Alternative Eclipse

~Chapter IV~

The trees surrounding us blurred as Alice ran through the forest, me on her back. She was silent, not wanting to ask if I was okay. Because, truly I wasn't. I was nearly raped by Riley Biers, a vampire with red eyes. He was intent on finding something of my scent in my room, but if he were to touch me - to rape me no less - then I would be nothing but a corpse.

The Cullen home appeared before us. Alice only stopped when we reached the front door. She shifted me around so I was in her arms, bridal style, and she opened the door, walked inside, and walked towards the living room of the house. Esme and Rosalie were there, and when they saw me, Esme rushed forward while Rosalie looked at me sympathetically. "Oh, Bella darling; are you alright?" Esme asked me, taking me from Alice's arms.

I seemed to be mute from my fear of Riley coming back, so I shook my head, tears leaking from my eyes. Esme crooned and cooed at me reassuringly, placing me on the soft white couch, while Alice disappeared into the kitchen. "Here you go." Rosalie murmured, wrapping a blanket she had gotten, around my shoulders. "Thanks." I rasped out, and then cleared my dry throat. "This should help, Bella." Alice cooed, handing me a large mug of hot chocolate.

I drank from it, loving how it soothed my dry throat. From there, Rosalie and Esme sat by my sides, while Alice sat beside my feet. I was being comforted by my vampire family, while we watched some comedic movie, when I heard a door slam open, startling me. "Bella!" Edward's voice shouted from the front hall, before he appeared in the living room, Emmett, Carlisle and Jasper right behind him. "Edward, be careful." Alice warned when Edward approached me slowly. Rosalie, Alice and Esme stepped away from me, giving us some space.

"Bella, love?" Edward whispered to me. I placed the mug down, shouldered off the blanket, before standing in front of Edward. Tears fell once more, while I threw my arms around his neck. I sobbed into his shoulder, and Edward tried to get me to calm down. "It's okay, my Bella. I'm here." Edward crooned, kissing my cheek repeatedly.

"The trail of the vampire led me all the way towards Seattle, but once I reached Seattle, the trail went cold." I could hear Jasper telling Alice. "Can someone tell me what happened to Bella?" Emmett asked, sounding very confused. "Bella was nearly raped by a vampire who was in her room, Emmett." Rosalie hissed at him.

"His name was Riley Biers." I said all of a sudden. Edward pulled back and stroked my hair carefully, looking at me, perplexed. "Did you know him, sweetheart?" Edward asked me. "I only knew his face. Before dinner, my dad was watching the news about Riley's disappearance. And, when I saw him in my bedroom and saw his face, I put the pieces together that this vampire was Riley Biers." I explained softly.

"What was he doing in your room?" Jasper asked me. "Looking through my things - sniffing them too." I told him. "Sniffing them?" Edward asked, raising an eyebrow while I nodded. "Maybe he was looking for something of Bella's scent." Rosalie suggested.

"Why would he want to do that?" Emmett asked. "Let's leave it at that, Emmett. For now, Bella must be protected at all times, as well as Charlie. Someone knows who Bella is, and possibly knows that she is associated with us. Therefore, she is an easy target." Carlisle explained. "Maybe it's the Volturi, trying to see if I'm still human." I offered. "Alice would've seen it; I've already asked her to see if or when the Volturi might come to Forks, and so far she hasn't seen them." Edward informed me.

"Maybe Victoria?" I offered once again. "No; I would've seen her too. I have no idea what's going on, so I'll just have to keep a lookout." Alice said. "Oh, Edward, Bella. Could you please follow me up to my office?" Carlisle asked us, heading towards the stairs. Edward lifted me into his arms, and carried me up to Carlisle's office. We all walked inside, with Edward sitting down in a chair with me in his lap.

"What is it, Carlisle?" Edward asked him after Carlisle came back to his desk with a large book. "You know how eh, yesterday you were confused about Rainer and his brother, Chase?" Carlisle asked us. "Yes. What about them?" Edward asked him. "Well, while we were hunting after our meeting here at the house, I was thinking to myself about what you said with Rainer's and the teacher's thoughts. It sounded like mind control to me." Carlisle said, opening the book. "Mind control?" I asked.

"Yes. Normally, when one person tries to use mind control on another person, their thoughts become fuzzy. I know this because I've encountered other vampires who had mind control - this was before I met you Edward. The vampires had told me of this situation, and I recorded it down somewhere in one of my journals. But, since you believe that Rainer and Chase aren't vampires, nor werewolves, that got me thinking once more." Carlisle said, and leaving the open journal on his desk, Carlisle flitted back over to his bookcases.

