Chapter 25— Wisdom in Fear

What you fear most of all is—fear. Very wise...

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Edward's POV

Bella had been gone for almost forty-five minutes. Jacob could be doing anything to her, and what was I doing—waiting for someone else to make a fucking decision.

"Let's go, Edward," Emmett said. "Dad, Malcolm, and Jasper, get there as fast as you can by car. You girls stay here. Bella might call or come back. If Jacob is following her, have her magically summon us." He put his hand on my shoulder, and I disappeared, taking him with me.

Why did Jacob have to choose today to recapture Bella? I thought as Emmett and I reappeared outside the house I'd only been to once—the day her parents were murdered. It looked the same and well-kept. There were no lights on, and it was hard to tell if anyone lived in the place.

Emmett was instantly on the phone. "Get the team here fast, Eric," he instructed, giving the address of the house. After hanging up, he turned to me. "Are you getting anything?"

"There's no one inside, at least I think," I answered. My fear was beginning to show, and I couldn't trust my powers.

He looked at the house while scratching his head. "I can't legally let you go in there, since it's a potential crime scene, but I'm not going to stop you, either," Emmett said.

That was all I needed, and I took off at a run, commanding the front door to open. It swung open with a loud crash that sent wood splinters into the air. I didn't have time to analyze where that surge of uncontrolled power came from or the force behind it.

"Bella!" I shouted repeatedly while checking and clearing each room in the lower level. Running up the stairs, I started looking into each room and closet, and like downstairs, I found no one. I was in the largest bedroom when I heard the sirens and saw the blue and red flashing lights. That's when I noticed something on the windowsill. It seemed a bit out of place in a completely empty house.

Moving toward the front window, I saw it was a knotted cloth. There was a droplet of blood, still fresh by the looks of it. With a quick look over my shoulder, I confirmed I was still alone, so I snatched up the small bundle and hurriedly unknotted the piece of material. Bella's engagement ring was soon revealed and an echoed whisper reached my ears—Find me.

"Edward," Emmett said, joining me.

"She was here," I said, showing him the ring. "She wants me to find her."

"Could that mean Jacob doesn't have her?"

I shook my head, not knowing. "I need the state map," I whispered.

Bella's POV

My head was spinning from the constant use of magic, but I had to keep going. I could feel someone on my tail. I couldn't be sure if it was Edward or Jacob. Willing myself to continue running, I vanished after dropping another small piece of my shirt—that resembled more of a crop top now—thinking of Edward. I soon found myself somewhere familiar—the entrance hall of Edward's house in Seattle. I nearly wept with relief as I raced toward the stairs, the altar room my destination. There was no way Jacob would be able to find me once I was in the room. He might track me to the house, but his trail would go cold.

"Bella!" Jacob said from behind me.

"Edward! Help!" I yelled in my mind, frantically, as I finally reached the base of the stairs.

Soon after my cry, a loud crash resounded from downstairs and an "ugh" could be heard. I didn't bother stopping to investigate.

"Keep running, Bella," Edward shouted as I reached the top of the stairs and turned left. "I'll find you."

Edward's POV

Emmett and I jumped from one location after another, finding nothing but a piece of cloth with a little blood on it at each stop. My heart clenched a little more with each discovery.

I let out a frustrated yell. "If he's harmed her, I swear he'll not live," I said, tightening my hands into fists as I turned to face Emmett.

"And I'll help you, but you can't think like that. You've got to think like Bella. She's running, bro, that much is evident. Where would she go?"

I took a deep breath, thinking. "She would want to go somewhere she felt safe. Every place we've been so far has been vacant."

He nodded. "Where?" he asked, grabbing me by the shoulders.

Only one place came to mind. Hoping I could influence Bella, I sent an image to her before teleporting one last time.

When Emmett and I rematerialized, Bella was halfway to the staircase with Jacob hot on her heels. I called for the nearest vase and threw it at his head. It shattered as it hit home but didn't stop him from continuing his pursuit.

Jacob's left hand was just getting ready to close around Bella's right ankle. The gun in Jacob's right hand went off, barely missing Bella when Emmett plowed into him.

Bella screamed.

"Keep running, Bella," I shouted. "I'll find you." I watched her run until I could no longer see her, knowing where she was heading.

Jacob was back on his feet, staggering. There was a knife in his right hand now, and he slashed wildly at Emmett. Emmett did his best to avoid the blade, jumping and arching his back, but he was otherwise unarmed.

"You'll never take me alive," Jacob shouted, catching Emmett's forearm with the knife.

Emmett wasn't fazed, though he stumbled backward a step or two. If anything, the blow pissed him off. "I think that can be arranged," Emmett replied, charging.

Jacob's eyes went wide, and he ran toward the stairs. In a flash, I blocked his path.

