Midnight

By Paranoid-Puppy

Disclaimer: I don't want to own it. I don't own it. So don't sue. :)

A/N: Greetings from Cancun, Mexico! I was able to set up the internet via CasaMagna services(paid) so I should be able to update like usual. Unfortunately updates will be slower because they are undergoing revision (I'm my own beta so there are mistakes). To those who care the plot is moving forward now that we got a glimpse into the lives of our characters. Thanks to those who reviewed and like always review if you want.

~Puppy out.

Ch. 3- Meeting

Pain. Unbearable, blinding pain. Thrashing around, trying to escape the invisible agony. Limbs constricted with a strait jacket. The helpless feeling of no escape. Drugs seeping into the bloodstream, dulling the senses of perception, yet still that pain remains. Thoughts repeat in the mind. Always a word. Only one word.

Why…?

And never an answer. Only one thing is certain. The heart-wrenching ache spreads. From the toes and head, spreading till it reaches the heart. A body fights harder. Writhing against the restraints. Denial seeps in gradually. Overwhelmingly.

This isn't real!

This can't be happening!

Yet it is. And for now there is no escaping it. No way to shy away from the ever constant agony. Sobs of desperation sound throughout the dark room. No one responds. There is no pity in oblivion. No respite from this hell. The word repeats again.

Why…?

Still no answer. A sudden silence over takes the area. Even the body is immobile. Time stops. And starts again as a shriek of pain echoes with the sound of flesh being shredded. The wet sound of blood slaps against linoleum. The body moves frantically. Trying to move away from the invisible madness. But it can not get away. Can never leave this place. Anger erupts. Pain is forgotten. Only in this haze of rage can it be gone. If only temporarily. The word repeats again. A new strength is found.

WHY?

And finally the darkness answers.

Because those with sight without vision deserve blindness.

The strength fades, and the body is torn apart in a shower of blood.

The darkness speaks again, its voice deepening until it is distinctly male.

Can you escape this fate…Lyca…?

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Bella awoke in a fright, her limbs twisted deeply in the red sheets. Her face was trembling and covered in sweat. Her body was shaking terribly in fear. She could feel her wolf clawing at its restraints, straining to escape its fleshy cage. She bent her head over her body and dug her hands into her sides. She would not succumb to the beast. Not now. Not in her new home. She gasped as she felt the wolf finally cease its fury. Her body awoke with a new wave of shivers as the aftershock crept through her. All that was left was her fear, and the memory of that nightmare. She ran a hand through her sweaty locks.

Fuck

Her brain flashed back to the unsettling dream. She could still hear the blood as it crashed onto the floor. She could still feel the incredible agony as her arm was ripped out of its socket. Bella felt a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She ran to the bathroom in the hall, stumbling through her sheets and crashing into the door briefly. She yanked the bathroom door open, and leapt inside. Bella barely made it to the toilet as bile projected out of her throat and mouth. She could feel the stomach acid burn her esophagus, making the experience much more unpleasant. She clutched her hands to the porcelain bowl, gasping for air. Bella swallowed down the new wave of bile that threatened to eject as she stood again.

Shakily she made her way to the sink, looking into the mirror. Her reflection was a ghastly sight. Her hair was knotted and drenched in sweat. Her face was pale and had bits of vomit stuck to the side of her mouth. Her eyes held a haunted look to them, the multicolored irises red-rimmed with dark bags underneath her eyelids. Bella passed a hand over her rumpled clothes. God, I look like shit, she thought with a wince.

Bella turned on the faucet, and splashed her face with water. She rubbed the bile from her mouth and rinsed to get the rank taste from her taste buds. After she accomplished this she turned off the sink. She stood hunched over it. Bella did not look up at her reflection again, not wanting to see how chaotic she looked. She did not want to be reminded of what that dream did to her. Bella took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. In a swift movement she slammed her fist against the wall, cracking it. That's the second time I've had that fucking dream. The troubled girl looked up. In less than twenty-four hours too. She sighed. Bella unclenched her fist slowly, wincing as she spied the damage she did to the tiled wall. Her abnormal strength was quite inconvenient at times. Oh, well. I'll just tell Charlie that I slipped and knocked my head against it or something.

