The Guard
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 03
Slowly, she swam to consciousness, her vision blurry as she struggled to blink away the now familiar drug-induced disorientation. She didn't know for sure how long she'd been here, but she guessed—from her scant periods of consciousness, it'd been a few days, at least.
The room was barren and shadowed, heavy drapes blocking the natural light that tried valiantly to enter around the edges, casting slim blades of light across the space where it had succeeded.
Taking a moment to catalogue her situation, she tried to move only to crash into despair once again upon feeling the bindings at her wrists and ankles.
Hearing a female voice that sounded shockingly like her own, she strained to hear what was being said through the partially open door but could only catch broken pieces.
"Sure Dad…Jake…hanging out…beach…more days…I will…bye…"
She finally gave up trying to listen and struggled to adjust her position. When she moved, her nose wrinkled in distaste at the feel of the urine catheter the bastard had placed in her bladder. God, how long had she been out? Before she could stop them, tears of anger and humiliation welled in her eyes and spilled over.
Clenching her fists, she turned her head toward the door and called out, her voice raspy from thirst and non-use, "Edward!"
Within seconds, the portal opened fully and there he was, crooked smile in place as he walked in. "You're awake."
"You don't say," she sneered while eyeing the IV he was currently checking. "What are you doing?" she asked warily as he adjusted the drip before examining the site where the needle entered her arm.
His gaze darted to hers and he smiled. "Just making sure everything's good, love." His head tilted and he perched on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Are you serious?!" She rasped. "I feel like a fucking truck hit me!"
He frowned. "I realize you're upset but there's no need for profanity, love."
"Who else is here?" she asked, cringing back as much as possible when he brushed some stray hair from her brow.
His eyes widened. "No one. Just us, love."
"I heard…"
"It was the TV."
Her eyes narrowed but she let it drop to ask other questions that were plaguing her. "Why are you doing this? Where's Jake? How long have I been here? Where is here?!"
"Shh, shh, shh, love. So many questions…" He crooned.
Her stomach wrenched as more tears spilled over and her nails gouged her palms. "Are you going to answer any?" She croaked before licking her dry lips.
He stood, walking quickly to a dresser where a cup and bottle of water sat. After filling the cup, he popped in a straw and brought it to her. "Here love, you look thirsty." He sat and placed the straw at her lips and she drew deeply from it, sighing in relief as the cool water soothed her parched throat. When she was done, he set the cup aside and smiled while crossing his legs. His fingers played with hers where they lay against the sheet as he began speaking. "We're in a very safe place, Bella. One my family doesn't even know of."
She eyed him warily. "Why?"
He chuckled. "Why? Because I had to get you away before it was too late."
Her eyes narrowed. "You used Jake to get around Alice. How did you manage to convince him?"
He shrugged. "Manipulating the dog was easy, love. I just told him of your insistence on being changed and then set things up so he would hear just how determined you were from your own lips. I had already told him of my opposition to such a plan, so getting him to help me spirit you away to 'safety' wasn't all that difficult."
She looked away, jaw locked in choking anger for a moment before looking back at him. "I suppose a new car was just icing on the cake for him, right? Throw him a bone, to sweeten the deal?"
Edward laughed, his smile bright as he tapered into a chuckle. "Very good, love, very witty, but yes, the car seemed to help. After all, he needed reliable transportation to get you to me, right? It was a win for both of us."
She tried moving her hands and shot him a glare. "You must have lied to him. I know Jake and I can't imagine him agreeing to help you if he knew you were going to treat me…like this."
He shrugged a shoulder. "You got me there. I made some promises I have no intention to keep, but it was necessary since you're entirely right. He's much too noble to do what he did otherwise."
"Promises?" she questioned and he nodded.
"Yes. I had to agree to deliver you to him and leave you once I'd convinced you to remain human."
Another tear slowly slid into the hair at her temple. "Why go to such lengths, Edward? I was going to marry you! I'd agreed to be yours!"
