It took me what felt like FOREVER, but I finally managed to revise the first half of Chapter 2. Revised Prologue and Chapter 1 (Both BPOV and EPOV) have now replaced the original chapters here. I've joined with Project Team Beta, so I've had to start the beta process from the begining, but hopefully I will have both parts of Chapter 2 revised and ready to go soonish. In the mean time, to reward myself for FINALLY finishing what I felt to be the most boring revision EVER, I decided to update. And, as much as I should get back to revising, I will start on the next Chapter probably after I am finished posting THIS.

And...though I haven't done this for this story yet, considering how difficult it has been for me to write lately (probably because I am so busy with work) I felt like I needed to say that were it not for The Deftones' acoustic version of Change (In the House of Flies) and Slipknot's Snuff, there's a good chance I'd still be writing this chapter. And wanting to hang myself.

Need I remind you that Twilight and its characters are not mine.

A big thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, added or alerted this story! Now...

Chapter 9.

EPOV

Bella's heartbeat was steadily becoming more and more rapid. Her skin felt hot against my cold hands. Something was wrong. Renee tried to organize her thoughts to tell her story; but she was constantly distracted by my closeness to her daughter. I tried not to tense and crush Bella's shoulder as her mother worried I'd be a distraction to her daughter's work. It wasn't her life Renee worried about. Something else was causing the mother's anxiety.

Neither Carlisle nor Renee thought Bella would survive the mutation with the venom coursing through her veins. As her heart rate rose and her scent began to change; I doubted it myself.

"We don't know what happens when the blood mutates and hits the venom. Alice can't see you," Carlisle looked to me and I shrugged.

"Of course not," Bella choked.

"She's been able to see you so far," I meant to calm her. It only succeeded in making her angrier.

"Not my future," her voice was raspy. She pushed herself off the couch and away from me. Her arms hugged her torso as she doubled over in pain. Renee eyed me carefully before deciding to go to her.

"I didn't know how to tell you," she reached out to Bella, but was pushed away.

Her thoughts distracted me. She was thinking about too many things at once; none if which were about the present situation.

"I sent you here because I thought it would be best, I knew the Cullens were here. And when James came looking for you, I wanted you to have more backup than I could offer you," Renee gave Bella some space. I've never wanted to kill a human more in my life. She thought about how dramatic her daughter was acting. She wished she'd gotten a status update on the nomads Bella was tracking first. Her mind wandered to why Bella hadn't told her about me.

In the mean time, Bella was holding herself tightly. I kept myself from going to her because Renee was mentally advising me not to. Then she started retching and I had no choice; I had to rush to her side. She fell into my arms while Renee thought about what a bad influence I could be. Tremors or seizures took over Bella's body. Her heart was close to exploding and her body was too hot. It felt like fire to my own cold skin. She didn't scream, but she was barely able to speak before she collapsed. I held her carefully still, waiting for Carlisle to decide on a course of action. Alice thought her apologies to me as I waited.

I had a lot of questions and I wanted to demand answers for them. How could Renee do this to her own daughter? How could Alice and Carlisle hide such a thing from me? What was going to happen to Bella? My own thoughts seemed to drown out all the others. Bella was still shaking in my arms but the beating of her heart slowed. Carlisle and Renee were arguing over the best method of treatment. After some deliberation, Carlisle had made a decision.

"Take her to the spare room, Edward. I've got some old equipment that might be useful. Esme, can you please fill a bucket with ice?"

Carlisle went to retrieve the equipment while I lifted Bella up and took her to the room he referred to. I heard Jasper leave, worried about the possibility of blood. Esme was busy doing as Carlisle directed. I laid Bella down on the bed and brushed the hair from her face. Her tremors quelled, but her heart was becoming dangerously slow. I was touching my cold hand to her hot forehead when Renee cleared her throat behind me. I'm going to ruin everything, she thinks.

"What is it you think I am trying to do here, Renee?" I didn't turn to look at her and let my hand remain on Bella's forehead.

