So yeah...I suck at updating...ONWARD...

DISCLAIMER: I own none of our favorite faces...But I do own Lucian and that makes me smile.

Hunter's Map-----Fionn Regan

Who was that fox caught in that trap, laid with hunter's map

Black Balloon-----Goo Goo Dolls

And I go on as you get colder, or are you someone's prayer

We sped along the highway twisting and turning as the road took us. Jasper had been sending jokes my way and had been in constant contact through the radio the entire trip so far. But Lucian had been silent in his self induced temper tantrum. As soon as we made it to the location we would need to hash this all out. I wasn't going to go into the fight with him acting like this.

The weather got colder the further north we drove. By the time we were in the Czech Republic, I was glad that I had put on my coat before leaving Italy. The December wind was a killer.

We were making good time. I was glad that we had been taking the backwoods highways the entire trip. We hadn't encountered any other cars and I had been pushing 110 the whole way. Not my safest decision but we were on a time crunch.

We crossed the border into Poland at 1 am. We had about an hour and a half left of the drive before we hit our mark: the warehouse Krane's father had owned for his shoe factory, many, many years ago.

The last leg of the journey took no time at all and before I could really even blink, we were pulling up on the outskirts of Warsaw; Krane's warehouse was about 500 yards in front of us.

"Ok Jasper, you know what to do. Go set up the roof with the explosives." He nodded and darted off into the night.

"Lucian we need to discuss some stuff," I said grabbing his arm to keep him from running on ahead.

He shook off my hand and glared at me. "What," he bit off tersely.

"What is wrong with you?"

He looked as if he wanted to spit something sarcastic at me but changed his mind. "Subtlety really isn't your strong suit is it?"

I knew he was upset but really, this little hissy fit had gone on long enough. Now he was just being a child. "Would you stop acting like a little bitch! You have been downright cold and awful to me this last month and a half and it needs to stop."

"Well you haven't been that kind to me either, parading around in front of me with the person who virtually killed you ten years ago."

That stung. Lucian had no right to use that as an argument because he wasn't there to put me back together. He couldn't possibly understand because all he knew was what Jake had told him...which wasn't much.

I sent him a defeated look and shook my head. "What do you want me to say?"

"Why not me?" He asked grabbing my hands in his. "We were happy right? Yeah I know we broke up a lot but we were happy."

"Lucian, we don't work. Don't you think there was a reason why we broke up all those times? I drive you nuts Lu, and you piss me off. We just don't work together."

He tightened his grip on my hands. "We can change Bells. I'll stop being such a pompous ass. Can you just give us one more try," he said. I started to shake my head but he cut me off. "I love you Bella. One more try."

I hugged him close in what I feared would be the last time when I told him my answer. "Lucian, I love you too, and I always will. But I can't keep trying to make something work that can't be fixed. You may be able to stop pissing me off, but I can't change the things that bother you. I hurt you, and I can't do it anymore...I don't want to do it anymore," I whispered to him.

"Why is he different from me?" Lucian asked quietly, afraid to know my answer.

"I fell in love with someone who I gave my entire heart to. It was more than that, like I gave him my soul to replace his own. And when he stomped all over it, I stopped being me. And I hated him, for so long, I hated him. But that hate grew to indifference, and that indifference turned back into a friendship which eventually grew into love once more. It is exactly the same as the first time.

"There is just something to him that keeps me. And without my knowledge or permission, I gave him my heart and soul again. And I know he will keep it this time."

Lucian looked at me for a while not saying anything. I hoped he could understand what Edward was to me, because I didn't want to have to choose between my best friend and my hero.

In the distance a small flash of white shot off into the sky. Jasper had finished rigging the roof and was guarding the doors. Now it was time to move in.

Lucian took one last look at me. "Whatever," he said shortly before dashing off towards the warehouse.

"Lucian," I shouted after him. But he didn't slow or even make a notion that he heard me. So I took off after him towards the dark warehouse.

The night was silent and I eased the door open and slid into the dark room. From what I could gather, this was an anteroom, probably where the reception desk was located. My eyes scanned the darkness looking for anything that might cause trouble. There was a scuffle off to my left and I ripped the glock out of my pants and held it aloft. I edged closer to where the noise came from and was instantly knocked back by the smell of burning flesh. I cursed my luck that we were too late to help whoever it was that had the misfortune of running into Krane. I pulled out my small flashlight and pushed open the door.

