Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Spy Games

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 12:

The freaks went from slow motion to damn near teleporting in front of the Cullens. This was bad. I could tell immediately even with my limited view that those were bright red fucking eyes.

For once I was glad, I had this stupid cap on to hide my face. Of course Eddie had me partially shielded and the other… pacifists… were in front of me so I wasn’t completely defenseless…

Oh shit they are pacifists.

No.

Jasper isn’t, I just know it. What the fuck he is doing with this group is anyone’s guess but he isn’t a pacifist. He’s a predator. We recognize our own.

“Hello. My name is Laurent. These are my friends Victoria and James.”

Soft Jamaican accent, kinda sounds like a little bitch. Plus he was dressed like Elton John’s live in lover. An orange leather jacket with no shirt underneath, a braided belt and skinny jeans. What the fuck? He had live in booty call down to the letter, bad accent included.

“I am Carlisle and this is my family.” Dr Vamp said by way of introduction. Way to announce your presence with authority. I am Carlisle and this is my family. How about my name is Carl and this is my bad ass coven of seven fucking vampires that rip bitches like you to shreds? Bluff man! Don’t let them know you are a pussy right off the bat!

“A pleasure. We heard your game and thought we would stop by since we were passing through the area. We haven’t seen any of our kind for some time.”

“Yes, your hunting has caused us some problems.” Carl offered, the closest I suppose he can come to a threat. Causing you problems? How about the people these fuckers have killed? Think they had problems?

“I am sorry! We did not realize the area had been claimed.” Laurent told him in mock offense. Of course the good doctor smiled, thinking these guys genuinely felt bad.

“Yes, we maintain a permanent residence nearby.”

“Permanent? How do you manage that?” Laurent asked, seeming surprised for the first time. I was shocked too, dude. Wait till you see what Edward drives.

“We would be glad to discuss it at our home. Perhaps you can join us there?”

“Of course. But we were also hoping we might… play?”

“Excellent, a few of us were just leaving. You would be more than welcome to join.”

Carl threw the ball at Larry but the hot redhead caught it first.

“I’m the one with the wicked curve.”

I was beginning to like this murdering she demon.

“Yeah we’ll see about that.” Jasper told her. He turned and winked at me again. I wondered what he was thinking of to keep my gay bestie out of his head. Of course Eddie had other things on his mind. He pushed me gently towards the woods where we should have run a minute and a half ago and damned the fucking luck if the wind didn’t kick up. I suppose they somehow missed the sound of my heartbeat earlier but they sure as hell smelt me now.

Ponytail hissed.

“You brought a snack.”

No.

He did not just call me a snack!

I was about to spit on him when I was thrown back behind six pacifists and one pissed off vampire. Thank God my army buddy is here.

Laurent threw his hands up. Apparently, he was as big a pussy as Carl.

“We want no trouble. We will be on our way.”

Laurent backed off but ponytail was staring at me. Since everyone was in front of me, I shot the finger at him. The wide eyed shock on his face was worth it.

He snapped his teeth and wrapped his arm around my new favorite sexy psychopath and they strutted off. Unfortunately because of the animal carcass she had draped over her back, I couldn’t see what her ass looked like. Judging by what I had seen of Rose and Alice it was probably phenomenal.

Before I realized what was happening, I was back on the ice cube express and the fucker was trying to seat belt me into the Jeep like a child. I yelled at him that I could do it to get him the hell off me.

He was scared. I have seen him show a few emotions but he was usually too arrogant or dumb to be scared.

Come to think of it maybe Eddie and I do have one thing in common.

If he was scared… oh c’mon! Really?

“He’s going to be after me now. Seriously?”

“I read his mind…”

Duh.

“Edward?”

Alice and Emmett had shown up.

“He’s a tracker Alice.” Edward informed her.

Alice was suddenly very worried.

“I’ll rip him to pieces.” Emmett practically growled.

That’s what the fuck I’m talking about! Let’s go find him now!

“No! I have to take Bella and run! I will hide her where he can never find her.”

The fuck he will.

“The fuck he will.” Glad Uncle Jack agreed.

“We can’t do that.” I said calmly.

“Bella you don’t understand. When I defended you, he knew how important you were to me. A human protected by a large coven of…”

Pussies.

“… vampires. This has just become his greatest challenge. He won’t stop until you are dead. I have to hide and protect you.”

How about attacking the bitch right now and taking him out? Oh yeah, because he would kick your sparkly ass.

