Chapter One: Thirty Minutes.
This is a story I thought up a while ago, but never put to keyboard till now...it was supposed to be a more serious story, but I had to involve humor (it involves Emmett; enough said.) involving a visit by a strange man for Alice, some TV arguing, spying, lying, but, up till now, no dying... and, well, if you want any more description than that, check the summary!
Typical junk: I don't own Twilight, please rate and reveiw, peace on earth, and all that jazz. (:
Alice's POV.
It was a typical evening at our house, dark and dreary, dusk having overcome the light just an hour or so earlier. It drew its dark cloak over the horizon, enveloping the surrounding forrest in its nearly impenetrable deep. Rain had just begun, heavy against the full glass windows in the front of the house. Thunder was audible the distance, louder to our ears than normal ones. I relished in the rolls of the loud booming, imagining it as drums upon the trees.
Edward was sprawled across the white leather sectional's chaise in the living room, Bella beside him, their legs intertwined. Renesmee was in bed already, Jacob nearby, sleeping not far from her window, I was sure. Emmet laid across the couch on the other side of me, his hulking figure taking up nearly seven feet of the large sofa, Rosalie sitting beside him with his head in her lap. Jasper and I were the only ones sitting on the floor, which I preferred, me sitting beside him, his arm around my shoulder and holding my hand, my head leaning against the couch.
"Do we have to watch this, Emmett?" Edward groaned lightly, gesturing to the wrestling match on the enormous plasma flat screen TV opposite us. Bella chuckled and trailed a finger over Edward's jaw, his face softening at her touch. Jasper stiffened, and I knew he was feeling the lust in their emotions shift. I giggled.
"Yeah, Emmett, seriously.." Jasper cringed as one masked, buff man charged towards the other, dressed in bright red white and blue. He threw him the ground, his face colliding with the ring floor, nose giving slightly as blood leaked upon the ground. He shifted uncomfortably, and I tightened my grip around his wrist. He slid his arm from my shoulders to my waist, breathing between clenched teeth. Human blood, even that which was not perceptible to his heightened sense of smell, still pained him.
"Emmett…" I began.
He threw up his hands before I even had the chance to finish my request. "Fine, fine! Fine. Whatever," he exclaimed, tossing the remote to the floor. I giggled as she reached out with a slender, pale foot for the remote, drawing it across the white rug. My toes were painted lime green, a color Jasper had chosen. I felt light and happy, and looked towards Jasper, who was grinning brightly at me. I knew he loved my emotions; they were the most concentrated of anyone's he had ever known, he'd told me. It may have had something to do with how in tune we were with each other, though he claimed that was only part of it. I didn't argue. It meant he was happy.
"Give me the remote, Alice, I have a program I want to watch," Edward said, reaching towards me.
"No way, Eddie," I said, and he growled low at my use of his nickname. "It's my turn. Besides, you'll probably pick some boring, educational bologna to watch…"
"Is that a challenge?" Edward said, sitting up.
"Maaaybe," I teased.
"You are on, shrimp cake."
In a flash, we were both off the couch, Edward in a low crouch, a snarl forming on his pale lips, me clutching the remote and prepared to dodge. He lunged for me, impossibly fast, but I glided out of his way, twirling to his exposed back before leaping him from behind, fingers around his neck.
"Edward! Alice!" Bella cried, standing. She was still not used to this kind of improptu violence, having only been a vampire for a few years now. But when you had this kind of power to spend, and these kind of people to use it on- Edward, cocky and volatile, Emmett, strong and annoying- who could blame us?
"Alice," Jasper sighed as Edward threw me off his back. I skidded to a halt just inches from the glass wall, jumping a good nine feet in the air to avoid his second lunge, "Please?"
With a sigh, I stood straight. Edward seethed, silently returning to his place beside Bella, who sat slowly. Emmett laughed heartily. "Way to lose, Ed. Not as fit as you used to be, I see?"
