Chapter Seven

Professor Whitlock

I felt bad about leaving Bella behind and almost turned back but decided against it under the circumstances. I thought she was seriously unhinged. I decided when I got back to speak to her counselor, someone should be aware what was going on in that girl's head but then if I did that I would be forced to explain my relationship with her and I couldn't afford any problems, these days the best thing to do was keep your distance so I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I decided in the end to leave it until Monday before deciding who to speak to but I would check she was back on campus first.

As I went into my building I saw someone watching me from across the road in the shadows and hesitated, should I go and confront him? Find out what was really going on? Then the clock struck and I realized how late it was, the sun would be up soon and I was shattered. So instead I showered and sank into bed, asleep before my head hit the pillow, but my dreams were full of crazy girls and figures dressed like Goth's with blood dripping from their mouths. I woke up only two hours later with a splitting headache and a terrible dread that Bella had been picked up by a serial killer on that road after I left her.

I washed and threw on some sweats then decided to run over to her place and see if she was back. As I ran I got that feeling again and turned to see another figure running behind me which wasn't unusual on campus except that this figure kept to the shadowy side of the street and wasn't dressed for running. Deciding I had to do something I ran across but as I did so a truck crossed my path and when it had gone so was he, yet that was a dead end alley and there were straight roads in both direction. It was odd but I wasn't ready to assume he'd run off at vampire speed, not yet.

There was no sign of life at Bella's place which didn't help my nerves any but there was little I could do except try again later and I turned back home. I turned at every sound but saw nothing. Not until I was three quarters of the way and about to cross an area of open ground that was little used. I could go the long way round and almost did but then decided I was being stupid and strode off across still looking around warily. I was half way across when a car appeared heading slowly towards me across the rutted ground. I tensed ready to defend myself but I never saw the attack coming. One minute I was walking and the next I was being shoved into the trunk of the car which then continued on at speed.

Bella

During the drive back to college Peter told me a little about himself, how he'd met Jasper and the way they had fought together in Maria's army for years before Jasper allowed him to escape with his mate who was due to be killed as an excess and now useless soldier. He sounded proud of his place at Jasper's side and I got the feeling he would be a good and loyal friend if the occasion warranted it. We stopped just long enough for me to grab a drink and go to the restroom before continuing and drove onto the campus just after dawn.

"So where does the clone live?"

"He's not a clone Peter. His name is Jay and he lives over there."

I pointed to the Professor's apartment and saw him appear and start to jog in the direction of my place but that could just be a coincidence.

"Fuck, it gives me goose bumps just looking at him. They even run alike."

I studied Jay and saw Peter was right, they really were identical.

"Right well let's see if we can park up and follow "Jay" see what he's up to. I may even get a look at the stalker.

I pointed out a space and we parked up but before I could do more than open my door Peter stiffened suddenly and reached across closing it again.

"Stay in the car Bella, I'll be back."

He got out and I leaned across winding the window down,

"What's going on?"

He turned back, "There are other vampires around, I can smell them, two at least, so you stay in the car, keep the engine running and your hand ready to hit the horn. If you see anyone except me coming you hit the horn hard and take off. Got it?"

I nodded uncertainly and he frowned then gestured me to slide over into the driver's side and handed me the key. I put it in the ignition and he nodded approval before running off.

Peter

I had no idea why I was here or what I was doing and seeing that guy was playing hell with my mind, he was identical in every way I could see to The Major. That didn't explain why I'd been drawn here though or why I had felt it was right to look after the girl Bella. She was just a human girl like any other so why had I felt the need to protect her and not only that but stick with her. Was it because I thought she might lead me to answers regarding the clone? I didn't think so, it felt there was more to it but for whatever reason, more of my kind were following him and there had to be a reason for that too. It was times like this I missed Charlotte but she'd insisted on flying to Brazil to visit her friend for a couple of weeks.

I reached the edge of the waste land when I saw it happen. They were good, even for vampires. He hadn't stood a chance but they were professional and as soon as he was in the trunk the car took off fast, very fast. I could follow them but if there were two vampires around there might be more and it was a certainty that they'd made Bella while she watched them watching the clone. If they were really professional they might go for her too. For some reason that mattered and with a curse I turned round and headed back relieved when I saw her sitting white faced staring out the windscreen. Her smile of relief when she first saw me soon disappeared when I told her what I'd seen.

"You should have followed them, seen where they took him."

"And what about you? Do you really think they haven't noticed you watching them watch the clone?"

"His name is Jay not the clone."

"Clone, Jay, whatever! The point is that I am responsible for your safety."

"Why? Who put you there? We only just met."

"Don't look at me like that, I haven't been stalking you its not my style."

"So what is?"

"More in your face and incredibly annoying or so I've been told numerous times. Now scoot over, we'll go to your place. I need to make a call."

"What about Jay?"

I looked at her exasperated,

"We'll find him, let's get organized first. I may look like Superman and I'm told I'm far more desirable but even I can't be in two places at once."

I looked at her until she sighed and slid over,

"Thank you Tinks."

"Tinks?"

"Yeah, TinkerBELLA, Tinks for short. You got a problem with that? A fairy phobia or something? I hear they're a persecuted race."

She rolled her eyes but it broke the tension just like I planned and she directed me to her place and that's where everything went to hell. As Bella put the key in her door I smelled a familiar scent and heard a voice I knew only too well.

"I should have known you'd find a way to get yourself in trouble again Bella and I see you found just the guy to land you right in the thick of it."

She turned sharply almost tripping over to see Alice Cullen standing there.