Chapter 16 - Escape
"And so, this is it, my little time travellers." Said Howe, his voice loud and clear carrying on the still night air. "Brewer my dear, please take control of the dog."
She grunted with confusion. Just then Harker leapt to his feet flinging two bottles of potion at the feet of the attackers and fled as hard as he could, the two vampires trying to pursue but they seemed to become slow, even for a human. We watched from the relative safety of a nearby gantry that Jacob had lifted me onto. Now they were out of view we climbed down and quickly picked up our stuff, making a run for the street exit opposite the one Harker had used. It seemed the plan had worked to perfection. The mounds of material we had gathered were still there on the bench, one with a crude long dark wig, the other with a crude black pony tail.
As we quickly walked down the street Jacob had his head on a swivel, looking in every direction, and I must admit I felt somewhat paranoid myself. It felt like an immensely lucky break, and now we had a fair distance to cover. Harker had told us the potions would last over an hour, and that would be just about enough. He was also leading them far away from us, so we could only hope that he would keep them at bay long enough and recognise when they were returning to full speed so that he could get himself to safety.
"That went well." Jacob panted as we all but ran down the sidewalk. There were a few people milling around now, and as we approached a more populated area there were more people despite the darkness. "With the luck we've been having I thought we would screw up."
"I think it's about time we had some luck, Jake." I heaved between breaths. I was really not as fit as I should have been, and carrying my bag didn't help. "Everything seems to have gone wrong on this trip." I sighed. "Now I know how HG Wells felt."
He sniggered. "Hey, c'mon, it's just a little further. I don't remember The Flash making it this hard work for himself."
I laughed. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Well, he travelled back in time when he ran too fast, and was able to right a tonne of wrongs."
"Yeah, but he still couldn't save his mom."
He thought a moment. "Yeah, I guess. And that Thorne guy didn't do too well, either."
I laughed. "Face it Jake, nothing good ever comes of time travel, we know that now."
"Lougle!" He exclaimed. I thought it best not to even ask what on earth he meant by that, and I didn't have time anyway because we were there. His house was exactly as it had been when we left. A light burned in the lounge window. We approached slowly and I gulped, knocking three times.
Elisabeth opened the door in her nightgown. She did not look good, no make up and very red eyes like she had been crying, but her face lit up when she saw us, quickly ushering us inside. "Isabella, Jacob, how are you?" She fussed. I could tell there was something very wrong, and I could tell it was going to cause us some issues.
"We're fine Elisabeth." I replied. "But we really need to see Edward. Is he in bed already?" I noticed there was no music in the air. That was a concern. Perhaps he was reading.
"Well you can't" She said, her face a vision of despair, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He left this morning to join the army. He said he wanted to go and make a difference in France, and since he couldn't be with you he may as well go and fight." The look she gave me bore no ill will. How she was so nice to me I could never know. If it was the other way around I couldn't say how I would have reacted.
"Well, thats just great." Sighed Jacob.
"He went to stay the night in a hotel, couldn't bare to say goodbye on the day. His bus is first thing in the morning."
I looked at Jacob who returned my gaze with intensity. Then he shook his head. "I'm sorry Elisabeth." He said. "We can't really move around at night, there are some people after us."
She looked shocked. "Oh my gosh. Then you shall stay here until morning. Please, I insist."
"Thank you, so much for your kindness." I said, and she came over and hugged me tightly.
"It's the least I could do." She said, fighting back the tears once more. "Edward Senior is over at the hospital all night, he has some business there I think. He won't be back until after dawn."
I smiled. "We can leave at dawn. Make our way over there and get him." Jacob nodded. "I know this sounds odd, but would you be able to meet him at the hospital if we send him over?"
"Why, of course I can. I daresay Edward senior will most certainly still be there deep into the day. He becomes very engrossed in his work."
She had been moving us toward the guest room, and had taken my bag, which she now lay upon the guest bed. "You don't have to do this, you know." I said, unable to stop the prohibitive words from jumping out of my mouth.
She made a face. "Of course I do, and I'm sure you will tell me what is going on soon enough, when it is time. But for now, you both look exhausted. Get some sleep and we shall get on with the plan. I shall wake you with a light breakfast shortly before dawn.
With that she closed the door. I looked at Jacob who was already stripping off his top and unbuttoning his pants. "Jake, I'm just going to sit here while you get ready to sleep." I said, sitting on the bed. And before I knew it I had flopped over and my eyelids had become as heavy as two train cars.
