10. Faceless

Alice was partaking in the truly frowned upon stress-relief known as road rage. Yet in the same authenticity she needed it. Even her partner didn't protest as Jasper sat in the passenger's seat of his wife's Porsche 911. He watched the speedometer crank violently to the right and the engine revving with the unique buzz of rising tension, as if it were going to explode eventually. The empath could only be relieved with her, though. Driving was one of Alice's forms of avoiding things, all next to shopping which brought up the questions as to why. Her brow furrowed, trying to concentrate on the road even though the pixie didn't need to. Her mouth was curled into an unhappy grimace and the sudden anger that spiked her thoughts made their way to him. He couldn't catch her eye with her fury so he attempted his best calming voice.

"Alice, I know the future is looking bad, but don't take it out on the road."

Suddenly the car jerked in response, the tires screeching against the road as it ran a well performed defensive driving technique. Another jerk trashed them about as the car halted on the side of the road, the rubber tires steaming after the slide-and-brake.

"Jasper, this is bad. We are talking catastrophic. The worst thing about it is that I don't even know how to stop it." She groaned, banging her head on the steering wheel.

"I'm always willing to help. You know that."

She smiled sadly. "Yeah, but it has to do with everyone now and with the danger up ahead, I don't want to risk you getting hurt." She didn't look at him, miserable in her "car-corner" that she thought she oh-so deserved. She felt his gaze on her and met it.

"Don't give me that look…" She groaned again, looking at his incredulous expression. She felt truly out of it and stressed.

"I'll be perfectly fine Not only am I immortal, but I have good sum of experience in fighting."

"Yeah, but…" she closed her eyes as the visions danced in her head, "are the Volturi people you really want to mess with?"

He sighed, leaning back into the seat. This information was not new to him.

"If the family is in danger, then I think we you should tell them. It's betrayal not doing so."

Her stressed face broke into twisted features of regret. "I don't think I can Jasper… I really don't think I can face him." Her voice became a sob.

"I c-can't."

Jasper cringed as the feelings of sorrow and pure pain washed over the both of them. He grabbed her hand for more than just her support. With his other, he stroked her cheek gently—her head still resting lazily on the wheel. He grabbed her chin and brought her broken face to his complete view. She came closer at his will, and obeyed like a child. She had comforted him for so many years, for so many reasons, it was his turn now. With smooth grace he rested his forehead on hers, sending calming waves of emotion. She seemed so delicate to him then. His honey blond hair lightly brushed her face.

"Edward was enough to tear us apart, just imagine what would happen if…" she whispered hopelessly.

"If" Jasper softly emphasized the words. "Things can change…"

"I can't tell them Jasper." She whimpered. "I can't go back, it hurts so much look at him. Worse yet, I can't do anything about it. I can't stop it. I can't." Her hopelessness overcame the both of them, her voice cracking with a dry sob. She snapped her head away from him, looking at the road that was empty of traffic.

"This gift is only hurting me! I don't want to know the future anymore. I don't want it!" She screeched in frustration. She held her head as if a migraine tortured her.

"Hush…"Jasper cooed timidly. She turned her face to look at him once again, her amber eyes reflecting the little light outside. All he could see was her desperation, her desire for relief, her burden of knowledge. She was a witness to pain and pain she embraces. He brought his hands to her face, holding her gaze in more ways than one. The pixie's face softened lightly, but the agony was still sad, her expression was still somber, still hopeless, still desperate. She pleaded with her eyes.

"I can't tell him. I won't. Never…"

"Hush…"

Jasper's lips met Alice's nose as he closed his eyes and searched blindly for a way to cease his loves sobs. She seemed lulled by his actions through the sound of her voice; for harsh delicate whispers turned to dazed, sorrowful murmurs.

"…never…not Carlisle…"

Bella POV

He could not come to me.

I could not see his face in my mind.

I could not taste his name on my tongue.

