Twilight saga New Moon Fanfiction

Transitionals: New Moon

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to New Moon or any of the other books in the Saga, they belong to Stephenie Meyer. I do use some phrasing, sentences, and descriptions from the books, though.

Hey everyone, I know, long time no update for this fanfiction. I know and I'm sorry. The last couple months before the end of the year is always crazy for me. So I'm really sorry I didn't get this up before now. 3 months sense an update is way too long to wait for an update, so once again I apologize for the long wait.

The beginning of the year though means I will have more free time, meaning more time to write. So more updates.

Now for the fun stuff. This chapter is jammed packed with excitement and information. We're going to have a long conversation with one of the people on the dreaded "List" and it shall be interesting to say the least.

Hopeful by the end of this chapter you might be able to make some speculations about the traitor. Or maybe not.

This chapter is dedicated to the people who even after all this time still leave a short review. Thank you guys, getting to read them makes my day; and they truly inspire me to write more.

Chapter 13

At one point in my life I had been terrified of flying. Now, I never had to worry ever again. Flying with my vampire family beside me, and Duke at the controls, made me feel absolutely safe.

Anna was laying on the floor of our private jet, taking a nap which was necessary after the exciting vacation we had.

We were lucky enough to have the first full week of January off from school. So Carlisle had decided to take the family to a cabin somewhere deep in the Canadian wilderness.

Anna had so much fun with her Auntie Rose, Uncle Emmett, and her best friend Jasper, that she didn't even notice the year anniversary of the attack.

I wasn't that lucky, but I had a wonderful boyfriend and best friend who tried distracting me. Edward, Alice, and I spent most of the week exploring the forest that surrounded our cabin. Something that wouldn't have been very easy if I hadn't have had control over my speed yet. It still felt unreal that I already had control over my super speed. Getting to see the Canadian wilderness had been wonderful.

Carlisle had done an excellent job picking out a beautiful place to stay. He and Esme had spent most of the week with Cissy, who was now picking up words quickly. Her favorite of course was "doll." Which she could now pronounce correctly.

I sighed and got up. We still had another two hours before we'd land in Port Angeles, but I was too bored to stay in my seat.

Edward gently caught my hand. "Everything alright?"

I nodded, a silly smile plastered on my face. "I'm going to go talk with Duke."

I had to give him credit, he didn't ask to come with me, and he let me go. I knew of course that he would hear everything.

Edward wasn't thrilled with the whole issue about the traitor but he wasn't keeping me away from the people on our list. He would make sure we were extremely careful though. And it wasn't like I could get in trouble on the jet.

Stepping into the cockpit was like stepping into a memory. I could remember being in there with Toby while he was teaching Duke how to fly. The two of them had always gotten along.

Duke nodded in my direction as I took the copilot's seat. "What's up kid?"

I glared at him. "Really, I'm a kid?"

He laughed. "We always knew how to irritate you."

That was the truth.

Duke's face shifted back to a calm mask. "So what brings you to my humble cockpit?"

It was my turn to mess with him. "Actually this plane and everything in it…"

"Don't you dare," he warned. "This plane might be yours now, but I am the only person who will ever fly it now. With that said, that makes this," he waved his head slightly in each direction to indicate the small room, "this is mine. This little area is mine. That's what Toby said, so that is the way it is."

I gave in and nodded slowly in agreement. "Okay, okay, the cockpit area is yours."

He grinned smugly. "So are you going to answer my question?"

I shrugged. "I just wanted a change of scenery."

"I personally think this is the best view you'll ever get from a plane." Duke handled the jet effortlessly. It was almost as if he and the plane were one.

I leaned back in my seat and took in the view. For a person like me I couldn't see anything different about the view except for the angle. "Do you mind flying this plane?" The question was out of my mouth before I even realized I had spoken out loud.

It took Duke a moment to answer. He had been caught off guard by my question. "In ways it is hard. There will be times where I will look over at the seat you're in and expect Toby to be in it. I wait sometimes, thinking I'll hear him yell at me to keep my eyes on the sky."

He sighed lowly. "But I find it's easier for me to be in the air, than to be on the ground. It's hard sometimes thinking about them." He turned and spared me a glance. "Why do you think I give up most of my free time to help drag hunters back to headquarters? Taking care of them helps take out the sting of losing family."

I could imagine that he added Amanda in his mind. "So you really don't mind?"

