A/N: Hello lovely readers! I've been so busy with writing projects (more at end of chapter); I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry. I wish I could just write all day long, but I actually have a job, a hubby and a kid. I love each and every one of you for being so patient and supportive of me.

This chapter carries an OMG warning. The events aren't incredibly graphic in nature, but might be psychologically uncomfortable for some readers. I had no idea this was gong to happen... my characters always surprise me.

Big love to my pre-readers, Keye and Sandy, for their enabling ways and unwavering friendship.

Some Jacob lovin' to my awesome beta, Jess (jkane180), for her incredible skillz and vampire-like speed (even though she's a self-proclaimed wolf chick).

Chapter 36

~Amnesia and Velvet Wine~

~*Alice's POV*~

"How does your gift work?" James asked. He was in my cell with me, straddling a chair with his chin resting on the back. He appeared quite calm, but there was an underlying tension in his body that I couldn't miss.

"Why should I tell you anything again?" My lower lip jutted into a pout even though I tried to school my features into an impassive mask.

James chuckled, lifting his head off the back of the chair and shaking it slowly. "Because if you don't do what I want, I'll systematically kill every one in your very large coven, that's why. Must I teach you a lesson about fucking with me, Mary Alice?" That snarky smirk I was growing to hate spread across his face.

"No, James," I answered quickly. "My gift isn't a sure thing; I tend to see things about people that I'm familiar with, and it's based on decisions they make. If the decisions change, then their future changes."

"So the future can be altered based on decisions. Does that mean if I ask you to look into my future, you can tell me what's most likely to happen based on a number of scenarios?"

"Yes... that's a possibility."

James smiled. "Good. You're going to come in quite handy. I've got some strategizing to do, and I'm going to need your assistance with that."

"Just what are you up to, James?"

"In time, Mary Alice, in time."

James got up, pushing the chair into the corner, and walked out the door without another word. Thirty seconds later, I was plunged back into darkness. The drip...drip...drip... of water that had been my constant companion since I'd arrived here came back into sharp focus. Gritting my teeth, I scrunched my fingers into my hair, tugging hard.

I heard nothing from Joshua's corner of the dungeon, and I wondered if James had moved him or possibly drugged him. Although I didn't recall hearing him leave, my mind had been playing strange tricks on me the past few days. I was growing hungry, but I refused to ask James for anything.

Several hours later, I heard footfalls approaching my cell. The scuffle of feet and whimpering alerted me that James might have another prisoner. The door of my cell was wrenched open, allowing a dim light to wash over the floor and walls.

"Dinner!" yelled James with a chuckle.

A young woman was unceremoniously tossed into the room, landing on her hands and knees. She sobbed and gibbered, asking for mercy and begging for her life.

"James, what are you doing? Surely you're well aware of my diet."

"Time for a change, Mary Alice. Everyone knows that a vampire is at their strongest—and therefore their gift at its most useful—when filled with human blood. I need you at the top of your game for what I have planned."

"No! I won't." I stamped my foot, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.

A moment later, James had me by the neck. "You will."

"No. I can't." My eyes went wide. "I've never... never tasted human blood. Please, James."

The girl remained on the floor on her hands and knees, shaking all over. Her sobs were muted, and I could hear her heart racing as she listened to two vampires discussing whether or not she would be the next meal. At this point, I knew that she would never leave here alive because she'd seen and heard too much; sorrow filled my being at the realization.

"Mary Alice, do you see the problem I have here? Young Jillian knows our secret; therefore, I can't let her go. I need you to be strong, for your gift to be at its best. You can make this easy or hard; it's up to you."

I shook my head, saying nothing. I couldn't take the life of an innocent—even knowing full well that she was as good as dead and would never leave here alive.

"I thought you might play it that way..." James shook his head sadly. "Boys!"

