Chapter 7

Okay, I've decided to list the top five or so reviewers because, sadly, I cannot include you all. So if you want to get up here either review really fast or leave a really thought out review thanks!

The five reviewers this time are *drum roll*: twilightlover1617 – Sorry I forgot you on the last chapter! Kikisdestiny – Hooray for your fixed internet and for being the fastest reviewer! Krugness – Thank you for your well written review! I love hearing readers' thoughts. L is for Left – Thanks for reviewing for the other chapters even though you are behind! That shows some real fan dedication and I hope that your guitar lessons went well. AND bloodredeclipse – for still being a loyal reviewer and saying more than just 'I liked it.'

Thanks to all my reviewers besides these five! You all rock!!

Bella's POV

I switched off the sink and swept my gaze across the kitchen.Every surface once covered with garbage was now spotless. I was done, and yet, I didn't want to stop working. Cleaning up after Charlie gave me such a sense of normalcy that I didn't want to give it up and be left with the cold realization that I was separated from the Cullens. I was especially separated from Edward.

I shook my head vigorously, trying to rid my head of such poisonous thoughts. I wandered around the small kitchen and bean opening drawers until I found the sponge I had bought when I discovered Charlie's lack of cleaning supplies. I reached over and turned the knob on the sink, starting the flow of warm water.

I soaked the sponge thoroughly and grabbed some generic blue liquid soap. I applied the soap liberally to the heavy sponge, letting any excess water drip back into the sink. I took the sponge to a counter and began scrubbing briskly in quick circles. I did this same cleaning ritual for every flat surface in the kitchen, reapplying soap and water to the sponge as needed.

The monotony of this simple kitchen task kept my mind from wandering and I focused solely on the mesmerizing circular movements. After all the counters were scrubbed down and wet, I reached for a roll of paper towels from under the sink.

Much the same way, I dried the wet counters with lazy circles. I closed my eyes and let the relaxing motions keep my mind at bay. The last thing I wanted to think about was Edward or any of the Cullens but, of course, as soon as my eyes were closed, Edward's glorious face haunted my mind.

However, instead being their usual hypnotizing gold, Edward's eyes were blood red. His expression was somewhere between overcome by thirst and stricken with agony. I felt cool tears slide down my cheeks and opened my eyes. I wiped at the moisture, furious with myself for being so emotional and letting my mind play such cruel tricks on me.

"Bella?" Charlie's level voice called from the other room. I walked to the opening between the two rooms and leaned casually on the supporting frame. I hoped I looked somewhat normal even after the horrifying mental image.

"You need something?" I asked, eager to be given work. Any chore would be a welcome distraction from the lonely thoughts already beginning to occupy my mind.

"No, I was just wondering what was taking you so long. I didn't make that big of a mess, did I?" Charlie turned away from the TV to look at me. I looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes, and lanced back into the kitchen.

"No, it's just the counters were looking a bit grimy and now that I think about it, the floor could use a good cleaning. I turned to head to the pantry to get the Swiffer mop. Charlie stood and looked at me.

"I can handle that, Bells." Charlie said, his tone oddly cautious. He looked me up and down. I responded to his prying stare by dropping my gaze to look at my feet. Remembering the tender posit on my neck, I tugged the collar of Jasper's coat up to over it. A pleasant smell enveloped me. I inhaled deeply, taking in the distinct aroma of Jasper, a clean spring breeze mixed with a sunny forest smell. I could also vaguely pick up the lilac smell of Alice. I smiled at the thought of my two friends.

As quickly as it had come, my happiness faded away and the thought of Edward, combined with the anxiety of being alone erased my smile and weighed me down.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Charlie asked with a hesitant step towards me. I was shocked. Charlie usually wasn't this intuitive.

"Nothing, nothing at all." I responded with an attempt at a smile. "Just tired, I guess." Charlie, not the kind for a heart-to-heart chat, accepted my excuse.

