HORIZON

A/N: We are back once again ladies and gents. We have a NEW POV this chapter, so enjoy.

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Chapter 8: WORLD OF MONSTERS

ESME

The moon was almost full tonight. It hung low in the sky and held an orange hue to it, which held no inspiration or desire for anything. A Hephaestus moon. Like the god himself, it was something normally to be revered but was instead, detested.

On a normal night, moonlight combined with my eyes, would normally turn the night into beautiful hues of magenta. But the combination of this light made the hues surroundings us turn into an unappealing shade of mud brown.

A disgusting night for a disgusting task.

I watched and waited as Carlisle finished his hunt. He always extended a certain respect toward the animal he killed. For his way was to only attack them when they were completely unaware. To catch them in their greatest state of tranquility, allowing them to die as he perceived they have lived; without an ounce of fear. His gift for their sacrifice.

The quick end.

But from the blank look on his face, and the way he listlessly drops his kill to the ground without care, you would've thought that he was upset that we did not grant him the same courtesy.

Grant it, it was wrong of us to not include him in our decision making. Something he never would've done to us. And even worse, ambush him with our decision, leaving him no say. His silent, broken and betrayed features spoke volumes over anything he could've verbalized. And as his mate, I felt sting of our decision acutely.

But I could not do it any longer. I couldn't sit idly by, smiling half-hearted smiles, and making love to momentarily hold my frayed nerves at bay.

I could no longer 'pretend' that everything was going to be okay. I could no longer pretend that all we had to do was 'hope', 'have faith' and 'be patient' and wait for something to happen like it did before when Bella miraculously forced a meeting with the pack, and helped us avoid a tragedy. That was wishful thinking, and as his mate, I supported him well past the point of reason, and did so for as long as I could.

But now his continued stance on the subject, and blind belief that if we held on for a little longer and see what happens now, was putting us all at jeopardy. Because now, his belief in us getting out of this without having to take action, was entering the realm delusion.

He was waiting for a miracle now. Or to be more accurate, he was waiting for 'another' miracle. But after finding each other. Creating this family. Edward finding Bella when we all knew he could not hold out any longer. Bella surviving their first encounter. Bella surviving her attack by James, Bella surviving her attack by us. Bella surviving the wolves. Bella surviving her leap. Edwards trip to Italy. Alice and Bella finding him in time. Them being allowed to return. Edward finally breaking down and began showing support of Bella's decision to change. Having Jasper be a part of the family and the exact person we needed to help us train. Our war with Victoria's army. Bella's shield activating in time. Tanya's discovery of a mate during that crisis. The temporary truce with the pack. And the Volturi not destroying us on the spot when they caught lying to thier face.

After all that, I would say that without a doubt that we were officially out of miracles.

I watched him bury his prey with quiet resentment. My thoughts were now beginning ebb away from sympathy were now leaning on anger.

He needed to see the bigger picture here. I…we all supported him for as long as we could. Supported him till it became impossible for us to continue. Till every avenue of escape closed behind us. He needed to see that.

But almost as important as that, he also needed to understand that it was equally wrong of him to risk our children like that. To see so much danger surround them, and to hold us hostage with guilt or shame of not living up to his ideals in such a difficult situation.

"Carlisle, look at me." I began whether he was ready or not. I would suffer his silence no longer.

I waited for a few seconds for him to turn to me before I continue.

"We've decided…"

"I know what you've decided." He said curtly, seeming to be at a loss of his great patience, even with me.

Truthfully, it hurt to hear him be so short with me, but I had my own issues with him as well.

"I am sorry. Truly. But we could not wait for empty promises to be fulfilled." I said coolly, stinging him right back. "We were given three days, and of those three day we only have hours left. Hours Carlisle. We have to show the Volturi some results or be forced to turn on them and fight. That or turn and run. Neither of which I can say we could survive. Sorry, but there truly was no choice."

"So we destroy those men and gain what exactly? A temporary stay of execution? Because I'm telling you that's not going to be enough for them. There is no guarantee this will stop, Esmerelda; none whatsoever. You give them this, they will want more." I knew he was upset with me now. He hasn't used my full name since I woke up and he didn't know better than to use a name I despised. But I wasn't going to waver.

