Chapter 14 – Elsewhere

The sun blazed down on her cold hard skin. She hated the feel of its heat on her dead body. Life had dragged on for too long. In her world, things were magnified to the last extent – but time passed like nothing. She was in a new city now. Full of life which she was glad for. Their lives would ensure her existence was continued on this earth. Every distinct heartbeat drummed in her head as she struggled to find some of her own kind. It had been so easy to drag others into her plan before. But being out in the open again made her uneasy, sceptical.

She remembered back to that faithful day she visited Alaska. They hadn't known what hit them. They were all so trusting, and he slipped from under their noses. He had been easy to convince, easy to distract from their 'different' lifestyle. She loathed that choice they made – to live like they were ashamed of what they were. She had entered their coven, been accepted and then let go again. She made sure not to get near the mind-reader. Of course, they had had to have been there. They seemed determined to ruin her. Her own kind. Never before had she met one like them and there were six of them. But her helper had only just joined them – he was so willing to go back to his natural ways, go back to what actually quenched the never-ceasing thirst that burned all of their throats. He had left his mate immediately when she had told him where to find the sweetest drink. Her web had only just begun then.

She had followed him, to where her vengeance was next destined to be aimed. She needed to torture that human. He did not even sense her following. He was not very gifted. She watched, her marble body pressed into the trunks of the pine trees. She hated the forest, but it made good cover. Then she saw them. Evil merciless dogs, they were. She hissed and escaped before they saw her. She had watched them rip her helper to shreds and burn him to the ground. They had rescued that one forsaken human. She had secretly hoped the mutts would eat her too. She couldn't help it. She trailed behind, careful of her scent. She watched them all run away from the limp frame. But one kept watch. Five left, one remained. She hadn't been sure whether or not to take the girl then. Help had failed to aide her cause. She had to do this alone. Then she saw it. The dog turned human. In one flick of its tail it shrank and a naked man stood in its place.

Research. She had done that since. She had found out all that she needed to know about that mutts. A new plan formed in her mind. More webs began spinning. She slipped easily into this revenge mode. Her vast mind welcome to the thoughtless rituals of murder as she avoided grieving the loss of her mate.

She missed him so much. It felt to her as though half of her brain had been torn out and burned with him. Like there had been no air, even though she no longer needed it. As though all of her limbs had been stripped from her. She was helpless without him. But she knew different now. She would dedicate her life to making the one responsible miserable forever. She would make him crack under the pressure; make him want to end his time of being.

Right now, though, the city called to her. She had to find some of her own. She had tried every back alley and loft; nothing. She needed more research. Suddenly, she smelled them. Those excuses for vampires. Not all of them. One. The one she wanted. She one she needed to break. She watched him from the rooftop of her new resting place. She didn't need her rest, but the owner had smelled divine. He was already miserable.

His stature was not arrogant like normal. He was bent over like he had aged almost. She was confused. She needed to know more.

Alice sat in the basement of her family's new home. She felt alone. No visions and no Jasper. Jasper was helping her to help Bella without actually being there. Alice gave him strict instructions on how to treat those dogs and how to treat Bella. She missed her so badly. After her last vision of Victoria, Alice had come nowhere near to her. She wouldn't dare.

She had seen Victoria's plans to kill the wolves, but not directly. She had seen victoria telling Edward about them. Edward, in the vision, had agreed to her wishes. Alice had come back from her mind pleading with the air to stop this. She knew Bella had loved Jacob Black for some time now, as she hadn't seen her in a few days – and only snippets before that. Edward would just have to come to terms with that.

The glistening new phone in her pocket rang – a shrill sound in the silent house. It had been Jasper. He was urgent, talking about Bella and Jake and the pack. Alice tuned into him and realised he was excited about being involved in what the wolves had decided was war with Victoria.

The phone call hadn't elated her mood; even though her love had been so delightful. She would do anything to be near Bella again. She knew her time would come though. Just as she thought of that a vision came to the forefront of her mind:

There was a clearing, surrounded by trees. She saw two figures, lying on the ground in the centre of the open space. The ground had high grass and blue flowers springing up from it at irregular intervals all around the two figures. With a closer look, she saw Edwards's lofty hair, swept back in his carefree way. His head was leaning back, laughing. Happiness flooded the space. Around by his side was a girl. A small, frail looking girl she was. Mid-length brown hair and an awkward stature.

