All characters and situations are the property of Stephenie Meyer. My embellishments are my own, but I will not profit from this work.
Chapter 7-Prowler
"Good morning, love," I said to Bella as she yawned and stretched in my arms.
"Hmm," she sighed, leaning up to kiss me lightly. "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty," I replied as I smoothed her tousled bed hair. "Alice said Charlie would be expecting you home in an hour or so."
"You should've woken me up sooner," she grumbled, nuzzling my neck. "We would've had more time."
I chuckled as I tried not to think about the way we could've used that extra time.
"You needed the rest," I countered. "Alice told me you didn't sleep well Thursday night." No thanks to Rosalie.
"I never sleep well when you're gone," Bella blurted.
I tensed as a wave of guilt washed over me. I remembered the terrible nightmare she'd been having when I came back from my first hunting trip after my return to Forks. Did she still have bad dreams about me abandoning her?
"That's not what I meant, Edward," Bella said hastily. She was staring intently into my eyes and I knew from the remorse in hers that she saw the pain in mine. "I just sleep better when you hold me."
"I'm not leaving like that anymore, so it doesn't matter," I reminded her as my fingers ghosted across her cheek. "No more extended hunting trips."
"For now," Bella said with a smile. I knew she was referring to her transformation. I didn't want to discuss it with her at the moment, so I changed the subject.
"What would you like for breakfast?" I asked her.
"I'll eat when I get home," Bella replied as she snuggled closer to me. "Right now, I just want to lay with you until Alice makes me get dressed."
"When was the last time you ate?" I asked her disapprovingly. I knew she'd left school with the mongrel yesterday and she'd gone to bed without dinner the night before.
"Umm..." she said speculatively.
"If you have to think about it, then it's been far too long," I chided her.
Before she could open her mouth to argue, I was gone. I returned a moment later with two of those revolting pop tarts she liked and a glass of milk. I chastised myself mentally for not having something more elaborate and nutritious waiting for her when she awoke.
"Thanks," Bella said before taking a bite and washing it down with the milk.
"Well, it isn't much, so I expect you'll need to eat again after you get home." I replied. She rolled her eyes at me in response.
"So, what are your plans for the day?" she asked between bites.
"Hmm," I smiled as I kissed her forehead. "I was thinking of asking my beautiful girlfriend to accompany me to Port Angeles for dinner and a movie."
Bella snickered as she sat the now empty plate aside. "Well, let me know if your beautiful girlfriend has other plans. I'd be happy to fill in for her if she's unavailable."
"You're being absurd again you know," I said with a scowl as I wrapped my arms around her. How I wished she could see herself through my eyes for just a moment; maybe then she would understand what I saw every time I looked at her.
"I don't see you going to Port Angeles tonight." Alice said as she breezed inside and sat down on the edge of the bed. "But I can't see what you're doing yet." I hope that dog doesn't have anything to do with it, she added mentally.
"Good morning Alice, why don't you come in and join us?" Bella said sarcastically. I laughed.
"I wasn't interrupting anything yet, but if I had waited, well..." Alice trailed off, and I would've blushed if such a thing were possible.
"Charlie is expecting me to bring you home soon and you need to get dressed. "I've seen that he'll be upset if you're late," Alice finished. And you need to call the Ducati dealership in Portland about the motorcycle soon if you want it delivered today, she added mentally. I stuck my tongue out at her too quickly for Bella to see.
"Fine," Bella grumbled as she reluctantly pulled away from me. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
"I'll be waiting for you in the living room, love," I said, kissing her warm forehead before I followed Alice downstairs.
The house was oddly quiet; Emmett and Rosalie were out for a run and Carlisle and Jasper were playing a game of chess while Esme watched a home improvement show on TV. It was the sort of scene that made our family look almost a human as anyone else's.
While Bella was getting changed, I made the necessary phone calls and arranged for the motorcycle to be delivered later in the afternoon. I didn't get a chance to ask Alice if she'd seen how Bella would respond to my new toy before I heard Bella's awkward footsteps at the top of the stairs. I zipped up the steps to grab her overnight bag.
"Gah!" Bella gasped as I materialized beside her.
"Sorry love," I said, stifling a laugh as I picked up the little duffle bag. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"You won't be able to sneak up on me like that whenever I'm a vampire," Bella grumbled.
"Yes, you'll be the picture of poise and grace with unprecedented senses," Alice said blandly from the bottom of the stairs. "We need to go. If you're late, Charlie won't let you stay over again anytime soon and that bed will go to waste."
"Well, we can't have that, can we?" I asked Bella rhetorically, thinking of how much I'd enjoyed spending the night with her here, where we didn't have to hide from Charlie.
Bella smiled at me, her cheeks flushed at the memory. A half second later, I scooped her into my arms and hurried down the stairs in a blur.
Carlisle and Jasper laughed at the look on Bella's face as I rushed her out to the driveway, where Alice was waiting in the car.
"I'll see you in a couple of hours," I said to Bella as I opened the passenger door of the Volvo for her.
"I know," Bella said with a sigh as she climbed inside and fastened her seatbelt.
"I'll be counting the minutes," I said as I leaned in to kiss her before closing the door.
"Ugh," Alice grumbled too softly for Bella to hear as she started the engine. You two are so sweet it's disgusting, she thought. I snickered.
I watched my car pull away into the distance, listening to Bella and Alice arguing over the prospect of taking a shopping trip before graduation.
"Edward," I heard Esme whisper from inside the house a moment later. I turned to go back inside to join her in the living room.
"Did I hear you say something about a motorcycle?" Esme teased as she turned off the home renovations show she was watching on one of Emmett's large TV's.
"Yes," I replied with a smile. "I've decided to take up riding since Bella seems to enjoy it so much. They're delivering my new bike later this evening, along with a helmet and a riding jacket for her."
"You're actually going to indulge her in something risky?" Esme asked in surprise. I'm impressed. She thought.
