Jacob's POV

The pack was in a panic.

Vampires, the lowest form on non-life in existence, had infiltrated the very heart of our town. Our safe haven of sorts. They had gotten very bold very quickly, considering that a little over a year ago the closest they'd come was the farthest corner of Forks. Bolder and more fearsome.

I shivered to myself when I thought about the look of that blonde male. He had seemed so strong, so dangerous, so deadly---that all I was mentally able to do was back away from him in shock. It was that very display of cowardice that got Alice kidnapped. My cousin who I was closer to than my very own sisters.

Leah set her hand on my shoulder, looking down at me from where I sat with sympathetic eyes. She promised me, It's not your fault, Jake.

Leah and I had a special sort of communication system. The day we imprinted on each other the mental link binding our minds as one heightened. It didn't only work when we were phased, we could hear and talk to each other silently all the time. It was a very special and wonderful thing, always being able to understand what the other wanted and needed without having to ask. Literally just knowing, because we could hear and feel each other all the time.

I found no comfort in her words. I hung my head and looked away. I know that I didn't ask for this to happen, but that didn't mean it was not my fault. I told Leah to spare the vampire, the one they came to get back. I'm the one who invited Alice to the coronation, and stepped away from her at the moment she needed me the most.

Leah had known something was going on, so she rallied the others and they made it here less than two minutes after the attack. I had taken Embry and Quil to pursue the vampires---leaving Paul in charge of the younger wolves and our families until Leah arrived. We had been unable to catch them, and it was all my fault!

It proved to be very difficult to focus on guilty thoughts when, as mentioned earlier, the pack was panicking all around me. We had ushered Willow and her parents home, and collected the rest of the tribe elders. They were now muttering to one another heatedly in the far corner of the room.

Every single pack member revolved around Leah and myself, just freaking out. They were shouting at each other over needless technicalities.

"Why didn't you help Jacob?" Sam demanded to know, his hot brown glare locked onto Paul, the most experienced wolf who had been at the coronation with me. Sam was answered by a growl from the higher-ranking male.

"Why didn't you catch them when you chased after them?" Caleb snapped at Embry and Quil. Not one to be disrespected by the lesser pack mates, Quil whirled around on Caleb like he was going to phase and attack. Jared and Gary grabbed him to hold him back.

The act of aggression flared the tempers of every one of my brothers and they all started spitting threats at one other. All but one, the only one who mattered to me right now. My actual brother by marriage.

Seth was standing alone in the shadowy corner of the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His face was twisted with horror and his eyes were as blank as a dead man's as he gazed at the sky through the holes in the ceiling. Seeing him so dazed seemed to snap my mind back into reality. Alice was his imprintee. If Leah had been kidnapped, I wouldn't want to be sitting around listening to my brothers fight with each other just because they were scared and confused.

I ran my fingers though my hair and pinched my eyes closed. My voice was rough with impatience when I ordered, "Everyone shut up!"

The pack instantly fell silent, all eyes turned onto me---even those of the council members. I lifted my head and barked out orders. "Paul, take the others in my division and sweep the town, Forks included. If you even think you see a vampire find it and kill it."

Paul nodded once before darting across the room and jumping out the window. The wolves that were assigned to my particular sub-division of the pack hastily went after him. Embry, Quil, Gary, and Brady.

Seth protested, "That's all we're doing?"

"We have to secure the area." I reminded him patiently.

He growled and stalked closer to me, shoving Logan out of his way before coming to a halt three feet in front of where I sat. His eyes were desperate and he begged, "Let's go after them, Jacob. We can still catch them. We can get her back!"

"No, Seth." Leah declined gently. "They'd have gotten too far. Besides, they're probably laying false trails to throw us off. We'll never know which scent would lead us to Alice."

"So we're going to sit here and do nothing?" He wailed, his voice anguished.

I stood up and patted his back, attempting to soothe him. "Everything is going to be fine, Seth. Just calm down and trust me. I won't ever stop looking for her. I'll go to the heart of the Amazon if that's where she is."

My beta hesitated for a moment before nodding at me. He took a deep breath to relax himself and pitifully shuffled over to the others.

"Everyone go home and get some rest." I ordered firmly. "We will plan search routes tomorrow morning."

"What are we doing, Jake?" Leah asked me quietly. I knew she was willing to do anything I needed her to.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling at her, no matter how sad that smile may have been. "You're as tired as the rest of them, you just got back from your mission. You need to sleep, too."

