(19/05/2019) I'm on a roll!

Chapter 1:

Her sanctuary

26th December 2018

Beth Hale was an American student, barmaid, and resident of the town Fairbanks, Alaska. According to her (excellently forged) documents, her family consisted of her cousins Jasper and Rosalie. Her parents had died in a car crash. It had been quite tragic.

Beth's wipers swatted away the snow. She headed home from work, feeling weary. She had scored the job, rubbish pay and all, herself. To most of the customers in The Aurora Bar Beth was just the feisty red-head with the nice ass. Just tonight a group of men had gone so far as to speculate whether her hair was the same colour everywhere else.

If they knew what she really was...Beth often played the scenarios in her head: her foot connecting with the collection of soft dangly parts between one of the piss-head's legs. A choice bottle of vodka to the face, stuff like that. Very satisfying.

A week had passed since Alice had called her, with the news they continued to rock Beth to her very core. "Beth, your sister's path is fixed. She'll reach you the day after Christmas when the snow starts to fall."

Oh, yes. Reality was a bitch. In six years, Beth had heard from Anna only once. Even then, the Volturi Queen had been too distracted to celebrate Beth's move into Red Velvet Cabin. Hazel and Michael were missing; as far as Beth knew they probably still were. That was all she cared to know about.

But why was Anna coming to Fairbanks? Not that Beth minded. She missed her sister from another mister (something she would never call her out loud). Alice hadn't mentioned anything about Aro, and as far as Beth was aware, Demetri was still in Prague.

Thank God. Red Velvet Cabin emerged from Beth's glamour, like a cottage in a fairy tale.

Most of the Cullens were already assembled outside, waiting for her. Oh, boy. Beth took a breath before she opened the door. The gentle hush of the forest was too loud.

Alice spoke up first. "We were beginning to think you weren't coming."

"Anna won't pick up her phone." Beth nodded to them. "Where are Emmet, Rosalie and Esme?"

"Looking for your sister," said Edward quietly. He tried to hide the accusation in his voice, but Beth heard it.

"Edward, I said I was –"

"We'll keep watch out here," Bella said coolly. "You'd better get ready."

For what? All Beth wanted was a hot shower, and a hearty helping of Netflix. Were the Cullens trying to protect her again, or had they begun to spite her at last? Beth didn't know which was worse. Unlocking her front door, her satsuma air-freshener greeted her on the way in. Her rucksack waited at the foot of the stairs like a loyal dog. She slam-dunked her uniform into the laundry basket hanging from the highest part of her ceiling. Her subsequent victory dance was hidden beneath her glamour. Under a boiling hot shower, Beth choked out a laugh as a leaf was washed from her hair; it span like a little boat towards the drain. Beth quickly dressed, shoving her feet into the shiny blue boots Alice bought her for Christmas.

With her home in darkness, Beth grabbed her rucksack from its corner. Ready. Set...A gale blasted snow into her face. Fuck. The forest seemed to hiss in protest.

"Do you feel that?" Bella shivered. "When did it get so cold?"

Double fuck. Beth sighed. "When my sister got close enough to be detected."

"What is Lady Anna telling us?" Carlisle said anxiously, but Edward shook his head.

"I can't hear her thoughts. Her resistance is incredible."

Bella's eyes flicked to Beth. "What else haven't you told us?"

"Nothing!" Beth sucked in a breath. "But there is a chance Anna is using her other power to block her thoughts?"

Alice sighed, muttering about forgetting important details.

"Jake has caught her scent," said Edward. "They'll bring Anna in."

Horror was like ice down Beth's back. "What? Edward, there's no need!" She clattered into the trees, shouting, "She's coming to me, anyway!" I need to warn her, somehow!

The wolves were swarming in her woods. Beneath the initial wet dog smell, there was Seth's sandalwood comfort and Jake's bitter chocolate mahogany. Stinking of sadness and moonlight, Leah threatened to ram Beth off their path. Her lupine snarl was a warning.

But Beth snapped right back. "Tell Jacob to call off this attack!" When Leah did not change course, Beth hissed, "Fine. I doubt your brother wants to die, unlike you."

There was a booming bark just behind her. Despite everything, Seth remained Beth's favourite wolf in the pack. He whined as Beth drew parallel with him. His giant brown eye was fixed onto hers.

"I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." Beth's heart ached. "Please don't follow me."

Anna was a shadow flying fast through the trees – but her movements were skewed, as if every step drove a weight further across her shoulders. Her face was a mask until their eyes met. Then the mask seemed to shatter like porcelain.

"Beth." Pain glittered afresh in Anna's eyes. She stumbled. "Oh, Beth..."

"Anna – whoa!" Beth caught her sister before she hit the ground. "What's happened?"

