Ok so first things first: the songs I have in here are bits and pieces because I do not want to take too much away from the story but I recommend that you listen to them. Second is that I do not owe any rights to the songs. Paint it Black is by Rolling Stones and Last Night is by Good Charlotte. And then of course I do not own Twilight! Just Alastair. Yea he is mine =)

I am loving the reviews and those that favorite and have myself and the story on their alerts list! For more details about anything just see my other note at that the end of the chapter =)

Forever for all Eternity

Confrontations and Threats

Esme POV-

My Dearest Love,

I promise I will try not to do anything reckless or stupid. I just needed to get away for a bit and sort my thoughts out. I promise I will return when I am ready to. Please, now that I made my promise, I ask that you do not do anything reckless or stupid like coming after me and making long detailed messages on my cell because I will guarantee that I will not answer anyways. I will contact you when I am ready.

I am sorry I could not tell you this in person, but what I am going through I need to do alone. I am truly sorry in advance for the worry, but I will return soon.

Love You Forever and All Eternity,

Bella

Oh Bella, I sighed putting the letter down as I watched Edward pace with cell phone in hand leaving her a long message. Then I watched as he hung up and Jacob tried calling. He cursed when he heard what we have been hearing for the past hour…the cheery voice mail greeting. It was then that we heard the beep that he threatened, "Isabella Marie if you do not call us back I promise there will be hell to pay when you return! What are you thinking?" He hung up violently.

I sighed again and stood up, "Ok I know how this may look bad, but this is Bella and we all know that the relationship she had with her parents have never been…conventional. Besides it did not sound like she was after revenge." I said the last part carefully. I was thinking of Bella as more or less the parent hurting over the loss of her children…much like myself after I lost my son. I hoped that was all she needed was time considering she does actually have a child and a loving husband. Besides she does have a generous side and would never go after someone's blood.

"It doesn't matter. The least she could have done was tell me in person of her little plan." Edward said sitting with his head in his hands.

"But would you have let her gone off to think for a bit if she asked?" I asked. I again thought back to the time when Edward ran off and thought about where his life was going when he first experienced Bella's scent that fateful day. Surely he would understand the need for space?

"Of course not! Who knows where she could be?" Edward yelled then was alert. We all became quiet as we heard Ness grumble in her sleep then she became still. He sighed and said in a quieter voice, "I am sorry Esme, but Bella has also never had a self preservation mechanism. She is the definition of reckless."

"And known for doing stupid stuff," Jacob supplied. Alice, Rose and I shot him a 'not helping look'. He looked uncomfortable and shrugged, "What? It is the truth and we know it."

Carlisle sighed and got up from his seat that was next to mine and went to the window, "Jake can you get your pack together and track Bella down?" I looked at him as if to say 'really?' Carlisle caught my gaze and explained, "The whole thing is nerve wracking and I do not trust that letter one bit and honestly this is not the time to be sugar coating things." I was nervous at his tone and come to think of it he had a point.

"But Carlisle we know Bella. She would not do something unnecessarily and the letter implies nothing of ill will." I said trying to reason with them.

Jacob thought for a moment and slowly pulled out his cell again, "I could try." He punched in a few numbers and walked away from us.

Jasper sighed and said, "Look I agree with Esme. She obviously came back and left us the letter and it does sound clear cut that she is thinking rationally. Besides don't we all know that she hates being pitied?"

"But we also know her temper." Emmett put in, "I say we go track her ourselves."

"What good will that do? The more we try to rein her in the more she will resist." Rose stated, "Bella Babysitting remember?"

We all glanced at Alice who had her eyes closed but her face was contorted in severe concentration. Letting out a frustrated sigh she said, "I cannot see any outcome of this madness."

Jacob came back into the room as he hung up his cell phone, "Well I talked to Seth and he said that he would call me back…that he had a visitor in the station."

"The station? Police Station?" Edward asked confused…in fact we all were.