The two vampires that had captured me in Seattle appeared in my doorway. At a nod from James, they flanked me, each grabbing an arm, and dragged me back against the wall. James picked the girl up off the floor as though she was a rag doll and walked over slowly. He pushed her neck into my face; her jugular was pulsing frenetically, and my eyes were hypnotized by the way it throbbed in time with her heart. The mix of adrenaline and blood was a tempting cocktail, even for one who had never tasted human blood. I clamped my mouth shut, dragging my eyes away from the pulsing vein.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this, but you've left me no choice. No breathing, boys."

With a swipe of his nail, James opened up Jillian's jugular. Blood spurted right onto my face and into my mouth as I gasped in shock. The warm blood hit my tongue, and I could no more control what happened next than I could stop the world from turning—with a growl, I lunged forward, latching onto her neck. Suddenly, my arms were holding her warm, pulsing body tightly against me as I drank deeply of the sweet, hot nectar that flowed freely. Sliding down the wall, I dragged her across my lap. Each beat of her racing heart would release the blood just a little bit faster, and I fell into a rhythm of taking a strong pull at the moment the flow was at its peak. Rational thought had left me; all that existed was the flow of nectar pouring over my tongue and down my throat. Tingles filled my entire body, and I felt as though I might float away. The experience rivaled that of an orgasm in intensity, sensuality, satisfaction... I never wanted it to end.

But end it did because there are only about ten pints of blood in the average human body. The flow slowed down to a trickle, and the trickle to droplets. I shook the empty carcass, growling, but the flow did not start again, and the tup-tup tup-tup of her heart had ceased. James crouched down next to me, and I snarled at him, holding the body possessively against me.

"Mary Alice... there's lots more where that came from. This one is finished, but I can bring in another if you aren't satiated. Would you like another juice box, Mary Alice?" The tip of his finger traced along my forehead, and I licked the last of the blood from my lips as I allowed his words to penetrate my brain, which was high as a kite on its first glut of human blood.

Did I want another? I tried to remember why it was that I shouldn't drink deeply of this velvet wine, but my mind wasn't cooperating.

"More!" I demanded, tossing the cooling body away from me in disgust.

James snapped his fingers, and the two vampires disappeared, taking the body with them. I glanced up at James, and he smiled at me as he continued to touch my skin lightly with his finger. "Patience, little one; more is on the way. You may drink your fill as long as you give me what I need, sweetheart."

Peering up at James, something felt wrong about all this, but I couldn't put my finger on it. A memory teased at the periphery of my mind, but with the drug that was coursing through my body, I couldn't bring it into focus. "James, I feel... like something isn't right," I whispered hesitantly.

"Shh... not to worry. You just need more. By the time you're finished, you're going to feel the best you ever have." He tapped my nose with his index finger in an affectionate way.

"I feel like there's something I'm forgetting..."

"If it was really important, you'd remember. Ah, I hear our friends with your dessert..."

A low growl sounded in my chest as I thought about those other vampires holding my food. What if they decided to keep it for themselves? Before finishing the thought, I was up on my feet and out the door of the room, grabbing for my next drink.

~*Edward's POV*~

Bella slept for nearly two days straight before opening her beautiful brown eyes again. While she slept, I refused to leave her side, and I was thankful that I'd hunted just recently. The thought of tearing myself away from her was painful. Carlisle came and went a few times, checking on Bella frequently. He assured me that everything seemed fine with her, that it wasn't unusual for someone who'd been through such a trauma to sleep for a few days.

Jacob and Angela were very concerned about Bella, too, but they never crowded me or made me feel unwelcome in their home. Angela offered me refreshments, then blushed furiously and fell all over herself apologizing. Jacob guffawed, earning himself a smack from his imprint, and I restrained a smirk because she was such a lovely, thoughtful girl, and she loved Bella so much.

At the end of the first day of Bella's slumber, Carlisle came into the room and whispered low, "Edward, Jasper really wants to speak with you. Do you think you could go back to the house for a -"

"No!" I cut him off. "Leaving Bella in the care of others is what started all of this. From here on out, she doesn't leave my sight." I rearranged my body on the bed to curl around Bella's, and her head nestled into the crook of my neck instinctively—case in point.

"Okay, son. How about if you speak to him on the phone then? He's distraught over this and over Alice."

