Authors Note: Hello I hope all of you enjoy this chapter. For those who did not participate/did not read this during the challenge, Tigerworld won. Esme will have Alcina Dimitrescu's abilities and this does include the dragon (that will come into play later).
Enjoy the chapter and have a wonderful day.
Two bodies were entangled together surrounded by grass and trees. Slow breaths left the smaller brunette who was curled into a taller woman with caramel hair. A breeze gently blew around the two waking the brunette slowly.
--Bella P.O.V
--
Her eyelids pressed closed, the younger woman is unwilling to wake up. Scooting closer to the other body there she nuzzled her face into them. Hearing a soft chuckle she groaned out.
"No." She mumbled, much to the amusement of the older woman.
"Bella dear, we have to get up. We don't know where, or more importantly when we are."
The brunette was reluctant but agreed to get up with the promise of more sleep. Huffing, she got up and rolled her shoulders. Looking towards Esme she saw the golden-eyed woman looking at her amused. All the caramel-haired woman got in response was a huff.
Laughing softly at her mother figure Bella looked around confused. Scrunching her eyebrows together she looked at the caramelette.
"Mom, this location does not look familiar to me. Does this area look familiar to you?" Bella asked.
Esme looked around and frowned.
"No, I get the feeling that this area would pertain to you."
Bella tilted her head in confusion and looked around again. Taking another look around she noticed some characteristics of the area around them, quickly recognizing the trail signs. A small 'oh' left her lips, confusing Esme.
"Dear, is there a bad memory attached to this location?" Esme asked, sensing her daughter's sudden sadness.
Bella nodded and got ready to explain the background of the area they were in.
"Mom, you remember when I told you about Renee's adventurous years? The stories with all of the shady guys and random trips?"
Esme growled lowly and nodded, recalling the conversation she and Bella had last time around. Seeing the nod Bella continued.
"This is the trip to Alaska when Renee had an outdoor kick and refused to stay inside."
Esme had a blank look on her face, eyes seething in rage. This look was one Bella was familiar with, it often occurs when Renee is discussed. More recently, it had been used when Carlisle and Edward got on the two's nerves.
Bella knew that at some point they were going to encounter the Cullens and when that happened all hell was going to break loose. Looking at Esme again she voiced a plan.
"Mom don't the Cullens have a lawyer named Jenks? Could we go to him and get my custody transferred to you and your name changed? Maybe file a divorce between you and Carlisle as well?"
Esme tilted her head to the side and thought about it. Thinking back she remembered something crucial.
"Carlisle and I didn't get married officially this time around, the last time we did was about thirty years ago," Esme replied, silently thankful.
Bella nodded and looked towards the entrance to the clearing, thinking.
"If this place is the one containing the memory I am thinking of Renee will start yelling my name soon. Should we leave?" Bella asked tone worried.
Esme nodded and picked Bella up, getting ready to run.
--TIME SKIP--
Bella closed her eyes as the forest blurred past them, feeling nauseous at the colours mending together. Esme nuzzled her an apology, trying to make the run as smooth as possible for her daughter. They quickly approached the end of the forest and Esme slowed down, heading towards the tour office.
As soon as the office was in sight she put on her best comforting face and held Bella tighter. Walking in at a human pace she looked towards the person running the front desk. Behind the glass was a young woman with a forest green uniform looking through documents. When the young woman heard footsteps she looked over to see Esme carrying a "Passed out" Bella. A cry of alarm rang out of the woman's lips once she took in the sight before her.
Esme looked at the woman gravely and got her attention.
"Hey Miss, I found this girl passed out on the side while I was taking a tour. I couldn't find her mother anywhere and I broke away from the group so I could bring her back here. Do you happen to have any fluid or food for her? I checked to make sure she was awake and she is barely conscious."
The desk lady nodded quickly and opened a mini-fridge behind the desk and brought out a lemonade. Handing it to Esme she goes to work finding a cot to set the girl on. Bella at her current age was a small child so the idea she was neglected was easily passable.
Soon Bella was laid out on a cot and was given some Lemonade. Esme looked at the woman and gave a thankful smile.
