'The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 9. TARGET\r'

'ALICE DROPPED ME OFF IN THE MORNING, IN KEEPING with the slumber party charade. It wouldnt be ample until Edward showed up, clear upici alwaysyy reversive from his â€Å"hiking” trip. All of the pretenses were trigger offing to wear on me. I wouldnt miss this part of be human.\r\nCharlie peeked by believes of the move window when he heard me slam the car door. He waved to Alice, and because went to come up the door for me.\r\nâ€Å"Did you remove fun?” Charlie asked.\r\nâ€Å"Sure, it was great. Very . . . girlie.”\r\nI carried my squash in, dumped it all at the foot of the stairs, and wande bolshy into the kitchen to catch for a snack.\r\nâ€Å"Youve got a message,” Charlie announceed later on me.\r\nOn the kitchen counter, the sound message pad was propped up conspicuously against a saucepan.\r\nJacob called, Charlie had written.\r\nHe verbalize he didnt call thorn it, and that hes speculative. He wants you to call him. Be nice and e arn him a break. He sounded upset.\r\nI grimaced. Charlie didnt usually speak show up on my messages.\r\nJacob could exactly go ahead and be upset. I didnt want to blether to him. Last Id heard, they werent big on al downhearteding ph unmatched calls from the other side. If Jacob preferred me dead, and so by happen he should select used to the silence.\r\nMy inclination evaporated. I morose an ab let appear view and went to launch my things a management.\r\nâ€Å"Arent you going to call Jacob?” Charlie asked. He was leaning almost the living dwell wall, teaching me pick up.\r\nâ€Å"No.”\r\nI started up the stairs.\r\nâ€Å"Thats non very bewitching behavior, Bella,” he express. â€Å" yieldness is divine.”\r\nâ€Å"Mind your bear business,” I muttered under my breath, much similarly low for him to hear.\r\nI k tender the laundry was mental synthesis up, so after I drop my in any casethpaste away and threw my dirty clothes in the hamper, I went to strip Charlies bed. I leaveover his sheets in a pile at the top of the stairs and went to get mine.\r\nI paused beside the bed, cocking my head to the side.\r\nW presend was my pillow? I turned in a circle, s faecal matterning the room. No pillow. I noticed that my room type awaited particularly tidy. Hadnt my gray sweat fit out been draped over the low bedpost on the footboard? And I would swear thither had been a pair of dirty socks stinkpot the rocking c blur, along with the red blouse Id try on two mornings ago, only intractable was in like manner dressy for school, hanging over the arm. . . . I spun near again. My hamper wasnt empty, exclusively it wasnt overflowing, the way I thought it had been.\r\nWas Charlie doing laundry? That was out of character.\r\nâ€Å"Dad, did you start the wash?” I yelled out my door.\r\nâ€Å"Um, no,” he shouted cover version, savour guilty. â€Å"Did you want me to?”\r\nâ€Å"No, I got it. Were you face for some(a)thing in my room?”\r\nâ€Å"No. whitherfore?”\r\nâ€Å"I cant convey . . . a shirt. . . .”\r\nâ€Å"I piddlent been in thither.”\r\nAnd then I remembered that Alice had been here to get my pajamas. I hadnt noticed that shed borrowed my pillow, similarly †credibly since Id avoided the bed. It looked same she had cleaned while she was foundering d cardinal and through. I blushed for my slovenly ways.\r\n entirely that red shirt real wasnt dirty, so I went to birth it from the hamper.\r\nI expected to get wind it darling the top, but it wasnt there. I dug through the self-coloured pile and subdued couldnt find it. I knew I was probably acquiring paranoid, but it put onmed like something else was missing, or possibly more(prenominal) than one something. I didnt pull down bewilder half(a) a dilute here.\r\nI ripped my sheets off and headed for the laundry closet, grabbing Charlies on the way. The washing machine was empty. I checked the dryer, also, half-expecting to find a washed incumbrance postponement for me, courtesy of Alice. postcode. I frowned, mystified.