"Of course not silly girl. I'm just sorry that I can't help out more." He grimaced slightly. "Grandpa Ray has me doing a bunch of stuff for him too. I know what he's doing though."

I raised an eyebrow, silently questioning him.

He gave me a glare as if to say it was obvious. "He's trying to keep me away from you and the girls."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "That can't be right." Again the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Duke Snorted. "Don't be so shocked Bella. Grandpa Ray is working tirelessly on keeping anyone who could be dangerous to you, away."

"And he thinks you're dangerous?"

"Not just dangerous Bella, I'm on the list. Grandpa Ray has an interesting way of thinking. He's trying to keep everyone on the list away from you as much as he can; including himself." Duke spared me another quick glance. "Why do you think he's been staying away unless something important comes up?"

Sometimes Grandpa Ray didn't make any sense. "I'm confused."

"Yeah that sums it up." Duke laughed humorlessly. "He thinks that if he shows that he's staying away as well, that it justifies him trying to keep us away."

The next words out of Duke's mouth were so quiet that I only just barely caught every word, and I knew for certain that he didn't want me knowing what he had said. "Toby didn't trust Grandpa Ray with everything. In fact he's the only one on the list that doesn't know Toby's biggest secret about his inner circle of friends. Too bad no one in that inner circle can be trusted."

I didn't let on that I had heard him. "Well Grandpa Ray isn't doing too good of a job of keeping people away. I mean, Thomas, Kian, and Turner came to Anna's birthday party." I rolled my eyes for dramatic effect.

Duke chuckled softly before apologizing. "Sorry I wasn't there to help out. I had planned on going, but Carlos needed me to run an errand for him."

I waved away the apology. "Don't worry about it. We had the party at my dad's house, just in case."

"How'd the party go?"

"It went alright, I had plenty of panic attacks. Tried to hit my head against the wall." I joked.

He laughed at that. "Bet Edward didn't allow that."

I shook my head. "Sometimes I wonder if there's a whole in my mental shield."

Duke roared with laughter. "Bella, you are an open book. He doesn't need to read your mind, he can get everything from your face or your eyes." He stopped suddenly as if he had said too much.

"But besides that the party went okay, right?" He changed the subject.

"Oh yeah, it went well." I shrugged. "It was just hard for some of us, with you know. Kian didn't even bother to call. He said it would be better to seek forgiveness than ask for permission."

Duke shook his head while the corner of his lips twitched. "You have to remember Bella, that that is just how Kian is."

That could be true. I wasn't really sure. "Anna got excited when he asked if Thomas was going to be there. I hadn't heard from Thomas in a while, before I called to see if he was coming."

"And he was," Duke commented.

I nodded but remembered the phone call. "Not at first actually. He tried to tell Anna that he wouldn't be there but she got upset so he told her he would come."

Duke laughed softly. "Thomas always drops whatever he's doing for Toby and his family."

"So wouldn't he just agree to come the first time he was asked?" It felt good to talk about this to someone who had an insight to these people. That way I didn't have to talk to myself whenever I was alone.

Duke thought about it for a moment. "You need to remember Bella, that Thomas is really busy. And now that he's working on his own investigation, he has even less time. Put yourself in his shoes. The investigation is for you, Anna, and Cissy, so he won't want to stop until he catches the guy. Since it's for you gals, he justifies it as helping you, so he," he paused for me to come up with the answer.

"He won't just drop it, like his other work."

Duke nodded once. He always had a way with words, and he could make people see things his way.

"So did Turner buy out the local grocery store of their bananas?"

I groaned, thinking of all those bananas still frozen in the Cullens freezer. It looked like we hadn't eaten any while we know we had eaten a lot.

Duke was laughing again. "I take your silence as a yes."

I glared at him. "Careful, or you'll be getting some to take home with you."

Duke's face twisted in disgust. He'd never eat bananas ever again, not even Anna could get him to eat them.

I decided to be nice and change the subject. "Thomas told me Turner was tracking something in Seattle."

"What?!" Duke's hands tightened until his knuckles were white. I was surprised the plane hadn't moved. He still had perfect control of the plane even though he was furious.

I was sort of surprised Edward hadn't barged in yet. "It was just what Thomas told me over the phone."

Duke glared forward, his eyes on the sky.

"What's wrong?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Turner isn't on an assignment. He told his boss that he needed to take some time off for personal reasons. They don't expect him back at cleanup for months."