“He is a tracker. To him the hunt is his obsession. When he saw my protectiveness of you it was a challenge he could not resist.”

“We still can’t leave. He will go after my Dad.”

I would if I were him.

“Bella we can’t worry about that right now!”

“We have to! I won’t be able to live with myself if something happens to him because of me!” I yelled. I was getting a bit emotional. The danger level had risen and I was fine with that. I was not fine with my clueless Dad being taken down because of shit I brought to his doorstep.

“But…”

I needed a plan. Think Bella.

Got it.

“Listen we will go to my house and I will make a big show of leaving. I will tell my Dad I am going to Phoenix. James will probably be listening right? He is going to follow us. He will want me so I leave and we go to your house. We can split up. You, Carl… Carlisle and Emmett can hunt him down. He will think I will be with you Edward so instead I will go with Jasper and Alice to Phoenix. Maybe Esme and Rose could watch over Dad or something.”

And I can pray this Connolly is as good as he thinks he is.

“Why would you tell your father you are going to Phoenix and then go to Phoenix where James will look?” Edward asked, clueless as usual.

“Because he will assume, we know he is listening and never think we are actually going where we said. If this works out, we can all leave in three vehicles. He won’t know which one to follow but will probably follow you Edward.”

And God I hope he kills you.

“It’s not a bad plan Edward.” Mr. I’ll find him and rip him to pieces, said. A strategist he is not.

“It will work Edward. Bella will be safe with Jasper and me.” Fortune teller confirmed.

“Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?” Eddie asked her. What thoughts? What the fuck?

“Yes.”

“Okay. I will take Bella home and then we meet at the mansion.”

“Emmett should come too.” I put in immediately. No way I trusted this fucker alone to protect me. I wasn’t sure about Emmett’s skills but at least he was big. Where the fuck was Jasper?

“Let’s go.” Edward said firmly like this was all his idea.

I felt a bit of relief that the idiots were listening to me until I realize what I had to do.

I had to break my Dad’s heart.

Fuck me.

He would never forgive me. This would crush him.

The thought of his bloodless, mangled corpse intruded in my head and for not the first time, I wish I had never taken this on. There was more at stake now than just me. Florida wasn’t on my mind. Fucking Emily in the bathroom though it had made an impression wasn’t on my mind. All I could think about was Dad.

Too soon we arrived at the house.

“Are you ready for this?” Edward asked and at least had some sympathy in his voice.

“No.”

I opened the door, turning and yelled at Edward.

“Edward, I said leave me alone!”

“Bella please don’t do this.”

I slammed the door and Charlie was standing, concern that broke my heart written across his face. Be a stone Bella.

I moved towards the stairs.

“What is wrong Bella? What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Everything.

“Why were you yelling? Did he hurt you? Did he break up with you?”

Charlie kept following me.

“No I broke up with him. I have to leave. I’m going to Phoenix tonight.”

I slammed my door cutting off Charlie and saw Eddie flashing around packing my clothes. He certainly knew where my underwear was.

“Bella you aren’t going anywhere tonight. Sleep on it and wait until morning. If you still want to go, I can drive you to the airport and put you on a plane to Florida.”

“No! I need time alone. The condo in Phoenix is still under Renee’s name and I have a key. I will go there. I’ll be fine. I’ll drive until I get tired and get a motel room.”

Edward handed me my bag and was gone through the window.

I opened my door and damn near froze. Charlie looked like he would cry.

“Bella did he hurt you?”

“No.” I walked down the stairs and he followed of course. Damn it.

“Did you just not like him?”

“No… I liked him too much.”

“Is it me Bella? I know I’m not that much fun but I can change that. I can spend more time with you. I know I leave you alone too often. We can do more things together.”

Damn it Charlie. Please stop, I’m begging you.

I took a deep breath and prepared to destroy my father for his own good.

“Do what Dad? Go to the diner? Go fishing? Watch baseball on TV? That’s you, that’s not me.”

“Bella, I just got you back.”

The words came back to me. The words I would never forget even though I was only five years old when I heard them. The words I knew in my heart would break him. The words that always made me hate my mother just a little despite the deep love I had for her.

“I’m afraid if I don’t leave now, I will be stuck here forever.”

He broke. I threw Renee’s words back at him and he broke. I could see it in his face.

I ran out the door and got into my truck. Edward opened the door and should have scared the fuck out of me, but because I felt like blowing my head off I didn’t even flinch. I moved over when he slid in.