\r\nâ€Å"Did you find what you were looking for?” Charlie yelled.\r\nâ€Å" non yet.”\r\nI went cover version upstairs to search under my bed. Nothing but dust bunnies. I started to boil through my dresser. peradventure Id put the red shirt away and forgotten.\r\nI gave up when the doorbell rang. That would be Edward.\r\nâ€Å"Door,” Charlie informed me from the stroking up as I skipped past him.\r\nâ€Å"Dont railway line yourself, Dad.”\r\nI pulled the door open with a big smile on my face.\r\nEdwards thriving meatball were wide, his nostrils fl bed, his lips pulled back over his teeth.\r\nâ€Å"Edward?” My vocalism was sharp with shock as I take on his expression. â€Å"What -?”\r\nHe put his thumb to my lips. â€Å"Give me two mins,” he whispered. â€Å" Dont move.”\r\nI stood frozen on the doorstep and he . . . disappe atomic number 18d. He moved so chop-chop that Charlie wouldnt as yet cave in befooln him pass.\r\nBefore I could compose myself lavish to count to two, he was back. He put his arm more or less my waist and pulled me swiftly toward the kitchen. His eyes darted more or less the room, and he held me against his embody as if he were shielding me from something. I threw a shine toward Charlie on the couch, but he was studiously ignoring us.\r\nâ€Å"Someones been here,” he murmured in my ear after he pulled me to the back of the kitchen. His verbalize was reach; it was difficult to hear him over the cluster of the washing machine.\r\nâ€Å"I swear that no werewolves -” I started to say.\r\nâ€Å"Not one of them,” he interrupted me quickly, shaking his head. â€Å"One of us.”\r\nHis lumber doctor it clear that he didnt mean a member of his family.\r\nI snarl the blood empty from my face.\r\nâ€Å"Victoria?” I choked.\r\nâ€Å"Its not a scent I recognize.”\r\nâ€Å"One of the Volturi,” I guessed.\r\nâ€Å"Probably.”\r\nâ€Å"When?”\r\nâ€Å"Thats why I reckon it must nonplus been them †it wasnt long ago, early this morning while Charlie was sleeping. And whoever it was didnt attend him, so there must have been another purpose.”\r\nâ€Å"Looking for me.”\r\nHe didnt answer. His body was frozen, a statue.\r\nâ€Å"What be you two bird round in here?” Charlie asked suspiciously, move the corner with an empty popcorn bowlful in his softwoods.\r\nI felt commonality. A vampire had been in the house looking for me while Charlie slept. Panic overwhelmed me, closed my throat. I couldnt answer, I solely stared at him in horror.\r\nCharlies expression interpolated. Abruptly, he was grinning. â€Å"If you two are having a fight . . . well, dont let me interrupt.”\r\n quiet grinning, he put his bowl in the sink and sauntered out of the room.\r\nâ€Å"Lets go,” Edward said in a low potent voice.\r\nâ€Å"But Charlie!” The fear was squeezing my chest, making it hard to breathe.\r\nHe deliberated for a short second, and then his phone was in his wad.\r\nâ€Å"Emmett,” he muttered into the receiver. He began prattleing so fast that I couldnt understand the address. It was over in half a minute. He started pulling me toward the door.\r\nâ€Å"Emmett and Jasper are on their way,” he whispered when he felt my resistance. â€Å"Theyll sweep the woods. Charlie is fine.”\r\nI let him drag me along then, too terrified to think clearly. Charlie met my f overcompensateened eyes with a self-satisfied grin, which suddenly turned to confusion. Edward had me out the door before Charlie could say anything.\r\nâ€Å"Where are we going?” I couldnt stop whispering, even after we were in the car.\r\nâ€Å"Were going to chatter to Alice,à ¢â‚¬Â he told me, his volume normal but his voice bleak.\r\nâ€Å"You think maybe she saw something?”\r\nHe stared at the road through narrowed eyes. â€Å"Maybe.”\r\nThey were waiting for us, on officious after Edwards call. It was like walking into a museum, twainone all the same as statues in sundry(a) poses of stress.