A/N: As always, my beta, araeo rules all and I love her.
This chapter brings about the bad guy, hee hee. There may be terms you don't understand as of yet...but they will be explained. There are characters in this chapter that are from another series called The Dark Tower which, as with Twilight, I do NOT own.
Walter watched them from a safe distance. He was here for Edward. The girl had never been part of the plan. As he watched them in the car, he knew she should be. She was stronger than Edward. She could break a beam on her own.
Walter was sent to this world with instructions to bring Edward back to Devar Toi, a prison of sorts, to add his talents to the other breakers. While the captive breakers were being forced to bring about the destruction of the beams that hold up the Tower, the hub of all worlds (and existence as we know it), Walter and many others were out gathering more to bring about the end faster. If Walter brought Bella back, they may not need anyone else. Then they could focus their energy on stopping those who would save the Tower.
As Walter contemplated his next move, Bella and Edward got out of the small silver car and walked across the lot to a big red truck. The building's bell sounded and children began to exit. A very large boy walked to Bella's car and got in on the passenger's side while slapping Edward on the back.
His name was Emmett. Very protective. Would likely die to protect the girl. As would the other boy, Edward. Very well, if that's what it took. Emmett's mind was easy to enter and pull information from. Edward's was a little more difficult. Bella's was like looking at a thunderous sky without clouds. None of her thoughts were open to him.
Bella backed out while Edward watched with a stupid grin on his face. After she was gone, his smile dropped and he turned in Walter's direction, looking right at him. If Walter wasn't invisible at the moment, he'd be worried he'd been seen. Still, there was something about the boy. He may not have seen Walter, but he'd seen something. And judging by the look on his face, he knew it wasn't good. He took a few steps toward Walter, then stopped, seeming to struggle internally with something. Walter tensed, ready to strip the boy of his skin should he get too close, and the boy noticed the movement. He continued toward Walter just as a tiny pixie of a girl came skipping over to him and engaged him in conversation. He turned toward her but not before giving the area in which Walter was standing a final suspicious glance.
Hmm..., Walter thought, Perhaps I should rethink things. Maybe both would do well in Devar Toi. He needed to formulate a plan. He turned and walked away, a smile playing at his lips. This should be interesting.
EPOV
What the hell? My stomach just turned on itself and my head spun to the left to see...nothing.
Something?
Something was there. I could see the rain falling around a tall figure standing next to the bushes, but there was nothing there but an outline in the rain. I began walking in that direction to get a closer look. I took slow steps, afraid I might frighten whatever it was away before I could... Before you could what, Edward? You wanna make conversation with the air next to the bush? I stopped walking, thinking this was crazy when I saw it move. Yes, something was definitely over there. I started walking again just as Alice came skipping over to pummel me with questions. I could barely focus on what she was saying. I looked in the direction where the...thing was once more before Alice's shrill voice brought me back to reality.
"Edward. Oh Edwarrrrrrrrrrd. I swear, you're just as flaky as Bella sometimes!"
"Alice, can you see...?" I trailed off looking in the direction where the specter had been but nothing, actually nothing, was there.
The outline was gone.
"See what?"
I shook my head to clear it. "Nevermind. What's up?"
"Did you talk to Bella? Is she OK? Do you looooooooove her?"
I rolled my eyes at her. "Yes I talked to her, and yes, she's OK." Alice actually jumped up and down, clapping her hands and letting out one of those 'eeeee!' sounds in her excitement. I stuck my fingers in my ears and she laughed. "We talked and we're taking it...slow. But Alice, we need to talk to you. She's coming over later. Will you be free?"
She nodded. "Is everything OK?"
"Yes but something...odd happened earlier when we kissed." Her eyes went wide and she 'eeeee'd' again. "We need your wild imagination to help us out."
"OK. I'll see you back at the house, then. Tell Hells Bells to come over at six."
"Hells Bells?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Eh, I'm trying it out."
BPOV
I was anxious to go talk to Alice but I hadn't seen my dad or Esme in a few days, so I made an early dinner for them. Emmett and Rosalie joined us. We were gathered around the table, enjoying easy conversation, when Esme looked at me curiously.
"Bella, why so anxious? You're going to knock over the table bouncing your leg like that." She was smiling, but she looked concerned.
"Oh, Alice and I have plans and I was just excited to get over there."
"Pfft, she wants to get over there and on Edward."
"Emmett!" Esme and I both yelled. Dad choked on his bite of food and Rosalie just sat there, sipping her water. Bitch.
