Out of the Coffin

Chapter Thirteen

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Chapter Thirteen

Bella

Edward seemed to freeze for a moment as he stared at Jasper. He stepped away from me, but placed a hand on my back, giving me comfort. "What do you mean 'we have a problem'?"

Jasper ignored him and turned his head towards Emmett's office. "Emmett – get out here!" He shouted, his southern accent leaking through. His head turned back towards us and his eyes met mine. They sent a shiver down my spine.

"Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Edward let out a slight growl. "Jasper, this is my girlfriend Bella. Bella this is my... brother... Jasper." The blonde haired vampire smiled and lifted his Stetson off his head in a polite manner.

"Jasper!" Emmett boomed as he came out of his office, a blushing Rosalie following him. "It's been a long time – what's the occasion?" Emmett and Jasper embraced with a 'man hug' before the mood seemed to change.

I nodded my head towards Rosalie and asked her mentally are you alright? She gave me a slight nod as she stood next to me and gently squeezed my hand.

"It's a private matter," Jasper said, his eyes scanning over Rose and then myself.

Emmett shook his head. "Don't worry about them. They could come in handy."

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Alright." He took a deep breath. "Carlisle's missing."

For a moment, the room seemed to freeze. Emmett tensed and his fangs dropped, a low growl reverberating through him; Edward's lips drew back as he hissed and pulled himself away from me, going to stand next to Jasper.

"What do you mean he's missing?" Emmett asked in an almost worried voice. I knew how attached Edward was to Carlisle so I could only imagine what Jasper and Emmett were feeling seeing as they were both changed before Edward, and so had been with Carlisle longer.

"His deputy's contacted me the other night to inform me that they hadn't heard from Carlisle for two weeks-"

"Two weeks!" Emmett bellowed, anger coursing through his body. "Are they fucking morons?!"

"I asked them a similar question – they didn't have an answer."

Emmett shook his head and Edward ran a hand through his hair.

"They found Carlisle's blood at his home..." Jasper continued. When he heard the news, Emmett ran a large hand across his jaw and I saw fear and worry reflected in Edward's eyes. "But they also found the scent of humans too."

"Fucking hell!" Emmett exclaimed as he clenched his fists at his sides. "So he's been kidnapped?"

Jasper nodded sombrely and Emmett hissed. Rose turned to look at me, her thoughts creeping into mine. I had no idea vampires could be kidnapped.

Me either I told her. "Who do you think kidnapped him?" I asked, my voice breaking the silence.

"Breaking Dawn," Jasper said, his voice dripping with venom.

"The Christian Human Rights Group? The ones who go around and slate vampires?" Rosalie asked and Emmett nodded. I had flashes of seeing them on the television. They hated vampires, had a complete agenda against them. All of them wore pure silver rings and a cross around their necks. They thought vampires weren't 'natural' and despised the fact that they were being treated like American citizens and were being given all the same rights.