Thank you for the reviews. This chapter is kind of a filler, I needed to move the storyline and the characters along a bit. There will be more action in the next one. Hope you enjoy.

Brandon and Maria travelled another two days before Maria told him they were in Mexico and not far from Monterrey.

'What is it like?' Brandon asked as they continued to run through the forest.

"Different to what it used to be,' Maria sighed. "Now it's a huge city. When I first arrived in this area it was only a small town. In some ways this is a good thing. My army can feed and hide easier in the population today but it also means challenging vampires can sneak into my territory easier too.'

'Does that happen often?' Brandon asked.

'Not too much nowadays,' Maria admitted. 'My reputation is strong, it keep most of the challengers at bay.' They had reached the outskirts of the city by this stage and Maria slowed her pace to match a human walk.

'I thought you would live in the middle of the forest like we do,' Brandon said.

'I used to until about twenty years ago,' Maria said. 'But we don't need the forest in the same way your family does. We hunt in the city. I decided with the huge population here now we could reside in the city undetected.'

'I guess so,' Brandon agreed and drifted into silence as he followed Maria through the streets of Monterrey.

XXX

'Jazz, can we stop for just a moment?' Alice asked during their second day of travelling non-stop.

'What for?' Jasper asked. 'We don't need to rest.'

'No, but it might be a good idea to have some kind of plan before we go barging into Maria's clutches,' Alice sighed.

'She has a point bro,' Emmett added.

'And we should stop to hunt before we get any closer Jazz,' Edward pointed out.

'Fine, we'll stop,' Jasper said and slowed his running down before coming to a dead stop. 'Hunt if you need to and meet back here in one hour. We'll work out what we are doing and then get moving.' His tone was quite abrupt but the others ignored it, knowing he was worried about Brandon being in Maria's clutches.

Oliver and Stella disappeared in one direction together and Emmett, Rosalie and Edward decided to hunt together and disappeared in the opposite direction.

'Do you need to feed sweetheart?' Jasper asked turning his attention to Alice.

'I don't need to, but I probably should,' Alice said. 'You should too. We are going to want to be as strong as possible when we catch up to them.'

'I guess so,' Jasper admitted and reached over and took her hand and led her further into the forest. They hunted quickly and when they were finished they walked together back to where they had left the others.

'Jazz, why do you think Brandon ran off with Maria?' Alice whispered.

'I don't know,' Jasper sighed, feeling her confusion and worry flood over him, which only served to heighten his own. 'I guess we should have warned him about her. He probably doesn't remember her from when she brought her newborn army to face the Volturi. He was pretty young. I did think about telling the children from time to time about Maria and her part in my past but we were all so happy. I didn't want to ruin it.'

'I see what you're saying,' Alice nodded. 'But I didn't mean why Maria? I meant why did he feel the need to run off? What did we do wrong?'

'We didn't do anything wrong sweetheart,' Jasper said and wrapped his arms around her and drew her tightly into his embrace. 'Maria manipulated all of this.'

'Not all of it,' Alice sighed. 'I can't see why but I can see Brandon hasn't been happy for a while now.'

'Sweetheart, don't you think I would have noticed if Brandon's emotions were out of sorts?' Jasper asked.

'He has your gift,' Alice pointed out. 'And lately he has perfected the art of blocking it. From projecting at others and at you. We missed it Jazz. Our baby wasn't happy and we missed it.'

'Well, when we get him safely back home you can find out why, we both will,' Jasper smiled. 'We can fix this sweetheart, I promise.'

'I hope so,' Alice whispered and rested her head against his chest, her worry still flooding him like waves.

Oliver and Stella stepped into the clearing, effectively finishing their conversation and they could all sense Edward, Rosalie and Emmett also approaching from the north.

Jasper pulled out his phone and quickly called the house and his conversation with Jackson was that short he was already hanging up as Rosalie, Edward and Emmett emerged from the trees.

'So what is the plan once we arrive?' Rosalie asked as they joined the rest of the group.

'I just spoke with Jackson,' Jasper told them. 'Brandon is in Monterrey. Maria took him straight to her territory. Once we get to the outskirts of Monterrey we will approach Maria's place carefully and check with Alice's visions and check in with Jackson to make sure Brandon is there. If he is I'll go in to keep Maria distracted while the rest of you find Brandon and get him out of there. I'll meet you all back in the forest.'

'Jazz, I don't like the idea of you going near Maria on your own,' Alice whispered.

'I'll be okay sweetheart,' Jasper assured her.

'Not if Maria has some plan I haven't seen yet,' Alice said. 'She could have taken Brandon to lure you down here.'

