Chapter 17

ALICE'S POV

We were at home and I was so worried I could have fainted. My husband and brother were missing. What had I done to be punished like this? I couldn't stick around doing nothing, so I went to my room. I knew it would kill Carlisle and Esme, but it had to be done. I slid open the window and jumped out with a dull thud. I started running past the trees and forests, past the hospital, past the school. I knew were I had to go. I knew were to find them.

I headed for the airport. I realized I hadn't brought anything with me, money, phone, hairbrush... I stood still. I was going to have to go the long way. I ran out of the airport and into the car park. Hundreds of cars all lined up ready for me to choose.

A yellow 911 Porsche was the closest (and the most beautiful) so I hopped in and sped to Volterra. I was going to have to face The Volturi.

ESME'S POV

I felt like crying. Edward, Emmett and now Alice missing. Jasper and Rose out of my life, what had I done to deserve this? I was knelt on Alice's bedroom floor.

"CARLISLE!" I sobbed, he was upstairs in three seconds.

"What's wrong my lov... Where is she?"

I shrugged and sobbed even more. "All my children have gone! I'm not meant to be a mother!"

Carlisle picked me up and hugged me.

"Of course you are. They have just gone away for a while. Maybe Alice just went to clear her head, I bet this is all very stressful for her."

"Stressful for her?! What about me!!" I sobbed again. Carlisle walked me out of the room and downstairs. He put my favorite film on, plopped me on the couch and sat on there with me.

"It's going to be OK love. They'll be back soon."

"They won't be though Carlisle, they're gone forever, I know it!"

"Whose gone forever?" Edward strolled through the door.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I'VE BEEN!" I ran over to him and smothered him in hugs and kisses.

Carlisle walked over to him. "You could have called. The stress you've put us through..."

Edward looked away. "I know, I'm sorry. I needed to clear my head."

Carlisle nodded and hugged him.

"We've got some news." I whispered and we all sat down.

He looked concerned and Carlisle started talking.

"Emmett has gone missing. He went for a walk yesterday morning, looking for you. He hasn't come back. Alice was frantic. We went looking for him all over town. Now Alice has gone missing looking for him. She hasn't picked her mobile up, she didn't tell us she was going. She just left."

He stood up and looked out of the window. "Well." he whispered. "A lot has happened because of me then hasn't it?"

I nodded and he came and sat down next to me. "I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arms round me as I cried (without tears.)

"We need to go and look for them then don't we? We can't just sit here doing nothing." Edward muttered.

"It's no use Edward. They've gone. I don't think they wanted to be here anymore." I sighed.

"Explain." Carlisle said.

"Well, I think they used this as an excuse to go 'missing' and really they've gone to live their lives without us."

"I don't think that is true. I think you're looking to deep into it. Alice has just gone to look for Emmett. She'll be back when she's either got him or realized she needs other people to help her." Edward reassured. I smiled a thanks.

"You're probably right."

"I am right." I laughed.

EMMETT'S POV

Waiting in the shadows is not as fun as it sounds. Not that it sounds fun. It's cold (even for me), it's wet and I'm lonely without Alice. Thinking of her made me hate Aro and his creepy brothers even more.

I heard footsteps. I recognized the step. Alice.

I jumped out. It was not Alice, it was Aro.

"THERE YOU ARE, YOU FOOL! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET AWAY FROM US, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE US." he yelled.

"I don't think so Aro." I grabbed the frail vampire and threw him across the room. Huh, he was stronger than he looked. He jumped up and started towards me. But I ran. And I was fast. Fast enough to lose him anyway. But I knew it was a matter of time until he would smell me out and come for me. I knew I would be out in the open soon. So I didn't stop in the shadows, I carried on running and running. The building was like a maze, but an amazing one. All the status and portraits of the brothers were breathtaking. I saw light. Natural light. Daylight. I smiled, I knew I would be outside soon. I ran towards the light and found a huge window. It was three stories up and I knew there was going to be a commotion when I jumped free. And I would be sparkling. It was a chance I was going to have to take. Then I stopped. If I did this, I would always be on the run. They would never forgive me and would eventually find me. I turned around and there was Aro.

"Give me your hand Emmett."

"Why?" I whispered.

"I want to see what's going through your mind."

I gave him my hand, knowing that if he tried anything I could flip him over and break his spine. Great, now he knew I was thinking that. I tried to hide my thoughts, but couldn't escape his mind. It was like a weed. Crawling into my mind and taking over. All my thoughts went over to him, everything I have ever thought, everything I have done.

He dropped my hand, the weed creeping back out of my head.

"Interesting, you are a strong vampire Emmett. You would be good on the guard. Would you be interested?"

I shook my head.

"I understand. I do feel bad about this you know Emmett. I'm not heartless." I snorted.

He shook his head and carried on. "I consider Carlisle as one of my oldest and closest friends, I hate disrespecting him and his family. But Alice is something I have to have."

"What if she has a family? Did you think of that? She's married and has brothers, sisters and parents. You are obviously heartless, as you would never dream of taking her away from something so important to her."

He growled and stormed off.

"Get back in your dungeon cell Emmett, or I will get the guard to hunt you down and drag you in there." He whipped across the room and grabbed my throat.

"And don't try to escape again, next time I will not be so understanding." He dropped me to the floor and walked off.

I sighed and picked myself up. I headed towards the dungeon. I didn't want the creepy twins to come. I have felt the wrath of what they can do. And it's not nice.