CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

Bella's POV:

Hermione falls asleep in my arms, appearing to have cried herself into exhaustion. After maneuvering her into her bed, under her duvet, I go back to my room and change out of the dress robes, into a pair of comfortable sweats. I take a moment in the bathroom to wipe away the trails of make-up under my eyes, smudged by my tears, and then wipe away the remainders of my lipstick and let out my hair, running my fingers through my hair, untangling and brushing out the remains of my chignon.

I texted Edward to come over, that the flight had been delayed so we'd returned home, and then tried to give myself a pep-talk. "Okay Bella, you can do this." I said, firmly, "Lying to Edward, the love of your life... no big deal." Who the hell was I trying to kid? I was a terrible liar! To be perfectly honest, I was shocked that I'd managed to keep Hermione's secret so long without accidentally revealing something.

I still didn't truly understand it, to be honest, her almost obsession with keeping her secret. With the, I shuddered at the thought of this, newborn army attack approaching, sooner or later she was going to have to reveal the truth. The longer she kept it from them, especially Alice, the more hurt they were going to be. I understood that she was afraid, that she'd almost lost everyone when she'd had to cut off all contact with Charlie and I. I hadn't realized she'd erased her adoptive parents memories of her, but apparently... apparently they didn't even realize she existed anymore.

Her fear of revealing her secret was irrational, but trauma made people irrational. I got that. I did. But eventually the truth would come out, and the best we could do was make sure we controlled how it came out.

The sound of knocking tore me from my thoughts and I took a couple of deep breaths before walking over and opening the door with a smile I hoped didn't look as strained as it felt. "Hi Edward!" I greeted him, but before I could say anything else, though, Edward's golden eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and his lips pulled back over his teeth.

"Edward?" I tried to make my voice sound shocked. I should win an Emmy or something for this performance, "what's wrong?"

"Someone's been here," he growled.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to move my expression into one of dread and fear, hoping I wasn't overdoing it.

"A vampire... not one of us." He explained, still growling.

"O-one of the Volturi?" I asked, thinking about what my instinctual response would have been. Edward's face was troubled.

"Have you noticed anything out of place?" He asked, "anything missing?"

"I'm sorry?" I asked, acting confused.

"Things that you'd worn... and touched... and slept on?" Edward prompted.

"Yeah... why? I couldn't find my sweater, before. What's that got to do with a vampire breaking into my house? What is it Edward?" I asked, my voice rising and becoming somewhat hysterical. I was amazing.

"Your visitor... he must have been gathering traces of evidence. To prove that he'd found you." Edward said, fear and frustration clear on his angelic face. I took a deep breath- okay, this was it. Time to sell the idea that the newborn army and Victoria were connected, in some kind of plausible way that sounded like I'd come up with it.

I concentrated on my fear of Riley's revelation- it wasn't hard bringing that to the surface. I let my body stiffen in the very real terror that enveloped me.

"Oh my god..." I whispered, "it's the same!"

"Bella? Bella what's the matter?" Edward sounded frantic, his hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eye. "Bella, speak to me!" He demanded, when I just stared at him, frozen, remembering Riley's words.

"Don't you see?" I whispered, "it's the same! This... this visitor who broke in and stole my things, and the army in Seattle! They're the same! The... the thief managed to get around Alice's visions, probably by using the same holes as the person who created the newborn army! I mean, what are the odds that two different people not only know Alice well enough to do that, but also decided to do it at the same time? No way! It's all connected- the thief... it was a test. A test to see if someone could get around her. Oh god! Edward- the vampire who is making the army either came for my scent themselves, or sent someone else!"

Edward's face was whiter then it's usual snowy color and his eyes were huge, wide with panic, dazed and horrified. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. Because I wasn't acting anymore. This was real. I just had one more bombshell to drop.

"Edward..." My voice was softer then a whisper. "Do you think its Victoria?" A loud, animalistic snarl ripped through Edward's teeth, and his expression changed from shocked to furious. Startled, I stumbled backwards and almost fell, with Edward catching me at the last moment. His expression had changed, once again, this time to upset.

"Oh Bella, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry." He whispered, burying his face in my hair. I let myself cling to him, let my tears soak into his shirt as I cried. He carried me over to the couch and sat down, with me on his lap, rocking me back and forth gently, humming my lullaby.

