A/N: Alright, now this story can finally pick up the pace a bit!

Musical Inspiration: Hey there, Delilah - Plain White T's

Chapter 15 – Gone

BPOV

"So he changed you then?" I asked.

"Yes, more or less… it was that or to see me fall victim to one of his own. He had to leave soon after as well as James… it's really a long story, all of that, but to sum it up, James heard that I was dead… he believed Carlisle that Edward had gotten to me first and that they had to leave now because of it. James, not wanting any suspicion to fall onto him, left also, though, Carlisle said not without promising to one day repay Edward for getting to his singer before he had a chance." She said.

I sat back to take it all in.

"I woke up alone and hungry… but with my new found strength, which is quite a story in itself, I left and eventually found Carlisle and Edward again. With all the treatments I had endured, it's really a miracle that I remember any of it at all." Alice said, ending her story…for now.

"Did Carlisle ever try to find you after he changed you?" I asked tentatively.

"No… he regretted it deeply, but for my own safety, he let me find him. It's fate that I met Jasper, who has some trouble killing humans… he feels their fear and pain… he endured it for so long… it's really amazing that he did not go insane before we found Carlisle." She said smiling at the irony.

The silence thickened as I thought about all she had told me. I jumped when the phone next to Alice rang.

I tried to listen to what was being said, but Alice was simply listening… I could hear no other voice and I anxiously wondered what was going on at home.

"Absolutely, Edward… where ever you think we should go… I'll get right on it." Alice said quickly and hung up.

"What was that about?" I asked, hoping Edward was telling us to come back.

"Oh, not much, there have been a few new developments… we're supposed to wait here for further instruction and be ready to leave at a moments' notice." Alice said, reminding me of a five year old repeating the instructions her mother had just given her.

I nodded as I glanced at the clock. Alice's story had taken longer than I thought and I was getting hungry.

"Alice, I'm going down to the lobby, I need to find a restaurant or diner soon… I'm starving." I said as I headed for the door.

"Oh, Bella, I'm so sorry. I forget about your eating schedule. Want company?" she asked rising from her seat.

"Actually, I was just going to grab a quick sandwich, no need for a chauffeur for five minutes… I'll bring it back up here. Are we ready to leave if he calls?" I asked. It's not that I didn't enjoy Alice's company, I did very much. I just wanted to think about the whole vampire thing for a few moments on my own… take it all in.

"Okay, no problem. Actually, I'd better check and see if our passports are good and repack the clothes… he said at a moment's notice, and for Edward, that means fast, quick and in a hurry." Alice said laughing at the last bit.

As I walked down the hall and boarded the elevator Alice's story ran through my mind over and over. I walked absently out of the hotel and across the street to the little diner I had remembered seeing as we drove in.

I ordered a veggie sandwich and sat down at a booth in the corner to wait. I stared blankly ahead and was startled out of my reverie by a very good looking young man who sat down across from me as easily as if he had known I'd be waiting for him.

His smile drew my attention first, cocky, self-assured, and mischievous. I sat back and looked directly at him.

"Can I help you?" I asked impatiently. I usually was not rude, this guy could have mistaken me for a blind date he'd been waiting on or something, but something in his smile… something told me that he was not mistaken.

He was so self assured that there was no way he could have meant to do otherwise.

"Let's hope so, baby,' he sneered, 'or I'll lose it tonight."

I frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Bella… I need you to get up quietly, and walk with me toward the door like we're old chums, alright? If you don't, your little pixie friend dies at my buddy's hand. He needs to see you walk out of here with me arm in arm, or he'll rip your friend apart."

"What? How do you know my name?" I asked, the fear welling up inside me as I spoke.

"Let's just say your friends ruined our little game the other night. They were supposed to have left." He said as he rose and reached his hand out for me.

I stood shakily… I was sure that walking out of here with this man was a bad idea, but what other choice did I have? Alice's life depended on my immediate actions.

"How long have you been watching us?" I asked quietly.

"Quite a while, honey… ever since you made a visit to our mutual friend…does the name Burton ring a bell?"

"How…." I began but he cut me off.

"No more questions. Keep it quiet until we reach our destination, kapiche?" he said and I began to protest.

The man sneered at me again. "You think you're the only person with vampires for friends?" he said. I understood then that Alice was not in any usual danger… another vampire was on to her… and me.

I did as I was directed and a block or two down the street I was goaded into a dark-windowed, black sedan.

The man placed me in the back and shut the door, hitting the top of the car twice before it sped off without him.

My heart rate continued to climb as I rode, silently as I was instructed to do, but that didn't mean I couldn't use my eyes.

I looked hard at the driver and realized that he was quite pale, the black sunglasses made his stark skin stand out all the more. He smiled as he looked into the rear-view mirror at me, pulling his sunglasses down just enough to reveal ruby eyes.

I gasped and he laughed at my reaction.

I prayed silently that Alice was alright… if nothing else so that someone would know that I was kidnapped… what had I done?

APOV

"Edward?" I said after he picked up the line, "It Alice, she's gone. I don't know where or how, but she's gone." I said quickly as I stood in the diner looking at the short blond woman who had just told me that Bella had left with a nice-looking man and headed west down the street.

"What do you mean, Alice?" he asked; his voice hard as stone.

I recounted to him everything that the waitress had told me and we hung up.

I could not just go out after her; it was a sunny day and it had taken an odd series of movements to get here in the first place.

I panicked in my mind as I thought of her scent trail growing faint over the passage of time.

