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Chapter 20
Daily Grind?
James
There she lay happily in his arms and I was relieved that nothing worse had happened to her foot. Now she had to take it easy tomorrow. That would be difficult. She was not the woman who liked to lie in bed.
When the movie ended, she was not yet tired and my Prince read to her. She fell asleep and he carried her to his bed, lay down and she slept.
He let her be and I was very happy that he had finally understood which way the wind was blowing. He now knew how to behave towards her, then she was also open for sex. I think he had also sensed that sex with a woman who gladly and lustfully reciprocated the whole thing was nicer than forced sex. So I could look positively for the two into the future. Gladly I would accompany them and was curious whether she would really have a baby.
My Prince had to go to the law office early and let her sleep.
"Keep an eye on her, James, and keep Alec off her back. Who knows what he'll try to do when I'm not around!"
"Of course, Royal Highness," I said.
I watched her as she slept.
She looked so peaceful and happy.
At eight o'clock she woke up and looked around.
"Good morning, my Princess," I said, and she gave me a smile.
"He's already gone to the law office?" she asked.
"Yes, Your Highness. Shall I carry you to your bathroom?", I asked.
"I can walk slowly, can't I?" she said.
"No, I'll carry you, Princess."
She sighed and I took her in my arms.
I put it down in front of the sink. Here she would stand around long enough now. I also put her bathrobe down and went out.
"Please call me when you are done and I will carry you back," I said.
She washed herself and fiddled around in the bathroom for quite some time until she called me.
"Could you please put me on my bed, James, and I'll get dressed there," she asked.
"With pleasure, my Princess," I said and carried her.
I brought her underwear.
"What else would you like to wear?", I asked.
"Hmm ... preferably a simple dress, then I don't need to put anything over my foot," she said.
I brought her a pink summer dress.
She laughed.
"You like pink, hmm ...?"
"Yes, on you, Your Highness," I said sheepishly, but she just smiled at me sweetly and understandingly.
She put on the underwear and then the dress.
"The foot is quite swollen," she noted.
I looked at him.
"We could cool him down a bit?", I suggested.
"I'd rather not, I hate those ice packs," she said. "Bring me the hairbrush, please?" she then asked.
I fetched the brush.
"I could do that?", I suggested.
She made me sit next to her on the bed, turned her back to me and I brushed her beautiful hair.
"James, when is your birthday?"
"I don't know, my Princess."
She sighed.
"With which one can please you then?" she asked.
"Hmm ... if you're happy and doing well, I'm glad."
"James!" she sighed in anguish.
I had to smile.
She tried yet always again.
After her hair was done, I carried her to the breakfast table.
I loved that time of day because that's when she would often seek out conversation with me ... when she wasn't reading a book at meal - that happened too.
"Have the other ladies set a day for us to buy the dresses yet?" she then asked.
"No, but I'd be happy to ask, Highness. Do you have a wish in this regard?"
"No, you can just make up a day. Will you accompany me again?" she then asked.
"Of course, I won't let you go anywhere alone, my Princess," I said, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Did you doubt it?" I asked.
"I wasn't sure if Alice and Rose would also be there. Do we have three guards with us then?" she asked.
"I think so. Possibly Princess Alice will go without a guard, but that varies. After all, as a vampiress, she's not quite as vulnerable as a human. But none of that matters. I wouldn't let you go anywhere alone, my Princess. Is that okay?"
"Yes, James, I'm glad you did. But I'm also worried. You watch over me for almost twenty-four hours at a time, apparently only disappearing into your room briefly at night when Edward is here. That must be terrible for you. You need a day off or something?" she asked anxiously, eyeing me intently.
"You need not worry, Princess Magnolia. I am content as it is. I haven't had anything sensible to do for years, and I'm glad to have a job for a change. And you are truly the most pleasant task I have ever had."
"James, you are incorrigible."
"Yes, My Royal Highness."
She smiled.
"What would you like to do now, Princess?"
"To the PC, please. I need to order school supplies and see what else the university tells me."
I carefully carried her to her desk and set her down there.
She worked all morning, clicking around.
In between, there was a knock.
I opened.
Prince Alec, that was unbelievable.