The beam of light swept across the floor and when I pointed it into the air, I covered my mouth to stifle my cry. Hanging from the rafters of the small storeroom were three teenaged children. All were stripped naked and had been torched, most likely alive. I crossed myself and pulled the door shut.

I turned back into the lobby and tried to gather myself. I heard heavy footsteps above me. Someone was up there. I just hoped Jasper was still guarding the doors outside incase whoever it was tried to run.

I made my way to another door and opened it. More darkness but it was a hall way this time instead of a store room. Where is Lucian. It was stupid for him to run off ahead. Yeah he is pissed but jeeze whatever happened at checking your emotions at the door. Being alone wasn't safe for him or myself. We were stronger together.

I continued down the hall checking rooms and turning up empty handed. A few had been rigged and I had two close calls that left me reeling. I was getting skittish when I heard Lucian's voice shouting at the end of the hall. There was a shattering of glass and the rev of what sounded like a saw blade before I heard him scream. And I took off running.

All thoughts left my head as I tore through that dank and dark hallway. My own safety flew out the window because nothing else mattered except the primal need to keep my best friend safe.

It seemed as if the hallway was just getting longer the more I ran. Or perhaps I was just slowing down. Whatever the case, the longer it took to get to Lucian, the more danger he was in. As I tore through the hall the electricity flickered to life and I staggered at the drastic change. Bleary eyed, I reached the end of the hall and broke through the door. And what I saw stabbed me in the heart.

I stopped cold and started hyperventilating. My steps were staggered as I tumbled my way towards the conveyer belt. The smell of fresh blood hung in the air.

By the time I reached him, I was nearly blind with tears. He laid there limp, hanging off the conveyer belt; his only support was his leg sawed half off and lodged in the chains that moved the belt along. And I couldn't stop the sobs when Lucian opened his eyes and looked at me.

I rushed to him and cradled him to my chest. He made to try to speak but I stopped him short. "Don't talk," I said looking towards his leg to find a way to get him out. "Save your strength. We need to get your leg free so I can get you out of here."

"What about Krane," Lucian wheezed before turning his head and coughing blood onto the floor.

"Fuck Krane, I don't care. I have to get you out of here."

He shook his head and grasped my hand. "We both know you're lying. And we both know that I won't be getting out."

"No don't, I'll get you out. I have to," I chocked out through the constant stream of tears. But my hands stayed wrapped protectively around his chest, holding him to me.

He squeezed my hand through another coughing fit and when it subsided he looked me in the eye. "I need to know that you will be happy. When you off this fucker and you will off him, I need to know that you will be happy. Can Edward make you happy?"

"Really…now?" Was he seriously asking me this now? But instead of chastising him like I wanted too, the look on his face told me to stop. "Yes, he makes me more happy than I can ever remember being. But what does it matter?"

"It matters because now I can go…and know that I at least…did one thing right in my life. If I hadn't let…you go over to the house that night…then you wouldn't…have him," he chocked out before coughing some more. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his through my sobs.

"Bella, listen to me," he said as his eyes took on a glimmer of fright. "This is a trap. Your logic was wrong…and it played right into his hand. Nik's team found Jane. They radioed in about five minutes ago. She was in his childhood house. We were wrong. And we've been betrayed. Krane is..."

But he never finished. I heard the snap of the bullet before it hit Lucian square in the gut. "Oh just die already."

My neck craned at the sound of his voice but I couldn't even get anything out or register the fact that Lucian just died in my arms, before I felt the sharp blow to the base of my skull. And everything was dark.

Epov

I sat stiffly in my seat as I heard the promises of what we could have as members of the guard passed by my ears. But I wasn't paying any attention to them. I was too busy listening to the tenor of the three old men's thoughts. Marcus thought that my mind reading abilities would be a useful trick to have, but he really didn't care one way or another. With the prospect of mine and Alice's powers at his disposal, Aro was vividly planning the final demise of the Romanian ancients he had stolen the thrown from centuries ago. And Caius was too busy picturing Alice naked that I couldn't tell how he really felt about our gifts. But he did cause a disgusted shudder to run through me when I caught sight of his shriveled naked form.

