Chapter 24—Happiness in Fear

Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up.

Veronica Roth, Divergent

Bella's POV

I had heard what Edward asked, but I couldn't take my eyes off the ring. It sparkled up at me, calling to me to reach out and take it. With a shaky hand, I touched the center diamond. It matched my taste perfectly—delicate but radiant. Looking away from the ring, my eyes met Edward's again, and like the diamond, they sparkled. The way he was gazing at me sent shivers coursing through me. He loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

"Yes," I whispered, finally finding my voice.

Edward didn't say a word as he took the ring out of the box and slipped it on my left hand. He brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on my ring finger before leaning forward and capturing my lips with his. It was a sensual kiss and not like any other we had shared. It was filled with so much love and promise.

Confusion set in when Edward started sliding me down so that I was flat against the bed with him covering my body, but not fully. I pushed against his chest, asking in my mind for him to stop when it dawned on me what could happen. "I love you, but I'm not ready."

He stopped kissing me and lifted up his head. Gazing affectionately down at me, he took a deep breath. "I know, and you're worth waiting for, Bella," he whispered, kissing my lips chastely. "And I won't push you no matter how much I want to make love to you."

I raised my right hand and cupped his cheek, "Thank you."

He leaned down and kissed me again. "How about we go downstairs and see what everyone else is doing?"

"I'd like that, but knowing your sisters, they'll want answers to certain questions, like when we are thinking of having the wedding ceremony."

He groaned. "I know, but we did just get engaged. Though, a Christmastime wedding would be beautiful."

Edward was so clueless. "I'll admit it would be beautiful, but I think we'll need more than a month to plan a wedding."

His face pinched like it did when he was deep in thought. "When would you like to get married?"

Like him, I saw a winter scene, and my parents' wedding pictures came to mind. They were married in early February, but I couldn't remember the exact date. "February," I answered. "I'd like to become your wife on my parents' wedding anniversary. I'll have to ask Grandfather when it is, though."

"It's a date," Edward quietly said. "Let me know when, and I'll be waiting at the end of the aisle for you."

Jacob's POV

I stared down at the graves and the flowers on the ground, letting out a loud, frustrated scream. "She's been here already," I said, whirling around to face Riley.

"How can you know that for sure? Anyone could have left the flowers," he responded.

I took a menacing step toward him. "Because only Bella would leave yellow roses on her mom's grave and carnations on her dad's. They happened to be her parent's favorite flowers. Not many know that."

As I was about to take another step toward Riley, I felt a strange pressure in my head. It almost felt like someone was probing my mind. My eyes widened. Bella. Power. Mine. I tried to follow the path from my mind to her, but I was met with instant darkness.

The demon inside of me growled. "She's in Forks," I said. "I don't know where, but she's here."

"Where do you want me to start looking?" Riley asked, taking a step back.

I pounced on him, grabbing him by the throat. "I don't care where, you idiot. Just find her," I said through clenched teeth before releasing him.

Edward's POV

The grin that split my face as my whole family—including Malcolm—congratulated Bella and me on our engagement was reflected on Bella's as well. She was glowing, accepting hugs from everyone and showing off her ring.

"It's beautiful," Alice remarked, glancing over at me with an approving smile.

Alice had never complained about any piece of jewelry I'd gifted her with, but it was nice to know she approved.

"Have you discussed a date?" Rosalie asked.

"We have," I answered. "We would like to hold the ceremony on Charlie and Renee's anniversary."

"That doesn't give us much time to plan, but if that is what you both want, then we'll make it happen," Malcolm said. At my confused look, he added, "They were married on the twentieth of December, lad."

"I thought they were wed in February," Bella said.

"No, lass. They were bound together in what all believed was a legally binding handfasting ceremony in December. However, the priestess did not have proper legal certification. Nobody in the clan cared, but Charlie did—he wanted it legal. Hence the second ceremony, performed in February by a justice of the peace," Malcolm explained.

Bella caught my eye. "I guess you're getting the Christmas wedding you wanted."

"Is it what you want?" I asked.

She nodded. "It will be like they're there."

"I guess we better start making plans," I said, moving to Bella's side.

~~ L. C. ~~

Emmett didn't want to leave with the rest of the family, not even after I pointed out that he could act like a mischievous kid.

"I'm not leaving, and that's that, Edward," he said, crossing his arms. "Jacob is somewhere in town and could show up at the house."

"And what is it that you can do that I can't?" I asked.

"Arrest him," he answered.

Emmett had me there, but I wasn't about to back down. He looked forward to Halloween and Christmas every year, and this would be the first time in five years he was off work.

"Emmett," Bella called, coming into the living room from the kitchen. "Here." She handed him something. "If I need you to come and arrest Jacob, I'll summon you."

"A rock? Really?" he questioned.

Bella nodded. "I charmed it to heed my call, and whoever has it in their pocket will come to me."

"Okay," he said, placing the stone in the pocket of his pants. "I still don't like leaving. You need more than magic to stop the bad guy."

"Only if they have no magic to begin with," I said.

