EDWARD: As we cramped around the tiny kitchen table, Bella looked around with a frown.

"Dad?"

"Yeah Bells?"

"When was the last time you cleaned this house?"

A chill went up my spine. The same familiar twinge of worry whenever Bella went to attempt something that involved movement, potential elevation, and/or objects reverberated through my

chest. Despite being… sturdier… Bella was still Bella, and accidents followed in her wake. It was another overcast day, and Charlie seemed grateful for any possible help he could get. He

wasn't good at upkeep. According to the recently medicated patient, the lawnmower stopped working; something about it spluttering and wheezing. The mongrel offered to take a look,

considering motors were his expertise. Bella would handle the inside, desperately in need of dusting and general cleaning, and I had been the one selected to take Charlie to the

physiotherapy clinic for a quick once over, just to know what's up and coming, then to the hospital for a check-up, where Carlisle would take the liberty of bringing him back. Bella re-assured

me that leaving for a while would be completely fine. I was still reluctant; I didn't like leaving her with him unattended. Upon my return about an hour later, nothing had changed with the

exception of a mild dent in the fridge. I was reluctant to ask. Bella said the vacuum got stuck… that was enough to paint the mental picture in my mind. She indicated towards a meagre-

looking feather duster and asked me to overtake the dust mite army in the living room. It was then that I heard several simultaneous thuds, Bella squeak in surprise, and a groan from the

kitchen.

I went to the kitchen to find Bella perched on the countertop with one foot on a chair just as I had left her. The cupboard door was open, and she was looking at the floor with a hand

clamped over her mouth and wide eyes. Jacob was sprawled on the floor, a hand on his forehead and legs haphazardly spread out across the kitchen. I could have laughed myself into

oblivion, but I knew I had to exercise some self control.

"What happened here?"

"Finished with the lawn…" he grunted, "came inside to tell Bella…" he looked up from his position on the floor, and I had to physically stop myself from laughing.

"When suddenly," he continued, "instead of Bella, there's a cupboard door, and she like, flung it open as if she was trying to get it off completely."

"There was a spider…" Bella said sheepishly.

"So you try to take me out in the process?!" Jacob made to stand up, then slipped and landed flat on his back once again.

"Bella?" he asked, staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah?"

"Are you contagious? Usually this would be you, not me."

"Sorry, washed the floors. Guess they haven't dried yet." Bella made to get down from the chair and stepped onto the floor. She slipped too, and still gripping the chair, went backwards, with

the chair toppling over and breaking over Jacob's body. At this rate, Bella would be Jacob's undoing. I should have put them together in a kitchen scenario a long time ago…

"Sorry!" she apologized hurriedly, and went to stand up. She slipped again. I strode over, hoisting her from the ground. I transported her into the carpeting of the living room, where friction

would inevitable keep her steady. She looked from Jacob to the mangled chair, to the sizeable dent in the cupboard from the impact of his cranium to her damp pants. And then she began to

laugh. Jacob inclined his head and stared at her indignantly, as her knees buckled and laughter shook her to the core. Jacob dragged himself across the kitchen to join us, so as not to fall

again, which only made Bella laugh harder. Jacob began to grin and looked at me in amusement. Both of us began to laugh now, seeing Bella's amusement by the torrent of clumsiness

caused simply from being Bella. Jacob seemed jovial until his smile began to fade. I could see images, though hazy in his mind. Something was happening in La Push…The pack was having

some kind of trouble…

"Jacob," I said, breaking him from his trance, "Do you need a ride?"

I don't know what possessed me to do it, but the screaming inside Jacob's head was enough to indicate this was no joke. Bella sat in front with me, and Jacob took the back seat of

the Volvo. We sped down the highway, weaving between cars to get to the Reservation as quickly as possible. Jacob was gripping the edge of his seat in discomfort. Bella was quiet, worried

about the pack and how they were faring with whatever was causing present turmoil. When we came to the borderline, Jacob told us to come along; an exception would be made to

accommodate the sudden problem Sam's voice verified this. Jacob darted ahead of us and simply said, "Head to the clearing to the north-west," as he removed his shirt and undid the belt

buckle on his jeans. When we reached the clearing he spoke of, we were greeted with the snarling of a rabid wolf, foaming and convulsing, and growling with every breath it took. They had

surrounded it; it had nowhere to go but through them. I could hear the conversation of the pack members as they tried reasoning.

"Leah—snap out of it! This isn't you, this isn't-"

"LEAVE ME ALONE! GET OUT… GET OUT!"

"Leah, control yourself! We aren't doing anything to hurt you, we're trying to help-"

"THE VOICE….THE VOICE…!"

And then I heard it. Faintly, but I could hear it: the slow and cold drawl of an icy and eloquent tongue, malice enhancing its every syllable. I knew that voice. It was one of the Volturi,

although I knew not why they were interjecting into the wolf's head and thoughts. All of a sudden her spine went rigid and her ears slicked back against her skull. Her fur stood up on end

and she bared her teeth, saliva pooling at her feet and a growl rippling through foundation of her body. Her legs tensed and coiled until the abrupt release of a pounce. She was upon the

pack leader in no time, determined to rip out his throat. The vampire in her head laughed and drove her further, bending her will to make mince meat of him. "For trusting the Cullens… For

deserting you for Emily… For allowing the Swan girl within your territory in defiance of your treaty…For their blindness to what she is and her elusive tricks… Let hatred and resentment rip these fools

apart!" Two wolves jumped in from both sides, propelling her directly back to the middle of the circle.

"THE VOICE…THE VOICE! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" she wailed. She clawed at her muzzle and face, as though be physically mangling herself she'd mangle the intruder. It was then that she

became aware of our presence. The Voice seemed mildly surprised and addressed me directly, complimenting me on a beautiful, stone-cold wife. I glared, and replied aloud, "To whom do I

owe the pleasure?"

"It is none other than Aro, dear Edward. Have you reconsidered my previous offer? I'm sure Bella would be quite comfortable in Volterra…"

"What do you want with her?"

"Nothing of which you are not already aware…"

"Not her; your host."

"Ah… this? But a simple plot. Remove them from the face of the earth; repulsive creatures. They have been our sworn foes since before your existence, Edward. We had thought the line died out

generations ago… yet here they hide, the vile cowards. I decided to test the strength of their barriers. I've been a puppeteer for some time now, but humans grow tiring, especially if they have no true

purpose. Chief Swan was quite a pleasure…"

I tensed, taken by surprise. I felt the eyes of Bella and the pack, and could hear some of them questioning me among themselves. The questions stopped instantly when I found myself

beneath the possessed wolf, restraining the jaws that intended to tear an ample chunk from my neck.