CHAPTER NINE
ɴᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴ

The sun was playing a dangerous game as we left school. During the day, the skies had merged from a brooding black to a lightening grey, allowing a few rays of watery light to blanket parts of the car park. As always, Edward was parked beneath the large oak tree next to the science block, sheltered from the sky on most angles, which we could head to safely.

As Alice chattered with Bella up in front, a strange sensation took my body in its grasp. I hadn't thought about the past week- I hadn't let myself. William's return and my attempted getaway had been blocked out at all coast, residing in the darkest parts of my brain. But I knew Alice still thought about it. For her, and in extension, Edward, it was fresh in their minds, tainting every recent thought they had of me.

It was difficult, trying to move on as if nothing had happened. The Cullens could never know the true extent of my circumstances. Alice was the exception to that rule, of course. She'd seen every part of me, known every pathway that had lead me to her home, which now, undoubtedly, was also home to me too. And, for that reason, I made it work, dragging myself along each day, as if William wasn't likely to be stalking each movement I now made.

I watched her silently as she walked backwards with the grace of a ballerina, talking animatedly to Bella. By the look on Edward's face, I knew exactly what was coming up too.

"I have foreseen..." Alice began, moving her arms in a fluid motion. Her shoulders dropped as she glanced at her brother. "Fine. Edward is making me do this. But I did foresee that you would be difficult if I surprised you."

"In English?" Bella asked, mentioning the vision she'd obviously had in third period.

"Don't be a baby about this. No tantrums," Alice said, pointing her finger.

"Now I'm scared."

"You should be," I said, increasing my pace to slide in between Bella and Alice, leaving Edward to take up the front.

"Hey Elide," Bella said, turning fully toward me. "How was Maths?"

"As boring as ever."

"That's what happens when you're basically Einstein!" She joked, smiling brightly.

I raised a brow, sending a look toward Alice, who automatically tucked into my side. Ever since Alice had talked to her, or snapped at her more like, Bella had been sickeningly nice, going out of her way to do so. It was so unlike her, but I supposed I appreciated the gesture.

"Anyway," Alice said quickly, drawing out the word. "So you're- I mean we're- having a graduation party. It's no big thing. Nothing to freak out over. But I saw that you would freak out if I tried to make it a surprise party. And Edward said I had to tell you. But it's nothing. Promise."

"Alice you're idea of nothing is completely opposite to pretty much everyone's," I said, laughing, not missing the smirk that had formed on Edward's lips at my words.

"Shush. You're supposed to be with me on this," she said, nudging my side with her elbow playfully.

"Well, is there any point to arguing?"

"None at all," Alice said with a proud smirk.

"Okay, Alice. I'll be there," Bella said, nodding her head dramatically. "And I'll hate every minute of it. Promise."

"That's the spirit! By the way, I love my gift. You shouldn't have."

Bella's eyes widened, glancing at Edward. "Alice, I didn't!"

"Oh, I know that. But you will."

Edward reached over, ruffling Alice's hair. It was one of the first acts of sibling-like behaviour that I'd ever seen him express toward her. It made me smile.

"Amazing. How can someone so tiny be so annoying?"

"It's a talent," Alice said, bouncing on her heels as we reached the car, waiting for Edward to open it.

"Couldn't you have waited to tell me this? Now I'll be stressed that much longer," Bella said.

"Bella. Do you know what day it is?"

"Monday?"

"Yes. It is Monday... the fourth," Alice said.

"It's the fourth? Of June? Are you sure?" she exclaimed. Edward nodded and Alice and I chuckled at her panicked expression. "It can't be! How did this happen?"

As Bella went off into her own head and Edward sat content in the driver's seat, Alice turned to me, sliding her hand into mine.

"What're you so stressed about?"

I couldn't say what I wanted to. I couldn't tell her that I was terrified that William would return, more revengeful than the last time he'd attacked me. I couldn't tell me that I could still feel his teeth wrapped around my neck, the scar tingling on my skin. She was too happy, too excited to have something to look forward to. I couldn't ruin that, and to God, I hoped Edward could respect my thoughts enough to not want to ruin it himself either.

"The fact that as soon as I get your graduation present, you'll know what it is," I said, smiling and tilting my head in the way I knew she liked. Her eyes flickered to my lips, and then to the two seats in front of us. "Will you promise you won't purposefully look."

"I promise."

From her look alone, I could see everything she wanted to do when we got home, finally having the house to ourselves as Edward went to Bella and the others went hunting. Her eyes said everything, every lustful act that left me anticipating the most.

☾

Alice stirred from where she was tucked into my waist, her arms wrapped up around my back and onto my shoulder. I didn't want to move, but the morning sun was flooding through the large windows, decorating her skin in the pearlescent glow that I loved. There were voice downstairs too, distinctly that of Bella's.

