Bellezza Swan | A Carlisle Cullen Love Story

Chapter Twenty: Trap

          Carlisle's POV: After we regrouped at home, I paced back and forth in my room. What was Edward thinking? I was pissed. This wasn't right. A vampire killed Bella. Belle was going to be a target. I knew this. Annie told me about a coven. I was supposed to tell Belle. I ended up not only falling in love with her, I slept with her and I told her I was a vampire. Why was Annie so interested in Belle?

          "Carlisle!" Emmet yelled downstairs.

          I ran out expecting Belle and Edward but Annie was approaching me upstairs, "Annie?"

          "Dr. Cullen," she said as she ascended the stairs slowly.

          I squinted at her, "You disappeared. We couldn't find you. What's going on?"

          She stopped for a moment, "I've been waiting to do this."

          I saw Edward's car pull up to our front door, "If you do anything to Belle-"

          The front door opened and my eyes were wide when Annie suddenly kissed me. I shoved her off angrily and saw Belle look away. She and Edward were standing in the front door.

          "What the hell are you doing?!" Emmet roared.

          "Get off of him!" Rosalie screeched.

          "Back off!" Jasper yelled.

          "Belle, come back!" Alice cried out.

          "I'll kill you!" Edward hissed at Annie.

          The front door slammed shut and I felt dread fill me. Belle.. Left..

          "Annie!" I finally lost it and grabbed her by the throat.

          I was caught off guard when she was smiling at me. Swiftly, she headbutt me and evaded all of us as she escaped through the open back porch into the wilderness.

          "Edward! What were you thinking?! She's not a vegetarian?!" I grabbed Edward by the front of his shirt and slammed him into the wall.

          "I knew that! She was up to something!" he said defensively.

          "Why didn't you tell us-" I said until Alice grabbed my arm.

          "Carlisle, wait," she whined.

          I shrugged her off, "You should have told us! Or me! What is she-"

          "Carlisle!" Alice raised her voice for the first time at me.

          I glared at her, "What?!"

          She flinched but pointed outside where Jasper was looking around, "Belle is gone! So is Annie!"

          I froze and began to experience fear. Edward hit my arm away and ran out to Jasper. They bickered about her scent and split up. I ran after them with Rosalie and Alice. Even if Rosalie and I haven't settled our differences and even if she doesn't approve of Belle's relationship with me, Rosalie did care about Belle. She said so herself that Charlie only has Belle left. I can't take her from him. Right now, all that mattered was finding her. Her scent led deep into the mountains. It wasn't familiar to us since we rarely hunted near our home.

          "Belle!" I yelled as we sped into the forest.

          "Bellezza!" my children yelled as we began to approach her scent.

          Her scent was beginning to mix with the scent of Annie and two other men. No. No, no, no. Please.

          "Belle!" I cried out desperately, "Belle! Where are you?!"

          "Leave me alone!" her voice echoed in my ears.

          I ran into a clearing and saw Belle. She was looking at me. Her eyes were full of emotion. Behind her was a feral looking man but it was easy to tell that he was a vampire. A dangerous vampire at that. Annie was looking smug beside them.

          "Belle!" I ran towards them but skidded to a stop.

          The man covered Belle's mouth, enraging me that he would touch her, and further restrained her by wrapping his arm around her body to pin her arms down. He lifted her off the ground and I saw her ankle was swollen. She must have fallen nearby. Belle, I promise I'll protect you.

          "You ought to keep a better leash on this lamb," the man said, his fangs near her neck.

          I bared my fangs, fury consuming me, "Release her. Now!"

          Annie laughed, "She's so.. Human, Dr. Cullen. I hardly had to do anything to get her to run from you. You're soft for someone so old. If you don't mind, we're going to unite her with her sister."

          "No!" I roared as Annie and the man blurred away with their speed.

          Edward grabbed my arm before I could follow them, "Carlisle, stop!"

          I turned on him and struck him across the face, driving him into the ground, "This is all your fault!"

          Edward held his cheek and glared at me, "My fault?! How is any of this my fault?! Blame Victoria!"

          "Who?!" I nearly screamed.

          His face was contorted, "Victoria is Annie! Annie was a lie! I'm sorry, ok?! I was just trying to do something to protect Belle, too!"

          "Why?" I asked, Emmet and Rosalie restraining me.

          "You aren't the only one who loves her," he muttered and got up on his own.

          "Ahn!" Alice cried out.

          "Alice!" Jasper exclaimed and kneeled beside her.

          I angrily threw a dead tree across the field. Her scent complimented the sweet scent of flowers but she was gone. They were responsible for Bella's death. Now, they threatened to kill her. I don't care whose fault it is at this point. I don't even care if Edward does love her. I just want her back, alive.

          "Where is she? What do you see?" Jasper asked in shushed tones.

          "Wisteria flowers. Soft lights. Music. Edward. You were dancing with her. She's in a yellow dress," she whimpered as she held her head.

          "Prom," Edward said softly.

          This time, I was the one to grab him before he left, "We're going together."

          "Excuse me," a dark vampire stepped into the field, "I think I may be of assistance." {END}