He responded, "Well then, enough cleaning. I'll take care of it. You go up there and get some rest." I nodded. Suddenly aware of my dampness, I shivered and drew Jasper's coat tightly to me. "You might want to change into something warm and dry. And, um, take a warm shower, okay Bells?" Charlie added, still watching me. Then he studied my borrowed coat as if noticing it for the first time. The way he was looking at it told me he thought it was Edward's. Although this shouldn't have been a big deal, Charlie was always weird about our relationship.

I sighed heavily. "It's not Edward's." I said. My voice wobbled slightly just saying his name. "It's Jasper's—Alice's boyfriend," I finished quickly.

"Oh, alright." Charlie's tone lost all its suspicion.

"Goodnight." I said as I headed towards the stairs.

"It's only the afternoon." Charlie's response came from behind me. I didn't really care what time it was. I was tired and needed rest. But first, I headed to the bathroom so I could shower. I shrugged off Jasper's coat and threw it in my room as I walked past.

However, before I took another step, I dashed back to grab it. I hugged the wet garment to my chest and inhaled, welcoming the comforting memories of the two vampires. I closed my eyes and imagined they were here in front of me, with Edward just behind them, here to take me away. I felt a ghost of a smile play on my lips before leaving as quickly as it had come.

Jasper's POV

Alice's hand held its viselike grip on mine as we headed away from Bella's front door. She was sad and definitely didn't think leaving Bella alone was the best option at all. I knew this not because I had my power back, but because it was Alice, and I always could tell when my dear Alice was hurting.

I cradled her hand loosely in mine while she clung tightly to my hand. We had almost reached the jeep when I felt Alice's whole body tremble beside me. I stopped instantly and pulled her into my arms. Her frail body shook like a leaf against me, overcome with emotion.

Alice's small, pale hands clawed at my shirt and gripped the front of it desperately. She buried her wet face in my chest. I put one hand on the small of her back, pulling her to me, and the other hand gently on the back of her head.

Neither of us felt the need to say anything. She certainly didn't need to explain herself and I had a feeling nothing I could say would cheer her up.

"I can't help but feel that this is the wrong choice. It's going to end badly, Jasper." Alice's voice was thick with sadness and she continued to so dryly into my shirt.

"I know, Alice, I know." I murmured, bending down to kiss her dark, rain soaked hair. She shuddered and pulled me down to look at her face.

"Then why don't we do something?" Alice met my gaze with a fiery one of her own. Her golden eyes were dripping with raindrops and they streaked down her face like tears. Seeing such hopeless sorrow on my love's face ripped at my lifeless heart to a point where it physically ached.

I eased her head back to my chest and held her gently. "We'll do something, Alice. I promise you. Let's just talk about it later, okay?" I responded quietly. Alice nodded against me.

"When we get home." Alice mumbled. I hugged her even closer and her hands moved from my chest and wrapped around my waist. She squeezed tightly as her body quivered.

"Sure, love." I answered, although it wasn't quite phrased as a question. By this time Carlisle had decided to come and see what was wrong. Emmett and Rosalie had come from the jeep to support their hurting sister.

I gave Alice's now only slightly shaking figure one more comforting embrace before reluctantly untwining myself from her. Alice's hand searched for mine and she sighed with relief when I interlaced my fingers with hers.

"This is going to be hard for all of us, Alice" Carlisle said, his tone very fatherly. Alice nodded but didn't say anything. Her free hand brushed at her wet face just as a bolt of lightning lit the dark, clouded sky.

"Bella said that it wasn't really a goodbye. We're going to be in touch." Emmett said in an attempt to be helpful. He looked to me as if he wanted my approval. I smiled weakly at him, grateful for his positive words.

Rosalie shook her hand from where it was resting in Emmett's large hands. "Come on everybody, it's just Bella! There is nothing to this; she's out the way where she should be." Her eyes flashed with defiance and she pointed a finger accusingly at Alice. "Please just stop acting like you don't think that it's better this way."