'Alice is right,' Edward added. 'Emmett, Rosalie, Oliver and Stella are more than enough to help Alice find Brandon and get him to safety. I'll come with you Jazz. I'll be able to tell from her thoughts what she is planning and if we are in danger.'

'Okay,' Jasper agreed. 'Have you all fed enough?' They all nodded their heads in agreement, having all had their fill.

'Let's get moving then,' Jasper said and they all followed as he started to run south again.

XXX

After Jackson hung up the phone he turned away from the lounge room window and smiled when he saw the entire family looking at him questioningly.

'They are still travelling south,' he told them. 'They know Brandon is in Monterrey so they are heading there.'

'How far away are they?' Sierra asked.

'I'm not sure,' Jackson admitted. 'But you know your Dad will get there are quick as they can.'

'I know,' Sierra nodded.

'They probably have at least a couple of hours travel ahead of them,' Esme added soothingly.

'I need to hunt,' Carlisle said in an effort to distract them all from their worry. 'Esme, darling, your eyes are black. You should come with me. And anyone else that would like to come is most welcome.'

'I will,' Lucas nodded.

'I might too,' Bella agreed.

'I don't need to hunt,' Renesmee said. 'But I might slip out to the line and let Jacob and the pack know what is going on.'

'Girls?' Jackson said, looking at the three teenage girls he had promised to watch out for.

'I'm staying here until Dad calls again,' Sierra said firmly.

"We'll all stay,' Angel added and Letty nodded her head in agreement.

'I guess the girls and I are staying here,' Jackson said.

'We won't be too long,' Carlisle promised.

'Take your time,' Jackson said, knowing part of Carlisle's reason for taking the family hunting was to keep them occupied. 'I'll call you if we hear anything.'

Carlisle, Esme, Lucas and Bella headed off and Renesmee went with them to go and see Jacob and once they were alone Jackson looked at the three sad teenage girls.

'Do you girls want something to eat?' he asked, realising they hadn't eaten human food that day.

'I'm not hungry,' Sierra mumbled, her miserable mood projecting out for all of them to feel.

'We should eat,' Angel said as she glanced between her best friend and her uncle. 'I could make up some sandwiches?'

'Good idea,' Jackson agreed.

'Come help me Letty,' Angel said and grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her towards the kitchen before Letty to offer any kind of protest.

'Sierra, they will find him,' Jackson said softly as he walked over to sit down on the couch beside Sierra.

'Maybe,' Sierra said, not completely convinced.

'Our family doesn't know how to accept defeat graciously,' Jackson smiled at her. 'We have your brother's visions, your mother's visions, your Uncle Edward's ability to see other's thoughts and my gift to locate people. Maria doesn't have a hope of hiding Brandon from us.'

'That isn't what I'm worried about,' Sierra sighed. 'It is all very well to find Brandon but what if it's him that doesn't want to come back. Maybe he went freely?'

'What makes you say that?' Jackson asked warily.

'I know my brother,' Sierra whispered and glanced at him. Something on his face and the emotions he was expressing made her focus on his harder and her eyes suddenly went wide. 'You know what I mean. You've seen him in your visions.'

'I have,' Jackson nodded and glanced in the direction of the kitchen. 'We need to talk later. Away from here.'

'We do,' Sierra agreed, her relief flooding him and he realized she was glad to have someone to share the secret in her heart with. 'I need to know what you have seen.'

'You will,' Jackson promised. 'As soon as the others return we will disappear to the forest and talk. I promise.'

XXX

Maria led Brandon through the streets of Monterrey for ages before stopping at a gated complex. Through the gates Brandon could just make out a huge house surrounded by lush gardens. At first glance it looked like a normal luxury mansion but then Brandon focused on the guard at the gate and noticed the dark red eyes of the vampire.

'This is your place?' Brandon grinned.

'Yes," Maria nodded. 'It is so much nicer than the old cottage in the woods I was living in before.' She smiled at him and led him to the gate and as soon as the vampire recognized Maria he jumped to his feet.

'Welcome back,' he greeted her reverently.

'Brandon, this is Giles, Giles Brandon,' Maria said with a wave of her hand.

'Hi, nice to meet you,' Brandon smiled and Giles just glared at him, looking him up and down with a sneer.

'Is Emmanuel inside?' Maria asked abruptly.

'Yes, I think he is training the new members,' the guard nodded.

'Good,' Maria snapped and snaked her arm through Brandon's arm and pulled him through the gate and towards the house.

'He wasn't very friendly,' Brandon commented.

'It's a good idea not to get too friendly with the troops,' Maria advised him. 'They are never around for very long.'

For some reason, Brandon found that funny and he chuckled as he followed her into the house.