as I could under the circumstances but she flinched all the same.
"Nothing," she shook her head. Had she been capable of tears she would have been crying by now. There were dark shadows under her eyes making her look even more exhausted. She needed to hunt, but no amount of cajoling from Jasper could make her leave the house. Raking her hands through her hair she gave a long shuddering sigh. Jasper took a seat beside her and put his arm around her, holding her close as she allowed herself to relax against him.
I wanted to hold Bella like that, and I would not stop until I could.
Carlisle had been notified at the hospital and was keeping a watch on all arrivals. We all knew it was a pointless gesture at best, but at this point in time we were exploiting every possible avenue we could. Wherever Bella was, human contact would be diluted by other beings.
I left the house and drove through town. After an hour I found I was concentrating on the densely populated areas, scanning as many minds as possible. I scoured any and every mind that I could access, hoping against hope that someone might have seen Bella. At first I had driven aimlessly and then with a muffled curse had taken a more systematic approach and embarked on a grid pattern search of the town.
Nothing.
I stopped the car and leaned forward to rest my forehead on the steering wheel as my despair overwhelmed me. The car idled smoothly and a distant part of my mind noted that Rosalie had tuned the engine.
Stronger together. Bella had kept reminding me that we were stronger together, and I had teasingly reminded her about that this morning. And now she was gone and I was falling apart. The family had rallied immediately but still we had nothing to go one. We need more; more information, more clues and more help.
More help.
My head snapped up as I realised there was one option that we hadn't yet explored, and just then my phone began to ring.
Alice agreed.
o * o * o * o
"I can't believe we didn't think of this sooner," Emmett muttered as he steered the off-road vehicle as high up into the mountains as he could. From there we would be on foot.
We had gone to the Quileute boundary and patrolled it for an hour. Normally any trace of our scent that was detected would mean an immediate retaliation. This time there was none. Wherever they were, it was not here.
"We've never been easy bedfellows," Carlisle commented. "Still, they love Bella too. Perhaps this will be a new era."
I didn't care what the hell we were heading into, as long as we got Bella back. It seemed that although the reservation was still patrolled there were key figures missing, and there had been enough information for me to discover some of them had gone to higher ground. Whoever was in charge, they were good. Those that were left behind had little knowledge of what the plans were, or the intended destination of what I now referred to as the Alpha group.
Leaving the vehicle we made our way up the mountain with caution. We had no way of knowing how many wolves would be in the area or how aggressive they would be on sight. The best we could hope for was that when we encountered each other the lines of communication would be open. They would be with us or against us, but as long as we had a common goal that was all that mattered.
A/N: Nearly at the end folks …