"Is that your new and immediate concern? You're worried that two lives today will mean four tomorrow?"

"Shouldn't yours be as well?"

"No, my concern is making sure our children see tomorrow. I'll worry about whatever demands the Volturi may make of us then, not before."

"And if they request more lives, what then?"

"Truthfully, if the assessment and justification was made as clearly as it is was made for these two, then yes, I am prepared to go as far as necessary. I will do my bit of evil to keep what I have. Because what I absolutely won't do, no matter what the reason, is out live another child. I would not have that curse put upon me ever again. I would lay the world of men flat, before I let that happen twice." I said firmly, and with snarling conviction.

Whatever words or thoughts Carlisle's stunned expression may have held behind it, he had enough wits about him to hold them back, and not debate me or my determination on this point.

With his hand finding his pockets, and my own folding over my breast, we stood silent, allowing the temperature of the conversation to cool.

After a few minutes I picked back up, and started with a thought that's been nagging me for some time.

"What aren't you telling me, Carlisle? What aren't you telling us? Why do you believe that this won't be enough? What is your time with them telling you that we don't understand?"

"I…" He started to say then paused. Looking toward the direction of the house for a moment or two, then back at me. "Nothing. It was just a feeling I get with them. I just can't… You just can't bring myself to trust things at face value with them around. Years of political maneuvering within that castle had made me very distrustful of those who still live that way. I don't have anything to really go on, but I can't bring myself to belief for an instant that destroying these men will be the end of it."

"That's because most likely, it won't." I said blatantly, very much to his surprise. "This situation or one close to it will happen to us again.I am almost sure of it. Its just like our Rose has been saying; there is always going to be a, 'them and us'. That isn't going to go away after this is over. Not if we want to continue as we are that is."

"Hmph… I suppose that is the cold-hard truth of it."

"Truth has no temperature or density, Carlisle. Its formless." I said boldly, earning a smirking scoff from my mate.

We were still again. Doing nothing but listening the raucous of crickets carrying out their nightly irritation of our sensitive ears.

God, how that sound aggravates me.

"How many hours do we have left?" He whispered, breaking out of my thought with new irritation.

He voice had carried an air of conspiracy and mischief with it. It held the tone of a man that hadn't yet surrendered, and was about to make one final push.

"None! Not a single second left for what you might be considering." I snarled out firmly.

His perseverance and conviction was always an admirable quality. One that I was always please that he had, since it stopped him from surrendering his body to many willing women over time, and held him firmly on the path that has made him such a symbol to his family and allies. But now…

What was it going to take?

"Esme, I want to try just one thing. Just one. I need you to trust me. J-Just wait…" He tried to request patiently, but as soon as he said that word, whatever patience I had, was lost.

Wait… That word and all its meanings and derivatives… I've had enough of it in this situation as I could stand. I wanted my children out of danger, and would not have them be made to 'wait' a second longer.

"No!" I growled darkly, and with finality. "You will wait now. You will wait till it is done, then we will return home. And not a second before."

"You're convince this is the right path?" He asked softly, not willing to join me in my anger.

"I am" I said steadfastly.

"And 'everyone' is okay with this?"

"You were and still are the only exception, I can assure you." I corrected.

"What about Bella? Or does she even know?" He said trying to press his moral argument.

I had told the children to leave the room upon Carlisle's return. So when he had returned, he was greeted with nothing by low eyes and hung heads. That instantly clued him in on what he had missed.

I had quickly reminded them to empty the room once more, and without a word they all left as I instructed. Not much was said beside that.

"She knows."

"And she approves?" He fired back with disbelieving incredulity.

I tried not to be offended or hurt that his disbelief, caused him not belief the words of his own mate.

"Darling, I am happy that you and I share the same high expectations of our newest daughter, but I am worried your expectations are again, too high. I am worried your belief in her 'nature', her 'humanity' has been blinded by the beliefs you think you share. I am afraid she may ultimately disappoint you when she doesn't turn out to be the kind of 'pacifist' that you thought her to be; and it will be to no one's fault but your own."

"What do you mean?" He questioned, looking slightly disappointed already.