“He’ll never forgive me.” I told Jack or whoever was listening.

“Yes, he will Bella. He loves you. You had to do it, stay strong.” Sasha told me. Hearing her voice instead of Jack’s was a shock. I could hear someone crying in the background and it sounded like Arial.

“Yes he will Bella.”

Go fuck yourself Eddie. If you and your ‘family’ had taken care of this problem when you had the chance or ran with me the second Alice saw them coming, I wouldn’t have had to do that.

I did jump a bit when something landed in the back of the car bomb. I reached under the seat instinctively before remembering that guns don’t work

“Relax Bella, it’s just Emmett.”

We drove past the diner and I saw the puppies, Jessica and Angela walking out, laughing. It must be nice to have a simple life. A large part of me wanted to gun them down for no reason.

We arrived at the Cullen mansion and who should be at the door but Laurent with Carlisle. Of course Eddie hissed but didn’t attack because I was seriously beginning to doubt, he had ever been in a fight in his immortal life.

“It’s okay Edward. Laurent came to warn us.” Carlisle told him, as if Eddie was going to actually attack someone.

“I have grown tired of James’s games and have decided to go to Alaska to visit Carlisle’s cousins. I want to warn you that in all my years I have never seen a more lethal vampire than James. Do not underestimate the female, Victoria, either.”

Bob Marley was gone and I was left with the Cullens. I had never felt more exposed in my life.

Then I felt confident. I felt strong. The darkness I felt over what I did to my father didn’t make me feel like I was drowning.

I glanced at Jasper who for once wasn’t smirking. He was simply staring at me and I knew he was doing this. I met his eyes and hoped he could see the gratitude.

Edward took my jacket off while I stood there.

“Rosalie put Bella’s jacket on please. We need to leave a false scent trail for James to follow. We can then lead him into a trap.” Edward told her.

“Why should I? What is she to me?”

Bitch like you wouldn’t love to be in my clothes.

“Rosalie, Bella is with Edward. She is family and we take care of family.” Carl told her. It would have been touching if I hadn’t just destroyed one of the few real family members I had.

“Give her jacket to me.” Esme offered.

“I’ll take it.” Rosalie said disgustedly and placed it on while glaring at me.

“Killing our kind is not easy but it can be done.” Jasper said to know one in particular. “We will have to tear him apart and burn the pieces.”

A lot of good that does me. Any kind of ammunition you can think of that might do the trick? Surely Jack must have come up with some sort of alien ray beam by now that could do the job.

“Go with them Bella. We are packing up. Vivian is here and will be tracking the Cullens and try to find this James and Victoria with satellites. Sasha and Arial are staying here, but Hawk, Connolly and Ty are coming with me. We will be near you at all times. Once you are away from Cullen, we can move closer. First chance we get we are taking you and you are out of this. Once Vivian find this James guy if he even looks like he is heading towards Charlie, Sasha is pulling him out. and taking him, Vivian and Arial to our home base. The fucker isn’t getting in there even if he could find it.”

Bullshit. He expects me to spend my life hiding from Eddie and this James guy? Hell no. Who the fuck was Vivian anyway? We really need to have a team meeting.

“Just stick to this Whitlock guy. Sasha hasn’t found much but there was a Confederate major who disappeared during the Civil War in Texas. If this is the same guy at least he is a fighter, unlike the rest of these bitches.” Jack told me. “We all have portable coms and will be listening. Relax kid.”

You relax.

I got into the backseat of a large Mercedes and Alice was in the front with Jasper driving. Edward was at the window. Fucking Jasper rolled the window down.

“I am so sorry Bella. I will do everything I can to make you safe. You are my life now.”

Fucking great.

“Just be careful.”

I hope James kills you and the other Cullens kill James.

“We will protect her Edward.” Alice assured him, not making me feel any more confident.

The window was up and two cars left in front of us, once we reached the main road Edward’s Volvo and a Mercedes turned left. We turned right.

A few minutes of silence went by.

“It worked. James is following Edward’s car.” Alice informed us.

I sat back and took a breath, wondering where the red head was. Was she outside Charlie’s right now?

“Esme is at Charlie’s and can’t smell the redhead.” Alice told me, checking her phone.

“I’m close, Bella. If I hear her thoughts, I will pull Charlie out if I have to knock him out to do it.” Sasha told me, making me feel better that Charlie’s only protection wasn’t the undead Martha Stewart.

