Author's note:
I know it's been a long time, and I'm really sorry. My real life has been absolutely insane for the last couple of months. I feel as though this story has been jinxed sometimes. I had a lot of trouble with this chapter and I'm still nervous about it, but after editing it obsessively I decided I couldn't do anything more to it. This chapter is a long one and it covers graduation and the party up until Jacob and his friends arrive. I sincerely hope it was worth the wait. Thank you all again for your patience, love and support.
Chapter 13-Pall
"Nothing is going to happen," Alice said in an annoying singsong voice as she rifled through my closet. She had already picked out a graduation outfit for Bella-which I wasn't allowed to see-and now she was trying to find something for me.
I'd been away from Bella for three hours, fifteen minutes and forty four seconds, and while I knew that Esme was keeping an eye on her, I had a strangely ominous feeling that I couldn't seem to get rid of.
"Are you sure?" I asked her pointedly as she sifted through my dress shirts. Thanks to her they were arranged by fabric type and color.
Alice shot me an exasperated look that matched the irritated and defensive tone of her thoughts as she tossed a pale blue linen dress shirt, a pair of navy linen slacks and a matching navy jacket onto the large king sized bed. It was simple but far more expensive than anything my classmates would wear to Forks High's graduation.
"I know I've been missing things lately, but I'm pretty sure I'd see it if someone had some kind of an elaborate plan to harm Bella," she snapped. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take the graduation outfit I bought for her to Charlie's. I've already seen that she has nothing suitable to wear."
"I'm sorry," I said apologetically. "I'm being ridiculous. I just can't help but feel as though something bad is about to happen."
Alice rolled her eyes. "That's because you're a perpetual pessimist, Edward not a psychic."
I laughed.
"Tell Bella I'll see her soon," I said as she sashayed out the door.
"Not too soon," Alice called from the bottom of the stairs. "Give me time to make her beautiful."
I started to tell her that any effort on her part would be a waste but she was already gone.
I dressed quickly and headed downstairs where I found Emmett and Jasper in the living room (which now resembled a nightclub) engaged in a rather intense chess game with several boards as was their habit. Emmett was losing spectacularly because Jasper was sending waves of confusion toward him each time it was his turn. I tried to give him a disapproving look but the effect was marred by the smile I couldn't suppress.
I'm just paying him back for the cheat sheets I found him using when we were playing Call of Duty yesterday. Jasper thought unapologetically.
"Hey Edward," Emmett said, turning his attention away from the chess board. "All ready for graduation, I see. How many times have you graduated now?" He asked, as if he didn't remember.
"I'd rather not think about it," I retorted. None of my high school graduations meant anything to me besides this one, and that was because of Bella. I could tell by the smug tone of his thoughts that Emmett was up to no good, but he was deliberately trying to hide the details from me. Emmett never tried to conceal his thoughts unless he was planning some kind of prank. Typically I was able to take my brother's jokes in stride but I was in no mood for them today.
"Which of your high school graduations would you say was your favorite?" Emmett continued as he moved a pawn.
I could hear what he was thinking and I gritted my teeth.
"I know which one I like the best," Emmett went on without waiting for my answer as he pulled a yellowing photo out of his pocket. I don't think Jasper has ever seen this. He thought.
I glanced down at the picture in his hand and saw my unchanging face among a sea of teenagers congregated around a large red brick building. Two pimply, bespectacled girls in the very front were holding a gold satin banner with the words Fairfield High School-Class of 1974 emblazoned on the front in large navy blue letters.
"What is that?" Jasper asked curiously. He burst out laughing a second later. I can't believe you actually posed for a class picture. He thought.
"It's not that funny," I grumbled as I stared at the green shirt I was wearing. It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the butterfly collar.
"Yeah, it is," Emmett guffawed.
"Nice bellbottoms," Jasper snorted.
"You know perfectly well that Alice was our self-appointed fashion consultant then too," I snapped.
"Even Alice can have lapses in judgment," Jasper snickered. "That shirt is bad even for the 70's." If I were you I would have burned this picture a long time ago. He thought.
"Bella's going to love it," Emmett said cheerfully. "It's my graduation present to her."
"No," I growled.
"Aw, come on Edward," Emmett said with a jerk of his head. "You know she'd get a kick out of it, and it's the least I can do since I won't be able to tease her at the ceremony." Emmett, Rose, and Jasper were going to take a short hunting trip before the party. Jasper would need all of his strength to deal with a houseful of humans later this evening.
"No," I repeated irritably, suddenly feeling very much like a 17 year old boy who didn't want to be humiliated in front of his girlfriend.
Our argument was interrupted a moment later when Carlisle walked into the living room.
"What are you boys going on about?" Carlisle asked with a smile as he took in the mischievous expression on Emmett's face.
"Old family photos," Jasper said. I can feel your embarrassment Edward, but don't worry too much. Alice won't let Emmett get away with this unscathed. She looks bad for making you look bad, you know. Maybe she'll make him do the cleanup after the party. I'm tired of all this decorating for humans. He added silently.
"Ahh," Carlisle replied knowingly as he looked over Emmett's shoulder. I guess this is Emmett's graduation gift to you, son. He thought.
"It's for Bella, not me," I replied tersely to his unspoken comments.
"She'll love it," Emmett said again. Don't be such a killjoy, Edward. Bella needs a laugh.
"Edward, if you're planning to meet Bella at her house you'd better go," Carlisle said, putting an end to our argument as he glanced at his watch. You know Charlie would look for any excuse to try to get away with leaving you behind. He said silently.
I nodded in reply. Charlie's less than friendly attitude toward me hadn't really improved any more since the small breakthrough we'd had when Bella broke her hand. I knew he didn't really want me along for the ride to the ceremony, but I refused to miss being with Bella today. This could quite possibly be the last major human milestone in her life and I wanted to be a part of that.
As I drove to Charlie's, my mind was preoccupied with the strange feeling of foreboding that wouldn't go away. The headlines in Seattle were getting worse each day, and I couldn't help but feel as though the Volturi's failure to intervene had something to do with us.
I didn't have a great deal of time to worry about the issue because I was in front of Charlie's house less than five minutes later. I'd been driving even faster than usual without even realizing it.
Based on the potency of her scent, I could tell that Alice had left nearly ten minutes before I arrived. I wondered why she had decided not to wait for me to arrive, but I supposed she was probably going to get dressed herself.
I got out of the car just as Bella stepped over the threshold of the front door with the ugly yellow graduation robe in tow. I gasped at the sight of her. She was wearing a beautiful blue sweater and matching silk skirt that accentuated every curve of her perfect frame. Her long mahogany hair cascaded down her back in waves. She had never looked more beautiful.
