Lost and Found

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!

Part Eighty Two-Betrayal

The car wasn't discovered until the next morning. Everyone had retired to bed, not realising that Billy had gone missing. It was only when the next day dawned that they realised Sarah's old car had been taken, and when Billy couldn't be found, it was pretty obvious that he was the culprit. Jacob, Embry and Rebecca felt deeply ashamed that their own father could have stooped so low. He had done enough damage to the family as it was, but to take the only car that Sarah had was despicable. Jacob and Embry left immediately to go and track Billy down, while Ephraim and Carlisle took the rest of the pack away to begin their training. Bella and Rebecca stayed in the mansion with Esme and Rosalie.

It didn't take Jacob and Embry long to find the wrecked car. The smell of vampire was strong all around it, and it alarmed them deeply that a cold one had been so close and not been detected. They had not been patrolling as diligently over the last few days due to recent events, and this had allowed one to get within their territory. Jacob immediately wondered whether this particular vampire was part of Victoria's advanced army. Was it some kind of agent sent ahead to infiltrate the area and spy on the pack? They did a quick scout of the area but could find no trace of Billy. Despite how estranged they were from their father, Jacob and Embry were upset that he had been taken, and deeply concerned for his welfare. Jacob blamed himself, as did Embry. The two brothers worried about what this portended. Was Alice's prediction wrong and the newborn army already close? They sprinted back to the Cullen's mansion so they could alert Ephraim and Carlisle to the recent turn of events. No more time could be wasted.

Jasper Hale and his mate Alice, along with Rosalie's mate, Emmet, arrived at the mansion later that same day. Rosalie was ecstatic to be reunited with her partner, and the two of them immediately withdrew to their bedroom to enjoy their reunion in private. The pack had been out all day patrolling the boundaries, hunting for any sign of the vampire who took Billy, or any others who might be in the vicinity. They patrolled in pairs for extra security. Only Ephraim and Jacob travelled alone as they searched further afield. Meanwhile Carlisle called on his contacts in Italy to see if they had garnered any more information, but they were no help, they had heard no more about the red headed vampire since she had left Volterra.

Bella and Rebecca had spent most of the day worrying about their respective lovers, and trying to console a distraught Sarah, as well as trying to assuage their own worries. Charlie had been forced to leave for work, and only after promising his daughter and Sam that he would be extra careful on his journey to the station. Harry had gone back to La Push with Old Quil. The elder was extremely tired and feeling unwell. After checking him over Carlisle had deemed it best that the old man be taken back to somewhere he felt more at home. Leah had wanted to stay near Ephraim, but Harry had begged her to come home with him and try and talk to her mother. He didn't want the family to be estranged anymore. He planned on giving his wife a good talking to if she didn't listen. It was about time he showed his children that he could be the strong male figure that had been lacking in their lives. He knew that he had let his fiery wife walk all over him far too often just because he wanted a peaceful life and hated confrontation.

So as the day drew to a close everyone was on tenterhooks. Even Jasper's gift didn't seem able to dampen down the tension everyone was feeling. For hours Ephraim, Jacob and Carlisle along with the other vampires were cooped up in Carlisle's study as they tried to come up with some answers. Alice's visions kept fluctuating. It seemed that Victoria was uncertain about her own plans. Occasionally Alice got glimpses of the red head pacing up and down muttering to herself, while the newborn vampires created chaos behind her. It was obvious that Victoria was failing to control the new vampires she had created. They were getting increasingly reckless and were forcing her to act upon her vengeance sooner than she had anticipated.

"Was it one of her newborns that took my father?" Jacob demanded impatiently as Alice tried to get a fix on what was happening.

"I don't know." Alice wailed. She held her aching head in her hands while Jasper comforted her. He glared at Jacob angrily. "Because your father carries the wolf gene I am unable to see him. I am sorry. I am trying my best."

Jacob ran a hand through his hair agitatedly. He felt like he was going to implode. There was too much going on; they had little or no information about when the red head planned to strike. His father was probably dead. He had his mother and Bella to worry about, as well as the safety of the tribe, his sister and the pack. He felt Ephraim put a calming hand on his shoulder and push him back down into his seat. "Stop thinking you are alone in this." The older man reminded him. "This is exactly the reaction Victoria is hoping for. We need to keep calm and not let our emotions force us to act rashly."

"I know." Jacob sighed as he tried to regain his composure. He looked over at Jasper and Alice before apologising for his harsh tone.

"We understand." Jasper conceded. "Just give Alice a moment."

"Okay." Jacob leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes momentarily.

Bella was in the kitchen cooking. It was her way of distracting herself. Rebecca and Esme worked silently beside her as they helped her prepare a lavish meal for the pack. They drifted back to the mansion in ones and twos to eat the food provided before heading back out to patrol. Ephraim and Jacob had them put them on a short rotation. They were paired up at all times. They did not want anything breaking through their borders. As night wore on, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmet went out to help the wolves keep watch. Alice was still struggling to control her visions. Victoria was obviously stressed herself, and she appeared conflicted about when and where she would strike. Her decisions changed so rapidly that Alice could no longer give anyone a specific time line when this would happen. It could still be a week, or could be hours.

