TODAY'S QUOTE:

Mephobia: The fear of becoming so awesome that the human race can't handle it and everyone dies.

CHAPTER TWELVE:

"Are you alright?" Rosalie asked the second we entered the house. She pulled me over to the couch and sat down next to me on it.

"Yeah, I'm good," I said. "How come James want Bella's blood so bad?"

"Her blood is particularly divine."

I raised my eyebrow at her blunt and almost creepy answer. "Right. And we can't kill him because?"

"Carlisle doesn't feel it humane to kill."

I snorted. Wasn't that the whole point of being a vampire? And if you couldn't kill humans, than at least kill the vampires that did.

"James is a tracker," Emmett said, coming up behind Rosalie and kissing the top of her head. "He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His existence is consumed with tracking, and a challenge is all he asks of life. Suddenly we've presented him with a beautiful challenge — a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the one vulnerable element. And wouldn't it be the icing on the cake if he got you, too."

"I shouldn't feel jealous, but why is Bella suddenly so delicious?" It was a fair question. Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"We told you," she said. "Your blood smells like ash and fire. It's quite disgusting."

"Thanks."

"And you know, it makes vampires wary," Emmett added. "We don't like fire."

"Really?"

He frowned. "Don't sound so excited at that. You're not exactly frightening."

I bared my teeth at him, and he pretended to scream in an overly high-pitched tone.

I heard the Bella's truck rumble, and shot up, near running outside to get her.

"Oh thank goodness," she said to me, hugging me fiercely. I resisted pushing her off.

"Mmhm," I said. "I'm fine."

"Of course you are," she said. She released me and started looking me over carefully. I did the same. Her white skirt was muddy from when I pushed her over, and her face was a little swollen, but she was otherwise okay.

I knew I should apologise, but I didn't really feel comfortable doing that.

"What's he doing here?" Bella asked, looking over my shoulder. I turned around to find myself face to face with Laurent. Behind him was Esme and William, both in deep conversation.

"Great," I muttered.

"He's tracking us," Edward announced, glaring balefully at Laurent. I hadn't heard him come close, although I wasn't surprised Edward was sticking close to his mate.

Laurent's face was unhappy. "I was afraid of that."

Alice danced to Jasper's side and whispered in his ear; her lips quivered with the speed of her silent speech. They flew up the stairs together.

"What will he do?" Carlisle asked Laurent in chilling tones.

"I'm sorry," he answered. "I was afraid, when your boy there defended the brunette, that it would set him off."

"Can you stop him?"

Laurent shook his head. "Nothing stops James when he gets started."

"We'll stop him," Emmett promised.

"I'm helping," I said, crossing my arms.

"No!" Carlisle said, in an almost strangled shout. "You're not helping us kill James."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Carlisle, I am. You can't stop me."

He met my eyes, and I held back a shiver. They were black as night, and unblinking.

"What could you do?" William said, appearing in front of me.

"A lot more than people think," I sneered. "What could you do?"

"I happen to have a defensive shield against physical gifts."

I raised an eyebrow. That was actually pretty cool, and it kinda explained why Alice couldn't see him. I wondered if Jasper's gift would work on him, depending on if it was a mental change of emotion, or hormonal.

"It doesn't," Edward said to me. I glared at him.

"Morgana," Esme said, walking over and taking William's hand. "This is my mate."

"Great," I said testily. His eyes creeped me out. "Don't kill any humans and we won't have a problem."

"You can't actually expect me to stop, can you?"

"I can, and I do."

"Okay, this is not the most important issue here," she said, stepping in between us two. She kissed William's cheek lovingly, and I idly wondered how someone could fall so helplessly in love in a matter of seconds.

"It's the mate bond," Edward said simply, pulling Bella closer to him and holding her tightly.

'Edward, stop reading my goddamn mind."

Laurent shifted uncomfortably in his spot. "You can't bring him down. I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. He's absolutely lethal. That's why I joined his coven."

