Kuro: Oh yeah, he's on the precipice of madness here

It felt like the world was tilting. The only thing keeping me upright being the hand I had on Jule's back, and the little mental fortitude I'd created by accepting her as my poisonous dream.

I guess it was still kind of shocking to hear someone else saying it. And I guess my grip on Jules was a little tight, because she was freaking out a little as well.

"Beau," She breathed into my ear. "Beau? What's wrong?" And then she growled, whirling her angry stare at Archie. "What. Did. You. Do. To. Him?" She said quickly, punctuating each word with a promise of death.

"Stop," I said so quietly that I doubted either one could have possibly heard me. But they did, both of their heads snapping to look at me. "Stop, I'm fine." I said, barely keeping a stutter out of my voice as I eased my grip on her. I gave her a very small, strained smile, and a squeeze on the arm.

"Archie. What's going on? What did you see man?" I said turning to him, trying my best to keep calm. Freaking out, or breaking down right now was not gonna be helpful.

It wasn't hard to connect the dots. Even with my enhanced vampiric mind. Archie comes back, looking scared in a way that he's never been before. He has a vision of some kind. Then he says my angel's name.

Something is happening to Edythe. Or it will happen.

His eyes were wide with shock as he shrugged uselessly, shaking his head in a way that was almost limp. "I don't know," He said, speaking so fast that a human definitely would not be able to understand him. "I was looking for you, and then I was coming back, and then all of a sudden I got a… what…? What is she - I don't get it! I don't get it!" He repeated loudly, waving his hands with incredulousness. "How could she possibly - !"

He broke off then on his scramble of an explanation, and straightened, his hand flashing to his pocket, and pulled out a phone, dialing so quickly that it looked like a blur, even to me.

"Roy! Get me Carine! Right now!" He snapped, breathing quickly with frustration. I could hear Royal's voice on the other end, sounding like he could care less about what Archie could want.

"She went on a hunting trip with Earnest. Are you coming home any time soon? Jessamines has been antsy." He said lazily.

"Fine! You get her the second she's back. No, I'm getting on a plane as soon as I can - have you heard from Edy?" He said getting to the point of his call decisively.

He froze, his face slowly melted into genuine horror with each word Royal spoke. "Yeah, she called a little while ago. I told her that her pet died in a fire."

Archie's expression turned from that horror, to a burning rage. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen from my friend. Another thing to tac on for new things from him today in the case of emotions.

And I understood why this would be upsetting for him, and for Edythe if she thought I was dead, but why was this such a big deal?

"You - you what?" He ground out in disbelief, his face set in stone and his grip on the phone so tight that I was sure it would break in half.

"I told her that the human was dead. That he ran into a burning building - trying to kill himself. That's what happened right? So that's what I told Edythe" Royal said, sounding a little more nervous after hearing how angry Archie was.

"Turns out you were wrong!" He spit, turning to look at me, "He's right here… and he's fine." He said barely hesitating to say that as he looked at his fellow vampire. "My vision was wrong! Which is a story in itself!" He almost yelled.

"What?! How? You said there was a fire, and a building fell on him. That's what I told Edythe." Royal said, his voice shaky now.

"Oh yeah? Well you were wrong about that too, you phenomenal…" Archie growled, barely restraining himself, his lips drawn back over his teeth as he hissed. I don't think I could ever look as much of a vampire as he did right now.

"Archie, I'm so sorry, I didn't -"

"I don't care! Save your apologies for someone who'll believe them, because as far as I'm concerned Roy," He spit the name like it was a joke. "Go to hell!" Archie yelled, slamming the phone shut, and flashing it back into his pocket. We all stood quietly for a second.

"Archie… What did you see in your vision? What's going on?" I asked softly, taking deep breaths. Because I knew this was gonna hurt to hear. It always did when someone brought my angel up.

Before he could answer, Jules said, looking at me, and keeping her eyes firmly away from Archie. "Carine Cullen? She's back from wherever she was." She said, rolling her eyes. "She called here a couple minutes ago."

"What?" I asked quickly, wheeling my wide eyes onto her. "What do you… that's who you were on the phone with?" I asked breathlessly. Another ghost from my past, and she just slipped through my fingers like it was nothing.

