A/N: Sorry for the delay in updates. I want to get this story just right and be proud of it. Thanks to everyone who left me reviews, I really appreciate them all!! And even if you hate it, let me know – there is always room for improvement.
ALSO!! When I read the many other wonderful fan fics on this site and ESPECIALLY when I am writing this, I have to listen to Hellogoodbye. They are seriously the soundtrack to Edward and Bella and to this hopeless romantic's life. Listen to them and you will see that I am right.
This is a bit of a filler chapter I guess. Got to build up for the action and all that. Confrontation coming soon!!
Disclaimer: Twilight and New Moon are the property of Stephenie Meyer – aka not me. So please don't try getting me in trouble for this. I'm just a girl having fun with some great characters and an imaginative story line.
Chapter 4: Strategy (EPOV)
I was still struggling in Emmett's arms as Alice returned to Bella's room. She came up to me and grabbed my face, looking me in the eye.
"Dammit Edward, going on a rampage will not fix this," she glared at me as she spoke. Don't think you're the only upset and wanting to go after them.
'Those bastards, who do they think they are?" Emmett growled as he held me. They will pay for taking my sister he thought as he struggled to hold on to me.
I realized that the two of them, as well of the rest of my family cared for Bella deeply, like she was already a sister or daughter to them, even though she was still human. Alice and Emmett were just as enraged as I was, but they knew flying off the handle was no way to handle the situation.
I brought my hand up to the bridge of my nose as I tried to calm down a little and think rationally. Emmett did not release his death grip on me. Sorry Edward, but I have to make sure you won't go off and do something crazy. Bella would kill me. "I understand Emmett," I muttered.
Alice was already on the phone, and I realized she was talking to Carlisle. I caught the end of their conversation.
"Alright Carlisle, we will meet you at the house in five minutes." She snapped the phone shut and turned to us. "Carlisle will meet us at the house, and we will all discuss what to do from here."
Emmett turned to go, with me still in his arms. I looked back and saw Alice quickly straightening up the mess in Bella's room. She saw me look at her as Emmett scrambled out the window and thought we don't need Charlie coming home and finding this before we have a chance to fix it.
"Thank you Alice," I got out as Emmett and I were out and practically at the car. He held on to me as we watched Alice emerge from the window moments later and close it. In an instant she was at our sides.
"Can I trust you to drive us home and not the reservation?" She asked.
"Yes, now can you get him to let me go?" Alice looked at Emmett and he released me. Less than another second passed and we were in the car. I threw it into gear and flew towards the edge of town, inside the car quiet as we all silently tried to figure out what to do.
I looked at Alice as we quickly left the town behind us and neared our house in the forest. She was trying to see something, anything pertaining to the future but as I read her thoughts, she was getting nothing.
"Alice, you see anything?" Emmett suddenly asked from the back seat.
"I can't see anything," she whispered in response.
Emmett looked at her in shock. I already knew she couldn't see anything but it still was odd and discomforting to hear. We relied heavily on her ability to see the future. Emmett asked the question on my mind before I could get to it.
"Why the hell not?"
"When it comes to the werewolves, I can't see anything. And because Bella is with them, I can't seem to see her either," the frustration was evident in her voice.
Emmett didn't respond, but rather just growled from the back seat. Dammit Edward he thought we will get them for this.
I just nodded. At the moment I didn't care if Jacob was Bella's friend or not, or the fact that there was a treaty. This was unforgivable. Anger surged within me at the idea of that disgusting dog touching Bella, covering her with his repulsive smell. I fought with myself to stop from turning the car around and heading to the reservation. Finally we were at the house, out of the car and into the front door. Carlisle had beaten us there, and the rest of the family was assembled in the living room as we entered. Apart from Carlisle, they were all visibly upset.
"How dare those bastards take her," Rosalie was screeching as we entered. "Who do they think they are? Breaking the treaty! This can destroy us! Expose us!" Emmett moved to her side, to try and comfort her. I felt a calming influence in the air, and saw that Jasper was trying to dispense the tension but was losing out to his own anger at the situation. Alice moved to him as we all turned to Carlisle.
He stood there for a moment, and I was too angry to try and read his thoughts before he spoke. "We have to be very careful about what we do from here on out. One wrong move will start a war…"
"A war has already started! They started it when they took Bella!" Emmett roared his arms around Rosalie. Rosalie hissed in agreement. I shook as my anger blinded me again and felt Esme come to my side, her hand on my arm. She pulled me to sit on the couch.
"I am just angry as you are Emmett at them taking her. But again, if we go rushing in there and fighting does start up, Bella herself may be the first victim of it."
His words sent a chill through my already frozen body as I sat numbly on the couch next to Esme. Carlisle was right. In this fight between vampires and werewolves, the first to be hurt would be Bella, the only human amongst us.
"So what do we do now Carlisle?" Esme asked softly beside me.
"I have already taken care of both school and Charlie for the day so there is nothing to worry about there. With Bella's record for accidents, it was easy enough." Carlisle continued.
"And Alice took care of Bella's room when we were there," Emmett interrupted. "You should have seen the state of it. Whichever wolf took her didn't do so without a fight. Bella definitely didn't want to go with them." I snarled at his words, Bella's room in my mind and thought at how she must have tried to stall or calm her captor down. If they hurt her, even the smallest of scratches…
Carlisle's voice brought me back to the conversation at hand. He was arguing with Emmett and Rosalie about how to approach the wolves. His voice took on the tone of leader as he rejected their plans one final time.
"We will not attack them head on, and that is final," he surveyed the room quickly with his eyes to see if anyone tried to disagree with him again before moving on. "For Bella's sake, and the sake of our lives here, we will try to negotiate peacefully for her release. They cannot hold her against her will, no matter their reasoning."
"We will go to a secluded area of the border where there runs no risk of any human interference. We will not pass the border, but rather wait until our scent alerts them to our presence," Carlisle continued as we all stood silent, taking in his instructions. "Everyone will go, however we will not fight unless we are attacked first by the pack, is that understood?" Carlisle looked at us all in turn, each family member nodding silently in forced agreement. He looked at me last, the stern and determined look in his golden eyes softening slightly as he thought Edward, we will get her back unharmed, please trust in us. I just nodded my head at him as I fought with the anger within me. With another quick look from Carlisle, the entire family was up and heading towards the door. In an instant we were heading out, our sights set on the border and what was to come.
Yay, another chapter done!! I never realized what a struggle it is to get a good fan fic out there, encompassing all that one would want to say within the limitations of the written word. I am in awe of those who can pump out a great story in just a few weeks. Needless to say, this is going to take me longer than expected, especially with my university midterms right around the corner. Until next time!! .