A/N – Okay, so I owe a lot of people an apology for being so slow at updating this story; I can only grin sheepishly and say, I promise to be better at loading the next few chapters (yes, the story is nearing the end now!) Huge thanks to every single one of you who has stuck with me, it really is appreciated.

And now two thanks: Anagnophile and Aussie Royal, for persevering with me and helping me (a lot) with this chapter.

Get well soon Aussie Royal; you really are my sanity as far as this story goes, and without your suggestions I would have still been scratching my head! (Check out her profile/stories, you won't be sorry)

And Anagnophile, fellow dreamer *grin* (popcorn anyone?) thank you for being my second pair of eyes!

Chapter 86 - Revelation

I had followed Alice slowly as we descended the stairs. She had always been graceful and almost animated in her stride, but now… now she seemed slow and hesitant.

As she had reached the door, her hand had paused before taking hold of the handle. I knew what question she was going to ask before the words spilled from her lips.

"Bella, please… can you tell them? I'm… not sure I can explain... there is still so much I don't understand."

I had placed my hand on top of hers, giving it an encouraging squeeze.

"Of course," I had answered simply, opening the door to enter the spacious living room where everyone was waiting, patiently.

Antara and Jasper were standing the closest to us as we entered. Each wore a look of understanding as Jasper moved next to Alice, Antara next to me in an effortless, synchronised movement.

Emmet had been sitting on one of the chairs, but as the door closed behind us he had practically jumped to his feet, his large frame now beside Rosalie's. Both seemed almost wary as I glanced at them before moving my gaze towards Esme, who had been standing near the large fireplace next to Edward. The former wore a look of concern, the latter a look of apprehension.

Only Carlisle seemed collected in his demeanour.

I had relayed the series of events that had unfolded in my mind, and with a quick scan of the room once I had finished, I immediately understood the reactions of those around me:

Confusion...

...Disorientation….

…..Bewilderment…..

Chaos.

Emmet was the first to speak.

"He did what? He… and you saw this, Bella? I mean… he did that... to you, Alice? "

Emmet was a lot of things: a playful tease who seldom took anything seriously, a jovial joker who had a smile on his face for every occasion… but he was never incoherent, never anxious or troubled.

Until now.

I could feel Alice's slender fingers clasp even tighter around my own.

Esme was the next to show her concern, only not with words. I watched as she suddenly appeared in front of Alice, taking her in slender arms, and holding her as a mother would a small child, whispering comforting words.

Comforting…

"Bella… are you okay?" Rosalie spoke next, as my eyes met hers.

Was I okay?

As if sensing my initial confusion, Carlisle stepped forward.

"Bella, what you saw…. "

Before he could finish, Alice spoke.

"What Bella saw is more painful than what I experienced firsthand… because I don't remember it… any of it…"

I immediately took her hand in mine again, as Esme squeezed my shoulder.

"When I find that dude, I'll shred him into so many pieces it will take a decade to find them all…"

I watched as Emmet's words trailed off. Esme, always scolding, albeit with humour, remained silent this time.

Shred him into pieces…

I was going to do more than that to him when I…

"Bella, please, try and stay calm…"

My eyes shot up to meet Jasper's. He could sense my anger, perhaps even more so now that I was a vampire, but before I could answer, Emmet's voice boomed around the room.

"Calm, Jasper? Did you really just say CALM? After all that Alice has been through… how the hell do you expect Bella to be calm?"

Rosalie placed her arm around Emmet, pulling him in close to her side, her gesture designed to alleviate Emmet's frustration.

The room fell silent again before Edward's voice floated around us all.

"This needs to end, and now."

Jasper may have sensed the emotional turmoil of the room, but Edward could hear it… the deliberating, perceiving, reasoning, deducing… As I had slowly told everyone in the room what I had seen, Edward had listened intently, not only to my voice, but to every thought in the room as my story had unfolded…

Every thought except my own…

"Sam and Jake should be informed," Edward suggested.

I watched as Antara glanced at Edward, a perfect eyebrow raised.

"I think that's Alice's choice, don't you?" she sneered, before turning to face Alice her expression soft and caring.

I followed her gaze, and looked at Alice too.

She seemed… distant, as if her mind was a million miles away… or perhaps somewhere in the past… somewhere I had seen…

"We need Sam and Jake's help, Antara," Edward replied, more firmly.

Antara smirked. "Yes, of course we do… we can't possibly forget to include the mutts in our plans, can we Eddy?"

"Antara."

I watched as Jasper appeared back at her side, a frown on his face.

"Is this where you scold me, Jasper?" she asked sweetly, as Jasper smiled. Sensing the teasing, Emmet finally smiled the goofy grin I had grown to love. The bantering came as a relief; some normality was slowly seeping back into the room.

Carlisle cleared his throat.