"Thank you for your help, If you'd like I can pay for the drink and food you've provided here," Esme said, looking at the young woman with sincerity.
The desk attendant shook her head and smiled.
"No need Ma'am, I am thankful you helped this child when you did. By the looks of her, she wouldn't have lasted much longer." The desk attendant sighed in exasperation.
"We don't have a place to hold children though to find parents. The best we can hope for is to call the police, but at this child's tender age, I don't know if that would traumatise her or not. She seems far too calm about being lost and neglected as if it happens often."
Esme gave the woman a sad look and nodded.
"From her mannerisms, I suspect some serious child neglect on the parent's part. She mentioned having a mother but I have not heard anything about a father."
The caramel haired woman put on a thinking face and seemed to suddenly get an idea.
"If you'd like I can give you some contact info for me and I could take her home. I can give a police statement and everything, or if you feel wary about that I could go home and get my contact info and paperwork? I used to be a child care worker a few years ago." Esme said, making her face sincere and motherly.
The desk attendant seemed to accept that Idea and smiled.
"We could put her picture on a poster in the office so if the parent comes by they can claim her. I will call the police here and get everything squared away, the officers can tell you if she can go with you or not." The uniformed employee replied, seemingly taken by Esme's kindness.
Esme nodded and responded in kind.
"I'll stay here with her and make sure she is eating properly, if you need me to do anything ask and I can give any info I know of."
The employee nodded and went to the phone dialling 911. Waiting on the phone a bit she got to talking to someone.
"Hello? Yes, this is the Forest tour service, we have a child that was found by another abandoned on the trail and the mother could not be found anywhere. The woman who found her is currently comforting the girl and is willing to make a statement so could you send a couple of officers here?- Yes, that is our address. -Okay thank you."
The employee got off the phone quickly and walked back over to Esme smiling.
"Ma'am the officers should be on the way to our location soon, while we are here do you want any food yourself?"
Esme shook her head and gave the woman a thankful look.
"No thank you, dear, I am more concerned about this girl here. She needs the food more than I do." Esme replied, looking back at Bella worried.
The desk assistant seemed to stare at Esme a lot yet, the woman paid no mind to it. Putting a hand on Bella's back she moved it up and down seemingly to soothe the girl. Bella looked at her mom and leaned into her which the desk assistant took as her being cold. The uniformed woman walked to the coat racks and grabbed a large one which got draped over the young girl. Bella nodded in thanks and scooted back into Esme. The small scene was interrupted by a car pulling up and the door being opened by two police officers opening the door.
Once the officers walked in they saw the young girl curled up to Esme they looked at the uniformed woman and motioned to speak to them. One of the officers took the woman outside and the other stayed inside and smiled at the other two in the tour office. Esme smiled back at the man and turned her attention back to Bella.
"Dear, they are probably going to take me outside for a moment to give a statement okay? Do you feel safe staying inside with the employee and this officer here?" Esme asked, which Bella could tell was to prove their story further. Bella nodded silently and clung tighter to her mom to make it look like she felt safe with her. Esme smiled and rubbed her back one last time before going to talk to the officer.
Once Esme got to the officer she started talking to him. Looking at him with a convincing look of concern she addressed him.
"Excuse me, Officer?"
The man was startled but smiled again.
"Officer Davies is fine Ma'am. What can I help you with?"
Esme smiled in response and went about her next line.
"Is there going to be a medical exam on her? She looks skinny but seems to shy away from touch. I don't want to stress her out unnecessarily." Esme asked, concern once again showing on her face.
The officer seemed to soften more and looked at Bella briefly. Looking back towards Esme he smiled and gave her a reassuring pat on the back.
"If anything Ma'am she'll stay with you and whether or not she goes to the doctor is up to you. She seems okay but I would recommend having someone look over her just to be sure she is alright." He replied, seemingly sensing that Esme meant Bella no harm.
A fake sigh of relief left Esme's lips and she gave a look filled with thanks to the man.
"Thank you, sorry to trouble you both coming out here. I know being an officer is busy work."