Bella sighed again, glancing at her reflection as she did so. It was obvious that she needed to change her clothes. The ones she was in were drenched in sweat, crumpled from tossing and turning in her sleep. Bella shook her head and tugged on the collar of her black shirt. And this is one of my favorites too. Spotting her reflection again her eyes caught the huge marks at her throat. She frowned. Bringing her left hand up, Bella ran her fingers down the three prominent scars. They're redder than they usually are. They were received just before her first phase into a wolf.

She had always looked at them as a testament to her inhumanity. Mostly because no human could have survived the wound she sustained. The scars were long, stretching just underneath her chin to all the way across the right side of her neck. Their form was in the shape of jagged claws, the tissue a paler color than the rest of her tan skin. Now though, they were an angry red, a color that had not appeared since when they first healed. Should this worry me? She shrugged. It did not really bother her either way. Just as long as they don't reopen again. She grimaced at that thought.

Turning off the light, Bella exited the bathroom. She walked quietly back to her bedroom, not wanting to awaken Charlie from his slumber. When Bella entered her room again she looked outside out of reflex. The sky was still dark; the inky blackness of the night coating the forestry. Bella went over to her window, lifting her hand and pressing it against the cool glass. She noted that the rain had stopped; a fact that pleased her immensely. The small water droplets on the glass were dried now except a few stray drops that formed minuscule rivers cascading to the bottom. Bella stared at them silently, taking in the silence of the moment.

Suddenly, a small rumble erupted from her stomach. She blinked before patting her stomach sheepishly. Usually, because of her werewolf metabolism, she ate ravenously and often. Because of her previous exertions, her belly was now completely empty. It was no wonder that her stomach would protest its barren state. Guess I should go out and get something, she thought with a grumble. Momentarily, she pondered raiding the fridge downstairs, but she knew Charlie might notice. Especially if it's completely empty. Bella laughed quietly, knowing that her father would probably freak out if she did such a thing.

Rubbing her head, she looked out into the night. To her the forest was beckoning her like a siren's call, seductive and inviting. Bella could feel the wolf stir again; the prospect of a fresh kill entering her mind. She licked her lips, giving a feral smile. It had been a long time since she let the beast loose, and these past days had only added to her tension. Letting the wolf roam free for a while wouldn't really harm anything. Except, of course, some unlucky forest creatures. Growing more and more warm to the idea, Bella went over to the dresser. She took off her shirt and pants, throwing them on top of the wooden drawers without looking. When she was done she stretched leisurely, enjoying the way her body felt without the confines of her clothing. Bella then turned her attention back to the window, her smile growing wider. She opened it, growling in pleasure as the cold wind swept across her bare, heated body.

In a movement that was too quick for the human eye, she leapt to the ground. Briefly she soared through the air, arms spread out to her sides. As she hit the moist earth below her feet didn't make even the smallest of sounds, her body too practiced to do so. Out of reflex she looked around quickly, making sure no one was around to see her phase. Satisfied, she took off into the forest; her form shifting in a blur as she ran. In a span of about a second her shape had reformed into the lithe, powerful form of her wolf. Giant paws thundered against the wet ground, forming large indents. She lifted her large, furry head and let loose a long howl of joy. Nature itself seemed to answer her as the wind blew wildly against her dark fur and the trees rustled pleasantly. She gave a short bark in response before running even faster through the trees. In this form she felt the most comfortable. In this form she felt free.

Bella lifted her snout and inhaled, the scents of the forest flooding through her senses. She could smell the damp earth beneath her claws. She could smell the surrounding flora as they produced pollen. The most important thing though, she could smell the animals all around her, teasing her with their scents. The thought of sinking her fangs into those mouthwatering animals was almost too much to take. A growl erupted deeply from her chest as she inhaled again. Then, she caught it; the scent of a family of deer just begging for her attention.

