Impasse

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Kidnapped

"Bella, I need to speak to you – its urgent!"

Bella was in a state of frozen shock. She had hoped never to hear Alice Cullen's bell-like tones again. Her knees trembled, and she nearly fell.

"Bella, are you there?" Alice demanded.

"I'm – I'm here." Bella hated that her voice faltered as she spoke. "Why are you contacting me?"

"I'm in your room right now." Alice revealed, much to Bella's consternation. "Can you come up so we can speak face to face?"

"You're in my house?" Bella exclaimed. "Have you been spying on me like that despicable brother of yours?"

"Please don't speak about Edward like that, Bella. You loved him once. You were going to be part of our family. You owe us."

"Owe you?" Bella was incensed by this proclamation.

How dare the little pixie imply that she was in their debt just because Edward had somehow coerced her into a relationship with him? She may not remember the finer details, but she was sure there was an element of compulsion involved. She was convinced that he had used his vampiric charm to make her enamored of him. There was no way she would have willingly entered into a relationship with one of his kind without some type of supernatural influence at play.

"Bella, please, I am begging you for just a moment of your time." Alice seemed to have realized she had slipped up by trying to pressure Bella into hearing her out. She had forgotten that Bella was no longer the naïve little human that she could manipulate at will.

"Then use the front door like any civilized person would do." Bella snapped.

"But I can't." Alice cried. "Your father would see me."

"So?"

"Oh, if you would just only hear me out, then you would understand." Alice said wretchedly. "So much is at stake!"

"What do you mean?" Bella asked in alarm at Alice's despairing tone.

But before she had a chance to think through whether she was going to grant the petite psychic's request, Alice appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Unnaturally still and white, with her large black eyes intent on Bella's face, she stood perfectly motionless, beautiful beyond imagining.

A cold shiver rippled down Bella's spine as her nostrils were assaulted with the sickeningly sweet stench pouring off Alice's hard skin. She tried to hold her breath, but still managed to inhale it anyway. The smell wasn't like anything else she could describe – not floral, or spice, citrus or musk. The worst perfume in the world couldn't compare.

Is this how the vamps smelled to Jacob? Bella wondered briefly. And, if so, why was she being so turned off by the cloying fragrance now? Was it the work of the imprint?

She didn't have much time to ponder as she suddenly found herself being dragged by Alice to the living room couch and trapped against her cold, hard body. It was like being squashed against a cool stone.

"I had forgotten how exuberant and stubborn you can be." Alice sighed, and her tone was disapproving.

Bella looked up at Alice with hostile eyes. Alice's neck was tight, straining away from her, her lips pressed firmly together. Her eyes as black as pitch.

"Oh." Bella recoiled as she realized the problem. Alice was thirsty. And she smelled appetizing. Vague memories came to mind of Edward's constant reference to the intoxicating smell of her blood. The thought sickened her, but she tried to maintain her composure. "You need to feed."

"Its my own fault. I've been too worried about Edward to go hunting. I shouldn't have let myself get so thirsty. But I was in a hurry today." The look she directed at Bella then was a glare. "Speaking of which, I understand it was that confounded dog of yours who chased poor Edward off the other day."

That accusation brought Bella up short. She finally realized what must have happened immediately, and why Alice was there.

"You're looking for Edward, aren't you?" She demanded. "And don't you dare call Jacob such derogatory names again." She added.

Alice's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Edward was keeping watch over your house, just to make sure that you were safe. If it was left up to that wolf boy, you would be unprotected. Victoria is still somewhere out there."

It hit Bella like a freight train as it became clear that none of the Cullens had any idea that the vengeful red head was now toast. With the little psychic unable to see past the wolves, she had no forewarning that they had already dispatched Victoria. Hysterical laughter bubbled on Bella's lips at the irony.

"I don't find anything remotely funny about this!" Alice said surlily.

"Oh, but I do." Bella swallowed down the rest of her laughter and pursed her lips as she got ready to deliver the killer blow. "Victoria is no longer a threat. Jacob killed her. So, once you track down that pathetic brother of yours, you can both do one and leave Forks forever."

Alice seemed stunned by this new revelation. "But I was looking…I would have seen…."

