Chapter Thirty Seven

Bella

Jake put me down before I realized we were on the plane and turned fast as Rose jumped in through the door slamming it behind her.

"We need to go. Edward isn't far behind."

"What about the others?" Jake asked.

"Emmett said to go. They'll make their own way back."

"You sure, he's pretty weak?"

I saw the look that passed between the two of them as the plane started to move. They weren't happy about leaving the others but recognised that they needed to get me away from Edward.

"Can't you stand up to Edward?" I asked nervously

"Not a good idea Bells. He's really upset and we don't need a scene at the airfield or a jet in pieces."

I felt the plane take off and knew we'd left them behind but whatever the problem was with Carlisle, I knew Emmett would look after him and Edward would never hurt his father, Carlisle would be able to calm him. So I closed my eyes, snuggled into Jake's reassuring bulk and relaxed into sleep.

Edward

They'd got Bella and there were more of them than I'd figured on. I knew she was beyond my reach now, I'd lost my chance by deciding to hunt but they'd left someone behind, no two people, and I intending taking my wrath out on someone. One of the figures was Emmett but he didn't intimidate me, I could read his thoughts so I could beat him in a fight but I had to smile when I realized who the other figure was. So Jasper Hale was here and he was in trouble, how very interesting. I moved forward to confront them smiling,

"So you two got dumped. What a shame. Still never mind, perhaps I can make it all worthwhile after you put so much effort into finding her."

I read Emmett's intentions and stepped to my left so he went past me, grazing my arm as he did so. I twisted and grabbed him by the neck putting enough pressure on for him to know my intention if he struggled. Then I looked at Jasper who stood leaning against a tree watching. Was he really in trouble or was this a ruse? His thoughts were murderous but I didn't think he could carry them out, and I smiled more broadly.

"Now what do we have here? The Major as weak as a kitten, very interesting."

"Well its the only way you could take me on" he rasped.

"Possibly, still it seems a shame to miss the opportunity."

I twisted and heard Emmett's neck snap. It wasn't fatal but he wouldn't be moving for a few hours at least, while he healed. As I dropped him to the ground Jasper straightened up and I wondered if I'd read the situation right or not. I moved fast but he avoided me, staggering before regaining his footing, so I was right. I'd just wear him down then go in for the kill and it would have to be the kill. If I left him alive I would be forfeiting my own somewhere down the road. He knew this too and straightened up once more, ready for my attack. I tried to out think him by jumping upwards into a tree before dropping on him from above but he turned and I dropped onto the ground at his feet which landed on my chest as his hands took hold of my arms.

"Not even on my worst day Cullen" he said as he jerked and my arms ripped from their sockets as I screamed in pain.

He slipped backwards and threw them weakly into the woods before turning his back to see to Emmett.

Rather stupidly I tried to kick him but he turned enough to get hold of my ankle and twisted it fast, almost wrenching it from my leg. As I lay on the ground gasping in pain he walked over to stand over me and I saw just how bad he really was.

"Edward, a word to the wise. Never start something unless you are sure you can finish it and you'll never finish me."

He turned unsteadily and went back to Emmett as I scrabbled to my knees dragging the almost severed foot and crawled to the trees to find my missing limbs. That's when the full meaning of his words hit me and I twisted but not fast enough. He dropped, knees in the middle of my back and wrenched my head back with a feral grin on his face,

"You lose"

The last sounds I heard were the snap as my neck broke and the click of his lighter.

Jasper

Now I was in real trouble, fighting Edward had used up my final reserves of strength and Emmett was out of action for a while yet. I had to hunt, I needed blood to keep me upright until Em regained the use of his limbs. My problem was that I didn't have the energy to hunt properly and the pain in my chest while slightly easier knowing Bella was safe with Jake and Rose was still crippling and would only get worse and worse as she got further away from me again. In the event I lay quietly in wait and managed energy enough to grab two rabbits and that was all. It barely eased the furnace that was my throat.

Emmett

It hurt like hell but I tried to move as soon as I got some feeling back in my limbs, Edward would pay for that one day I thought until I saw what Jazz had done and smiled. For now I need to concentrate on getting Jazz and myself back home, and him into Bella's arms. I staggered over to where I'd last seen him but he'd gone and I cursed as I had to hunt for him. When I found him he was laying in a foetal position with a couple of rabbit carcasses nearby

"Fuck you look bad Jazz."

I hauled him to his feet

"Come on we have to move and I can't support all your weight so move it Major."

He struggled to free himself from my grip and like two blind beggars we staggered through the woods hoping to find some deaf and stupid prey or a way out of the fucking snow. As my body repaired I became more and more thirsty and in the end I had to leave Jazz for a while to hunt. I found a herd of deer and was able to take down two of them. I drained one and dragged the other back for him but it didn't do him much good, the only thing that would help him now was Bella. My strength came flooding back with the successful hunt and by the time we made it back to the airfield I was back to normal. I prayed that the others had sent the plane back for us and heaved a sigh of relief to find they had. The pilot had almost given us up and was more than happy to get into the air at the first opportunity, although he wasn't happy when he saw the state of his other passenger.

"I'm not taking him. He looks like he's going to peg out any minute, he's not fit to fly."

"You just get this plane in the air. I'll look after the passenger."

He looked at me as if about to argue before deciding discretion was the better part of valour and retreating to the cockpit.

I hauled Jazz into a seat forgoing the seatbelt and threw a blanket over him. He was shaking now and I knew we were running out of time so as soon as we were in the air I rang the house on the satellite phone,

Carlisle answered relieved to hear my voice,

"Emmett where are you?"

"On our way but we need Bella to meet us at the airfield. He's really rough Carlisle."

"I'll make sure she's there. Just tell him to hold on, that she'll be there when the plane lands."

"Will do."