I frowned at her; was I going to get a lecture on how unreasonably overprotective I was from every member of my family this weekend?
"You know what I meant, sweetheart," Esme soothed as she correctly interpreted the annoyance on my face. "I'm really proud of the way you've decided to back down with regards to Bella's friend. I think your newfound tolerance will work in your favor."
"Yes, well, perhaps it's a moot point," I grumbled, thinking again of the disgusting, blasphemous things that stupid boy had said to her the day before. I clenched my fists together convulsively as I imagined what it would feel like to crush his skull in my hands. I remembered the words I'd heard in his mind when he first realized her intentions to change.
I'd rather kill her myself than let her exist like that. She'd be better off dead. Jacob Black had thought.
"She's dead, Edward," Rosalie's voice echoed in my head as I replayed the terrible conversation we'd had back in March when Rose had thought Bella committed suicide by jumping off a cliff.
"Right," Esme replied knowingly as she remembered the way Bella had looked when she'd returned home on Friday afternoon. Pain surged through my chest at the mental image of a sodden and heartbroken Bella trudging through the house. I gasped.
"I'm sorry son," Esme apologized. "I didn't mean to show you that."
"I know, mom," I said with an attempt at a smile. It was a feeble effort. The idea of anything or anyone hurting my Bella was agonizing,
"Will you play for me?" she asked abruptly before I even had a chance to register the request in her thoughts.
I nodded as I walked over to the piano at a human pace and began to play the love song I'd written for her and Carlisle so many years ago. She sighed with contentment as she listened to the music. Her thoughts were full of her love for her husband. I smiled to myself. As the song drew to a close, I transitioned automatically into Bella's lullaby.
"You and Bella are going to have such a lovely wedding," Esme mused as she envisioned my beautiful Bella in flowing white silk.
"You sound like Alice," I said in a voice that was thick with longing as my fingers glided over the keys.
Esme and Alice were so sure, but I wasn't convinced that Bella would ever want to be my wife. She'd made it abundantly clear that marriage was not a priority to her. In fact, she seemed to have a physical aversion to the very idea of it.
"Give her time," Esme said soothingly as though she had read my thoughts. She placed her hands on my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. "She'll come around."
But I still had my doubts.
I spent the next couple of hours researching places to ride motorcycles in Washington. There were a surprising number of bike enthusiasts in the area. I hadn't expected that given the sodden climate in the Pacific Northwest, but I was getting excited about the idea of taking up a hobby with Bella. Alice had predicted that the bike would arrive just after 4:00, and since I couldn't stand the idea of waiting that long to be reunited with Bella, Jasper agreed to take care of the delivery paperwork. He knew little about motorcycles and was curious to examine the bike for himself.
As I drove through the streets of Forks that rainy mid-afternoon, I thought about Bella's argument with Jacob Black again. I was sure that he was feeling at least some degree of regret over his inexcusable words, but I wondered if his remorse would be deep enough for him to beg for her forgiveness. I knew from what I'd seen in his mind that a part of him really believed she would be better off dead than to become what I am, and yet I also knew that he had no concept of what it would really mean for her to be gone forever.
I shivered as my insides curled with phantom nausea. I would never forget what it felt like to think that she was gone. As far as I was concerned he could die a painful death and proceed to rot in the ninth circle of hell for having even entertained the idea as an errant thought. How I longed to kill him for saying it to her out loud!
I pushed these hateful musings out of my mind with a reflexive shake of my head. I refused to allow Jacob Black to ruin my Saturday. I was going to see my Bella and nothing else mattered at the moment. Maybe I should surprise her with the motorcycle tonight. I needed to do something to make her feel better after the wretched way her so-called "friend" had behaved this week. Alice couldn't see us going to Port Angeles, so perhaps a little joyride would be a better way to spend the evening.
I could hear Bella asking Charlie about starting the wash when I pulled into the driveway. I snorted. As if Charlie would ever take it upon himself to do household chores unless it was a necessity. How he had survived before Bella moved in with him was a mystery to me. I winced as I thought about how he would have to cope without her again very soon.
I was halfway between the car and the front door when a terrible sweet scent assailed my nostrils.
A vampire had been in this house.
In a fraction of a second, every nerve in my body was poised for battle; my muscles tensed and burned with a desire to attack in spite of the fact that I could detect no thoughts inside besides Charlie's...
But someone had been in here a few hours ago…
And they had been in her room.
The intruder wasn't inside at the moment, but that didn't mean that he wasn't watching the house. Was he waiting for me to arrive before he attacked? Venom filled my mouth.
I could hear Bella rummaging around in her dresser and terror surged through me like a bolt of lightning. The monster could be watching her right now, poised to strike…
I moved at the speed of light to the front door and rang the doorbell. Barely a half second had passed since I'd caught the scent but time seemed to stand still as I waited for a response.
"Door," Charlie drawled lazily from the couch as he channel surfed. I cursed him shamelessly under my breath. Why did he have to act like such a damned child? I ignored his petulant thoughts as I listened gratefully to the sound of Bella's awkward footsteps racing down the stairs.
I prayed she wouldn't trip in her haste to get the door. I could think of only two occasions when I had been more desperate to see her face and I was just as homicidal now as I had been when I'd followed her in Phoenix and Port Angeles.
"Don't strain yourself, Dad," Bella grumbled irritably as she passed the couch. I held my breath as I waited for the door to open.
The perfect smile that graced Bella's beautiful mouth faltered as soon as she took in the horrified expression on my face.
"Edward?" she breathed in a sharp, panicked voice. "What…"
I placed my finger to her soft lips to silence her. If the prowler was listening he would hear the alarm in her tone, and I didn't want Charlie to notice anything.
"Give me two seconds," I whispered urgently, the commanding tone of my voice leaving no room for questions or arguments. "Don't move."
