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So are twists and turns.
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Keep reading and I'll keep writing.

Chapter 14

Alice's POV

I hit the ground hard. Jagged rocks slammed into my back and disintegrated into dust against my solid frame. If my lungs contained any air it would have been knocked right out of me. I groaned loudly in pain, something had cracked in my back. I rolled over and pushed myself off the ground, I could hardly stand up. I dragged myself closer to the cliff and slammed my back against it. I felt a pleasant click as what ever it was that had come out of place slipped back into place. I stood up and brushed myself off before climbing the cliff as fast as I could. I had to find Bella. I dragged myself over the top. The house was in ruins. It had collapsed in on itself and rubble and dust was flying into the air. Bella was nowhere to be seen, neither were the Volturi. I screamed in frustration; slamming my fist through one of the few remaining walls of the house. I couldn't smell them, I couldn't hear them, I couldn't see them! Where the fuck were they? Why hadn't I seen them coming? Why hadn't I had a vision? My mind was drowning in questions and my heart was breaking. I didn't know what to do. I paced back and forth, the beginnings of a plan forming in my mind. I had to get to Volterra. I had to meet with the Volturi. This wasn't about Bella feeding on other vampires otherwise she'd be dead already. She still had a chance.

I packed quickly and ran to the nearest town which was five miles away. I needed a car. I trawled the streets looking for the car I had seen a few days before. I found it, parked outside a small cottage-like house. I knocked on the door, a little too hard and had to blow several splinters of wood off my hand. A few moments passed and the door was opened by a young man, his chin covered with stubble and his brown hair seemingly defying the laws of gravity.

*"Alreet lass." He smiled broadly, I was still getting used to the northern accents.

"Hi, I'm interested in your car." I tried my hardest to be as nice and cute as possible.

"Ahh, she's a canny little motor. Not the prettiest but she'll get yer where yer wanna gan." He stepped out of the house and walked me around the car. It was basically a black box on wheels. I had no idea what make it was but it was £300 and it was right in front of me.

"I've got the money for it right here." I opened my bag and took out a pile of British money, his eyes lit up and he scratched the back of his head eagerly.

"Sold! Lemme just gan and get the papers" He walked back into his house and came out with a folder full of tax-discs, MOT certificates and ownership papers. I filled out the forms, called an insurance company, didn't wait for the necessary papers and drove away. I had a long drive south, maybe four hundred miles to get to Dover, then a ferry to France, then a drive to Italy. I couldn't risk public transport, especially not in France or Italy. I couldn't risk getting caught in the sun.

The drive was boring. I was stuck listening to music that was new in England but already old back home. The roads were confusing too. I'd never driven on a roundabout before, and I'm so thankful we don't have them back home. After a few stops, a few wrong turns and several thousand swear words I found my way to Dover. I was in luck; the next ferry was leaving in just over an hour. I paid, I waited, I drove on board and then I wandered around, spinning everything over and over in my head. I think I was still in a state of shock. I had no idea how they'd found us. I wasn't paying attention and didn't realise we'd reached France until a group of young kids started screaming in excitement. I went back to the car and waited my turn.

The rest of the journey passed in a blur. The closer I got to Volterra the more terrified and nervous I became. What had happened to my life?! It used to be peaceful and contained at least a certain degree of normalcy, well at least a form of normalcy that I had become accustomed to. I was safe, I was loved, I was happy and then I met Bella. Typical. Just a simple roll of the dice and my world went spinning round. I couldn't bring myself to hate Bella though. She'd made me happier in the last few weeks than I had been in the last few years. She didn't make me feel like I was something unnatural. That's why I had to find her. I was beginning to understand why Edward always felt so protective of her.

I was getting close to Volterra. I could see it in the distance. I couldn't believe I was back here again so soon. I looked in the rear-view mirror and noticed the same car that had been behind me for the last twelve miles. So I was being followed. It was nice of them to care. I couldn't out-run them in this shoe box so I just kept driving. The sun was shining high in the sky, I couldn't go through the city until night. Great, more waiting! I stopped my car at the side of the road just outside of the city, my follower drove past, the windows were tinted so I couldn't see who was inside but I had a fair idea who it might be. I shut my eyes and practiced some breathing exercises. They were redundant but they still managed to calm my nerves. I concentrated as hard as I could but nothing came to me. No visions, no glimpses of what may be, nothing at all, just black. What was going on?! I took out my phone and rang a someone who I thought might know a little more than me. The musical ringing of the phone just irritated me even more. A gruff voice answered, a voice that I recognised.

