DISCLAIMER: All books and characters in the Twilight Saga are property of Stephenie Meyer.
"The Unknown Menace"
Bella's POV
While Edward was checking in, I scanned my surroundings for any signs of danger. When you're as clumsy as me danger lurks behind every corner and clear cut path in front of you. The greatest danger stood right above my head – a spiral staircase with spaces between each step. I silently gave thanks that I lived in a century where elevators existed.
"Are you ready to go, love?" Edward asked gently squeezing my hand.
I remove my eyes from the stairs and looked at him. "Yes," I murmured.
Edward insisted that our honeymoon be my last human experience. He was constantly trying to buy time before changing me, or as he liked to call it "damning my soul."
He held my hand as we walked over to the elevator. "Please tell me you didn't reserve the most expensive room in the hotel," I pleaded.
The smirk he gave me confirmed my fears. Of course he got us the most expensive room; he was Edward.
The elevator was currently on the third floor. We stood there waiting patiently for it to reach us. Soon the doors opened only to reveal a mother and her three small children dressed in swimming suits.
My heart broke a little at that sight. I knew what I was giving up by choosing Edward. Every choice in life has consequences. In the end I decided that an eternity with him was worth more than a lifetime with a family of my own.
Edward picked up on my melancholy and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. He pressed the number three as soon as the elevator doors closed behind us.
Alice's POV
I never had a vision that scared me as much as this one. I'm not referring to the type fear that could reduce a hundred year immortal to hide in the closet or under the bed. No, I'm referring to the type of fear that causes you to question your whole existence.
My brother and best friend were in a peril so deep that it made the Volturi look like saints. This was the one thing that I was sure would lead to the destruction of their relationship, and perhaps evens my brother's 'death.'
I couldn't put off the inevitable any longer. I had to warn them.
Please have your cell phone on.
Sure enough his cell phone was on.
Edward's POV
When we reached our destination I insisted that I carry my bride over the threshold. With a little bit of persuasion on my part I was able to get Bella to comply with my wishes.
Once we were in our own private sanctuary for two weeks I placed my Bella down on the king-sized bed.
It was now my turn to meet the first half of our bargain.
Bella rolled over on her side. Was she having second thoughts already? Or was she just nervous? I wish she could see how nervous I was. Unfortunately, I didn't have the advantages that blush provided. Sometimes it was a blessing, and other times like this one it was truly a curse.
I heard a small sigh escape her lips. Feeling frustrated by her sudden alienation towards me, I joined her on the bed.
"What's bothering you?" I asked not entirely sure I wanted to know the answer to this question.
"You know how a child gets so excited for Christmas to finally come, and then after opening up all his presents on Christmas morning he feels disappointment."
I knew exactly what she was referring to – level of gratification, a psychological term that basically states that happiness and pleasure are short-lived.
"Yes," I answered while keeping a calm exterior to hide the sudden pressure I was feeling. If Bella and I were on the same page then I wonder if that meant she was afraid I wouldn't live up to her expectations. I had to admit it; I had those same misgivings.
Her body rolled over to face mine. The lovely shade of crimson red on her cheeks gave away her discomfort. I patiently waited for her to compose herself.
She opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by the ring of my cell phone.
I groaned in hindrance when I saw the name on the caller ID. Alice.
"Alice, this better be important. Bella and I are in the middle of our honey moon," I spat out.
Panic was written all over Bella's face and the tempo of her heart beat increased. She was most likely assuming the worst – torturing her self by playing out the worst case scenario in her mind.
"I had a vision," Alice revealed in voice low enough so my wife wouldn't hear it.
The Volturi they decided to intercept. No, the dogs they found out about our plans to change Bella and they're here to stop us.
I couldn't fret over that right now. I needed to be strong for Bella. Jumping to conclusions wasn't going to solve anything.
"It is vital that you two leave Chicago as soon as possible," Alice said shortly without giving me the benefit of any explanation.
I pinched the bridge between my eyes in order to center myself. "Alice, now is not the time to be cryptic. If Bella is in danger you need to tell me now," I demanded in a voice only vampires could hear.
She sighed. "Edward, you need to trust me on this. I can't tell you what the exact cause of your danger is; all I can say is that it isn't the Volturi, the wolves, another vampire, or any supernatural creature of any kind. One more thing before I forget it endangers all of us," she gasped out the last sentence.