He found another journal, one that looked much more weathered and old, and walked back to his desk, already flipping through the pages. "What else were you thinking about?" I asked him. "The only other creature that could have mind control, is..." Carlisle said, and then set the second opened journal on top of the first one. He pointed down onto the page, and Edward got up. We both walked over to the desk, looked down and saw a drawing.

It was a great drawing of a man in colorful robes, a pointy hat, white hair, gangly long limbs, and the man was raising a stick. On top of the page, the word "Wizard" was written there.

"A wizard? You think Rainer and Chase are Wizards?" Edward asked in disbelief. "I didn't even think Wizards could exist." I mumbled, scratching my head. "Well, if vampires and werewolves exist, then so do wizards, Bella." Carlisle told me. "But, I'm doubting myself in this new theory. Wizards had existed in medieval times, as well as the 1700's. But, wizards had died out during the late 1800's. I don't know if my theory is correct, because it seems odd that the wizards have suddenly come back." Carlisle explained, shaking his blond head.

"What are some ways to tell if someone is a wizard or not?" I asked him. "First of all is the mind control. Wizards do have the ability to do that, as well as many other things - such as they are much like shape-shifters. They can turn into any kind of animal." I interrupted him with a raised hand. "There are shape-shifters too?" I asked him. "Yes; you may not believe this Bella, but there are lots of things out there in this world. Plenty of mythical creatures to be exact." Carlisle told me.

"What else is there for signs of a wizard?" Edward asked, waving his hand. "Oh. Hmm..." Carlisle took his journal, and flipped the pages. "Ah! You can also tell if the person is a wizard, by their true age. I should mention, wizards can also be immortal like us vampires. But, wizards are considered more human than us for it is easier to kill a wizard than a vampire." Carlisle informed him.

"Anything else?" Edward asked. "There is one significant part about Wizards. Usually, they have one item with them, and they carry it with them for everyday, no matter what. Whether it be a necklace, a bracelet or a cuff link, or something of the likes, they are always seen wearing it or carrying it around with them wherever they go." Carlisle said.

"So, we just have to look for something on Rainer and Chase, and see if they wear it every single day?" I asked, unsure. "Not quite, Bella, dear. If you do see something with them every day, then my theory could be incorrect because they could just perhaps be fond of that item." Carlisle warned me. "But then that part doesn't help us. What can we really look for?" Edward asked. "Hmm, er..." Carlisle hummed, flipping through the pages once more.

He stopped on one page, and read through it, his golden eyes moving very quickly. "This should give you proof enough." Carlisle said, and placed the book back down on the table. I looked down, to see another drawing; this one was of a hand, and weird looking symbol on the hand. "What is that?" I asked.

"That, Bella, is a wizard symbol. Wizards all have a wizard symbol somewhere on their body; the most common one is that the wizard symbol is seen on the left hand." Carlisle explained. "So, if we see a strange symbol somewhere on Rainer's and Chase's bodies, that's our proof?" Edward asked him. "That will be your most solid evidence." Carlisle stated confidently.

"But, if it's not on their hands, what do we do?" I asked him, blushing at the ideas of where a wizard symbol could be. "I'll have Jasper look into it. He has Gym the same time you do, and so does the Willowdrick brothers." Edward suggested. "Alright. But, Edward, Bella!" Carlisle called out when Edward was quickly leading me towards the door. "What?" Edward asked him, turning us around.

Carlisle motioned for us to come back over to where we were, and when we did, he turned several pages, before stopping on one. I looked down, to see a list of creatures.

Werewolves

Nymphs

Fairies

Warlocks

Trolls

Phoenixes

Humans

Giants

Mermaids(men)

"Carlisle, what is this list?" I asked him. "That, is a list of what a wizard can kill." Carlisle said. Edward hissed. "So, Bella is in danger because of these wizards?" Edward growled. "Unfortunately, yes, Edward. I have a feeling that when Bella was shocked by Rainer, that was him merely trying to restrain his powers from killing Bella. Humans are the most prone and easy for a wizard to kill - and sometimes, only simply by touch." Carlisle told him, where Edward shook visibly with anger.

"But, I don't think he would kill me." I spoke up. "Really?" Carlisle asked, raising his eyebrows. I nodded. "Rainer seems to like me, and if he does, then why would he want to kill me?" I asked him, and Carlisle nodded. "That's true. Still, it takes lots of restraint for a wizard to hold back their power from killing a human. So, I want you two to be careful. Also, I should inform you both, though we're vampires and it takes a lot for a wizard to kill a vampire, you should still be careful around the Willowdrick brothers. I'll be looking more into my journals and see if I find something that may help you two." Carlisle told us.

