I forgot to say last time: thank you for all the reviews and favorites and so on. It's really great that you're all still into this story after so long.

I have almost finished this story and will begin work on the sequel soon. I hope you'll all stick around for that.

One last note: I've deviated from my established perspectives in one section. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Chapter Ten "Crossing Lines"

EMMETT

Jasper said something about "their kind being hard to kill."

"Not that hard," I said. "You rip 'em apart and burn the pieces. Preferably slowly."

"Control yourself," Carlisle said. "What's going to help Bella now is focus."

"Charlie too."

"That's right," Edward said, "James wants them both. He won't be satisfied with less."

"Maybe we should separate them," Jasper suggested.

"I think Edward's plan is best for the time being," Carlisle said. "Rosalie and I will take some of their clothes and lead the nomad away."

"Seriously?" Rosalie looked at us with disdain.

"Bella is family now," Carlisle said, "and we take care of our family."

She snorted and turned away.

"Jasper and Alice will drive Bella and Charlie to Phoenix," Carlisle continued, "That way she can keep an eye on the future and Jasper will be able to defend them. Edward will come with us to make sure James is following."

"I'll go to Phoenix," I said.

"No," Edward interrupted. "He'll expect you to be with Bella."

"But I can't leave them."

"You're not. Jazz and Alice will keep them safe. They'll be better off away from you."

Okay, so I didn't say it, but he was right. I knew I had to help lead the nomads away. In fact, I knew that if I went with Bella and Charlie, I would put them in worse danger.

"All right," I said, "let's get going."

Carlisle and Rosalie got the clothes from Charlie and Bella and put them on. Alice and Jasper got in the Mercedes. Charlie went to put the bags in the trunk and I finally had a moment with Bella.

"You're not coming with us?" she said it like a question, but she knew it was true.

"I can't," I said. "It would make it even more dangerous."

She nodded. She was trying not to cry.

I put my hands on her shoulders, careful to maintain a safe distance. "It's gonna be okay," I said. "We're gonna stop this guy and I'm gonna come find you and everything will be perfect."

"You're so sure?"

"I told you before, I'm only sure of this." I moved one hand to the side of her face.

"Emmett... I'm scared."

"Me too."

She wrapped her arms around me and I returned her embrace, gently. I hadn't been this close to her before.

Focus. This isn't helping.

"We have to go," I said.

She nodded and backed away, but didn't let go. "I know. I love you Emmett."

"I love you too Bella." I heard the car door close. "Be careful." I kissed her, but this time, it was different. It felt like this might be the last time and that made it urgent. I think I might have been unfocused...

Then, Bella got into the car and rolled down the window. The look in her eyes was unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

No, I had seen it before. In a memory I did not want to revisit... two memories.

"I'll see you soon," I said, knowing she could hear the change in my voice, "I promise."

BELLA

As the car pulled away, I watched Emmett become smaller and smaller. I felt like I was leaving him forever. It might have been silly, but the way he looked at me and the tone of his voice as he said the last words made me wonder. It was as if he were slipping out of existence, like I always thought he would.

Finally, I couldn't see him anymore, and that's when I started to cry silently. If the nomads were following him, he'd be the one in danger, not me or Charlie. It was ridiculous. I knew one nomad vampire was no match for Emmett and Rosalie and Carlisle.

That wasn't it. There was something else bothering me. Something I couldn't place. Everything felt so final when we parted in the garage, even with Emmett's attempt at lightheartedness. "I'll see you soon," he said. Would he? I couldn't understand what it was that made me feel so anxious. At that point, I didn't care if we would be in more danger; I wanted Emmett with me. I'd never known myself to be so irrational... except when I first met Emmett.

I fell asleep in the car before we had even left Washington and didn't wake until the next morning. We had stopped at a gas station in Utah and Alice was shaking me.

"What?" I asked.

"We need to get you some food, and probably a bathroom."

I got out of the car and looked around. The sun was up, but there weren't many people around. We were under the shelter over the gas pumps so the vampires were safe. However, Alice, put on a pair of dark sunglasses, and a rather large hat.

"There's a little restaurant right there," she pointed. "If we stick to the shadows we should be fine."

Then she led me and Charlie into the building and ordered us some food while we took a much needed bathroom break.

"I hope you don't mind eating in the car," Alice said when we came out, handing us each a sack.

When we got back to the car, Jasper had finished filling it and we were ready to go.

"You want me to drive for a while?" Charlie asked.

Jasper smirked. "No, we don't get tired."

I figured it was about time I explained vampires to Charlie, but Alice suggested he sit up front so she could talk to me.

"Jasper will explain it better," she said as we pulled away.

"But will he be okay with..."

