Chapter 49

Alice was writing down outcomes for all the decisions their family could make. She sat at Carlisle's desk, with Nicole at her side, reading the pictures that flashed through her mind, then recorded them on paper.

Carlisle stood behind them, leaning casually against a bookshelf with one foot crossed over the other. His eyes studied the scenarios that Alice was writing. Esme stood next to him with Caleb in her arms and her body turned slightly toward Carlisle. She leaned slightly forward to make sure she could see clearly was Alice was writing.

Jasper sat halfway on the desk across from where Alice sat and leaned over where she was writing. Edward and Bella stood side by side to the left, also looking on.

Emmett, Rosalie, Alexandra and Michael had left the night before to visit William and Madison. The four of them planned to get back to the house as quickly as they could, though Carlisle assured them that there was no need to rush.

"So here's the situation," Alice told them all, "If we all go up to Denali, they'll change their attack to the reservation. I say 'they' because there is no way just one of them is in on this. The fact of the matter is, they will be watching closely enough to know if we all go to Alaska, in which case they change course and hit the wolves again. Their point of attack is flexible."

"But structured," Jasper said, "Or so I could guess. They're prepared to hit points one, two or three. The order they chose is what they prefer, but they won't lose anything if they change their minds."

"How many attackers are we talking about?" Carlisle said.

"Not an army's worth," Alice told him, "But I think I'm seeing at least five or six."

"What's the scenario if we split up?" Carlisle asked her, "If half of us went to Denali, and half stayed back."

"They'll strike Denali," she said surely, "And I believe they'll try to draw some of us away and use one or two of their people as 'bait'."

"And if we do nothing?"

She shifted her eyes to meet his, "Denali."

He nodded, already knowing the answer but figured he would ask anyway.

"This is someone we know," Alice told them, "Or at least someone that knows us. The reason why they wrote out their messages in a code is so we wouldn't be able to understand it, or at least have a tougher time understanding."

"There are people involved that we can't see," Nicole added, "The guys we don't know about."

"We just can't see them as clearly."

Nicole nodded, "Right."

"If they attack the Denalis, they'll be outnumbered," Esme said, "You said there were at least six of these people. Even with Kate and Garrett they only have five people. We have to go help."

"Their different organized plans are keeping us all from going there at once," Carlisle said, "They know you can see what their doing, Alice. They're forcing us to split up because their second option, if we all went Alaska, would be to attack the wolves. They know we can see that, which forces at least half of us to stay back."

"Very strategic," Jasper said, "It's carefully planned and if they can't totally beat us, at least they can bring down the number of people they'll be fighting against. It gives them a better chance because they know we won't leave the wolves unprotected."

"They're overly familiar with our loyalties," Edward said, "This has to be the Volturi somehow." He shook his head, visualizing everything he saw through Aro.

"What if it's not Aro," Bella said, looking at him, "What if he didn't give the order."

Carlisle, Esme, Alice and Jasper all looked over at her. Nicole noticed everyone's sudden change of expression and looked in Bella's direction, too.

"Aro did delegate some of his work to Marcus and Caius," Edward said. He looked up at Carlisle, then back to Bella, "You may be right."

"What did he delegate?" Carlisle asked.

"I didn't get anything specific. Just the responsibilities. He's allowed them each their own share of power and decision making, more so than in the past."

"This wasn't orchestrated by Marcus," Carlisle thought aloud, "But Caius... it's possible. It's actually very probable." He looked over at Alice, "Could the man in the hood have been Caius?"

She sighed, "I couldn't really see him, or hear him. Yes, I suppose."

"What if Aro set Caius free to make his own decisions as seen necessary?" Edward asked, "Caius is the least justified. He acts on anger and impulse more than the others."

Carlisle nodded, "And he's extremely intelligent. He would be able to devise the plan to cause us to split up. We know he's been on the offensive in the past." He looked over at Esme, who's expression was slightly solemn. "Bella," he went on, glancing in her direction, "I think you may be right on."

"Regardless of who's behind this," Jasper went on, "We still know their intentions and what they're going to do. We have an advantage."

"But it's not going to be easy," Alice said, "Regardless of how we choose to handle this."

"The fact that we almost have to split up," Jasper said, "It's a well thought out, strong tactic."

"We just have to decide who's going, and who's staying."

"All the kids should stay," Jasper said, "Nicole. Alex. Maddy."

"We could use William," Alice said. She looked around the room and they all nodded, "And Maddy, too Jas. She has the same gift as Kate." He nodded in agreement, redacting his previous statement about having her stay.

"Which means Rosalie and Emmett will go," Edward said. He looked at Carlisle and Esme, "You two stay."

Alice nodded in agreement.

"Eleazar..." Carlisle said, shaking his head. He didn't finish the thought, and looked at Esme, who he promised on several occasions that he would never leave her the way he did the time they fought Olivia's army.

"Esme has to stay," Jasper said, "With Caleb. Carlisle... it's up to you if you'd come or not."

"He should stay," Alice said.

Edward nodded in agreement, "You should stay."

Carlisle didn't say anything. He seemed to be torn about what was right in his mind.

"The wolves need protecting, too," Alice assured him, "You and Esme can stay together on the reservation, with Masen."

"Will we need Masen?" Jasper asked.

Alice looked at him but didn't answer the question. She shook her head and looked at Edward fast before looking away. Bella looked at their exchange of thoughts wondering what was going through her sister's mind.

"What is it?" Esme asked her.

"Masen just needs to stay here, that's all. No arguing it." She gave Carlisle and Esme a helpless look and they were both pretty sure what that meant. Jasper, too, caught on, realizing that Alice's lack of a detailed response meant the worst could happen should Masen go.

"Edward, Bella..." Jasper said.

They both looked at each other and Edward knew right away that Bella's heart was telling to stay with Renesme and Jacob; even for Charlie's sake, though she thought he would most likely be left alone. Inside though, she knew that she had the ability to protect them all if the Volturi, or any other vampires out there had powers that could take them down.

"We'll go," she said with a nod. Her eyes were sad but her voice was steady.

Carlisle looked somewhat frustrated that he would most likely not be accompanying them all, and the Denali clan, in defending both of their families.

"You'll be protecting the wolves," Edward told him, reading his thoughts, "And Esme, Caleb, Cassandra... Nicole."

"Michael can stay, too," Alice said, "But we will need Emmett and Rosalie."

"We'll have the numbers," Jasper said. He looked over at Carlisle.

"It sounds like a reasonable plan," he said. His eyes shifted to Esme and he put an arm around her shoulders.

"We'll be okay, Carlisle," Edward said, "I mean you all took on a whole army without Bella and I."

He nodded and silently agreed to their terms, though still had a heavy heart about letting them go without him. "I'll call Eleazar."