27; the type of love you kill for

Just to clarify; Alice Cullen looks the same as she did six months ago.

A overwhelming panic hits Elias. The dropping of his stomach hurts more than the pounding in his head. The marble skin, the perfect features, the golden eyes of a immortal- it's everything he's been hurt by, everything he loved, too. And here it is, staring back at him.

Sucking in a sharp breath, the grey eyed boy steps back, foot crossing the open front door in a subconscious attempt to run, to escape the pain that starts edging from his heart and spreading around his body with every thump, thump.

Bellas hand wraps around his wrist, pulling him forward. Elias stumbles into her body, only then noticing that he isn't stepping backwards; he's trying to catch his fall as the floor swayed to meet him.

"Elias," Bella calls out his name, sharp in worry, ducking her head sight to his cloudy grey ones, "Are you okay? Are you having a sei-"

Elias sends her a sharp look, stopping her in her tracks. Bellas eyes flick to Alice before understanding washes over her. She wraps a arm around his lower back as a precaution.

Alice observes them talk without actually speaking, taking note of how calm and at ease they are in each other's presence.

"Would you like to explain to mehow you're both alive?" She questions in giddy relief, arms crossing over her chest like a mother scolding her children.

The workings of his normal brain catches up to Elias. Alice, her visions, she must have saw something to bring her here. Or nothing, apparently. It isn't exactly news, Elias future was patchy for Alice even before he was dying. Unless he was with someone who she could see, she compared it to trying to see outline across a smoke killed room.

It doesn't explain why Bellas future had cut off for her.

"What?" Elias snaps, but it's at the brunette next to him, the adrenaline junkie who didn't answer her phone earlier.

Alice looks at Bella too. "I saw a vision of you Bella. You jumped off a cliff. Why in the hell would you try and kill yourself? What-"

"-What the fuck Bella?" Elias summarises, his voice a choke.

"I didn't try to kill myself," Bella explains quickly, soothing him. He searches her face, trying to find a lie, "I was cliff jumping, Recreationally... It was fun?"

It does sound like her. Cliff jumping when bored, not noticing the danger of the waves and how its supposed to be a storm tonight- just like Elias didn't notice the murders in town for many months.

"And you," Alice starts, her tone softer as Elias' vulnerable yet fiery eyes meet hers. "What the hell is happening with you? You blurred right out of my sight completely a few months ago."

The accusing tone she uses makes Eli's hair rise. The pain of seeing her is gone, replaced with all consuming anger and the sprinkling of shock; he'd thought for the longest time that- by accident or purpose- if he saw any of them again he'd favour the moment and be grateful for the opportunity.

Now it's like it was the night they first left- the punching hole in his chest was scorning but now it's being filled with anger every second he looks into her golden eyes.

"Maybe if you didn't leave you wouldn't have so many questions," he scoffs through a clenched jaw, pulling away from Bella as his skin heats up.

He turns to the door, intending on leaving and not coming back. As much as he's hurt by the sight of Alice, he trusts her not to hurt Bella, not intentionally. So they can stay together. Elias isn't going to stay around and pretend things are fine.

Bella steps in front of him, blocking the path, her hands pressing softly into his stomach. "Elle..." she mutters, the rest of her plea lost in her eyes. Don't leave, please. Stay here.

The weight of his options makes him shuffle. He flicks his gaze to Alice, who's frozen in confusion as she watches them, and to Bella, his best friend. If the roles were reversed, if he needed her to stay, she would. Without a hint of a doubt.

He sighs. "I'll be changing my clothes," he says in defeat, itching to get distance from the situation. Just for a moment.

Bellas brows pinch together as she notices the dampness of his body. Riding a bike in a place like wet Forks has it's negatives.

"I washed most of them, you know where they are." She reaches up, kissing his cheek as a silent thank you.

Elias hums in reliance, turning- careful not to look at Alice- and walks calmly up the stairs, shrugging his shirt off hallway up- as if that's the reason his chest feels heavy all of a sudden.

When he gets to Bella's room Elias pulls out a pair of sweats and a long sleeve red shirt from the draws, stripping off his current soaking outfit before letting his skin heat up to burn off any excess water clinging to him. He changes slowly, trying to drag the time out. He even goes as far as to brush out his hair with a comb and style it with gel.

Elias lingers upstairs after he's changed, unsure when or if he wants to interrupt the flow of conversation downstairs. Instead, he sits on the top step of the stairs, listening to the two girls talk on the couch as he also tries sorting his own thoughts out.

She wouldn't stay, she can't. No matter how much she wants to, Alice wouldn't be able to linger in their life's because the rest of her family have no intention of coming back. Thats clear from the conversation.