His face changed in an instant and her breath hitched as he snarled, "You insisted on changing, and everyone—everyone!—was going along with it this time, even Rosalie! You were doing your all to take everything precious from me, and I couldn't…" His fists and jaw clenched for a moment as he looked away, his voice mellowing into his usual dulcet tones, "I just couldn't allow that to happen."
Icy fear trickled through her veins as her heart picked up speed. "So, what are you going to do with me now?"
He retrieved a tray of medical supplies and smiled but the cold, manic look in his eyes did nothing for her peace of mind. "Now? You and I," he quipped while slowly removing her restraints and IV, "will travel, see the sights, stay ahead of the Volturi," he drawled while flashing a toothy smile. "Don't worry, love," he assured conversationally while flipping back the covers and snapping on gloves to remove the catheter. "It'll be great fun…if you're a good girl and you let it."
With a whimper, she closed her eyes and willed herself away to somewhere deep in her mind as his cold, clinical touch insistently nudged her naked thighs apart.
~o0o~
Demetri paced in front of the Cullen home as his best friend and brother-in-arms leaned against the porch railing, powerful legs crossed at the ankles and one brow raised as his fingers drummed a lazy tattoo on the porch floor. "You do realize," his heavily accented voice drawled, "this pacing is gaining you nothing."
Demetri promptly flipped him off on his next pass and Felix chuckled. "I keep telling you, I don't swing that way." He grinned. "Although, if I did, you'd be the first I'd tap since you are just that god damned pretty."
Demetri growled and took a swing at him and Felix stiff-armed him, holding him off easily. "Are you done?" he asked in a bored tone as Demetri growled and twisted out of his grip.
"Asshole," he grumbled as he went back to pacing and Felix grinned.
"You love me and who can blame you?" Demi bit back a snort as Felix grinned. "But really brother, this is getting us nowhere. We've been here for days now, the girl still isn't here and I don't know about you, but I'm tired of sitting here with my thumb up my ass, doing nothing. We need real answers or at least a solid plan."
Demetri halted and raked his fingers through his hair. "Agreed." He bit his lip and pulled out his phone. "Think it's time to call Aro?"
Felix scoffed. "I think we should have called him the minute we started getting non-answers from the Cullens."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Demetri agreed with a cringe. "I just hope he doesn't take this out of our asses when we get back."
Felix raised a brow. "And just how are we in any way responsible for this cluster-fuck? We got here when we were told to. We were then told to wait for her to come back from the reservation. She hasn't, despite the many reassurances. Now, here we are. Enough of the bullshit. Make the call, Demi."
With a sigh, Demetri nodded and pressed send just as Carlisle wandered out to join them.
~o0o~
"What do you mean, my niece is still not there, Demetri?" Aro drawled over the tinny cell phone speaker.
Demetri's gaze darted to his stoic best friend as he answered. "The last word the Cullens heard from her was a text to Alice in which she said she was going to visit her shifter friend on the local reservation. It's been days since then and her shifter friend insists she's still there, with him, but she hasn't contacted Alice or any of the Cullens since that one text. Felix and I have tired of waiting, and both agree the whole situation seems suspicious."
"What of her father, Demetri? Has she contacted him?"
Demetri raised a brow at Carlisle who'd held out a hand for the phone. "Aro," he greeted.
"Ah, Carlisle. What, if anything, can you add to this?"
"Well, Charlie, Isabella's father, has assured Alice he's been receiving daily calls from his daughter and that she's fine and staying with Jake—her shifter friend."
"You have reason to doubt this, Carlisle?"
Carlisle took a deep breath, releasing it in a weary sigh. "I didn't at first, since she's done things like this before but Alice has just shared with me that she's been getting flashes of some rather disturbing visions involving my first childe, Edward. They're nothing solid, but based on the fragments, she's concerned he might have abducted her."
"This is grave news, my friend. And the phone calls? What of them then?"
"Edward, like many of us, is quite adept at mimicry. I'm afraid that is what's happened with the calls to Bella's father, especially since Edward left days ago to hunt and hasn't returned since."