I zipped past Charlie before his weak mortal eyes could process my presence, rushed up the stairs and flung open her bedroom door.
I flew around the empty room at the speed of light, searching for any clue to share with the others, a fiber of clothing, a single hair…
But there was nothing.
Who had been here? And why?
The probable answer came to me at once and my terror reached a fevered pitch. With perfect clarity, a reedy voice echoed in my mind as the memories of my ill fated excursion to Italy replayed in my head.
"And we will visit you as well," Caius had assured me in a threatening leer. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances."
They had come to check on Bella and they knew she was still human. There was no other conclusion that I could come to.
I raced back down the stairs like a flash of lightning and found her staring at me with an expression of shock right where I'd left her less than 4 seconds ago. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her gently but urgently into the kitchen. My eyes took in every minute detail of the room as I pulled her soft, fragile body protectively against my own.
"Someone's been here," I said in a choked whisper against her ear. The ancient washing machine thudded in the background and I realized that Charlie wouldn't have a hope of hearing our conversation whether I whispered or not.
Bella frowned uncomprehendingly at me for a moment and I could tell she was trying to process the meaning of my words.
"I swear that no werewolves—" Bella began defensively. She had misunderstood.
"Not one of them," I interjected, shaking my head impatiently. "One of us."
Comprehension broke across her face as all the color faded from her skin. Her heart hammered at an alarming rate. My poor Bella was terrified and rightfully so.
"Victoria?" she spluttered in a choked whisper. Reflexive anger boiled inside me at the mention of her name. But we had other things to consider at the moment. This had nothing to do with Victoria.
"It's not a scent I recognize." I explained. The stark horror in her face intensified. I knew that she had come to the same conclusion I had.
"One of the Volturi," she deduced at once.
"Probably." I choked, hating the sound of this catastrophic confirmation on my lips. It went against every instinct I had to reveal something so horrifying to her.
"When?" she asked, her voice surprisingly steady.
"That's why I think it must have been them—it wasn't long ago, early this morning while Charlie was sleeping. And whoever it was didn't touch him, so there must have been another purpose."
I knew she would understand what I meant at once.
"Looking for me." she whispered as though she had picked the words straight from my mind.
I couldn't answer her. Words failed me; the fear and remorse I felt froze me in place as I stared into her pale but stoic face. She was so strong and brave and she didn't deserve to have that valor and strength tested time and again because of her involvement with me.
"What are you two hissing about in here?" Charlie asked suspiciously, rounding the corner with an empty popcorn bowl in his hands. He'd better not be trying to get her to take off with him somewhere again. Charlie thought.
Bella didn't answer him. She seemed incapable of speech at the moment and her face was nearly as stark white as mine. I knew she was thinking that her father was lucky to be alive right now. Her worry for him would undoubtedly eclipse her fear for her own safety.
Naturally, Charlie registered the blatant panic in her face and completely misinterpreted it.
"Ha! Looks like there's trouble in paradise. Bella is obviously upset and Edward looks like he just swallowed a lemon. Maybe I should give Billy a ring...
I was already stressed past endurance and I repressed a wild urge to lunge at Charlie myself for his plans to take advantage of this situation. He was so meddlesome and selfish and I was tired of him trying to exploit Bella's feelings for his own agenda.
"If you two are having a fight...well, don't let me interrupt." Charlie said with a smirk as he vested himself of the empty popcorn bowl and left the room.
"Let's go," I growled through clenched teeth as I tugged on her arm. I needed to get out of here before I lost my fragile grip on sanity and attacked Charlie. And more importantly, I needed to get Bella out of here and dispatch someone to follow the intruder's trail. We'd also need to discuss security and surveillance. If they were looking for her, I would have to keep her under constant supervision, and I couldn't afford to allow her to be the least bit incautious.
I was also desperate to speak to Alice and demand to know why the hell she hadn't seen Bella's visitor.
"But Charlie!" Bella hissed in an urgent whisper. Her heart was still racing and her face was milk white.
For a moment, I considered dragging her out of the house with the feeble assurance that Charlie would be fine. I wasn't feeling particularly charitable toward him at the moment considering his pleasure over the tension he was misconstruing as discord between Bella and I, but as I looked into Bella's wide and fearful eyes I knew that I had to at least be able to alleviate her concerns for her father's safety. I pulled my phone out of m pocket in a flash and began dialing.
"What's up," Emmett said cheerfully before the phone had finished ringing once.
"Emmett, we've got a problem," I said quickly as I gently pulled Bella toward the door. "Someone broke in to Charlie's house and they've searched Bella's room."
"Victoria-" Emmett growled eagerly.
"No one I know," I hissed in a hurried whisper too soft and fast for Bella's ears. "I could tell the scent was male, though. I suspect there could be Volturi involvement and I need to get her out of here."
"A vampire has been at Bella's and Edward doesn't know the scen," I heard Jasper telling Rosalie in the background.
"Can you and Jasper come and search the area?" I asked urgently.
"We'll be there in two minutes," Emmett said. I could hear him closing the front door and racing off the porch before the phone disconnected.
"Emmett and Jasper are on their way," I assured Bella in a whisper. She was trying pointlessly to pull away from me. "They'll sweep the woods. Charlie is fine."
She stopped struggling and nodded slightly as we continued toward the door.
Wonder what he's done to annoy Bella. He was probably up to no good while he was gone. I bet Jake would love to try to make her feel better. Maybe she'll forgive him tonight for whatever he did to make her mad if Edward's in the doghouse. Charlie was thinking when he turned his attention away from the TV to smirk at Bella.
The only person who belongs in the doghouse is that mutt who thinks your daughter would be better off dead than to join my family, chief. I thought angrily. Charlie's expression shifted a half second later as he watched us walking wordlessly toward the front door.
What the hell was that about? He mused silently as Bella closed the door behind us without saying goodbye.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked quietly as I started the Volvo's engine.