"Yes, he's not thirsty."

We didn't arrive in Phoenix until nearly dark. That was good. We got to a fancy hotel with valet parking and everything so we went right inside.

"We have reservations for Hale," Jasper said to the woman at the counter.

"Yes sir, your suite is ready," she said, handing him a key.

Jasper led us to an elevator and down a long hall. He unlocked the door and inside I tried not to gasp. Charlie whistled. It was massive. There was a living room and kitchen and off to the side, doors into the bedrooms. This seemed like it was going to be a very cushy hideout. For a second it almost didn't feel like we were running.

Then Alice had a vision.

EMMETT

I watched them drive away and tried to remember what it was on which I was supposed to be focused.

"Come on, Em," Edward said. He had put on one of Charlie's jackets too, to increase the scent.

"Okay, but I'm not wearing Bella's shoes," I said.

Edward smirked, but I knew he could tell I was trying to hide something. Good thing I thought in feelings, as Jasper said.

The four of us took off running from the garage, going slowly enough that James would believe we had a human with us, but fast enough that he couldn't catch us. Edward swerved around us to confuse the trail, because he was the fastest. We led him north all night, as though we were going to Denali. I figured if we got that far, their coven could help us get rid of James.

It was mid morning in Canada when Edward told us to stop.

"He's figured it out," he said.

"Where is he going?" Carlisle asked.

"Back to Forks for now. He's going to try to find the real trail."

We were already running in that direction. Edward ran ahead to try to get more out of James' head.

I wished I could be as fast as Edward so I could catch up with James and end this. Of course, I knew I couldn't fight him alone. I was too unfocused. If he weren't trying to kill my girlfriend and her father, I might have had a chance. But anger has a way of impairing one indefinitely.

Once we got back to Washington early that evening, we had lost him. He hadn't been around our house and his scent was fading from the town. Esme had been keeping an eye on things around home and said he hadn't been within ten miles of us.

"He can't have disappeared," I said as we were trying to figure out our next move.

"But maybe he wants us to think that," Carlisle said.

"It's possible," Edward agreed. "He could be waiting for us to go to Bella and Charlie. To lead him there."

"Or he's figured it out himself," Rosalie said. "Maybe he realized that they went to Phoenix and decided to go straight there."

"Alice would have called," Esme said.

"I'll call her just in case," I said.

At first, she didn't pick up, and I was afraid we were too late. But finally, she answered.

"Hello, dearest brother, what do you want?"

"Have you seen anything?" I demanded.

"Anything? Lots of things."

"About James. We lost him and we think he might be going there."

"I saw something. A ballet studio. Bella said it looked like the one she went to when she was little."

"Bella and ballet? Okay, what did you see?"

"I just saw him there. It's close to Bella's mom's house, so he might have found that."

"Okay, then you need to get out of there. Take Bella and Charlie to Alaska. We'll come down and deal with James."

"All right, um, I'd let you talk to her, but she's sleeping."

"That's fine. I'll call her later. Keep us posted, all right?"

"Sure."

BELLA

I heard Alice talking to Emmett. I wanted so much to run out there and steal the phone, but I knew if I talked to him, he'd figure it out. He'd know something was wrong and then my mom would die.

"What's your plan?" Charlie asked.

"What?"

"He called you, you know how all this vampire stuff works, so what do we do?"

"I can't decide, Alice will see."

"Right."

"So, just follow me everywhere."

"Okay."

We went out into the main room and Alice told us we were leaving. We could make our escape at the airport. We quickly gathered our things and checked out of the hotel. It was already dark outside, so we didn't have to worry about that. Once we arrived at the airport, I realized we would have to leave before we went through the baggage check.

"I have to go to the bathroom," I said. "I'll be right back."

I didn't wait for a reply, but hurried into the ladies room. I would have to hope that Charlie got what I was trying to do.

He did and met me on the other side of the restrooms. I walked out with no plan in mind and Charlie followed. Thankfully, there was an open taxi close by. We got in and gave the driver the address.

Maybe Alice and Jasper would follow us. Maybe not. It didn't really matter now.

EMMETT

"What are you talking about?" I spat into the phone. We had already been running for a few hours when Alice called to let us know that Bella and Charlie had disappeared. I immediately began running faster.

"Bella and Charlie went to the bathroom and didn't come back. Next thing I know, they're in a taxi on their way to the ballet studio." Alice replied.

"Why would they do that?"
"I don't know, but we're heading over there now. Traffic here is atrocious."

"Thanks, can you tell us where this studio is?"

She gave me the address and I hung up.

"Faster," I whispered.

Carlisle and Edward, running beside me went as fast as they could. Edward began disappearing ahead. He would get there first and I could only hope it would be in time.

