Disclaimer: All things belong to their rightful owners. I own nothing.

Thanks to my beta, shortbritches85, for taking the time to help me with my story.

During this chapter I listened to an old Owl City song, Fireflies. And also, a Filipino song called Ngiti by Ronnie. I plan on interpreting it and using it for one of my chapter. And yes, this means I am Filipino. I'm full Filipino and I'm proud of it. =]

I Thanks those who took their time giving me reviews. I love you all.

Update on Twilighted(dot)com: They still haven't contacted me. I'll give it another three days or so before I try and contact the Coven Leader. I'm so anxious. And I can't wait for the results.

Chapter 12- Is It Me Who You Seek?

It felt like old times. Jane and Alec were flanking my sides. They were both looking ahead while I closed my eyes and just let the air blow in my face.

"It seemed just like yesterday when I warned you about doing that, Isa," Alec shook his head. A sad smile on his face.

"You guys lasted like hundreds of years before me," I said, leaping over a big rock. I heard Jane murmur something unintelligible. I ignored it. "Where are we going anyways?"

"We were given a tip that a guy somewhere down in northern Texas is delusional," Jane said. "He plans on exposing himself. We don't know why. But if he ever does what we think he will, he'll have to be executed."

"I call dibs on twisting his head off," I called first.

"Damn!" Alec growled.

"You should know by now," I shrugged. "First one to call dibs gets to do it."

"Not it!" Jane claimed.

'Damn it!" Alec yelled. "Not it!"

"And last person to call 'not it' has to clean it up." I laughed.

That was our deal. And we always have to follow it.

"How's dad?" I asked quietly.

"Their fine," Jane rolled her eyes. "They miss you. Even if they don't say it out loud. The castle is quiet now, like it used to be. When are you visiting again?"

"Sometime soon," I lied. "But you know how I am. I want to feel independent for once. I want to live on my own for a while. When I finish living in every house dad has, then I'll come back home. And also, when I find the truth about my past."

"Some things are better left unsaid," Alec avoided my eyes.

I stopped abruptly.

"Is there something I need to know?' I demanded.

They didn't say anything,

"What I really hate is when you two, including Felix, Demetri, and Heidi, avoid my eyes like you don't want me to know something. I won't push you. I won't pin you down on the ground and make you tell me. I just want you both to know that I hate it." I growled.

Jane turned to me.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

And then I turned and continued running.

Edward Cullen

I wonder if Bella looks different. I wonder how she lived all this time. And since when did she start drinking human blood.

I wonder how differently this whole thing would have turned out. I wonder if…

"Emmett," I snapped. "You're not really helping right now."

"Wait," Jasper paused. "Smell that?"

I sniffed the air. Strawberries. I followed the trial of the scent, due west, with my head.

"Anyone you recognize?" he asked.

"Bella is freesia's," I said. "But I can't be sure. I haven't been with her."

They both looked down.

"Shall we continue or would one of us have to follow the trail?" Jasper asked.

I looked at both of them.

"I'll go," Jasper volunteered.

I nodded and we separated ways. Emmett and I ran as fast as we could to Eleazar's house. And the closer we got, the higher my hope went up.

I keep thinking in my head that somehow, when we get to their house, Bella would be waiting for me. And then we'd hug and leave right off where we left.

But I knew that was just an imagination. Bella's memory could be permanently lost. All our hopes of having a reunion would be filled with confusion and anger…sadness…betrayal… We would have to fill in the void, the emptiness in Bella's heart and mind.

The main thing though is, we have to find Bella.

***

"Where's Eleazar?" I asked Carmen.

We arrived at their home about two minutes ago. Tanya and Kate surrounded us. Irina stood by the window, waiting for Eleazar's return.

"I just want you to know, Edward," Tanya said to me. "that what happened to you and your…family is really tragic. I hope you find…your Bella." Her mind said other things.

"He should be coming soon. I just got off the phone with him. He's been trying to find her. He even brought an item she had touched to help him."

We waited. And after what seemed like forever, Eleazar's thoughts entered my head. I stood up and waited right by the door. When he finally opened it, he gave us one look that meant only one thing.

Follow me.

I was a step behind Eleazar, Emmett right behind me. Carmen and the girls about a few feet away, lagging but not losing.

"How far?" I asked.

"A few towns away. She headed west," Eleazar told me.

"Strawberries?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Did you have a run in with Jasper?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Should I?" he asked.

"He followed a trail we found, heading west too," I asked.

"The trail goes two ways. But the second trail had other scents mixed in with it. I followed the one that was more easier. And it led me to a house that was full of her," Eleazar told me.

"She's not there?" I questioned his thoughts.

"I arrived there, but it seems as though she had just left the house," he said.

"Do you think she'll come back?" Emmett asked.

"The house lights were on," Eleazar said. "It was a big, old fancy house."

"Those houses are usually passed down," Carmen said. "She couldn't have possibly bought one just like that. She told you she was traveling, right?" He nodded. "She must have some connection."

"Who does the house belong to is what you mean," Emmett called from behind.

"Yes," I said. "Do you know?"

"The only people that really reside in this part of the country is us," Eleazar said. "Most of the vampires we run in with are nomads."

It was then that I noticed the strawberry scent growing stronger. I turned my head towards the trail that had Bella's scent mixed with three other vampires. That trail was heading south now. I recognized Jasper's scent. It was fresh. He followed the second trail.

"You're right," I said.

"What?" Eleazar asked.

"She'll be a bit…overwhelmed if she sees me waiting for her," I told them, agreeing with Eleazar's unspoken thoughts.

"I've told her that she has a husband. And I'm sure she must have figured out who the only Cullen without a mate is," Eleazar said.

