Chapter Sixteen
Bella
Last night had been sheer bliss, the whole house to ourselves and no need for quiet or discretion. We had hardly made it in the door before beginning to undress and made love first on the lounge floor which was exciting but a little uncomfortable so we went upstairs to our bedroom which was much more comfortable for the rematch. After that I had to stop long enough to eat because my stomach was complaining loudly but as soon as that hunger was appeased the other loomed once more and this time the kitchen counter took the brunt although my ribs were bruised and sore from this encounter. The shower was a little more comfortable but I voted the bed the best before finally falling asleep exhausted but so happy I could have shouted, if I'd had the energy that is.
I woke up with a start in the middle of the night and ran to Caden's room before remembering he was staying with Charlie but Jasper picked me up and carried me back to bed laughing.
"I don't know what made me do that, I was dreaming and suddenly he wasn't there and I panicked. Do you think they are OK? Should I ring Charlie and check on them?"
"Bella, it's half past three in the morning, all you'll do is wake them up. If there had been any trouble Charlie would have rung. I'm, sure they've had a wonderful time now stop worrying. You'll be seeing them again in a few hours."
He was right of course but it was hard to get back to sleep, even with Jasper's arms tight around me. I think it was the silence and emptiness in the house that had put me on edge.
Making the most of our time alone we made love again before getting up and reluctantly dressing after a long passionate session in the shower. While I had breakfast Jasper phoned to check that the part Emmett had ordered for his truck had arrived then arranged to pick it up from Port Angeles after dropping me at Charlie's.
"I won't come in with you, that way I can get there and back quickly. If Charlie wants to take the children swimming with us this afternoon we can go as soon as I get back that way."
"OK, it'll give me more time with him anyway."
Jasper smiled and stroked my cheek knowing I was thinking of the time I would be forced to say goodbye to my uncle, a time that was rapidly approaching. Now Caden was growing so quickly I wanted to join Jasper as a vampire and only Charlie stopped me from going ahead right now.
Jasper dropped me off and drove away as I ran up the porch steps expecting Charlie to open it in welcome or the children to be waving from the window but there was nothing, no faces at the window, no open door, no noise at all and no answer to my knock. Thinking they might be in the back garden I went round but that too was deserted and the back door shut. I knocked then turned the knob finding it open. That relieved my panic slightly, although I then remembered that Charlie never locked his back door. I went inside and shouted but there was silence, had he forgotten I was coming over this morning? Surely not, I was coming for the children. Or had he taken them out expecting to be back before I arrived, after all I hadn't bothered to ring first, I'd just assumed they would be here as I was so early.
It was only when I turned back from the lounge that I saw the paper on the floor, dislodged from the table by a breeze as I opened the back door. I picked it up and recognized Charlie's hand writing. It was addressed to me and I felt sick as I read the message.
Bella,
I am so sorry. The Quileutes have taken the children although I have no idea why. Billy Black was here yesterday afternoon and must have spiked my drink because when I woke up in my chair it was the middle of the night and he and the children were gone. I think this must have something to do with their hatred of the Cullens and I'm going over now to get the children back. I hope by the time you arrive I'm back here with them but if not at least you know where to go.
Charlie.
Without even thinking I turned and ran from the house pulling my phone from my pocket as I ran into the forest as the quickest route to the reservation. Why had the Quileutes taken the children? They were no threat, Charity wasn't even a vampire and Caden was only a hybrid. I rang Jasper's number starting to cry in panic when it went to voice mail. He must be in the workshop talking to the guy as he picked up Emmett's part. I paused long enough to leave a message telling him what had happened and where I was going then I shoved it back and began to run again as fast as I could with tears of fear and anger blurring my vision. There was only Jasper and myself, the others weren't due back for two more days but I knew my husband and he would tear the reservation apart to find our son and Charity, that thought kept me going when my lungs became starved of oxygen and the stitch in my side threatened to send me to the ground.
Nomad
Now this was interesting, I recognized the scent although I hadn't come across it in years. So, she was here in Forks, what a coincidence. I came to visit someone and find another old friend close by. She was still human and frightened, I could smell her terror, an intoxicating scent and one I had reveled in last time we met. I changed direction realizing she was headed towards the reservation and the guardian pack. I put a spurt on, I needed to catch up with her before she reached their land or it would be too dangerous. I didn't mind a fair fight but even I couldn't take on a wolf pack and hope to survive. As I ran I wondered if she would recognize me, if she did it would be more fun but if not I'd remind her before I killed her and I would kill her this time. Before, it had been fun to watch her big eyes as I killed her parents, I fed on her terror, but this time she was alone so I would feed on her blood although I had to admit I was curious why she was fleeing something that frightened her so much she felt she would be safer among the Quileutes. Was there another vampire hunting here? I hadn't come across any fresh Cullen tracks so it wasn't one of them though they were supposedly animal hunters so hardly likely to be chasing a human unless for sport, now that I could understand.
Bella
I was almost at the treaty line, Jasper had shown me where it was when he explained about the treaty Carlisle had forged with the Quileutes and made sure I understood if I crossed over then following me would break the treaty and probably start a war. Right now I didn't care, I knew they had taken my son and my niece and I was out for wolf blood. Suddenly I felt a cold hand on my neck and spun relieved that Jasper had heard my message and gotten back so quickly but as I saw the face smiling at me I couldn't help a scream of horror. It was the face I had nightmares about for years as a child. The last time I had seen him it was standing over the bodies of my parents covered in their blood and laughing as I swung an ax at him, an ax I could hardly lift it was so heavy or I was so small.
I staggered back trying to get away from him while realizing that was impossible, he was faster and stronger than me. If he was here to kill me then I was doomed, I would never see Jasper or my son again.
"Well if it isn't my little girl. So, you survived? I hear you tried telling people your family had been attacked by a monster. It didn't do you any good did it? They didn't come looking for me and here we are together again only this time I don't have an audience or anyone else to terrify so I guess I'll just have you for my lunch. It's been a while since I fed and my throat is burning. So Isabella, are you ready?"
"Who are you? If you are going to kill me shouldn't I at least know your name?"
Nomad
I was about to answer as I grabbed her, pulling her long hair away to bare her neck for my bite, when I heard a sound, padding of paws and then something rank smelling and heavy hit me in the center of the back. As I fell forward I twisted and heard something snap in the girl but threw her away from me and sprang to my feet as one of the wolves closed in. I glanced quickly around, he was alone, well at least I stood a chance against a lone wolf but how long would he remain alone? I quickly debated my next move and then turned and fled. It was too risky to make a stand, the others could be closing in on us even now. I jumped over the girl's body and sped into the trees taking to their upper branches to keep out of the reach of the wolf's leaping attempts to catch me.