Alrighty, so here's chapter... 8? I'm not actually sure.
The title chapter is... out of nowhere. Well, not nowhere. I'm rather excited about the new movie coming out. :)
Also, if Carlisle seems a little OOC at any point, I apologize.
-
3 weeks after the last chapter
Carlisle's POV
"Well, I do have news." I said to Rosalie, keeping my voice as neutral as possible. I could almost see her narrowing her eyes because of it, which caused me to smile.
Her voice was a bit muffled when she replied. "Well, are you going to tell me?"
I laughed. "You're much more impatient as a human, Rose. I'll tell you when I get home; I'll be there soon." I shut the phone with a quiet snap and got into my car.
I didn't speed up until I'd gotten to the outskirts of town. Rosalie would despise me for not breaking all the rules on speeding to get her her news. I grinned again, pushing down slightly harder on the gas pedal.
Rose's POV
I paced the living room, going from the window to the couch and back again. Without looking up from her book, Rebecca answered, "You pacing won't make him come any faster, you know." I rolled my eyes and deigned not to answer. Becca had been spending a lot of time here since she'd changed Em and me; her excuse was because it was easier to keep control of both of us if she was near. My opinion was she rather be here that at her house with Ariella.
Although Ariella had said she'd forgiven Becca, there was always a tenseness between them when they were together. And it was probably more obvious as a vampire. Heightened senses could pick up things like how they shifted away from each other, or were more likely to catch the small, worried glances Becca often sent towards Ariella.
Emmett cursed loudly and I jumped back as a vase from the upstairs hallway came sailing down and barely missed my head. I rolled my eyes again. At least it hadn't been something bigger.
"Emmett, stop throwing a temper tantrum because vampires are beating you at video games." I called up, stepping carefully over the vase remains to look up the stairs.
The only response I got was another curse from Emmett and laughing from Jeremy and Jasper.
Alice skipped out of the kitchen. "Rose, your food is ready."
I gave up on Emmett and followed her into the kitchen. Looking down at the plate of... stuff, I mysteriously lost my appetite.
"Did... Ah... Did you help Esme cook again, Alice?" I asked, trying to keep the revulsion I felt out of my tone.
I didn't succeed; Alice's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is there something wrong with it?" she asked sweetly. I shook my head, not trusting myself to say anything.
She gave a quiet hmph and flicked past me, heading upstairs. I sat down and jabbed the so-called food with my fork. I hesitantly took a bite, hoping it tasted better than it looked.
I gagged, spitting the poison back onto the plate. I was saved from eating any more when I heard the front door open and Carlisle appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
I jumped up. "Well?" I asked anxiously. I couldn't read his expression; it was blank. He was probably only doing that to tease me. Or he had bad news.
"Where is Emmett?" he asked.
"Upstairs. Emmett!" I called. "Get down here!" I heard some clattering, then heavy footsteps as Emmett ran down the stairs.
Carlisle grinned. Good news, then. Emmett nearly tripped as he stopped himself when he got to the bottom step.
"Oh, look, Carlisle's back. Got any news?" he said cheerfully.
Carlisle nodded. "I do. The test results came in, and..." He trailed off, glancing between us. "Are you sure you want to here this?" he asked with concern. Worry flooded me, but I nodded vigorously.
He grinned. "They were positive. You're pregnant."
Alice's POV
I grinned when I heard Rose's squeal and Emmett's yell of delight. I'd known as soon as Carlisle had, but he'd called me and asked me not to tell. Man, had it been hard.
I wanted to go down and congratulate her, but even up here her and Emmett's smell was murdering me. I needed to hunt.
I slipped into the newly-designated gaming room and wrapped my arms around Jasper, who was barely winning to Jeremy. He started slipping behind as soon as I touched him.
Jeremy snorted and paused the game. Obviously winning because your opponent is being distracted by their mate doesn't count as winning at all.
