IX

(Bella POV)

We crept quietly to the warehouse. It was in the same lot as the Full-Moon Warehouse but, thankfully, it wasn't a full moon tonight. We moved as fast as we could. There were guards patrolling the place. They were all human though. We couldn't sense any vampires.

"The silver must be extremely important," Jasper whispered in the low speech of vampires. It was strange that I could hear all and understand all of it now.

"Every hunter needs his tools," I replied in the same voice. I looked at Edward, "What do you think?"

His eyes scanned the building. It was large with only one visible way in. Guards with machine guns walked around the place, shining flashlights on any shadow that moved. We ducked behind a transport truck when one walked by. When he was gone, we crept to the front and looked out.

"Those windows," Edward said pointing to a balcony. Large windows lined the side of it, "We could open one and slip through."

"How do we get up there?" Jasper asked.

"There must be a stairway or a pile of something we could use," I said, "Maybe around the other side?"

"It's worth a shot," Alice said.

"Let's go," Edward nodded.

He lead us to the back of the truck. It was closest to the warehouse. We waited. Although, we were much faster than the guards, our shadows against their lights could give us away. Edward watched carefully. He bent his legs a little. We copied him and waited for his signal.

There was only one guard that posed a threat to us. He was two feet away and turning to our direction. We backed a bit. Then, he changed his mind and walked away. Edward bolted with us following. We got to the end of the warehouse with only one guard saying he thought he saw something. We froze and pressed out backs to the metal of the building as some of the guards looked around.

However, we were hidden in the shadows of the far end of the building. They didn't think to look there. When they were gone, we all relaxed. Jasper took the lead now. I was right in guessing there were stairs. Although, a rusty set that didn't look like it could support much weight.

I smiled slightly as I thought that an all-blood diet is good for loosing weight. None of us weighed a hole hell of a lot. We leaped up the stairs quickly and quietly, despite everyone's quick glances toward me. I was less clumsy now. I could actually pass for normal human co ordination.

(Edward POV)

We crouched at the corner of the balcony when we got up the stairs. Bella had gotten up easily, which I must admit, surprised all of us. She wasn't as awkward as she used to be and I wasn't sure if I was upset by that or not. On the one hand, I had always thought her human qualities to be nothing short of adorable but, on the other, I was glad we could spend all of eternity together. . .that I wouldn't lose her.

A hiss from Jasper disturbed my thoughts. We moved back into the shadows as a light passed across the balcony. The guards weren't taking any chances. This was going to be difficult. We crept back out when the light had passed.

"There's only one window we can open," Bella hissed. She pointed to one in the middle of the balcony, "All the others would make too much noise, judging from the rust."

I saw what she meant. Almost all the windows had rusty latches that would squeak loudly if moved.

"Wait until that guard passes," Alice said pointing to one at the corner of the building, "Once he's gone, none of them will look up here."

I silently thanked every god and Deity I could think of for Alice's visions and watched the guard. He left after ten minutes. We ran to the window. Jasper unlatched it and opened it. We climbed in quickly and closed the window again just in time. A light passed over the window. Once it was gone, we all relaxed and let out breaths we held in.

Bella was the first to look around. She gasped. We followed her gaze and gasped too. Large metal tankers of silver lined the walls and, in the middle, was a line of five large, steel cylinder tanks that were filled halfway with boiling silver. And chained together above the tanks were vampires with one chain submerged in one of the tanks. We looked around frantically.

Alice pointed, "There. In the middle."

We looked and saw them. Rose and Emmet chained back to back. The fumes from the silver already making them weak. Emmet could barely lift his head and Rose was having a hard time keeping her shoulders from slumping. We were going to have to work fast.

Then machinery started moving. The submerged chain began to come out. We watched nervously. It pulled fully out and we all tensed. Two male vampires were drenched in silver and unmoving. They were completely still.

Some of the guards came in and the chain lowered the vampires to the side of the tank. Then I noticed something. The guards weren't carrying machine guns. They were carrying flamethrowers. They aimed and fired. The vampires couldn't even scream as they were slowly burned to death but you knew it was painful.

Without looking at Bella, I pulled her into my arms and turned her face away from the sight. Jasper did the same with Alice. We crouched down and I kept Bella's head from turning back.

"Really, Edward," she whispered near my ear, "I'm fine."

"You're shaking says otherwise, love," I replied tightening my grip on her.

We waited until the noise of the flames had stopped (which was a while) before we moved. The guards left and the chain was bare. The four of us stared at it as it dangled lifelessly. I felt a violent shiver go through me. . .or was it Bella's shaking?

I looked at the others, desperate to get away from here, "Any ideas?"

"The cylinders are pretty close together," Jasper said studying them, "How about we tip them?"

"Like dominoes?" Bella asked. Her shaking was lessening.

He nodded, "Then the silver will pour out that door." He pointed to the large door at the end of the warehouse.

"We might have just enough strength if we push together," Alice said.

I nodded, "Alright. Let's get down there before anyone else comes."

(Bella POV)

We went as quietly as we could to a ladder. This was better kept than the one outside and we could climb down it silently. We hid behind one of the tankers and looked around. No one appeared to be around. We crept out with me in the lead.

"Bella. . .?" We looked up. Emmet had noticed us.

"Hang tight Emmet," Jasper said, "We'll get you all down."

We hurried to the end of the line and stood side-by-side. We were going to have to take a run at this. We backed up until we were inches from he wall.

"On three," I said, "One-" We bent our legs, "Two-"

Suddenly, a secret door opened to our left and two men stepped through. One wore a green tux and the other a red tux. Luigi and Mario. They noticed us and yelled, "Vampires! Stop them!"

"Now!" Edward yelled. We ran as fast as we could and slammed our shoulders into the first tank.

Review please! Even if to just yell at me for the tux colours. He he he, I couldn't resist!

Next chapter comes. . .Friday!