EPOV
Jacob didn't say a single word on our way to the house, but his thoughts were racing. He went over a million different scenarios that could have harmed Bella, and a million more of ways he could destroy Nicholas. It was hard to concentrate on my own thoughts with his ringing in my ear.
When I pulled in the driveway, there was a car parked just outside the garage that I didn't recognize. I tried to focus on the thoughts of the people in the house, and I noticed Siobhan's thoughts in the background of everyone else's. What was Siobhan doing here?
Carlisle had the front door open for us before we reached the steps. He greeted Jacob politely, and Jacob grinned sheepishly in return.
"Hello, Siobhan. It's good to see you again," I said with half-hearted enthusiasm when I entered the house. "What brings you here today?"
"Hello, Edward," she said, realizing my mood. "It's great to see you, too. I was actually just stopping in to say hello to my friend, Carlisle. Liam and Maggie are on an exclusive hunting trip in southern Canada."
"How nice." I tried to sound happy, but I didn't fool anyone. My eyes must have been too pained - that's what normally gave me away. "It's always a pleasure to have you here."
There was a long pause. "Thank you." Another pause. "I'm sorry, Edward," Siobhan whispered. "I know it's not a good time, but maybe there's something I could do to help?" I just smiled weakly, pretending I didn't hear her question.
"Why don't we talk in the dining room?" Carlisle suggested as he led Jacob and I away from the front room. When we were further away from the rest of my family, he asked, "Did you bring the note?"
"Yes," I sighed, withdrawing the picture from my pants pocket. I handed it to him and sat down. Jacob didn't hesitate to invite himself to the table as well.
He read the note silently to himself, while sitting across from me at the table. "I don't believe I have ever heard of this man before," Carlisle admitted, looking up from the picture. "Have you?"
"No, I haven't," I said in the calmest tone I could manage.
"I would guess that he's a nomad," Carlisle offered, "or else he would have told us of his acquaintances."
"When I was over Jacob's, I could smell another wolf had been there," I informed him. "It wasn't a scent I knew."
He pondered that briefly, and the rest of the family and Siobhan joined us. "Who, Carlisle?" Siobhan asked, unintentionally ignoring Edward's remark. Carlisle handed her the photo, and she quickly read the note on the back. She whispered the last part to herself, "Yours truly, Nicholas."
I listened to her thoughts intently, as she unraveled who this Nicholas was. A man with curly, dark brown hair, brilliant red eyes, and a disturbing smile flashed through her mind. She froze and dropped the picture on the table in front of Carlisle. "Nicholas . . ." she repeated quietly, fear behind her voice.
"What is it?" Carlisle asked, glancing in my direction, then looking back to her.
She sat down next to him, but her eyes were completely glazed over. I tried to listen to her thoughts, but she kept them limited. She only showed me one image of him standing over her, giving her orders, yet maintaining a charming smile. She seemed to be in some sort of unbreakable trance, mesmerized by him.
"In the mid eighteen hundreds, before I found Liam or Maggie, I was by myself. I traveled alone; a nomad, as you call it," she started, seeming to be talking more to herself than anyone else. "My creator abandoned me in my early years when she found her mate. I ended up roaming the coasts of Ireland in search of other vampires like myself. I knew they existed somewhere but I didn't know where to find them.
"On one of my hunting excursions, Nicholas found me." She looked at Carlisle with unease. I could tell this was the part of the story she wanted to avoid. She started again in a second's time. "When I had finished with my prey, he came out and introduced himself to me. He told me that he was watching me - not just my hunting, but my way of life. He said he had watched me for a few months, and thought I could be some help to him. He said he appreciated my composure." She took a deep breath. "I hadn't a clue what he was talking about. I was curious what he needed help with and how I could possibly be of assistance. But before I could even open my mouth to ask him, an inexplicable feeling washed over me." She grimaced at the memory that she played back in her head, and I did the same when I saw her helpless face as she willingly followed his every command. Our eyes met for the briefest moment. Sorry, she thought. I didn't want to show you this.
