Unexpected danger

'Alice?' Carlisle asked.

She checked the future quickly, somehow Bella's words had opened up a window to the future again.

'It is true, she will be here soon.' Alice choked out. 'She is bringing newborns, lots of them.'

Jasper locked in place. His muscles tensed and low growls came from his throat. His blazing eyes were filled with anger. The undiluted fury was plain on his features. Edward could feel himself go angry as well. His whole family tensed and Edward understood Jasper was involuntarily sending out anger waves. Carlisle figured this out at the same time.

'Jasper, control yourself!' He called.

Jasper's hands turned into fists and his growls intensified. Bella stared at him concerned. Alice rushed to his side and tried to calm him.

'Jazz, calm down. You are not helping.' She said, gently covering his fisted hands with her own.

Alice's voice almost drowned into his growling, but she forced his eyes on hers and slowly Jasper calmed down. His anger turned into sorrow and they all felt it.

'I swore, Alice...' His voice cracked. 'I swore I would never let Maria near her.'

'I know, Jazz.' She was trembling slightly. 'We won't let anything happen to her.'

Edward was suddenly shaken out of his shock. He felt his fear return full force.

'We have to hide her, right now, before we are too late.'

He turned towards Bella, intending to grab her.

'It won't help.'

Edward froze in his tracks and stared at Bella in complete surprise.

'Why?' He asked, when he found his voice again. 'If I run with you now, I can be far away before she is here.'

Bella shook her head decisively.

'She will adjust her course and find you wherever you will hide me.'

'Alice?' Carlisle asked for the second time in a similar way as the first time.

Alice concentrated and Edward saw the multiple scenarios run through her head.

'She is right. Maria will find her wherever we hide her. We don't even buy time by doing it.'

Alice turned to Bella.

'Bella, sweetie, how did you know that?'

Bella looked up, her face calm.

'I understand Maria now.'

The dream, of course. Carlisle thought.

'Maria is gifted, just like you Alice.' Bella explained. 'She sees secrets.'

His family needed some time to digest, before their thoughts flew over him.

This is worse than I thought. Carlisle

I knew it! It is how she always wiggled herself out of every dangerous situation. Jasper

I don't care how gifted she is. That bitch is not coming near Bella! Rosalie

I need to concentrate on all the possible outcomes. So far it doesn't look good. Alice

Finally a real fight! It has been a long time since we had some decent action around here. Emmett

What if someone dies?! What if Bella dies?! Esme

Edward agreed with Carlisle, like always, this was far worse. With her gift Maria could know everything about them. She could know Alice sees the future and he can read minds. If she could know all their advantages beforehand, she could develop a strategy against them. It made them vulnerable.

'If we can't hide Bella, then what should we do?' Edward asked desperate.

Taking her away and hiding her was his first instinct and the fact that he couldn't, took him out of balance.

'Alice?' Carlisle asked for the third time.

Alice was bending down under the pressure, her breathing was uneven. Edward watched the future with her. He cringed away from the images he saw. They were devastating. He saw himself covered with newborns while Maria took Bella away. She was screaming his name, her face wet with tears.

'The most likely outcome right now is that we all die and Maria takes Bella.' Alice whispered in shock.

There was something else. A piece of the future came to Alice. She furrowed her eyebrows in concentration and looked again. Edward gasped with the terrible image he saw in her head.

It was Bella a few years older. She was standing in a field holding Maria's hand. They were standing still, staring into nothingness. Around them the ground was covered with bodies as far as the eye could see. They appeared to be all dead.

This vision was short and gone before Alice could study it further, but it was enough to see the consequences of failing now. If they lose Bella, they lose the war. Alice looked at Bella with pained eyes. He understood what she was thinking. How could an innocent sweet girl like Bella, have such an impact on the world?

'No! We can't let this happen!' Edward called. 'We need help!'

'The wolves?' Jasper asked.

Alice checked and shook her head.