Bella slowed her pace down to a brisk walk, body lowered into a prowl. She buried her muzzle into the wet grass. Sniffing, she caught the faint scent of the animals, nearly washed away by the past rain. Two adults and two fawns. Bella sniffed around again. After about a moment, she could tell that three of the deer went off in one direction while the last one seemed to go alone. Perfect. She lifted her muzzle up, tongue lolling out in anticipation of a fresh kill. Bella ran off in the direction of the lone deer, her nose sniffing through the air every so often. Five minutes later, she stopped. She dipped her nose into the ground again before looking to the right of her. There it stood. The deer she was tracking. It was actually a very unassuming animal to look at, but beautiful in its own way. The light brown coat of the deer, which after further observation seemed to be a female, glittered in the moon light. Its slender head was bent down into the small pond it rested in front of, lapping at the clear water.

Bella crouched her massive body down, her ears pinned to the back of her head. Slowly she started to move, careful to watch her step. Her paws bent the grass beneath it soundlessly as she crept slowly forward. The doe didn't seem to notice her approach, still drinking its fill. When she was about ten feet away from the animal, the wolf stopped her approach. Bunching her muscles, Bella crouched even lower into the earth. Adrenaline pumped through her hotly, veins pulsing with molten heat. Her furry frame seemed to quake with anticipation, hackles rising as she tensed. She opened her jaws slowly, her white fangs making an impressive sight as they were slowly revealed. Here is where I make my kill, she thought gleefully. Just as she was about to pounce on the unsuspecting doe, her prey was taken from her cruelly by a tiny black form. The unknown figure seemed to come out of nowhere as it latched itself violently on top of the deer. It ripped into the poor animal's throat, the scent of fresh blood tainting the air.

Bella widened her eyes in astonishment. Her furry body dropped to the ground in her dumbfounded state. What the Hell…?

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Alice sighed in exasperation; her search for a reasonable meal was fruitless so far. She was never the best hunter out of the family, despite her ability to see the future. She was an excellent tracker when it came to people, but when it came to hunting animals it seemed she was a bit lacking. Although the forest does seem a bit empty tonight, she thought. It was true. The forest was abnormally quiet and still. Not even the avian wildlife made a noise. The only company she had was the harsh wind, blowing her spiky locks wildly. It was as if they were all hiding, their danger instinct on high alert.

Alice pursed her lips and inhaled the air as she ran. She tried to scent out anything edible in the area. Usually her family took weekly trips out to local mountain ranges; the animals were bigger and more plentiful that way. Unfortunately, Alice had missed last week's trip, her personal worries causing her hunger to disappear temporarily. Now, that forgotten thirst came back ten-fold. Her throat burned with need as she ran through the trees. Then, she finally caught something. Alice stopped abruptly, her frame becoming rock still. She checked the air again to be sure. With the rain and the wind you could never be too certain. Sure enough, it was still there. The scent of a deer. She smiled widely. Looks like I'll be getting that doe after all. She took off like a rocket. According to her heightened senses it was just a little ways away. Her throat throbbed again as the scent became stronger.

In the span of a few seconds she was about twenty feet away from said animal. Hiding behind a large Cyprus tree, she poked her head out behind the bark and watched as the small doe dipped its head down into the water. Her mouth twitched as she idly thought the animal was adorable. My favorite flavor, she laughed silently. Alice took a step toward it, the thirst almost unbearable now, but stopped. She stood ramrod straight. A strange warmth flooded through her body. It bathed her in its heat, almost uncomfortably so. Then it disappeared as soon as it arrived. Icy coldness took it place in her body. God not again, Alice thought despairingly. She clenched her eyes shut, prepared to will away the vision that accompanied this feeling before. After a few more seconds of waiting, it still didn't appear. Alice opened her eyes again. What…? Although she was thankful she did not see anything, Alice was still confused. She ran a hand through her short hair, a flustered frown on her lips. Okay…wonder what that was about. Alice shook her head, telling herself that she would think about it later.

The little vampire twisted back towards her prey. Her dark eyes focused on her target before tensing her legs. Then she pounced. The deer didn't even have time to become aware of her before Alice sunk her teeth into its neck, supple skin breaking beneath her teeth. The blood gushed into her mouth, giving her burning throat respite. Alice brought her hands up underneath the animal as she sucked viciously, cradling it as if it were a newborn babe. She groaned in relief, her overpowering thirst finally being quenched. Alice felt the animal give a brief shudder as it exhaled its last breath of life. She clamped down harder, teeth digging in deep. Bringing her left hand up, she placed it underneath the deer's jaw. In a swift movement she twisted it sharply, breaking its neck. The loud crunch satisfied the demon within her, a frightening joy welling within her chest. More of the thick liquid gushed blissfully into her mouth.

