Leia's POV
Edward and I got back a little after five on Sunday night. As much fun as we'd had, both of us did worry about Bella. Well, I worried and Edward worried and pined. So we decided to swing by Bella's and say hello before Edward drove me home. The cruiser wasn't in the driveway, so we assumed that Charlie was fishing.
I skipped up to the door and knocked loudly as Edward leaned against the porch railing with his hands shoved in his pockets. I snickered.
Trying to pretend like you aren't chomping the bit to kiss her senseless? Edward hummed happily as we both listened to Bella's happy cry and her feet on the stairs.
"Don't be cheeky. I just wanted to give you a chance to say hello before I monopolize her time." Edward said and I could imagine the smirk on his handsome face. I rolled my eyes and then winced when I heard Bella stumble on her way to the door. She didn't pause more than a second, so she must have caught herself.
Three seconds later she pulled the door open, sending a wave of warm air against my face. As I took in the scents normal to Bella's home, I noticed a strange fragrance - something disturbing. Edward, there's been a strange vampire here.
"You're home ear-" Bella's glad exclamation was cut off sharply when I grabbed her and pushed her behind me towards Edward, who already had his arms stretched out to catch her. The smell was fresh enough to send me through the entire house, checking every corner. It was strongest in the bathroom and Bella's room. I heard Edward call home and ask for Jasper and Emmett to get to the Bella's as quickly as possible.
"Leia, let's get Bella out of here. Jasper and Emmett will check the house." Edward's voice was hard, anger and fear lacing his words. Satisfied that the vampire wasn't still lurking inside the house, I ran back out. I turned off the lights as I went and locked the door behind me. Edward and Bella were already in the car. Bella was frightened, her hand on Edward's arm as she demanded to know what was wrong.
Tell her, Edward. He knew I would tell her if he didn't, so he explained.
"There was a vampire in your house sometime this weekend, someone neither Leia nor I have smelled before."
How did someone get past Alice? This is very bad. I was fighting off a feeling of panic, trying to figure out how someone could have gotten into Bella's home without Alice seeing it. Could it be that the creature never had plans to interact with the Swans?
"I don't know, but I intend to find out." Edward's terse comment was too quiet for Bella to hear. I reached forward, touching my brother's back so I could see Bella. She was staring at Edward with wide, startled eyes.
"One of my pillows is missing. And my red shirt. I just thought Alice had...wait, we just left Charlie alone! We have to go back!" she shouted. Edward groaned. I snarled. There was only one reason for someone to take Bella's bedclothes or her shirt. They wanted her scent.
The Volturi? Or Victoria?
"Or some random nomad, though I doubt it," Edward said grimly, quietly. Bella slapped the console between her seat and Edward's.
"Don't shut me out of this conversation. And turn this car around," she demanded. The fear in her eyes was slowly being replaced by anger. I sighed.
"I just called Jasper and Emmett. They'll watch over Charlie and do a little recon around the house," Edward said, laying his hand on Bella's in an attempt to comfort, or perhaps calm. "Whoever was in your house took things with your scent on them."
"So they can track me." Bella's voice was flat and it wasn't a question.
"Most likely. We just need to know who and why," I said when Edward didn't volunteer an answer.
"How did Alice miss this?" Bella asked, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose with her fingers. It was the first time I'd ever seen her do that, copy one of Edward's mannerisms. If the situation weren't so grave, I would have smiled fondly. Instead I was trying to put the puzzle together in my head. There was silence in the car for the next ten minutes. When we reached the house, Edward opened Bella's door and scooped her out of the seat, running her into the house. When we got inside, he gently put her on her feet and turned to Alice.
"What happened?" I saw through Bella's eyes that he was glowering at our sister. He had both hands wrapped around Bella's shoulders, probably in an attempt to keep them from curling into fists. Alice stood across the room with her arms folded tight across her chest. I could tell she was extremely upset by the look in her eyes and her utter stillness. Alice could be still as well as any other vampire, but it was generally only in times of stress.
"I have no idea. I didn't see anything." Her voice quavered slightly, only detectable to my sensitive ears.
"How is that possible?" he hissed. I saw Bella glance at the hand on her shoulder and knew that Edward was probably squeezing a little too hard. He must have noticed too, because he dropped his hands to his sides. Bella stepped backwards, standing at Edward's side rather than in front of him. She put her hand on his arm.
"Edward," she said, her voice a quiet reproof. She didn't like it when any of us fought. Carlisle chimed in, his voice as calm as ever. I shifted to his side and put my hand against his back.