BPOV

We drove as fast as Alice had coming up here and pulled to a stop in front of a large, plantation-style house at dusk. I was pretty sure, given time and driving speed, we were close to Chicago again.

"Get out." The driver ordered. The door suddenly opened to my right and I was ushered out by a beautiful woman.

"You're expected, Ms. Swan." She said as she led me toward the massive house and into the grand entrance.

Nothing more was said as I was led up the enormous staircase and into the first room on the right.

The room was well furnished in a deep scarlet color, with rich fabrics; plush velvets, satins and sheer muslins surrounding me on all sides.

At the other end of the room was a very pale, beautiful man. His hair was the color of the night sky; his face was chiseled into a perfect, sculpture-like rendition of a Greek statue. He sat motionless on a long couch; his position was very relaxed as if he were at home here. His dress was not remarkable, a basic, steel-gray button down long sleeved shirt, rolled up to his elbows, and black, tight jeans ending in rather solid looking black boots with silver accents.

"Bella, my dear, come closer." He said, a slight accent coloring his words, but I could not tell whether it was Spanish, Portuguese or Transylvanian.

I walked closer, afraid to do anything else.

As I drew near I realized he was a truly gorgeous creature. His red eyes scaled me over again and again.

"So you were interested in the Cullens, were you? What do you know of them?" he asked.

"Nothing much… I just liked an old house that was connected to one of them. That's all." I stammered.

"And now they are protecting you… how convenient." He said smoothly.

"No, I swear, they have nothing to do with me… I caused them some trouble, that's all… they came down to straighten it out. I have no real connection to them, or they with me… honest." I said urgently, my voice shaking.

It was not myself that I was trying to protect, but them… I didn't know what type of grudge this vampire held with them, but I certainly didn't want them in danger because of my stupid curiosity.

"If you have no connection with them then what are they doing taking out my spies? You see, Ms. Bella… Mr. Burton told me that you were beginning to understand our world… he keeps tabs on everyone who gets close enough to realize our existence, then he reports them to me.

You see, I am interested in procuring you before the Volturi find out how much you know. Let's say I like to have an edge.

The presence of actual Cullens was quite a surprise to me, but it only confirmed how deeply you were becoming in our world.

Come, lay your hand upon my face… I will not bite you…yet." He said; his vice dripping with seduction and malice.

I stepped forward and placed my hand gently on his cold skin. His eyes rolled back slightly for a moment and I removed my hand quickly.

"Ah… you know what they are, then and you've known…in your heart…for some time now." He said.

I stepped back slightly.

"Good… you have a healthy dose of fear… you are not entirely stupid." He sneered.

"Why am I here?" I asked.

"I have already told you… you know too much. Soon enough the Volturi will descend and you will cease to exist. Unless…" he paused to take a long, thoughtful breath.

I frowned, this was not going well.

"…unless you prefer to join our ranks." He finished and patiently awaited my reply.

"Join your ranks?"

"Yes. You see I do not like the Volturi and the power they have assumed for themselves. Who gave them the authority to rule, after all? But they have many, many supporters, as well as more than enough enforcers within their walls.

I seek to… enable you… to fight for yourself, for me. I am the alternative to their dark rule. I would be benevolent to my kind, where as they are merciless… I would allow freedoms where they choose to bind. If I reigned, vampires would make themselves known, rather than to hide in the shadows, pilfering meals as if they were common criminals. I would bring us to our rightful position at the top of the food chain; I would regulate the consumption of humans, but allow it as it is our natural diet."

"And you want me as a part of all that?" I asked, hoping to stall him.

"You have no potential as I would regularly choose… you are not in any way special. I usually choose humans to join us that display some sort of natural ability."

"Then why do you want me?"

"Oh, Bella… supernatural powers are essential to the soldiers I am creating… but not, however, necessary in my choice of a mate. You are quite beautiful, even as young as you are, and I am sure that you would not be opposed to living in a life of luxury and power. You could be the mate of the most powerful being on earth… who could possibly turn that down?" He asked, sure of himself and that his speech of diplomacy and equality would win my mind if not my emotions.

"How long… do I have to consider it?"

"You must contemplate whether to live or die? Most would consider my offer most gracious… or are you waiting in hopes that your Cullens will save you?" he mocked.

"No, I do not expect the Cullens to even look for me; to them you will be performing a service… I am sure they will thank you for relieving them of having to dispose of me." I countered, hoping against hope that I was lying.

"We shall see. I will give you a week, if your Cullens make no efforts to find or rescue you, I will repeat my offer. Far be it for me to deprive a fellow vampire of their kill. You will answer me then or you will die…" he said as he snapped his fingers.

At once the woman who led me here reappeared and led me to a large, luxurious bed chamber. It was lavishly decorated as well, but this time in a light hydrangea blue. The bed was three times the size of a normal queen size bed and was topped with a blue and sheer white canopy that draped elegantly to the floor.

"There are clothes and under-things in the wardrobe, a private bathroom there to your right and your meals will be sent up on the dumbwaiter. Do not think of escape, my dear; vampires do not sleep, they do not tire and when they intend to keep something…they do." She said and walked out of the room, but before closing the door she added… "Your door will not be locked, but to leave it is to invite death."

I sat down on the bed, shocked and bewildered. I had no idea what to do…

A/N: Okay... how was that? I promise this is not a deviation from my original plot... I know it looks and smells a bit different, but trust me... remember, Bella doesn't know yet that Edward is in love with her,she only knows her feelings for him, and even then she's in as much denial as he is about his feelings for her.

Oh what a tangled web we weave...

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