Hiya. Okay, I told you i would get this to you. AND I DID. just bear with me though. It is only EPOV and is shorter than normal. BUT, first i wanted to get this out to you before i leave and second OCD and i felt like this really stood out on its own. So once again i will throw her under the bus and you can blame her if you have a problem. Not really. she is my heart mate and be nice.

Thanks to OCD and Neveryoumind for beta work. you my dear, do not suck.

Chapter song-Running up that Hill~Placebo


EPOV

I quickly surpassed my family as I traveled through the woods to the location Emmett had given me over the phone. Our destination was deep in Eastern Washington, away from most civilization, and something about it felt off. We'd met up with Emmett quickly, then spreading out into a wide line, covering as much space as possible. My brother knew Alice's scent of course, but I was afraid James may be luring him in the wrong direction, intentionally away from my sister, furthering the distance between us. I inhaled deeply and was able to follow Jasper's more recent scent as well as the fainter trail of Alice that coated the leaves and branches throughout the forest.

Once I left the house, I was able to push Bella from my mind; I hated doing it, but it was a distraction I couldn't have at the moment. I loved her and she loved me in return, that was all I could hope for, and when this was all over, we could figure out the future. Right now was about my family, and I owed them my utmost concentration.

I considered the fact I'd lived so long but never had experienced war first hand. I was too young to enlist in the First World War. I'd watched it unfold around me as a teenager; friends and family leaving, fighting, and if they came home at all, they were never the same. After my transformation, I was able to see the images of war etched in people's brains. They were different. Living with Jasper, a survivor of a devastatingly bloody war while living and an even more horrific situation once he turned, was painful. No matter how much he separated himself from the battles and fights, he was covered with scars physically as well as mentally.

I quickly raced around a thick grove of trees, my feet pounding on the leaf covered forest floor; the only sound was my body as it made contact with nature, realizing with surprising clarity, that this was my war. In my mind James had threatened my family and loved ones. He trespassed against my property and terrorized my community. He made our kind vulnerable to the outside world by having no regard for life and society. I knew in my mind we were entering into the final battle between us. One or both of us wouldn't survive this encounter, and the stakes were so high. Three months ago I would have willingly sacrificed myself for Alice or Jasper but today…today things were different. I'd given myself over to another, a mate, and every fiber of my being told me to protect that if possible.

I shifted my focus to my speed and reveled in the sport of pushing my body to the extreme when Rosalie's voice entered my thoughts.

Edward, wait up…

Rosalie called from behind. She was actually the second fastest in the family. Her legs were long, and she had a natural athletic ability she must have carried over from her human life.

Frustrated, I slowed my pace slightly and let her catch up.

What do you want to do when we find him…or them…

"I'm not sure, Rose, we have to see what the situation is." I snapped, leaping over a tree trunk that had fallen across our path, and landing on a thick branch that disintegrated under the weight of my body.

We pushed through the thick underbrush, the others having fanned out a bit, making sure we covered the entire area. I was happy for the distance as all our thoughts were on Jasper and Alice and the unknown circumstances ahead of us. Rosalie and I climbed a steep cliff that lead to a small canyon over a stream.

Edward…Rosalie thought, and I smelled it. Vampires. They were close. Their scent was muddied in the night air; I catalogued several at the least, and I craned my neck in an attempt to hear their thoughts. The night air was heavy with the sound of crickets and the gurgling of the water running below us. I focused and realized I could hear the swish of fabric in the distance and muffled ramblings, presumably from newborns.

"Keep going," I told her quietly, "let's try to lead them away from the others."

We reached the top of the hill, and I encouraged her to go first, keeping my eyes peeled for predators. The canyon was wide enough that Rose needed a running start and traveled back down the hill to gain momentum before she jumped over the water. I moved back to gain my own speed, and just as I reached the crest of the hill, I heard a loud grunt and saw Rosalie fly though the air and land with a splash in the water. A small man was grasping at her ankles, thrashing and trying futilely to gain the upper hand.