"It's not an exact science, Edward."
"He was in her room, Alice. He could have still been there - waiting for her." Edward's words ended on a soft snarl.
"I would have seen that," Alice said quietly.
Edward threw his hands up in exasperation. "Really? You're sure?"
Alice's voice was cold when she answered. "You've already got me watching the Volturi's decisions, watching to see if Victoria comes back, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another? Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bella's room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks."
"It looks like they already are," Edward snapped. I saw Bella's hand tighten on his arm, but she didn't say anything. Not yet. She needed answers as much as any of us did, even if Edward's angry questions were probably not the best way to get them. I didn't feel led to chime in on the conversation for Bella's benefit, but I did offer a thought in defense of Alice. Don't take it out on Alice, Edward. Her gift isn't infallible and it can be gotten around.
I saw Edward's jaw clench as he glanced at me, and then at Carlisle. Obviously Dad had made a silent comment as well. Edward glared at Carlisle for half a second, and then, suddenly, he exhaled. His eyes widened and his jaw relaxed. "Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable."
"She was never in any danger. There was nothing to see," Alice said, her voice calm now that Edward seemed relaxed. Bella smiled up at Edward, wrapping her arm around his waist now. He looked down at her with a sad smile. Then he looked back at Alice. He still needed answers, but this time his question was asked without anger. There was only mild desperation.
"If you're watching Italy, why didn't you see them send…"
"I don't think it's them," Alice insisted. "I would have seen that."
"Who else would leave Charlie alive?" Edward asked incredulously.
"I don't know," Alice said, hands rubbing at her temples in a curiously human gesture. Carlisle chose that moment to speak again.
"Okay, let's look at this logically. What are the possibilities?"
Everyone relaxed, happy to let Carlisle direct the discussion. Alice settled on the couch beside Esme with a sigh and I left Carlisle's side to curl up next to Alice. Carlisle actually settled on the floor at Esme's feet. She put her hand in his hair, gently running her fingers through the pale blond locks. It wasn't extremely rare to see my parents display affection like this, but I saw Bella looking at them with a surprised expression that melted into a tender smile. Edward noticed the direction of her gaze and he leaned down to kiss her cheek. He then led her over to the love seat and they sat with their arms wrapped around each other. Rosalie remained near the back wall, staring out the windows waiting for Emmett's return.
"So, he might have been from the Volturi, someone we didn't meet while we were in Italy. . . ." I offered as the first possibility.
Alice shook her head. "Aro hasn't asked anyone to look for her yet. I will see that. I'm waiting for it."
"You're watching for an official command." Edward pointed out thoughtfully. Alice raised an eyebrow at him.
"You think someone's acting on their own? Why?"
"Caius's idea," Edward suggested, his face tightening again. I remembered how angry Caius was when Aro had declared we were free to leave Italy. Well, free to leave as long as I danced for them. I couldn't stop the flood of dark memories and I buried my head in Alice's shoulder. She stroked my arm gently as she offered another possibility.
"Or Jane's. They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face. . . ." She trailed off when she felt me shudder.
Edward sighed, both his and Bella's eyes on me now. "And the motivation."
"It doesn't make sense, though," Esme said. "If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella, Alice would have seen that. He - or she - had no intention of hurting Bella. Or Charlie, for that matter."
Bella cringed at the sound of her father's name. Edward murmured into hair, and she sighed.
"But what would the point be, if it was one of the Volturi?" Carlisle mused.
"Checking to see if I'm still human?" Bella guessed softly.
"Possible," Carlisle said, thoughtfully. At that moment, Rosalie breathed out a sigh of relief. Her face was turned expectantly toward the kitchen. Edward sighed too, but it was a disappointed sound. Emmett burst through the kitchen door, Jasper right behind him.
"Long gone, hours ago," Emmett announced, disappointed. "The trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Had a car waiting."
"That's bad luck," Edward muttered. "If he'd gone west . . . well, it would be nice for those dogs to make themselves useful." I winced, and Alice patted my shoulder.
"I should call Adam," I said quietly. Carlisle shook his head.
"After we get something figured out, my girl." Then he turned his attention back to Jasper and Emmett.
"Neither of us recognized him. But here." Jasper held out broken fern frond. "Maybe you know the scent."
"No," Carlisle said after lifting the plant to his face and inhaling deeply. "Not familiar. No one I've ever met."
