After a while of just basking in each other's presence, Alice gently nudged me.

"Hey, Bells...We have to get back..."

Cue my whining.

"Nooo," I whined, burying my face further into the cool crook of her neck. In an attempt to get my way, I wuffled soft Eskimo kisses up and down her throat and heard her purring quietly.

I was so comfortable right where I was, and I loved cuddling my girl. I had no interest in going back to the madness.

"Yeees," Alice mocked me and I huffed, glancing up at her. She was grinning and I can't lie; I had missed that twinkle in her eyes.

I had missed it so much in fact that it encouraged me to try and keep it there, so I did what she wanted with no more reluctance. I lifted off of her body and saw her wince slightly as she sat up, too.

"Jesus, Bells. I can't believe you broke the tree," she shook her head, rubbing at her back as she glanced over her shoulder and down on the smashed trunk.

My apologies, nature.

Actually, I take that back.

It was nature's fault we were doing it in the first place. I blame my instincts.

"I didn't hear any complaints in the process," I parried and she gave me a little smirk.

"True enough. It's times like these I'm glad vampires don't get sore," Alice shrugged and I frowned.

Okay...Rough sex may have been fun, but I didn't want to hurt her...Too much...

"Are you alright?" I inquired anxiously as we both stood up and she rolled her eyes.

"It's gonna take a lot more than that to hurt me, Bella. I like it rough," she smiled at me, winking as she stretched her muscles and gave me a great view of her beautiful body. I shivered slightly and hushed the purr beginning in my throat.

Alright, so being a vampire did not cancel out human hormones. It, in fact, made them worse. I'm way too excitable.

"Ugh," Alice groaned as she stepped around me and I turned, tilting my head slightly.

"What is it?"

"I really, really don't want to wear that cloak," Alice scowled, nudging the fallen bitch stained garment with her foot as she looked down on it distastefully.

Without a word, I began to shrug out of my clothes and Alice's eyes widened.

"What are you doing? Bella, don't even. Since when are you the man in this relationship?" Alice laughed slightly, tugging the tiny shirt back down over my head and I grumbled.

"I'll go naked. I don't give a fuck," I narrowed my eyes and Alice narrowed hers.

And the stare off began.

I probably wouldn't have been too willing to give up my clothing and go in my birthday suit if I didn't hate the idea of Alice going nude in front of plenty of eyes. No way.

Ah, but some things never change. She ended up out staring me as I averted my eyes and she smirked again.

"It's whatever. I'm sure the coven will have extra clothing. Actually, my visions confirm it," Alice shrugged, scooping the cloak up and reluctantly slipping it on.

After she was decent...Scratch that, after she was clothed and gorgeous as ever, she lifted her head and her eyes met mine. Hers were a deep, glossy amber and her hair hung down in her eyes, more so than usual. But as she looked upon mine, her breath hitched slightly.

Alice's hand came up to my cheek and I leaned into her palm as she thumbed my skin slowly.

"Your eyes are red..." she whispered and I tensed but she leaned up and kisses my lips lightly.

Would it...Bother her? The color of my eyes? I knew they had to be a thick ruby red, the color of blood, of a life taken away...

"But strangely, it doesn't bother me anymore..."

Anymore? So it had bothered her...

"You're still you. You're taller, you're stronger, you're faster, you're different...I think if there was one thing I'll miss about you, it will be your eyes...Like milk chocolate...Sweet..."

I don't know why she's telling me this. She has to know it hurts that I've changed and she doesn't like part of it.

"But you are still Bella, my Bella..."

My chest rumbled at her possessive use of my name.

"It doesn't matter what color your eyes are, because I still see you inside them...They don't look bloody red...They look molten maroon...Like red and brown..."

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned into me. I melted into the embrace.

No, some things always stay the same. Even as a vampire, Alice still makes my heartbeat stumble and she still makes me feel high when she speaks. Her scent intoxicates me as I hold her close, just hugging her, feeling the slow, steady thump of her heartbeat rebounding off of mine.

"You ready?" I breathed into the top of her head, gently scraping my nails over her scalp and I felt her nod.

"As I'll ever be..."

As we broke apart, I felt a wave of vertigo strike me solidly in the skull and I was practically on my knees, gasping. I felt Alice's hands wrapped around my biceps, supporting me as my world spun.