"We're going to talk to Alice," I replied darkly.
Every muscle and nerve in my body was burning with fury now as a hundred different hellish scenarios played out like a horror film in my mind. This monster, whoever he was, could have been waiting for Bella to come home. He could have tortured her, violated her, or worse. An image of Bella lying pale and lifeless on her little bed flashed in my head and I sped up.
"You think maybe she saw something?" Bella asked, still speaking softly.
"Maybe," I lied. I knew better.
If Alice had seen anything she never would have left Bella's this morning and she would've alerted everyone at once. Anger pulsed through me as I thought about the implications of this mess. I glared out of the windshield as I wondered again what in the hell could have been on Alice's mind that would have kept her from seeing something this serious. I had been relying heavily on her to keep Bella safe and now it seemed that Alice was incapable of protecting her. There was no apparent reason for her lapse in foresight since the wolves were not involved! What was wrong with her?
I could hear a tangle of anxious thoughts as I dashed up the front porch steps with Bella's warm little hand wrapped securely in my own.
Why didn't Alice see... -Esme
Who could be responsible? -Carlisle
...hope Jasper finds something and he doesn't let Emmett do anything stupid. -Rosalie
Edward I'm sorry! I have no idea why…! Alice began wordlessly, but I interrupted her silent words as soon as I'd crossed the threshold with Bella. I didn't want to hear her apologies now.
"What happened?" I growled. I stared intently at Alice, who was standing with her arms crossed defensively, her face hard.
"I have no idea. I didn't see anything." She replied flatly. I don't know what to tell you. I didn't see anything to do with another vampire coming into the area, let alone someone coming into contact with Bella...
"How is that possible?" I hissed furiously. Alice had never failed to see when others were coming into town before now, especially if they might potentially be hunting nearby. Why was she suddenly missing something so crucial? She'd sworn to me she was watching Bella...
"Edward," I heard Bella mutter reproachfully. She was trying to calm me down, but there was no way I was going to let this go. I was desperate for answers. Gambling with her safety was unacceptable.
"It's not an exact science, Edward." Carlisle said in a calm voice that merely incensed me further. Alice isn't perfect, and neither is her second sight, please try to calm down. You know she has occasional blind spots, He thought.
Blind spot!! This was no blind spot; it was a gaping hole that could've cost Bella her life.
"He was in her room, Alice. He could have still been there—waiting for her!" I roared, ignoring Carlisle's ridiculously calm disposition. I refused to allow anyone to dismiss this as a fluke lapse in Alice's abilities. This was monumental.
"I would have seen that." Alice countered. I don't think whoever it was meant to actually make contact with her, or even hunt in the area. If there had been a threat to her safety or our privacy I wouldn't have missed it, she added wordlessly.
I threw up my hands in a gesture of enraged disbelief.
"Really? You're sure?" I snapped.
How could she be so cavalier about this? Bella could have died!!
Alice's expression hardened and her thoughts were suddenly just as irate as mine. I'm not omniscient, Edward. She thought defensively.
"You've already got me watching the Volturi's decisions, watching for Victoria's return, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another?" Alice hissed furiously. "Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bella's room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks." She finished angrily.
"It looks like they already are," I retorted wrathfully.
"She was never in any danger. There was nothing to see." Alice argued vehemently.
"If you're watching Italy, why didn't you see them send—" I began, but Alice quickly interrupted me.
"I don't think it's them," Alice insisted. "I would have seen that."
"Who else would leave Charlie alive?" I blurted angrily. I felt Bella shiver beside me and my rage intensified. She shouldn't have to go through this.
"I don't know," Alice said. There's only so much I can do, you know.
"Helpful." I snapped bitterly.
"Stop it, Edward," Bella said in an admonitory whisper.
I smothered a growl as I turned to face her, my face still contorted with rage. Surely she wasn't going to try to downplay the risks now! I flashed a warning look at her as my arguments about how she needed to take her safety seriously formed on the tip of my tongue.
But when I saw the stress and panic in her chocolate eyes, my fury evaporated and every word on my lips was gone. She was frightened and stressed and my misplaced anger at the sister we both loved was only intensifying her anxiety. I needed to pull myself together for her sake.
"You're right, Bella. I'm sorry." I said regretfully as I met Alice's eyes with a sheepish expression on my face. I felt terrible for my childish outburst.
"Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable." I said, hoping she heard the remorse in every word.
"I understand," Alice assured me gracefully. "I'm not happy about it, either." I'm sorry, Edward; you know I love her too and not being able to see something this big scares me. But I still don't think that whoever it was meant to actually come into contact with her.
I took a deep breath to suppress the irritation that threatened to flair inside me again. My anger wasn't going to solve anything and I needed to come up with some sort of strategy for handling this mess in order to reassure and protect Bella.
"Okay, let's look at this logically. What are the possibilities?" I asked the room at large.
The tension in the room seemed to lessen in response to the shift in my demeanor as everyone considered my question. I felt another stab of remorse for the way I was treating my family. For the second time in less than two weeks they were unjustly on the receiving end of one of my stress induced tirades.
Alice's stiff posture relaxed some, and she leaned against the back of the couch, but she was still reeling from this latest hole in her sight and my response to it. Carlisle was concerned about the way I was acting and worried about Bella.
Esme sat down on the couch in front of Alice, and Carlisle moved in her direction almost unconsciously. He wanted to comfort Alice, the way any father would.
Rosalie didn't join in the family exchange; she was still watching for Emmett and Jasper to return. Naturally, she was worrying about Emmett; he was always her first priority. Her animosity toward Bella had waned, though it hadn't disappeared entirely and she was having a difficult time suppressing the resentment she felt at the constant turmoil we seemed to be facing lately.
I wish they'd get back already. Why is it always something with this human? She's like a monster magnet…ugh. She thought.