"Have you spoken with her shifter friend personally?"
"I have. He insists Bella is fine and staying with him, but has refused to let us speak with her. However, considering his affection for the girl and his hostile feelings toward us, such a refusal is rather normal."
"And Edward? Have you called him?"
"I have. He assures me he's merely extended his hunting trip."
"And is that normal?"
Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not really, but he's giving the excuse of wanting to be well fed for the upcoming honeymoon since he's promised Bella he'll try to have sex with her while she's still human."
Felix snorted, Demitri scoffed and Aro hummed. "Ah, I see. Yes, that could pose quite the challenge since she's his singer."
"Exactly," Carlisle agreed.
"Just for clarity's sake and to be thorough, you've tried to call Isabella directly?"
Carlisle nodded. "Of course, Aro, many times. Her phone goes straight to voice mail."
Aro sighed. "And of course, due to Isabella's unique mind, it's impossible for Demetri to locate her."
"Yes."
"Unless... she is indeed with Edward," he mused. "Put Demetri back on the phone, Carlisle. I'll speak with you later."
Demetri took the phone back. "Master?"
"You and Felix are to find young Edward, with all due haste. I want him brought in, no matter what. It's my understanding he's quite fast, but then so is our dear Felix, despite his considerable size," he said with a fond chuckle.
"This is true, Master," he said with a glance at his smirking best friend.
"Leave nothing to chance, boys. Oh, and when you find her—and I have a hunch she is with Edward—but when you find her, my dear niece comes here. Nowhere else, is that clear?"
"It will be as you say."
"Very well, goodbye boys and fruitful hunting."
~o0o~
Bella stepped from the shower and wrapped the towel around her body. Shuffling toward the full-length mirror, she swiped at the obscuring steam before staring at herself.
Her eyes were still red and tear swollen from earlier and she couldn't say she felt better despite having scrubbed her skin nearly raw. She could still feel his cold, gloved touch as he tended to her, his flippant, impersonal manner and clinical touch…
She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered, a tear slipping down her cheek as she vowed she'd never let him touch her again, if she could help it.
Drying quickly, she began to dress but paused as she heard his raised voice. "What do you mean, they're not buying it anymore?! I wasn't prepared to move yet." He growled. "Fine…yes…fine!"
She cringed as she heard something hit the wall and hurriedly finished dressing. She didn't ever want to be naked in his presence again if she could help it.
He came in just as she'd finished tying her sneakers. "Bit of a change in plans, love. We need to move, today, but don't worry. I think you'll love our next destination."
She sat up and shook her head. "I want to go home, Edward."
He strode to the closet and grabbed the suitcase. "That's not possible Bella and you know why," he said while throwing all their clothes in the case.
She scrubbed her hands over her face. "Just let me go, please. We'll forget all about this. I'm sure you're not in any trouble with the Volturi yet. We can still…"
He grabbed her by her neck and yanked her up with a growl. "Stop! Do you hear me? Just stop."
She grabbed his wrist, her eyes watering as his hold slowly cut off her air. "Edward," she choked while kicking at his shins. With a low growl, he tossed her back on the bed where she took in great gasps of air. Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked at him.
"What's happened to you?"
Gripping his copper strands in both fists, he shook his head. "Why can't you just do as you're told!" he yelled before lunging to loom over her. "Just once, without arguing, do what you're told, because if you don't," his tone gentled and he stroked the tears from her cheeks as his head tilted curiously, "If you don't, I can no longer promise you'll live through this, love." He smiled that crooked smile she once loved so much and her stomach turned at the sight of it. "Now, get up," he ordered coldly. "We're leaving."
~o0o~
"God damn it!"
Felix leaned against the door frame of the third house they'd been to, watching his brother in all but blood kick various pieces of furniture across the room. The scents of the girl and the mind-reader still hung thickly in the air.
He hung his head for a moment as a barstool splintered against the wall next to him. "It looks, or smells," he commented, "as though we missed them by hours...again."
