Chapter 25
"What do you mean, you know where they are?" Bella asked in surprise. "How did you find them? You didn't go anywhere."
"I had a vision." Alice rolled her eyes. "Riley made a decision. Victoria didn't like the new recruit he brought her." Folding her arms across her chest Alice pouted angrily. "She said she was too small."
"Where are they?" Bella asked.
"On the outskirts of Seattle, but there's a problem." Alice paused like she was trying for dramatic effect.
"What?" Charlie asked impatiently.
"Victoria is not with the rest of them. She is staying alone, far enough away that if something goes wrong she can cut and run."
"What decision helped you see this?" Charlie asked. "Did he… um," he swallowed thickly. "discard the new recruit?"
"No, he had to choose whether or not to leave the new girl with Victoria while she completed her transformation, or risk taking her back to the house where they are keeping the newborns. He chose the ladder allowing me to see both the houses they're hiding out in."
"They're staying in a house?" Jacob asked.
"Yes, dog! Really, where did you think they would be? Creeping around in alleys, scattered in the forest. Or maybe you thought they would be skulking under bridges like some kind of trolls."
"Well, yes, actually."
Charlie mumbled, "That's What I thought."
Bella looked down at her feet trying not to admit she thought the same thing.
"Now for our own dilemma." Alice pondered out loud. "Do we go after the army or Victoria first? Or do we split up and go after both at the same time?"
"What are the outcomes for each?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know. The wolves are blinding me."
"Jake, you and the wolves will stay here." Edward barked out the order, "Protect Bella and the towns. My family and I will go to Seattle alone."
Jacob stiffened, ground his teeth then took a deep breath and licked his lips. looking down he gave a sharp nod of his head
"No!" Bella shouted, "You can't do this, It's too dangerous!"
"Bella," Edward sternly said. "The decision has been made!"
Alice gasped, standing statue still, she stared into space. Staring at the floor, Edward's eyes roamed back and forth like he was reading. No-one seemed to be breathing.
"Oh," Alice said as she came back to herself.
"What?" all except for Edward asked.
"We go after Victoria first." she giggled. "The newborns think the sun will turn them to ash." like a switch was flipped Alice's demeanor completely changed. "We will need the wolves." She admitted quietly.
Letting out another big breath, Jake's shoulders relaxed. "Sure, sure."
"Why do you need the wolves?" Bella demanded. "Who did you see getting hurt?"
"No one, love." Edward cooed. "The wolves being there will make sure none of the newborns have a chance of escaping."
Was he lying? Bella wasn't sure. It wouldn't be the first time he lied to protect her. She was beginning to have trust issues and her anxiety was through the roof. Alice might be the psychic but Bella could see panic attacks in her near future.
"The vans are here." Edward interrupted her inner musings .
"Vans?" Bella asked.
"Yes, one for us and one for the wolves." He looked at her for a moment. "To get to, and from Seattle"
She shook her head feeling kind of stupid. "Right… Transportation… Makes sense."
One of the vans doors slammed and Emmett's booming voice rang out. "Hey little sister." he jogged up the walk and into the house shoving Alice and Edward out of his way. Wrapping Bella in his arms he lifted her off the ground and spun her around. "Calm down my little Bellion. Your heart's practically beating out of your chest. I could hear it a mile away." It's a good thing that was a figure of speech, Charlie didn't need to know he was probably being literal. Being careful not to break her he tightened his hold the tiniest bit and whispered "Everything's going to be alright. We are going to crush these pests like the bugs they are, and all will be fine again."
Bella sniffled "You better." She said in a shaky voice. He placed a loud smacking kiss on her cheek before setting her back on the floor.
"Alright." Jacob started. "Leah and Seth will be right outside, just beyond the tree line." Seth snorted and shook his head. "Hay, what did I tell you?"
Sighing, Seth droned. "'You're not getting treated like a kid, you have the most important job of all.'"
"And that is?" Jake encouraged.
"Protecting the Swans."
Jake gripped Seth's shoulder. "That's right, we need you here, so we don't have to worry if someone gets past us."
"But Leah's here!" the younger boy wined. Jake wasn't going to tell him the only reason Leah was staying behind was so she could protect her little brother.
"Yes, She is. And she needs you here with her because we're a pack, we work together." Jake spoke what was probably their mantra. "Everyone does their part so we will be victorious. Right?
"Right." The boy didn't sound any more excited.