"Don't worry, Edward," Irina said. I turned my head to look at her. "We'll find her."

Bella

"Why?" Jane asked.

"I-"

"It's a simply question that needs a simple answer," I cut him off coldly.

"I have a reason," he said. His red eyes blinked twice. He flipped his head to the side, moving the black hair out of his eyes. The hands at his sides clenched and unclenched. His index finger fiddled with the piece of torn cloth.

We waited. Then finally he said, "My mate was killed."

"And you think exposing our kind is the best way to get revenge?!" I yelled at him, making them all three jump at the sound of my voice. It echoed in the abandoned warehouse we cornered him at. He shook his head.

"Then why?!" I yelled.

"I heard that if you break the rules, the Royals come and kill you," he said.

I walked towards him, the sound of my heels clicking filled the silence.

"If you want to die so badly, all you have to do is ask," I said.

"I do," he said.

I placed my hand roughly on both sides of his head. His eyes widened with fear and his mouth parted slightly. I turned his head slowly to the right. He whimpered.

"You're weak," I told him. "And you're not ready."

"Death will be a pleasure for him," Alec said.

"Just lock him up in the castle. He'll spend the rest of his life without his precious mate," Jane taunted him. "That's torture."

"Should I?" I asked him.

"No! No, please!" he begged.

"Begging will get you nowhere," I told him, wrapping my hand around his neck. "Take him away!" I gripped his neck tightly and threw him down on the ground. The cement cracked.

"Wait!" he yelled. "I'll just be a bother. Kill me, please."

I shook my head. "How long have you been a vampire?" I asked.

"A while," he stuttered. "I can't live anymore. I've tried-"

"Nothing kills you!" I yelled at him. "You have so many things to learn. Let me tell you this: there are other women out there. That skank of a mate of yours is nothing compared to others."

Anger flashed in his eyes. I smiled. I loved aggravating my prey.

"Don't talk about her like that," he growled.

"So what?" Alec circled around him. "She's dead, right?"

"I can see potential in you," I told. "Tell me your name."

"Caleb," his voice stiff.

"Caleb," I echoed. "Why waste such high priorities? Why waste your time yearning for some woman? Some woman who is now dead."

"I loved her!" he yelled at me.

I brought my hand up and slapped him across the face. It only hurt him a bit, but I put a lot of force in there.

"Don't yell at me," I grabbed his face and brought it close to mine. "We'll let the Royals decide what goes on for you."

"No," he whispered. His ice breath blew onto my face.

"If you think I've tortured you," I laughed in his face. "Then you don't know what's coming. The Royals, my father's , their worse."

"We'll see you soon, Isa," Alec said.

I waved to them before I turned around and headed back home.

On the way, I thought about how cruel it had been to imprison him. But my mind soon turned onto a new subject, as usual.

I felt the presence of another vampire following me. I laughed and I shook my head.

"You really should be helping your sister," I told him. "She's tiny, you know, and she can't possibly take care of the big monster on her own."

He didn't say anything, just followed me.

"Al! You know I hate it when you follow me!" I yelled playfully at him.

I still couldn't see him. I finally turned and stopped, right dab smack in the middle of a wide open field. He came out from the trees.

But it was not Alec who emerged.

Edward Cullen

No such luck, leech?

Jacob, in his wolf form, came through the trees. He must have found our scent.

"Nice," I said. "So good to see you."

The girls turned around and gave a silent shriek. They back away, standing behind Eleazar. They knew it was Jacob, but they just haven't seen him in his all glory wolfiness.

Likewise. He snorted in an animal-ish way. Staking out the house? You picked the right spot. Just off the side so she can't smell you or see you, but you can. Nice job.

"Did you pick up any other scents on the way?" I asked him.

"You can understand him?" Eleazar asked.

"I can read his mind," I told him. "He says hi."

Jacob growled. Shut up!

"And he also says that he likes your scarf, Tanya," I teased him.

Jacob lunged towards me and tackled me down on the ground. Eleazar froze and so did everyone else. Emmett just started laughing.

"Take him Jacob!" he boomed.

"Is he hurt?" Carmen asked.

Jacob used his big paw to pin me on the ground. I pushed him away and jumped onto his back. He gave an animal laugh and threw me across the field.

"They do this all the time," Emmett waved his hand.

To answer your question, no. I only found Jasper's, the other two vampire like you told me, and Bella's.

He turned to go back into the forest, only to come back a second later in shorts.

"Where's Jasper?" he asked.

"Went to follow the trail," I answered him.

"I would have followed but figured it wouldn't be best if he does find her there and she sees me," Jacob rolled his eyes.

"You're right," I agreed.

"Did you recognize those scents?" Eleazar asked Jacob.

Jacob shook his head.

"Not that I know of," Jacob said.

"Doesn't it seem familiar?" Eleazar asked me.

"It does," I nodded my head. "But I've met many vampires before. It could be anyone."

"If you knew these vampires, wouldn't they have known who Bella is?" Carmen said.

"There are some I haven't been with in years, way before I met Bella," I told her.

"Something about this doesn't feel right," Eleazar said. "Like something bad happened to Bella. And she doesn't know it."

"What could have happened that's that bad?" Kate asked. "It's not like she killed the Volturi or something."

That struck something. I don't know what, but it did. It was like a light bulb went on in my head then flickered off right before I could catch a glimpse of light.

Just then, my phone went off with the ringtone Alice used especially for her. I held up a hand and pressed the call button.

"What is it Aly?" I answered.

"Edward," she gasped. "I just had a vision. You need to find Jasper."

Wish me luck on Twilighted. Review and show me your love.