Chapter 17: Threats becoming Reality

The Cullen house had an eerie silence to it despite people being home. Edward had been unable to shake the feeling of dread from his stomach for some time now. Walking into the spacious living room, he found Alice sitting comfortably on the couch reading. "Alice, have you been receiving any visions recently?" He queried. Alice glanced up from her book looking him with a confused expression on her face.

"No…why do you think I should be?" She asked curiously

Shaking his head Edward stood in front of the large plate glass window that overlooked the forest. "Edward, what's going on?" Alice stood slowly from the couch approaching him apprehensively.

"Nothing really, I've just have a feeling something is going to happen that's all" he reassured.

Edward sighed shaking his head "I'm going to see Bella, I'll talk to you later," he told his sister as he left. Alice watched him go, nervously taking her seat back on the couch.

Arriving at the house, Edward got out of his car to find Bella coming out of the house. "Bella what are you doing?" He asked surprised.

"I can't stay cooped up inside any longer" the frustration clear in the tone she used.

Edward relaxed, quickly moving to help her sit down on the porch step. Bella extended her leg that was still in a brace grumbling quietly as she did so. "It won't be much longer," he assured her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

"This is just so annoying," she muttered glaring daggers at the brace.

A stifled chuckle escaped Edward's lips as he watched his love stare fiercely at the inanimate object. "You can glare at it all you want but it won't disappear," he commented flippantly. Bella sighed in defeat leaning back against the steps. Smiling smugly, Edward lifted her up into his arms, cradling her carefully, and carried her deep into the forest.

Looking at him suspiciously, she asked, "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he replied coyly.

Bella rolled her eyes at him, tightening her arms around his neck.

After what felt like forever, Edward finally set her down on the ground. Opening her eyes, Bella looked around to see that she was standing in the middle of an idyllic meadow. "Wow…" she whispered in disbelief.

"I came up here on the days you couldn't find me," he revealed as he sat down amongst the lush grass and delicate flowers.

Biting her lower lip anxiously Bella sat down in front of him. A smile radiated across her features as the sun hit his skin creating pools of fractured light. Reaching out, she rested her hand lovingly on his cheek. Closing his eyes, he brushed his lips over her hand savoring the moment. Shimmying a little closer, he moved onto his side, propping himself up on his arm. Bella smiled as she lay down beside him looking deeply into his eyes. "It's different doing this without worrying about getting caught," she commented with a small laugh. Holding her hand up, he kissed the tips of her fingers with a small smile.

"I never thought I would fall for a human so hard like I have fallen for you," he replied quietly.

Bella smiled softly before sliding in close to him as he lied on his back. She rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes as she felt a wave of calm wash over her. Smiling, Edward reached down and combed his fingers through her hair, kissing the top of her head tenderly. Bella sighed, "I love you Edward." Pulling her a little closer, his arms drew her in closer if it were possible.

"I love you Bella," he whispered lovingly into her hair.

Relishing in the moment, Bella felt her eyes get heavy and closed them just to rest when she ended up falling asleep. The silence was soothing to the vampire as he watched his young human love sleep against his chest. His cool hand moved circles into her back, feeling her warm body against him. Pulling her up, Edward buried his face in her hair, letting her scent wash over him

As they continued to spend their time in the meadow, Edward once again felt that someone was watching them. Sitting up sudden, he looked around, trying to see if he could find whoever was watching him. Bella sat up, staring at him with a quizzical yet concerned look as she watched him pace around the meadow. "Edward, what's going on?" She asked concerned. Turning to look at his girlfriend, he sat back down in front of her.

"Bella for the last month I have been feeling really uneasy," he explained quietly not wanting to take the chance of someone listening in.

"About what? Why are you talking so low?" She queried.

Edward glanced back at the forest before looking back at her once more. "Come on, we're being watched," he claimed as he carried her back to the town. Clinging to him, Bella looked over her shoulder at the meadow again trying to see if she could see anyone that could possibly be watching.

Arriving back at Bella's house, Edward placed her back down on the porch. "What's going on?" She asked.

"I don't know," he replied nervously looking towards the tree line again.

He looked back at her, letting out a sigh. "Just stay here, I have to go home," he informed getting up from his place on the porch. Watching as her boyfriend hurry to his car, she suddenly felt dread rush through her veins.

"Edward!" She called getting up.

Climbing into his car, not bothering to act as if he was human at this point, Edward threw his car into drive. The tires on the silver Volvo squealed against the cement as the vehicle tried to take off at a fast speed. Edward's eyes were constantly scanning around for any kind of sign that someone was close. He could feel them, they were close, but he just did not know where they were.

At the Cullen house, Carlisle was sitting in his study reading over some files when there was a knock on the door. Not looking up from his paper work he answered, "Come in." Looking up after a minute, he saw Edward standing there. "Edward, what's wrong?" He asked; concern laced in his voice. His eyes were constantly scanning outside the window, making the much older vampire look over his shoulder to try to see what his son was seeing.

Looking at his father, he let out a shaky, unneeded breath, "I told you I had to go!" Carlisle stood up from his chair, moving over to his son.

"What are you talking about? The Volturi have no idea you are home," Carlisle reassured his son, his hand resting on his shoulder as a comfort.

Removing his hand from his shoulder, Edward hurried out of the study with Carlisle following behind him. "We have to go, now," he asserted as he hurried down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Rosalie asked when they saw Edward and Carlisle walking down the stairs.

Feeling the dread build up, he could feel Jasper trying to calm him so they could understand what was going on, but he shook him off. "Listen to me, we have to go now," he demanded showing a hint of fear in his voice. Standing up, Alice moved in front of him.

"Why…what's going on Edward?" She asked.

Before another word could be said, the whole house went dark. "Dammit no," Edward hissed out of fear as he looked around.

"Everyone, just stay here, stay together," Carlisle instructed, getting into the role as the leader of the coven.

Looking towards Alice, he carefully placed his hand on her arm as he moved to whisper to her, "Do you see anything?" Shaking her head slowly, Jasper moved behind his wife wrapping his arms around her waist as they waited to see what was going on and who was at the house.

At the Swan house, Bella wasn't able to sit around at her house and wonder what was going on anymore. Sneaking her keys from the hook on the wall, Bella snuck out of her house. Climbing into her old truck, she knew that the sound of the truck alone would wake her father but she had to see what was going on with Edward, she just couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong. Pulling out of the driveway, she pushed her truck to go as fast as it could to get to the Cullen house.