'I count him braver who overcomes his desires

than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self. '
-Aristotle

Chapter XV

Catch me if you can

Breaking the speed limit, I drove my way out of Seattle and back into Forks. Time was precious at this moment; very precious. Claude, Nicola and Oliver were very surprised at how I could maintain my coolness during a situation which consisted of pure sacrafice and torture. And it wasn't just a random person which had to go through such a great ordeal, but a family member. I hadn't spoken for the whole half an hour on our way back, allthough, Nicola and Oliver did converse with eachother on the backseat. My hands started to tremble on the steering wheel, as my tight grip created soft dents on the leather. I could feel Claude's gaze burning onto the side of my face, but I kept my eyes firmly on the road ahead.

''Well, is this it?'' His voice pierced the silence. My eyes briefly left the road ahead to stare at him.

''What is what?'' I asked, for confusion really struck me then. He's eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown, as he thought for the right words.

''Giselle...you can't keep on going like this. Your always so furious! It was expected that something like this would eventually happen...I mean...you have got to think things over and plan it. You can't just go into the forest and expect Vincent to appear whenever you wish. Afterall, he is a rather busy man,'' he sighed. The minute he finished with his lecture, his words slapped me across the head. I slammed the brakes, resulting in the car screeching off the empty road, and stopping with a great hault facing the depths of the forest. That sure startled everyone. The car was going at 100 miles per hour, afterall.

''What was that for?!'' Nicola half screamed, half gasped. My head hung low, as my breathing grew erratic. I could feel my upper lip begin to tremble, turning into a snarl. My emotions at the moment were vicous. I didn't answer though.

''Giselle...are you allright?'' I heard Oliver ask in a soft voice. I slightly shook my head, as cold tears ran down my cheeks, burning my skin like poison. Grabbing the door handle, I surprisingly stumbled out, and slammed the door hard. I walked over to the front of the car, and sat on the bonnet, pressing my back against the glass window.

Another car door opened, and slammed. Then a voice. A voice I loved so much, no matter what.

''What are you thinking about?'' Claude asked, standing infront of the bonnet, his hands pressing onto it.

''What's this bullshit?I don't have a clue what I'm going to do,'' I sighed. For the first time in ten minutes, I looked up into his deep burgundy eyes. He smiled, and stuck his arms out.

''Come here,'' he whispered. Obeying, I slid down the bonnet into his arms, my legs trapping his inbetween. I felt his lips on the crook of my neck, kissing it gently.

''Claude,'' I breathed, taking in his scent ''I don't think I'll be able to do this''. I could feel his lips twitch into a smile, once they were placed against mine.

''I can't believe what I'm hearing,'' he whispered against my lips.

''Tough. Believe it,'' I snapped. That startled him, making him grasp my shoulders and inch back.

''Giselle, I though you were stronger than this! You can't give up so goddamned easily!'' He yelled, his voice hoarse. I stared blankly ahead into the dark and loomy forest. My eyes shifted towards his, capturing his stern, dark glazed stare.

''I have...'' I choked. Claude's eyebrows went straight up, his hand running through his hand very roughly as he turned around, making his way into the forest.

THUD. Another door slammed shut.

''What's wrong darling?'' Nicola's voice echoed through my mind.

''Nothing. I just can't do this. Penelopé and Violeta are probably trapped somewhere in a distant place, and we don't even know,'' I mumbled.

''Don't stress over it. We're all worried, but we've got to take it step by step, or else it would become too much,'' she smiled reasurringly, her head tilting to a side, trying to catch my gaze.

I hopped off the bonnet, and stood beside Nicola, stretching. I noticed that Claude was gone. No where to be seen. I wonder where he was going. Making my mind up too quick, I started to stalk after him, even though I don't have a clue where he went. Though, maybe I could follow his scent. The best for trailing.

''Where you off to?'' Nicola called after me.

''I'm going after Claude!''

''What about us?''

''Go home!'' I called back.

''Oh God. Be carefull!''

''I will!'' I yelled out, my voice with a slight twinge of frustration to it. I shook my head, and started to make my way through the forest, trailing after Claude.

---

After about twenty minutes, I found myself right at the heart of the forest. And right infront of a massive, white mansion. Which I knew all too well.

Why did I end up here though? Claude's scent gently led me here, ending right at this point. Why is he at the Cullens?

I walked towards the house at human pace, and knocked on the door. Immediatly, with a surprised look on her face, Esme opened the door.

''Hello...I was erm...looking for Claude. Is he here?'' I asked, my mind racing in thousands of different thoughts.

