a/n: As I have said in the previous chapter, this one will be told through another character's point of view.

Chapter 3: Arrival

It could happen anytime now. We were as ready as we could be. We had been ready for days now. Alice's last vision was as clear as day: they were coming.

She said she saw two people, one was Demetri, the tracker, but she couldn't recognize the other. That's all she had seen, she said her vision would get blurry when she tried the see past that. Apparently their plan still wasn't set in stone.

Alice told us today was the day they'd finally arrive, so we got ready. Edward and I were up front with Renesmee between the two of us. Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett and Alice stood right behind us with Carlisle, Esme, Tanya, Kate, Garrett, Carmen and Eleazar further behind them.

Jacob was alone dwelling behind the trees nearby. He was the only one of his pack to accompany us to Alaska. He was in his wolf form in case anything were to happen, but out of sight in case nothing were to happen.

We had been standing like that for God knows how long and the only thing that moved was my arm because of my daughter's constant tugging.

"Settle down, Nessie," said Edward.

"But we've been waiting forever. I'm bored," whined Renesmee.

"I see them," said Rosalie.

All of us started staring into the horizon. I could see them, two hooded figures closing up. One of them was Demetri, the other, a woman, I hadn't met.

"Alice what's going to happen?" I asked.

"They... I don't know. I just stopped seeing," she said.

"What do you mean you stopped?" asked Carlisle.

"I know I can still see, it's just as if I'm not allowing myself to, like I don't want to. I don't know how this is happening," said Alice. Her voice was shrouded in panic.

"Edward..." I said, getting more impatient with every second.

"I'll see what I can find out," he said. He suddenly started to grin.

"What?" I asked.

"Alice probably couldn't have seen much anyway. Demetri is currently trying to make up his mind about something I will talk about later."

"What's the other one thinking? Who is she? Why are they here?" I asked.

"She's also trying to decide on something. About what to do first," Edward suddenly came to a stop.

"What? What are they going to do?" I asked repeatedly.

"I don't know. I'm not reading anymore. I mean I can, but I'm not. Something's stopping me, subconsciously," explained Edward.

"Just like me," said Alice.

"The woman must be doing this," concluded Eleazar.

"Before they come close enough to hear, I did learn one thing. Bella, humor her at first, okay?" said Edward.

"Okay?" I wasn't sure what he meant, but I trusted him.

"And Bella, I think using your shield would be a good idea," said Carlisle.

We waited until they came closer. The woman was really beautiful. Her dark brown hair waved out of her hood, down to her waist. Her skin's paleness and her defined cheekbones gave her allure and elegance. Her beauty really kept me speechless for a moment.

They stopped when they were a few feet across from us. "Isabella Cullen?" asked the woman.

"Yes?" I said.

"Please, come forward I will not bite," she said. I could hear the amusement in her voice, but her face was still shadowed by her hood. I took a step forward. "Bring your offspring with."

I hesitated. Renesmee was full of blood and I wasn't keen on bringing her next to predators.

"She said she would not bite," said Demetri. Both of them removed their hoods, unveiling their crimson red eyes.

I walked closer pulling Renesmee closely behind me.

"How old is she?" she asked.

"Almost a year."

"Yet she does not look a day under seven. Outstanding," she said, without a hint of emotion on her face. She stopped analyzing Renesmee and started to look at me. The beauty I was admiring not so long ago was now scaring me with its empty stare.

"What?" I said, trying not to seem so uncomfortable.

"Send the hybrid back to the others," she said. I gladly nudged Renesmee towards Edward. She quickly made her way to him. "Now Isabella," God I hated when people called me that, "perform a plié."

Now I understood what Edward meant when he said humor her. Apparently she was like a puppet master, probably the reason behind Edward's and Alice's power blockage. I simply did a plié, to humor her.

"Crude, but acceptable," she said. I didn't enjoy the comment. "Now take a step to your right."

I moved right and now I was standing right across Demetri instead of standing between them.

"Perfect. Now, punch Demetri."

I wasn't sure about it, but I did it anyway. At first I thought Demetri would stop me before it hit, but it proved otherwise when my fist met his cheek.

I didn't know whether to back off or laugh, but in the end I just stood there like a stone. I could hear snickers from behind, thinking it was Renesmee, but when I turned around I was Edward covering her mouth. The sounds were escaping Alice, Emmett, Carmen and Garrett.

"Now that you have had your fun, you may stop trying to humor me," said the woman.

Everyone became quiet and turned to her. I could feel that Edward was scowling.

"Please, I have encountered enough mind readers to know when they are inside my head. I know how much to let them in on," she explained. "And my power is based on my voice, whoever hears in will obey. As no one other than you has bothered to perform a plié, Mrs. Cullen, I assume your power is currently active around your coven."

"If you knew I was lying since the beginning why did you make me punch him?" I asked.

"You wanted to amuse me, I simply gave you your best shot," she answered.

"Now that you've seen what you came here for and had some fun don't you think you should leave?" said Edward.

"No, we will be staying," she said. "Our orders are clear and we will stay until they are fulfilled."

I could hear Jacob growl and get closer. I looked his way and shook my head.

Unfortunately she followed my eyes. "What is this? Your little pet?"

That last comment made Jake jump from behind the trees and face her.

"How interesting, it smells much better than a Child of the Moon," she said simply, without losing her posture.

"It has a name," said Edward. Jacob growled at him.

"He. He has a name," I corrected.

"It does not matter. We are not concerned with him. We are here for your daughter," she explained.

Jacob moved back and stood before Renesmee.

"Relax, we are not taking her with us," said Demetri, breaking his long silence. "We are here to observe."

I looked back at the others and saw Carlisle and Tanya were exchanging looks. When they both stopped Tanya spoke. "We would be glad to have you stay with us."

"But there are some ground rules," continued Carlisle.

"No biting the locals, we know," said Demetri.

"Then welcome, the both of you. Demetri and?" asked Carlisle.

"Giselle."

"Why do you think they are here for?" asked Edward.

"You don't think they are here to see how Renesmee grows?" I asked.

"I don't think that's the only reason," he said.

"Why? Was it something you read, you know, before you stopped?"

"Maybe. She was serious about knowing what to do against my power. She was really cryptic. I just know they are not here for one thing."

"You said you also read Demetri. Something he couldn't decide. You didn't say back then, what was it?" I asked.

Edward's serious face became more mischievous. A smirk appeared on his face.

"What?" I asked.

"He wasn't sure whether he should court that woman or not," he told me.

END OF CHAPTER