The Volcano Erupts 19/02/05

[Edward Cullen]

As soon as Edward had gotten into his car and pulled out the drive he slammed his foot on the accellerator and headed for home. He was trying to hear Alice's thoughts, trying to get a track of her... How could Carlisle let this happen? He clenched his teeth willing his car to drive faster, He should have known that Alice would do something like this to protect them. He should have been there for his sister instead of running off and being selfish. He had to get back as soon as he could and try and put things right, he would find Alice if it was the last thing he ever did. He slammed on the brakes as he pulled into the drive and was out the car and into the house before a human had time to blink. He was blaming himself for these events as usual, he shouldnt have left Carlisle alone with her, he shouldnt have left her at all. As he entered the house he paused looking around at the destruction that was evident in the room. What had happened here? His eyes travelled from the smashed walls to the splintered flooring. He couldnt smell any other scents other than those of the Cullens and of Fae. There was something very wrong with all of this and he wanted answers right now.

'Carlisle!' He called in a frustracted voice as he moved up to his study where he could sense he stood with Jasper. Jasper... Wasnt he meant to be looking after Alice? Wasnt he the reason Edward had been forced to take a back seat in all of this? He knew his anger and frustration would hit Jasper like a tonne of bricks, but right now he didnt care. He burst into the office his eyes looking to Carlisle 'I want to know what happened right now!' He growled at his father. He wasnt going to let anyone get away with not letting him get involved now. Flashes of the day he brought Alice home from the hunting trip flashed through his mind. He felt helpless then, but at least Alice had been there with them, now god only knew where she was. If the Volturi was involved then she would be vunerable, they needed to find her. 'What have the Volturi done to her?' The thought of the Volturi here in Forks made Edwards skin crawl, not only were they a danger to Alice it seemed but they would be a danger to Damienne as well if they found out about her. He didnt really want to think what would happen if they found her.

He looked over to Jasper, he could tell he was barely managing to keep himself in check. His own emotions topped with the rage Edward was emitting probably wasnt helping much. Then again Edward couldnt understand why they were both here... 'Shouldnt we be out there looking for her?' He didnt care if the Volturi got him, they needed to find Alice and make sure she was safe, sitting around here twiddling their thumbs wasnt going to help any. He probed Carlisle's mind for his thoughts, normally Edward wouldnt be so intrusive of his father, but he wanted answers and he wasnt about to let anyone pull the wool over his eyes. The events were obviously very foremost in Carlisle's thoughts as he kept getting flashes of what looked like Alice, but then again didnt at the same time. His eyes narrowed slightly, he knew there was something very wrong with what he was seeing. 'What have they done to her?' He hissed, gritting his teeth, trying to keep his anger under control.

[carlislecullen]

Carlisle still couldn't decide if it had been worth it, calling Edward, because he knew what was going to happen: Edward was going to turn up looking for answers once again when he still didn't have any, none that made any logical sense or that wouldn't aggravate the situation even further than it needed to be right now. Alice was gone. Neither he nor Jasper could find her, though Carlisle imagined that Jasper's better judgement was more than a little bit clouded right now, especially with Alice not being around to calm him back down and it having not been that long ago since the human blood issue. It had taken him long enough to stop drinking it the first time and he wasn't even fully capable of controlling himself one hundred percent of the time and then he'd taken it upon himself to get it into Alice's system through his own. It hadn't been the best way Carlisle could have thought of, but it was the best way that Jasper could think of at the time and it had worked. Carlisle couldn't deny that.

Wherever Alice was, she clearly didn't want to be found. If Jasper couldn't find her, Carlisle wagered that none of the other Cullens could: Jasper knew her the best and had the greatest attachment to her, but Jasper had said that the attachment felt...fragmented. This had both worried and scared Carlisle and he wasn't sure which of the emotions were his own and which were Jasper's. There was so much about this that was terrible that Carlisle couldn't tell if he would be able to support the family through all of this. Alice was missing. What was he supposed to do about that? She wasn't making herself known to Jasper, so he sure as hell wasn't going to be able to resolve it. Upon his own return to the house, he had retreated to his study, Jasper taking over at that point to look for Alice. It was when Jasper returned without Alice that a true sense of panic started to set in, something he should have learnt to control, especially around Jasper. He didn't need the young Hale going off the rails at a time like this.

He knew from the moment he dialled Edward's number the first time that he would be at the house as soon as was reasonably possible without leading Damienne to any new suspicions about him and the family. Edward was really trying his best to hide things from Damienne, explaining them as well as he could without letting anything slip. Carlisle didn't see that as at all fair, but Edward was refusing to explain things properly to the poor girl and he had tried to present his view on the matter, even though it would seem that it was to little or no effect whatsoever. When Edward called him back on Damienne's phone, Carlisle already knew Edward had reacted perhaps a little worse than he would have hoped in front of Damienne. He avoided asking questions, just trying to keep the conversation brief and hope that he wouldn't be the blame if Edward were to slip up. The family needed to deal with everything now, one drama at a time if they could.

