Chapter 10: Stranded

We are there. I have caught up to Chapter 39 of IH. So, I posted Chapter 9 of Brandons tonight, and I'm posting Chapter 10, AND I'M POSTING 'I HUNGER'!.

Thanks to deltagirl74, who was in Jackson MS during Katrina.

Last day to vote for the Glove Awards is Friday, August 13th/10. I'm up for Best Author and Best Story (I Hunger), with some flattering competition:) Please vote for your favourites.

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.

Cynthia Brandon belongs to Stephenie Meyer, who kicked her off. Um, so I resurrected her, and gave her a whole pile of Richards and Brandons to play with. Grr. Jazz will eat you if you steal them. They belong to me and Alice. Oh. Jazz says they belong to him, too, thank-you-very-much.

Go to my new channel, youtubedotcom/jmollytwilight2, and pick the playlist called 'The Brandons' to hear great music that I guarantee will enhance your reading. I spend hours picking it. Want to help? Please send any songs or pieces you think would work well for this fic. I particularly want traditional folk pieces from the 1880's, and country music. Please use the new channel to subscribe or contact me. And please do subscribe and contact me. I love hearing from you. This chappie's vids start at #36:

'My House in Hurricane Katrina'

'Hurricane Katrina: Storm Surge'

'Storm Surge', by National Geographic

August 29th, 2005, 10 pm:

Alice's pov:

"Edward. Thank God! Where is Eleazar? We've had no word yet, and it's getting desperate. I can't See anything about him. It's like he faded right out of existence! We need help right now!" I was talking at vampire pitch at top speed.

"What's happening? Eleazar left yesterday around 6pm. He should have reached you by now," Edward fretted.

"It's terrible. The one consolation is, Renee and Phil are safe. The first wave of the storm hit Southern Florida during the night on the 28th. It's completely flooded. Eleven people died right away. But the Atlantic coast is fine. Jazz and I have been checking the news on his Blackberry."

"Tell me more, Alice," Edward ordered. "You haven't heard from Eleazar at all?"

"No," I whimpered. "Edward, the hurricane struck here yesterday afternoon. It was a Category 5 storm. All three cities on the Gulf Coast are wiped out. They said 90% of the buildings on the coast are gone. All the casinos, the churches, everything. And New Orleans is pretty much gone too. You should see the pictures on the 'Net."

"Cynthia? Your family?" Edward barked.

"I ... I told them the storm was coming. I got them all collected except for one of Cynthia's sons and his family. The simp wouldn't listen. He thought everything we said was bull, even though Cynthia begged him to listen. He lives on the beach and they're probably dead. All the others ... well, they believe in the Sight, or they trust Cynthia, or they just were superstitious, maybe. Edward? I don't know what's happened to my nephew's family. But ... please don't be mad ... I just couldn't leave the rest of my family to die.

"We rented a bus but there's no way to get them out. First, we put them in the upstairs bedroom. Then, in the attic. Then we had to move them outside. Everything is under water. I have them all. Here, on Cynthia's roof. Two of her children and their spouses, six of her grandchildren, and four of their spouses, seven of her great-grandchildren and one of their boyfriends, and the three great-great grandchildren. Three of them are just little. And we have two dogs on leashes and two cats and a rabbit in cages. They couldn't bear to abandon their pets.

"The water's moving too fast, and we're surrounded. We can't get them out. All we can see is water. Jazz and I can't swim them all out. He's trying to prepare me for the worst. I can't lose them so soon, Edward, I can't. Please, what am I going to do?"

"You have them all on one roof, Alice? Twenty-six humans plus you and Jazz and some pets? It won't hold the weight, dearest. It's going to collapse."

"I know. I keep Seeing it. But Edward, the only thing to do is for Jazz and me to put them in the big willow trees. And if we do, they'll know. They'll know about us. And Edward? Soon, it's going to be light. The sun will come out, and there's no cover here. I'm so frightened. Tell me what to do. Jazz says it's up to me. He also says I should wait for a vision or a sign or news."

Edward sighed. "How are you getting away with talking to me in front of them?"

"They think I'm still trying to reach you. They think I'm praying under my breath. Not that I'm not. Anyhow, they can't tell we're actually speaking. It's fine."

Edward paused. I waited, desperate for his advice. "Alice? Tell them you're different. Tell them nothing specific. If they guess, that's okay. Get them off that bloody roof or its curtains for everyone. They're going to get sick from exposure. Do you have supplies? Shelter? Water?"

"We have water for a day or so. Some people's supplies were lost when the storm surge flooded the house. Cars were washed away. One of their rowboats tipped. Jazz wants to go through the upstairs window and look for blankets or umbrellas to make sunshades. Are you sure we should expose ourselves, Edward?"

"You can't stand idly by and let them perish, Alice. I'm calling Eleazar. You get them in those trees, and hang tight. Then see if you need the blankets. Probably a good idea to get them if you can."

I blew out my breath. "I See us all in the trees. It's going to be okay for a bit. But I still can't See Eleazar."

"I'll do my best to reach him. Just be calm. Let Jazz help manage the Brandons."

"Edward? We love you and Bella. Tell, Em, too, will you?"

"Titch? Don't go all fatalistic on me. You're going to survive."

"Edward? I've Seen us burn. The Volturi..." I said, all choked up.

"I'll talk to Aro."

I zoned out. Aro was telling Marcus to let us be. "Oh, God! Yes, it's going to work. Just ask him soon, please."

I zoned out again.

"Alice? You still there?" Edward asked anxiously. "Alice?"

"It's me, Jazz."

"Thank God!"

"She's having a vision. You'd better wait."

"I'm here. You okay, Brother?"

