Chapter 33 - Annotation

I'd removed my backpack from the truck, and jumped into Alice's car, which was now cruising down the highway. Clearly, something was wrong. Alice had remained glued to my side as we moved away from Jake, and even now as she drove, one hand was still holding mine.

"You had a vision".

It was a statement, not a question.

Alice nodded.

"What else did you see?"

This time Alice glanced at me.

"I could hear your voice; I knew you were with him… I didn't know what he was going to do though…."

The kiss.

"I didn't know either" was my honest answer, as Alice's thumb started to stroke across my hand.

We were soon at the Cullen's.

Alice turned off the engine and shifted in her seat so she was now facing me.

"He kissed you".

I nodded.

Alice looked down.

I removed my hand from hers and lifted my fingers to her chin, tilting it up towards me.

"I didn't kiss him back Alice".

Alice smiled, "I know… I'm just…"

Her voice trailed off, as if she was thinking of the right words to say.

I waited for her to continue.

"I'm… jealous…."

I interrupted, "You have no reason to be, he won't try it again…"

Alice lent further towards me. "Oh Bella, you heighten my emotions; I love you so very much, the thought of anyone else coming in between us…"

I placed my finger against her cold lips.

"Nobody, and nothing, will".

Alice smiled again, "I'm being pathetic, aren't I" she whispered.

I smiled then, adding "If the roles were reversed Alice, and he tried to kiss you, I'd probably break his jaw…."

Alice laughed then, her melody echoing around the car.

"Bella Swan, I didn't think you had it in you!" she exclaimed, her smile even wider than before.

"I can be a puzzle at times" I replied, as she lent her forehead against my own.

"One I'm looking forward to solving" she whispered, before her lips claimed my own.

Her lips were soon leaving mine.

"Bella, there's more…"

I nodded.

I knew there was more.

"Let's go inside, we need to talk to Carlisle".

I followed Alice inside.

Rosalie was sitting in the living room, a games console in her hand. Emmet was by her side.

"Best of three" Emmet suggested, as Rose shook her head.

"No – it's a pointless game; and it's boring me".

Emmet placed a large arm around her.

"Rose, please? I hate playing against the computer – it always wins…"

"As I just did" she interrupted, a smile appearing on her beautiful face.

"Yeah, well…." Emmet's voice trailed off as he spotted me and Alice.

"Bella, you'll play me?"

Before I could answer, Alice shook her head.

"I need to speak to you all, it's urgent".

Rosalie was immediately by Alice's side.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, glancing to me. I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn't exactly sure what was wrong, but it sounded serious.

Alice frowned again, "They were in the woods" she whispered, as her voice trailed off.

Rosalie nodded, "Emmet, go upstairs and get Edward and Jasper, now".

I expected a wise crack, or some joking retort from Emmet, it wasn't to be. Instead he nodded a grim look on his face.

"What is going on" I asked my voice husky.

"Let's sit" Alice answered, adding "Rose, can you get Carlisle and Esme?"

Rose bounded from the room.

We were alone.

"I'm guessing this isn't about Jake's kiss" I joked, as Alice turned.

"I wish it were" she answered simply, as the rest if the Cullen's flooded into the room.

Carlisle was immediately standing in front of us.

"Alice, you need to tell me what happened…. Don't leave anything out…."

Alice nodded, "I had a vision, about Bella… she was in the woods… with Jake".

Everyone's eyes were on me.

Alice continued, "I… well, I went to find Bella, she needed me…."

"Why?" Emmet interrupted, looking grim.

"That's not important right now Emmet" Carlisle interrupted, no doubt sensing the discomfort that was radiating from me.

"To hell with that" Emmet continued, looking at me he added, "If that dude tried to hurt you, I'll…."

Alice interrupted.

"He didn't. So let's just leave it at that, okay?"

Emmet looked as if he was about to say something when Rosalie spoke.

"Okay, go on Alice…."

Alice took my hand in hers.

"I got there, and Bella and I decided to leave Jake… and then he sensed someone watching us… he sensed it Carlisle, not me… what's wrong with me?"

Alice's question was an urgent one.

Carlisle crouched down so he was facing us both.

"Alice, your thoughts were on Bella… try and understand, when you focus on someone so intently like you do, it is possible to miss things…."

Alice shook her head, "But I should have sensed it… at first Jake thought it was you, Edward".

I looked up at Edward, who was staring in at Alice, no doubt reading her thoughts.

Alice continued, "I told him, then, told him I was alone… and he knew it was someone else… another vampire…"

Another vampire.

And it had been watching us.

I immediately tensed, as Alice turned to look at me.

"You were safe with me, Bella. You are safe with me" she whispered.

"I know" I answered, as I gripped her hand, "You don't need to reassure me Alice, I know I am safe".

Alice nodded, and the looked back at Carlisle.

Carlisle slowly stood.

"Bella, you need to know… this vampire… they, whoever they are… they aren't like us…."

I slowly began to understand.

"They drink human blood" I answered slowly.

Carlisle nodded.

My thoughts flashed back to all the missing people my dad had told me about.

"The missing people in the nearby county's…." my voice trailed off.

"Yes, I'm afraid it seems as though this nomadic vampire is now in Forks" was Carlisle's soft response as his gaze moved to Edward.

"Tonight, you stay here Bella, as planned. Alice, Rosalie and Esme will stay in too – Edward, Emmet and Jasper, you're coming with me – we need to trace this vampire, see where they are heading".

Everyone else started to talk, then, but my mind was recalling what had happened in the wood.

"What about Jake" I asked gently.

Everyone stopped talking.

"He knew… how did he know? And we just left him, Alice… he walked into the woods? Was he mad?"

Alice placed her hand on my cheek, moving in towards me she whispered softly.

"Jake will be fine, Bella. I promise. There is something he needs to tell you; something I can't because it would mean me telling you his secret, and I can't do that – I promised him I wouldn't".

Jake had a secret?

"But he isn't a vampire, is he?" I jokingly asked.

Emmet snorted.

"Emmet, shut up" Rosalie hissed.

Alice shook her head, "No, he isn't… but we need to talk to him… you need to talk to him…"

I nodded.

Whatever secret Jake had, I needed to know it and the sooner the better.

"You will be careful" I asked as I stood.

Esme patted my shoulder, "The boys know what they are doing Bella, and they always look out for one another".

I smiled. Esme always knew what to say.

"And when we find him, or her, we'll sort them out good and proper" Emmet's voice boomed.

I shuddered.

"He was only joking Bella" was Edwards soft reply.

"Why don't you take Bella to your room, let her settle in" Esme suggested, as the boys left the room.

Alice nodded, taking my hand in hers she pulled me from the room.

As we walked up the stairs, I halted. Alice looked back at me.

"Bella?" she asked.

"I'm glad I am staying here with you tonight" I answered.

"So am I" she replied, with a wink.