Chapter VII
Alice's Point of View
I gazed into a lake. The surface was placid and I could see down to the very bottom. There was nothing but water and pebbles.
'Have you caught anything?'
A man with shoulder length, blonde hair and crystal-blue, almond shaped eyes settled in beside me on the pier. I didn't recognize him, but he had a calming essence to his being.
I shook my head with a frown on my face and tried to concentrate harder to see something… Anything. 'I don't think anything is left here.'
'Of course there is.' He leaned over the pier and gazed into the still waters. 'Sometimes we cannot always see it coming, but it does not mean that they are not there.' He pointed out a short distance where a blurry shape swam just below the surface.
I shook my head. 'It's no good. I can't see it clearly.'
'Do not fret, you will. Be patient and still; it will come to you.' He laid his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently.
I nodded and continued to look at the shape as it grew closer.
I jumped as a loud bang ruptured the stillness of the air and lake, causing ripples to push the shape away. 'No!' I cried out. I needed to see it! I jerked up as more loud bangs caused the air to shimmer around me. The man was gone and I was alone on the pier.
Then pain shot through my head, causing my surroundings to vanish into blackness. All that remained was the banging that seemed to drum in the same rhythm as the pain pulsating in my head. The pain spread and soon, my whole body felt weighed down with it.
"- don- -er it!" Jasper's anger-laced voice pulled me from the utter blackness. Everything seemed more like a dull red or orange tainted darkness now, but the pain remained.
"It –as –n accident…" Guilt coated every syllable Edward spoke.
"You could have killed her!" Jasper roared, making me flinch. I could feel the anger flowing out of him.I pushed at my eyelids that felt like twenty-pound bags of sand. It took some effort, but I finally managed to open them into slits.
"Alice! H-how are you?" I turned my eyes upward toward Jasper's face. The motion caused a new cacophony of banging in my head and pain, but his face was a sight for sore eyes, with the exception that he looked anxious.
"Wh-" My throat stung as my words scratched the dryness there. Where was I, and what was going on? Why was I in so much pain?
A gust of wind hit my face, pulling my attention to Edward on the other side of the bed I was in. "We are at the hospital. Alice, I'm so sorry. I didn'-"
"We don't need you here Edward." I turned my head to see Jasper glaring at him. What was going on? Why was I in the hospital? The last thing I remembered was…
Tear filled eyes. Bella. I remember her crying, but everything else was a blur.
Remorse distorted Edward's face. "I cannot tell you how sorry I amfor putting you here. I was so focused on Bella that I hadn't even realized what I had done until it was all over."
Speak plainly Edward. I'm getting a headache trying to decipher it.
He grimaced. "I was trying to get to Bella and we collided." He searched my face looking for something, but I didn't have a clue as to what he was talking about.
"He nearly killed you!" Jasper hissed through his teeth, lifting from the chair he was sitting in.
I looked to Jasper, knitting my brows. "Jas-" Again the words scratched painfully at my throat. Jasper's eyes diverted down to me and softened from the anger that was there just seconds before. I didn't want him to be angry with anyone. That wasn't my Jasper. He was a good man. I smiled weakly.
"It's true." Edward spoke dejectedly. "I could have killed you… I'm a monster." He shook his head as anger appeared on his face.
Don't be ridiculous… I chided him. Where is Bella? Everything was so hazy. I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a mind dimming fog. My eyes were beginning to feel heavy again.
Pain and worry crossed Edward's face. He turned his face downward. "I… I don't know." A sudden rush of panic pushed my eyes open wider, past the weariness that had been trying to close them. What's going on? What happened!
He shook his head and turned his eyes downward. I looked to Jasper, my head starting to pulsate with my racing heart. With every pulse, I could see a bright light flash in my peripheral vision, obscuring the image of Jasper. "Wher-" The pain exploded in my head and then mind-numbing darkness claimed me.