'They won't be here in time, but the Denali's will.' Alice saw a little bit of hope. 'If you ask them Carlisle, they will come to defend Bella.'

'I will call them immediately.' Carlisle said and left for his office.

Edward watched the future again with Alice. Even with the Denali's, impending doom was one of the more probable outcomes. Each time he saw Bella being dragged away from him or getting hurt in the crossfire he felt a pain larger than anything he ever felt. He watched Bella. He needed to protect her by any means necessary.

Edward! What did you just decide? Our chances at winning the fight are suddenly better.

What did he decide? Nothing he didn't know before. He always knew he would protect Bella with his life. Did he subconsciously think of a plan? No, this wasn't about him. He saw it in the future now. It was about Jasper.

'Maria has made one mistake.' He said and his eyes settled on Jasper. 'When it comes to fighting newborns we have the best with us. Maria trained you yourself.'

Jasper was already concentrating on several strategies and it was what was changing the future. Edward's eyes were suddenly drawn back towards Bella when he saw her move just a little bit. He studied her face. Her eyes had a determined look. Alice watched the future change for the umpteenth time.

It was Bella again, but this time she snuck away from them before the fighting began. She walked towards Maria. Her lips moved and Edward listened to her words in the vision.

'If you promise to leave them alone and not hurt them. I will follow you.'

Maria smiled and promised. Bella took her hand willingly. He saw them walk away.

Edward immediately sat next to Bella and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

'You can't do that Bella.' He urged.

'I won't let you get hurt because of me. I will try to escape Maria later.'

'Bella, listen to me. You have to promise me, promise me you will not leave us.' His voice trembled with the fear of losing her.

She looked at him for a while. Measuring his feelings, he guessed from her look. He needed to hear her promise, but it didn't really matter. He wasn't going to let her out of his sight, not even for a second.

'I promise.' She softly complied.

Alice sighed relieved when that possibility disappeared from the future. She turned to Jasper.

'Whatever you are thinking, it is beginning to look good.' Alice said hopeful.

'Divide and conquer.' Jasper said knowingly. 'It is one of the oldest tricks in the book. With our gifted family and the Denali's we can handle three to one odds as long as they can't gang up on us.'

Alice nodded.

'It will work. Think it out and instruct the others. We don't have a lot of time.' She concentrated. 'The Denali's will arrive in a few hours. On time to instruct them as well. We will survive this.'

Edward didn't think he ever felt this relieved. There was a good chance they were able to protect Bella and save themselves. He trusted in the power of his family. They were all experienced fighters, except for Esme. They would be able to handle a superior number of newborns, especially because of Jasper. He was never more thankful for his brother as he was now. Edward watched him for a moment. Jasper was reflecting, going over his strategy piece by piece. His practical mind kept him from responding in the same way he once responded when Bella was threatened. Just like Edward, he was fighting his instincts to grab Bella and run to the other side of the world.

There was nothing more to do but wait. Edward kept his promise to himself and didn't leave Bella's side. His family was busy preparing, going over attack and defense moves with Jasper, but Edward stayed with her the whole time. He followed the minds of his family closely from his position. He tried to get Bella to sleep, but she wouldn't. She was worried, he could see it written on her face. He tried to reassure her, but the worry stayed.

'We can handle this, Bella.' He tried again.

'What if you can't? Maria is powerful. I had the dream for a reason.'

'It was a warning. You have to trust us. We have this covered.'

He held her tight. She pressed her face in his chest.

'I am afraid.' She whispered in his chest. 'Something doesn't feel right.'

Edward was a little worried. He had learned to trust Bella's instincts. He went over Jasper's strategy cover to cover. They missed nothing, the strategy was going to work.

'It will be alright.'

Edward looked up, responding to familiar minds.

'The Denali's are close.' He called.

Carlisle went to the door to welcome them. They came in and walked over to Bella immediately. Tanya hugged her, Carmen kissed her and Kate smiled to her. Eleazar touched her cheek affectionately.

