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Wednesday November 19, 2008
"Alice, what do you see? I want to know details!" I demanded in a hushed voice.
She furrowed her eyebrows and rubbed her temples with both index fingers as if warding off a headache. "I don't know. Everything just went black. That's never happened before! Not even when you almost got killed by James! It's not a good sign, Bella, and I'm not going to take risks where my brother is concerned!"
"Of course not! And if I had to take a wild guess, I'd say that the Volturi are to blame. Why can't they just leave us be? For God's sake! The Seattle Coastal is in less than a month, you'd think they'd have other things to worry about!"
"The Volturi? Why would they be singling out Edward? I mean, we're all equally involved in this mess and if anything, I'd assume you were in the most danger," Alice asked, her voice still harboring a vast amount of anxiety and fear.
I hesitated for a moment. Only Carlisle and I knew the truth about what had happened with the Masens. Maybe it was time to let someone else in on the secret, gain a new perspective, especially now that Edward's life might be in jeopardy. "Alice, you know how you were worried that the Masens were involved with the Volturi? That they were business partners on some level or another?"
She nodded, her face draining of the little color she possessed. "But I thought we established that I was just over reacting, that I was wrong!" Her voice cracked with hysteria.
"We did, and for the most part, you were mistaken." Her shoulders relaxed minutely. "But Edward's family was involved with the Volturi, they defied them and Aro doesn't take kindly to insubordination…" I relayed the entire story to her, included the fact that her father had knowledge of these past events.
"You mean Carlisle knew this all along! How could he let Marcus off the hook like that? He's had a pretty impressive track record with Volturi defiance before! What about his hippie march! I can't believe it!" Her voice was loud with anger and disbelief. I clasped her shoulder to quiet her down, lest we should be thrown in detention. That would be the perfect cake topper to this awesome day.
"That was pretty much my reaction. But he has Edward's best interests at heart. He doesn't want Edward to put himself in danger, but apparently that's already happened…or will. Should I trust your gypsy magic?" She nodded, allowing a tearful chuckle to escape her trembling lips. I tried to hold myself together, knowing that if I lost it and started freaking out over what might happen to Edward neither us would be able to help him. "Okay, we're going to have to make a house call. Do you think you'll be able to find the address to the Volterra Seattle Headquarters?"
"There isn't one. I mean, the Volturi don't have a complex in Seattle, at least not yet. Not like they do in Chicago, Phoenix, or New York," she told me.
"No, but they have property in practically every big city. Can you try and find a possible location?" I sure as hell couldn't. I could hardly operate my DOS system.
"Umm, I can ask Jasper for help…"
"I really don't want him telling Edward anything, at least not yet."
"Bella, I think we really should let Edward know what's going on. He can't defend himself unless he's put on alert," she pleaded.
I was beginning to think that she was right. Lying would only breed an atmosphere of distrust and that was the last thing this fiasco needed. And hadn't I made the same argument to Carlisle less than a week ago? But then it occurred to me that telling Edward might be the spark that causes him to seek out the Volturi and therefore puts him in danger. Man this psychic shit was mind numbing!
"I want to talk to the Volturi first. Today. And then afterwards if Edward's future is still black we tell him everything. Can you have Jasper and Emmett stay with him afterschool, make sure that he's safe while we're in Seattle?"
"Yes."
"Do you think you can get the address?" I asked again.
"Yes, I've been dating Jasper for seven years, some of his skill must have washed off on me." She pulled the sleeves of her silk blouse over her hand and slid her palm across her cheeks to dispel the lingering tears. Her demeanor changed and she suddenly lost her vulnerability, replacing it with her normal confidence. "Tell Mr. Mason that I had to go help abandoned kittens at the animal shelter today, but that I sincerely regret not being able to discuss the absolutely riveting topic of Hamlet's Oedipus complex directed towards Gertrude. I want you to relay that verbatim. I'll be in the library."
She flitted down the hall, her posture mirroring her determination.
I walked into English class ten minutes after the bell and took my seat, ignoring the annoyed expression on Mr. Mason's face. "Miss Swan, do you have a pass?"
I refrained from rolling my eyes. Of course I didn't have a pass! If I did, I wouldn't have purposefully skulked to my desk! "No, Mr. Mason. It was the weirdest thing! There was an epic battle, a civil strife, if you will, that made civil hands unclean. It commenced in the hallway just as I was heading to class. Those ogres and centaurs are feisty creatures, sir! I got caught in the cross fires, there was no hope for my getting to class on time. None whatsoever."
