After a few obstacles, —an ocean, actually— we made it to Denali. Somehow Edward's pale beige shirt and khaki pants were unscathed. Carlisle and Maple's as well. But she had been on Emmett's back the whole time. My sweatshirt had an arm torn off; my jeans had a huge rip in the knee-cap. Emmett had dirt on his perfect white pants; Rosalie had grass stains on her white pants. Esme was pristine clean, too. I grimaced. I must be doing something wrong, I mused.
"We're here," Esme announced calmly.
"C'mon, Maple. If you don't cooperate, you will get hurt. Got it?" Emmett asked.
Her lips were set in a stubborn line. "Yes," she said emotionlessly.
Then I saw them.
Kate, Tanya, and Eleazer, Carmen. And Garrett!
"Edward! Bella! How nice it is to see you here." Tanya hugged each of us; she hugged Edward longer. I sighed internally.
"Bella?" Carmen asked incredulously.
"It's me," I confirmed. "Hey, guys."
"It's so good to see you all!" Tanya exlaimed.
"Hello," Eleazer mumbled.
"Hi Eleazar, Carmen, Kate, Tanya," Carlisle breathed. "It's so nice to see you four again. I see there's a new addition?" He said, eyeing Garrett.
"Yes," Kate said, pulling Garrett closer. "When we got into a fight with the Volturi a few months ago, he decided to try our way of life." She smiled.
"Hey, Garrett," I said. "Nice to see you again. How's the vegetarianism going for you?" I asked with an attempt at nonchalance.
"Great," he said, rolling his eyes. "The restrictions are a bit hard, but it's not unmanageable."
"I'm glad to hear that," Esme said. "I hope you are liking it."
He kissed Kate quickly on the cheek. "I am," he said, then grinned.
Carmen was eyeing the slight figure beside Emmett and Carlisle.
"Who's this?" she asked curiously.
"Maple. She's a witch." I rolled my eyes.
"Wow. That's very interesting." She grinned.
"Whatever," Maple muttered.
Kate and Tanya hissed at that.
"What's your problem?" Kate asked. She seemed to get angrier; her nostrils were flaring. Her lip curled back over her teeth and she looked terrifying. I suppressed a shudder.
"Nothing, vampire. Don't interrogate me."
"I wasn't."
"Shut up, okay?" Maple asked, exasperated.
"No." She stalked Maple, her palms outstretched.
"Move, Carlisle. Emmett," Edward whispered.
"Edward. . . . ," Carlisle said.
Edward cut him off. "She won't get hurt."
Maple sank to the ground, glaring up at Kate. "Kill me, then. Do whatever you want. It's not going to make me say anything."
Kate touched her hand to Maple's arm. Maple stared up at her, glaring.
Kate snarled in frustration.
"That's funny. . . I guess I'll just have to kill you the old-fashioned way," she mused. "Unless you're willing to tell us where Alice is."
"Yes," Maple gasped.
"Where's Alice?"
"I'm not sure," she answered.
Kate bent toward her, her neck craned slightly to the left.
"Will you tell us?" She repeated, her lips at her throat.
"Alice. . . I think she's near Italy," she growled between her teeth.
"You think?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure. I sent her off two days ago."
"Okay. Let's find her."
"Right." Maple started to get up slowly, as if anticipating another threat.
"We might have to take a plane," Jasper said—almost growled.
"Nah. We will be able to make it by running."
"Whatever you say, Emmett. I just need Alice back."
"Me, too," I mumbled. "I really miss her."
Edward walked over to me, and took me in his arms. "I miss her too," he whispered.
If I could cry, my face would be streaked with red and my eyes would be drenched with tears.
My eyes pricked madly. I pulled away from Edward, and caught a glimpse of Jasper.
His eyes were tortured. When I looked closer, I could see his lower lip trembling.
"God. . . we need to get Alice before Jasper goes crazy," I said, not at all sarcastic.
He looked at me then, and his expression clouded over. He put on an emotionless mask and turned back to Garrett.
I suddenly felt a wave a calm course through me.
Edward exhaled heavily. "Kate, Carmen, Tanya, Eleazer and Carmen, Garrett. . . . We have an enormous favor to ask of you."
"Edward. . . Whatever you need, we will be here for you," Tanya promised.
"We need your help to get Alice." He grimaced slightly on the last word.
Her breathing stayed even. "Yes. We can help you." She turned to her family. "Right?"
"Yes," they said in synchronization.
"Kate, Tanya could you take our places with Maple? We'd like to be in the front with Jasper, to help him," Carlisle said, gesturing to Esme.
"Sure."
"Oh, and your shock will not hurt her; she's immune to that sort of thing. So if she doesn't cooperate, force her to," Jasper murmured.
"All right. Let's go, then."
"Are we taking a plane?" I asked.
Edward pursed his lips. "I suppose. Carlisle?"
"Yes. We can catch the next flight out to Italy."
"We have our own jet," Kate interjected quietly.
"Yes!" Edward hissed. "Let's go now. I know how to fly a plane."
We ran a few miles, and in a garage, there was a little jet. I squinted my eyes to see twenty seats in it. Plenty of room. I looked towards the back; there was a fridge of blood, it smelled like. My lips twitched. The plane was silvery white, with a strip of black going down the center.
I sat next to Jasper and Esme. Rosalie sat two seats behind us with Emmett and Tanya. Kate sat with Garrett, Carlisle sat with Kate. Maple sat in the back with Carmen and Eleazar on either side of her; her face was emotionless.
Although my throat was burning, I didn't want to drink the preserved blood they have here. My nose wrinkled at it; it didn't smell too appetizing. I could wait till Volterra.
Edward was flying the plane and I walked up to stand next to him. He was grinning in amusement, his hands expertly controlling the vehicle.
After a short conversation, I went back to my seat, sitting next to Jasper. His eyes were burning; he was depressed, lonely, angry. . . I could name tons of emotions for what he was feeling at that exact moment.
"Volterra," Edward announced in an icy voice.
It was magnificent. It brought back terrifying memories.
This won't be pleasant.