''No. He isn't, dear. But do come in,'' she smiled, greeting me in swiftley.

''Thank you,'' I smiled back.

I entred the spacious, white house, only to be greeted by Alice and Jasper who had suddenly all appeared from nowhere. They looked like they were playing something, since they had smiles on their faces.

''Hi,'' I awkwardly said, raising my hand up in a swift waving motion.

''Hello Giselle!'' Alice smiled, her voice very chirpy.

''Hi,'' Jasper chimed in, smiling at me.

''I don't mean to be rude, but what brings you here all of a sudden?'' Alice asked anxiously.

''Well, I was actually looking for Claude...but since he's not here, I guess I better start making my way-'' But I was cut off, by Edward, who strolled down the grand stairs alongside Bella, who clung to him for dear life.

''He just left actually, with Emmett,'' he said in a bored tone.

''What? Where?'' I asked, my voice going up a few octaves.

''Can I discuss this with you somewhere privately?'' He asked.

''Yes...if you wish,'' I replied. He whispered something to Bella, kissed her on the forehead, and she left me and Edward alone, alongside the others.

''Well, what happend?'' I asked, getting slightly unpatient.

''Giselle, you do realize that two of your family members are in great danger, don't you?''

''Well, yes. Ofcourse I do,'' I replied, saying it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

''Then why gove up so easily?''

''Hold up,'' I laughed dryly and rather peeved, ''how the hell do you know all this?''

''Claude told me.''

''Claude told you? Jesus. What else did he tell you? And who else knows about this?'' I asked.

''Only Emmett, Carlisle, Alice and I know,''

''Where are they?''

He sighed. ''Carlisle is at work at the moment...Alice is playing cards with Jasper,and as for Emmett. Well, Emmett is with Claude. Somewhere in the forest. I don't know where exactly, but I know they've gone together after Vincent,''

''WHAT?NO. NO. NO!!'' I yelled. I was shaking from anger, unable to calm down.

''Giselle, calm down. They're trying to find where he's hiding place is and hopefully find Violeta and Penelopé'' he said, gripping my shoulders roughly, trying to calm me down.

''Why did he come here though? I don't understand!''

Edward froze for a second, then a big frown spread across his face.

''He said that you gave up. And we know this place very well, so he came to us. He said he didn't have anyone else to turn to,''

''None else? He has his whole family who are willing to look far and wide for Vincent, Penelopé and Violeta, yet he comes here! I really don't understand,'' I huffed. I caught his gaze, and held it for a second. I could tell he wasn't telling me something. Something very important.

''What are you not telling me?'' I whispered, exasperrated from shouting. He starred at me for a very long period, his eyes holding a deep secret, determined not to let go.

''Tell me for heavens sake! What the hell are you keeping from me?!''

''Vincent is not who you think he is,'' he simply stated, inbetween my shouting, making me shutup.

''Then who the hell is he, Mr. Smarty Pants?'' I asked, aggrivated. I know, mature, but I didn't have all freaking day.

''Vincent was once part of the Volturri, a clan of vampires in Italy, Volterra. He was never spoken off amongst them, since he betrayed them-in which I do not know of- and so he left, starting his own clan of 'demons,'' he gestured, making quotation marks in the air. I'd heard about the Volturri. My father was very fond of them, for some odd reason.

''Yes, and what's this got to do with anything?'' I asked.

''My family happen to know the Volturri; Carlisle being the one to have lived with them for a long period of time. So he knows them quite well, and as Vincent was once part of that clan, Carlisle gave Claude a slight lowdown on the possible places he might be. Claude also said that he came here, since Alice could foresee into the future, he wanted to know if she saw anything previously,''

''Well, did she?''

''Yes. She saw Vincent hiding in a forest, with his clan. She also saw Penelopé and Violeta being held captive by him,''

''So now they're going there? To his clan, I mean,'' I asked.

''Yes. He lives some place in the depths of the Canadian forest,''

''CANADIAN? WHAT THE HELL?'' I half shouted, half asked. He raised an eyebrow, in question to my behavour.

''Don't give me that. After all, I am older than you,'' I smirked. I swear I caught him rolling his eyes. Nevermind, though.

''So now Claude and Emmett have gone together all the way to Canada, to go after Vincent,''

''And now thanks to your boyfriend, Emmett won't be here for a long time,'' another voice interrupted. I looked over Edward's shoulder to see Rosalie standing there in all her glory and pride. I guess Edward knew just by her voice that it was Rosalie, since he didn't bother to turn.