The fuck?

My world blurred before me and the scenery changed. I no longer saw Alice, or the trees. I couldn't focus for a moment, and when my eyes stopped whirling in their sockets, I stiffened as my world resolidified.

Bright red orbs scanned the house before them, taking it in, the scars in the old bricks. The owner of those ruby red eyes had no vision impairment from the night surrounding them. There was a car in the driveway and a light on in the living room window.

A halo of white blond hair floated over slim shoulders as the woman moved forward, purpose in her eyes, undeniable murderous, malicious purpose in her eyes.

Rosalie Lillian Hale, blank faced but determined looking walked right up to the door of my mother's house and rang the doorbell.

Moments later, Renee opened it.

In an instant, she was on her knees, Rosalie's fangs buried deep in her throat.

As the vision ended, I gasped sharply, feeling as if I was resurfacing from the depths of the ocean. My eyes fluttered and I realized I was slumped against Alice, chest heaving.

"What the fuck!" I cried, pushing off of her, a hand going to my mouth as the vision replayed itself in my mind, a horrendous rewind that I couldn't stop. Images of my Mommy sinking to the floor, Rosalie tearing into her neck relentlessly assaulted my brain and I cringed, feeling like I was going to be sick.

"Did you really just see that?" Alice breathed, looking shaken and slightly confused.

"I-Well, yeah! Was that a vision?" I demanded, an ominous anxious fear beginning to gnaw at my insides.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

Rosalie was going after my Mom? What? I didn't...

Aw, hell.

Sulpicia's powers...Mind control...Rosalie may have not had a choice in the matter.

I was freaking out as Alice ran a hand through her hair and began to pace.

"I don't understand...How did you see that? And what...Why would she..."

I was vaguely aware of the fact that I was trembling. I could feel panic tightening my stomach and an angry frustration made my fangs dip.

"Alice! Tell me what that was!" I yelled, my hands beginning to shake as she continued to just pace back and forth, muttering to herself.

At the sound of my voice, her head tilted up and her eyes widened slightly.

"Bella..." she murmured, stepping towards me to put her hands on my shoulders as I shook, jaw quivering. I could feel the growl rumbling in my throat. "Bells, look at me...Relax, it's okay..."

My instincts rebelled at the idea of being calm. My mother was in danger, and all I wanted was to make sure she was okay. But as Alice coaxed me, softly whispering reassurances, I regained control, slowly but surely.

"Look...I can't be sure...But I think that might have been part of your powers..." Alice said after a moment, when she was sure I wouldn't freak out again.

Powers? Oh, yeah. Seriously, I can't believe I forgot about that.

Somehow, I was able to repel and use Jane's power against her. Now, I was sharing Alice's?

Well...Hot damn. Looks like I do get some cool ass abilities after all.

However, it did little to assuage my fear. I loved my mother to death and the idea that Rosalie was going to, possibly already had killed her?

It made my stomach flip flop and my heart skip uncomfortably.

"Somehow, you're able to use the powers of another...Whatever, that's not important right now..." Alice muttered, almost to herself.

"We need to get back...We have to go back to the others," Alice said and I immediately shook my head.

"No. Screw that! My mom's in danger, Alice! Rosalie might kill her! She might have killed her already!" I refused, beseeching her with my eyes but Alice, ever the levelheaded girl didn't back down, despite my consistent panic.

"Bella, that may not have been the truth. Our eyes aren't always right, remember? Sulpicia might just be messing with us. This might just be a trap to get to us."

"And it might not be! I'm not taking that chance!" I shouted back, balling my fists up.

Be damned the discovery of my peculiar powers. Just as we'd got our footing in this hellish madness, we were jarred once more.

My mother was at stake here. I'm a Mommy's girl through and through. I had no intentions of calling Sulpicia's bluff only to find out I had misread her poker face and then Renee went bye-bye because of it.

"Bella, be practical here!" Alice cried.

"PRACTICAL? We're vampires! NONE of this is PRACTICAL!" I screeched.

I am fully aware, thank you, of how hysterical I sounded. So, apparently, was Alice.