I looked over at my favorite sister and noticed that she was sitting stark still and her eyes had glazed over. I quickly shifted my focus to her sight and it was horrific. A dark figure was busy tightening the nooses around the necks of three terrified young adults. After pulling them aloft, the man set the floor below them aflame and left them gasping for air and crying out in horror and pain. He shut the door behind him and a second figure entered the view. The first turned to the second and said, "This ought to light a fire under her. She always luscious when she is pissed off." They both laughed manically before entering a narrow hallway. Alice's vision petered out after that. She chanced a glance at me that told me what we needed to do.

Bella had warned us that if anyone caught wind of anything related to Krane, to keep it away from the Volturi at all costs. She was certain that the lords would try to have some say in how we were going to fight him and Bella wasn't going to have any of that. The look on her face had been down right scary during the entire conversation causing every one of us to heed her words. We need to speed things up here Edward, Alice spoke.

As Aro continued to drone on, completely oblivious to my shared conversation with my sister, he seemed to be thrown off guard when she politely interrupted him. "I apologize your lordship, but this is a great deal for my brother and I to sift through. We have heard what you can offer us and we will think about it…but I must call it a day."

"I am terribly sorry my dear," he said, however he was anything but. "I did not realize how late it had gotten. Of course you may be dismissed. All I ask is that you think about our offer and let us know. You would be the most welcome addition to ever grace the guard."

"We thank you for putting so much faith in us your Lordship," Alice said sweetly, offering them a curtsey. She tugged on hem of my shirt when I didn't off a bow of my own. I glared at her but bowed nonetheless. After righting ourselves, we hastened to the door.

Only when we were safely down the hall and one floor up did Alice speak to me. "I don't know how Bella can put up with that. I was about ready to rip my ears off out of annoyance."

"At least you didn't have to witness Caius picturing you naked for an hour and a half," I replied.

"Belch, why did I need to know that? Oh, I need to go scrub," Alice gave a violent shudder. After calming back down, she looked back at me. "Go find Demetri. Felix should be with him; tell them what I saw. Bella said that they would know what to do." I started to run ahead but paused as Alice continued. "Oh and call the family to meet in Carlisle's room. I'll go find Bella." And with that we took off in opposite directions.

I dialed Jasper's number and he picked up right away. I gave him the scoop and he said that he would let Rose and Emmett know. Apparently they were being rather loud in their escapades and Jasper was having quite the time sending them different emotions that were completely killing the mood next door. I laughed and hung up the phone.

I zipped my way toward Demetri's quarters and knocked on his door. His tall and lithe frame opened the door shortly after. I could see Felix slouched in an overstuffed chair by the window. "Mr. Cullen, what can I do for you?"

"Sorry for the intrusion Demetri. My sister Alice and I believe that we have witnessed the first attack."

He needed no other words to spring him into action. "I thank you for letting me know. Felix," he turned and barked over his shoulder. Felix grunted in acknowledgement. "Get your ass up Bitch! It's time to go shank some tossers." Felix grunted again and I chuckled as Demetri shut the door in my face.

Shaking my head I turned and made my way to Carlisle and Esme's room.

We all sat quietly and listened as Bella went over the plan of attack. But once Bella split us into groups I had to quickly mask my glower. I had been banking on being in her group this entire time. It had never even crossed my mind that she would put me somewhere else.

I was irritated once we broke apart and went to our rooms. I slammed my door and threw myself down on the bed in a huff. How was I supposed to fight knowing that she could be in danger? If I was with her at least I would know if anything happened and would be there to help her out of it. There was no way I would be able to fight without her by my side.

With the resolve to tell her all of this, I heaved my frame off the bed and opened the door that conjoined our rooms. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I took sight of her. She was bent over fastening the buckle on her boot and when she stood back up, I had to fight to stay upright. Bella was dressed in all black; a pair of loose fitting fatigues was covering her legs and a black long sleeved mock neck shirt that looked to be painted on was adorning her frame. Her once curly hair was now sitting snug to her head in tight braids.

I had never seen her this way before and the effect was disarming. She looked so much like a warrior, and the effect was turning me on. I sat there in a daze for I don't even know how long. But once Bella raised her eyebrow at me in confusion, I snapped my self out of my stupor.

I explained to her the reason why I needed to be in her group and I expected her to tell me to suck it up and deal with it. But I never expected the answer that I got. "I won't be able to fight at all if you are with me because all I would be able to do is try to keep you safe. I wouldn't be able to do what I have to do because I would be too worried about you."

"You have no reason to worry about me Bella, I am more than capable to handle it," I replied pulling her closer to me.