When Bella starts explaining the story of the wolves and Laurent and Victoria he's all too happy to stay seated on the steps. He's had enough of Victoria appearing in his dreams, never mind spending another minute agonising over her.

"I guess I acted impulsively today," Alice says in a sigh once Bella has finished speaking. It'd taken a while to get it all out, it was way past eleven now. If Elias wasn't so wired into his anger, he'd probably be tired. "I panicked when I lost you in my vision, as well as Elias. I'm not used to being so...blind."

The way she says it, it's like a goodbye. Elias feels his heart break without permission. "Don't go," Eli hears Bella beg, desperate by the quickness of her next words, "Not yet, at least."

"Ok," Alice replies carefully. Eli's body stiffens in a want to move to Bella to check on her- he knows the expression on her face without even seeing her. The wide eyes, her skin whiter than a ghost as she hyperventilates. "I'm not going anywhere tonight, don't worry."

Tonight, Eli thinks sourly, hating being right. She's still leaving, but just not yet.

Another sigh gets passed her lips- deeper and more disappointed. "You two aren't coping as well as I hoped."

"We're doing our best," Bella snaps instantly, her tone not to be picked with. Eli's lips twitch, knowing she only reacts like that because he's mentioned in the statement. Bella doesn't mind admitting her own flaws or showing her own weakness, but she doesn't stand for someone trying to say anything about Elias. "And what did you think you were going to find? I mean, besides me dead? Did you expect to find me skipping around and whistling show tunes? You know me better than that."

Eli's lips up tick more despite the meaning of her words. He loves it when she's sarcastic like that.

"I hoped that you'd find peace," Alice speaks like she still wills the words to be true, "or something akin to it."

Eli's hands warms again. Peace. How the fuck could either of them ever find peace again? When their world had been shattered and spun from its axis? How can someone find peace when their hearts don't work properly?

"Elias?" Bella calls out loudly- it takes a moment for him to realise he's been staring at his clenched fists, his heart hammering so loudly he didn't even hear the house phone ring. "It's your mom!"

Oh great... Eli swallows his trepidation, working his stiff legs to stand up so he can walk down the stairs, into the kitchen to grab the phone off Bella. She gives him a cautious and sorry expression, but he turns away from her as he places the phone on his ear. "Hello?"

"You're dead," Cassandra states in a threat.

"Still breathing," Eli rebuts in instinct, adding with wince, "technically."

The attempt of a joke doesn't break the way his moms voice goes shrill in disappointment and worry. "What the hell Elias? Are you crazy? Why are you driving that bike? Are you okay? When are you getting back because the longer you leave the more I'm thinking about turning to child abuse."

Shit. She did see me. He bangs his forehead against the wall, hoping his next words take away some of the tension leaking from the phone. "Legally I'm a adult, so it'd just be abuse."

His mom makes a exasperated sound in her throat. "You're still my kid and I'm still your mother," she snaps- and she's really angry now. Elias should probably be serious. "So answer my questions."

Elias sucks in a breath for courage for what he has to say next. "Alice Cullen is back in town. We're all at Bellas... talking."

Silence. Silence for a good twenty seconds. Elias pulls the phone away to make sure it's still connected- it is. When he puts it against his ear again, He hears the soft cry of his mother asking, "What?"

"Elias," another voice calls- his dad. It's tight in anxiety. Elias knows then the news must have really knocked his mom off her feet if she's given the phone up without a fight. "I don't think this is a good idea."

Eli's free hand comes to his scar. "Do you trust me?" He asks, making sure he sounds confident and strong.

David's voice is instant and unapologetic. "I don't trust you to not get depressed again, no."

Eli's eyes close as he winces. He's probably right, but Elias won't admit it. Not when Bella needs him here- not when a small part of him keeps him tethered to Alice because it's a gateway to him.

"If I get depressed again I'll let you sign me up for therapy," he says as a compromise, and even he knows he's begging now.

"No, Elias," David states surely. Elias can image the way his jaw sets and his eyes harden- Elias had gotten that from him. "That's not going to work this time."

Fine, Eli thinks, fight fire with fight. "It's just Alice," Elias speaks in the same tone as his dad. No room for argument and no sympathy. "I'll be fine."

"Come home," is all David orders, and Eli knows then how he's frustrated with him. For choosing to be a idiot and for staying there when he knows it'll bring nothing but pain. That word springs to mind again- masochist.

"I will," Eli nods to himself, mumbling, "tomorrow."

David sighs uncomfortably. "Elias-

"-Trust me, please?" Eli asks, and notices how his own voice is genuinely confident now. When Alice leaves- not if, when- he won't turmoil like he did last time. He won't buckle under the weight of his own thoughts.