"Isabella, would you listen to me for a moment!" Alice threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Alice, please! She's my Mommy and I don't want to lose her like you lost yours!" I screamed.
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. My eyes widened and my hand clapped to my mouth as Alice blanched sharply.

"...I'm sorry...I d-didn't mean...Alice..."

She looked away, eyes closing, lips tightening. I saw her swallow, watched her throat bob slightly.

Damn it, man...I felt like a total bag of douche after that.

But I couldn't help it. Finally, the fight had come back to home.

My family was now in this, at risk. I had never cared (much) for my own safety, mostly just Alice's and the Cullens. There are precious few ways to piss me off, to frighten me.

Going after my family is one of them.

But I had just stepped over a very thin line, and by Alice's saving grace, she didn't take it to heart. Thank whatever deity there may be that she was amazing enough to relatively blow off my heartless, insensitive comment.

"Look...I know you're upset right now," Alice said through gritted teeth. "But rushing in blindly won't fix anything. Sulpicia is getting just the reaction she wants from you right now. I'm sure she's behind this; it's got her stink all over it. So just chill the hell out and let me think of what we need to do," she snapped and I expected, deserved the venomous sting to her words.

I grimaced and tongued the tips of my fangs unhappily, whimpering in the back of my throat.

Renee...Mommy...

I felt fear, uncertainty clenching in my stomach as Alice ran both hands through her messy black locks, beginning to pace again, refusing to look at me.

Sulpicia had now crossed the last line for me. This was the final straw, the one that broke my fucking back.

The fact that she even hinted like she was going to do something to my family, to my mother had me furious in moments and I flexed my fingers wildly, aching to wrap them around Sulpicia's neck.

Yeah, she'd got to me. It was on now.

"Okay...Bella, listen to me..." Alice said after a minute of tense silence. She turned to me, face calm, the complete opposite of mine. "We have to go back. We need to get a game plan with the others. We can't do this on our own. She's gonna be okay, Bella. Sulpicia just doesn't work like that. There's always more to her crap than just what you see on the surface. She's playing mind games with us," Alice walked forward, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder as I continued to look anxious, murderous, almost hysterical.

"But..."

I bit my lip, fiddling with my thumbs uncertainly. The vampire in me raged for action, for immediate reaction. I could feel the protective swell multiply tenfold due to my instincts and I whined harshly, parting my lips at Alice, who softened immensely.

"Shh...It's going to be okay, Bells...I promise..." she whispered. "I pinky promise..."

She offered her smallest finger, a gentle, encouraging smile gracing her face and I hesitated before hooking mine around it.

"Let's hurry, though..." I mumbled and she nodded.

"Agreed. We need to move quickly, quicker than Sulpicia. And that, darling, will be a difficult feat to achieve..."

"I have faith in us. We've come this far, right?"

Okay, so maybe I spazzed out at first, but now I could feel Alice's steady, contagious determination. And I'm not going to lie, the familiar motion, the pinky promise that made me feel nostalgic, was a soothing motion.

Alice nodded and I allowed myself a tiny grin.

"Let's go."


I am a vampire and by God, where is the grace that's supposed to come with it?

As Alice and I raced through the forest, headed back to the clearing, I hooked my ankle on a tree root and fuck this shit!

Seriously. Only I could be in the middle of an epic intense run and just flat out face plant it into the clearing.

I hurtled through the trees, yelping as I spun end over end and smashed into the hard, unforgiving earth, my eyes whirling in my skull.

The next thing I heard was hysterical male laughter.

"Emmett, you rat bastard," I muttered as I tried to sort myself out and gather my bearings.

"Hahahaha! You should have seen your face! Oh. My. God! That's even better than tree breaking sex! Hahaha!"

I rolled my eyes as I pushed myself up on my hands, shaking my head. I glanced around, seeing where I had crash landed like a dumbass at.

"Like fuck, man. I thought that crap was supposed to stop when I changed," I whined, my head aching as I spotted the clearing we'd fled from earlier and noticed the vampires sitting all around, golden eyes looking at me. I could see Laurent sitting Indian style at the mouth of the cave, a tiny quirk to the corners of his lips.

Yeah, I see you grinning it up, you jerk. I am fully aware of how stupid that looked.

"Emmett, shut up," I heard Alice say in a shaky voice...Is that laughter I hear in that voice?

