CHAPTER 27

"I take it you two made up," said Alice, the following day when we came downstairs together, hand in hand. Rosalie scowled at Edward.

"Emmett says I have to apologise," she growled.

"Rose," said Emmett, a note of warning in his voice.

"Fine. I'm sorry I slapped you, Edward," she said, before turning to glare at Emmett, who met her gaze unflinching. Edward laughed.

"I am glad you did, Rosalie. I think perhaps you knocked some sense into me."

"There, see!" exclaimed Rosalie, bringing up a frustrated hand and scowling at Emmett, who ducked his head.

"Yeah well, I wish you would find a way of knocking sense into people that doesn't have to be quite so literal, Rose," he muttered. I stifled a giggle; poor Emmett looked so frustrated sometimes, but then Rosalie got up and ruffled his hair affectionately.

"You wouldn't love me as much if I did," she said. He grinned up at her.

"You're probably right," he said. He glanced across at me. "I hope you don't give your maker such a hard time."

It was meant as a joke but I diverted my gaze, feeling a wave of anxiety, remembering just how bad things had become between Edward and me. As if sensing my mood change, Edward squeezed my hand and smiled down at me. Carlisle looked across at us affectionately.

"It is not easy being responsible for a newborn, son," said Carlisle. Edward smiled at his father.

"I think perhaps I have a little more sympathy for you now," he said. "It's just lucky we don't bruise too easily or if we do they heal quickly."

I glanced up at him and he laughed, pulling me close to kiss my head.

"I have news," said Jasper, suddenly appearing in the doorway. Edward held me against him, so that my back was to him and I couldn't see his face.

"What news?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral.

"James. He is at Twilight," said Jasper, quietly.

"Alone?" asked Emmett.

"No. He has Laurent and Victoria with him. They have ejected our staff and sent a message via Jessica. We must give him Isabella or he will start draining our clients, creating a media storm that will ruin us."

"And probably bring the Volturi as well," murmured Alice. She looked across at Edward, who was immobile behind me. "Edward, we have to do something!"

"Who are the Volturi?" I asked, though just their name was making me shiver. Edward's hands on my waist tightened momentarily.

"The vampires who govern us. They wipe out any who might bring us to public attention, any who have become a danger to our own kind," he replied, tightly.

"Well what are we waiting for? Take me to him," I said, looking at the worried faces of the others.

"No, Bella," murmured Edward, burying his face in the back of my neck. I wriggled out of his arms and turned to face him, seeing the desolation on his face.

"But Edward, this is the reason you changed me... so that I could protect myself. Please, Edward..."

"He could still hurt you, my love," said Edward.

"But at least now I can hurt him too," I replied, with a smile. Carlisle laughed softly.

"She has a point there, Edward. She is very strong and she has the element of surprise. James does not know yet that she is a vampire. He thinks that she is still a human girl whose blood he can drink."

"We can use that to our advantage," said Jasper, slowly, his mind clearly working in overdrive. I watched Edward's face, as Jasper spoke and shivered. He was staring down at me, as if willing me to disagree. "We go back to the club, take Isabella with us. She will need to look as human as possible. I would suggest some make-up, Alice and tie her hair back. Maybe shades and a baseball cap might be a wise idea. When we are inside the club, we ensure it is emptied of all humans; clients or otherwise. Isabella, you will go in alone; he will think himself completely safe. The rest of us will wait in the background. Hopefully he will be so struck by your presence that he will not think to search for others. And when his attention is taken..."

"We will kill them, all three of them," said Alice, her eyes shining.

"I don't like this," said Edward, starting to pace again. I watched him and sighed, placing myself in front of him and putting my hands on his chest. He stopped, looking down at me, his expression unreadable.

"Edward, Jasper's plan is a good one. James is not expecting me to be there, at least not me as I am now."

"But what if he should hurt you?" murmured Edward, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. "I couldn't bear it, my love."

"He can't hurt me, Edward. Not while I have you." He brought my hands to his lips and kissed them, looking deep into my eyes and then sighed deeply.

"Very well, we will do things your way, Jasper."

"What of the pack?" asked Esme, suddenly.

"We will have them surround the area, keeping innocents away from the scene if they are agreeable," said Carlisle. "The last thing we need is additional victims to supply James with. I will speak with Jacob and Sam, see what can be arranged."

"We should get ready to go," said Emmett, getting to his feet. He paused when he reached me and squeezed my arm. "I got your back, Bella, as always. James is just another drunk in my eyes; because he's drunk on blood instead of alcohol doesn't make him any harder for me to deal with."

"Thanks, Emmett," I said. Rosalie smiled and gave me a hug.

"I have the most fabulous six inch stiletto which will look great embedded in that bastard's heart," she said. I giggled and hugged her back, tightly.

Edward took my hand and led me back to our bedroom, where he clasped me close to him for a moment.

"You remember all of our training?" he asked, holding me away from him and bending to look directly into my eyes.

"Yes."

"Remember there will be three of them there when we get there, all of them no doubt full of human blood, which makes them particularly strong. We will hunt before we leave, but they will still be stronger."

"Stronger than you?" I queried. Edward smiled, sadly.

"Much of my strength lies in my speed, Bella. Fortunately, I doubt they can match me for that."

"Are they stronger than Emmett?"

"I don't think anyone is stronger than Emmett," he replied, with a laugh.

"Then stop worrying, my love," I said. "I will be safe. With you there, what could possibly hurt me?"

Nevertheless the journey back to Twilight was tense. Edward's hands were tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His jaw twitched in the way it always did when he was tense or angry and I couldn't help the shiver of apprehension. We didn't speak; words seemed pointless. Both of us knew we were driving into danger; we both knew that despite my brave words there was every chance that at the end of this I would be dead.