Sorry for updating so late. I took a break from this story because I just wasn't in the right mindset to write the next few chapters. I'm back, though. I've added an actual name for the country they're in since I've been trying to avoid it for the last few chapters. It's set in Georgetown, Guyana, which is in South America. Also, I honestly don't know much about court and search permits and stuff like that so if you think I got a detail or something wrong, tell me. So, for those of you that actually read this part of the chapter, enjoy!
Thanks to everyone that has reviewed and especially the people who have tried to help me.
Alice's POV
"Are you okay, Alice?" Jasper murmured.
"I'm fine," I replied.
Jenks was driving us to Jamie and Victor's house to investigate the scene of the crime so we could try and prove my innocence by finding some evidence. Edward was in the shot gun seat and Bella had decided to tag along as well.
"You don't have to do anythin' you don't want to, darlin'," Jasper reassured.
I took in a deep breath. "I know, but I need to prove my innocence,"
The car stopped and we all got out. There was a police car in front of the house and three policemen stepped out. Jasper and I linked hands as we walked to the doorstep. The policemen followed us and I assumed they were there to make sure we didn't mess up anything.
"Are we supposed to knock?" I whispered.
I heard Edward's muffled laughter. "Jenks got us a search permit so we're free to enter," he informed.
Jenks opened the door and we walked in. The house was as dark as I remembered, there was no sunlight streaming in because of the curtains and from my memory, Jamie, Victor and Lauren preferred to have minimal lighting. Everyone was silent and I decided to break the silence.
"Where do we start looking?" I trilled.
"Over there is Officer Harlot, Constable Richards and Officer Fields. We're going to split up into three groups and search the premises in case the police missed something last time," Jenks brought out three cameras. "Take as many photos as you want but don't tamper with the evidence or Police Commissioner Marsh will think we purposely did it,"
Jenks and Officer Harlot walked towards the kitchen while Bella, Edward and Constable Richards went into the living room. Jasper turned to me.
"Where do you want to go?" he inquired.
I was hyper-aware of the silent policeman who was watching us like a hawk.
"Umm...upstairs," I stated.
Since Jamie and Victor were murdered upstairs, that would be the best place to look. I led Jasper upstairs and the stealthy policeman followed us. Jasper ignored him and scanned our surroundings. I tried to breathe in and out evenly as I desperately tried to search for something. It was hard to believe that people actually thought I had killed my evil aunt and uncle. Officer Fields wordlessly handed Jasper and I a flashlight each and went back to a space on the wall where we looked at us behind black sunglasses. It was starting to creep me out.
As I was thinking of something- anthing - that could help me with my problem, an image flashed into my mind. I saw a black, rectangular object with a circular lens sticking out.
"Camera," I blurted out.
I flushed and Jasper handed me the camera we were given by the police. He gave me a curious look as glanced nervously at Officer Fields. He casually wound his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead.
"Don't worry about him, Alice," he murmured. "Did you say 'camera' or was it a premonition-type statement?"
"The second option...and I saw something too...I think," I looked back at the policeman to make sure he wouldn't hear annd turned back to Jasper. "I think my powers are getting stronger. I saw an image of a small black camera,"
He nodded and looked around. The hallway was just as I left it except for the chalk outlines and police tape. I took a picture of it and saw the light of a flashlight shine from behind us. Jasper was now on the other side of the hallway, inspected the bedroom. I cringed and walked by the chalk outlines to take more photos.
"Do you see that?" he inquired.
"What?" I whispered.
"There's a camera there, it's very well hidden and looks like the one you described,"
He pointed to the crack in ceiling and my flashlight traced the shape. I squinted my eyes to get look at it.
"Yep, definitely a camera," he muttered.
"Have you found something?" the policeman asked in an uninterested voice.
"There's a camera up there," Jasper stated.
The officer made a sound that was halfway between a disbelieving grunt and an annoyed sigh.
Jasper glared at Officer Fields and I swore I saw the officer gulp. Jasper pointed to the crack in the ceiling and the policeman took off his dark sunglasses to peer at it. He said something into his walkie-talkie and I heard footsteps. Edward gave Jasper a congratulatory pat on the back as he looked at the crack on the wall. Officer Harlot had a stepladder. He went on it and took the camera out. It was a very small, thin, black camera. The constable looked at it and I saw a memory card pop out of the side. He took out two zip lock bags and put the camera in one and the card in the other.
