HIS RIDDLE | JASPER HALE

The Hunt

The ride to Phoenix was stressful. Jasper put his hand in between the front and back seat for me to hold. Bella's heart was racing and her breathing was erratic, making Jasper's thirst flare.

Bella was on the phone, calling her mother, "Mom, it's me again. You must have let your phone die. Anyway, I'm not in Forks anymore but I'm okay. I'll explain when you call," she sighed and hung up, facing back out the window. 

The luscious green of the forest flashed by the windows as Alice drove through the Olympic Peninsula. We reached Phoenix in three hours. When we arrived, we drove to a hotel and rented a room.

Both Bella and I fell asleep during the ride. It was late afternoon when we woke up. I opened my eyes, noticing I was lying on top of a bed. I turned my head to the side to see Bella also lying atop a bed. We rise, taking in the sight of a dark hotel room.

The blinds were closed. Alice and Jasper sat in chairs, staring blankly at the T.V. screen. Food covered the table. When Alice and Jasper realized we were awake, they perked up. 

"I wish he'd call," Bella said, checking her phone

"You should eat," Alice told us

Bella ignored her, worried about Edward. I walked over to the table and grabbed a piece of toast and took small bites of it while sitting in Jasper's lap.

"They could get hurt. It's not worth it," Bella sighed, worriedly

"Yes, it is," Jasper insisted, surprising her. He looked at me and smiled, pecking me on the lips. I cuddled into his arms while I continued to eat my toast.

He looked back to Bella, "Edward's changed since he found you. And none of us want to look into his eyes for the next hundred years if he loses you. It's worth it," He reassures.

Alice's eyes glazed over, pulling her into a vision. Jasper and I reacted quickly, standing up and approaching her.

"What do you see?" Jasper questioned

"The tracker. He just changed course," She said worriedly

I hand her a piece of paper and a pencil. She begins sketching what she saw in her vision.

"Where will it take him, Alice?" I inquired

"Mirrors. It's a room of mirrors," She informed while continuing to draw at hyper speed

"How do the visions work?" Bella asked, "Edward said they weren't always certain."

"She sees the course people are on, while they are on it," Jasper started. "If they change their minds, the visions change," I finished.

Bella looked over Alice's shoulder to see the drawing, "So the course James is on now will lead him to a ballet studio?" 

"You've been here?" Alice looked up

"No. I don't know. I used to take ballet lessons as a kid. The school had an arch like that," Bella notified us

"Was your school here in Phoenix?" I asked

"Yeah, around the corner from my house. But I haven't been there in ten years," Bella replied

"Do you have any reason to go now?" Jasper questioned

"No. Hell no. I hated the place," Bella answered

We all share a look. Bella's phone rings. Edward informed her that James had changed his course and Edward and the rest of the family were heading for Phoenix. 

When the call was finished, Jasper, Alice, and I walked to the lobby to handle the bill. Bella was left in the room to gather her stuff.

After Alice paid the bill, we went outside to load the Mercedes. We were in a heated discussion about what to do next now that James changed his course.