Edward bared his teeth, hissing, but Bella touched his shoulder gently, reminding him that he had just gotten done fighting me. Triumphantly, I glided slowly over to Jasper, holding the remote in Edward's easy glance as he fumed, glaring at me. But before I sat down (and certainly before I had had time to gloat fully,) I gasped.
"Alice?" Jasper asked, but his voice sounded far away.
Slowly, my world was becoming black. The present was melting into the back of my mind, and new shapes began to take my conciousness. I unwillingly left the family room, finding myself deposited outside. It was pouring rain, now, thundering and lighting. I could make out a figure in the distance, tall, thin, and vampire. He wore all black and strode through the downpour at a slow and carefree pace, in sharp contrast with his serious looks.
I turned, and saw about the same distance away behind me the Cullen mansion, its glass windows illuminated by the lamps within. I could make out eight pale figures in the entryway, anxiously looking out upon the woods, waiting.
Just as quickly as the vision had come upon me, the darkness and rain and fear of the future melted away and I found herself back in the living room. I was seated on the couch, probably by Jasper during my vision. Bella sat beside me, eyes wide with fright, Edward stood before me, eyes wide, and Jasper kneeled on the floor in front of me, still slightly taller than me as I sat while on his knees.
"Alice? Alice?" I heard him say, his voice slowly coming into focus.
Bella touched my arm lightly, stroking my cold skin. I shivered.
"What did you see, love? What happened?" Jasper prompted, his golden eyes big and pleading, filled with concern. I was glad he understood how weak I felt after my visions, and did not impatiently push me for answers like some might. I also felt guilty, however, knowing how much it frightened him to feel my emotions as I drifted out of the present and into the past.
"I…" I began, but I shivered again. Jasper quickly took me up in his arms, and I couldn't help it, I let out a single sob.
"Oh, Alice…" Bella murmured, laying her hand on my knee comfortingly.
"I saw someone coming," I said, my voice cracking. "For me, I think…I don't know why. I just get the feeling that…he's coming to tell me something, or do something to me…" I gripped jasper's t shirt. "Oh, Jazz…"
"I'll protect you," he said. "But was this a vampire?"
"Yes, a male. He looked like someone from the Volturi, almost." Edward responded for me. I was grateful he was able to articulate for me. Sometimes, his skill really did come in handy.
"He wasn't, though", I stated. "He was…different. Not linked to them," Jasper pulled away to look at me. I shook my head. Something was off. There was something wrong about this picture.
"Edward, go and…" Jasper began, but Edward was already halfway up the stairs, hearing his thoughts. Normally, Jasper would have gotten an annoyed look on his face, and I would have giggled, but I was in no mood for this now. Edward was down the stairs seconds later, Carlisle close behind. Esme was in the room a few seconds later.
"Alice," Carlisle said, coming over to me, taking Bella's place beside me as she stood and moved over to where Edward stood. "What did you see? Tell me every detail."
I took a deep, unnecessary breath before giving the short yet detailed story to him, talking as fast as my mouth would allow. Jasper gripped me, his face determined, Bella's eyes widening with the description of the strange figure.
"It sounds like he'll be here tonight," Edward said when I had finished.
"Is this correct, Alice?" Carlisle asked me, and I merely nodded.
"I think we have about thirty minutes."
Esme sucked in her breath and came up behind the couch to wrap her slender arms around my shoulders. "Edward," Carlisle said, standing up to face his son, "This could be very serious, as you know. I believe that it is important that we treat this…visitor, as gracefully as possible, and make sure we find out what he wants exactly before we jump to any conclusions." He eyed Jasper. "That goes for you too, Jasper. I don't want to upset him, in the case that the consequences could be…significant."
Emmett growled. "Well, I won't be letting this guy go without a fight." He cracked his knuckles, his normally happy face contorted with anger. I began to feel terrrible. All of this anger and sadness because of me? It didn't seem fair to anyone, didn't seem just.
Carlisle looked pointedly at him. "You may have to. We will do whatever is best for Alice," he said, and I felt Jasper press a kiss to my temple.
"It will be fine," he whispered into my ear, burrying his face in my hair.
But I wasn't so sure.