"Yea apparently Charlie needed someone to watch the place because his deputy and him were not going to be there and since he knew the legends he had asked Seth to improvise as the 'assistant' deputy." We were about to ask another question but Jacob cut us off, "Don't ask. I am here not there. Besides if you think about it he looks like a cop."

"So the game plan is not to do anything until Seth calls back?" Emmett asked sitting over by Rose.

"Yup that is about the size of it." Carlisle stated coming back over by me.

I looked at my family who were all heart-broken. I had not seen them like this since we did the unspeakable nearly ten years ago. It was obvious then as it is now: Bella was the key to keep us together. Without her we were nothing in this existence. I could not even imagine how we would survive if something like that were to ever happen again.

"Me neither." I heard Edward sigh under his breath.

So we all sat waiting for the phone call that would ultimately decide whether we stay or go after her.

"I actually have a question." Emmett asked randomly. We all looked at him as he unnecessarily cleared his throat, "Well how did she manage to sneak back in here literally undetected?"

We pondered his question and looked right at my husband who had a look on his face stating clearly that he was just as dumbfounded as we were.

Forks Washington Bella POV-

I couldn't cry or sob as I entered the town of Forks. Right now was not a time for tears. I knew Alastair had killed them to get my attention and he certainly did grab it.

I heard my 'Breaking the Habit' ringtone, picking it up I looked at the caller ID and it was Jacob. I sighed as it stopped ringing and saw that I had about fifty missed calls from Edward and Jacob. What is so hard about understanding that I just want to be left alone? I pulled into the station just in time to hear Seth on the phone with Jacob. Perfect…they had ordered a search and rescue team to come after me. They figured I went to go get revenge…almost but not quite yet. I still have to see something for myself.

"If she wants to be left alone then that is her choice. Remember how I was when my father died? I cannot imagine how she must be feeling. I mean I would not know what to do if I had lost both my parents nearly twenty-four hours apart from one another." I heard Seth's voice from inside, "And we both know her relationships went beyond the parent child boundaries."

I heard silence so I took this time to summon my staff and my vampire appearance shimmered away and I walked inside, "Hey Jacob we will discuss this later someone walked in." He paused, "Yea I will call you back later. Bye."

He hung up and smiled at me from over at my father's desk, "Hello. What seems to be the problem?" Funny he does not recognize me.

I summoned my staff and blocked the door so that no one would interrupt us and Seth immediately jumped up, "What the hell lady?"

I smirked, "Why Seth is that anyway to talk to a friend?" He gasped wide eyed, "Bella?"

"The one and only now I have a little job for you to do." I said.

"Wait what?" He asked confused.

I just continued to smile and pointed my staff at him and his eyes became clouded and expression became dazed, "What can I help you with Mistress?"

I internally cringed at the name. I was never one to care for this power because I really was the Mistress for the puppet at which Seth had temporally become, "Sit back at the desk and you will call Jacob back and repeat everything that I tell you to say. Oh and please sound normal."

Seth sat back down and started to dial the number, "As you wish Mistress." I sighed. This was going to be a long five minutes.

Jacob POV-

Esme, Carlisle, Alice, Rose, Jasper, and Emmett all went out hunting. Edward and I stayed home to look after Nessie and wait to see if Seth would call us back. It was then that my phone rang and I heard Seth, "Bella is in Forks."

"You cannot be serious? She is there?" I yelled. Edward's head whipped toward me.

"Yes Jacob she is here, but she left. She said that she needed something from Charlie's desk so I gave it to her and she left." Seth said, "I think we should just leave her be."

Edward stormed over to me and motioned for the phone. I sighed and placed it on speaker, "Seth its Edward. I want to talk to Bella now."

"I am sorry Edward but she left and doesn't want to talk to anyone. We should just leave her be." Seth stated.

That did not fly well with Edward one bit, "What? No! We are coming down there right-"

"You come down here Edward and she will never forgive you. She just wants to be left alone and think." Seth's voice was hard and firm.

"You do not understand the worry she has caused in this family. Renesmee just woke up from a nightmare because she was worried about her mother's safety. Not to mention Bella was pretty pissed when she left." I stated trying to stay in control.