Someone coughed lightly from the kitchen entrance, and I looked up at Hermione through my veil of tears. It had been a half hour since she'd cried herself to sleep, and she looked like she should still be in bed, exhaustion painting clear lines on her drawn face.

I remembered her expression as she cast the torture curse on Riley. Her face had been an emotionless mask. Even her eyes looked blank. It wasn't until afterward that she had slipped slightly, giving me a glimpse of the self-hatred she was feeling. If Edward was curious about why she looked miserable, he didn't say anything, and I was glad. My guess was he was either distracted, or he thought it was about missing the wedding.

She walked over, slowly, and sat down beside us, reaching out and threading her fingers through mine. I wasn't sure what I was expecting her to say, but she still managed to surprise me.

"We should ring the wolves." She said, her voice matter-of-fact. Edward's lips curled back ever so slightly over his teeth.

"Why?" He asked, obviously putting a great deal of effort into making his tone civil.

"Because they are better trackers then vampires." She answered him, just as calmly. I wondered how she knew that, and guessed it was from one of her conversations with Leah. I'd been a little anxious when Hermione had first started mentioning time she'd spent with Leah, and I had asked Hermione if there was anything 'romantic' going on. Hermione had laughed and assured me that Leah was straight, and that she was a one-woman type of girl.

Edward stared at Hermione for a few seconds, and she met his gaze, calmly, until he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You're right." He admitted, glancing out the window. It was getting lighter, as night rolled into day.

"Can you ring Leah?" I asked Hermione, not all that keen on having Jacob over. I still hadn't forgiven the jerk for kissing me. Hermione's lips twitched slightly.

"Not Jacob?" She asked, in a falsely innocent voice. Edward growled, softly, while I grunted, and folded my arms across my chest.

"No. And tell Leah to make sure he stays away." Hermione smiled at me, and even though the smile was at my expense I was relieved to see it, because it was real.

"You know, sooner or later you'll forgive him. Unlike me, you're not good at holding grudges." She said, before pulling the cell phone Alice bought her from her pocket.

She speed dialed Leah, and then put the phone on speaker. "Hey girl." Leah greeted her, picking up the phone on the third ring.

"Hello Leah, love. You're on speaker with Bella and her vampire." Hermione returned.

"Oh?" Leah asked, surprised. "What's going on?"

"The house has had a... visitor. Of the blood-sucking variety." Hermione explained.

"I'm sure the house has a lot of them, seeing as you and your sister are both dating one." Leah said, equal parts amused and confused.

"Not a Cullen, Leah, a stranger. Probably one of the human drinking variety." Hermione corrected the only female shifter in the pack, and Leah's growl echoed down the line.

"What do you need me to do?" She asked, her voice grim.

"I need you guys to see if you can track the scent," Hermione said, "and I also need you to bring Sam and however many others you want to make him feel comfortable over here, because we have a slight situation we need to discuss."

"Hermione, what are you doing?" I asked her, surprised. Hermione didn't even acknowledge me.

"It's important, Leah. Lives are in danger." She said, her voice grim.

"We'll be there in twenty minutes, tops." Leah replied, before the phone disconnected. I instantly started speaking.

"Hermione, you aren't going to tell them about the army are you?" I demanded, my voice verging on hysterical. Hermione met my gaze, calmly.

"Yes, I am. We all know that while the Cullens have superior skill, the vampires have superior numbers. It's an even playing field. We'll win, but we won't all survive." I shudder as she says this, unnerved by her matter-of-fact tone. It really reminds me that she has fought in a War. She's a war heroine, in fact. A hardened soldier. "If we have the wolves as allies, we'll have both the numbers and the skill. The chances of anyone dying are next to nothing." She explains.

Edward sighs beside me, his cool breath tickling the side of my face. "She's right." He admits, before standing up.

"Wait, what are you doing?" I ask. Edward smiles at me, the expression both tense and gentle.

"I can't be here at the same time as the wolves," he explains, softly, "and I need to go and bring the others up to speed, Jasper especially." I sigh and nod.

"Okay. I love you." I tell him. He bends over and kisses me, gently, sweetly.

"I love you too." He murmurs, before leaving, vanishing out the door. I slump back on the couch.

"How'd I do?" I ask Hermione, dully. She gently squeezes my hand.

