Chapter Twenty Four

Bella

I'd recognized only one of the people who snatched me, a pale, bitchy looking girl even smaller than me. She had to be Jane, another of my sisters, which posed the question, how had Alice missed this? She said she'd looked to my future and hadn't mentioned my being kidnapped which was a pretty big omission. I knew I'd got my emergency message out and at least one of my Guardian Angels had heard. The Volturi Guard were obviously taking me to Italy and I needed to slow them down as much as I could although it wasn't going to be easy. First I was so scared I felt sick, so I decided to use that as an excuse for stopping. When the little bitch ignored me I got my own back by throwing up over her immaculate black cloak. She was furious but what could she do? They had to stop for me to clean up and get something to settle my stomach. I dragged my feet as much as I could and wasted about half an hour before she lost her temper and dragged me back to the now evil-smelling but clean car.

The guy driving complained about the smell but she just glared at him and he fell to the floor writhing in pain. So that was her gift as I'd been told.

"Why don't you shut up and drive"

she said as he got to his knees then his feet and he climbed in the car and we started off again.

"You do that again and I'll put you in the trunk for the rest of the journey" she threatened.

"It's not my fault, I told you I felt ill" I snapped back.

When I saw lights ahead I knew we were close to the airport, how else could they get me to Italy. As soon as the door opened and Jane got out I made a run for it. I knew I couldn't get away but it would take them time to find me in among the buildings. I tried to confuse them by heading towards the field instead of the exit and gained a little longer but eventually I skidded to a halt as Jane waited for me round the corner of a hanger. She glared but I just stood watching her and after a while she cursed and grabbed my arm tightly.

"You're going to break my arm, and I don't think my father wants me as damaged goods so ease up."

She didn't like it but I think she saw I was right and she eased her grip. It still hurt but the fingers weren't boring through the bone to meet up any longer.

I dragged my feet all the way to the customs shack where I had to show my passport. I didn't have one but that didn't stop the Volturi. They just happened to have a spare with my name and picture on it and Jane warned me to behave or they'd take it out on Charlie. I couldn't cause too much hassle but I did insist on using the rest room and managed to waste a good fifteen minutes in there before Jane appeared to haul me out. Once we got to the private jet the pilot came out complaining they'd missed their slot and would have to wait at least an hour before there was another one. I smiled triumphantly as Jane cursed and went to ring her masters leaving me with the two silent guards who stood arms crossed at the entrance to the plane.

When she got back I insisted on getting a drink and something to eat so she sent one of the guards off with instructions to get me something. He appeared twenty minutes later with a couple of sandwiches and two bottles of soda. I looked at the sandwiches and threw them back,

"I can't eat tuna, I'm allergic to fish"

"Just eat it" she spat

"OK But I won't be able to breath afterwards. You'll need the Paramedics."

She glared trying to gauge if I was telling the truth then sighed and grabbed my arm again.

I was hustled back to the vending machines near the exit of the hanger. I think they were really for the guys working in the hangers because the choice was very limited and I took my time deciding what I wanted glancing at the clock hanging high on the wall and seeing the minutes tick by to our departure slot. As she dragged me back with my food I slipped on a patch of oil on the floor and went flying. As she wasn't expecting the movement she almost went with me, letting go at the last moment. I lay on the floor making as much of a fuss as I could to get the attention of the guys working nearby. One of them came over announcing he was the First Aider and insisted looking at my injury for their records.

"It has to go in the book and you can't go until she's been seen"

he said stubbornly as his friends gathered round nodding their agreement.

I saw Jane glance at the clock and curse again.

My ankle was swollen and developing an enormous blue and black bruise.

I couldn't put my weight on it so he insisted on strapping it. He'd wanted to call an ambulance but I could see that would be pushing Jane just too far so I agreed I'd get it checked when we got to our destination. By the time he'd finished and we got back to the plane we'd missed another slot and now the pilot was over his hours so although there was another slot in half an hour we couldn't take it because the replacement pilot couldn't get here in less than an hour.

I sat with my foot up just hoping I'd wasted enough time to give my Guardian Angels time to act.

Jasper

As I hit the long winding road up to the town of Volterra I had the strangest feeling that Bella wasn't there. I couldn't explain how I knew but it was an absence of feeling, the strangest sensation and if it was right then I had a chance. If they hadn't made it to Volterra yet I could try an ambush. It wasn't going to be easy on my own but there was no alternative. It was too late to call Peter and get him here, they wouldn't be that far behind me. In fact they should have been way ahead, so what had occurred to slow them down?