Meyer's characters, not mine.
"Well, actually I was about to look for you." I told Alice.
One of her eyebrows raised at my words.
"Me?" she questioned.
"Yes. I figured since you were the one who had the vision, you could tell me whom it is I should be expecting so that I can prepare."
She nodded in understanding.
"Good idea. Why don't we move into the living room and Ill tell you all about it."
"Sure." I replied.
I followed her down the stairs and I couldn't help but notice how graceful she was. Even my own vampire movements seemed loud and awkward next to her. I briefly wondered if she was a dancer during her human life. We both sat down on chairs in the bright, white living room before resuming our conversation.
"So here is what I saw. Aro decided he would pay you a visit. Ususally he sends his guard out to handle things like this but he is so excited to add you to his collection that he wanted to make a personal appearance." She grimaced before continuing. "I could see that he had a few members of his guard with him, maybe 3 or 4, he still hasn't solidified the group he wants to bring, so I can't be totally sure. He will come in from the east of town. You can intercept them there, in the mountains before they reach any real civilization."
She had told me everything I would need to know, but I desperately wanted to know who Aro would bring. Surely Chelsea would be with him. Would he bring Jane too?
"Do you have any idea at all of who he will bring?" I asked. I hoped she wouldn't pick up on why I was asking, but of course she did.
"I don't see him bringing Jane. All that I can see for now is that he has Chelsea and Heidi with him. I should know more as he finalizes his team. Do you know about those two?" She asked.
"I know of Chelsea and her powers, but not Heidi." I wondered what she could do.
"Heidi has the power of seduction. She can draw you in, and you will find any offer she makes to you very difficult to refuse. Needless to say, her power coupled with Chelsea's make for a dangerous duo."
Well this was quite the predicament. How was I ever going to combat all of that?
"So what can I do? I don't want to be manipulated by them."
Alice looked down at her lap.
"I'm not sure. Just think about all of the terrible things they do, the lifestyle they lead. That might help you. But it is definitely going to be difficult."
I dreaded the hopelessness in her voice.
"I don't want them to get to me. I wont let them." I said this more to myself than Alice.
"I sure hope so. I wish that there was something more I could do, but ultimately this will all be on you. You have to be strong enough to resist them." She looked up at me as she spoke, and by her expression it looked as though she didn't have much hope for me.
Her words made me feel as though I had an elephant sitting on my chest. There was so much pressure on myself to overcome their manipulation, and as I was now I wasn't sure how I would do that. If I was going to stand up to them I was going to need to be at my strongest.
"Alice, would Jasper be willing to help me with my training? I want to at least have some control of my powers before I face the Volturi."
"Yes. I'm sure he would be willing to help you. He will be back from a quick hunting trip with Emmett in…." She closed her eyes, apparently searching for her answer in visions. "Less than an hour." She smiled to herself.
"Great. Will you tell him to come find me when he gets back? I'll be in the backyard." I told her. She nodded.
"Thank you, Alice." I bowed my head to her slightly as I stood to leave.
"You are very welcome, and good luck." She smiled her beaming smile again before dancing up the stairs and disappearing.
I walked through the house and out into the backyard. There was a storm brewing and the clouds roiled angrily in the night sky. I ran over to a tall tree a few hundred feet from the house and jumped up into its branches. I laughed as I thought about the fact that I was climbing a tree in a storm. For a human that would be a stupid move but for me it didn't much matter. I had always had a love of thunderstorms. As a child my mother would always have to watch me closely, or I would sneak away to play outside in the rain. I watched the clouds as they moved swiftly overhead and took in the scent of the storm. I was happy to have a moment completely to myself. I cleared my mind, trying not to think about my impeding encounter with the Volturi or Edward's return tomorrow. Instead I simply focused on my surroundings. Lightning tore the sky in two and it was so much more beautiful now that I had the time to appreciate the way it lit up the world around me. I didn't move, even as the rain began to fall and the wind picked up. The droplets didn't bother me one bit, and I was plenty comfortable, my skin much cooler than the rainfall. I could have stayed up in that tree for hours, just admiring everything around me. Before I knew it, Jasper was calling up from beneath the tree.
"Alec!"
I startled a bit at my name, looking down. When I saw it was Jasper I jumped from the tree.
"Why don't you come inside? I'm keen to get out of this rain and into some dryer clothes." I hadn't noticed before, but he seemed to have a slight southern drawl to his voice.
His clothes were sticking to his skin and I could see his every muscle. But that wasn't what got my attention. Marring his skin were what seemed like thousands of crescent shaped marks. I found myself staring for a moment before looking back into his eyes. I wasn't about to ask, as it seemed rather rude.
"Yeah, I should get dried off too."
We ran into the house and Alice was waiting by the door for Jasper. He took his hands into hers and they stared into each other's eyes. The love that was radiating from the two of them was almost tangible and I had to get away. It made me uncomfortable. I walked quickly up the stairs and toward the room Tanya and I shared. I wasn't about to break up their reunion. My training with Jasper would have to wait until later.
Sorry this one was so short, I promise there are more exciting things to come in the next chapters!