Trying to help, Bella pulled Seth into her arms. "I feel safer with you here. Thank you for staying."
He blushed and muttered a "Sure, sure." using Jake's words.
Feeling he needed more encouragement she looked at her father over his shoulder, widening her eyes, and thinning her lips, she flicked her gaze between the pair meaningfully. "Oh!" Charlie said, catching on. "Me too! So much safer." He screwed up his face and scratched the back of his head.
"I'm so glad everyone feels so safe with me." Leah grumbled without malice.
Ignoring her playful jab, Edward announced, "We better get going. If we leave now we just might catch Victoria and Riley together. Taking out their leaders will only benefit us later."
Jake leaned over and kissed the top of Bella's head. Be careful, she told him. Come home to us."
He smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you." a whimper escaped her lips. "Hey, no worries. We've got this." he said, placing his forehead against hers.
Charlie couldn't help but notice Jake didn't guarantee his return. Walking over to them he reached a hand out for Jake's shoulder like he would have done before all this. "Son," he seemed to suddenly remember all he recently learned and awkwardly patted him instead. "You make sure to come home. You hear me."
"Yeah Charlie. I'll do my best." He promised, returning the awkward pat with a small smirk before walking out the door.
Bella wrapped her arms around Edward's waist. He hugged her back gently, kissing her lips. "Don't go." She begged under her breath. When he tried to step back she held on tighter. Small cold arms wrapped around her from behind.
"Go." Alice's musical voice rang out. "I've got her."
"No." Bella cried as Edward pulled himself out of her grasp.
"I'm sorry love." He said before disappearing out the door.
"Bella, Listen to me. Edward is going to be fine. He has the best advantage." Alice cooed to her.
Having the benefit of supernatural hearing allowed them to have a conversation like they were sitting next to each other instead of in separate vehicles. Jake zeroed in on Edwards voice as he spoke. "We will park just inside the tree line then hike to where she is staying. You all can shift as soon as we are under the cover of the forest."
When they came close to the secluded little house. They could hear Victoria's child-like voice. "Rylie, don't be so petulant. You know I appreciate everything you do for me." She purred. The wolves' noses wrinkled at the sound of soft clicking and stone gently brushing over each other. "You know I love you." her voice became a breathy whisper. "I just want to protect us… To protect you, with the strongest soldiers we can find." false sweetness dripped from her tongue. "You must agree with me a little bit. If you didn't, you wouldn't have left her alone and defenseless with a bunch of ravenous thugs''
"She is being protected."
"You trust some of them?"
"One of them," he admitted.
"You shouldn't. It will only break your poor little heart when they are destroyed."
"Some might survive."
"They won't," she said dismissively.
Edward and Jasper ran through the entrances knocking its doors off their hinges. Everyone else surrounded the house preparing to grab the villainess duo as they tried to escape. There was a booming sound as the roof seemed to explode. Two figures popped out of it and took off into the trees. Jasper and Edward soon followed, but their progress was slowed by the crumbling house beneath their feet.
All turned to chase after them. Trees covered them for the most part since they were moving too fast for the human eye to comprehend they weren't too worried. When they came to a body of water the wolves hesitated. The vampires took off like bullets in the water.
Jake cursed. 'You all head back to the vans. I'm going after them.'
Embry said. 'Dude, just forget about it. It's only two of them. The Cullen's can handle it.'
Jake shook his head. 'That bitch is slippery. I'm not letting her get away again.'
'Jake, think about this." Quil advised. "They're already gone. You can't catch her sent in the water. You can't follow them.'
'I'm not following them. I'm going to the Swans.'
Quil, Embry and Jared did as instructed and headed back to the vans. Paul hesitated then started pawing at the water.
'What are you doing?' Jake asked him.
'Coming with you. You're right. If that bitch slips away from them again the first place she will go is to get her prize.'
Bella had stopped crying, now she was altering in between pacing the floors and sitting curled up on the couch, fidgeting.
"Bella, please try to calm down, you're starting to make me nervous." Alice complained.
When Bella turned to respond Alice gasped and froze. It was quick, but Bella knew she had a vision. "What Alice! What did you see?!"
The little psychic took a deep breath and paced a huge smile on her face. "Nothing, everything is fine. Nothing to worry about."
"You're lying." Bella accused.
"What's going on here?" Charlie asked.
"Alice had a vision."
"No." Alice said primly.