BELLA

The sun had set when we reached the ballet studio. There was no sign of life anywhere on the street. The studio itself was closed for spring break. I went right up to the door and it was unlocked. Suddenly, Charlie put a hand on my shoulder and signaled to let him go first. Not that it would make any difference, but I let him. It was too quiet inside. I was sure that James was waiting to leap out and scare us.

We went straight into the long room with the all the windows. I could remember being there when I was six years old and just as clumsy.

"Bella, Bella!" The voice jerked me out of my memories.

"Mom!" I ran towards the sound, but then I heard my own six-year-old voice. It was a video tape. He'd tricked us with a home movie. The irony made me slightly sick.

"You like that?"

Charlie and I turned to see James standing in the doorway, blocking our exit. Charlie moved in front of me again. Looking over his shoulder, I could see James had a video camera in one hand. Seriously? This guy was a total creep. I wonder if impending death makes everyone think this way.

He started toward us and we backed away. Unfortunately, we couldn't go through walls. Suddenly, I remembered my bear spray. I wondered if it would work on a vampire. I had carried it with me ever since my little adventure in Port Angeles. With Charlie in front of me, James couldn't see me reach into my purse. I waited until he was close. Then I pressed the can into Charlie's back so he would know what I was doing. Then before James could notice, I sprayed it in his eyes. We took off running for the door, before we could see what happened next.

I guess vampires get over bear spray pretty quickly because James was able to jump in front of us before we reached the door. He didn't look happy.

"Clever," he muttered, and then with one quick movement, he sent Charlie flying across the room and into the wall to my left.

I stifled a cry.

Then James shoved the camera into my face. I registered that Charlie was unconscious and I was probably going to die very soon. Well, I wasn't going down easy. I might have known that would just make it more fun for James. He laughed at every pitiful attempt I made to escape. With each one, I gained a new bruise somewhere.

"It was too easy," James said, after throwing me to the floor one more time. "So we're going to make your friends a little movie. Then maybe we can have some real fun."

I wasn't sure what this meant.

"See, that big one is gonna be pretty angry. Maybe he'll want some revenge? Ha." He reached out and slammed his hand on my leg. I couldn't help screaming.

"Tell him how much it hurts. Tell him to avenge you."

I bit my lip hard and didn't say anything. I knew no matter what, Emmett would go after James and probably get himself killed, but I didn't want to give this monster the satisfaction of hurting Emmett worse.

EDWARD

I got there first. I knew I would. As I approached the ballet studio, I could tell that Bella and Charlie were still alive. I only hoped I was in time to keep them that way. In the split second I had to take everything in, I saw that Charlie was lying by the wall unconscious, but otherwise unharmed. Bella was across the room laying on her back with James over her. I could smell her blood and her right leg seemed to be positioned awkwardly.

James looked up just before I slammed into him. We both went flying across the room and into the back wall. He threw me off immediately and I crashed into one of the many windows. Glass sprayed everywhere. I dropped to my feet and prepared to pounce again, but something had stolen James' attention. A piece of glass had cut Bella's hand and the smell was too much for him.

I was too late. His teeth sunk into her hand and he forgot about me. I flew at him and pressed him against the wall.

"You're the fastest," he spat, "but not the strongest."

I ignored the jab and bit at his neck. He threw me off, but with less force than before. That was all I needed. I could hear the others coming and James was weakening. Before he could mount any kind of defense, Jasper and Alice were with me and we took him down.

EMMETT

I cursed my own inadequacy. I was too late to protect Bella and Charlie. Her leg was broken and her arm was bleeding, or her hand. I couldn't tell. She was crying out for help.

"Make it stop," she said when I reached her.

Carlisle immediately started staunching the blood flowing from her leg and I took her arm. She reacted more to the latter and I couldn't understand why. Then I saw the bite marks.

"Carlisle," I said.

He looked up and I showed him Bella's hand.

"The poison will move quickly," he said.

"Is there no way to stop it?"

"One. You could suck it out."

What I said next is not fit to be printed.

"Either that or let the change occur. Emmett, only you know whether or not you can do this. But I know you will do what has to be done."

I looked down at Bella. I didn't have time for this kind of choice. She was still screaming for me to help her and I realized I couldn't let this happen now. I couldn't let his venom run through her veins and turn her into a monster.

I leaned in close so she could hear me. "I'm gonna make it stop, Bella."

Then I took her hand and brought it to my lips.

BELLA

I felt the searing pain subside as my blood flowed out of me. Very soon, I felt lightheaded and I lost consciousness just as I heard Carlisle say,

"Enough, Emmett! She's losing too much blood!"