"Rose," I shouted, as I leapt through the air, trying to reach the shore of the stream on the other side. I heard a loud growl tear through the cool night air, and I reached my arms out trying to make contact with the muddy ground, but before I was able too, I was hit from the side with extreme force, falling into the shallow water below. I fell with a loud splash, water filling my ears and mouth, my body pressed into the sandy bottom of the stream. My palms found a jagged rock, and I pushed myself out of the water, flinging the newborn backwards.

"Get. Off!" I heard Rose scream as I emerged out of the water. Shaking heavy droplets from my hair so I could look for my attacker, who had righted himself, I watched as his legs sliced through the knee deep water.

Grunting beside me, I heard Rosalie continue to fight off her own assailant, and was impressed as she kicked him squarely in the chest, propelling him into a large rock near the tree line. Realizing she had a handle on the situation, I wasn't surprised to find not only one, but two newborns approaching me. My clothes were heavy and wet, and as I assessed the situation, I pulled my thick, button down off and threw it on the ground.

The vampires in front of me were both young, average in height and weight. Their minds were purely focused on fighting me. They were thirsty and spoiling for a fight. The one that had attacked me in the water was the smaller of the two, and he was processing the information they had been given earlier by none other than Victoria, her red hair and eyes scorched into their memories. Victoria had given him instructions on how to kill us. Bite, tear, kick, burn…he chanted in his mind.

From the corner of my eye I watched Rosalie repeatedly kick her attacker on the ground before beginning to tear his body to shreds. Her long blonde hair was flying around her face as she exaggerated each blow to the vampire at her mercy. She was thoroughly pissed.

"She's going to be finished in a minute, boys, and you'll be next." I told the two newborns in front of me, in an attempt to buy time. "While we wait, why don't you tell me where Victoria is?"

They both hissed as I said her name, confusion settling in their thoughts. They were starving, and their loyalty wasn't as strong as it should have been. "We're here for you and the others." One of them said without enthusiasm. His thoughts were literally consumed by thirst.

"That's not going to happen." I explained slowly, making eye contact with both of them. I ignored their snarling and continued, "What will happen is you are going to tell me where Victoria is so I can find my brother and sister. Then you are going to die—for real this time."

I saw a flame kick up on the side of the beach, and Rose's vampire burst into fire as she hovered over it with a branch she had lit, patiently allowing the flames to consume the body entirely. The newborns in front of me watched with interest, neither seeming to understand what was going on. These two had little instruction from their makers, and the lack of training would certainly be in my favor.

Rosalie dropped the branch into the water to extinguish it. I heard it sizzle on contact and saw a light wisp of smoke twisting through the air. Rubbing her cheek with a soot covered hand, she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Thanks for helping."

I smirked, knowing she would have been furious if I had stepped in, and turned my attention back on the vampires. "That one," I said and pointed to one of the newborns, "has the information I need. The other is expendable."

She raised an eyebrow, and with that I lunged at the vampire I planned to destroy, catching him off guard and pushing his back into the cliff. The sand was soft under my feet and my shoes slipped from the water. The vampire struggled under my weight, but continued to fight erratically, kicking and lunging at my arms with his razor sharp teeth. I slipped, giving him an opportunity, and I felt his jaw connect with my arm. Moving quickly, he sunk his teeth into my flesh, and I flinched from the stinging as the venom flowed into the wound.

"Fuck!" I groaned and wrenched my arm out of his mouth and kicked him off my body. Bending my knees slightly, I pounced while he was still regaining his balance, and I proceeded to tear his body, limb to limb, tossing the parts over my shoulder onto the burning embers near the shore. The other newborn under Rose's guard growled fiercely behind my back instinctively, and thoughts of anger waved through his mind. Annoyed with the situation, Rosalie reached back and swung, striking him hard across the face with her fist and telling him to shut up.

Finishing up I walked over to Rose, who was now standing behind the newborn, holding his arms to his back while he attempted to get loose. I brushed my hands off and looked down at the rapidly healing wound on my bicep, still red and oozing in the center. Moving closer I looked the boy in the eye. He was young, and clearly once well-groomed, his clothing expensive and his hair thick and curled. "Where's Victoria?" I asked calmly, acknowledging that he wasn't worth the rage I felt building under my skin.