…
I was in near darkness as I followed the trickling sound of a brook. I wasn't sure how long I was following the brook. I wasn't even sure where I was going, but I knew I needed to follow. It was leading me somewhere.
'Your instincts will always guide you faithfully. Even through the darkness, your intuition will never fail you. You must only listen to it.' The voice was familiar. I turned my head towards him. I could not make out his features through the darkness, but I could make out his silhouette. He was tall, maybe as tall or slightly taller than Jasper. He walked with me, his arms folded behind his back. 'Trust in yourself.' He coaxed.
I nodded as I continued to follow the bubbling brook. Slowly, the ground shifted from the compact dirt to loose sand. I continued to follow the sound of running water. It was luring, yet peaceful. Suddenly, my feet were wet.
I stopped and hesitated. The sound of the brook was still at my side, but I was scared to move forward, unsure as to what I was walking into. 'What does your intuition tell you?' His voice beckoned me from my side. He neither held me back nor led me forward. He was only encouraging.
My eyes closed and I listened to the sounds of water. I let my mind clear and tried to let my intuition lead me.
Suddenly, pain screamed in my head. My hands cradled my temples as I screamed.
'Be patient… be still… let it come to you.'
That phrase was familiar… too familiar. What did he mean by let it come to me? Images of a crystal clear lake came rushing to my memory. There was a blurry shape. 'Be patient and still; it will come to you.'
"Alice…" The pain began to fade as Fin's voice echoed through the semi-darkness. I looked to the strange man, but he was gone. Why did he seem to do that when I needed answers? Who was he?
"Alice…" Again, Fin's voice echoed through the darkness. A tugging, like a current in a river, pulled me forward. I should go forward. I knew this, but I was still afraid. I couldn't see, so I didn't know where I was going. Fear was a very crippling emotion. I needed Jasper to calm it away not only with his gift, but with his presence. I am always at my best when he is around. Oh, Jasper…
My heart swelled at his memory, bringing a smile to my face. As long as I have him, I don't have to be afraid. Even if I have to walk blinded, I will be fine as long as he is by my side.
I took a step into the water that lapped at my feet. Suddenly, the sky lightened as if a shroud was lifted. I was in the lake, the one that was crystal clear. There, hovering over the lake was a small flame. "Alice…" It called to me in Fin's voice. The fear thrummed momentarily in my heart again, but I pushed it away. My intuition told me to go to that flame, so I followed it.
"She's waking up!" Jasper's voice was anxious.
Warmth enveloped me, giving me a sense of peace. Not only was it peaceful, but loving. It was life. It was Fin. My eyes flickered open sleepily.
"Fin, you did it!" Jasper exclaimed as he pulled me into his arms. The warm instantly vanished from around me and coldness engulfed me. I didn't mind it though, because a new warmth wrapped around my heart as Jasper wrapped around me. He cradled me in a way that both broke my heart and made it feel like it would burst with love.
This was different. I wasn't complaining about being so close to Jasper, I was just confused at the drastic change in Jasper. I tried to focus my mind on what changed, but all I could see was darkness. It was frustrating! "Jasper, not that I am complaining, but what's going on?"
His arms didn't loosen as a sense of joy fell over me, effectively pushing away the frustration and bringing a smile to my face. I savored the feeling as I looked around us. We were at home, in our room. Edward and Fin were here. My eyes focused on Fin. Although he smiled at me with relief, he seemed tired. I could see shadows under his eyes that weren't there before. "Fin?"
He chuckled lightly. "I am glad to see you awake, Alice. You may continue to feel weak and sore for a few hours, but you will be fine." As if on cue, my muscles twitched with achiness. Why was I sore, and why would I feel weak for a few hours? What happened? Also - I looked to Jasper - where did Jasper's aversion to me go? Last I knew, he was keeping his distance to "keep me safe" from himself. Again, I turned my eyes inward as I tried to search the missing pieces of the puzzle. Absolutely nothing.
"She still doesn't remember." Edward's voice sounded surprised. "I thought she would remember after you healed her."
