Chapter Eighty Three

Carlisle

I knew that The Major and Bella would be back, it was quite obvious to anyone with a brain, so what was I going to do to keep us safe? Jasper was right about Aro never letting up and if Bella and he did come back then Aro would see it as a failure on Alice's part. I went back inside where an argument was taking place between Alice and Jake.

"You gave Bella up to the Volturi? You let Charlie die as a diversion? What the hell were you thinking Alice? They trusted you, I trusted you."

"I did it for us Jake. Aro threatened us if I didn't help him. I love you and I wasn't going to see you killed by the Volturi guard"

She went up on tiptoes to kiss him but he pulled away from her.

"Jake? I love you"

"No Alice, I don't think you love anyone. I doubt you even know the meaning of the word. As for loyalty, well that's obviously not a word in your vocabulary."

"But you love me? You imprinted."

"Yes I did but I don't know how I can live with you knowing what you've done to our friends, your own family. You do know were all in danger now. If the Volturi come here they will find out about the wolves and then there will be one mother of a battle and we're all likely to die. Did you once stop to think about the result of your actions further than the end of your nose?"

She stamped her foot angrily,

"Yes. I looked to all our futures, Bella will talk her way out of Volterra and Aro won't come after us, Carlisle is his close friend"

"And you think that will stop him? What world are you living in Alice? Because its sure as hell not this one?"

"So what are you going to do Jake? Leave me? Run away to save yourself?"

I thought for a moment Jake was going to hit her, he was shaking with rage.

"No Alice. I will stay beside you, I have no choice, and I love you despite what you've done but because of that I have lost my friendship with Bella and I can never go back to the Res, we have to leave now and never come back so the Volturi don't start a war with the wolves. You just ruined both our lives, I just hope we can run far enough and fast enough to stay ahead of Bella and Jasper because believe me, they will come looking."

I tried to intervene,

"Jake I think Bella might understand Alice's motives."

"You think so? You think she'll understand that Charlie had to die? And you think Jasper will too? Not forgetting Peter and Charlotte?"

"I'll talk to them. Perhaps I can persuade them to leave you alone if only for your sake."

"And what when Aro starts asking questions about Alice? You think you can talk him round too?"

He turned with a deep sigh,

"Where are you going? Alice asked him in panic,

"I'm going back to the reservation to get my stuff and say goodbye and I suggest you do the same. I'll be back in an hour and we will be leaving, so move it. Sorry Carlisle."

I watched him go then turned to Alice,

"Why didn't you come to me Alice? I could have helped"

"I thought I was doing the best thing. Do you agree with Jake? Do you think they'll come looking for us?"

"Bella and Jasper? I think he would but she might talk him round, she's not vindictive normally but I have to tell you I couldn't blame her if she did."

Jake

Why had I imprinted on Alice of all people? She'd now ruined our future, we would be on the run instead of planning the future and the big wedding she wanted. I drove back to the Reservation without even concentrating on the road. At Billy's I noticed there were several cars parked outside. When I went in Sue Clearwater took my hands.

"I'm so sorry Jake. We tried to ring you but your phone must have been switched off. Harry found your Dad when he came over earlier. It was very quick, he had a heart attack by the look of things."

I looked at her unable to take in the words. Billy dead? How could I leave now?

"I have to make a call"

I mumbled and walked back outside shaking my head to clear it. Too much going on, my brain was about ready to explode. I rang the Cullens

"Cullen residence Dr Cullen speaking"

"Carlisle its Jake. Can I speak to Alice?"

"Of course Jake, is there a problem?"

"Its Billy, he had a heart attack earlier, he's gone Carlisle"

"I'm so sorry Jake. You won't be leaving then I take it?"

"I can't not yet."

"I'll get Alice for you"

He was gone a long time and when he came back he sounded upset himself,

"I'm so sorry Jake but I can't find Alice. She's gone."

"Gone? Where?"

"I have no idea but her bags and her car are gone. She might be on her way to you now"

"But you don't think so do you?"

"I don't know what to think Jake. I still can't believe she gave Bella up and caused Charlie's death. I thought I knew Alice but it seems I didn't know her at all."

"Me neither, but I still love her Carlisle and I will find her as soon as I get the arrangements over here."

"Keep in touch Jake"

"I will"

I put the phone back in my pocket, stunned. My whole world had just exploded, I'd lost my best friend's, mate and my father, in the space of an hour. All I could do for now was organise things for Billy and hope that Alice would contact me. If not I'd have to go look for her with no ideas where to start, whether she knew it or not I was hers for better or worse and I wouldn't stop looking until I found her, or death intervened.

Alice

It killed me to leave Jake behind but I couldn't stay, if the Whitlocks came I was a dead woman and that wasn't in my future if I could avoid it. I now had two choices. I could find Edward and start again somewhere with him. He'd run to get away from Bella's pull but I could have told him it was something you couldn't run from. It would always be there and always pulling him back to her, like gravity. He stood no chance while Jasper lived and killing him or getting him out of the picture wasn't an option, I'd looked. The trouble with Edward was he was a brooder and it drove me mad, his moods. I could suggest he join the Volturi, they'd channel his angst in some way but I wasn't sure he could fit in even there. His place was with Carlisle and Esme the two people who kept him grounded and stable. Perhaps he could go back there, after all he wasn't wanted by the Whitlocks and it would make Esme very happy, I know she missed him terribly. As for me...well I too had options I just needed to see which gave me the best outcome and away from Jake it would be easier to concentrate. Although he didn't cloud my mind as much a I'd made out it was more difficult with him around. I'd seen Billy's heart attack but I couldn't tell Jake or I would never have been able to leave alone, but I also knew he would come looking for me once the funeral was over so my time frame for manoeuvring was limited.