Jasper turned to me, kissing my lips softly. "What brought this on?" he murmured.
I kissed him. "Just wanted to tell you I was going hunting." I kissed him again. "And that I love you."
He grinned. "Oh, I know."
I laughed and got up reluctantly. The burning was persistent. "See you soon."
I flitted downstairs and gave Rose a quick hug before leaving. "Congratulations!" I smiled, being careful not to breath in.
Her smile widened. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to go hunting," I said with my last air. She nodded, understanding fully.
I dashed outside and breathed in. Oh, clean air. How wonderful.
I ran for a good hour, much longer than I needed to, but I was enjoying it.
Finally, I caught the scent of a bear. Not my favorite, but good enough. I crawled into a tree and ran across the branches until I was right above it. I dropped down and broke its neck with a small twist. Before biting, I tore out some of its fur so I wouldn't get any in my mouth.
After sucking it dry, I cleaned myself off and smelled for another animal. I was interrupted by a vision.
I could see me. I was frozen, not moving at all. My hand was by my face like I was on the phone, but I didn't see a phone. I was surrounded by an almost invisible white mist.
I cursed and whipped my cell phone out of my pocket, hitting 4 to call Carlisle. I bounced on my heels as I waited for him to pick up.
"Yes, Alice?" he said uncertainly. I usually only called him if I'd had a vision. Which could mean almost anything, so Carlisle didn't know what to expect.
"The––" I stopped when I saw Alec. He gave a somewhat bored smile.
"Hello Alice. How pleasant to see you again," he said, sure of getting me. I cursed again before the white mist enveloped me and the cell phone fell to the ground.
Jasper's POV
"Yes, Alice?" I heard Carlisle saying downstairs. Even from up here, the sudden uncertainty and worry rolling off him was immense enough to catch my attention. I needed to know what was going on.
I was beside Carlisle in a second, listening closely to hear everything.
"The––" Alice said, then cut off suddenly.
"Hello Alice. How pleasant to see you again," a young male voice said. Alice cursed. A thud, then rustling. Then the call ended.
I looked at Carlisle. "Alice doesn't cuss unless––"
He cut me off. "I know."
"She's been kidnapped. We––"
"I know, Jasper!" he snapped, keeping me silent. Irritation was mixed in with his worry now. "But we don't know who's taken her, so we can't very well go after her, can we?"
My mind raced. Whoever took Alice did it quickly so she didn't see them coming until it was too late. They'd want to take her so she couldn't warn us what was happening, most probably. Alice had been watching the Volturi, and had said they'd been making plans, but they'd kept changing them... I rubbed my forehead in frustration.
"Did you recognize the voice at all?" I finally asked.
He shook his head. "Somewhat, but I can't place it. It's not anyone I've talked to recently."
"Could it be the Volturi?"
"Possibly. But we can't just call them up and ask them."
"But if it was them, who would it be?" I asked quietly, going down the list of Volturi members I knew. "It was younger, so not Demetri or Felix. It could be a new member we don't know about, but then why would he have greeted her like he knew her?" I replayed the incident in my head, listening carefully. Alice wouldn't have cursed if she'd thought she could fight. Cussing was always saved for bad, bad situations where she couldn't do much. What vampire would she not be able to fight? Jane, but the voice was male... Alec.
"I'm going to rip his heart out." I said, anger rising like a title wave to cover me. I fought it, not wanting to throw the whole house into madness.
"Who?" Bella asked, walking in with Edward. "And why?"
"Alice." Edward said, picking up on my and Carlisle's thoughts. "Jasper thinks Alec kidnapped Alice."
Another wave of worry joined the rest as Bella took in the news. I let them envelop me, drowning the anger. For now.
Celia's POV
We were on our way back to Volterra. Aro's orders had been to bring him everyone we kidnapped immediately, eliminating the chance of escape. It would make the mission longer, but heck, it gave us something to do.
