Chapter fourteen
Alice's POV
"Alice? Your barbie doll is here." Bella laughed, knocking on the door like she had earlier today.
"come in." I called from the closet.
She walked in slowly, as if entering enemy territory.
I laughed, motioning for her to sit in front of the vanity.
But as I styled her hair, I couldn't help but let my mind wander.
What would happen tonight?
Would my vision come true?
And would I be forced to fight back?
"Alice? Your going to pull my hair out." she said, waving her hand in front of my face.
"oh, sorry." I said, finishing her hair and dragging her to the closet.
"I'm surprised you don't get lost in here." she said, looking around.
"nonsense." I laughed, handing her the black denim skirt, camisole, and flats I had picked for her.
"seriously?" she said, holding up the skirt.
"be lucky you're not wearing heels." I said.
She nodded, and changed and I went to get Esme.
After we were all dressed and ready, Bella lead the way to the garage.
"which car?" she asked.
"Porsche." I said, laughing.
We all got into the car, me at the wheel.
And so the Girls Night Out from hell began.
Chapter fifteen
Alice's POV
"There it is!" Bella said, pointing to a dark alley.
I looked at her skeptically. "are you sure?"
she nodded.
After a moment, the narrow alley let out into a parking lot, a small building in the center.
We parked, and quickly walked toward the entrance.
There was a velvet rope and red carpet like you might see at an award show, complete with a heavy set man at the door.
Bella lead us past the line, straight to the entrance.
"Bella Cullen." she told the man, and he looked on a clipboard.
He looked us over, then stepped aside.
"umm.. what just happened?" I asked.
"let's just say I know people." Bella said, laughing.
We all laughed, walking down a dark hallway.
Music was pulsing, seeming to shake the building.
The hallway opened into a large room, with people dancing, drinking, or just listening to the music.
But Bella kept on walking, straight to a door on the other side of the room.
"this is where the real party is." she said, opening the door.
The room was smaller, but still roomy. There was only a few other people there. The room was so artfully decorated you'd think it was the hottest club in L.A., not Denali.
an hour later, we were having a great time dancing, totally lost in the music.
Bella's phone started ringing, and she walked off the dance floor to answer it. We followed.
"That was Edward. Apparently the guys are worrying about us." she laughed, looking at her watch. "it is getting pretty late. Maybe we should head home. Katherine's probably missing you, Alice."
I nodded, and we started toward the exit.
As we walked toward the Porsche, I couldn't help but realize nothing had gone wrong.
Rosalie hadn't freaked out, on the contrary, it seemed like she had fun.
I looked to my sister, expecting to see her smile back.
I was completely wrong.
Chapter sixteen
Jasper's POV
"hello?" I said, answering my phone.
"jasper? It's Bella." her voice was worried, and she was clearly in a hurry.
"Is something wrong?" I asked quickly.
"um.. yeah." she said quietly.
"what happened?"
"i can't explain now. But Alice needs your help. Now." she said, but I was already running.
Alice's POV
Rosalie attacked again, and I barely dodged it in time.
I couldn't keep this up, she was bound to catch me eventually. Bella and Esme were no help, afraid to hurt either of us.
Rosalie attacked once more, this time grabbing hold of my arm as I moved out of the way.
"no." I said faintly as she bite down on my wrist.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that.
I bit my lip, holding back a scream.
How had this happened?
Just a few moments ago, we had been having fun, just like we had years ago.
But I couldn't focus on my thoughts, I was too busy trying to defend myself.
Rosalie wouldn't loose her grip on my arm, and skin where she had bitten me was beginning to ache.
I struggled, but couldn't break free.
I finally surrendered, all hope lost.
I closed my eyes, expecting to find myself wherever our kind goes.
But instead, I heard a voice, the voice that has brought me to safety time and time again.
Then I was freed from Rosalie's hands, and in the arms of another.
I opened my eyes, to the worried face of the one I love.
"jasper.." I whispered, staring into his eyes.
Chapter seventeen
Alice's POV
"don't move." jasper said, letting go of me.
For a moment I stood there, clutching my aching hand.
Then I realized what was happening: Rosalie, by own sister, had attacked me. And now Jasper was headed straight for her.
"jasper, don't!" I yelled, over the music still pulsing from the club, undisturbed by our conflict.
Jasper turned around, with a look of hatred on his face.
I ran to him. "don't Jasper.. she doesn't deserve that. No one does."
"Alice, she hurt you. I have to do this." he whispered.
"no, you don't. You don't have to hurt anyone, never again." I said, grabbing his hand.
He didn't respond, but his shoulders relaxed, and so did I.
I stole a glance to Rosalie, but all I saw was a flash of blond hair, then she was gone.
"don't worry about her." Bella said, appearing at my side.
"let's get home." I said quietly.
Esme drove, with Bella in the passenger seat, Jasper and I in the back.
None of us spoke a word, but the silence said it all.