I tried to relax. My thoughts focused on the desert. It was so peaceful. I remembered Jack taking me and Arial there when we were fourteen. Sasha had been working with us on meditation, clearing our thoughts, fighting without thinking, maintaining balance no matter what was going on.

Jack had planted landmines in the desert around us, not close enough to hurt us but near enough we could hear them. We were given staffs to hold in front of us while sitting cross legged on the dirt. It was a simple assignment, hold the staff in front of us, not moving.

We laughed about how simple it was until the first explosion happened. We both dropped our staffs. I nearly pissed my pants.

We kept at it though. Once a week we would go into the desert and Jack would set off detonations at irregular times.

By the fourth week not even an explosion thirty yards away could make us flinch. Nothing touched us when we were in a Zen state.

I tried to make myself zone out. Lose myself in my happy spot. My beautiful patch of barren desert, the sun baking my body, the dry air going in and out of my lungs.

It didn’t work. I wished for an explosion. Every time I tried to reach the perfect state of being, my father’s face crashed into my head.

For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I doubted myself. I doubted I could survive this. I had always been close to Renee and Arial. Jack was like a father to me, replacing the void Charlie left, even though I admit that was as much my fault as his. Sasha was, the trophy wife my father married who I really wanted to have sex with and a sort of big sister, role model for me. I loved the way she fought, the way she moved, her attitude, the way she carried herself.

Arial was closer than a sister to me. My best friend since I knew what best friends were supposed to be. I was next to her, holding her hand at her mother’s funeral, the reason Jack left the military. She was the first person I ever told I was gay, and even though I was so scared to tell her, she simply held me while I cried in relief that she didn’t hate me. I never took Jack’s offer to buy me a car because I had too much fun sharing one with her.

Then I felt very relaxed. I mean more relaxed than I had ever been in my life. I looked at the rearview mirror and saw Jasper’s eyes looking back at me.

I closed my eyes and the sweet darkness of sleep took me.

I woke at 10 AM the next morning, my body stiff from sleeping against the door but feeling better, more awake. The sun was shining and Jasper had his hood up. Alice wasn’t in the car.

“Where are we?”

“Phoenix. I can drive pretty fast and not needing to sleep helps us make good time.”

“You helped me sleep.” I told him.

“You needed it.”

“Thanks.”

“Is it worth it?” he asked.

“Is what worth it?”

“What you are doing. Hurting your father, living somewhere you don’t want to be, pretending to be something you defintely are not. Is it worth it?”

I didn’t know anymore. Everything he said was nothing except what he said about Charlie.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I’m in too deep to back out now.” I told him, forgetting about trying to deny anything around him. It didn’t matter. If he was going to talk, he would have already.

“What about you Major? You are keeping some pretty important things from your brother and wife, your whole family for that matter. Is it worth it, to keep my secrets? Why are you anyway? It’s more than just a game to you.”

“I wondered that myself several times. I hate lying to my wife. She likes you so much, and she has wanted a friend for so long, I suppose I don’t have the heart to tell her any different. Plus like I told you I have a friend who knows things. Not like Alice does, he just gets feelings. He told me it was important that I became your friend. The cat’s out of the bag, isn’t it? Humans, not just you, know about vampires. I would bet they know everything you do. Pandora’s Box has been opened. I asked him why I shouldn’t just kill you, and he tells me I can trust you. It will be important to help you. He said you were worth the trouble.”

“Yeah, your friend huh? What do you think?”

“I think you are worth it. You got heart and balls of steel to do what you have been doing. Just remember I’m your friend.”

“Why didn’t your coven attack those vampires in the clearing? You had the numbers.”

“Carlisle is a pacifist. It wasn’t until they had gone and Laurent came over that Carlisle realized there was no way to keep you alive without killing James. He really is a peaceful guy. It’s just who he is. He isn’t like us. Nothing wrong with that, but it causes hesitation and bad decisions in instances like that. Edward on the other hand looks at this as an opportunity to take you away from civilization and keep you like his personal pet. If James wasn’t so hell bent on killing you, he would be almost thankful for the opportunity. Don’t be surprised if he loses James and uses it as an excuse to run with you. It is what he wants. He doesn’t just love you. The smell of your blood, the silence of your mind, he is fucking obsessed with you.”

“Great. What is Alice doing?”

“Shopping for you.”

“Thank you…”

“She will probably buy you clothes Edward would like. How do you feel about 1920’s vintage styles?”