He heard the familiar engine sounds of Edward's Volvo and the sound of the brakes as he pulled up outside the house, not really giving the car time to stop by the sounds of things. He sensed the young vampire's hesitation as he entered the house, knowing what he was taking in: the scene of violence and destruction that was the downstairs of their house. Carlisle had been unable to bear it having returned from his attempts to find Alice, hence his retreat to his study. Looking at the mess made him relive what happened. It was enough of a nightmare having to live it once, let alone live it all over again. He had been thankful for the absence of the others for the moment. They were keeping Fae occupied. The less involved they were right now, the quicker they could potentially come to a solution...that is if things went a little smoother with the three of them working together, but he doubted Edward or Jasper were in the mood to work together right now.

Sat at his desk, elbows on the table top, Carlisle dropped his head into his hands, closing his eyes as he heard the frustrated tone in Edward's voice as he shouted his name. He let out a sigh, standing as he heard Edward coming up the stairs. He stood completely straight, tucking his hands into his pockets as he waited for the confrontation. He, of course, didn't have to wait long as Edward burst through the door, demanding to know what happened. Where was he supposed to start? Edward didn't even seem to be giving him a proper chance to start as he started with further questions rather quickly. “Edward,” he began as calmly as he could, his jaw tightening more than he hoped it would. “Calm...down,” he said slowly through gritted teeth, glancing briefly to Jasper mid-sentence, feeling the almost uncontrollable anger rising up in his chest. Edward's anger was being projected a million times worse through Jasper and it oddly felt like he was going to explode or spontaneously combust or something.

The mention of the Volturi caused him to grit his teeth more through fury, realising that was more of his own than Jasper's or Edward's. He couldn't believe that Aro was attempting to stick his teeth into them again and tear them apart. Didn't he realise that they weren't going to be separated? He watched Edward as the bronze haired vampire looked at the younger blonde haired one. Carlisle had spent the time sat with Jasper, noticing him physically shaking. He was struggling. Carlisle could see it. Hell, Carlisle didn't have to see it, he could feel it. “We tried...” Carlisle offered when Edward questioned if they were meant to be out looking for Alice. “God only knows we tried, Edward,” he went on, slowly shaking his head. He and Jasper had both tried and it was obvious both felt bad for not being able to find her, knowing she shouldn't be left alone. “She doesn't want to be found,” he finished, his tone sounding more than a little bit defeated.

He looked away from Edward, sensing him searching his mind for something that would tell him what was going on. The fact was that Carlisle didn't know what was going on, so Edward wasn't going to find out any sooner by rifling through his subconscious. One hand left a pocket, reaching up to the back of his head, fingers running through his hair in consideration as Edward asked again about what the Volturi had done to Alice. “I don't know,” he said sternly before squaring his gaze up to Edward's again. He shrugged. “I don't know, Edward,” he repeated, letting out another sigh, blinking slowly as he observed the young vampire. “I can't even be entirely sure that this has anything to do with the Volturi,” he admitted. He had been mulling the thought over upon his return from the house. “Maybe Valentina's a liar,” he went on, in trying to justify his admittance. “Though, she can control people...” he continued, eyes staring off into nothingness and he considered the end of his sentence. “...and cause a great deal of pain.”

[JAZZ;;]

Everything was falling to pieces. Day by day, things were systematically getting worse. That's what it felt like. Hell, Jasper couldn't even tell which feelings were his own anymore. It all seemed to be forming this white hot ball in his chest that was threatening to burst out. It was so difficult trying to stop it, especially since he couldn't find Alice, his Alice, his ever so precious Alice, the one person who could stop him bouncing off the walls, stop him tearing the place to pieces, stop him tearing anyone else to pieces. He had tried his best to find her, trying to feel out to her, but being met with nothing but blank disappointment. It had left him feeling oddly numb, unfeeling as he returned to the house, only to be greeted by the fury that quickly rose through his body, Carlisle's fury, reminding him of his own. If he hadn't have been hunting when the fight broke out, maybe this wouldn't have happened, maybe she wouldn't have left.

Nothing made sense now. Alice was gone. She didn't want to be found, not even by him. This worried him, but that worry was nothing when compared to the anger and hate that was filling his entire form. Of all the things he could be doing right now, he was hating himself: hating himself for having to feed so damn much, hating himself for not being there and hating himself for being unable to find her. He, of all people, should be able to find Alice, but he couldn't and he couldn't even begin to understand why. He figured it had to have something to do with the Volturi's little pet, the Valentina Carlisle mentioned. Everything was starting to blur together and it was pointless for him to try and make sense of anything in the slightly psychotic mess that was his mind right now. He almost felt like he should dare Edward to try and make sense of him now, knowing how explosive the guy was going to be when he appeared at the house, having had Carlisle call him and tell him about the incident.

