Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns it all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chpt 25 A Fine Hunting Dog

DPOV

By the time we near Cuba I already know that our prey has moved on. But not yet stopped.

It angers me. But I can acknowledge that without human assistance we would not have even got this close. Dio! What a fool Aro was to discount our food so easily.

Now I must decide. Do we press on and have the planes drop us on Cuba so we can make our own way? Or do we return to the ship and strike out again when we can get closer?

It would help if I knew enough about him to guess where he will go next. If Bella is correct it will be somewhere else he thinks we can't reach him quickly. Growling I retrieve the map from the seat pocket in front of me. Awkwardly I rearrange my body, these things were not designed for the more muscular man, I need to stretch and have to remind myself to be still. Bella will not be pleased if I needlessly kill a human just so that I can extend my legs.

Comparing what I know of our range an' his current direction and speed I quickly conclude that unless Bella is prepared to allow us to jettison directly over him we will have to turn back and go after him again in a few hours when I am more sure of his destination.

I relay that in the form of a cryptic message to my pilot and a moment later I hear Bella's response transmitted, even we cannot hear each other over the roar of the engines although if I turn my head I will be able to see her clearly on my left. We will return and set out again later.

Sound judgement from my Mistress.

With nothing else to consider for a while I allow my mind to drift to my current predicament.

I have never wanted anyone as much as I want her. It is physically painful to see her with her mate. Yet strangely comforting. To know that she is happy an' someone cares for her the way she deserves, albeit not always effectively. My Master is worthy of my servitude but occasionally, where Bella is concerned, I would like to smack him upside his golden head.

I chuckle at the thought. Suicide. He is completely deadly, even for me. As a side thought I don't think he even realises how much stronger and faster he is than a normal vampire. I have been watching and gauging him during our training sessions and he truly is the ultimate warrior. Because aside from his physical prowess he actually thinks about what he is doing. And when The Major takes over. Dio! Even I love him a little. To be so wild and yet so strategic. He is a force to be reckoned with and I recognise that if I cannot have her, then there is no worthier vampire than he.

Many times I have considered leaving. What a thought. Considered is too strong a word. Many times my mind has tried to inform me that I might think about, eventually, one day, leaving. But it is never going to happen.

I am bound to her. Forever. I will not leave. What is the word Peter would use? Oh yes. Shit. It is shit, but what can you do?

Her pain distresses me. I want to comfort her but I don't know how. I am hesitant to interfere. I can feel her but yet I sense we are not mated, there is a block there. The same block that has always been there and I assume it is her true mate, the Master. Also I have never known Chelsea affect a mating bond, they are physical, but again all our powers grow with time and practice, perhaps hers did too. What I will not do, in all conscience, is give Bella false hope. I love her too much for that.

And so I will wait. And watch. And suffer a little.

I wriggle in my seat again as we approach the ship to land. There are occasionally some physical problems with the current state of my love life and there will be no relief to be found aboard ship, no matter how comforting I find it in other ways.

After landing we agree to wait a few hours before deciding on our next move and the four of us, the Whitlocks, retreat to our cabins where conversing quietly through the metal wall will be easy.

I have just finished updating the Mistress on my thoughts when the Commander summons her away to the communications room for her conference call with Evans.

Sensing my discomfort at having her away from me my brother needles me mercilessly, ably aided by Charlotte.

"She will be quite safe." He drawls. "She could crush the entire ship if needs be."

"Humph."

"You could have gone with her if you were worried." Charlotte adds through the wall.

"I am not worried." I snap.

"He's pissy." Simon whispers.

Flicking my arm out I punch him in the jaw, knocking him against the bulkhead which groans ominously.

"No damaging the bath toy." Charlotte giggles. "An' I mean the ship."

"Why am I so amusing?" I demand hotly as Simon makes a girly fuss over his broken jaw.

"Oh Big D." Charlotte sighs and I hear her press her palm against the flimsy wall. "We're your family, we're only trying to cheer you up."

"I am not miserable." I growl.

Simon sits up suddenly looking serious and I am saved from another head probing attempt by Bella's return.

Impatiently I wait as I hear her climb into the bunk beside Charlotte.

"They're okay." She says. "They've landed in Seattle an' have recon out already. There is an army there but The Major reckons we're on top of it. Pete was right, Lefu has already called in to find out what our response will be, Kseniya has been approached as well. Both by Sebastien.

They lost Alice. Jasper realised she was gone a few hours after they started south."

