A/N: Sorry everyone that it has taken time to post a new chapter. Last week was hell between getting bronchitis and my computer got a worm. My lil sis is a tech person and is fixing it, but it was a bigger job than she thought, so I am still without a computer. I have a tablet, but most of my stories on FF i keep on a flash drive and my chapters were half way done. I thought about holding off until I got my computer back, but didn't like doing that; so everything is being rewritten. Bear with me as I type out my chapters again. Good news is, I should have the computer back by this weekend which means it will be easier to work on my FF and my novel. LOL. Sorry that this chapter is a bit short. I promise to make the next one longer. Enjoy!

PS... I wasn't really planning on Jane finding someone, but if you want, I can work it out. :D Should Jane find her mate?

Chapter 50 - The Time Draws Near

Edward knew the general direction and area in which he was supposed to find his ex and his now enemy, but that left a large area to cover. How was he supposed to find three vampires who want to stay hidden in an area that encompassed the northern part of the United States? Taking in an unnecessary breath, he stopped and tried to clear his mind. He heard the small contingent of men stop with him. It was only about 10 other vampires, but with the fact they would have 11 against 3, and one of the three was a newborn, Edward had no doubt that they would win the battle and that Bella would be his once again. It was only a matter of time now.

Smiling as his thoughts turned to what was coming, Edward let a shudder run through his body. Carlisle would say that he was betraying the family, but he wasn't. Jasper did that first when he and Alice took Bella from him, and now they would both pay for it. It might be the coward's way, but what the others with him didn't know... he fully intended to grab Bella and leave them to fight the battle. Jasper was skilled and Edward couldn't risk losing his life before he got his mate back; for he firmly believed that everyone was wrong and Bella was he one true mate. There was no way she was Jasper's. The southern vampire had to be playing her and Alice was somehow involved... how though? A threesome? Were they manipulating her for their own personal gratification? They were more warped than he once believed.

He always found it a bit odd that they just appeared out of seemingly thin air. Carlisle had accepted the couple without batting an eye, and the others followed suit. There was something strange about Jasper though, and Edward was convinced that there was no way someone could live through what he had without losing a marble or two. The torture he underwent with Jasper was just one example of how the other man had become a sadist; which meant the sooner he got Bella away from Alice and Jasper the better for her mind because it was only a matter of time before he corrupted her as well. Alice was too far gone and would have to lose her head, but he would save Bella... he was just that benevolent. Oh how he wanted to see those two torn apart and burned for their crimes against him, but he just couldn't take the chance; at least not first person he couldn't. He could and would tap into the other men's heads and watch everything unfold there.

"What do you feel or hear Edward?" Raver questioned. He had learned long ago to be able to block his thoughts from vampires like the young pup supposedly leading them, and sneered. Edward had no idea what was coming his way. Actually no one with them knew what was coming. It was only a few select guards that knew the whole plan, or as much as Alexias was willing to divulge. They had been looking high and low for Bella, and it appeared that they were no closer to her location than when they left home base; he was beginning to think that killing Edward now was a better choice than waiting.

Shaking his head free from his thoughts, Edward chuckled, "Nothing, but I have this feeling that we are getting closer." It wasn't a lie... it was actually true. They had just crossed the Maine border and it felt like there was a pull or something calling him.

Raver snorted and mumbled under his breath, "Well, well, it appears the spell really is working. Would have been better if it would have given us an exact location, but I guess we can't expect much from an apprentice witch."

"What was that?" Edward queried.

"Nothing, I was just saying that it feels good to be close to our goal, my friend," the older vampire smiled and placed his hand on Edward's shoulder giving him an encouraging squeeze, "The sooner we find Bella, the sooner we can bind you two forever."

"Raver? Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course you can. We have no secrets here; you can ask me anything you want to."

There was something in the smile and countenance of the other man that made Edward wary of Raver sometimes. When he tried to read Raver's mind, he would get images or blankness; he never got what he did with others, and that made him wonder what was really going on sometimes, "Why can Alexias not leave?"

"Ah, he was trapped there by a witch, but it is about time for his imprisonment to come to an end."

"How?"

Smirking, Raver answered smoothly, "Oh, it was only supposed to be for a set period of time. Now that time is coming to a close and Alexias will be freed. When that happens, he will take care of Caius and the rest of the Volturi so that you can be with your love throughout eternity without anyone trying to harm her. He wan't to protect what was left by Livana."

"He must have loved her very much."

"I wasn't there when they were together, since that happened so long ago, but I believe he did. Caius on the other hand didn't give two shits about his sister or her offspring. I think it is more than apparent now since he wants to see Bella dead instead of embracing his beloved family."

"So he is helping me to protect her?"

"Exactly," Raver lied without batting an eyelash, "No one should be separated from the one that he loves because of a power hungry monster like Caius and the rest of the Volturi."

Edward nodded in agreement, "They don't care who they trample on as long as they get what they want in the end."

"Sadly, that is true. I have seen it with my own eyes. Now, come on, let's find your mate and reunite you together."

Taking in another deep breath, Edward released it slowly and nodded. It was time to find Bella and convince her that they belonged together. If she couldn't be convinced here, she could be convinced elsewhere. He would convince her and he would take her to Alexias. If he sampled her before they were joined, it was that much better.

Elsewhere in Maine...

Jane walked alongside her brother alone. She was still having a hard time reconciling the fact that he was mated and no longer belonged to only her. It was a bitter and hard pill to swallow, and what made it worse was that Alice Cullen was her new sister-in-law. It sounded like a sick joke, but it wasn't. Bringing the point further home, that morning the rest of the Cullen's and part of the Denali had arrived in Maine. Jasper was gathering his forces, and now her brother was part of this family. Where did that leave her though?

"I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner, sister," Alec apologized again. As much as he loved his sister, he hadn't told her because he was afraid of the risk to his mate.

Shaking her head, Jane scoffed, "You should have, but I should have known when I found the picture."

"You are going to help them, are you not?"

"We both are. It may be the only way to get Bella to Volterra and Caius."

"Are you planning on handing her over? I thought you said we would protect her," Alec claimed indignantly.

"We will. Are you... are you sure about all of this Alec?"

Alec stopped and faced his sister. Holding one hand, he lifted the other to her cheek and cupped it, "I love her. She is my mate and my life, but you are still my sister and I can't live without both of you in my life; however, don't make me choose. This is what is right. Chelsea's power has been weakening; now is the time to do what we must, and not only what we are told to do."

"Ok, but I only do this for you brother. I don't pretend to understand everything that is going on, and it appears we have been placed in the middle of something much greater than us, but we will fight it together."

"Tonight it is then," Alec whispered looking up at the afternoon sun.

Nodding, Jane agreed, "Tonight."