As Bella climbed up the stairs to her room, after a long chat with her mother and Phil about how wonderful Jacksonville was and why didn't she want to go back with them (with a few uncomfortable reactions and glances from Charlie), the phone started ringing.

'Bella, where's the phone?' her father's voice sounded from downstairs.

'Oh, dung – it's here dad!' she shouted back as she ran by its side, 'I'll get it!'

There was no time to say 'Hi,' – Jacob Black talked first.

'Bella? Talk to me, please.'

'Jacob?' Bella asked, confused, 'I thought you wanted me to – die, or whatever I do.'

'Whatever you do will happen if you do not listen to me, Bella,' Jacob urged, 'You must listen.'

Bella hesitated.

'Go ahead.'

After all, she still loved him and still occupied that small place in her broken heart.

'Bella, she – she is back.'

Silence.

'Um, who exactly?'

'Victoria, Bella. Victoria is back.'

Victoria. She was back. Back. Slowly, a feeling of numbness spread through her with such intensity that she could not feel her body slide down the edge of the bed onto the floor.

'B– Bella?' Jacob asked, with a tone that showed worry and fear, 'Are you there?'

'Um –' her voice was not working, and her lips and mouth were dry. She cleared her throat. 'Yes, Jacob, I am here.'

Victoria. The red-haired vampire, evil, avenging, ruthless vampire, was back... for her. For no one else but her.

'Bella, listen,' Jacob continued, now more slowly to make sure the girl could hear alright in her numb state, 'Don't be afraid. Remember– '

'How can I not be afraid, Jake?' Bella shrieked, starting to freak out, 'The most evil vampire of times is after me, AND she's thirsty for revenge? Oh, no, remember what Laurent said at the forest? That she would– '

'Bella, listen to me!' Jacob shouted – the vampire was shrieking at the top of her voice, and he needed her to understand. 'Bella, you're not human now. Remember? You're not human.'

Although there was a slight tone of disgust in his voice, Bella stopped breathing in surprise. He was right. She was a vampire. Victoria could not hurt her. Or could she? Jasper and Emmett finished with James – and he was extremely powerful, remember? a small voice said in her head. Oh, hell. The nasty little voice was right as well. If two where needed to kill a mighty vampire, one was enough to end up with someone like her.

'She is stronger than me, Jacob,' Bella said quietly, trying to avoid frantic reactions, 'She can kill me in the blink of an eye.'

'But you're not alone,' Jacob whispered, pleadingly, 'You've got... Edward. And the Cullens. And – me.'

Bella widened her eyes.

'Jacob?'

'I'm – so very sorry. Once again I acted like the dumbest fool on the planet. Seems that this werewolf thing is making me go all whoopsy. But the point is, I – I love you, Bella. And I know you don't feel the same for me – but without you, I'm lost. I swear I am. You're my whole life. And I am willing to protect you, no matter what you are. Because after all... You're my Bella. Married or not.'

Jacob chuckled.

'But you –' Bella started to refute, wanting to explain that she knew the hate he felt for Edward, but Jacob cut her off.

'Come on, I knew I would never get married with you anyway,' he was not in a good mood, but sad, and however, he laughed and lied – just to make Bella feel alright. 'I've never liked weddings anyway. When Rachel got married, I hid under a bush until it was over. Billy freaked out. And Rachel. And Rebecca. And my auntie Fiora.'

Bella laughed nervously. Although she was extremely happy to have Jake again, the issue of Victoria on the loose was enough to make her feel terrified.

'Jacob – I'm scared,' Bella confessed, taking her nails to her mouth, 'What if Victoria is not alone? What if she got this huge vampire army to kill me?'

'Bella, don't be stupid,' she could imagine him rolling his eyes, 'She doesn't have an army, or we'd know. Especially that Alice girl. But we're certain she's not alone.'

Silence.

'What?'

'Well, she found her way into Forks very easily. According to Billy, who spoke with the Webber's today, there's been an old man missing since last night, and – a child.' There was a pause in which they both bit their lips in distress, sadness, and shock. 'And she was not noticed at all. I mean, they didn't just go out for a walk into the woods and disappear – for example, Nina Webber told dad that the child had disappeared from his room.'

'Oh my god,' Bella whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.

'So, basically, that means that someone from inside Forks has been helping her.'

'Jacob, the Cullens would never –'

'I never blamed those!'

'But then who –'

Bella stopped suddenly, as a terrifying image popped into her mind.

'Actually, my sister was going to get married. But the fiancée died. It was a terrible loss for the family. Now my sister has a new purpose in life, and she won't stop until she has that done.'

'Oh my god,' Bella whispered once again.

'Sophie.'