"And you don't need to worry about me. I've fought this guy before, albeit ending badly, but I have become so much stronger in the last four years. I know I can beat him now Edward."

I still had my reservations about her fighting without me. I had never seen her fight so I didn't know if she was truly as good as she said. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want to get hurt either," She replied making me laugh. I think she could tell that I still wasn't comfortable with the idea so she came up with the plan of sparing with me to show me what she could do.

We walked down the hall to one of the empty rooms and shut ourselves in. After clearing the furniture from the middle of the room, we both took opposite sides. After taunting me a bit about using my full strength on her, I sank into a crouch. And before she even had time to counter me, I sprang across the room at her.

Bella just barely dodged me and by the time I had turned to face her again, she was in her fighting stance. The girl had good form. She was low to the ground cutting off the opening to her center of gravity. She was also light on her feet as we circled each other. I waited for her to attack but she never did. So I sprang at her again, and again she was just out of reach. Bella was a defensive fighter…and a good one at that.

I watched as her eyes followed my movements and noticed when an excited glint took over them. What did you find darling? There was no way she would beat me. And once I proved it to her I would make her put me in her group. With this new determination I jumped for her once last time.

And she didn't even move out of the way. I knew I had her. My fingers reached for her throat but came up with nothing but air. And I found myself falling to the floor with a thud. I looked up and there she was straddling my waist. When did this happen? How did this happen? I had her!

"I told you I could handle myself," she whispered in my ear.

Her words caused a shiver to run down my spine. "I guess you're right," I responded breathlessly. She got up off me and held out her hand. I grasped hold of it and she hauled me up off the floor. Hand in hand we walked out into the hallway.

"I know how you fight Edward and I know you can handle yourself. I just don't want to see you fighting, because God forbid, if you fall, I will too."

I stopped her outside her door and looked deep into her eyes. "How will I know that you are safe if I can't see you with my own eyes?"

"All you have to do is believe in me and I will be okay," Bella replied softly. My arms wrapped around her and I rested my forehead against hers. And without my permission, my head bent down and I felt my lips brush hers. Too long…it has been far too long. I finally felt like I could breathe again after all this time. I had spent too many years choking that I had forgotten how sweet it was to breathe. And when she began to pull away, I just pulled her right back and continued to breathe with her.

I breathed her for as long as I could before I had to let her go so she could breathe for real. Her face was flushed and it was still the same shade of crimson that I loved. It took Bella a few moments to right herself and when she did she looked up at me. I had been hoping to finally hear her say it, because I knew within the depths of my hollow body, that she felt it too. And when she opened her mouth to speak, nothing could wipe the smile from my face. "Go pack, because we leave in ten minutes." The door shut in my face…and my smile was wiped clean. Apparently I was mistaken.

I shook my head in amusement and opened my door. I hustled around the room and threw a myriad of crap into my rucksack. I had a change of clothes just like Bella had requested and I also threw in a jacket for good measure. It was sure to get windy tonight and I wanted to have something to cut it back a little.

I looked over at the night table next to the bed for a beat before walking over to it and sitting down. My hand hovered over the drawer as I tried to decide if what resided in that drawer was really necessary. Bella had said that Krane would have humans fighting along side him. Within myself I had the power to destroy anything but I didn't relish the thought of my bare hands killing anyone. I had done too much of that in the past. And when I converted back to the vegetarian lifestyle, I promised that I would never let my venom destroy any human ever again.

I guess that decided it. I pulled out the drawer and removed the little pistol from its hiding place. It had been my father's and had been passed down to every male in the Massen family. It had originally belonged to my grandfather of four generations prior. It was part of the stock supplies that every soldier in the Revolutionary war possessed.

My father had passed away before he could pass it down to me. About twenty years after my change, I went back to the Massen estate in Chicago and rutted through all of our belongings. I had been there for a week cleaning out the place so it could be livable for Carlisle, Esme and I. I remember finding the small pistol in the back of the closet in my father's study. It had always been one of my favorite items of his to look at while I was human. I could still remember what he told me it meant. "Edward, this pistol is a symbol of our responsibility to keep the ones we love safe. When you have someone worth protecting, it will belong to you." My father never got the chance to give it to me. I took it that night even though I had not found someone to protect.

I had never fired it. Hell, I didn't even know if it still worked. But it would be a comfort to have a little bit of my history with me tonight. I had never felt right about taking the gun from my father's belongings before I was ready. But finally I felt that shame washing clean. I had finally found someone to protect. Even if I couldn't be with her physically, I would be protecting Bella with it tonight.