I could not hear his velvet voice.

It was as if my mind refused to believe his existence, livid in the fear of his agonizing absence. Yet I knew too well he was and has always been real, my memories could vouch. Every scene I flickered through contained his presence, his actions, but not him. Even in my memories he was a stranger. My head ached in frustration with myself. I couldn't see anymore. Nothing was clear; my mind was a hazy mess, attempting to erase the truth, to erase him. But as the cause of my pain was eroded, a contradicting torturous pain halted any further progress. Nothing made sense. What was my drive? Why was I doing this?

The questions burned me and the gears in my head which always worked efficiently, creaked like rusted bolts and stumbled like a dying engine, over worked and desperate. My fruitless attempt of bringing up easy and flawless memories failed like damaged video cassettes. The perfect recollections were spoiled by the stranger that invaded them without my will.

I held my aching head as my hands traced lightly my trail on the crinkled map before me. I sat in the middle of a small clearing, laced in late summer grass that lifted an earthy aroma around me. As soothing as the signs of nature were, this "migraine" of mine held unseen strength. I groaned at this pain, so unusual for my kind. I tried to shake it off without success and continued attempting to pinpoint my location. I could only suspect Oklahoma or something mid-West, but I couldn't be too sure. I snatched the map for a drug store a few miles north, but like most shops, I couldn't muster a true location.

Frustrated, I crumbled the map in the next instant. I didn't have to know where I was, just where I was going. The sudden burst of anger piled on top of the dull pain in my head made me recognize the burn in my throat. How many days had it been since I had fed? I felt numb to the trivial thoughts of time. I didn't even mind the sun and moon unless when direction was needed. I dropped the mangled paper and looked towards the west; the sun was faint in the distance and dying in the horizon of the approaching night. I waited till the last diamond-like flashes gleamed off my shoulders in the setting sun. The spectacular light show that seemed like an average occurrence to me was replace by the rising moon's shower of silver light that made me almost glow in its beauty. I breathed in the light like liquid, feeling the natural and nocturnal instincts overcome me, swimming in the night's alluring power. I looked up at the blanket of tiny stars in the indigo sky. Each speck was as detailed as could be; every formation was as visible as any image. The constellations were like paintings of splendor, accompanying the night so elegantly and gracing the darkness with a small light of its own. Despite my situation, a smile blessed me if only for an instant. It was a sweet instant of hope.

The world sparked into a sea of colors at the silver hue of the moon.

I felt the energy to continue, the drive to look ahead, and the desperation to search. With an easy coil of my muscles, the anticipation welled inside me till I dashed into the woods away from the enchanting moon and towards my site of hope. My dream of humanity, my key to his love once again…

The petite child stood beside her brother like a sculpted statue, eerily straight with the wind whipping her and her companion's cloak like mad in the desolate clearing. The field was like a beautiful green mane, darkened wonderfully by the indigo sky. The rolling hills were a preface to the mountain side horizon, lost in the darkness, and the horrid and ill-fitted scene within its luscious locks of grass. Ireland held the most spectacular countryside.

Jane couldn't cease her unprofessional grin in the horror of the pasture's contrast with her creation. The mangled bodies, being thrown one by one into blazing flames by other larger cloaked beings illuminated the atmosphere of the empty area, weakening the stars and eating the grass like mad. It was only moments after the plasma tasted the ground and it shot across the field of tall, swaying grass as diligently as it devoured the appendages. Jane and her brother took a couple leaps backwards, signaling their larger companion to follow, away from the hazardous flames. Landing in the safety of a large dirt patch nigh the creeping foliage of the wooded area, the trio watched gleefully the purple smoke fill the sky in a plea for help. The event that was holy in silence was broken by the female screams of struggle, crying with anger. Alec looked at his twin in annoyance when a forth cloaked being shuffled out of the creeping forest with his hands locked like shackles around the wrist of a young woman. She was struggling under his grasp and did not cease as he brought her forward and presented her to Jane and her brother. All their hoods were up in shrouding concealment, but Jane respectfully lowered hers as she spoke in her musical, child-like voice.

