Chapter Twenty Six
Rose
I was finding to my amazement that I actually liked Bella Swan, a human! She knew what I was, she knew I could kill her in a heartbeat but she showed no fear, she was relaxed in my company as she explained exactly what had happened with Garrett,
"So he kinda blew it with the chocolates?"
"Well it was creepy, like a stalker invading my privacy. Do you get that?"
"Yes I do. The feeling that you have no sanctuary, that someone can reach wherever you are? I get that Bella. Garrett was a fool yes but he likes you a lot. I was furious with him at the party, I was scared you might find out our secret and put us in danger. Bella I hate what I am, I'd give anything to change places with you, live a normal life. Be a girl, grow into a woman, and make choices with my life but I can't. Maybe it would be best if you kept your distance from Garrett purely for those reasons"
"Isn't there anything about the life you have now that you like?"
I smiled,
"Emmett, of course. I love him with all my heart. If not for him I don't think I could make it. He's my strength."
"Rose..."
I put a hand up to silence her, I'd heard something and peered through the rain to see two shapes emerge from the trees but they were two shapes I didn't recognise so I hit the central locking.
"Bella, get my phone from the front console and ring your dad. Tell him where we are and to come now. Leave the phone on so he can trace you. I'm going outside and I want you to lock the doors again behind me"
She looked around wildly,
"Why?"
"There's someone out there and I don't think they're friendly. I can take care of myself, maybe even lead them away but you stay here. When Carlisle gets back you tell him what happened. I'll meet you all at home. OK?"
She shook her head grasping my sleeve,
"Please Rose don't go out there. Can't we hold them off in here? How about driving off? Please don't leave me."
I looked at her white scared face and sighed,
"OK I'll try but you get the phone."
She stretched out her arm to grab my phone when there was a horrible wrenching sound and her door was pulled violently open. Standing there looking at us was Sam Uley and by his side another of the wolf pack, his second in command Jared,
"Get out of the truck now"
I threw myself on him grabbing his throat but as I caught hold he phased and I found myself struggling with an enormously powerful wolf. I heard Bella scream as Jared pulled her free of the truck and dragged her away. Unfortunately I didn't last much longer, my body was simply ripped apart but it was too wet to light a match and his lighter refused to spark so Sam was forced to scatter my remains in the forest for the others to find. I just hoped they wouldn't take too long as the pain was terrible as my body parts struggled to find each other.
Bella
As the young man pulled me from the truck I saw Rose, the giant wolf ripping chunks from her body and tossing them in the air and I felt sick. I just hoped he wouldn't kill her, just how did you kill a vampire in any case? I was dragged still screaming from the road and down another steep bank then into more trees and all the while the rain continued to hammer down soaking me once more. Suddenly I realised I was only in my underwear with the travel rug over it and I pulled it closer round me. Tripping and struggling eventually he threw me to the ground looking around for someone or something.
"Why are you doing this? What did I do?"
He turned strangely orange tinged eyes on me,
"You consort with our enemies. A friend to the leeches. You should have died earlier, now you will."
He cast about again looking for something and I took the opportunity to make a run for it but I tripped almost immediately and he pulled me to my feet snarling into my face,
"They're all dead because of you"
As his face changed I cried out again, he was turning into a wolf before my eyes. I could feel the nails in his hand lengthen into claws and fur sprout on his arm. His teeth elongated and his breath choked me. I closed my eyes aware I was about to die and felt his fangs rip into my shoulder but then something strange happened. Something burst from me and he was gone. I sank to the ground in agony putting a hand to my shoulder where the wolf had bitten me and felt the terrible wound there, the blood flowing through my fingers and running down the rug to the muddy ground.
Rose
I heard Carlisle and the stranger approach and tried to cry out but I doubted they could hear me over the rain and wind. All I could do was wait until they found me and luckily it didn't take long. As soon as I was fused back I garbled my story and saw the strangers face set into a hard determined mask.
"Which way did they go?"
I pointed in the direction I'd seen the Quileute take Bella before collapsing onto the rain sodden seat of the truck, I was weak and very thirsty.
"You stay with Rose and I'll go on. If you can contact the others call them back to help. Otherwise get back to Forks and tell Bella's father the truth then call the res and get them to call the wolves off."
He was gone before I had a chance to say anything more.
"I'll ring the others, you drive."
I was already dialling as Carlisle started the truck engine having thrown the unconscious wolf girl in the back.
"If she stirs knock her out, we can't afford to lose her, she's leverage."
I assented watching her as I finally got hold of Emmett but they were too far away to be much help and Garrett was only now feeding.
"We'll meet you at Chief Swans place, Garrett can fill him in and maybe he can talk to the Quileutes."
Carlisle nodded his agreement with this plan and pushed the truck even harder through the incessant rain. Luckily the road was still open although flooded in places. Without Emmett's truck we probably wouldn't have made it but when we finally got to Bella's place we could see Emmett standing in the window, his back to us.
Carlisle grabbed the girl and we went to join the others in the house with Chief Swan who looked as if he was finding it hard to swallow that he'd lost his daughter yet again. Looking at the girl he scowled,
"Leah Clearwater is a wolf?"
"Yes Chief Swan she is"
"Right well I think we should lock her in the cellar for now. If they want their she wolf back then they can trade for Bella"
Bella's dad was holding up much better than I'd feared and Carlisle followed him out to the kitchen to lock Leah up.
"How much did you tell him?"
"Everything, he knew bits anyway. Do we know who took Bella?"
"Sam and another wolf but I don't know where he came from. Jasper went after them but what he can do against two powerful shape shifters I don't now.
"I'll go find him, its my fault she's in danger after all."
Emmett put a huge hand on Garrett's shoulder pushing him down into the chair,
"I'll go, you aren't strong enough yet. You watch the Chief and the wolf girl. I'll ring when I have anything"
Emmett hugged me briefly,
"Glad you're OK Rosie"
Then he was gone out into the dark and wet night and I could only pray he would stay safe.