"Alice, tell us what you saw," he insisted.
"Fine, but it will all turn out okay, so I see no point in making anyone worry."
"I thought the wolves blinded you." Charlie accused.
"They do." She admitted.
"Then what the hell did you see and how did you see it?" his face reddened and voice got louder with each word.
"Victoria and Rylie got away from them." Her words started to run together. "But it's okay because they're going to catch them."
"Do you see them getting caught?" Charlie asked with strained patients.
"Well, no."
"Then how do you know!" his voice erupted from him.
"I have faith." she chirped.
"Alice." Charlie reached his hand out before fisting it and pulling it back into him. He clenched his jaw so tight Bella thought he would break his teeth.
"What?" Alice asked cluelessly.
Charlie turned away from them gripping fistfuls of hair and screaming at the top of his lungs. Turning back to Bella he asked "Are they always like this?"
"They're not great at communicating with humans." She admitted.
They looked at Alice. She crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. "Well it's not like you can do anything about the going on's in our world."
"How have you put up with this for so long?" He asked his daughter.
"Honestly I don't know."
Charlie decided to try to get more info out of the wolves. Going outside they could see a large beige wolf pacing at the treeline. His head hung low, while he grunted and growled, viciously shaking his head. Charlie asked. "Who is that and how do I get its attention?" He took a step back rethinking his desire to be in the know. "Should we get its attention?"
"That's Seth. It's fine, he's a sweetheart." looking over to the wolf she yelled. "Hey, Seth," he stopped and looked up at them. "Can you phase and come over here for a moment?" The wolf let out a growl that sounded like an angry grumble, shook his head ruffly and continued pacing.
Baffled by the interaction between this giant canine and his daughter, Charlie yelled out, "Can one of you two please come tell us what's going on?"
Leah came out of the woods clad in a sundress. "Quick summary." she announced. "They surrounded the house, since all the exits were covered, the leeches went up."
"Up?" Charlie asked.
Leah pointed to the roof and flicked her wrist up.
Charlie's eyes widened, and he mumbled a curse.
"Yeah, so they chased her into the water. That's where the wolves lost her… again… so now we have no idea what's happening, but the Cullens followed so not all is lost."
Charlie scratched his head. "Again?"
"Yeah, We've done this dance many times before. She always loses us in the water."
"What now?" he asked.
"Now, you go back inside with the pixy and we prepare for the worst."
"Right," Charlie blew out a breath. "What's it's… his problem?" he asked, gesturing to the irritated wolf.
"Jakes on his way here. Seth thinks we can manage on our own."
The wolf picked up its head, barked and let out a whining howl.
"Okay then" Charlie gripped his daughter's arm. "Let's get back inside."
"That's it?" Bella asked. "What if they need help?"
"What can you do to help them?"
"I don't know," she groaned in frustration. "Something!"
"Bella, Growing up you learn a lot of things. One of those things is when to stand and fight. Another is when to get out of the way and let others do the fighting. Right now we get out of the way. At least we have more of an idea of what's going on."
A wolf's loud scream and the ensuing growling and barking notified them to, 'the worst' happening in their yard. Bella jumped out of her seat. Charlie gripped her arm gently reminding her it was time to let them do the fighting.
Another scream from a wolf had Bella begging "Alice, please, there has to be something we can do to help them."
"You… can't do anything."
Another loud whine
Alice hesitated. "I really shouldn't leave you."
A loud crash and both wolves screaming.
"Alice please!" Bella begged.
"Fine but you stay right here."
The phone started ringing as Alice left the house. "Swan residence." Charlie answered. "Hey, Mark." looking out the window he said. "No, there's no need for you to come down here. Just a couple of dogs fighting. I could take care of it myself." Bella watched her father as she slowly backed to the door. "No, Mark, please don't bother. You are needed at the station more than you are here. I promise."
Charlie's voice was cut off as Bella quietly closed the door. She ran to the yard just in time to see Victoria slam Seth's head against a rock knocking him unconscious. Leah was dragging her back legs behind her as she tried desperately to get to her brother.
With Seth unconscious Victoria turned her sights on a broken Leah. "No." Bella cried. "Hey, over here. I'm who you want. Come get me."
Victoria shot away from the wolves stepping out of the tree line, A triumphant smile graced her lips.
Bella could hear her father crashing out the backdoor. "Bella!" He shouted as Victoria lunged at her, turning into a blur of light.