'I am afraid we couldn't bring Irina.' Carmen said. 'She is not home that much and we couldn't contact her.'

Edward was not surprised. Irina wasn't in Alice's visions and Irina had never met Bella. There were some unknown problems in the family, but Edward didn't want to pry, so he let it go.

'We will never forget you came to our aid.' Edward said grateful. 'Thank—'

Don't! Tanya shouted in her mind and she growled.

'Don't thank us, Edward. It is our duty to protect Bella. We would be insulted if you didn't contact us.' Eleazar explained.

Before Edward could apologize, Jasper called the Denali's. They hurried to his side, ready to receive instructions. Another hour passed and the moment of truth neared. His family was tense, but Jasper kept them all calm. Jasper called them outside. They had decided to stay close to the house. They had a lot of empty ground around the house. Humans never came close to their house and property. It was the way to stay inconspicuous and fight freely.

Jasper divided them in four groups and went over the strategy one more time.

'Edward and Esme will stay with Bella inside the house.' Jasper's voice betrayed none of his nervousness. 'Edward, if any newborns slip by us, they are yours.'

Edward nodded. No newborn would come near Bella.

'Rosalie, Emmett and Tanya take the left side and lure at least eight vampires with you to the leftmost field.'

'Carlisle, Eleazar and Carmen take the right side and lure at least seven vampires with you.'

'Alice, Kate and I will take on the rest in front of the house.'

'Keep each other's back at all times and never leave your group. Don't let the newborns come too close to you or their superior strength will kill you. Everything clear?'

They all nodded determined.

'Be ready!' Jasper ordered.

Esme picked up Bella and carried her inside, followed closely by Edward. His senses were up and he could almost hear the minds of the newborns. They were close.

Edward followed the fight on the multiple fronts with his mind. It was going as expected. Esme was comforting a restless Bella constantly. He kept them updated. The flanks with Carlisle's and Emmett's groups were having it easy. They could handle the fight. The only one having a hard time was Jasper. He was covering the largest group of newborns and he was trying to be everywhere at once, protecting Alice as well as the house. He was fighting with the fierceness of a lion. Edward now understood the force that was his brother. He didn't think anyone, no matter how gifted, was strong enough to defeat him. Kate was a great help to the group, shocking every vampire that came near her. They were winning. Maria was nowhere in sight, but that was no surprise. Maria left the fighting to the newborns.

The fight went on and the newborns lost at least half their number without the Cullens and Denali's losing one. Edward began to relax. He didn't have much to do until now and it looked like it was going to stay that way. He should have known better than lower his guard. In that moment it all went horribly wrong.

Bella tensed and her eyes opened wide in fear. Esme studied her questionably. It took Edward a moment to realize Bella was seeing something. Bella began to panic.

'No! No! No! Don't hurt him!' She screamed.

She wiggled herself out of Esme's grip, who was too shocked to respond and ran for the door. Edward stopped her, but froze when he heard another mind. It was the mind of Maria.

'Stop your fighting, or the boy dies.' Maria called hard enough for Edward to hear.

Bella was struggling against his grip, but Edward wouldn't let go. Outside the fighting had stopped. His family had gathered in front of the house and stood exactly opposite to the remaining newborns and Maria. Edward saw through the minds of those outside that Jasper stepped forward. Maria was holding an unconscious human boy in her arms. Edward growled fiercely when he saw who the boy was. It was Liam.

'Let the boy go. He is an innocent.' Carlisle said urgently.

Maria ignored Carlisle and turned to Jasper.

'My dearest Jasper, I have missed you.' Maria smiled. 'You have always been such a great assistance to me and to think you are the one to deliver the child to me. I always knew you would come in handy someday again.'

Jasper was struggling, thinking of a way to stall Maria.

'How did you find me?' He asked, trying to keep Maria talking.