\r\nâ€Å"What happened?” Edward demanded as in short as we were through the door. I was shocked to contain that he was glowering at Alice, his hands fisted in anger.\r\nAlice stood with her arms folded tight crosswise her chest. totally her lips moved. â€Å"I have no idea. I didnt see anything.”\r\nâ€Å"How is that possible?” he hissed.\r\nâ€Å"Edward,” I said, a quiet reproof. I didnt like him talking to Alice this way.\r\nCarlisle interrupted in a calming voice. â€Å"Its not an exact science, Edward.”\r\nâ€Å"He was in her room, Alice. He could have s trough been there †waiting for her.”\r \nâ€Å"I would have seen that.”\r\nEdward threw his hands up in exasperation. â€Å" in force(p)fully? Youre sure?”\r\nAlices voice was cold when she answered. â€Å"Youve already got me watching the Volturis decisions, watching for Victorias return, watching Bellas every step. You want to add another? Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bellas room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks.”\r\nâ€Å"It looks like they already are,” Edward snapped.\r\nâ€Å"She was never in any danger. in that respect was nix to see.”\r\nâ€Å"If youre watching Italy, why didnt you see them send -â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"I dont think its them,” Alice insisted. â€Å"I would have seen that.”\r\nâ€Å"Who else would leave Charlie alive?”\r\nI shuddered.\r\nâ€Å"I dont know,” Alice said.\r\nâ€Å"Helpful.”\r\nâ€Å"Stop it, Edward,” I whispere d.\r\nHe turned on me, his face still livid, his teeth clenched together. He glared at me for half a second, and then, suddenly, he exhaled. His eyes widened and his jaw relaxed.\r\nâ€Å"Youre rightfulness, Bella. Im sorry.” He looked at Alice. â€Å"Forgive me, Alice. I shouldnt be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable.”\r\nâ€Å"I understand,” Alice assured him. â€Å"Im not happy well-nigh it, either.”\r\nEdward took a recondite breath. â€Å"Okay, lets look at this logically. What are the possibilities?”\r\nEveryone seemed to dismiss out at once. Alice relaxed and leaned against the back of the couch. Carlisle walked easy toward her, his eyes far away. Esme sat on the lounge in front of Alice, curl her legs up on the seat. Only Rosalie remained unmoving, her back to us, staring out the glass wall.\r\nEdward pulled me to the sofa and I sat attached to Esme, who shifted to put her arm around me. He held one of my hands tightly in b oth of his.\r\nâ€Å"Victoria?” Carlisle asked.\r\nEdward shook his head. â€Å"No. I didnt know the scent. He might have been from the Volturi, someone Ive never met. . . .”\r\nAlice shook her head. â€Å"Aro hasnt asked anyone to look for her yet. I will see that. Im waiting for it.”\r\nEdwards head snapped up. â€Å"Youre watching for an official command.”\r\nâ€Å"You think someones acting on their own? wherefore?”\r\nâ€Å"Caiuss idea,” Edward suggested, his face tightening again.\r\nâ€Å"Or Janes . . . ,” Alice said. â€Å"They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face. . . .”\r\nEdward scowled. â€Å"And the motivation.”\r\nâ€Å"It doesnt postulate sense, though,” Esme said. â€Å"If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella, Alice would have seen that. He †or she †had no intention of equipment casualtying Bella. Or Charlie, for that matter.”\r\nI cringed at my fathers name.\r\nà ¢â‚¬Å"Its going to be fine, Bella,” Esme murmured, smoothing my hair.\r\nâ€Å"But what was the point then?” Carlisle mused.\r\nâ€Å"Checking to see if Im still human?” I guessed.\r\nâ€Å"Possible,” Carlisle said.\r\nRosalie voteless out a sigh, loud tolerable for me to hear. Shed unfrozen, and her face was turned expectantly toward the kitchen. Edward, on the other hand, looked discouraged.\r\nEmmett burst through the kitchen door, Jasper right behind him.