"Tonight…?" I sputtered, jumping back off Edward's lap, and looking up at the body behind me.
The figure sat down next to Edward, and I saw that it was Alice. "We leave tonight."
Edward looked at her nervously, and then his eyes darted to meet mine. I couldn't read his expression. It was carefully hidden by that mask he often put up. His eyes moved back to Alice, as he turned to her completely now, his entire body faced hers, almost in a panicked way.
"Are you sure?" he demanded.
Alice nodded gravely, "I'm positive."
"When did you see this?" he asked. I hadn't seen Edward this scared before. Not since…
Realization hit me then. There was another. Someone else was after me. Another one of his kind, no doubt. I watched them helplessly, as they continued to talk to one another through their minds. They did it in an attempt not to alarm me, but not knowing what was going to happen scared me even more.
Edward pulled me back into his arms, holding me tightly. He snuggled into my neck, breathing in deeply. I could feel his ice cold breath on my neck.
"What's…what's going on?" I asked, terrified. I couldn't help the images of James and Laurent, and Victoria flying into my head any longer. It was going to happen again.
"Nothing," Edward growled, "Nothing is going to happen, because I won't let it happen."
"Alice," I said, still held tightly in Edward's arms. His face still buried in my neck. I let my chin rest on the top of his head. "What isn't going to happen, then?"
"The others," she replied grimly, "The others in James' coven. Laurent, and the redhead, they're back. They want revenge for James. I can't imagine why, I guess it must be a loyalty thing."
I shuddered, and Edward pulled away, to look into my eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to you," he said, taking my face in his marble hands. "I am not going to let anything hurt you."
I was unable to move. I wasn't sure if it was his touch, or the pure, unadulterated fear that coursed through me. I was sure it was some sort of mixture of the two.
"Alice," Edward said, dropping his hands from my face. "Tell the rest of the family that we're leaving," he looked up at the sky, observing the time. "We'll be gone by twilight."
Alice nodded, and disappeared into the mansion. I looked up at Edward, questions burning in my eyes. What about my clothes? What about the rest of my stuff? What would I tell Charlie?
Edward shook his head, "We don't have time," he said. Although he couldn't read my mind, he knew me well enough to know. "It's like Alice said, you'll mail him once you're safe."
"What if they go after him?" I asked, "To hurt me?"
"They don't want to hurt you," he sighed, taking my hand, and absentmindedly drawing circles in my palm. "They want to hurt me, for killing James."
I winced, "And killing me…" I trailed off.
"Would kill me," he finished, shaking his head, tousling his messy locks in the process. "We have to get you out of here."
He pulled me off his lap to stand up, and offered me his hand. I took it gratefully, and he pulled me on to my feet. He kept my hand entwined with his, and walked inside his home, and up the stairs to his room.
I immediately fell backwards onto the couch, and he walked to his closet, pulling out a small duffel bag, and he became a blur to me, tossing a bunch of clothes into it at vampire speed.
"Oh, you get to pack?" I smirked.
He rolled his eyes, "You can go shopping with Alice once we get there."
I groaned, "Great. Now I have vampires wanting to kill me, and I have to go shopping."
"Oh hush you," he joked, tossing a pair of pants, and an old t-shirt of his at me. "I want to try and hide your scent again. Just in case they find out we're leaving, and try to follow us."
My eyes widened, "You realize these are going to be a bit big, don't you?"
"Just go change Bella."
"Couldn't I wear something of Alice's?" I asked.
"No," he said, sighing due to exasperation. "Her belongings smell like her, if you were to wear them, when I hold you, it would be like holding Alice. That would be… strange."
I nodded in understanding, "Right then, I'll go change."
There was a bathroom on the other side of the room, and I strolled inside, shutting the door behind me. I stripped of my jeans, and the black sweater, and replaced them with his sweat pants and t-shirt. I instantly regretted any complaining. Yes, the clothes were huge on me, but the stretch waist on the pants kept them from falling down, and I was insanely comfortable. The clothes smelled like him too. I inhaled the scent, Edward's scent, the intoxicating fragrance that not even the most sweet-smelling cologne could capture.
I stepped out, and Edward smiled at me.
"No laughing," I blushed, looking away from his entrancing smile.
"I'm not laughing," he said, but when I looked back at him, the corners of his lips were twitching upwards into my favorite crooked smile.
"Let's just go," I pouted, which made him smile even wider.
I walked towards the door, but Edward grabbed my waist, pulling me back into his granite chest. "Bella," he said softly.
"Edward," I said in the same tone, leaning my head back on his shoulder.
He chuckled, and kissed the top of my head. "Why aren't you scared?" he asked. "You should be terrified right now."
I shrugged, and lifted my head, turning it upward slightly to look at him. "You're here," I said simply, "I feel safe any time you're with me,"
He shook his head, dropping his arms from my waist, but taking my hand instead. "You shouldn't, you know."
I rolled my eyes, pulling him towards the door. "Let's not get all melodramatic here, alright?"
"Whatever you say Bella," he sighed.
--------------------------------------
Edward had made sure that the groups were organized carefully, just in case the others knew we were leaving. Edward promised to stay with me this time. He would always be with me. We separated into two groups. Edward, Jasper, Alice and I took the Vanquish, and Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle and Esme took Carlisle's Mercedes.
Carlisle had a house in Denali already, in case something happened, and if they didn't leave permanently, they would be exposed. Something like one of them being pronounced dead, for example.
I felt awful, leaving Charlie without a word, and I almost felt like I would miss Forks. This green place had become my home, and I ended up loving it here. Then again, the reason that I loved this town was coming with me. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, living in Alaska. Edward would be there, and so would Alice, and I'd be safe from Victoria and Laurent, at least for a little while.
'Now leaving Forks'
I couldn't help but feel excitement when I saw those words. My new life was about to begin.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Winter Solstice, or whatever you could possibly celebrate. And if you don't celebrate anything, well then, Happy Day.