"The wolves clearly blinded you." Bella cut in scathingly. "Your gift is clearly flawed. Perhaps you shouldn't rely on it as much as you do."

Alice huffed in annoyance as she locked eyes with Bella. "You have no idea of the depths we have gone to in order to keep you safe. You could at least show some gratitude. But no, you sneer and mock the depth of our love for you. Edward has sacrificed so much to remain close to you. As have I. You – "

"I never wanted or asked for your loyalty. The kind of love you give is toxic and dangerous. The only threat to my safety is you and that damn brother of yours." Bella interrupted angrily. "Now get the hell out of my house."

Alice's expression hardened. Her hands had found their way to Bella's shoulders, her icy fingers dug painfully into her skin. "I know it's the dog's influence that makes you speak so crassly. So, I will find the will within myself to forgive your cruel words… this time. But don't test me, Bella. My patience is wearing thin."

Bella watched in disbelief as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across Alice's face. Something, other than Bella's taunting words were bothering her – her imperfect vision perhaps? But Bella wasn't sure. Then Alice deliberately leaned in and sniffed her shoulder.

Bella froze.

"You smell different." Alice muttered, sniffing at Bella some more. "More like him. Its disgusting."

"What are you talking about?"

Alice ignored her question. "We need to get you away from them. We cannot wait anymore. But Edward…. I can't see him. Where is he?" She shook Bella a little in her frustration at her failing visions.

"Let go of me." Bella cried as she desperately tried to pry Alice's icy fingers from her shoulders. It was a fruitless exercise; the little psychic's hold was too strong.

"Carlisle was a fool to think you could survive alone. He repeatedly told us not to interfere. That you would eventually find your way back to Edward once you had regained your memories. Now look what has transpired. You're now involved with werewolves of all things. The worst thing out there. I've never seen anyone so prone to life-threatening idiocy."

"Don't be ridiculous." Bella gasped as she struggled in Alice's hold, which resulted in the petite psychic pinning her down harder.

Alice was frowning, seeming to be thinking hard. "What should I do?" She wondered aloud, clearly speaking to herself.

Bella gnawed at her lower lip, trying to come up with a viable way of escape. She couldn't fight Alice; the tiny vamp was too strong. Her only recourse was to use her voice. Charlie was just outside, washing the cruiser. All she had to do was scream bloody murder and he would come running in and…

She didn't get very far with that thought. As soon as the idea entered her mind, Alice saw her intention.

"No, you don't." She hissed, clamping a hand over Bella's mouth, and stifling her screams.

Bella shuddered, her heart rate accelerating to dangerous levels. She was completely trapped. All she could do now was hope that Jacob would turn up soon. Or that Charlie would walk in. But knowing Alice, she was probably monitoring her father's movements. Although she couldn't do the same to Jacob's.

"You give me no choice." Alice seethed as she glowered down at Bella.

"Umpf." Bella squeaked.

"I'm going to have to take you somewhere else for your own safety until I can track down Edward. Once I do that, we can then rejoin the others." She shook her head irritably. "Carlisle will not be happy, but I'll deal with his disappointment when we reach Italy."

"It – umpf." Bella's response came out muffled. She could barely breathe with the pressure Alice was exerting on her mouth.

"You are such a magnet for danger. Why can't you just stay out of trouble?" Alice complained. "Leave it to you to make things more difficult than they need to be, Bella. Everything was going according to plan until you started hanging out with those furry monsters. Well, its too late for regrets."

Suddenly she stopped talking and began listening intently. The loud clomp of Charlie's work boots could be heard as he trudged up the driveway toward the house. He must have finished washing the cruiser and was on his way back inside.

"Da – umpf!" Bella was cut off again as Alice clamped her hand down even harder. "Don't force me to knock you out." She warned.

Bella struggled with all her might, knowing it was probably her last chance to escape from Alice before she kidnapped her and hid her away god knows where.

Her attempt was futile, just like the first time had been. Alice was too quick and too strong. She went straight for her, ignoring the pummeling, hitting, kicking, and biting from Bella. None of it made any impact on her hard, icy skin at all. All too soon Bella was lying curled up in her arms, completely unconscious.

"You gave me no choice." Alice whispered to her still form grimly.

By the time Charlie stepped foot inside the house, both Bella and Alice were gone.

A/N-thanks for reading!