Hey everyone! So hopefully most of you read the Author's Note I posted, but if not, here's a recap:

I'm ending the story soon! Faster than I thought, actually. This will be one of the last chapters, but I promise to have at least two more chapters after this.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve

April

April didn't dare move, praying silently that Lucifer couldn't see her. But by his expression, she knew that he had. Her mouth was open and she felt her stomach drop as she stared into his black, fathomless eyes. He didn't move for a few moments, watching April closely.

"April!" Alice cried. "What the hell is going on?" She didn't answer, but instead swallowed and slowly pulled Alice next to her, ignoring Lyreco's yells at her to run.

"Lucifer." April breathed, not sure if she was talking to the Aeterna or Alice, who went still beside her. With a deep breath, she blindly looked forward and began to speak.

"I – I – we need your help. I'm sure you know what with." She stammered.

"You do understand the price of what you are asking of me, yes?" a deep, booming voice echoed through the cave. Alice flinched, but April stood steady, knowing that Lucifer had spoken. His low voice was deep and exasperated, but terrifying all the same.

April was quickly confused. What price? She thought. Of course, she hadn't really expected the Aeterna to raise Emmett for nothing.

"Y-yes." Alice's voice dropped into a bare, scared whisper. April saw Lucifer smirk slightly, and he paused. April studied him carefully – he looked like a stereotypical vampire. His hair was jet black and hung loosely above his wide shoulders. His skin was a powdery white and his lips very faint.

He didn't breathe, nor blink. He wore dark robes against the blackness, almost blending in completely. April sent Alice a questioning glace, but looked away quickly when she remembered that Alice couldn't see her.

"Show me the body." Lucifer boomed.

"I've got it." April murmured to Alice, turning and hauling the body bag in front of them. It was badly scratched after their escape from Francesca, but they had been lucky to even escape. Lucifer made no move to open it, so April warily crouched and unzipped the bag, revealing Emmett's cold, lifeless body. Lucifer nodded, his face devoid of emotion. He raised his hand up into the air, somehow making the entire cave shake.

April gripped Alice's arm tightly, standing steady as small rocks fell from the ceiling. It appeared that Lucifer had raised something out of the rock below – it looked like a stone altar. Before April could even notice him moving, Lucifer had taken Emmett's body out of the bag and placed it on the crumbling altar. He moved too quickly for even April's incredible sight, now standing behind Emmett's body.

"So," Lucifer said with a growing smile. It reminded April strangely of the Cheshire cat, although far more frightening. "Who wants to die?"

Bella

Edward snarled at Francesca, wasting no time as he charged forward. Before he could even strike her Francesca had stepped aside easily, moving out of his way. Edward spun around, and she put her hands up in mock surrender with a malicious smile.

"Relax." She laughed. "I'm not here to ruin your day."

"What do you want?" Bella snapped through clenched teeth. Francesca looked to her, rolling her eyes. "Must I always have some sort of evil motive?" she shook her head, smile not leaving her lips. "No, I'm just 'tagging along'." Francesca said, flipping her hair. Bella noticed that the Aeterna wasn't wearing her usual leather outfit, but instead wore a simple black tank top and jeans. She looked like a normal human...But Bella knew better.

"I have a little...Unfinished business with Lucifer." Francesca continued. "And since Edward here knows where he is, I'm coming with you." She grinned at Bella's frown.

"I won't help you." Edward hissed from behind her. Francesca didn't even turn, but instead waited for him to approach her. When he did, she moved in a blur, pinning him to the ground. Despite his struggles, Edward was trapped.

"Oh, yes, you will." Francesca stood and took a step back, allowing him to leap up. "If you value her life," she pointed a pale finger at Bella. "Then you will." Swallowing, Edward nodded slightly.

"My car's just around -"

"We're not driving." Francesca said impatiently. "We can get there much faster on our feet."

"But Bella -" Edward started. He stopped when Francesca suddenly swung Bella over her shoulder, ignoring her yells of protest.

"Put me down!" Bella screeched, kicking against Francesca's hold. In response, the vampire shoved a cold hand over Bella's mouth and nose, squeezing so to stop her from breathing.

"What are you doing?" Edward cried. Bella felt dizzy suddenly, desperate for air. She couldn't find the strength to beat against Francesca any longer, and went limp, her eyes barely staying open.

"Stop!" she barely heard Edward yell.