Bella's eyes were pleading with me to inform her on our current situation. I hated hiding things from her, but this was for her safety. I couldn't take the chance of her playing Super Man again.
"What am I supposed to tell my wife? You know how perceptive she is… do you expect me to lie to her?"
"I expect you to do whatever it takes to get out of that city or better yet the whole state of Illinois," she exclaimed. She took an unnecessary breath before continuing, "I will give you two hints: it's a mortal and it's the last person you ever would have expected."
The phone went dead before I could get any more answers out of her.
I returned to the bed to join Bella silently hoping that I could come up with a good enough lie to satisfy her curiosity. My mind suddenly filled with guilt - honesty was imperative for the survival of any relationship.
Who could that mystery mortal be? The first name to enter my mind is Charlie, so that automatically crosses him off the list. Maybe it's one of the teachers at Forks High – that would be too easy. Bella and I were in the middle of a mystery, and only I was aware of the game that we were playing.
My angel stood in front of me with her arms cross in front of her chest, her eyes glaring daggers at me, her luscious bottom lip sticking out slightly further than the top lip. "I demand that you tell me right now what is going on. And you better give me the truth. I don't want any repeats of what happened when we went to Florida," she said hotly.
The sound of those words made my dead heart fall. I could only hope that my wife would forgive me for lying to her when she found out the truth, because in the end the truth all ways comes out – unfortunately.
I stood up and took her hands into mine. "Alice, had a vision of you getting shot in a drive by shooting," I lied. A normal reaction would be for a person's eyes to fill with panic, but instead Bella's eyes only showed concern – most likely for me.
"Edward Cullen, I know what you're planning on doing -," She saw right through my façade. "I refuse to let my husband jump in front of bullet in order to save my life," she continued.
Once again I was mistaken. Bella's predication wasn't even close, but I could use this to my advantage.
"I won't allow you to endanger your family in order save me,"
Now she was crying. I quickly pulled her into my embrace. "Bella, you know I can't keep any promises when it comes to your safety," I whispered into her ear keeping up the facade.
My plan was working. What she did next was exactly what I had hoped; she picked up her luggage and headed for the door.
"Bella love, where are you going?"
She turned around and answered, "If I'm not safe here in Chicago then I think it's best if we go home."
It wasn't the exact reaction I was hoping for, but if it had to be done to keep Bella out of harm's way I would gladly cut our honey moon short.
Alice's POV
The visions never ceased; it was bound to happen. My futile attempts to interfere with my brother's newly, transformed destiny would do nothing to stop the inevitable.
I laughed dryly at the irony of the whole situation. It wasn't that long ago that Edward went to Volterra with only the mission of suicide in mind… Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Edward and Bella's lives weren't the only ones in jeopardy. I was confident that Carlisle, Jasper, and I would still continue to exist after this. Jasper and I would still have each other. Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for Carlisle. It wasn't fair – someone with so much compassion shouldn't be forced into solitude.
Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward would all cease to exist; of course Bella would still be around but she would never know us. She would be completely unaware that she lost her one true love - it would truly be as if he never existed.
I wish that this wasn't something that was so complex. If we had the werewolves, the Volturi, or some overly zealous human on our hands then we could take the necessary precautions to avoid the situation or to mend it.
The person that was a menace to us all wouldn't have possessed any threat if he stayed within the safe confinements of his own environment. He was completely unaware of how much of a danger his presence was to us all.
Just like Adam and Eve some of us would eat of the forbidden fruit, but instead of having a choice it would be shoved into their mouths. The exact same punishment would be cast upon them – or perhaps reward would be the better term?
The terms reward and punishment didn't do the inevitable situation any justice at all. On one hand there was much to be lost, but on the other some of us would gain the one thing we never thought possible.
Despite all of this, is it selfish of me to want my family to stay together no matter the cost?
Third Person POV
It was as if his mind was playing tricks on him. It was a dream, it had to be. No other explanation would suffice all the unfamiliar sites around him.
AN: Just so you know this won't be a religious story. I just thought the whole Adam and Eve scenario fit for the story and it's a wonderful clue. I'm a person of few words, so don't expect long chapters from me. Sorry. Please review and let me know what you think.