Moonlight
Escape Route
BellaPOV
" I still can't believe you came to the baseball field where we were playing with Bella. Are you trying to get her killed?" Edward shouted at Ruby and Jade. They cowered against the wall.
Eleazar and Carlisle looked tense. Esme and Carmen were speaking softly in their ears, soothing them. Tanya, Kate and Irina were organising a hunting party with Eleazar, Carlisle, Esme and Carmen. Rosalie couldn't calm Emmett. My brother was crouching in front of me in a protective stance. He would only let Edward near me. I was sitting on the kitchen bench, biting my lip.
Ruby and Jade looked terrified as my love chewed them out big time.
" We didn't think they would come," Jade squeaked.
" Yeah, that's right. You didn't think. Now my Bella is in mortal danger. They take one whiff of her and she is in danger until either, they get her or we kill them," Edward growled.
I was about to intervene, to tell Edward it wasn't their fault when my phone buzzed. Everyone went silent.
It was Jasper. I gulped.
" Lie," Emmett mouthed. I nodded and picked up.
" Jasper? How are you?" I asked trying to sound cheerful. From the look on Edward's face I don't think I succeeded.
" Bella, quit it. I know you are in trouble. Alice had a vision. Can you pass the phone to Carlisle?" he asked sounding troubled. I did as I was told.
" She said they were outside?" Right now?" Carlisle asked, after Jasper had said something to him over the phone.
At that comment, everyone went into a flurry of activity. Edward said he could hear their thoughts faintly outside, saying they were about 3½ to 4 miles away. Emmett growled and started to go towards the door. It took Carlisle, Eleazar, Tanya, Kate and Irina to stop him. Edward had grabbed me and we were heading for the garage but Carlisle stopped him.
" No, we need you here. Emmett and Rosalie will take her south. Jasper and Alice will meet them there. Esme and Irina are heading to Charlie's house in case they follow Bella's scent there. They will already have her scent by now. The rest of us will lead them north, then turn on them. Ruby and Jade will go with Emmett and Rosalie too," Carlisle instructed. I gaped at him. I couldn't leave Edward here without me. Edward looked the same.
" Edward, we will take good care of her. I promise. She is my little sister. I will look after her," Rosalie said gently, more kind than I had ever known her speak to Edward.
Edward nodded stiffly. He turned me to face him and he kissed me so forcefully it was kind of scary. There was tension behind the kiss that I couldn't understand. I kissed him back with as much force as I had but then it was over. Edward eyes went blank and then he was gone.
Rosalie whisked me into her arms and we hurried out to Carlisle's Mercedes. They would need the tint in the California. Emmett already had the engine running.
The car lurched out of the garage. Rosalie had thrown me into the back seat with Ruby and Jade. She was in the front next to Emmett. I stumbled, trying to do my seat belt up. They both relaxed when we hit the highway, Emmett grabbing Rosalie's and Jade were texting Tanner and Bailey. I felt lost without Edward.
Rosalie's cell rang.
She whispered into it for a couple of seconds then hung up.
" What happened?" I asked.
" All three of the nomads followed the hunting party, not the car. Alice called again and told them we would be safe till we reached California and met up with her and Jasper. I am not particularly happy that they are coming. Now we will have to protect Jasper as well but there is no stopping Alice," Rosalie told me. I nodded slightly.
Eventually, thanks to the gentle hum of the car, I fell asleep.
In my dreams, Edward was struggling against three faceless vampires. I was tied to a chair in the corner. I screamed but all the Cullens and Denalis just watched from the side, cheering. I woke sweating.
" You okay Boo?" Emmett asked me as I jerked awake.
" Yeah, bad dream," I gasped, out of breath.
I lay back against the seat and closed my eyes again. This time it was a dreamless, exhausted sleep I fell into.
*****
I woke up in a large comfortable bed that wasn't mine. I jerked up then everything from yesterday came flooding back. My head rushed from the sudden movement and I fell back against my pillow before rushing to the en-suite toilet and just making it in time before I threw up.
Emmett rushed in and held my hair just like Mum used to when I was little. He rubbed small circles on my back as I leant back on my knees.
" Are you okay Boo?" he asked cuddling me on the floor.
" Head rush," I mumbled weakly.
" Mm hmm, sure," Emmett murmured.
" It was," I argued, " and a little bit of nausea from yesterday's events,"
" It is okay Bella. You'll be fine," he soothed me.
" Have Jazz and Alice arrived yet?" I asked.
" Yes," a voice from above me answers.
Jasper.
" Hey," I smiled weakly. He sat down next to Emmett and I.
" Hey Boo," he sighed putting his arm around my shoulders, " Are you a danger magnet or something? I really don't think we should play baseball for a while,"
" I am sorry your honeymoon is ruined," I whispered, my stomach muscles aching.
" Hey, it isn't ruined. After Alice and the Cullens fix this unwanted problem, Alice and I will go back to New York," Jasper smiled.
" Edward told me the story. You're too kind," I said as Emmett looked quizzically between us.
" I'll explain later," I whispered in his ear as Jasper grinned sheepishly.
