Chapter Twenty Two

Alice

I know Peter had reached them and they were warned but something else was happening, Demetri hadn't found them yet and I didn't expect him to for a while yet but Aro wasn't the only one hoping to grab the prize that was Bella. If my plan was to work neither Aro nor Caius could be allowed to touch Bella until she had been bitten by Jasper. She was his mate and the honour should go to him. Caius had sent not a tracker but Felix to find them, along with a few of the guard. Somehow he had more information and was headed disastrously in the right direction. Luckily neither of the brothers dare use Jane or any of the other gifts, for now at least, it would tip their hand. If Jasper and Peter were to be able to fight off Felix and his friends they needed more muscle and I suddenly realized why I had been delving into Emmett's past over the years. I had the inducement he needed to fight the Volturi guard which would mean protecting Bella too as an incidental although I think he would have been happy to protect her in any case, he was very fond of her and he had no idea why she felt so close until now. I rang his cell phone hoping he wasn't out hunting.

"Alice? You OK? It's good to hear from you."

"Emmett I need to talk to you. Are you alone?"

"Yeah Rosie is out with Esme buying curtains or something, why?"

"I have a task for you"

"A task? Like what?"

"I want to tell you a story I only learned a few weeks ago, well only got the proof a few weeks ago. I suspected it a long while ago."

"OK, I'm officially intrigued."

"You don't remember much about your human life do you?"

"Not really no, why?"

"Because I found out your history and its tied in with things happening now"

"OK I'm now confused, tied up with what?"

"Your mother had a brother called David who ran away from home when your mother was still very young, he had a daughter who moved to California and married John Higginbotham, their daughter Renee also ran away from home as a teenager and married a certain Charlie Swan. They in turn had a daughter named Isabella, she's your second cousin."

"Bella is related to me?"

"Yes but that's not all. You were married before you tried to wrestle that bear."

"Yeah I remember her vaguely. She was pretty, not as pretty as Rose but blonde like her and willowy."

"Her name was Amelia. I found out how Amelia died and why you were found by Rose fighting a bear."

"Go on"

"Your house was outside the town, somewhat isolated and when you were out working a vampire came by, it was a vampire who killed your wife. Not a nomad in the strict sense but a vampire on Volturi business."

"Did he have a name?"

"Yes, Felix Volturi. He was one of the guard looking for a rogue vampire causing trouble, Amelia was just in the wrong place. You came back and found her, you were tracking Felix when the bear attacked but I'm hoping you'd like a fresh chance at revenge."

"Revenge? How?"

"Because he's coming for Bella. I wondered if you might like to avenge your wife's death and protect your kin."

"This Felix is coming for Bella? Where is she? I thought she was with Jazz."

"She is but he can't fight so many Emmett, not without help"

"OK, Where are they?"

Emmett

I could hardly believe the chain of coincidences that linked myself to Bella and this Felix. It would be difficult to persuade Rose but I had to do this so when she got back I dragged her out to the garage so we could talk in private.

"What's the matter Emmett, you're hurting my arm"

"Sorry Rose. I spoke to Alice earlier."

"Really? And what did she want?"

"We have to go find Bella and Jazz."

"Bella and Jasper? Why? Don't tell me Edward wants her back still. Does he never learn?"

"No she found out things about me, about my family. You know I was married as a human but I never knew what happened to my wife?"

"Yes."

"Well Alice traced her, well not her, she was murdered by a vampire but Alice found out the name of the vampire, its Felix Volturi. The other thing she found out is that Bella is a cousin, related through my mother's side."

"You are related to Bella?"

"Yeah and Alice told me they need help. Felix is one of the Volturi guard that's coming for Bella."

"So, Alice wants you to go help them?"

"Yes. Look I know you aren't a great fan of Bella but I want your help please Rosie."

She smiled at me and pulled me in for a hug,

"Emmett I'd follow you anywhere you know that and I don't hate Bella. I just think she was going to give up too much too be with Edward. Now they aren't together I don't have a problem with her. When do we leave?"

"Leave? Where are you going?"

We turned to see Esme standing in the doorway,

"You're not leaving us too are you? Am I losing all of you?"

Carlisle

Esme, Emmett, and Rose piled into my study with the tale Alice had told Emmett earlier.

"So what are you going to do?"

"Do? Go see if I can help".

"I see and Esme, what about you?"

"Well Carlisle I think we should help too. We put Bella in danger in the first place so we owe her. Besides I miss my children and if we stay here we lose two more."

"What about Edward? I don't think he'll be anxious to help Jasper or Bella really. After all she broke it off".

"Edward can do what he wants, family sticks together and that means helping Jasper and Bella if they'll let us."

"Very well I'll speak to Edward. You organise the flight. How long do we have?"

"I think we'll rent a plane so we can leave when we're ready."

Edward

There was something going on and I could only understand a part of it. Everyone was so clever at shielding their thoughts from me these days, it was frustrating in the extreme. I had thought of going to Denali for a while on my own and if things didn't become clear soon I would. They'd soon miss me. When Esme told me Carlisle would like a word I thought maybe he had got wind of my nebulous plans and was going to talk me out of my trip.

"Edward, sit down son"

"I take it you know?"

"Know? What exactly?"

"About my plans to go to Denali."

"Oh, when were you going?"

"In a few days, why? I don't have to go if you prefer me to stay here"

"No that's fine Edward. Esme and I are going away with Emmett and Rose for a few weeks in any case."

"Oh, where?"

"Shoshone National Forest"

"Emmett's idea I suppose, hunting?"

"You could say that yes."

"I don't want to go"

"Very well, you'll be going to Denali then?"

"Yes, no one seems to want me here any more and Emmett didn't invite me"

"Maybe he thought you wouldn't want to go."

"Well he's right. In fact I think I 'll leave tomorrow. I'll take the Volvo to the airport."

"Good idea. Well have a good time."

I'd make them see I wasn't bothered if they went off on a little trip of their own. They'd miss me soon enough and I might even have a fling with Tanya or one of her sisters, they were always up for a good time and it would be good to have Eleazar to chat to. They could hide their thoughts from me if they wanted to, I'd catch up with what they'd been up to soon enough.