"Hi," she said shakily. I stared intently at her face for a brief moment before leaning in to kiss her gently on the cheek. She was paler than usual and her eyes were wide and anxious. I knew that Bella would be nervous about graduation and the after-party but somehow I had the sinking suspicion that something else was bothering her. Before I could ask her if she was okay, Charlie trudged outside in an ill-tempered fashion.
"I see you made it, Edward," Charlie grumbled as he unlocked the cruiser. Why couldn't he ride with his own parents…can't I have one day alone with my little girl? He thought irritably.
"Yes, I made it. Thank you for allowing me to come along today," I answered as I continued to focus on Bella's face.
I could see the distress there but nothing else that would indicate the reason for it. She said little during the trip, only speaking when spoken to. She was very nervous and kept glancing back at me through Charlie's rear view mirror. She managed a couple of small smiles and I relaxed a bit. Perhaps I was just being paranoid and her concerns really were just about graduation.
I couldn't stop myself from being amused at the timbre of Charlie's thoughts as we drove down the familiar streets of town. He was fantasizing about what it would have been like if he were driving me to the Forks Detention Center instead of the high school gymnasium. We arrived at the school just in time to interrupt his visions of putting handcuffs on my wrists. I nearly laughed out loud as I imagined the look on his face if I were to twist his cuffs into a pile of scrap metal.
I got out of the car as soon as Charlie had put the cruiser in park so that I could help Bella exit. She was always more likely to trip when she was wearing a skirt for one thing, and for another I was eager to try to discern the underlying reasons for her anxious demeanor. Her face was still just as colorless as it had been when we left the house, and I didn't miss the nervous way she was biting her full bottom lip.
"Are you all right? I asked her quietly as I pulled her from the passenger's seat.
"Nervous," she replied just as Charlie started walking around the car to where we were standing.
I thought this was understating things and I started to question her further, but I knew that now wasn't really the time or place. She tugged uncomfortably at the sweater she was wearing. Bella was always so self-conscious on special occasions, particularly when she had to dress more formally than she was accustomed to.
"You are so beautiful," I assured her as my fingers brushed the back of her hand. This was an inadequate statement to say the least. She was a vision.
Instead of blushing as she usually did when I complimented her, Bella's face remained pallid and frightened. In that moment I knew for certain that something more sinister than graduation was bothering her, but once again, before I could question her Charlie was there, pushing me aside.
Ugh. I refuse to let Cullen monopolize her today. She needs to focus on more people besides him; good thing I talked Billy and Jake into coming as a surprise. I can't understand why they didn't want to at first, though. Charlie thought as he draped his arm over Bella's shoulder.
I gritted my teeth angrily behind Charlie's back. This was an unwelcome development to say the least. How he could possibly want Bella in the same room with Jacob Black after the way he forced himself on her was beyond even my comprehension. The sight of the brace she was still wearing on her right hand made me angry each time I looked at it. Was this the reason for her nervousness? Did she already know that the Blacks were coming? I wish they would have stayed away as they apparently had planned to do at first.
"Are you excited?" Charlie asked Bella, oblivious to my annoyance.
"Not really," Bella replied truthfully as her eyes met mine for a brief second.
"Bella, this is a big deal. You're graduating from high school. It's the real world for you now. College…living on your own...You're not my little girl anymore." Charlie said thickly.
Where did the time go? Charlie thought sadly.
My irritation at him vanished as images of Bella as a little girl flashed through his mind. He remembered the way she felt in his arms the first time he held her, her first steps, skinned knees and pigtails, the day she'd come to live with him in Forks...
"Dad," Bella whined. "Please don't get all weepy on me."
"Who's weepy?" Charlie grumbled. The effect of his attempt at a stern, manly tone wasn't the least bit convincing due to the emotion he was trying so hard to suppress. "Now, why aren't you excited?"
"I don't know, Dad. I guess it hasn't hit yet or something." Bella replied in an unconvincing voice. She was looking down at her shoes now, and I wondered what she was trying to hide from both Charlie and I.
"It's good that Alice is throwing this party. You need something to perk you up." Charlie quipped with a crinkle-eyed smile. He was slightly worried about the kind of trouble a group of teenagers could get into but he wanted Bella to enjoy the night.
"Sure. A party's exactly what I need." Bella muttered sarcastically.
Charlie laughed at Bella's remark before giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze and heading toward the front entrance to join the other parents. Carlisle and Esme should be arriving soon and as I stared into the grey afternoon sky I wondered if Alice would have a chance to tell them a werewolf was coming here when her vision disappeared. The thought of Alice being blind at the moment was very troubling and I had just decided to try to call them before the ceremony began when I felt Bella's small, soft hand close around my index finger.
"We should go inside," She said quietly as she pulled me toward her. I looked down at her and saw that her face was a little more composed but the fear in her eyes had not abated.
"Yes," I agreed, still desperate to know what she was thinking. I wanted to ask her, but there wasn't time, and the parking lot was crowded with parents and senior classmen who were making their way toward the big double doors that led into the gym.
The scene inside the gym was utter chaos, and the thoughts of those around me were louder than usual due to the excitement that surrounded graduation. I winced slightly as I tried to tune out the cacophony of mental voices. This was one of the reasons I hated crowds of humans so much.
The human smell was soon mingled with the pungent canine odor of Jacob Black and his not-quite-as-smelly father. I suppressed a soft growl and instinctively stood closer to Bella. I knew it was foolish to think that Jacob would make a scene here. Even he wasn't that stupid, but the rest of my family had yet to arrive and I was uneasy. Where was Alice?
"Up front, Mr. Cullen," Mr. Varner barked at me a moment later. God I can't wait till this is over…only two more years and I can retire. He thought. I hesitated for a moment; I had no desire to be on the other side of the room from Bella. If only her last name was Cullen too.
I sighed deeply and gave Bella a soft kiss just as Jessica Stanley called out to her from the back of the room where the S's were converging. With an even greater sense of reluctance I turned and walked toward the front of the group to stand with the other C's.
"Hey, Bella!" Jessica yelled eagerly. Her voice sounded sincere enough, but I heard the contradictory thoughts in her mind. She was excited about the graduation party and the pleasantries were merely an attempt to appear more popular since the party was so highly anticipated among the rest of the senior class.
Bella looked in Jessica's direction at once, her brown eyes wide with shock and curiosity.
"Down here, Bella!" Jessica pressed loudly.
Several other people were eyeing Jessica and Bella with interest. It was common knowledge that they weren't really friends anymore, and Angela was particularly skeptical about Jessica's newfound warmth.
What is Jess up to? I'm glad she's being nice to Bella but I really don't trust her, Angela thought succinctly.
"I can't believe this day is finally here! It's just so amazing. I mean, it seems like we just met, and now we're graduating together," I heard Jessica babble as I took my place beside a mousy haired girl named Heather Culver. Carlisle and Esme had just arrived and were taking seats next to Doctor Gerandy and his wife. Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie wouldn't be attending. It was still too much of a risk for Jasper to be in such a large group of humans and Rose and Emmett simply had no desire to be here. The seat on my other side was still empty.
