Out of the Darkness

Chapter Thirty-Two

"Who reported him missing?" I asked.

"One of his workers. Tyler Crowley," Charlie answered. "Hamilton told me that when we met up in the office. Do you suspect those two harpies?"

"They're harmless and fucking lazy," I snapped. "They sat on the bench, looking at their cell phones while Bella ran the kickball station on her own. And did you hear their thoughts?"

"Yes, I did," Charlie growled. "They're bitching about my child. I'm sorry that their lazy asses couldn't ..." He held up his hand, disgusted by the two of them. "And Lauren was revolted that you were told the student that you were Bella's boyfriend. Bella is not worthy of you."

"It's the other way around," I whispered. "I'm not worthy of her." Charlie cupped my cheek and smiled softly. "Are there going to be guys investigating back here?"

"Yeah. Hamilton said he'd send out some trackers. Not like they're going to find anything, though Esme and Carlisle did an amazing job staging this to look like a stranger abduction," Charlie said. "Come on. I'm releasing you from questioning. From what I understand, everyone is meeting at your home and strategizing how to end this. Once and for all."

"Thank you, Charlie," I muttered. He hugged me once more and we went back into the school. I could hear Lauren and Jessica screeching in the office about how they didn't know anything. The two officers interrogating them didn't believe their cries, making Charlie snicker. "What?"

"Those two are getting their just desserts," he said. "I think Hamilton is going to take them in as persons of interest."

I snorted. We shook hands and I went to my classroom. Mrs. Cope was in Bella's room, removing her belongings. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I don't know when or if Bella's coming back," she answered.

"Look, I don't know what you think you're doing, but as her boyfriend and only fucking family, you are to not touch anything in here until I find out where the hell she is. She's still an employee of the district until August first, so you're touching private property," I snarled. "And if she's gone, I'm holding you and those petty bitches responsible. Now, get the fuck out."

"Mr. Cullen," she scoffed. "I never ..."

"Listen, lady, my heart is about shattered into a million pieces because I was going to propose today, but we both know that's not happening. Get. Out," I hissed. She scurried past me, afraid that I was going to hit her. I sat down heavily, thrusting my hands into my hair and allowing my grief to crash through me. As I cried, I heard Charlie lay into Mrs. Cope about not disturbing a crime scene – Bella's classroom. She bristled, calling me a thug, but Charlie called her an unfeeling bitch. Ms. Whittier agreed with Charlie and Mrs. Cope threw her hands up, leaving the school.

I sat in Bella's room for about an hour, just giving myself a few moments to freak out. Once I got home, I'd have to be at my sharpest. This was what we were made for. We needed to protect the innocent. You don't get as innocent as Bella. On top of her innocence, she was my mate, my other half. I wasn't going to lose her to the darkness. I couldn't. In all of my life, the millennia of roaming this existence, I'd found true happiness.

I'd also known agony ...

The loss of my wife and son when I was human.

The realization that I had been cavorting with Lucifer when I read Hitler's 'pain'.

Feeling Bella's signature blink out while I was watching those barefoot little urchins and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

Edward, we need you at home, Esme called mentally. I know you're in pain. I can feel your emptiness from here, but we're preparing and we've got news ...

I grabbed my keys and Bella's keys, walking out the back door. Clambering into the car, I drove home, but it felt wrong. It wasn't home. Not without her.

When I got home, I noticed that everyone was outside and there was a ruckus. I made my way through the crowd of angels, seeing my former boss, Emmett, shackled. His eyes were flickering between the ice blue they normally were to an empty black. Waving my hand, I released the shackles.

"Edward!" Carlisle yelled. "What are you doing?"

"He's not completely succumbed to the evil," I barked. "I worked with him."

"He'll kill you," Carlisle growled.

"I've been trying to tell you, I won't," Emmett said, collapsing onto the ground. He was easily twice the size he was when I knew him as a human. Despite his muscles, he looked exhausted and broken. He looked at me. "He gave me no choice."

"I know," I said, crouching down. I could feel his agony, his confliction in wanting to fully give himself over to the darkness, but he didn't want to let Bella or me down. "Where should you be now?"

"Gathering more minions," he said. "But, Bella ... she needed me to find you. I hated to take her. I didn't want to. I pushed her away, wanting her to run, but I was taken under and ..."

"Where is she?" Esme asked.

"The underworld, a realm that is not quite hell, but still accessible to those of us on Earth. You have to truly give in to the darkness in order to access hell," Emmett explained. "Getting Bella was my final test, but I have yet to pass."

"Keep fighting, Emmett," I said.

"She wanted me to tell you something, Edward," he whispered. "Bella loves you and she needs you."

"What will happen to her?" Alice asked. "If ... I'm afraid ..."

"I know her past and Lucifer wants to convert her mind," Emmett said. "He won't touch her that way. Riley, however, might."

"And Lucifer is inside Riley's body," Esme said.

Emmett groaned, his eyes completely darkening. We all took a step back, ready to attack Emmett, but he screamed and his tired azure gaze returned. "I need to go. He's ... three days, Edward. He's trying to convert her in three days, but she's strong and she hasn't buckled yet."

"It's only been a few hours," I whispered. "How can she last for three more days? Surely we could go down there ..."

"No, you'll be killed, swarmed," Emmett choked out. "It's her love that's going to keep her strong." He stood up on shaky limbs. "Three days, in the forest just beyond Mount St. Helens." A black cloud surrounded his feet and he turned into a darkened tornado, disappearing completely.

A/N: I'm going to switch to Bella. Find out what's going on in the underworld. It's not quite hell, but it's pretty terrible. I'm saying this now, there will be some disturbing things that will fuck with Bella's mind. Riley/Lucifer is going to really try to break her, mentally. Will she break or will she stay strong?

Leave me some.

Thank you for reading!