That didn't make any sense to me. Turner loved his job. He never went on vacation. "What's in Seattle?" There had to be a reason for him to go there.

Duke's voice was harsh. "Good question."

The cockpit was sent into silence as the two of us thought over the new information.

If Turner wasn't working for Cleanup, but he was tracking something, what was he doing? Was he even tracking anything? What could be in Seattle that would need Turner's skills?

Everything was so messed up, jumbled together in my head, so I couldn't figure it out.

"I need something else to think about." Duke finally broke the silence.

"Like what?"

He sighed. "Anything, just pick something random."

I scoured my brain for something to talk about. "How is the Rebellion doing? Megra said that we were spread out too thin.

Duke snorted. "Of course Megra thinks that."

It was clear what Duke thought of Megra, he didn't seem to like her one bit. He wouldn't be upset if they found it she was the traitor.

"So we're doing alright with size?"

He nodded. "The undermining may be growing too fast for us to catch, but we're not so far behind them that we can't handle the situations they cause. We're steadily building our numbers. Our size is descent enough."

That wasn't at all what I had been told by Megra. "Megra told me that the Undermining has put more operations in Europe."

Duke spared her a quick glance. "I heard about that too. There's a like one or two new countries right?"

I shook my head quickly. "No according to Megra there's a lot more than just too." I quickly named off the ones she had told me.

"Italy, really." Duke snorted loudly. "Come on Bella think about it. You and I both know the Undermining would never go to Italy. They wouldn't want to get too close to the Volturi. We all know - well maybe not Megra- that the Undermining won't do anything that can risk exposing themselves to the Volturi, until they can wipe them off the face of the planet. And they can't do that without a way of disposing of Jane and Alec."

I shook slightly but Duke didn't seem to notice. I of course knew very well what they needed to have, to dispose of the "witch twins."

Duke shook his head. "They won't risk an all-out war."

"Okay, now I need the subject changed."

He laughed once.

"You know, Ruby's the only one on the list I haven't seen since the accident."

A smirk played out on Duke's face. "That doesn't surprise me at all. Ruby has been exceptionally busy. She's been working longer hours and during the weekend she helps with recruitment."

I couldn't help feeling I was missing something, based on Duke's reaction.

He caught my confused look and raised his eyebrows tauntingly. "Grandpa Ray called in one of his favors and asked Ruby's supervisor to keep a closer eye on her."

It wouldn't have surprised me if my jaw had hit the floor. "Does Grandpa Ray think she's the traitor?" I was so shocked my voice came out in a whisper.

Duke whispered too. "A lot of people do."

My world was coming to a crashing halt. "Why am I just hearing about this now?"

"Calm down Bella, Grandpa Ray didn't want to tell you until he had all the information."

I glared at Duke. "So why are you telling me then."

He gave me another taunting glance. "Maybe I think someone else is the traitor."

I smacked his shoulder. "Tell me what you know. I hate being left out, especially since this directly involves me and the little girls."

"Okay, and you should know better than to hit the pilot." I glared at him until he continued. "As you know Ruby works in information, and she was always the person Toby passed the stuff he had to. Well Toby had something important that he needed to give to the leaders of the Rebellion, but he never got a chance to meet up with Ruby.

"She went to their meeting place where he would normally leave his briefcase, but it wasn't there. There's no way of proving whether or not Ruby got the information and she's not telling us, or if everything she says is true.

"But, there have been leaks in information lately. No one, not Grandpa Ray, nor the heads of the groups know who is leaking the information."

"So Grandpa Ray thinks it's Ruby." I tried to think like the others at that moment.

Duke nodded solemnly. "With everything else going on, evidence is starting to point in her direction. And she's not exactly helping herself."

I didn't understand. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Duke chuckled, amused for some reason. "When Grandpa Ray and Ruby's supervisor told her about the extra watch, she looked them straight in the eye and said, 'Fine, go ahead, it'll only prove that I'm as loyal as I ever was.'"

I knew Ruby had a mouth on her and that she had trouble with her temper, but I didn't know she could talk to Grandpa Ray like that. No one treated Grandpa Ray like that. "Why would she say that?"

"It's Ruby, Bella." Duke laughed. "She said it and now she's dealing with being watched like a hawk. It's not like the phrasing of her announcement helped her any. Even you could understand the double meaning that could be there."