Where in the hell was Alice?
"Can you believe it's over? I feel like screaming!" Jessica prattled on without stopping to breathe. Since I couldn't afford to stare openly, I focused my attention on her uninteresting thoughts so I could keep an eye on Bella.
"So do I," Bella mumbled flatly in reply. I knew from the look on her face as I stared at her through Jessica's eyes that she meant it. Of course Jessica noticed nothing.
Ugh could she be any more unenthusiastic and boring? What does Edward Cullen see in her? She thought, clearly disappointed in Bella's answer. I scowled at her petty jealousy. Jessica Stanley was a two faced, underhanded shrew, but I wasn't really that surprised or interested. Bella's demeanor was making me more alarmed by the minute.
"This is all just so incredible. Do you remember your first day here? We were friends, like, right away. From the first time we saw each other; amazing. And now I'm off to California and you'll be in Alaska and I'm going to miss you so much! You have to promise that we'll get together sometimes! I'm so glad you're having a party. That's perfect. Because we really haven't spent much time together in a while and now we're all leaving..." Jessica babbled. And I really want to see if the Cullen house is a big mansion like my mom heard it was. She's seen a few of their accounts at the bank and they're loaded. She added mentally.
Ugh. I'd met Mrs. Stanley, who was a teller at the Forks Bank, once before and I knew from that one brief encounter at the bank that she was nosy, but I hadn't realized that her love of gossip would lead her to break ethics codes at her job. Like mother like daughter…
Jessica continued to prattle on and on about nothing, never noticing the distracted and faraway expression on Bella's pale, nervous face. I suppressed the urge to run to the back of the gym and beg her to tell me what was bothering her.
A few moments later, Eric Yorkie took the stage and gave a very predictable and cliché graduation speech. The chair beside me that was reserved for Alice was still conspicuously empty. Was she trying to see something and didn't want Jacob to impede her vision?
Just as soon as Eric finished talking, Mrs. Cope and Mr. Greene took the stage and began calling out the names of my classmates in alphabetical order.
"Alice Mary Cullen," Mr. Greene called just as Alice flitted gracefully toward the stage. She gave me a small smile as I got up to follow her, but I knew at once that she was deliberately hiding something from me. She was mentally translating the Battle Hymn of the Republic into Arabic as Mrs. Cope placed her diploma into her outstretched hand.
"Edward Anthony Cullen," Mr. Greene said as I frowned at Alice's retreating back. What didn't she want me to know? As soon as she finished with the song, she started reciting Korean sign language. A surge of anxiety twisted in my chest. Whatever she was keeping from me wasn't good.
I looked at Carlisle and Esme as Mr. Greene handed me my diploma.
Esme waved and smiled like a normal proud mother and Carlisle nodded at me. There was no sign of distress in their thoughts. Apparently they didn't know anything about what Alice might have seen. Whatever it was it must have happened sometime after I left for Charlie's.
I stared at Alice in confusion after we returned to our seats. She focused intently at the stage as though she was interested in watching the rest of the ceremony. Her face gave away no hint of what she was hiding, and her mind was still quite occupied with her translations.
"Isabella Marie Swan," Mr. Greene called.
As soon as the principal said her name, I heard an outbreak of cheering from the stands. Charlie and Jacob Black were clapping furiously as Bella made her way toward the stage. I couldn't help but marvel at her beauty, even in the unflattering yellow graduation gown. I gritted my teeth angrily as I heard what was going through Jacob's mind.
She's so hot even in that stupid cap and gown. I really wish you weren't here pretending to graduate too bloodsucker. I need to talk to her…
I suppressed a growl with difficulty. Even though Jacob's thoughts mirrored my own, his mentality seemed so…dirty and vile. And I had no intention of allowing him to be alone with her after what had happened the last time she'd been to La Push.
I forced myself to think of other things and focused my attention on the ceremony. Bella was standing in the center of the stage beside Mr. Greene, looking just as nervous as ever.
"Congratulations, Miss Swan," Mr. Greene said as he gave Bella a gentle pat on the back. "I know you had a difficult senior year, but I'm sure you'll do well for yourself in college."
I grimaced at his words, for I knew that I was responsible for the vast majority of the heartache and drama Bella had been through this year. But, she didn't seem to hear him. She merely nodded as she took the cylindrical piece of paper out of his hands and walked back off the stage toward a blubbering Jessica Stanley. The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur and it seemed as though only seconds had passed when I heard Mr. Greene address the crowd at large.
"May I present the Forks High School class of 2006!" Mr. Greene said as Joseph Zik trailed off to join the rest of the group.
Cheers and yellow hats shot up all around the room. I saw that Bella merely tossed her hat onto the ground beside her feet, and my curiosity was nearly unbearable now. She hadn't relaxed at all.
"Oh, Bella!" Jessica sniffed. "I can't believe we're done."
"I can't believe it's all over," Bella replied numbly as a clueless Jessica embraced her.
"You have to promise we won't lose touch," Jessica said fervently. Especially if you wind up staying with Edward…It's not likely. Lauren says he'll ditch her for some blonde co-ed by Thanksgiving next year. She thought.
I suppressed a humorless snort. Lauren really was pathetic, even for a loose teenage girl.
"I'm so glad I know you, Jessica. It was a good two years." Bella replied evasively. She knew that she would be in no fit state to be around humans for a long time after her transformation. I grimaced.
Was Bella having more doubts about her upcoming change? Perhaps I should reassure her again that the decision was all hers and she didn't need to worry about the when or if.
My silent heart twisted with mingled sorrow and hope at the thought.
"It was," Jessica said thickly as she let go of Bella. She was growing tired of talking to Bella since she wasn't saying much. She stared through the sea of yellow polyester until she saw Lauren Mallory, who was glowering at Bella with disdain through red rimmed eyes.
Lauren!" Jessica called enthusiastically as she made her way through the crowd. Bella didn't bother to tell her goodbye; she was staring in Angela and Ben's direction, and I knew she wanted to talk to them. Angela had been such a good friend to her.
She was giving up so much to be with me…too much.
I closed the distance between us as quickly as I could without drawing attention to myself. I needed to be close to her.
"Congratulations," I said quietly as I wrapped my arms around her. I could feel that she was shaking slightly.
"Um, thanks." She mumbled, not looking at me. My curiosity intensified. I paused for a moment as I watched her carefully and waited for her to speak.
"You don't look like you're over the nerves yet," I prompted, hoping that she would talk to me.
"Not quite yet." She admitted without further comment. I sighed. I was going to have to drag this out of her. Typical Bella.
"What's left to worry about? The party? It won't be that horrible," I said, knowing deep down that there had to be more to her nerves than that.
"You're probably right." She agreed distractedly as her eyes roved over the crowd.