"What?" Emmett asked.
"I'm going to hang out with Alice, Emmett."
"I know. I was merely pointing out that you would also like to tap that sweet Cullen ass." My dad's head rapidly snapped back and forth between Emmett and I during the conversation.
"Oh for the love of... Emmett! Look at what you're doing to my dad!" I squeaked. Esme was actually giggling at this point. Rosalie remained stoic save for one raised eyebrow.
"Bella, are you dating Edward?" Dad asked.
"I...we...I mean, we are, uh, friends...and..."
"Easy, Bella. It's OK. You're seventeen and you're a smart girl, so I won't give you the 'be safe' speech," Emmett was now laughing, "but I'd like to meet him if you two are an item." I was not expecting that. With Edward's history and my dad being the Chief of Police, I was sure he'd go ape shit if he knew I was interested in him. He must have seen the shock on my face and he laughed. "Like I said, Honey, you're a smart girl. You are great at deciding what is or isn't good for you. I trust you." He got up and kissed me on the forehead. "But if he hurts you, I'll rip his balls off." Emmett was practically rolling on the floor. "Go on, Honey. Get outta here. We'll clean up." Esme nodded and gave me a smile. I got up, pushing my chair back under the table.
"Thanks guys." I was about to walk out of the kitchen when I turned back and threw may arms around Emmett. "Love you, big bro."
He kissed my hair. "Love you too, lil sis."
And then I was out the door.
* * *
"Bella! I haven't seen you since you've been back. How are you?" Carlisle scooped me up in his arms and hugged me. I blushed. When I was little, I'd had a crush on him. All the girls had. He had blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Any straight girl with a pulse would notice...and maybe some not so straight ones too.
"I'm good, Carlisle. You?"
"Good. Alice and Edward are upstairs waiting for you."
"Thanks."
"It's good to see you again, Bella."
I smiled at him. "You too, Carlisle." I headed up the stairs.
Alice's door was open and she and Edward were inside the room talking. When I entered the doorway, Edward stood from the computer chair and walked to me.
"Hey Bella," he said, taking my hand and leading me into the room.
Alice bounced up and down on the bed when he kissed me on the cheek. "Hee hee, yay!" she giggled. We both rolled our eyes at her. "OK! So what's the happs here, guys?"
I sat on the floor in front of Edward, who took the computer chair again. He threaded his hands through my hair and began to play with it. His touch made my breath pick up. As we took turns explaining the events of the day, Edward's hands moved to my neck and shoulders, massaging me gently. I felt the pressure building in my chest again and knew what he was doing. He not only wanted to tell Alice what happened, he wanted to show her as well.
"Soooo...what? Being horny sets it off?" Edward laughed as I closed my eyes. The pressure was increasing, and I gasped at the intensity. "Bella?" Alice said, "Bella are you...? Whoa!" My eyes opened and I felt the electricity. Little sparks were shooting from my finger-tips, burning out before hitting the ground. "Hells Bells, holy shit!" she whispered. I turned my eyes to her and she gasped, throwing her hands to her mouth. Edward kept constant contact with my skin. I rubbed my fingers together, exciting the electricity.
In Edward's mind, I saw him telling me to try something with the electricity, so I began to rub my hands together. After a few moments of doing that, I started to separate them. The electricity was gathering and as I pulled my hands further apart, a ball of light began to form between them. It was the same colors as I assumed my eyes to be right now. The ball was no bigger than a large marble floating between my hands. They started to swirl around the ball without my permission and the light slowly increased in size. I felt the pressure in my chest deepen.
"Edward," my voice came out grainy, "Edward, let...let go."
"What?" The ball's size increased again.
"Let go of me, quick!" Alice watched this exchange raptly with wide eyes. As soon as his hands left my skin, the ball shot out from between my hands and crashed into Alice's wall, leaving a softball-sized burn mark where it hit.
We all stared at the wall for a moment and then looked at each other.
"Wha...what the...?" Edward stuttered. I was shaking.
"Bella, that was amazing!" Alice said. "I mean, you ruined my wall, but that was totally worth it!" I could sense that my eyes were still glowing. Alice crawled down to the floor and sat right in front of me and stared. "Don't touch her, Edward. I don't wanna get fried." He just shook his head. She cupped my face in her hands and examined me. "I already see the brown color of your eyes coming back but that was...is just incredible! How does it work?"
Edward was finally able to speak coherently. "We were hoping you'd have some theories on that, Al."
A/N: Reviews make-a da world go 'round! :)