Chapter 5

In the utter chaos that ensued in the initial moments after the entire wall of glass shattered, it took several moments for me to sort out exactly what had happened - to realize that not one but three forms had come crashing through the wall into the room. The one who had so viciously snarled was in front, closely followed by two others in hot pursuit. I held onto Carlisle for dear life as I tried to look around him, terror gripping me. My mind could only come up with one answer for who the three newcomers were: James, Victoria, and Laurent.

But I was wrong.

It was only when the snarling one took a snap at Carlisle in an effort to grab me that I realized it was Edward - wild-eyed and crazed. Carlisle darted back and dodged him, with me in tow, but was only able to avoid him because the other two forms through the window smashed into Edward with a resounding BOOM at almost the exact same moment.

"Carlisle, get her out of here!" came the clear, high-pitched shout from one of them.

"Alice?" I gasped, my mind reeling as I recognized the two vampires who'd chased Edward through the window: Alice and Jasper. But why were they here? And why were they after Edward? They were supposed to be chasing James...

And why was Edward so upset? Was it only because he feared his family intended to take me from him...or was there something worse?

Alice and Jasper seemed to have their hands full pulling back Edward, who growled and snapped ferociously, eyes locked on Carlisle. Emmett quickly joined the party, helping to restrain his brother.

"Now, Carlisle! You have to get her out now! Head for Forks." Alice yelled again. "We're taking Edward with us."

"No!" The primal growl from Edward seemed to shake the room. The crazed look still filled his black eyes, and I could see he hadn't found time to hunt in the time he'd been gone. In fact...I soon realized that none of the Cullens had found time to hunt, probably since before Edward took me. All of their eyes were black as night, harsh dark circles in the hard skin beneath them.

Emmett, Jasper and Alice were clearly beginning to lose the battle to hold Edward. Though I didn't fear him, I instinctively moved closer to Carlisle, unsure what Edward planned to do when he inevitably broke free - although judging by his reaction to Alice's suggestion I was pretty sure that it involved taking off with me again.

"You have to, Carlisle. Trust me," Alice urged. "Go!"

"I said NO!" Edward hissed through clenched teeth, as he landed what looked like a vicious blow to Jasper, momentarily breaking Jasper's grip on him. Emmett - with the help of Alice and Esme - responded by shoving Edward into one of the remaining walls, but if Jasper hadn't been right behind them to resume his former place they'd never have held him there.

Edward's shout was desperate.

"You're wrong, Alice! I won't let that happen! Carlisle!"

Carlisle visibly hesitated, his eyes going from his son to me.

"I trust your judgment, Alice, but I can't do this to him without knowing why. Fill me in, quickly, but make sure Bella hears everything." Carlisle's voice remained calm as always, but from his protective stance close beside me I could feel just how tensed he actually was - coiled and prepared to strike if necessary. "From this point forward, she has a say in this as well."

Alice huffed impatiently, clearly unhappy with that order. "There's no time! It was a trap - James led Jasper and me away intentionally. Victoria's here!"

"Good!" Emmett reacted first. "So stop fighting with me, Edward, and let's go get her!" Edward only growled louder, and I suddenly realized that he already knew about Victoria being there.

But how could he have known that? He had left me. I felt myself begin to shake. Surely he hadn't known before he left me?

Carlisle exchanged a look with his wife.

"Victoria's presence is all the more reason we shouldn't split up, Alice," Esme's soft voice intoned, her eyes already locked back on Edward, and I knew that suggestion was her way of trying to protect me and protect her son's sanity at the same time.

"No!" Alice continued. "You don't understand. Carlisle..." And then her lips were moving so fast that I couldn't understand a word she was saying. I couldn't even hear anything.

But I knew it was bad by the way Esme gasped, Carlisle's grip on my arm tightened, and Emmett forgot about holding onto Edward for a split second as his head snapped around in shock. Jasper and Edward didn't react as they continued to struggle, so I knew without question that they already knew whatever she was telling him.

