Author's Note: I am so sorry for not updating sooner, and that this chapter is a little shorter. The last few weeks have been hell; my mother is in the hospital and has been for the last two weeks, plus some other problems have been delaying me from working on the story. But I haven't stopped thinking about you guys or about this story!

One thing I wanted to address is the topic of Edward's 'tantrum'. I noticed that quite a few of you mentioned confusion and anger over his behavior. Granted, I didn't even agree with it. But there are a few things you need to remember. First, this is a Darkward story. Up until he realized Bella was his mate, Edward was a nomad, loving the thrill of killing and drinking from humans. You can't switch off those behaviors and urges overnight, especially after having the one thing more important than blood torn away from you like that. Second, this is a more graphic, horror-esque story. It can't be all rainbows and butterflies now that love is involved. His emotions are all over the place as well as his thoughts, so he kinda went crazy. I hope you can find it in you to forgive him - he is trying!

Anyway, things are really going to heat up from now on, so be ready!

Playlist highlights for this chapter:

Lonely for Her by Jack's Mannequin

Someone Says by Editors

My Heart is Broken by Evanescence

"I've gotta say, Man, you can really trash a city," Emmett said with a somewhat amused grin on his face. Alice smacked it right off of him, causing him to frown and lower his gaze as we all sat down in Carlisle and Esme's living room. Having to retreat to their home irritated me, though I understood that in order to retrieve Bella, we would need to come up with a strategy.

And I was in dire need of a shower and fresh clothes.

"I'd say I'm sorry for what I've done, but I am not," I replied simply while I ran my hands through my hair. "The pain I feel over losing Bella has eroded any remorse I could possibly feel right now." I knew that would garner a look of disappointment from Carlisle, but in the moment I couldn't bring myself to care.

"I understand," Alice said softly from across the coffee table. Her face was downcast, eyes frozen on her hands. "When they took Jasper, I tore down an entire town. The pain was so powerful that it ate away at everything I had. The only way it could be covered up was setting off the nearby nuclear power plant." Squeezing them, she blew out a deep breath and glanced over at me. "That pain of separation is terrible, Edward, but you must fix it onto saving her instead of drowning in it."

"The loss of a mate is the worst for our kind," Carlisle spoke up, his tone that of a historian. "Once the mating bond is created, not even death can sever it. I am lucky that I have not had to deal with that pain," he paused to look at me with a sorrowful expression. "Though I can only imagine how unbearable it could be."

"Which is why we shouldn't be talking about this and going after her, don't you think?" I growled. We barely started talking and I already was tired of it.

You need to remain calm if anything positive is going to happen, Edward, Alice's mind hissed. "When Esme called thirteen minutes ago, she said there had been no change. This means that there's been nothing new happening at the facility for two hours."

"I say we go right in and smash them all to bits!" Emmett shouted, his eyes burning with the same fury that I held in my frozen heart.

"No," Alice replied. "Whoever it is that has her captive…they're strong. If one of them can block my ability to see the future, as well as shape shift, God only knows what else they may have in their bag of tricks."

"Alice is right, I'm afraid," Carlisle sighed, his shoulders hunching over while he scrubbed his face with his hands. "This has to be handled delicately. It's obvious that whoever is the mastermind behind this, they want Edward to follow them there. So we shouldn't make his appearance there so obvious."

"Mm, I agree," I said, deep in thought. "Whoever is doing this wants Bella and me. I'm not sure what they want her for, but if they want my ability, they're using her for leverage so I'll show up on their front steps."

The pain of being separated from my mate had been festering since I came to my senses; the dull ache first forming in my chest before it began to spread throughout my body. I wondered how Alice could handle it for so long since it felt like it wasn't going to let up anytime soon. Would it worsen? I returned my attention to the conversation at hand with the hopes that my focus on it wouldn't make it stronger.

A bell-like chime caught all of our attention as Alice opened her phone and read the incoming message.

"There's a side entrance. Rose sees a few people going in and out of it. Low security. She thinks that would be our best bet in getting inside."

"You can't see it for yourself at all?" Emmett asked with a pout – very unbecoming for a bear of a man that he was.

Alice huffed, shutting her eyes tightly and I could see her mind trying to peek through the heavy fog. There were broken images. I could see grass, white walls, and restrained arms. But that was all. How frustrating! She and I both growled in response.

"We will have to trust what Rose is saying, for now," Carlisle spoke softly.

"Should we split up or go as a group?" Emmett asked.

"Considering what we may be up against, I refuse to leave my mate alone," Carlisle replied. Emmett gave him a nod before looking to Alice and myself.

"I wish I could see," Alice hissed, shaking her head in frustration. "Not relying on my power is killing me – figuratively speaking, of course."

"I wouldn't doubt that once we are close enough, even my ability will be blocked," I mused darkly.

"Then this means we will have to rely on each other in order to save Isabella," Carlisle concluded.

"Welcome to being a normal vampire," Emmett snorted. I glared at him before Alice got to her feet.

"We should go on foot – it's the fastest means of getting there, not to mention the quietest."

The rest of us nodded towards the pixie before we followed her outside. As the others spoke of hunting along the way so they could be strong, I focused on my Bella. I prayed to whatever God that was laughing at my torment to protect her until I freed her.