His coven.

The show of leadership in the clearing was merely that, a show. Laurent was shaking his head. He glanced at Bella, then me, perplexed, and back to Carlisle.

"Are you sure the human is worth it?" Laurent asked.

"'The human'?" I scoffed.

Edward's enraged roar filled the room; Laurent cringed back. Carlisle looked gravely at Laurent. "I'm afraid you're going to have to make a choice."

Laurent understood. He deliberated for a moment. His eyes took in every face, and finally swept the bright room. "I'm intrigued by the life you've created here. But I won't get in the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won't go up against James. I think I will head north — to that clan in Denali." He hesitated. "Don't underestimate James. He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and he won't come at you head on… I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry."

He bowed his head, but I saw him flicker another puzzled look at me.

"Go in peace," was Carlisle's formal answer. Laurent took another long look around himself, and then he hurried out the door. The silence lasted less than a second. "How close?"

Carlisle looked to Edward. Esme was already moving; her hand touched an inconspicuous keypad on the wall, and with a groan, huge metal shutters began sealing up the glass wall. I tried to contain my excitement.

"About three miles out past the river; he's circling around to meet up with the female."

"What's the plan?"

"We'll lead him off, and then Alice and yourself will take the girls south."

"Excuse me?" I asked, outraged. No one answered me.

"And then?"

Edward's tone was deadly. "As soon as Bella is clear, we hunt him."

"I guess there's no other choice," Carlisle agreed, his face grim. Edward turned to Rosalie.

"Get her upstairs and trade clothes," Edward commanded. She stared back at him with livid disbelief.

"Why should I?" she hissed. "What is she to me? Except a menace — a danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us."

Bella flinched back from the venom in her voice, clearly shocked at the sudden hostility.

"Rose…" Emmett murmured, putting one hand on her shoulder. She shook it off.

"Esme?" he asked calmly.

"Of course," Esme murmured. Esme was at Bella's side in half a heartbeat, swinging Bella up easily into her arms, and dashing up the stairs.

"Morgana, I'll change with you," Rosalie said, tugging on my arm. I let it burn fiercely.

"Goddammit, Shortcake, this is not the time to throw a fit about being weak."

I bit back a sharply worded retort. "I'm not changing, because I'm not running."

"Morgana, please," Carlisle pleaded. I drew in a sharp breath. "Come to Phoenix. At least pretend that it's for your sister's protection."

I pursued my lips. "Fine."

Rosalie took my arm again, yanking me up the stairs.

She quickly stripped, and I did the same.

"Why don't you at least try to get on with Bella," I asked as I pulled on her white dress that was several sizes too big for me.

"Why bother? She's a human that will expose our secret."

"You get along with me," I reminded. I could understand not liking Bella, but I at least wanted to know why she hated her and not me.

"You have your own secret to protect. You wouldn't sell us out."

That was very much true.

I took a shaky step in Rosalie's stilettos, and nearly fell over, making her laugh loudly. I took one look at her and had to hold back a snort.

My shirt and jacket were like a crop top on her (was I really that short?) and my jeans were far too tight on her. Apparently my sunglasses had my scent on them too, as she had decided to steal them too, and they rested half hanging out of a pocket in the jacket.

It appeared that everything had been settled downstairs in our absence. Edward and Emmett were ready to leave, Emmett carrying a heavy-looking backpack over his shoulder. Carlisle was handing something small to Esme. "Esme, William and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella," he told her as he passed.

"Your deathtrap will stay here," he told me.

"Not a deathtrap," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Alice and I will take the Mercedes. We'll need the dark tint in the south." She nodded as well.

"Emmett, Edward, Jasper, take the Jeep. Alice," Carlisle asked, "will they take the bait?"

Everyone watched Alice as she closed her eyes and became incredibly still. Finally her eyes opened. "He'll track the boys. The woman will follow the truck. We should be able to leave after that." Her voice was certain.