With a tremendous effort, I ignored my selfish sister as I pulled Bella over to the sofa. She took the seat next to Esme, who wrapped a motherly arm around her shoulders. I sat down on the other side of her and placed her hand in both of mine, hoping to comfort her further. I could feel the nervous tremors in her fingers, and I tightened my grip on her infinitesimally.
"Victoria?" Carlisle asked. Ever since Emmett had told him about my phone call, he had been considering the possibility that she might be involved in this somehow.
"No. I didn't know the scent," I explained. Apparently Emmett and Jasper had not filled the others in on all the details. I was sure the predator was male and I had detected no trace of Victoria anywhere in the house. If she had been in the area, Emmett and Jasper would know.
"He might have been from the Volturi, someone I've never met...."I continued.
It was entirely possible; I wasn't in Volterra for very long and no other explanation made any sense.
Alice shook her head. "Aro hasn't asked anyone to look for her yet. I will see that. I'm waiting for it." I'll know when Aro makes the choice. He isn't ready.
"You're watching for an official command." I breathed incredulously.
Surely she knew better than to think with any degree of certainty that everyone would just wait for an edict from Aro! Caius didn't want to allow us to leave to start with. It would be all too easy for him to send someone without his brother's knowledge.
"You think someone's acting on their own? Why?" Esme asked, looking curiously from me to Carlisle. Carlisle has told me that Aro has the final say on all matters of importance and Carlisle knows them better than just about anyone.
"Caius's idea," I explained, wincing at the thought as I remembered his words of warning again.
"Or Jane's...," Alice said. "They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face...."
I frowned angrily at the thought of the immortal tweenager and her demonic thoughts. She was desperate to solve the mystery behind Bella's immunity to her sadistic talents and would like nothing more than to experiment on her until she discovered the secret.
"And the motivation." I added darkly.
It's possible. You know just as well as I do that neither one of them were pleased with Aro's decision to let us go. Alice conceded silently.
"It doesn't make sense, though," Esme said. "If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella, Alice would have seen that; he—or she—had no intention of hurting Bella; or Charlie, for that matter." What was the point of just coming in, looking around, and then leaving?
Esme wondered wordlessly.
I felt Bella cringe beside me at the thought of someone harming her father and I felt guilty for my previously callous attitude about his safety.
"It's going to be fine, Bella," Esme murmured, stroking Bella's hair. The poor little thing! She's so scared. Esme thought sadly.
"But what was the point then?" Carlisle mused, speaking aloud the words that had been in his mate's mind a moment before. I know we're missing something really crucial here, but I haven't the slightest idea about what it could be, he thought.
"Checking to see if I'm still human?" Bella interjected. We were on the same wavelength as usual.
"Possible," Carlisle said diplomatically, though I could hear the confusion and skepticism in his mind. If it was the Volturi, that would be the only reason I could think of for them to search the house and then leave. But, why would they go? When they detect any violation of the law they always act swiftly and decisively. They haven't even done anything about Seattle… Why would they go to the trouble of coming to Bella's and just leave without making any kind of contact? He mused silently.
A sound in the trees about five miles from the house alerted us to the fact that Emmett and Jasper were on their way back.
Nothing! Damn it. I would have liked to get a crack at the guy. Emmett thought crossly.
Oh, thank goodness! Rosalie thought, breathing a deep sigh of relief when she knew Emmett was here. She turned her attention toward the back door.
"Long gone, hours ago," Emmett said with out preamble as soon as charged through the door. The disappointment in his voice was obvious. "The trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road…had a car waiting." Sorry we didn't find more.
That's bad luck," I grumbled bitterly. "If he'd gone west...well, it would be nice for those dogs to make themselves useful."
I briefly imagined Jacob Black dismembering a large vampire that closely resembled Felix and dying in an attempt to save Bella's life; a win-win situation. I supposed I could have forgiven him for the things he'd said to Bella if he were dead.
Bella tensed beside me, and she grimaced. I knew she hated the idea of others putting themselves in harm's way and she would unfairly blame herself if they did so. I felt a tiny twinge of guilt for fantasizing about the death of her former friend but only because of the pain it would cause her. Esme rubbed her shoulder gently.
"Neither of us recognized him. But here," Jasper said urgently as he handed Carlisle a damaged fern leaf for his inspection. "Maybe you know the scent."
Carlisle sniffed it hopefully, and I heard the disappointment in his mind at once. I sighed.
"No," Carlisle sighed as he crushed the thing between his fingers absently. "Not familiar. No one I've ever met."
"Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it's a coincidence...," Esme began, but stopped when she saw everyone else's incredulous expressions, including mine. I could hear the blatant disbelief in five other minds at once.
Bella looked skeptical as well, and I could see the resolve forming in her eyes. She was going to offer up a solution of her own as soon as she could get a word in edgewise.
"I don't mean a coincidence that a stranger happened to pick Bella's house to visit at random," Esme clarified quickly in response to our reactions. "I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around her. Was he wondering what draws us there?"
"Why wouldn't he just come here then, if he was curious?" Emmett demanded. Why seek out the human if he was harmless? Sounds like a coward to me. He thought.
"You would," Esme said with a sudden, fond smile. "The rest of us aren't always so direct. Our family is very large—he or she might be frightened. But Charlie wasn't harmed. This doesn't have to be an enemy." If I were a lone nomad I wouldn't want to approach a coven of our size. I would be too scared; but our Emmett is too brave for his own good. She thought.
I suppose Esme could be right, and I wish she was, but I doubt it, Carlisle was thinking, his normally smooth brow creased thoughtfully.
I didn't believe there was any merit to Esme's theory. It just couldn't be that simple. I cursed whatever unknown supernatural force it was that always seemed to be conspiring against my Bella. Why her? She was so good, so precious and harmless. She didn't deserve to live in such perilous circumstances! And it seemed that no matter what I did, I couldn't shield her from it. I growled silently at the bitter harpy that had so often appeared in my mind as a personified version of the danger she faced.