Bella.

Alice could not tell where her body ended and the scream of terror started. She didn't want this she didn't want to see this. This could not be the future; she had to be looking at some distant past. Rosalie entered the room, glowering at her. Alice spilled out what she had seen to her sister. Rosalie ran as fast as she could go, almost invisible in her speed, to tell Carlisle. He hadn't been impressed. Alice had had to go over that vision countless times to each family member. They didn't know what to do. They all knew from Jasper that Bella was happy with Jacob. He had seen a different young girl in the forest, embracing her wolf as if she had known it was him forever. There had been evidently love deeply ingrained into their relationship. Nothing had made the Cullen's more relieved to hear that Bella was happy.

Edward was another story though. They had to tell him. Alice left for La Pas in Bolivia, where she knew Edward to be, immediately.

He had been livid. He was alone in this lovely city, distracting himself from everything that made him think of her. Of course his sister had to show up, with this – this news. He hated her. She had barged right up to him and told him everything where he had stood.

He had felt himself falter before he knew he had. His body slowed imperceptibly but for anyone who had his same speed. His sister did. She held him while he begged her to be a liar. To just say she was lying and leave. It had to be his entire fault. Everything he had made that girl go through was for his own selfish desires and now her life was to be cut short – on his account.

After his initial anger dissipated, he found the strength to want to see Bella. Alice told him the other news then, about Bella's newfound love. Edward crumpled. His eyes deceived his proud statuesque frame. His eyes were on fire, smouldering with agony. Alice talked him through his shock. It had hurt him like hell, but once she was contented, he would have to overcome his emotional state.

He set to work. His sister told him all he needed to do. He felt she was keeping something from him. Her mind was replaying over and over the national anthem in Ancient Greek. He raised an eyebrow at her and ran back to the village, where he knew some of their own kind resided.

This city was not big enough for her and for him. She knew it would come to a fight. She had watched him for days. He walked the streets like a human, bent over with his grief. It had to be because his love was involved with the dogs.

Courage was something that came natural to her now. A confrontation with him would clear her mind. Maybe she could manipulate him to be her puppet also. She had gotten very adept at hiding her thoughts. She followed him down to a small dock. How he had come to this city she knew not – she only knew he had to come to find her. He stopped down on the dock, not a soul in sight. He turned and whispered her name.

"Victoria…" The velvety voice did not help her concentration. She needed to be convincing. She told him all about the mongrels and her not too helpful colleague. He seemed to be prepared for her to try to take him in. He stared at her. She needed a new story. She needed one that was sure to take him in.

"Her mind Edward, it's nothing to yours. Your mind has multifaceted depths in which you can delve into others'. Hers is so small it cannot even open enough to accept yours. I expect fascination was more of what the beating heart held for you. Not love, you silly child. You are older than me in ways, but you have wasted your wisdom on a poetic fairy-tale love. Those things don't become beings like us Edward…" Her voice was laced with seduction and deception at the same time.

Edwards mind became unclear. He knew what he was supposed to do, but for this instant, his anger was bad, unrivalled. He thought about the dog. About what he would be doing to Bella, thinking about her and touching her in inappropriate ways. He shuddered with frustration. He thought of Alice. She had trusted him to be over this.

But the jealousy was killing him. Softly, ever so softly. He wasn't giving up his existence for a mutt. Bella would have to get over that dog…after he died.

The Cullen's were standing like statues in their living room – six beautiful statues lining the walls of their mansion in Alaska. Jasper had had to return home quickly after a visit with Bella. He had updated her, but not wholly on Alice visiting Edward. He didn't want to scare her with this new revelation. They all hoped it would change soon. But it was the only thing that Alice saw when she searched for Bella in her mind's eye. None of them wanted her to be with Edward again. Bella was a young girl and she needed a life to look forward to. Jacob Black could give her that.

Alice was still having more visions about Edward.

He was killing Victoria.