Alice cringed into me for a moment then turned to Rosalie. "It isn't better this way." Alice's voice was frighteningly level. Her glare shot daggers at Rosalie.

"Please!" Rose turned to Carlisle. "You agree with me, don't you?!" Carlisle held his hands up defensively. Emmett reached for Rose's shoulder.

"Rosalie, how about you go back to the car." Carlisle replied coolly. When Rosalie didn't move, he added, "Yes, this arrangement is for the better but it's only Bella's safety that we are trying to preserve here. It's not that we want her 'out of the way'; she's a part of this family."

"But she isn't one of us!" Rosalie shrieked shrilly. She looked at each one of us in turn before resting her eyes on Emmett. "Em," Rose's voice lost its hysteric edge and was instantly sweet and seductive. "You agree with me don't you?" She trailed her hand down his chest and smiled coyly.

Emmett looked frantically at Carlisle, then at Alice and me. "Um…" He let his voice fade away.

Carlisle cut in, breaking the tense silence. "Rosalie, this isn't about taking sides. What's done is done and it's naturally going to be hard, for those of us who care, to let Bella be on her own. She's spends so much time with us that now it feels as though we are missing something."

Alice nodded, pulling herself closer to my side. Rosalie's steely gaze didn't falter, despite Carlisle's soothing words.

"I can't believe this! You are all acting as if this is the end of the world! Well, newsflash, she had a choice! She always has choices! She chooses to be with Edward. She chose to stay with us until this point. She chose to go home now!" Rosalie snapped. Emmett cautiously grabbed her hand that was nearest to him. "Stop it Emmett!" Rose screamed. Her voice shook slightly but she snatched her hand away from his.

"This is Bella's choice," Rose continued, "and we can't do anything about it, so stop worrying! Anything that comes from this choice is all Bella's fault!" Rosalie's expression was pained and her breathing was ragged. Her hand clenched in a fist and I loved to stand protectively in front of Alice. I wanted nothing more than to be able to use my power and calm everyone and a new wave of depression flowed through me as I realized I couldn't.

"Bella always has a choice and that's that. End of conversation." Rose turned away from all of use and prepped herself to run. Emmett was faster and clamped his large hands around her wrists.

"Rose…" Emmett said carefully. She tensed as if about to pounce, causing Emmett to cringe away from her and release his hold. Rose's anger seemed to fade away instantaneously.

"It's just not fair. I never had a choice." I knew from the suddenly sad tone of her voice that Rose wasn't talking about choosing to go home anymore.

"Rosie," Emmett said stepping closer to her, "none of us really had a choice either. I was dying. You saved me by bringing me to Carlisle, but I didn't have a choice in that. But now, I'm so glad you did, otherwise I wouldn't have you." Emmett placed his hand on Rose's shoulder comfortingly.

"We're one big happy family, Rose." Alice piped in with a smile. "Deal with it." Rosalie looked over Emmett's shoulder to smile softly at Alice and me. She, then, pulled herself into Emmett's arms in a loving embrace. I started walking back towards the Volvo, bringing Alice with me. Carlisle followed, assuming his position in the driver's seat. Alice and I sat in back and Carlisle drove away, leaving Emmett and Rose alone on the yard so they could have some privacy.

"This vampire is making us do strange things." I remarked solemnly. Alice curled herself closer to me in the back seat.

"Don't worry. As soon as Esme returns with the Denali coven and the wolves get back in contact with us, I'm sure we'll have her taken care of with ease." Carlisle answered assuredly.

"If you say so…" I heard Alice mutter almost too softly to hear. I rubbed her back with my hand and she sighed happily. The rest of the drive home was in silence. At one point, when we had come to a red light and Carlisle was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Alice lifted her head from my shoulder.

"Are we going to look for Edward?" She asked, looking around as if expecting to appear out of nowhere. Carlisle turned to look at us.

