Edward's POV

The moment I saw Alice's eyes cloud over, I knew something was wrong. Jane and Alec are coming for Bella! We may be too late to save her! I was running to Charlie's before she was even done thinking it. How many times would I pelt down this road at vampire speed because of these power games?

I reached Charlie's in time to see two figures jump out of Bella's window and disappear into the woods behind the house. I darted after them. I hoped to every god I knew that I would be able to run faster than them.

At first I could barely see the two black cloaks flashing through the trees. My breath caught in my chest and I forced myself to run faster. I never believed that vampires could tire until now. My limbs were screaming with the exertion. My efforts were rewarded with speed. I was now running neck to neck with the figure holding Bella. She seemed to be asleep which was good for me. That way she was less likely to be injured.

I didn't think about the best possible attack or even any consequences. I just jumped at the figure. The black hood flew off to reveal Alec's frustrated face. Bella was thrown out of his arms and tumbled through the foliage. I instantly regretted that move. I moved to take her but Alec grabbed me by the hair and yank my head back. I grabbed his arm and pulled with all my might. I heard the sickening crunch and felt the limb loosen as it detached.

I whipped around and charged him. Unfortunately I was too slow and he had me in his grip. It was amazing how strong he was, even without one arm. He had me by the neck and was slowly pulling up. I could feel the muscle tear as he slowly decapitated me. At the last minute, when I was sure he had me and was going to deal the death blow, he let go. I tumbled to the ground and he leapt over me.

I staggered upright and continued my persute. My neck was healing quickly but I was afraid that it wasn't quick enough. Apparently Jane had waited for her brother to join her. It was a very bad move on their part. I had caught up. In the back of my head a voice was warning me that they wouldn't be this cauky without reason, but I just ignored it. I channeled all of my rage and bloodlust and attacked Jane.

Once again Bella was airborne only this time she was awake. I tried to catch her but missed by less than an inch. She went crashing down and rolled away. I turned around and came face-to-face with Jane. I felt it even before I heard her think the word. A scream tore out of me that formed the word she was saying with delight. Pain!

I came crashing down in agony and rolled over to where Bella lay. Her expression was one of worry which made everything much worse. How could she worry about me at a time like this. The pain was so great that my vision was starting to get hazy. As my thoughts slowed and my body numbed I knew I had failed. They had taken Bella and there was no way I could save her.

*******

I regained consciousness and found myself in a dark room. It looked like a bedroom but it was bigger than any bedroom I had every seen. I was laying in a giant four poster with curtains on three of the sides. They were a calming violet. It calmed me so much that, for a moment, I forgot everything that had happened tonight. Or was it last night? How long had I been knocked out. Was it even possible for a vampire to lose consciousness?

I got out of the bed with a groan. Every fiber in my body was sore. I reached for the door but it was too dark for me to see. Another strange thing. Vampires were never blind in the dark. I finally found the doorknob and turned it. I found myself facing a long corridor with about ten doors on each side. One was open and had light poring out. I moved toward it.

I stepped through into what looked like a living room. It had a fireplace that was giving of a lovely sense of warmth. Three sofas and two armchairs surrounded it. Lounged on one of the sofas were Seiren and Hugue. Seiren had a concerned expression on her face while Hugue was his usual blank self. I could not read their thoughts which got me on edge. I hated knowing that I could only hear their intentions when they wanted me to.

My family sat on the rest of the furniture. Everyone looked up as I entered the room. I told you so, Seiren whispered in my mind. I shot her a bitter look and plopped down next to Alice.

We are discussing Bella's kidnapping and what we are going to do about it, she thought. I stared at my feet. It was my fault for not rescuing her.

Apparently Seiren thought so as well, "Now that the hero has arrived, might we discuss what you plan to do in order to get your precious pet back."

"Bella is not a pet," I shouted. "She is as much a part of our family as any one of us."

"My apologies," she said, not sounding the least bit sincere.

"It seems that we must go to Volterra and come to terms with Aro and his brothers," Carlisle said. I heard a tumult of frightened and apprehensive thoughts.

"And what terms are you willing to go along with?" Seiren asked. I could hear her content in every word. She was planning something.

"We will have to see once they are presented," Carlisle answered.

"Even turning that human into one of you?" Seiren inquired. She stared right at me as she asked the question.

"Those bastards will not be responsible for taking Bella's soul," I growled.

"But that is exactly what they will do. You know this very well, don't you?" Seiren smiled at me in sympathy. For some reason that made me want to rip her head off.