I snarl, it would have been nice if our traitor had revealed himself. Of tiny insignificant Alice I care nothing.

"We're good here." She continues. "Evans says these guys are as happy as they can be with our presence an' we have a few more days at least before his marker runs out."

"Marker?" Simon asks.

"Apparently he called in a favour from the intelligence community to get us here." She answers. "An' the powers that be are grateful we've responded to the situation in Seattle so quickly."

"Aren't we just dandy." Simon chuckles.

I wave my fist at him.

"Fuck off Simon." The Mistress giggles happily.

"Demetri." She continues more seriously. "We have to find him. He can't be allowed to get away."

"We will Mistress." I vow. "He's as good as dead already."

I hear her nod her head against her scratchy pillow. Without thinking I reach out my hand to the wall, roughly where I know her to be, and I stroke the pads of my fingers across the cold and unforgiving metal.

We will. My mind repeats. For you.

I close my eyes. Vampire mind tracking Asturias, strategizing how we will take him down, and imagining that my fingers are actually stroking Bella's cheek and bringing her peace.

A long time later I open them to find Simon staring at me. There is no mocking, only pity and understanding.

I close them again immediately. Some things really are too much to bear.

Right on time the Commander rouses us from our supposed slumber an' hustles us down to the ship's galley where what I assume is a fine meal is laid before us. Non-plussed we take our clues from the Mistress who has the most recent experience of consuming human food.

And twenty minutes later we are taking turns in the head to throw up what we couldn't hide.

Absolutely disgusting. Vile. The things we do for love.

Our target is back on the mainland and has finally stopped moving so rapidly. So it is with a light heart, considering my horrible experience with breakfast, that I recommend the Apache for what I believe to be our final trip.

On the flight deck we are given brief training on the art of abseiling from a helicopter. Which I will follow, despite the fact I can undo the straps and plummet down from any height without injury.

We fly for two hours, following my gift south and west, knowing that my quarry has slowed an' stopped I authorise a mid-air refuelling so that we can continue the pursuit.

Eventually, I assume several hours after the battle has begun in Seattle, I locate Rutilio as static and order the pilots to set us down. The map informs me that we are just outside the town of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

The Mistress loudly enjoys her inexpert descent into the treetops from the gunship and I find myself laughing along with her. I will buy a helicopter for her, an Agusta 109 Power, if she will enjoy the experience with anything like such abandon.

The rotor blades retreat into the distance and suddenly she becomes deadly serious, her eyes becoming empty black, like The Major's. I wish I understood how they do that, switch from reasonable peacemaker to lethal warrior. I wish the sight didn't make me want to throw her onto her back and fuck her senseless. I wish . . . .

"Lead the way Demetri." She growls, unconsciously throwing her chestnut hair away from her heart shaped face.

Nodding I lead us toward the town. Frustratingly my extravagant sense of smell is useless, normally this close I would be able to scent my prey, this time I am solely reliant on my gift.

But he is close.

Stealthily we approach. The scents swirling in the air suddenly remind me how hungry I am. Warm fresh blood is all around us.

"Do we need to hunt first?" She asks, resting her hand lightly on my shoulder.

I nod stiffly. Asturias is moving, but slowly and on foot.

"There is nothing here for you Mistress." Simon says having scented the air.

"I know." She agrees. "You three go."

"You won't be tempted?" Charlotte asks with concern, clearly alluding to a previous experience.

"No." The Mistress responds simply. "I won't. I have more than enough strength to do what I need to do."

"You will have to accompany us." I inform her. "We cannot leave you unattended."

Despite her discomfort she nods, removing her hand from my shoulder an' burying it in her ludicrously baggy flight suit.

Following my nose I lead us closer to the town. The Mistress hangs back in the shadows as the rest of us pick out and chase down our kills.

I can sense the distaste in her warring with her pragmatism and desire to end Rutilio once and for all. But despite her acceptance I feel ashamed to have her watch me feed.

She has no idea how amazing she truly is. An adept fighter she can also crush any foe, protect herself and others with physical shields, hide our scent, sound and now physical appearances. All within a few years, who knows what else she will be capable of later?

Whoops. Bella coma.

The last of my meal dribbles uselessly from my lips.

When the others have finished dining on the less than innocent I lead the way further into the town, intently following my mental compass.

"Stop!" The Mistress commands suddenly.

We do.

She backs up a few steps, scenting the air.

"Alice." She growls, beautiful black eyes locked on mine.

How does she do that?