Then everything went black.

Edward

As soon as Bella had lost consciousness, Francesca had removed her hand, allowing Bella to breath.

"There." She smiled. "Now I won't have anyone bothering me." She gave Edward a pointed look. "Lead the way."

Fighting the urge to attack her on the spot, Edward began to speed through the overcrowded city, carefully taking dark back routes away from anyone who might see them. Francesca followed closely behind with Bella over her shoulder.

When they finally came to the edge of Spokane – it was a surprisingly large city – Bella woke up. Edward heard her groan behind him but didn't dare stop, instead zoomed across the highway and into the trees, almost flying with his speed. He remembered the route well, and passed the first landmark: a clearing.

"Not far now." He called. There was no response from Francesca, but Edward continued anyway, finally stopping when he reached the gaping hole in the ground.

"Down here." He murmured as Francesca stopped beside him. She set a yelling Bella down in the grass, and Edward found it strange to look at the two identical girls, one a vampire. Luckily, they had a few differences in what they wore and their hair.

Hey, just wanted to say...

HAPPY 4TH JULY!

Now continue reading. ;D

Bella sat silently now, taking deep breaths.

"After you," Francesca gestured to the hole, talking to Edward. "Don't try anything." Nodding, he stepped confidently forward, feeling the air rush past him as he descended, stopping quietly on the rock floor. Francesca landed next, putting Bella down again. Edward used the remaining light of the sun above to search the walls for the flashlight he had hung a few nights ago, and when he found it switched it on, illuminating the cavern. Already he heard voices in the other room.

"Through here." He said, striding through a small tunnel. Bella struggled to keep up, but managed to make it, panting. Inside the other cavern, Edward saw three figures. He froze, recognising Alice, April, and Lucifer.

"...wants to die?" Lucifer finished what he had been saying just as Edward pointed the flashlight at his sister.

"Alice?" she spun around.

"Edward!" she squealed, eyes widening. April turned, watching Edward with an open mouth. He heard a cry from Bella and turned to see that her gaze was focussed on something laid out on a stone altar ahead. Edward realised what it was: a body. He felt sick. Now he knew what Alice was doing...

It was too late to stop Lucifer, however. He had begun murmuring strange words, his hands pressed on Emmett's corpse. Faint blue light seemed to seep from out of his hands, and Edward pushed Bella back slightly.

"Alice, you have to get out of here!" he called. Alice shook her head, a weak smile on her face. She then looked to Bella, smile fading. She ran up to her and squeezed her in a tight hug, whispering something that Edward couldn't quite hear.

Bella was left open-mouthed, but didn't follow Alice.

Lucifer finished, and looked up to Alice.

"It is time." He said grimly. Alice nodded, and motioned for April to back up. With fury and pain on her face, she did.

"Wait!" a feminine voice ran through the caves, bouncing off the walls. Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, and Edward's torch illuminated the approaching figure.

"Don't kill Alice." Rosalie stepped into the light. She immediately approached Alice, ignoring the questioning gazes of everyone.

"I'm sorry Rose," Alice murmured. "But, for Emmett to come back -" She swallowed, on the verge of tearlessly crying. "Someone has to die." She finished hoarsely.

With a deep breath, Rosalie said, "I know. And that someone will be me."

"What?" Alice gasped. "No, Rosalie, please, just -"

"I loved Emmett, of course. But he loved Bella. It's time that I do what's right. I value his life more than anything else – it's time I stop being selfish." Rosalie glanced at Bella with a faint smile. Alice opened her mouth to speak, but didn't, instead stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Rosalie. She held on for a few moments without withdrawing.

They looked at each other meaningfully, and without saying goodbye to anyone else, Rosalie faced an impatient Lucifer. Without delay, he placed his hands on either side of her head, murmuring more strange words. Rose closed her eyes, and Edward saw beautiful, white light come out of her. It drifted like smoke down to Emmett, and somehow seeped inside of him. This continued for only a few seconds before Lucifer released Rosalie and she fell to the floor. Alice wept on April's shoulder, and Bella shed a few tears.

"He'll wake up soon." Lucifer said. He then turned to Francesca, flashing up to her.

"Francesca," he smiled. "It has been a very long time." Francesca didn't smile, but kept her face blank.
"Yes, quite a while."

"I know what you did." Lucifer said, silencing Francesca. After a minute, she slowly smiled.