He shook his head but glanced at the burning pile of flesh near the water. "She'll kill me…" he grumbled, clearly confused about who had the upper hand in this situation. But before I could respond, his weak mind flashed to an image of her, wild and demanding, in a small clearing, his photographic memory revealing the path he traveled on to find us.

"Does she have my sister?" I asked, worried that he couldn't seem to conjure her in his mind.

He didn't answer, and I watched as Rosalie leaned into his ear and whispered silently. His eyes flicked towards the bodies of his comrades, burning effortlessly to ash.

"I haven't seen her. The red head is insane." And again an image of wild crimson hair and pale skin flitted through his mind.

I nodded at Rose, and without hesitation, she twisted his neck with a loud tear while I quickly grabbed his writhing body and threw it in the pile of now smoldering bodies.

As Rosalie kicked sand over the remains, I searched for my phone to notify Carlisle of our whereabouts and where we should meet. "Damn it," I muttered, patting my pockets, "I dropped my phone." I began searching the area.

Rosalie flipped hers open, and I half listened as she proceeded to call Emmett and explained what happened. I caught a glimmer under the water and fished my phone out from the sandy bottom, realizing immediately it was ruined. I hurled it at the nearest tree and watched as it splinted into an explosion of small pieces and covered the forest floor.

"Let's go," I directed after Rosalie flipped her phone shut and pushed it into her back pocket. I dug my fingers into the soft, clay walls and hoisted myself over the edge of the cliff and reached a hand to Rosalie as she followed.

"Nice shirt," she said, laughing at my soaking wet undershirt, streaked with mud, but stopped to inspect the bite mark on my upper arm. "You okay?"

I nodded. "Yes. It hurts like hell. I now have a greater respect for what Jasper has been through. The venom stings."

Gesturing in the direction we needed to go, we took off through the forest once again in pursuit of our family. It didn't take long, and we easily found them waiting for us next to an outcropping of boulders deep in the forest. It was pitch black, the moon hiding behind clouds, but as soon as we approached, Emmett made a beeline for Rosalie, searching her body for injury.

"I'm fine," she murmured and gave him a quick kiss on the lips that brought a wave of jealousy through my body. I wanted to feel the hot lips of my lover on my mouth and not the harsh branches that snapped against my body as I barreled through the underbrush. "Edward took the brunt of the fight."

I guiltily shook off my feelings of envy and gestured to Carlisle to come to me. "Victoria is in a clearing not far from here. We were ambushed by three of their newborns. I didn't see any others in their minds, but we need to be prepared." I explained.

"Alice and Jasper?" he asked, reaching out to inspect my injury. I allowed him the distraction and stood still while he prodded the inflamed area.

"I doubt she has Alice, but Jasper is sure to be there by now. I only hope Victoria is still alive, so I can question her." Carlisle nodded in agreement, both of us knowing the probability of finding Victoria torn to shreds likely.

"Ready?" I asked the others, and with a quick nod of approval, we took off through the night, pushing past the leaves and branches, and climbing the rocks and hills that we soared over in an effort to get to Jasper quickly. As the brush thinned and the sky became lighter, I inhaled a strong waft of Victoria and Jasper's scents. I held my hand up, motioning for the others to stop at the edge of the clearing, just out of view. It would only be seconds before they would notice us, but in the meantime we took in the sight ahead of us.

"Oh!" Esme gasped, her mind focused on her son and the desperation unfolding in front of us.

We watched, equally horrified, as Jasper had Victoria by the throat, kneed to the ground. He was emitting murderous waves of anger and pain followed by a curious shock of jealousy that almost knocked me off my feet. His emotions alone were so extreme that it was almost impossible to function.

In an attempt to shut out his emotions and concentrate on his mind, I found he was chanting a mantra, trying to calm himself before he snapped her in half. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was aware enough not to kill her outright. He knew she was our only opportunity, and he was waiting for us to show. I turned my interest to Victoria who was lying beneath him, mumbling incoherently, as her mind flew to images of James and Alice.

