Shine

Shatter

Late that afternoon Jasper picked up his cell phone the moment it agreed to ring, putting it to his ear. Alice mouthed 'Carlisle' to me, and I nodded, picking methodically at the plate of sandwiches again. Carlisle spoke for a minute, Alice listening in, and Jasper stood. Carlisle did virtually all of the talking, so I couldn't glean much.

The Jasper looked at me and extended his cell. "Edward is on the phone."

I took it and wedged it on my shoulder. "How are you?"

"We lost James. Victoria seems to have vanished into Canada. Laurent doesn't want to get involved, and his actions suggest that he isn't interested in doing so, even to protect either one of them."

"So what's going to happen next?" I put a half-eaten sandwich triangle down.

"We're coming to you. We'll be there soon. Then you and I will go somewhere safe while the others wait for James to come in close. We'll take care of this."

I wilted. "Edward, you make it sound like the mafia is after me."

"In a way it is, Seth. You can't underestimate James. Do you understand? He wants to kill you, for no other reason than he thinks it will be fun to get past our defenses. He won't stop until one of you is dead."

Icicles dripped down from the bottom of my ribcage. I suppose Alice was wrong, I had been in shock. How could I have not recognized the true danger of this until now? This was why we'd gone so far away, and why I'd somehow already known to give away my keys instead of keeping them myself. It wasn't a matter of just waiting him out—he was in it for the endgame, not the passes in between. I breathed, closing my eyes. "I understand. Be careful. I'm not the only important one."

"We will. Stay safe."

I handed the phone back to Jasper.

My own phone rang, and I picked it up. Tanesha.

"Bitch what the hell are you up to this time?"

I rolled my eyes. "Let me put you down a sec and I'll talk." I put my phone in my lap. "I'm gonna go pace the hallway."

Jasper looked to Alice. After a moment Alice nodded. I went.

Once in the hall I gave myself the momentum to roll down toward the elevator and picked up the phone again. "Since when do I have to explain myself to you? It's not like y'all were ever entirely forthwith with me."

A man's voice answered me. "Don't say a word if they're still within hearing range," he purred, and even though I'd barely heard him speak in the field, Edward was right; I was good with sounds.

I closed my eyes. "They aren't."

"So you know us well," he said, and chuckled. I heard a clatter and a short shriek in the background.

"Hey! Damage her in any way and I will find the way to destroy you and make sure I do it slowly," I seethed.

He laughed. "I do so love the feisty ones. Don't worry, she won't come to any further harm.... If you come to take her place."

I grit my teeth. "Where is her place?"

"There's a ballet studio on Cholla Street, not far from you now. You know us well enough to know I'll be the first to know if you bring any of your precious protectors with you."

I hung up on him. Then I pressed the elevator button, and wished I'd asked Alice to explain to me how her visions worked.

Once downstairs I skimmed through the front lobby, there not being many people booking rooms at noon on whatever day of the week today was—Tuesday. I lifted my chin and smiled to the concierge when he saw me, and he waved. I could see two taxis sitting outside already, so slapped the button and coasted out to them.