Fuck me.

“Fuck her.” Arial agreed.

“Bella, we don’t have much time. I was content to play around even though I am getting a pretty good idea what this is all about, but this development has forced both our hands. Having a sadistic vampire after you is not a laughing matter. I’ll protect you no matter what but I need to know. Tell me.”

“Tell you what? You seemed to have everything figured out.”

I couldn’t tell him.

“Tell him Bella.” Jack’s voice instructed.

“Are you sure?” I asked, not bothering to hide it.

“Am I sure of what… damn… you’ve had people listening the entire time, haven’t you?”

For the first time Jasper’s face showed surprise.

“How deep is that damn thing buried in your ear?”

“Pretty damn deep.” I admitted.

“It would have to be.” he whispered, still looking surprised. Glad I could do something that would surprise him.

“Tell him Bella. He will figure out the rest eventually. As much as I hate to admit it, we have no choice but to trust him. I’m five miles away but I doubt it would matter if I’m right next to him, I can’t take him out. Not yet. We are going to have to trust him.”

“Jack… it’s your call.”

“Put me on speakerphone.”

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket and hit the speakerphone button. Jasper just stared.

“Jasper Whitlock?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Jack Webb. Before we start this conversation I am going to tell you that the girl in your vehicle right now, Isabella Swan, is my niece and if you harm a hair on her head the United States Military will hunt you down and destroy you, even if I have to drop a nuclear bomb on your house, we understand each other?”

“Yes, we understand each other. I have no intention of harming your niece. In all my research I didn’t realize Bella had an uncle.”

“Exactly. Something to think about when considering reasons you don’t want to fuck with me.”

“So what can I do for you Mr. Webb?”

“I assume you realize now that Bella has been sent to infiltrate your family, namely exploit the one weak link you have, Edward Cullen.”

“Yes. Is it just luck that he couldn’t read her mind?”

“No, it isn’t luck. I know a person who can read minds. A human. She couldn’t read Bella’s mind so we took a chance. Bella agreed to move in with her Dad to try to gain Edward’s attention. It was a coincidence that your coven moved to her father’s home town and one we took advantage of.”

“A human mind reader? It appears vampires aren’t the only secret the government knows about.” Jasper commented quietly.

“I know a lot of secrets Mr. Whitlock. Or do you prefer Major?”

“Jasper will do.”

“You know it is a matter of time until we figure out a way to kill your kind. America was born from a war and we haven’t backed away from one since. I have an offer to make you.”

“Go ahead.”

“You work with us; you protect my niece and you give us information we need. You do this and I will guarantee you and your wife will be considered friends of my agency and can work with us instead of against us. Trust me this will be in your best interest. You and your wife will be safe, protected against what is coming. So what do you say? Want to jump on board with the winning team?”

I looked at Jasper and was once again unable to read his face.

“No.”

Fuck.

“No?”

“I want more.”

“Is your last name really Whitlock or Swan?” Jack asked.

Fuck you Jack.

“My family and my friends Peter and Charlotte. Guarantee their protection and I will work with you. Don’t and my wife and I will sit here until you pick up Bella and then she is on her own. I’m sure you are close by correct?”

Jack said nothing for a moment.

“I can’t do that. At least I can’t leave all of them alone. Edward is obsessed with Bella, according to you. I won’t have him hounding her the rest of her life.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have put your precious niece in harm’s way.”

“I agreed to do this. It was my decision.” I told him quickly.

“It wasn’t supposed to go this far and we didn’t know what she was getting into at first, but you are right. I still can’t have Edward chasing after her when I pull her out. I won’t target your friends or the rest of your so called family but…”

“I will handle Edward. I realize he is a pompous, immature, ignorant, privacy invading, asshole but he isn’t evil. He doesn’t deserve to die for falling for the person you set him up to fall for. When she is ready to pull out, I will get him to leave her alone. I have my ways of influencing him. Do we have an agreement?”

“Your friends Peter and this Charlotte, do they feed from humans?” Jack asked.

“How many humans have you killed?” Jasper countered.

Jack said nothing. I wanted to say one myself but I had no idea and it wasn’t a confirmed kill.

“They are going to stop. You convince them to stop killing people and they will have my protection.”

Jasper seemed to give this some thought.

“Deal. Who are you really? Who do you work for?”

“I really am Bella’s uncle and I really will destroy you and your entire family if she is harmed by you. I work for Majestic 12.”

