dead or alive - The Cullens : On hold

xxix

chapter; twenty-nine

act three; twilight - eclipse

Eleanor was sitting in the living room with others, holding on as best as she could with the smell of Bella. She'd hunted prior to her arrival, thinking it could help, but the difficulty was worse than she could have imagined.

Her coping mechanism? Emily. She was focusing her mind and nose on Emily as hard as she could. It seemed to ground her and want to rip out Bella's arteries even less.  Since Bella came back, an unfamiliar vampire had been sniffing around Bella's house. Which meant as always, Bella attracts problems.

People were watching the TV live news intently about the missing people in Seattle and murders suspecting a new serial killer. "It's getting worse. We're going to have to do something." Carlisle shut off the TV.

"It takes more than one of our kind to cause the damage they're reporting. Quite a few more. They're undisciplined, conspicuous." Jasper stated with his past knowledge.

"Newborns." Edward stated, his eyes flickering over to Luca and Eleanor. 

"What like new vampires?" Bella questioned, not taking notice of the new addition to the family, one human, two vampires - newborns.

"In the first few months after the change.-" Edward started.

"That's when we're at our most uncontrollable. Vicious. Insane with thirst." Jasper continued.

"Something to look forward to. How's it treating you two?" Emmett grinned smugly, looking over to Eleanor and Luca.

"He's doing better than me." Eleanor scoffed. All of this talk about the beginning of vampire life, like the agony of thirst and short-temperedness, really didn't help Eleanor. Her throat began to feel scratchy, and Bella's presence was definitely not helping.

"You're vampires?" Bella questioned, a somewhat jealous tone hidden in her voice. 

"Did my sparkly red eyes not give it away?" Eleanor batted her lashes sarcastically.

"No one's trained these newborns, but this isn't random." Jasper turned the conversation back on track. 

"Someone's creating an army." Carlisle realised, the thought clicking in his brain. He felt worried for his family. Sure, they were capable, but Eleanor and Luca are just as untrained. They might not benefit from being there, but the extra strength could help. He was lost on what to do.

"Well, now we're definitely going to Seattle." Emmett jumped up.

"An army of vampires?" Bella questioned.

"And they've been created to fight someone." Jasper looked up at them. He did feel a sense of nostalgia with this, but not the good kind.

"We're the only clan close to Seattle." Edward stated dumbfounded.

"Regardless of why they were made, if we don't put a stop to them, the Volturi will. I'm surprised they've let it go on this long." Carlisle spoke out.

"Maybe they're behind it. In Italy, I read Aro's mind. He wants me and Alice to join him, he knows we'll never chose him as long as our family's still alive." Edward suggested his theory.

"An army could solve that for him." Jasper said.

Eleanor looked at her boyfriend, and their child. She made a gesture to follow her with her head. She walked deep into the forest with them until there was no possible chance of her family hearing them. She sat against the tree the baby held close to her chest.