A/N – Hello! Thank you, once more, for reading and reviewing! Sorry for not posting this yesterday – I promise there are a few more chapters yet to come (how many, I am not entirely sure!) P.S – Please read/review "A road, a butterfly, and two hearts" by brokenvoice if you get the opportunity!
Chapter 48 – Promise
Alice's POV
Bella was safe.
I held onto her shaking form tightly, perhaps a little too tightly, but I didn't care.
Shaking…
Was she shaking? Or was that me, trembling…
Bella was safe.
As I buried my face into her neck, I couldn't hold back the sigh of relief that recoiled deep inside me.
She…
Could…
Have…
Died…
A small voice bounced around my brain.
If Bella had died, I would cease to function…
To lose her…
I felt my entire being convulse at that thought, as Bella's arms were around me, her lips on my ear, her words soothing me… she was okay… okay…
She was the one who had come this close to…
I shuddered again.
And here she was, comforting me…
And she wasn't the only one, as I felt Esme's strong arms envelope us both.
Safe.
Bella was safe.
And I would make sure she would always be safe, because I would find him…
And I would lacerate his defences, terrorising every ounce of his being… he was mine to destroy… mine…
I felt a hand on the small of my back, as Carlisle's soft voice floated around the room.
"I need to check Bella, Alice"
The blood.
Bella's blood.
Under different circumstances, I would have allowed myself a fleeting moment of conceit; Bella's blood still called out to me, softly and seductively… but I had controlled my thirst for it…
But he had caused the blood…
Not an accident…
Him…
I didn't need a vision to tell me what was going to happen.
I was going to follow his every move.
I was going to find him, and interrogate him.
And then I was going to rip him apart…
"Alice" Carlisle spoke again, as I took a small step back.
Bella looked…. So tired, and pale, and…scared…
I couldn't take this…
I was going to hunt him down, and slowly inflict so much pain on him he would cry out and beg me for mercy…
Only I wouldn't show him an ounce of mercy… only intolerable cruelty…
"Alice, I really am okay" Bella whispered, as my gaze was immediately on her.
She looked far from okay, and it was all his doing…
Oh, I was looking forward to this… I'd make him pay for what he did to Bella…
"Alice" she murmured again, as I finally gained focus.
My hand was on hers as Carlisle lifted up her shirt sleeve. The blood had stopped running, but I could still smell it…
I glanced around the room, we were alone. Esme must have left with the others.
"Bella, I need you to sit down" Carlisle asked, as I eased Bella down onto the soft. I was by her side in a heartbeat.
Carlisle looked at me then, slight traces of concern in his eyes.
"Alice, perhaps…"
I didn't give him chance to finish.
"I can do this Carlisle" I replied, a little sterner than I had wanted.
Carlisle nodded, and looked back down at Bella's arm.
Moments passed as I watched him clean her wound… what had he done to her…
And then I saw it… the mark.
"R"
He had… tainted her skin with his initial.
I felt the venom, then, trickle down my throat as I tried to gain some control.
He had branded her…
"Alice"
I looked at Carlisle, as I felt my entire body twitch with an anger I had never felt before.
I was going to find him, and kill him, slowly…
"Alice"
This time Bella's voice broke into my thoughts as I looked from the mark, back to her eyes… her dark brown eyes that seemed to be pleading with me….
"He… I…."
I couldn't speak, the acidity continued to make its way down my throat, almost coaxing the rest of my body to take a taste…
"It doesn't hurt" I heard Bella reply, as she took my hand in hers.
Hurt…
I was going to deliver so much hurt; he wouldn't even have time to run…
"Will it scar?" I heard Bella ask Carlisle.
Scar…
Wounds would heal; but to have that as a reminder….
"Bella, there is a possibility that it will scar, yes. It's a deep gash…." I heard Carlisle answer as he applied some cream and a small bandage…
Scar…
Perhaps I should administer marks of my own onto his skin, scar him first, and then kill him…
I stood quickly, "I'm going to kill him" I heard myself reply as Bella suddenly jumped from her seat.
"You can't, Alice please… he's… dangerous… I can't lose you; I simply can't lose you…"
My ears immediately picked up on her sobs.
Bella was crying…
I held her close to me, "Please don't cry" I whispered, as tears ran down across her face.
I had caused this, the tears. I mentally chastised myself.
"Promise me you won't go after him, Alice. Promise me…" she stumbled, as the tears continued to fall.
I gently cupped her face between my hands.
"I promise" I answered.
Bella, seemingly satisfied, buried her face into my neck as my arms folded around her.
I promise.
I won't search for him… now…
The others soon appeared a look of concern on each face.
I watched as Bella glanced at Rosalie, who was standing furthest away.
"Are you okay Rose" she seemed to whisper, as Rosalie nodded.
"Yes… I'm sorry about before Bella" she answered; her voice seemed to shake a little, so unlike the confident Rose I knew and loved.
"No apology is necessary" Bella answered, as I found my hand squeezing hers again.
Bella; always thinking of others...
Carlisle placed a protective hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Bella, you need to rest, you're suffering from shock"
Bella shook her head, "No… I can't… what if he…"
Her voice trailed off as I felt her warm fingers grip at my own.
"He won't come here, Bella, of that you can be assured" Carlisle replied.
"He's got a death wish if he does" Emmet spoke, and I knew he wasn't joking.
I watched as Bella nodded, and the looked at me.
I hated seeing her so… fearful…
"He knew my name… he knew your name Alice…"
He knew my name….
Carlisle motioned for everyone in the room to sit.
Jasper remained standing as he looked intently at Bella. I knew what he was doing. I felt Bella's grasp loosen a little as she sighed softly.
"Bella, I really think you need to get some rest" Esme softly suggested, as Bella shook her head again.
"I… can't… not yet, not while he is still in my head…"
Carlisle sat on the other side of Bella, "What can you tell me about him?" he gently probed, as Bella turned.
I watched as she shuddered.
I was the first to reply.
"His name is Reuben; I saw him in my vision Carlisle, saw him introduce himself to Bella"
Carlisle's head shot up, "Reuben? Are you absolutely certain?"
Both Bella and I nodded at the same time.
"Carlisle"? Esme enquired, as Carlisle suddenly stood and left the room. He was back within minutes, holding the small portrait I had seen hanging in his study.
What's going on Edward I asked with my mind, as Edward watched Carlisle walk towards us.
Edward looked at me, apprehension spread across his face.
Slowly Carlisle stopped and looked down at where Bella and I sat, as the others all watched on inquisitively.
Carlisle turned the painting around and pointed to a small figure that was standing beside him.
Both Bella and I answered as the same time.
"That's him"