Demetri pinned him with a glare. "Yes, I'm aware," he growled.
Felix held up both hands. "Don't take my head off, Demi, jesus. I'm just as pissed as you are."
Demetri kicked at more rubble. "How do we keep missing them? He's traveling with a human, for shit's sake! He should be moving slower than old people fuck!"
Felix stared at him flatly. "He's a fucking mind-reader, Dem, and apparently, the little bastard has quite the range." He cocked a brow then and smirked. "And just for curiosity's sake, since when have you been watching old people fuck?"
"Jealous?" Demetri quipped while shoving the overturned couch out of his way.
Felix scoffed a laugh and pushed off the wall. "Of that particular past-time? I can't say that I am, brother," he said dryly.
Demetri hung his head, both hands resting on his hips as he chuckled. "Such an asshole," he muttered before glancing up through his lashes. "All right, let's get back to it."
Felix arched a brow. "Yeah? You over your little tantrum?"
Demitri scowled. "No. Yes. Fuck…" He walked out the door and trotted down the steps as Felix closed the door and followed.
Once back in the SUV, Demetri closed his eyes and concentrated. "The little cock-sucker's moving straight north."
He opened his eyes and started the engine just as Felix's phone buzzed. "This is Felix," he answered as Demetri pulled out onto the long dirt road.
"Felix! This is Alice Cullen. Look, I got a pretty solid vision just now and this time I recognized the area. We used to own a piece of property a few miles away from the Denali coven. On it, was a hunting cabin that Edward doesn't know I'm aware of. That's where he's taking her or at least, he will be sometime soon."
"All right. Send us the coordinates via text."
"I will," she answered. "But Felix?"
"Yes?"
"Please hurry!"
He shared a look with Demetri. "We are," he said flatly.
"No, you don't understand!" she snapped. "You need to hurry because I also saw him drinking from her!"
"We'll do what we can," he said before disconnecting the call.
He looked at Demi who raked a hand through his hair as they hurtled down the road. "All this for a nutter and a corpse?" he muttered and Felix shrugged.
"Got us out of the castle for a while, didn't it?"
Demetri nodded. "That it did." He held out a hand. "Let's see the coordinates then." Felix handed him the phone and he studied it for a moment, his brow furrowing. "That's not the direction he's heading currently. That one's north-east. Right now, he's north and it feels like he's stopped."
Felix tapped a rhythm on the armrest before glancing at Demi. "Pull over and drop me off. I'll run the rest of the way to the location Alice Cullen gave us and you continue on to where your mind-meld shit takes you. When he runs from you, I'm betting the little fucker shows up where I'm waiting."
Demitri's brows inched up. "You think you can keep your mind quiet enough?"
Felix flipped a hand. "I meditate, you know this."
Demetri grinned. "Ah, yes grass hopper, you and your far-east mystic shit."
Felix smirked. "Don't knock it. When's the last time anyone kicked my ass in a fight?"
Demi's brows shot up. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
Felix scowled. "Size has very little to do with it. A truly skilled and centered warrior, no matter his size, can take someone twice their size. We've been over this."
Demetri grinned. "I know. I just like seeing you get all pissy over it."
Felix flipped him off. "Can we get back to this mission, please?"
Demitri inclined his head, still grinning. "By all means."
"My point is," Felix drew out, "what we've been doing isn't working, so this is worth a try, at least. I'll stay a couple miles out and watch the road and when he shows up, I'll move in and grab the little shit-head, hopefully without damaging the human."
Demetri slowed and pulled over. "All right, you've convinced me. But do me a favor." Felix paused in the opened door, one brow cocked. "Don't dismantle him completely. Save some for me."
A slow smile curved the massive Guard's lips. "I can do that."
"Happy hunting, brother," Demi wished him and Felix bowed regally.
"Happy hunting," he returned with a smirk before vanishing into the trees.
"Speedy, overgrown bastard," Demetri mumbled as he pulled back out on the road and floored it.