I'd nearly forgotten how out of his mind Jasper must be about Alice. I'd almost lost Bella just a day ago—twice—and I could sympathize with him, feel for him. I really wasn't angry over what happened; he had no control over it because he was aching for his mate.

Moving to the other side of the small bedroom, I leaned on the white dresser and called Jasper.

"Edward!" Jasper's anxious voice came over the line. I'd also forgotten how hard this must be for an empath.

"Jasper, I just want you to know that I'm not angry with you. I understand."

"Thanks, Edward. You have no idea how much that means to me. I – I can't even remember... any of it. My mind is like a hunk of Swiss cheese; I thought that wasn't supposed to happen to vampires..." Jasper's voice drifted off, and he sounded lost.

"Jazz, the trauma of watching your mate taken from you – Jesus. I know how crazed I was when I thought I might lose Bella, and we haven't been together that long. Don't worry, brother; I don't hold it against you."

"You're much too kind, Edward. How's Bella? Has she regained consciousness at all?" Jasper's voice was weighed down with guilt despite my reassurances.

My eyes slid over to Bella's prone form on the bed. At least her rest seemed peaceful since the incident with her heart. She'd murmured a few stray words about wolves here and there, but for the most part, she seemed content. "Bella hasn't come to, but she's resting peacefully now. We had a scare yesterday with her heart—thank God Carlisle had the portable defibrillator with him. I don't know how I would cope if... shit, I'm sorry." I cringed.

"No, no, Edward; it's okay. Obviously, I didn't cope very well, but I've realized that I have to get my shit together if I'm going to find Alice. I don't think they would have gone through all this trouble to get her if they intended to kill her. The thing is, once her usefulness is over, then they might, so we need to find her as quickly as we can."

"I agree, but we have very sketchy information. If only we knew who these vampires are and who they're working for, it might make more sense. It would also help to know what their motivation is... "

"Her gift, Edward! They must know she can see the future. They want to use her to 'see' something." Jasper was silent for a moment before a sob came over the line. "Edward, I don't know what to do. And if she doesn't come back to me..."

"She will. She will. We're going to get her back, Jazz."

But I couldn't make any promises to him. The fact was that I didn't know for sure if we'd get to Alice in time; I just knew that we would all try our damnedest. Suddenly, I understood why Jasper went after Bella the way he did—as though she was his only hope—because she might be the only one who could lead us to Alice. Our strength, speed and immortality meant nothing; Bella's gift was the only thing that might give us a leg up on those bastards. My fear was that they would find out about Bella's gift and try to take her as well, which was why I would not be leaving her side until this was resolved.

After sunset on day two, Bella's heart-rate changed slightly, and she started to stir. Following Carlisle's instructions, I lay next to her on the bed, but I didn't try to push her into waking before she was ready. Before her eyes opened, Bella smiled.

"Edward," she whispered, voice raspy from disuse.

"I'm right here, love." I stroked her hair, snuggling closer to her warmth, and she turned her body toward me with a soft sigh.

"What happened? Where are we?" Bella's eyes roamed around the room.

"We're at Jacob's house." Expecting the surprised look, I continued, "The elders are allowing us to stay here temporarily."

"O-o-okay." Bella nodded her head slowly. "Why exactly are we here, and how in the world did you get the elders to agree to it?"

"Bella... you don't remember what happened with Jasper?"

"Um, no. I'm actually having a hard time remembering much at all since the Seattle show. The last thing I remember was being called in the back because Alice needed me. I – it's just blank after that. Why can't I remember?" Bella's voice started to rise in panic.

"Shh... relax, love. Carlisle said it's normal to suppress unpleasant memories after a traumatic event."

Bella's eyes shot to mine. "Traumatic event? What happened, Edward?"

"Bella, please don't push. Carlisle said we should allow your memories to resurface naturally. You're safe, and I promise not to leave your side again."

Bella's soft brown eyes searched my face. "Edward, you have this haunted look. Is everything all right?"

"No," I whispered, pulling her into my arms and burying my face in her hair. "Bella... I'm so glad you're back. I was so afraid I was going to lose you."

