Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Twilight Stephenie Meyer does.

A/N Thanks for reading, adding and reviewing!

Chapter 20

Alice was pacing in the living room while the rest of her family stared at her in concern. Bella was the first to react and walked over to her to pull her into a hug.

"It's going to be okay, sweetie," Bella repeated the words Alice had spoken to her only moments before. Alice nodded into Bella's shoulder en felt very lucky to have this strong and stubborn human by her side.

"So," Alice started in a shaky voice. "James knew me when I was human?"

"He did. Although I'm not sure 'knew' is the right word. From what I could see he met you when you were human and was very attracted to your blood. He saw you as a challenge," Edward murmured and then he hesitated unsure if he should tell her the rest.

"I know there's more, Edward. Just tell me."

"Okay, when he met you, you were in a… In an asylum."

Alice nodded as tears filled her eyes. She had known that it wasn't going to be good, but it still hurt.

"Did he change me?" she asked fearing the answer. She really didn't want to be linked to James in any kind of way.

"He didn't. Apparently there was another vampire at the asylum who took an interest in you which was probably why James saw you as a challenge in the first place. Anyway the other vampire changed you before James could get to you and James killed him for it. You got away."

"And now he sees Bella as a challenge?" Alice asked fearfully feeling her human stiffening at her side.

"Yes," Edward answered simply making Bella shiver.

"It's going to be alright. He's not going to get to you, Bella. We won't let them. I won't let them! I promise."

Bella nodded and tried to suppress a yawn, but Alice noticed and said:

"Bella, you really should get some rest now. I know you don't want to. You made that very clear a couple of minutes ago, but you're really going need it and it won't do us any good if you're exhausted tomorrow."

"Fine," Bella muttered through another yawn and let Alice pull her off the couch and push her towards the bedroom.

"I'll stay with you," Alice reassured Bella when she laid down on the bed and looked scared.

"You don't have to. I know you need to talk about strategies with your family," Bella murmured.

"What I need is to stay here with you and make sure you're safe. Jasper will probably make the final decisions about strategies and I'll be able to hear the conversation from here so don't worry and rest," Alice countered taking Bella into her arms and kissing her goodnight.

"So you think running away would be useless?" Esme asked looking at Jasper.

"I do. James is a tracker so he'll find us anywhere."

"Shouldn't we at least get Bella away from here?" Edward asked.

"We could do that," Jasper agreed. "But then we'd be separated and we'd make easier targets. Alice said there will be at least five vampires coming our way and we can't afford to underestimate them."

"So we're going to just wait until they get here?" Emmett asked impatiently.

"We'll wait for them to come to us, but maybe we should wait somewhere else? A part of the forest we know well or something?"

"Good idea," Esme agreed immediately thinking about preserving her home.

"So five or six are coming our way?" Edward asked aiming his question to Alice's bedroom.

"Yes, Laurent is doubting. But the good news is that he's leaning more and more towards running away," Alice whispered quietly as to not wake Bella.

"And who are the other two that will be joining Dean, James and Victoria?" Edward asked.

"There's another female vampire and another male. They don't look all that tough, but appearances can be deceiving," Alice whispered.

Edward nodded seeing them in his own head.

"I haven't been able to find out a lot about them, but I do know that Victoria is James' mate and that she's some kind of escape artist," Edward said as he thought back to what he saw in James' thoughts.

"How did you find that out?" Carlisle asked curiously.

"James was thinking about using her ability after killing Bella," Edward said with a clenched jaw and they could all hear Alice's angry growl.

"Don't worry, Alice. We won't let him touch her," Esme soothed.

"I know," Alice answered sounding determined.

"It's going to be difficult though. We don't know if the other four have any powers," Jasper reminded them not wanting anyone to underestimate the fight that was to come.

"We'll need to be careful and controlled," Edward added.

"We need to rest. We can't do anymore today since they're coming tomorrow. We need to take a break and regroup in the morning," Rosalie interjected.

"I agree," Carlisle said. "Let's rest for a couple of hours."

"Okay, but make sure you've hunted by morning. We'll need the extra energy," Jasper said.

It was nearing dawn when the Cullens became aware of a vampire approaching their house. Immediately they were all standing in the hallway waiting and ready to attack if necessary. Alice stayed upstairs with Bella afraid that they might get passed someone or try and get in through one of the many windows.

"I come in peace," the vampire spoke as he knocked on their door and they all recognized Laurent's voice.

Cautiously Jasper opened the door. Everyone was on edge and ready to attack him if he even breathed wrong.

