Chapter 20: My Ways Are Not Your Ways
Author notes: mentions of abusive and sexual assault.
It was three in the morning when the Lahote Ferguson house awoke to pounding on the front door.
Sam who was asleep on the couch, stood to answer it. As soon as he got up, bedroom doors began to open and hallway lights turned on.
"Who the heck is banging on the door? It's three in the morning." Julian Junior snarled as he walked down the stairs.
Sam shrugged and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" he questioned.
"It's Anthony Weber, My daughter is a friend of Bella's I need to speak to Bella's husband."
Sam and Julian looked at each other in confusion.
As Sam opened the door, Charlie appeared in the walkway, gun tucked in the back of his pants.
"What's going on?"
"Mr. Swan. I apologize for waking your household, but I need to speak to Mr. lahote."
Sam put a hand on Julian's shoulder when he heard him growl lowly.
"his name is Paul Ferguson and he's my son. What do you want with him?" Julian asked with his thick Jamaican accent.
Mr. Weber looked between Charlie and Julian in confusion and a tad bit of frustration.
"Look, I do apologize if I have offended anyone but I must speak to Paul. Please. It..it concerns Bella."
Before anyone could speak, Julian and Sam froze while glancing up at the ceiling.
"Paul says it's fine. And to send him up." Sam directed Julian.
Julian looked at Charlie and Charlie nodded. If this man had any important information about his daughter they would do what was needed.
…..
Anthony had to squint into the darkness when the bedroom was opened.
"Close the door." A deep angry and yet sorrowful voice ordered.
He did so and allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The only thing that illuminated the room was the moonlight. He couldn't see everything but he could tell the room was practically destroyed. Broken chairs, broken dressers, and wood splinters all over the floor. The only thing that remained intact was a giant Alaskan king bed. He could see two silhouettes on the bed but couldn't see them properly.
"You said you had information about my wife.."
Anthony took a deep breath as he crept towards the young man. He was sitting against a window as the moon shone over him. His hair was a tangled mess, that cascaded down his shoulders. His face and body were covered in old scars and his eyes were bright violet but none of these deterred Anthony from his mission.
He cleared some broken wood and sat across from the broken man.
"Mr. Ferguson? Paul? May I call you Paul?"
"I don't care I just want to know about my wife. "
Anthony cocked his head to the side as he stared at him.
"I empathize with your desperation Paul but right now I need you to hear me with your spirit."
Ahh, as Paul sat up a little straighter, he realized he had the young man's attention.
" I was asleep a few hours ago when I had a dream. A young woman, Bella I now realize. was sitting in a dungeon. Exhausted and weak, I could see her trying to fight. She was searching for things, but I don't know what. She was somehow able to push an old brick out of the dungeon and create a small hole. It wasn't enough to break her out but at least she could see the outside. And then three…dark figures walked into the room. Before the dream ended I could hear myself calling out to her Paul. She heard me. Before I woke up, I saw myself here with you. I could see you here in this darkness. I could see you giving up. I could see you allowing the darkness to consume you. but Jesus sent me here to ask you something, son. Where is your faith?"
Paul lifted his head as he stared at Anthony.
"How can I have faith when HE keeps taking her away from me?" Paul questioned.
"And when did your faith become conditional…" Anthony questioned back.
Paul sighed and covered his face with his hands.
" God has been Jehovah Jireh, your provider, all your life. He has been faithful and committed to you. He has brought you through every trial and tribulation. If he did it before don't you think he'll do it again?"
A humorless chuckle emitted from Paul's lips.
"And yet here we are suffering."
Anthony shook his head.
"he never promised that you wouldn't have hardship. Don't you remember? In John chapter 16 verse 33 Jesus reminds his disciples "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
"And remember Paul you are not the only one. Daniel in the lion's den, Elijah in the desert. David is in the cave hiding from Saul. Tell me Paul what did God do in every situation?"
To his surprise, Paul gave a small smile and answered " he brought them through."
Anthony smiled as well.
"Exactly. He brought them through. You cannot let the darkness win Paul. You are a child of light. A child of the most high king. You have the power you need. Now it's time to get up and fight."
With that said, Anthony stood.
As he turned to the door Paul stopped him.
"pastor weber?"
Anthony turned " Anthony or Mr. Weber is just fine son."
"Mr. Weber. What …what did say to Bella?"
"The same thing I just said to you but God gave me a scripture to give her."
"What was it?"
"Psalm 46. [1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [3] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
And then Anthony Weber walked out the door. He said all he needed to say.
….
"[1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [3] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." Bella repeated to herself as the three vampires walked out of the room.
Demetri groaned across from her.
" Bella im so sorry. Im so sorry. Please speak to me. are you ok?"
Bella pressed her face to the hard ground. The coolness eased some of the bruises on her face.
She ignored Demetri's questions. As she continued to repeat the scripture Mr. Weber had reminded her of. She was so disoriented and weak, she had no clue if she had truly seen him but he had been a gentle reminder. A reminder that she was not alone. God was with her in this cell. Even after, the abuse she had just suffered. She was not alone. And she was not weak.
