A/N - There are some graphic descriptions regarding injuries in this chapter; I apologize if it offends and or makes anybody queasy.

Chapter 2 – Family Reunion And A "Guest"

Jasper hissed, his golden hued eyes rapidly draining to a hollow black. He backed himself against the wall, gripping the side so tightly he made a dent. "Alice's vision just made its grand debut," the blonde spat out, his grip tightening against the wall as he frantically tried to overcome the cloud of bloodlust crawling over his senses. Bits of rubble rained down from Jasper's tightly clenched fist, dusting the carpet in a fine powdery white.

"Go for a walk, Jasper," Esme ordered sharply. She took in her son's shaking figure, the way the muscles in his jaw jumped in agitation. Jasper was one sniff away from going berserk and they already had enough on their hands. "Now," Esme growled.

With seeming difficulty, Jasper peeled himself away, his entire posture stiff. He took one look at his mother before blurring out through the kitchen door.

Esme sighed, instantly regretting the movement as the stench of blood crept between slightly open lips to dance a teasing tune on her taste buds. The motherly vampire clamped her mouth shut and placed her hand over both her mouth and nose. "I'm going to go call Carlisle." She gingerly unwrapped her arms from around Alice and began to ascend the stairs, mentally sighing in relief as the smell thinned. "Don't do anything rash." She pinned her two children with "the look", one that demanded obedience. "Am I clear?"

Alice and Edward nodded and watched as Esme flew up the stairs to make the call. Alice stared fearfully at the front door; it was where the smell of blood seemed to be the strongest but try as she might, the pixie vampire could get no answer from her visions.

Edward followed Alice's gaze and shook his head, puzzled. "I don't think anyone's on the porch, Alice." He climbed to his feet and cautiously made his way to the door, gritting his teeth in anticipation.

Almost in slow motion, Alice watched as Edward's hand twisted the knob, the door creaking in protest slightly as it swung open on its hinges. Her sigh of relief was felt by her brother as the open door revealed nothing but the scenery of the forest, kissed in hues of orange and red by the setting sun. "Thank gods," she muttered, leaning against the stairs. "But where is the smell coming from?"

"It's coming from the forest," Edward replied tersely. "There's a strong wind blowing in this direction, it's carrying the scent." He scanned worried honeyed eyes across the span of trees. "There must be a lot of it for the scent to be so strong." He tossed a glance at Alice over his shoulder, knowing this bit of news would not assure her in the least.

Alice winced but said nothing, only looking up upon Esme's soft footsteps on the stairs. "Carlisle's on his way," Esme said softly even though she knew perfectly well that Edward and Alice had heard her conversation with the doctor. She reached Alice and wordlessly held out a hand, smiling softly as Alice rose and leaned into her side. Addressing Edward, she said, "Can you pinpoint the location of the smell?"

Edward shook his head. "As strong as it may be, the other forest scents make it hard to know from here." He glanced uneasily at the trees again. "We'll have to go in."

Esme sighed, fearing this. She did not want to know what had become of this Bella for her blood to be so potent in the air. The screeching of car tires had her bounding toward the door, however. "Carlisle," she breathed out, relief flushing through her. She resisted from throwing herself into her husband's arms as Carlisle made her way up the steps. He solved her dilemma by pulling her into his arms. "Carlisle," she whispered into his shirt.

He smoothed a hand down her back. "Shh." He turned to Alice. "Can you see where this Bella is?"

Alice shook her head, her face wrinkling in misery. "I'm getting nothing, Carlisle, it's almost as if something's blocking me."

Carlisle opened his mouth to respond but was drowned out by a roar that shook the leaves on the trees. It was a well familiar roar; only Emmett could make a sound akin to a wounded angry grizzly. The four Cullens turned to see Emmett and Rosalie bursting through the trees, a curious bundle in cradled in Emmett's arms.

"CARLISLE!" Emmett's eyes were coal black and his arms shook as he fought to control his bloodlust.