''Well, excuse me missy if I wasn't as well informed and I didn't keep my 'boyfriend' as you call him on a dog leash,'' I spat. She just gave me the most dirtiest, cold look ever. Yet, her face stayed as pretty as it was. She then walked off.

''Please do excuse her coldness. She's just been feeling low lately since Bella's here. Back to where we were though. You were saying?'' He smiled warmly. I think I was starting to grow a soft spot for Edward. He was such a gentleman, and so sincere, allthough, the kissing incident was quite out of hand. But I loved it. I sound like such a slut. God.

''Well, I was saying that...erm, how come they're in Canada? I mean, how are they getting there?'' I asked, my voice slightly shaking, since the intensity of his gaze was so strong and hypnotic, I felt like collapsing. And since I had more human in me than a normal vampire, other vampire seducing had a very strong affect on me. Much against my will. But I could live with it.

''They got there with Rosalie's BMW,'' he replied, grinning, flashing all his teeth.

''...oh''

''So. What are you going to do?'' He asked. I thought about that for a second, as a wicked smile crossed my face.

''Are you willing enough to lend me your car?'' I asked, fluttering my eyelashes at him, doing a bit of seducing of my own.

''If it means that I will be there too, then why not.''

''Fine. Comeon then,'' I smiled.

---

''Your car is pretty good,'' I said, breaking the awkward silence. It took us nearly two hours to get where we were since Bella wanted to tag along, and Edward did not like the idea of it. I said I could go on my own, but Edward said he wanted to help me out. So then Alice offered to take care of Bella -take her shopping- whilst me and Edward went to Canada. Jasper tagged along with us two after giving him the lowdown on what was happening. Edward couldn't let go off Bella though. They were kissing eachothers faces off. Allthough, Edward did keep quite firm, and Bella stayed very still. I'm guessing because he didn't want to harm her.

''Thanks,'' was Edwards simple reply to my compliment.

''But not as fast as mine,'' I added in with laugh. I turned briefly to see that he was frowning.

''Oh cheer up, you baby,'' I smiled, pinching his cheek like a little kid. He's lips slowly twitched into a smile.

''Edward turn the radio on or something. I'm starting to get very bored,'' Jasper called from the back.

Edward swiftly reached for the very sophisticated looking radio, and switched it on. To my wonderful surprise the song Sway began to play. Allthough, it was the remixed version. I started to tap my fingers on the wheel in tune with the song. I felt like dancing.

I also began to sing, much to Edwards and Jaspers amusment.

''When marimba rhythms start to play. Dance with me, make me sway. Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore. Hold me close, sway me more...''

It also made me do other things which I didn't realize I was doing. My foot was pressing the gas pedal down, making us go extremly fast.

''That's more like it,'' Edward chuckled, when he saw the scene outside the car window vanish past.

Then much to my dismay the song came to an end. Well, all good things must come to an end. But that didn't last for long, since Muse came on!

''Oh baby dont you know I suffer? Oh baby can you hear me moan? You caught me under false pretences How long before you let me go? You set my soul alight You set my soul alight. Glaciers melting in the dead of night And the superstars sucked into the supermassive,'' I sang along.

''Is this meant to be some kind of erotic song?'' Jasper asked confused. I just threw my head back and started to laugh.

''No! What makes you think that?'' I asked, turning around to face him. I felt Edward shift slightly to grab the wheel since I wasn't even looking at the road.

''Well, just the way it's sung...and the lyrics 'Oh baby dont you know I suffer? Oh baby can you hear me moan?' that sounds very dirty to me,'' he smirked, mimicking my singing.

''Jasper, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you must have a very horny imagination. Or maybe you just think outside the box alot,'' I chuckled. Edward began to laugh uncontrollably .

I turned around and kept my eyes firmly on the road.

---

''Oh gosh. Finally,'' I breathed, when we had eventually arrived right at the border of Canada. This was the part where we had to run into the forest. I parked the car inbetween a few trees, shading it. There were no humans about here though, which felt quite strange, since I was slightly used to being in a more civilised place, bursting with people, i.e. London.

''We're going to have to walk from this point onwards,'' Edward smirked, his voice oozing sarcasm.

''Walk? More like dart from here,'' I laughed dryly.

''So get a move on then,'' Jasper sighed. No more encouragment was needed since all three of us went flying through the dark woods, in search for any scents, noises or trails.

That was until, ofcourse, I had to stop. And not because my shoelaces were undone, or because my hair got stuck to my lipgloss. No, because I caught the sweetest scent, which tickled all my senses, sending me in a seductive rush towards it. And I knew this scent all too well.

Violeta.