In the back of my mind, I was terrified of what was happening to her. They wouldn't just leave her alone somewhere. No. With such power at their disposal, her captors were surely torturing her. Remembering in clarity the images in that mongrel's mind of how Bella was treated before, I could feel rage building within me. That strong feeling, along with the increased strength from feeding off of humans, made my sprinting that much faster than the others. Trees, streets, even animals were a blur behind me as I raced.

I would have enjoyed it if I wasn't seeing red, tasting death along my tongue as I plotted the demise of whoever put their hands on my mate.

The next hour or so passed quickly as we crossed the state border and through forests and pavement. I refused to stop while they fed, my mind solely on reaching the facility. Alice's mind kept me updated on incoming information from Esme and Rosalie.

There have been two large vans that arrived. Esme saw small groups of cloaked figures entering in the front. Rose hasn't seen anyone by the side entrance. She's keeping track about a mile away so she isn't seen.

To anyone else, this would have appeared hopeless. Six vampires against Lord knows how many enemies in a secure building? But I held hope. Bella showed me in the months we were together that there was more to this existence than death and blood. She was everything to me, and although I was already damned, I knew I wouldn't let anyone else harm her. I promised her that much with every kiss I gave. Every embrace.

Oh, how I missed her scent of strawberries…

Edward! Slow down! We're getting close!

I could smell Esme and Rosalie nearby, forcing me to slow down as I spotted the white building still relatively hidden by trees. A moment passed before the others caught up to me, which was when I saw the other women make their appearances. The mates reunited, practically clinging to each other as Alice and I watched. I could sense Alice's sadness at the scene, as well as she surely felt mine.

Soon, Bella. Soon that will be us again, I thought with resolve as I turned to look at our destination.

"It's been quiet since you left," Esme's calming tone filtered through my ears. It didn't help the tension building in my muscles while I held back my furious need to break down those walls and steal back my mate. "No one has left or entered."

"I don't like the smell of that place," Rose murmured. "I think something terrible is going down in there."

"I don't doubt it, Babe," Emmett said, and I could hear him brushing her hair over a shoulder before he kissed her forehead.

Alice touched my forearm, looking at me with determined golden hues. "Don't worry, Edward. Even without my sight, I know we will get her back. I already think of her as a sister."

"It's now or never, right?" Emmett pressed, joining Alice and I at the edge of the line of trees. "What are we waiting for?"

"Carlisle, do you think this is safe?" Esme asked. This could be extremely dangerous…

All of them were thinking with concern, fear, and uncertainty.

"I've never asked for help," I jumped in, her body tensing as I stared at the building ahead of us. "I've been on my own for decades, fending for myself and only caring about myself. Once I met Isabella…everything within me changed. Now, I exist for her. I never understood the true meaning of being mated until now. She is my life. She is my beating heart. I promised her that I would take care of her and help her fly free. But I realize…that I cannot do that alone. I need help."

Turning, my face contorted with emotions that I was very unfamiliar with. Worry, agony, and a plea for help. A need for companionship.

"I'm forever indebted to you as it is, for preventing me from killing her before…and I know that once we enter there, I have no idea at all what we will be walking into. However, I do know that all of us together would be strong. And I doubt they expect more than just myself to appear. Please…please help me. Help her."

Looking into their eyes, from Carlisle's to Alice's, I imagined my heart pounding. I could faintly remember what it felt like to sweat, to shudder with fear – I had seen it on my victims so many times, it was easy enough to imagine. For a moment, I felt almost completely human. Like the teenager I looked like. Scared, worried, and alone.

I didn't want to be alone, anymore. Bella showed me what this existence could be like when the shadows of darkness didn't follow every step I took, or move I made.

Esme was the first to react; breaking away from Carlisle to approach me. One of her hands moved slowly, reaching for my face. Cradling my cheek like a mother would to her child, her golden eyes sparkled with resolve through the dimming rays of sunlight. "Oh, Edward, to think that we wouldn't help is hurtful," she said softly. My mouth opened as she shook her head with a small smile. "Isabella already feels like a daughter to me. I would gladly fight to save her."

"I will follow you anywhere," Carlisle spoke next, looking at his wife with adoration and a love that I knew mates shared. "Regardless of everything else, whoever holds her captive is planning something disastrous. If we can find out what is going on and possibly even find Jasper, then we can bring them to justice."

"Yeah! Jasper is like a bro to me. We need to save him, too!" Emmett blurted. "Besides, little Bella Bean is like a sister I never had!"

"Hey!" Alice hissed, feigning hurt. Rosalie smacked Emmett's head from behind. I almost laughed at how ridiculous a scene this was. But deep down, I was more relieved that they had accepted her. Me.

Us.

That meant we would have a fighting chance, at least.

Esme lowered her hand and squeezed my shoulder. "When this is all over, the two of you are welcome to come home with us."

The sound of home was tempting. I didn't have a place to call home, besides Bella, since I awakened to this life. It caused me to smile softly while I imagined keeping house with my nightingale by my side, smiling, laughing, and loving me while I loved her. "Thank you, Esme," I whispered, a little surprised at how calm I felt in that moment.

My resolve returned tenfold as she pulled away, my eyes snapping back to the building.

Hold on, Bella. Hold on a little longer. We're coming.