"We'll all look at it at the station," one of them said gruffly.
We were driven to the police station in silence. Jasper held my hand as we walked behind the policemen.
"Do you think the tape will reveal your secret," I whispered so quickly that the words sounded almost like a blur to me.
Jasper smiled and shook his head. We walked into a small room where Officer Harlot popped the memory card into an adaptor and put it into the computer. He searched through the files and clicked on the one that had the same date as when Victor and Jamie died.
The gruesome scene played and cringed into Jasper's shoulder as I heard gun shots. I heard Lauren kick the gun away and my panicky voice and Jamie's angry one arguing. There was another gunshot and the sound of my sobs filled the room. I looked up and Jasper had appeared. Thankfully, it looked like he had entered the hallway from the staircase. Edward appeared but because of the darkness of the room, he was difficult to see. I glanced at the policemen and they squinted in an attempt to recognise him but he just looked like a shadowy figure. The video was stopped shortly after the policepeople arrived.
"So Alice is innocent?" Bella inquired.
"It could've been manslaughter, Alice wrote in her report that she talkd to Lauren prior to the murder and that her statement seemed to set Lauren off, the court hearing is still on," Officer Fields declared. "We'll see you on Friday,"
Jasper's POV
The rest of the week passed quickly after watching the video. I kept my eye on Alice to make sure she was okay and for some reason she kept an eye on me to make sure I was okay. We didn't bring up immortality because we were too focused on trying to clear her name completely. Jenks was doing a great job, he had gathered neighbours who could vouch for Victor, Jamie and Laurens' insanity and the video was going to prove that Alice was at least partially innocent.
Before I knew it, we were in front of a judge, holding our breath and hoping Alice would be cleared.
"So as you can see from the tape, Ms Cullen did not shoot any of them," Jenks summarised.
"Can I see her report on the events leading up to this?" Judge Menzies requested.
A man handed them to her. Judge Menzies looked over them and nodded.
"Continue on, Jenks,"
"We have a few people who were neighbours to the late Mr Victor I. and Mrs Jamie S. Tracker and their associate Ms Lauren T. Nomad," Jenks informed.
The interrogation went on for half an hour and the Judge seemed fed up with it.
"And tell us, Mr Newton, what you thought of Alice when you saw her carrying the heavy six pack back to her Aunt and Uncle," Jenks implored.
"Well, I thought she was pretty short and-"
"I think we've heard enough. From what I've observed, Ms Cullen is innocent," She banged her gavel. "Thank you all for coming, please exit throughout the side doors,"
Alice's eyes widened. "I won?"
"You won," I clarified.
She grinned. "I won!"
She jumped up and hugged me. I chuckled as she let go of me and hugged everyone. I pulled her back before she would hug the Judge or a police officer. She giggled as we left the courthouse.
When we got outside, she looked like she was about to do a cartwheel on the sidewalk. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I found myself smiling along with her.
"So what happens now?" Bella inquired. "Do we go back to Isle Esme?"
"I'm going to take Alice on a date tonight, we can talk about it there and then discuss it some more with the whole family," I stated.
Alice smiled wider. "You're taking Alice out on a date? Does she know that you are?"
I chuckled and put my arm around her. "Darlin', would you like to accompany me to the most expensive restaurant in Georgetown?"
"Hmm...I'll think about it,"
I raised an eyebrow and she hugged me.
"I've thought about it. I'd love to accompany you to the most expensive restaurant in Georgtown," she chirped.
I laughed. "Good, because I've already made reservations,"
She grinned and looked like she was about to do a backflip.
Maria's POV
I smirked at the human girl Jasper was foolishly trying to protect.
Who were they kidding? They weren't going to win a game I've been playing since before they were born.
The male vampire with bronze hair looked in the direction of the spot I was previously in. He turned back and I smiled.
You can try, mind reader, but you can't find me…
Alice's POV
"Jazz, this is lovely but you don't have-"
"I don't have to do this? Alice, you won. You deserve this,"
No, I deserve the deepest darkest pits of hell.
For once in my life everything seemed perfect and then I was reminded of what I was doing here. My stomach was twisting in knots and I didn't feel like eating. That was until the food arrived. He smiled as our entrees arrived. They smelt even better than I thought they would and I found myself inhaling the scallops. Jasper smiled and swapped our plates.