Seth sighed and said, "I will standby what I said. Besides she seemed pretty upset when she came through here. It just doesn't seem like a good time to approach her. She said she will stay in her father's house so that way she can have closure and once she has that then she will come home."

Edward looked at me not know what to say and neither did I for that matter, "All she wants is closure?" Edward eventually asked his voice in defeat.

"Yes. She said she would give you a call when she was coming home." Seth said.

"Ok. But you better let us know if something changes." I ordered.

"Fine." He hung up.

Edward and I looked at one another and he walked away and I sat back down on the couch praying that Bella was ok.

Bella POV-

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I was in a restaurant that had a bar as Rolling Stones' 'Paint it Black' came on, "What can I get for you?" The bartender asked.

"Rum and coke please." I sighed. He nodded and started to make my drink. This song was speaking to me at this very moment. I had driven to Phoenix…more specifically Dead Man's Cliff after I had released the spell off of Seth and allowed him to go back to work. I really hated to do that to him but it was necessary…at least I had gotten my overprotective family off my case for awhile.

The visions that occurred over at the cliff just an hour ago had really hit me. I had seen everything that occurred since his return and the only thing that brought me any comfort was that their deaths were quick.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm...

"Excuse me miss, but a gentleman asked me to give you this." The bartender gave me handed me a Virgin on the Rocks.

I nodded and took a drink. At this point I would drink anything and that is when I heard a voice behind me, "Still like the same tastes I see."

I didn't even turn to look at the person, "Alastair."

He sat down next to me and I didn't even acknowledge him as I gulped down the rest of the drink, "Bartender can I have a whiskey?"

"Make that two please." Alastair chimed in pleasantly.

I wanna see it painted black, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun, blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah
Hmm, hmm, hmm...

We sat in silence. It wasn't until another song came on that I finally asked, "So you want me to kill you now or now?"

I was not looking him in the eyes but was intently focused on tracing my finger around the rim of my whisky shot glass that he answered, "I would actually like never. Besides they wouldn't have had to die if you would have just given me the crystal. Speaking of which…"

I looked at his ice blue eyes and glared hatefully at him, "I do not have it."

He smirked and the motioned to the dance floor, "Why don't we take this conversation out there?" Standing up he held out his hand and when I did not take it he leaned in closely that I could smell the alcohol on his breath along with the smell of cologne, "Let us not make a scene shall we?"

Sighing I took his hand and he led me out on the floor as Good Charlotte's Last Night came on:

Let's go

All that I remember is that you had me at hello.
I knew right when I met her that I wouldn't take it slow.
The more we heard the music, the more we got in synch.
The more I kept you laughing, the less I stopped to think.
The last thing I remember, you said this place is beat.
It must have gotten crazy, cause I can't recall a thing.

We started to dance and he was twirling me while saying, "This is nice. Kind of brings back some memories yes?"

"Memories? Which ones? The ones were we would dance at the parties my parents would throw randomly and we would dance the night away? Or the Winter Formal? Or the ones were you tried to kill me?" I scoffed, "And nice? No nice was when I was Bella and you were Alan and we dated. Nice was when you did not try and kill me. Nice was when my parents were still alive. This is not nice." I said as I spun back into him, "This is sickening."

He spun me back out and then I was back into him and we were then close together with him leading, "I guess you are right. But it still could have been nice if you would have just cooperated and given me the crystal. I mean you can still do that right? So no one has to get hurt…not even your husband perhaps?" I glared up at him and didn't say anything as we continued to dance.

Everyone's been calling like I've been gone for days.
There's a note left on the table and all it says is "Thanks".
It's starting to get dark outside, I'm finally awake.
I'm feeling kind of guilty. Is there something I can take?
There's lipstick on my collar. I'm piecing it together.
Then I see a picture of me and you from…

Last night, can't remember.
What happened? Where'd we go?
I woke up this morning.
Where's my car? Where's my keys? Where's my clothes?
I feel my head still spinning but I'm doing alright
Cause I think I just had the best night of my life.
Last night, can't remember.
What happened? Did it happen? Last night

"My husband has nothing to do with this so I suggest you leave him alone." I threatened lowly and started to pull away from him.