Not cool.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw her stepping out of the gigantic hole I'd made in the thick vegetation, her eyes sparkling and a hand over her mouth to stop the giggles bubbling in her throat.

Sigh.

I still make myself look like a jackass in front of pretty girls. Story of my life.

"Bells, are you okay?" Alice called, jogging over to me as I rolled onto my back.

Oh, yeah. On moment of impact, I belly flopped it.

Awesome.

Damn.

It.

"Peachy," I muttered. "Emmett, if you don't shut the hell up I'm going to break your balls!" I yelled after a second as I saw him bent double, cradling his stomach as he laughed and laughed and laughed.

What an epic jackass.

He glanced at me, opened his mouth as if to say something and then started laughing again.

I could see Edward desperately trying to keep a straight face, but Jasper was chortling heartily.

"Yeah, glad you guys are enjoying this. Hey, I'll be here all week," I rolled my eyes, sitting up and rubbing the back of my head as I glared at my unsympathetic girlfriend.

Alice abruptly cut off the giggle fit, putting on an unconvincing worrisome expression that promptly broke when I scowled.

She grinned.

"I'm sorry, Bells, you're just too cute when you pout," she chuckled and though I tried to remain angry with her, when she leaned in and peppered my right ear and neck with kisses, I could do nothing but purr unwillingly.

"W-whatever," I mumbled as she helped me stand, wrapping an arm around my waist as I rubbed my injured abdomen and tried to pull a Medusa on Emmett. I glared at him and tried to turn him to stone, but it didn't work.

The fucker kept snickering. I bet it's the hair snakes that do it. Man.

"I'm glad to see you two have returned and in much better spirits, I hope," Laurent said hesitantly as he approached us, hands clasped in front of his chest.

"Not quite," Alice said slowly, the smile leaving her face.

The smile caused by my idiotic entrance.

Fuck my life.

Laurent paused in his approach and I scowled as I noticed the snickering vampires in the trees and around the clearing. The Cullens were standing off to the side with a group of them. As I glanced over at them (glaring at Emmett who continued to snigger behind his hand) I noticed a girl, staring at me.

Or rather, my chest and abdomen.

Her molten golden eyes roamed over my...Okay, I totally have abs now. I just noticed that...

Which is too freaking cool, by the way.

She seemed to agree, with her long blond hair that curled towards the ends and slender body, one hand on her hip as she continued to...Appreciate me.

Bewildered, slightly flattered and weirded out by her unrelenting gaze, our eyes met.

She winked.

Woooahkay.

I may not be the most observant of people, but I can tell when people are giving me the fuck me eye.

Seriously, chick. Was now really the time?

My brow furrowed and I turned away quickly, shaking my head. Whatever. Don't have time to dwell on the girl.

"So you see, we have a problem."

Probably shouldn't have been tuning Alice out, but ya know, that's just how I do.

"Wait a minute," I heard Edward say as I struggled to my feet, brushing myself off and resituating Alice's ridiculously tiny shirt so it covered most of my stomach, blocking the weird chick's view, which seemed to disappoint her as I glanced at her.

Yeah, show's over, babe.

"You had a vision of Rosalie killing Bella's Mom?" He inquired and I winced at the reminder of what was going on.

"That's what I said, Eddie," Alice nodded her head, standing with me.

"Wow. That's...Messed up," Emmett said, now completely sobered.

At least he'd stopped laughing now that he realized the seriousness of the situation.

"No shit, Sherlock," I rolled my eyes at him and he snorted, flipping me the bird, which I returned in kind before we both grinned playfully.

"This is quite interesting...But how are we to know whether or not it's a trick?" Laurent commented slowly, looking around as if to ask any vampire in the clearing their opinion.
"We don't. All we have is half assed guesses and presumptions. Sulpicia isn't stupid; she knows there's no way for us to be sure, which is probably why she did the ploy in the first place," the girl who had been undressing me with her eyes put in after a moment, picking at her nails, not even looking up as she spoke.

Well.

That's not pessimistic at all.

When no one replied, she glanced up.

"Jesus, don't look at me like that. It's the truth," she scoffed, blowing on her nails as she filed them against her marble skin.

"And who are you?" Alice snorted, crossing her arms, eyes narrowing.

