Chapter Forty Three.
Esme
The more I thought about Carlisle and his attitude to me the more it hurt until I had to pull over and wait for the ache in my chest to cool a little. Was I doing the right thing or should I make him pay for what he'd done to me. I was the one who had been made a fool of over the years, the one Carlisle had come back to after spending time with Edward and I had greeted him with love and Edward too. How they must have laughed about stupid, blind, Esme always trusting, always believing. I was a mother figure and I had taken enough crap from both of them, I was also a woman and a woman scorned in the lowest possible way. Someone should pay for my hurt and grief. I wasn't sure what to do when my phone rang,
"Alice? Ringing to gloat? It must have been very amusing to watch me make a fool of myself."
"I'm sorry Esme but I'd like to help you"
"Really? It seems everyone wants to help me now, everyone wants to apologise and make things right. Do you know something Alice? The only person I can trust isn't even one of the family any longer."
"You mean Bella?"
"Yes I do. Can you explain to me why you helped her out of her marriage and left me to flounder?"
"I didn't think you'd believe me and Carlisle wasn't planning on killing you, he does love you Esme. He just loves Edward more."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better is it?"
"No, not really. Carlisle's flight doesn't leave for six hours, there's been a delay."
I didn't answer her, I just threw my phone onto the back seat. So I had time to drive back to Seattle but if I did what was my plan? Decision made I turned the car around and drove back as fast as I could.
Bella
The more I thought about what Edward and Carlisle had done to Esme and myself the more angry I became and even Jasper's calming technique didn't stop it from building.
"Well go and do something Bella before you snap and rip all our fucking heads off."
Jasper glowered at Peter but he was right, I was snapping at everyone and with my newborn strength there was a real possibility I might hurt one of those I loved rather than the people I really wanted to. Jasper's phone rang and he answered still holding my hand tightly as I paced the room my hair whipping around my face as my anger grew.
"Jazz its Alice. You need to let Bella go. Esme's on her way to Sea-Tac, Carlisle is stuck there for the next six hours."
"Why are you telling us that?"
"Bella had to get some revenge before her anger destroys her and it will. I warned you she couldn't cope without you but I see now that she can't control it while her tormentors still live. I just thought you should know."
Jasper
Bella pulled free of me and grabbed the truck keys from the table,
"Where you going girl?"
"Seattle you going to join me Peter?"
"Bella you don't have time to drive there."
"Do I have time to run there?"
Before I could answer her there was the sound of a helicopter landing and we all went outside to see what was going on.
Christos appeared through the swirling snow,
"Darius thought you might want some transport."
Bella nodded and ran for the helicopter chased by Peter and myself. The others would stay behind and wait for news. I was just worried that Bella might not be able to control herself in the confined space of a helicopter especially if the pilot was human.
Bella
I was liking this Darius more and more, he seemed to predict what we would need and supply it and I guessed that was his gift but when I asked Peter he shook his head,
"Darius is the electronic whiz kid, its his wife who had the talent for precognition but she keeps it pretty much a secret and very few people get help even from him. He's a recluse who doesn't advertise his abilities.
"So how do you and Jazz know him?"
"Many years ago just after he met his mate her brothers came looking for her and as I told you he's pretty vulnerable. She'd heard about The Major from her sire, a nomad who had travelled extensively in Mexico and South America. It was her only hope as she couldn't take all four of them on together and protect Darius. She'd seen the result of trying so she contacted us and we helped out.
"That's why Darius has given you so much help?"
"Yes but we try to keep him out of things if we can. Keep him off the radar so to speak."
Jasper
I had overheard the conversation between Bella and Peter and realized that talking was calming her down which gave me the opportunity to speak to Christos and the pilot who also happened to be a vampire.
"What did Cassandra see Christos?"
"Darius didn't say, just that you needed transport to Seattle fast. This is an experimental helicopter so we can't land at the airport but Joe will put you down as close as he can, you'll have to run the rest of the way."
"Thank Darius for me will you."
"Sure. He sent you a message by the way"
"Oh what?"
"You owe me big time Major and one day I'll call the marker in."
I laughed, he was right I did owe him but I knew just as certainly that he would never call on me for anything unless Cassandra was in danger and Peter and I would be there in an instant if he called.
Bella
The helicopter put down about a mile from the airport in a large clearing and took off again as soon as we were off. Not waiting to watch, or for the others, I ran full speed towards the airport and Carlisle Cullen. The anger which had eased off as Peter and I talked was now building again so I slowed and allowed Jazz to catch me up and take my hand,
"Calm Bella. You need a clear head, don't forget Esme will be there"
"Yeah not to mention a shit load of human witnesses."
I looked over to Peter who had caught up with us.
"How do we get him away from the humans? He's not using them as a shield Peter. Carlisle is going to pay for what he did to us."
"I don't think Carlisle will hide behind the humans Bella. He'd be too worried about them getting hurt in the fall out."
"I hope you're right because I'm not going to walk away Peter. He knew what Edward was doing and he allowed it and by my reckoning that makes him equally as guilty."