Slowly, she swam to consciousness, her vision blurry as she struggled to blink away the now familiar drug-induced disorientation. She didn't know for sure how long she'd been here, but she guessed—from her scant periods of consciousness, it'd been a few days, at least.
The room was barren and shadowed, heavy drapes blocking the natural light that tried valiantly to enter around the edges, casting slim blades of light across the space where it had succeeded.
Taking a moment to catalogue her situation, she tried to move only to crash into despair once again upon feeling the bindings at her wrists and ankles.
Hearing a female voice that sounded shockingly like her own, she strained to hear what was being said through the partially open door but could only catch broken pieces.
"Sure Dad…Jake…hanging out…beach…more days…I will…bye…"
She finally gave up trying to listen and struggled to adjust her position. When she moved, her nose wrinkled in distaste at the feel of the urine catheter the bastard had placed in her bladder. God, how long had she been out? Before she could stop them, tears of anger and humiliation welled in her eyes and spilled over.
Clenching her fists, she turned her head toward the door and called out, her voice raspy from thirst and non-use, "Edward!"
Within seconds, the portal opened fully and there he was, crooked smile in place as he walked in. "You're awake."
"You don't say," she sneered while eyeing the IV he was currently checking. "What are you doing?" she asked warily as he adjusted the drip before examining the site where the needle entered her arm.
His gaze darted to hers and he smiled. "Just making sure everything's good, love." His head tilted and he perched on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Are you serious?!" She rasped. "I feel like a fucking truck hit me!"
He frowned. "I realize you're upset but there's no need for profanity, love."
"Who else is here?" she asked, cringing back as much as possible when he brushed some stray hair from her brow.
His eyes widened. "No one. Just us, love."
"I heard…"
"It was the TV."
Her eyes narrowed but she let it drop to ask other questions that were plaguing her. "Why are you doing this? Where's Jake? How long have I been here? Where is here?!"
"Shh, shh, shh, love. So many questions…" He crooned.
Her stomach wrenched as more tears spilled over and her nails gouged her palms. "Are you going to answer any?" She croaked before licking her dry lips.
He stood, walking quickly to a dresser where a cup and bottle of water sat. After filling the cup, he popped in a straw and brought it to her. "Here love, you look thirsty." He sat and placed the straw at her lips and she drew deeply from it, sighing in relief as the cool water soothed her parched throat. When she was done, he set the cup aside and smiled while crossing his legs. His fingers played with hers where they lay against the sheet as he began speaking. "We're in a very safe place, Bella. One my family doesn't even know of."
She eyed him warily. "Why?"
He chuckled. "Why? Because I had to get you away before it was too late."
Her eyes narrowed. "You used Jake to get around Alice. How did you manage to convince him?"
He shrugged. "Manipulating the dog was easy, love. I just told him of your insistence on being changed and then set things up so he would hear just how determined you were from your own lips. I had already told him of my opposition to such a plan, so getting him to help me spirit you away to 'safety' wasn't all that difficult."
She looked away, jaw locked in choking anger for a moment before looking back at him. "I suppose a new car was just icing on the cake for him, right? Throw him a bone, to sweeten the deal?"
Edward laughed, his smile bright as he tapered into a chuckle. "Very good, love, very witty, but yes, the car seemed to help. After all, he needed reliable transportation to get you to me, right? It was a win for both of us."
She tried moving her hands and shot him a glare. "You must have lied to him. I know Jake and I can't imagine him agreeing to help you if he knew you were going to treat me…like this."
He shrugged a shoulder. "You got me there. I made some promises I have no intention to keep, but it was necessary since you're entirely right. He's much too noble to do what he did otherwise."
"Promises?" she questioned and he nodded.
"Yes. I had to agree to deliver you to him and leave you once I'd convinced you to remain human."
Another tear slowly slid into the hair at her temple. "Why go to such lengths, Edward? I was going to marry you! I'd agreed to be yours!"