And then I knew what must be bothering her…
Jacob Black.
"Who are you looking for?" I said in a much sharper tone that was warranted. I didn't want him anywhere near her, and if she decided that she wanted to see him after everything that had happened I didn't think that I would be able to control my temper as well as I had in the past.
"Alice—where is she?" Bella replied.
I felt a wave of relief. Thank heaven this wasn't about that filthy beast. I noticed that his scent seemed to be less potent than before. I hoped that meant he was leaving.
"She ran out as soon as she had her diploma," I said as a slight frown formed on my face. This reminded me again of Alice's efforts to keep me out of her head. What was she hiding?
"Worrying about Alice?" She asked, pulling me out of my reverie.
"Er..." I stammered reluctantly. If Alice had seen something ominous I wanted to have a chance to discuss it with her before I told Bella anything.
"What was she thinking about, anyway? To keep you out, I mean." Bella asked quietly.
My eyes met hers and I suddenly everything made sense.
Bella already knew what Alice was keeping from me.
Alice must have had her vision while she was helping Bella get ready earlier. That was why she'd left before I arrived at Charlie's, and whatever it was had upset Bella greatly.
"She was translating the Battle Hymn of the Republic into Arabic, actually. When she finished that, she moved on to Korean sign language." I replied flatly. Perhaps if I was open with her she would tell me what she knew.
Bella let out a shaky laugh. "I suppose that would keep her head busy enough." She was clearly trying to keep from telling me anything. I felt a twinge of frustration.
"You know what she's hiding from me," I said in an accusing voice. I couldn't help but feel annoyed. And then I realized how hypocritical my reaction was. Hadn't I been trying to shield her from Alice's darker visions for the last month?
"Sure." She replied honestly with a watery smile. "I'm the one who came up with it."
She came up with it? Now I was completely confused again. I started down at Bella expectantly, waiting for her to explain.
"Knowing Alice," Bella whispered hoarsely, "she'll probably try to keep this from you until after the party. But since I'm all for the party being canceled—well, don't go berserk, regardless, okay? It's always better to know as much as possible. It has to help somehow."
Bella's voice was trembling as she spoke in a rush and I knew that whatever she had to say meant that she was in danger in some way. Nothing else would make her urge me not to go berserk.
"What are you talking about?" I demanded at once in an overly abrupt tone. My patience had evaporated in a fit of nerves.
"Just stay calm, okay?" Bella implored, clearly sensing the tension that was coursing through me. I reminded myself that we were surrounded by most of the town and nodded in a silent promise as I waited on tenterhooks for her to explain.
"I think you're wrong about things coming at us from all sides. I think it's mostly coming at us from one side... and I think it's coming at me, really"
"It's all connected, it has to be. It's just one person who's messing with Alice's visions. The stranger in my room was a test, to see if someone could get around her. It's got to be the same one who keeps changing his mind, and the newborns, and stealing my clothes—all of it goes together. My scent is for them." Bella said quickly, as though speeding through the story would make it easier for me to hear.
I felt a terrible sense of dawning horror as she spoke, and I knew it was the truth.
They were coming for her.
The newborns wanted my Bella.
No!
For a moment I was back in that grimy crawlspace in Rio all over again, hearing the words that made me believe that Bella was gone forever.
"She's dead, Edward," Rosalie's voice echoed in my mind.
"But no one's coming for you, don't you see? This is good—Esme and Alice and Carlisle, no one wants to hurt them!" Bella said urgently as though this would bring me comfort.
Good?
I stared at Bella with mingled shock and terror, knowing that she was right about the newborns and their target, and understanding that in spite of what she said, it was not possible for this scenario to be any worse.
Images of red-eyed monsters surrounding Charlie's little house flashed in my head as I stared at my soft, defenseless angel. I swallowed back a mouthful of venom.
"Calm," Bella implored softly as she placed her warm little hand on my icy cheek. Her touch provided me with an infinitesimal amount of comfort. She was all that mattered to me and there was no way that I could be calm.
Calm?
I had scarcely ever been less calm in my long and endless life. I had only felt this kind of stark fear twice before. The first time was when James was tracking her and the second I couldn't bear to even consider. The mere memory of those 25 hours and 43 minutes when I believed I had lost her forever were enough to make me want to scream.
I barely registered Charlie's approaching footsteps as every particle of my brain filled with indescribable panic. Everything around us was meaningless noise. To hell with secrecy; I needed to run with Bella.
Now.
In a matter of seconds, my mind raced with endless possibilities of where we should go as I stared at her pale and frightened face.
My home in Chicago was still in good order, but there were few places to hunt nearby and it wasn't secluded or overcast enough for me to move around in the daytime.
Europe was out of the question….
The house in Calgary was in a nice isolated area but it was still a little too close to the Pacific Northwest for me to feel totally comfortable with that…
Isle Esme? I was going to take her there for a honeymoon anyway if she would consent to marry me.
"Bella! Charlie said loudly, his voice assailing my ears. "Congratulations, baby!"
I barely suppressed a growl as he pushed me aside to embrace his daughter. Every instinct I had was screaming in protest at being an inch away from her.
"Thanks," Bella said quietly, her eyes never leaving my face as she rested her head on Charlie's shoulder. The fear in her face was nearly as powerful as my own. I needed to take her far away, to make her safe…
My arms reached toward her instinctively. But I heard Alice's mental voice inside my head.
Edward! Stay right where you are! You can't run with her tonight. Alice thought emphatically.
An indistinct image of Charlie speeding frantically toward the reservation flashed in her head and then there was nothing.
I'm sure that it means Charlie would go to La Push to look for Bella. The wolves would assume you left because you'd changed her and they would attack. That's the last thing we need on top of everything else. I know how upset you are but don't do anything stupid. We'll figure this out. Meet me behind the front office building after Charlie and Bella decide to go to the Lodge for dinner. I want to talk to you for a minute and then you can follow them. She thought quickly.
I gritted my teeth. I really had nothing to say to her or anyone else at the moment. I wanted to rip the entire gymnasium apart with my bare hands. I let out a growl that was too quiet for the humans around me to hear, but Alice's sensitive hearing picked up the sound at once.
We have to be careful of the Volturi, Edward! Damn it why did she have to tell you all this now! She decided so fast I didn't even see it until it was too late to stop her…Alice thought bitterly.
"Jacob and Billy had to take off—did you see that they were here?" Charlie was saying to Bella as he released her from the hug. I hope Jake decides to go to the party. I told him he should. He and Bella need to sort everything out.
Yeah," Bella replied feebly, and I could tell that it was taking a great deal of effort on her part to focus on Charlie, "Heard them, too."
The Blacks had left. At least they were gone now, and there was no way Jacob would come to our house. Thank heaven for that.
"It was nice of them to show up," Charlie said.