I nodded. I had heard it and I knew Ruby said what she said, the way she had said it just to prove a point. Whether or not the sentence could mean she was saying she wasn't for the Rebellion didn't really matter.

"You better go back and take your seat Bella, we're going to be landing soon."

I was sort of surprised to find how close we were. I didn't realize how long I had been talking with Duke.

I got up, rested my hand on his shoulder for a brief moment and went back to sit with the others.

Anna was still sound asleep, but now she was laying with her head on Rose's shoulder. Cissy was sound asleep in Esme's arms. All seven of the Cullens watched me carefully. They had obviously heard Duke's and my entire conversation.

I sighed and took my seat beside Edward. "Well, that was enlightening."

Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "It was very insightful."

"This is your captain speaking, we are beginning our descent, and the seat belt sign is official being turned on." We all heard Duke laugh after giving his announcement. He always found it funny telling a group of vampires to buckle up.

As Duke successfully landed the plane and taxed over to the area that had been reserved for our plane to park, I thought over what he had said. I know had even more questions than answered.

Duke had a point, from all we knew about the Undermining, they wouldn't want to be in Italy and risk the Volturi finding out about them. But did that mean Megra was lying to me, or were we wrong about the Undermining. I had no way to be sure.

Then there was Turner. Whatever he was doing in Seattle he obviously didn't want his supervisors knowing about it, if they think he's on vacation.

I tried to think suspiciously of him. It wouldn't take him long to get from Seattle to Forks, maybe what he was tracking was really me. Maybe he was trying to keep an eye on me and the little girls for someone. That someone wouldn't be for the Rebellion though, since they don't need him to keep an eye on me.

The issue with Ruby was by far the most difficult for me to understand though. I hadn't known that Toby had information when they entire family had gotten together. We had seen Ruby that morning. Why hadn't he given her his briefcase then? Did he have reason to believe she was the leak?

All those questions and more circled in my mind. Without more information I couldn't answer them.

"Come on Bella, it's time to get off the plane." Edward broke me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head to clear it and got up.

Edward, ever the gentleman helped me down the steps and into the car waiting not far from the plane.

"Are you still going to drop us off at my dad's house?" I asked as he drove away from the airport.

Edward nodded. "Your dad would like to spend some time with you and the girls. We'll drop the three of you off and we'll go hunting."

I couldn't help smiling at that. Edward always tried to plan his hunting trips for when I was busy with someone else. His trips almost always ended up when I was spending time with my dad.

"Any idea what he has planned?" I was kind of worried that my dad might be wanting to talk about mom. He had tried a few times before, but it was still too hard to think about her. She had been my best friend; more of a friend than a mother. Despite that she was still my mom and it still hurt to know she was gone.

Edward took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Whatever he has planned it will be fine."

I knew he was trying to comfort me by using my go to answer 'fine.'

He turned the CD player on and a familiar tune filled the car. I close my eyes and got lost in Edward's piano playing.

The music cut off when Edward stopped the car in front of my house. He got out of the car but before he had shut the door, the front door to the house opened.

Charlie rushed down the front steps, coming up short when he noticed our parked cars.

"Everything alright Charlie?" I heard Carlisle ask cautiously.

I got out of the car as my dad fumbled with his car keys.

"Billy just called they're in need of help down in La Push." Charlie jammed his key in the cruiser door and flung himself inside as fast as he could.

Edward and I hurried back into his car. I tried to ignore the fear that was slowly building inside of me.

We followed Charlie to the small reservation.

"What do you think is wrong?" I turned around in my seat checking on the girls, needing something to do to occupy my mind. Thankfully the two of them were still sound asleep, exhausted from the vacation.

"I wasn't able to get much from your dad. I couldn't tell if it was about the hunters finding out who the transitional creature is, or if there is just too many for them to handle." Edward shook his head and grimaced. "It's possible it could be both."

I sighed, when reality snapped my thoughts into overdrive. "Um, we have a one year old with us that we need to figure out what we're going to do with while we take care of the problem."

Edward grinned. "Already taken care of it. Esme called Emily, we're going to drop her and the girls off before meeting your dad and the wolves at Billy's house."

I grinned too. Of course the Cullens had already come up with a plan.

It would appear the plans had changed though, when Charlie led the way to Emily's house. We parked beside his car and got out.