"God, I'm going to get fat if the rest of the meal is like this," I muttered.
He laughed. "You're the scrawniest girl in the world, people are goin' to think you're anorexic,"
I grinned sheepishly.
"Are you okay?" he inquired. "You seem nervous?"
"Oh, just wondering what the next tragedy in my life will be,"
He smiled sadly. "We'll get through it, darlin',"
"C-Could you excuse me? I have to go to the bathroom,"
"Sure, do you know where to go?"
I nodded as I rushed towards it. The tears were threatening to spill and I didn't know if I could hold them in for much longer. One brief look back at Jasper and they started pouring out. When I entered the toilets someone grabbed me in a chokehold so tight I almost passed out.
"Oh, it's you," she muttered. "I thought it was another girl who needed to use the ladies' room,"
I saw the pile of bodies and shivered.
"Maria, what are you doing here?" I inquired as I rubbed my throat.
"Keeping up my end of the bargain. I don't recall you kissing him to be part of it," she snapped.
"I-I figured breaking his heart would hurt him as well,"
She smiled maliciously. "Great idea, Alice, but everyone knows romance complicates things,"
"Right…"
"You're very convincing Alice, you could even be an actress someday if you had good looks,"
"I have to go back-"
She had her hand around my neck again.
"No, there's been a change of plans and I'm taking you now," she stated.
I couldn't even protest as my eyes closed and I surfaced into darkness.
When my eyes finally reopened, I was in a familiar lighthouse.
"Alice, remember the first time I brought you here?" Maria reminisced.
"When you fished me and Cynthia out of the water?" I asked.
"So your memory is back, that's good, I was tired of the whole 'disoriented' thing,"
"Maria, he isn't worth all of this. The people that have died and the people that will die...he's not worth it,"
"Alice, if you tell me you love him, I'm never going to tell you where little Cynthia is,"
My teeth gritted. "He's a vampire, they don't even know what love is, right?"
"Bingo, my little minion," She smiled and patted my head. "Just follow my lead and everything will be okay,"
I nodded, my stomach already twisting in despair.
Maria left me by myself and the tears threatened to pour out relentlessly. I gritted my teeth and focused on something happy. I imagined that all of this was over and Jasper forgave me without a thought and we were back at Isle Esme, just the two of us.
"Darlin', you're safe now. You'll never have to worry about her again," he murmured.
"Thank god," I muttered.
He stroked my cheek. "I love you,"
I kissed him lightly and grinned. "I love you, too,"
We were relaxing on the sofa, not exactly paying attention to what was happening on screen but just enjoying each other's company.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
"For what?"
"For pretending to be someone else and then finding out that all along, I wasn't pretending to be happy, I was happier than I had ever been in my whole entire life...and for leading you into this trap,"
Someone cleared their throat and I looked up in astonishment.
"Cynthia?" I breathed.
She smiled but didn't come any closer.
"Hey, big sister," she trilled in an angelic vampire voice.
She was wearing a black dress that contrasted with her pale skin. Her eyes were the blood red of every newborn and she I could see a few scars on her arms that looked like bite marks. She looked at me nervously as I looked at her in shock. I was appalled that Maria had done this to my baby sister. I knew fifteen isn't exactly the age a baby is but I'll always think of her as the tiny baby Mom had brought home one afternoon.
"Maria turned you! She promised she wouldn't!" I shouted in outrage.
"And you promised not to fall in love with Jasper," Cynthia reminded. "Maria seems to think you did…How could you?"
"It's not that simple. I didn't choose to but...I'm sorry for this, Cynth,"
I blinked away the tears.
"I wish I could control my thirst but to be honest, the thirst for human blood controls me," she whispered.
Her hand clutched her neck as if that would help with it.
"You're my sister and I trust you," I stated.
I walked up to her without a thought and put my arms open for a hug. I felt a breeze blow by and Cynthia hissed. She pushed me back and covered her nose with her hand. My elbows scraped the pavement and I examined the wound. My head whipped up when I heard a snarl and my eyes widened as Cynthia went into a crouch. She stalked towards me like a predator cornering its prey. I whimpered as she came closer. She got ready to lunge when another figure tackled her to the ground.
Rosalie's POV
"She's not there...but I could smell Maria," I informed. "I think Alice has been kidnapped,"
"No. That can't- she was with me!" Jasper protested.
"We could still follow the scent," Bella suggested.