"Mm-hmm," Bella agreed distractedly. Her eyes still hadn't left mine. I could see the undisguised horror in my face reflected in her gaze but I couldn't find the will to compose myself.
Someone had sent a newborn vampire army after my Bella.
Why?
Who?
And then with a burst of clarity I was sure I had an answer.
Aro.
Aro knew how Alice's visions worked. He'd seen each and every one of them in perfect detail when he'd touched her hand less than three months ago.
Aro was intrigued and slightly alarmed by Bella's potential as an immortal.
Aro felt envious and marginally intimidated by the size and strength of our family. He'd wanted Alice and me for himself, and if he couldn't have us, he didn't want anyone else to either. Bella was human, and thus the weak link in our family. Aro knew that if he came after her, all of us would fight for her safety. He wanted an excuse to get rid of us.
But Aro didn't like to get his hands dirty. He loved his rules beyond all else.
He was going to let the newborns do the job for him, or else try to implicate us in some way for their creation. Why hadn't I seen it before?
"So where do you want to go out for dinner?" Charlie asked Bella eagerly. "The sky's the limit."
"I can cook." Bella offered. I knew that Charlie wouldn't allow her to prepare her own dinner this evening. He wanted to celebrate, and he felt that Bella should enjoy herself today. I couldn't blame him for his desire to do something nice for Bella but right now, the idea of being in a roomful of people was even less appealing to her than usual.
"Don't be silly. Do you want to go to the Lodge?" Charlie asked Bella excitedly. I could see from his thoughts that he was preoccupied with graduation, but how he could be so oblivious to her lack of enthusiasm made no sense to me.
"Sure, the Lodge, cool," Bella said flatly in response to Charlie's question.
I could see the smile that brightened Charlie's expression from the corner of my eye. Then he sighed and turned his gaze reluctantly toward me.
"You coming, too, Edward? Charlie asked halfheartedly. I hope he says no, He thought.
Bella gave me a pleading look and I knew she didn't want me to leave her. But there was no way I could stand to be in a large crowd of humans right now.
"No, thank you," I replied to Charlie in a cold, hard voice. I was in no mood to accept his insincere invitation .I had to get a handle on my anger and I needed to talk to Alice about what was going on.
"Do you have plans with your parents?" Charlie asked curiously. I could tell from his thoughts that my chilly attitude had taken him off guard, but I was too upset to care. The last remnants of my tenuous self-restraint were fading fast.
"Yes. If you'll excuse me..." I said abruptly as I moved too hastily through the dwindling crowd of graduates and their families.
"What did I say?" I heard Charlie ask Bella in a slightly repentant voice as I continued to move incautiously toward the place where Alice was waiting for me. The one time that Charlie actually seemed to care about offending me, I couldn't care less. It was ironic, since I had been trying to gain his forgiveness for months.
"Don't worry about it, Dad," Bella replied. "I don't think it's you."
Are you two fighting again?" Charlie asked her. He sounded optimistic. Is this it? Are they finally going to break up? So many of these high school romances end before college…
"Nobody's fighting. Mind your own business." Bella snapped.
Normally, I would have been annoyed at Charlie's eagerness to assume that Bella and I were having problems, but right now I had no thoughts to spare for his foolish and erroneous perceptions of our relationship. I needed to talk to my sister.
Alice was standing behind the faded red brick office building. I could see her reflection in the tiny windows of Mr. Greene's dark office. She was shifting nervously from foot to foot and her expression was pained.
"I'm so sorry I didn't see, Edward…" She began, but I cut her off at once.
"They intentionally exploited your weaknesses, but there is no excuse for my stupidity. Why didn't I see this before! Damn it!" I growled as I frantically tugged at the roots of my hair.
"Shh," Alice hissed. "Charlie and Bella are leaving in a minute and I have to go and finish up a few things for the party…"
"The party!" I snarled angrily as I kicked a large, gaping hole in the concrete beneath my feet. "Do you really think I care about a ridiculous…"
"We still have to keep up appearances," Alice interrupted me in a matter of fact voice. "And right now we don't know what they're planning to do next. I have no reason to believe that they're going to attack us tonight."
"Yes, well, didn't you just assure me less than three hours ago that nothing was going to happen!" I snapped.
Alice flinched and I instantly felt guilty. I knew it wasn't her fault that she hadn't seen this, and yet I was irrationally lashing out at her. I couldn't help it. The injustice of this entire catastrophe infuriated me. Why Bella? Why did she have to continually face calamity? It wasn't fair!
"We'll talk about everything after you and Bella get back to the house," Alice assured me. The two of you can discuss everything with Carlisle and Jasper then. Leave Emmett and Rose out of it until you have some kind of plan or Emmett will do something impulsive."
"Did you see that or are you guessing," I snarled angrily again before I could stop myself.
"You know, I've had just about enough of your temper, Edward," Alice hissed. None of this is my fault and you'd do well to remember that. We need to stick together if we're going to protect her. She thought.
I growled in frustrated fury as I paced back and forth over the newly broken concrete like a caged animal.
"I understand," Alice said sympathetically. If Jasper was in danger I'd lose my mind too, but you have to keep it together for her. "Now go. Charlie's leaving."
Nearly every single member of the senior class seemed to be at The Lodge with their families. The mediocre woodsy themed steakhouse was packed to the brim, and I was grateful that Charlie and Bella didn't have to wait for a table. The hostess seated them near a large picture window facing the parking lot, so I could see Bella without having to tolerate listening in on the thoughts of someone sitting nearby. I really didn't want to be in anyone else's head right now. I had so many things to consider, and the anger burning deep inside me was like a forest fire that threatened to consume every living thing around it.
A group of wild, bloodthirsty newborn vampires wanted to kill my Bella.
Fury clouded my vision like a red rimmed heat haze at the thought.
I would destroy them all, tear them to pieces and dance around the pyre of ashes as it burned the stone remnants of their shattered bodies. They would never touch her, no matter what I had to do or who I had to fight. I would protect her; she would survive even if I didn't.
My anger flared hotter as I imagine Aro's falsely benign smile and the memory of our conversation that day in Volterra played in my mind.
'I am gratified by his success,' Aro had said pensively, referring to Carlisle's family and our choice to live without consuming human blood.
At the time, Aro's thoughts had been carefully controlled, but in hindsight I could see that what he'd said was surely an outright lie…
'So very interesting,' He'd said when he tried to read Bella's thoughts with his magic touch and saw nothing. He'd been careful to try to keep me from hearing the extent of his unease that day, but now that I knew what we were facing I felt like such a fool for not understanding it then.
I paced around the woods beside the pothole laden parking lot as I thought about all the poor choices I'd made since last September. Would the repercussions of my catastrophic decision to leave Bella ever cease? This was my fault, at least indirectly. My mind dredged up terrible fragmented memories of the last several months.
'I don't want you' I heard my own voice echo in my mind as I stood in the forest and told Bella goodbye.