Bella whipped around and set her eyes on me. "What did you just say?"

"I wasn't suggesting that Jacob has magic, love," I responded.

I groaned when she bit her lip. She hadn't done that in weeks, and I had never figured out why she did it in the first place. "Talk to me," I said through our link.

"What if Jacob does have magic? That could explain how he knows about me. Some witches do have the ability to recognize others with power, like Moira does."

I thought about that a moment. "I see where you can get that impression. But wouldn't Jacob be able to use a locator spell to find you?"

Bella sighed, looking over her shoulder. "What are you still doing here, Emmett? Edward and I both told you to go enjoy yourself."

Emmett shook his head and walked out the front door without a word.

"Bella," I said. "Are you going to answer my question?"

She came and sat beside me, putting her head on my shoulder. "That depends. Would a locator spell penetrate your barrier spell?"

There was only one way to find out. "You do understand that you are safe here, right?"

"Yes. What does that have to do with this conversation?"

"I know where the barrier line is. We can test to see if I can find you with a locator spell, but I have to be outside the boundary."

Again, she bit her lip.

Reaching up with my left hand, I coaxed her lip out from between her teeth. "Why do you do that?" I asked, curiosity finally getting the better of me.

Bella shrugged. "I don't know, really. It's something I picked up from my mom. She bit her lip whenever she was puzzled."

I remained silent, wanting her to make the decisions.

"Don't stay away too long."

I nodded. "Five minutes, not longer," I said. "I'll need your necklace." I kissed her after she handed me the heart locket I had given her the day after we declared our love for one another. Picking up the atlas Emmett had brought, I vanished and reappeared right outside the shield. I was about a half-mile behind the house, near the stream.

Kneeling, I opened the atlas to Washington. If the necklace landed on Forks, then she could be found; but if it just circled the page, she was well hidden. I hoped for the latter. Almost immediately, the necklace hit the page, and I heard a shout in my mind—"Edward!"

A surge of electricity—Bella's powers—filled me. I felt different this time, and I wasn't sure why, not that it mattered. I had to act fast and was back inside the house in a flash. "Bella!" I yelled aloud and in my mind.

No response came. I was beginning to panic. "Emmett," I shouted, hoping that he would appear since I had Bella's powers. No such luck. Digging out my cell, I dialed his number.

"Hey, bro," he answered.

"Bella's gone," I said.

"What! How?"

That was a good question. "I don't know."

"Where the in the hell were you?"

I really didn't want to answer that question; time was precious. "I was outside, testing a theory."

I heard him talking to someone in the background. "We're on our way home," he said, hanging up.

Sitting on the couch with my head in my hands, Bella's necklace still dangling from my left hand, I tried to connect with Bella any way I could, but all I came up with was blackness. Why did I leave her?

By the time the front door crashed open, I was beside myself with worry.

"Why aren't you doing anything, Edward?" Rosalie asked.

Lifting my head, I looked at her. "I am," I responded through clenched teeth. "We are soul mates and have telepathic abilities."

"And?" Alice demanded.

"Nothing but a black void."

Rosalie shook her head and walked away. "She could be unconscious," she said over her shoulder.

I closed my eyes, not believing I didn't think of that twenty minutes ago.

A rustling noise had me opening my eyes. Dad was spreading a map out in front of me. When I looked at it closer, I noticed that it was a detailed map of Forks and La Push. He motioned to the necklace that I still clutched in my left hand.

I got his meaning without him having to explain. Leaning over the map, I prayed to the gods and goddesses to help me find Bella. Let her have a little magic. The heart locket circled, not landing. My heart clenched painfully. She was either not in the area or had sent me all her power.

"Calm down," Jasper said.

I took a deep breath, releasing it slowly.

"Now, clear all fear from your heart and mind. Focus on Bella," he instructed.

Holding the locket over the map again, it circled a moment before landing. "Friars Way," I announced. "Isn't that where Charlie and Renee lived?"

"Yes," Dad and Malcolm said at the same time.

Bella's POV

The moment Edward disappeared, a cold sense of dread washed over me; I didn't feel safe. Not allowing myself to panic, I looked around the living room. Nothing seemed out of place.

"Bella," said a voice from behind me.

Swallowing, I turned. Jacob stood there holding my cat's eye pendant—the one he had taken away from me. He had powers.

Jacob lunged for me. Self-preservation won and I shouted in my mind—"Edward!"—and vanished as I sent half my powers to him. I reappeared in an unfurnished room and instantly knew I was in my parents' bedroom, or what used to be theirs.

It would take Jacob some time to locate me again, but I moved fast, knowing I couldn't stay in one location too long. "Edward," I called out with my mind.

No answer. I would have to leave a trail for Edward to follow, hoping he would find me first and not Jacob. Pulling my shirt out of my jeans, I tore off some of the hem and took off the ring Edward had just given me. After tying it in the cloth, I placed it on the windowsill and pricked my finger with my earring. I held my hand over the cloth, and a single blood drop fell, marring the white material—find me, I thought.