"So, if it's not the Volturi, it could be Victoria. Edward finally…" Bella said, narrowing her eyes briefly at Edward to let him know that she was still upset that he had kept that bit of information from her for so long. "…told me that Victoria was in Seattle. She's probably behind the horrible things they are talking about in the news. We know she has it in for me…"
"Bella, Victoria wouldn't be this sloppy. They are scattering evidence that a child could find, causing a media frenzy," Jasper said softly. "It's definitely a newborn."
"A newborn that Victoria undoubtedly made and then let loose on Seattle without telling them the rules," I said this with a tone of dark anger. I had discussed this at length with Carlisle and Jasper already. Ever since coming across one of Victoria's kills in Seattle that night out with Carlisle, I was worried what her agenda was. "I still think we need to be doing something about it."
"If we thought Victoria was still in Seattle, we would track her down there. Unfortunately, Alice can't get a bead on her at all. She's probably long gone by now." Jasper said quietly. I was about to point out that Alice's gift, as had been proven by this whole situation, wasn't exactly all encompassing but I decided not to stir that can of worms again. Jasper continued.
"The newborn in and of itself isn't our responsibility. But I agree, maybe Emmett and I need to make a run to Seattle in the next few days and see if we can find them and give them a little education on the rules of vampire society. The last thing we need is for the Volturi to come check on the situation in Seattle."
"That might be a good idea. I don't want the Volturi here, for more reasons than one," Edward said, his tone frustrated as he stroked Bella's hair and flashed a concerned glance in my direction. "But that brings us back to the problem of who was in Bella's room. And why they took her things."
"Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe it's a coincidence . . . ," Esme began, but stopped when she saw everyone else's incredulous expressions. "I don't mean a coincidence that a stranger happened to pick Bella's house to visit at random. I meant that maybe someone was just curious. Our scent is all around her. Was he wondering what draws us there?"
"Why wouldn't he just come here then? If he was curious?" Emmett demanded.
"You would," Esme said with a sudden, fond smile. "The rest of us aren't always so direct. Our family is very large - he or she might be frightened. But Charlie wasn't harmed. This doesn't have to be an enemy."
Esme had a valid point. I was still worried that this was coming from Seattle, but as we were approaching this logically, every idea had to be considered. I could tell that Edward wasn't buying into the random, curious nomad theory though. Obviously, neither did Alice.
"I don't think so. The timing of it was too perfect. . . . This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see. . . ."
"He could have other reasons for not making contact," Esme reminded her.
"Does it really matter who it was?" Bella asked suddenly. "Just the chance that someone was looking for me . . . isn't that reason enough? We shouldn't wait for graduation."
"No, Bella," Edward said quickly. I shook my head violently at Bella, seconding Edward's denial. She sighed and rolled her eyes at me. Edward reached down and cupped her cheek. "It's not that bad. If you're really in danger, we'll know."
"Think of Charlie. Think of how it would hurt him if you disappeared." Carlisle made a valid point, but Bella's expression just turned more stubborn.
"I am thinking of Charlie! He's the one I'm worried about! What if my little guest had happened to be thirsty last night? As long as I'm around Charlie, he's a target, too. If anything happened to him, it would be all my fault!"
"God, Bella. Between you and Edward, every bad thing that has ever happened in the world was one of your fault. Give the melodrama a rest." Rosalie snapped from where she was wrapped around Emmett. I hissed at her, not because I didn't wish my brother and my best friend weren't entirely too quick to take the blame for everything, but it really wasn't the time for her natural bitchiness to shine.
"Nothing will happen to Charlie, Bella. We're just going to have to be more careful." Esme said, trying to soothe Bella's fears and cut off whatever comment Edward was going to make to Rosalie. From the dark expression on his face, it wouldn't have been pleasant.
"I can call Adam and see if we can't get the wolves to set up a patrol around the house when we can't be there, for Charlie's protection." I said when Bella looked ready to explode. I saw her pause, looking at me for a moment before nodding in agreement. I felt Alice tense up beside me. Rosalie growled something unintelligible. Their mates both looked decidedly unhappy with my solution. Carlisle and Esme exchanged a concerned glance. Edward just sighed.
"She's right Alice. I know you can't see around them, but let's trust them a little. It will go a long way when the time comes to renegotiate the treaty." He said quietly, obviously responding to something Alice was thinking. Something that I doubted I wanted to hear. Alice looked at Edward for a long moment before I felt the tension leave her body. I breathed a sigh of relief. I jumped off the couch and flashed over to hug Bella.
"It is all going to be fine, Bella. We'll get it all figured out," I promised. Edward caught my hand and squeezed it in silent thanks. I smiled at them both and then danced up the stairs to call Adam.