I bowed slightly, "You wish, Royal Highness?"
"James, I want to visit the Princess, give her a gift and see how she is doing with the injury," he said.
"I'm sorry, Her Royal Highness is not receiving any visitors today, as the doctor has ordered her on bed rest. However, I will send your get-well wishes."
He squinted past me at the bed.
Fortunately, he could not see the Princess because her desk was on the other side of the room.
"But she's not in bed at all," he noted.
"Royal Highness, there is another bed in these chambers. She rests in the other."
Alec looked at me skeptically.
"This is silly. Now let me in, James, or I'll gain access myself!" he said threateningly.
"GUARDS!", I said loudly and all four guards pushed him away from the door. "The Royal Highness, Prince Edward, as well as Majesty Carlisle have ordered that Princess Isabella is not to be disturbed here. Please keep Prince Alec out of here. He has no rights of entry whatsoever."
I closed the door.
The Princess looked at me with wide eyes and I put my index finger over my mouth so that she would still be silent and Alec would not hear her.
She nodded.
"He's gone, Your Highness," I said after a while.
"He's so bold!" she snapped. "What on earth does he want from me? Is he trying to pinch me from the Prince... or what?" she asked.
"I have no idea, my Princess, but I was glad the guards were there. I don't know how it would have turned out if it had come to a fight."
She nodded.
"He scares me. I want to let Edward know. I wonder if I can call him now?"
"Of course, he always has time for his Princess," I said.
She dialed on her cell phone.
"Yes, good afternoon, Isabella Volturi here. Could I speak to Mr. Edward Volturi, please?"
...
"Thank you, I'll wait."
It took five seconds ...
"Edward, hi. No, I would never call out of boredom," she said with a smile. "Alec just knocked here. He wanted to visit me, give me a present and see how I was doing. James asked him nicely to leave, but he threatened him and tried to force his way in here. James then called the guards to help and they pulled him away from my door. I just wanted you to know that. I was scared for James!"
She was afraid for me. That was so typical of my Princess.
She looked at her watch.
"Oh yes, that would be nice, Edward. I'm looking forward to it," she said with a smile.
...
"Me too. See you soon. - He'll be here in a minute. He actually just hired someone and can take the afternoon off again!" she said, beaming.
"I'm glad, my Princess!"
There was a knock again.
I opened.
A servant.
"I am to deliver this for Your Royal Highness Princess Isabella. Prince Alec gave it to me," he said, gave me a parcel, bowed and left.
I looked at it.
"I don't want it, James," said my Princess.
Therefore, I put it on the table for now.
"Would you please carry me to the harp, James?" she asked, and I carried her over.
She sank into her music and I listened fascinated. (Stairway to Heaven, on the harp)
Meanwhile, my Prince came in and smiled.
He loved to see and hear them play.
Quietly, he sat down next to her on the floor and listened as well.
She played with her eyes closed.
Then she smiled and said, "Hello, my Prince."
"How do you know I'm here?" he asked, surprised.
"I smell you. You have an indescribably pleasant scent, a quite magical aura surrounds you. With it, I would be able to pick you out blindly from a crowd of people," she said, looking at him.
She finished playing her harp and slid down to him on the floor. Tenderly she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He kissed her back and gently pulled her onto his lap. After a while she detached herself from him.
"I have to eat," she whispered.
He nodded.
They rose and he carried them to the table, where the food was already there. Then he discovered the gift.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Alec dropped this off for me - through a servant," she explained. "You can open it. Whatever it is, I don't want it," she said.
My Master opened it.
It was a small jewelry box made of blue velvet. The Master opened it and a music box began to play. In the box was a pin of gold with the Volturi coat of arms.
"He's giving you the Volturi crest," my Prince said in surprise.
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"That you are accepted into the family and are a Volturi. It's an honor to have it. But usually you get it from Aro or my dad when you marry into the family," my Prince explained.
"Is he trying to seduce me into dumping you?" she asked thoughtfully.
"I have no idea, Bella, but it already seems possible. Are you going to leave me for him now?" he asked, amused.
"Of course, Edward, he's so breathtakingly adorable," she said ironically and rolled her eyes. "Do you have the whole afternoon off?" she then asked, changing the subject with that.