"What do you propose we do then?" Carlisle stepped in.

"I have the same proposition as last time. Join us. While anticipating your answer, we hired the Romanians, the Amazons, and a few choice others. With you we would have a force to be recond with. Not to mention that if you can convince the shape shifters to join..." she trailed off and looked each of us in the eye. I could feel her will crashing against mine, subduing my wrath and convincing me with each moment that passed, this is the right decision.

"It was you wasn't it?" I whispered menacingly. "I know you can shape shift. You took Bella and framed the Volturi. Our fight isn't with them, it's with you." I charged at her, arms outstretched and teeth bared. I was so close that I could feel her breathe on my skin. Suddenly the world spun upside down and I came crashing into the fireplace. The flames engulfed me burning everything. The pain was unreal and I probably would have been done for if Seiren hadn't doused me with water from a nearby fish tank.

I lay on the floor, cold and burnt. This was not my night. I stared at Seiren in defiance. I thought she was going to rip me apart herself but instead she turned and smacked Hugue hard across the face. He staggered back and gazed at her in wonder.

"That was too far Hugue," she said. The venom in her voice made me shiver even more. Hugue shrunk back and moved behind Seiren again.

"I think that the numbers work," Jasper stated. Everyone except Seiren and Hugue stared at him in amazement.

"It's true. The Romanians must have vampires with special powers and we know that the Amazons do. It makes sense," his gaze was both pleading and challenging.

"What about Alec and Jane?" I asked. I stood and staggered over to where they were gathered. My clothes were in tatters and my skin was a rotten brownish color. I felt the same way as I looked. Emmett pulled my arm around his neck and supported me as best he could without causing too much pain.

"Hugue can shield you from any mental attack," Seiren's voice called from where she was now sitting.

"This all seems a bit too good to be true if you ask me," I challenged. Her eyes hardened and she turned her gaze to the embers that still glowed lightly in the fireplace.

"Edward, this may be the only way to save Bella and keep her human. Don't you want that?" Carlisle said softly. It irritated me.

"Didn't I tell you before, it was them. The Volturi didn't take Bella, they did. Don't you think it's a bit to convenient. I can't even sense her because she is immune to me. What is stopping them from hiding her here?" I stated in an exasperated tone.

"I can," Jasper said. I stared at him in hope. Was she here?

"Well I mean, I can't feel her emotins here, but I could if she were here. And Hugue can't guard against that because my power is not mental and it is rarely an attack," he stated bluntly.

"So that's our decision then? Throw our lives away for them," I shouted.

"No, for Bella," Carlisle said grabbing me by the wrist. I flinched at the contact and he immediately loosened his grip.

I hung my head and muttered my consent. Alice and Esme voiced their approval and Emmett practically tossed me off when he jumped in excitement. Rosalie reluctantly agreed after Emmett did.

"Alright, I'll by the plane tickets," Seiren jumped up and rushed into an adjacent room. Hugue showed us the door and we stepped into the night. I looked into the sky and saw that it was almost morning. I wondered if Bella was alive to see it.

Bella's POV

The Cullen's never had coffins but these vampires did. Though Seiren had told her that she and Hugue preferred beds, coffins just seemed like a fun way to play with human legends. She also had said that they slept. I had no idea what kind of game she was playing or whether I would live long enough to see the outcome and frankly, I didn't care. All I wanted was to see Edward and make sure he was alright.

"Thank you," someone whispered in my ear. I whipped around and saw that it was Seiren.

"You have just sent your precious Cullens to their graves. Hopefully they take out a big chunk of the Volturi with them. It will be easier to kill them when they are fewer in number," she smiled wickedly at me and went to sit on the coffin that I guessed was hers.

"What are you going to do to them?" I screamed. Her smile grew until she reminded me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

"I didn't do anything my dear, you did. I simply offered the bait and they willingly took it."

Hugue appeared beside her and gave me his usual cold stares. Seiren turned to him and took his hand, "I'm sorry about earlier but you could have blown it."

"My apologies," he said in a sad voice. Seiren cupped her hands around his face and gave him a long deep kiss. I turned around in embarrassment. A part of me was grossed out by the insest moment but a bigger part was envious. Why could Edward kiss me like that? Without holding back or worrying that he would break me.

I lay down in the small bed that Seiren had set up for me and quickly fell asleep. It might have been morning in the outside world but here it might as well have been night. I dreamed, as always, about Edward.