Fin shook his head, a slight tremble in his body. "I can heal the physical afflictions that aren't naturally occurring, such as the swelling and broken bones, but the psychological is beyond my reach."
"Remember what?"The frustration I felt just moments ago came flaring back. I knew I was missing something, but no matter how much I searched for the answer, it eluded me! I lifted from Jasper. He hesitated in releasing me for a moment, but relinquished his arms from around me enough to allow me to sit up. I almost regretted the action as my head began to sway. Jasper's hands traveled to my shoulders, steadying me. I smiled back at him appreciatively and then turned expectantly to Fin and Edward.
Edward looked away from me, guilt pulling his lips down in a scowl. His eyes flickered to Jasper, who sat tense. "Okay, what is going on between you two?"
Jasper looked down abashed as Edward's eyes flickered up to mine briefly. "He has every right to be upset with me. If Fin hadn't come back when he did, Carlisle was prepared to change you." He winced at that.
"You say that as if it is a bad thing."
"Alice..." Edward began, but I lifted a brow and crossed my arms. He sighed exasperatedly. "Even as a human, you are a force of nature to reckon with."
Jasper squeezed my shoulders in agreement to Edward's statement. My cheeks began to burn as I smiled awkwardly. Embarrassment. I chuckled inwardly at the strange sensation. "Well, I am still me. What I am doesn't change that." My whole face felt like it was on fire.
"You're right." Edward responded. "You are still you. You are still my sister and I put your life in danger." Edward hung his head in guilt again. "I had been in a hurry to save Bella that no one else even registered in my mind." He lifted his eyes to mine. I could see the remorse clear as day, so I knew Jasper could feel it. Why would Jasper hold something like that over him? "I just needed to get to her and-"
"Edward... whatever happened, it's done and over with now. I am fine." I turned my eyes to Jasper. "That goes for you, too."
Jasper's eyes widened. "Alice, I thought I was going to lose you. Carlisle had to do brain surgery on you. When you woke up, we thought you were going to be okay, but then..." He winced. "It's been six long and excruciating days."
"Surgery?" I went to touch my head, but Jasper grabbed my hand, stopping me. I studied his worried filled eyes.
"It will grow back." Jasper tried to sound reassuring as he released my hand.
My hands gingerly touched my head. I expected pain, since I just had brain surgery, but there was only a tightness there. A bandage was wrapped around my head. I moved to get up from the bed, but felt dizzy. What another strange feeling. Jasper and Fin both offered their arms, both of which I took. It was an odd sensation. One arm was freezing cold and the other was very warm, but they both brought a sense of comfort.
As I stood for the first time since, I guess, six days ago, I could feel the weakness that Fin had warned about. My legs trembled as I let go of their arms, allowing weight on them. I took a few unsteady steps that gradually became surer until I was looking into the big mirror that stood outside Jasper's study.
A heavy weight dropped in my stomach as I took in my haggard image. I was far from the beautiful vampire I had once been. A white bandage – not much whiter than most of my skin – adorned my head. What really caught my attention was the discoloration of half of my face. Colors ranging from purple to green and even yellow made up the entire left side of my head.
I shook my head and diverted my eyes back to the bandage. I needed to get it off. As I lifted my arms to unwrap it, an ache traveled through my left arm. The sleeve of my hospital gown fell down, revealing more bruises. I tried not to look at them though. Instead I pushed through the ache and tugged at the bandage. It didn't escape my attention that everyone was silent as I tried to pull the bandage away to no avail.
Why won't it come off?! My heart began to race as I became more frantic. I needed to see what had been done.
Jasper's image appeared next to mine in the mirror. His hands fell over mine, stilling them. He turned me to face him, his eyes pinched in worry. "Here, let me help." I nodded my head slightly.