"Let's go." Carlisle held out his arms and I bruegendly allowed him to pick me up and whirl me out the house and out to the driveway where the Mercedes waited.

I had no idea where I was when I woke up.

The room was too bland to belong anywhere but in a hotel. The bedside lamps, bolted to the tables, were a dead giveaway, as were the long drapes made from the same itchy fabric as the bedspread, and the generic watercolor prints on the walls.

I tried to remember how I got here, but nothing came at first. I did remember the sleek black car, the glass in the windows darker than that on a limousine. The engine was almost silent, though we'd raced across the black freeways at more than twice the legal speed.

And I think Carlisle was in the backseat, because I'm pretty sure not thirty minutes into the drive I ended up lying against him as the events of the day caught up with me.

After that, I didn't remember anything. As embarrassing as it was, I'm pretty sure I was asleep for the rest of the trip.

I had no memory of this room. I looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. The red numbers claimed it was eleven o'clock, but they gave no indication if it was night or day. No edge of light escaped the thick curtains, but the room was lit with the light from the lamps.

I rose stiffly and staggered to the window, pulling back the drapes. It was blindingly light outside. Eleven in the morning, then. My room looked out on a deserted section of the freeway and the new long-term parking garage for the airport. It was slightly comforting to be able to pinpoint time and place.

I looked down at myself. I was still wearing Rosalie's clothes, and they didn't fit very well at all. I looked around the room, glad when I discovered my duffel bag on top of the low dresser.

I quickly dressed in dark tights and a baggy shirt with flowers on it. Why I had this, I had no idea.

I jumped when I heard Carlisle's voice.

"Can I come in?" he asked. I took a deep breath.

"Sure."

He walked in, and looked me over cautiously. "You look like you could still sleep longer," he said.

"I'm not a morning person," I said simply.

I stared at him for a moment, my eyes flicking to each piece of exposed skin, before I burst out laughing.

"What?" he asked self consciously, tugging at his blue shirt.

"Here," I said, my voce filled with mirth, dragging him over to the window which was open. "You sparkle."

It was true. Each bit of skin glowed luminously, and glistened where the sunlight touched. It was like hundreds of thousands of diamonds twinkling across his skin.

I couldn't believe how long it had taken for me to actually see a vampire sparkle.

"Har har," he said drily. He closed the curtains before appearing in front of me.

"Aww," I pouted, "think of how many jokes I would have made, Mr Disco Ball."

He rolled his eyes affectionately.

"Thank you for coming with us," he said, sitting on the bed. I made no move to join him.

"Just because I decided to look after Bella doesn't mean you're off the hook."

"I know," he said, looking down at his hands folded in his lap. "But I hope you'll forgive me eventually."

"I'm sure I will." I was silent for a moment. "What I don't get is why you're so damn protective of me." He didn't answer, which made me suspicious. "Carlisle, why do you care so much."

"You know Alice and Jasper, and Rosalie and Emmett?"

"Vaguely, I've only been sitting with them at lunch for the past few months."

"No, I mean, you know how they're all bonded. And Esme and William, and Bella and Edward."

"Yes. Soulmates, right?"

Why was he telling me this?

"Mates would do anything for their mate. Like Edward protecting Bella, and William deciding to help Esme even though they've only known each other for a few hours."

No. That's not what he was getting at, was it? We couldn't be-

"We're soulmates."

And he said it.

"Oh," was my not so eloquent answer.

"And I just want to care for you," he said, finally looking up at me. His eyes were a mix of black and gold, and I couldn't work out why.

"I don't, I don't really, exactly want, you know, that."

Carlisle nodded. "I know. Which is why I haven't told you yet."

"I mean, eventually, maybe, but not now and just, ugh, no."

Well this was unintentionally awkward.

"You're a very amusing human, Morgana."

"Oh great," I said sarcastically. "I'm glad I'm useful for something."