'She's dead, Edward,' Rosalie said.
'I will make you safe again,' I promised Bella when James was tracking her.
'Don't promise me anything,' Bella's mistrustful voice said in my head as I remembered our first night back in Forks after we'd returned from Italy.
Alice had assured Aro that Bella would be one of us someday. It was a promise she never would've needed to make if I hadn't been so foolish.
All these things came down to once choice, one terrible decision.
How could I have been so stupid?
I watched Bella sitting across from her father, pretending to eat while she shot covert glances out of the large window behind her. She couldn't see me but I knew she felt my presence. In turn, I could sense the fear that permeated every part of her. Her heart was thundering in her chest and her uneven breathing seemed to stab at me like a hot knife. It was essential that I pull myself together for her sake. I knew she must be scared for all of us but she was too fragile, too precious and breakable to bear this burden alone.
Bella needed me, and instead of sitting beside her in that restaurant, I was out here indulging my own inability to cope with this situation. Instead of taking care of her the way I was supposed to, I had left her with Charlie when she needed me to comfort and reassure her. What kind of man does that?
I took a long, deep breath and vowed that I would never abandon her again.
At long last, Charlie pushed his plate aside and began to rummage through his pockets for the keys to the cruiser. Bella jumped out of her seat at once.
"In a hurry?" I heard Charlie ask her with a note of irritation in his voice. He was annoyed that she'd been so distracted during their dinner. He blamed the situation on her eagerness to be back with me.
"I want to help Alice set things up," Bella lied unconvincingly as she wrung her hands.
"Okay." Charlie muttered as started saying his goodbyes to all the people he knew at neighboring tables. Bella gave the surrounding diners a polite nod and excused herself quickly. She leaned against the passenger door of the car as she waited for Charlie to end his conversation with David Crowley. I slipped away from my hiding place in the thicket of trees, careful not to move too quickly.
Bella heard my approach and jumped, clearly startled by the soft crunching noise my footsteps made against the broken pavement. I felt another terrible wave of remorse at the fear etched on her pale face.
Bella relaxed as soon as she realized it was me and in one swift and desperate movement, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. She yielded to my touch at once, her warm, soft mouth moving against my cold, hard lips. I felt the familiar stir of arousal radiating from the pit of my stomach and lower for a brief moment until my guilt and anxiety extinguished it. I reminded myself that she needed to breathe and I broke away from her reluctantly.
"How are you?" she asked as soon as our mouths had parted company. As usual she was worried about me when she should have been thinking of herself. My reaction to her news had only made that worse.
"Not so great," I replied.
That was a huge understatement.
"But I've got a handle on myself. I'm sorry that I lost it back there."
"My fault. I should have waited to tell you." She said apologetically, unfairly blaming herself for the way I'd fallen apart before.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "This is something I needed to know. I can't believe I didn't see it!"
"You've got a lot on your mind," she said, as if there was a legitimate excuse for my short sighted view of this mess. For heaven's sake, I'm a mind reader! Why didn't I realize that Aro had the ability to react this way when we were in Italy? I should have made the connection weeks ago.
"And you don't?" I countered.
Between graduation, the fear of rogue newborns, Victoria, and her coming transformation, Bella had more than enough problems to deal with. She was human, and the strain was affecting her physically as well as emotionally. She scarcely ever slept peacefully anymore, even when I was holding her.
I could see that she was trying to come up with more arguments about why I shouldn't blame myself and I couldn't stand to listen to her defend me. So before she could answer, I pressed my lips to hers again. I could hear Charlie getting his change from the cashier at the front of the restaurant. I pulled away from her just as he placed his hand on the exit door.
"Charlie's on his way." I explained as I let go of her waist. He was still trying halfheartedly to get away from David Crowley.
"I'll have him drop me at your house." Bella said with a nod.
"I'll follow you there." I promised in order to make sure she knew that I would not leave her unprotected for a second.
"That's not really necessary," I heard Bella say in a whisper as I disappeared into the darkness. I sighed. Why did she always refuse to take her personal safety seriously?
"Bella?" I heard Charlie call as the tiny bell on the restaurant's glass door jingled. He was still annoyed about her hasty exit from dinner.
"I'm out here." Bella answered.
"You're ready to go, I take it," Charlie muttered sarcastically under his breath as he unlocked the cruiser and opened the passenger side door for Bella, but she was too distracted to hear him. Instead she stared briefly out into the thicket of trees where I had disappeared before climbing awkwardly into the car.
I paid little attention to the small talk Charlie and Bella were making in the car until I heard Jacob Black's name.
"I thought you were on Jacob's side?" Bella said to Charlie. They were discussing her disastrous attempt to defend herself when he'd assaulted her. I suppressed a growl as I remembered the recollection I'd seen in Jacob's head that evening.
"No matter what side I'm on, if someone kisses you without your permission, you should be able to make your feelings clear without hurting yourself. You didn't keep your thumb inside your fist, did you?" Charlie answered. Maybe if Jake had a big bruise on his face Bella wouldn't have stayed mad so long. He thought.
I gritted my teeth angrily. He still wanted his daughter to date that uncouth ogre after what he'd done.
"No, Dad. That's kind of sweet in a weird way, but I don't think lessons would have helped. Jacob's head is really hard." Bella answered in a slightly amused tone.
I gritted my teeth. Did this mean she had decided to forgive him for his inexcusable behavior yet again? I remembered what Rosalie had said when she broached the subject of Bella's friendship with Jacob on our last hunting trip together.
"I can tell her friendship with that mutt is killing you, Edward. Why don't you tell her how much it bothers you…"If I were you, I'd put my foot down." Rose had said.
Should I "put my foot down" as Rose said if Bella decided to rekindle her friendship with Jacob? Well, she certainly wouldn't be visiting him in La Push given the current circumstances surrounding the newborns. I would not let her out of my sight long enough for that.
"Hit him in the gut next time." Charlie said with a laugh.
"Next time?" Bella exclaimed. I relaxed a little.
"Aw, don't be too hard on the kid. He's young." Charlie said with a wave of the hand that wasn't on the steering wheel. A fresh wave of anger washed over me at his words. I couldn't stand the way he dismissed Jacob kissing his daughter against her will.
"He's obnoxious." Bella grumbled irritably.
"He's still your friend." Charlie reminded her.
"I know." Bella said with a soft sigh. My heart sank. "I don't really know what the right thing to do here is, Dad."
"Yeah, the right thing isn't always real obvious. Sometimes the right thing for one person is the wrong thing for someone else; so...good luck figuring that out." Charlie replied carefully.
I just hope she sorts it all out before she runs off somewhere with Cullen. He thought.
"Thanks," Bella grumbled sarcastically.
I decided to stop listening. I didn't really want to hear anything else about Jacob Black and I needed to make sure I was ready to be strong for Bella tonight. She needed me to remain calm, to protect her and I was going to do that now. I would not fall apart again.