He took in a deep breath. "Okay, Emmett and Rose are with me. I'll call the others when we find where they are,"
Emmett smiled. "We haven't done something like this in a long time,"
"Wait, take this, Rose," Nessie ordered.
"Jewellery?" I inquired as I examined the silver chain and the metal rose pendant.
"I wired a mic into it so we'll be able to hear you,"
My eyes widened. "Thanks,"
I put it on and turned to the others.
"Be careful, okay?" Edward cautioned.
We nodded and I went to the ladies room to find her scent again. I sniffed and followed the smell out the window. Jasper and Emmett met up with me and we started running. We followed the trail until we could hear the crashing of waves.
"She took Alice to the beach?" Emmett inquired.
The breeze blew and we lost the scent for a bit.
"Maybe she's in a cave or on a boat," I muttered.
Jasper took in a deep breath and went into a crouch.
There was an animalistic snarl and we bounded east. A building came into view and as we got closer I recognised a warehouse. There was another scream as we got nearer. Emmett and I pulled Jasper back.
"What are you doing!" he hissed.
"Think this through, Jasper! Maria probably has half a dozen newborns with her. They could take us out," I reminded. "You're the almighty veteran of the Southern newborn wars, we can't just charge in there,"
He struggled against us and broke through. The sound of two vampires colliding filled our ears as we saw him tackle a dark haired woman.
"I'll call the others," Emmett stated.
He turned around and stiffened. "She's seen us,"
"How can-"
My question was interrupted when someone charged towards me and threw me up in the air. Before my brain could process what had happened, another person lunged at me and slammed me into the ground.
"Rose!" Emmett shouted.
He growled and his arms constricted around the man that had pinned me down.
"Watch out, Em!" I warned.
A woman tackled him and a few other newborns joined in on the fight. Jasper had already killed two but even he couldn't handle the ten or so newborns advancing on him.
"Stop it!" someone screamed. "Leave them alone!"
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Maria sneered.
She was holding Alice by her wrists. Alice's tear streaked face fell when she saw Jasper.
"Newborns, don't fight them anymore. Just make sure they're not going anywhere," Maria ordered. "Congratulations, Alice, very convincing,"
She flashed the three of us a twisted grin and let go of Alice. My mind put together the pieces of the puzzle before the others.
"You were working with her?" I demanded.
"I can explain-" Alice began.
"Save it, Alice, they're not going to be alive long enough to kill you," Maria mocked.
She smiled. "Carter, I need your assisstance with the blonde,"
Someone prodded me from behind and I lost consciousness.
Alice's POV
I saw Rosalie collapse on the ground and bit my lip to stop the scream of horror escaping my lips.
"What did you do to her!" Emmett roared as he struggled against the five or so newborns that were trying to control him.
"Handy, isn't it?" Maria mused. "I changed Carter a few years ago and realised his talent of knocking vampires out,"
The black haired figure turned his gaze onto Emmett and he fell down next to Rose. Jasper hissed and tried to break free of the newborns.
"Maria, there's been a hold up. The truck's been delayed," a brunette vampire informed.
I saw Maria growl under her breath and rip the girl's arm off in anger.
"Fine! Guard our captives…I want Jasper to be awake, though. Make sure he doesn't escape but allow him room…to kill Alice," Maria instructed after flashing me a grin.
I saw Cynthia protest but with a snap of Maria's fingers, Cynthia was dragged out of the warehouse. I saw a vampire close her eyes and suddenly she was duplicated into 50 figures. They surrounded Jasper and I like a wall.
"Why did you do it?" he growled.
"I-I'm sorry. She had my sister-"
"Cynthia?"
"Yes. M-Maria saved us from drowning after we escaped Victor, Jamie and Lauren a-and then she said that she'd kill Cynthia if I didn't infiltrate the Cullens and get them to the mainland. She had some extreme scheme set up and I-I couldn't warn you because I didn't even know it myself! I'm sorry and I wish this never happened," I confessed.
He sighed and sat next to me. "I should hate you, shouldn't I?"
"Well…yes, but I don't want you to,"
I felt the sting of more tears and looked down. Jasper looked around and let out a chuckle. I looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"After everything…I'm still glad I met you," he muttered. "We'll get through this, darlin',"
My eyes widened. "That's it? No screaming or torture? You aren't going to kill me?"