She sighed before giving my hand a small squeeze and leading the others out of the building. I went over to the council elders, silently waiting to hear if they had come up with anything.

Dad reported, "We were discussing why they took her."

I tensed a little bit, but nodded for them to go on. Harry Clearwater tossed out his idea first. "We think it was some sort of a statement, if not simply revenge. A message that we can't hold any of them hostage without losing something of ours."

"That doesn't make sense." I mused aloud. "She's human, and they'd have been able to clearly smell that. Her scent is so different from ours."

"But she is important to us." Dad reminded me, as if he needed to. "They would instantly know that. Why else would she, someone who is not a wolf, be at a coronation for a new wolf?"

My Uncle Carlisle shook his head slowly. I gave him my undivided attention. I loved my dad, but I had a deep-rooted respect for my uncle that made me want to hang onto every shred of wisdom he could offer me, especially at a time like this.

"It was just... too fast for that." He muttered under his breath, his eyebrows deeply furrowed as he wracked his brain with whatever thoughts he happened to be thinking. "He came, he saw her, and he grabbed her and left. He didn't fight; she didn't do anything to draw attention onto herself. He couldn't have possibly decided to use her as an example. He just spontaneously grabbed her."

"She does have quite sweet smelling blood..." Harry said before trailing off nervously because three hostile sets of eyes glared at him.

He was wrong. He had to be wrong. They wouldn't bite Alice. They couldn't bite her, they just couldn't! She didn't do anything to them, today was the first time she'd ever even seen a vampire! Would that monster really kill her? Or worse---turn her into one of... them?

A deep, dangerous snarl bubbled out from deep within my chest. Anyone walking past the building right now could honestly say they thought a very upset wolf was trapped inside. Basically, that was true. Just with a few genetic differences.

I jumped in surprise when a warm, pale hand was set on my crossed forearm. I quieted down as my eyes trailed up it, looking right at the very worried face of my uncle. His big green eyes were watering a little bit and he whispered, "Jake, you have to get her back. I need my little girl back."

My heart broke all over again and I took a step closer, enveloping Carlisle in a tight hug. I promised him darkly, "I'm going to bring her back to you, even if it kills me."

We drifted away from each other and shared a long, intense look. He was a doctor, having graduated medical school and earned his degree. He minor in veterinary for the sole purpose of being able to patch us pack boys up when we were really hurt. He had seen quite enough gore and tragedy to know how ominous that promise really was.

There was a good possibility I would die fighting the fiends to rescue my cousin. It was a chance I would happily take if it meant prying her away from them and bringing her back where she belonged.

Dad leaned back in his wheelchair and looked up at Carlisle, who was his baby brother in every respect of the terms. He spoke gently when he said, "Come on, Carlisle. I'll go back home with you and help you tell Esme what's happened."

They shared a pained look. I felt my heart stir, but I made no move to dissuade them. I didn't offer to tell my aunt myself about her only daughter's untimely kidnap. My uncle would never let me, and we both knew if he insisted on something he was going to have his way about it.

I just watched them leave before getting into Harry's car with him and traveling back to the house. I knew he was saying some encouraging words to me, but I didn't hear any of them. I was too focused on my own personal thoughts as I plotted how we would find and rescue my Alice, and how we would destroy that army once and for all.


Alice's POV

I drifted in and out of awareness every few seconds. I couldn't remember why I was unconscious in the first place, but my subconscious was telling me that I was trying to wake up from that darkness. My body was numb, my scenes almost non-existent, and my vision was totally black.

I heard myself breathing. Then there was nothing. I felt myself startle awake, and my blurry eyes saw extremely fuzzy glimpses of color. Nothing again. My ears picked up on my breathing for a second time. A dull sort of pressure on my left cheekbone suddenly, without warning, exploded and throbbed so angrily it yanked my mind into total awareness.

I snapped my head up and sharply took in a breath, blinking wildly to clear my vision. The room stopped spinning a moment later and I looked around, wondering where I was. None of the cabins in La Push I'd ever visit had walls constructed from dark gray mason stone.

The pain on the side of my face demanded my entire attention. I pushed aside the wonder of where I was and winced as I lifted my arm to rub my cheek. Shock jolted through me when that whole lifting the arm thing didn't happen. I glanced down to find that my wrists were tied to the chair I was sitting on. A quick half-writhe let me know that my ankles were also stuck, and there was a thick cloth strap around my waist that bound me to the back of the chair.