\r\nâ€Å"Long gone, hours ago,” Emmett announced, disappointed. â€Å"The trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Had a car waiting.”\r\nâ€Å"Thats bad luck,” Edward muttered. â€Å"If hed gone wolfram . . . well, it would be nice for those dogs to arrange themselves useful.”\r\nI winced, and Esme rubbed my shoulder.\r\nJasper looked at Carlisle. â€Å"Neither of us recognised him. But here.” He held out something green and crumpled. Carlisl e took it from him and held it to his face. I saw, as it exchanged hands, that it was a broken fern frond. â€Å"Maybe you know the scent.”\r\nâ€Å"No,” Carlisle said. â€Å"Not familiar. No one Ive ever met.”\r\nâ€Å" by detect were looking at this the untimely way. Maybe its a coincidence . . . ,” Esme began, but halt when she saw everyone elses incredulous expressions. â€Å"I dont mean a coincidence that a rummy happened to pick Bellas house to visit at random. I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around her. Was he wondering what draws us there?”\r\nâ€Å"Why wouldnt he just come here then? If he was curious?” Emmett demanded.\r\nâ€Å"You would,” Esme said with a sudden, fond smile. â€Å"The rest of us arent of all time so direct. Our family is very self-aggrandising †he or she might be frightened. But Charlie wasnt harmed. This doesnt have to be an enemy.”\r\n scarcely curious. Like James and Victoria had been curious, in the beginning? The thought of Victoria make me tremble, though the one thing they seemed indisputable of was that it had not been her. Not this time. She would stick to her haunt pattern. This was just someone else, a stranger.\r\nI was slowly realizing that vampires were much bigger participants in this world than Id once thought. How many propagation did the average human cross paths with them, altogether unaware? How many deaths, obliviously reported as crimes and accidents, were in reality due to their thirst? How herd would this new world be when I finally joined it?\r\nThe shrouded future sent a shiver down my spine.\r\nThe Cullens pondered Esmes countersigns with varying expressions. I could see that Edward did not accept her theory, and that Carlisle very much valued to.\r\nAlice pursed her lips. â€Å"I dont think so. The timing of it was too perfect. . . . This visitor was so explosive chargeful to make no contact. Almost lik e he or she knew that I would see. . . .”\r\nâ€Å"He could have other reasons for not making contact,” Esme reminded her.\r\nâ€Å"Does it in reality matter who it was?” I asked. â€Å"Just the chance that someone was looking for me . . . isnt that reason enough? We shouldnt wait for graduation.”\r\nâ€Å"No, Bella,” Edward said quickly. â€Å"Its not that bad. If youre sincerely in danger, well know.”\r\nâ€Å"Think of Charlie,” Carlisle reminded me. â€Å"Think of how it would pain him if you disappeared.”\r\nâ€Å"I am thinking of Charlie! Hes the one Im unbalanced about! What if my little invitee had happened to be thirsty last shadow? As long as Im around Charlie, hes a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all myfault!”\r\nâ€Å"Hardly, Bella,” Esme said, patting my hair again. â€Å"And nothing will happen to Charlie. Were just going to have to be more careful.”\r\nâ€Å"More ca reful?” I recurrent in disbelief.\r\nâ€Å"Its all going to be fine, Bella,” Alice promised; Edward squeezed my hand.\r\nAnd I could see, looking at all of their beautiful faces one by one, that nothing I could say was going to change their minds.\r\nIt was a quiet ride home. I was frustrated. Against my meliorate judgment, I was still human.\r\nâ€Å"You wont be alone for a second,” Edward promised as he drove me to Charlies. â€Å"Someone will always be there. Emmett, Alice, Jasper . . .”\r\nI sighed. â€Å"This is ridiculous. Theyll get so bored, theyll have to kill me themselves, just for something to do.”\r\nEdward gave me a sour look. â€Å"Hilarious, Bella.”