"I don't think so," Alice said in response to Esme's theory after a moment's pause. "The timing of it was too perfect....This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see...." But that still doesn't really explain why I didn't see…
Alice is so upset, why is this happening? Maybe I should take her away for a few days…this is too much for her, Jasper thought anxiously.
"He could have other reasons for not making contact," Esme interjected hoping to get some support for her argument. I knew it was wishful thinking on her part.
Either way, I say we kick their ass for breaking in to Bella's room, Emmett thought. I almost smiled at his protective big brother attitude about the situation.
"Does it really matter who it was?" Bella asked, and I could tell she had grown tired of the circuitous speculation. She'd been quiet up until this point, but I knew she'd been hanging on to every word and gesture of everyone in the room.
She took a deep breath and glanced around the room to gage the expressions of the others. My insides twisted as I braced myself; I knew what was coming. She was going to try to use this as an excuse to ask Carlisle to change her now. I gritted my teeth.
"Just the chance that someone was looking for me...isn't that reason enough? We shouldn't wait for graduation." She said deliberately, sitting up straighter to emphasize her readiness to become a monster.
Why not? We could leave here and do it. We'd be rid of Victoria and if this prowler was from the Volturi they wouldn't have any reason to bother us anymore. Bella would be safe, Emmett thought practically.
"No, Bella," I hissed at once, glaring daggers at Emmett. I gave Carlisle a desperate and imploring glance that Bella didn't notice, pleading with my eyes for him to deny her request.
I know that now is not the right time, Edward. Don't worry. Carlisle thought earnestly. I relaxed a little.
"It's not that bad. If you're really in danger, we'll know." I assured her without a noticeable pause. In reality, I had no earthly idea how bad this situation was, but I refused to allow her to see how worried I was.
"We have to know," I said urgently in a whisper that was too quiet for Bella to hear. Alice nodded slightly, causing Jasper to glare at me and take her hand. He thought I was putting too much pressure on her. Perhaps I was, but he would have behaved no differently if he were in my place.
I turned my eyes back to Bella, who was staring expectantly at Carlisle. He shook his head apologetically.
"Think of Charlie," Carlisle pointed out. "Think of how it would hurt him if you disappeared."
"I am thinking of Charlie!" Bella argued, the timbre of her voice rising the way it always did when she was angry or being ridiculously stubborn. "He's the one I'm worried about! What if my little guest had happened to be thirsty last night? As long as I'm around Charlie, he's a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all my fault!"
I cringed at her words. How in the world did she rationalize blaming herself for all of this trouble? If anyone was to blame for this nightmarish situation, it was me.
"Hardly, Bella," Esme said, patting my hair again. "And nothing will happen to Charlie. We're just going to have to be more careful."
Edward, you need to try to calm her down. Esme thought.
"More careful?" She echoed incredulously, as though there was no way we could look after her any better. But I was already planning intense security measures in my mind. She was never going to be unattended again.
"It's all going to be fine, Bella," Alice promised. I smiled slightly at her, knowing that Alice's view on the subject would force Bella to back off for now, anyway. I will be watching for any sign that anyone is coming, including Caius and Jane, Edward. Alice thought.
Bella sighed and her shoulders sagged, admitting defeat. I squeezed her hand gently, savoring her soft warmth. I thanked whatever God there was that she was safe, and vowed to move heaven and earth to make sure she stayed that way.
"You won't be alone for a second," I soothed her as I drove slowly through the streets of Forks toward Charlie's. I hated driving less than 20 miles above the posted speed limit but Bella was already stressed and irritable and I didn't want to make matters worse.
"Someone will always be there. Emmett, Alice, Jasper..." I continued reassuringly.
"This is ridiculous," She grumbled irritably, crossing her arms and slumping over in her seat. "They'll get so bored they'll have to kill me themselves, just for something to do."
I glared at her.
"Hilarious, Bella," I snapped.
How could she even joke about such a thing?! If she only knew what I would do to anyone who harmed a hair on her head, she wouldn't wish such a painful proposition on anyone, let alone people she considered to be family.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, biting her lip as she was wont to do when she was stressed. I took one hand off the steering wheel and stroked her cheek.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, and nothing to worry about, love," I said quietly.
She didn't answer, and I sensed that she wasn't in the mood to talk at the moment. The rest of the drive was silent, and Bella was lost in her thoughts.
I wanted to be lost in her thoughts too.
I tried my best to ignore Charlie's haughty mental musings that evening, but it was difficult. He was convinced that Bella and I were arguing and he was thrilled.
"That fish smells great, Bells," he said jovially as Bella worked in the kitchen. They're obviously fighting. Wish he'd go sulk at his own house. I wonder why he's even here; it's not like he's sticking around for the food. I wish he'd leave so Jake would come over for dinner. He knows how to appreciate Bella's cooking. Charlie thought.
I gritted my teeth at this latest ludicrous comparison between myself and the boy he really wanted his daughter to date. Now he preferred Jacob because of his appetite. If he knew what my diet really consisted of, his feelings might have been warranted, though. I wondered idly if werewolves ever found dog food appealing…
"I really appreciate you staying home to make dinner for me tonight, Bells. Didn't you kids have anything better to do this evening?" Charlie went on in a would-be casual voice.
Bella's eyes met mine for a brief moment and I could tell she also knew that Charlie was trying his hand at a different kind of fishing this evening.
"We weren't really in the mood to go out," Bella grumbled as she tossed another piece of pungent trout into a frying pan.
I can see that, Charlie thought gleefully. I let go of the Formica countertop in order to avoid crushing it and clenched my hands into tight fists.
Perhaps I should do another sweep of the woods to calm my nerves. I was almost positive that it was pointless, but it might help me clear my head. Between all the stress of worrying about the intruder in Bella's room and Charlie's gloating attitude, I was dangerously close to losing my temper. Bella probably wouldn't be pleased if I did irreparable damage to her father's house.