He pulled me back into him roughly as I started to walk away, "I suggest we finish this dance Isabella."

"Or what?" I asked calling out the underlying threat in his tone.

He smirked and put his hand around my waist and my hands were on his chest as we swayed, "See the people behind me in the family area: Mother who is expecting, five year old girl, and the Father." I looked behind him and saw the people he described. I nodded as he said, "Now look in the shadows just above their heads." I did as he said and gasped, "You wouldn't dare."

I looked at him appalled as he continued to smile, "I would not want to but that would depend on you. After all Serpent hasn't had proper exercise to spread his hood or devoured souls in what? Eleven years?"

And did I get the chance to say that I wanted you to stay?
There's things I can't explain, cause my brain don't work that way.
Don't call this a one night stand. No, it wasn't planned.
Wasn't in my head but I just wanna do it again and again and again just like…

Last night, can't remember.
What happened? Where'd we go?
I woke up this morning.
Where's my car? Where's my keys? Where's my clothes?
I feel my head still spinning but I'm doing alright
Cause I think I just had the best night of my life.
Last night, can't remember.
What happened? Did it happen? Did it happen? Last night

The song and dance came to a close and he pulled me outside, "Now give me that damned crystal."

"I do not have it," I said calmly, "And even if I did I would not give it to you." His eyes started to darken and he grabbed my hand and we shimmered out of the parking lot.

We then appeared in the woods and in front of us was my house, "What the hell are we doing here?" I whispered/yelled.

"Easy you are being difficult and they can't hear you anyway." He answered as I saw Ness run outside with Emmett, Jasper, and Jake. Rose and Alice then appeared followed by Carlisle and Esme. Then Edward came out and stood on the porch looking half amused and half lonely. My heart ached to be next to him, "You know something?" Alastair asked.

"What?" I asked not looking at him.

"She looks like you." He said softly. I did not look at him, the pain was too great. I fell in love with him over a millennium ago and then again in Phoenix. Both times I have fought him and imprisoned him and both times it was painful to do so. Sometimes I wonder if he secretly loves me and there is a darker force controlling him or if he is just using me.

"Thank you." I replied just as softly watching as Emmett got tackled by Jasper and Nessie.

Alastair looked at me now and said, "It would be such a shame if something were to happen to her," He waved his hand and Serpent appeared next to us and started to go near my family.

"NO!" I cried out as Serpent reared up and spread his hood. The large King Cobra was waiting for its master's command to strike.

"Then give me the damn crystal." He growled.

"I told you that I do not have it. I got rid of it after I sent you to the Null Void." I said desperately. I was too afraid to summon Phoenix or my Infinity Sword. I just stood rooted to the spot and watched the black snake ready itself for the deadly strike.

My family was not paying attention, it really was like they could not see the threat that was right behind them, "Just because they are vampires Isabella does not mean they are immune to Serpent's venom. He can and will penetrate their skin and then devour their souls where they will be tortured…so you have one more chance. Give me the Eternity Crystal or they will suffer!" Alastair demanded, "I killed Charlie, Renee, and Phil with no problem. What makes you think that killing them will be any harder and or difficult?"

Looking into his eyes was like a black abyss that I was plummeting into nothingness. The black cobra was ready and finally I said, "I honestly do not have it. I willed it away into tiny parts after I imprisoned you. I made it so that I do not even know where they are. If you want it then you have to promise me that they will not be harmed and I will go track them down."

"And how can you do that?" He asked.

I summoned my staff, "I kept one. But even if I handed it over, they will not respond to you."

He eyed me carefully and said, "How long will it take?"

"I do not know." I answered, "It depends were they were sent too. It can take a few months to a year or maybe more."