"You're doing the same thing with her that you did with Edward. You're making assumptions about her character without taking the time to understand the person you're dealing with. Just look what happened with Edward. Your expectations for him eventually fed his mind with such high expectation, that he filled himself to unrealistic goals and ideals that he couldn't possibly live up to. We both know you didn't do it on purpose, you only knew him for a few days, and didn't discover a way to block your thoughts from him till many weeks later. But in all that time, your expectations of the kind of person you hoped he would be, seeded his mind, and the damage was already done. To make matters worse, you also didn't understanding the boy you were dealing with doesn't deal in 'grey'.That there was no middle ground with him. Everything was in absolutes with him. He only saw right and wrong, good and evil. Which is why every time he failed in those early years, he would choose to close himself off from the rest of us, so that he can punish himself. Casting himself into a hell of his own making, because to him, that is where 'demons' belong. And now here you are again, with his mate, with a new set of expectations. Sorry, but I'm not going to allow that to happen again."

"Bella is not like that. She does not see absolutes, not like he once did. She has a firm grasp on things. She'll be a wonderful guide for them both."

"You don't know that Carlisle! She is a young woman in love, willing to go any lengths for her lovers affection and adoration. We don't know what she is capable of doing. So we shouldn't assume anything." I growled. "Let her grow and show you the person she is. But more importantly, allow yourself to see and love what's there and not what you hope one day she will become. She isn't perfect, but neither are you or I."

"Esme… You are speaking, but you're not saying what you really mean to say, are you? What are you holding back from me?" He said catching on quickly, putting the insight he gained into me from our eighty plus years of marriage to good use.

"I'm saying that our newest daughter is her own person, and that person may not be the girl you think she is."

"Again, what is your meaning?" He pressed more firmly now, turning to face me full on.

Scanning his more assertive stance over, I decided to just let him have it straight.

"I'm not too sure if the children told you or not, but do you recall the incident when the children arrived at school to find two pack members awaiting their arrival?"

"Yes, of course. The young Black and the Clearwater child, surprised Alice when they showed up out of the blue."

"Yes, William's son was trying to confirm his suspicion on whether or not Bella had been turned and also tried to force his imprint onto her mind, all the while breaking the treaty himself."

"Foolish, yes. But the incident amounted to nothing. Cooler heads prevailed and they were able to talk it out, peacefully on their own." He said with a minute trace of pride in his tone. The same reserved pride I felt as well that day.

"Yes, but did you know that just in case things didn't go so smoothly, they had a contingency plan in place?" I pressed, raising my brow slightly.

"I would expect no less if Jasper was involved." He sighed.

"Nor I, except… in this case, it wasn't Jasper's contingency plan they were following. It was Bella's"

That froze him. "What?"

"I was told, that they were making plans on how to attack and were taking a vote on Jasper plan. That's when Bella spoke up and floored them with her own brilliant plan. A plan that she came up with almost instantly I was told. One that accounted for the surroundings of area, the forensic investigation to follow, and the wolves' healing abilities. A plan for the perfect murder."

He was wide-eyed and he shook his head in shock and disbelief. And I couldn't blame him for either.

"I, like you, were shocked as well when Rose and Jasper explained it to me the following day. For I had no idea our little human daughter held such vivid imagination." I said pausing to look at him. "It took me a while to readjust my perceptions of her, just like it seems it's going to take you. But know that you're not entirely wrong about her. She is a child that would love nothing more than peace and life for all things. She is a child whose first predisposition is to show mercy. But she is also a woman in love. She a mated woman. And in that moment I believe she came to fully understand what that meant, and what she had to do to protect herself and her lover. So like you, she is merciful, but like me, she more practical about its application, especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

"I see…" he stated dejectedly.

"Do you? Do you really? Because this was a hard decision by all, Bella included. We don't want to do this. And I assure you, no one is taking any pride in it. You wanting to save lives and us wanting to end things for the sake of expedience, were both the right call, and yet both wrong. There is no moral high ground to stand on for anyone of us. This matter has dragged us all through the mud, and we still have a way to go."

"So… innocent men die?"

"Would you rather 'I' die in their stead?" I pressed, knowing it was a low-blow, but he needed to hear that more than I needed my pride. "Because that is the other option, if you want it."