"Yeah. I am now. Everything comes down to politics, Brother. Tactics and political correctness. We don't want to create a shit storm for the family, you know? If Aro doesn't support this, we're all in the soup."

"It's okay, Jazz. I'm sure of it. Just do ... what you have to."

"Thank you, Brother. Oh, Lis has come to."

I couldn't help sobbing, I was so relieved. "Ooh, we're going to be okay. I still can't See how, but I can See all the Richards and their offspring up at the house in Forks. I guess I'm taking them there. But I can't See how."

"But it's going to work out. That's the important thing, right?" Edward said soothingly.

"Yes. Yes, I See them all there. It's virtually certain."

"Okay, Titch. I suggest you get off the phone. Conserve your resources. Put Jazz in charge. He knows how to manage folks in emergencies, and he's run evacuations in hot, dangerous conditions before, don't forget. I can't think of anyone I'd sooner have with you right now."

"You're right. Thank you, Edward. I'm sorry I panicked." I breathed in and out, evenly.

"It's okay, Hon'. Bella and I are going to sit by the phone, okay? Call us as soon as there's news."

"Okay. Love you both."

"Love you both, too. Now go look after your people."

"Okay."

"Okay."

I couldn't say 'good-bye'. I had to believe I'd see Edward and Bella again. That the Volturi would not wipe us all out. That my family would survive.

I turned to Jazz. "So... Edward says to tell them..."

"We're different. No time like the present." Jazz looked at the assembled humans, huddled together under blankets on the roof. They were subdued. It was chilly, and we'd had so many challenges and scares through the day. Some of the kids were asleep. Everyone looked shocked and worn.

Just below the eaves of the house, mucky water swirled.

Jazz sat up tall, Blackberry still in hand, sighing. He spoke up clearly, startling a couple of people. "Alright, folks. I need you to listen up, hear?"

People stirred and sat up, arranging children on their laps.

"Cynthia says God brought us here. Well, I dunno if that's true or it's pure dumb luck. But you're about to receive some startling information. And I ask you not to turn on us, because we love you all and we're here to save you. Lis and I aren't gonna let any of you die. I've helped evacuate humans before, and I'm gonna get you all out of this safe and sound."

"Humans?" Albert repeated, mouth open.

"Yessir. Alice and I are ... different. But you are still our blood kin. We're just ... a lot stronger than you. Strong enough to get you all out-a this mess."

"Jeepers, are you aliens?" Shay breathed.

"Shay!" Winifred protested. "There's no such thing."

"You're not putting us on, are you Jasper?" Hugh asked narrowly.

"No sir. I will show you that I'm telling you all the truth. We have no time to argue with you. We can talk about it later," Jasper said curtly. "Right now, we have to get you all off-a this roof before it collapses. Safest place to put you, until help comes, is in the tops of the trees, yonder. You will have to endure it. And some of you will have to hang onto the weak, the young, and the pets. Maybe for a long time."

"What if help doesn't come?" Clary whined.

"Help is coming. We've called our kin. They're coming for us. We just have to hang on 'til they get here. Most of the South is in a mess right now, but Mississippi got the worst, so far. So a few miles north, it's not flooded. They'll come, don't you worry. Now, time to move. I'm taking liberties with you all. And you have to trust me and sit still if you want to live. The house is starting to list."

"I trust Jasper and Alice implicitly," Cynthia said. "I advise you all to do exactly what he says."

"I second that," Mary Alice piped up.

"You'll be first, Mary Alice," Jasper decided. "And I need you to keep a firm grip on Apple."

"Yessir."

Jasper picked his way across the roof to my niece and helped her to stand. He turned Apple so she rested with her sleepy head on Mary Alice's shoulder, her little arms around her neck, and her legs around her middle.

"Now, I am going to lift you, Ma'am, and I want you to try and wrap your legs around me. I cannot hold onto you when I jump."

"Jump?" Mary Alice yelped, alarmed.

"All be over in a second. Just shut your eyes," Jasper advised. He lifted my niece, and she wrapped her arms and legs tightly around him. He held her with one arm, sticking the other hand out. She whimpered a little.

My humans held their collective breath. Cynthia quivered with excitement.

Jazz backed up a few feet, eyeing the closest willow. It was a good twenty feet away. Crouching a little, he launched himself forward, using the edge of the roof to push himself off. The roof groaned in protest.

He stretched lithely, airborne, and fell into the tree, digging in his nails and flitting to the top. Then, holding onto my kin, he hopped from tree to tree until he reached the one closest to what used to be the end of the drive.

Some of my relatives gasped. Others seemed incapable of speech.

"I knew it!" Cynthia crowed. "I knew my Albion could fly!"

"Who's Albion?" Winifred wondered, awestruck.

"An old friend," I shrugged, smiling proudly.

There was a brief delay in the far tree as Jasper arranged Mary Alice and Apple safely. Then, his head popped up out of what leaves had not been blown off in the gale-force winds.

"Lissy? Can you bring one?" he called.

"Yeah, sure," I called back. "Clary? Coming?" I held my arms open. Hugh helped her cross the roof to me. I put her on my back, copied Jazzy's movements, and landed in the tree. Meanwhile, Jazz ran back to the roof. Clary giggled. I transported her to the last tree, and put her near Mary Alice.

Jazz took Elliot next. Then, he took Hugh and Hailey to the next tree. I took Bobby. Jazz took Trini and Brandt. And so it went. We took Cynthia and Albert last, as they were the oldest. Then, we transferred the pets. Jazz fed Shiloh another piece of cheese before attempting to move him.

He pwned that dog.

Funny thing was, our exploits lifted everybody's spirits.

They didn't mind dangling from various tree tops like the kids did in 'The Sound of Music'.

There was even some laughing and singing.

Apparently, the Brandons liked being hauled through mid-air by aliens.