"We do need their help, Antara. I think we need to see them… all of them… but you are correct. What we tell them about recent… discoveries… shall be up to Alice."

Antara rolled her eyes as Alice slowly nodded. "Yes, they need to be told… everything. But I need to speak to Bella alone first."

She turned to face me.

"Walk with me?" she asked, almost timidly, as I nodded.

"Before you go, I have a suggestion, if I may?"

Alice turned and looked at Jasper, nodding her head slowly for him to continue.

"Carlisle is right: we need the Quileutes' help if we're going to defeat Reuben. I have past experience with newborns, including methods of combat… but I have never had to… work… with Jake's kind before. We need to include them in our plans and I think it wise to find out how they interact, as a pack. If we are to work together, we should engage in sparring demonstrations… Antara can help me."

The room fell silent once more before Edward finally spoke, his voice edged with disbelief.

"Antara?"

Antara folded her arms across her chest, her retort austere. "Don't sound so shocked, Eddy."

Edward scoffed. "You may handle yourself… well… in speech Antara, but engaging in a skirmish is something quite different"

I knew Edward was merely being cautious, but to a stranger his tone may have seemed condescending.

Antara edged a little closer to Edward.

"Well, how about we exchange blows instead of words? Then you'll see just how well I can handle myself…"

Esme was immediately at Antara's side, a hand on her arm pulling her back.

"Now is not the time to argue."

Antara's eyes flickered to Esme's hand gripping her on her arm, before moving to Jasper.

Edward shrugged.

"I was merely stating the obvious," he added.

Antara suddenly broke free from Esme, appearing in front of Edward at a speed that could rival most.

"You wouldn't know the obvious if it leapt up and bit you… excuse the pun."

I watched as Edward took a small step back.

"Edward, you really should wait and see what Antara can do before you... judge her," Jasper answered, a smile playing on his lips.

Now I really was intrigued.

Carlisle continued, "Then it is settled. Bella, you should talk to Alice. Edward can contact Jacob"

"Yeah, go and call the pooches, Eddy," Antara replied dryly.

As Alice pulled me towards the door, Emmet's voice echoed in my ear. "If you can kick ass, Antara, please demonstrate on Jake first…."

I smiled softly at Antara's quick retort.

"Why just the one Emmett when I can kick both Eddy and the mutt's ass at the same time"

I followed Alice outside, expecting her to stop as soon as the door behind me closed. She didn't. Instead she continued walking, past Antara's motorbike that was gleaming under the moonlight, past Emmet's Jeep, only stopping when the gravelled path that led to the house met the isolated road.

I stopped beside her, and waited patiently for her eyes to find me. Instead she looked up into the darkness as idle clouds moved steadily across the sky. I looked at the silhouetted pines that were clustered together in the distance. Reuben was out there somewhere, a solitary figure waiting in the lonely forest…

"Alice?" My voice was low and steady, but laced with concern.

"I've always preferred the night, Bella," she answered softly, her eyes now resting on the pallid moon. I waited for her to continue, as I reached out and took her hand in mine. I felt her fingers fold around my own, yet her gaze remained fixed.

"The stars shine like embers in the sky, don't you think, Bella?" she asked lightly, as my eyes now looked at the pin pricks of light above. Before I could answer, Alice continued steadily.

"Imagine if they were extinguished… we'd have nothing but darkness then…"

As her final words escaped her lips, her fingers gripped mine more tightly.

Finally, she turned to face me.

"If they went out, Bella… we would be encircled by darkness… He's extinguished my light, Bella…I wanted so much to recall my past, but now I have nothing but blackness..."

Her last words became a slight sob and I immediately pulled her into me. Her arms folded around my hips as mine encircled her now shaking form.

"You are my light now, Bella… you saw…"

Her words were mere whispers, yet I could hear each one. Slowly, she continued.

"I'm so sorry for putting you through that…it's my fault…."

I immediately hushed her.

"Alice, this isn't your fault… please, stop blaming yourself… the past is what it is, we have no control over it… we can only work together like Jasper suggested and…"

Before I could finish Alice pulled away from me, her hands still resting on my hips.

"And do what, Bella? Find the elusive Reuben? My… sire…"

Without another thought, my hands were cupping her cheeks.

"Alice… look into the sky… let it steal your imagination. The stars have been there since the beginning of time and will continue to illuminate the sky for eternity, as I will be your guiding light for eternity. I saw your past, I saw what happened… and I wish, so much, that you never had to go through that… but the knowledge we now have, the knowledge you now have… it will free you from the unknown you have faced for so long…"

Her hands soon moved up and rested gently on the backs of mine.

"You are my guiding star, Bella… With you, I will find my way…"

"And I will find him," I finished, but Alice started to shake her head. My hands fell from her cheeks.

"Bella, you must promise me you won't go looking for him alone…"

My eyes fell to the gravel path.

How could I not, after what he had done to her?