The stench of blood was suddenly heavy in the air, curling around each Cullen's throat like noose. Everyone but Alice and Carlisle instinctively held their breath and tensed their muscles. "Give her to me, Emmett, then take everyone and go hunt." His eyes trailed the line of blood that stretched from the forest floor to the front door. That was a lot of blood, how was this girl even alive? He blurred up the stairs and pushed into his study. Placing Bella gently on the gurney he kept, he ran a critical eye over her injuries, barely resisting a growl as he saw bite marks all down her arms. Someone had been feeding off her but there was no trace of venom in her veins. Her wrists were circled with rope burns, the skin an angry red. Her knuckles were tattooed in blotches of blue and purple, fingers bent in directions that screamed dislocation. Carlisle struggle to maintain his calm demeanor; if her arms bore this many injuries what else was waiting for him?

A vicious head wound bled freely, the wound's lips puffy and red as it spat out rivulets of red ruby drops. A long and deep gash ran from Bella's ear to her bottom lip, also bleeding freely. Her lips were split and one eye was swollen shut, the skin dusted with colors of purple and green. Her neck bore an interesting pattern of finger shaped bruises, an indication that she had been choked and strangled by a pair of vampire strong hands. Moving gentle fingers down Bella's torso, he discovered broken and cracked ribs, along with severe knife wounds that all glittered wetly as blood pumped out of the broken skin. Carlisle sighed as he examined between Bella's legs, dreading what damage he was going to find. Surprisingly, the girl had not been raped and for that he sent a silent prayer of thanks. Bella's legs were also shockingly untouched. Except for the smatterings of bruises and a broken ankle, all the more severe wounds remained from the torso up.

The wounds Carlisle had accounted for still did not explain the amount of blood that was pooling onto the gurney and with a sinking feeling of dread, Carlisle turned Bella onto her side, stifling a gasp of horror as the source of leaking blood make itself known. Bella's back was a crisscross of cuts, obviously made by a whip. Her back was more akin to grinded meat for muscle and even peeks of Bella's spine could be seen among the mess of blood and flesh. For the first time in decades, Carlisle wished desperately for the ability to vomit; he knew Bella was in bad shape when Emmett brought her in but he was unprepared for the severity of her wounds. When he found out who did this...

"Bella…"

Carlisle whirled around, automatically putting his body between Bella's and Alice, who lingered in the doorway. "Get out of here, Alice," Carlisle gritted out. His nerves were beyond frayed and he fought hard not to yell at the pixie vampire. "The smell of blood…"

"It doesn't affect me," Alice said softly. "I'm not thirsty." To prove her point, she widened her eyes, which were still a beautiful liquid gold. Shrugging at Carlisle's confused expression, she slowly made her way into the room. It stank of Bella's blood but for some odd reason, the thirst did not burn its way up Alice's throat. "I need to be here."

"Alice," Carlisle warned.

"I need to be here, Carlisle," Alice was almost pleading, her voice breaking. "It's like a pull...I don't know." She stared beseechingly up at the doctor. "Please."

Carlisle sighed but nodded resignedly. "Her injuries are too severe," he declared needlessly. "I could turn her…"

Before Carlisle could finish he found himself pinned to the wall, Alice's fingers a vice around his throat. "Alice?" His eyes widened as his daughter snarled up at him. "Alice, let me go," he demanded quietly but firmly.

"Don't change her," Alice hissed. "Don't you dare." There was an intensity in her voice that would melt solid steel.

"Alice, she's not going to make it," Carlisle reasoned softly. "She's lost too much blood as it is."

Alice shook her head stubbornly as she almost reluctantly released Carlisle. "Please," she whispered, her voice coated with pain. "Please just...just do what you can."

Carlisle stared at Alice; the anguished look in her eyes was enough to have him nodding. He walked over to his desk and pulled out a pair of gloves before tossing them to Alice. He reached back to slap on a pair as he said, "Help me then. Let's begin."

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