She stood, pulling herself from the blankets that'd been laid on the floor with a groan. As she pulled on a shirt, I admired her: the smooth and petite curves of her body, the tilt of her head, the smirk on her enticing lips as she noticed me looking. I could feel how soft her skin was, just from glancing over it.

Slowly, she bent down to me, inching closer and closer, her eyes lowered and eyelashes fluttery. I closed my eyes, savouring the feeling of her proximity, of which I'd had plenty of during the night, and yet it hadn't been enough. She placed her lips against mine, teasing me with a brief kiss. I glared, pulling her closer, kissing her as hard as I'd done the night before. After a moment, she dipped away, pulling her trousers over her feet.

"We're all skipping today," she said, a faint smirk still gracing her lips. "Edward wants to talk to us all."

I nodded, sliding from the blankets to find my own shirt and trousers, pulling them on so I could follow her. I would have been stiff, had I been human.

"Did you see that they're considering a serial killer now?" Edward said as we reached the living room. He threw the morning paper down on the coffee table.

Carlisle nodded his head, bringing a hand to rest on his chin. "They've had two specialists debating the possibility on CNN this morning."

"We can't let this go on."

Emmett jumped in enthusiastically. "Let's go now. I'm dead bored."

"And go into it blind?" I asked.

From the top of the stairs, Rosalie let out a gruff sigh. Though there was a wall blocking us, I knew she was rolling her eyes.

"She's such a pessimist," Emmett said as she drew closer, lingering by the doorway with her arms crossed against her chest.

"We'll have to go some time," Edward said in agreement, ignoring his sister.

"I'm concerned. We've never involved ourselves in this kind of thing before. it's not our business. We aren't the Volturi," Carlisle said.

"I don't want the Volturi to come here. It gives us less reaction time."

It was then that I was reminded of the deal that'd been made. Bella dies with her knowledge, or she becomes one of us.

"And all those innocent humans in Seattle. It's not right to let them die this way," Esme said, shaking her head.

"Oh," Edward said, alerting us all. His eyes were set on Jasper, who stared at the carpet. "I didn't think of that. I see. You're right, that has to be it. Well, it changes everything. I think you'd better explain to the others. What could be the purpose of this?"

"What is he rambling about?" Alice asked.

"I'm afraid I know," I said.

At my words, Alice came to hover closer at my side, a questioning look on her face. I shook my head.

"You're confused," Jasper said to Bella.

"We're all confused," Emmett said. He'd lost his enthusiasm through the talking.

"You can afford the time to be patient," Jasper said to him. "Bella should understand this too. She's one of us now."

Bella was obviously surprised by this.

"How much do you know about me, Bella?"

Jasper told Bella, and indirectly me, his origin story, as all vampires had. He told us about the south, the newborn armies, of Maria and her manipulation, with such a heated turbulence that I'd never experienced of him before. His calm demeanour had dissolved into one filled with agitation, caused by the memory of his past. It was much how I had felt, telling them all about my changing: annoyance at having to relive it again in words and relief at finally being able to share it. Each time the pain of it eased a little.

Jasper closed his eyes as he finished the story. He'd rolled his sleeves up, revealing the silvery scars that painted his skin. As I looked at the permanent marks that intruded upon the sight, I realised I'd never actually seen his bare arms.

"That's why you were so startled by the venom," I said, feeling the mark of my own scar under my fingers.

Jasper nodded, opening his eyes, his neutral expression returning. "I know how it feels to be scared," he said. "I thought I must be interpreting the signs incorrectly because where is the motive? Why would someone create an army in Seattle? There is no history there, no vendetta. It makes no sense from a conquest point of view, either; no one claims it. Nomads pass through, but there's no one to fight for it. No one to defend it from."

His resolve was well thought through, as he continued. No one dared to interrupt him, and yet we could all feel the hand of his gift reaching out, taking our chins and lifting them confidently, soothing the tension in shoulders.

"But I've seen this before, and there's no other explanation. There is an army of newborn vampires in Seattle. Fewer than twenty, I'd guess. The difficult part is that they are totally untrained. Whoever made them just set them loose. It will only get worse, and it won't be much longer until the Volturi step in. Actually, I'm surprised they've let it go on this long."

"What can we do?"

"If we want to avoid the Volturi's involvement, we will have to destroy the newborns, and we will have to do it very soon. I can teach you how. It won't be easy in the city. The young ones aren't concerned about secrecy, but we will have to be. It will limit us in ways they are not."

"Maybe we can lure them out," I suggested.

"Maybe we won't have to," Edward said bleakly. "Does it occur to anyone else that the only possible threat in the area that would call for the creation of an army is... us?"