I recognized the large man who walked out of the house, as Sam. He shook hands with Charlie. "Thanks for coming, but we need to head out quickly. Emily's family is here and we can't let them know what's going on."

Charlie nodded. "Well let's head out and meet your friends."

"We'll meet you at Billy's house, Charlie." Edward let him know. "We just need to get the girls settled first."

"Please hurry," Sam begged anxiously. The worry was stretched acrossed his face as he and Charlie got into the cruiser and left.

"This isn't home." Anna's voice was thick with sleep.

I opened the door and helped Anna out of her car seat. "No we're not home. You and Cissy and Esme are going to visit with Emily for a little while. Okay?"

Anna shook her head and reached tiredly towards Rose. "I go with Auntie Rose."

Rose and I shared a nervous glance before she smiled gently at Anna. She took her from me. "You're tired sweetie. Why don't you stay with Esme and rest?"

Anna tightened her arms around Rose's neck, a sign that she wouldn't let go without being forced to. "I go with you."

Esme tried to take her from Rose unsuccessfully.

"Please Anna, would you stay with Esme." Not even Rose's pleas worked on Anna.

Anna shook her head. "I stay with Auntie Rose."

Emmett ducked down to Anna's eye level. "Hey kid, what's going on? Why don't you want to leave Auntie's side?"

Anna shrugged before burying her face against Rose's neck.

"Don't try to make her stay with Esme." Edward warned. He must have gotten something from Anna's thoughts.

I sighed, maybe she had noticed the anniversary and needed Rose.

Esme grabbed the diaper bag from the car and headed inside with Cissy and one final wave to all of us.

Leah stepped out of the house as Esme opened the door. She looked extremely upset.

"Hey," I called. I took a step towards her but remembered that she gave of the same sensation as the pack. So far she was the only girl though that Anna had noticed had the same sensation.

Leah gave me a quick nod before running down the drive way. She obviously wanted to be alone.

"Are you staying with Esme after all?" Emmett called from behind me.

I turned and found Anna running towards me. She reached her hand towards me and I knelt to her level. She showed me what she was feeling but I wasn't sure what she was trying to tell me. The sensation was empty, there was nothing to it. It wasn't like the void she got when there wasn't any danger to be found. It was just blank.

"Okay, I'm not sure what I'm feeling." I told her honestly.

Jasper boosted the feeling instinctually but it didn't help. I shook my head and he came over and picked Anna up. "We'll work on this mystery while we head to Billy's okay Anna?"

Anna nodded and snuggled into his arms.

A normal person wouldn't be comfortable with Anna sitting on his lap in the car rather than in her seat; but I knew that she wouldn't be in any danger of getting hurt during the short drive to Billy's.

We pulled in front of Billy's house and found him and the three members of the pack waiting outside. I was actually taken aback when Billy offered his hand to shake Carlisle.

If Carlisle was surprised he didn't show it. "We came to see if we could help."

Billy nodded. "Thank you, your help would be greatly appreciated."

"We'll just go ahead and cut to the chase." Sam announced urgently. "While we've been patrolling the area and taking out a few Hunters, we've come across a few we've already dealt with."

"That's impossible." Of course Charlie believed Sam immediately, he just couldn't understand how it was possible. "Once we've caught the Hunters they're taken to the Rebellion's headquarters. If they make it to headquarters they don't come out to where they're able to reemerge in the human world."

Sam grimaced. "Which means they're not making it to your headquarters."

Jared crossed his arms over his chest. "It's getting too dangerous in La Push with all of these Hunters here. We need to take care of them."

Charlie nodded thoughtfully. "Let's split up and round up as many as we can."

I ran a hand through my hair in exasperation. This couldn't be happening. If this was true, it meant that whoever was taking the Hunters back wasn't really taking them to headquarters. This wasn't good because most of the people helping us with the hunters were friends of Grandpa Ray, Friends of Duke, and Duke himself. Charlie only had a friend or two helping us. This did not look good for Duke or Grandpa Ray.

Sam turned to my dad. "You know the most about the Hunters. What should we do?"

Charlie glanced thoughtfully around our group. "We'll split up, that allows us to cover more ground. I'll go with Jared and Paul. Sam you go with Bella, Edward, and Carlisle. Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rose and Anna will go together."

"We only have two signs though," Paul reminded my dad sharply.

Charlie glanced over at Anna. "Anna can lead them to the Hunters with the help of her powers."

Anna grinned brightly, liking the fact she could help.