His hands were sure as he began to unravel the bandage. I studied his chiseled face, trying desperately to slow my galloping heart. My eyes didn't waiver from Jasper as coolness engulfed my head. Although my heart began to race anew, I couldn't bring myself to look away from him until he smiled reassuringly and dropped the bandage to the floor. "Remember, it will grow back."
Slowly, I turned back to the mirror, unsure as to what I would find staring back at me. I envisioned Frankenstein, Lord Voldemort and even pumpkin head. My breath felt like it was squeezed out of my lungs when my eyes feel on the image in the mirror. I looked even worse with the bandage off. Although I still had a little more than half of my hair, the bald spot was glaringly obvious.
I hesitated as I brought my hand up to my left temple. It was discolored like half of my face was, except these bruises were more bluish, fresher looking. My head had been shaved from my left temple back to just behind my ear and up to nearly the top of my head. It was an odd sight, almost like it wasn't my head I was gawking at. I gently touched my scalp that should have hair on it. It wasn't smooth like I had first imagined it would be, but prickly.
I stepped closer to the mirror as my other hand came up and tried to smooth some of my hair over the gaping bald spot. It did no good. My hair wasn't long enough. It would all have to go. With that realization, a burning began in my eyes. They traveled down and took in my face anew. The bruises looked far worse now. A glimmer caught my eye and I focused on the image's eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek. I swiped at my cheek, feeling the moisture and the surreal feeling left me. This was me.
"I am so sorry, Alice." Edward's voice came out dejected. He sounded nearly as bad as he had when we had lost Bella. I knew he was sorry and I didn't hold any ill feelings toward him. I was just shocked. I may still be the same Alice on the inside, but I was very much different on the outside.
An overwhelming sense of reassurance and confidence overcame me. I shifted my eyes to Jasper's and smiled meekly. "It..." I took a deep breath and turned from my image. I didn't want to see it again, not anytime soon at least. "It's okay..." I shrugged, trying to look unfazed, but I knew I was failing miserably. "Like Jasper said... it will grow back." I shrugged. "It's not like I am a vampire and it won'- wait..." I turned an accusing eye on both Edward and Jasper. "You were going to let Carlisle change me when I looked like this?" I pointed to my head. My cheeks warmed again. "What were you all thinking! An eternity of looking at this!?" I shook my head.
Edward smirked minutely, guilt still radiating from his eyes. "Rosalie said you would kill us when you woke up if we changed you."
"I wouldn't have killed you... Dismembered you... Probably..." I frowned and then realized that Jasper was being quiet. I turned my head up to him and he was studying me intensely. "Jasper... I'm sorry, I-"
"Alice, you have to know that you mean more to me than some hair does. When it came down to the decision... I would rather have a hairless you than not have you at all." He touched my cheek. "I can't lose you Alice." He stepped closer and lowered his face down to mine. His lips met mine and for the first time since I woke in Faery, I felt an inkling of home. All I had been missing was him.
A cough pulled Jasper away from me slowly. His eyes studied mine, as mine studied his. I didn't see the fear I had seen before. All I saw was what I felt, pure love. I smiled as my eyes began to glisten and my arms wrapped around Jasper. "You've kept me waiting a long time."
Jasper laughed and kissed the top of my hair. "I'm sorry, ma'am."
My heart squeezed at the words. They sounded familiar, like something we had said long ago. I tucked my head into his chest. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come to your senses..."
"You'll never have to worry about that again."
"How's the patient?" A familiar voice echoed in the room. I pulled away from Jasper and looked to the door that now stood open. There stood a tall man with bleach blond hair with faded strands of turquoise nestled within it. He was an attractive looking man, but I had this suspicion that I had met him.
"I know you from somewhere." I knitted my brows. "How do I know you?"
"This is Hammon. Fin and I went to him for help before you were changed." Jasper's hand grazed the small of my back, sending a flush of goose bumps over my body.
Hammon nodded in my direction. "You are much changed from last I saw you." His brows knitted too, but then he shook his head.