I rested my head on Jasper's shoulder, closing my eyes.
Jasper gently held my injured hand, and I couldn't help but notice the irony.
He was covered in battle scars, from years of combat. But somehow, my one solitary scar meant so much more.
It meant we had lost a sister.
Chapter eighteen
Alice's POV
when we arrived home, I wasn't sure what to do. How would we tell Emmett about what had happened?
"don't worry about him right now, Alice. You've been through enough tonight." Esme said when I brought it up.
I nodded, not wanting to argue.
Once Jasper and I were in our room, I collapsed melodramatically onto the bed.
We both laughed, but underneath we were hurting.
No matter what Rosalie had done, she was still family, and we missed her already.
I propped myself up on my elbow, and examined my scar.
It seemed so familiar, but at the same time unique.
"don't worry." Jasper comforted, sitting next to me.
"it was meaningless. All of it. If I hadn't left, none of thi-" I said, but he interrupted.
"none of this is your fault." he said, but I knew better than to believe it.
Rosalie was gone, and it was all my fault.
Chapter nineteen
Alice's POV
once again, there was a knock at our door.
Jasper opened the door, and I didn't even bother to look who it was.
"Emmett's gone." Esme said slowly. I didn't even react.
The door closed after a moment, and I listened to Esme's footsteps as she walked away.
Jasper returned to my side wordlessly.
More pain, more loss. How much could we take?
"mommy?" Katherine's voice seemed to carry from her nursery below us.
I stood up quickly and hurried down the flight of stairs.
"mommy!" katherine said, running to me and grinning.
I picked her up. "hi sweetie."
"where did auntie rose go?" she asked, her smile fading.
"i don't know." what else could I say?
She didn't respond, trying to understand what had happened.
"don't worry sweetie. Everything will be fine." I whispered, holding her close.
After a few moments, she seemed to relax, and I tucked her into bed.
"goodnight, Katherine. I love you." I said softly, kissing her forehead.
She was already asleep.
Chapter twenty
Alice's POV
"are you sure you don't want to come?" Jasper asked me.
"i will be fine, honey. Just have fun." I said, forcing a smile. It didn't trick him, but he obeyed.
"goodbye." he said, kissing me quickly before leaving.
The whole family was going hunting, except for Katherine and I. We stayed behind, partially because she didn't have to hunt as often and didn't want to go.
And, being her mother, I volunteered to stay with her.
Katherine was fast asleep in her room, it was just past midnight.
I was a floor above her, in Jasper and my room, focusing all my attention on my future sight.
It was still frustrating, I couldn't see nearly as well as I did before.
Maybe it was by chance, maybe it was a mother's intuition.
Whatever it was, something caused me to check on Katherine.
I walked slowly down the staircase, and down the hall that lead to my daughter's room.
Opening the door, I found a scene of total chaos.
The room was in disarray, and Katherine was gone.
Chapter twenty-one
Alice's POV
I hurried to the open window, looking through the darkened clearing.
I saw the shape of a woman, running toward the edge of the forest.
Without thinking, I jumped out the window and ran after her.
The stillness of night was untouched by the silent pursuit. I ran as fast as I possibly could, but it was useless. I had lost sight of the kidnapper. And my daughter.
I collapsed to the hard ground, tearless sobs shaking my body.
Who knows how long I was there, on the ground. I didn't think, nothing seemed to make sense.
It wasn't until I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder did I come back to reality.
"alice?" Jasper asked, looking down to me.
I didn't respond, staring into his eyes.
He took my hand, helping me up. I leaned into him, burying my face in his shirt.
"what's wrong?" he asked softly.
"Katherine... someone took Katherine." I said.
He put his arms around me, but didn't say a word.
"are you guys okay?" Bella said as she walked over to us.
"No. We are not." I said slowly.
Chapter twenty-two
Jasper's POV
"Where was she?" I asked Alice.
"Asleep in her room." she answered between sobs.
I nodded, and began walking toward the house, half-carrying Alice.
We nearly ran up the flights of stairs, and were at Katherine's door in a second.
I opened the door.
The scent hit me, and I knew instantly.
Vivid memories came back to me.
memories I regretted.
"Maria." I whispered.
"What?" Alice asked.
"It was Maria. She took Katherine."
"We have to find her." Alice said.
I nodded. We had to find Katherine. But to find Katherine, we had to find Maria.
Chapter twenty-three
Alice's POV
"i have to do this alone." Jasper said.
"why?" I asked out of shock.
Jasper looked out the window, and was silent for a moment.
"I was too weak before. Now I have to finish what I started." he said.
I had no other choice, there was no way he would let me go.
"Be careful." I said.
"don't worry about me." he said, turning to face me. "I will be fine."
he started to walk toward the door, but I grabbed his hand, holding him back.
"I love you, Jasper." I whispered.
His expression softened. "I love you, too, Alice." he said, then kissed me softly before walking out the door, breaking my heart.