"Thomas? It's Alice." He coughed down the phone, he was surprised it was me.

"Alice! How are you? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Why didn't you let me know they were coming Thomas?" He paused, I could almost hear the thoughts ticking over in his head.

"I wasn't informed Alice. It's been very hush-hush lately. Something big is going on and the bosses aren't letting anyone in on it."

"What can you tell me?" I heard his fingers flying over a keyboard. The soft clicks of the buttons blending together to form a symphony of sound.

"Not much. You're friend, Bella, they brought her in. She's being held in one of the safe houses in the city. It doesn't say which one though. Gabe is with her. Oh..."

"'Oh'? What 'Oh'? What is it?" I was so easily panicked lately...maybe I'm not eating enough.

"She's getting a visit from the boss tonight."

"Which one Thomas?" Things were never easy when they came to Bella.

"All of them." Fuck. Shit. Crap. Shit...wait I already said that one. They were all going to see Bella. This was really big. I had to get her out before then.

"What time Thomas? How long do I have?"

His fingers were flying over the keyboard again, I could hear the faint hum of his computer and could almost imagine him sat in front of the screen for hours on end.

"It's scheduled for 2am. Hurry Alice. Good luck." The phone went dead. I pounded on the steering wheel before starting the car and driving into the city.

...

...

...

I'd been walking around the city for hours! I hadn't found Bella and it had just turned 1am. I was running out of time. The panic was starting to get to me. I took a deep breath, grounded myself and inhaled a chest-full of air. I caught a taste...a scent...it wasn't Bella but it was familiar...it was Gabe, he was close. Thomas had said Gabe was with Bella, I had to find him. I swallowed more air, I had his scent now. I followed it down dark, narrow streets, the cobbles preventing me from having a silent approach. He was a few streets over. I twisted and turned down back alleys, ducking past windows and doorways. I found him. In a typical ironic twist, his scent had led me to a dilapidated church. Built out of the same stone the streets were paved with the church drooped down at one side, part of the roof was missing and the windows were boarded and taped over. There was graffiti over the door and the railings around the outside were twisted, loose and rusty. Gabe was in there. I could smell him.

I walked around the church, looking for a way in. I couldn't find any openings in the wall, I couldn't see a door that wasn't chained shut. The only way in was through the hole in the roof. I took a deep breath and jumped. I landed elegantly just to the side of the hole. I balanced on my toes and spread my arms, balancing myself and making my landing as quiet as possible. I peered through the hole. The floor was littered with dust, the walls were covered with candles. There was a giant concrete block in the centre of the church. Guards were stood at each corner and Gabe was sat at an ornate desk at the far end of the church. He was on the phone to someone, talking about chains and security. I knew why I couldn't smell Bella anywhere within the city now. She was in the concrete block. It was her prison. I had to hand it to the Volturi, they were clever bastards.

There was no way I could get Bella out of this situation. Not on my own, not right now. I wasn't going to leave her though. I pressed my body flat against the roof, spreading myself out for balance. There were so many vampires down there I doubted that they'd be able to smell me. It was almost 2am. The Volturi would be here soon. The seconds seemed like lifetimes, and I've already lived a few of those. It was agony waiting for them to turn up.

They all arrived at the same time. I could hear them to my left. They drifted into the church through an entrance I had failed to find. They looked as if they were floating, they were so pale that I was sure they, or vampires like them were the reasons why humans believed in ghosts. They floated towards Gabe; he stood and gave a slight bow out of respect. Placing his hands behind his back he stood upright, his head raised slightly as if stand to attention, ready for the inspection of his commanders.

"How is she?" Aro was talking, he had a slight smile on his face, I wanted to snap his gleaming teeth.

"She's cooperating. We haven't had any trouble but she's in chains, just in case."

"Do you really think chains would hold her Gabe?" Aro was chuckling. Caius and Marcus were both scowling while Aro and Caius' wives stood slightly back, their arms folded tightly, their faces; passive.

"If they do not hold her, they will slow her escape." Gabe lifted his head slightly, justifying himself.

