Chapter 11: Protection
Edward continued running as fast as he could, even for his vampire speed he felt like he wasn't going fast enough to make it to Bella. "Please let me make it there before James," he muttered. He jumped over ravines and small rivers, trying to get to Forks.
The thoughts were racing through his head of what James could do to Bella, his Bella. He growled when he thought of what James would want to do to Bella.
He stopped when he found Bella's house, recognizing her scent all over the truck that was there. He walked up the steps and knocked on the screen door anxiously. He just hoped the person in there wouldn't look straight into his eyes. The larger door opened and a man, he figured was Bella's father was standing there. "Yes?" He asked.
"I'm a friend of Bella's…I had to tell her something important is she home?" He asked.
"Bella's out with her boyfriend," the man replied.
"Alright, um…I'll try to again later, thank you," he told the man.
He hurried down the steps and looked around. He knew they would be here in a day if not later. He wasn't going to let James get a hold of Bella, never. He looked towards the tree that was in front of the house and leaped up into it, sitting in the branches. Of course at that moment, it started raining. He sat in the tree and waited for Bella to get home.
Bella and Jacob were sitting at a café when they saw that it was starting to rain. "Great, it's raining here, which means it's raining back home. What a time for us to bring the bike," she commented.
"You can take my jacket," he told her.
"I don't want you to get sick," she answered.
"Bella, I have higher body temperature for this," he told her gesturing to the outside.
She smiled a little. "Actually, I wanted to give you something before we went back to Forks," he told her.
"What's that?" She asked reaching for his jacket when he suddenly placed a small box in front of her.
She bit her lower lip as she opened the box to reveal a small chain. She lifted it up and saw that it was a charm bracelet. There was a single charm on it. "I made it…well not the bracelet but the charm," he told her. The charm was shaped like a wolf.
"It's beautiful," she told him.
"Here, I'll put it on for you," he told her.
He took the bracelet and clasped it around her wrist. She smiled before he leaned across the table and kissed her. She kissed him back, her hand resting on the side of his neck. "Come on, your dad will be expecting you home," he told her. They got up from the table after paying the bill.
Once outside, Bella had Jacob's jacket on as well as her helmet, her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist as he started the bike up and drove off.
After awhile, they arrived home just as the thunder started rolling. Bella laughed a little as they ran up the drive, she nearly slipped and fell but Jacob was there to catch her before she hit the muddy ground. They hurried up to the porch and Bella took of the jacket, handing it back to him. "That was fun," she commented.
"Yeah, we'll do that again next Friday?" he asked, stroking her face.
Bella smiled gently at him. "That'll be fun," she replied.
"I love you Bells," he told her.
She placed her hand on his side. "I love you too Jake," she answered. Jacob leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. Bella closed her eyes and kissed him back just as the door opened.
"Whoa sorry kids," Charlie chuckled.
Bella's face flushed deep red and Jacob laughed. "I'll call you later Bella," he told her. She nodded and watched him leave before going inside.
"Did you guys have fun?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Someone came by for you earlier, said he had something important to tell you," he informed.
Bella took off her jacket, hanging it up. "Who was it?" She asked.
"No idea, he just said he knew you," Charlie replied.
Bella started walking up the steps when her slippery shoes made her slip and she fell on all fours on the stairs. "You alright?" Charlie asked, helping her up.
"I'm good, wet shoes don't help the uncoordinated," she answered.
"Be careful," he told her.
She nodded and went upstairs.
Bella had showered and changed into her baggy pajama bottoms and gray-tank top. Her hair was blown dry and was pulled back into a ponytail. As she walked into her bedroom she suddenly felt like she was being watched. She looked around her bedroom, closing the door. She opened the shade to her window and nearly screamed when she saw a pair of eyes staring at her. "Bella open up," Edward insisted.
"Edward?" She asked in shock.
She opened the door and let the vampire into her room. "That's what you sleep in?" He asked with a crooked grin.