He immediately looked down contrite.

"No… of course not. It just… Why? Why is it so hard to keep people alive?"

"Its probably because your trying to keep 'everyone' alive, and that's just too unrealistic. You're trying to be god..."

"I'm no god Esme."

"Then stop trying to outdo one. You're a physician, so you should know better than anyone; people die, humans especially. You can do what you can, but succeed or fail, all measures are temporary, you know that."

"Carlisle, you're a caring man, but you blind yourself. We are in a battle for our lives, and you're 'preaching righteousness' with no plan, other than to 'do the right thing'; when doing that very thing, may end up destroying us. Carlisle that harassment needs to stop. If this is a battle for our lives, then we are on a battlefield. And If that is the case, then you need to stop thinking like a doctor in a small town with the luxury of time, staff, clean operating areas and equipment at his disposal; and start thinking like a doctor in triage. Get your priorities in order Carlisle. Amputate when and where you have to, save who and what you can, and leave the rest to their fate."

"Hmph, well put darling." He said quietly, after a moment of reflection. "I'm sorry, I've been difficult. I just hoped for a different outcome is all. Edward was right about one thing. This world… it is filled with monsters. I was just trying to make sure that we at least were a light, a shining example of possibilities."

"Then don't let it get snuffed out. Because a light that no one can see doesn't do anybody any good. We have to save our family first."

BELLA

As soon as Carlisle returned, Esme had 'strongly' suggested that we quietly exit the room.

It wasn't hard to see the suspicion on his faces and the guilt on our own as he panned the room. And I suspected he knew exactly what we did and the decisions that we came to behind his back.

We did something that we all knew he would've never done to any of us. We had left him out, and did so purposely. We did so that we can talk about what needed to be done, without having it turn in to a moral debate about moral correctness. We did it because, we wanted this threat behind us, and he was in the way of us achieving that. We betrayed his trust in us.

We could put any ornamental phrasing we wanted to cover it, but that was truth of it.

But before I was able to say one word of apology, we were hurried out the room once more. We didn't even make it to the staircase before he was gone out the back; and after a small, quick caress on Alice and my cheek, Esme dashed after him.

The memory of looking into Carlisle's eyes then made my whole being feel and stink of betrayal. But I wasn't the only one. Edward also felt that way, but even more keenly than I. His fixed masked did nothing to hide the turmoil below. I dread but also wondered what he might have 'overheard'.

I collapsed into Edward as soon as she was out of sight. He held me tightly and slowly pecked me all about as he apologized for things that he was blameless for. Quickly I found myself in his arms and in our room. I was gently placed on our bed, and held. Edward showered me with all his serenity, doing his best to cleanse me internally, as he instinctively went to licked my stress and guilt away.

Not a single word was spoken, nor were any needed. We stayed that way, till we both felt loved once more.

As I showered alone, I reflected on the decision we came too, hoping we didn't do so too rashly. Hoping the added pressure of the Volturi timetable didn't force our hand and caused us to overlook a chance to do it Carlisle's way.

But I knew that was just guilt over deciding things behind Carlisle's back seeping its way back in once more.

Seeing that, I quickly became active in my shower, and began to distract myself with action. Suddenly my shampoo was the most interesting thing to me as I picked it up a second time tonight.

Finishing up, I had an urgency to be near my mate. Closing my eyes as I toweled off, I felt the sensation of his pull on my lower left side, below the knee. Indicating he was close, and below me.

'Alice and Jasper's room.'

But even now, while my emotions seemed to been supported by a sensation of determination, his seemed to be held down by uncertainty and fear.

Fear, guilt and worry, held the majority in him, and was finding its way into me as well. Threatening to consume the little peace with this situation I had manage to scrounge up for the both of us to share.

I wasted no time getting dress for bed and made my way to him.

Alice's door was open, and they both sat upon her plush white rug at the base of her bed, literally encircled with an assortment of colorful pillows, in an otherwise all white room.

They were the only two in the room, but I barely paid Alice any mind. When I saw Edward's relieved expression at the sight of me match own as I stood in the threshold, it was easy to momentarily block out the rest momentarily.

"Hey Bella, come in" Alice invited, her jovial tone interrupting my trance, causing me to turn to her.