"Very well. Let's see her again, let us lay eyes on the beautiful creature that Bella has become." I gritted my teeth in seething hatred. How dare he talk about Bella like that. The guards around the block all came together and stood in front of the side that was facing me, and the Volturi. All four of them took hold of that side of the block, two on each side and slid the side of the block away from the rest of it. They appeared to have been struggling, it must really have been heavy. As they moved I caught a glimpse of just how thick it was. The side of concrete was about ten feet tall and ten feet long but it was also about five feet wide. It was immense. The side had been moved out of the way and the guards returned to their positions. I couldn't see into the block, the Volturi were in the way. I raised myself up slightly and almost cried out at the sight that confronted me. There was Bella. She was dressed in a white gown, her hair had been lightly curled and ribbons had been delicately placed in it. She looked beautiful but that wasn't what shocked me. She was chained, I had expected that. But she was suspended off the floor. She was spread-eagled in mid air. There were chains wrapped around her arms and legs and melted into the block. There was a chain around her neck holding her head in place. She was at least a foot off the ground and all I wanted to do was fly in, kill everyone in the room and take her somewhere safe. I wanted to cry, I wanted to feel tears burning down my face. How could they do this to Bella?! I bit my lip hard to keep myself quiet and focused on what was being discussed.

"Bella, do you remember who I am?" Aro had stepped forward, his feet were centimetres away from the edge of the block.

"Yes I do." Bella didn't look up, her voice was strained, broken. What had they done to her?!

"I'm curious Bella, Gabe informs me that you possess some form of mind control. How is it that you have not used this gift to escape?" Good question actually! I had completely forgotten but now that he mentioned it...

"I..." She shook her head slightly, I was impressed that she could move it with that massive chain twisted disgustingly around her neck.

"Yes Bella?"

"I tried. I can't" She sounded defeated, hopeless.

"Interesting, we shall have to work on that. Bella, when was the last time you ate?" I was intrigued, where was he going with this?

"Maybe a week, a week and a half ago." Other than the slight movement of her head she hadn't moved at all. She was a corpse, a beautiful corpse hanging on display.

"My! You must be hungry." Aro stepped back and nodded to Caius who, in turn, left the group and walked over to the shadows. He returned with a young girl, she couldn't have been much older than fifteen. She looked terrified. Her entire body was shaking, tears were streaming down her face leaving a dark, wet trail along the dusty floor. Aro nodded again and Caius slashed his hand across the girls stomach. Blood started to pool under her shirt and flow towards the floor. The guards and even Aro lurched forward slightly. I was surprised at their restraint. Caius licked his fingers as Gabe entered the block and released Bella. She fell to the floor with a thump, I could see from this distance that her eyes were black as coal. She stood up and backed away slightly, rubbing her wrists and neck. Aro nodded once more and Caius led the bleeding girl towards the block, shoving her forcefully inside towards Bella.

"Eat Bella, get your strength back." Aro was smiling widely now and for once his grin was matched by Marcus and Caius.

"No, I can't..." She was stuttering and clasping at the back wall of the block, dragging her fingernails along it, trying to claw her way out. The girl was moving towards Bella, she was stumbling slightly, a blood covered hand was being held out...she was begging for help.

"Eat Bella." Aro repeated his command just as the girl collapsed onto Bella. I could smell the girls blood from here. It was mouth watering. I don't know how they could stand it down there. Bella was shaking, she was staring intently at the blood that now covered the girl. Her head was moving closer, her mouth was opening...

It all happened in an instant. There was a large growl, a pain-filled scream and then Bella was covered in blood. She had her face buried in the girls neck. The girl was thrashing against her, Bella simply slammed the girls head against the floor. I heard the stomach churning pop and saw the chunk of skull hit the floor. The girl was dead. Bella was still feeding though. She was clawing at the girls body, ripping her clothes to shreds and tearing pieces of skin away. The blood was all over Bella, dripping down her chin and onto her white dress, it was on her arms, on her hands, in her hair, splattered across her legs. She looked truly monstrous. I couldn't watch any more. I couldn't stand it. I had to get help. I had to find some body.

I slipped off the roof and tore into the night. A soul-shattering scream erupted behind me.

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*English Accent Dictionary

Alreet=Alright
Lass=Girl
Canny=Good
Gan=Go