"Yes, what do you want to do with me?" he asked.
"I don't know, do you have any ideas?" she asked.
"We could go out in the garden and swing and sunbathe. While we're doing that, I could whisper nice things in your ear and every once in a while you could give me a kiss."
She smiled.
"If that makes you happy, we should do the same!" she said.
"Does your foot still hurt?" he asked.
"No. But I was only carried," she said, looking over at me.
"Then I'll carry you to the garden now," he said.
"I could also walk at a leisurely pace on my own?" she asked.
"Not a chance," he smiled.
She sighed.
"Then just carry me to the bathroom first, please - and James, I need socks and sneakers, please!"
He carried her into the bathroom and left her there alone until she called out. Then he put her in the middle of the table and put on her socks.
"Like a baby, I feel like a baby," she whined, and he laughed.
"Yes baby, it's you, my baby!"
He kissed her quickly and then carefully put a sneaker on her healthy foot. It didn't work on the other side because the foot was too thick with the bandage.
"Since you're going to wear me anyway, Daddy, you might as well just leave the sneaker off," she said.
"Daddy?" he asked indignantly.
"Yeah, my daddy used to carry me too," she said.
My Prince stood in front of her, held her head and kissed her mouth.
"Hmm..." she moaned.
"I hope this is anything but daddy mode, don't you?" he asked, kissing her again.
"Yes, that's Edward mode ... hmm ..." she breathed, snuggling up to him.
He gently lifted her into his arms and I opened the door for them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him in love.
"Faster, my Prince, please," she said, "I need sun!"
He laughed and spun in circles with her. Then he ran quickly and she screamed, which made him act even more foolish. He bounced around with her, spinning, running, jumping, running backwards and she laughed.
Then he sprinted down the stairs with her and ...
... slammed into two men who were just entering the entrance hall.
"Oops ..." said the Princess, still laughing softly.
"Oh ... sorry," my Prince said, looking at who he had run into.
The men looked at him and then at my Princess.
"Bella," breathed the one man.
He was very tall, tanned, muscular, dark haired. A damn handsome guy and clearly human. But he smelled funny.
Her head went up and she looked at him.
"Jake," she breathed in surprise.
My Prince looked back and forth between the two in surprise.
"Please put me down, Edward," she said, and he set her down carefully, but kept a hand on her arm to steady her.
"Oh Jake," she said, and he "Bella, that you're alive!" and then they hugged tightly.
When they broke away from each other, my Princess pushed him a little away from her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I could ask you that?" he said. "I thought you were dead. We all thought that. I was at your funeral!" he said, eyeing her with an affectionate look.
My Princess looked around helplessly.
"May I introduce Edward to you? Edward, this is my friend Jake. I had told you about him. He's the son of my father's friend. We grew up like brother and sister."
"Hi, Jacob," Edward said.
"Edward, long time no see!" this Jake said.
Now my Princess looked surprised.
"You know each other?" she asked.
The two nodded.
"Does he know what you are?" she whispered to Edward, and he nodded.
"But I guess you don't know what he is?" my Prince asked her, looking at Jake.
The latter shook his head.
"What he is?" the Princess asked, confused, and looked at Jake, thought about it, and remained silent.
"Did you kidnap her here?" Jake asked my Prince, and his tone sounded rude.
The Princess immediately interfered.
"Jake, he's my fiancé. I'm going to marry him. He didn't kidnap me!" she said.
The man's look became angry.
"Your fiancé? You want to marry a bloodsucker? Are you crazy, Bella?" he snarled at her.
My Prince gently pulled her to him and hugged her from behind.
"Jacob, please moderate your tone. I don't want her to be yelled at. It's none of your business that she wants to be my wife. She gave her yes willingly. I love her and would never hurt her."
"Sure ... and if you get into bed with her after the wedding, you'll fuck her to pieces!" he said sarcastically.
My Prince took a breath and the Princess looked at him, because she did not understand what this Jake meant.
"He means that because of my vampire urges, I am not able to control my superhuman powers. So ... that when I have sex with you, I would lose control and could hurt you," the Prince explained to her gently.