'What was she so happy about?"

Its like nothing gets to her. Well that's not true, she was just as upset as I was. Probably more so, because she had to live the betrayal twice. But yet her she is.

How does she do it? Especially without Jasper around to help?

"Coming," I said solemnly, ignoring her tone, closing the door behind me, quickly making my way over to Edward.

But before I was even half way into the room, Alice yelped out.

"Wait, wait, wait, Bella, you might not want to step there… there…or ah there." Alice said pointing to the three locations. "The rug is…ah… kin-da stiff in those locations, and it might break skin." She said bashfully.

"What? why?"

"It's a…just a bit of ah…overflow."

"Over what?…" Then it hit me like a sack of bricks.

After my own experiences with what 'multiple sessions' in one night with Edward can do, and the issues we had in the morning with the slightly 'stiffer' part of our sheets, no matter how frequently we changed them; I knew exactly what she was referring to when she said 'overflow'.

'Oh my god!'

"Eww…Eww…Ewwww!" I yelped, tip toeing over to Edward who broke his melancholy and actually chuckled as he watched me tip top daintily over to him as he waited with a thin blanket and open-arms.

Even in my disgust, his lap had called to me like a magnet. Once I reached him, I quickly fell into his open arms, and allowed them to wrap around me tightly as sat facing the room.

Looking around, my imagination ran wild with every flat surface I saw.

"God, this whole room is suspect."

That caused them both of them to laugh.

"What did you expect walking into another's 'mating den'?" Alice said smugly.

"She right, all the rooms are like this, ours included." Edward said softly, while i mentally noted that his emotions were moving away from the oppressed feeling it was giving off before "But all the same, just be glad your nose is undeveloped."

"Ughhhh. That's gross." I said eying the rug with squeamish suspicion.

"Well, better get used to it. It's what we all smell like. All-day-long." Alice informed me proudly. "And you better believe Edward is going to make sure that is what you smell like."

Hearing that, I couldn't help the tingle in my nether regions, nor could Edward help his quick spurt of laughter that escape him when he sensed my body's betrayal.

"Fine, I might have a different opinion on the matter 'later', but right now, it's just… yuck!" I said for the lack of a better word.

They chuckled at that.

"Fine." They said in unison.

"You're off the hook for now Bella." Alice jokingly warned.

"Oh, Thanks." I sarcastically stated, adding an eye roll, while shifting around on Edwards's laps, to snuggle into him even more. "So, what were you two talking about?"

And just like that, all the levity within in Edward died, and guilt and uncertainty took up residency once more.

It has happened so fast this time. I didn't even bother turning around, I just rubbed his arms that held me instead. I was getting used to his speed in more ways than one. I wasn't made for him, for nothing.

I held my emotion at an even level, and with as much positivity as possible. I still didn't have enough control to push my emotions on him, but it was there for him if he wanted it. He just had to reach for it.

"Edward asked me to watch out for Esme and Carlisle. He wanted to know how he was taking the news." Alice explained, sounding unperturbed.

I suddenly found that I was curious as well.

"How is he taking it?"

"As well as can be expected, love." Edward answered before Alice could. "He doesn't like it, but he understands."

"Or at least he is beginning to." Alice corrected. "Esme really has a way with words."

"What did she say?" I asked with increased interest.

"Weeellll…" Alice began then looked to Edward. "Maybe you should tell her." Alice said earning a suspicious squint from me.

"Yes. Thank you for the option." Edward said politely, then rested his chin on my shoulder.

From there, he began to tell me everything that transpired. He explained that Carlisle 'had' figured it all out before he even left the house. And that he was none to please that this decision was made without his input. He told me how Esme stood and waited for him to hunt, loose some steam, before she spoke.

He explained how how she just allowed him to vent his frustration about what we did and why we did it. But the part that I was more than a little shocked that Carlisle had no idea of my involvement when it came to that incident at the school.

"You guys never told him?" I sternly question, almost angrily.

I had always thought Carlisle knew about that incident and just never brought up, or had in some way accepted my judgment that day. But as time went on, I began leaning more and more toward the fact that he never brought it up out of courtesy or possibly in an attempts to avoid confrontation. That seemed the more likely option. I just had to look at the way he carried himself through this matter to know it was.

