Disclaimer: The following characters are owned to Stephenie Meyer.

Spider Web of Chaos

Bella's POV

"Alice," Edward said her name in a way that made me shudder. At once, Alice's hands dropped from my face, leaving an icy trail where they once were. Her expression changed dramatically from excitement to serious.

I looked over at their yellow 911 Turbo. So I hadn't been delusional. I smiled, thinking it had to be Alice's. Then I suddenly realized they were waiting. "Umm, would you like to come in?" I slowly opened the door wider.

As each vampire entered the house, I marveled over his or her immortal appearance. It was hard not to be envious of their ability to keep such perfect profiles for endless time.

"We're here to inform you we'll be in town for specific reasons," said Jasper. He stood unmoving in the back corner of my living room, politely cautious for my safety.

For a brief second, my mind pondered at why Rosalie wasn't here. I returned back to the conversation and nodded, urging them to continue.

"Because," Emmett said, his voice slick and unemotional, "Alice had a vision." He was bigger than I remember, seemingly a giant to the small confines of my humble abode.

"We didn't want to intrude." My eyes finally slid to Edward, saving the best for last. He was as beautiful as ever, but had no life in his eyes whatsoever. It still startled me that he had once loved me and I him. Heck, I still love him… maybe even more than Luke… but I wasn't about to drive down memory lane. I was well aware those memories were bound to reopen the hole I worked so hard to heal.

I struggled, wanting to say that it was perfectly fine they were here, but I'd be lying through my teeth. "What was the vision about?" I asked, trying to distract myself with knowledge.

"The Volturi," Alice whispered. She looked at me with piercing eyes.

I stood there, dumbfounded. "The Volturi," I repeated, but it wasn't as nearly perfect as Alice had said it. "They've…" I started. "That was a long time ago."

"Not that long. Apparently they're also stopping in for a visit." Emmett scoffed, obviously not pleased with this fact.

"So wait, they're coming here to check if I've been changed—which I haven't, by the way—when I have this?" I pointed at my swollen abdomen.

Everyone went silent for a moment. I wave of heat rolled across the surface of my body.

My gaze couldn't help but land on Edward. For an instant, I could almost swear I saw something pass over him. His eyes flashed, but I couldn't read them. It disappeared, making me doubt if I had ever witnessed it in the first place. I felt something instantaneously lift off of me, giving me freedom. I looked at Jasper, silently thanking him.

"Yes," Alice said, answering my original question.

I stuttered. "What about Luke? What's going to happen? How are we supposed to handle this?" I flooded with questions and started to pace. The air conditioning I had on wasn't helping at all. Perspiration started to accumulate on my forehead. The sudden heat flashes were overwhelming. I leaned on the counter for support.

"Alice, can you go get Bella some ice wrapped in a towel, please?" Edward asked, putting his hand along my back. Alice immediately did as she was told and came back in about five seconds flat, record time, with ice. I accepted it and placed it against the back of my neck.

Jasper still hung back. I could tell he was struggling, wanting to help me, but was torn by his need for blood.

Emmett walked towards us, but rammed into my coffee table. The collision resulted in the lamp that had been placed there to fall to the floor. It shattered, breaking into a million pieces that covered the floor in a spider web. "Oops," he mumbled. "I can replace that."

"It's fine," I rasped. "Don't worry about it."

Despite my command, he began to pick up the glass up. Jasper bent down to assist him, thankful for something to do.

"Where are Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie?" I asked, curious.

"They're back at the hotel. In fact, we should return." Edward said, steadying me.

Alice gave me a quick hug, glancing at Edward momentarily before heading out the door. Jasper followed after throwing away the glass, and so did Emmett. Both said their farewells to me by a wave or ruffling my hair. Then it was time for Edward's goodbye.

I silently begged him not to leave. The visit had been so short. And I didn't want the nightmares to come back. Luke wouldn't even be here to hold me together. No one would.

He ran his hand through his stunning locks. "I'm sure you'll see us around town one way or another." Edward offered me a present then, curling his lips in my favorite half smile. But it didn't reach his eyes as it had before, giving the smile less meaning. I tried to smile back, still surprised at his effort.

"Yes," I replied. "I'm sure I will too."

He disappeared out the door, walking to his siblings that were waiting for him in the car.

I closed the door in haste, not wanting them to see the tears that had already formed.

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The nightmares that I had thought were gone were back again. This time they were more real than before. I woke up after each one, covering my head with a pillow to drown myself out.