Disclosure: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and all of its characters.
The next day, Alice and Charlotte came over for an impromptu girl's day. Within minutes of arriving, Charlotte managed to drag Jessica out to get makeover supplies. As soon as the door closed behind them, Alice turned to me with a very serious expression on her face. It was strange to see her usually smiling face, looking so concerned.
Without any preamble, Alice said, "Jasper and Peter went to try and track down Victoria last night." Nervously, I nodded for her to continue. She proceeded to tell me everything that they had found so far.
Apparently, Jasper and Peter located five unsupervised newborns. Alice explained that this was simply a term used for the first year of a vampire's life. The newborns were in an abandoned warehouse in New Jersey. The warehouse and surrounding area still held the scent of Victoria and another male vampire. They did not recognize the males' scent. When the newborns were questioned, they were able to confirm that Victoria created them. However that was all they could tell Jasper and Peter. She had told them nothing other than they were to stay out of daylight and that soon they would be fulfilling their purpose. After Jasper and Peter got all the information they could from them, the newborns were destroyed. They decided to continue their pursuit of Victoria but she was hard to track down. Jasper thought that it was highly likely that she was creating a newborn army to come after the Cullen's and me. It was possible that she had only created the five they found this evening. However, Victoria could be creating small groups in different cities to avoid detection. Alice and Charlotte were to look for any suspicious activity occurring in the areas surrounding Forks, Seattle, Florida, and us.
Of course hearing this news from Alice caused me to panic. I couldn't believe that, yet again, I had placed my family and friends in danger. "Bella, you need to calm down. With how close New Jersey is, Victoria most likely knows that we are here in New York. She will probably focus all of her attention on us." Alice said.
"Alice, James threatened me with my mother and had Victoria watching my dad's house the last time. I can't leave my parents completely unprotected and unaware, and just hope they won't be harmed." I said, frantically.
Alice zoned out on me and was concentrating on a vision. When she came back to the present, she smiled and told me, "I will send Carlisle and Esme to Florida; to watch over your mom and Phil. I can see them after all of this is over with. They will be safe. You need to call the dogs and let them know what is going on. Everything surrounding Charlie disappears, so I know they will agree to watch over him. Everything that has to do with the pack of La Push causes blank spots in my vision. I can't see what will happen, while they are protecting your dad. I see him in the future too, though."
"Can you see Victoria or what she is planning?" I asked.
"Not yet. I don't think she has decided anything. If she knows how my gift works, then she could be avoiding making any active decisions until she is ready to make a move. That could make things a little more difficult, but not impossible. Jasper and Peter can handle anything she comes up with. Trust me, if she is coming at us with an army; they are the best offense and defense we could have." Alice said.
"Why are Jasper and Peter better equipped to deal with an army of newborn vampires then the rest of you?" I asked.
"That is a long story and not really mine to tell. You should ask Jasper. I'm sure he will tell you. In the meantime, I need to call Carlisle." Alice said.
She pulled out her cell phone and put the phone to her ear. I missed her dialing the number. She began speaking at a pitch that was at a speed and octave I couldn't hear. I cleared my throat, hoping to remind her that the human couldn't hear what she was saying. Alice glanced at me, looking appropriately chastised. She resumed her conversation at a human pace.
"Yes Carlisle. Victoria has been creating newborns. Jasper and Peter are trying to track her now. Yes, we are with Bella. So are Peter and Charlotte. She is understandably scared for her parents. I want to ask you and Esme to go to Florida and keep an eye on Renee and Phil." Alice said into the phone.
She paused for a moment, appearing to listen to Carlisle's response. What I wouldn't give to have vampire hearing right now. "We plan to ask the wolves to watch Charlie." Alice said. She rolled her eyes at whatever he said. "Yes Carlisle, a new generation of wolves has recently appeared. I can tell you all about it, when we have more time to talk." Alice said.
She ended the call and returned her attention to me. "Carlisle and Esme are heading to Florida, immediately. They want me to tell you that they love you and not to worry. They will keep your mom and Phil alive and well." Alice said.
I felt an immense sense of relief flood my entire body. "Thank you, Alice." I said.
She just smirked at me. "Well, now it's your turn. Call the guard dogs. I'm sure Paul is anxiously awaiting his verdict from you anyway." She said.
'I am not calling Paul. I plan to never speak to him ever again. He didn't tell me he was a werewolf or that a vampire was stalking me. Those two things are beyond forgiveness. Not to mention, he stalked me all the way to school like a total creeper. Just once, I would like to have a boyfriend who doesn't think that it's okay to do things like; follow me around without my knowledge, sneak into my room to watch me sleep, or keep secrets from me! One normal boy, is that so much to ask?" I ranted.
Raising an eyebrow, Alice asked, "Are you done yet?"
"Yes," I answered her with a sigh.
"I was just teasing you about Paul. If you feel so strongly about it—call your friend Jacob." She said.
"I don't want to talk to him, either. I'm mad at him too! His betrayal may sting a little less, because he wasn't my boyfriend, but it still hurts. He said I was his best friend. Yet, he lied to me too." I said.
Alice leaned forward and pushed her phone into my hands. "No matter the reason for you hesitance, you have to make the call. The wolves can't keep Charlie safe if they don't know he is in danger." She said.
Now feeling selfish and guilty, I took the phone and dialed Jake's number.
"Hello?" Jacob's deep, husky voice answered.