"Demetri…im ok. "
"No your not bleeding. And those bastards touched you! They touched you, Bella! If I could just get out of these shackles I could-"
Bella forced herself to stand, as she limped toward Demetri. With shaky hands, she touched his face.
"hey. Hey. I'm ok. Yes..he-they…they touched me …but… we can't dwell on that right now. We have to figure a way out of here. Now I need you to be quiet so I can think."
Bella whimpered in pain as she sat on the ground. She was dirty, sticky, and bruised but despite that, she needed to think.
The connection. A small voice reminded her.
Bella gasped. The connection. Her connection with the wolf and tiger. But first, she needed information.
"Demetri? I knew of Victor but who were the other two men? I've never seen anyone like them."
Demetri looked at her with deep black eyes. The thirst was killing him, she knew it especially when they spilled her blood and taunted him with it.
"They're Romanians. Before the Volturi was established, the Romanians reigned. However, they were reckless and revealed themselves to humans without care. My masters came in and destroyed most of their coven. The only ones to survive were Vladimir and Stephan. They are the true evil."
"Soo.. do you think we are somewhere in Romania?"
"It would make sense if we were. Somewhere no one expected. And if Victor is aligned with them he can hide anywhere he likes."
Bella coughed and nodded. As the days went on, the nausea got worse, and so did her headaches. Plus her breasts were excruciatingly sore.
She closed her eyes and tried to focus. How in the world could she tap into wolf and tiger spirits?
Maybe she could just call them?
Wolf...? tiger? Can you hear me? she asked in her mind.
Silence.
Bella groaned as another wave of pain circulated through her.
She grits her teeth, as she pushes to focus.
WOLF? TIGER! I NEED YOU!
Bella gasped as her surroundings changed and she was suddenly in a green field, with a warm sunshine down on her.
Leaning against a tree with his back facing her was Paul. But running to her were wolf and tiger.
…..
Paul sat at his kitchen table, surrounded by his pack and family.
After days of being holed up and self-isolated, he was feeling the full effects of the stress. His pack mates touched him at every chance they could. Rebbecca sat on his left and Rachel sat on his right. Henry was curled up in his lap.
A plate of food sat in front of him but he had yet to eat.
Currently, his kitchen is full of people. The whole pack except for Sam and Jacob. And all of the strongest warriors from his father's side of the family.
Chief Black cleared his throat, to get everyone's attention.
"First I want to thank you all for your sacrifice. I know the road has not been easy. Ferguson clan we appreciate your alliance. Now, we received a call yesterday. A call from Doctor Cullen. The masters that he serves are concerned about this unknown enemy. Not only did the enemy take Bella but they took one of their own. They want to help. I wanted to confer with you all before I make any decisions."
Arguments and disagreements immediately broke out before Paul put his hand up. dark circles were under his eyes.
"We can always use the reinforcements. We can use three of the Cullens, the mind reader, the empath, and the blonde girl. And two of their masters' most powerful fighters. But after that, they need to stay gone."
"what! son no! That is an insult to our strength." Julian contested. "Are we forgetting that it was the cold one that got us in this mess in the first place? Had it not been for them Bella would be here. Have you forgotten that they already took her away from you once? And you want to work with them!?"
Paul opened his mouth to respond but stopped when he felt a tug on his spirit. Wolf and tiger were whimpering.
He was quick to put a hand over his heart.
"paul? Paul? What's wrong?" Rachel and Rebecca asked in concern.
"Bella.." he breathed and then his scenery changed.
….
Paul was looking towards the sky when he felt her. he was surrounded by tall grass and bright sunlight. He was leaning on a tree when he heard her heartbeat.
He turned around, to see wolf and tiger running towards her.
He felt his feet move before he could think about anything else.
"Izzy… baby…" he called out, as he met her in the middle of the field. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his arms.
She was dirty, bruised and she smiled horribly of leech. But underneath it all was the same wonderful scent of his wife.
Tiger and wolf circled them, low rumbles of approval sounding in the air.
"Paul…" she said weakly. "I don't have much time. Im so weak and the connection is going to fade soon. I love you so much and God is going to get us through this but it's hard right now. Listen, im somewhere in Romania. You have to tell the Volturi that it's the Romanians who have partnered up with Victor. They are keeping myself and Demetri captive. They've been starving Demetri and something tells me they might unchain him soon and try to get him to kill me. They took his legs, so he was really weak. I have to try to get as much rest as possible before they do anything else. They like to leave for days at a time. im hoping I can tap into wolf and tiger strength, so maybe we can break out of here. I just need you guys to come as quick as you can baby."
Paul buried his face in her neck.
"I love you so much. You just hang on OK. were coming for you. im coming for you. If you can break out, do it but you gonna have to hide. And honey. Look at your wedding ring. There something on it that can help you…"
Before he could continue Bella faded away.
…..
Paul gasped as he sat up. Everyone was looking at him and concerned. Rachel was currently fanning him.
" Chief Black, Call Dr., Cullen back and get his masters. Tell him it's the Romanians and they are not alone. "
He then turned to his father.
"We're gonna need some bigger jets. We're going to Romania."