"Yeah. Sorry. You weren't here, so I answered." She shrugged.

Archie stared at the both of us with such a defeated look that it took my unnecessary breath away. All of that rage he had was just gone.

"How long ago?" He asked in a hollow voice.

"Like ten minutes ago, maybe fifteen." I said, answering for Jules.

"What did she say?" Archie asked, looking right at her now. She gave a little flinch, and I took a step closer to her, looking at her with worry.

She shrugged again. "Nothing. She asked where Charlie was, and I told her he was at the hospital." She said, obviously trying to keep her resentment for Archie in check as she glared at him.

"What else?" Archie demanded, his voice like ice.

"That was it. She hung up on me," Jules spit back, her anger coming back. She started vibrating beneath my grip, so I gave her a tiny half hug, mostly as a reminder that I was there, and if she blew up, it wouldn't be good.

"You also said there was a fire. And that someone was gone." I reminded her gently.

"Were you talking about Beau?" Archie snapped. Jules barred her teeth at him, tensing underneath my arm.

"Yeah, she asked if he was home. I said he was gone. Now quit interrogating me," She ground out.

Archie's face sunk, and he moaned, putting his face in his hands - his shoulders going slack as he hunched over.

"What's the issue Archie?" I asked, honestly fed up with this. "Just tell me what's going on."

"That wasn't Carine." He said hopelessly, rubbing his eyes hard before looking at me with a dead expression.

Ah, ok. I get it now. That was Edythe on the phone. My angel thinks I killed myself, so she's probably gone and found a secluded place to brood for a while. Archie's concerned because my Edythe can brood for a long… long time. Or probably something along those lines. She was always a bit of a drama queen.

"You calling me a liar?" Jules snarled, taking a step forward, but I kept from going any further.

"She thinks I killed myself," I said shrugging, mirroring Jules' favorite gesture. "Royal told her I did."

"Yeah, that is exactly what that piece of…" He hissed, and I could tell he was gonna go on a long tear about the many ways he'd go about getting revenge. Making a quick decision, I didn't want to spend the rest of his visit talking about what a jerk Royal was.

"She called here," I said thoughtfully, relief running through me as I realized that this was all a non issue. "So she called here to see if it was true, and when Jules told her that I was 'gone,' she thought that meant I was dead." I nodded, quirking my head to the side, and giving a small smile.

Archie stared at me, mouth held open in bewilderment, like he couldn't understand why I was taking this so lightly. It made me wanna roll my eyes - he'd had me worried for nothing.

"Well, the timing was really rotten - but I don't get why you're freaking out man? Just call her back and get everything cleared up. Or maybe she'll call back later… just… let…" I trailed off as I looked at Archie… and my brain finally caught up to what had been happening.

I watched as his face morphed into a cacophony of pity and horror. He was panicking again, clearly itching to move right now, but forcing himself to stand still.

Wait.

Wait. I'm… I'm being dumb. Think.

He said sorry. Royal said sorry. He'd never in a million years say sorry for something that happened to me. But he loved his family, and if he did anything to hurt them, hurt his sister…

"Beau, she's not gonna call back. She already has an answer." He said, taking a deep breath.

She has an answer. The situation obviously wasn't good if Archie was panicking, and Royal was feeling bad. So that meant there was something I didn't know.

I didn't know what Edythe was doing… clearly it wasn't brooding. "Where is she?" I asked softly, trying to keep calm. I could feel the stress coming back though - the horrible ideas running through my head of what my angel would do.

There was a little pause as Archie pulled in another panicky breath, trying to calm down as well.

"She's going to Italy, man." Archie said quietly.

It took less than a single heartbeat for me to understand.

"What?" I asked without thinking, frozen as I stood there. It was worse - so much worse than I could ever have guessed.

Her voice hit me with perfect clarity, my human memory replaying her beautiful words in the same way my hallucinations would.

These words themselves though started shredding through my chest, and left it wide open. Words from a time that I would have bet every single thing I owned, every person I knew, and even my own existence that she loved me. In a time where I was a completely different person, from another life.