"Bella, look at me, please…"

My eyes remained focused on the path, as Alice placed her thumb under my chin, coaxing it up.

"Bella…."

My amber eyes moved slowly as she inched closer to me.

"The beauty of the stars is unrivalled except by you, Bella… I need you… and I can't lose you…"

Lose me?

She steadily continued her fingers still on my chin.

"He is strong, and his intentions are unclear… we need to find him, together… all of us… promise me you won't try and find him alone Bella…"

Promise me…

How could I promise her, when all I wanted to do was hunt him down, and find him and...?

"Bella?"

Her fingers were now on my cheeks, shaking my face gently.

"I promise," I whispered. I knew she was right. If we wanted to finally destroy Reuben, it would take everyone's efforts, but I still had a feeling that somehow I would end up with Reuben, alone…

"Let's go to Woodland Fathom."

I fell out of my thoughts and looked at her.

"Now?" I gently asked, as she smiled at me.

"It's beautiful at night," she replied softly, taking my hand in hers. "When I first found the path that led to it, I realised it was overgrown, a place where no one else must trek… Bella, it was medicine for my soul. Each one of my senses danced as I walked through the wild flowers, all of nature seemingly unfazed by my intrusion."

I smiled as she slowly continued, thankful that her memories of Woodland Fathom were overtaking the newly found chaotic memories I had unearthed.

"Tell me more," I whispered as she smiled.

"I was out hunting with Rosalie, and we got separated. That was when I found the path. The more I walked along it, the narrower it became, as the ferns closed in around me, my feet walking upon moss like a fuzzy carpet."

I listened intently as she took my hand in hers.

"I almost felt like I was intruding, Bella, but I knew I had to continue… I eventually saw a meadow ahead… and when I finally left the woodland thicket, what I saw… well, the memory it gave to me filled my soul. I thanked some unknown force for pointing me in its direction… and then…"

Her voice trailed off as she quickly brought my hand to her lips and kissed my knuckles.

"Then?" I asked softly as she smiled at me.

"Then I asked for my soul mate to come and find me… and she did," she finished, as I bit at my bottom lip.

"Lucky soul mate, do I know her?" I asked, as Alice laughed.

"Oh, very well… in fact, she's seen Woodland Fathom, I carried her there…. but this time, I won't need to carry you," she finished, her smile now a beam.

I was immediately relieved to have playful Alice back.

"True… but…." my voice trailed off as Alice raised an eyebrow.

"But?" she asked, almost pouting.

"But, I could always do this," I replied, and I quickly gathered her up into my arms, the speed of my action shocking her.

"Bella Swan, you are quick," she replied with a giggle, as her head rested against my chest.

"Shall we?" I asked lightly, as she looked up at me.

"Only if you can meet my two conditions," she replied, smiling, her amber eyes now gleaming.

"And what would those be?" I asked her smile infectious.

"Firstly, kiss me?" she asked, and my lips soon found hers, my tongue brushing against her closed lips, demanding entry. As her lips parted, I could feel her tongue reach out to stroke my own.

I could kiss Alice for days and never get bored…

All too soon she had broken away from me, as a grin played at her lips.

"And number two?" I asked, almost breathlessly…

"Secondly, Bella, don't you dare trip over and drop me…."

I returned her cheeky smile.

"Would I do a thing like that, Alice Cullen?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

Alice laughed, and it was music to my ears. "Yes, Bella Swan, you would… although your quick reflexes would also catch me…."

I laughed. "So you're saying I would drop you, and save you, all at the same time?"

Alice giggled.

"Yes, I do believe I am."

I placed a quick kiss on her forehead.

"Ready, then?" I asked, only to hear someone cough behind us.

It was Jake.

"What are you doing?" he asked with a slight frown on his face.

"They're drinking beer and playing pool, what the hell does it look like they're doing?"

I turned with Alice still in my arms to see Antara exiting the house, a sly grin on her face as she slid her leather jacket on.

"Yeah, funny," Jake almost spat, as Antara smirked.

"Well, I'm going to take my baby out for a spin. I'm hungry and need take out," she replied, as Jake almost grunted.

"I don't care what you're doing, or who you're eating," he continued, as he then turned to face me.

"Oh, of course not… you're more interested in the love birds over there," she scoffed, as she climbed onto her bike. "Well let me make it clear for you: they're about to make out… now move on and give them some space… oh, and pup? I'm not eating anyone," she finished, winking at us both before she sped off at an uncontrollable speed on her bike.

Jake shifted.

"I'm here because Edward called me."

I nodded as I glanced down at Alice.

"Do you want to stay for this, or go to Woodland Fathom?" I asked gently, as she sighed.

"I suppose we had better stay and help explain."

I nodded and slowly placed her feet back on the ground.

"Explain what, exactly?" Jake asked.

I motioned to the door that Antara had left open.

"Come inside… this may take some time"