"I do remember something. I was in the dark, but your voice led me out; I heard you talking to me. Right now, I can't remember what you said, just that I kept trying to move toward you."

There was a light knock on the door then, and Carlisle stuck his head in. "Is it okay for me to come in?"

"Of course, Father. Bella woke up a few minutes ago..." I caught Carlisle's eye, trying to communicate silently.

Does she remember what happened, Edward?

I shook my head imperceptibly.

You want to know how much to tell her. I think you need to break the news about Alice, but beyond that, I think you should only give her scant information.

Carlisle came to stand by the bed. "Good evening, Bella. I'd like to examine you, if you don't mind."

Bella looked up at him, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she tried to figure out which one of us she could get information from. "Sure, Carlisle."

Sitting up on the bed, my intention was to give them privacy, but Bella grabbed my shirt in her fist. "No; please stay."

"Of course, love. Whatever makes you more comfortable."

Carlisle went into 'doctor mode,' making idle chatter while examining Bella, and I could hear her heart slowing down and beating at a more regular rate. At one point, she looked down at the shirt she was wearing, realizing it wasn't hers, and I told her that Angela let her borrow one. Carlisle gently explained that she went into a tachycardic state, and he'd had to shock her heart back to a normal rhythm. Bella took it in stride, her eyes widening only slightly in fear, but he assured her there should be no permanent damage.

When he finished, he nodded to me. Go ahead and tell her about Alice.

Angela was hovering outside the door, and when Carlisle opened it, she rushed in. She stood by the foot of the bed, wringing her hands. "Hey, Bella." She looked over at me. "Is she okay? Can I sit next to her?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes, she's fine, Angela. She doesn't recall what happened though," I said in warning.

Angela perched on the side of the bed, and they hugged. Tears started falling, and she tightened her arms around Bella. "I was so sc-scared for you, Bella," she whispered.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Ang," Bella quipped, but I could see her forehead wrinkle into a little V, wondering what happened. She wasn't the kind of woman that could be kept in the dark; she would want to know everything. Then there was her gift—you never knew when it would show her something. I felt as though I was between a rock and a hard place.

"So, Bella, you must be hungry. Would you like me to make you an omelet?" Angela offered.

At that moment, Bella's stomach grumbled loudly, and she laughed. "I guess so!"

After Angela and Carlisle left the room, I knew it was time to have a more serious conversation. Pushing Bella back on the bed, I fluffed the pillows and pulled the blanket up so she wouldn't get cold, and then I sat facing her and took her hand. "Bella, we need to talk a little bit about the Seattle show," I said cautiously.

Bella's direct gaze pierced right through me. "Look, Edward, I know you and Carlisle have been tiptoeing around me and having your 'silent' conversations. Obviously, something happened—something big—because you're all walking on egg shells. I can take it. What I can't take is secrets."

Plan B, then.

"Bella, the vampires we were concerned about were at the gallery the night of the show. They lured you and Alice away, and while I was distracted with saving you..." I drifted off, looking down at our joined hands.

"Yes?" Bella prodded impatiently.

"It was Alice they were after, Bella. All this time we thought it was you, but they wanted Alice. They took her, and we don't know where she is."

Bella slapped a hand over her mouth. "No!"

I took Bella's trembling body into my arms, and it was as much for my comfort as for hers; I was lost without Alice. Our family had always been a solid unit, and we'd never been separated by a tragedy like this. I promised Jasper we were going to get Alice back, but I really didn't know for sure. We had no starting point from which to search for her; she could be anywhere in the world. I wondered how these vampires knew about Alice—about all of us—and fear ripped through me, causing me to shudder.

"Edward, you're scared," Bella stated.

"Yes," I admitted, glad she couldn't see my face. I never could hide from Bella, though. I wouldn't pretend I was okay when I clearly wasn't.

"This is bad, isn't it? You don't know where she is or who has her, do you?" she asked in a shaky whisper.

"No, we don't."

"Oh, my God, Jasper! Where's Jasper?"

"He's at home," I answered stiffly.

