Before I say anything else: yes, I give you all permission to kill me slowly and painfully. I deserve it. I can't believe it took me so long to get this chapter up! My homework took longer than I thought last weekend and I've had the draft for this chapter most of the week, I just didn't have time to work out all the little details. It's still not what I wanted, but I can't keep you waiting any longer! All I can say is that I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so sorry times a million and two. Kill me if you wish.
And another thing, I've noticed that I'm getting a lot of reviews, and replying to them is taking up a lot of space at the top of the chapters, so I've decided to try something different and only go for full lengths answers if actual questions are asked, not just me replying because I want too. Sorry, but this is how it's gonna work. Unless you guys review less which I really don't want! But once again, I'd probably deserve it :( Sorry about this
So, I would like to thank all reviewers of the last chapter: Mummyanimal, Twilight L0v3r, weathergirl5, TrueLoveSparkles, sexy-vampirita, Freehawk, marc,
Lexi star69: Yes, I will explain the connection between Tali and Jasper, I couldn't leave you all wondering now could I? Well, yes I could, but that would be mean. Thanks for the review!
Msfrannyblack: That's something I'm still deciding. At the end of this one (not far away now O.O) I'll probably put up a poll or something for a couple of weeks to see how many people want it too continue. Thanks for your review!
Tora-Hime-Melody: Oh you shall see *grins evilly* Don't worry, I have a Tali and Kiv thing in this chapter. Not long though, and it didn't turn out how I wanted it too :P Thanks for the review, the cookies and the new axe! I ruined my last one on those darn boxes Meyer was hiding behind XD
SM: Must keep running! Must keep running!
ME: Hey Meyer! That nice reviewed gave me a new axe!
SM: They did WHAT? *Shakes fist* Are you trying to get me killed?
Phoe: Shouldn't you be running?
SM: O.O Uh oh *runs*
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, no matter how many times I tell myself I do :(
21. Get Your Vampiric Butt Out Here Now!
I saw the lights of the house still on as we pulled up to it and I felt a pang of fear for Charlie and Zoltan. Bella's face was blank, eyes wide and staring as I tried to figure out how to get Zoltan and Charlie to leave me alone long enough for me to slip out. I'd been thinking over the ride and I knew I just had to find Kiv, and the time when Bella was making her escape was my only chance.
I glanced around at the other vampires and noticed they were all sitting straight, their eyes flicking around, out the windows and piercing the darkness. They were listening for James I could tell, and I hoped he wasn't out there, I didn't want to end up dead; I couldn't guarantee he'd spare my life a second time. He certainly wasn't sparing Bella's.
"He's not here," Edward murmured, voice tense. "Let's go." Jasper quickly unbuckled Bella from the harness. Her eyes watered as she looked at him and I know she was feeling sad to say goodbye even though she didn't know him. My sister was just nice like that. "Alice, Jasper," Edward said, his voice commanding and Jasper squeezed my hand tightly once before sliding out the car and into the night with his wife.
The door next to Bella opened and I saw Edward help her out onto the ground to begin walking her towards the house. "Fifteen minutes," he reminded her before his voice was too low to hear. I slipped out of the car and followed the two of them as silently as I could. They paused on the porch and I stopped too, a few feet away to give them privacy as they talked. It looked too personal to invade. I could see Bella whispering words to him, tears beginning to flow down her pale cheeks as she started to shout.
"Go away, Edward!" she yelled, running inside. I took that as my cue and ran inside after her, slamming the door behind me. Edward had already disappeared.
"Bella?" I heard Charlie call and when I ran to her side he was already there with her.
"Leave me alone!" Bella screamed at him and ran up the stairs, heading to her room I guessed. My assumption was proved correct when I heard that door slam too. Charlie looked at me in shock.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I don't know!" I exclaimed, "She just talked with Edward and then started going on about leaving!"
"Leaving?" Charlie yelped and bolted up the stairs. I heard him pounding on her door as I ran up after him, hurtling into my room and locking the door. I knew Edward was with Bella, and Alice had taken the jeep. Jasper was probably hanging around somewhere, but I had to take the chance of being caught. Not seeing Kiv was not an option.
