They spent nearly two full days pouring over as much information as they could get their hands on.
Both James and Victoria had small folders. Their formal integration date, their identification numbers, their 'residences' over time. They were present for far more census counts than Alice had imagined they'd be. Especially after speaking with Laurent only a few days prior. She thought that more would be marked down, but Jasper lead her away from their folders after a little while.
"Just because it contradicts Laurent's story doesn't mean he's lying." He informed her as he neatly placed all the papers back into each of the fugitive's folders. "Fraud and bribes do happen."
Alice had crossed her arms as she followed Jasper closely while he returned the folders to their original part of the library. "James doesn't strike me as the type to have money to throw around."
"Yes, but threats work just as well sometimes." Jasper turned and raised an eyebrow. "If James' name holds as much power in underground spaces as we're being led to believe, I'm sure even getting the resources to fake his presence in census counts isn't very hard for him."
Alice was at a loss. "I can't believe all of this stuff just… happens!"
Jasper half-shrugged. "Humans aren't the only ones who commit crimes."
"I know that but this is all just… so intricate and wide-spread. I can't wrap my head around it."
"Vampires existed for millennia without humans knowing. There are bound to be vast leftover underground markets and operations for illegal 'business'. After all, what these people are doing now wasn't illegal two hundred years ago. Even when I was young, even though the southern wars weren't exactly 'allowed', killing discriminately was fine. Necessary, even."
"So, I guess it only makes sense then," Alice frowned, hating the idea of killing humans to live. "I don't like it."
Jasper reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand, smiling. "It's a good thing this is the version of our world you we're born into." He brushed a thumb over her cheek and Alice leaned into his touch.
"I guess." Still, she found herself wondering what she had thought of vampires as a human girl.
If Cynthia's opinions—or choice in husbands—had been any indicator on the way she was raised, then Alice wasn't sure she really wanted to know. The idea of herself, young and human and impressionable, being staunchly anti-vampire made Alice feel a disconnect in her head. Even imagining that little girl from all of those old photos, feeling fury or hatred toward an entire group of people, made her feel as if she truly were an entirely different person now.
And that wasn't just because she was a vampire now.
(Maybe it was the whole amnesia thing.)
For the most part, Alice spent those two days memorizing countless maps. The library contained more than Alice could have ever fathomed, and for hours and hours Jasper sat with her, carefully laying out maps and glossaries and going over things like 'the way cardinal directions have an effect on our ability to orient ourselves' and the importance of learning how to tell time by just the sun's placement alone.
Lessons that she paid attention to raptly, knowing that being able to know all of this would not only help her decipher her own visions in the future, but it would be vital in tracking down both James and Victoria.
"I don't get it," Alice snapped, angry suddenly. She'd been closing her eyes and focusing, trying hard to get a good grasp on either James or Victoria. "It's like the harder I look, the harder they are to see."
"That is interesting," Jasper hummed, moving from the desk across the room to sit at her side. Reaching out he rubbed soothing circles against her back. "Do you want to take a break?"
"Absolutely not," she shook her head, hating how useless she felt. "I want to find them."
Just the night before, in the midst of news publications attempting to figure out the story as to 'What Happened In Winnipeg?' the information that Jasper was now officially off probation and on the case was finally released, and unfortunately the public's opinion on that wasn't as mixed as Alice hoped it would be.
Instead, people were furious.
Even as Jasper let her read the news articles and headlines off of his phone, he remained rather calm about it all. Even when she spoke the words 'A petition with nearly 49 thousand signatures is calling for [his] removal' he simply shrugged at her look of increased panic.
"We knew this would happen." Was all that he would say. And despite knowing that he was right, the information that the general public was angry at Jasper's involvement in tracking James and Victoria down was still at the forefront of her mind.
"I need to find them," she amended her words, and then closed her eyes and focused. When she finally caught some glimpses, she sat upright and gasped. "Yes!"
"What?" And Jasper's hand stilled as he leaned forward, eyes wide.