"I mean that as a complement," he corrected, pushing my hair out of my face. I hadn't had the chance to pull it up, and it just hung loosely with knots and tangles throughout it. "Can I?"

"Can you what?"

He didn't answer me, instead pulling a brush from out of nowhere and going through my hair with it. I had to admit that he was a lot nicer with a brush than I was - generally I just yanked the knots until they undid themselves or got pulled out of my scalp.

"You don't have to do anything about the bond. You can just pretend it doesn't exist."

"Won't that, like, do something to you?"

"Maybe. But if you were admissible, perhaps I could continue, er, 'hanging out' with you.

"You are the strangest vampire, Carlisle Cullen," I laughed. I mean, at least he tried to stay with the current language. Kinda. "Of course you can. But if you ever stalk me again, I will burn you to ash."

"I would like that."

We sat in silence for the next few minutes. Carlisle deftly braided my hair in two, which was a new style for me, and apparently new to Carlisle, judging on how messy it was. But at least he tried.

"I swear I can do it," he defended.

"Mhm. I believe you."

"I did Rosalie's and that turned okay."

"Sure it did."

"Don't laugh, Morgana. It's not nice."

"I'm not laughing at you," I lied. "A bird hit the street lamp."

Carlisle stared at me with incredulity. "The curtains are closed."

Admittedly, he had a good point.

"I'm going to go say hi to Bella," I said, standing up off the bed, ignoring as he placed a hand to his unbeating heart in a show of mock hurt.

"Morning," she said when I entered the living room. "Pizza?"

She held a slice out to me and I took it.

"I don't know how you eat that," Alice said from the armchair, scrunching her nose up.

"With great pride."

I sat down on the floor, playing with the carpet. "What's the plan?" I asked.

"We wait for the others to call us," Carlisle said from behind me.

"Should they have by now?" Bella asked, her voice laced with worry.

"No. They'll only call if something happens," Alice said. Her eyes flicked to the hotel phone and her bag, before coming back to look at us.

We spent the next few days in a repetitive state. I would wake up, and we'd eat, and we'd watch TV, and we'd ask questions, and then I'd sleep. Not once was I allowed outside the room.

It must've been Wednesday when something finally happened.

Without any warning, Alice had leaped from the couch, landing lightly on her feet. My head had jerked up as I stared at her, startled.

"Something's changed." Her voice was urgent, and her eyes kept rolling back as she was given more and more visions. Carlisle put his hands on her shoulders and guided her back to the couch, sitting her on the edge.

"What do you see?" he asked intently, staring into her eyes. Her eyes were focused on something very far away.

"I see a room. It's long, and there are mirrors everywhere. The floor is wooden. He's in the room, and he's waiting. There's gold… a gold stripe across the mirrors."

"Where is the room?"

"I don't know. Something is missing — another decision hasn't been made yet."

"How much time?"

"It's soon. He'll be in the mirror room today, or maybe tomorrow. It all depends. He's waiting for something. And he's in the dark now."

Carlisle's voice was calm, methodical, as he questioned her in a practiced way. "What is he doing?"

"He's watching TV… no, he's running a VCR, in the dark, in another place."

"Can you see where he is?"

"No, it's too dark."

"And the mirror room, what else is there?"

"Just the mirrors, and the gold. It's a band, around the room. And there's a black table with a big stereo, and a TV. He's touching the VCR there, but he doesn't watch the way he does in the dark room. This is the room where he waits." Her eyes drifted, then focused on Carlisle's face.

"There's nothing else?"

She shook her head. They looked at each other, motionless.

"What does it mean?" Bella asked. Neither of them answered for a moment, then Carlisle looked at me.

"It means the tracker's plans have changed. He's made a decision that will lead him to the mirror room, and the dark room."

"But we don't know where those rooms are?"

"No."

"But we do know that he won't be in the mountains north of Washington, being hunted. He'll elude them." Alice's voice was bleak.