I called the others closer and I began giving instructions. "Emmett and Carlisle, I want you to remove Jasper from Victoria. Get him as far away as possible—he's holding on but only by a thread." They nodded in agreement, and I turned to Esme and Rose, "I need you to cover the perimeter. There could be more newborns, and we also need to be prepared in case one of those two attempts an escape. No one leaves this area until I say so."

I pointed out the areas I was talking about and sighed heavily. I looked the two men in the eye. "After you remove Jasper from her, I will take Victoria. I need some information from her before she is destroyed."

Without further conversation, we split apart and were running across the field. Emmett and Carlisle hit Jasper with such force that the three of them rushed across the field, finally landing with a thunderous crash over twenty feet away. Dirt and grass scattered around them, flying like hail across the field. Before they had even moved an inch from Victoria's body, I was on top of her, pressing her bony shoulders into the ground while my wet boots cut into her ankles. Once she realized our position she began laughing hysterically, her voice bouncing across the field and echoing in the trees surrounding us.

"Shut up." I told her, annoyed already by her ridiculous behavior. Jasper hissed with rage from across the field, struggling against Emmett's enormous hands. His anger was palpable, coating my mind, and I had to fight the urge to eliminate her immediately. Ignoring him the best I could, I looked down at Victoria, her mouth opened wide with amusement, but her eyes were dead and hollow. "Where are they?" I asked and searched her vacant, blocked mind. She hissed viciously baring her teeth as I pushed harder into her granite flesh, grinding them into the grass and dirt underneath her.

"I see you met up with some of my men." She taunted, eyeing the sore on my arm. "Took a piece of you with him?"

"How many others are there?" I asked, wondering about the size of their remaining army.

She sighed bitterly, "The ones you killed tonight were the last at my disposal."

"How many are at James' disposal?"

She narrowed her eyes in consideration, giving me an image of four others, these appearing less feral and stronger. "Enough." She stated simply.

That image was enough though to cause a slip in her consciousness, and she unintentionally showed me a different view of James looking at Alice with want and possession. She caught herself, and her mind went blank. Her only reaction was to slap another grinning, maniacal smile across her face.

My temper flared at her callousness and I asked again, "Where. Are. They."

Finally she responded by wiping the smirk off her face and whispering, "He finally found her."

The words were eerie, hauntingly soft for the she-devil I knew her to be. Surprisingly she continued in the same little girl voice, "It took him half a century, trips across the globe and countless failed attempts, but he found her." She mumbled, and I tried to access her mind to unscramble her words. She looked at me with vacant eyes and continued, "I followed him, hunted with him, loved him, every step of the way, but he only wanted her. She has everything that I don't."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jasper attempt to break free at the mention of Alice, and watched as Carlisle pushed his whole body over his in an effort to restrain him. Stunned by her announcement, I finally formed the words I needed to ask, "She's his singer?"

Her eyes widened at my question, and she began to laugh again, succumbing to fits of giggles. His singer? No, she is more than that. Alice is the key to his power, his domination over the others, people like you and even the Volturi.

I cocked my head in confusion, and cringed when she laughed again. "Domination?" I asked, thoroughly confused by her ramblings.

"Her powers, you fool. James wanted her abilities, not her blood. With her gift as a seer, he can manipulate everything and everyone he wants. The armies in the south; the government in Italy. It's all about control, Edward, I would think you would understand this." She scoffed, rolling her eyes at my apparent naivety. "He never wanted me…only her."

Her words filled the night air; I knew everyone could hear her, and I pushed their speculations from my mind and looked at Victoria below me. Her pale face was truly beautiful, and her flaming red hair tangled in the weeds beneath her head. I focused on her eyes, wild and ruby red, void of any feelings and her thoughts were stuck on jealousy and pain; and; an leaned into her ear and whispered softly, "Betray him as he betrayed you. The only way to hurt him is to take away Alice. Tell me how to find him."

She stared at me for a moment, and I heard her mind as she considered my proposal. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead of words she once again giggled manically, sounding crazier with each passing moment, her thoughts erratic and bold. Finally she stilled under me and smiled lazily, giving me a perfect image of Alice and James in the room she had last seen them in. In seconds I counted the metal boxes on the walls, and read the letters on the small plaque near the door that was thick and glossy silver.

"Which one?" I asked, pushing my hands against her hardened flesh.