"They're by the coast, I think." She paused and replayed the vision in her head a few times. It was just a few flickers, but the deep blue waters were unmistakable. That was an ocean, and they were by the coast. "Or, at least James is," she spoke with more hesitancy. She could see James, barefoot and running, but she couldn't spot Victoria. "Maybe that's what it is."
"We did think that Victoria's ability could make her harder to follow. This might confirm that."
"Did they split up, then?" After all, it would make sense as to why she'd caught even a flicker of James. But even still, his future wasn't coming to her any easier now.
"Or she's just a little further away in that one. Keep at it. But help me out, describe what you saw."
Over the course of the next several minutes, Alice described the vision in vivid detail. From the sun's placement in the sky, down to the angle that the rays reflected against the surf, and the direction that the wind appeared to be blowing in.
Eventually, Alice went to her bag and dug her tiny sketchbook out of it, trying to sketch out the entire vision, frame by frame. It took nearly an hour, but eventually they had a physical copy of the vision, too, and Jasper's certainty that they were on the pacific coast solidified itself more and more as time passed.
"Could they be near us?" Alice asked, concerned.
"No," he shook his head. "Alaskan coastline doesn't look anything like this. This looks closer to something you might see in certain places in California."
"They're moving north," Alice commented, frowning. "Could they be heading this way?"
After all, James was a tracker. And if he were as good as Laurent claimed, it would only make sense that James was heading their way.
"Should we go to California?" She asked, not willing to let her mind pause.
It only made sense to go directly toward them. Alice knew that she'd proved her fighting ability back in the fall, with the efficiency she displayed in protecting herself and with being the one to take Maria out, after all these years. For Jasper to be weary of Alice's ability to protect herself would be an unfounded and, frankly, ridiculous fear.
After all, she'd survived facing him…
Something that thousands and thousands of others couldn't claim.
"I don't know," he replied honestly, eyes still trailing along a map of the California coastline. "I don't feel good going after our first clue. It's too early."
Alice wanted to argue, but knew he was right. "I know," she sighed. "I just want this over soon."
"I do, too." And Alice knew that he meant it just as much as she did. Perhaps even more, with his reputation on the line. "Come on, lets start putting everything back."
A vision shocked Alice, then. "We're leaving?"
Jasper nodded as he carefully folded maps and laid them to the side. "If he in on our trail, this will be the perfect way to see it. If we move and the vision changes, it will mean he's onto us."
"And it'll make it easier to control where he goes next…"
He smiled at her, pleased that she was following along with the plan he was only just starting to form in his head. "Yes, exactly. And if we can control where it happens it'll make it easier for us to ambush him."
"Laurent said not to underestimate him," Alice warned, despite feeling excitement over their plans begin to build.
"Laurent doesn't know not to underestimate you," Jasper shot her a pointed look as he gathered up the papers in his arms.
Alice leaned forward and grabbed some. "He might," she half-shrugged. "I can't imagine that Irina would hide that information from him."
"She should," he grumbled, and Alice could tell that he knew she had a point.
"Garrett knows." She supplied, as if that made it better.
"Garrett saw you have visions in Manhattan."
"Lots of people did," her voice was chipper as she followed him where he returned folders and files and maps.
He only sighed, and Alice could tell that he wasn't about to reply to that comment.
"I think we'll be okay." Then, her mind wandered toward their visitors. "I do wonder…"
When she finally looked back up, she saw Jasper staring at her with a curious gaze. When he stepped closer to her, he reached out, placing a hand against her cheek once more. He must have been sensing her sudden unease.
"I'm worried about Aro's involvement."
To his credit, Jasper didn't say 'I told you so'. Instead he nodded, humming lightly. "How so?"
"If this Demetri is as good of a tracker as you say he is, then why haven't Aro and his group tracked James or Victoria down yet?"
Pulling forth a vision of the ancient Aro was easy now. Aro was still with Carlisle and Esme, standing eerily at Carlisle's side as they spoke with a group of Lieutenants in what looked like Manhattan. Demetri was with Felix, and the pair looked bored. Irritated, even. Felix stood against a doorway, scrolling on a phone absentmindedly while Demetri was standing ramrod straight. Alice couldn't quite see what the pair were staring at, but she somehow knew that they weren't far from where Aro and Carlisle were.