“That’s a myth… but so are vampires I suppose. I would imagine you do know quite a bit about secrets don’t you Jack?”

“You could say that. Do we have a deal?”

“Yeah, we have a deal. I’ll take out this vampire and keep your niece as safe as she will let me. She seems like the type to go rogue though.”

“She won’t, will you Bella?”

Jasper was very observant.

“Of course not. I’m not stupid.”

Maybe a little.

I’ve been known to be stupid. A smart person doesn’t wind up in situations like this. A smart person would have gone to Florida and not found herself hunted by a sadistic superhuman monster and had to emotionally wreck her father to save his life.

“Good. I don’t suppose I could get you to sign secrecy agreements. I don’t suppose it would matter. You know what we can do, more importantly what we will be able to do.”

“How did you find out? I have to know.” Jasper said, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice.

“You really think a man can be a billionaire and practice medicine under fake licenses and not attract attention eventually in this day and age?”

“I told him that shit would catch up with him.” Jasper mumbled. “My wife is coming. I won’t tell her or anyone else about this. I can control my thoughts around Edward. I suppose I don’t need to know how to get in contact with you do I?”

“Someone is always listening to Bella.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you soon Jack.”

I ended the call and Jasper smiled at me.

“Miss Swan you are even more interesting than I first assumed.”

“So are you Major Whitlock.” I admitted, my respect for him increasing a thousand fold after that conversation. “You really love them don’t you, the Cullens? Why? I can tell you don’t belong with them. Is it just to make Alice happy?”

“Bella, you are young, but I imagine your Uncle Jack trained you in a lot of things. He was able to because he has fought in many wars, most of which the general public never knew about I’m guessing. He didn’t sound like a paper pusher. He would understand. I was a soldier before I was turned into this and once, I was turned all I knew was war. The only way vampires can fight is hand to hand combat. We have to rip each other to shreds and burn the bodies. Vampire battlefields are littered with body parts, the screams of the burning and injured, the humans I fed from and vampires I killed whose emotions I felt as they were dying… after decades of this you become tired and very, very depressed. You just want it to end. When I met my wife, she showed me a better way, a way without constant war and death. The Cullens are not… they are a lot of things, good and bad, but they are not evil. Yeah they are pacifists and I probably don’t belong with them but I am tired of fighting Bella.”

“What about now?”

“I said I was tired of fighting, not that I wasn’t very good at it. Relax, don’t do anything stupid and I will get you through this. James isn’t shit compared to me. I got this.”

I hoped so. Alice returned with three bags of clothes and a sunny smile. I checked the bags feigning disinterest and was disappointed to see Jasper wasn’t far off in his prediction of 1920’s vintage clothes.

Great.

I stayed quiet while we checked into the hotel room.

I stayed quiet in the hotel room. Alice tried to get me to talk and I stayed quiet. She offered to give me a manicure and I was pleasantly surprised to see she was good at it and my nails were in desperate need of treatment. Successful in that endeavor I allowed her to do my toes as well, pretending to put up a halfhearted argument I had every intention of losing. I hoped hair was next but she mentioned how much Edward loved my hair and she couldn’t do a thing to it.

“Has Edward called?” I asked eventually, hoping for news that he was dead and I was free and clear, even though I knew that wouldn’t be the case.

“No Bella but please relax. I am sure they are fine.” Alice assured me.

Yaaaay.

Then Alice did her blank face thing. That’s never good. Something is going down in thirty seconds or less.

She was drawing something.

Finally she snapped out of it.

“What? Did you see…” Edward getting killed maybe?

“James has made a decision. He has stopped following Edward and decided on a different path. A path that leads him here, but I’m not sure what this is.”

I looked at her drawing and couldn’t believe she couldn’t figure this out. A room of mirrors?

“It’s a ballet studio.” I explained.

“You have been here?” Jasper asked.

“I took ballet as a kid at a place not far from here.” I admitted. It was great for balance and grace, until I discovered martial arts.

The phone rang.

“Yes? I know, I think he is coming here. Yes, we are near the airport. We will meet you there and you can decide where to take her.” Alice told him.

I’ll be damned.

“It’s too dangerous to fight him in the city. We have to lead him somewhere remote.” Jasper told Alice, probably for my benefit.

“Yes here she is.” Alice handed me the phone. Her and Jasper stood up.