We nodded, thanked Carlisle, before leaving his office. Before we left, Jasper said that he had heard about his part of watching for Rainer's and Chase's symbols. We said goodnight to the Cullens, and then Edward lifted me into his arms once more, and raced away from his house, heading back to my house. "Is Charlie okay?" I asked Edward once my house came into view. "Yes. Alice was looking out for him, and saw nothing happening to him, love." Edward murmured. He jumped effortlessly to my room, and after setting me down on my bed, he began walking quietly around my room.

"What are you doing?" I asked him quietly, tilting my head in confusion.

"I'm familiarizing myself with Riley's scent. If we ever pick up his scent again, I'll hunt him down myself, and kill his damn ass for touching you." at the end of Edward's statement, he was growling to himself. I nodded, and then got an idea. "Hey. Maybe we should have Jacob come by and try to pick up the scent." I offered to him in a whisper. Edward sighed, before he walked over to my bed and sat down beside me.

"I still don't want that mutt near you, Bella." Edward muttered. "Edward, you know Jacob would never harm me. And that mutt happens to be my best friend." I grumbled, lightly slapping his shoulder; it probably felt like a feather touch to him. "He's unstable, Bella. He's a werewolf, and could harm you at any moment." Edward argued weakly. "But, if he gets the scent, that's more help for us." I whispered, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"True, but..." Edward trailed off, not knowing how to argue any further. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and began kissing my way up his arm towards his neck. "Come on Edward. If Jacob were to try to hurt me, you'd be there to stop him." I tried to sound as persuasive as possible, while I had reached his neck. "That's a good point." Edward's voice was slightly shaky.

"See? So, why are you adamant about him not coming over here to get the scent?" I asked him softly, and I had reached his ear lobe. I kissed it, nibbling on it, and that's when Edward suddenly disappeared. I looked up and around my room, to find him on the other side of the room. "Oh. I'm sorry." I muttered, hanging my head with my cheeks on fire. Maybe I pushed it too far this time.

But, before I could hide forever under my quilt, Edward was back beside me - or more so, now he was hovering over me. I looked up at him, see his eyes were dark, and a smile was on his face. "You mustn't tempt my boundaries so much, sweetheart." Edward purred, and leaning in, he placed a sensual kiss on my lips.

"I didn't really mean to push you too far, Edward. I wanted to convince you that if we get Jacob to help, it'll be easier to track Riley." I mumbled around his stone cold lips while he tried kissing me. "Well, if I agree to this, will you let me continue kissing you love?" Edward murmured, crawling closer towards me.

"Hehe, sure..." I whispered, giggling quietly. Edward chuckled minutely, before he attacked me once more. I fell back onto my bed with Edward following, using his arms to keep his initial weight off of me, while I wound my arms around his cold neck. We kissed and made out for several minutes, but we stopped when I heard a door open. I pushed Edward away, and he looked worried like he thought he had done something to hurt me. "Charlie's up!" I hissed, pointing madly towards the door as I heard lazy footsteps slowly approaching my bedroom.

Edward smacked himself quickly on the forehead, before he disappeared. I dove under my covers, and pretended to be asleep, just before Charlie opened the door to my bedroom. He must've stood there for a couple of seconds, before I heard the door close. After I heard Charlie go downstairs, Edward's face was close to mine; he had appeared out from underneath my bed. "Very juvenile." I teased him, where he oh so maturely stuck his tongue out at me. "Mock me all you want, honey, but that was too close." Edward muttered, sitting on the edge of my bed and running a hand through his already messy head.

"We're getting too many close calls now." I murmured, and Edward nodding, chuckling quietly.

"You should get some rest, love. You've had a long night; maybe you shouldn't go to school today." Edward whispered to me. "But -" I stopped to let out a long yawn. "No arguments, dear. You get some sleep, because we should let Jacob come over today to get the scent. I'll have Esme call in my absence while you try to get your acting skills together to lie to Charlie." Edward teased me at the end, where I stuck my tongue out at him for that.

"Meanie." I grumbled, but sure enough, I quickly fell asleep.

~AE~

Later that day, in the afternoon...

I had managed to lie convincingly to Charlie, in order to stay home today, so I could follow Edward's request in getting some sleep after my encounter with Riley. Edward was there for me once Charlie left, and he woke me up at quarter to noon, so he could make sure I was clean, dressed and ready for Jacob to come over.

I ate some lunch, and watched a movie with Edward, though I was trying to focus on the movie - but that proved difficulty when you have your vampire lover messing with you by blowing on your ear so lightly that it was about to make me lose consciousness.

"I really hope you don't want me to faint." I finally said to him in a shaky voice. Edward leaned back only to laugh at my nervous tone. "That wasn't my intentions, angel." Edward purred, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. "And what was your intentions, then?" I asked him, turning my head slowly to look up at his pale handsome face.

He merely smiled and whispered, "To get you turned on."