"I don't know," Jasper spoke honestly, brushing a thumb against her cheek.
The entire reason Alice had decided to tell Esme that she was okay with the European Protectors helping was because she thought it may speed the process of finding them up. After all, if her suspicions were true and the old Volturi were truly up to no good, it was the entire cause of James and Victoria's escape.
It wasn't something they had any evidence of, but Alice knew it was likely. Terrifyingly so.
And with the supposed 'world-class tracker' amongst them, James very likely could have been found by now. But for some reason instead of being on the chase, Aro and his group were standing by idly, helping Carlisle and Esme do political damage control.
It didn't make any sense.
Jasper pressed a kiss against her forehead before pulling back. "It's okay. We'll figure this out."
"That's what scares me."
Jasper didn't answer that thought.
They spent another few hours in Denali, giving Alice a small amount of time to talk with Eleazar and Carmen a little more. Tanya floated in and out of the rooms, letting the couple play host while she worked around them. And eventually Kate and Garrett were there, preparing themselves to drive Alice and Jasper to the airport where they would then take off for Arizona that night.
Alice didn't comment on how she didn't see Irina and Laurent before they left, but she tried not to take it personally.
She was a little sad to be leaving Denali. And as Garrett's laughter filled the car as they drove, she knew that once things were settled again—whether it took six more months or six more years—she wanted to spend more time up here with the council members.
Alice found herself existing in a warm contentment as they embarked on the long drive to the airport, Jasper's solid presence at her side comforting her in a new way.
She didn't want to credit it to the sex, but she had to be honest with herself: there was more of a comfortable closeness between them now. And it could have been a testament to his own trust in these people, but Jasper had never been too big on public displays of affection. Nothing beyond simple hand-holding.
But even now, as conversation flowed easily between himself and Kate and Garrett, he kept his fingers laced between hers, his thumb rubbing constant soothing circles on the back of her hand. He'd occasionally pull her hand up to kiss it, and his willingness to be so physically close to her around other people was almost distracting.
Closing her eyes, Alice laid her head against his shoulder, and when he shuffled a bit, lifting his arm to throw over her shoulders and hold her closely to his side, Alice let out a content sigh.
It was the vision that came to her then that put an abrupt end to her bliss.
For several seconds, all Alice could see was a dark kitchen. Then, a familiar blue backsplash behind the sink was suddenly illuminated, a light flicked on as the sound of slippers padding across the tile echoed through the kitchen.
Cynthia's glasses were low on her nose as she filled a glass with water, her greying hair tied in a low ponytail at her neck. Under her arm, a book with a bright red cover.
Alice wanted to scream as the shadow snuck up behind Cynthia, and instantly—even though the vision didn't show her his face clearly enough—Alice knew it was him.
James.
But he didn't strike. He simply crept up behind her and watched as she pressed the glass to her lips and tilted it upward, drinking quickly. As she lowered the glass, she extended her arm to place it in the sink.
It was there that she saw it reflected in the glass: a dark, looming figure standing behind her.
With a gasp, she jumped, dropping the glass in the sink and shattering it loudly. By the time she turned around, James had already reached out and grabbed her by the upper arm, holding her in place as she struggled to back away.
It didn't take long for Cynthia to gather the breath to scream, but when she did, the noise was cut off as James placed a quick palm against her mouth, sending the scene back into an eerie silence.
"By all means, scream again," he spoke quietly, then paused as he listened for something. Then, a few seconds later, "I'll snap your neck right here."
Tears sprung to Cynthia's eyes quickly, and when they poured over, wetting James' hand, he leaned closer, inhaling deeply once he was inches from her face.
"Not as good," he hummed, a sadistic smile on his face. "But it'll do."
By the time Alice was back in the present the car was a whirlwind of noise.