Nothing could have prepared him for the new wave of anger that Edward brought the house with him. If he hadn't even been shaking before, he definitely was now, violently and uncontrollably, trying to reign in the emotion before he projected it outwards. He didn't want any of them to suffer any more than they already were doing. He didn't want a fight...well, he thought he didn't, but his emotions were running wild, almost spurring him on to fight. To fight with what or who though? With Carlisle? With Edward? He couldn't turn against them now. Alice...well, Valentina using Alice had given Carlisle a run for his money all over the downstairs of the house, so it was obviously unfair to take anything out on Carlisle if it could be avoided. Was there an excuse not to start something with Edward? The annoyingly interfering bronze haired vampire who thought it was his right to be involved in everything, even if it meant taking priority over Jasper, even though Alice was rightfully and technically his.

He remained silent as Edward entered Carlisle's study, not even lifting his head and feeling like he was barely listening to what they were saying, even though he wasn't really doing much of anything else. He was just sort of there, trying to cease to function, cease to feel. He didn't want to explode, but he could feel everything cracking at the edges, the emotion that was filling him causing so much pressure that maybe at some point, some point very soon, he wouldn't be able to reign it in any longer. He was just thankful that it was just the three of them. This was painful enough. He couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like if the entire family was around him. “You happy now, Edward?” he questioned, tone scarred with the fury that he felt, before glaring up at the guy. “Carlisle doesn't know...” he continued as he got to his feet, squaring up to Edward. “We don't know...” he said in a slightly softer tone as he held Edward's gaze. “God forbid we should be in the dark about anything,” he went on, sounding a little resentful. Compared to Edward, he felt like he was always in the dark.

[Edward Cullen]

The mixed thoughts that swam in the air as Edward entered the house just angered Edward more. He knew his father was scared, he could tell there was something gravely a miss here. Something bad had happened to Alice, the thoughts and state of the house confirmed it. Though everyones thoughts were so fragmented that it only confused Edward more, making him angrier. He snarled as Carlisle told him to calm down 'You want me to calm down? How am I supposed to do that when Alice is god knows where?' He snapped at his father, his fists curling into balls. He was well aware that his anger was being magnified by Jasper's presence in the room. He had been forced to take a back seat in all of this so that Jasper could handle it. However it hadnt helped Alice, it had made things worse and Edward wasnt even allowed to be there for his sister. He would have never let Alice out of his sight, but NO Carlisle had told him to back off and now she was missing. So much for letting Jasper take care of her, he would have done a much better job, whether she was his mate or not.

He hissed slightly as Carlisle said they tried 'Well you obviously didnt try hard enough!' He snarled as he turned back to the door, he would find her no matter what, even if he had to search the whole of America or even the world he would find her and bring her back home where she belonged. He stopped as Carlisle started in defeat that Alice didnt want to be found. That couldnt be right, she wouldnt do this to them. He turned back to Carlisle, he felt as if his heart was being torn from inside him. It couldnt be true, Alice would never want to bring them pain like this... There was something totally wrong about this, he could understand Alice leaving to protect them, but to not want to be found... Edward couldnt hear her thoughts and he had tried very hard, it meant she was a long way off. Edward didnt know why but he couldnt help but feel all of this was part of some bigger plan. 'What do you mean she doesnt WANT to be found?' Carlisle must know something, something he wasnt telling Edward.

How could Carlisle not know what was going on? He started putting the thoughts together, Alice had caused the destruction downstairs... But it wasn't Alice was it? The look in her eyes, the way she had moved, they way she had spoken... Valentina could control people? She had controlled Alice? But how could she manage that... He hissed and launched himself at Carlisle, grabbing his throat and pinning him against the wall. 'There is something else! There must be!' If she could control people then why hadnt she simply forced Alice to go weeks ago? Why all this drama? He let go of Carlisle and turned to Jasper as he spoke. Edward had ignored Jasper since he had entered, but he couldnt ignore that. 'Do I look happy Jasper? Why dont you tell me if I'm happy or not!' He growled deeply looking at Jasper as the anger seemed to flare from his golden eyes. He wasnt even sure if all of this anger was his any more, but he had gone beyond caring.

Edward paced around Jasper as he stood, his eyes never left him as he continued to speak, he had softened his tone but it didnt soften his thoughts. 'You in the dark? Perhaps it would have been better if you had!' He snarled 'Carlisle told me to back off so you could care for Alice and look whats happened now!' Edward blamed himself more than anything, he should have ignored Carlisle's wishes, he should have been there for his sister and he wasnt. He was too busy distracting himself with Damienne. He turned away from Jasper, his form started to shake with the fury that ran through his very being. He felt like a volcano ready to erupt and when it did it wasnt going to be pretty. His teeth ground together, his anger about everything was being magnified with Jaspers anger and Edward was starting to lose control.