"Miss Swan, I really don't appreciate…"
"And Alice sends her regards but she is obligated to help abandoned kittens at the animal shelter today. She says that she sincerely regrets not being able to discuss the absolutely riveting topic of Hamlet's Oedipus complex directed towards Gertrude. And I would like to add that Gertrude's fickleness is a rather misogynistic depiction of females. The implications of said Oedipus complex are that his mother is whore who easily forgets about King Hamlet Sr. in order to get with Claudius, Hamlet's funcle, if you will. That, coupled with Ophelia's weak mind and subsequent suicide really doesn't paint a very pretty picture of the fairer sex, now does it? Socratic seminar, anyone?"
I was probably crossing a line somewhere, but I knew that Mr. Mason was a mediocre teacher and there was no way he could out Shakespeare me. He knew that, too, as he shoved his Sparknotes printouts to the side of the desk and ignored my proposal for class discussion. He wordlessly corrected his attendance book, marking me as present and Alice as excused.
I sat back in my chair as Mr. Mason drawled on about some incorrect interpretation of the fencing competition between Laertes and Hamlet, impatiently awaiting any word from Alice.
The bell rang without any updates. I hoped that Alice wasn't running into any roadblocks in her search for the Volturi's address.
"Hey, Bells! That was some serious skill! Nobody ever gets out of detention from the Masonator. He's such a stickler!" Mike Newton's grating voice cackled from behind, more evidence that the student body at Forks was just as dull as its faculty.
"Yeah, well it's really not that hard. If you had even a basic knowledge of literature you'd be able to manipulate that idiot like playdough. But you don't, so instead you make up ridiculous names that derive from 90's action movies and are supposed to be intimidating, but really just sound like some type of unthreatening reptile. Way to go," I said without inflection. I had no time to deal with pathetic attempts at flirting. All of my energy was being spent on maintaining some semblance of composure when what I really wanted to do was grab Edward and lock him a nuclear fallout shelter.
Mike chuckled nervously, not truly understanding my insult. "Yeah, you're right. That nickname is kinda lame. I think Eric Yorkie made it up, actually. No surprises there. So, what are you up to Friday? Some of us are going to Port Angeles to catch a movie. I can give you a ride up there if you want."
I stopped in my tracks and pivoted to face Mike. My eyes narrowed in anger and, judging by Mike's reaction, smoldered with an intimidating dose of annoyance.
"Mike, what the hell? I will never, EVER, go to see a movie with you! Not only do I have a boyfriend, but I also have standards! And the way to a girl's heart does not included making fun of the people she loves. Bashing the Cullens and Hales religiously just makes me pissed off, it doesn't turn me on. And your fucking engine block is still tether to the fucking flag pole! How do you plan on taking me out? In your mother's minivan? Wow, you're a real Casanova. So just don't even start with me, especially not today!" I howled, drawing a few amused stares from passer-bys.
"Ouch, you just got burned!" called Emmett over the crowd, his massive form hulking above the puny student body.
I swung around and fought my way through the crowd to where Emmett and Rose were snickering.
"Your bitch-o-meter just hit red, Bella! I approve, though you have nothing on me," Rose laughed, and to prove her point she sent a snotty glare at a skinny sophomore girl who in turn burst into tears and ran for the bathroom. "See. That's a skill you can only be born with."
I shook my head, still heated at my encounter with Newton and all the while worrying about the mysterious threat lurked in the shadows just waiting to consume Edward.
"I can't deal with this right now! Ugh!" I screeched, practically pulling my hair out. I was slipping…fast. I need to pull myself together ASAP; it was a matter of life and death.
"Whoa, Bella, calm down. It's just Newton. He's a toolbox, don't worry about it." He pulled me into a bear hug, my head pressed against his sternum. "I can beat that pussy up if you want?"
"Or I could," Rose offered. "These stilettos are special order from Italy, black-market actually. Some supermodel tried to assassinate the pope with the heel and these babies got discontinued. True story."
"Have a ball, Rose," I said. The fact that she was actually being nice to me didn't escape my notice. She was actually pretty funny when her bitchiness wasn't directed toward me. I pulled away from Emmett in time to see her eyes light up with excitement.
"Hey, Newton! I have something to show you…" he lush voice got lost in the crowd, but I could only assume that Mike would be sporting some pretty painful stab wounds in the near future.
