12. Terror

I LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE WOODS AS THE SUN SET, DYING THE ENTIRE FOREST IN DEEP HUES OF RED

and orange. The rest of the sky was starting to become a soft purple-blue. I sighed and grit my teeth together. I was frightened all the time now. I was paranoid. Every shadow looked like a Volturi guard, and every whisper of the wind sounded like Aro's voice.

"Damn." I hissed under my breath. This was no way to live. I closed my window and then walked into my darkening room. My parents were at the main house and I knew that Jacob was prowling around the forest, making sure there were no gaps for anyone to get in. I wished he was in here with me though. Wished I could wrap my arms around his neck and listen to the reassuring sound of his steady heartbeat. I switched on my light and took a book out of my shelf. I barely glanced at the cover before cracking it open and starting to read. It turned out to be The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. The light slowly dwindled outside but I didn't look up from my book. I felt much safer in the book world then I did in mine. My parents still hadn't come back from the house, and I'm sure they were discussing Alice's vision. It had pretty much been the main topic of the house (whenever they thought I wasn't in earshot, when I often was) my wedding was still important, but it was almost halfhearted now. Everyone was on edge, Jacob's pack included. My mom and dad were always shooting each other worried looks and often my dad would snap at someone for having a particularly gloomy thought about the future. I was quieter than usual, staying even closer to Jacob then usual and I often jumped whenever an unexpected noise caught me off guard. Jacob never let his pack off patrol around my house. However despite all of this, I still didn't feel safe.

Alice took the brunt of this new paranoia even worse. She was always huddled somewhere with her hands pressed to her temples muttering about how everything was blurry. Nothing was concrete and yet she could sense that something was going to happen.

"Why can't I see them?!" She finally cried one day. My mom's eyebrows knitted together.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"This shouldn't be like this!!! I should be able to see whoever or whatever threatens Nessie, just not her. But I can't see any of them!" Her breath was labored as the end, her anger directed inwardly as well. That set my mom and my entire family to thought. And me as well…why couldn't they see whoever was trying to hurt me? I had no ideas.

****

An hour or so later I was yawning and ready for bed. I slipped on my tank top and boxers and flipped back my blanket. It was then that I heard the rustling noise. Ice shot down my spine and my stomach flipped over. I tried to reassure myself that it was nothing. Just the wind. Maybe a squirrel. No vampire could make that noise.

But then it happened again.

It sounded like something was being dragged.

My heart started pounding. What if this was a repeat of Seth? What if it was Jacob this time?

"NO!" I whispered fiercely. I dated out of my room and tried to ignore the way the room swum around me. I dashed out of the front door and followed the dragging sound until I was deep enough in the forest to slow down. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I could smell wolf….but also a new smell. It was sweet alluring…a kind of floral smell with hints of cinnamon…and when this scent hit my nose my throat scorched; human blood. The blood pounding in my ears marked the time. It was a slow dragging minute before the pale figure emerged from the shadows. It was a woman in about her twenties. Her skin was as pale as any vampire's but it had an olive tint to it. Her eyes were large and a deep red, she had shoulder length black hair and she was smiling at me like a hunter would smile before shooting his prey.

The smile sent daggers of fear into my heart.

"Jacob." I whispered. The vampire gestured behind her.

"He had to take a nap. The rest of his pack decided to sleep too." Her voice was high and melodious. When she finished talking she laughed, a peal of a bell.

"Who are you?" I whispered. The woman took a step towards me and my breath caught tin my throat. If I ran she would catch me. But what if I shouted for help? My mouth opened but just as I was about to scream I felt a cold hand slip over my mouth. I shouted and tried to twist away, but someone held me from behind. I twisted around and saw the leering face of one of my nightmares.

Felix.

I froze and went limp in his death grasp. The woman darted over to us and laid her hand lovingly on Felix's arm.

"Well sweetheart, my names Gianna. And I came here to run a little errand for my master. You see, he wants to meet you so very much, and since you never came to visit we decided to come and get you." The blackness of night crushed down on me. I could barely focus on the face of the cruel vampire in front of me.

Aro.

Aro was her master.

Aro had sent for me.

I was going to die.

"We should get going before your pesky family hears us, right dear? Let's go Felix." Something was wrapped around my eyes, eclipsing everything. It smelled like stones. I felt myself being bound my chains, very strong chains that coupled with Felix's strength was able to hold be, gagged and then slung over Felix's shoulder. He started running. I don't know how far we traveled before I was finally able to get the gag far enough out of my mouth to make any noise. I knew this was a wasted attempt because already it was too late. Alice's vision had come true. Only one last thing to make it complete.

I screamed.