"Alice, Alice, it's okay," Jasper spoke lowly into her ear, his hand rubbing her arm firmly, as if to bring her back into the present. "Just breathe, it's okay."
She could just barely hear Kate and Garrett bickering with each other over the sound of Jasper's soft words.
"She's not going to puke."
"Do you not remember what this girl is capable of? We're pulling over."
"Garrett, just keep driving."
"I got this reupholstered two weeks ago!"
Alice didn't even realize that she was shaking until Jasper's opposite hand reached forward and grabbed both of hers tightly. "It's alright, Alice. You're safe. What's wrong? What did you see?"
But Alice couldn't even find the words to say.
Her sister.
How the fuck had she forgotten about her damn sister?
And alongside the fear, the guilt was quick to overpower her, and Alice was afraid she would start hyperventilating.
In the rush to get Josie a security detail, Alice had someone forgotten all about her real family. She thought about her sister. Her niece and nephews. Even her god-awful brother-in-law. None of them deserved to be a target anymore than her adoptive mother did. But Alice hadn't given them a thought.
Had they seen the headlines? Did they know about the events in Winnipeg? Did they have any suspicion that Alice was involved? Did they ever think that something like this might happen? That involvement with Alice would put a target on their backs?
Another quick vision fell upon her. It was flickers and glimpses now.
A warehouse. A cell phone. Cynthia, unconscious but alive. And James and Victoria waiting for something. For someone…
"No," Alice choked the word out, before forcing herself back into petrified silence.
No. No, she couldn't give away what she'd seen. Because in that instant Alice knew that if they all went to rescue Cynthia, she would end up dead. Alice flickered through vision after vision as fast as she could, willing her mind to come up with a solution despite the acute fear that was still ravaging her.
A part of her wanted to rejoin the present even to simply push Jasper away. She knew she had to be hurting him right now. But Alice could just barely feel how Jasper tightened his hold on her, calmly speaking to her as she shook, visions coming and coming with no end in sight.
Laurent was right. James was smarter than they had given him credit for.
Because James had her sister. And James would kill Cynthia if Alice didn't come to get her.
"Alone," she can hear his voice through a phone, and her future-self nods despite the man not seeing her. "You come alone, or she suffers a death you can't even imagine."
When Alice finally inhaled deeply, sitting up straight, and finally with enough sense in her body to grip Jasper's hand back, she turned toward him, knowing that not only could he sense her terror, but he could see it on her face.
Then, the lies began.
"Josie," Alice's voice cracked.
Jasper's eyes widened, and that's when Alice realized the car was parked, and the door closest to her was opened, Kate standing in the snow, nervously glancing at the pair.
"Is she…" Jasper swallowed thickly.
Alice shook her head, and gripped his hand harder. "She's okay right now but—but I think she—a heart attack? Maybe? I don't know!" And when her voice grew hysterical, Jasper pulled her close against him, swearing under his breath.
"Her mom?" She heard Garrett ask quietly, and then she felt Jasper nod.
"It's okay," he soothed, "I'll call her detail up now, get a doctor sent to the house. Do you know how much time we have?"
Alice choked back a sob as she shook her head. Her fear and guilt were going to sell this for her, and Alice couldn't even bring herself to be relieved. After all, a life was still on the line. "I have to go home," she cried. "I have to go, now."
"Okay," he nodded, and this close to him, Alice could sense his unease. Now that they'd begun to work together on this case, he didn't want to be apart from her. Thankfully, Alice could see that it was only a personal want, and not something that was fully necessary.
After all, he'd wanted her to stay at home in the first place so she could remain out of the action, and stay safe.
Funny how things were now unfolding…
When Kate was back in the car, Garrett started the engine back up and brought it back onto the road. If he was driving a little faster than before, Alice couldn't be entirely sure.
"I'm sorry," Alice breathed against his chest from where her arms were wrapped tightly around him. "I—I don't want to be away from her in case… if I have to say goodbye, I—"
She shook her head fiercely, hating the very idea of her mother's health being poor. For a split-second she prayed to whatever karmic gods were out there that she wouldn't be punished for this lie. Truthfully, Josie was sitting at the kitchen table, playing poker with a handful of her security detail, laughing through lips stained red from a glass of wine.