"You're the one that has been hiding Bella from me," he yelled. "Get out of my way or I'll run you through like I did her parents. She's mine." He came at me when I didn't move, but I stood there with my arms crossed. He instantly hit a wall of magic, dropping the knife in shock, and it skidded across the floor.

I was just as surprised but didn't let it show. I hadn't created the barricade, and there was no else in the room who had powers. Then it dawned on me—Bella—but she should be in the altar room. Looking over my shoulder, I saw her on the upper landing, her arm outstretched. She had a defiant and furious scowl on her face, and it was directed at Jacob.

"You will not take him from me," she said, her voice tight with what I could only guess was contained rage. "I hope you burn in Hell."

Emmett had moved to stand behind Jacob at some point and was cuffing Jacob's wrists together. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?"

Jacob growled but said nothing.

Bella joined us in the foyer, being careful of the broken vase pieces. I beckoned her to my side, but she shook her head. I watched in horror as she walked straight over to Jacob and pulled something out of his pocket.

"This is mine," she said. Not turning her back on Jacob, she walked backward until she was at my side.

"How do you want to play this?" Emmett asked.

"We can't stay here," I answered. "Too much that can't be explained."

An image appeared in my mind. I looked over at Bella. "Can you take us all there?" I asked with my thoughts, having not recognized the place.

"I can with your help."

Soon, we all were at the location Bella had shown me.

"Where are we?" Emmett asked.

"A mile and a half behind my parents' house," Bella replied. "This is a little cabin near the bluff my dad stayed in when deer hunting."

Emmett nodded. "It's small, and with the chairs knocked over, it looks like a struggle took place."

"My doing," I admitted, looking and seeing the broken vase, gun, and knife I had managed to collect as we left my home. "Now, I need to modify the bastard's memory." After settling Bella on the dusty couch, I motioned for Emmett to follow me outside. Barking dogs could be heard in the distance. We didn't have long.

Once a short distance away from the cabin, I couldn't hold back any longer, so I drew back my fist and punched Jacob square in the jaw.

"Whoa! Edward," Emmett said. "I could arrest you for that."

I shrugged, understanding Emmett's message—could but wouldn't.

After Jacob righted himself, I captured his gaze, speaking almost hypnotically, hating what I was about to say, but Jacob's memory had to be altered to protect Bella, me, and our secret. I gave a somewhat true account of what happening, skipping over the various locations Bella stopped at briefly. "You will confess to murdering Charlie and Renee Swan three years ago and forget what you know about Bella's special abilities," I said, finishing.

Jacob blinked when I stepped back. "Care to tell me now what happened?" Emmett questioned.

"Fuck off," Jacob said in a disrespectful tone. "I want my lawyer."

"Answer this: do you need a medic for you jaw?" I asked.

He spat at me, saying nothing.

The barking was getting louder, and flashlight beams could be seen.

"Over here," Emmett yelled.

Dad, Jasper, and Malcolm were in front of the search party. I motioned them to follow me inside the cabin. Bella was hunched in front of a small fire with her hands held out in front of her.

I was an idiot; she had to be freezing. "Jasper, give me your jacket," I said, removing my sweatshirt as Dad examined her as best as he could without any instruments. Kneeling down beside her, I slipped my top over her head and then wrapped the jacket around her.

"Local police want to talk to her, Dad," Emmett said. "Can she?"

"No," Dad and I said at the same time.

"FBI only," I continued, recalling the note I found in Bella's purse last month—they don't believe me. "Does she need to get checked out at the hospital?"

Dad shook his head. "I'll keep an eye on her, but I think she's fine."

Emmett's former partner, Eric Yorkie, was coming into the cabin as I lifted Bella up into my arms. Emmett shook his head at something Eric asked.

"All questions can wait until tomorrow," Emmett said. "She's been through enough tonight."

~~ L.C. ~~

Mom was waiting on the porch when I got out of the car with Bella.

"She's asleep," I said quietly, walking up the steps.

Mom nodded. "I've made up the room off the kitchen, if you want to go there."

The room was nice but unfamiliar to the angel in my arms. "It would be better if I put her in my room. I don't want her to believing she is still with Jacob if she wakes in the middle of the night."

Again, Mom nodded. "I'll follow you up, then."

My legs were starting to hurt, but the pain served as a reminder that Bella was safe in my arms. I would have collapsed after I placed her on the center of my bed if I hadn't first sat on the edge.

"Get some rest, Edward," Mom said, kissing my cheek. "And you might want to take off her jeans."

I bobbed my head and with a wave of my hand, what she was wearing vanished, reappearing folded on the dresser, and pajamas covered her. Settling on my right side, I rested my hand on Bella's stomach and wept silently. I had been so close to losing her tonight.