He was dead.

He was alone, in Italy.

He was killing Bella.

Nothing.

The scene had change so many times; Alice was rendered speechless by the vicious visions playing out in her head. Everyone winced and hissed when she told them each as they occurred. Now they were coming so fast she could barely hold herself upright. Jasper held her slight frame in his arms.

"We have to make decisions now, vital things need to be decided right here and now…"

After a long discussion led by Carlisle, the Cullen's decided to tell the wolves everything. Emmet was sent as back up for Jasper, in case things got ugly. And with that they left for Forks.

Carlisle retreated to his study with Esme in tow. He had never felt so torn in his whole long, drawn out life.

Emmet bounded through the trees, pushing away any that got in his way. A fight had broken out amongst the wolves and Jasper. Jasper was too quick for them, so Emmet had time to make an entrance. He knew he was larger than these wolves. He burst onto the scene, but his entrance was ruined by a wolf automatically pinning him to the ground.

Jasper still seemed to be talking. The fight that Emmet had heard had been a scuffle between a few different mutts. A large brown one was trying to bite and tear his way towards their leader, who was standing, as human next to Jasper. It took two other wolves to hold him back. Looking around, Emmet saw his adversary snarling his way as he retreated into the line of the trees.

Jasper looked wearily at Emmet. Another wolf phased back to his human form. He was tall and had a hard, mean look about his face.

"If you all don't stay away from her I will come and kill you all myself. I am sick of this. If you had just left us to deal with it, it would all be over now!"

Sam banished the angry boy with a wave of his hand. Alpha powers. Emmet laughed. It had been a horrible move. None of the wolves knew he had a playful nature. He ran before they attacked, he wouldn't break their treaty, not now.

Jasper had recounted the complete story to Sam. It was not to a happy reception either. Jacob had been ruined when he heard Bella's future had been seen with Edward. When they knew Edward was undecided about Victoria, they all surmised she would become one of them. Jasper tried to explain the difficult situation as best he could. Nothing could deter Jacob from trying to rip his throat out right there and then for bringing this horrible news. He left with a miserable air. Hearing Sam giving Alpha orders to the pack. It was so that would still protect Bella and La Push no matter what happened. That weren't to give up. That would be hard for Jacob Black as he crumpled in a heap on the pine needles of the forest floor.

Emmet was still laughing that booming sound as he ran through the trees. He was being followed, he was sure it was that angry teen again. He was right. He smelled the putrid mongrel before he saw him. When he turned he stopped, the teen was in human form; a look of pure torture on his face. Emmet stopped and held out a hand.

"Hey, I don't want a fight big guy. I'm on your side here… The treaty…" Emmet tried to sound committed to his side but he couldn't help the grin when he said 'big guy'. Emmet had always been a joker. Even when times didn't call for it.

The wolf-boy laughed at him. A slow derisive laugh. It wasn't meant to be funny, only downright cruel.

"Cullen. I hate your guts by nature. We're all going against it to fight for one girl. One girl who I won't allow to become a leech. She isn't meant to be one. She is meant to be human. I am not Jacob Black but I am a friend and she is meant to be with us, with the pack. You tell that to your physic. Tell your fortune-teller to cut the crap and fix herself. She was wrong." Paul spat on the ground at Emmets feet.

Never in all of his time as a vampire had Emmet been intimidated by anything. But right here and now, this wolf was so serious, it scared the hell out of him. He didn't let it show. But this dog was so determined to convey his message that he was shaking with rage. He had pulled himself up to his full height and was level with the vampire. They were equals. Emmet knew it, and Paul knew it.

Emmet left in a heartbeat after nodding silently to the wolf.

Love came at him in all forms when he saw that pack today. To this brotherly bond, to the fear that Jacob Black showed when he thought about losing Bella. He would have to tell Rosalie. She had always wanted Bella to have this kind of life…

A/N - I hope this chapter came across the way I wanted it to, it was hard to write...

I hope it brings some of the detail together in the story for you,

It is shorter than the last few, but I said all I had to say,

there's no sense in dragging it out any longer.

Another Chapter Soon,

So REVIEW?

:)