I slipped over to my window and opened it quietly, thankful it didn't creak. I looked out for a way down. Charlie would see me if I went past him to get to the front door and then no doubt question where I was going.
"Tali?" a voice groaned and I froze. Damn it! I'd forgotten Zoltan! Really weird since I was worrying about him a couple of minutes ago, but that's just the way my brain works. I spun around to see him sit up slowly from his bed, squinting against the light I'd turned on. "What's going on?"
"Bella's leaving!" I exclaimed, slipping back into my worried sister character.
"She's what!?" Zoltan yelled, sitting bolt upright. "Why?"
"I don't know!" I wailed.
"What are you doing though?"
"I'm going with her! I need to stop her!"
"What can I do?" he asked, sitting up and throwing the covers off him. Normally I would have been distracted by his bare chest, but I was too worried. My time was slowly slipping away.
"Help Charlie!" I told him, "Help him convince Bella to stay!" he nodded and tore from the room. I knew he wouldn't stop until he had no other choice. He liked Charlie, and Bella was always like his sister. He would want her to stay. I made sure my door was securely locked again before I raced back to my window and looked out. How to get down? There were creepers growing up the side of the house, but I didn't think they would hold my weight.
Idiot! I scolded myself, The tree?
Oh yeah, I realised sheepishly and measured the distance from my window to a strong looking branch. I could make it. I climbed out onto the edge of the window and took a deep breath, trying not to see how far down the ground was. It was fine when Jasper was carrying me, but by myself...
You shouldn't feel more comfortable with a vampire than with you!
Shut up! This is not the time!
I'm just saying you used to jump into that tree outside your window heaps when you lived in Phoenix! Oh so many parties...
The annoying battle of the voices in my head made me pull myself back to reality. The voice was right, I'd jumped from my house into a tree before, and there was no reason for me to feel nervous or worried about it now. With that thought placed firmly in my mind, I jumped.
I felt like I was hovering in mid-air, a pale shape in the darkness before I landed with a thud on the tree branch. My foot slipped and I felt myself falling sideways. Holding back my yelp of surprise, I grabbed out with my hands and managed to catch the branch before I fell towards the earth. I hung there for a moment taking in deep breaths before I pulled myself back up onto the branch. It took me less than a minute to get to the bottom after that and before I knew it, I was running full pelt towards the forest, knowing that if Edward or anyone spotted me, Kiv and I were doomed. But luckily, I made it to the shadows of the woods without anyone catching me. I knew that if someone had seen me, I would be in a vampire's grasp right now.
When I was further into the trees, the moonlight was cut out. I had to see my way through touch and the mild shadows that I could see until my eyes became used to the darkness and the going was quicker. I just kept running until I was panting and realised it was as far as I could go before the fifteen minutes were up if I wanted to get back without being caught. The forest was silent except for the rustle of the wind and the calls of nocturnal animals. It was kind of creepy.
"Kiv!" I hissed out into the night. Just silence. "Kiv!" I called, a bit louder. Still nothing. I waited a bit more, standing alone in the eerie forest, none of the usual thoughts about how much Raines, Rainey, Zoltan and Zander would love it plaguing my mind. The seconds ticked away and I felt myself grow desperate. "Kiv!" I almost shouted. Still no answer. "Victoria Jasmine Swan get your vampiric butt out here right now!" I hissed. There was silence still and I felt a tear run down my cheek. I had been so sure she would come. I felt so sure that she would follow me.
"You've never cried before, don't start now," a soft voice murmured and I turned slowly, disbelievingly to find my big sister standing in front of me, her red hair as bright as always.
"Kiv!" I gasped.
"Tails," she breathed, looking at me as I looked back. "I thought you'd be dead."
"Same to you," I chuckled darkly and before I knew it, Kiv had run forward and wrapped her stone arms around my thin frame. I hugged her back tightly.
"I missed you kid," she growled.
