An act of kindness

Is what you show to me

None more than I can take

Oh, none more than I can take

Kindness is what you showed to me

It holds me 'till I ache

Overflow and start to break

Oh I, got a feeling this will shake me down

Oh, I'm kind of hoping this will turn me round

And now it follows me every day

Chapter 10: An Act of Kindness

Alice POV:

"No. Absolutely not."

"Alice do you have any other ideas?"

"I can talk to her!"

"You already tried that! It obviously didn't work!"

"Well I can try harder! Anything to avoid that!" Jasper and I were in a heated argument after he revealed his idea on how to get Bella's emotions back.

"Alice."

"No."

"What do you think Liam?" Liam had been extremely quiet for some time, obviously thinking hard.

"I don't want to hurt her Jasper."

"Exactly! And that's exactly what it will do! So no!" I smiled at my brother's defeat.

"However." Say what now? "I can't think of any other way that would work."

"Liam! You can't be serious right now? This is Bella were talking about!"

"I know Alice, I know." He appeared to be on the verge of tears from the situation.

"The day we met you said you would never stand by and watch her get hurt again! And now you're fine being the one doing the hurting?"

"Look this isn't easy on me either!" He finally stood up angrily and pulled on his hair. "But she's obviously already been hurt which is why we're here now! And if we don't get her back soon she'll just end up worse." He sighed in defeat and sat again rubbing his face with worry. Jasper looked at me with the 'I told you so' face and I grumbled in frustration.

"Just, just let me talk to her." Jasper moved to protest again and I hushed him quickly. "One more time. Just let me talk to her one more time, and if it doesn't work-…" I swallowed hard and fought my tears. "If it doesn't work you can go along with Jasper's plan." Everyone nodded in agreement at this deal. I stood up and readied myself for hopefully a successful talk with my mate.

Liam led me downstairs slowly, taking his time with finding his key. Once it was in the door he turned to face me, emotions riddling his face.

"I really really hope this works Alice. I'll be right out here if you need me." I nervously nodded and waited patiently for him to finally open the door.

"Hey Bella." I whispered softly as the door behind me closed shut. She moved her head up and looked what felt like deep into my soul. I walked tentatively towards her and grabbed the spare chair to sit facing across each other.

"Why are you here?" Her throat had a small scratch to it which I knew meant thirst. It pained me to see her like this.

"Same as everyone else. I need you." She rolled her eyes at my statement. "Bella." I cooed at her, trying to have her complete attention. "Do you remember when you ran away from me in Phoenix?" She didn't respond, but I knew she was listening so I continued on. "You were just this little human with this big heart and you ran off to face a known killer vampire. You knew you were probably going to die, but that didn't stop you. You cared so much about your mother that you put her life above your own. That's the girl I fell in love with."

"She sounds incredibly stupid."

"Oh she was." I let out a small laugh at the thought. "But she was oh so brave. And cunning too. Nobody had ever fooled me so well before that day. Amazing what a human with a heart can do."

"Why didn't you just kill her and save yourself the trouble?"

"Because I was in love with her. Painfully so. I would have done anything for her."

"You sound like an extremely weak vampire to me."

"And what, you are strong? Strong because you have no emotions?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I have nothing to hold me back. No ties to remain loyal to. Nothing to take care of and waste my energy and time on."

"Is that what I am to you? A waste of energy and time?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe you. That's not what the Bella deep inside you thought. The one buried down in that heart of yours."

"Can I ask you something?" I was taken aback by her sudden question, but remained focused on my goal.

"Of course."

"You keep saying that I have this other being inside of me, buried deep. And this other being thinks completely differently than I."

"Correct."

"But have you not thought that if this creature is inside of me as you say, that it does think like me, just doesn't say so?"

"Because I know her." I shook my head in rebuttal.

"But do you? You didn't even know of her true sire until mere hours ago. You didn't know her heart's true desires. You obviously don't know this girl you claim to love so much at all." Her words hit me like a dagger.

"I know her Bella."

"Obviously you do not. I do. She is, as you say, inside of me. I can remember all her secret thoughts. I remember all the times she craved real blood instead of the human food you gave her. I remember the way she missed killing people."

"No she didn't. She always felt guilty about that. Remember? You asked for their forgiveness."

"Are you sure? Are you sure I wasn't lying to have you trust me. Look at my job Alice. Look at how happy it made me. Do you want to know why?"

"Because you were doing good in the world."

"Wrong. It was because I could kill. I could kill in a way that proved to your liking."

"That's not true!" I stood up in frustration. This was exactly what Carlisle had warned me of. Bella was pushing me away and manipulating my mind so I would give up.

"How do you know? You know nothing about me."

"I do! You are my wife! My soulmate!"

"Then why do you not know all my secrets?" She tilted her head at an angle to stare at me curiously.

"I-" I didn't know what to say. She was right, I didn't know some things about her. "I-I'm sorry." I couldn't stand being in the room with her gazing at me anymore. I knocked on the door for Liam to let me back out. He grimaced painfully when he saw my crying face re-enter the hall. "I'm sorry Liam I tried."

"I know Alice." He sighed and put his arm around me to lead me back upstairs. "I'm sorry too."

No one said anything when we came up and walked towards my room. They knew I had failed.

"Do you want to be there?" He asked hesitantly as I sat down on my bed.

"No. No I don't think I could." He nodded understandingly and went to leave me alone. "Just tell me when it's over." He paused and turned back to me. His voice sounded heavy, probably dreading what he was about to do.

"I will."

Liam POV:

"Carlisle do you have it ready?"

"Yes, unfortunately." He handed me the syringe carefully.