The entire forest surrounding our house was glowing from the endless strands of party lights Alice had draped all over the path that lead to the house. The effect was dramatic and elegant, and all the humans should have an easy time of finding the place. Alice had foreseen that the directions she'd enclosed in the invitations would not be enough to prevent the guests from getting lost.
I reached the shadowed edge of the lawn just as Charlie's cruiser pulled into the mouth of the driveway.
"Sure you don't want to come in?" Bella teased him in a halfhearted voice.
"Extremely sure. Have fun, kid." He replied. I really hope Carlisle and Esme can handle all these teenagers.
"Thanks so much, Dad." Bella replied sarcastically as she closed the door of the cruiser.
I watched her walking toward the front door and a terrible surge of fear and anguish coursed through my body. I needed to feel her in my arms, to hold her, to let her know that everything was going to be okay, that she would be okay no matter what…
But I could make no such promises tonight.
"BELLA?" I said quietly from behind her as I skipped up the front steps.
She turned to face me, and her eyes were like dark windows with a view of all the burdens she carried in her soul.
In a fraction of a second I saw every terrible brush with death she'd had since I'd entered her formally peaceful life; Tyler Crowley's van careening toward her, those evil bastards in Port Angeles leering at her in that dark alley, James hovering over her broken, bleeding body, Felix staring at her with hungry eyes, and worst of all, Alice's memory of her fragile frame as she flung herself off a cliff into the depths of the ocean in a fit of desperation after I'd left her.
We could never be parted from each other again, in this life or in death. I could not continue to exist without her, and I understood that she would never choose to survive without me either.
In one swift and fluid movement, I pulled her into my arms and pressed my lips to hers. And in that kiss, I tried to convey the intensity of my love, my desperate apology for all the things she'd suffered, and all the dangers she'd confronted on my account.
"Let's get this stupid party over with," Bella muttered without meeting my eyes. I knew that she felt the dark edge in my kiss. She understood that we may be facing a fight which we could not hope to win.
I cupped her face in my hands for a long moment before she looked up at me. I wanted to reassure her somehow, but I'd be lying if I tried to tell her that we would all escape from this situation unscathed, and I refused to lie to her the way I'd done when Victoria returned last month.
"I won't let anything happen to you." I promised, and I meant every syllable. I would make any sacrifice to keep her safe.
She brushed her soft fingertips over my lips and I kissed them gently.
"I'm not worried about myself so much." She admitted, her eyes filled with unnecessary worry for me and for the rest of our family.
"Why am I not surprised by that?" I grumbled softly.
Edward, you need to get her inside so we can start preparing her mentally for our guests. She's not going to be thrilled when she sees all the preparations I've made. Alice thought from inside the living room. I sighed in resignation. Come hell, high water or vicious newborn vampires, Alice was hosting this damn party.
"Ready to celebrate?" I asked Bella with a forced smile.
Bella groaned softly in response as I wrapped my arms around her and ushered her inside.
I saw the anxious expression on Bella's face shift to incredulity as she took in the lavish and excessive way that Alice had transformed the downstairs.
The living room looked remarkably like an upscale and exclusive nightclub Alice had visited in New York a couple of years ago. The room was filled with pulsing lights and equipped with a large dance floor, a sound system any DJ would kill for, and a gourmet human food selection courtesy of a well-known caterer based in Tacoma.
"Unbelievable." Bella said with a shake of her head.
"Alice will be Alice." I replied. For the moment, Bella seemed to be too preoccupied with the party preparations to dwell on the coming dangers we were facing.
This party is just what she needs right now, even if she doesn't realize it. Alice thought as she shot me a knowing glance. To my surprise, I actually smiled at her.
"Edward!" Alice said aloud as she finished checking the wire connections on a speaker that was almost as tall as she was. "I need your advice." She waved her hand at the CD's- "Should we give them familiar and comforting? Or" — she gestured to a different pile — "educate their taste in music?"
"Keep it comforting," I replied. "You can only lead the horse to water." Most of the teenagers who would be attending the party were hopeless top 40 devotees who didn't possess the ability to appreciate anything new. And graduation nostalgia would make them even more eager for recognizable music than usual.
Alice nodded as she started setting aside the CD's that would be unknown to our former classmates. Bella stared at her intently wearing an expression that I couldn't read.
"I think I'm underdressed." Bella said finally as she stared at Alice's club friendly and risqué red sequined blouse and leather pants that fit like a second skin.
"You're perfect," I assured her truthfully. She would outshine every woman in the room tonight even if she were dressed in rags.
I knew she was going to say that! I've got the perfect outfit waiting for her upstairs. Alice thought eagerly. I suppressed a growl as I saw the ensemble in her head. A low cut navy blue satin dress that would hit Bella just above the knee was hanging in Alice's closet. She'd purchased it weeks ago on the off chance that she might be able to talk Bella in to wearing it for the party.
"Absolutely not," I hissed too quietly for Bella to hear. It was bad enough to listen to the thoughts of half the male students at Forks High that ogled Bella when she was wearing a normal t-shirt and jeans. If I had to hear Mike Newton's mental musings about Bella's…assets all night I would kill him.
And more importantly, I thought guiltily, the dress would kill me. My overactive imagination seemed to be getting more creative every day. The last thing I needed was more material for it to work with.
Okay, okay, no dress. I don't want you to kill anyone, but you're acting like a caveman. Alice thought.
"You'll do," Alice said grudgingly. I glared at her.
"Thanks." Bella replied sarcastically. She sighed.
"Do you really think people will come?" Bella asked, and there was a note of optimism in her voice.
Alice glowered at her in irritation. Maybe I should tell her that more people than the ones I originally invited are going to be here. Ashley Dowling is also bringing a bunch of her friends from Port Angeles.
"Everyone will come," I answered truthfully before Alice could respond. "They're all dying to see the inside of the reclusive Cullens mystery house."
"Fabulous," Bella grumbled.
"Don't be such a spoilsport, Bella," Alice huffed. "Now if you two will excuse me, I still have plenty of things to do before the people who will actually appreciate my efforts get here."
I told Carlisle and Jasper you want to talk to them. They're upstairs in Carlisle's study. Oh, and you would've loved seeing her in the dress. Maybe another time. She thought as she busied herself with organizing the acceptable CD's into a playlist of sorts.
"Let's let Alice do what she does best," I said to Bella as I pulled her into my arms. "We need to have a chat with Carlisle and Jasper before our guests arrive."
Bella nodded, and I could see the worry clouding her deep brown eyes again. For a moment I was tempted to invent some kind of bogus chore for Bella to assist Alice with in order to protect her from the conversation I needed to have with Carlisle and Jasper. A month ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but now I knew that Bella was made of much tougher stuff than the mortal flesh and bone beneath her skin. She was much more resilient than I was. I might possess a virtually indestructible physical body, but in all the ways that mattered, she was much stronger than I. She'd proven time and again that she was my better, and treating her like an equal was the very least I could do.