Bella pulled back from my embrace, looking into my face, and although I wouldn't meet her eyes, I could feel her intense, burning gaze ferreting out my secrets. "Edward, why are we here in La Push? Why would the elders allow this? And why wouldn't you look me in the eye when I mentioned Jasper? What the hell is going on here?"

~*James' POV*~

Mary Alice was taking to human blood like a kid let loose in a candy store. My reason for forcing this on her was two-fold: first, vampire gifts are at their strongest with human blood circulating in our bodies; secondly, I wanted to distract her, keep her off balance so she might be more co-operative. It was much like dealing with a junkie; if they're focused on their next fix, they'll do anything to get it, and everything else falls by the wayside. I thought it would be harder to persuade her to the dark side, but all it took was for me to open up Jillian's jugular—God rest her helpful little soul. Smirk.

I hadn't had a chance to test Mary Alice's gift yet, but I planned to remedy that soon. I had to move Spot far enough away so he wouldn't interfere, and I suspected that distance would be far shorter with human blood inside her.

On the way back from her cell, I brought Spot some food. He was slumped sullenly in the corner and didn't even spare me a glance. Usually, he would snarl or have a sarcastic remark, but he was as still as a statue.

"What's going on, Spot? Are you sick?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Leave me the fuck alone, huh?"

I crouched down next to him and grabbed his face in my hands, wrenching it toward mine. "Watch how you address me, dog. Remember, you're in here, but I know where your family is." A tremble shuddered through his body, and I knew if I pushed any harder he would phase. Sitting back on my heels, I shoved his face away. "Let's try this again. What's going on with you?"

He looked off into the distance, but he finally answered. "What did you do to that vampire you're holding captive?"

"Oh, are you feeling sorry for Mary Alice? Don't. She's having the time of her life now. All she needed was a taste of human blood to bring her around."

Spot's eyes closed, and he looked sick. "Damn you, James."

"I'm already damned; didn't you know? We're going to be moving you in a few hours. I need some time alone with Mary Alice."

Spot shivered. Maybe he was going soft over her? It was no matter; they were both just a means to an end.

Leaving the food there for him to eat—or not—I left the underground catacombs and headed up to the main house. Demetri was expecting to hear from me, and I didn't need him jumping the gun and coming to look for me. Things were beginning to come together, and I didn't want him to fuck it up.

Entering the sitting room, I paced the floor, the black and white tiles reminding me of a chess board. Taking the phone out of my pocket, I dialed Demetri's private cell number.

"Yeah."

"Big D!"

"Cut the shit, asshole," Demetri barked at me. "What's the news?"

"Mary Alice is full of human blood and ready to sing like a canary. This afternoon, I'm going to test out her powers. Do you want to be here?"

"I can't. Just make sure she's secure; we can't afford for her to get away. Especially once she gets wind of what we're using her for."

"I've taken every precaution. She's scared for her coven; she won't be trying anything. Besides, I have her so addicted to human blood that she'd do just about anything to get more."

"Interesting. I guess even the righteous have their breaking point, huh?" Demetri laughed harshly.

"I'll let you know how the experiment goes."

I sent the boys down to fetch Spot and move him to the other end of the property, where there was another, smaller basement. He, too, would do as I said under threat of losing his precious family. When you wanted something from someone, all you had to do was find their Achilles Heel—simplicity.

I arrived in Mary Alice's cell with a huge goblet full of warm blood. Even though she would drink straight from the vein, I saw the inner struggle it caused her, so I chose to make it easy to get her new drug of choice—guilt free. I needed her to cooperate.

Opening the door, I found her eagerly awaiting my arrival. "Did you bring me more?" she panted, her crimson eyes glittering with thirst.

"I did, my dear." I held up the goblet, and she lunged for it. Holding it just out of her reach, I said, "Patience, little one. Today, you give me something in return. I'm going to let you drink, and then you'll use your gift to give me what I need. If you perform well, there's more blood for you later."

"Yes, yes... just give it to me!" She grabbed at the goblet, gulping it down greedily.