"I turned my back on all of that. Although, I wouldn't mind slowly killing Maria,"
"You're incredible. Any other vampire would've had me for dinner,"
"I know but you had all of us fooled, that isn't easy when Edward's mind readin' and I can sense emotions,"
I shook my head. "I can't believe that you're not even angry,"
"I am angry. I'm furious…but not at you, Alice. If they had threatened my family, I'd probably do the same thin' you did,"
We were silent for a few moments. I was overjoyed that he had forgiven me so easily but wished we were in better circumstances.
"Can you tell me one thing, darlin'?" he inquired.
"Sure,"
"Did you know we were vampires straight away?"
"N-No…Maria revealed that she was a vampier almost straight away and told she me you were something different. You all had golden eyes and then there was Nessie and Jake who definitely weren't vampires which made my golden-eyed vampire theory confusing…I even considered that you were all angels or something,"
I blushed as I remembered the first days I met him and how I referred to him as my angel.
"Did you know my name?" he inquired.
"I knew there was one of you called Jasper that Maria seemed to want to destroy in the most painful way possible,"
He chuckled. "Well, let's hope she doesn't get her wish,"
He stood up and held a hand out for me. I took it in confusion and then saw the clones spreading apart. Maria stepped through and raised an eyebrow.
"Not even a bruise on her skinny little body. You've gone soft, Jasper, these Cullens have turned you against your nature," she commented.
"Why don't you just drop this whole plan and let us go. You know you're going to die in the end," Jasper retorted.
Maria laughed. "Nice try. Oh look, Barbie and Ken have woken up,"
Rosalie's POV
My eyes opened and I jumped up in surprise. Two newborns already had my arms restrained and the vampire that knocked me out was nearby. I growled at Maria as she motioned for us to follow her. A newborn pushed me and I started walking behind her. Emmett and Jasper followed us and I counted twenty or so newborns, too many for us to take on.
"Where are you taking us?" I demanded.
"Did I say you could talk?" Maria inquired.
"Cut the crap, where are we going?"
"I don't see why I should tell you, it's not like that microphone wired into your necklace is working,"
My eyes widened and she turned to smirk at me.
"You thought you could outsmart me with your little devices?" she scoffed.
She ripped the necklace off and dropped it on the ground. Her shoes stomped onto it until the metal was completely flattened.
"Maria, we have the gasoline ready," a newborn informed.
"Gasoline?" Emmett repeated.
Maria grinned widely. "Yes, today seems like a good day for a fire,"
Alice's POV
I felt helpless as they left the warehouse. Jasper looked back at me and sent me a wave of calm, silently telling me not to worry. I still had no idea how he could think all of this would work out. He must be underestimating Maria. The newborns were all gone and I was alone. I heard a snarl before someone pinned me down. Edward glared at me as he forcefully pulled my arms back.
"Where is she taking them?" he demanded.
"I-I don't know!" I stumbled. "She never told me!"
"Edward! Let go of her!" Bella screamed.
"Dad!" Nessie shouted.
He let go of me and I gave a grateful look to Nessie and Bella.
"It's not like she could fight back, dad," Renesmee said as she ignored me.
Edward glared at me. "Listen to me, Alice, if that's even your real name, people have died and I don't intend on anybody in my family to get hurt. Tell me where Maria has taken them,"
"I told you, I don't know!" I shouted.
"I do," a weak voice said.
I looked behind Edward and saw Cynthia. She looked like she had fought a newborn to get to us and was reattaching her arm and looking for a chunk of her calf. Esme handed it to her.
"Where are they going?" Esme asked in a gentle voice.
"Maria talked about St George's Cathedral a lot. She said it was very dramatic and visually dynamic," Cynthia informed.
"Great. First a ballet studio, now a cathedral," Bella muttered.
To my surprise, Edward cracked a half smile.
"Do you know how to get there, dear?" Esme inquired.
Cynthia shook her head. "Sorry,"
An image flashed into my mind of a white cathedral and then a street sign.
"Barrack St," I stated.
"Do we trust her?" Bella inquired.
"Yes, I read her mind while she had the vision," Edward replied.
"We need to hurry," Cynthia urged.
"Why?" Nessie inquired.
"Because Maria's always wanted to burn down a cathedral,"
Note: I've never been to Guyana and the town is only loosely based off of Georgetown so don't believe too much. I did do some research and there is a cathedral on Barrack Street. Thanks for reading!
:A