'I am not here to answer your questions, Jasper. Let's just say that I ran into your old friend Peter and he told me all I needed to know.'

Peter and Charlotte had visited them once since Bella was with them and although they had kept them away from Bella, Jasper had told them something about their newest family addition.

'Peter would never betray me.' Jasper snarled.

'He didn't have to.' Maria giggled. 'I have my ways.'

'We know all about your ways, Maria.'

Maria's eyes narrowed.

'Do you?' She asked quizzically. 'Yes, I suppose you do. It is a powerful child after all.'

Maria laughed aloud.

'How does it feel to be outsmarted, Jasper. I know all about you and your family. The newborns were just a diversion. I needed your little fortune telling wife distracted on other things so I could take the boy.' She chuckled. 'Did you know the boy secretly has a crush on the child? Stupid really, as if a meaningless human boy could ever be good enough for her. But it came in handy for me, otherwise I probably would have known nothing about the boy.'

She laughed some more, but her eyes grew demanding.

'Now, hand over the child!'

Jasper shook his head.

'We will never hand her over, not even for the life of Liam.'

Maria's eyes sparkled with merit.

'You do not know then?' She giggled again.

'Know what?' Jasper asked irritated.

'You will see what I mean.' Her eyes turned evil.

She placed her hand on Liam's throat and began to choke him. In his unconsciousness he struggled for breath.

'Stop it!' Alice screamed.

Bella was going frantic now. What all her might she struggled against Edward's grip.

'I have to save him, Edward!' She yelled.

Edward had heard that before, but he had also told her he would never let her sacrifice her own life for another. Bella's eyes went to his eyes and Edward felt a strange power flow from her eyes inside his body. For a few seconds Edward wasn't able to move. It was enough for Bella to release herself and run outside. He followed her out, but was too late. She was standing a few feet from Maria.

'Let him go!' She demanded.

Maria released his throat, but didn't release the boy.

'See, Jasper.' Maria smiled again. 'Aro held a lot of secrets about the child. He told me her nature prevents her from letting human lives go to waste, at least as long as she is in your power. I will change that, trust me. She is mine now.'

Jasper moved towards her, but Maria held up her hand to stop him.

'I wouldn't do that, Jasper. The boy will be dead before you reach me.'

Bella turned partly towards Jasper, her eyes pleading. She stood between them on the most dangerous ground.

'Bella, use your power on Maria.' Edward yelled to Bella, searching desperately for a way out.

Bella's eyes went to Edward and he saw her pained look.

'I don't know how.' She whispered, but Edward could easily hear.

'You just did on me.' Edward encouraged her. 'You can do it. I believe in you.'

'Stop talking right now!' Maria ordered, turning to Bella. 'Bella, my dear child, I promise you the boy will not get hurt if you come with me.'

Maria held out her hand and Bella stepped forward, taking her hand. It was Edward's worst nightmare coming true. Maria could run off with Bella, but she wanted to torture them, forcing them to see they had lost the child. They walked away slowly.

'Bella, No!' He shouted. 'You promised not to leave us. You promised!'

Bella froze and she turned around to look at him. In her face he saw love and he saw that love turn into courage and a look of determination. In a swift movement she turned her eyes on Maria, who froze in place immediately.

'Now!' Edward roared.

His whole family moved at once. Bella ripped Liam from Maria's arms and began to run away. The remaining newborns closed their ranks in front of Maria to make sure the Cullens couldn't reach her. The chaos was complete. Edward fought his way through the newborns frantically, looking for Bella and Liam. They had to be somewhere between them and Maria. When he had finally broken through an opening, he saw Bella sitting on the grass not far from him. In her arms she held Liam. He rushed to her side and pulled them both in his arms. He couldn't breathe so overwhelming was his relief. He looked around and saw his family fighting off the last of the newborns. He looked further, searching for the source of all their misery. As he expected there was nothing to be found.

Maria had disappeared.