I was still upset with Alec for speaking. It had been unnecessary, and Carlisle Cullen, whom Alice had been talking to on the phone, may have heard and recognized his voice. We'd had an argument about it, which had gotten us nowhere and wasted our time.
Now we were running towards the east coast, all of us alternating between carrying the small, unconscious vampire. As we reached a small town, I stopped. I needed to hunt, and this town was as good as any.
Demetri, who was the one carrying Alice, dropped her by a tree. I gave him a small smile and headed to the nearest house.
Getting in was disgustingly easy. I ran through the house with less sound than a whisper, checking to see who lived there. A man and woman, and three children. A family. I hesitated. I didn't want to kill a mother or father, leaving children without a parent. I'd been down that road when I was human. And killing one of the children would be pure torture for the rest of the parents' lives.
I finally came to a decision, making it look like someone had come in to rob them.
The next house I went into was a single man. I bit into his neck before I had the chance to hesitate, to look to see if he had some pictures of loved ones.
When I had finished, I dragged the corpse out with me and returned to Alec and Demetri. Both ran into the town, leaving me to watch the prisoner. While I waited for Alec to get out of range and for her to wake up, I dug a whole and buried my corpse.
She woke up after a minute and was on her feet instantly, crouched in a fighting stance and snarling.
"Don't try running," I warned. "It won't do you any good."
"Who are you? And where did that good-for-nothing son of a––"
"Alec? He went to hunt."
"And without him around, how do you expect to keep me here?"
I shrugged casually. "I don't have to. Demetri will just track you and keep me informed about where you are. I'll catch you sooner or later." I cocked my head. "Sooner, I'd think."
Her defiant gaze didn't change, so I indulged in a malicious grin. "Oh, you think you actually have a chance of outrunning me? That would be funny, if it wasn't so misplaced." I leaned forward slightly, and whispered. "I haven't been outrun in fifty years."
Her eyes glazed over; when she returned to reality, she dropped down by the base of the tree again, accepting whatever it was she saw in her "vision".
Or she could be trying to lure me into a false sense of security so she could escape. I almost wanted her to. She'd run, and I'd follow her, catching her. Snatching her hope away.
But I couldn't let her. Aro had said not to give her the chance to contact her coven. Shame. A chase would have been much more fun than this... cheating.
Five minutes of silence passed before Demetri returned. Seeing Alice, he nodded politely.
"Demetri," she said in greeting, as if he wasn't a captor, but an acquaintance she'd not seen in ages and was pleasantly surprised to find here.
"Alice. I here you've been indulging in some less than lady-like language."
She shrugged. "Everyone slips occasionally." He laughed, shaking his head in amusement.
Alec returned soon after, but before he could put Alice under again, she held up her hand. "Wait." He paused, looking uncertainly at me and Demetri. I gave him a shrug. When he gave her a brief nod, she continued.
"I'm assuming Aro sent you to kidnap me so my family doesn't have my ability to use for their advantage." None of us said anything, but she nodded as if we had. "And I'm guessing, that when we get back to Volterra, Aro will make me the same offer he's made since he met me. If you take away my senses again right now, I will say no, no matter what. Aro will find out, and he'll be less than pleased with all of you." She paused, looking at each of us. "Why not just let me stay awake? If I try anything, you have the means to control me. And, if you do let me stay awake..." she took a deep breath, as if about to jump into a lake she wouldn't be able to get out of anytime soon. "I will consider Aro's request more seriously than I ever have."
Even not knowing her, I could tell this was unusual behavior; both Demetri and Alec had slightly shocked looks.
"Alright," I agreed. "But if you try to even step away from us without permission, you'll be under for the rest of the trip." I stepped closer, not worried about her attacking me. "And I may accidently forget Aro's order of keeping you alive."
She smiled brightly at me, as if I had offered to be best friends instead of threatening her life.
"Shall we go?"
-
What thinketh you?