I stuck the pistol in the waistband of my jeans and slung my rucksack over my shoulder. I flicked off the lights as I entered the hall. I made a quick stop at Jasper and Alice's room to see if they were ready to head down to the bridge. Jasper informed me that his wife was still in the process of "gearing up for war", whatever that meant, so I made my way down to the drawbridge without them.

Emmet and Rose were there along with my parents. They were talking quietly with Jacob and Nikolina, probably going over some last minute details. I directed my steps toward her and pulled up beside Bella. After wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I pressed a kiss to her temple.

Jasper and Alice appeared a few moments later and I heard Bella erupt into a fit of giggles. I turned to see what had her so worked up when I caught sight of my sister. I couldn't stop my laughter either. I didn't bother to ask Alice about her wardrobe because I knew I would get some kind of snide remark thrown back at me. But Bella had the guts to ask her. And just like I knew she would, Alice let the snide remark fly.

I felt Bella pull away from my side to address the lot of us. I instantly missed the completeness I felt when I held her. "Alright, we all know where we are going. Krane could be at anyone of these locations as could Jane. She is most likely with him so if you find one, radio back to the rest of us and we'll be en-rout to your location. If you encounter Krane, be prepared for the fight to end all fights. Keep calm and remember everything about fighting that you have learned in your long, long years on this planet. Good luck everyone," Bella said to us. It was a good pep talk.

She sat herself down on her motorcycle and was about it kick it alive when I appeared at her side. "Be safe," was all I said to her before kissing her long and deep. I pulled away leaving her breathless and red in the face. I gently fastened the strap on her helmet and brushed my fingers down her red cheek. I took one last look at her before hopping over to the sleek black sedan and climbing in after my mother. The car shot off down the road and I watched through the back window as Bella fired up her bike and took off after us.

The car stayed constant at a speed of 120 miles per hour as we wove our way along the back roads of rural Europe. The sky had darkened considerably since we had set out on this mission; a storm was coming. I could only hope that Alice wasn't wrong about our time frame.

Bella's group was a constant sentinel behind us as we cruised through the night. But when we hit Warsaw, our car hung a left for the center of the city, while she flew passed us headed for the outskirts. And just like that, my sense of security disappeared. We were on our own.

I focused my attention to the task at hand. I rolled down the window to catch any scent I could and was instantly assaulted with the scents of at least eight vampires.

"Anything Edward," Esme asked from her spot next to me. I saw Emmett's eyes flick to the rearview mirror so I knew he was listening.

"I'm getting around eight distinct tangs. What about you Nikolina?"

Nik had been hanging her head out the window and pulled back in when I called out to her. "I can't be positive since all are very similar, but I think there are at least ten of them. For the rest of the short drive, we talked strategy and who was going to go where.

Krane's childhood home came into view and I was stunned. From what Bella had said about him, I figured his family would have lived in a descent sized home. I knew the family had been rich, but I didn't know that they were obscene. The family home was easily twice the size of our home in Forks. It was no wonder why his family was targeted during the Nazi invasions.

Lights were burning when we pulled up the drive so we knew we were in the right place. Now we just had to find out if we were in the correct place. Emmett shut off the car at the entrance of the property and we scurried into the bushes to escape detection. "Nik and I will go in first and head for the roof to set up," Emmett said in a hushed voice; an obvious strain for him. "Once we give you the signal that we have cleared the roof Esme, you and Edward take opposite sides of the house. Ed, you take the back with Nik and Esme and I will take the front. Watch for the signal." And with that, Emmett and Nik took off and melted into the dark night.

Esme and I sat quietly in the darkness. I tried to tune out the tenor of her mind, wanting absolute silence to spend this time in. And it worked for awhile, until I heard her project out to me. Are you alright Edward? You were withdrawn the entire trip here.

I broke my gaze from my interlocked fingers and looked at her. I didn't reply to her, only letting a sigh escape me. She will be fine Edward. Bella is probably the strongest one out of all of us. And she has the added bonus of fighting this tyrant before.

"I know all of this Esme and I believe you. But I still can't shake the feeling that Bella was wrong about something. It's like we are missing one crucial detail," I said running my hands through my hair. "I also don't like the fact that I am away from her. I know that she is an excellent fighter; we spared earlier today. But I can't get this ache out of my chest. It feels like I have lost her."