"I just wanted to inform you that I have decided to leave. I am not interested in starting a fight with others over a mere human," Laurent said calmly and Alice growled again. She really wanted to go downstairs and kick his ass for calling her mate a mere human. The only thing that kept her where she was, was Bella whom she had promised not to leave.

"She's not a mere human to us," Jasper reminded Laurent looking angry.

"I realize that. I will be taking my leave now."

"Wait!" Edward said stopping Laurent from walking away. "What can you tell us about Dean, James, Victoria and the other two vampires who will be joining them in the fight?"

"How do you know about them?" Laurent asked shocked that they knew two other vampires were going to join the fight. He eyed Edward suspiciously.

"We have our ways," Emmett said grinning evilly.

Laurent hesitated unsure if he should offer any information or just stay out of it.

"If you give us the information I can make sure that you'll be able to stay with a few friends of ours," Carlisle offered convincing Laurent.

"Two other vampires will indeed be joining Dean, Victoria and James. Their names are Will and Lara. Lara is the only one of them who doesn't have a gift, but don't underestimate her because she's one of the most ruthless vampires I have ever seen and is a fierce opponent in a fight. Will can project himself into someone's thoughts. He can't hear their original thoughts, but can make them hear voices. He's driven many vampires crazy with his gift," Laurent explained. "Victoria is able to get herself and anyone she takes with her out of an uncomfortable situation. She's escaped death many times this way. James is probably the best tracker I have ever seen but sadly he tends to get obsessed with certain humans or vampires. Everything is a game to him and he enjoys nothing more than to hunt his prey. He's dangerous and obsessed with your human and will stop at nothing to get her. Then there's Dean who will probably pose the biggest challenge of all. His ability is unique and makes him almost impossible to defeat. I have never seen him lose a fight and I doubt he has ever lost one. He's able to make himself invisible. I'm not sure how it works exactly but it has something to do with optical illusions. The point is you won't see him and how do you beat that what you cannot see?"

"Thank you, Laurent. The Denali's are in Denali, Alaska and will be expecting you," Carlisle said looking a bit shocked at the information.

"This is going to be more than just a little difficult," Edward murmured having seen some of Laurent's memories of Dean and James' fighting skills.

"How are we supposed to fight someone we can't see?" Rosalie asked.

"Ah don't worry babe. We'll kick ass," Emmett said optimistically.

"It would be a mistake to underestimate them and think this will be easy," Jasper scolded.

"It won't be easy, but we'll do it. We might not be able to see him, but we'll hear him."

"They'll be here in three hours," Alice's voice came from upstairs.

"Any visions about the outcome?" Rosalie asked hopefully.

"No," Alice responded sounding sorry.

"We should determine who should fight who," Jasper said and Edward nodded in agreement.

"I'm not leaving Bella's side. We can't leave her unprotected when James wants nothing more than to sink his teeth into her," Alice said vehemently as she stroked through her Bella's hair.

"Okay so Alice will be protecting Bella. What about me?" Emmett asked.

"I think you should concentrate on James, Emmett," Jasper answered and Emmett nodded excitedly looking forward to kicking James' ass. 'Nobody tries to harm his sisters and gets away with it.'

"I think Rose should take on his mate Victoria and Esme should fight Lara," Edward murmured.

"I'll take on Will. My power might throw him off enough so that he can't project himself into anyone's mind," Jasper said.

"That leaves Edward and me to take on Dean," Carlisle stated.

"Yes, Dean's our biggest problem and it's probably going to take two vampires to take him down. Plus Edward will be able to hear his thoughts and will have it easier to determine where he is."

"Okay then, let's go hunt," Emmett said. "So we'll be more than ready for them."

Exactly two hours and fifty-three minutes later the Cullens and Bella were standing in the woods. They had already build a huge fire and were waiting for their opponents to show up which would happen in one minute and thirteen seconds according to Alice. Alice was standing behind the rest of her family in front of a shaking Bella who was leaning against a tree.

"It'll be okay, Bells. I won't let them get to you," Alice murmured and then her eyes went blank for a moment. "They're here," she said nodding towards the woods in front of them.

"Oh a welcome wagon. Your manners have improved since yesterday," Dean mocked as he threw Bella and Alice a look. "Does this mean you're ready to share your snack?"

Alice growled menacingly her eyes darkening instantly.

"I guess not," James chuckled. "You know Mary Alice, you've become a lot more aggressive since we last met. Maybe you should reconsider your diet? I'm sure you'll be a lot less frustrated if you just give in and bite her," James taunted.

"Are we here to talk and make jokes or kill them?" Lara asked annoyed.

"What makes you think you can kill us, little girl?" Rosalie asked in a bitchy tone earning a hiss from Lara and a chuckle from Emmett.