When midnight rolled around Jacob sent Sam off, along with Quil and Embry to protect La Push. Ephraim went with them for a while, just so he could check on Leah and spend some time with her. He also wanted to double check the area himself, just to familiarise himself with the land he called home. Jacob sat with Bella, his sister and his mother as he hastily ate his meal. He was tuckered out, but couldn't rest. His gaze was fixated on Bella as he ate; secretly wishing that he could scoop her up in his arms and just hold her. Even though he was trying to hide it, Jacob was frightened. The thought of losing Bella, losing any of his family made him panic. He tried to keep a cool head just like Ephraim had warned him, but it was hard. He could see the fear in his loved ones faces, but their fear was for him. Jacob loved his family so much. They had all been through enough already, they deserved peace and happiness, and he deserved it too. He was fighting for their future, for his future with Bella.

Before he left to head out into the night, Jacob pulled Bella into his arms. Rebecca and Sarah left them alone to give them some privacy. Bella rested her head on Jacob's chest and cried silent tears. She couldn't help it. She was picking up on his tension, and his fears. "I love you. Please be careful out there." She begged him.

Jacob cupped her beautiful face in his warm hands and used his thumbs to wipe her tears away. He gazed down at her for a long time, memorising every line and curve of her face, her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, which were so full of concern for him, her uneven pout that he longed to kiss, and her milky white skin that glowed in the half light. "We're going to get through this. I promise." He vowed.

More tears spilled down Bella's cheeks. Her eyes fluttered closed as he bent down to kiss her. It was a soft kiss that didn't dare much. "I love you, honey." Jacob whispered as he reluctantly pulled away and got ready to leave.

Bella stood by the doorway and watched him slip out into the night. Her heart was heavy in her chest as she saw his shadowy form head for the trees surrounding the Cullen's mansion. Then he was gone.

Billy Black's face was a bloody mess. His nose was broken and he was having difficulty breathing. One eye was red and so swollen he could hardly see through it. "Please." He gasped. "I don't know anything. Please let me go."

"Again!" Victoria snarled as she got her henchmen to hit Billy in the stomach. The breath was knocked from his body and he groaned in agony. "You hit him too hard." Victoria smashed her fist into her henchman's face, sending him reeling. "I need him able to talk. You nearly killed him. I am surrounded by ignorant fools."

Tears ran down Billy's face as he lay on his side. He had never felt so much pain in his life. The red headed vampire was insane. She had sent one of her more experienced scouts to spy on the Cullen mansion. They had come across him on their way back to report to her. The triumphant vampire who had captured him had handed him over to Victoria like some kind of prize. His reward was a fresh kill. Billy had never been so frightened in his life. Since his capture everything had been hazy. He was surrounded by crazed bloodthirsty vampires. There were only a few who had enough rationality to keep their heads, and these were the ones Victoria had recruited to keep the others under control. But they were doing a piss poor job of it. When Billy had been brought to her she thought she had been given a lucky opportunity to find out some much needed information. But Billy was proving to be a useless find.

"You must know something." Victoria hissed as she grabbed Billy's hair and forced him to sit upright. Billy cried out in pain. His one good eye stared into Victoria's reddened ones and he began to cry again. "I need to know their vulnerabilities, especially the young leader. He was the one who robbed me of my heart. Now I want to rip apart his. I tried to kill his mother but was thwarted. I won't be again."

"Don't….don't hurt my….s….son." Billy wheezed.

"Your son?" Victoria said in surprise. She looked Billy up and down in disgust. This pathetic individual couldn't be her nemesis' father. She turned her head to one side as she studied him carefully. "Who holds his heart?" Victoria demanded as she shook Billy angrily. He felt his vision fluctuating as his head spun. He was in so much pain he couldn't bear it.

"If I tell you….will you let me go." Billy rasped.

"Perhaps." Victoria replied with an evil smirk. "If you tell me what I need to know." She put her face closer to his and narrowed her eyes. "I will know if you are lying, so you better tell me the truth."

Billy felt his soul shrivel inside as he stared back at her. He was weak man, he knew it. He couldn't die this way. He had seen what the crazed red head had done to her other victims. If he told her what she needed to know then she would set him free. There was no way he could survive any more pain. All he had to do was give her a name. Once she had what she wanted, then perhaps she would be satisfied with just that and leave everyone else alone. Yes, he needed to give her the name. It was the right thing to do, the only thing to do. It was an eye for an eye. That was her thinking. Wasn't it the way that you sacrificed the few to save the many. Billy's head was a befuddled mess as he tried to appease his guilt for what he was about to do as he tried to justify it in his own mind.

"I'm waiting." Victoria leered. "Tell me who holds the key to his heart."

"Bella Swan." Billy choked out. "You get Bella, you get your revenge."

A/N-thanks for reading! Obviously this Billy is nothing like his canon counterpart. Please let me know what you think, thanks.