"You haven't lost her Edward, and you won't lose her. All you need to do is believe in her, and Bella will be able to do what needs to be done." I looked at Esme with wide eyes. Bella had said the same thing. "You're not alone in this feeling. We all are feeling it right now since we are all separated. That ache we feel is the manifestation of the stark fear we all have that we will lose our mates. But it goes away if you believe that they will be fine. I don't feel it now because I know Carlisle will pull through. Believe that she will be fine, and she will be."

"Has anyone ever told you that you are one smart lady," I asked her, causing her to stifle a giggle.

"Not recently," She replied just as a jet of white light shot into the air. "They've cleared the roof. I'll see you back here soon." And with a squeeze to my hand, Esme darted off for the front of the house.

I took off into the night in the direction of the back. The grass was wet with the early morning dew and it was springy under my feet. I wasn't running at my full speed so it took a little bit longer to reach the back of the house. As I was rounding the corner, Nik was waiting for me at the back door. "We good," I asked her.

"Let's do this thing," She replied pulling something out of one of the pockets on her pants. She unrolled a pair of thin metal sticks and put both of them into the doorknob. She looked up at me quickly before continuing. "I picked these lock picks up in the Kazakhstan while on a mission with Lucian. They are the best I have ever used. Now, once we get in, we need to fan out. Emmett is taking the basement and Esme is on the main floor. We'll both take the second and third floors. We need to be quick." And the lock clicked on the door. Nikolina placed her tools back into her pocket and opened the door as silently as possible.

We crept our way through the kitchen and into one of the front rooms in search of the staircase. I saw Esme as she silently approached one of the many vampires in the house. He was reclined back on a couch reading a book. And he must have been really engrossed with it because he didn't even smell my mother coming. She was upon him and snapping his neck before he even noticed she was there.

We hurried up the stairs and entered the first room we came to. It appeared to be an office of some kind. Papers littered the floor and desk and books that had been pulled from the shelves were lying haphazardly all over the room. I noticed the glow of the computer screen and went to sit myself down at it.

I rifled through the open documents and noted the contents. A whole lot of money had been deposited into a Swiss bank account recently, and there were the numbers of other accounts that the money was being filtered in to. Another document showed detailed floor plans of an enormous complex in Canada. I couldn't find a name for the building I was looking at. And the last document contained scans of two birth certificates…twins.

The door creaked open and a shaft of light illuminated me at the computer and Nikolina hunched over the desk looking at some of the printed documents. We both looked up to take in the shocked look of the two humans before us. They didn't waste anytime drawing knives from their pockets and rushing at us. Nik and I sprang apart and each took one on.

He rushed me and slashed at me, cutting a slice into my shirt. Before I even had time to register the fact that my favorite shirt was ruined, he had come at me again…this time his shot was more effective. It had been a long time since I had felt a knife wound and I remembered why I hated them. I wrenched the man's hand off of the knife and threw him across the room.

I looked down at my chest and the knife sticking out of it. These things hurt almost as bad as venom wounds. I gently grasped the hilt and pulled it from my flesh. The wound instantly sealed itself. By now my assailant had righted himself and was running towards me. I tossed the knife in his direction and it embedded itself into chest. My attacker fell to the floor shouting in pain.

I turned to see Nik finishing off her attacker who was shouting in pain as well. Way to make our presence known guys. We quickly shut the two in the room and moved down the hall.

After three more rooms and three more attacks we headed for the third floor. There was a vampire at the end of the hall guarding the door so I knew something important was behind it. We ran down the hall and both sprang into the air as the vampire attacked. I collided with him and kept him busy while Nikolina worked on picking open the locked door.

I had to give him credit. This vampire knew how to fight. But he was nowhere near my level. I dodged a few attacks before finally getting a good hold on his head. Wrenching it from his body, I threw it down the hall and listened as it bounced down the stairs. The rest of his body fell to the floor.

I turned back to Nikolina who had gotten the door unlocked. She pushed it open and we found ourselves in what appeared to be a dark playroom. Dusty wooden toys littered the floor and a broken rocking horse sat in the corner. I looked up as I heard a scuffle and a moan of pain coming form across the room. A small girl was bound and gagged and was lying face down on the floor. Nik and I rushed over to her and turned her over. I was instantly hit with a thousand fire tipped knives. I dropped to the floor grasping my head in agony, trying to bite back the pain.