\r\nCharlie was in a sound mood when we got back. He could see the tensity between me and Edward, and he was misinterpreting it. He watched me throw together his dinner with a smug smile on his face. Edward had excused himself for a moment, to do some surveillance, I assumed, bu t Charlie waited till he was back to pass on my messages.\r\nâ€Å"Jacob called again,” Charlie said as soon as Edward was in the room. I kept my face empty as I set the plate in front of him.\r\nâ€Å"Is that a fact?”\r\nCharlie frowned. â€Å"Dont be little(a), Bella. He sounded really low.”\r\nâ€Å"Is Jacob paying you for all the P.R., or are you a volunteer?”\r\nCharlie grumbled incoherently at me until the food cut off his garbled complaint.\r\nThough he didnt pull in it, hed found his mark.\r\nMy life was feeling a lot like a farinaceous of dice right now †would the next roll come up ophidian eyes? What if something did happen to me? It seemed worse than petty to leave Jacob feeling guilty about what hed said. But I didnt want to talk to him with Charlie around, to have to watch my every word so I didnt let the wrong thing slip. Thinking about this made me jealous of Jacob and Billys relationship. How easy it must be when you had no secre ts from the person you lived with.\r\nSo I would wait for the morning. I most likely wasnt going to die tonight, after all, and it wouldnt hurt him to feel guilty for twelve more hours. It might even be pricey for him.\r\nWhen Edward officially left for the evening, I wondered who was out in the downpour, make unnecessarying an eye on Charlie and me. I felt awful for Alice or whoever else it might be, but still comforted. I had to admit it was nice, knowing I wasnt alone. And Edward was back in record time.\r\nHe render me to sleep again and †aware even in unconsciousness that he was there †I slept free of nightmares.\r\nIn the morning, Charlie left to go fishing with Deputy range before I was up. I decided to use this lack of supervision to be divine.\r\nâ€Å"Im going to let Jacob off the hook,” I warned Edward after Id eaten breakfast.\r\nâ€Å"I knew youd forgive him,” he said with an easy smile. â€Å"Holding grudges is not one of your many talents .”\r\nI involute my eyes, but I was pleased. It seemed like Edward really was over the whole anti-werewolf thing. I didnt look at the clock until after Id dialed. It was a little early for calls, and I worried that I would wake Billy and Jake, but someone picked up before the second ring, so he couldnt have been too far from the phone.\r\nâ€Å"Hello?” a irksome voice said.\r\nâ€Å"Jacob?”\r\nâ€Å"Bella!” he exclaimed. â€Å"Oh, Bella, Im so sorry!” he tripped over the words as he hurried to get them out.\r\nâ€Å"I swear I didnt mean it. I was just being stupid. I was violent †but thats no excuse. It was the stupidest thing Ive ever said in my life and Im sorry. Dont be mad at me, please? Please. animation of servitude up for grabs †all you have to do is forgive me.”\r\nâ€Å"Im not mad. Youre forgiven.”\r\nâ€Å"Thank you,” he breathed fervently. â€Å"I cant believe I was such a jerk.”\r\nâ€Å"Dont wo rry about that †Im used to it.”\r\nHe laughed, exuberant with relief. â€Å" watch over down to see me,” he begged. â€Å"I want to make it up to you.”\r\nI frowned. â€Å"How?”\r\nâ€Å"Anything you want. Cliff diving,” he suggested, laughing again.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, theres a brilliant idea.”\r\nâ€Å"Ill keep you safe,” he promised. â€Å"No matter what you want to do.”\r\nI glanced at Edward. His face was very calm, but I was sure this was not the time.\r\nâ€Å"Not right now.”\r\nâ€Å"Hes not thrilled with me, is he?” Jacobs voice was ashamed, rather than crookter, for once.\r\nâ€Å"Thats not the fuss. Theres . . . well, theres this other problem thats slightly more worrisome than a bratty teenage werewolf. . . .” I tried to keep my tone joking, but I didnt fool him.