Totally hooked. I smiled to myself, remembering how I was as a newborn. It was all about the next fix, the next taste, the next thrill. Mary Alice was like a newborn because she'd never had human blood before. She had all the benefits of an older vampire and all the malleable, psychotic frenzy of a newborn.

Once the goblet was empty, she handed it to me reluctantly, looking at it with longing.

"Don't worry, little one. You'll get a reward after we're done here; I promise."

She licked the remnants of the blood from her lip and nodded. "Okay. What do I have to do?"

"I need you to tap into your gift for me."

"Spot?"

"He's been moved. I'm going to remove my wolf claw, and then your gift should work." Calling out to Victoria, I handed her my necklace when she arrived at the door. Vic gave me a quick kiss and wished me luck. Mary Alice bared her teeth and growled at Victoria. Interesting... was my little one starting to covet me?

When we were alone, I waited. I could hear when Victoria closed the metal door to the catacombs, and at that very moment, Mary Alice gasped, her eyes taking on a glazed look. This was even better than I'd hoped for.

She reached her hand out in the air, staring into the corner of the room. "Someone's coming here, James. They're planning to sneak around and find out what you're up to, get the lay of the land. I hear a male voice say, 'I have to find out everything in case I need to dispose of him.' He's hidden in the trees, and he's with a female. They're both wearing cloaks, so I can't really see them well, but he looks really big and tall, and she looks very petite."

Fucking Demetri and Jane.

What made them think they could pull a fast one on me? Fuckers. "When, Mary Alice?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't work quite like that... I don't have a date, but I can tell you that it's a misty, foggy night, and the moon is barely a sliver in the sky."

I cocked my head to the side. That would be within the next week if it was to be under this moon. Maybe I'd set up a surprise of my own for my backstabbing friends.

"You've earned a reward, little one," I cooed to Mary Alice. Maybe I would keep her after this was all over.

~*Bella's POV*~

My mind was not cooperating, and I was frustrated as hell. My memories were crystal clear up until the point I was led into the private auction area by Jeanine, Mr. Brandt's assistant. Edward had been upset because he wasn't allowed to come with me, and I went through the door and down a long hallway... then it just stops as though watching a video of something that ends abruptly. The next thing I recall is waking up on the bed in Jacob and Angela's guest room. Three days lost, and I was determined to find out why.

When Edward wouldn't look me in the eye, I knew it was bad. I demanded that he tell me what happened, and he still didn't respond. We were interrupted by Jacob coming home; Edward was a lucky vampire.

"Bells! Thank God you're awake. How're you feeling?" Jacob sat on the opposite side of the bed from Edward and took one of my hands in his.

"I'm feeling like I want to know what the hell is going on!" I answered, staring pointedly at Edward.

"Okay, then. I think that's my cue to go see my girl and have some dinner. I'll stop by later." Jacob left the room quickly.

I turned my gaze on Edward. "Edward Cullen, my future husband, spill it!"

Edward's golden eyes finally met mine, and they were filled with uncertainty. "Bella... I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hide things, but I'm worried about you. Carlisle and I discussed this, and the mind sometimes protects itself from things it can't handle." He moved in closer to me, his hand reaching out to cup my face. "I'll tell you some of what happened, but you have to trust me to decide how far to go right now. Can you do that?"

The haunted look on Edward's face decided things for me. "Yes, Edward. I trust you completely, and if you think I need to wait on some of it, then I will."

Edward let out a breath of relief, his fingers caressing my skin lightly. He leaned his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. "Bella, if I ever lost you..."

"You won't," I whispered.

Edward's hand slid into the hair at the nape of my neck, and he tilted his head until our lips met softly. It seemed like so long since I'd felt the electric tingle that raced through my body at the contact, even though it was only a few days—days I'd spent mainly unconscious. I put my hands on his broad shoulders, leaning forward to meet him. His lips moved gently over mine, light as a feather, as though he was afraid of breaking me.

"Bella, I could never survive without you. I wouldn't want to," he spoke against my lips. "Please... you have to understand how hard these past few days have been." I glanced up and saw that Edward's eyes were closed, his long lashes resting against what looked like the beginning of pale purple shadows beneath his eyes.