"Well, I wasn't going to live without you. But I wasn't sure how to do it… I knew that Eleanor and Jessamine would never help… So… I thought I could provoke the Volturi. They rule over our kind, making sure that the laws for our kind stay intact. And if you ever tried anything uncouth… well you'd be asking to die."

You'd be asking to die.

I was shaking, my fists clenched as hard as possible at my sides, and I knew I was shaking, but it all just felt numb. I was underwater again.

I could hear an inhuman growl coming from somewhere. I didn't react to it, too busy trying to reign in this sudden wave of horrible anger, and fear. But it was a sound that was blood curdling. It would have made me run for the hills if I was a human.

"Beau," Jules whispered, sounding scared. My eyes flicked over to her, and she was. She was looking at me, and I could tell she was trying to hide it… but she was terrified. Why?

Archie was looking at me the same. Why were they…?

My eyes finally fell onto the mirror hanging on the hall's wall.

I was standing there, but it didn't look like me. And it wasn't like looking at myself after I turned. No, I looked like a vampire - way worse then what Archie had shown a couple minutes ago. My lips were pulled back in a snarl, my whole body shaking with rage, and my eyes wild with hate.

It was hard to describe honestly. Because those words didn't do justice to the threat I looked like.

But it didn't matter. So what if I was a monster, so what if they were scared. I had more important things to worry about.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, and I straightened my back, while flexing my hands. "Italy. Running's fastest right?" I growled, remembering that I'd just ran to Canada and back in mere hours. I could get to her pretty fast. It would take… I don't know… a day? I was thinking fast, trying to calculate the amount of time based on my recent trip.

Archie was eyeing me with worry, and ignored my question, causing no small amount of irritation. "You know what I'm talking about? You know what Italy means?"

"She told me once. About them - but why? It doesn't make sense." I said fast. My mind was working as fast as possible, thinking of how to get to her, thinking about what kind of plan I'd have to create to get her out of there, and trying to figure out why she was doing this in the first place.

Why would my angel be running to her death? It couldn't be because she thought I was gone. It was hard to imagine her nobility being that guilt inducing that she would… it doesn't make sense.

I shook my head. Doesn't matter. She needed my help. "What can we do? Can we call her? Can we call Carine?"

"First thing I tried man, she left her phone in the trash, somewhere in Rio - someone else answered… "

He took two steps forward, and carefully put a hand on my shoulder, trying to ground me I think. I wanted to hit him for taking so long. "We may be too late, man. I saw her going to the Volturi… and asked to die." I let out another beast like growl. "But I can't see their decision yet, not until she asks them."

"So they might not kill her?" I asked quickly.

He let out a frustrated breath. "They might. Sculpia sees Carine as a friend - she has a lot of respect for her. So, she probably won't want to upset her if she can help it. But it… it doesn't matter. She's gonna force them to do it anyway. She's going to break the single most important law of our kind - in their own city. And they will kill her."

"So?" I asked with a hiss. "That's it? They grant her wish, and we're too late? If they say no, and she pisses them off, we're too late? There's nothing we can do?" I said, glaring down at the older vampire. I couldn't accept that.

"Well… we might have a small chance. Like really small." He said looking at me without a hint of the fear he had before. "If she gives into her more dramatic side," which we both knew she would. "Then we might have time."

Finally! A chance, no matter how small, was all I needed. "So, running the fastest way?" I asked again, flashing past him and into the kitchen, grabbing the pad of paper off the wall, grabbing a pen and scribbling down a quick note for Charlie.

I'm really, really, really sorry dad. Edythee's in trouble. You can ground me when I get back. I'm sorry I'm disappearing on you again. Love you.

"Wait, wait, Beau! Whether we're on time or not, we'll be in the heart of the Volturi city. And if she breaks the law while we're there, then we'll be considered her accomplices. They will kill us all." He called from the hall, quickly following me into the kitchen, Jules hot on his heels.

"If you're afraid, I understand, I'll go alone." I said fast, sprinting past him at top speed upstairs. I flung my door open so quickly that I knocked it off the hinges. I didn't care at all.

I flung my clothes out of my drawers, and found my hoodie. The same one I had on, when I was in that fire. Next - gloves. My old winter ones that I only used for the really terribly cold nights during snow days.