His face changed in an instant and her breath hitched as he snarled, "You insisted on changing, and everyone—everyone!—was going along with it this time, even Rosalie! You were doing your all to take everything precious from me, and I couldn't…" His fists and jaw clenched for a moment as he looked away, his voice mellowing into his usual dulcet tones, "I just couldn't allow that to happen."
Icy fear trickled through her veins as her heart picked up speed. "So, what are you going to do with me now?"
He retrieved a tray of medical supplies and smiled but the cold, manic look in his eyes did nothing for her peace of mind. "Now? You and I," he quipped while slowly removing her restraints and IV, "will travel, see the sights, stay ahead of the Volturi," he drawled while flashing a toothy smile. "Don't worry, love," he assured conversationally while flipping back the covers and snapping on gloves to remove the catheter. "It'll be great fun…if you're a good girl and you let it."
With a whimper, she closed her eyes and willed herself away to somewhere deep in her mind as his cold, clinical touch insistently nudged her naked thighs apart.
~o0o~
Demetri paced in front of the Cullen home as his best friend and brother-in-arms leaned against the porch railing, powerful legs crossed at the ankles and one brow raised as his fingers drummed a lazy tattoo on the porch floor. "You do realize," his heavily accented voice drawled, "this pacing is gaining you nothing."
Demetri promptly flipped him off on his next pass and Felix chuckled. "I keep telling you, I don't swing that way." He grinned. "Although, if I did, you'd be the first I'd tap since you are just that god damned pretty."
Demetri growled and took a swing at him and Felix stiff-armed him, holding him off easily. "Are you done?" he asked in a bored tone as Demetri growled and twisted out of his grip.
"Asshole," he grumbled as he went back to pacing and Felix grinned.
"You love me and who can blame you?" Demi bit back a snort as Felix grinned. "But really brother, this is getting us nowhere. We've been here for days now, the girl still isn't here and I don't know about you, but I'm tired of sitting here with my thumb up my ass, doing nothing. We need real answers or at least a solid plan."
Demetri halted and raked his fingers through his hair. "Agreed." He bit his lip and pulled out his phone. "Think it's time to call Aro?"
Felix scoffed. "I think we should have called him the minute we started getting non-answers from the Cullens."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Demetri agreed with a cringe. "I just hope he doesn't take this out of our asses when we get back."
Felix raised a brow. "And just how are we in any way responsible for this cluster-fuck? We got here when we were told to. We were then told to wait for her to come back from the reservation. She hasn't, despite the many reassurances. Now, here we are. Enough of the bullshit. Make the call, Demi."
With a sigh, Demetri nodded and pressed send just as Carlisle wandered out to join them.
~o0o~
"What do you mean, my niece is still not there, Demetri?" Aro drawled over the tinny cell phone speaker.
Demetri's gaze darted to his stoic best friend as he answered. "The last word the Cullens heard from her was a text to Alice in which she said she was going to visit her shifter friend on the local reservation. It's been days since then and her shifter friend insists she's still there, with him, but she hasn't contacted Alice or any of the Cullens since that one text. Felix and I have tired of waiting, and both agree the whole situation seems suspicious."
"What of her father, Demetri? Has she contacted him?"
Demetri raised a brow at Carlisle who'd held out a hand for the phone. "Aro," he greeted.
"Ah, Carlisle. What, if anything, can you add to this?"
"Well, Charlie, Isabella's father, has assured Alice he's been receiving daily calls from his daughter and that she's fine and staying with Jake—her shifter friend."
"You have reason to doubt this, Carlisle?"
Carlisle took a deep breath, releasing it in a weary sigh. "I didn't at first, since she's done things like this before but Alice has just shared with me that she's been getting flashes of some rather disturbing visions involving my first childe, Edward. They're nothing solid, but based on the fragments, she's concerned he might have abducted her."
"This is grave news, my friend. And the phone calls? What of them then?"
"Edward, like many of us, is quite adept at mimicry. I'm afraid that is what's happened with the calls to Bella's father, especially since Edward left days ago to hunt and hasn't returned since."