" She definitely appreciated it. I have never been kissed like that before," Jasper said, slightly dreamy. I nudged him softly. I really was too tired, sore and upset for too much teasing.
" Edward called before to say that they are still leading the nomads away. They didn't go to Dad's house," Emmett said. I stiffened and a tear rolled down my cheek at the thought of Edward, far away, probably in danger, risking his life for me. More tears followed and soon I was sobbing on Emmett's rock hard chest. He pulled me up so I was nestled between him and Jasper and they both cradled me as I cried.
I don't know how long we sat there, all three of us together again, but finally I fell to sleep, peaceful for a while, under the protection of my brothers.
*****
RosaliePOV
It had been hours since Emmett and Jasper had gone into the bathroom of Bella's room. I had stayed away, letting them have their time , but it was time we organised something. I crept in, softly, planning on surprising them. I rounded the corner to the bathroom... and stopped, seeing the most beautiful thing in the world.
Without making a sound, I hurried back out and grabbed my camera before re-entering the room.
Emmett was propped up against the wall with Jasper and Bella nestled safely under his arms. Jasper had his arm across Emmett's chest gripping Bella's hand. The latter had her arms cuddled up to her. Both Jasper and Bella were asleep. Emmett's eyed were closed as his head resting on Bella's. Bella's cheeks were dirty with tear-tracks. They all looked so safe, protecting by each other's presence. Bella's face showed pure bliss, sheltered by her brothers. Jasper was smiling slightly, shielding his little sister and Emmett looked where he belonged, protector of his family.
I clicked my camera, just before Emmett's eyes opened, slightly ruining the moment.
" Hey babe," i said, to quiet for a human to hear.
" Hello, love," he murmured looking up at me. I smiled.
" You look comfortable," I observed.
" I am," came the reply.
" Alice wants to, ah, gather to organise a plan. Ruby and Jade are watching TV," I said, apology seeping through in my voice. He did truly look happy.
" Can't she come in here. I don't want to wake them. They have both had big days," he argued, looking saddened at moving from his position.
" We would wake them up," I said.
" They haven't woken up yet," Emmett said. I scowled but went out to get Alice. The twins were asleep when I entered the lounge.
" Emmett wants the meeting to be in there. He won't move," I said to my sister. Alice rolled her eyes but got up anyway. I showed her the photo as we walked in.
" That is so, so, so, captivating. Intriguing. Beautiful," Alice said struggling for the right words.
" It all comes down to my good looks," Emmett murmured. Alice shook her head as I giggled.
" Right, so what are we going to do?" I asked.
" We need to figure it out fast or they'll wake up. I don't want Jasper or Bella getting any ideas," Alice said. We all nodded and started to plan.
*****
BellaPOV
Edward ran towards me as I sat, curled up on the floor of Mum's house. He scooped me up and held me as I sobbed. I waited for him to wipe my tears away but he didn't. I reached up to do it myself but when my fingers connected with my face, I felt no water. i looke down at my hands and saw my usual tan was replaced by pale white fingers. Edward still held me, oblivious to my observations. I looked up at him and what I saw shocked me. His face was so much more clearer and precise that usual. I looked past his face to the mirror behind his head and gasped. my red eyes widened.
I jolted back to consciousness but didn't open my eyes. I could hear Alice, Rosalie and Emmett talking.
" We need to figure it out fast or they'll wake up. I don't want Jasper or Bella getting any ideas," Alice said. That caught my attention and I listened harder.
" Edward said they would meet us here soon. In about three days. All we have to do is keep the humans busy until then," Rosalie said. I felt Emmett flinch at the word human.
" It is very hard to keep Bella busy for long, and Jasper has just got married. I am sure he would rather be doing something with Alice," Emmett said.
" The path that James is on now leads him to a ballet studio near here. I don't understand it though. What would lead him here. Bella has no ties here. Nothing on her school records would point to here," Alice said confused.
I was confused myself. I had never been to California before.
'Jasper just got married,' those words rang in my head. Maybe if I went to this ballet studio, this thing with James would finish quicker and Jasper could get back to his honeymoon.
With that thought, I quickly changed my though path to something else, so as not to alarm Alice. With my plan in place, I decided it was time to wake up.
Yawning, I opened my eyes.
" Evening, sleepyhead," Emmett said, grinning. I rolled my eyes sleepily and nudged him. This, in turn, woke Jasper.
He stretched stiffly, missing my head by an inch.
" Evening Jazz," I chuckled.
He rubbed his eyes and then caught sight of his position. he leapt away from Emmett and ended up next to Alice.
" There goes my perfect picture moment," Rosalie gumbled. I stiffened.
" You took a photo of us?" I asked.
" Yep, and you can't delete it," she giggled and leapt up, running into the lounge. I growled but cuddled up to Emmett.
" You still tired Boo?" he asked.
" Mm hmm," I mumbled. He chuckled and picked me up, carrying me to bed.
I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
A/N: I no i said it would be up the other day but my computer crashed and I had to start again. This is a little boring but essential to the story.