No one else questioned my dad after that.

"Bring the hunters you catch back here. Jacob's going to be out all day right?" Charlie turned to Billy.

Billy's hands tightened slightly on his arm rests. "We've been trying to keep the young men out of the town. Less exposure to the Hunters."

"Jacob and a few other guys have shown signs that they might change. We think it's because the Hunters pose a threat to our people," Sam added.

"Jacob, Embry, Quil, Seth, even Leah." I hadn't had a chance to warm them yet. It felt good to finally tell them what I knew.

Billy and the three werewolves stared at me in shock. Sam was the first to recover. "Leah, but she's a girl. Girls have never been part of the wolf line."

"Leah's not a wolf," Anna announced matter-of-factly.

I turned to her letting her see my confusion.

Anna shrugged. "She doesn't feel like them now."

That didn't make any sense. She clearly had one of their sensations, so what had happened to it.

I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. We didn't have time to worry about that.

"How did you know about the others?" Paul's question caught me off guard since he sounded curious, and not angry.

I nodded towards Anna. "When we came to La Push the first time, Anna felt their sensations it was just like your guys'."

"Sweet." Jared glanced at Anna with awe.

"How does someone that small have powers?" Again Paul's question was simple out of curiosity. I felt bad thinking it but it was strange to not see him angry.

Sam growled softly and gestured to the trees. "That's not important right now. We need to protect our people from these Hunters."

Jared and Paul headed off towards the tree line; I presumed to phase into their wolf forms.

Billy rolled his chair to Charlie's side. "Be careful."

Charlie nodded. "Do you still have that equipment I gave you?"

Billy relaxed in his chair and gave my dad a cheeky grin. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on any Hunters you all bring. They won't get passed me."

Jared and Paul returned then as giant wolves.

"Jared wants to know how you'll you deal without a translator." Edward turned to my dad.

Charlie turned to the two smaller wolves. He took his dad's sign out of his pocket. Seeing as I'm the only one with thumbs," Emmett snorted behind me but my dad ignored him, "I'll lead our group."

The two wolves glanced at each other and I watched as my dad grabbed one of the many tools that had come from my granddad on his side of the family.

Charlie took off into the woods, at a speed that surprised the wolves and the Cullens. The Hunter's equipment could be very useful.

Jared and Paul hurried after my dad.

"Here." Sam tossed the sign he had been given, too Carlisle. "I'll phase and we can follow the treaty line."

Carlisle nodded and Sam headed to phase.

"If you are taking the treaty line we'll go in the opposite direction of Charlie and the other wolves." Jasper suggested.

Carlisle agreed readily. "Be careful, and pay attention to Anna. Head back home when she needs to." He glanced at Anna who was still clinging to Jasper. "If you need anything tell them. Don't be like your Aunt Bella and ignore your needs."

I wrapped my arms over my chest and leaned against Edward.

He laughed gently and rubbed my arm. "You do have a tendency to do that Bella."

I couldn't deny that.

Sam emerged from around the house. He shared a glance with Billy before we split up.

I tried to climb onto Edward's back, but he swept me into his arms.

"You're safer in my arms," was his only explanation.

I sighed softly, even though I had no objection being in his arms.

It didn't take us long to find a group of Hunters; and sadly it also wasn't hard for us to realize everything the wolves were dealing with was true.

Carlisle kept a close watch with the sign; all of us silently hoping we didn't stumble upon the transitional creature on accident. We had steadily found a small group of hunters. Thanks to Carlisle it didn't take long for us to take care of them. Only he would carry sedatives with him.

We dropped the three unconscious hunters at Billy's, glad to see the others were having some success.

Sam pointed to a young man who was also unconscious, lying face down in Billy's living room. "We've dealt with that one before. It's not easy forgetting a scar like that."

The young man had a scar running from the length of his temple to his chin. A deep gash that had most likely come from being clawed by some sort of talon.

I grimaced. "No, something like that can't be forgotten."

Sam grimaced, as did Carlisle and Edward. I didn't have to be a mind reader to know what the three of them were thinking. It was probably a good thing I wasn't the mind reader of the group.

Carlisle and Edward took care of the Hunters for Billy while Sam went to phase again.

I rubbed my head tiredly. The dread from the situation had turned into a fiery announce. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what exactly was happening.

I sighed when cool finger tips brushed against the side of my head. "Do you need to get back home?"

