A/N: Before I give you the next chapter, I want 7 reviews. That's all I ask. Just 7. You guys have been really good about reviewing lately and I appreciate it. I just want to let you all know that you don't have to sing my praises all the time. Constructive criticism is also very welcome. I need to know how I can improve.

Disclaimer: Must I continuously tell you people that I am not, however much I may wish I was, Stephenie Meyer?

Chapter 8

"Five hours," everyone asked in a mix of shock, panic, and incredulity.

"That's right," Alice responded. "We only have five hours to get ready to fight the Volturi or to get out. We only have five hours to decide what we are going to do."

"But… What are we going to do," Bella asked.

"I think I have an idea," I said. "But since we are so pressed for time, you all have to listen to me without interrupting or complaining."

They all looked at me, willing me to continue.

I continued. "I think, for now, we should run. It will give us time to prepare and build an army of sorts. It is the best way to guarantee that we will come out of this situation victorious. Are there any vampires like us in the area?"

"There's a coven up in Denali," Edward replied.

"We need to contact them and explain to them what is going on," I continued. "If we're lucky, they will fight with us. I think Edward should be the one to contact them, but there are more pressing issues. Given the state of things, it is too dangerous for them to come here. We have to arrange a meeting up in Canada somewhere, more importantly, somewhere that the Volturi, whoever they are, won't think to look. I have a friend up in Yellowknife (A/N: Yellowknife is a city up in the Northwest Territories in Canada), so I think that would be the best place to go to meet with the Denalis.

"I have a pilot's license and access to a couple of planes. We will fly up to Yellowknife and then, hopefully, return with the Denali coven. We will fight when we get back.

"Everyone is to pack one, and only one bag to take with them. Alice- this means that you have to leave all of your make-up and other primping utensils here. You cannot take them with you."

A stunned expression crossed Alice's face and then disappeared as quickly as it had come as I gave her a death glare.

"After you have your bag packed," I continued, "meet me outside by the cars. We will then drive to the airport. All of us, except Esme, will then take the Gulfstream G-650 that is waiting there up to Yellowknife. Before we leave, Edward, you have to contact the Denali coven and let them know that we are coming.

"Esme must stay here until the Volturi come so that they don't suspect that we have run. The house must appear as though everyone is either at school or at work. When the Volturi get her, Esme is to let them know that we are all at school or at the hospital. She will tell them that we will be back shortly, then, on the pretense of having to run an errand, she will come meet me at the Port Angeles airport. This time, I will have a Cessna TR-182/A and I will fly Esme up to Yellowknife.

"We will spend approximately three to five days in Yellowknife preparing to fight, and then we will come back. We will meet in the meadow and wait for the Volturi there. Esme- you will return to the house and let the Volturi know that we have decided to go to the meadow and you will show them the way. The combined forces of our coven and the Denali coven should be enough to defeat the Volturi.

"If you have any objections at all, now would be the time to share them. We're down to about four and a half hours."

It seemed like everyone started talking at once. I couldn't figure out what everyone was saying to save my life.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… One at a time. Please." Carlisle spoke first.

"I don't want Esme left here alone to deal with the Volturi."

"She will be fine, Carlisle," Alice reassured him. "She will be gone before they become suspicious of anything. Unfortunately, I won't be able to leave all of my make-up, etc. I have to take that with me everywhere."

"No, Alice," I began. "You don't. I will, however, permit you to buy new things when we get to Yellowknife. Just don't fill your suitcase up with cash. Any others?"

"I don't want to see Tanya," Edward said.

"Why not," I asked.

"I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"I fear that Tanya will place strings on the assistance of her coven. I'm afraid that she will want something from me that I won't be willing to give." Edward looked flustered as he said this.

I then tuned out Edward's thoughts because I was afraid of what I would hear at the same time that Edward was trying to listen to my thoughts to determine how I felt about the plan.

"Getty," he began. "Are you thinking about anything right now?"

"Yes," I said warily. "Why?"

"I can't hear your thoughts. I don't hear anything that you're thinking."

"Huh…" Curiosity sounded in my voice. At this point I blocked out Jasper's thoughts.

"Now I can't tell what she's feeling…" Jasper said. "This is interesting."

I blocked out Alice's thoughts.

"I can't see her in any visions," Alice said.

I blocked out everyone's thoughts.

"I can't hear what anyone is thinking," Edward said.

"I can't sense any emotions," Jasper said.

"I can't see anyone," Alice said.

"What's going on," I asked.

"Your power is more expansive than I first thought," Edward said. "It appears that you can protect yourself and everyone else by ignoring what they are all thinking. This is interesting. It could also prove to be useful when we fight the Volturi."

"That's great," I said, feigning excitement. "We should start getting ready to leave, seeing as we only have three and a half hours now though." And I went up to my room to pack.

Chapter 9

I had just pulled my suitcase out from under my bed when I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in," I said. "Oh, hi, Edward. What's up?"

"I just came to fill you in a lot of things that you need to know," he said as he sat down on the bed.

"Okay?"

"I'll start with the Volturi, I guess. The Volturi are basically our ruling family and the three people in charge of them are Aro, Caius, and Marcus. They make sure that everyone follows the laws, well, law, of our kind and they punish those that don't. Most vampires are so afraid of them that they don't usually have to interfere with anything and they stay inside their castle at Volterra. Occasionally they will leave in order to keep humans from discovering that we exist or to punish members of our kind for things that they were forbidden to do but have done regardless. It appears that Carlisle was not allowed to add any more vampires to his coven, so the Volturi have come to take you and have you join them or they are going to kill us all."

"That can't be good."

"It isn't," he continued. "We are asking the Denali coven to help us because, with them, we should have enough skilled fighters that we will be able to defeat the Volturi."

"So, what's the deal with this Denali coven," I asked.

"They are the only other vampires that choose our lifestyle," he began. "They are also our closest allies. Whenever we find ourselves in a position where we have to fight, they are always fighting beside us."

"Why were you so reluctant to ask Tanya to join us in the fight?"

"When we lived up in Alaska, Tanya took a fancy to me and she isn't willing to let go, even though she knows that I don't love her."

I was packing the entire time he was talking. By the time he finished, I was just zipping up my suitcase and began to look for my navigation charts and keys to both planes and my car, along with my cell phone. I looked up, startled, when he asked me what I thought the end result of the plan was going to be.

"It'll be fine. Everything's going to turn out okay," I said, falsely optimistic, though he didn't seem to notice.

He then took my hand. "You're right," Edward said. "Everything is going to be fine." With that, he pulled me in close to him and the next thing I remember is his lips on mine, moving forcefully and passionately. Once I realized what was happening, I immediately pushed him away.

"What the hell do you think you're doing," I spat. "What about Bella? She doesn't deserve to be hurt like this."

"I know," he said, looking ashamed. "But I can't help it. I don't care what happens to Bella as long as I have you. Besides, Bella has been distant lately. I think she's cheating on me. With Jacob."

"Why would you think that," I asked him. "Bella loves you. More than you could ever know."

"I saw them earlier. He kissed her and it didn't look like she was trying to push him away. If she can cheat, then why can't I?"

A/N: Cliffie!! Sorta. Not as good as the last chapter. 7 more reviews until you get the next chapter. I know you all love this story. I'm not afraid to delete it again either and I know you like sneak peeks. Again, bear with me if I'm slow updating. My schedule probably won't calm down until January if not later.