But Anna could not answer. Her eyelids fluttered as if she were dreaming, or fitting. Under her tangle of curls, the bruises beneath her eyes spoke of a long, miserable journey. Alone.

Beth started as someone gasped behind her. "Oh, my goodness..."

"Esme." The relief of company did not comfort her. "Esme, please...get Edward. I think we're going to need him to translate." A memory skittered in Beth's mind, old but fresh as the snow soaking her knees.

I – I must have held on for too long.

When Edward arrived, the wolves followed close by. Beth shouted, "We need to get her inside – don't touch her!" Seth yelped at her ferocity and Jacob, russet and massive, bared his teeth.

Though it is a well-known fact that vampires don't sleep, Beth's room would have looked quite empty without her Queen-sized bed. There Anna lay unconscious, or asleep; Beth couldn't tell. "Careful," she murmured as Edward stepped back. "We don't know if her hands are protected. Unless you want her to access your mind – Edward?"

His eyes were closed, as if warding off some mental disturbance. "Beth, your sister is going to be alright. I hope you know that." He groaned, and took the chair Beth offered him.

"I do. Jesus, Edward, what's happened to her?" Beth sat on the edge of the bed, wishing she could give him and her sister some physical comfort. "Where's Aro?"

"In Volterra, with the rest of them. She's been running for…" Edward's face twisted. "Beth, shouting won't make me explain any faster."

"But I wasn't – oh." Beth grunted. Sorry.

"They had a visitor from Prague. One touch and Aro knew exactly what the plan was." Edward took a breath. "But Radko wasn't alone. With Demetri away it was too late. The fire was –"

"What? No." Beth jumped to her feet. "They can't be."

Edward sighed. "I'm sorry, Beth."

"Don't," she choked, falling back onto the bed. "They can't all be... gone?" I should have been there to protect her!

"Then you would have died with them," said Edward. "You've given Anna a sanctuary."

"But is she still in danger?" As if to answer, Anna cried out, weakly curving in on herself. The knock at the door made Beth jump.

It was Carlisle. "Beth, may we come in?"

"Yes – yes, of course." Letting them in, Beth saw how Edward shuddered with relief as Bella ran to embrace him. Oh, to love... and be loved in return.

"Has your sister spoken at all?" Carlisle said, breaking Beth's reverie. Whatever Anna was telling Edward, it seemed to be sapping the life from him like a choking vine.

"Not exactly," Beth exhaled. "Carlisle, Anna has been like this before. After she took Darius Tuono's powers." She cast frightened eyes on Edward. "It may have happened again."

"You told us Darius was dead," said Bella.

"He is. That's not what I meant..."

"Carlisle, the Volturi has been attacked," croaked Edward. "That's why Anna is here."

"What?" Bella took her husband's face between her hands. "Attacked by who? Who would do that? Who could?"

"A powerful group, led by a man called Radko," Edward whispered, and Carlisle seemed to sway where he stood.

He sounded faint. "Was a woman with him? A woman with white hair?"

This seemed to rouse Edward. "No. Iona remains preoccupied in Prague."

"Prague?" Beth rose on restless legs. "Now there are two vampires in Prague? Julia said –"

"Many vampires live in Prague, Beth," said Carlisle carefully. "According to old whispers, Radko and Iona possess power over the mind and will. They are –"

Anna gasped. It sounded like a death-rattle. "Aro, reviens-moi!"

"Christ...we need Jasper here." Beth flittered in panic. "He could – he could -"

"We don't need to speak to Eleazor," said Edward, answering Carlisle's unspoken question. "Lady Anna has all the information we require. The Volturi are either dead or driven underground."

"So why leave their most powerful asset alone?"

It was a good question, but Beth hoped that wasn't a sneer in Bella's tone. "Maybe they had no choice!"

"Why are you defending them? I thought you hated them."

"Lady Anna carries Aro's legacy!" Edward shouted. "He gave his power to her."

Beth's mouth clicked shut. With the obvious exception lying on the bed, Carlisle looked the most shaken. "If the Volturi is no more..."

"It may be too late, already," Bella clutched her husband. "What if the Romanians find out?"

"We need a family meeting."

Now, with the Cullens leaving her house, Beth reached for her phone. She thanked whatever had made her see sense to keep Demetri in her contacts. He came under ICE. In case of emergency. Anna continued to sob in her strange sleep, calling out for lost loved ones. Renata. Dora. Didyme. Others Beth had never heard of before.

Her phone rang on and on. Then empty silence answered. Beth's voice trembled. "Demetri? Hello?" Nothing. "Please answer me. I – "

"Hello, sweetheart." There was a throaty chuckle. "Are you lonely?"

TRANSLATION: "Aro, reviens-moi!" - "Aro, come back to me!"