Naturally, the first thing I did was mentally panic. I was quite too astonished to do anything, think anything. I simply sat there gazing at the binds for a few long seconds. Every single horror movie I'd ever watched, every news snippet heard or seen, every dark story my dad told me to scare me off the streets at night---it was flashed in my mind at the same instant. I had no idea where I was, and I was tied to a chair.

I glanced back up, suddenly desperate to find a way to escape. I didn't know what was going on, but all of the sensors in my brain told me I needed to flee possible danger. I quickly scanned the room, and my eyes came to settle on a piercing pair of rubies.

Broken ceiling, fear, vampire.

Snarling, scars, burning eyes.

Raised arm, pain, darkness.

It all flashed back before my eyes like I was watching the terrible memories on a movie screen. I was plagued with the happenings at the coronation, and I bit my lip and quickly turned my head away from the set of eyes. I didn't want to drown in those un-natural lakes of blood.

There was a muted buzzing noise from across the room. I cautiously peeked sideways, feeling tears sting my eyes when I saw there were three of those demons sitting in the corner of the room. Their lips were moving quickly, producing the odd humming that had caught my attention.

A pretty brunette with a willowy build much like my own was the first to get to her feet. She has fierce, piercing eyes and was perhaps a half of a foot taller than myself. She swept out of the room without a glance in my direction, for which I had no objection.

Once I looked at the vampires, I couldn't take my eyes off of them. Sunlight was filtering through the little window beside them, making the female glitter. She was so beautiful, and pleasing to look at. I wanted to be disgusted with the un-naturalness at the same time I wanted to touch her arm.

Said female, who looked like an older and softer version of me---with her white-blonde hair that was not to her shoulders, her thin and petite build, and from the looks of her same height---leaned closer to the male and asked him something too quietly for me to hear.

The male was almost impossible to see. He wore all black and sat in the dark shadow of a very large armoire. He looked displeased with whatever he had been asked, but gave a sharp nod of confirmation to the female.

She stood up and walked a few feet closer to me, though she stopped a small distance away when I shrank backwards. She smiled a bright, inviting smile as she gazed down at me. Her voice was startlingly perfect when she spoke. "Do you need anything to be more comfortable?"

I sat there silently, staring at her critically. Was she serious? After a couple seconds of silence I decided she was. I spat with as much venom as possible, "You could untie me."

Her smile just brightened, and she giggled. Oh how incredibly irksome, she was one of those.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible." She answered, as if I had suspected anything different. She suggested lightly, "How about a glass of water, and perhaps an aspirin?"

My throat was quite scratchy and dry, and my face hurt something terrible. Moving my mouth made it worse, and I suspected the bone was cracked. I didn't want anything from these monsters, though. The water would be drugged or the pill some sort of poison. I simply turned my head away and glared at the wall.

Her irritatingly happy voice responded, "I'll go and get them for you." She pranced out of the room, leaving me alone with the creepy man in the shadows.

I tried plotting an escape. Two of the three were gone. I could get rid of the third one, right? I looked at him and asked as innocently as I could manage, "Would it be possible for you to get me an ice pack or something? My face hurts really bad."

The gleaming red eyes softened a little bit, if that were even possible. I watched as the guy stood up and stepped out of the shadows. He towered at six-foot-five, and had shoulders so broad and strong he would give Jacob a run for his money. His curly brown hair fell into his eyes as he stopped in front of me, looking down. I was lost in his shadow as he blocked the view of the small window.

I couldn't stop from flinching when he raised his big hand and stretched it towards me. He ignored my frightened reaction and gently set his fingers against my cheek. I gasped and instinctively moved away. It was so cold!! Like walking barefoot in the snow!

Brow furrowing unhappily, the beastly man shifted his arm with my face and set his hand back on my wounded cheek. It took a few seconds for the coldness to become comforting to the painful skin, but when it did I sheepishly leaned in a little. He didn't speak, but he didn't have to for me to figure out this was his version of an ice pack.

It ruined my plans at somehow getting out of the chair and out the window, but that was all right I supposed. Judging by the way I couldn't see the roots or the tops of the trees outside, we were on the second floor of a building. I'd only get hurt leaping out to the ground.

I needed to think of a better plan.

