Chapter Thirty Five

Jake

The pilot indicated we had a message so I took it back to Jasper,

"Bella rang the Cullens. She's in France headed North from Chamonix on the run from Edward.

"Give the pilot a change of destination" his voice was hoarse and weak.

"Already done my friend. She's got no papers so she can't get out of the country but she's waiting for someone to arrive. There is an added problem though"

"What?"

"Edward's told her some kind of story about you and Alice. I don't think she's going to be happy to see you."

"I didn't expect her to be but this complicates things. See if we can get up north fast. I have to find her Jake"

I never thought I'd be thinking it, but I felt sorry for the guy. He was really hurting.

Bella

With my new friends help I paid for three nights and went to my room with a certain relief, shutting the door and sinking onto the narrow bed. Before I realised it I must have fallen asleep because I woke stiff and sore draped over the bed, feet hanging over the edge and still dressed. I looked at my watch and saw it was the middle of the night then jumped up. I needed to ring Emmett and tell him where I was. Opening my door quietly I glanced out. The corridor was dimly lit along its length and was empty. As quietly as I could I went downstairs to where I'd seen a pay phone. The doors were locked and the reception desk empty as I dialled the Cullen house again.

Esme answered again but this time she was expecting my call,

"Bella are you all right honey?"

"Yes thank you. Is Emmett on his way?"

"Yes he is but the others are already in France, they landed a little while ago and will get to you as quickly as they can. Just stay out of sight. Where are you Bella?"

"I named the town, I'm staying at the Youth Hostel on the outskirts. Who's here Esme?"

I was praying she'd say Carlisle but she didn't,

"Jake is coming to get you Bella."

"Jake? How did Jake get to France so quickly?"

"We hired a private jet to get you as quickly as possible. Just relax and stay out of sight Bella, help is on the way."

I heard a noise and shrank into the shadows seeing a figure peering through the glass doors, I gasped as I recognised it,

"Esme he's here" I whispered, barely audibly.

"Edward?" She asked also whispering

"Yes."

I hung up and stayed in the shadows until he turned and walked away, his footsteps crunching the fresh snow.

Had he heard or smelled me? How had he found me so quickly? Had Emmett given me away? Were the Cullens in on this? Could I trust anyone? I'd already told them where I was, so all I could do was stay in my room and wait to be found by enemy or friend with no way of knowing which was which.

Jake

We were coming in to land when the pilot called to say there was another message coming in for us over the air phone. I looked at Jasper but he was sitting curled up in one of the huge chairs his eyes closed and his arms wrapped around his chest. He wasn't looking any better and I was getting concerned. Vampires were supposed to be immortal but this one looked like he might be the exception to that rule. I picked the phone up and heard Peter's voice.

"What the hell are you doing there Dog?"

"If you have something to say leech just spit it out. We're landing any time now."

"Hows the Major?"

"He looks like shit and it's not getting any better but I doubt you rang for a health update on your friend."

"True. Emmett and Rose flew out a couple of hours ago on another private jet and they're hoping to land up there in a few hours, just in case you need back up."

"OK, I'll pass the message along."

"Thanks Jake, and thanks for being there with The Major."

He put the phone down then but he'd made the gesture of friendship.

I went back to where Jasper sat and touched his shoulder making him jump, he was worse than I thought if I could startle him that easily.

"Emmett and Rose are on their way just in case we need help."

He never even opened his eyes to look at me.

I wasn't sure Jasper was going to be much help with Edward, he hadn't moved from his seat, in fact he hadn't moved at all and I wondered how much longer he could function without finding Bella and hunting. What a turn up for the books, a wolf worrying about a vampire and hoping that we'd find Bella soon in order to save him. I still wasn't sure he would actually die but his mental state was certainly worrying. He hadn't said a word just sat with his eyes shut.

"Jazz we'll be landing in about twenty minutes. Are you going to be OK? You're going to need to hunt man"

He shook his head

"No Jake. I need to find Bella, she's all that matters."

"You really love her don't you?"

"Yes"

"But does she love you?"

"I don't know Jake"

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then I find a deep hole and climb down. There's nothing else I can do. I can't force her to have feelings for me but I think she does."

"You think. Fuck, that's thin."

"Yeah I know."

Emmett

I hated flying, it was so boring but it was the quickest way from A to B and I had Rose with me, which had surprised me.

"So do you think we'll get there before Edward does something stupid?"

"I hope so Rose. She sounded really freaked out and he's spun her a tale about Jasper and the others. She doesn't know who to trust any more, which is why I only mentioned Jake. He seemed a safe bet."

"Do you think she has any feelings for Jasper?"

"Well I don't know a lot about it but it seems to me that you wouldn't fall in love with someone like he has with no chance of winning them. Mates recognise each other so, yeah I think she loves him even if she doesn't realize it yet."

"Well lets hope it doesn't take her too long to see it because I don't think he's got that long."

As we landed we saw it was snowing hard,

"We need to find someone who can tell us where the hostel is."

Luckily the Customs guy, who was only to happy to help after being presented with a fist full of notes, knew the quickest way to the place. He also told us that two other jets had landed recently and the second wanted to know the same thing.

"That must be Jake and Jazz" I said hopefully.

We set off, walking, then breaking into a run as soon as we were out of sight of the humans. It didn't take us long to locate the hostel but by the same token it wouldn't have taken Edward long either, she'd left a scent trail most of the way. As we approached we could see footprints just being obliterated by the falling snow.

"Someone's just left."

"Jake and Jazz?"

"No just one person."

Rose stopped and took a deep breath

"Edward" she hissed.