Then her moment of ecstasy was ruined as her nose caught a strange scent. Without breaking away from the deer, she smelled the area around her. The weird aroma was a combination of peppermint and cigarette smoke. What is-

Suddenly a huge black mass collided into her. The sound of it hitting her body was like thunder, echoing through the forest sharply. She skidded across the ground like a skipping stone, her body digging up the earth as she plowed through it. She came to an abrupt stop as her body collided into a tree, denting its thick bark as if it were tinfoil. Debris from the collision floated around her in a fine cloud of earthy dust, cloaking her body in brown darkness. Alice groaned painfully, the sound coming out a pitiful whimper. Her body rested against the heavily cracked tree, her head feeling like a cotton wad. Fuzzily, she shook her head, standing up shakily. A deep, rumbling growl came from across the meadow, filling the vampire with abject horror. Alice looked up, scared what she would find. She was not disappointed.

What stood about twenty feet away from her was the monster of her visions. Its huge form was covered in glossy black fur, the only exception being the grey patches of fur that wrapped around its neck like claws. Its body towered over her, easily fifteen feet in height. Alice watched in horrified fascination as the wolf crept toward her, staring at her intensely. She could see the powerful muscles flexing underneath the fur as it came closer, emanating strength and danger.

Alice looked timidly up into its narrowed eyes. She gasped in surprise. What she saw was not one color of irises, but two. The left eye was a deep red-brown, almost crimson in the moonlight. The other was a startling gold color, even more vibrant than her usual tawny eyes. Alice, despite her mind-numbing fear, thought they were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Alice was snapped out of her musings as the creature stalked towards her forebodingly. She took a step back uneasily as the beast growled at her again. Emmett was wrong. It seems my height just brings more trouble to me. Alice braced herself for another attack when the wolf crawled even closer. Ha ha, Emmett.

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Bella was surprised. No, it was more like she was flat out on her face stunned. It was the only way to describe the shock she felt as the mysterious creature latched on to her prey. Her prey. Bella shook herself out of her stupor with a furious growl. She glared in indignant anger at the being, watching crossly as it brought the deer closer to its body. It was me who tracked this deer! It was me who decided it to be my meal! It was rightfully mine! Her fury built the longer she watched the creature. Her jaws snapped angrily at the air. It was Mine!

Bella cracked when she saw the irritating fiend snap the deer's neck. In less than a second she was soaring through the air, her low growl building until it was a great roar. Heavily, she slammed into the small creature, furry body crashing into hard flesh. Her giant form knocked it across the little meadow easily, the sound of their colliding bodies trembled pleasingly in her ears. She gave a triumphant roar as she watched the loathsome organism crash into a tall Cyprus tree, earthy debris blowing around her chaotically. Bella glared into the brown cloud, trying to see the aftermath of her handiwork. She stared in dissatisfaction as the life form seemed to shake her attack off before getting up again. Her brief euphoria vanished. Damn, must be tougher than I thought, she growled mentally. Now that she thought about it though, most living beings couldn't survive such a beating. Let alone be barely affected by it. Bella narrowed her eyes warily. Slowly she made her way toward it, the dust around her clearing as she approached. Suddenly she stopped, shock flooding through her body at the sight before her. Bella's hackles rose as she stared incredulously at the being. It can't be…

Standing in front of Bella, was a human girl. A girl that for all intents and purposes looked like a regular seventeen-year old. Her clothes were torn in the impact yet they clung to her petite frame nicely, showing tantalizing curves. Her skin was extremely pale in the moonlight, almost the shade of fresh snow. Her hair was jet black in color, arranged in a short and spiky style so that it barely grazed the underside of her chin. Her face was pixie-like, abnormal in its perfection and beauty. In fact everything about the girl was beautiful. Especially her eyes, Bella thought idly. The girl's irises were a tawny ocher, twinkling with an inner fire that drew Bella closer. When the girl took a step back, Bella shook herself out of her enchanted stupor. She growled in annoyance. So what if she's pretty, she's obviously not human. Bella focused her attention back on the girl. She put her muzzle into the air and inhaled deeply, retrieving the female's scent from the wind. If Bella had any more doubts about the girl's inhumanity, they were erased with her scent. The small beauty exuded a unique fragrance that didn't contain any human odor. The aroma was sweet, almost sickly so. It reminds me of those sour patch candies, Bella thought, shaking her muzzle.