"What did you drag in Demetri?" She seemed annoyed or bored, with her tone, reflecting the expression of Alec.

"A runaway. I was pretty sure based on that blonde's fight that he had a mate somewhere." The lean vampire threw his captive forcefully onto the ground before them. She didn't get up at the feet of her enemies. Her dark red hair was sprawled like web over her face. But she lifted her head eventually to face Jane. Malice twisted her face as her brow furrowed tightly, her plump lips curled like demon horns in a horrible grimace and her eyes piercing a heavy, cold gold. Before her muscles could flinch, Jane signaled the large cloaked being flanking her left to dive towards her. The female's attack was caught mid-lunge by the powerful Felix's meaty hold.

She screamed in response, "You filthy, excuse for—"

"I wouldn't make an open threat Pseudo." Jane's scornful words were acid.

Her gold eyes widen in confusion, a vulnerable softness encompassing her.

"Understand that this," She gestured behind her where the wall of hungry flames searched for new food. ", could be your next destination, just like you unfortunate companions."

The vampire's eyes followed the trail of smoke in the sky that mixed with the ever present purple ting. Her red eye brow curled in fury the instant following.

"I'll kill you!" She fought fruitlessly against Felix's hold, her body shaking violently.

"Simply words." Jane muttered, looking to her brother who nodded in agreement. She gave a wry smile as the words entered her thoughts and transferred to her tongue. She turned to their captive.

"No one can kill the Volturi, Pseudo."

This time, the lingo was ignored by the vengeful vampire. She gave another fruitless kick and a jerk to release from her shackles—once again, failed.

"Especially your kind. Pseudo-vampires are always weaker. Just thank yourselves for the idiotic choice of diet. The disgusting animal blood can't compare to the proper and natural meals we were designed to prey upon."

Enlightenment touched the female's face slightly, but the anger never left.

"But let us continue; you're alive for a reason."

Alec, Demetri, and Felix closed in on her slightly at this. Jane continued to explain.

"We want information." She smiled and drew closer.

"I'm not telling you anything." She responded, wary in her voice at the recognized danger.

"We can fix that." Jane responded smoothly, turning her back to the creature that had no right to gaze upon her face. As if on cue, the pseudo-vampire's screams shattered the Irish country-side. It was like music to Jane's ears, torturing others without her fiery gaze. The child-like vampire gave a satisfied sighed as the painful screeched died into pitiful gasps. Jane's hands, which were properly clasped behind her back, unfolded as she turned to face the female captive.

Her teeth bore manically, but it was easy to see obvious agony fueling her actions solely. Her dark red mane was now strewn about her face, amongst her deep gold eyes that pierced with hatred and agony. Felix now held her around the waist for good reason even though this annoyingly allowed his usual nature around women to arise in flirtatious purrs. Alec scanned the handiwork and smiled as he saw the damage.

Her entire right arm was ripped off.

Jane could only agree with her brother, staring now at the struggling dismembered arm pinned to the soil by Demetri's foot.

"Now, we'll play reverse hangman as the refusals continue." Demetri sneered; obviously the decapitation was his doing. Jane gave a menacing smile.

"Where is the Cullen clan?"

Bella POV

Days passed. The sun raced across the deepening sky in repetitive motion, yet the lunar wonder would follow it like a desperate lover, relentless to kiss its mate. Longing and sympathy washed through me at the similar scene occurring over and over, yet it was accompanied by the pang of despair at the reminder. The varying taps of my feet hitting the forest, valley or mountain-side floor kept me distracted from the insignificant truth.

I was lost.

