When we arrived back at the Cullen house, the whole family was up in a ruckus. With wide eyes, I observed Emmett across the room, ripping a white couch apart, Jasper sitting down in the corner of the room, rocking back and forth with angry eyes, Edward was sitting at the chess table by the window, his fingers pressing into his temples, and Carlisle was pacing back and forth, eyes squinted and in deep thought. I looked around and sniffed the air for Alec. Not surprisingly, he wasn't in the house... let alone anywhere near the area.
At the thought of Alec, Edward snapped his head up and glared at me.
Where is he? I thought.
"He went back to the Volturi." Edward snarled.
I just stood there, in shock. My brother, the very same one who stood by my side all these years, went back to the Volturi? I realized my hands were shaking. Keep calm Jane, I tried to tell myself. Stop shaking.
When I didn't say anything, Carlisle spoke up.
"Alec went out hunting again right after you left for your shopping trip. This seemed strange because he had just gone hunting about half an hour before. His eyes still seemed rather dark, and he seemed to be in quite the cranky mood, so I let him go without questioning him. Two hours later, he finally returned. When I looked at him however, I noticed that his eyes were bright, scarlet red. Before I could say anything, he said in this strange monotone voice, 'I am going back to the Volturi, do not come after me or try to change my mind. Say goodbye to Alice for me, she has been kind to me throughout my stay here.' He left swiftly, and we all kind of just went into a state of shock. We've been waiting for you guys to come back. Jane, you knew him best, what do you think his purpose was in going back to the Volturi?"
I stared deeply into Carlisle's eyes. "I wish I could tell you, but he hasn't been himself today, I don't know what's wrong with him and I don't know why he left. All I know is that we are now in grave danger. The only thing that was stopping the Volturi from chasing us before was the powerful combination of the powers of my brother and me. With us split apart... It will be much easier for them to take me down. Still hard of course, but easier."
"Who is stronger Jane? You or your brother?" Carlisle asked.
"I don't know," I said uncertainly, "We've never tried to use our powers against each other before, we've only worked with each other."
"Alice..." Edward suddenly said from the window, now at Alice's side who was crunched over in a little ball, with her eyes closed in determination.
"That's weird..." Alice murmured.
"That has never happened before..." Edward frowned.
"...with the exception of wolves..." She continued.
Emmett ripped a couch cushion apart and roared, "Can SOMEONE please tell me what's going on?
Edward looked at Emmett. "Alice just tried to look into Alec's future and his decisions. She couldn't find him."
"Couldn't find him?" Carlisle looked alarmed, "But you can always find people, even if their futures are fuzzy. You really couldn't see anything?"
Alice shook her head in frustration, "I literally cannot find his future. And when I think I've found it, all I see is black."
"Could it be his powers?" Jasper piped up from the corner, "His numbing powers, could that be blocking you out?"
"Good point Jasper," Carlisle said, contemplating, "Maybe try looking into the Volturi's future Alice, and see if Alec appears in it."
Alice nodded, closing her eyes. Jasper was now by her side, with both hands on her shoulders, probably keeping her calm as she worked. She opened her eyes in alarm, while Edward gasped.
"What?" I asked nervously.
"The Volturi, they are coming for us."