"But why," Carlisle was saying pensively as we discussed Bella's newfound insight into the situation in Seattle. "What motivation would anyone have to create an entire horde of newborns and risk exposure for one human girl? It doesn't make sense." Bella isn't a danger to anyone, except maybe herself! I think she's wrong about this, Edward. He added wordlessly.
"It makes sense if you factor in the Volturi and a large coven of vampires protecting that one human," I argued.
"Even if the Volturi saw us as a threat they wouldn't tolerate the kind of media attention the situation in Seattle has been getting," Jasper argued with a dismissive wave.
Bella scowled at him and it was very obvious that she disapproved of his defensive attitude toward the Volturi. So did I for that matter, and Jasper was acutely aware of our frustration.
"But right now, the motives for their creators' actions aren't the most important thing. We need to discuss how we're going to deal with them." He said diplomatically in response to our feelings. If Bella is on to something here-and I think she is- the time for waiting is over. We need to act, and soon. He thought.
I nodded in agreement and I heard Bella's heart stutter slightly. I pulled her closer to my side.
"I still haven't been able to locate anyone close by besides the Denali coven," Carlisle said darkly, "and there's no time for me to contact anyone in Europe or South America. Has Alice seen anything more about Peter and Charlotte, Jasper?"
"No," Jasper said with a dismal shake of his head. "We're at a disadvantage in numbers, but I don't see how we can help it. We have to do something preemptive soon, I think."
Bella's eyes widened with fear and I knew she understood that Jasper meant we would have to seek out the newborns in Seattle ourselves.
"Don't worry, love," I said quietly as stroked her cheek with my index finger. "We'll plan our attack very carefully and everything will be fine."
Bella searched my face intently, and I did my best to keep my expression free of the shadows of doubt that lurked in my mind.
Suddenly I could hear the sounds of vehicles approaching the driveway just as Alice turned on the music downstairs. It was time for us to resume our human charade.
"I think our guests are about to start arriving," Carlisle said a moment later. "We can continue this discussion later tonight." Jasper will want to help us with our fighting techniques and we need to figure out where to hide Bella while we're gone. He added mentally.
I met his gaze for a fleeting moment in affirmation as I helped Bella up from the large leather sofa opposite Carlisle's desk.
Bella and I went downstairs with Carlisle to greet our guests while Alice played DJ and Emmett guarded the food table. Naturally, the perpetually nosy Jessica Stanley was the first person to cross the threshold, followed closely by Mike Newton.
"Hey, Bella," Mike said in a husky voice that made me want to grab him and throw him off the front porch. "This place looks amazing." This place really is a mansion just like Jess said. God, Bella looks hot.
Jessica nodded fervently in agreement as several other kids who had ridden with them in Mike's decrepit Suburban filed in behind her. The group included Tyler Crowley and Lauren Mallory.
"Umm, thanks, Mike," Bella stammered as her cheeks flushed. "But Alice did all of the work."
Before Mike could reply, the doorbell rang again and Carlisle opened it to admit Angela and Ben. Bella greeted them enthusiastically while Carlisle directed some of the partygoers over to the refreshment table. This pattern continued for several minutes until finally the room was full.
A quarter of an hour later, Bella and I were mingling with our fellow graduates. Alice had intentionally decided to linger in the background and allow Bella to assume the role of hostess. I didn't initially think this was a good idea; but she handled the stress much better than I expected. I could feel the tension in her body, but her expression and demeanor was polite and believably excited as she greeted the partygoers. My heart swelled with pride at her grace and poise.
I stood beside her the entire time, unwilling to be parted from her for a moment, even when I nearly lost my temper in response to some of the lurid thoughts directed toward her by several human boys who were admiring the way she looked.
Chill out, bro; you look like you're gonna choke the life out of someone, Emmett thought as I shot a particularly murderous glare at the back of Mike Newton's head. He'd been undressing Bella with his eyes ever since he'd been here, and I was at the end of my tethered rope.
Want me to scare Newton for you? Emmett asked silently.
I nodded at him over my shoulder while Bella pretended to listen to Jessica Stanley's incessant and pointless chatter. I almost laughed out loud at Mike's visceral response to the sinister leer Emmett shot at him from across the punch bowl.
But a half second later the laughter died in my throat when I felt a mental scream of anguish coming from the threshold of the kitchen door.
No!
Alice.
I felt my freezing insides twist and plummet as my hand dropped from Bella's waist.
"Stay here," I whispered in a surprisingly calm voice. "I'll be right back."
I zipped too quickly through the crowd toward the kitchen. Alice was slumped again the doorframe, her eyes wide and blank. I could see the gruesome, crystal clear images in her head as though they were truly happening right before my eyes.
Twenty bloodthirsty newborn vampires were running through the streets of Forks, led by a fair haired boy holding a familiar but tattered-looking piece of red fabric in his clenched, white knuckled fist.
Bella's missing red blouse.
The vision continued to play out in Alice's mind like a bad horror film with the angry, ravenous monsters making their way through the forests beyond the town toward our home, following our scents here. I could see in Alice's mind's eye the seven of us rushing to meet them head on after instructing Bella to stay in the house, but we were outnumbered three to one.
Fighting and chaos ensued. Emmett managed to kill two females who were threatening Rose, but was overtaken by a large, beefy looking male. The scene shifted, only to be replaced by terrible, gut wrenching images of Esme being torn apart in front of a screaming Carlisle. I could see my future self being distracted by the sight…then, a brief, piercing shriek as the smell of Bella's blood permeated the air. One of the newborns had broken ranks and sought her out in the house…
In the vision, I ran toward the sound. My own agonized cries began as hers ceased, endless, tortured and terrible.
I destroyed the small female vampire saturated with her blood in an instant, throwing aside the pieces, but I was too late.
Bella lay dead on the front porch, her eyes empty and unseeing. I collapsed beside her, indifferent to the two hulking vampires approaching me from behind.
I saw my own desolate face as I allowed them to rip me to pieces while I clutched her broken and bloodless form, and the thick purple flames surrounding my dismembered body as I burned.
And then everything went black.
I didn't have time to consider the reasons for the abrupt end to Alice's prophecy because a split second later the kitchen door flew open and Bella burst into the room.
"Don't tell her," I hissed as I fled from the room through the back door. I couldn't bear to look at Bella's face for a moment longer in my current state of panic.
I had to find Carlisle and Jasper. I needed to get Bella out of here tonight.
What, Alice, what? What did you see?" I heard her say imploringly as I disappeared.
I vaguely registered the disgustingly familiar damp canine smell coming from the other end of the house as the doorbell rang and the reason Alice's vision had vanished became apparent.
Werewolves.