"Edward, I just don't think Bella needs your brand of distraction right now. If she makes it through this, it will be a very critical time in her life. Maybe in another ten years she'll have time to play with you. But not right now," for a woman who had no connecting thoughts, Renee was surprisingly well spoken.

"Just because you used poor judgment and put her in danger does not mean she will make the same mistake. Nor does it mean that she wants to. But sooner or later," I sighed as I removed my hand from Bella's forehead, "she is going to make her own decisions."

Carlisle was on his way to the room and I decided it would be best if I didn't stay in the room while they conferred. Bella's heart was barely beating and her mother was verbally threatening without making much sense mentally. She moved aside to allow me to leave the room and crossed her arms. As much as I loathed this woman, her dark eyes and closed off body language reminded me of the girl I didn't loathe writhing in the bed.

"I hope we can talk more, there's a great deal I would like to know about what it is you do," I snorted as I left. She was hoping I'd stay away from her daughter. I passed Carlisle on my way to the stairs. While I waited for Bella to be left alone, I decided to pay Alice a visit.

"I'm in here!" Alice shouted from Carlisle's office as I hit the top of the stairs. Having a clairvoyant in the family can be annoying. She was sitting on the desk Indian style and reading a book in Italian.

"You know why I'm here," as I did earlier, I leaned against the door.

"Yes, I do," she sighed as she shut her book and placed it in her lap. "Don't be angry with me, it was for your own good. You can be a bit…stubborn."

"Just tell me," I was growing impatient.

"Okay, fine," she slid off the desk and placed the book behind her. "I was studying fashion in Milan at that time. Carlisle was visiting. I had a vision of a small girl being attacked by a vampire and her mother pleading for her life with the Volturi. I had a vision of you alone for eternity, or what I presumed was eternity. Almost immediately I had a vision of Carlisle saving the girl followed by a vision of you smiling and laughing. I drew the most logical conclusion," she shrugged.

"How did you find her?"

"I went to Aro."

"And he just told you?"

"He told us on the condition that we bring the little girl and her mother to him once we saved her. He and Renee had some prior relationship and he had been dying to meet Bella for some time. I didn't foresee any immediate danger, so we agreed." Alice shifted her weight and pushed herself back onto the desk.

"How could you keep this from me?"

"After we saved her and the other member of their team, we went back to Italy. The other bitten member, Demetri, came with us. Renee insisted we couldn't leave him there. He was still making the change, so we knew Renee and Bella would be safe. We stayed with them while Renee talked with Aro. I took Bella to the lobby and waited for whatever Aro wanted to happen. Carlisle was with Renee. He never told me what happened there and I didn't ask. Renee got to take Bella with her and Demetri stayed to complete the change. He became part of the Guard," her voice had gone quiet.

I listened to her and tried to remain focused on her story. She told me more about what happened after they left Bella and Renee with the Volturi. She and Carlisle decided it would be best not to tell me of the affect Bella could have on my happiness. Alice stayed in Italy to finish her studies and perfect her ability to block me out of her mind. Carlisle stayed close to Volterra and made himself available to Renee. The two had managed to forge some sort of friendship over the years. Or an alliance of mutual respect. Alice repeatedly apologized for keeping me out, but maintained that she did it for me. For my happiness.

"It's not Bella's future you have been keeping track of it, is it? She was right when she said it wasn't her future?" My tone was harsh, but I felt as though Alice was evading me.

"I never really thought about it," she started to think about it. The scenes she played in her head were similar. Bella was always mute and I was always present.

"Alice! Those were all of my future, weren't they?"

"I suppose they were. I've looked into her future before. Several times, actually. Most of them were right after we left Volterra. There was never a clear vision; I assumed it was because they were still deciding on her future. Considering they wouldn't know how she would be affected until the mutation, I naturally decided they wouldn't make a decision until after tonight. I was worried she wouldn't tell you," Alice wasn't looking at me.

"You can't see her future because that's her special ability," I sighed, wondering why Alice and Carlisle hadn't kept closer tabs on Renee and Bella after they saved her.

"Oh," her soft tone was picked up by my vampire ears.

