Chapter 28

Salvatore rushed into the dessert, spotting the frames of all of the Cullens in the distance. Instantly, he recognized Nicole's outline as she too ran full speed toward him.

"Salvatore!" she jumped into the air nearly knocking him over in a forceful hug that left them both off-balance. Nicole held onto him tightly, grasping the back of his shirt as her cheek caressed his.

The two of them kissed, and then hugged again, unable to keep themselves apart in the homecoming embrace.

"Are you okay?" she asked him, "You're okay? Did you almost die?"

"No," he replied, "Well, no to the last part. I'm okay."

Alice strolled up, not far behind her daughter but wishing to give the two of them the first moment alone.

"I'm glad you're safe," she said to him with an appreciative grin, "What exactly happened with Benjamin?"

Salvatore breathed in heavily once, "We argued," he explained, "Over his safety. At first he was willing to come with me, but once we hit were halfway across the country he changed his mind."

"Why?" Alice's eyebrows narrowed and she had her hands on her hips, standing far more dominantly than her petite frame.

He shook his head, "I... I'm not totally sure. I mean, he said he had to go finish what he started."

"And you just let him go attack your father?"

Salvatore was about to speak, and then stopped as he looked suddenly conflicted. He then raised his eyes to Alice again, "I tried to persuade Benjamin to continue the journey with me. We hid in a tree in Italy for nearly half-a-day before it was safe and we left. He was so adamant about going back so I discontinued my fight. He said he felt he was destined for his original plan... so I let him go." He swallowed hard, "I honestly did think he stood a chance against my father; I still don't. But I felt it wasn't right to take away his free will. I don't know if I could have stopped him regardless."

Alice sighed heavily, not knowing how to feel. She knew Salvatore was being honest. He'd managed to bring Benjamin all that way and she'd seen their feud in her vision for the Egyptian's safety. Still, she wasn't wholly sure she would have simply let him go back to Volterra alone. It appeared almost suicidal.

"He seemed... confident," Salvatore added. "I didn't know what to do... but I went with my gut and I knew I needed to get back to Nicole and the rest of you to tell you what was going on."

"If you were about halfway," Alice stated, "He must be at the coast by now."

Salvatore nodded and looked at Nicole.

Jasper abruptly snuck up on the group and put an arm around Alice's shoulders. She turned to him, and then a second later her eyes drifted beyond their current surroundings. Alice began to see the lengths of several countries and an ocean. Italy became a clear picture in her mind and suddenly her bottom lip drop away from her top one.

"Dad..." Nicole looked at her father.

Jasper glanced at his daughter and then back to his wife. He looked around as if searching for something, but then continued to stare at Alice.

"What?" Nicole asked him.

"It's always a reaction to search for a pencil and paper." He clenched his jaw in slight frustration, "I like to see her thoughts."

Edward and Carlisle approached the group together, as Edward felt like he could be of assistance to Jasper's wishes.

"We're not going to make it," Alice suddenly said, though still appeared wrapped in a daze.

Jasper and Carlisle both stared Edward down.

"What does she mean Edward?" Carlisle asked.

"We're not going to make it," Edward repeated.

The words sent a chill down everyone's back, each of them interpreting it differently.

"In time," Edward added, "We're not going to make it in time."

"In time for what?" Jasper asked him, not taking his eyes off of Alice.

"Benjamin's big plan..." He appeared conflicted. "He's going to make a statement. Amun and Kebi will try to talk them out of it... they'll be captured and it'll will him to carry it out even more so."

"Will they be hurt?" Carlisle asked, repositioning himself so he was almost directly in front of Edward.

"I, uh, I don't know for sure... the vision is constantly changing. Others are on their way to the castle, as well."

"What others?" Salvatore asked, suddenly more interested.

"Many others," Edward added, "Benjamin didn't want to involve us. He's said we've been through enough on behalf of the Volturi."

"What are they going to do?"

Alice suddenly snapped back to reality. She looked around the group, unaware of their discussion.

"Oh my gosh." Her head was spinning. "This is going to be monumental."

"What is?" Salvatore asked her.

Alice's eyes drifted to meet hers, and Jasper grasped her hand tightly, staring intently from just a few inches away.

"Tia... the Irish... a few others I don't recognize that were friends of the Romanians..." Alice glanced at Carlisle, "Garrett... Kate... Tanya..." She swallowed, "And the Amazons."

"What are they going to do?" Carlisle asked her.

William and Madison suddenly rushed up on their conversation, and Madison's eyes were wide.

"My parents," Madison said, "They visited not long ago and it was awkward... like they were planning on leaving, or doing something..." Her eyes met Alice's. "This is it. They wrote some sort of manifesto and told me to read it when the time was appropriate. My father said he would return and pick it up if nothing came of their "journey". He told me was going to be checking in with you, Alice."

"He hasn't," she quickly stated, "Honestly."

"What are they doing?" she asked.

There was a silence that fell over the group, and Edward and Alice exchanged a look - the only two of understood of the plan through her vision.

"Please..." Madison pleaded. She parted from William's side and looked into Alice's eyes, "What are they planning to do, and why didn't they tell me?"

Alice took in another deep breath. "They're going to make a statement for our kind."

"What does that mean?"

Everyone was wondering the same thing.

"They're going to show their disapproval of the way law and order has been working in recent days," Alice explained. "In a type of rebellion."

"They're going to attack them?" Salvatore asked; his eyes wide and mouth open following the question.

"No." She shook her head, "They're going to reveal themselves... in the sunlight in the center courtyard of Volterra."