"Hey Jake—do you have a minute to talk?" I asked.
"Bella? Oh god, I'm glad you called. I was worried that you wouldn't talk to me ever again!" He said in a rush.
"Oh Jacob, I am more that mad at you and your buddy, Paul. If I didn't absolutely need your help, we would not be speaking right now." I told him.
I heard him mumble something under his breath. "I'm sorry. What was that? I didn't hear you, Jacob." I said.
"I said, I'm sorry Bella. Sam—our Alpha—ordered us not to tell anyone. No one outside of the pack can know our secret. It could potentially endanger the entire tribe. I'm also sorry for Paul. He never should have dated you. He put you in danger and didn't consider your feelings at all. He could have imprinted and broke your heart without any choice." He said.
"Jake, I've seen you do things Billy forbids—a thousand and one times. So why listen to Sam and leave me in the dark like that?" I asked.
"Sam is the head of the pack. If he orders any of us to do something, we physically cannot do it. I really am sorry. Are we still friends?" Jake said.
"Sure, sure. I can get over it, eventually. Right now, I need a favor from you and maybe some of your friends. Victoria is coming for me and possibly building any army to do so. I'm safe—I have people to protect me. I need you to protect Charlie. Can you do that for me?" I asked.
"Of course we will protect Charlie. We love your dad, Bella. He's like family to my dad and me. Victoria is the redheaded vampire we had been chasing? Are you sure you are okay?" He asked
I was about to reply when I heard growling, rustling, and several thumps. "Jake, are you there?" I called into the phone.
Instead of hearing a reply from Jake—I was suddenly listening to a voice I did not want to hear. "Bella, Bella—you have to talk to me. I love you and all I ever wanted was for you to be safe." Paul said.
"I'm sorry, Paul. This is going to sound harsh but you need to hear it. I don't care what Sam ordered you to do. You could have, at the very least, let me know that my life was in danger. Is that why you and Jake came to Renee's with me? To keep me safe?" I said.
"Yes, Bella. I really didn't have a choice about telling you anything. Being with you was my choice though and if I could do it again—I would still choose you." He said.
"Thank you for that. Jake said you should not have chosen to date me because of imprinting or whatever he called it. I don't care. I am still mad at you. I feel like you betrayed my trust. Even if your decisions weren't your own, I am still mad at you. I don't want to make up and I don't want to be around you." I said.
Paul didn't answer immediately. He sighed. "I'm sorry for hurting you, Bella. I promise not to bother you. I'll go with Jake to talk to Sam. We will get a guard detail worked out to keep your dad safe. Even though you aren't speaking to me and I'm not bothering you—if you need something, you can still call. Okay?" Paul said.
"Okay. Thank You." I said, quietly and then hung up.
"Charlie is safe." I told Alice.
She laughed and pointed to herself. "Vampire remember? I heard both sides of the entire conversation." She said.
"Do you think I was too mean?" I asked.
"Is that how you really felt?" She asked me. I nodded. "Then no. You weren't mean. You were being honest. If he didn't have a choice but to be dishonest, he should not have sought a relationship with you." Alice said.
"Well at least I've settled things with Paul. He knows how I feel and where I stand. One down, one to go. Is Edward coming back anytime soon?" I asked, hoping the answer was no.
"Not for a while. You shouldn't be bothered by any abnormal, stalker ex-boyfriends for a little while." She said.
"That's about all I can ask for, I guess." I said.
"I hope you are feeling a little better. Jessica and Charlotte are going to come back in three minutes. I need you chatty and ready to do nails." She said with a smirk. Alice knew how very much I detested makeovers.
"Aren't you worried that Jess will question your body temperature?" I asked.
"Charlotte grabbed some hand and feet warmers. If we use them, when she isn't paying attention that should help some. I'll also tell her that Char and I both happen to be anemic because of a lack of meat in our diets. Other than that, we have awhile before she figures us out." Alice said.
"What do you mean? We can't put her in that kind of danger!" I cried.
"Bella, calm down. It will be fine. Remember the way it felt when you found out Paul and Jacob were keeping secrets from you? How you felt, just moments ago? Keep that in mind." She said.
I can be such a jerk and self-centered, I thought. "I will keep that in mind. You're right." I said.
Alice moved behind me in an unseen move and began braiding my hair. "I know." She responded with an audible tone of smugness.
Not a second later, Jessica walked in followed by Charlotte. "Bella, Alice—I got us all face masks and stuff for pedicures!" Jessica gushed.
"Yay!" I said, sarcastically. "You bought stuff so I could play with other people's feet."
"Be nice, Bella. You need to learn to chill out and have some fun." Charlotte said.
"Until last week, I was doing that. The only reason I'm not now is because of stupid vampire and werewolf boys. Oh, and the psychotic bitch trying to kill me—again." I said under my breath, so Jessica couldn't hear. Charlotte nodded sympathetically. Then before I saw what was coming, even at a human speed, Charlotte had smeared bright blue, clay like stuff all over my face—laughing the entire time. I blinked in shock before joining in and laughing with her and the other two girls.
Author's note: Thank you for reading! What did you think? I know that most of my updates have been close to a month apart. I think I have this issue solved for the most part and updates should be weekly. They will most likely land on Fridays. That's the only evening when I don't have stuff to do. I appreciate everyone being patient with me. I know it can frustrating having to wait so long for the next chapter!