And when it felt like I couldn't take it any longer, it vanished. I slowly sat up to see Nik on top of the little girl with her knee in her back and bared teeth at her neck. The girl was struggling but was losing the battle. "If I let you go, will you play nice with my friend here?" Nik asked in a sinister voice.

The girl glared at me one last time before nodding her head. Nikolina pulled back and got up off of her, pulling the gag out of the girl's mouth. "I think you cracked my spine fat ass," She spit at Nik. I saw my friend's eyes flash and I had to wrap my arms around her chest to keep her from attacking the girl on the floor.

"We could very easily leave you here tied up on the floor," I tossed back at her. She looked at me with a sneer. "Your name is Jane right?"

"Give the man a prize," she spit at me.

"Do you want us to leave you here, because we can easily do that? Aro and the boys won't be happy but I think I'd rather deal with them than listening to you bitch some more," Nik said taking a seat on the floor in front of Jane.

I noticed her ears prick at the mention of Aro. "Why do you speak his name?"

I sat down next to Nikolina. "He sent us to find you and bring you back."

She glared at us again before replying, "Good luck with that. I thought it was a blessing when Krane stole me out of that compound. But I think I would rather be back in that disgusting science lab getting shot with those UV darts now that I know what he really had taken me for."

"We know all about it, so save us the sob story," Nik said leaning over towards her. Jane instantly recoiled.

"Why don't we let the vampire unlock me wolf, I don't think I could last the short time it takes with your smell in my nose."

"Is there any way you can shut her up for me Edward?"

"Not any way that is legal Nik," I replied taking the tools from her outstretched hand. I made quick work of the lock and once I had it open, I unwound the chains from Jane's small wrists and ankles.

"Thank you, those were starting to get annoying," Jane said rubbing her wrists.

"Can you walk," I asked her. She nodded her head in affirmation. "Good, then let's get moving. Nik, call the others."

We made our way out of the room and into the hallway. I was still wary, keeping my eyes out for any more assailants. Emmett and Esme were tossing body parts into a fire in the back yard when we reached them. "Oh wonderful," Esme exclaimed, rushing over to us and taking Jane's hands into her own. "I do hope you are alright dear."

"I'm fine Grandma, now let me go," Jane spit the insult back at my mother.

Esme let go of her hands and walked over to me. "She isn't very nice now is she?" I just shook my head and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. "Is Nikolina calling the others?"

I was about to answer her when I caught wind of what Nik was actually saying. She had the phone on speaker so we could all hear. "Lucian, we found her. Yeah she was being held on the third floor of the house. No we are all fine. I don't know what Bella was talking about; there has been no sign of Krane anywhere. But we did find a room full of documents that incriminate him for a bunch of shady shit."

"That is good news Nik. I guess since you haven't found Krane just keep her there for now. Bells and I are still searching the warehouse but we should…" A door opened and what sounded like metal hitting metal rang out over the line. "What the hell…what are you…"But Lucian never finished. Over the line we could hear what sounded like a buzz saw and then a scream of pain.

"LUCIAN!!!!" Nik screamed. His shouts of pain cut off abruptly as the line went dead.

Nik dropped her phone to the ground and fell to her knees. I was instantly by her side shaking her. Her eyes, once full of light and amusement, were now dull and lifeless. She brought her hand up and started rubbing her chest. "It hurts Ed."

"Nik, what's happening," Emmett asked coming over to her other side. He helped me lay her back to the ground.

"It hurts to breathe. It feels like my heart is being shredded."

"Everything is going to be fine Nik. We don't know what exactly happened. It probably wasn't even Lucian screaming."

"The why does it feel like I am pumping acid instead of blood, Emmett?"

I knew she was right. Something had happened to Lucian. Jacob had told me of the bond between the Durang and their protector. It was something so strong and deep that it transcended time and distance. Jake had told me that he could always feel Bella and could tell when she needed him. He felt what she felt…and vice versa.

So if Nik was reacting this way, it meant that Lucian was severely hurt. My mind flashed to Bella. I would know if she were hurt right? Whatever happened to Lucian could just as easily happen to her. I don't care what he told us, I was going to that warehouse. "Let's go guys. We need to help."

Emmett gathered Nikolina in his arms and we rushed for the car. But as we rounded the corner an unexpected obstacle blocked our path. Apparently, one of the adversaries in the house had somehow gotten word out that there was an attack, because about fifty yards in front of our car stood a line of twenty adversaries.

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