"Yeah, I missed you too," I whispered. She pulled away and looked at me curiously.
"You smell like one of us," she observed with a frown, "How? You used to smell like Bella."
"Apparently James didn't get that bastard's venom out of me before it made some changes," I growled and Kiv's hands tightened on my shoulders.
"That arsehole screwed everything up," she muttered.
"Yeah, he did," I sighed.
"And it was my fault too," Kiv groaned. I grabbed her shoulders too.
"Kiv! That was not your fault! It was his for being a psychotic murderous obsessive stalking vampire!" I said firmly. She looked at me wryly.
"It was my fault for dating him. If I hadn't been such a tease ..."
"Kiv!" I exclaimed, "It was not your fault! You weren't a tease! And if you were, there were plenty of other girls out there much worse than you! You didn't try to lead them on!"
"You were eight Tali," she sighed, "You can't know what I was doing. You were only little."
"I can remember a hell of a lot more than you give me credit for," I muttered, "Including James and Laurent, even though I only saw them for a couple of minutes while we were both in burning torture!"
"I guess."
"I know." There was silence for a while before Kiv dropped her arms and walked away to lean against a tree.
"I did think you were dead you know," she told me. "James said that he had to pull out more blood than most humans can live without."
"I'm a fighter, you always knew that," I flashed her a smile and she smiled back.
"We left too early for me to know if you survived. Though, James volunteered to keep an eye on you. He told me Bella didn't remember. But after two weeks of you being in a coma, the woods were getting too crowded with police looking for my body. That was when we left. I didn't think you would wake up."
"You left the note," I said in confusion, "If you didn't think I would wake up, why leave it?"
"I hoped," Kiv laughed, "How corny does that sound?"
"Extremely," I grinned. "I still can't believe James did what you told him too when we all ... met." I said after a pause.
"Ha! He loves me! He'd do anything for me!" I almost smiled. That was so Kiv, completely confident in her hold over people. But right now, I saw a better possibility for her confidence and control.
"You say he'd do anything for you?" I asked slowly, my mind speeding along quickly.
"Yeah?"
"Good," I said firmly, "Because we need you to stop him!"
"Stop him from doing what?" she growled. I was glad that she was ignorant of James' plans, and yet at the same time, I couldn't believe he hadn't shared them with her.
"Hunting!" I exclaimed.
"He's not hunting, he's with the Cullens," she frowned.
"No he's not!" I nearly yelled, "He's hunting! Hunting Bella!" It took a moment for those words to sink in, but when they did, I had to step back for fear of my own safety. Her eyes flashed with fierce disbelief.
"You're lying," she growled.
"I'm not! James is hunting Bella!" Her eyes darkened to black as she ran and punched a tree in half.
"He promised he wouldn't!" she snarled.
"Well he is!" I cried, trying to stay calm. My sudden remembrance of the situation Bella was in was driving me crazy. "Kiv, you have to stop him! You're a vampire! He listened to you once! He'll listen to you again!" I said with conviction. Her angry eyes met mine and she nodded stiffly.
"He will listen," she growled, her hands balled up into fists. She returned to her normal self as her black eyes faded to the deep burgundy colour I was trying to ignore. "I'm sorry about this Tali," she sighed. I walked over and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I know you are," I murmured.
"Look," she said firmly, "I'll stop him, send him off to the other side of the country, and then I'll come back. We'll do something fun. How's motorbike riding sound?"
"You really are my big sister," I grinned and she grinned back. It quickly faded.
"Has she remembered yet?" she asked desperately and I shook my head sadly.
"It's been nine years Kivvy," I murmured, "I don't think she'll ever remember." Kiv sighed sadly.
"You need to get back," she guessed. I glanced at my watch and swore.
"I only had fifteen minutes!" I said shocked, I didn't have that much time to get home. But Kiv ran forward and scooped me up into her arms like she did when I was little. I reflected on the girl that was my sister as she ran.