After her observation of the girl was over, Bella tensed her muscles and slowly made her way over to the being. She growled lowly in warning as the petit girl seemed to be preparing to attack. Bella sent a warning bark toward her as she took a step forward. The small female seemed to be undaunted though. She just bent her knees and stared at Bella intensely. Whatever she is, she's got guts, Bella begrudgingly thought.

Unexpectedly, just after she finished her brief musings, the girl seemed to disappear from in front of her. Bella blinked in confusion. What…? Then she was pushed violently from her side into the ground, the earth and grass giving way beneath her as her hulking frame skidded across it. She felt her body suddenly became submerged with cold water, drenching her fur completely.

Bella panicked as she thrashed around underwater. She thrusted her head around, and tried to feel around for the bottom of the pond. Finally, she was able to get a foothold in the mud, bending her back legs to bring herself to the surface. Her form crashed through the water with a huge splash, water soaring through the air in all directions. Bella stood there angrily, the water just rising to the half of her muscled chest. Tilting her head up to the sky, she let out a loud roar which echoed through the forest menacingly, frightening a family of crows as they flew above.

Bella quickly set her head forward and looked around her frantically, seeing nothing but the greenery. Bella spun around again. Still, she saw nothing. She gave an angered cry. How dare that insolent…disgusting…thing? Bella twitched her tail in aggravation, flinging more water into the grass. She curled her lips around her fangs. Bella gave one last glare at the surrounding trees, and leapt out of the water with a giant leap. She snorted in disgust as she felt the water drip off of her figure. I can't believe it did that. She crouched down, and shook her body violently, flinging the remaining water off of her. Bella stood straight again and perked her ears. She listened intently for any sign of the infuriating being, but only heard the wind as it rustled the trees. Disappointed, Bella lowered her head and growled. She flicked her tail. Coward.

She gave the wolf equivalent of a sigh, before glancing at the abandoned deer carcass. Bella grunted and took the animal by the neck with her powerful jaws. Dragging it over to a tree, she pondered over what to do with it. Without the thrill of the kill, it seemed like a hollow victory to her. Even though she got to fill her belly, the simple idea of something else killing it stabbed at her pride. Her stomach rumbled in protest as Bella stared at the carcass stubbornly. After five minutes of deliberating, she finally came to a decision.

Glaring at the doe for another time, Bella bowed her head over it. She searched intently for the spot where the girl had latched on, narrowing her eyes when she found the two puncture holes. Then she seized the deer by the throat. With a violent jerk of her head, she ripped its throat out. The blood that was left in the animal sprayed onto her muzzle; the blood stained her teeth till they shone burgundy red. Bella chewed her meal leisurely, enjoying the crunch of bone and skin as they succumbed underneath her dagger-like teeth. In her mind, it was the aggravating creature that was being thoroughly devoured. She saw the girl's blood being spilt as she tore into the animal's hide. She saw the small beauty's legs being torn apart by her fangs as she acted out the events in her head. After a few more moments of viciously tearing the corpse to shreds, Bella stopped.

She stared at her handiwork proudly. Bits of bone and skin, with the exception of the head, were all that was left of the doe. Bella glanced at the untouched cranium, and faced it. She roared defiantly, about to rip it apart in her pride induced rage. However, she stopped abruptly when she met the animal's glassy eyes. Bella stared, not seeing glassy brown, but shimmering gold gazing back at her. She saw a halo of black hair, a few strands dipping onto a smooth pale forehead. She saw perfect features set upon an angelic face, and Bella felt her heart lurch.

Shaken, Bella stepped away from the deer's head. She plopped herself down into the warm earth. Why…? She thought dismally. Why can't I do it? What is so special about that girl to bring such a reaction out of me? She reflected back on the female's face, admitting silently to herself that she thought that the girl was extremely attractive. It was a staggering realization to her. Before, Bella had never thought anyone was even moderately good looking. She treated mostly everyone with indifference. Regardless if other people deemed them attractive or not, she never paid people any special attention. Great, my first 'crush' is on an inhuman midget. Bella sighed again. And a girl at that too. Her tail thumped against the grass, causing a flurry of white bugs to scatter in the air. She stared at them in contemplative silence.

