A/N – Thanks again for your continued reviews, I enjoy reading what you all have to say.
Just a side note to Brokenvoice; your last Chapter was inspiring; well done!
Chapter 52 - Retribution
Alice's POV
I held on to Bella tightly, my arms securing her like a protective cocoon.
Charlie had poked his head around the door to check on Bella moments earlier, as I slipped beneath the covers. I had known he wouldn't venture inside the room, and it was too dark for him too catch a glimpse of me. Even for that split second, I disliked loosening my hold of her. Now he was gone, I resumed my previous position as Bella sighed and nestled closer to me.
I could have lost her, today.
Lost her to him...
Reuben.
I closed my eyes, and waited patiently...
But nothing came.
No vision to warn me what his next step would be.
No vision to show me exactly where he was, now.
No vision to tell me what is intentions were, towards us... towards Bella.
Intentions…
What exactly were my intentions towards Bella? I was ardently in love with her…without her I was incomplete, an empty shell… my feelings for her were perennial, amaranthine, unending… but unlike my feelings, Bella's life was not incessant and immortal.
One day I would lose her… unless she became a vampire like me.
She had given herself to me, so freely, in our lovemaking… would she be as trusting if she knew the thoughts I concealed?
If she asked you to turn her, you know you would…
I felt myself jump slightly as my inner voice broke into my thoughts.
"I would" I whispered… to Bella, even though she was asleep. To my inner voice, even though it knew my response already and finally to me…
I would.
My fingers ran slowly down Bella's back as she brought her arm up, resting her hand on my shoulder. On the underside of that arm, the initial R was etched...
Reuben.
The malice I felt towards him was like no feeling I had ever experienced before.
I despised his existence and what he did to Bella...
I had promised her that I wouldn't go searching for him, but I was torn. I hated the thought of breaking that promise, but at the same time I couldn't forget what had happened, couldn't forget what could have happened.
If I had lost Bella today, I wouldn't have hesitated.
I would have examined and explored every inch of the woods until I uncovered him.
And when I found him, I wouldn't have given him the chance to tell me what his motives were, no questions would have left my lips, and no scrutiny would have taken place.
As the sunlight penetrated through the branches from above, I would have deprived him of his existence. Extinguished his life slowly, causing as much distress as I could.
I would have looked deep into those eyes as I inflicted my punishment.
He was my enemy, my target, and I would have executed him…
A small stone hit the window, interrupting my thoughts.
Bella shifted in her sleep, as another stone came into contact with the glass.
Alert now, I knew who it was outside, and I knew they wanted me.... not Bella.
Moving slowly, I lifted myself from the bed as Bella's arms and legs stretched out involuntary.
I was dressed, and out of the window before Bella could take another breath.
Jake was standing below the window as I silently landed on the mossy ground next to him.
"Jake" I whispered.
Even in the dark, I knew who it was. I could sense him without even looking in his direction.
"Alice" he replied, as he glanced up to Bella's window.
"She's asleep" I answered, as Jake nodded.
"I needed to talk to you, it couldn't wait" he replied, and then paused.
"I knew you would be here" he continued, adding "How is she Alice?"
He sounded worried, as worried as I felt.
"She's unsettled by it all" I replied as Jake sighed.
I glanced back up at the open window, "I don't want to leave her alone for too long, if she wakes up to find me gone..."
Jake interrupted, "I know, she'd freak out... and I'm sorry for coming here so late, but you need to know that I've spoken to Sam again, and I've told him what happened"
He paused again, as I waited patiently for him to continue.
"And well…we're with you... all of you..." he replied.
I didn't expect that, and the tension I felt deep inside subsided a little.
"Thank you Jake, you're help is appreciated, please thank the others"
Jake nodded, "I will… I'll be honest, this is a first for… us… we don't normally make a pact with… your kind, but this is different".
"Yes, it is" I simply replied, adding "We don't exactly have experience ourselves when it comes to… shape-shifters…."
A small smile spread across Jake's face.
"Touché Alice" he retorted as the moon appeared from beneath a dark cloud, the silver glow bathing him.
"Tomorrow, after school... we need to meet, all of us"
I agreed.
"I'll text Bella, but…" his voice trailed off as he peered at me.
I waited as he stepped a little closer to me.
"I don't want her involved, Alice. That's why we… argued… earlier. I asked her to take a step back, visit her mum or something…."
I raised my eyebrows as the moon continued to bath light on us both.
"She didn't like the idea of leaving" I guessed, as Jake nodded.
"I admit… I maybe also suggested that she shouldn't be around you…"
I small growl escaped my lips.
"I'm sorry, I just want her to be safe, that's all" he finished, as he glanced back up at her room again.
Safe.
I knew he wanted the same thing as I did, knew he wanted her to be safe…
"I'm not leaving her side" I answered, as Jake looked back at me.
"And she refused to leave yours, so I guess we'll just have to make sure she's never alone" he replied.
She refused to leave me.
My Bella.
I found myself smiling as my eyes rested on the dark, purple bruise that was just below Jake's left eye.
He watched my gaze.
"Doesn't hurt one little bit" he continued, adding "now..."
And then he smiled and I found myself returning the favour.
"But at the time?" I asked, with a smirk on my face.
Jake rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay. At the time it hurt like hell"
I laughed; Jake was actually a nice guy when he wasn't trying to crack onto my girlfriend.
My Bella.
Before I could speak, Jake was backing away from me.
"Go to her, she needs you" he answered.
Without thinking, I was walking towards him with a determined look on my face.
Jake held up both hands, "Hey, steady on short stuff, the last time you did that I got thumped"
Jake had misunderstood my meaning, as I lent forward and held out my hand.
"Friends?" I asked, as Jake looked down at my outstretched hand.
His hand was soon in mine as he gave it a firm shake.
"Friends" he answered, adding "But I'm not sure I can do this whole hand shake with your brother, not after the juicy bone comment"
I smiled as I turned and started to walk away.
Jake and Emmet actually had a lot in common.
Jake continued, "We're all out, tonight. We haven't come across... him... but we'll stay in the area to make sure"
I turned to face him, "Thank you Jake, I know how much you care about Bella… I'll tell her when she awakens about tonight".
As I jumped onto the lower branch of the tree that was outside Bella's bedroom window, I could hear his response as he darted off back into the woods.
"Anytime Short Stuff"
Short stuff? I really, really hoped he didn't call me that in front of Emmet.
As I climbed back into Bella's room I noticed she had turned over in her sleep. I embraced her sleeping form from behind, as my nose lent against her velvet hair.
"Alice" she murmured as I wrapped my arm around her waist.
"I'm right here my love" I answered, as Bella stretched out her arm.
I immediately saw it.
The mark.
'R'
R for Retribution.