Jasper was quickly sending both emails and texts with his left hand, his right arm holding her closely to him. He was instructing the head of security for Josie's team to move and act with caution and discretion, but that medical personnel would be necessary to have on standby. Perhaps outside of the house, where the woman wouldn't see and grow concerned or anxious.
He didn't inform them that Alice would be joining them. After all, she knew they needed to keep where they were secret for as long as James and Victoria were still at large.
"I need a direct flight," Alice spoke after a couple of minutes of silence. This, what she was about to do right now, would be the hardest part of her plan. "I can't fly out of Fairbanks." She finally turned her head up to look at Jasper. "It has to be Anchorage."
"It'll take an extra few hours," Garrett commented, and Alice met his eyes in the rearview mirror. "It might be best to just do a connecting flight through Fairbanks."
"No," Alice shook her head. "I can't—I have to do it through Anchorage." She forced an unrelated vision through her mind, so that Jasper would think she was searching up that choice. Instead, a vision of Rosalie wiping off that day's makeup came and went. "The flight times won't add up. It'll save me time in the long run. I—" Alice swallowed, her voice beginning to shake again. "I have to get home."
She didn't care that she looked and sounded childish with her assertion. She had to get a flight to Alabama without Jasper hovering around her, and ensuring she got on a flight first. The only way to guarantee that was to fly out of a different airport.
"Can't we just run?" She asked, the desperation clear in her voice. "If we run to Anchorage International it'll be quicker right? Like, hours quicker?"
"Your clothes aren't exactly waterproof, Alice," Kate's words were kind, but Alice could tell the woman didn't exactly know how to provide easy comfort.
"I can drive fast," Garrett dismissed her idea. "It'll be fine. Besides. If anyone sees you running like a madwoman through the Alaskan wilderness it'll certainly be cause for concern." He met her eyes in the rearview mirror again. "You're a bit of a hot topic nowadays, Ms. Brandon. Perhaps try to avoid doing things that would cause panic amongst the general populace?"
Kate scolded him then, which sparked a small argument that Alice immediately tuned out as she turned her attention back to Jasper.
He was regarding her closely, his eyes never once leaving her face. "It's going to be okay," he nodded, holding her eyes with his. The intensity of his gaze unnerved Alice. And for a moment, she was afraid that he was going to see right through her. That he would know this was all a rouse, and that Josies' health wouldn't be taking a nosedive.
But instead he leaned forward and placed a small kiss against her lips.
"I'm sorry," she spoke quietly against his lips when they parted. With her eyes closed she inhaled deeply, trying to savor the time spent in close proximity to him like this. After all, after tomorrow, she wasn't entirely sure she would ever see him again.
That thought sent a new wave of grief through her, and the pain in her chest felt visceral.
She didn't see Jasper flinch, but she felt it as he stiffened at her side. "Do you want me to come with you?"
She was shaking her head before he could finish speaking. "No. No, I need you to find them," she spoke the words quietly, as if reluctant to let him go alone. "I need you to do what you said you needed to do."
"And when it's all over," he nodded, and when his fingers tilted her chin up, Alice forced her eyes to open. "Everything will be okay."
Alice didn't reply. Instead, she leaned in close and buried her face against his neck, shuddering as she realized that James could very well kill her when she got to him.
It was a thought she couldn't spare right now.
She only had a limited time left with Jasper now. And she would be damned if she didn't spend it thinking and focusing on how she loved him with every atom in her body.
They arrived at Fairbanks International Airport too soon.
Alice jumped out of the car after Jasper, waiting for him to put his backpack on before crashing into him, hugging him tightly and trying hard not to cry.
"I'm going to miss you," her voice was small as she spoke, not wanting any onlookers to glance too closely at the couple parting ways.