"Tanya's family is also near," Esme said, her brows furrowed and head shaking.

Edward sighed. "The newborns aren't ravaging Anchorage, Esme. I think we have to consider the idea that we are the targets."

"They're not coming after us," Alice said her grip on my arm tightening. "Or they don't know they are. Not yet."

"What is that? What are you remembering?"

"Flickers. I can't see a clear picture when I try to see what's going on, nothing concrete," Alice said. "But I've been getting these strange flashes. Not enough to make sense of. It's as if someone's changing their mind, moving from one course of action to another so quickly that I cant get a good view."

"Indecision?"

"I don't know."

"Not indecision," Edward snapped. "Knowledge. Someone knows about how your gifts work."

"Who would know that?" Alice whispered, her fear growing, only to be forced down again by Jasper's gift.

"Aro," Edward said, his eyes hardening. "He knows your mind inside and out."

"But I would see..."

"Unless they didn't want to get their hands dirty."

"A favour. Someone in the south. Someone who already had trouble with the rules. Someone who should have been destroyed is offered a second chance- if they take care of this one small problem. That would explain the Volturi's sluggish response," Rosalie suggested.

"Why? There's no reason for the Volturi-"

"It was there. I'm surprised it's come to this so soon because the other thoughts were so strong. In Aro's head, he saw me at his one side and Alice at his other," Edward said quietly. Alice stiffened. "The present and the future, virtual omniscience. The power of the idea intoxicated him. I would have thought it would take him much longer to give up on that plan. But there was also the thought of you- Carlisle, of our family, growing stronger, larger. The jealousy and the fear: you having... not more than him, but still, things he wanted. He tried not to think about it, but he couldn't hide it completely. The idea of rooting out the competition was there; besides their own, ours is the largest coven they've ever found."

I tried not to think about it, but the image of Alice, cloaked in flowing, black robes like those of the Volturi forced its way into my head. Her eyes were a dark, deep, blood red. The darkness of the robe made her look skeletal, like a fake doll, rendered to look like an unrealistic version of her beautiful self. I had to tell myself more than once that it was fake, that it would never happen.

"They're too committed to their mission. They would never break the rules themselves. It goes against everything they've worked for," Carlisle argued in disbelief.

"They'll clean up afterwards. A double betrayal. No harm done," Edward said grimly.

"The Volturi do not break rules. Besides, it's too much, too sloppy. This... person, this threat, they have no idea what they're doing. A first-timer, I'd swear to it. I cannot believe the Volturi are involved, but they will be."

"I agree with Jasper and Carlisle," I said finally, glancing to Alice. "This is messy. It can't be a coincidence that William came back for me only a few weeks after the news of the killings came out."

"You think he has something to do with this?" Jasper asked.

I nodded sharply. "Wait a few days and I could tell you for definite."

"What does that mean?" Alice asked, her voice wobbly.

"He knows where I am now. He knows I haven't left, and that means he'll be back. William doesn't waste time."

"He's done this before?" Rosalie asked, stepping forward, eyebrows furrowed deeply.

"Twice," I said. "Once he knew he hadn't killed me, he kept coming back. It's why I've moved around so much over the years. Well, one of the reasons. But he won't be working on his own. He's not smart enough to even do a bad job, let alone at all."

"Then let's go, what are we waiting for?" Emmett shouted.

"We'll need you to teach us, Jasper. How to destroy them," Carlisle said, surprising us all. His hatred for violence was not unknown.

"We're going to need help. Do you think Tanya's family will be willing?" Jasper asked.

"We'll ask."

Jasper handed him the phone. "We need to hurry."

As Carlisle talked on the phone, Rosalie and Alice turned to me, taking me to the side.

"You really think William is behind this?"

I nodded. "But he's not alone."

"What's the problem?" Emmett asked, drawing us back to the group.

Edward's lips were pursed. "Irina was more involved with our friend Laurent than we knew. She's holding a grudge against the wolves for destroying him to save Bella. She wants-"

"Go on," Bella demanded.

"She wants revenge. To take down the pack."

"No!" Bella screeched, mouth dropping open.

"Don't worry. Carlisle would never agree to it," Edward said. "Nor would I. Laurent had it coming to him. I still owe the wolves for that."

"This isn't good. It's too even a fight. We'd have the upper hand in skill, but not numbers. We'd win but at what price?" Jasper said.

The conversation dropped into silence. No one knew what to say, let alone do. The situation seemed impossible. Each face showed signs of worry, pained by the idea of losing. Who would be lost just to sustain a victory? How could we possibly endure that? Would we? But what other choice did we have?

☾

Apologies- a lot was lumped in from the actual book for this chapter but I wasn't sure how else to go about these scenes, there weren't many other ways to write it x