No matter how I looked at the map, no such place could be found in the midst of California. I didn't even know where I was anymore. It seemed to vanish in my mind as things became blank and meaningless. My goal seemed so far off and I felt aimless despite all honesty. It was the parched screeching flame in my throat that broke my trance. I needed to hunt and my head throbbed in agreement. It was mid-day and the sun was arching over the sky lazily. Under the thin canopy of the average forest, the light faintly danced across my marble skin in return. I continued walking on, but my mind slowly lurched into that of a predators. The instincts sheered into my head, splitting my temples with the strange and sharp high of preordained fate and natural law. As gradual as the feeling came to me, I halted to a stop.

A breeze dance through the forest, which sent the trees rustling and clattering like paper, brought the dead scent of animal presence long gone. Suddenly my veins twisted cold and my muscles tightened. I lost all sense of reasoning as my breath hitched and my nostrils flared savagely. The scent that accompanied the desolation was like a warm blanket in the icy tundra. It was the lure of a seductress, God's face to a holy man, the great mystery of life and soon death— the most desirable thing in existence. I could see it linger around me, taunting me, teasing me. I wanted it. I never wanted something as bad as the sources of that smell. I don't know what kept me from bursting into a run, but no longer would I stand at its mercy. The greatest surge of energy coerced through me, causing me to lurch forward eagerly. The world turned into a distorted blur amongst me. My eyes face forward hungrily with my throat searing like never before, my mind going into auto-pilot. My mouth watered as I followed the scent blindly, ignoring the green leaves of the trees, the earthy bark of the branches, the pale sky of morning. Dodging bushes and trees at lightning speed, crazily, I finally saw the clearing before me like a beacon of light. My prey was nigh! I could hear it's pulse, it's heart, it breathing, I could feel it's presence, I could taste it's blood in my mouth…With venom pulsing under my skin, my teeth aching, my throat burning and with a final contraction of my leg muscles I leaped for the prey behind the bushes.

It was then I saw him seated with his back against me unaware of his death, his hair tossing around in the gust like a flame. My entire being suddenly froze at the sight. It was like a painting, a painting straight from my mind. The smell vanished, the scenery around me faded, my mind focused on my meal's form. The forest grew dead silent in the anticipation of the kill that would never come. But in the calm there remain one noise. It was so very soft and gentle, so very private and perfect. It was the sound of humming. The make shift notes formed a pattern as they stretched across the space between the predator and prey. That song… the song echoed in the hollows of my mind like a gong. My breath hitched in shock, as it all came so quickly.

Like the ear piercing scream of a child, or the nails on a chalk board, unimaginable pain ripped through me instantly from all corners of my body at the sight of him, causing my knees to buckle and my position to crumble. My vision blurred at the edges, unfocused and struggling and my mind strained like a thousand tons were crushing it relentlessly. I shrieked at the agony that pierced my insides with shattered glass, my heart twisted and burned. No longer could I smell my la tua cantante; no longer did I hands flew to my searing chest in an effort to dull the pain and I deteriorated to a simple lump on the forest floor, crying, groaning, and screaming at the pain the pulsed through me relentlessly. I didn't see the subject of my prey turn at the sound of my pitiful whimpers; I didn't see him rise to his feet from his comfortable sitting position, or cautiously inch closer to me.

"A—are you okay miss…?" My breath hitched at the soft tenor of his gentle voice. Bells were clattering in my head and muffling my thoughts. I lurched at the crescendo-ing intensity of pain grew and dulled slightly like a wave in the storm, regardless of the agony still present. My wailing cry begged for it to stop. I was shaking violently in the struggle. I could only feel raw emotion swirling around my head amongst the dead thoughts. Confusion, frustration, pain, fear, alarm, panic. I couldn't form a single thought, make a single action. But yet I froze at the sound of his echoing call.