"Have you spoken with her shifter friend personally?"
"I have. He insists Bella is fine and staying with him, but has refused to let us speak with her. However, considering his affection for the girl and his hostile feelings toward us, such a refusal is rather normal."
"And Edward? Have you called him?"
"I have. He assures me he's merely extended his hunting trip."
"And is that normal?"
Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not really, but he's giving the excuse of wanting to be well fed for the upcoming honeymoon since he's promised Bella he'll try to have sex with her while she's still human."
Felix snorted, Demitri scoffed and Aro hummed. "Ah, I see. Yes, that could pose quite the challenge since she's his singer."
"Exactly," Carlisle agreed.
"Just for clarity's sake and to be thorough, you've tried to call Isabella directly?"
Carlisle nodded. "Of course, Aro, many times. Her phone goes straight to voice mail."
Aro sighed. "And of course, due to Isabella's unique mind, it's impossible for Demetri to locate her."
"Yes."
"Unless... she is indeed with Edward," he mused. "Put Demetri back on the phone, Carlisle. I'll speak with you later."
Demetri took the phone back. "Master?"
"You and Felix are to find young Edward, with all due haste. I want him brought in, no matter what. It's my understanding he's quite fast, but then so is our dear Felix, despite his considerable size," he said with a fond chuckle.
"This is true, Master," he said with a glance at his smirking best friend.
"Leave nothing to chance, boys. Oh, and when you find her—and I have a hunch she is with Edward—but when you find her, my dear niece comes here. Nowhere else, is that clear?"
"It will be as you say."
"Very well, goodbye boys and fruitful hunting."
~o0o~
Bella stepped from the shower and wrapped the towel around her body. Shuffling toward the full-length mirror, she swiped at the obscuring steam before staring at herself.
Her eyes were still red and tear swollen from earlier and she couldn't say she felt better despite having scrubbed her skin nearly raw. She could still feel his cold, gloved touch as he tended to her, his flippant, impersonal manner and clinical touch…
She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered, a tear slipping down her cheek as she vowed she'd never let him touch her again, if she could help it.
Drying quickly, she began to dress but paused as she heard his raised voice. "What do you mean, they're not buying it anymore?! I wasn't prepared to move yet." He growled. "Fine…yes…fine!"
She cringed as she heard something hit the wall and hurriedly finished dressing. She didn't ever want to be naked in his presence again if she could help it.
He came in just as she'd finished tying her sneakers. "Bit of a change in plans, love. We need to move, today, but don't worry. I think you'll love our next destination."
She sat up and shook her head. "I want to go home, Edward."
He strode to the closet and grabbed the suitcase. "That's not possible Bella and you know why," he said while throwing all their clothes in the case.
She scrubbed her hands over her face. "Just let me go, please. We'll forget all about this. I'm sure you're not in any trouble with the Volturi yet. We can still…"
He grabbed her by her neck and yanked her up with a growl. "Stop! Do you hear me? Just stop."
She grabbed his wrist, her eyes watering as his hold slowly cut off her air. "Edward," she choked while kicking at his shins. With a low growl, he tossed her back on the bed where she took in great gasps of air. Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked at him.
"What's happened to you?"
Gripping his copper strands in both fists, he shook his head. "Why can't you just do as you're told!" he yelled before lunging to loom over her. "Just once, without arguing, do what you're told, because if you don't," his tone gentled and he stroked the tears from her cheeks as his head tilted curiously, "If you don't, I can no longer promise you'll live through this, love." He smiled that crooked smile she once loved so much and her stomach turned at the sight of it. "Now, get up," he ordered coldly. "We're leaving."
~o0o~
"God damn it!"
Felix leaned against the door frame of the third house they'd been to, watching his brother in all but blood kick various pieces of furniture across the room. The scents of the girl and the mind-reader still hung thickly in the air.
He hung his head for a moment as a barstool splintered against the wall next to him. "It looks, or smells," he commented, "as though we missed them by hours...again."