I gasped, looking up at him with a wild cherry blush staining my cheeks. "What?" Edward asked, his smile slipping some. "Nothing, it's just... you're really becoming more, uh, open with me." I muttered, biting my bottom lip. I abruptly found myself on my back, with Edward's face hovering over mine. "That's because, I'm so irrevocably in love with this certain human epitome of a woman, that I know I'll never have to worry about hurting her." Edward breathed to me, kissing my nose quickly.

"Y-You're really good at dazzling me." I stammered, looking deeply into his darkening eyes. "Then my job has been successful." Edward joked, though he didn't laugh; he was too busy staring intently at me.

"Ugh - kill me." came Jacob's voice.

Edward growled, and sat up. I followed, and turned to see Jacob standing in the doorway, wearing a t-shirt and cut-off shorts, along with some running type sneakers. "How did you get in?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow up at him. "Easy - the deadbolt was easy to lock-pick at, as well as the door itself." Jacob stated, snickering.

"Next time - knock." Edward huffed at him. "Okay, boys; no fighting in here." I ordered when Jacob growled angrily at Edward. "So, I was told that there was a visitor to your bedroom last night, Bells?" Jacob asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yes; a nomad vampire named Riley had came into Bella's room, and stole her dress, before disappearing to Seattle." Edward stated to him curtly.

"So why don't you leeches just go find him in Seattle?" Jacob grumbled at Edward. "Because his scent disappeared." Edward grunted back at him, whereas I shook my head; seriously, what is up with all of the testosterone in these two? "Look, I thought it would be a good idea of having you catch Riley's scent, and see if you and the pack could be on the lookout for him." I inputted. "Alright; I'll try to see if I can depict this bloodsucker's scent from his stank." Jacob grumbled to me, moving up the stairs.

Edward thought it would be a better idea for us to go out of the house in order not to mess with Jacob sniffing out Riley's scent, so we walked out of the house, and waited for him to come out. Finally, after 20 minutes of waiting, Jacob emerged from the house. "Well, the leech had been here." Jacob stated once he stopped in front of us. "We kind of figured that, mutt." Edward snapped at him. "Listen, I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart, so I would appreciate it if you would shut that pale vampire fanged mouth of yours." Jacob growled back.

"And I would like the same courtesy from you as well, dog." Edward snapped at him once more. "Well maybe I think you don't deserve it." Jacob snarled. "Then you don't deserve my silence as well." Edward retorted, snarling lowly at him.

"Both of you, Stop. IT!" I screamed at them, shoving them away from each other with all my might. They backed away from each other willingly, though their glowers at one another did not lessen. "From now on, I'm Switzerland - and I don't want you two fighting with each other in front of me. I'm tired of it all, alright! So, both of you shut up, or I will make sure both of you won't come near me for a week." I threatened, but it was an empty threat - being away from Edward would be the death of me.

They looked minutely frightened at my threat, but then, finally, both of them nodded to my threat. "Fine." they grumbled out together. "So, you think you'll be able to catch that scent if Riley were to come near the reservation?" I asked Jacob awkwardly. "Yeah; the vampire has no chance against us wolves." Jacob boasted. "We have more of a chance than you wolves." Edward boasted back.

"Oh really?" Jacob asked him, scowling. Oh my god - MEN!

"Yes, really." Edward sneered right back at him. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even here.

"Alright, that's it!" I huffed. "Jacob, leave. Edward, go cool off please. I'm tired of all of these male fights between you two." I hissed at them. "But -" both of them protested together simultaneously. "Nope! Both of you, out! Jacob, back to your reservation, and Edward, to the woods. NOW!" I barked before I could cave on their saddened faces.

Then, they reluctantly turned away from me. Jacob headed towards his car, while Edward went towards the trees. When both boys were gone, I sighed heavily to myself. I needed to at least relieve some of the anger and frustration I had from these two boys I loved so dearly - Edward, romantically, while Jacob was familial.

I walked back inside my house, and went into the kitchen. I angrily got out some ingredients for a tomato chicken salad, while I pulled out a knife. I chopped up the tomatoes angrily, muttering and cursing to myself about mythical creatures. When I had finished chopping the chicken, I didn't even jump when cold arms wrapped around my waist.

"Can I be let out of my time-out now?" came Edward's soft voice near my ear. "Yes; have you've learned your lesson?" I asked him, not bothering to turn around. I felt him nod against my shoulder. "Yes - never make you unhappy." Edward replied softly, making me smile.

I turned my head, and pecked his lips. Let's face it - no one can stay mad at Edward.

Here's chapter four for all of you. :) Liked it? Loved it? Hated it?

Reviews and votes would be greatly appreciated! :D

Bye for now,

~*Lady Lily of Darkness*~