Carlisle had clearly forgotten about keeping me informed. "Edward, if Alice is right about what they're planning, we have a responsibility to..."

"She's not," Edward snarled again. "And it doesn't matter! Bella's staying with me!" A sharp yank against his brothers' arms punctuated that statement.

Alice sighed. "She'd never forgive you, Edward, and you know it. Carlisle, this has to happen either way."

Again, Esme interjected sensibly. "Then we should at least split up in even numbers with Victoria out there. You and I can go with Carlisle and Bella, Alice; while Edward, Emmett and Jasper handle..." She glanced uncomfortably at me as her words faltered. "...the - the other situation."

Alice shook her head grimly. "No, we can't go with Bella. Believe me. Because in approximately two seconds, Bella's going to..."

I'd had enough. I needed to know what they were all talking about.

"Stop it!" I yelled, making everyone but Alice startle and look in my direction. "Tell me what is going..." But that was as far as I got. I had pulled away from Carlisle, with the intention of running to Alice, to grab her by the shoulders and demand that she answer my questions.

But as usual, that didn't really go as I planned. I stumbled almost immediately, pitching forward onto my hands and knees to catch myself - right in the middle of a pile of shattered glass from the window. The pain was instantaneous as glass sliced into my palms - which after just a short pause began to become sticky with blood.

"...to do that." I heard Alice finish on another sigh, this one sounding more than a little weary. "Great."

"Bella!"

Edward broke free at that exact moment, spinnng and crouching in front of me between me and all of his family except Carlisle, who was still behind me. His very, very thirsty family...

The next moments happened so fast that I was outside in Carlisle's car before I processed it all.

Carlisle surged forward from behind me and picked me up.

Edward turned to attack him, a look on his face like nothing I'd ever seen. I had no doubt that he'd tear Carlisle apart if necessary to get to me, and the thought was so frightening it almost made me dizzy.

And what happened after that, I wasn't sure. I only knew that I was suddenly in a car with Carlisle, speeding away from the house and leaving Edward behind.

ooo

Probably an hour passed before I could bring myself to speak. Not even when Carlisle stopped the car several miles from the house, retrieved a medical bag, cleaned the glass out of my wounds and applied bandages did I ever say a word. When he was finished, I just brought my feet up onto the expensive leather seat and wrapped my arms around my knees. Sometimes I stared out the window. Sometimes I stared at Carlisle. The concern in the gentle vampire's eyes was evident, but he didn't push me. He just gave me time to process.

I began to realize that we were, in fact, headed back toward Forks.

But that wasn't what I was focused on. All I could think about was the look on Edward's face.

"This is all my fault."

I almost jumped at the sound of my own voice. I hadn't even known I intended to say anything.

"Bella," the fatherly man beside me began. "None of this is your fault. Of that I can assure you." I barely saw the rapid glance he shot in my direction, as though trying to decide whether to say more. He must have decided I could handle it, because after a moment he continued speaking. "None of this is Edward's fault, either, though I'm sure he's feeling the same way as you right now. He's reacted to all of this in the only way he knew how - instictively."

Some of my residual anger at Edward reared its ugly head, mingled with my horror at the way he'd gone after his father. Maybe I wanted Carlisle to explain it to me. But I could no more have kept my mouth shut at that point than I could have safely walked a tightrope - in other words, not a snowball's chance in hell.

"He took a snap at you," I protested, tears rising in my eyes. "He would actually have hurt you if not for Emmett and Jasper."

The corner of Carlisle's lip turned up. "Yes. I can more than hold my own in a fight if necessary, Bella, or I'd never have agreed to Alice's plan of taking you away by myself - not knowing that Victoria is almost certainly following us. But yes, Edward's abilities do make him a formidable opponent. In a one-on-one contest, he has the advantage over almost anyone. If Edward truly wanted to hurt me, the probability that he could do so is high, despite my years of experience."

I stared wordlessly at him for a moment or two. He almost sounded...proud of his son. "You're not mad at him?"