Kiv was different now. Her eyes portrayed the nervousness she got of being by herself, like she was prepared for someone to attack her at any second. Her mood swings were wilder, going from caring big sister to murderous vampire and back in the space of a few seconds. And she wasn't trying to kill the man that was trying to kill her little sister. There was something not right about her, but she was still my big sister. Always had been always would be.
I didn't get much more of a chance to think about these things, the ride to the edge of the forest was extremely short and before I knew it, Kiv was dropping me on my feet. "Still don't tell Bella," she murmured, brushing my hair back behind my ears. "I don't want her to associate me with the man that's trying to kill her. If she does remember, hopefully she'll remember me as her big sister, not as her attempted murderer's mate."
"Promise," I nodded, holding onto her hand tightly like a life-line.
"How did mom and dad react?" she asked quietly, taking a chance at a last minute conversation while I hoped it would go unnoticed by the vampires in the area.
"Dad didn't know you. I don't think he thinks about you much," I flashed her an apologetic look and she shrugged.
"Understandable, and mom?"
"She was sad. Extremely so. She wasn't herself for a long time. But then one day, she just got right back into the swing of things. She doesn't mention your name. It hurts her a lot. She's getting married," I smiled, trying to breach a lighter topic, "To a baseball player named Phil."
"That's great!" Kiv exclaimed in a whisper, her eyes lighting up and I could see in that brief moment, the bright teenage girl that she had been so many years ago. The one who would have literally set up an interrogation booth and tied Phil to a chair to make sure he was good enough for our mother. I had almost done that myself, taking Kiv's place in her absence.
There were louder shouts from the house and I sighed. "I really have to go Kiv."
"I know," she murmured and we gave each other a last hug. "I'll be back okay?
"I don't doubt it," I grinned.
"Bye Tails," and then she was gone. I wasted no time in running through the last row of trees to climb the one by my bedroom. It was easier jumping back than it was jumping to it. I quickly changed my clothes, hoping to dim the scent Kiv had left on me and I shoved the others at the back of my closet. I stuffed some spare clothes in my bag and I unlocked the door, running downstairs. Zoltan was standing at the top of the stairs waiting for me.
"When I get my hands on that Cullen kid, I'm gonna kill him!" he growled, "His fault or not." He followed me as I raced downstairs.
"I really, really hate Forks!" I heard Bella shriek and I bolted to the front door where Charlie stood frozen.
"You're not going too," he whispered, staring at me, distraught. His eyes lingered on my bag.
"Only temporarily Dad!" I promised, giving him a tight hug, "I'm gonna get her back! I promise."
"I think I should come too Tali," Zoltan said firmly and I shook my head quickly.
"This is a sister thing Zolt," I said. I reached up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek before running out the door.
"Bring her back," Charlie murmured after me.
"I will," I whispered. Not waiting to open the door, I hopped into the bed of the old Chevy which Bella had already started and my sister reversed out the drive as quickly as she could. I knew that Charlie – when he wasn't sad and hurt – would give me an earful about where I was riding, but we had to move fast.
"Pull over," I heard a soft voice through the open window and I turned around to see Edward climb into the cab of the truck. I didn't even see what happened before Edward was the one driving. Stupid, speedy vampire.
"I can drive," Bella sobbed.
"You wouldn't be able to find the house," he explained. I turned back around when headlights flared behind me and I nearly swore. If it was a cop, we were so doomed. But it was just Emmett's massive Jeep.
"It's just Alice," Edward reassured Bella.
"The tracker?" Bella asked and I listened in more intently for this answer.
"He heard the end of your performance," Edward said grimly.
"Charlie?"
"Zoltan?" I added. It was times like these in which he would do something stupid. Like follow me.
"They're both fine. The tracker's following us." It was kind of hard to see that as a good thing.
"Can we outrun him."
"No," I muttered and Edward shot me an annoyed look through the back window. A dark shadow jumped into the bed of the truck with me and made the whole Chevy shudder. Bella let out a shriek that was almost immediately stifled. "Emmett!" I hissed, "Was that really necessary?"
