Chapter Forty Five

Esme

I had done everything I could to keep Bella safe but Alice couldn't stay with her for ever so the best we could do was to watch from outside until he slept or went to work before joining her. I prayed the others would be back soon, I missed Carlisle's clear head and support. Alice and I had to hunt separately and of course the Quileute pack soon understood this and shadowed us and although Carlisle assured me we were in no danger I couldn't help worrying. They were still waiting for some satellite to go back online. Apparently it was the one that Darius had rerouted to watch over Maria's compound and it had gone down shortly before whatever happened occurred and only came back on to show the compound a smoking wreckage then went down again,. He was confident of retrieving the film but it was taking time. Time when Jasper could be taken anywhere. We had been lucky in that the sun had stayed behind clouds until today but as dawn approached I could tell it was going to be a bright sunny day which would tie our hands to a large degree.

Alice has stayed all night with Bella and watched over her as she drove to school then came home for some clothes, Bella was perfectly safe at school especially on a day like this with vampires looking for her. Leaving just before the lunch break Alice was on the phone only ten minutes later.

"I can't see Bella anywhere."

"What do you mean you can't see her? Is she still in class or in the library maybe?"

"I don't think so, I'm going to get closer see if I can hear anything, all her friends are in the cafeteria."

"Be careful Alice, you can't afford to be seen."

"I know but we can't lose her Esme, Jasper's banking on us to keep her safe."

I waited for the phone to ring again with good news but when Alice rang back her voice was cold and dead,

"She's gone Esme."

"Gone where? What happened Alice?"

"I was listening to her friends and one told the others she'd been called out of class, a message from her father. Something about her mother having an accident. Her father was going to meet her at the hospital in Port Angeles."

"But there wasn't an accident?"

"No and her father is still in bed, he worked a late shift last night. Now what do we do? I scouted the area and I caught her scent but, her truck is still here Esme. Shall I drive towards Port Angeles?"

"Yes its all you can do but be careful. If she was going to be snatched it would be along the road. "When did she go missing?"

"About ten, we've lost her Esme. How do we tell the others?"

"More to the point what do we tell her father?"

Bella

School was a real drag these days, I found it hard to concentrate, not only was I in pain but I couldn't stop thinking about Jasper. Where was he, what had happened to him? Was he still alive? That last thought made me feel physically sick so I tried to push it away but eventually I had to ask to be excused to use the restroom and once in there I threw up and felt a little better as a result. Mid morning one of the school secretaries came in and I knew from the look she threw in my direction that something was wrong. She spoke hurriedly to Mrs. Angus who nodded then called me over.

"Bella there's a message for you so if you could go with Mrs. Eames and take your things."

Once out in the corridor the secretary looked at me sadly,

"Your father rang a little while ago, Apparently your mother has been involved in a serious accident, he wants you to meet him at home and you are flying out together. He doesn't want you driving so he's arranged for one of the deputies to meet you here and drive you home then another will pick up the truck and take it home for you later."

I nodded unable to take it in, my mother had an accident? Were we flying to Japan? It didn't make sense but if Dad had rung then it must be serious.

I saw the cruiser waiting for me outside the main gate and grabbed my coat running out to climb in, I didn't know all the deputies, and I just pulled my seatbelt on then turned to ask if he knew anything. The car sped away fast and as I looked at the deputy I realised something was very wrong. It wasn't a deputy but a vampire dressed in one of the deputies uniforms with what looked like some blood on the collar.

"Don't attempt anything, don't try to get out or attract attention or Jasper dies."

I sat back feeling sick once more, I had walked into a trap but this must mean that Jasper was free. Maria was trying to draw him back by taking me hostage. I felt better for knowing he'd got away. Maybe he was responsible for the empty compound, maybe he had other friends who had helped or he'd turned her army against her and they'd rioted but then hadn't I heard they were all dead. I was confused,

"Where are we going?"

"Does it matter?"

"Is Jasper safe? Are you working for Maria?"

He slammed the brakes on and I shot forward saved only by my seatbelt and his huge hard forearm, the impact making me see stars. I looked out the windscreen through tear filled eyes and saw two figures approaching. Were the Cullens coming to save me? Had they been watching and seen my kidnap? As my eyes began to focus properly I saw the two figures were a male and female vampire and the driver in the deputies uniform had gotten out of the car and was standing by the hood watching them. The man was another stranger who looked ready to start something while the woman who had a pretty Spanish look about her appeared to be arguing, surely they couldn't be arguing over me? I undid my seat belt as quietly as I could and looked around. In the distance I saw a car coming towards us. If I could just flag it down before I was stopped I might stand a chance of getting away but then I remembered these were all vampires who wouldn't think twice about killing any witnesses so I decided to make a run for it, I wouldn't get far but I couldn't just sit here like a good little hostage and wait to be taken God knew where.

Before I could open the door I heard a high pitched scream and looked up to see the man slumped on the road, his heads feet from his body and the woman in the deputies grasp. I closed my eyes as I understood he was about to kill her too and only heard the terrible crunching sound. Surely the car coming towards us must see this? Maybe whoever it was would back up, call the police or something. I waited but there was no sound except the closing engine of the oncoming car which passed us seconds later. Opening my eyes I saw the road was clear. The deputy standing by the car watching and no sign of either body. When the car was out of sight he walked slowly to the trees just off the road and disappeared but I knew he hadn't gone far, not far enough for me to stand a chance running and sure enough he was back a minute later but among the trees I could see smoke, what had he done? Had he burned the two vampires he'd killed?

"Good idea to sit tight. My orders are to collect you alive, nothing to say I can't hurt you if you cause me problems though."

"Where are we going?"

"You really are a nosy little thing aren't you? You'll see soon enough for now shut up I have to report in."