"Excuse me for a moment," I said quietly. "I just remembered an errand I need to run."
"Of course," Charlie said sweetly, smiling too widely at me for the expression to be interpreted as a gesture of cordiality.
I smiled painfully in return as I walked toward the living room, subtly grazing Bella's lower back as I passed with the tips of my fingers. She sighed, and I could tell she was comforted by the gesture.
"Take your time," Charlie added. He assumed that I was leaving for a few minutes to try to calm down. He was partially right, but not for the reasons he was thinking.
"I'll be right back, Bella," I called over my shoulder in response as I rummaged through my pocket for my keys in a human sort of way.
Somebody's touchy, Charlie thought smugly as I closed the front door with a soft click.
The damp, earthy smell of the woods was a pleasant departure from the fishy odor in Charlie's little kitchen. I ran through the forest for a brief moment, taking deep breaths in an effort to calm myself and to see if there was any sign of a fresh trail.
There was nothing new to be found, and I was still angry.
I was angry that my innocent Bella was once again the target of some dangerous creature; angry that I felt powerless to protect her from all these disasters that seemed to stalk her every move; angry that her father wanted her to fall in love with someone he believed would be a better suitor than I…
And I was angry that he might be right.
When I returned, Bella had finished cooking and was about to serve dinner. She smiled at me when I walked through the front door and I felt the familiar sense of peace that always radiated through me at the sight of her.
Back so soon, Charlie thought as he glanced up from the sports magazine he was reading when he heard my approach. I wonder if he had anything to do with Bella and Jake's fight…. Ugh; she's pleased to see him and it looks like he's in a better mood…maybe I can do something about that.
I gritted my teeth. I was getting rather tired of Charlie blaming me for every problem Bella had with Jacob. My irritation intensified when I heard what he was planning to say next as he looked back down at his magazine.
"Jacob called again," Charlie said as soon as my feet crossed the threshold from the living room into the kitchen. He had deliberately waited to deliver this most unwelcome phone message until I had returned from my errand.
I kept my expression blank as I walked back over to the kitchen counter. Bella gave me a fleeting apologetic look and brushed her free hand against my shoulder before she turned to face Charlie.
"Is that a fact?" She said, trying to keep the irritation from showing in her face as she sat a full plate down in front of him.
Charlie frowned, annoyed at her response. He'd been hoping that Bella would be over her anger by now. She was always so kind and forgiving.
"Don't be petty, Bella. He sounded really low." Charlie scolded her. What is with her lately? I can't believe she'd let Edward influence her to turn her back on Jake when he needs her, especially since she knows what that feels like. Edward abandoned her and it nearly killed her. Jacob saved her.
I removed my hands from the kitchen counter again. I was in danger of breaking it for the second time this evening. The reminder about what my absence had done to her made my whole body ache with grief. I wondered again how Charlie would react if he knew just how many ways Bella had nearly died while I was gone...I shuddered.
"Is Jacob paying you for all the P.R., or are you a volunteer?" Bella snapped in response as she prepared her own plate and joined him at the table. I probably would have found her reply amusing if I wasn't still reeling from the things I'd heard in Charlie's mind.
Charlie glowered at Bella but he didn't respond. Instead he began devouring his dinner, lost in his thoughts about different ways he might be able to open up the lines of communication between Bella and the dog. I tried not to listen.
I grabbed the magazine that Charlie had discarded so that he could eat and pretended to read it while I watched Bella covertly from over the rumpled pages. Her face was pensive as she chewed her food. She frequently paused between mouthfuls to gnaw nervously on her lower lip and I knew that Charlie's little guilt trip was nagging her conscience.
She was going to forgive Jacob Black sooner rather than later. I marveled at her decision. I knew that Bella was uncommonly kind, but to pardon someone who had wished such a terrible thing on her seemed extreme even for her.
"Mark and I are going fishing in the morning," Charlie announced as he carried his empty plate to the sink. "As soon as the game's over, I'm going to bed."
"Okay," Bella replied as she toyed with the remnants of her vegetables.
"But Jake said he'd be up late tonight, so you don't have to worry about disturbing him if you want to call him later," Charlie said, smiling smugly as he left the room. He made her happy when Edward was gone and she loves him whether she knows it or not. So I'm going to make sure she figures it out. He added mentally.
I gritted my teeth so hard that it actually made my jaw hurt as the recurring anger and jealousy washed over me. I tossed Charlie's magazine on the table before I could pulverize it.
Bella rolled her eyes in response to Charlie's latest hint, but it was a feeble gesture. I was certain that she had already made up her mind to forgive Jacob.
I remembered the look in her eyes when she'd told me what he said to her on Friday and I was sure that I would never be able to do the same.
"Are you okay?" Bella asked as she began to run hot, soapy water over a stack of dishes. I smiled at her in a perfectly convincing way, but her sharp chocolate eyes knew me well enough to read the tension in mine.
"I am as long as you are," I replied truthfully as I brushed my fingers across her warm, soft cheek. She nodded knowingly.
"So am I," she answered as she leaned into my touch. And for a moment, I forgot about everything but the feel of her skin on mine.
Jasper and Esme were waiting in the dense thicket of trees behind Charlie's when I officially left Bella for the evening. I was surprised to see my mother here; Esme was perfectly capable of holding her own in a fight but I had been expecting Emmett. He and Jasper tended to handle matters such as these together since they knew each other's fighting style so well.
"We haven't found anything new," Jasper informed me as the rain battered the evergreens above us and trickled down into our hair. "The rain washed some of the scent away, but it's still identifiable."
"Where are the others?" I asked, disappointed but not surprised.
"Carlisle had to go to the hospital for an emergency surgery," Esme replied. "Emmett and Rose are trying to see if they can figure out where the car might have gone, and Alice is keeping an eye on the areas near the ranger station in case whoever it is decides to hunt."