A moment later, she slowly rose up from her prone position. Bella glared up into the night sky, noticing for the first time that the sun had begun to rise. She reflected over her recent revelation, before starting back home in a huff. Not as if I'm going to act on this. Her paws thudded against the ground dully. Who says I'm even going to see her again? She walked on, her head bowed over with vague lethargy. Who says I even want to? After an hour of trekking through the underbrush, Charlie's house finally came into view. Bella barely noticed. Besides, it's only a physical appeal anyway.

Done with her musings, she looked up at the house she now called home. She checked the windows for any signs of life. After inspecting the blazing sky, she surmised that it was about five in the morning. Soon, Charlie would be getting up for work, and she definitely did not want him knowing of her nightly excursion. With this in mind, she jumped up into the tree across from her window. Then, using the branch as a spring board, catapulted into the open pane. Midair, Bella changed swiftly back into her human form, landing on all fours. She felt her muscles ache pleasantly as she stood up from her position, but ignored the usually enjoyable sensation. Her mind was spinning too much to fully appreciate it.

Bella walked over to her suitcase, deciding to get ready for the day since it was too late to go back asleep. Her motions were almost mechanical, as if the thoughts in her head were too chaotic for her to respond with emotion. She pulled on a fresh black tank top and white knee length shorts, the hem of them torn in the same manner as her jeans. She stared at herself in the mirror, picking up a brush and combing her hair demurely. Using long strokes, she combed the tangles out of her hair. Back in forth she went, never breaking her smooth rhythm.

Then she paused, gazing at her reflection again. For a second, she was completely still, but then her eyes narrowed angrily. Bella clenched her teeth together and griped her brush with a shaking hand. Rapidly, she cocked her hand back and threw it to the other side of the room. The brush hit the wall with a loud crack, splitting into two pieces. On the other side of the room, Bella was still quaking in anger. Rage burned through her hotly. Why?

No one answers.

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Alice ran frantically. Fear pulsed through her body like a forest fire, consuming her mind with whispered mutterings of death. She was past rational thought, her only idea being to run away as fast as she could. Nothing else mattered, but escape. It was an impulsive decision to run away. As it was also an impulsive decision to provoke the massive beast. She was berating herself now, not believing that she mad such a idiotic move. Alice remembered in stark clarity how she made the quick decision to take the wolf head on.

She recalled how much sense it made at the time to try and overcome it. It was a foolhardy decision in the end. When she rushed the behemoth, it had taken all of her strength to push it into the pond a few feet away. Much to her disgruntlement and surprise, she came to a horrifying conclusion. She quickly realized that her strength was no match for the creature, a being which had effortlessly tossed her like a rag doll. Fear overrode her senses then. Alice panicked, and soon made another short sided judgment. While the beast was distracted with the pond, she dashed in the opposite direction, never looking back.

Alice cursed her luck, hardly believing that the monster from her visions was here in Forks. She had assumed that she had more time before it arrived in her current home. Alice certainly didn't expect her vision to only give her a few hours in warning. She didn't allow herself to brood on it though, after all; what's done is done. If the thing had arrived in Forks then her only option would be to inform Carlisle, and pray that her family would be able to take it down.

I just wish it wasn't so close to town though. She winced as she thought of all the unsuspecting humans that could become food for the monster. At that idea, Alice almost turned herself around, but stopped herself. I can't help anyone if I can't even help myself. So she ran on, ignoring the frantic thoughts in her head.

Five minutes later, she was back at the mansion. She did not stop at the lawn though, instead she continued her path straight into the house. Alice ignored the pretense of knocking and simply blurred into Carlisle's office. When she saw him, he was still hunched over his desk, slightly startled from her sudden reappearance. Alice didn't give him a chance to speak.

"It's here!" She shouted hysterically.

Carlisle looked at her strangely for a moment before crossing his hands over his knees. He frowned in confusion.

"Exactly what is here?" He said calmly.