"Now, now, ladies behave," Will murmured. "I'm sure you'll be able to show off your skills in a minute sweetheart," he said to Lara.

"Last chance. Give us the girl and we won't kill you and throw you into that nice little fire you've got going," Dean said knowing they would decline the offer.

"Never," Alice growled darkly.

"Very well," Dean sighed and he vanished. Edward swiftly moved in the direction of Dean's thoughts followed by Carlisle.

"Alice?" Bella whispered afraid.

"Yes?" Alice replied sounding tense. She was trying to keep an eye on everyone so no one would get the chance to get near her Bella.

"Can you still see that Dean guy?"

"No, but that's his gift remember."

"I still see him! Maybe I could help Carlisle and Edward."

"Absolutely not! Bella you're human and no match for a vampire. Just stay behind me."

"But…"

"Please, I need you to be alive," Alice pleaded and Bella gave in.

Lara threw herself at Rosalie but Esme intercepted her catching her off guard and easily throwing her in a tree. James launched himself at Alice and Bella but Emmett reacted quickly and hit him hard. Will approached Jasper slowly and immediately projected himself into Jasper's thoughts. Jasper tried to make him stop by sending him calming and peaceful feelings, but it didn't seem to matter since Will just kept going. Rosalie intercepted Victoria who was trying to help James and planned to attack Emmett by yanking her back by the hair.

"Not so fast, bitch," Rosalie muttered and threw Victoria through a tree. Meanwhile Esme was easily winning the fight from Lara who seemed to be much more interested in getting to Rosalie than fighting with her. In a matter of minutes Esme had been able to throw Lara into the fire earning horrible screams.

"No!" Will yelled horrified that his mate was gone. He quickly attacked Esme by pushing her to the ground and projecting himself in her thoughts too. Both Jasper and Esme were writhing on the ground in agony.

"Help them," Bella said in a hurried whisper.

"I can't leave you," Alice responded sounding pained.

Now Victoria was screaming too as Rosalie had ripped off both her arms.

"Party's over," Rosalie murmured as she pushed an already screaming Victoria into the fire. James didn't react. He was too busy fighting off Emmett and trying to get to Bella so he didn't even hear his mate's horrible screaming. Rosalie acted quickly not giving him enough time to get in her mind and tackled Will to the ground which temporarily stopped the torture for Jasper and Esme.

Edward and Carlisle were struggling. Dean was only toying with them and they still had a hard time keeping him away from their body's and Bella and Alice. And that's when it happened. Before Edward or Carlisle could even try and stop him Dean had raced past them towards an oblivious Alice. Bella's eyes went wide since she did see the vampire racing to them. She looked down at Alice who's attention was now on Emmett and James and looked back up again to the racing vampire who would do some serious damage to her Alice if he wasn't stopped.

"No," Bella breathed out stepping to the side so Alice wasn't shielding her anymore. "Not like this," Bella said as she raised her right hand and sent Dean into the fire in one swift motion. Carlisle and Edward gasped. They had known about her telekinetic abilities but had thought they were too weak and uncontrolled to be able to something like that. That she was able to cause a vampire harm was just…

"Unbelievable," Carlisle gasped in wonder.

"No more fighting," Bella gasped out sounding strained as she raised her hand in James' direction. She wasn't worried about Will since Esme, Rosalie and Jasper were already tearing him apart. In one smooth motion it was done and James joined Lara, Victoria, Dean and several of Will's body parts in the fire.

"Bella?" Alice asked sounding surprised and cheerful. But Bella didn't answer, instead she wavered a bit before going slack. Alice moved quickly and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Bella?" Alice asked again sounding panicked as Carlisle rushed to the couple.

"We need to get her home, Alice. Something's wrong," Carlisle said after checking her pulse and pupils. Alice nodded and sped off with Bella in her arms. Carlisle, Edward and Esme quickly followed. Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper stayed behind to burn the last of Will's body parts and to wait till the fire was out.

"What's wrong with her Carlisle?" Alice asked as she laid Bella down on her bed.

"I'm not sure. I think she fainted because of her exhaustion," Carlisle answered.

"But?" Alice prompted.

"But there's a possibility she's in a coma," Carlisle answered and received three startled gasps in return. "She probably won't be. I mean I've monitored her health for over two months now and have found no indication that using her abilities would be able to cause something like that. So it's more likely that she fainted because she overdid it out there."

"I hope you're right," Alice murmured terrified.

"I need to examine her to be sure."

Alice nodded not taking her eyes of Bella.

"Please be okay," she whispered to the unconscious human kissing her forehead. "I love you."