She stroked his cheek and said reassuringly, "I see. Well, I guess I don't have to worry about that anymore, we've already settled that!"
She smiled.
Jake looked incredulous.
"You slept with him?" he asked, horrified.
"Jake, he's my fiancé. Even though some things here are from the last century, I certainly wouldn't marry a man who had nothing to offer me sexually and who I hadn't tried first. I can reassure you. He is very tender and does not hurt me - on the contrary."
My Prince grinned and kissed her on the head.
"But he's cold, Bella. You will be tied to him all your life, grow old and die, and he will stay young, kill people and cheat on you with other women!" he said desperately.
It seemed to me that he was looking for the last straw to grasp at and save her.
"Jake, please. He only murders because he has no other choice and tries to find sick people or criminals. I don't like it, but I just love him, so I have to overlook it. Besides, I'm not going to age, I'm going to let him turn me someday," she explained.
"My goodness, Isabella, wake up. Do you hear what you're saying! You must be crazy!" he said.
But she shook her head vigorously.
"No, I've never been better. I am truly loved," she said, leaning firmly against the Prince's chest.
"He thinks you might have that with him, too. He loves you, darling," the Prince said, and that Jake looked angry.
The Princess was irritated.
"He me?" She looked at him. "Jake, we're like brother and sister. I don't love you," she said indignantly.
"I know," the latter sighed, and it sounded frustrated.
He loved her and she hadn't noticed. That suited her.
I had to smile.
She didn't even know what kind of impression she left on men.
"Bella, I can't leave you here. You have to come home with me!" he then suddenly said.
"No, Jake, forget it!" she said. "I'm staying here and you're not going to tell anyone I'm alive. I'm happy the way things are now. But please tell me, how is my dad?" she whispered.
"Not good. He's not drinking anymore, he's back at work, and he's blaming himself. He blames himself for your death because he didn't take care of you and let you go. He just sits around in silence or works like crazy, does overtime, even drives patrol. He doesn't watch games with my dad anymore, and he won't go fishing," he told her.
She swallowed the tears rising in her.
"I'm glad he has you guys and you're comforting him. He'll get over it. Please, take care of him," she said.
"Bella, you can't give up everything for such a weird guy!" he said hurt.
"Jake, he's not weird. He's educated and lives a very cultured life, reads, plays the piano, composes. These are things you have no interest in. Believe me, he's just right for me. You don't have to worry about me."
She stroked Jake's arm and he looked at her sadly.
"What actually brings you to us?" asked my Prince, seemingly to end the subject now.
"We have a vampire problem in the area and wanted to get to your father so that he could take care of it," explained this Jake, but kept his eyes on my Princess.
"I will take you guys to him. Isabella, you could go ahead with James. I'll catch up with you, okay?" he asked the Princess lovingly and kissed her gently on the forehead, causing Jake to grimace painfully.
She sighed and nodded.
"But please hurry. I was so looking forward to it," she said softly and stroked his cheek.
He nodded.
"I'll carry you, Princess," I said, stepping closer.
"Bye, Jake and don't be sad. Please!" she said to him, kissing him briefly on the cheek and slumping against me.
I lifted her up.
"Are you hurt?" asked Jake, looking down at her sock.
"Yes, but not bad. I tripped last night. The doctor says I should take it easy on the foot for a day or two. I think it's overkill, but Edward and James like to carry me around like a kid," she explained with a smile.
"Bye, Bella," he said, turning and following my master.
The other man walked behind.
Slowly I carried my Princess through the garden.
But she had no eye for the sunny day, the lush green of summer, or the dance of butterflies that usually fascinated her.
We went to the swing in the rose garden and I put her down on it, stayed sitting next to her and rocked us gently.
The scent of the roses was very strong and clouded my senses, but my Princess did not notice that today either.
She mused.
"What did Edward mean when he said I didn't know WHAT Jake is? He's not a vampire," she asked and stated.
"I suspect something, Your Highness," I said.
"And what?" she asked.
"I don't know if I'm allowed to tell this, my Princess," I said.
"Then let's not do that. I'll ask Edward myself later," she said reassuringly and briefly put her hand on my arm.
She mused again.