I needed a good amount of coverage if I was gonna be sprinting through the states, and all the way to Europe. Also, I didn't want to accidentally end up breaking their laws and getting Edythe killed. Wouldn't really matter if I got there in time if that happened. Next was a scarf, I could use that to cover my face - oh! Sunglasses as well, duh. Charlie has a pair I'll borrow.

"Beau, wait," Archie said, blocking my path in the doorway. I shook my head, slipping the hoodie on, and stalking towards him.

"We don't have time for this," I said, pushing him out of the way as gently as possible. He let out a little gasp as his back hit the wall. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was more surprised than actually hurt. "Sorry," I said over my shoulder, sprinting to Charlie's room. Sunglasses… there, sitting on the top of his dresser.

"Beau, I can't ask you to do this," Archie said, flashing into Charlie's doorway now. "There is a very likely chance that you won't be coming home."

"Is that seriously what you're hung up on?" I scoffed, carefully putting Charlie's glasses in my pocket, and sprinting past Archie, slipping beneath his arm before he could react this time. "I almost get myself killed everyday. Plus - I'm already dead!" I yelled up the stairs, heading to the front door. He appeared at the top of them, his phone already in hand, dialing a number, but he was looking at me with worry.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"What do you think?"

He groaned to himself, shaking his head harder, like he was making the worst decision possible. "Don't forget your wallet. And please tell me you have a passport?"

I flashed back up the stairs, grabbing both, and then reappearing in the same spot, holding both up for him to see. I could hear a lady on the other end pick up the phone finally - an airline. I was suddenly a lot more appreciative of Renee's 'bursts of inspiration.' She wanted a wedding in Mexico that fell through, but I ended up with a passport.

I turned and stalked quickly towards the front door, but I stopped. Finally pausing as standing in the way was Jules. Her angry eyes bored into mine and her arms crossed… but her eyes were glistening with tears, and her frame was shaking.

"Please," She said quietly, trying to sound tough. "Please don't go, Beau."

All of my angry bravado left me, I was doing it again. I was being a horrible friend. "Jules, I have to -"

"But you don't. You really don't. Please. S-stay. Stay with me, with Charlie. Stay alive."

There it was, there was the reason she was scared. She was worried I wouldn't come home… and I think she was scared I wouldn't come home alone. I ran up to her, using all of my speed to wrap her in a tight hug.

"I'm coming back." I said, pulling back, my hands gripping her shoulders as I looked her in the eye. "I promise. I will come back, Jules, and I will be… I'll be fine" I said, knowing physically, I very likely was gonna be ok - as long as we got to Edythe fast enough. Emotionally, mentally, I wasn't so sure about.

"We'll ride our bikes, and watch movies when I get back. Okay?" I asked softly, putting my head to hers, and trying my best to smile.

"But Beau -"

"Do you trust me?" I asked softly, cutting her off with another hug.

"Y-yeah," She stuttered.

"Then trust me when I say Jules, I'm gonna come back, and we'll be ok." I said kissing her hair, and letting her go. "I'll be back soon… and we'll be back to normal. Just like the old days."

She was watching me with watery eyes as I walked around her towards the door. I flung it open, and took a deep breath, and then turned back to her. "Okay?" I asked again, hope and fear mixing in my voice.

"O-okay." She said softly, trying to smile back. Her lips kept moving after saying that, but no words were coming out, like she wanted to say something else, but just couldn't get it out. Unfortunately, I didn't have time, Archie was running down the stairs, and past me, getting out the door and towards the Mercedes.

"Take care of Charlie," I breathed before turning and sprinting after him. Archie already had the care running, and he was impatiently waiting for me to hop in.

I just got the passenger door open when I heard Jules call out a desperate, "Wait!"

I turned around just in time for her body to collide with me, her arms wrapping around my neck, and her lips pressing against mine.

I didn't have a single second to do anything. To kiss back, to push her away, not even to do nothing, because she'd already pulled back breathless as she put a hand on my cheek.

"Come back to me. Please." She begged, a few tears running down her face before she very reluctantly let me go, pulling away. "Please Beau."

I swallowed hard. "I will. I promise." I whispered before flashing into the car, slamming the door shut. Archie didn't hesitate, we tore down the street, the tires screeching like human screams.

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