I stared down at my father's drained and lifeless corpse. My hands had balled up into fists and anger had become a fearsome turmoil in the pit of my stomach. The grief that gripped me was staggering and, for a moment, I fought to bring myself under control. I felt a cool hand on my shoulder and the automatic instinct to defend myself almost overwhelmed me, choking off my air supply.

"Bella…" The word was a sigh. The instinct vanished. Edward wrapped his arms around me and I buried my face into his chest. My own chest heaved and I waited for the tears that would never come. A moment passed then Alice appeared in a rush of air, her expression devastating.

"We lost her," she said, her tone as equally devastating as her expression. Her words made me look up and then in a split second I was out of Edward's arms and in front of Alice. Red clouded my vision and reason blurred out of my mind. All I could see or feel was an uncontrollable need to tear my sister up into a million little pieces and burn them for letting Elena escape, for letting her get away…

Then Jasper was in front of Alice, shielding her. A feral growl bubbled up in my chest and exploded in a well of sound from my mouth. The sound was the most menacing thing I've ever heard and I was surprised when nobody flinched. Jasper reacted instinctively and we revolved in a slow circle. The walls reverabrated with the sound of our snarling.

The others were shouting. Vaguely, I could hear Esme's high anxiety-pitched voice and Emmett's growling.

"Jasper, shh, come on," Alice whispered. The sound of her voice heightened my fury to near madness and I hissed. "Don't do this," Alice continued softly. "Bella has every right to be angry."

Jasper snarled. "She's out of control, Alice," he snapped. His eyes focused on me with unconcealed hatred and anger.

The hatred I saw shocked me back into focus. The red haze in front my eyes dulled then receded. I straightened up, sickened by what I did.

For a minute, I stared at all of their beautiful faced then I said, "Okay. I'm fine now." They still stared at me with wary expressions. Jasper didn't drop his defensive posture in front of Alice.

"Really, I'm sorry." My anger had drained out of me, leaving an empty space behind. Horror replaced it. My feelings must've shown up on my face because Alice murmured something to Jasper and he straightened up, eyes tight.

Edward was at my side in a second. His hands caressed my face and I sighed. "I'm really sorry," I said again, ashamed.

"It's ok." Alice came forward and patted my shoulder. Jasper trailed behind her, his eyes on me. Her eyelids fluttered then she turned and said, "I see no trouble." Her mate nodded. Instantly, everybody relaxed.

"Sorry," I mumbled again. If I could cry I would have.

"Relax, Bella," Emmett said easily. Then his gaze flickered over to where Charlie's body lay. Grief gripped me again. Edward tightened his embrace in response to the grief caused tension in my body.

"I swear we will find Elena," Edward promised. His cool, sweet breath saturated my hair.

"Yes, as Edward says we will find the vampire who killed your father." Carlisle nodded. Esme murmured, "Of course." Her shoulders shook.

And I believed them. Because I knew that they would fulfill their promise no matter how long it would take. We would hold a funeral for Charlie first, grieve for him, and then we would find his killer. It wouldn't matter if it took years or decades. We would eventually find Elena. Elena, who had once been my friend until she met Charlie, her la tua cantante.