"Should we call?" Bella asked. I picked at my jeans. They traded a serious look, undecided. And the phone rang. Alice was across the room before I could lift my head to look at it. She pushed a button and held the phone to her ear, but she didn't speak first.

"Jasper," she breathed. "Yes," she said, glancing at Bella, and then me. She listened for a long moment. "I just saw him." She described again the vision she'd seen. "Whatever made him get on that plane… it was leading him to those rooms." She paused. "Yes," Alice said into the phone, and then she spoke to Bella.

She held the phone out toward her.

"Hello?" she breathed. "Oh, Edward! I was so worried…. Where are you?….I know. Alice saw that he got away."

I got bored with listening to one side of Bella's conversation, and drifted over to the coffee table, where Alice and Carlisle sat.

Alice was sketching on a piece of hotel stationery. I sat opposite her, watching as she drew.

She created a room: long, rectangular, with a thinner, square section at the back. The wooden planks that made up the floor stretched lengthwise across the room. Down the walls were lines denoting the breaks in the mirrors. And then, wrapping around the walls, waist high, a long band. The band Alice said was gold.

"It's a ballet studio," Bella said, startling me. I didn't realise she had finished.

"Do you know this room?" Carlisle's voice sounded calm, but there was an undercurrent of something I couldn't identify. Alice bent her head to her work, her hand flying across the page now, the shape of an emergency exit taking shape against the back wall, the stereo and TV on a low table by the front right corner.

"It looks like a place I used to go for dance lessons — when I was eight or nine. It was shaped just the same."

"You did ballet?" I asked, surprised.

"For a while." She touched the page where the square section jutted out, narrowing the back part of the room. "That's where the bathrooms were — the doors were through the other dance floor. But the stereo was here" — she pointed to the left corner — "it was older, and there wasn't a TV. There was a window in the waiting room — you would see the room from this perspective if you looked through it."

"Are you sure it's the same room?" Carlisle asked, still calm.

"No, not at all — I suppose most dance studios would look the same — the mirrors, the bar." She traced her finger along the ballet bar set against the mirrors. "It's just the shape that looked familiar."

"Would you have any reason to go there now?" Alice asked.

"No, I haven't been there in almost ten years. I was a terrible dancer — they always put me in the back for recitals," she admitted. That I could believe.

"So there's no way it could be connected with you?" Alice asked intently.

"No, I don't even think the same person owns it. I'm sure it's just another dance studio, somewhere."

"Where was the studio you went to?" Carlisle asked in a casual voice.

"It was just around the corner from my mom's house. I used to walk there after school…"

"You did?"

"Here in Phoenix, then?" His voice was still casual.

"Yes," Bella whispered. "Fifty-eighth Street and Cactus." We all sat in silence, staring at the drawing. "Alice, is that phone safe?"

"Yes," she reassured me. "The number would just trace back to Washington."

"Then I can use it to call my mom."

"I thought she was in Florida."

"She is — but she's coming home soon, and she can't come back to that house while…"

"How will you reach her?" "They don't have a permanent number except at the house — she's supposed to check her messages regularly."

"Carlilse?" Alice asked. He thought about it. "I don't think there's any way it could hurt — be sure you don't say where you are, of course."

Bella reached eagerly for the phone and held it in her hand. "Morgana, do, do you want to say something?"

"Not particularly, no."

She gave me a glare that was mixed with a frown and began dailing.

It rang four times, and then I heard my Mother's breezy voice telling us to leave a message.

"Mom," Bella said after the beep, "it's me. Listen, I need you to do something. It's important. As soon as you get this message, call me at this number."

Alice held a piece of paper out to Bella who read off of it.

"Please don't go anywhere until you talk to me. Don't worry, I'm okay, but I have to talk to you right away, no matter how late you get this call, all right? I love you, Mom. Bye."

"Are you alright?" Carlisle asked me.

"Why wouldn't I be?"