The thoughts that flowed through Jaspers mind, he seemed to think that Edward knew more about the situation than him, the thoughts of the hunting trip, of Alice in his arms. Edward snarled and launched himself at Jasper, teeth bared as he aimed to rip his throat out. He had gone beyond angry now he wanted blood and Jasper seemed more than happy to oblige in a fight. Edward had sparred with Jasper before, they were fairly evenly matched. Edward could see his moves before he made them, but Jasper was a better fighter. However that had been on friendly terms and there was nothing friendly about this attack. The room was practically over flowing with rage it was a wonder it didnt happen sooner as Edward barged Jasper unexpectedly against the wall, making the whole building tremble under the impact. The paintings on the wall rattled in their frames and threatened to fall and break.

Edward had gone beyond caring, the thoughts of Alice only spurred him on more. He had let down his sister when she needed him the most and he couldnt forgive himself for that. He couldnt forgive Jasper for not being there for her either, he was supposed to be her mate, he was meant to protect her! And Carlisle... How couldnt he have stopped her? Why didnt he go after her? He just let her run off. All of these thoughts enraged Edward, Jasper want to know how he felt? Well he would show Jasper exactly how and what he felt when his teeth ripped him to shreds. He hoped that would be a satisfying answer for him. He knew it would be deeply satisfying for himself. Too long he had taken a backseat and watched Jasper do everything. It was Edwards turn to show Jasper what he could really do.

[JAZZ;;]

Jasper watched as things unfolded before his eyes. The storm, as it were, was building before Edward had even got back into the house and even now he was here, it didn't feel like they were even close to the eye of the storm. This was just the outer spiral, the place where things could tip either way, but Jasper's money was on things tipping very quickly towards the distinctly awful and potentially unfixable part of this situation. Jasper scowled at his brother when he questioned Carlisle about calming down and asked how he was supposed to calm down when they didn't have the faintest idea as to where Alice was. “You think this is easy for any of us?” he questioned quickly and sharply. There was no need for Edward to take his anger out of Carlisle. It wasn't like it was Carlisle's fault. It was nobody's fault. That was the problem. Edward was looking for someone to blame just because of the simple fact being that it actually wasn't anybody's fault.

Edward had this big idea that he was better than him, that he could do so much better at various things than he could, but he wasn't going to let the younger vampire deal with his Alice. She was his responsibility. Edward needed to back off. “That's enough, Edward, leave Carlisle alone,” he retorted as the bronze haired vampire snapped at their father about how he obviously didn't try hard enough. They were all already trying as hard as they could. Edward should learn to realise that, sometimes, some things didn't always have an easy solution and even trying your hardest didn't get you to that. “It means she doesn't want us to find her,” he said in answer for Carlisle. There was no point Carlisle being in the middle of this. “It's not a difficult concept to understand,” he murmured as he lowered his head. He didn't like the idea of her not wanting to be found, but it wasn't exactly something he was going to argue with in her fragile state.

He lifted his head at the motion of Edward shifting and pinning Carlisle against the wall by his throat. “I said leave him alone, Edward,” he shouted, trying his best to remain calm, but it was difficult when you had Edward, Mr. Emotional Wreck, in the vicinity. “It's not his fault,” he added. His jaw tightened as Edward turned on him now. Clearly, he couldn't ignore him forever like he seemed to be trying to do. His gaze flickered around, between a vacant space no where in particular in front of him and to Edward as he paced around him. His fingers curled into tight fists as Edward snarled at him, saying it might have been better had he been in the dark because he didn't seem to do a very good job when he was left to do it by himself. “You would have done no better,” he replied, keeping his tone as level as he could, despite the anger rising in his chest at his brother's angry words. With Alice being gone, he was definitely finding it difficult to keep a reign on himself.

Jasper should have known that they wouldn't have been able to talk this through without one of them starting a fight with the other. He reached out, grabbing Edward's arms as he rushed at him, feeling the wall buckle behind his back as he hit it. He knew what Edward was aiming for and part of him wanted to let him do it. He'd felt the pain of vampire bites before, what was one more at the teeth of an angry brother permitted by one that knew he'd failed. That's when it hit him. Not Edward, of course, he'd already done that. He had thought about letting Edward kill him. That wasn't right. What happened when Alice came back? What had hit him was the overwhelming sense of despair at the idea of how he'd so easily just blamed himself and given in and what he'd be leaving behind. Compared to the anger, the despair was unusually calming. It wasn't given long before the anger returned full force, Edward's anger. He wasn't going to give up, was he? “What good will come of this?” he snarled in question.