He had went out of his way to take the high road in every situation, no matter how blatant the threat or disrespect. I only seen him change once before, the night we met the wolves at the line. But that was only because he was told that the highroad he was on wasn't going to get him the peaceful resolution he wanted.

I thought that part of him had struggled with what he had heard about me, but ultimately had accepted that his new 'daughter' wasn't the angel he thought she was, and was something closer to human after all. An imperfect creature, prone to failure, violence, and poor judgment. I had thought that, that internal battle was over, but no, I just learned that assessment was wrong. Because it had just begun for him a few moments ago.

Now whatever positivity was in me, was leaking away as I pictured the looks I would get from him now.

"Alice and I never told anyone. But Jasper and Rose did tell Esme, and Esme just told him a minute ago."

"And?..." I asked feeling a whole new wave of anxiety come over me.

"And, he was stunned to say the least." Alice imparted. "Probably just as stunned as we were when it happened."

I couldn't get over the feeling that they might just be acting 'generous' to spare my feelings.

"Does he…"

"No Bella, he doesn't hate you." Alice and Edward responded even before my question was full out.

"He never could." Alice added.

"But he may need a little time to realign his perspective of you, that is all." Edward amended.

"Why? What was it before?" I said feeling new nerves.

"Bella, please calm down. He still loves you, and that won't ever change. His thoughts held you in high regards," Edward quickly added. "So just give him time. He most likely wasn't expecting such thoughts from you, not as a human anyway."

There was something predijuice and wrong with that statement, but for now all my mind could concentrate on was that thought that Carlisle may no longer respect me.

"So… I failed him then, right? I am not who he thought I was." I said nearing dejection.

"No Bel-la, you didn't 'fail' anyone. And even if he 'thinks' you did, that is his failing, not yours." Alice firmly explained. "He has no right to 'expect' you to be anything, other than what you are. Nobody does. No one told him to mentally construct you up to be something you're not. And before you throw both you and Edward over the edge with shame and disappointment, know that he committed the same mistake that Charlie, William, and his pup did; when they all expected things from you they had no right to expect. Things that were all based on their 'idea' of what they wanted from and expected of, you. Things that none of them even took the time to see if you were mentally, emotionally or physically capable of delivering on."

"Listen Bella, fair is fair. Just like William and his hounds, have no right putting their derogatory prejudice's on us. Carlisle equally has no right to go around putting halo's where they have no business being either. So I say if you can let them have it, then Carlisle should be next in line for a firm 'talking to' as well. So save the waterworks, okay?"

And just like that, I went from fighting tears of shame to fighting off warm grins.

Alice… I thought shaking my head with a small smile.

She did a marvelous job putting things into their proper perspectives. So marvelous in fact, that now even my previous worry and guilt were gone. I was even readying myself for a debate, if it came to that.

Because she was absolutely right. If Billy had no right to demonized me for my choices, then the opposite was true, and Carlisle had no right to deify me either.

"Alice… I… I don't know what to say. Thank you. You are absolutely right."

"Get some good practice saying that Bella, because we're going to be saying it alot living in this family." Edward joked from behind, kissing me behind my ear, causing me to squirm playfully in his arms.

"Damn right you are." Alice said in between her tinkling laughter.

EDWARD

If it didn't offend Jasper's or my own sensibilities, not to mention crush Bella, I would've kissed Alice soundly, right then and there.

'Oooh. In another time, and another life, lover boy. This girl is taken.' Alice thought to me after glimpsing that very possibility.

I just rolled my eyes, wearing a small smile.

Still, I was beyond grateful.

She saw the miserable road that Bella was about to throw herself, and by inclusion me, on over this, and after fifteen quick decisions, finally put together the right advice and attitude to avoid that very disaster.

Never was I more grateful for her gift.

"So, nothing to feel guilty over correct?" Bella asked

"Nope nothing at all" Alice quickly said. Then turn to me…

'Good lord Edward.'

I hated to bring the mood down so soon. Especially when Bella was smiling so brightly. But my traitorous emotions reacted to the question faster than I could. Bella's smile had immediately crumbled after she felt my apprehension.