"Try looking into Renee's future," I suggested. Alice hesitated for a brief moment; then her eyes glazed over. Immediately, I linked my mind with hers.

Renee stood among tall trees. Rain poured down and she shivered from the cold. Battle noises were heard in the distance. Unintelligible screams and the unmistakable sound of trees uprooting accompanied the crash of thunder. It was dark, but the constant flash of lightning gave the illusion of day time. Tree limbs were cracking and breaking, more yelling traveled over the distance and settled around Renee. She looked smug. Finally, distinguishable voices could be heard over the loud cracks of thunder.

"So what exactly is your endgame, James?"

Renee let go of a soft laugh. The lightning lit sky began to darken and the loud thunder began to fade away. Renee was still laughing when the vision ended.

"She'll live," there was a confidence in my voice that made Alice shift uneasily.

"How do you know?" She was hesitant to ask.

"I know she'll survive whatever she's going through down stairs. That was her voice. Will she survive what was going on in your vision? That, I don't know. Look into it," I turned to exit and read Alice's irritated thoughts. You're awfully bossy, she spat.

Esme left the house in search of Jasper. Carlisle and Renee were arguing in the spare room. Carlisle thought Renee was crazy. I agree, wholeheartedly. Renee thought Carlisle was some kind of misguided hero. Both were forgetting the girl lying in the bed. Her heart was barely beating. I hoped the news of her survival would grant me a few moments alone by her side. My entrance to the room was a relief to Carlisle. His unwavering patience was beginning to buckle under Renee's extremely childish nature.

"Alice can't see Bella's future because Bella is impenetrable by vampire abilities. Alice can, however, see Renee's future. And in it, Bella is facing James. She'll get through this," I narrowed my eyes at Renee who continued to feel threatened by my presence.

"I need a cigarette," was all Renee said. She wanted me to leave, but avoided looking at me as she left the room.

"How much do you know about her? About what she does—what they do?" As much as I wanted to drop down to Bella's side and wait for her to wake up, I needed to prod Carlisle for more information. Renee's hostility toward me was not going to offer me much understanding.

"Edward, I am sorry for keeping this from you. Alice assured me it was in your best interest," he was checking her temperature and monitoring her pulse.

"What do you know?" His mind was focused on taking care of her.

"I know some. Aro and I shared a conversation about them the day I saved Bella. They can be dangerous, but pose no threat to us. They're not interested in eradicating vampire life, only maintaining it. They work like the Volturi in that way. However, they work with a high regard to human life. Something the Volturi are incapable of understanding," he placed cold towels on her exposed skin then turned to look at me. "Didn't she tell you anything? I imagined she had since you brought her to me."

"Renee seems to think I am only going to hinder whatever work Bella is doing," I relaxed and joined Carlisle at her side.

"I'm still trying to understand what she sent Bella here to do. She claims it has to do with James, but Alice seems to think everything is connected to the nomads," he clasped his hand on my shoulder. "I need to speak with Renee about an appropriate course of action."

I watched Bella and couldn't shake the fear that began to grow inside me. You hardly know her, Edward. She is dangerous. And beautiful. Dangerous and beautiful. Her hand stirred and I took it in mine. She was so hot, and as cold as I was, I almost couldn't stand it. I watched Rose and Emmett make the change and remembered a lot of screaming. Certainly, I remembered feeling as though my entire body was on fire. Like fireballs were moving through my veins. Not knowing what was really happening to her or what she would be when she woke up made sitting next to her more difficult. I wanted to save her, protect her and be everything she would ever need. But she doesn't really need me. Closely, I listened to her heart and hummed along with her body's natural rhythms. Consumed with my task, I didn't hear Renee's thoughts until she was already in the room.

I don't care what Carlisle says, I don't like him hovering around her like some kind of lost child. I turned around as I picked up on her thoughts. Renee glowered at me.

"To be honest, I don't think I could stay away from her unless you killed me," I sighed and turned back to Bella. God knows I've been trying to stay away from her since the moment I caught her scent.

"Did she tell you about being a shield?" Renee sat on the other side of the bed, across from me. She didn't reach to comfort her child and only stared at me.