"I'm sure Edward wants to be alone right now." Carlisle responded. Alice nodded warily and laid her wet head back on my shoulder. One thought flashed through my head but I didn't say it out loud. It isn't safe to be alone.

Edward's POV

"Meeting the others" wasn't something I was particularly interested in doing, especially considering that would make me outnumbered. On the other hand, getting an idea of how many we'd be up against was necessary. I sighed and let her hold me for a moment. Then she pulled away and looked me in the eyes.

"I can't have you running away now, Eddy." She said with a serious tone. "I also don't know whether to trust you or not," –she didn't know how right she was in doubting my loyalty– "so you'll have to be blindfolded." She finished and with a flourish she ripped off part of her already tattered shirt. I looked away automatically. She laughed and, seconds later, I felt her move behind me.

"Hold still, Edward." She said getting up on her tiptoes. I, regretfully, held still and she tied her makeshift blindfold around my eyes. This will give us the upper hand, I told myself. Because of the knowledge I will get, we will be able to take her out faster. I repeated these sentences over and over to myself as her hand slipped into mine. "Will you be able to run with that on?" She asked as if expecting me to say no.

"Of course I can." I answered mechanically. Then she took off, dragging me along with her. At first, I stumbled along half running and half being dragged through the trees. Soon enough, I got my legs under me and fell into the thrilling motions of running. I tried to memorize the turns and swerves we took but ended up getting hopelessly confused and besides, I didn't even know how to get where we started from anyway.

"Keep up!" The female's voice yelled tauntingly as she sped up, pulling me along blindly behind her. I growled under my breath but pushed myself faster, all the while aware that she could be leading me into a trap. I vaguely felt thorns and branches scratching at my skin.

We continued running for at least another ten minutes although I couldn't exactly tell. The female's vigorous pace slowed to a stop and I halted as well. Judging by sound and smell we were still in the woods and most likely in a clearing or meadow of some sort. In the distance I could hear a source of water. More likely than not, it was a river.

"What's this?" A childish voice asked disdainfully. It sounded so young that I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl. I wondered, suspiciously, if this female had created an immortal child. If that was the case, the Volturi would need to be involved as they were the ones who outlawed the creation of such abominations. I didn't react or respond to the question although I assumed it was directed at my "captor."

"Another toy?" A male's voice came from a far distance away. There was a hiss and the female drew me close to her side.

"This isn't a toy. This is Edward Cullen." I could hear the smug smile on her face in her voice. "He's come to join us."

"Well, well, well. Isn't he a fine one?" An unfamiliar female voice was right at my ear. I felt her hand on my shoulder before I was yanked away, painfully, by my captor.

"Back off! He's mine." She snarled defensively.

"He's also really tired of being blindfolded…" I muttered under my breath. To my surprise, my comment was met with two sets of childish giggles. Assuming that one of them was the voice I heard first when arriving, there were two possible immortal children.

"Oh, take off the blindfold. I want him to see me." The other female said with a laugh. I rolled my eyes, an action that was obviously a waste considering I was blindfolded.

"Shut up, Gwen." Gwen, a name. Finally. I was beginning to wonder if I would have only their voices to identify these strangers.

"C'mon, c'mon! Take it off! I want to see his eyes!" A young but different voice interjected excitedly.

"I hear they are golden." The first childish voice said, with very little interest and slight sarcasm.

I mentally counted the number of voices I had heard. In total, including the first female that I vaguely knew, there were five vampires. With the Denali coven and the pack on our side, we could easily outnumber them. They only had five!

"Six." A new, cold voice answered and my thoughts stopped immediately. Just then, I felt my captors careful hands reach and untie the blindfold, letting it fall to the ground.

REVIEW! Kind of a cliffy!! Anyway, you guys didn't reach 35 so you technically don't deserve this chapter. But I can't keep it to myself any longer! I am expecting 39 reviews before a new chapter!! REVIEW!!!