Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all the people who have read and reviewed my story! On to the story…
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own twilight, Stephenie Meyer does.
Edwards POV:
I was running with my family, about to hunt a pack of lions when Alice stopped suddenly, her face blank. I tuned into her thoughts, trying to see what she saw. There was just a flash of different scenes, not making any sense. One contained a vague view of Bella, but it changed so fast that I had no time to make sense of it.
"Alice what is it?" I asked tightly, trying to control the sudden worry that had flared up inside me. Jasper moved closer, sensing my worry and Alice's confusion.
"I don't know. I was watching Bella like you asked me to, and all of a sudden the vision started flickering, like Bella or someone close to her is constantly changing their mind".
"What does it mean?" Carlisle asked.
"I'm not sure", Alice replied.
"I don't like it, we have to go back and check on her", I said, in a hurry now to make sure my love was okay.
Emmett groaned, "Edward, she's probably fine, you're just over-reacting."
"No, I don't think he is", Alice interceded before I could bite Emmett's head off; "This doesn't feel right. She's not with the werewolves, otherwise I wouldn't see her at all, but it's so indistinct". Alice frowned.
"Indecision?" Carlisle suggested.
"Maybe", Alice allowed, sounding doubtful, "but it seems to fast to be that".
"Well, I'm going back", I said as I turned to leave.
"Yes, we don't want to take any risks with this", Carlisle agreed. I was grateful, If Carlisle agreed everyone else would follow suit.
"Thank you", I said to him as we raced off.
Jacob's POV:
I had been running patrols when Seth phased to give us the news.
"I just got a call from Billy. Charlie called; he said Bella's gone missing. She went out of town yesterday and didn't come back. Her truck was found, abandoned at a petrol station in Seattle", Seth reported.
"What?!" I exclaimed. I hadn't been talking to Bella since the bloodsucker returned, but that didn't stop the worry that engulfed me now.
"Yeah, it's pretty strange, and Charlie's going crazy with worry. He's gone up there to check things out.
"Well, we have to go help him!" I said fervently. What if Bella was hurt? I had to know what was going on.
"No, Jacob. The police will handle this, we're needed in La Push", Sam ordered.
"What about Bella, doesn't she matter?" I nearly screamed in my head.
"Yes, but we can't put everyone in danger at the expense of Bella Swan, It's not our problem".
I let out a low growl. "She could be in trouble, Sam".
Sam sighed internally, "Okay, you can go check things out, but take Embry and Quil with you, I don't want you out there alone." I knew he was worried that being separated could be dangerous.
"Thanks Sam, I'll be okay, it's Bella I'm worried about".
So I set out with Embry and Quil on my flanks, running full pace towards Seattle. We were getting close; I was just able to see the service station when the sickly sweet stench hit us. A vampire had been here, and not just any vampire, but Victoria. I recognized her scent from the weeks we'd spent tracking her. She had been after Bella for months, obviously she hadn't given up. But this time she'd succeeded.
"Now is it our problem?" I asked Sam sarcastically through the mind link.
"Yes", he replied seriously and through his mind I heard him howl, calling the rest of the pack in. There were ten of us now with the redhead hanging around and we would need the whole pack if a bloodsucker was involved.
"Wait for us there", Sam ordered, so we phased back into our human forms as not to attract attention. As I was walking out to Charlie, I saw the Cullens arrive.
Edward's POV:
I caught two scents as I stepped out of my Volvo at the petrol station. The first was werewolf and I quickly noticed Jacob, Embry and Quil over near the forest.
The second scent was Victoria. I was filled with a sudden rage and I let a growl to low for human ears to hear escape.
"Oh dear", Esme said as she stepped out and caught the scent.
Just then Jacob came over. "Hey, bloodsucker, how could you let this happen? Just thought you'd let Bella wander off on her own while Victoria was hanging around?" he said harshly. He was right, I had let Bella get in harms way, all because of a stupid hunting trip.
"It's not your fault", Jasper assured me, feeling the waves of guilt and anger coming off me.
"Of course not", Carlisle agreed.
It didn't matter now; I just needed to find Bella. "Let's hurry", I said to the rest of my family.
"Hold up a sec, leech, as much as I hate working with a bloodsucker, we can help. Sam and the rest of the pack are on their way".
"Thank you, you have no idea how much I appreciate this", I said gratefully.
"I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for Bella", he said snidely.
"I know", I agreed. "What do you know about all of this?" I gestured to the empty truck. It was killing me, not doing anything while Bella was in danger, so I would get as much information as I could.
"Bella went out of town yesterday, obviously stopping here to get petrol, and didn't come home".
She had been gone for nearly a day. The worry got more intense. At that moment Sam and the rest of the pack arrived, and we set off, following Victoria's trail. We came to the forest just out of Seattle and I could hear a babble of voices. No, not voices, thoughts.
"Wait", I cautioned the others, and everyone stopped. "I hear lots of thoughts". Horror washed through me as I located Victoria's thoughts and saw her plan
"What's wrong?" Jasper asked tensely, sensing my horror.
"She's created an army of newborn vampires", I said in disbelief. Jasper froze; he knew only too well what newborns were capable of. "She's taken Bella as bait and created the army to get revenge for killing James. That's why Alice couldn't see her. Not indecision, knowledge."
"What's the big deal?" I heard Jacob ask through his thoughts.
"Newborns are uncontrolled and crazed, with exceptional strength. They are a serious danger in big numbers", I answered him.
"How many are there?" Jasper asked.
"19", I answered.
Jacob snorted, "We can take them", he thought.
"Yes", I agreed, "There are fairly even numbers, and we have skill, strategy and surprise on our side". I was suddenly very grateful for the wolves' presence.
"Yes", Jasper said and he gave us all a quick rundown on how the newborns would act. We then headed forward to fight.