That same look of complete understanding was back on Carlisle's face as I had seen earlier. "No. I have only myself to blame for Edward's reaction today." His gentle smile was gracious for my sake, as he tried to carefully explain. "Edward is many things, Bella, but when all is said and done he is still a vampire. And I'm not certain if he completely acknowledged this fact before the arrival of James and his coven, but he has chosen you as his mate. I've known that for quite some time now. But when he broke the window out today and I grabbed you to shield you from the glass, I should have realized how he would react. Edward didn't see a father at that point. He saw another vampire between him and his mate, keeping her from him. He read the thoughts of another vampire, one whom he could hear internally debating on removing his mate from his presence by force. Again, his mindreading capabilities mitigated the situation somewhat in that he could see the purpose behind my actions. But his instincts still overrode that knowledge. It's actually quite natural."

Again, I could only stare at first. And then I felt the angry tears begin to fill my eyes as I remembered lying there bound to a bed terrified that James had found me. And as it turned out, I had been in danger - Victoria had been there. But most of all, I couldn't forget Edward driving away from that store knowing that James was with Charlie.

"Okay, fine. So that's all great. But he kidnapped me. He kept me from Charlie, and he did nothing to protect him! He tied me to a bed and left me there."

"Yes," Carlisle agreed quietly. "He did all of those things, although in the case of Charlie I believe Edward sensed we were nearby even though we stayed far enough away that he couldn't hear us. But again, I believe I understand why he took all of those actions."

"I don't," I whispered, though I desperately wanted to understand.

Carlisle placed a fatherly hand on my shoulder. "Bella, there are many things I could say to you on this point, but I believe it comes down to this simple statement. I've been with my son since 1918. Yes, he has a flair for the dramatic, and yes he has a tendency to overreact. But in all these years, I can truthfully tell you that when he realized James wished to harm you is the first time I've ever seen him scared."

The gently spoken admission knocked the breath from me like a physical blow - and Carlisle wasn't finished.

"I can also tell you that in all these years, the past months are the only time I've seen him truly happy. I may not condone what he's done or the way he's gone about it...but I do understand it. In every way that matters, Edward hasn't been alive until now. His love for you alone dictates that he must do whatever is necessary to physically protect you, even at the risk of alienating you. But this goes deeper even than that. Bella, as I said, you are Edward's mate. What happens to you affects him as well. The most basic instinct of all living creatures is the survival instinct. If you die, I feel confident in asserting that my son will quickly die with you - figuratively, at the very least, and quite possibly literally if he is able to find a way. Instinctively he understands that, whether he grasps it mentally or not. And he simply can't trust anyone else - including his own family - to keep you, and by extension himself, safe."

I certainly had some new things to think about. Edward...scared. Completely terrified. I tried to put myself in his position, tried to imagine myself attempting to make rational decisions if I feared for Edward's bodily safety; but I couldn't get past the cloud of terror to come up with anything. It actually did make his actions more understandable.

But frustration still filled me at Carlisle's last word.

"Safe. Same from what? Carlisle, what did Alice tell you? Please tell me what's going on."

Suddenly, his eyes locked on the road ahead of us, his hand removing from my shoulder to the steering wheel as he inhaled deeply. He didn't move for a few seconds. "Bella, I'm not sure that would be wise. I'm truly not certain if you can handle this right now."

"Handle what?" I begged desperately. "Carlisle, please!"

He glanced at me again, and the hesitation flooded me with even more horror.

"Is it Charlie? Oh God, is he..."

"Charlie's fine," Carlisle cut in smoothly, and I almost relaxed...almost.

And then the world turned upside down again, as he gently continued.

"Bella...it's your mother. James has your mother."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note:

Hmmm...so is this parallel universe going to end up in the same place after all? Will Bella end up in the ballet studio with James? And most importantly, what's Edward going to do NOW?

Second Chances is probably getting the next update, but if there are enough reviews I may do the next chapter of this one first instead. Please, please, please review! If you have a favorite line or favorite part, I absolutely LOVE to hear those. Thanks, you guys! :)