Chapter 30: Remind Me


Bella POV


"Bella, are you alright?" Edward asked me softly.

We were sitting t his piano, his fingers ghosting over the keys.

I nodded. "I'm just... worried. About Max, about Seth, about Rosalie."

"Bella, what about you?"

"What do you mean, me?"

"You're so worried about everyone else, aren't you scared?" I didn't answer. "I could take you away from here. We could leave, now. No-one would mind. Please Bella."

I looked up into Edward's pleading eyes. He wanted me to leave, so that I could be safe. But I couldn't.

"Edward...I-"

"I know, I just... had to try."

I smiled at him, and leaned against his shoulder. "I'll be okay, you know."

"Hmm, sure."

Angel wandered in through the back door, looked up at us all, and burst into tears.

"Ange? What's wrong?" Iggy asked her gently.

"She...she....she's...gasp...g-g-g-g......g-gone...sh-sh-she....sniff...sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-she thought.......she thought she was....cough.....that she was..." The sobs become heavier and the words indistinguishable.

"What? Who's gone?" Iggy tried to comfort her, but the young girl just cried harder.

"Angel." Fang said, his voice harsh, ignoring everyone's glares. "Angel, where's Max?"

Angel stared up at her oldest brother, her young face solemn.

She shouldn't have to be so serious. I though suddenly. She should be like every other six year old.

I would get bored; at least that's what Max always thinks. Angel's sweet voice filled my mind.

She looked up at me, silent tears pouring down her face.

I got up and walked over to her, sat her down on the sofa, sat next to her, and drew her into me. She buried her small face in my shoulder and cried.

Max went to find the Volturi. She sent to me and- by the looks on their faces- everyone else in the room. She had a plan, a different plan. She's going to show Aro all of her memories, all of them. Even the ones she refuses to remember. She thinks the pain will kill him. I know it's a good plan, but it... it'll.... She stopped and took a deep breath.

Her Voice says there's a ninety-nine percent chance of it killing her.

The reaction was instantaneous.

Fang leapt to his feet, quickly followed by Iggy, Nudge and the Gasman.

"Which way?" Fang asked.

I don't know. She didn't think about it. It's all my fault.

"Angel, honey, it's not your fault. You were just doing what Max told you to."

I could hear Carlisle and Edward convincing Fang to wait until they had a plan. After all, if they went in the wrong direction, there was no hope. I concentrated on Angel.

"Max'll be proud of you. You did what she told you to."

Really?

"Yeah."

Jasper skidded in through the door to the kitchen. I got to my feet, seeing the terror splashed across his face. "Where's Alice?" He demanded. "I can't find her anywhere!"

Panic laced his voice, and I could feel it seeping into me as well. My breathing sped up.

"Jasper." Edward, appearing at my side, hissed. Jasper looked over at us. Seeing me huddled in Edward's arms, practically hyperventilating, he tried to calm.

"Sorry." Jasper said, head bowed.

"Alice said she was going out, she didn't say where. Maybe she went to look for Seth? It was just before Angel came back. Are we going to find Max? How? Max is always the one with the plan, so how are we supposed to find her?" Nudge's words began to slow, a frown on her chocolate face. "I dunno what I would do without Max, she's like my Mom, big sister, and best friend all wrapped into one, but she's so much better than any real Mom could ever be. We are going to find her...... Right?" She stopped, looking around at us all with huge eyes, filled with tears trying not to let them free. Her small body started shaking with the effort. No-one could answer her.

Angel burst into tears again.

I automatically reached out to her, as she was still next to me from earlier. But then Angel, sweet little Angel, slapped them away, screaming at me.

"No! I don't want you! I want Max!" She shrieked. It was nothing compared to her next cry, one that not only made my ears bleed, but my brain too. "I want Max!"

Fang knelt in front of her as she continued to weep, and pulled her into his arms, not saying anything. Turning, he held one arm out to Nudge and the Gasman as well. They ran, Nudge already crying. Iggy joined them, and soon Fang was the only one with dry eyes. Jasper's jaw was tight with emotion- pain and worry. Probably increased by his own concern over Alice.

"Fang-" Carlisle started, but was interrupted by the door flying open, crashing into the wall hard enough to crack the glass.

Seth stood in the doorway, his clothing ripped, face flushed, panting.

"Max is in danger." He gasped.

"You're a bit late. Angel's already told us." Esme answered, when no-one said anything.

Seth staggered through the door and fell into a chair.

"She told you." Fang stated quietly.

"Yes." The reply was a strained whisper.

"Well now you're gonna get your wish and she'll be a vampire. I hope you're happy!"

"She told me to suggest that! She said then when she ran away you would think it was because she was scared." We all stopped and looked at each other. No-one had even thought of that.

"Remind me why I shouldn't just break your neck now and be done with it."Fang growled at Seth. The younger boy gulped loudly.

"Because he knows Max's plan better than anyone." Jasper said quickly, feeling the extent of Fang's anger.

"Fang, you gotta save her! Please! I can't.... can't...." He broke off, choking off tears.

"What? Can't what?" Fang said harshly, making me wince at his tone albeit it wasn't aimed at me. "Can't live without her? You! Who just met her! Look around you! That's Max's family! Her family! Max is a mother to them! And you want me to save her because you don't think you could live without her! If it weren't for Max we'd all be dead, and I wouldn't be here to have this conversation. You think I'm gonna go save Max, so that you can take her away from us? No." His voice turned deathly quiet- but even I, with my weak ears, heard it crystal clear. "You are staying well away from Max. We are going to get her, and you are never going to speak, no- look at her ever again."