It takes a moment of deliberation before Elias hears him speak again."Take your medication. Stay in the house. I'll be making sure Charlie checks on you."

Elias grins halfheartedly- it'd been a while since he lied and got away with it. He'd started to believe he didn't have the ability anymore. "I will," he vows. "I've got to go now. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Elias?" Bellas soft voice is concerned and questioning as he hangs the phone up and walks into the living room. She's curled in a ball in the middle of the couch, Alice is sat next to her. Both of them seem curious when he walks in.

"I'm fine," he tells, moving towards the couch, sinking in the space at the end, next to Bella. He wraps his arms around her, feeling the lack of heat in her body.

Bella mutters a small 'thanks' as she turns into his chest, squishing her blue fingers into his ribs. The warmth wraps around her instantly and she shivers out a sigh.

"As I was saying," Alice says, watching the two with a small smile. "I'll need an hour to gather some things, and to hunt." Her smile turns into a seriously mocking expression. "Can I leave you for one hour without worrying about your immediate death?"

What poor choice of words, Eli wants to say, but knows they'll come with consequences of having to explain himself.

"Yes," Bella nods slightly before tucking her head over Eli's heart.

Alice spaces for a moment, her eyes glazing as she watches the future. "I think you're right about that," she mutters, but there's a silent question as she looks at Elias, "I think."

"You'll come back right?" Bella makes sure. Her voice small and weak and it tugs on Eli's heartstrings because Bella is already so excited to see Alice and it'll hurt that much more when she leaves again.

"I promise. One hour," Alice nods at them, and with a small brush of wind against Eli's face, the place where she was sat is empty.

I've missed that, Eli thinks, before stiffening at how his own thoughts are lined in want and hope. Don't get used to it.

"Come on Elle, I have a few things to do before she comes back," Bella encourages, pulling away from him so she can stand up. She tugs on his sleeves to follow her, "and we need to talk."

The groan is real and instant. "No we don't. I have nothing important to say," he sniffs, following her upstairs.

She waits until they're both in the bathroom before giving him a look of judgment. "She was asking why she can't see you in her visions anymore."

Eli's stance turns defensive in the sensitive topic. "What can I say? I'm a mystery," he shrugs, looking away as she starts to undress to get into the shower. They pair of them aren't taboo with being naked in front of each other, but it's still a action installed in him from his mom. Don't stare at women when they're indecent.

After she's stepped into the shower, Elias goes to lean against the sink and stare blankly at the pulled shower curtain as he thinks things over. "If she knows you're dying," Bella starts, and the sound of the shower doesn't hide her hopeful voice, "if she tells the others-"

"-It'll change nothing," Eli cuts her off, his tone showing no room of argument. Bella pops her head around the curtain to check on him. His face is set like stone, but she knows him well enough now to see how he's hurting even when he doesn't show it physically.

Despite his certainty, Bella whispers a encouraging, "There's still a chance."

Elias sighs, rubbing his eyes- he's tired, now the anger burned bright and fast- it left nothing but his disorienting mind and the urge for sleep. "Not for me there isn't," he utters.

"Fine, be stubborn," Bella tuts, knowing she won't change his mind. "But know i'm not going to try save you if she starts asking questions."

Who's side are you on, Eli wants to scoff, but knows the answer she'll give. The side where there's a chance you live. It's why he suspects she asked him to stay- she's hoping Alice will find out and do something to save him.

I'm too far gone to save, Elias thinks, his throat clenching to stop tears.

After her shower, Bella makes and plates up food for Charlie when he gets back. Elias goes to spreading some sheets and a pillow over the couch- a guide to show someone is here to Charlie when he walks in.

By the time the two humans have eaten their own food and walk back into the living room, Alice is sat perfectly still on her improvised bed. Her eyes are even brighter now she's hunted, and the way Elias rounds the corner to see her there after not hearing her enter- it reminds him so deeply of Jasper he feels like he can't breathe in properly.

But Bella grabs him by his wrist as she walks past, the very touch tethering him back to reality. She settles closely into Alice, and she wraps her arms around her in return. Elias chooses a spot alone near the foot of the couch, in no mood to cuddle.

"Do either of you know as to why two windows in my house are shattered by stones?" Alice speaks without a hint of doubt who'd done it, her eyes don't even narrow in a show of anger or questions. She just looks amused.

Bella swallows thickly in guilt.

Elias meets her gaze stoically. "You're lucky I didn't burn the place to the ground," he huffs, which makes Bella stretch out and kick him on the side of his thigh with a sharp hiss of a warning to behave.

Alice just grins widely, her teeth sparkling. "I'd have understood if you did," she nods, and there's no pinpoint to say she's lying.

