Chapter Twelve: Down the Rabbit Hole

A/N: I am so, so sorry for the delay in putting this chapter up. It's been a really busy week for me, but I promise I haven't been slacking off. I've written two new chapters, woven in another layer of plot to fix up a problem I was going to have later down the track and re-planned the rest of the story around said layer. Of course, this meant I couldn't post this chapter because I needed to make sure it would be consistent with what was coming up soon. The story is also going to end up a few chapters longer than I intended which you can either take as a good or bad thing, you choose. So yes, sorry for the delay, especially after my pathetic attempt at a cliffy. I will do my best to have the next chapter up as soon as possible.

EPOV

'I don't see any trouble Jasper. No danger and certainly not me becoming one of them!'

'Only because he doesn't know about you Alice, if we leave now at least we'll be able to hide. I won't let you come to harm!'

Alice and Jasper had been arguing for an entire week running. There was no concept of 'lets sleep on it' for vampires. It was awful to watch, already they felt like family. If they were to leave now it would be like taring our family in two. I knew they felt the same. I could hardly bare to listen to Esme's pained thoughts, I hated to think what her emotions were to Jasper. His fear for Alice must have been great if he were willing to go through that.

At first, this was confusing. When Jasper had told his story, it had involved several close escapes from the Volturi. Despite this, his thoughts had been filled with nothing but respect and admiration for the Italian ruling class. His sudden fear seemed at odds with this. Until now.

When Jasper had proclaimed that he wouldn't let Alice come to harm, his thoughts were focused completely on what he expected would happen should they find out about her. Alice was a free spirit. No matter the honor a place in the guard would entail, she would not willingly bind herself to such a place. In Jasper's mind, he saw Aro offering Alice a role and her declining. He doubted the Volturi would take kindly to rejection, he feared the danger this would put Alice in.

I groaned. I knew that this would have happened even if I hadn't formed such an attachment to Isabella. I knew that the moment Jasper found out about our connection to the Vampire Royalty, he would have reacted this way. Yet, somehow, I still felt responsible. I struggled to find a way to fix things. I didn't want to lose my siblings.

At the start of the eighth day I asked Carlisle to call a family meeting. I stood awkwardly before my family, wondering how to begin.

'Get on with it then!' grumbled Emmet. I glared at him, but began.

'There's been a lot of conflict in this family lately over the threat posed by our association with the Volturi. I'll be the first to admit that Jasper's fears are valid. Aro has tried to recruit me many times and I think we all know how he would react to Alice. Further more, there is no keeping her existence from him as he will surely find out from someones thoughts the next time we meet. Also, if we were all to disappear at this stage they would send Demetri to find us. However, I do not think that our family needs to split.' Jasper looked like he would object, but I hurried on.

'I ask you if there would be any difference in outcome if Alice and Jasper were to remain here during our trips to Volterra and await our return compared to their leaving our family altogether'

'They would know where to look' argued Jasper.

'Granted' I agreed. 'But Alice would surely see them coming and I would continuously scan their thoughts during our stay and try to warn you if I saw something coming. For example, as a signal, I could decide to burn Esme's flower garden...'

I trailed off as my mother's wrathful thoughts entered my skull.

Don't even think about it young man!

'Clearly that is not a decision I would make lightly.' I continued. We all waited with baited breath as Alice's eyes glazed over. The fate of our family rested on this vision. We gasped in sync at what we saw.

Alice and Jasper staying behind as we left for Volterra, Jasper watching over Alice as she constantly scanned the future for danger, Alice's head snapping up in fear. Alice and Jasper making a run for it, but being surrounded by a grouping of Vampires, being taken prisoner. Their shock as they realized that this grouping was not the Volturi...

Alice hurriedly made a new decision.

Alice and Jasper leaving now, running and hiding, keeping to the shadows and staying away from others of our kind. We watched as they ran from place to place, as their enemy closed in. Once again they were taken captive.

We exchanged mutual looks of horror, clearly Alice had been so focused on observing the outcomes of staying with us that she had missed the other decisions being made around us. Jasper looked disappointed 'It didn't help then?'

'That's not it' whispered Alice 'There is a danger. A new danger, I've been so distracted I didn't see it forming...'

'What is it?' Demanded Jasper, leaning forward like everybody else.

'Staying behind isn't an option' she returned 'Leaving isn't an option. If we follow either path we'll be kidnapped and held prisoner by another coven.'

Jasper swore, and I was suddenly bombarded with flashes of his memories of the south – there was only one reason he could think of for forcing people into a coven. I struggled to block out the carnage, instead focusing on Alice as she once again scanned the futures which involved our family remaining whole, even on its trips to Volterra. Safe.'

Alice breathed a sigh of relief which I echoed. 'If we stay together we're fine – or at least we have a chance of staying safe. The risks the Volturi pose are still there, but its much better than the certainty involved with leaving.' Jasper nodded and Alice turned her attention to the rest of the family who had been quiet for some time now ' I also think we should leave hear as soon as possible. Mabey we could stay with the other family you mentioned? There's safety in numbers and I'd very much like to meet them...'

'Of course,' whispered Carlisle and Esme together, holding hands. Their thoughts were a mixture of concern for the new danger and happiness that the family would remain together.

Emmet was watching Alice suspiciously, her latest words had suggested that the risk wasn't restricted only to herself and Jasper. He opened his mouth to say so, but she saw his question and interrupted. 'Yes Emmet, there is a threat to the rest of the family, but I don't see anyone else being taken captive, merely forced to join the ranks of the other coven. It seems they only want Jasper and I as prisoners'

Emmet raised an eyebrow.

'I don't know why, the visions are blurry and indistinct. However, I do know this. Its not the Volturi, and they arn't prepared to take on a large group. If we avoid being separated, staying in groups of three and four or keeping everyone together, the visions disapear entirely....and on that note, I'd like to make another suggestion, if I may.'

Carlisle nodded for her to procede.

'You said there was another family like us, in Denali. I think we should meet up with them. The larger the group, the safer we are - and the easeir it will be to stay in large enough groups to avoid attack.'

'Then that's what we'll do' affirmed Carlisle 'Although, I feel that we should deal with our other dangers before hand. I propose getting ready to move now and making and visiting Volterra before we leave for Denali.'

The family nodded in agreement.

A/N: S'if I'd make Alice and Jasper leave. What would we ever do without them?