"And that's why I came to kill you." As she said the words, she whipped out a silvery object from her pocket and lunged for Lucifer, who easily dodged it. Snarling, Francesca turned and attacked him again. The two Aeternas were blurred as they grappled, and Edward couldn't see who was winning. Finally, they stopped moving, and a cry of agony filled the cavern.

It rang in Edwards ears and he winced. Looking back to the fight, he saw that Francesca was now standing over Lucifer, who was laying face down with a white dagger protruding from his back. Alice had rushed forward during the chaos, grabbing Emmett's body. She backed away as Francesca turned towards them, a malicious smile on her lips.

Alice sprinted away, grabbing a shrieking Bella as she flew into the first cavern. April jumped in Francesca's way before she could chase after her, causing a momentary distraction. Suddenly, there was a rumble in the caves, and Francesca stopped, looking behind her. Lucifer's body had disappeared. Three figures seemed to materialise, all faint and almost see-through. Edward only recognised Lucifer, and gasped when he did.

"Lucifer – Lyreco – Sofia!" Francesca cried. "But – but I killed you all!" The woman that Francesca called Sofia shook her head in disgust, crossing her arms.

"Indeed you did, young Francesca. We are not really alive." She said with a French accent.

"Then how...?"

"Don't even bother." The other ghost, presumably Lyreco, snapped. "All we want is revenge. And that's what we'll get." Outstretching his arm, he closed his eyes, soon copied by the other two ghosts. Francesca laughed uneasily.

"You can't touch me!" she yelled. "You're not real! You're dead!" But tendrils of grey smoke were stretching from the fingertips of the ghosts, quickly advancing on Francesca, who stood her ground. Finally, the smoke wound around her, and when she tried to step away, she found herself trapped. Edward watched in fascination as the grey smoke concealed Francesca completely as it constricted, the only traces of the Aeterna were her spine-chilling screams.

Suddenly, the smoke disappeared. Where Francesca was standing, there was nothing. She's gone. Edward thought in confusion.

"Did you kill her?" he demanded. Lyreco looked at him with a strange expression.

"She is not dead." He murmured grimly, barely loud enough for Edward to hear. He heard a sharp gasp and noticed that April was still in the cave.

"What happened to her then?" she asked quietly. The three dead Aeternas were silent for a minute before the woman, Sofia, spoke up with an amused smile playing at her lips.

"Well, let's just say that she won't be as confident to bother you anymore." She said. Edward frowned, and noticed April gazing pointedly at Lyreco, as if they were having their own silent exchange. With wide eyes, Edward realised that they could be, and listened in to April's thoughts.

...just tell me! What did you do? She thought. He then tried to hear Lyreco's as well, but found that there was some sort of barrier blocking him from doing so. A glare from the Aeterna told him to stop trying.

What? April mentally screeched at Lyreco. Well where is she then? Did you ever think about what would happen if she bumped into someone who knows Bella?

Lyreco gave her some sort of reply that calmed her, and in exasperation she thought, Alright, alright. Just as long as you're sure.

"We should go." Edward murmured. April nodded and turned on her heel, rushing for the exit. Edward stayed however, approaching the altar. He knelt down by Rosalie's body, slowly closing her eyelids with his hand. He then picked her up swiftly, almost feeling the lack of life in her body. Still carrying the flashlight tucked under his arm, he too hurried for the exit, dropping the torch as the sunlight above illuminated the small space.

Edward jumped with his vampire strength, soaring upwards. He could see a face peering down at him as he ascended, but the sight was quickly lost as he landed gracefully on the other side.

"This way." April called. Edward turned and nodded, following her in a blur as they flew through the trees, heading for the highway. He held Rosalie's body close to him to keep her from hitting the vegetation as they flashed through it, following familiar scents.

Alice and Bella were waiting in an expensive-looking black car, and Edward idly hoped that it wasn't stolen. He knew it was, though. Without hesitation, he slipped Rosalie's almost weightless corpse into the back, grimacing when he saw Emmett had not yet woken up.

He then slid into the back seat with April, not bothering with his seatbelt as the car jerked forward, breaking the speed limits as it rushed down the highway.

I know, I could have ended that better. But there you go! Wow, this story is going to be a lot shorter than New Love...But there will definitely be another sequel!

Cyber cookies to the reviewers! :D

-LB