I nodded and looked to everyone in the room. I couldn't shake the feeling that I should know something. Hammon's presence only deepened that feeling. I tried to search for a vision or even a memory, but all that came to me was a slight headache. "Okay, I feel like I am missing something." I nearly groaned with exasperation. "Where is Bella? Last I remember, we were talking about Charlie and Fin."
"You don't remember the attack at all?" Jasper asked, his hands settling lightly on my shoulders.
I looked up at him and shook my head. "Attack?" My heart began to race. "Was anyone hurt?"
Jasper lowered his head. "There were casualties, but no fatalities on our side."
"Bella?"
"Bella will be fine."
"Will be?" I turned to Fin. "What do you mean will be? What happened?"
Fin frowned. "She's…" He studied me for a moment. There was conflict in his eyes. "She's confused, I think. She isn't really talking right now" He turned his face to Edward. Edward's face tilted down in pain. "We have a problem, though. Her essence is growing... I do not know how much longer I can hide it."
"I'm confused." I looked to Edward, hoping he would be able to better explain.
Edward lifted his face back up and studied Fin. "You put a barrier on her?"
Fin nodded. "If I didn't, the others would find her easily. Everyone's essence has a different signature, much like everyone has a different smell.It is unique to each person. Without my barrier to block it, it would be a beacon to anyone looking."
Edward knitted his brows. "So when the barrier begins to break, that's when her scent becomes..." He didn't finish. He didn't have to. We all knew what he meant. Although my human nose didn't pick up her scent anymore like theirs did, I still remembered the irresistible aroma the day she went missing. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled loudly.
Jasper lowered his head next to mine. "We should get you fed."
I blushed – I wasn't sure I would ever get used to that feeling – and shook my head. "It can wait. I need to know what happened."
Fin and Edward carried on as if they had not heard us. Fin nodded his head. "It took a good bit longer to reinforce the barrier this time. If it breaks again, I do not believe I will be able to fix it."
"Is she okay?" I pushed my hunger away and looked between Edward and Fin.
Edward looked to me, and then Jasper. "We can't bring the Volturi here. It's too dangerous."
"It's even more dangerous if we don't." Jasper straightened up and countered.
"What if the barrier breaks? The impending "war" will be the least of our problems with dozens of vampires roaming about."
"Is she okay?!" I raised my voice, causing everyone's attention to divert back to me.
"Oh, yes, of course she is." Fin reassured me. "She is with the Descendent." He looked at Edward. "Jacob, I believe you call him?"
Edward nodded his head as a flicker of worry and pain crossed his face again. It was quickly gone, but something didn't bode well. It was bad enough that I couldn't remember, but I knew Edward enough to know when he was keeping something intentionally! I wasn't going to let him dodge the questions and be evasive about it. Who did he think he was dealing with?"Okay, why is she there and not here, with us?"
Edward turned to Fin, with a guilty look on his face. They studied each other and Edward's eyes widened. Then pain crossed his face as he cast it down, avoiding my gaze. "What's going on?!" I knew he was having a silent conversation that pertained to my question. That was so infuriating now that I couldn't "see"!
Edward began to shake his head, but I stepped up to him and shook my head. "Stop it! I've gained a heartbeat, not lost my mind. I know when you are hiding something!"
"Alice…" Edward started.
"Fintan, we need to be going if we are to make good time." Hammon stepped up as he spoke quietly to Fin.
Fin nodded and turned to me. "Bella is safe. She is looking after Jacob." He turned to Edward with a knowing glance and then turned back to me. "I am sure she would appreciate seeing you. Perhaps your presence will give her comfort."
Jasper wrapped an arm around my shoulders in a way that told me he was instantly uncomfortable with that prospect. I turned my eyes to him questioningly. The worry was back in his eyes, but at least he wasn't pulling away from me. Something else had him worried.
I turned back to Fin. "Yeah, that sounds like Bella. She worries unnecessarily about everyone else."
"I wouldn't say unnecessarily in this instance." Jasper whispered in my ear. "You're human now. You aren't indestructible anymore."