She looked back at Carlisle and continued, "He had complete control over my mind. He made it so every thought in my head was about him, and everything I did was in an attempt to please him. I was completely dependent upon him, and yet, at the same time, I found myself utterly grateful and so lucky to be in his presence.
"I was his slave. If he ordered me to do something, I did it without question. I couldn't help it; he was my life." She shook her head, and looked down at her hands. "The worst part was that I believed I was doing everything for love. Underneath the helplessness, he made me think he loved me and that I loved him back . . ." She trailed off, still looking at her hands. Nobody spoke, but each individual was imagining themselves in her postion.
"I'm so sorry," Carlisle whispered. "I apologize for making you relive these awful memories."
She looked up and smiled at him thankfully. I heard her heave a sigh, and then she continued once more. "When I was in my so called 'trance,' he sent me to lookout for any nomad vampires that had any special abilities. As hard as I tried, I wasn't very good at it, and I brought back a very small amount. None of them were actually talented at all, and he continuously rebuffed me for it.
"The vampires that had no special talents disappeared with him. He took them away into the forests and came back without them. One day, I asked him what he did with the ones I gave him, but he didn't answer. I assumed he killed them, even though they did nothing wrong.
"After about 30 years, he decided that I was getting him nowhere. He saw no promise that I had any special ability, and I had found him nobody else. He fled one evening, and I noticed the connection I felt with him lifted from my shoulders like a heavy weight. I can't even explain the amazing relief I felt when I suddenly had my freedom back." A genuine smile spread across her face. There was a long pause, indicating that the story had drawn to a close, yet nobody spoke.
She risked a glance at Carlisle's face, realizing he seemed slightly confused with her story. She guessed correctly what he was curious about and said, "I believe that he can warp your thoughts to revolve around him, however, it only works on females," she stated mainly to Carlisle, but was aware that everyone else was listening. "When I offered him male vampires, they didn't heel to his every need, like the females did." Carlisle nodded, and he thought briefly if Nicholas was manipulating Bella. I growled through barred teeth instinctively. Everyone's head snapped in my direction.
"No, I don't believe he could," Carlisle mused. "His gift seems to be something that only affects the mind. Bella's shield would ward him off, I'm sure of it." I relaxed a little at that thought, and so did the rest of the room. "So, tell us Siobhan - what should we do to get Bella back?" Carlisle asked.
She sighed. "I don't know, Carlisle," she admitted. "Nicholas can be very dangerous and he is rather smart. I'm sure he did his research about your family before dealing with them, which probably means he has back-up in case you decide to attack," she warned. "But I also know he won't mess with a large group unless there is something he wants from them. He isn't the kind to pick a fight just to fight. If I figure correctly, he probably wants your talented ones. Just like he wanted me to find for him." She tilted her head towards me, Alice, and Jasper.
"What would he want with us?" Jasper's tense voice asked from behind me.
Siobhan thought for a moment, fishing quickly through long forgotten memories. She remembered one where Nicholas had expressed his hate for the Volturi one night. I figured he must want talented vampires to revolt against them. I nodded to her, encouraging her to voice her idea. She shot me a wary glance, but spoke anyway. "There was one night I was with him and he briefly told me that he hated the Volturi. He hadn't mentioned to me why, but it seemed obvious to me that he was collecting vampires to turn against them."
Carlisle's eyes were wide, letting the new information sink in. "That would make sense," he said in a low, understanding voice. There was a short pause, then his head snapped in Alice's direction. "Alice, have you been able to see Bella at all?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I think he has put her in an environment with other werewolves to block my visions," she said in a soft, quiet voice. She was grieving to herself about losing her best friend, silently hoping she would see her again.
"Should we fight?" Emmett asked hopefully. The room was silent.
"No, Emmett," Carlisle answered. "We won't fight." Emmett groaned. "We'll find a way to get Bella back without violence. Siobhan, will you be staying much longer? We could always use an extra helping hand."