"Are you sad?", I asked quietly.
"A little bit, James. Jake was my best friend. But if he really loves me, it's better if I don't see him anymore. And I feel sorry for my dad. Now he's lost his wife AND his daughter, it's tough," she sighed.
I nodded.
That really sounded anything but good. Her look was sad. She stared at the roses in front of us without seeing them.
"A vampire problem means a vampire is near Forks and not following the rules and now our men have to deal with it?" she then asked.
"That's right, Your Highness," I said.
"Will Edward have to be gone longer?" she asked.
"It's possible. I don't know how big the problem is. Whether it's just one vampire or a whole group," I said.
She nodded again.
We rocked in silence.
All of a sudden I heard a noise and looked up.
This Jake suddenly stood in front of us and held a gun on the Princess. In a flash, he yanked her out of the swing and pressed the gun to her neck.
"Stay nice and still, Mr. James, or she's dead," he whispered, his eyes sparkling brilliantly black at me.
"Jake, you dumbass, what are you doing?" my Princess asked, gasping a little, because he had his arm around her neck and was choking her slightly.
Oh no, what should I do now? I couldn't let him hurt her, but even less let him shoot her because of me!? Hmm... but would he really shoot her if he loved her?
That's what was going through my mind.
The other man emerged from the bushes next to us, yanked me out of the swing and I had no time to think over my actions. He tied me up with an old rope and a leather belt. He tied the rope tightly around my feet, the belt around my hands and around the upper swing bar, so that I could not get free easily even by tipping the device over. Then he gagged me by putting a handkerchief in my mouth and wrapped another belt around my head.
The Princess cursed and swore and squirmed as much as his grip would allow.
"Be quiet now, Bella, or I'll shoot this James guy and rip his head off. Would you prefer that?" asked Jake coldly.
She immediately fell silent.
"So you like him, hmm ...?" he asked with a grin.
"Jake, you are such a jerk. Edward will be terribly angry when he finds out!" she said.
"Bella, I don't give a shit. But I do care about you, and that's why I'm taking you with me!"
They left me at the swing.
He took Bella in his arms and then they ran toward the forest.
The guards quickly became aware and ran after them. Fortunately, they did not get the idea to shoot, because they did not want to hit the Princess.
I knocked the swing over, bounced around on the bar until it broke, and freed my hands. A guard came and helped me quickly.
"Go after them," I said, "I'll call the Prince!"
Frustrated with what had happened, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed.
"Yes?"
"That Jake guy pulled a gun on the Princess and kidnapped her!", I said.
"NO!" he yelled and I heard him push me away.
I quickly took up the pursuit as well. In the forest I found the other guards. They had found the clothes of the men and here it stank very much of wolf.
So I had guessed correctly. A pair of long pants was missing. Hmm ... One had turned and the Princess was tied on him by the other, guaranteed, because she would certainly not have voluntarily held on to a wolf. Tie her up with a pair of jeans? Was that possible? I had no idea how fast these wolves were and whether vampires would have a chance to catch up with them.
Shortly after came my Master, the King himself, and Princes Emmett, Jasper, and Alec.
I reported what had happened and my Master looked at me terribly angry.
He was mad at me.
"Couldn't you fucking overpower him?" he asked.
"No, he immediately had the Princess in a chokehold and held a gun to her head. I thought about whether he would really hurt her if he loved her, but at that moment the other one had already started to tie me up," I said desperately and added an "I'm terribly sorry, my Prince!"
"We don't have time to accuse each other now," Carlisle said, thinking for a moment.
Then he took the floor again.
"We split up. Emmett, Edward, James and Alec are running behind with a couple of guards, Jasper and I are organizing a helicopter. We'll meet in Forks at the La Push border. He's guaranteed to run there with her. If he changes direction on the way, let us know via cell phone. We'll report back the same way if we see anything."
He and Jasper ran back to the palace, we into the forest after the tracks and first guards who had already taken up the pursuit.
I felt bad. The Master was mad at me and my Princess in a situation she didn't want to be in. This Jake ... I didn't know anything about him. Would he possibly hurt her too?
I shuddered at the thought.
My Princess was in great danger and probably very unhappy and it was my fault.