The door opened again, and I flickered my eyes sideways. Blondie was back, carrying a glass of ice water. I pulled away from the cold hand so I could turn my head and watch her approach. She announced, "I've sent somebody for the aspirin. I've got you something to drink, though."

I watched her as she reached down and started to unfasten the tie on my left wrist. The man growled, "Charlotte, what are you doing?"

The woman, Charlotte, paused and glanced up at the other vampire. She answered cheerfully, "It's okay. She's not going anywhere."

I felt myself deflate a little bit. Was my escape really that hopeless?

Charlotte freed my wrist and held out the glass. I hesitated before taking it from her, peering suspiciously at the water. No discoloration. No bubbles. No odd smell. I grudgingly accepted that they had probably not drugged it, and I took a sip. It felt good sliding down my throat.

The brunette returned, hovering in the doorway. The other two gave her their attention immediately. She glanced at me once before reporting, "Jasper said to leave her for him to tend to."

Neither seemed to object. Charlotte joined the brunette and they disappeared. The large man looked back down at me and said, "I have to retie your wrist."

"Is that really necessary?" I asked angrily, not at all liking the idea of being tied to a chair when I was going to be alone with this Jasper character sometime soon. I added bitterly, "It's not like I'm going anywhere, right?"

I was ignored. He set my water glass on the floor beside me and pushed my arm down to where he wanted it. I growled at him, I didn't like being treated like a rag doll! Again, he ignored my slight protest as he rebound my left wrist.

"That's too tight." I complained loudly, straining my arm. "It hurts!"

Rolling his eyes, he loosed it a little bit before leaving and closing the door behind him. I smirked a little, quite smug with how that played out. I wiggled my wrist a little bit, yanking it free of the tie. My wrists were tiny, all I needed was a small area to move around in and I could get my hand out of anything. The vampire had given me just that. Hah.

I tugged at the cloth around my other wrist until the knot came undone and I had full use of both my arms. The thick strap around my waist was the next to go. I was careful to grab it and set it down, rather than let it drop to the floor and thump. I didn't want attention drawn to myself. I hastily freed my ankles before standing up and darting across the room. As quickly as I dared, I pulled the door open and peeked into the hallway.

It was empty, stretching shortly in either direction. I saw a staircase at one end, and a half-open door with a bright light inside at the other. I wanted to flee down the stairs and out the front door. But that would be stupid; they were probably downstairs if they were not up here. I slipped out of the door way and quietly slithered down the hall. My heart was thundering in my chest as I pushed the door at the end of the hall open and stepped inside.

It was... a bedroom?

The floor was not stone in this room, but a dark walnut wood. The walls were paneled with shade of hickory that blended well with the floor and furniture.

The furniture in question started with the huge oak bed that dominated the room. A clothes chest was settled at the foot, open and totally empty. The singular window claimed almost the entire north wall. There was a long, old-fashioned chaise lounge right in front of the window. It was made out of an expensive looking red fabric.

A bookcase taller and wider than me stood beside the headboard of the bed. Finally, there was a huge fireplace to the left of where I stood, with an old rocking situated on a bear-skin rug in front of it.

It was a shocking contrast from the room I just escaped from. I couldn't help but wander farther inside and poke around. I ended up at the edge of the bed, pushing on it curiously to find that it was incredibly soft. The blankets that were carefully folded onto the mattress were real fur. I shivered with horror when I realized it was a wolf pelt. Sick and twisted much, vamps?

"Do you like it in here?" An eerily quiet voice asked from behind me. Gasping, I whirled around to face the newcomer. Only I did it too fast and ended up falling backwards onto the bed.

My mouth fell open and my heart clenched with terror when I saw the creature blocking the doorway. He had a pale blue shirt on, but I didn't need to see the horrific marks all over his body to recognize him. Powerful shoulders, curly honey-blonde hair, a pair of intense red eyes. This was the vampire that kidnapped me, and now he was back again and staring me down.

I knew I couldn't sit helplessly and say nothing, but my mind didn't want to speak. His expectant gaze shoved me into coherency and I whispered, "I-I'm sorry I left the other room." I couldn't find the willpower to act sort of defiant with him like I had with the others. He just looked too damn dangerous to mess with. I didn't want to die.

The man smiled at me, and I had never once seen a smiling person look so very uninviting. I felt my heart beat sharply in my chest with fear as he started walking closer to me, prowling like a lion that was stalking it's small, defenseless prey.