The man simply shook his head and gave her another brief smile.
"Not at all, Ma'am. We would rather have things like this being called in so no one gets in trouble or is left in danger."
The conversation between the two was interrupted by the other officer and employee coming in. The employee walked back over to the fridge and got Bella another drink while the officer motioned toward Esme. She nodded and joined him outside.
This officer was an older gentleman with a kind face, hair greying slightly. He gave Esme a calm smile and started talking.
"Ma'am, may I ask your preferred name?"
Esme nodded and replied.
"Yes Officer, my name is Esme Platt."
He nodded and smiled once again, writing down the information given.
"Ms Platt, could you tell me how you found the girl?"
Esme nodded and ran the planned story through.
"I was taking a hiking tour with others in the group and about fifteen to twenty minutes in I found a lump on the ground. Looking at it closely I could tell it was a person. I was concerned and checked it out only to see it was a child. My group had moved ahead at that point and I could not see them."
He was nodding along and wrote as she spoke.
"I could not find signs of her parents anywhere so I shook her and asked if she was awake. She was partially conscious and very cold, so I picked her up and ran back to the tour office as quickly as possible. While running I asked her questions to keep her awake and found out that her mother was in an earlier group and had not noticed her disappearing." Esme stated, sounding annoyed at the mother.
The officer nodded looking annoyed as well. Esme finished up the story and gave contact information in case they found her parents. The officer looked inside briefly and looked back at Esme.
"Ms Platt, if I may ask do you have kids?" the officer said, seemingly sensing that she did.
Esme put on a sad face and nodded.
"I used to have a three-year-old son." She said, sadly.
Deciding to continue she spoke again.
"Due to my Ex-Husband's negligence, he passed away." She replied, letting a tear fall.
The officer's face softened more and he patted her back.
"The good news is she may be able to stay with you after this as the mother/parent has not been found." He comforted her, smiling at her.
Esme smiled back at him and they headed inside. The cop walked in and went over to Bella shooing the employee and another cop towards Esme. After about five minutes he got up and motioned for Esme to come over. She walked back over and Bella got up and hugged her, burying her face into Esme's side.
Looking at the older cop as he was smiling at them he spoke to Esme.
"You can take her home Ms Platt, my partner called a taxi for you and it is outside waiting. Thank you for letting us know what happened with little Bella here. We'll call you when we find the mother and discuss other topics. By the looks of it, you may be able to adopt her if we cannot find another suitable parent."
Esme nodded and thanked the people there. Once both her and Bella were in the taxi Esme told the driver the Denali home address.
-DENALI HOUSE-
Esme exited the car with Bella sleeping in her arms, she thanked the driver and wished him a good day. Walking in she put Bella down on the couch picked up the phone and dialled Jenks.
"Hey Jenks, this is Esme I need you to make some documents for me. -No Carlisle and I will not be married I would like to send him divorce papers and a restraining order. -Why? He did something unforgivable and I don't want him to have my location. While we're at it I would like to set up another bank account with all my funds transferred into it so the family cannot access them. -Thank you Jenks you are a lifesaver."
The phone was hung up and a dark smile covered Esme's face.
Location:England
Carlisle walked into the house, confusion on his face, catching his kid's attention. Edward frowned and walked behind his father figure, looking at the folder in the blonde's hand. Carlisle looked up at them and stated something surprising.
"It's from Jenks, and by the looks of it Esme."
The blonde doctor said, earning a slew of voices from the children. Raising a hand he silenced them all and opened the folder, pulling out documents.
A shocked gasp left the lips of the Doctor and his eldest. The others were confused and got up looking at the documents in his hands.
Rosalie laughed and spoke up.
"So she finally divorced you huh? and is that restraining order? With how you treated her it is not a surprise."
Edward glared at her and spoke up, looking condescending.
"This must be a mistake, Rosalie, Esme knew her place and to not ruin the sanctity of marriage."
The family froze and felt a sudden chill run through the room. Carlisle especially felt it, somehow he knew someone was planning his murder.
Authors note: I am evil so you all are left on a cliffhanger. Enjoy!