"I'm afraid I won't be staying, Carlisle," she admitted. "I should actually get going soon."
"Why such a hurry?"
She paused again, and then suddenly she was very serious. "I was lucky to have escaped Nicholas the first time, and I don't want our paths to cross again. You'll have to go without me for this one."
He nodded, understanding her fear. The room fell into another deep silence, and I focused on draining out the rush of thoughts that floated in my head. It was enough to deal with my own grief and sorrow, so listening in on Siobhan's and Alice's wasn't helping. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. For the first time since I thought Bella had killed herself, I felt like was going to cry. If my body would allow it, I certainly would have.
A dull, aching pain came from deep within my chest - right where my heart should be. It almost felt like there was a hole, like a piece of me was missing - my other half. I knew where it was, and it only made my chest ache more as I thought more about it. Bella was my life, my reason for existence. I couldn't survive without her, no matter how far the distance. I needed her in my arms.
I heard Jasper groan uneasily. I looked up to see his anguished eyes staring at me. It took me a second to realize that his eyes weren't really anguished. They were simply mirroring mine, taking in every sorrowful emotion that I was giving off. I'm sorry, he said sincerely. I know how much this hurts.
I felt a sudden pang of sympathy. Of course he knew. I sighed morosely.
I couldn't take this any longer, I had to do something. But what? I couldn't track her, he would find me too quickly. Could I have someone else track her for me? Anyone would be better at it then I was.
Or maybe we should attack. How many could he have with him? It couldn't be enough to ward us off. At least not easily.
Jasper picked up on my sudden jolt of hope, and his eyes brightened sightly. What? he asked, confused. I glanced up at him but didn't answer. Instead, I spoke to Siobhan. "Well, if you must go, best wishes to you and your coven," I said as convincingly as I could. She bought it easily, merely content that I didn't argue the matter further.
"Thank you, Edward," she whispered with a smile. "Best of wishes to you as well." I nodded with a charming grin.
She rose from her seat swiftly, keeping her eyes on me, however, she spoke to Carlisle. "Goodbye, Carlisle. I hope to see you again soon, and with Bella back in your family." She diverted her glance toward him, and he stood up to lead her to the door.
"Thank you, Siobhan," Carlisle said calmly.
"Goodbye, everyone," Siobhan said, waving politely to the group. They tired unsuccessfully to looked thankful, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Oh, wait, Siobhan?"
"Yes, Carlisle?"
"I was just wondering if you would picture us getting Bella back peacefully?" It sounded like a question.
She smiled at him, still amused that he believed she could predict outcomes of certain scenarios. "Of course, Carlisle," she agreed with a hint of teasing in her tone. But then she turned serious again. "It's the least I can do." She sighed and closed her eyes, gently pressing her fingertips to her temples.
We all watched her, waiting. After a few seconds, she regained awareness of her surroundings, and smiled sweetly again. "All done."
"Thank you, again," Carlisle said, and with that, she loped lithely out the door. It was surprising the way her enormous frame was so incredibly graceful.
When Siobhan had pulled quietly from our driveway, and was a good ways gone, Emmett asked, "What do we do now?"
I was the quickest to answer. "We fight, Emmett," I assured him. "I need Bella back. Now."
Nobody thought about protesting me aloud, but Carlisle was unhappy. Can't we be civilized and get her back peacefully? He asked hopefully.
I shook my head and responded, "That will take too long." I sighed and in a more pleading voice this time said, "I need her, Carlisle. Please. Don't make me wait."
His face was pained - the thing he hated most was violence. If we refuse, will you go anyway? He asked, although he already knew the answer. I nodded, confirming his fear.
He sighed again and looked at each member of our family, - including Jacob - then back at me. "I guess we must fight, then."
Emmett smiled darkly. "Yes!" he whispered, excitedly. "When?"
"Soon, Emmett," I said. "Soon."