"What did you think I slept in?" She asked.
"I don't know, I wasn't picturing that," he replied.
"I didn't know I needed fashion advice for sleepwear," she commented.
She sat down on her bed. "What are you doing here?" She asked. He pulled up a chair, pushing his wet hair from his eyes.
"I had to see you," he replied.
She gave him a quizzical look. "Bella, you're in danger. James, Laurent, and Victoria basically mutinied against me and now they're after you," he explained.
"Me why are they after me?" She asked.
"Because they believe you are my weak point," he replied.
Bella stared at him and drew her knees up to her chest. "What do you think about that?" She asked, biting her lower lip. He sighed.
"Let's just say Bella, you have no idea how long I have waited for someone like you to come into my life," he replied.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You can't be doing this to me," she whispered.
"I wasn't here to start up anything Bella, I want to protect you from James," he answered.
Bella looked at him and stood up. She put her hands on her head and let out a shaky sigh. "Just as I was taking Carlisle's advice and moving on with my life you came back," she muttered.
"I'm not here to take you from Jacob, I'm here to tell you that you are in danger," he answered.
"Then why did you say that stuff about waiting for someone like me?" She asked.
"I was answering your question about why they believe you are my weak spot. You know how I feel, doesn't mean I want you to leave your boyfriend," he replied.
Bella leaned against the wall and let out a shaky sigh. "I'm here to protect you, once the threat is over, I'm gone," he told her. She stared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "I won't disrupt your life again after this. You can live the life of a normal human," he added. He got up from the chair. "I just had to warn you and let you know that I'm going to make sure to protect you from this threat," he informed.
"You told me," she answered.
Edward nodded and let out an unneeded breath. "I'm going to tell the Cullens and then go into hiding," he explained. Bella bit her lower lip and Edward kissed her forehead before disappearing through the window. She slid down the door and pressed her hand over her eyes as she let out a small, quiet sob.
---------------------------
At the Cullens' house, Alice was in the den cuddling up with Jasper when there was a knock on the door. "It's Edward," she said suddenly getting up. Esme gave her daughter a quizzical look before opening the door to reveal that it really was Edward.
"Edward come in," she told him.
Edward shook the rain off him a little before stepping inside. Esme took the jacket for him and he looked around, pushing his wet hair from his eyes again. "Where's Carlisle?" He asked.
"Why?" Rosalie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's none of your business, where's my father?" Edward asked getting frustrated with the blonde vampire.
"I'm right here," Carlisle answered walking down the stairs.
Edward walked over to his father. "I need to talk to you privately," he informed.
"I believe what you need to say Edward, it could be said to my family too," Carlisle informed.
Edward growled a little. "Bella's in danger," he informed.
"What do you mean?" Carlisle asked.
"My coven, they mutinied, they tried to kill me. They're going to go after Bella as a punishment for me," Edward explained.
"What do we do?" Carlisle asked.
"Keep an eye on her at all costs. Let her boyfriend know so he can keep her safe. I'm only here to make sure Bella will be safe. Once the threat is gone, I'm gone," Edward explained.
Carlisle placed his hand on his desk, looking at Edward. "Son…why won't you just come home?" He asked.
"Because father, coming home would be the death of you and I am not willing to take that chance," Edward answered.
The coven leader stared at his son with a quizzical look. "What are you talking about?" He asked.
"My business, father, business that I took care of two hundred years ago when I left," Edward replied.
Edward rubbed the back of his neck. "Just understand, leaving is protecting everyone I care about. I will leave to protect Bella, but also you," he added. He left the office, leaving Carlisle there with so many questions that he needed answered, but he knew Edward would not answer them. He sat back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose when Esme came in.
"Carlisle? What do we do?" She asked.
"We protect Bella from these three vampires, just like Edward said," he replied.
She stood behind him and wrapped her arms around her husband, kissing the side of his head. "Then once this is over, I'm going to find out why my son believes he has to protect me," he added.