Alissa Swan

Part 46

That night, we were at the Cullen house. I had a green dress on, and I was studying a painting on the wall.

The painting was of Grecian figures in swirling robes writhing among pillars and balconies. In a high balcony, four calm figures looked down upon the bacchanal; two black haired, one snowy white, one golden haired.

"Francesco Solimena painted this," Edward told me. "He often depicted the Volturi as Gods."

I examined the golden-haired "god".

"Is that... Carlisle?" I asked.

"Yes," Edward replied. "He lived with them for a few decades. He describes them as very refined - for killers."

Edward started to explain the history of the picture. "The Volturi are also what you might call enforcers."

"Of what?" I asked.

"The only rule they have: to keep secret the existence of our kind. We don't make spectacles of ourselves, or kill conspicuously, unless we want to die."

I spun to Edward, worried. "Don't even -- talk about that. You can't let anyone hurt you. The Volturi or anyone else."

He saw that I was worried. "Who else would hurt me?"

"You said there were more dangerous things out there than you. And I know you have at least one enemy." I thought about when I was almost killed by James and Victoria. "You said she'd come after you for killing her mate."

"Victoria? Yes, some day. But Alice will see her coming. And she won't win." He put his arm around me.

I looked up at him, pained. "I hate that I can't protect you."

He laughed.

"That was me being serious," I told him.

Edward kissed my face. "I know. But you do protect me." He kissed my nose. "From boredom," he kissed my lips, "and loneliness. You give me a reason to stay... un-dead. But it's... my job; to protect you." He stopped, smiling. He heard something in his mind. "From everyone but my sister."

The door burst open, and Alice danced in, excited. "It's time it's time it's time!"

Alice tugged me and Edward to the top of the landing, then skipped down the stairs. We looked down into the living room. There were hundreds of pink candles and rose-filled crystal bowls. Rosalie, Esme, Emmett, Carlisle, Jasper and Alice looked up at me, all of them stunningly beautiful.

Edward led me down to Esme and Carlisle, who hugged me warmly.

"Sorry about all this," Carlisle said. "We tried to rein Alice in."

"Like that's even possible," Esme replied, smiling. "Happy birthday, Alissa."

Alice snapped a picture of me, Esme, and Carlisle. She looked at me and gestured to the camera. "Found it in your bag. Mind?"

I noticed as Emmett walked over to Edward and nudged him. "Dating an older woman. Hot."

Edward elbowed him sharply to shut up. I smiled.

"What?" Emmett asked with an innocent face.

Rosalie stepped up, and shoved a silver package at me. "It's a necklace. Alice picked it out." She walked away, bored.

I smiled, and saw Jasper. I waved at him, and he waved back.

Alice pushed me to Edward. She raised her camera. "Show me the love!"

Edward pulled me into an embrace, and we looked deeply into one another's eyes. Alice took the picture.

"For your scrapbook," Alice said to me. "Now open your presents!"

Alice dragged me over to a table piled with elaborately wrapped gifts, a huge cake and a tall stack of china plates.

I gestured to the cake. "Alice, I'm the only one who even eats cake. That thing could feed fifty."

Alice smiled. "Hope you're hungry." She gave me a present. "Here, this one's from Emmett."

The others crowded around, Jasper somewhat away. I opened the gift to find an empty car-radio box.

"Um... thanks?" I said.

"Already installed it in your truck," Emmett said to me.

"Thank you, Emmett."

"Open mine," Alice handed me a gift.

I started to open it, but- "Ouch, papercut." I thought very little of it, and continued to open the gift. I heard a snarl, and looked up. I saw Jasper lunging straight for me.

Edward pushed me behind him, making me hit the table. Plates shattered.

Jasper slammed into Edward. It sounded like boulders colliding. Edward pushed him, hard. Jasper sailed backward, hitting the wall. But he ricocheted off it and came back at me. Emmett and Carlisle tackled Jasper from the side, dragging him to the ground. Alice helped hold him down.

"Jaz... shhh." She stopped, her head suddenly jerking toward me.
Everybody's eyes snapped toward me as they caught the overwhelming scent.

I laid amid the shards of broken china. I looked at my arm, seeing now. It's been slashed by plate shards. Bright red blood pulsed out of me, pooling. I looked up.

All of them now, including Edward (but not Carlisle) stared down at me, at my blood, with fevered eyes. Carlisle jumped to my side. Edward, though white as a bone, snapped out of it and stood between me and the others.

"Emmett," Carlisle said, "get Jasper out of here."

There was no response. Emmett just stood there, looking at me.

"Emmett," Carlisle repeated.

Emmett reined himself in, and elbowed Rosalie. They dragged the snarling Jasper out. Esme held her nose, politely exiting with the others.

Alice looked at me, apologetic. "I'm sorry, I... can't." She slipped out the door.

Edward was still on guard as Carlisle examined my arm.

"I'll have to stitch this up," Carlisle said to himself.

"I'll carry her to the kitchen," he offered. He moved to pick me up, but his eyes darted to the blood.

"I'll take care of her, Edward." Carlisle looked at Edward, who didn't move. "Go check on Jasper. Go."

Edward looks from him to Bella. Then steps back, allowing Carlisle to lift Bella and carry her to the kitchen. But just before the kitchen door closes, I saw Edward's agonized face. He turned away, unable to meet my eyes.

What the bloody hell just happened?