Bella

Nessie wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and I forced a smile. She looked up at me, concerned, and showed me an image of my own, beautifully worried, face.

"It's nothing, honey," I reassured her.

I heard Jacob's footsteps coming down the path and the stench of wolf filled my nostrils. Nessie had evidently been listening out for him, as she instantly leapt down from my arms and ran to the door.

"Jacob!" she called in her high-pitched voice.

I saw him run the last few steps out of the corner of my eye as I turned away, suppressing the feeling of jealousy that I could never quite banish completely. He picked her up and whirled her round as she laughed happily. As I retreated upstairs in search of better company, I sensed Jake and Nessie both looking at me.

"Mummy's just worried about college," Jake whispered, seemingly unaware that I could hear him. To be fair, I wouldn't be able to if I were still human.

I ran at full speed up the stairs. Alice greeted me outside her room.

"Hey Bella, I've been packing ready to leave," she said brightly. I looked over her shoulder at the five huge suitcases bulging on the floor.

"Hmm," I mumbled, refusing to comment.

"It's been so hard, knowing that I can't take everything I need until we come back to visit your dad," Alice continued. "There are all these wonderful clothes I can't take. Do you think I'll need four prom dresses in the first week? I just want to be prepared."

I shrugged noncommittally. Alice sighed and stepped out of the doorway, closing the door behind her.

"Have you even started packing yet?" she asked, accusing. "I didn't see you…"

"Not yet," I admitted. "I've just been busy with… other stuff."

Alice sighed again.

"Come on," she said. "I'll come and help you."

I was just about to give some vaguely plausible excuse, my eyes widening in horror, when she froze suddenly, not breathing, not moving, and not seeing me through her glazed eyes.

"Alice?" I whispered, stepping forwards in concern. She swivelled to face me, her skin seeming even paler than its normal ivory. Her eyes were wide.

"Get everyone in the living room. Now," she said, quiet but commanding.

"What…" I began, but one look at her face convinced me not to continue. I ran at full speed down the stairs.

"Nessie, Jake, living room, now," I said, ignoring their questions as I sprinted through the front door and to my house, running in through the doors and into the bedroom.

"Edward, Alice says to go to the living room," I said, my breath catching as I saw his face again, even after so few hours.

"Why?" he asked, rising calmly and fluidly. Only his eyes betrayed his concern.

I pushed the shield from my mind with difficulty to speed up explanation. He nodded and ran to get Rosalie and Emmett, kissing me quickly as he ran past me. I stood still for a second before forcing my legs into motion and running back to the house. I could hear everyone else's breathing in the living room already, along with Jacob's whispered questions to Carlisle and Jasper hushing him. Alice's pencil scraped along paper with lightning speed as I entered the room. I stood next to Esme, who was standing next to Alice's armchair with concern. Jake's breathing was distractingly loud and irregular as he sprawled on the couch, but I tried to read Alice's expression in vain anyway. I looked sideways at Jasper for clues, but he stared back and I glanced away quickly, embarrassed. Edward opened the door again quietly, followed by Emmett and Rosalie, walking with their arms around each other. Alice finally looked up from her drawing.

"They're coming for revenge," she whispered, holding up a drawing of Aro and Caius, flanked by servants. The sky was dark and walls cut off any escape. And their arms gripped mine tightly.