"You were amazing." She assured me, voice heavy.

We sit there, side by side, for nearly ten minutes, not speaking a word. We don't need to. When someone knocks on the door, Hermione stands up, walks over and opens it. There are five wolves who file inside, one by one. Sam, Paul, Jared, Leah and...

Jacob.

He looks downright miserable, and my heart pangs slightly. I remember Hermione's words 'you know, sooner or later you'll forgive him. Unlike me, you're not good at holding grudges' and I realize she's right. I'm not good at holding grudges. I can see how sorry Jake is, how miserable, and I decide he's been punished enough.

I meet his eyes and pat the couch beside me, and a relieved smile crosses his face. He basically jogs over, and the couch creaks under his weight as he sits beside me. I can feel his body heat radiating onto me, and I can't help but smile as I inhale the scent that is just Jacob.

"I'm so sorry, Bella." He whispers, and I gently grab his hand and squeeze it, with my good one.

"I know. I forgive you. But don't ever try something like that again." I warn him. He sighs in relief and nods.

"You said you had a 'situation' we needed to discuss." Sam spoke up, in his deep voice. I couldn't help feeling slightly intimidated, but Hermione just looked back up at him, calmly, exuding an air of calmness and confidence. I suppose after all that she's faced, including a real werewolf, an oversized wolf shifter doesn't scare her much.

"Yes. There are a group of vampires currently in Seattle. So far they are responsible for over 40 deaths that we know of, and I guarantee a lot more that we don't know about." Hermione explains, getting straight to the point. "These vampires are newborns, only months old, which means they are basically uncontrollable, but far stronger then older vampires. Older vampires have, over time, created a use for the strength of these newborn vampires- they use them as armies. The red-haired vampire Victoria, I'm sure you're all well acquainted with her, is responsible for the newborns in Seattle. She has created an army with the full intention of using it to kill Bella."

Silence. Beside me, Jacob is trembling in rage. Leah looks infuriated, Jared and Paul look like they're strangely enthusiastic about the idea of a fight, and Sam looks a mixture of thoughtful and angered.

"And how do you know they are coming here?" he asks.

"Amidst other things, today a vampire broke into our house and stole items with Bella's scent on them." Hermione says. Jacob and Leah both growl angrily at this, and I anxiously grab Jacob's hand.

"Calm down." I whisper, and he nods and takes a few deep breaths.

"How many?" This is Jared, a grin on his face.

"Approximately twenty, as well as their maker, Victoria. This number will change frequently, as the newborns will fight amongst themselves, killing each other, and Victoria will have to keep creating new ones." Hermione answers.

"Do you know when they are coming?" This time it's Paul, whose eyes are actually shining at the idea of ripping apart twenty vampires. I try not to shudder.

"No. Victoria is using her knowledge of how Alice's visions work so she can surprise the Cullens."

"I don't know about the others, but I'll fight." Jacob says, from beside me. Anxiety claws at my insides, and I want to scream 'No!' but I know that's me being selfish. I don't want him to get hurt, but this is the best chance we have for no one to get hurt.

"Me too." Leah says, quietly. "You also said something about tracking on the phone?" she then asks Hermione.

"The pack is much better at tracking scents then vampires," Hermione explains, "I was hoping you could try following the scent of the thief." Leah instantly nods, and turns around, walking back outside.

"Jared, go with her." Sam instructs, "If you come across this... army, do not try to engage. Return straight back to the Reservation." He adds, a clear warning in his tone.

Hermione gives Leah a grateful smile the young woman returns, before she and Jared leave the house, the door swinging shut behind them. She then turns to Jacob, who's still sitting beside me. "Jacob, Bella will text you the Cullens number. Give it to Sam." She says, before turning back to Sam. "Ring the Cullens and organize a meeting to discuss strategy and fighting techniques. Fighting newborns is very different from fighting a normal vampire, and as much as your pride screams otherwise, you need the instructions." She basically orders them.

Paul bristles a bit at this, but Sam just nods. "Goodbye Hermione, Bella. We appreciate you alerting us to this situation." He says, before turning and leaving, Paul following not far behind. Jacob doesn't move from his space beside me.

"I'll stay here with you until your leec- um, vampire gets back." He tells me. I smile at him.

"Thanks Jake." I say, softly.