Alice stared at him incredulously.

"The big bloody wolf from my vision, that's what!"

Carlisle's eyes widened considerably. He stared at her in disbelief, his eyes beseeching hers for confirmation. Alice stared right back, nodding to his unspoken question. After, he ran his fingers through his hair and stood up quickly.

"If that is true then you need to tell me when and how you came to this conclusion." He spoke gravely. Alice only nodded again, and opened her mouth to speak when Carlisle held up his hand.

"Wait," he said, "I want you to tell your story to the whole family."

Alice hesitated for a moment, before agreeing with her father figure. Although she did not want her family to freak out, which they were almost guaranteed to do, she knew that they needed to be informed. This information could not be kept under wraps, especially if the safety of their well beings is concerned.

"Good, then we'll call a family meeting and you can enlighten the situation." Carlisle said seriously. He walked out of the office, and gestured for Alice to follow behind him. She admired his ability to keep his features stoic despite his emotions. She knew that he must be as panicked as she was, but unlike her could reign in his body's natural reaction. Alice, however, could not keep her from wringing her hands nervously. Her eyes darted around her in anxious expectation, as if the beast from earlier could pop out of nowhere.

As they reached the downstairs level, they noticed that most of their family was already gathered. Rosalie and Emmett were cuddled up on the living room couch, watching a random sitcom. Esme was still cleaning around the house, her hands a blur as she wiped the coffee table. Only Edward and Jasper were missing from the gathering. No doubt doing 'couple's stuff' in their room. Normally Alice would be slightly jealous of their obvious affection for each other, the fact that she didn't have a significant other nagging at her. At this moment though, she was more worried about her family's reaction to the monumental news. Esme noticed them as soon as they reached the bottom step.

"Carlisle it's good for you to finally get out of your office." Esme smiled at her husband, taking the sting out of her words. Carlisle just briefly laughed and took her into his arms.

"Normally, my dear, I would engage you in our usual banter. Unfortunately I have pressing news for the family." Carlisle kissed her head soundly. Esme crinkled her brow in worry.

"What news do you speak of, love?" Esme turned to look at Alice, the furrow in her brow deepening.

"And when did you get back from your hunt, Alice?" Esme asked.

Carlisle drew her attention back to him. He tilted her head so that she could meet his eyes. He spoke, voice soothing.

"Well, you see that is part of the news. I believe, however, that Alice would be better to inform you. It is after all her tale."

Everyone looked at Alice at the same moment. Even Rosalie and Emmett were listening now. Alice just stared at her feet. She bit her bottom lip as she felt her family stare at her. Finally, she opened her mouth.

"We need the whole family here before I begin," She said, "Ed and Jasper need to know what happened too."

"Why, what happened?"

Everyone turned towards the stairs, seeing Edward standing there with Jasper right behind him. The two aforementioned people stared at their sister in burning curiosity. She knew that they were even more worried than Esme. She was sure that Edward was searching her scattered mind and that Jasper was reading the dread in her emotions. Alice winced, slightly disappointed that her attempt at stalling failed. Now her whole family was gazing at her. Carlisle coughed, forcing their attention back on him.

"As you all may know, Alice went out hunting this evening with the intention of banishing her thirst. Since she did not accompany us on our weekly trip last Friday, it became crucial for her to feed. While she was out, a…incident took place."

Emmett raised his hand. Carlisle raised his eyebrow, and signaled for him to speak his mind. Emmett smiled goofily and bounced up.

"Well…I was just wondering why you can't tell us Carlisle." Emmett said, catching on to Alice's discomfort. The rest of the family nodded in agreement, Rosalie beaming with apparent pride at one of her husband's rare brilliant moments. Carlisle sighed and glanced at Alice briefly.

"Firstly, it's not my story to tell. Secondly, Alice herself has not told me the exact specifics of her encounter. In truth, I know only a little more than you do." He said calmly.

"Oh." Emmett scratched his head sheepishly and sat down again. Rosalie kissed his cheek.

"It's okay honey, I thought it was a good question anyway." she said, patting his thigh in a placating gesture. Emmett's goofy smile came back, while Carlisle just cleared his throat.