“We are going to check out and then going to the airport.” Jasper explained. I suppose he was giving me an opportunity to talk to Jack.

Once I was alone Edward spoke.

“Bella, we have lost him.”

“I heard.” Surprise, surprise.

“We are about to board a plane. We should be at the airport in two and a half hours and I will take you somewhere while the others hunt him. I haven’t decided where yet but we will be alone and you will be safe, I swear. I love you Bella.”

“I… I lo… lov… love you.” spit it out damn it!

“I can tell you are upset by the difficulty of your speech. Please don’t worry, I will protect you my love.”

Edward ended the call and I sat back taking a deep breath.

“There is no way I am going with him Jack.”

“It may be our only option. I’m sure Whitlock and the others will go as well.”

“Fuck no.”

“Bella if he knows you are in Phoenix then it won’t take him long to track you.”

“We don’t have to track him. We know where he is going to be.” I pointed out.

“Then talk Whitlock into fighting this fucker.”

“He wants to fight him in a secluded place. James won’t make that mistake.”

“I don’t care. Stay with Whitlock, I’m not fucking around Bella.”

“No problem Jack but you better come up with something because I am not getting on a plane with him.”

“Just relax, I will handle this okay. He can’t take you anyplace I can’t find you. Promise me not to do anything stupid Bella.”

My cell phone buzzed.

“Hold on. I guess Eddie wants to talk more.”

I answered the phone and heard Renee’s panicked voice.

“Bella?! Bella? Where are you?!”

“Mom?” I asked doubtfully. That sounded like a recording.

“Hello Bella.”

James.

“Forks High doesn’t protect their student’s privacy very well. I hope you don’t mind me calling on your personal cell. The number was in your records. I was really surprised Renee actually had a condo still in her name. Imagine her surprise when she came home as I was visiting, after receiving a call from your father.”

Oh good lord. Like I’m supposed to believe Renee would jump up and come to Phoenix because I decided to leave to Forks. She would call Jack and tell him to get me a ticket to Florida. Plus that was obviously a VHS recording, probably one of those tapes of my ballet recitals she insisted on not getting burned to DVDs. How stupid did this fucker think I was?

Fuck it. May as well play along.

“No please don’t hurt my Mommy!”

The Mommy bit was probably too much.

“I won’t harm a hair on her head if you meet me. Alone”

“Where do you want to meet?” I asked, already knowing.

“I’m thinking the ballet studio near your condo. I know you have protectors, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you get away from them?”

“Yes.”

“Come alone or your mother is dead.”

“I can be there in a few hours.”

“See you then Isabella.”

I can’t believe he thinks I’m falling for that.

“Bella let Jasper know and…”

“Fuck that. He doesn’t want to fight him here. I want this over with. Plus this would be a good chance to get a vampire body part. You know that’s important Jack.”

“Don’t even fucking think about it!”

“Bella this is Arial. Do not do this!”

“Fine. I’ll behave but keep an eye on that studio. Follow him Jack.”

“I will. Stick close to Jasper.”

“Ten four sir.”

I decided to call Renee just to be sure.

“Well there you are bitch. Charlie called me and told me you were in Arizona? What the hell? I get that you miss Arial but I miss you too. Bring her to Florida if you have to but get your little ass down here.”

“Nice to hear from you too Mom.”

“Look you got Forks out of your system, now get out here. The weather is beautiful, and… and… if you don’t hurry, I’m fucking Candy.”

“No you won’t.”

“Bella please come home. I miss you. I found the cutest boutique with the shortest dresses. Phil is going on a ten day road trip starting tomorrow. The clubbing we could do would be epic.”

“Mom I was just calling to say hi. I’m going to hang with Arial till summer then I will think about it, okay?”

“Think about it!? What the fuc…”

I ended the call.

I needed a plan.

Going with Edward wasn’t an option. Jasper wouldn’t want to fight James here. Too damn bad, he would have too.

I could escape from the airport. They know there is a ballet studio nearby. They will assume I am going there. I will leave a note in the bathroom saying James has my mother.

Or not.

Alice may see this if I do.

The trick to beating Alice is split second decisions.

Maybe I should go with Edward. I suppose I will have to decide at the last minute.

But if I take off Jasper will follow. He would be minutes behind me. Jack could probably call him the minute I make a move. All I would have to do in theory is distract James for a few minutes and Jasper would be forced to fight him.

But I could be killed.

I suppose I would have to go with my gut at the airport.

A split second decision it would be.