Visions Nightmares
Of course like everyone else I don't own any characters you may recognize from Stephanie Meyers' Twilight Series.
EPOV
Running has always helped me to expel energy and I had too much energy to spare. Correct that, it wasn't energy, it was anger, frustration and hurt, this was probably why it wasn't the anesthetic needed tonight. Frustration was the emotion that was the strongest right now.
I had run well past our property lines and covered the entire island. It wasn't for site seeing purposes so I had no idea whether or not the island had any other points of interest, nor did I care. Finding myself back at the lake in the little cove I had claimed as my own on the first day, I sat and tried to sort through everything; sobbing, screaming, pacing and finally quietly sitting…drained.
The need to hunt was strong because of the re-introduction of the sweet scent that caused this spiral. I just couldn't bring myself to get up and go. 'Edward?' Not wanting company at this moment I ignored her call, I didn't want to see or talk to anyone and she was definitely not the person that should be near me right now. I was still so angry with her.
'Please Edward; I know you can hear me. I need to talk to you, we can't go through this again.' Alice's thoughts implored.
"Go away Alice, I'm not ready to talk." I said sternly letting my frustration with her efforts be conveyed in my tone.
She stepped up and sat down tucking her legs under her. "Ready or not, I'm here. We need to talk its important Edward. I'm not going to allow you to wallow in your self-pity. Especially when there's a chance you can change this," she said quietly. She was sitting not attempting to make eye contact with me staring off into the mountains. 'He has to know I'm not leaving until he hears what I have to say. He has to change this, he has to understand' she thought as I listened.
Abruptly standing, I turned to walk away while saying, "Alice I don't need to hear what you have to say, it's like a broken record in my mind. You have always been the one to encourage me to be with Bella, it was never a struggle for you. Everyday I was with Bella was a strain, wanting her blood, wanting her and not being able to act on it. It was easy for you, you didn't have the internal struggles." I retreated into the pathway.
"You're wrong Edward. I'm a vampire too, didn't you think every time Bella would hug me was hard for me as well. As much as I enjoyed seeing her blush, it still caused my stomach to clench with desire. So Edward you don't get to corner the market on pushing back desire." She wasn't upset; her tone was calm and reflective.
If she had been persistent, pleading or defensive I would have continued walking away, but her demeanor stopped me. Alice was rarely if ever as sedate as she currently appeared to be. I stood still and waited for her to continue.
"I know you are very angry Edward, you have every right to be but I have something you need to hear. If you don't listen to me now, you'll regret it the rest of your existence and I'm not sure any of us are prepared for that. So please give me 10 minutes and then I'll leave you to your thoughts" she said seriously.
Without saying a word, I walked back and sat beside her. Not knowing what it was she had to say and hoping it wasn't another lecture on how good Bella and I were for one another, I waited.
She sighed and let out a sob, "Edward, you need to see my visions." Instantly I was on my feet. "Wait" she said as she grabbed my leg. "There's a reason you need to see my visions, please note Edward I said visions, as in plural. Bella is in serious danger."
If I had a heart it would have stopped beating, a rush of air escaped my lips and I began shaking all over. What was she talking about? What was going to happen to my angel? "Show me! I stated in a panic.
"You have to understand my visions of Bella are not what they used to be. Because we've been away from her for so long and I only had a faded scent, the visions are incomplete. I'm sorry Edward, but I can't identify much in the visions." She said seriously, staring at me trying to get me to understand how important this was.
"Alice, show me the damn visions." I was getting impatient with her; I wanted to shake her until she opened her mind to me. Just then I saw a quick vision of Bella's face, my angel. I fell to my knees; my memories didn't do her beauty justice. Alice's vision cleared a little and I was able to see that she appeared to be sleeping in my car, suddenly her eyes opened and she smiled. The vision disappeared. It took me a moment and I said, "What was that Alice, that didn't mean anything I don't understand what you are seeing?"
"That was the vision I had at the bookstore, I could tell she was in your car and when she woke up she was happy to see you. She was more than happy she was fulfilled. Now I need to show you the vision I had today." She said quietly.
Again, the vision appeared in my mind, again Bella was sleeping in my car, her eyes were opening but then she looked angry, very angry, she moved against the door defensively. Then the vision disappeared. "Alice what the hell does any of this mean, why are you showing me these visions? I can't make sense of them, so why torture me?" I said angrily.