Whoa now.

Attitude.

Yep, I know that look and I know that vibe. When I was human, it was one I often got when both Angela and Jessica were on their periods, or when two girls who were about to have a cat fight were being jealous over the same guy.

And that instinct that rose in me was both human and vampire.

It said either leave or don't interfere.

I know how girls get and I certainly wasn't about to get caught in the crossfire. I could see the Cullen boys having similar reactions.

Tanya put her other hand on her other hip, responding to Alice's attitude with one of her own, eyebrow arching as she sized my pixie up. Apparently, she was not impressed.

"Name's Tanya. And you? I assume you're Bella's mate, but you look a little too short for her."

Oh, snap.

I saw Alice's eyes narrow almost imperceptibly, a tiny, malicious smirk coming to her face.

"Alice, charmed to meet you. No, she quite likes my height. She's always had problems with slutty tall blondes...In fact, you look a lot like this one girl-"

"O-kay! How would you all like to see what we retrieved for you?" Laurent swiftly interrupted as Tanya's sneer dropped and became a vicious scowl. I even saw a hint of fang, which made my eyes narrow.

I don't know what her deal is but she better not step to Alice, or else we'd have a problem.

There was a unanimous grumble as Alice smirked her trade mark smirk, turning on her heel to follow the dark chocolate man. She walked practically glued against my side, one hand sliding down into my back pocket.

I jumped, startled as she stared a glowering Tanya down, all the way to the mouth of the gloomy, curious cave.

My nose twitched as I scented pheromones coming from Alice and I had to fight off a groan as my sex clenched pleasurably. Alice was pumping out straight up possessive pheromones and I whimpered at her several times until she stopped.

I nearly jumped her on the spot and she lifted her hand to put it on my hip instead of against my ass.

It sure got Tanya huffy as she growled once, turning away from us.

As we reached the mouth of the cave, Laurent paused.

"Victoria, if you will," he called.

I winced as we were suddenly blinded by lights and I hissed nervously. Alice's hand went to her eyes as she attempted to shield her retinas from the light pouring from the cave. I heard the soft, familiar purr of a Mercedes engine and in an instant Alice was away from me, whooping with delight.

"That is fucking awesome!" I heard her cry as we all backed away and her yellow Mercedes came cruising out of the cave and into the clearing.

I grinned slightly. Alice could act ancient and she could act just like me; like an excited teenager.

"We found it discarded at the main gate to Volterra, figured we'd take it, just in case," Laurent shrugged, smiling slightly as Alice gushed over her car, running her hand over the yellow metal.

"In case of what?" Jasper asked.

"You can never be too careful," Laurent replied.

The car switched off as Victoria emerged from within it, dressed in a tight black sweater and a pair of jeans.

The Cullens and I all immediately stiffened, at which she rolled her eyes.

"Still with this nonsense?" she sighed, running a hand through her hair as Alice backed up a few steps, looking positively infuriated that the redhead had driven her precious car, let alone sat in it.

"Victoria..." Laurent murmured, clearly eager to keep the peace between all of us.

"No, it's whatever," the redhead shrugged, meeting our glares with indifference.

Alright, alright...So maybe we didn't have as much of a right as we did before to be mad at her, but still...We couldn't trust her.

"So what's this I hear about my mate going to kill Bella's mother?" she inquired slowly and I felt my heart wrench painfully.

I had almost forgotten in the excitement...My stomach dropped.

"Guys...We have to do something and soon...I can't just sit here not knowing..." I said after an awkward moment of silence.

"Yeah, but what can we do? If it's a trap, and someone goes, they're done for," Jasper put in and I bit my lip.

Did he think I didn't know that? I really didn't give a shit at that point. It had been at least twenty minutes since that terrifying vision had struck both Alice and I.

"Something has to be done, though," Edward said. "We can't just sit around and wait to see what happens. If it's true, someone has to stop Rose."

I suddenly let loose a snarl of frustration, running a hand through my hair.

"I can't...I have to go see...I have to check," I shook my head as Alice shook hers.

"No, Bella...If we go, then the odds are-"

"I know the odds, Alice. I don't care. The odds are always against us, right? But I can't stand not knowing what's happening to her, to my mother."

"But..."

