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Chapter 7:

Edward's POV: The Rat

We were all sitting in the living room silently. Sometimes, when nothing of interest came up, we would all sit silently and contemplate different things and that wasn't unusual. This however was. Everyone's thoughts were going haywire. I was being driven slowly insane.

"Carlisle." I finally spoke up. "Would you care to explain any of this to us. Isabella and Alice left just like that. I'm sure she is getting some semblance of an explanation. Care to give one to us?" I asked.

Carlisle looked me in the eye and I could tell, even without reading his thoughts that he was ashamed of something or other, whether himself, or the rest of the vampire race. The word slave kept coming up in his thoughts. He gave us all a compassionate look and began to speak emphatically.

"In the late 1700's fairy slavery was legally abolished. This however does not stop the cruelty that any fairy might face today. As you can see, Isabella exists. This—surprised me greatly. The Volturi has banned us from talking about fairies. Their enslavement...the genocides..." He took a moment to collect himself then.

"Why haven't I heard you think about this? I have lived with the better part of my life and yet, the word fairy has never entered your mind."

"I try not to think about it. I rarely think about it actually. I guess...I forgot. I mean I can remember everything clearly of course. I just...I don't know, maybe vampires are not so unsuseptable to the suppression of affect?"

"You feel guilty." Jasper muttered sorely. He was having thoughts about his mate. Who was God knows where with Isabella. He was thinking about her as a fairy and what that might have meant for her before her change. Was she a slave, was she abused?...

"I never had slaves, Jasper." Carlisle whispered angrily. "I must concede though...when I was staying with the Volturi, they had many. And it wasn't as if I didn't talk about the politics of it, and existential crisis they were putting the fairy race in. I understood, on a more compassionate level how wrong it was. But, you cannot step a toe out of line with Volturi. I would like to think I had something to do with Marcus letting the fairies go. Yet, the violence that ensued afterwards...It was almost worse the the enslavement itself. We are the only creature that can drain their powers. They can have their wings ripped off by almost any immortal, but they would grow back given the chance. Given that they had a fairy to help them. Otherwise...they turn mortal, and usually end up dying because they cannot adjust to that change. Vampires are really the only thing that is a threat to them...fatally."

"Carlisle, you allowed slaves to wait on you. People like Isabella...like Alice, your daughter?" Jasper retorted angrily.

Carlisle was mad then. Jasper was projecting his anger towards him. This would not turn out well. I could tell by both of their thoughts. Jasper was angrier then he even appeared outwardly.

"Is it different from the slaves you had Jasper? The slaves you whipped, the slaves you beat into submission? The slaves you fought to keep! I did none of that! I fought for their freedom the only way I could!. The only way I knew how!" He spat. I had never seen Carlisle so vindictive.

"You know that war was about more then slavery Carlisle. You know that, you were there!"

"You fought to succeed so that you could keep slaves and if that was not your fight, it certainly was your leaders. You followed blindly. And even if you were human, which would give you some reprieve from your actions, after you turned you still enslaved newborns during the southern wars and viciously killed them when they were still young. You are far worse off then me. You have no right to judge me. Not after everything that I have done."

Jasper was on his feet faster then a dime. Crouching ready to fight. Carlisle assumed his own crouch. This was definitely new. Jasper's emotions were being project on Carlisle wildly. Rosalie ducked her head down and began to cry. Or whatever semblance in which a vampire cried.

"Guys...I think we should all calm down." Emmett suggested lightly, putting his arm around Rose. This didn't really do anything to diffuse the situation at all. Esme was standing next to me idle. I think in shock. She was worried about her mate of course. Alice and Isabella were also on her mind, as well as Jasper's well being.

It was in these short minutes of abrupt chaos that I noticed a heart beat getting closer and closer. It was steady, but shallow and it was coming towards the back of our house at an alarmingly fast speed. Isabella and Alice were on their way back.

Alice POV: Andvari

"Do it."

Bella's hands were splayed on my back gently. She was almost massaging the place where my scars were. I suppose I was feeling an inner peace that I had never felt before. It was different then when I was with Jasper, my mate. Of course he brought me a type of peace and love that I had never felt before. I belonged with him. But, this was different. I felt like I was reconnecting with my family. With my past and future. It felt wonderful, euphoric even. I felt it spread through my spine, through all of my limbs.

I turned to look at Bella, who was straddling my legs behind me. We were both on our knees. Her eyes were closed in concentration. A sudden light shot out of her hands, engulfing me. I was no longer aware of my surroundings. It almost felt as if I had collapsed from my former position, knees in the dirt. All I saw was light and colors.

And then suddenly, I was awake. I took a deep breath and it revitalized me. I knew in that moment that I needed to breathe. Breathe to live. I sat up quickly taking in my surroundings. I looked at my hands, now covered in the same kind of designs as Bella's own hands. My ankles were also covered in these. I could only assume the other parts that were different colors on Bella were now the same on me. Only mine were not a collections of browns, reds, blues and silvers. Mine were orange, red, gold and plum. I hadn't thought about this side effect. Although it was gloriously beautiful. I hoped Jasper didn't mind, I thought self consciously. I looked over to my side suddenly then. Bella was lying on the ground next to me unconscious.

"Shit...Bella?" I questioned. I leaned down to nudge her. A sudden sadness spread through me quickly.

"Bella!" I yelled. A sudden urgency swept through me. I quickly picked her up and ran. Ran towards my home.

AN: Hey guys. This is the next chapter for LOUD PIPES. Merry Christmas! Please review. Also look up The Rat by Dead Confederates and Andvari by Sigur Ros