Demetri pinned him with a glare. "Yes, I'm aware," he growled.
Felix held up both hands. "Don't take my head off, Demi, jesus. I'm just as pissed as you are."
Demetri kicked at more rubble. "How do we keep missing them? He's traveling with a human, for shit's sake! He should be moving slower than old people fuck!"
Felix stared at him flatly. "He's a fucking mind-reader, Dem, and apparently, the little bastard has quite the range." He cocked a brow then and smirked. "And just for curiosity's sake, since when have you been watching old people fuck?"
"Jealous?" Demetri quipped while shoving the overturned couch out of his way.
Felix scoffed a laugh and pushed off the wall. "Of that particular past-time? I can't say that I am, brother," he said dryly.
Demetri hung his head, both hands resting on his hips as he chuckled. "Such an asshole," he muttered before glancing up through his lashes. "All right, let's get back to it."
Felix arched a brow. "Yeah? You over your little tantrum?"
Demitri scowled. "No. Yes. Fuck…" He walked out the door and trotted down the steps as Felix closed the door and followed.
Once back in the SUV, Demetri closed his eyes and concentrated. "The little cock-sucker's moving straight north."
He opened his eyes and started the engine just as Felix's phone buzzed. "This is Felix," he answered as Demetri pulled out onto the long dirt road.
"Felix! This is Alice Cullen. Look, I got a pretty solid vision just now and this time I recognized the area. We used to own a piece of property a few miles away from the Denali coven. On it, was a hunting cabin that Edward doesn't know I'm aware of. That's where he's taking her or at least, he will be sometime soon."
"All right. Send us the coordinates via text."
"I will," she answered. "But Felix?"
"Yes?"
"Please hurry!"
He shared a look with Demetri. "We are," he said flatly.
"No, you don't understand!" she snapped. "You need to hurry because I also saw him drinking from her!"
"We'll do what we can," he said before disconnecting the call.
He looked at Demi who raked a hand through his hair as they hurtled down the road. "All this for a nutter and a corpse?" he muttered and Felix shrugged.
"Got us out of the castle for a while, didn't it?"
Demetri nodded. "That it did." He held out a hand. "Let's see the coordinates then." Felix handed him the phone and he studied it for a moment, his brow furrowing. "That's not the direction he's heading currently. That one's north-east. Right now, he's north and it feels like he's stopped."
Felix tapped a rhythm on the armrest before glancing at Demi. "Pull over and drop me off. I'll run the rest of the way to the location Alice Cullen gave us and you continue on to where your mind-meld shit takes you. When he runs from you, I'm betting the little fucker shows up where I'm waiting."
Demitri's brows inched up. "You think you can keep your mind quiet enough?"
Felix flipped a hand. "I meditate, you know this."
Demetri grinned. "Ah, yes grass hopper, you and your far-east mystic shit."
Felix smirked. "Don't knock it. When's the last time anyone kicked my ass in a fight?"
Demi's brows shot up. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
Felix scowled. "Size has very little to do with it. A truly skilled and centered warrior, no matter his size, can take someone twice their size. We've been over this."
Demetri grinned. "I know. I just like seeing you get all pissy over it."
Felix flipped him off. "Can we get back to this mission, please?"
Demitri inclined his head, still grinning. "By all means."
"My point is," Felix drew out, "what we've been doing isn't working, so this is worth a try, at least. I'll stay a couple miles out and watch the road and when he shows up, I'll move in and grab the little shit-head, hopefully without damaging the human."
Demetri slowed and pulled over. "All right, you've convinced me. But do me a favor." Felix paused in the opened door, one brow cocked. "Don't dismantle him completely. Save some for me."
A slow smile curved the massive Guard's lips. "I can do that."
"Happy hunting, brother," Demi wished him and Felix bowed regally.
"Happy hunting," he returned with a smirk before vanishing into the trees.
"Speedy, overgrown bastard," Demetri mumbled as he pulled back out on the road and floored it.
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.