"Emmett, can you do me a huge favor?" I asked.
"Of course, Bella." He eyed me with suspicion, knowing something was up.
"Can you force Edward to hang out with you and Jasper today? Make sure he doesn't leave your sight or otherwise put himself in danger."
"Yeah, but why would I be doing this?"
"I'll explain it all later, but just look after him. Alice and I are going to Seattle and I do not want Edward following us on some 'protect Bella' compulsion! Please, it's extremely important, Emmett!" I pleaded.
He nodded, obviously not placated by non-existing explanation. "Sure thing, under the condition that you eventually tell us what the hell is going on and you call us if anything happens to you. Edward and Jasper would murder me if you girls got hurt and I could have helped to prevent it. Hell, I'd problem commit suicide out of guilt before they get me!"
"Deal. Thanks, Em. I appreciate it," I told him with a sincere smile. He ruffled my hair in true big brother fashion. "I'll see you later." I called over my shoulder as I headed to the library. I was impatient and needed immediate gratification.
I greeted the librarians with a warm smile, hoping they wouldn't give me trouble about being out of class. They didn't, but instead pointed to the carousel at the far end of the library where Alice sat hunched over her laptop. I thanked them and made my way over to Alice.
"Any luck?" I asked.
She jumped at the sound of my voice, too consumed with her research to hear my approach. "Ohh, Bella. Sorry. Umm, I think I might have a lead. It's our best shot, but I can't be sure that it's the place we're looking for."
I pulled over the wooden chair from the neighboring carousel and took a seat. "What do you have?"
"It's this warehouse in downtown Seattle. Not exactly the luxury suites the Volturi normally go for, but what caught my attention were the renovations that have been made on it in the last two months or so. Let me paint you a picture. This place was pretty much a tin box with a few high windows covered in chicken wire, but now it's been completely done over with electrical upgrades and hardwood floor installations. I hacked into the project account and found receipts for high-end surveillance systems, tinted windows…even freakin' Picasso paintings! Even more interesting is the fact that its coordinates have been blocked from Google world, but Jasper has an account with the NASA satellites—don't ask how or why—and I was able to get a hit on this mystery warehouse."
She typed at super speed and pulled up a bird's eye view of a Seattle industrial park. Each building looked exactly the same. She pointed to a nondescript tin structure. "This is the building in question. It looks exactly the same as the others, as if their trying to camouflage their existence, but epic failing!" With a few taps on her touchpad, she was able to zoom in on a vehicle parked in front the edifice.
"Now, I know you have a pretty decent understanding of automobiles," she chuckled to herself and I joined in. We had definitely found the Volterra base. A warehouse employ would definitely not be able to afford a Maybach armored luxury car.
"If they were smart they'd of rented a Buick LeSabre or something!" I whispered in astonishment. A Maybach! I mean, really! That was as inconspicuous as an elephant on the subway!
"Are you sure these morons are a threat?" Alice asked.
"You wouldn't think so, but yes. When can we leave?"
"Well, we're not getting there any time soon in that clunker you call a truck. Don't worry though, I made a phone call," she said with a devious grin on her lips.
"And who did you call?" I asked, intrigued.
"You'll find out soon. We just need to wait until the next bell so that our prison break won't be noticed. Edward is two classrooms away from us. Go flag him down and make up some excuse as to why his favorite person in the world, moi, and his favorite obsession in the world, toi, will have vanish from the school grounds by lunchtime. I'd recommend steering clear of anything that has to do with black holes are inexplicable inter-dimensional portals. He's much more intelligent than Mr. Mason." I nodded and left the library.
It didn't take much to attract Edward's attention; he was already staring out the narrow window on the door, bored into a stupor by the current lecture. When he saw me, he perked up and immediate raised his hand, grabbed a paper bathroom pass and joined me in the hallway.
"Hey doll, fancy seeing you here," he cooed in his crisp, seductive voice. He wasted no time in pulling me into a hug and planting a passionate kiss on my greedy lips. "I must say, this is loads better than a lesson on Newton's laws of gravitational pull. It's the practical application."
I smiled against his lips and traced the contours of his lips with my tongue. He allowed this for a few seconds, but then slipped his tongue out to meet mine.
"So, to what do I owe this special visit?" he asked after another sensual kiss.