I sighed as the slight throbbing that had started in my head became slightly more pronounced. "Yeah, I am beginning to see that." I smiled to Fin. "Thank you, Fin."
Fin smiled wearily back. "It is always my pleasure." He looked back at Hammon and I followed his gaze. Hammon watched Fin with a crease of worry between his brows. Then Fin turned back to us. "I will be back as soon as I can, hopefully with reinforcements and help." He turned to Edward. "I leave the Volturi to your judgment. McKenna is safe with the shape shifters. But I will warn you, If it comes down to it, I will not hesitate to protect my own."
An unsettling feeling slithered uncomfortably in my stomach. What exactly are we getting into and why did I have this bad feeling?
Jasper's arm fell from my shoulders and his fingers laced with mine. He gently tugged me into his arms, practically holding me up. "I'll explain everything that I can over lunch." We headed toward the door.
I nodded as a sense of comfort washed over me, pushing away the bad feeling momentarily. We passed Fin and Edward in a silent staring match, probably speaking silently again. Oh, you just wait Edward! I know you can hear me! I will get answers! Edward winced. I wasn't sure if it was my threat or something Fin had thought, either way, I would get my answers. Then we came to the door, where Hammon stood.
"It was nice meeting you. Thank you for the help you gave us in Faery." I put my hand out to him.
He studied my hand and then took my forearm into his hand and squeezed it gently. "Pleasure was mine." In that moment a type of shock struck me and I knew he felt it, too. His eyes glazed over in a way that I recognized. He was having a vision… he was a Seer, too! A pang of jealousy filled me with a longing for my own visions.
His brow creased as his lips tipped down into a frown. Slowly, his eyes cleared and he studied me before he released my arm.
"You're a Seer?"
Hammon nodded. "I am Nymph. You too share the blood, but not the essence." He quirked a brow. "How peculiar."
"You just had a vision."
Hammon frowned. "Just a piece of the puzzle I hadn't seen before." He glanced sadly at Fin and then back to me. "Our time is running short." His eyes fell to the ground in sorrow for a moment, then his eyes met mine again. "We shall meet again dear Alice." He smiled sadly and hurried out of the door. Fin, too, left just as quickly.
Just a piece of the puzzle? There was this nagging feeling that something was going on. Uhg! I needed my sight back! I had it briefly before. I touched my head, instantly recalling that there is an empty spot of time that occurred sometime after I went in to comfort Bella. However, before then, I had a vision. It was right as Fin left to heal David.
"What's wrong Alice?" Jasper's cold hand gently touching the crease between my brows brought my attention back to him.
I shook my head and lifted my hand to stall Jasper. "Hold on…" I closed my eyes and concentrated on that last vision that I had. Maybe that was a starting point that could clear away the darkness from my mind.
A girl was kneeling at a boulder. I thought it was Bella at first, but then recognized the area. It had to be the girl in Ireland, Bella's half-sister.
"Maria?" Edward whispered. I opened my eyes and nodded as he took a step closer to Jasper and me. Jasper's arms tightened around me slightly, causing Edward to stop. They were still being ridiculous! "I saw this before. Why did you have a vision about her?"
I held up my hand to him and closed my eyes trying to remember as much detail about the vision. This was a lot harder than it was before. Now, it was much like a dream… the details were a little fuzzy, half forgotten.
Maria opened her eyes as a tear fell down her cheek. Her face was a mass of emotions as she gently touched the boulder directly in front of her.
"She's grieving for her mother."
Slowly, she pushed off of the ground, grief in the depths of her brown eyes.
Two men suddenly seemed to materialize right behind her. I recognized them immediately as Volturi by the red robes they wore to conceal themselves. "Ahh… Just where the psychic said you would be."
"Careful Felix,-" Edward nearly growled. "-don't let her touch you with her hands."