"Go home, be with Josie. Keep your phone charged and on you, and I'll keep you updated with anything Kayla says back in Ricketts."
Alice nodded. Jasper had already put the the number in Alice's phone, telling her that he'd already explained the situation to the head of Josie's security team, and that if anything happened, Kayla would call her first.
"Be safe, please," and suddenly Alice felt the need to beg. "Promise me, Jasper. Promise me you'll stay safe and you'll return home when everything is said and done."
Jasper pulled her back, lifting her chin with his fingertips, and smiling down at her. "I'll always come home to you." And in that moment, she felt it. The warmth of his love. The comfort of his trust in her and his confidence in his own ability. The familiarity of his gift was so appreciated in that moment as she stared up into his eyes gazing desperately.
Alice already had every facet of Jasper's appearance committed to memory. The way his hair fell in his face when he leaned down to meet her eyes, the twitch of his cheek when he was fighting a smile, the hairs missing from the scar that bisected his brow. It was all so familiar to her and so comforting in a way she never thought it would be.
After all, this was the face of the man she'd known from the start. The same man who she'd feared for decades. The man who she'd fallen in love with despite everything. The very man she would do absolutely anything for.
Suddenly, his understanding, loving expression was too much for her to bear.
Alice threw her arms around his neck, and when Jasper wrapped his arms tightly around her, straightening up so that her feet dangled in the air, she was so afraid she was going to start crying again. She didn't want to let go. She didn't want to go! Damn James to hell!
But as a flicker of a vision flashed through her mind—Her sister bound and gagged. Impatient red eyes. The blinking screen of a phone.—Alice knew she was out of time.
Alice kissed Jasper then. A passionate embrace where they stood at the departures section of the Fairbanks International Airport. They received more than a couple of looks then; only one of them with any hint of recognition in their gaze.
If Jasper was confused or caught off guard by the intensity of her kiss, he didn't comment on it. Instead, he slowly lowered her to the ground, waiting for her feet to be flat against the pavement, before breaking away from their kiss. "I'll see you soon."
"I love you," Alice spoke, her voice shaking with hardly-restrained tears. She knew she wouldn't be able to echo his sentiment. That this was all she could offer anymore. Her desperate love for him, bestowed in embraces and kisses and heart wrenching goodbyes. "I love you, so much."
Jasper smiled again, his eyes sad. Then, he leaned down and pressed one quick, final kiss to her lips. "I love you, too."
Then, he straightened up, waved toward Kate and Garrett, smiled back down toward Alice, and turned around, briskly walking across the crosswalk and into the automatic doors of the airport.
Alice returned to the car on shaking feet, slamming the door behind her as she focused on Jasper's immediate future. While Alice wouldn't be forced to endure any connecting flights, Jasper was about to deal with two. His plane would make a stop in Juneau, then Vancouver, then he'd arrive at his first destination in Portland.
A shimmery vision, one not entire set in stone, showed Jasper reuniting with Peter for a few days, and Alice—despite the overwhelming urge to break down in the back of Garrett's truck—felt relief overcome her with that fact.
By the time the news—of whatever on Earth was about to happen—struck him, hopefully he would be with Peter when it happened. After all, Peter was the closest thing to a brother that Jasper had in this world.
If anyone could prevent Jasper from doing anything foolish, it had to be Peter.
"You better buckle up, kiddo," Garrett called as they sped away from the airport and toward the main road. "We're making one stop at the gas station and then it's go-time." He sped the car up, the engine roaring as their speed increased, and shot her a grin in the rearview mirror. "We'll have you back in Pennsylvania before Jasper makes it to wherever the hell he's going."
"Oregon, then Arizona," Alice responded, her words feeling hollow now that she was slowly traveling farther and farther away from Jasper. It felt like she'd left a piece of her soul with him with that kiss.
It wasn't a major loss, she supposed. After all, she'd likely be dead soon. She had no need for it.
By the time Anchorage International Airport was in her sights in the distance, Alice's plan was already concocted. With her fingers tapping lightly against her knee, she kept her gaze locked on the tarmac, eyes trailing after a plane as it flew off into the night sky.