"It was funny," he defended, but not even he could bring himself to laugh in this situation.
The ride was silent, for me at least. I didn't even bother trying to listen in to Bella and Edward's conversation. I don't think I wanted to. They were sure to be talking about the possibility of a battle and I couldn't help but picture a blazing bonfire and I shoved the thought from my head. Instead, I occupied myself thinking about Kiv and James. Would she have found him yet? Would she really be able to stop him? What if she couldn't? What would we do then? I curled up into a ball and hit my head against my knees a few times. It was like the first day of school all over again: information overload.
"Oi? Kid! Come on, get inside." I was startled out of my annoying thoughts by the sound of Emmett's voice. Apparently I didn't answer quickly enough because I was promptly picked up and sped into the house. We burst into the huge white room, Bella and I quickly being dropped on our feet by our chauffeurs. The room was as bright as day and I could see every Cullen standing in the room, most of the time by their partners. But Edward and Emmett were soon snarling like mad.
It took me a moment to realise what they were all growling at until I caught sight of Laurent and I joined them in showing their anger. He looked at me in amusement but I just glared and gave a snarl.
"He's tracking us," Edward announced, glaring at the black haired vampire.
"I was afraid of that," he sighed unhappily. I watched Alice and Jasper shoot up the stairs before Blondie made her way to Emmett's side. I saw her cast Bella an angry glare and I snarled at her too. She moved her furious gaze to me.
"What will he do?" Carlisle asked the intruding vampire.
"I'm sorry," he answered, "I was afraid, when your boy there defended him, that it would set him off."
"Can't you stop him?"
"Nothing stops James when he gets like this." Kiv does.
"We'll stop him," Emmett vowed and I nodded firmly. James would stop. He had before, he would again. Laurent's eyes returned to me.
"I know you're a bit more optimistic about this Taliah," he nodded, "But just because he spared your life – saved your life once, doesn't mean he'll extend the same courtesy to your sister. In fact he's less likely. He's already done your family three favours." My eyes narrowed as I glared at him. How dare he make it seem that I owed James anything? Okay, so maybe I owed him big time before this, but him tracking my sister just cancels out all debts. And the vague hints that James did more than just save me? Oh boy, if I was a vampire, he'd be sooo dead by now!
The Cullens glanced at me in confusion, Bella too, but I kept my furious gaze locked on Laurent, determined not to give anything away. "Always a stubborn child," he laughed again and I hissed angrily.
"This is a very heart-warming reunion," I snapped, "But I believe we were talking about James?"
"I'm afraid you're going to have to make a choice," Carlisle directed his speech at the same vampire I was glaring at. Laurent actually looked like he was thinking. His eyes swept all the faces in the room and I felt Bella fidget beside me when his gaze lingered on her.
"I'm intrigued by the life you have created here," he admitted. "But I won't get in the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won't go up against James. I think I will head north – to that clan in Denali." There were more like the Cullens in Denali?
Don't you ever pay attention?
To you? No.
"Don't underestimate James," Laurent warned. "He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses" – oh I beg to differ – "He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and he won't come at you head on... I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry." He bowed his head, throwing a bewildered glance at Bella.
"Go in peace," Carlisle said formally. Laurent nodded and bolted to the door. He paused at the entrance to look back at all of us. This time, his gaze rested on me.
"You know, he was right," he told me, "You would have made a fantastic vampire." I let out a furious snarl and tried to jump at him, my lighter in hand. Emmett caught me before I could go two steps forward.
"Nothing that bastard said was right!" I screeched. Laurent cast me an amused look before disappearing. I was panting from struggling to get out of Emmett's grasp and I looked fiercely at the place where Laurent had stood. Even with the others staring at me in shock and wonder.
Damn it you idiot! You do realise they're going to be more curious than ever now, right?
Shut up! I didn't see you stopping me!
Well maybe you should contact YOUR COMMON SENSE?
Why don't you shut up for once?
"Tali?" Carlisle asked, "What was he talking about?"
