Sorry this update took so long. I really want to finish this story, so I'm gonna try to get these chapters out as quick as possible. On another note, I have started to play Maple Story again…

... And Things Just Get Worse

Sage was swimming, but she couldn't tell how far or how long. She had seen the sky change from light to dark to light, but didn't keep track of how many times. She was fast as vampires were in the water, but she was getting tired. She refused to drown, in case Seth decided to come. For him, she kept herself alive and pushed herself to swim. She didn't realize how difficult it would be to swim along the shore. She planned to stay in sight of land until she was far enough. But somewhere, she lost the land, and she saw nothing but water, even with her highly acute vision. She swam where she thought the land should be. Was this really the right decision? Was it really worth all of this? She thought of Renesmee. Yes, it was worth it if I could keep my friend safe and alive. She would swim the globe if she needed to. She would protect the ones she loved.

Sweet crap.. she sighed as she saw a leafy green in the distance. She felt a sudden burst of energy and swam to her rescue point.

She lay on that beach probably a full 24 hours feeling the warmth of the sand. She realized how much she loved the land and discovered a newfound hatred of swimming. She dozed in and out of sleep. She could almost feel herself being lifted off the hot dry sand. She thought she heard voices, but she was too tired to see who it was. Then she felt something fleshy in her mouth and instinctively bit down. She tasted the warm blood ooze over her lips and down her throat. There was something satisfyingly familiar about this taste. Human blood. She tried to pull away, hearing the cries of her victim, but someone held him there and she didn't have the strength to fight back, only drink more. Her meal was delicious and rejuvenating. She sucked her victim dry, feeling her heart pounding at the excitement of human blood.

"That's a good girl," a woman said, stroking Sage's cheek as she weakly lay on the ground finishing her meal. "We need you strong and healthy."

"You're going to keep her alive? I didn't help you find her to save her. I wanted vengeance for my brother, Delilah."

"My word is good, Demetri. I remember my promise. But I have big plans for this girl."

"How is Seth?" Renesmee asked Jacob. They were at the main house, half-heartedly playing Battleship in the living room of the main house.

"Leah said he hasn't been home," Jacob replied. "He hasn't phased back at all for the past week, but he's still near La Push. Sage told him to wait for a bit before finding her."

"She must've seen something bad, Jacob. She wouldn't leave Seth the way she did otherwise." Renesmee sat back, abandoning the game altogether. Jacob saw the worry on her face, knowing she was thinking about the vision. She didn't know the details of how she would die, only that she was dead in Sage's vision. Jacob crawled over to her side on the floor and leaned on the couch, putting a hand on her face.

"I would never let anything happen to you." She put a hand on Jacob's face.

I know. I'm just worried about her. She felt safe with Jacob, though her head tried to convince her otherwise.

"Besides, Alice said her visions don't always work out," Jacob comforted. "Things can change." He put his arm around her and played with her fingers with his free hand.

Alice was painting her nails on the couch when she paused, putting on a confused look.

"What is it, Aunt Alice," Renesmee asked looking past Jacob.

"I don't really know," she said slowly, very unsure of herself. "I was checking on futures for everyone, and then I did my check on the Volturi's next visit, and their future just disappeared."

"What do you mean disappeared?" Renesmee asked. "Because of me? Were they here?"

"No, they were in Italy, and then someone walked in the room and everything disappeared." Everyone was silent for awhile, all minds piecing together what they knew.

"Sage," Rosalie verbalized everyone's thoughts. "They must have Sage."

"We don't know that," Edward reasoned.

"How many things can make Alice lose sight?" she pointed out. "In any case, should we wait to find out? We're not planning to see them anytime soon and I doubt the dogs are making house calls," she said emotionally. Jacob let it pass. "If we even have a chance of finding her, shouldn't we try?" She looked around the room at everyone's eyes.

"If they knew of her gift, no doubt Aro would go to extreme lengths to find her," Carlisle pointed out.

"And with Demetri, they most definitely would find her," Bella added. The atmosphere in the room grew thicker, the pieces starting to fall into place.

"I don't like the way this sounds," Edward said shaking his head. "They couldn't have planned for her leaving."

"Maybe they weren't going to wait for her to," Rosalie suggested. "Maybe she just happened to leave when they were on their way to get her." It made sense, but it was still unsettling for Edward.

"I agree with Edward," said Carlisle. "They would indeed have a motive to get her, but having her gift is useless unless she agrees to follow them."

"We're going to Italy," Rosalie finalized. Edward shook his head and shrugged, giving up whatever reasons they had not to go.+

"I'll tell Seth," Emmett spoke up.

It took him awhile to find him, but Emmett spotted Seth with his head in his paws staring out on the water where Sage's trail broke off. He didn't move when Emmett threw a pair of sweats beside him.

"Put those on," he commanded. "You're gonna wanna hear this." Seth turned his head to the pants then back at Emmett. Keeping his back turned, he obeyed and then was face to face to Emmett.

"It's a long shot," he started, "but we're going to Italy to see if Sage is there."

"Why would she be in Italy?" he asked hoarsely; he hadn't spoken in his human voice for more than a week.

"Alice's vision disappeared when she looked for the Volturi." Seth shook his head.

"That doesn't make sense. I'm pretty sure Sage was headed for Argentina where you guys found her." Emmett looked up at Seth.

"Then she didn't go with them quietly," Emmett realized. Seth considered Emmett's words.

"When do we leave?"

"Now."

Oo… who found Sage? And will she be in Italy? Oo.. I love suspense. Let me know your guesses and what you think! I'm eating Circus Animal crackers… they aren't good. :D