\r\nâ€Å"Whats wrong?” he demanded.\r\nâ€Å"Um.” I wasnt sure what I should tell him.\r\nEdward held his hand out for th e phone. I looked at his face carefully. He seemed calm enough.\r\nâ€Å"Bella?” Jacob asked.\r\nEdward sighed, holding his hand closer.\r\nâ€Å"Do you mind speaking to Edward?” I asked apprehensively. â€Å"He wants to talk to you.”\r\nThere was a long pause.\r\nâ€Å"Okay,” Jacob finally agreed. â€Å"This should be interesting.”\r\nI handed the phone to Edward; I hoped he could read the warning in my eyes.\r\nâ€Å"Hello, Jacob,” Edward said, absolutely polite.\r\nThere was a silence. I bit my lip, trying to guess how Jacob would answer.\r\nâ€Å"Someone was here †not a scent I know,” Edward explained. â€Å"Has your pack come across anything new?”\r\nAnother pause, while Edward nodded to himself, unsurprised.\r\nâ€Å"Heres the crux, Jacob. I wont be letting Bella out of my sight till I get this taken care of. Its nothing personal -â€Å"\r\nJacob interrupted him then, and I could hear the buzz of his voice from the receiver. whatsoever he was saying, he was more impetuous than before. I tried unsuccessfully to make out the words.\r\nâ€Å"You might be right -,” Edward began, but Jacob was arguing again. Neither of them sounded angry, at least.\r\nâ€Å"Thats an interesting suggestion. Were quite willing to renegotiate. If surface-to-air missile is amenable.”\r\nJacobs voice was quieter now. I started chewing on my thumbnail as I tried to read Edwards expression.\r\nâ€Å"Thank you,” Edward replied.\r\nThen Jacob said something that caused a surprised expression to flicker across Edwards face.\r\nâ€Å"Id planned to go alone, actually,” Edward said, answering the unlooked-for question. â€Å"And leave her with the others.”\r\nJacobs voice rose in pitch, and it sounded to me like he was trying to be persuasive.\r\nâ€Å"Ill try to consider it objectively,” Edward promised. â€Å"As objectively as Im capable of.”\r\nThe pause was shorter this t ime.\r\nâ€Å"Thats not a half-bad idea. When? . . . No, thats fine. Id like a chance to follow the trail personally, anyway. Ten transactions . . . Certainly,” Edward said. He held the phone out to me. â€Å"Bella?”\r\nI took it slowly, feeling confused.\r\nâ€Å"What was that all about?” I asked Jacob, my voice peeved. I knew it was juvenile, but I felt excluded.\r\nâ€Å"A truce, I think. Hey, do me a favor,” Jacob suggested. â€Å"Try to prevail on _or_ upon your sponge that the safest place for you to be †especially when he leaves †is on the reservation. Were well able to encompass anything.”\r\nâ€Å"Is that what you were trying to sell him?”\r\nâ€Å"Yes. It makes sense. Charlies probably better off here, too. As much as possible.”\r\nâ€Å"Get Billy on it,” I agreed. I hated that I was putting Charlie within the range of the crosshairs that always seemed to be centered on me. â€Å"What else?”\r\nà ¢â‚¬Å"Just rearranging some boundaries, so we can catch anyone who gets too near Forks. Im not sure if surface-to-air missile will go for it, but until he comes around, Ill keep an eye on things.”\r\nâ€Å"What do you mean by ‘keep an eye on things?”\r\nâ€Å"I mean that if you see a wolf running around your house, dont shoot at it.”\r\nâ€Å"Of course not. You really shouldnt do anything . . . risky, though.”\r\nHe snorted. â€Å"Dont be stupid. I can take care of myself.”\r\nI sighed.\r\nâ€Å"I also tried to convince him to let you visit. Hes prejudiced, so dont let him give you any crap about safety. He knows as well as I do that youd be safe here.”\r\nâ€Å"Ill keep that in mind.”\r\nâ€Å"See you in a few,” Jacob said.\r\nâ€Å"Youre coming up?”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah. Im going to get the scent of your visitor so we can track him if he comes back.”\r\nâ€Å"Jake, I really dont like the idea of you tracking -â⠂¬Å"\r\nâ€Å"Oh please, Bella,” he interrupted. Jacob laughed, and then hung up.\r\n'