Alice wouldn't be seeing any sunlight until she was in the sky, thirty-seven thousand feet above the Rocky Mountains. And by then, Jasper's plane would be landing in Vancouver, where he'd be waiting two hours during his layover before finally making it to Portland.
He'd be landing an hour before Alice made it to Tuscaloosa. And by then, Alice's fate would be sealed.
Garrett stopped the car abruptly, pulling up to the curb to let Alice out.
"Be careful, pipsqueak," he called over his shoulder as he turned to watch her open the door.
"We'll keep you updated if we hear anything on our end about the case." Kate added, her tone a bit weary.
It probably didn't help that Alice hadn't been much of a conversationalist during their almost three-and-a-half hour drive down to the larger city. She'd only replied when spoken directly to, and sometimes not even then.
She had been far too wrapped up in her visions to be able to pay attention to the world around her. And after about an hour, the couple stopped trying to speak with her.
Despite her focus, Alice didn't miss the worried glance they shot one another after she ignored their last inquiry.
"Thank you," Alice turned, bag thrown over her shoulder, and met both of their gazes individually. It didn't feel appropriate to say goodbye to them like this. After all, they'd been nothing but kind and welcoming toward her, even when they'd met her last summer while she was nothing more than a single-minded wreck.
Funny how that's how they had met her and that was how they'd remember her now.
"Alice," Kate called as Alice hopped onto the sidewalk. "I hope everything turns out okay."
She knew Kate was talking about Josie, but for a moment, Alice pretended that she knew.
"Me too," and with half of a smile, Alice slammed the door behind her, making a bee-line for the doors.
"Poor kid," she heard Garrett mutter as the car drove away. "Hope her human pulls through."
Alice's mind went toward Josie—asleep in bed, snoring softly—and then toward Cynthia—somewhere dark and cold, awake and frightened—and her chest ached.
She purchased her flight with cash (she didn't need Jasper getting any notifications showing him her true destination) and was through security within minutes after arriving. She still had twenty minutes before her flight left, and knew that there was still one thing she had to do.
The airport was a ghost town at this hour. The human TSA agents and flight crews were lethargic, not sparing her a second glance, while Alice used small decisions here and there to avoid the more careful eyes of the vampire employees and travelers. They would be the ones that would be able to identify Alice from across the gate.
Five minutes before she was set to board, Alice made it to her destination. Locked away in a small, sound-proof space labeled 'Crying Room'—a place for mothers to go with their fussy babies, apparently—she retrieved her phone from her bag and quickly dialed a number that she thought she'd never type again.
Pressing the phone against her cheek, Alice held her breath and clenched her teeth, knowing what she was about to hear.
Alice swallowed hard, and forced herself to focus. After all, she still had a careful game to play. James didn't know that Alice knew. (James' original plan was to call Alice. After all, no one knew Cynthia was missing yet. No one would know until Tim would find the glass in the kitchen and Cynthia nowhere in sight. James was going to call Alice and strike up a deal. But that plan didn't fit for Alice's timeline. And Alice had to do things on her own time, or else Cynthia might not make it.)
The ringing on the other end cut off, and Alice heard a slight commotion on the other end.
"H-hello?" The shaking voice of her sister on the other end made Alice's stomach turn to stone. But of course. Alice wasn't supposed to know. She bit back her anger and started talking.
"Cynthia, hi. I hope I didn't wake you. God, sorry," Alice forced a laugh, "I forgot what time zone I was in. It must be what? Three? Four o'clock where you are?"
"I—I don't know," if James had threatened her into trying to play it cool, Cynthia was already doing poorly, and the sound of her fear made Alice's worry fully take over.
"Cynthia? Are you alright?" Because of course a vampire would be able to hear the shaking in her voice and the tears being barely kept at bay.
The sound of the receiver being covered made a static-like noise take hold, and then seconds later, Cynthia's voice was back. Stronger this time.