"Elm Street." She barked, her eyes widening at her admission. Her upper lip curved into the most evil smirk. "She's been in Forks all along."

I released my grip slightly, glancing at Carlisle to determine what to do next. Before I could move, Victoria laughed once again and said, "James will have a field day when you show up reeking with your human's scent all over your body. Bedding a human Edward…even I'm surprised at that. You'd better hope you get there before she does."

In a flash my hands were tight against her throat, and she looked at me devilishly. "Why would she get there before me?" I asked, my head cocked in question as terror filled my veins.

Victoria puffed her lips and blew her cool scent over my face. Apparently she was annoyed by my ignorance and with exasperation she explained, "He sent you a message, which I'm assuming you didn't receive or you wouldn't be here…but she possibly got it instead. She seems like the type to get into trouble, don't you think?"

"I have no idea what you are referring to," I sneered, placing my faith in Jacob to keep Bella safe. "What kind of message?"

"He's ready for this to end. He wants you to know where he is and how to find him. He would make you work for it, of course, but that's of no consequence now is it?" She muttered the last part under her breath, aware there were no secrets left in this crazy game.

I shifted infinitesimally, squelching the horror that consumed my mind and dipped my chin at Emmett who nodded in return. He released his grip on Jasper as I slowly removed my weight off of Victoria's body. Jasper flew from under Carlisle's grasp, and the only thing I felt was the breeze of his speed as he rushed past me, careening full force into Victoria's body. Her expression turned from insane amusement to understanding before shifting to acceptance quicker than I could've expected. I turned my back as my brother pounced on the passive, laughing demon behind me.

I attempted to ignore the sounds as I walked away—the shouts to calm Jasper, the collection of wood, and the familiar noises of starting a fire. There was the distinct thump of still moving body parts landing on the soft grass covered field. Jasper's pain was deafening, filling my soul with heartache and grief. The only sound that over shadowed it was the ripping of flesh and squealing laughter from the demented.

Questions came from my family, cutting through the emotion filled haze of my mind. They asked for Alice's location and what exactly did Victoria meant by her comments of domination. They worried about Bella, but most of all they watched me out of the corner of their eyes, my image reflected back through their minds. My face was constricted. Hair standing on end: disheveled almost beyond recognition. My pale arms were exposed, having lost my shirt earlier, and I was now covered with dirt and scars from my previous fight. All of these things shocked me, including the way my fists balled by my side and the obvious tension in my shoulders.

I looked as crazy as Victoria felt.

Running a hand in my tangled hair, I found I couldn't respond to their questions verbally. I was too blinded by rage and fury, too distracted by the aching pain of loss, as I thought of Alice imprisoned by that monster, the same one who threatened my Bella, the keeper of my soul.

Stopping at the edge of the forest, I said into the smoky night air, "She's in town—held in the Washington First National Bank."

Without another thought, I slipped away from my family and into the absolute darkness of the forest. Positioning myself in the direction towards Forks, I began reviewing the information I had. Victoria was gone. I knew where Alice was being held. I had to trust that Bella was safe with the wolf. This situation was coming to an end, cumulating between James and I as it should have been all along. Picking up my pace, I thrust myself though the woods, determined to finish this once and for all.


so....all EPOV. kinda makes me happy in a way. i know it is different and lacking a little but really it works best this way I PROMISE.

now, short note, please consider voting for me in the Bellies/Eddies starting on the 15th. If you don't vote for me go vote for some other awesome story. Like Tropic of Virgo. But not fo best quote. bhahahhahaa...just kidding. kinda.

also, i have soooo excitedly been invited to participate in a fanfiction panel at comic con this year. I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED. Oprah will be there with me, which is like a fandom dream come true and AND, david boreanaz will be in the building (and rob of course but i cant even discuss that now) so please get out the bail money and adress it to Angel c/o San Diego Jail. Anyway, if you will be there let me know and try to get in the panel which is scheduled for Saturday the 24th.

Drop me a reivew on the chapter (and no complaints on lenght please-it had to be done or it may have been 2 weeks for update- i PROMISE im not skimping on you, it will all be in there)~angel