"Please...Just try to understand...I have to save her, Alice," I pleaded and she sighed, biting her lip.

"I do..." she murmured softly and I knew every Cullen in that clearing was thinking of Esme, and how they would have done anything to save their adoptive mother.

For a long moment, no one said anything.

The silence was interrupted by Victoria.

"Well, that settles it then. We're going to Phoenix," Victoria shrugged, popping her neck experimentally.

"We?" Alice snorted, scowling over at the redhead. "What makes you think you're going? If anything, it's just me and Bella. Three people isn't exactly discreet, and who the hell invited you along anyway?"

"One: Rosalie's my mate. Even if I don't technically go with you, I'm still going after her. Two: You're under the assumption that I give a damn what you say about my involvement. This is my fight as much as it is yours," Victoria snapped back and Alice growled, low in her chest.

"Bull! What about all the times you've-"

"Attacked you?" Victoria interrupted. "I know, okay! I get it! I hurt you and I'm sorry, Alice! What else can I say to you? I had no choice!"

"That's a lie! You always have a choice-"

"If anything's bullshit, that's it-"

"Don't even-"

"Stop playing victim-"

"It's not a play if it's the truth you-"

"I've got the scars to prove the hell I've been through-"

"-Doesn't even matter, you're just a lying-"

"You don't even-"

"ENOUGH!" Laurent cried, standing between the two seething women. "We are all allies here! Keep the past in the past! The more time you spend hating each other, the less time you all have to save Bella's mother!"

Very good point, Laurent. Their voices had reached that stage where it was just a matter of whoever yells louder wins the argument.

"...I don't hate her," Victoria snipped, lip twitching.

Alice snorted, fists balled at her sides. Her chest was heaving.

"I'm sorry. I. Am. SORRY," Victoria said very slowly and deliberately, red gold eyes locked on Alice's. I could hear the sincerity in her voice and for the first time, I felt she actually meant it.

There was a long, drawn out pause as everyone in the clearing held their breath.

Alice's face was tight and locked. Suddenly, her right leg shot out and smashed against Victoria's thigh with a resounding crack.

The redhead snarled in pain, crumpling down on one knee as she cradled the assaulted limb and Laurent made to interfere.

"If you're going, then get in the goddamn car," Alice snapped, averting her eyes, crossing her arms.

...

It was as much of an acceptance of the apology that Victoria was going to get.

The redhead seemed to realize this, too, as she smirked slightly, massaging her thigh, slowly standing. She opened the back door and got in, closing it with a soft click.

Well...Shit, I guess we had a game plan. We were on a mission to save my mom, and nothing was going to stop us.

Alice and I looked around at the Cullens.

They didn't protest, didn't offer to come. We needed secrecy. We needed to be able to leave this hellish place undiscovered, and carrying six people just wouldn't cut it, especially in Alice's car.

They understood. I knew they wanted to come; I could see it in their eyes.

Still, that didn't stop the group hug that overwhelmed all of us as we blurred forward and mutually embraced. I now considered them part of the coven, of my family, people to trust and protect so I didn't feel a desire to break their arms off when Alice was received in the hug.

"Good luck, you two," Edward murmured, kissing the top of Alice's head in the way only big brother's do. Jasper did as well. Emmett gave us both noogies, which inevitably broke the hug as we laughed and shoved him off.

"You two better whip ass," he smiled and we nodded.

"What are you guys going to do while we're gone?" Alice asked curiously as we jogged back to her car.

"Battle plans, of course," Laurent said. "We're going to figure out a way to get your parents back, and to stop the Volturi once and for all."

I nodded, expecting as much.

Hopefully, while we were gone, they'd figure out a way to get Carlisle and Esme back.

Or rather, hopefully we weren't walking straight to our doom.

Couldn't rule that one out.

I got in on the passenger side and Alice jumped in on the driver's side. She hit the ignition and we both gave her brother's one last salute for good luck before Laurent motioned to the path off to our right, telling us to follow it to the end to get to the highway.

"Alice, babe?" I said softly, rubbing my aching stomach nervously.

"Yes, Bells?"

"Floor it."

She did. We peeled out of the clearing, throwing dust up as Victoria sat quietly in the back.

We drove in silence all the way to the end of the road.

It was about that time when the werewolves attacked.