"Oh, don't be stupid Edward" Bella tried shoving me out of the way, I stepped lightly aside, still eyeing Alice darkly. "Alice, come in, did you see something?"
Alice wasn't phased at all by my warning glances as she danced over to Charlie's couch and sat down right next to Bella. I gave out a deep breath, or rather more of a hiss, and stalked over to the chair slumping down into it and resting my chin on an angry balled up fist. I focused on looking at the small grouping of pictures hanging up on the wall over the television.
"Bella," Alice said, "wow, it really is great to see you again. You have no idea how much I've missed you!" She gently brushed the hair away from Bella's face. "Being gone--it felt like I had lost a sister."
Bella smiled and then looked down overcome with emotion.
"Uh hum," I growled at Alice.
"Oh, right. I suppose I should just get down to business then." Alice patted the back of Bella's hand. I rolled my eyes.
"Well, Bella. You know that after Laurent left, he went up to Denali?" I saw Bella stiffen next to Alice at the sound of Laurent's name. Alice glanced over at me warily, "um, anyway, when he got there, he kind of had a fling with one of the females. Irina, I believe that was her name. Well Laurent was there for almost a year you know-- until he left," Alice was looking at me again, obviously uncomfortable with bringing up Laurent's return to Forks.
"Alice, you don't have to worry about scaring me" Bella reassured her, she smiled and said, "just spit it out."
"It's not you I'm worried about" Alice muttered under her breath. I smiled at the fact that Alice was so uncomfortable. "Well, okay. When Laurent got there, he was kind of spying on our family for James and Victoria. After James was killed, Victoria was furious and wanted revenge. She had Laurent get as much dirt on us as possible, trying to find out anything that could help her get back at us. As I said before, Laurent had been involved with Irina, and while he was just using her, Irina fell in love. Laurent had told Irina just enough to let her know what was going on with the whole James situation. He also told her when James had died. Unfortunatley,she was sympathetic to him. He was furious and decided to leave Denali. It broke Irina's heart."
Bella had been watching Alice intensely, nodding her head as each part of the story clicked together in her head. "Then what?" Bella whispered.
"Well, you can imagine what it was like for her when she found out that Laurent had been killed by the werewolves. She was hysterical. Instantly, she thought of our family, of the trouble we had caused because of --you." Alice cringed while peeking sideways at Bella, but she seemed unaffected. "She wanted revenge herself and decided to go to Italy."
"She went to the Volturi didn't she," Alice nodded, "and now there coming here." Bella inhaled and put a hand to her trembling lips. "Edward told me about them." I was at her side immediately, rubbing her back and shoulders, trying to soothe her.
"No one is going to hurt you Bella. We are going to take care of things okay." I tried to get her to look at me, but she refused to meet my gaze.
"That's why you're here, isn't it? You're just on clean up duty?" Alice and I both jumped back, startled by her assumption.
"No Bella, no. Look at me!" My voice jumped, almost hysterical. "Alice only just found out about it this morning, I swear. Bella, I love you, we love you" Still she wouldn't look at me.
"Bella" Alice gently pleaded. "We aren't going anywhere. Carlisle and Esme are away hunting or they would be here now. Emmett and Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme, Jasper and me. We are here to stay. Everyone will be here within the week. We're back Bella."
Bella looked up at Alice's face, scrutinizing it. "You're staying" all of you?" Bella turned and looked at me now.
Relief instantly washed over me. "Yes."
We sat there in silence for a moment before Bella spoke again. "So what happens now?"
I spoke this time. "The Volturi will arrive very soon. It is against our rules for humans to know about our existence. As soon as Alice is able to nail down an exact timeline, we will be able to do more--get you out of harm's way."
"I need to call Jake," Bella said. "The pack should be prepared."
"I don't know, the Volturi aren't precisely aware of the existence of werewolves here, and I think it would probably be for the best if they didn't find out."
"But what happens when they catch there scent?" All the color instantly drained from Bella's face
"What is it Bella" I was getting alarmed
"Jake" She whispered "He said that they found a new sent, I thought that it was just your family, but Edward, they are already here!"
At that moment, I wished more than anything that Jasper had been around to calm everyone. I racked my brains trying, to come up with something . "We've got to get her out, Alice." Alice's face was frozen in terror. "Alice, we've got to leave. I doubt that the Volturi will harm anyone in the town, their rules and all, but Charlie could be in serious danger if they come looking for us here."
"Charlie! We can't leave him alone, what if they come here first." She ran to the kitchen, picking up the phone and dialing. "Jake! Come on Jake pick up!"
I tried to stop her but Alice caught my arm. Wait Edward, this might actually work. Though... I hate not being able to know for sure.
Bella explained to Jacob that she had to leave and that she thought Charlie would be in danger. She begged him to keep an eye on him for her, and then after ignoring his pleas to not go, thanked him and hung up.
I grabbed Bella, cradling my arms around her soft fragile body. I could see that she was already starting to come undone. She was shaking like a leaf and her eyes were beginning to well up with tears. "Let's go Bella, we'll find a room in Port Angeles, and once you're safe, we can come up with a plan." I held her chin up with my finger forcing her to look into my eyes. I could feel her body start to relax a little as my breath hit her face. Stroking her hair with one hand, I bent my head and kissed her warm lips. I could smell the blood rush up her face filling her lips as she kissed me back. My breathing picked up and I heard, Oh get a room, would you Edward. I smiled as I glanced over at Alice standing by the door, looking up at the ceiling, pretending she was going to gag.
"Come on Bella, it's time to go."