"She right, there is nothing to feeling guilty of, not in that respect. But—there is still the issue of the agents. I still have to deal Denton and Monet when Alice gives me the signal. "

"Edward there is still nothing to feel guilty about." Alice she off handedly.

"Alice, I am afraid I disagree. I think there is 'plenty' to feel guilty about when it comes to that." I shot back.

"Pfft, plenty you want to feel guilty about you mean."

"No, plenty we should feel guilty about. You know what we have to do right? You know what comes next right? Two men are going to die… for us. That is not something I can't just brush off Alice. And it shouldn't be something you can either." I debated back, quickly causing Alice to roll her eyes and throw her hands up.

"But that's exactly my point. We're doing what we 'have to do'. 'Have to' being the key-phrase. We don't like it, but it's a needs to happen. So do both you and Bella a favor and leave the drama out of it. She doesn't deserve it." Alice said taking a cheap shot.

"Yes I do… We all do. Sorry Ali, But I agree with Edward in this regard. We are who we are, and if anyone wants to feel a certain way about what's to come, then let them." Bella sagely put in.

I squeezed her to me a little tighter then, as I sent her my love and pride.

'Christ, they are like twins. If one is not on fire with a need to carry responsibility for everything, the other is.' Alice thought, thinking about how ready we both are to absorb the worse onto ourselves.

"Ugh, We all know your guilt isn't about those men, Edward. Not the majority of it anyway. Your concern is about your perception, just like Bella's was not two seconds ago. Your second guessing your decision to move forward tonight and that the last damn thing we need."

"You are?" Bella asked worriedly, turning to face me, allowing me to see all the concern, brewing in her deep brown eyes.

"I'm not" I lied on instinct, quickly forgetting that the two women in the room with me, knew me best of all.

"Yes he is." Alice instantly corrected. "Bella please take a moment to reflect and remember just who it is you're mated to. Because the Edward I know, isn't known to handle 'stress' very well. Just the past few days alone he flip out to the point of belligerence on three separate occasions." That caused Bella to generate even more concern for me. "You, yourself had to pull him aside and calm him down just so the rest of us can get something coherent out of him on two of those occasions. And the other, he had to be tricked into thinking he was crushing you, before he would calm down and see reason. And those situation are nothing compared to what lies ahead on his next task." Alice patiently explained.

Bella was all concern again, and I couldn't help the growl that built up in my chest.

"Alice!" I snarl out lowly

'Case and point' Alice thought smugly

"See, he's already riled up." She said to Bella as she pointed at me, causing both to turn to me. "Doesn't take much does it?"

"No, it doesn't. Especially when you deliberately go out of your way to fill Bella with unnecessary worry." I bit back fighting off an even darker snarl.

My voice may have been tempered, but my inner emotions told another story; which caused Bella to rub my arm, trying to soothe me.

'Great! Now she thinks I have anger management issues.'

"Fine." Alice huffed, then thought to me.' But there was nothing unnecessary about it… Can't you see? You're making the same mistake as Bella.'

'What?'

"Carlisle wasn't going to budge, you saw that. I showed you that." She said, momentarily losing Bella in her explanation. "We had to do this without him. You saw that as well, right?" She asked allowing me to nod in acknowledgement.

"So do you care to explain to me why I'm seeing our well laid plans fade away as the night goes on?" She asked losing her cool.

"It…. Will happen." I replied by weakly, not changing a single thing in her vision.

"Edward, you're building this up to be this huge thing in your mind, and it because of Carlisle, I know that. And what I also know is, that the guilt after the act is going to be on a whole another scale, than the guilt going in." Alice firmly warned again, thinking of my 'disposition' and flare for drama.

'If you go into this, treating it as some huge thing, then can you imagine what you're going to be like afterwards? This is serious, but now that it is actually going to happen, you're mentally pushing it's significance over the top. You need to take it back a bit, and calm yourself.'

How ironic that her words were having the opposite effect. How could I be calm? It was happening again and I knew it.

I was making another rash decision. A decision that yet again I boldly decided to make, having in mind only the best intentions for all, yet again. And like all my 'greatest' decision, there was Carlisle, yet again, on the opposing side, telling me to wait and see before acting to hastily.