Maria's eyes grew round. She made a move to turn toward the two, but before she could, Felix blurred directly behind her, tapping on her head. Maria's eyes flickered in pain, then rolled to the back of her head. Her body went limp and fell into Felix's arms.
"She smells good." Felix commented as he returned to Demetri's side.
"She's master Aro's." Demetri retorted and they both blurred from sight.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Edward's frantic voice drew me from my concentration. His eyes were round with worry and anger.
"I…"
Edward began to pace. " You had that vision nearly a week ago and…" He shook his head. "I have to go to Volterra!" He moved to leave the room, as if he were going to go right that minute.
Jasper grabbed his arm to stop him. Edward turned back, his teeth bared. Suddenly, calm grew thick in the air, and Edward frowned, instantly calming from his frantic state. "I have to go. I have to stop them." He pulled his arm from Jasper's grasp. "I can't let them have her!"
"Edward, what aren't you telling us?" Jasper studied him in a way that I knew too well. Jasper felt something from Edward that seemed out of place. What emotions could he have that were out of place?
As if Jasper doused Edward with cold water, he stopped. He studied Jasper and then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Would you stop that! I don't need you calming me down!"
"Edward, what are you hiding?" I rephrased Jasper's question.
Edward clenched his teeth as Jasper's brows furrowed. I could still feel Jasper's calming effect. I could also see that Edward was less frantic, but he was fighting Jasper's influence. "I It's… I…" He groaned. "It's complicated."
"Well, un-complicate it." I moved to step forward, but Jasper stopped me. He shook his head.
"I've tried!" Edward nearly roared with frustration as he threw his hands up in the air. Then he settled again into uneasy calm. "I just can't seem to-" He shook his head. "I have to go!" He turned to leave again, but Jasper blocked the door.
It was sort of scary to see Edward like this. Typically, when Jasper used his influence on anyone, it worked – except on Bella – seamlessly. It was almost natural for anyone to feel his influence, as if it were their own emotions. It was much the same for Edward, typically. Now, the influence was effecting him, but he was rejecting it at the same time. It was like seeing a tug-o-war. Jasper could feel the difference too.
Jasper looked to me with concern. "What exactly happened in your vision?"
"The Volturi took Maria."
"Okay…" He turned his attention back to a steadily growing agitated Edward. "So what are you planning on? Running in there and stealing her back? Fighting them for her?" He shook his head as another wave of calm transcended through the atmosphere. Edward's agitation waivered, like a light flickering on and off. "You are going to get yourself killed doing that. Besides, we need their help."
"So you want me to let them just kill her?" Edward's body began to tremble, the calm and agitation battling for dominance. This was surreal to watch.
"You've never wanted to save any of their other victims." Jasper studied Edward as if looking for something.
Edward's eyes narrowed into slits as the agitation won out. "They weren't Maria!"
Jasper's eyes widened and then knitted in confusion. He then sighed. "Maybe they won't kill her. If she becomes one of us, she would be a great asset…"
Edward's eyes grew wide with rage. "I. Will. Not. Let. Them. Use. Her!" He narrowed his eyes at him. "So, stop messing with my emotions and get out of my way!"
"Wait, Edward…" This was not Edward. The closest he came to this was when it came to Bella. Was it because Maria was Bella's half-sister that he wanted to protect her? Was Bella the real reason that Edward was willing to get himself killed? There had to be another way. A way that didn't involve Edward's death. "Let's get the others and make a plan. We can all go." I tried to reason with him.
"No." Jasper deadpanned. "I don't want you up there."
I turned to Jasper, exasperated. "Fine, I'll stay here… alone and unprotected, while you all go to Volterra."
"No, Esme and Rosalie can stay here to watch over you and Bella."
"Bella…" Nearly instantly, Edward calmed down. Had Jasper's influence finally broken through? "No. Bella needs more protection."
"Fin said McAlister's dead, why does she need more protection than what Rosalie, Esme, and the entire Pack can offer?"
"McAlister's dead?" Why didn't they say that before!?