"Nothing," I spat, sticking my lighter back in my pocket. Normally I wouldn't be so bad tempered when it came to Doc, but I was pretty pissed off at Laurent. Annoying son of a bitch. The situation was too hurried for them to linger on my strange behaviour too long.
"How close?" Carlisle asked, looking to Edward. I watched Esme type a code into an inconspicuous keypad on the wall, metal shutters closing off all the windows and I looked around in awe. Any other time, I would have thought it completely awesome, now I just wanted to get moving.
"About three miles out past the river," Edward replied promptly, "He's circling around to meet up with the female." My head snapped over to Edward and I felt my spirits rise. Good, Kivvy will tell him to back off and we'll all be back at Charlie's before dinner tomorrow. No matter what Laurent thinks.
"What's the plan?"
"We'll lead him off and then Jasper and Alice will run Tali and Bella south." Good. Jasper was coming. If it had been a combination like Edward and Alice, things might have gotten a little awkward. I think both Bella and I really needed Jasper now.
"And then?"
"As soon as Bella's clear, we hunt him." I rolled my eyes. That's right, remember Bella and forget me, I feel so loved!
"I guess there's no other choice," Carlisle sighed, his face grim. I twisted my head around as I saw Edward turn to Blondie. Surely he's realised by now that speaking to her about humans isn't a good idea?
"Get her upstairs and trade clothes," he demanded and I felt my face contort to a scowl as Blondie looked at him with livid disbelief.
"Why should I?" she hissed, "What is she to me? Except a menace – a danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us."
Oh no she did not.
"Listen up Blondie!" I snarled at her, my hands curling into fists at my sides, "I don't give a shit if you care about Bella and me or not, but right now you're being a selfish bitch! Leaving Bella for a tracker is just as bad as if you cut her down yourself! I thought you were supposed to have morals as a vego?" She snarled back at me, her face contorted in rage.
"Watch your tongue human!" she hissed at me.
"No I bloody well will not! You're being downright self-centred here! Bella and Edward are together now, and it's clear that the rest of this family has accepted that. Wouldn't you try and help Alice if she was in the same situation?"
"That's completely different," she snarled.
"I beg to differ," I growled coolly, "I don't care if you're the prettiest thing on this earth – which I highly doubt – you are going to help my sister! Or are you afraid you'll break a nail?" I sneered. She let out a warped screech and I swear to God she was going to jump at me until Jasper slid in front of me, blocking her maybe attack.
"Rosalie," he said calmly, "Now is not the time. Same goes for you Tali," he glanced back at me and I growled in defeat. Surprisingly, this interaction was ignored just as easily as if we had been talking about the weather, and Edward turned to Esme instead.
"Esme?" he asked.
"Of course," the motherly looking vampire nodded, as if there was no question about it. I watched as she whisked Bella away upstairs.
"I don't think that swapping clothes will confuse the scent very long," I murmured.
"It won't," Jasper agreed, "But it may just long enough to get Bella away unnoticed. When she's out of Forks, she'll be harder to track."
"Have you come across many trackers before?" I asked.
"A few. Usually they don't bother us because we're obviously not human. But now ..."
"Sorry about this," I sighed, "I almost forgot there were bad vamps out there." As if.
"It's not your fault Tali," he said firmly, "Besides, I don't think Emmett's entirely unhappy about this development." He nodded towards something and I followed his gaze to catch sight of Emmett, who was practically bouncing with joy.
"He wants to rip another creature apart?" I asked incredulously.
"As strange as it must sound from a human perspective, yes. But I know that not all humans can resist their own violent urges." He looked slyly down at me and I pouted.
"Just because I once tried to blow up Eddie's Volvo does not make me violent."
"You did what?!" Edward exclaimed.
"Calm down Edward," I growled, "Jasper caught me." I glared at the blonde haired male who just rolled his eyes at me.
"You tried to blow up Eddie's Volvo?" Emmett laughed and I nodded. His booming laughter echoed around the house and I high-fived him. I was thankful I didn't break my hand.