'It was happening again… I am doing it again…'

"Edward?" Bella said again looking more worried than before. Looking into those eyes…

'No, not again… I can't. Never again.'

"Edward!... Where did it go. What the hell happened?" Alice bellowed.

"I can't… We can't."

"Why the hell not? We don't have a choice…" Alice rounded on me, her voice verging on panic.

I saw her intentions as she did.

"NO Alice, I won't let you." I said and immediately, her plan, as well as anyone else's to take action, disappeared.

"You… what did you….? Son of a bitch! You would take away my powers?!" She screamed, watching me in her vision do that very thing.

Bella looked back and forth almost completely lost. Words were being said around her and recognition through context happened only so often. But clearly she saw the change in me and my decision.

"He… He was warning us Alice." I said calmly, not joining her in her rage. "He's warning me, again. Warning me like he did every time before. I never listened. I just did what I always 'thought' was right. I let myself get far too emotional when stressed. And then the bad choices come out. Choices that caused me to think I can't be around Bella. To think I needed to be protect her from me. Choices that, in the past, had caused me close myself off to her as I prepared to abandon her, and do so, without trying to talk with her, without trying to make her understand, or to make things work. Choices and guilt that caused me to rationalize a way to give up my mate and foolishly hope she has a better life in the arms of another man." I said drawing all the attention in the room.

"Pfft… my gift and I work exactly alike it seems. Given any amount of stress, I build up and lashes out. And just like it, I confusing, cripple, and destroy everything in my path with my rashness. But not again. Not this time."

"Before he left, his mind was screaming how wrong we all were, it was screaming it! But he was powerless, completely powerless to stop any of us, even his mate. So I will, I will stop us. This time I'm going to listen."

"No…" Alice whispered, her face falling into her hands, "No, no, no! This... it's all wrong? It all going away. Its… going away!" She sobbed. "They will be here in the morning Edward!"

I grinded my jaws watching her vision with her.

"Then we'll leave." Bella said solemnly, breaking me free as it stopped Alice's vision cold, and caused Alice to pick up her head and look at Bella in wide eye horror.

'Heavy… it's getting so heavy…"

"What?" I asked, but to both of them.

'It's coming… It so big… I can't…. I won't be able to handle this' Alice thought slowly putting her wide eyed stare back down into her hands

"…I said, we'll leave." Bella said to me with conviction, turning all the way around, and continued unaware of the dread on Alice's face and mind behind her. "I am going to keep my promise Edward. To you and to the family. When Carlisle and Esme return we'll leave. Take our chances on the run." Bella stated softly firmly as she held my gaze.

*SCREAM*

Bella and I both jumped as Alice let out an ear splitting scream. A scream that was followed by a deafening roar as I found myself on all fours sharing her vision.

[END OF CHAPTER]


DONT BE LAZY. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW.

AN: This chapter is part 1 of WORLD OF MONSTERS. Part two is done and is in final review with my Beta. RDoster. Its HUGE! in every way. Wink wink. That is what took me so long. I was back and forth alot about this, but in the end, I HAD to split it up. It was closing in on 40k.

But as for part one... How do you like it? I concerntrated on dialogue here. And in order to do that, I had to go back and read some of my favorite authors and fanfic who I thought did the same. I don't mimic ppl, but reading their works, puts my mind in a certain place. For example, if you took two ppl and, sat one down to watch cartoons and the other to read the memoirs of Marcus Aurelius. You are going to have two very different responses, when both are asked to debate a third topic.

QUESTIONS:

Esme, Esme, Esme... She's like my 'Carol' (Walking Dead) LOL. Unassuming, but will gut you like a fish. LOL. So how did you like her this chapter?

How did you like Esme's triage analogy?

What are you thoughts on Carlisle?

What were your thoughts on his Carlisle's early brainwashing of Edward?

What were your thoughts on the scenes themselves? Do I need to be more... descriptive?

How did you feel about Edward quick urge to kiss Alice? Personally, mines were mixed.

How did you feel about Alice putting things in perspective for Bella?

How did you feel about Edwards change of mind? Was it justified?

REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. oR NO CHAPTER 9 FOR YOU! (Soup Nazi) lol.