"Yes, and she illustrated how dangerous she can be by telling me stories of the slaughter she'd seen. Both her kind and my kind. I'm not entirely sure I understand your kind," I briefly glanced at Renee. Her face softened but her thoughts were erratic and angry.

"Carlisle was right. You and your coven, as well as the Denalis, they pose no threat to humans or vampires. That's probably why you've never heard of us. And like vampires, we don't have a written history. Only an oral one. With the way the times are changing, there's a good chance our kind will die out in another century," she stroked Bella's hand and brushed the hair off of her face.

"Keepers aren't made, Edward. They are born. Bella is a fifth generation. Considering her father is not a Keeper, I am lucky she turned out as empowered as she did. It's her destiny to be powerful and become something wonderful," she looked to me and raised her eyebrow. "You're only a distraction. She's meant for great things, and she'll be more powerful after the venom mutates with the rest of her blood. If you value your immortality, you'll stay out of her life."

Our eyes locked and her thoughts only echoed what she had said.

"I don't think I can do that, Renee. There's a very good chance I'm in love with your daughter. I'll do what I need to protect her. Something you never offered her," I felt as smug as she looked. For a moment, she was regretful.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," she whispered. "She'll do what I sent her here to do, then she'll go back to Aro and he'll take care of her in a way I never could." Her eyes wouldn't meet mine.

Then I finally heard her mind clearly. The agreement Renee and the Volturi had made was about Bella. She would join them if she survived. Her mission to seek and destroy James made sense. With James still alive and his venom coursing through Bella's veins, she belonged to him. He had probably been tracking her all this time. Vampire bonds are incredibly difficult to understand, but it seemed that Renee had mapped them out. With James alive, Bella would be stuck in this in between state. Not quite human or Keeper, not quite vampire. Any other vampire's venom would be poisonous to her. If she killed James, Aro could complete her change. She'd belong to him.

Not all vampires are so possessive of the ones they change; but Aro is not likely to let her go. She was already more gifted than a lot of vampires—there was no telling how much power she'd gain with immortality. I felt myself growling at Renee.

"Edward, I think you had better excuse yourself," Carlisle's hand was on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. Renee was tense, her eyes darting between Carlisle and me.

"This is not over," I snarled over my shoulder as I walked out.

I heard her tell Carlisle she had no idea why I was acting so strangely. I try to refrain from being so derogatory, but that woman is a complete bitch. Alice was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps, much like she was earlier that day.

"It will work out," she whispered.

"Where are the nomads?"

Her eyes glazed over. "Close, he can probably sense her better now. They won't attack tonight."

"But they are planning an attack?"

"He hasn't decided. I suppose that depends on how strong Bella will be."

"Let me know when they are planning on paying us a visit," I cast a cold glare toward the room I had just left.

"I don't think they will if she's here. In fact, they are probably waiting for her to leave. They know we can beat them," Alice stood and followed me up the stairs. "It's bad, isn't it?"

"It's not good," I sighed.

"You love her, don't you?" Alice could hardly contain her squeals.

"I think so," I replied. "But it won't matter unless we figure out a way to break the claim the Volturi have on her."

"Edward! You love her!"

"Alice, please. I understand your excitement over my ability to care about anything besides myself," I teased her, "but we have more important things to do."

"How can I help?" She bounced on her heels behind me as I entered my room.

"Get Jasper, I think his background is about to be useful instead of just boring."

"I can get Rose and Emmett, too," she sat on the chaise while I paced around.

"No. Look into it. She will kill me herself if I impede their honeymoon again."

Alice chuckled as a vision of Rosalie tossing me around flashed before her.

"I am so happy for you," she hopped off the chaise and stood on her toes to hug me. "I'll go find Jasper. We'll be in touch," she sang as she ran out of the room.

I stared out into the woods and wondered how I was going to save the girl I loved. Hopefully, she might love me too.

A/N: Sometimes I feel as though I am using too much dialogue. But I'm not really sure how to avoid it or if the story is really bogged down by it, so let me know if you have an opinion on the matter.