He snarled low and in a puff of black smoke Serpent disappeared and we were suddenly back in the parking lot…it was then that I realized it was a trap…he played me. My family was never in harm's way. He secretly got into my memory somehow to see what my family looks like and where we live, "No…you bastard!" I yelled.

"You brought that upon yourself. Here is the deal and I suggest you take it. I know who your family is…I know that they are vampires. I also know you are partially a vampire too. I already told you of Serpent's power and ability and how it can and will affect them. Now I am giving you a choice. I am giving you one year to collect the parts needed to summon the Eternity Crystal. If you accept, and I will know, I will leave them alone and not be harmed. If you do not, again I will know; then consider the fact that you signed their death warrant." He smiled evilly, "Three people have died because you; how much more are you willing to sacrifice?"

I was snarling and I felt the flaming rage return and just as I was about to summon Phoenix he said, "I wouldn't do that unless you want us both exposed and more people to get hurt." He pointed to the crowd behind me. I calmed myself down, but my angry inner voice was telling me to call Phoenix so I could fry his ass, "Now then," he continued, "You have two weeks to decide what to do. If I see you leave then I will know that you chose wisely. Choose wrong well…" He trailed off.

"And if I decide to fight you?" I countered threatened.

He laughed, "You and me know that you are not at full power without the full crystal. Besides if you summoned Phoenix then with the power you possess now then you could and will potentially die."

Damn it, I fumed, he was right. Even with my training over the months I was not at full power. I have no choice, he knows my every weakness. Just as I was about to agree to his demands I thought and then an idea came, "You know that you can never possess the full power of the crystal…unless you kill the bloodline that it serves."

"What are you driving at?" His black eyes were slowly turning ice blue and had a guarded look.

"Well I could hand it over but it will fully be yours. You will have to fight me."

He laughed, "So even with your family's life on the line what you are driving at it will still come down to a fight? Isabella you are amazing."

I shrugged, "Unless you are afraid to even consider the prospect of fighting me because this time I can and will kill you."

He stopped laughing and glared, "Fine but the deadline is still a year. Besides killing you now will not even be a challenge."

"I know that. You just escaped and all."

"Oh of course and I am a little out of shape."

"So a year it is then. I look forward to it."

We glared and then he shimmered away and I was left standing by my car. Getting in I noticed someone in my passenger seat, "How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Long enough to see that you fell for his mind trick." Seto answered not lifting up his head as the bright sun started to become over on top of us.

"I know and I am a shamed. I have a week to leave and then a year to track down the diamonds and train." I sighed putting my head on the steering wheel.

He scoffed, "You could have ended it right there and then. Why didn't you? What are you still holding on to?"

I didn't answer and after a moment of silence Seto spoke, "If you need our help you know the number." Then he shimmered out of my car.

Sighing I started the car just as my phone rang. Looking at the ID I decided to answer, "Hello Edward."

"MOMMY!" Ness yelled.

"Oh hi baby. What's the matter?" I asked trying to sound normal.

"Nothing, we miss you. When are you coming home?" She asked her voice pleading.

My voice caught in my throat and I choked out, "I am on my way now baby girl."

"YAY! MOMMY IS COMING HOME!" She cheered and I can hear questions exploding and other stuff being said. Internally I winced. I will be home for about less than a week or so I hoped.

"Ok honey mommy has to go now. I will see you soon ok baby girl?" I asked trying not to cry.

"Ok mommy. Daddy says he loves you forever and always." She said cooing.

"Tell him," I started to cry a bit, "Forever for all eternity." I hung up and then I let loose the tears and sobs that I was holding in as I drove home.

_Snoopykid_

Ok so that was it for this chapter. Hopefully this was long enough for everyone. Here are some pictures to look at. Just copy and paste and take away the spaces:

Picture of Serpent go to: http:/ animals . nationalgeographic . com/ animals / photos / snakes /# /king-cobra-snakes_5896_

Picture of Phoenix go to: http:/ www. santharia . com/ bestiary /

Well that is it for now. Hope this was good and met everyone's expectations. Take care and until next time!