"As I was saying, while I can't tell you, Alice certainly can. If you would…" He trailed off, pinning his gaze on his brunette daughter. Alice hesitated, but walked over to the center of the living room after a moment. Sitting down onto a black leather couch, Alice sighed. She looked around the room. Edward and Jasper had sat down in the white loveseat to the left of her. While Rosalie, Emmett, and now Esme sat in the couch to her right. Carlisle still somberly stood at the entrance. They all stared at her in worried curiosity. Taking a deep breath, Alice began her tale.

"Well…I suppose I should start at the beginning. Earlier this evening I had a disturbing vision…"

For the next half hour Alice told her family of her adventure. She started with describing the odd feeling she got from the visions and also of the shadow wolf. She related the story of how scared she felt and of telling Carlisle of her vision. Alice also told them of her excursion into the forest for food, stopping just when she finished relating to them of her encounter with the dark beast. When she was done they all stared in astonishment. It was silent for a few minutes before hell broke loose.

"What do you mean it's already here?"

"Alice, how could you keep this from us?"

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"When I said you were too short for trouble, I didn't mean for you to take it as a personal challenge!"

"Everyone, silence!"

All of the family quieted immediately, turning their attention to Carlisle. He raised his hands, signaling for everyone to remain silent as he spoke.

"Now, I want all of you to calm down and think rationally. We have more important issues than your incessant bickering. Besides, it was I who requested Alice to keep quiet about her visions." Everyone except Esme looked guiltily at Alice. Esme herself just smiled at her, being the only one to not overreact. Alice, who was cringing from her family's rapid questions, slowly relaxed. Once the family had calmed down, Carlisle began to speak again.

"With this new threat we should remain focused. I want all of us to take shifts looking around Forks. Search the forest, search every dark alley. I want this wolf to be observed at all times possible. If we should find out that it means the community harm, then we will band together and fight."

Carlisle ended his speech, making sure to make eye contact with each member of his family. Everyone nodded gravely in response. Edward pursed his lips in concentration, staring at Alice as he did so. She kept her gaze focused on Carlisle, not wanting meet her brother's gaze. Alice surmised that he was trying to dig into her mind for more information. She knew he was still angry at her for not confiding in him, but unlike the others he understood at some level. So she wasn't too worried.

"Now, I believe we should all relax for the rest of the night. We will start shifts tomorrow." With a dismissive nod of his head, Carlisle concluded the meeting. Edward and Jasper rose and flickered out of site. Rosalie and Emmett did the same thing. Esme, after giving Alice a motherly smile, walked over to her husband's side. Carlisle smiled at her as he turned to Alice.

"The same goes for you Alice. Try not to worry about this until the sun rises, okay?"

Alice gave a weak nod. Satisfied, Carlisle and Esme slowly went up the stairs at a human pace. Alice watched them somberly. She sighed, staring at the white carpet beneath her feet. They want me to relax? How can I, especially when I know that Forks is no longer safe? She ran her fingers through her soft, spiky locks. In a quick movement, she changed her position on the couch. She laid herself down onto the leather till she was perfectly horizontal. For a few moments, all she did was stare at the ceiling. With her amazing eyesight she counted all the tiny bumps that prevented it from being smooth. It was simplistic exercise, but it helped her to forget the thoughts buzzing in her head.

However, it could not stop the vivid image of the powerful beast to surface. She recalled the rippling muscles underneath the midnight fur. She remembered the ease in which it tossed her around. Most of all, she remembered its intense heterochromatic eyes. The gold and burgundy irises glared at her from the depths of her mind. Alice could still feel the animosity that emanated from them. Yet, for some reason unknown to her, she felt inexplicably drawn. Although she will never admit it, she wanted to get closer to the creature, if only to stare at those brilliant eyes. They really were pretty. I almost wish I could talk to it so I know how it got those eyes...Almost. Alice looked at the living room window across the room. Streams of daylight were starting to peek in, and the birds had begun to chirp their morning song.

She vaguely recollected that the day was Saturday. In just one more day school would start again for them. Though it was unnecessary to participate in high school, since they had already graduated countless times, it was something to do during the day. When you have an eternity, having something to do is pretty much vital.

So she waited. Waited for the next day to come and distract her from the growing horror surfacing in her body. And most people beg for school not to come.