Everyone darted toward the door; I froze and turned my head slightly

to face Maple.
"Edward," I growled between clenched teeth, "what do we do with
her?" I jerked my chin towards Maple.
"She's coming with us," Rosalie hissed. "She knows where Alice is."
My lips pulled back widely over my teeth in a smug smile. I shrugged.
"Of course she's coming. She did this to us."
"I'm not coming," she growled, folding her arms across her chest. "You
freaks can go find her yourselves."
Emmett chuckled. "Yeah, because we're the freaks."
She laughed melodically. "Yes, you are." She focused her gaze on
Edward now. "Freak."
Edward started forward; I clutched his arm. "Edward, no. She has to
get Alice back for us. When this is done, we can take care of her."
"Take care of me? What the hell does that mean?" Her voice was
getting more and more high pitched and stressed.
It was funny.
"You'll figure it out. You're smart." I winked at her and twisted my
fingers in Edward's hand.
"Emmett," Edward said calmly. "Carlisle. Hold Maple and bring her with
us."
Emmett nodded eagerly; Carlisle nodded slowly and a bit mournfully.
They flanked Maple on either side.
"Jacob, I want you to take Nessie back to our cottage and stay with her
while we're gone. Or you can stay here, if you wish. The fridges are stocked,
and the Mercedes is in the garage if you need to go somewhere. Here." He
tossed Jake the keys. "Be sure to take her wherever you go."
Jake looked at the keys, incredulous. "What about the reservation?"
"No. I don't think she's allowed there, Jacob. I'm sorry." He frowned,
seeming truly upset. "We won't be long." He paused. "If we're not back. . . ,
here's some money to have, just in case you need it." Edward tossed a wad
of money to Jacob; it looked like maybe ten thousand dollars. He stared at me
and back at him, shock in his features. He walked over to me, and took me in
for an embrace. His skin was burning, but I didn't mind. "Love you, Jake. I
know you can take care of her while we're gone."
He pulled back and half-smiled. "I can. Love you, Bella."
Nessie skipped up to me, her face creased with worry.
"Momma. . . . ," she said.
I put a finger to her lips. "No, Renesmee. It's okay. Jacob will stay here
with you. You'll be fine."
"What about you?"
I shrugged. "I don't know."
A tear swelled up and drifted down her cheek. I wiped it away with my
thumb, pulling her in for a hug.
 "If we're not back within a week, Jacob, take her to Charlie. Ask for
special orders from Sam; do anything. Don't leave her. She'll need you." I
pulled my eyes away from Jacob to look at my daughter. "I love you.
Remember that." I kissed her forehead.
Rosalie took Emmett's hand on his other side, and Edward took mine.
Esme was behind Maple, watching. Jasper's nostrils flared, and he looked very
depressed and angry. He looked. . . sad. I've never seen that before.
Pain has always been a weakness of mine. Even now, as an
indestructable immortal vampire, I hated seeing people in pain, no matter
who it was.
Instinctually, I grabbed Jasper and hugged him fiercely. He wound his
arms around my waist and I patted his back softly.
"We'll find her," I whispered. "Don't worry, Jasper."
He pulled away, looking at my face. "Thanks, Bella. I really appreciate
this."
"It's nothing," I said. I walked over to Edward again and grabbed his
hand in mine.
Maple made a gagging sound. "Shut up, Maple," I growled.
She stopped at once.
I turned to Jake and he looked at me with unfathomable eyes.
"Take care of her," I breathed, and we swept out of the room.
Maple was struggling, Emmett had her arms pinned behind her back.
"Let me go!" She growled. "I won't tell you anything!"
I decided to scare her, just a bit. My lips kept twitching; I was trying not
to smile.
"Edward. Kill her."
He sauntered toward her, his lips parted, showing his teeth. He
grabbed her shoulders and bent toward her neck. Carlisle tensed. Esme
looked away.
Her heart stopped. "No! No, please, no! Don't kill me. I'll help you." She
exhaled.
"I knew she would," Rosalie said to me.
I grinned. "Yep."
"Good," Edward muttered. "It's too bad. . . we might need some help
with her." He frowned.
"Help?" Emmett asked. "Edward, I got this—," Emmett stopped talking
when Edward held up a finger.
"Maybe we can go up to the Denalis to see if they'll help us. Kate could
be useful for the witch." He gestured to Maple.
"Kate? Who's Kate?" Maple asked frantically.
"A vampire, of course. She can shock you."
"Shock me?"
"Yes. Once she touches you, you will drop to the ground because of the
pain. It feels like you're being Tasered. She can make it hurt as much as she
wants," I said.
"God, Bella, why are you doing this to me?"
"Why?" Jasper growled. "Why?! Because you told Alice to go to them!"
She flinched back from his tone, as did I.
"You. Work. For. Them. You collect people. You use your mind control
to make them go. I could kill you." Jasper growled menacingly.
"Jasper," I whispered. "Calm down. I'm just as scared as you are. And
when this is all done, you can kill her."
I heard Esme say "no," and I felt Carlisle shaking his head.
I'm trying to calm him. We won't kill her, I mouthed.
They nodded, easily appeased.
"We're wasting time!" Jasper yelled. "We need to go!"
"Right. Let's go. Emmett, you might have to put Maple on your back."
"Ugh," he groaned. "Whatever. Get on my back, Maple."
She stood stubbornly, her jaw set. "No."
"Yes!" Rosalie growled. "Get. On. His. Back. Do you want to get killed?"
"No. . . ," she whispered.
Emmett grabbed her around the waist and forced her to get on his
back. He grabbed her arms and clutched them around his neck in an
unbreakable grasp. She sighed, turbulent.
Jasper got in front, of course, and led the way to Alaska.
I grabbed Rosalie's hand on one side, and Edward's on my other.
We sprinted for Denali.