"The second vision was almost the same as the first, the best guess I can make is that one of you has made a decision that has altered the first vision. Have you Edward? Have you made a decision while you've been out? I don't know what exactly changed, but something happened Edward. The vision that concerns me the most is the third vision I had about 20 minutes ago, let me show you." She was doing everything in her power to remain calm, what could she have possibly seen to shake her so badly.
In my mind I saw Bella running, it appeared she was running for her life. Suddenly someone grabbed her, shaking her. She was turned around and the panic in her face was disarming. Abruptly she was thrown to the ground. I couldn't see who was attacking her, only the back of him. I couldn't breath; I was clutching my chest…no, no, no. The vision ended with just a view of Bella on the ground. I couldn't stand, clawing at the ground screaming out, Alice came to my side sobbing as we clutched at each other.
When I could gather myself to speak again I grabbed Alice by the shoulders, "Alice, is Bella alright? Who was that hurting Bella? Is there anything else, anything?" I asked panicked. She kept shaking her head no; she was beside herself with grief.
This couldn't be happening, she was supposed to live a less perilous life without me and other vampires around. She was supposed to enjoy being human, have children, experience everything good life had to offer, how could this happen? Who would want to hurt Bella? I was pacing, how could I help her if I only had this vision to go on?
"Alice there has to be something else, I'm begging you, please try again!"
"Edward, I can't force these visions, you know that. I'm just as upset about this as you are," she said sobbing. "There's nothing else to give you. Don't you think if there was some way to identify what was going to happen and when I'd tell you!" she shouted at me as she pulled away.
"Alice, what's going on?" Jasper asked as he came through to the pathway.
I stood rigid looking at Alice, no longer mad at her but wanting to find the answers to all of the questions racing through my mind. I felt a wave of calm come over me, "Jasper, I appreciate your efforts, but now is not the time. I need to think, Alice tell him what you've seen. I'll be back."
"Where are you going Edward? We need to decide how we are going to stop this, you can't just leave." Alice shrieked.
"I'm not leaving, I need to hunt."
'Edward, I'll join you and Emmett should come as well' Jasper thought. 'You can tell me what Alice's vision was while we hunt.' "Alice we'll be back soon, whatever it is we'll figure it out" he kissed Alice and we began running back to the house to get Emmett.
As we approached the house, we called out to Emmett knowing he would hear. Within moments he came running out and we took off for the woods. I ran ahead of them trying to clear my mind, Alice's vision kept replaying in my head. There had to be a way to change this vision, I couldn't let it come true I just didn't know how to stop it.
We found a spot to feed alleviating one of my problems. While I waited for them to finish I sat on a rock with my head in my hands, my tension seemed to be lessening somewhat and I knew immediately it was because Jasper was helping. Then his thoughts came to me, 'Are you ready to tell me about Alice's vision?'
"Visions." I corrected him without making eye contact. Although he had lessened the tension, my emotions were still a mess. He would know soon enough, I'm sure Alice had told the rest of the family. There were no secrets in our household. Emmett had joined us, but had remained quiet as I began telling them both of the visions that Alice had shown me.
"There's only one choice to make Edward, you need to turn Bella. You need to do it before she gets hurt." Emmett said with certainty, nodding his head towards Jasper attempting to get him to agree.
"That's not an option, Emmett." Jasper began quietly. "Due to Alice's second vision, it appears that Bella will not be pleased to see Edward. We don't know why, but since she won't, the likelihood that she'll agree to become one of us is pretty slim. If Edward approaches her with this option, it may result in dire consequences for him."
"We need to find a solution and quickly, every minute we delay, Bella's life is in danger. This isn't like previous times where we knew who was after her and what was going to happen. The vision that Alice had was too vague, we don't know who is close to Bella or what she is doing. If we knew some things about her life today, we might be able to figure it out." I said as I began to pace again.
"That's it! You figured it out Edward!" Emmett exclaimed excitedly. "We'll go to the bookstore and find out her hours and then we'll tail her."
"What? We can't just walk into the bookstore and ask about her hours, tail her…we can't…wait, this just might work." I said thinking it through.
"He's right Edward, it's the only way." Jasper said looking at me while sending out a wave of serenity.
"Okay, let's head back to the house and discuss this with Carlisle." I said as I began running.