"Edward, when's the last time you hunted?" I asked, sweeping a finger under one of his eyes.

"Just before the show. I'm fine, Bella."

"What's going on? Talk to me, Edward."

He pulled me closer, kissing me again. He peppered soft kisses over my face and neck, and his fingers combed through my hair. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. I brought my lips close to his ear, leaning my cheek against his. "Please tell me what's happening."

"The vampires tricked Jasper into going down to the marina by texting him from Alice's phone. They intended to kill him once they got Alice to go with them—he had fresh vampire bites all over him when he came back—but he was able to get away somehow. When Jasper saw you, he..." Edward's voice drifted off.

"It's okay; keep going."

"Jasper was so distraught over Alice that he... grabbed you. He took off running with you." Edward's arms tightened around me almost painfully. "He was crazy with grief over Alice—he would never hurt you, Bella. I was so scared, and I felt helpless. He finally realized what he was doing and placed you in my arms, but you were somehow absorbing all of his emotions, and you were screaming in pain. I took off running with you to get you away from Jasper. My home no longer felt safe, and before I knew it, I found myself at the treaty line. This is where my feet took me. I talked to Sam and Jacob, who appealed to the elders, and they agreed to allow me to stay here with you—with conditions, of course. Only Carlisle and I are allowed to be here, and we must always be in the presence of one of the wolves. The rest of my family is still not allowed."

"Wow... that's really heavy. I think it speaks volumes that you would trust the wolves enough to bring me here. Thank you for being so willing to put your differences aside."

"Of course, Bella. I'd do anything to keep you safe; I could never let the tension between my family and the wolves come before your safety."

"Why did Jasper take off with me?"

"Because of your gift; he thought you could help him find Alice."

"Maybe I can."

"Bella, you've been through a lot these past few days -"

"Edward, stop." I placed a finger over his lips. "I know you want to protect me, but Alice is my sister now. I will help to find her. Somehow, I'll find her."

~*O*~

A/N: Yeah, so... go ahead and let me have it. I swear, it was them (my characters) that did it. The juice box comment was all me, hehe.

ISYC is up for a Golden Lemon Award for Best Makeout for the marking/dry hump scene! Thanks to whoever nom'd me! Go here to take a look at the nominees, and vote for your faves: www . goldenlemonawards . com

I know you guys haven't seen much writing being produced by me of late, but it's happening behind the scenes! Really. I have written a twisted Jacob/Bella (yes, you heard right) piece for Livejournal's Darkfest (will be out in March sometime), wrote a one-shot for the Fandom Against Domestic Violence titled 'Remember When It Rained' (also to be released in March, and if you'd like to see a teaser there's a link on my profile), I'm working on a yet-to-be-named collab with the lovely wmr1601 for Foxy Fics which will be posted in April, and a one-shot for FGB for Autism called 'Temptation' which is based on a banner that the talented Tkegl made. See... I've been writing a LOT.

My contest entry 'Broken Windows' won second place public vote in the Pick a Pic Challenge. Thank you so much to all of you that took the time to read, review and vote! That will also be continued for a few chapters... in my abundance of spare time, haha.

Follow me on Twitter: (at) SaritaDreaming

My Blog: www . saritadreaming . wordpress . com

I haven't rec'd anything in a while, so here we go...

'Sexual Healing' by wmrcaz is a great story with nowhere near enough reviews! A travesty that this collab between wmr1601 and caz12271 hasn't received more love. Get on over there... read, review, and tell 'em Sarita sent ya'!

'We Were Here' by lola-pops has lots of reviews and for good reason. It's hawt, and I'd love to have her Edward's dog tags dragging along my skin... ungh!

Check out dirtycheekymonkeys who host the weekly 'Squeeze My Lemon' one-shots (my entry 'Pearls of Desire' is now posted here on my profile!), and also host the companion blog: www . dirtycheekymonkeys . blogspot . Com

Reviewers get teased... unless my beta gets back to me as fast as she did this chapter, hehe.