"Esme," Carlisle murmured and it was only then that I realised that my sister was back, dressed in Esme's clothes with Esme herself standing close to her husband. Doc handed her a phone and turned to hand out another one, but I was pacing over to Bella.
"Scary shit huh?" I laughed.
"You don't sound scared," she accused.
"That's 'cause I'm not," I shrugged and Edward growled. "Shut it Eddie," I snapped back. For once he listened to me.
"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella," Carlisle informed her and we both faced him to listen to the instructions. I was ignoring Blondie.
"Alice, Jasper – take the Mercedes." Sweet! "You'll need the dark tint in the south." They nodded and I only just realised Pixie was back in the room.
"We're taking the Jeep." I held back a sigh of pity for the Doc. He was going with Edward. Edward was going to hunt and kill. Doc didn't like to kill things, or so I'd gathered. Bella looked worried for them and I rolled my eyes. They were going to be fine, she was way to over-protective of these creatures. "Alice," Carlisle asked, "Will they take the bait?" I turned my gaze as did everyone else, as she became as still as the stone she felt like. It was a tense pause until she opened her eyes again, relief blazing in their depths.
"He'll track you. The woman will follow the truck. We should be able to leave after that." Kiv would probably follow thinking Bella was there, or maybe she wanted to help. With a thrill of ice cold fear down my spine I realised that James had not been pulled off the hunt. She hadn't been able to convince him. Well, there goes my optimism.
But he'd listened to her before. Had he gone beyond the control of my sister? My sister? No guy was beyond to control of Kiv! Even when she was human she could play them like puppets! They would do anything. She wasn't cruel about it though, she just knew she could if she wanted to. But what did that mean now? That James was going to die? An ache throbbed in my heart as I thought of it. James had saved my life and given Kiv something she hadn't had before she met us: love. Or, at least that's what I'd guessed. He was her mate wasn't her? And from the research I've done and the stories I've heard from Jake about the Quileute's when I was little, there was no way in Hell Kiv was his mate if she didn't love him deeply. And the Cullens were setting out to kill him? This was not good! I repeat; not good! It would break Kiv if he died, even if he was a murderous traitor.
"Tali?" I looked up when I heard Edward's voice. There was movement all around us and it took me a moment to realise we were moving. I must have zoned out.
"Yeah?" What I didn't expect then was for Edward to lean in and give me a quick hug.
"Keep her safe," he whispered and I nodded, returning the embrace.
"Always." He nodded to me and raced away out the door where I could see Emmett and Carlisle waiting out the front where he soon joined them. The monstrous roar of Bella's truck notified Esme and Blondie leaving and Bella and I were left alone with Jasper and Alice.
I heard the buzzing of a phone and with a flash of silver, it was by Alice's ear. "Edward says the woman is on Esme's trail. I'll get the car." She ran out the door and I clenched my fists in anxiety. I hoped Kiv would be alright.
"You're wrong, you know," Jasper said quietly and my eyes snapped over to take him in. He was standing as far away from Bella as he could.
"What?" Bella gasped and I registered that he'd been talking to her.
"I can feel what you're feeling now – and you are worth it."
"I'm not," she mumbled and my jaw dropped. Was she serious? "If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing."
"You're wrong," Jasper smiled and I nodded.
"Bells, you are worth it. Jasper's right. Besides, nothing is going to happen to them." Suddenly, Alice was back in the room with us, holding out her thin arms to my twin.
"May I?" she asked and Bella looked on the verge of a smile.
"You're the first one to ask permission," she chuckled. I watched with amused incredulity as Alice – tiny, pixie Alice – lifted my sister like she weighed nothing and danced out the door. Damn super-strong vampires.
"I think we're past the asking permission stage now," I smirked at Jasper and he chuckled before picking me up and zooming off after Bella.
AN: There we go, chapter 21. I was annoyed at myself. I don't think I got the meeting right with Kiv and Tali and it's really bugging me now -.- Oh well, I hope you guys enjoyed. I really am sorry about not updating. I feel bad :(