The Painter

By: Everleigh Allen

Chapter 31

"When you are calm and centered inside, noise is musical, clouds are magical...rain is liquid love..."

~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

~O~

There was a tree that no one wanted to see, except Bella.

The gnarly branches were twisted and reaching for the sky, but they never quite touched it. The leaves departed too soon with the frigid breeze as the dark clouds rolled in.

The grass below thrived in the misty shade. Their long, vibrant strands danced in the breeze, waving at the bees and butterflies before they went on their way.

Deep, thick, healthy roots the rutted and locked her tree into the soft brown earth. Bella sat at the base of the thick, wooded roots not wanting to crush the vibrant emerald moss as she sketched the world around her. Half of her face was tucked into the grey sweatshirt as her hand moved across the paper, trying to capture it all.

Bella had a long day at school alone. She looked everywhere for any of the Cullen's before one kind girl told her that since it was sunny outside the Cullen's wouldn't be able to make it until lunch time. Bella could finally breathe a sigh of relief when she saw Alice walk in the room, followed close by Edward. But he was tense and that instantly put her on edge.

They left her at her house later that afternoon, promising to be over later as Alice didn't see anything untoward happening.

It was of little comfort.

Bella smudged the azure sky with her pastels, adding cobalt to the edges and ominous charcoal clouds lingering just behind the trees.

Looking up to see the branches; dozens of strong arms outstretched and waiting as wispy twigs waving at her like fingers.

Bella couldn't help but giggle.

This tree was hers.

It always has been.

Different than all others, with bark peeling and scattering the ground; it understood her.

"Hmm, I like different," she thought with a smile. But when there was the snap of twigs close by, Bella was instantly on alert.

"Who's there?" She called out. She looked for an animal or bird since she knew it couldn't be Edward.

"Hello?" She called to the tree line, stumbling to stand as she holds the tree trunk for support.

But there wasn't an answer.

A rumbling growl is heard in the distance and a wolf's wailing call somehow made her relax. Her shoulders fell with the release of stress as she stands straighter. Bella's eyes scan the trees before she turned to walk into her house.

But with a large gust of wind, she didn't make it inside.

…

"Well?" Aro sneered looking at the blond vampire before him.

Demetri was a tracker and he had been sent to see if their missing good death vampire Alec, was still gone.

Aro suspected that Demetri was hiding something from him about Alec's whereabouts and he was itching to rip his hand off to see where he could've gone. But he was restraining himself… barely. Heidi had often informed him of their friendship but she downplayed any strong bonds that were formed based on her friend's wishes. Aro was annoyed. He knew that friendship couldn't sustain self-preservation and he knew all vampires and humans alike would rather choose someone else to die, rather than themselves. Demetri would be no different. He wouldn't save Alec if he had to save himself.

The only binds that were enforced and reinforced were Heidi's doing and she bound them all to Aro.

"He hasn't yet been tracked down," he shrugged holding out his hand.

Aro snatched it up and watched while Demetri's memories sifted through his mind. But there wasn't anything about Alec.

It was most troubling.

"Jane," Aro hissed as the evil little teenage girl moved forward.

Her hair was pinned back, eyes wide yet glowing redder than anyone else's ever did. It was if her eyes were the windows to Hell, and the devil herself was inside.

Jane wore Mary Jane Doctor Martin's over her white tights and a plain black and grey skirt under her heavy robes, but if it wasn't the little golden crest amulet around her neck you would never know she wasn't the ruler, but the guard.

.

Instead of a fantasy inducing school girl type, she was a nightmare.

She could easily take over this whole castle in mere moments if she wanted to but only if Chelsea released her binding, demolished Corin's gift of complacency with the Volturi and Renata, Aro's his bodyguard for one mere moment.

"He hasn't contacted me, Master," she said apathetically as if her words didn't really matter. She guessed at what Aro was wondering and based on how his face pinched when he looked at her, he tended to believe her.

He wasn't about to get close enough to the girl and wouldn't ever consider touching her hand.

But the threat of her gift and her eyes weren't the only thing threatening about Jane. It was her singsong voice that was wretchedly mono-toned which set everyone on edge, even Aro.

"How could he have just disappeared?" Aro seethed, turning from Jane to Chelsea, Corin, and Renata. They all remained impassive.

Aro released Demetri's hand before he quickly moved back to the safety of his throne.

"We can continue to search for him, my lord," Demetri said quietly. "Open the parameters and send a larger group to search those areas," He was not very interested in finding his friend although he did wonder if he was content.

"No," He hissed, "Perhaps we can search for him in more technological ways, first. Until then we will anticipate his swift return." He didn't want to risk any others suddenly leaving his command on a whim like Alec.

Jane nodded before she moved back into her usual spot off to the side of the three Volturi kings, getting a side eye from Caius. She pulled out her phone and started to see if there was an electrical trail Alec was leaving.

Aro turned his attention to Felix who stood as if he was a marble statue trying to blend into the background. "Felix! What about the Cullen's?" He glared at the large vampire as he moved in front of him.

"I watched them for a while. Carlisle was visiting with a human girl who had fainted. Edward seemed to know her from his high school. There wasn't any trace of Alec anywhere in Forks or the surrounding areas."

"And you weren't dressed in robes?"

"No, I was dressed in the nomadic attire as instructed, my lord."

"He's hiding well, it seems," Aro mused, "He doesn't seem to want to be found."

Felix didn't respond and tried to divert Aro's attention. "There was another situation that will need future monitoring."

Aro gestured for Felix to continue.

"Several women seem to have come up missing in a nearby town, Port Angeles, and a nomadic male tracker was hanging around the Cullen house, around the same time."

"The Cullen's seem very popular as of late," Aro sneered.

"Humans? Or are they newborn vampires?" Caius finally piped up.

"I didn't see them so I cannot be sure," Felix said. "I could go and take a closer look. I think it was a tracker. He was sniffing the air especially when the little psychic vampire came into view."

Felix sounded as if he was grasping at straws, but he couldn't care. At this point he just wanted out of the castle just like Alec.

He gave a slight look to Demetri and stifled a grin.

Marcus suddenly sat straighter in his chair, eying the two guards before him with interest, but he didn't say anything.

"And?" Caius bit out.

"I believe the tracker was casing the house. There seemed to be new blood all over him, but it was entirely possible that he had taken a mate or fed recently."

"Perhaps Felix could accompany me to Washington?" Demetri asked Aro.

"And leave us unprotected?" Caius sneered, as Marcus rolled his eyes and sat back in his throne.

Felix stood strong, waiting for Aro to answer and ignoring Caius.

"Jane could remain here for your protection," Demetri smiled, giving Jane a wink.

She smirked, but eyes lidded with an unsettling expanse of lust.

Demetri knew she had somewhat of a crush.

"Fine, yes, go and see what you can find out," Aro waved his hand, dismissing two more of his guards.

…

Alice gasped; hands clenched tight, "Bella!"

The vision played out instantly in Edward's mind.

Bella sitting outside her home with her oil pastels on her lap.

Bella watching the clouds roll in so she could put them onto paper.

Bella looking up at the tree looming above her, eyes dancing over the vastness of the branches.

A snapping noise within the trees.

A growl somewhere in the forest.

Bella moving quickly toward her house.

"How long?" Edward seethed.

"Minutes from now," Alice looked grave for a moment before she snapped out of it and reached for door. She and Edward ran out of the house, followed by the Jasper, Rose and Emmett. Esme stayed behind to call Carlisle home.

.

A/N: Stopping here.. So who took her? Did Edward get there on time? The Volturi guards, Alec, or the nomad?
We shall find out soon!
Thank you for reading and reviewing.