I opened my eyes and met Edward's concerned gaze. "I'm fine, just trying o grasp everything. And before you try to argue, I need to do something. I can't just sit back when I know something is wrong like this. I need to do something so my mind can't think and go down the dark roads they're trying to take me down."

Thankfully Edward seemed to understand. He kissed my forehead and we followed after Carlisle and Sam.

Once we were surrounded amongst the trees, I found myself having an easier time relaxing. My mind didn't seem to need to travel in a million directions.

Carlisle stopped suddenly, forcing Edward and Sam to stop or run into him.

"We have a problem." Edward let Sam and I know, reading the problem from Carlisle's worried thoughts.

Carlisle glanced down at me. "A couple of Hunters have locked onto your signal. They're tracking you."

Edward growled and glared at Sam. "That isn't going to happen."

Sam's eyes narrowed and he pierced Edward sharply with his gaze. Whatever he was thinking had made Edward calm down.

"Sam suggested splitting up," Edward explained. "Bella and I will go on ahead, while you and Sam follow behind us."

Carlisle nodded. "Be careful, and don't worry; we've got your back."

Edward nodded and set me on my feet. "Calm on."

I took his hand and the two of us walked farther along the treaty line. I tried to ignore the nagging feeling at the back of my mind, saying that this was a bad idea. I knew Carlisle and Sam were following us. They would let anything bad happen to us.

Edward stiffened suddenly beside me, and I knew he could hear their thoughts. He growled lowly but it was ferocious nonetheless.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

Edward's eyes darkened sharply with anger that looked like it bordered on hatred. "I've heard these minds before. Back when we went to Chicago that first time. These two were with the Hunters who attacked us."

My mouth went dry almost instantly. That couldn't be. It just couldn't. Jasper and Alice had handed those Hunters over to Duke and he had taken care of them.

Carlisle joined us after hearing Edward's words. Sam was only a second behind him. "Are you sure Edward?"

Edward nodded. His eyes focusing on a space to our left. "I recognized them Carlisle. I knew it's the same one a part of that group."

I shook my head. "Duke took care of them. He told us…"

Edward cut my argument off. "We knew what Duke said, but here's the truth. Your dad made it clear that once they get to the headquarters of the Rebellion, they don't make it back out into the human world. So obviously Duke didn't take them in." He was fuming by the time he had finished.

"Duke wouldn't…" I tried again only to be stopped by another growl from Edward.

"Bella look at the facts. I'm sure if we checked to see who was supposed to bring in the other Hunters who weren't taken in, we'd find out it was Duke."

"No! I trust Duke!"

"You shouldn't," Edward hissed.

"Now isn't the time to argue this," Carlisle tried to reason with the both of us, but I was far too angry to hear any of his attempts to keep the peace. My ears were ringing and all I wanted to do was hit something.

So when the Hunters emerged from the spot Edward had been watching, I used my anger to control my physical shield and pin the two hunters to a couple of trees. The two of them, hardly an older than me, were caught by surprise.

"I'd like to go home now." I announced after Carlisle had sedated the two Hunters.

No one talked on the way back to Billy's.

Edward set me down outside of the house and despite the fact the others were back too, I stormed to my dad's cruiser and sat down in the passenger side.

Alice tapped on the glass and I rolled down the window. She gave me a sad smile. "We'll keep the girls tonight. Don't be too hard on him Bella. He's just scared."

I sighed, rubbing my face with my hands. "I can't think of him like that." I told her knowing that she knew who I was talking about.

She rested her small hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry. But you really need to get over your anger with Edward and make up."

Author's Note

Oh, finally it's done. This chapter was insane to write. I really hope you guys liked this chapter and all the information in it. I hope it gave you plenty to think about.

Onto the questions.

What did you think about the talk with Duke? Did it get your mind twirling and swirling with ideas?

Do you have any guesses about the traitor? Does anyone out there believe Duke is innocent?

I'm incredibly curious to see who you guys think it is. I'm thinking I might make a poll but not sure yet. Feel free to check my profile just in case, and if I do make a poll I will let you know in the author note of the next chapter.

What do you guys think Turner is up to?

How many of guys would like to meet Ruby? Anyone find her suspicious?

So as I said in the note up top the beginning of the year isn't as hectic for me as the end of the year, so hopefully I'll be back to more updates soon.

Until next time,

LiveLifeAuthorStyle