A/N Really now, I know it's been ridiculously long, but real life takes over sometimes. Sorry.
Jasper shook violently as the six vampires retraining him pulled him back another step. His eyes were wild and staring in horror at the scene in front of him. Two held Alice, while a small girl stood before them. She was 16 in body, but ancient in mind. The undead beauty she possessed only made her more terrifying, not intriguing. Her long, deep red hair fell beautifully around her face, which was contorted in confusion and rage.
Anastasia nodded to the little blonde child vampire next to her. The boy reached one hand out to Alice. She jerked back but the two holding her pushed her forward. The little boy touched Alice's next and she froze. At first, Jasper picked up no emotions from her at al, shooting up his panic. He tried to pull free but the ones holding him were doing their jobs well. He called out to her, feeling the nothingness. His thoughts raced. Has he killed her, has he erased Alice?
Then her emotions slammed into him. He screamed out for her. Fear, confusion, and stronger than that, the crushing sense of loss. If it was a physical thing, it would have ground his bones to nothing. Even though he needed no air, it suffocated him.
The little blonde boy grinned, his finger pressing against Alice's skin, twisting her visions into nightmares. She bit back at scream at what she saw. Jasper, eyes red, slaughtering hundreds of people and coming after her. Jasper, burning. Jasper, torn to pieces. She shook, trying to get the images away. She gritted her teeth.
"It's not real. It's not real. It's not real." She knew that, she knew it wasn't going to happen, she knew it was fake, but she couldn't put them aside. She couldn't not see them. Yet she refused to scream like Anastasia wanted. Anastasia frowned, annoyed, and pulled the blonde boy back.
"We'll finish this another way."
Alice shuddered at the memory. Jasper's jaw tightened, having a pretty good guess at what she was thinking from her emotional cocktail. He rubbed his thumb along her jaw line, a familiar soothing motion.
"Alice?" She knew what he was asking permission for and she nodded .A wave of serenity washed over her and she relaxed into Jasper's arms. They were spending some time alone, quietly seeking comfort in each other. Emmett and Rosalie had gone hunting to relieve their tension. Carlisle and Esme had disappeared off on their own and Edward was holding Bella hostage in his room, refusing to let her be alone in her own house. Alice had ventured out of her and Jasper's room for two minutes only to convince Charlie to let Bella spend the night with them for a 'girl's night'. Then she'd retreated back to her room and Jasper's waiting arms.
As the night wore on, Carlisle and Esme wandered back quietly, careful not to disturb anyone. Edward left Bella in their capable hands to, again, badger Alice and Jasper.
"No," Alice said as soon as Edward walked in. Her head was in her hands, eyes closed.
"But Aliceā¦" Edward started.
"No."
"But it-"
"No!"
"Alice!"
"Edward, no!" Alice turned to him, her eyes dark and piercing his. "If you leave her human, odds are she will be hurt or killed. Or turned and taken by Anastasia. You don't want that."
"Alice, I don't know if I can," Edward said. Alice put her head back in her hands.
"Edward," Jasper took over for Alice, placing a hand on her back. "You'll have to figure out how to, because it's either this or lose her in all likelihood."
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The Cullens, sans Edward and Carlisle, gathered in the living room. In times of turmoil, the furniture inexplicably moved closer together. The family didn't exactly push the chairs and couches around, but each of them would scoot forward a few inches whenever they sat down. The result was the living room furniture was all six feet closer than normal. Usually, they weren't touchie-feelie creatures, but the potential of imminent destruction generally pulled them closer.
They sat in a small circle, no one talking. Jasper was pushing a calm over everyone, trying to ease the high level of anxiety. It was only slightly working, since he was nervous as well. Esme, Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie were waiting with their unneeded breaths held to hear from Edward and Carlisle. They'd taken Bella upstairs, finally accepting that he would need to change her. Bella had told her dad that she was going away to college a month early and promised to call him as soon as possible. Charlie didn't believe her, obviously, but knew that his questions would only drive her away.
Five pairs of eyes snapped forward as Carlisle walked down the stairs and sat heavily next to Esme.
"She's alive," Carlisle assured them, though he was sure everyone in the room could clearly hear her heartbeat. "Edward did it, she's changing. I'm fairly sure he isn't going to want company."
The rest of the Cullens nodded mutely. Jasper clung to Alice's hand, vividly imagining what Edward was going through. In the middle of his musings, Alice went rigid in his grip. He spun, kneeling in front of her.
"What is it Alice?" he asked, gripping her hands to ground her.
"Anastasia," she breathed, her eyes focusing and snapping to Jasper's. "She's decided when she is going to come."
"When will she be here?" he asked, squeezing her hands gently. Alice's eyes settled on the door that led to the room where Edward sat with Bella.
"Three days. Maybe four."
Jasper closed his eyes, trying to suppress his groan, He felt Alice's sudden spike of hope and his head shot up to meet her gaze.
"What is it?" he asked, Alice looked at him, a ghost of smile flitted across her face. That alone gave Jasper hope, he hadn't seen her smile truly since she had seen Anastasia's arrival. "Alice?"
"Anastasia isn't the only one who's going to pay us a visit," Alice said, satisfaction and relief coloring her voice. "Ash and Phoenix are coming."
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The girl brushed her deep red hair, repeatedly. Hours has passed and her hair now gleamed in the dim light. She stood from her Victorian style desk and beckoned with her finger. A small blonde boy inclined his head to her.
"We are going to go visit some old friends," she announced, her beautiful voice cold. "You shall get a second chance at the 'ones that got away'. Would you enjoy that, Philippe?" The blonde boy grinned in response, sharp fangs peeking out.