Edward gave Jasper a loaded glance. "Maybe he is, but that doesn't change the fact that there are fire-wielding psychopaths out there looking for her!" Edward retorted, ignoring my question.
"Yeah, which is why we need the Volturi!" Jasper countered, he too ignoring my question. Did being human mean that no one paid attention to your words? That was infuriating!
"We can't tru-"
"STOP IT!" I nearly yelled at them both. They were going to hear me, darn it!
They both turned to me, surprised.
"Thank you!" I sighed. "Edward, you know Bella isn't going to let you go to Volterra without her. I haven't spent as much time with her as you, but I can already tell you that it won't happen."
"She..." The pain crossed his face again before he shook it away. "She doesn't have a choice. It's too dangerous."
I laughed humorlessly. "And you think that will make a difference? Do you really think she will sit idly by as you run into danger to save her sister?"
"Alice, you don't know what you are talking about. She won't even know."
"Are we to lie to her then, when she asks where you are?"
"Alice..."
I crossed my arms, "Edward..."
He groaned. "Why are you making this more difficult!?"
"Because you're my brother and I don't want you to get killed, which is what you'll do if you go running up there half crazed!"
"She's right." Jasper offered up. He smiled down at me, which caused my cheeks to warm.
"Besides, I am sure Bella would want to be there to help save her."
Edward's eyes widened. "She doesn't." His eyes flickered down for a moment. Then he lifted his face again, a mask in place. "She doesn't even know about her."
"What do you mean, she doesn't know about her? Haven't you been home for weeks now? You didn't think it was a good idea to tell her she had a sister?"
Guilt crossed his face. "You weren't here. You could barely say she was here." He shook his head.
"So? She has a right to know about Maria and you had a responsibility to tell her. She is your mate!"
Edward winced.
"How could you not tell her?"
He closed his eyes and sighed. "It's complicated…"
I lifted a brow as Jasper wrapped his arms around me to calm me down. "Complicated or not, you should have told her." I shook my head. He was expecting to run off and save a girl that Bella didn't even know about. How was that supposed to look to Bella? "That's not right…" I shook my head again. "And I'm not lying to her for you, either. She is my sister and—"
"I don't want you to lie to her. I know I need to tell her about Maria… It just isn't the right time."
"It isn't the right time?" I looked at him incredulously.
He dropped his gaze guiltily. "I'll tell her when I get back if she'll let me."
I shook my head again. "You need to tell her before because I am not going to lie to her!"
He lifted his head and studied me as I studied him. I knew he could read the accusation in my mind just as clearly as I could read the guilt in his eyes.
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I am leaving tomorrow, no later." As he spoke, I could see a pain tugging at his face and at the tension in his body. His body seemed ready to snap into action at any moment. It seemed beyond the palpable psychological realm, but more tangible and bodily. This wasn't Edward, at least not him when it didn't involve Bella.
My mind began to revolve around the obvious question. Why was Maria so important to Edward? "Edward, why is Mari-"
His eyes flashed angry. "I said I would wait." Then he blurred from my sight as Jasper stepped from the doorway.
"He doesn't mean to be so harsh with you, love." Jasper bent his head next to mine. "He's really confused right now."
"There's something more. I can feel it." It was an overwhelming feeling of knowing something, but not knowing what that something was. It was overwhelmingly frustrating!
Jasper knitted his brows as he turned his head to the door where Edward had taken off. He slowly turned his head back to me and nodded. "He is worried about her more than I would think normal, even if she is Bella's sister. He cares for her. It isn't just Maria though. He's conflicted about Bella."
I pinched my lips together as the dull headache became more demanding. "I don't know what is going on with him, but I have a headache and I'm starving!"
Jasper smiled sympathetically as calm fell over me. It dulled the ache, but not completely. "Well, let's get you fed."
I nodded as I let Jasper lead me to lunch. This isn't over Edward. I know you're hiding something and I will get to the bottom of it.
{9Chapter7.1}