"Well, Alice has been dying to visit this boutique in Seattle and apparently they just uploaded a picture of this must have designer sundress on their website. Why she would need a sundress in this rain forest is beyond me, but she's convinced that if she doesn't go now, it'll be lost forever to some schmuck with a large checkbook. She wants to be that schmuck. And of course I'm being dragged along for the ride." That sounded about right. I was past feeling guilty for lying; I'd have time to worry about that later.
Edward sighed and pulled me closer. "Alice is obnoxious. Don't feel obligated to go with her, Bella."
"I promised her already, Edward, and you know how Alice gets when you back out on a shopping date with her."
"Well, at least let me come with you," he protested. I could tell that he was about to go into protective Cullen mode and I had to act quickly or risk a heated argument. Edward would never back down once he had all his boosters firing.
"Edward, we're going shopping not starting a gang war. It's just going to be a lot of trying on clothes and credit card swiping. Alice is tornado, she'll tear through that city in three hours and we'll be back before you know it. Emmett said something about manly bonding time. You have fun with him and Jasper," I tried to be as persuasive as possible.
"Bella, aren't the Volturi staying in Seattle?"
"So what? It's a big city, Edward. We're not going to run into Aro at La Maison du Couture. I'm in more danger here in Forks than I am in Seattle where they're not expecting me to be," I countered.
Edward frowned and nodded reluctantly. "Fine, just be careful and call me if anything suspicious happens."
"Emmett already had this talk with me, Eddie. No worries." I playfully tickled his stomach and let my hands travel around his waist. He chuckled fondly and pulled me into a fierce kiss that was interrupted by the bell. I reluctantly pulled away and forced Edward to do the same.
"I have to go, Alice is waiting for me."
"How are you getting to Seattle? You're not taking the Chevy. I'll give you the keys to the Volvo before I let you drive eighty miles in that piece of junk," he protested.
"Wow! Are you offering to let me drive your pride and joy? That's tempting, but Alice said she had our transportation all figured out. Which makes me both nervous and intrigued," I explained as we walk outside. I stopped abruptly and Edward follow suit.
"Oh. My. God." I struggled to form a coherent sentence, failed and then settled on screaming like a giddy six year old girl. "Jacob!! You're amazing!"
Parked in front of the gymnasium was the pearl white Mustang that had been in pieces that last time I saw it. Apparently Jake had put some serious hours into making this car purr like a kitten. The swan emblems on the sides of the car cued me into the fact that Alice was as much behind this creation as Jake.
"Like her, Bells?" Jake asked. "Alice told me you needed some wheels and I thought this might be the perfect opportunity for a maiden voyage."
"Jake, it's perfect! I just…how did you finish it so soon? I really wanted to help out more!"
"Bella, please. The only reason I was able to finish it this fast was because you supplied me with the top-quality parts and took care of the overnight shipping charges. And of course Rosalie was a freaking poltergeist in my garage for the past month and a half," he explained.
"Ahem. Are we forgetting something? I ordered the paint job, Bella. And bought the upholstery," Alice chimed. I rolled my eyes at here bluntness.
"It's gorgeous, Alice," I admitted, wrapping my arms around her.
"I'll need the keys to the Chevy, Bella," Jake said, sauntering over to where Edward, Alice, and I stood.
"Why?" I asked, in a daze.
"Umm…so I can get back to the rez." Obvious answer, but that brought up another question.
"Jacob, why aren't you in school?"
"Bella, Bella, Bella. You skip school, I skip school, we all skip school. It's no big deal. Today was Quileute heritage day which translates into boring folklore about Father Wolf, the savior of our people," he joked.
As much as I disapproved of his skipping school, I couldn't complain without being a hypocrite.
"Jake, I can't thank you enough!" I pulled him into a hug and exchanged keys with him. Edward seemed to be uncomfortable by my casual display of affection directed at another boy so I kissed him gently on the lips to pacify him. "See you tonight, Edward. I love you." He relaxed and smiled warmly at me. "Jake, you rock!"
Alice grabbed my hand and dragged me to the car, eager to test out the horsepower. A crowd had gathered around the GT—so much for our sneaky get away. I strapped in, turned the key in the ignition, and burned out, leaving Forks high in the dust.
A/N: There will be a lot of action in the next chappie and you'll find out what's putting Edward in danger. The Seattle Coastle will occure with in two chapters or so and then we'll be winding down. This baby's almost finished!
Please review! And get me to 300! Here I'll even prompt you with a question I'm curious to no the answer to:
What weapon would you use to kill Mike Newton with?