Rosalie wanted Emmett with her and Alice wanted to be alone so she could try to concentrate. There was an article about another missing person's case in Seattle and she's worried about why she hasn't seen anything. Jasper added mentally.
I sighed heavily and nodded. I knew that Alice was extremely alarmed about the recent lapses in her visions and I could appreciate why she wanted to focus her full attention on trying to see.
"We should split up and canvas the area," Esme said.
Without a second's pause, we took off into the night, monsters hunting monsters.
Our searches were just as futile as we'd expected, and I was relieved when Charlie went to bed early just as he'd promised.
"I'm glad you're back," Bella greeted me eagerly when I climbed into her bedroom window. She was wearing those blue pajamas Renee had given her again and I was glad to see them. I knew I shouldn't relish the temptation, but tonight I needed the distraction.
"I'm glad to be back," I smiled, trying to dry my hair with a towel she'd set out for me before I joined her in the little bed.
"Did you find anything?" she asked somberly as she laid the book she was reading aside. Tonight she had traded Wuthering Heights for Jane Eyre.
"Nothing," I said flatly as I tossed the towel on top of her dirty t-shirt. She winced. I was even more disappointed than she was, but I needed to stay calm for her sake.
"But don't worry, love," I soothed. "We're not alone. You're safe, I swear." I walked over to stand beside her bed and I took her hand in mine.
"Come here," she said, pulling me down onto the little mattress.
I lay down beside her and she wrapped her arms and legs around me. I groaned at the scent and the warmth that radiated from her. I kissed my way down the side of her soft face, down to her neck, the base of her throat...
"Hmm," Bella moaned as she ran her fingers up and down my spine. I clutched her closer for an all too brief moment, knowing that it was time to slow down.
I forced myself to stop the kisses when I reached her collarbone, moving my lips reluctantly from her petal soft skin as I rested my head on her shoulder. I shivered, but the urge I felt to continue was different now. The feel of her was always erotic to me, but tonight it was a more subdued desire. At this moment, I needed the soothing comfort that came from being as close to her as I could safely be. It more solace than passion.
"I don't want you to stop," Bella whispered softly as I reached over and turned off her reading lamp.
I didn't want to stop.
"You've had a difficult day, love," I said quietly as I stroked her hair. "You need to rest. You're safe, and now its time to sleep."
"I'm always safe with you," she whispered, kissing my head.
As I cradled her in my arms, I tried not to think of the bitter irony of her statement. I was keeping her safe, but if she'd never met me, she wouldn't need to be protected in the first place.
We lay intertwined together for a long time, until Bella's bare skin began to chill and goosebumps formed on her arms. I reluctantly pulled away from her and swaddled her in the thick quilt she loved so much. It only took three minutes for her to fall asleep in my arms once I began to sing her lullaby.
Bella was oddly still and quiet, undoubtedly due to exhaustion. I stroked her hair absently as I replayed the events of the day over and over in my mind.
A vampire had been in this house, in this very room. I could still smell traces of him in the air. He'd touched her bed, her clothes, some of her books, and a photograph of the two of us that Alice had taken two weeks after we'd returned from Volterra. I was furious that he had touched her things, invaded her space.
Had there been a method to his exploration? Was he looking for something he didn't find? Nothing made sense.
I knew I was missing some crucial piece of information that would have explained the whole story. I felt like I was reading a novel and a third of the book was missing.
Why had he come, and why didn't Alice see him?
Could the wolves have had something to do with her lapse in vision? Had there been some factor that involved Jacob Black at that time that prevented Alice from seeing around Bella's home? Charlie was in close contact with Jacob's father, and he was fond of the boy…
From there, my thoughts returned to the cold and heartless things Jacob Black had said to Bella in a fit of anger.
'He said he'd rather see me dead,' Bella had said less than 24 hours ago as I held her in our bed.
'She's dead, Edward.' Rosalie's voice echoed in my mind for the millionth time.
Bella's life was in danger again now, and I would pay any price to save her. I knew in my heart that the selfless thing for me to do would be to ensure that she led a full and happy mortal life, but by a thousand cruel twists of fate, that seemed impossible.
Bella believed that she wanted a different life, and the dark and greedy part of my being would do anything to keep her on this earth, no matter what kind of life that meant. For the second time today, I heard Jacob Black's voice in my head.
'I'd rather kill her myself than let her exist like that. She'd be better off dead.' Jacob Black had thought the day we'd seen each other in the woods behind Charlie's house.
The echo of his words lit a fire inside me and my hatred for him grew like a cancer that consumed me. I wanted him to die for even thinking such a sacrilegious thing. But I knew I could never raise my hands to him, not even to safe my own half-life.
Because I fully understood that when she did choose to forgive him it would prove that Charlie was right; she loved him, whether she knew it or not.
It was time for me to let her go so that she could figure it out.
Chapter end notes;
Okay, so Edward has decided to let Bella explore her feelings for Jacob, and we all know where that leads. More of his mental angst and conflict coming soon…Poor Edward, he wants one thing for himself and another thing entirely for Bella. He hates Jacob for a variety of different reasons, but he loves Bella more.
I really am sorry about the long wait. Not to drone on and on about my medical issues, but I had minor surgery on the 25th of January and I was healing just fine at first. But I have epilepsy, and the anesthesia impacted my medication levels so I had a seizure for the first time in nearly 7 years. I had no idea that could happen actually!
Also, I had a hard time getting into Edward's mind for this chapter, and it's a little shorter than the others. (Maybe it's the drugs! LOL) I have more written, including Jacob's visit, but I felt like it just didn't fit here, and for the sake of continuity I chose to leave that stuff for the next chapter. Anyway, I sincerely hope it lived up to your expectations and I am already working on Ch 9 and I don't anticipate the wait being that long. Thank you all so much for your well wishes and your patience. Please review and tell me what you think!
Much love,