"Can you—sorry." She sniffled. "Do you mind going somewhere p-private? I don't want anyone overhearing my—listening to me cry." Cynthia pulled in a haggard breath and started coughing.
"I already am," Alice soothed. And in that moment she wished more than anything that she was already on her flight, and already in Alabama. That way, she could rip James' apart with her own two hands. "I'm alone, it's alright. What's going on?
The sound of James' voice sent fury coursing through her.
"Hello, Alice."
Alice paused, trying to give off the impression that she was taken off guard. "Wh—how—" Alice swallowed loudly. "Where is Cynthia?"
"Where are your manners?" He scolded, a grin in his voice. "She's with me, of course."
"How—what did you do to her?!" Alice knew that if she got any louder, there was a chance that someone could overhear.
"Best keep quiet, Ms. Brandon," James mocked. "Because if you don't do what I say, your poor sister will pay the price."
"Don't you dare touch a goddamn hair on her head," Alice threatened, her voice acidic as she spoke lowly into the receiver. "If you hurt my sister, nothing will save you."
Alice heard laughter in the background, and that's when she knew that Victoria was listening in.
"As if you'd be able to find us without our help," James laughed, his confidence ruling the conversation. "Which is why I'm glad you called. Saves me the time."
"What have you done with my sister?"
"Nothing yet." James clicked his tongue, as if bothered by her impatience. "And if you do as I say, I'll let her go."
"What's the catch?" She snapped. "What the hell do you want?"
"You."
Alice felt the venom freeze in her veins. She'd expected as much, but to hear it spoken out loud confirmed her fears.
"Why?"
"I think that's enough chat for now. I'll give you the address once you get in town. Come alone, and come soon, or your sister is good as dead." He chuckled to himself then. "We can talk specifics tomorrow."
He hung up before Alice could say anything further. It took all her restraint not to crush her phone in her grasp.
She forced herself to move after that, her motions robotic as she turned off her phone, placed it in her bag, and opened the door to the small soundproof room. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she walked slowly to her gate, making it just as the airline worker made a last call for her flight.
When she boarded the plane, a few flight attendants and passengers took double-takes, but other than that, she remained entirely unbothered for the entirety of the seven hour flight. Luck must have been on her side, too, since none of the tired passengers deemed her presence notable enough to text friends or talk on social media about.
Alice spent most of the flight with her eyes closed, and mind open. Rolling through her loved ones futures for what could have very well been the last time.
Josie slept, Emmett was driving somewhere, Bella was showering, and Rosalie was in the middle of a meeting, pausing occasionally to turn and glance in the corner of the room where Skye was sitting on the couch, an iPad in her hands, fully distracted.
Edward was with Carlisle and Esme, surprisingly. Alice watched in snippets and glances as he regarded Aro and his crew with cool, calculating glances. Always keeping his eyes on Aro's one ungloved hand any time it got too close to any of the Protectors.
Jasper was with Peter, glaring down at his phone as Peter drove the two of them back to a Center.
By the time the pilot came on the intercom and informed them that they would be landing within the next forty-five minutes, Alice's eyes were reopened and she was staring at the brightly lit morning sky out the window next to her.
Her last sunrise, if things went poorly.
Closing the cover to the window, Alice turned her head forward and stared at the headrest of the seat in front of her. Pushing her loved ones from her mind, Alice braced herself for what the day would bring.
And with visions of Cynthia in her mind, Alice focused hard on her sister. Knowing that if anyone was going to make it out of today alive, it would be her sister.
And if she was destined to end up dead today, hopefully she'd be able to take James, and Victoria, with her.
A/N: Sorry about the chapter delay. Saturday night while I was editing/zooming with friends I had a bit of an uh... medical emergency? Long story short: one ER trip, two sick days off of work, and at least a dozen phone calls to clinics and dentists around the LA area, yesterday I finally had the emergency root canal I was in desperate need of! Hooray!
Anyways, Scorpio season has already tried to kill me once, so needless to say I'm a little nervous for this upcoming month. Either way, time to face the chaos this season brings head-on. No running, no hiding...