"Miss?" It was so polite, so chivalrous but confused. It was like a bird song in the midst of a flock of ravens' hoarse notes. Yet the pleasure died as it sparked more pain. Suddenly, I felt a warm, soft touch grace my shoulder gently. The storm within me was suddenly quelled. His touch was the morning sunrays after the great hurricane. The waves died slowly, growing into something unknown. The great torturous agony left as quick and mysteriously as it came. Weak and injured, I lifted my head to meet his gaze.

The moment I looked at him, a force like a brick wall slammed directly at my mind. The unexplainable pain from before was replace suddenly by a mixture of awe and confusion. My migraine crept back to me slowly. My thoughts were suddenly distorted as I tried to piece together what I saw.

"Wha?" I grumbled softly to myself at the oddity of the boy.

He was faceless.

I couldn't see his face. Every moment I looked at him, the image left me and jumbled my thoughts with it. I cringed as I struggled with all my might to focus on him. Everything was distorted and hazy, a great big mess, just by looking at him. I squinted my eyes at the obvious and obnoxious blur of his features, anger spiking my growing frustration. Looking at him hurt my head.

"Are you okay?" He said again. His lips moved, his eyes flickered, his brow twitched, but I couldn't see his face. Why couldn't I see him!? Nothing made sense. I was pretty sure he had a face, but I just couldn't see it. I focused harder, the migraine strengthening in response. I groaned softly again, it was as if I was sensitive to light and just recently exposed to blaring florescence. The stranger waited patiently, still oblivious to the fact that I was dead set on killing him moments before. His scent seemed to vanish from the picture oddly enough. Questions began to wash over me, bewildering and maddening.

"Who are you?" I choked out in my daze.

"My name's Anthony, but most people call me Tony."

Preview for the next chapter: Chapter 11—Junior

"What do I want?" he laughed lightly in his high pitched voice. "Why, I just want to play."

We are truly sorry for the wait… I mean really sorry. We've been really caught up in school big time and we haven't really been feeling anything for this story. Good news is that the Third and Final season of this tale is under planning after existing as solely an outline. On a more serious note, we've been experiencing… "Anti-Twilight syndrome"— basically, we aren't happy with discussing or relating with anything Twilight. Some can guess that we aren't happy with the series, but we respect it enough to make this fanfiction and put all our effort into it in the tale's honor. Well, we're losing that respect. This BD hatred that we have is infecting our opinion on the other books of the series. But don't fret. This story will continue and end exactly how it was supposed to months previous when the idea came to us. For you BD lovers (Which is ironically most of you...) don't be deterred by our opinion. The chapter bent on venting our feelings to the public is over, now the plot comes in!

This chapter is another plot igniter, we find out what several people are up to; Alice and Jasper (who left the clan), Bella (who's on her own little mission) and the Volturi (who's on a killing spree! *Slap happy*). We are laying the foundation for Bella's side story. You'll be intrigued to find out how all this comes together… But boy aren't we evil foreboding people. Please don't make your guesses, cause we'd be upset if you got it right and a cool but dim reader read your chapter review. Finally some disclaimer:

Guys, we did add an original character to the mix, but instead of being mad, be curious. This Tony guy makes Bella feel spontaneous agony, have mental breakdowns, [Vampire Migraines!] and disarray, not only that but he's Bella's La tua cantante and the worlds one and only faceless person that she can't see straight. He has no physical description people! That's what makes him so flipping unique. All in all, don't take this "faceless" description too literally. He has a face, it all depends on who can see it. Bella can see his facial features and identify if he blinks moves his mouth or make an expression, the rest just doesn't click. We're dealing with mental games people! Be warned! —But seriously if any of you have any problems with our OC's contact us.

Once again, we're sorry for the wait and will try not to do that again. A side note to JenniferWL We have not forgotten you. We give out a personal apology to you for this wait. We know you are awaiting a detailed review of your story excerpt and we haven't forgotten, we just want it to be very precise and effective. We (meaning the one and only) wouldn't read your story unless we could put aside the appropriate amount of time and attention it deserves.

Thanks again for reading,

IT-Ended-At-Three