When we got back to the house everyone was gathered in the living room. Alice had informed them of the visions she had. The mood in the room was oppressive and as we entered they all stopped talking, but I could hear their thoughts…'Poor Edward'… 'Lovely Bella, Charlie will want to be here, we should find a way to get him here'…. 'If possible I'll make sure she's under my care.' I shook my head clearing their thoughts from my mind in order to concentrate on what needed to be said.
"There may be a way to stop this from happening." I announced to everyone. "I've decided to follow Bella from a distance and make sure nothing happens to her. I plan on going to the bookstore and wait to see if she reports for work. I'll stay there everyday until she does, hopefully we won't be too late." I told them. This had to work; it was our only option. Hopefully nothing has happened since last night.
"Will you approach her?" Alice asked timidly. I knew what she was thinking; she was concerned about her second vision.
"No, I'll keep my distance. She'll never know I'm there." I said dryly. This would be one of the hardest things I'd ever done. Being so close to my angel, yet not getting near enough to breath her scent. Or worse yet, being down wind of her and having the monster awaken. I shuddered. This must be done; I would ensure she would be safe. "As soon as I change, I'm leaving. I'll call with any news." Heading up to my room to change helped; having a course of action to change the vision was making it easier to cope.
It was early evening when I made it to Church Street, scanning faces and thoughts I sniffed the air for any scent of her. There was nothing that helped find her on the street so I made my way to the bookstore. Across the street was an alleyway where I remained waiting for someone to enter or exit the store. Not knowing if she was inside, I had to rely on someone else to go into the store so I could scan their thoughts upon entering and leaving.
The wait wasn't very long before someone entered the store, a young man. I quickly moved to the doorway behind him. Then I heard her voice, 'Good Afternoon, can I help you'. My head was spinning; the sound was like music to my ears. I had to get closer; my desire to look in the window was overwhelming.
Edging closer to the window to get a view of inside I heard him respond, 'Yes, you can. I'd like to see your beautiful smile please.' A growl started building in my chest as I heard his thoughts, 'God she looks great, she's beautiful. Look at that smile.' Who was this guy? What did he represent to Bella's life?
Her beautiful voice answered this question for me, 'That's an easy request to fill, Ian. You always bring a smile to my face.' If I had a heart it would have stopped beating as those words left her lips. This couldn't be, my Bella flirting with someone else. No, oh god, no. My stomach dropped and I felt my knees giving way. I glanced in the window and what I saw made me freeze, my love…my angel kissing this boy. It couldn't be, she couldn't have moved on.
Running from the front of the store, I pulled out my cell and called Jasper. "Jasper, I can't do this. You need to come and keep an eye on her, I can't be the one to do this." I said trying very hard to keep my voice from cracking. "Alice's second vision makes complete sense now, please hurry."
"Alice and I will be right there Edward."
Moments later the boy who had stolen my love's heart exited the store. I was torn, wanting to follow him and rip him to shreds, or stay and protect Bella. Knowing that ripping him apart wasn't the answer; I waited for Alice and Jasper.
Walking back to the storefront, I glanced inside. Bella was behind the counter with her elbows on it and her chin in her hands. She was smiling her wonderful smile, the smile that she used to wear just for me. No, I couldn't do this; it was killing me. I longed to go into the store and take her into my arms and claim her as my own. As I was watching from the window, she came around the counter and I was blessed with a view beyond compare. My lovely Bella, head to toe…she was like a salve to my non-existent soul.
A sob was escaping my lips as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning to the source, I crumbled in Alice's arms. "Take him home, I'll keep an eye on Bella." Jasper mumbled as he patted me on the back.
Alice took my arm and we walked back to the Volvo. "Edward, I'm so sorry." If she had been capable of crying she would have.
"I can't do this Alice. There's no room in Bella's life for me now. The only good thing that has ever happened to me has moved on, it's over forever. Knowing what I know, there's no way I can watch over her!"
"Please Edward, take some time to think about what you're saying." She said while patting my hand to console me. "You know eventually you will think this over and decide the only person able to watch over Bella will be you. Whether you want to believe it or not, you are her angel, Edward. You've saved her on countless occasions; this is just another moment you need to be there for her. You'll never forgive yourself otherwise."
Hanging my head I nodded. Time I needed time to adjust to Bella's new life. After all this is what I had claimed I wanted for her. So now I had to live with that decision.