"Alright." I looked up at the room, everyone was watching. "Before I do this, does anyone else have any other ideas?" There was a slight pause, followed by a bunch of slow head shaking.

"Do you need me to come down there with you?" Carlisle asked for support.

"No. No one should have to bear watching this." I took a deep breath and made my way back once again downstairs, hating every step I made. I thought back to how I was talked into making this journey in the first place.

"You are not going to like it."

"Tell me."

"Well, think about it. What's the most painful thing she's ever experienced?"

"Thinking she lost Alice." I replied cautiously. We couldn't very well do the same thing the Volturi did, that involved killing an innocent being.

"No not that."

"I don't know. Being tortured day after day by the Volturi." Jasper grimaced and nodded at me.

"Yes but specifically." The atmosphere in the room changed immediately. I stared at him, worried where this was going. Knowing I understood what he meant, he pressed on. "And who does she trust most in this world?"

"Alice." Alice jumped at being brought into this horrible conversation.

"No Liam. She trusts you the most. Everyone knows that." He whispered, choosing his words wisely. I was still confused on his plan, but it hit me like a brick wall all at once.

"No. No! I would never fucking do that!" Everyone else seemed to catch on after my outburst and started shouting at Jasper as well.

"Easy! Everyone calm down! I'm not telling him to do that. He just has to lead her into believing he will."

"No!" I said again, pissed at his very thinking.

"Just listen alright? She'll feel betrayed, hurt, and scared. Three huge overpowering emotions. Her emotions will be back in no time." While it made sense, I still had serious qualms.

"Ok. Ok let's just say I agree to do this." There was another large flare-up at my words but I held my hand up for silence. "Which I'm not saying I am! She would never believe me. She knows I would never go through with something like that."

"She would, if she were under the influence of venom and drugs."

There was hours of arguing after that. It came close to a day for everyone to reach the same conclusion. Eventually it became clear that this was our only option. Carlisle and Esme had done hours of extended research on the web to find any stories of vampires without their humanity turning it back on. There was absolutely nothing. This was our one hope. If it worked, Bella would hate me forever. It didn't matter if I didn't go through with it, she would still have the moment she believed it to be true scorched in her mind. But it was either have my best friend hate me, or never have her again. I wasn't a selfish person.

I paused in front of the door, trying to get into the character of a horrible person. Maybe I already was a horrible person for agreeing to do this. Probably. This was the most important part. If she didn't believe me, even under great mental stress, then there really was no hope. I was the last basket, and everyone had their eggs in me. Whatever happened from here on out, was for Bella.

I walked in quietly, as not to wake her of my presence yet. The syringe in my hand shook violently. I looked away as I inserted it into her neck and pushed its contents within her body. My stomach was sick.

Bella awoke with a start from the needle, scanning the room with confusion before it hit her.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I willed my eyes to go black, thinking about blood, and growled lowly.

"I'm tired Bella. I'm tired of waiting." She slumped weakly back into the chair, the drugs did that. I ripped off her chains and pulled her up by the neck. "If you refuse to feel, I will make you." I threw her against the nearest wall with a force I only dared to use on my enemies.

"What the fuck are you doing?" A flash of panic crossed her face at my attitude. That was a good sign. I pushed myself even harder, fighting every instinct in my body.

"What does it look like? I'm going to make you feel again. And I'm going to start with pain." That was true. I swooped in on her like a hawk and threw her body once again, this time on the floor. Another wave of fear was seen on her face.

"Stop. Liam stop!" Her emotions were still off, but the two creatures inside her were fighting. One was telling her to be afraid, the other was convincing her to feel nothing. I grabbed her wrists harshly and pinned them above her head. Alice please forgive me.

"Stop what?" I ran my finger down her face like Caius always used to do. She struggled, but the drugs were too strong.

"You wouldn't." Her whisper was a cross between a dare and a fearful question. I growled again and trailed my finger down her body. The growling was actually from what I was currently doing, but I'm sure to Bella it sounded hungry.

"I think I will." I grabbed the front of her pants roughly. This was it. If she didn't turn it on right now, it was over. I wasn't going any further than this. Her belt was in my hand, ready to snap with my pressure, when I heard the most agonizing howl. A vampire without emotions would never have made that sound.

"Stop! Stop stop! Please!" She pushed fruitlessly against my shoulder, helplessly weak. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and I'd never seen her look so scared in my life. I jumped off of her immediately.

"Bella? Bella I stopped! Bella I would never hurt you I swear! I only wanted to make you believe I would. Please look at me?" She was squirming away, obviously still in a panic. I was a monster. "Carlisle! Carlisle, Jasper please help her!" I had run outside and called out. They were down in a flash, pushing me away to comfort Bella. Rosalie had run down too, she was the only one's touch who Bella did not shy away from.

"Ssshhhhh. Bella I'm right here. No one is going to hurt you. Not ever again. Just stay with me. Keep fighting. Alice will be here soon." Rosalie looked up at me obviously to tell me and go get her. I nodded and ran upstairs quickly, my shaking was horrible.

"Alice! Alice, Bella needs you now!" She immediately jumped out of her room and stormed downstairs to get to her mate in need. I stayed where I was, sinking to the floor in anguish. I sobbed uncontrollably for what I had done. There was no forgetting that face. That face that thought I had betrayed her in the worst way possible.

"She'll forgive you Liam." Rosalie had returned up without my knowledge and sat down next to me.

"How? How could one possibly forgive that?" She leaned in on my shoulder, to let me know she herself had already forgiven me.

"Because you had to have really loved her to do something as selfless as that."