Elias turns away from her, not being able to look at her reaction. He'd wanted anger, or hurt- but she understood. She knew him too well, she knew his reasoning and wasn't even angry. She wasn't even shocked.

"I wouldn't hurt Esme like that, she loves that house," Elias finds himself whispering, ignoring how even he can hear his heart stutter as he thinks of the soft caramel haired women.

"So," Bella yawns, stretching out until her feet rest against Eli's knees. The sight of her yawning makes him do it in return, which makes Alice giggle. Eli's heart warms before he forces it away. "How was the hunt?"

The vampires eyes roll on their own accord. "You're really peculiar, you know that right?"

She does, Elias goes to say, but he yawns so hard his head leans back against the couch. Comfy.

•••

A hand presses against his mouth as someone nudges him awake.

He blinks rapidly, trying to clear the fog in his mind. It takes a moment for him to realise where he is and what's happening- the living room is dark and he's half sprawled out on the couch- his knees hook over the end, long legs hanging off the edge. Its already making a ache form on the joints.

He goes to move when a hand presses against his chest to stop him. Eli looks up- he'd been listening to Alice and Bella speak and doesn't remember drifting off. Somehow in the middle of the night he'd shifted until he was squished between the back of the couch and until his head rested on Bella's stomach.

Bella- who's keeping him in place and keeping silent- begs him to listen to her with her eyes. Elias draws his brows together in a silent, what's wrong?

She pauses for a moment, and in the dark it takes a second for his eyes to adjust when she moves the hand off his mouth and makes a silent, shush, motion, then points towards her ear and then towards the kitchen. Be quiet, listen.

Elias notices the voices then. He strains, freezing in his place to listen- if Alice realises they're awake, the conversation will stop.

"-mean?" Alice asks, the first part of her question too quiet to hear. She sounds sad.

A cupboard in the kitchen opens and closes before Charlie dejects, "It was if they were alive, but not really living."

Bella stiffens under him. Elias reaches out blindly, softly to make no noise, to grab her hand.

"How so?" Alice asks, eager.

The distinct sound of the microwave opening comes to Elias. Charlie must have only just gotten back from being with the Clearwater family. "They did everything to function normally. They sleep, eat, finish their school work and they answer when someone ask a direct question... but it's as if they lost the ability to who they were, or their memories of who they were before your family left."

Charlie's voice shows the full extent of how much he feels towards the situation. It's a struggle for Elias- knowing they'd tried so hard to seem normal but it did nothing to settle his parents.

"It scared the hell out of me and the Sherwood's. David and I would spend hours and hours trying to figure out what to do, how to talk to them. But nothing worked." He sighs at the admittal of defeat. The microwave starts up, warming the food. "Bella hadn't really been the talkative type before, but she told me what was wrong when I asked. Now she only speaks to Elias."

There's a hint of distress at the end- of not being able to get Bella to open up. Elias grips her hand harder, knowing that part would especially upset her.

"I was surprised," Alice prompts, "to see how close they are now."

Charlie chuckes a little. "Me too," he admits, the humour leaving as he carries on, "But after you guys left, they just seemed to rotate around each other. Like pillars of support. As much as it worried us, them being together, it also gave me and David a some peace of mind to know they weren't alone."

"Worried you?" Alice echoes, and Eli can image her face scrunching in confusion. "Why would it worry you?"

This is new to Elias too. He strains harder to listen.

"I'm not going to lie to you Alice, the way they acted... it wasn't like someone left them. It was as if someone died. Like they were in mourning," his voice drops, secretive. His words aren't mocking but aren't completely encouraging of his next words. "David is convinced something else happened before you left, and that's why they're so obsessed with each other. You know, because they can only talk to each other about it."

Oh dad, Elias thinks sympathetically, how right and wrong you are, you perceptive little fucker.

Bella squeezes his hand in panic. He runs his thumb over her knuckles, turning his face to hers so he can mouth the words, 'it's fine.'

"I'm so sorry Charlie," Alice speaks in a glum voice. "If I had any idea of any of this-"

The microwave pinging cuts her off before Charlie says, "-It's not your fault Alice, you've always been a amazing friend to my kids."

The sound of a plate scraping the table, then the sound of utensils rubbing against it as Charlie ate. At the specification of 'your', Charlie has a clear indication as to who's fault it is.

"I have to ask," Charlie speaks after a minutes gone past. Eli can image him say there with a frown and his thoughts practically written across his forehead, "because as much as I'm worried about how you leaving again will effect them, I'm more terrified of your family come to visit and leaving again."

It's clear who he really means, if the poorly suppressed anger is anything. Elias' heart does a funny twist, making a burn spread along his veins. Beneath him, he hears Bella start to hold her breath too as they wait for a reply.

"No one knows I'm here," Alice whispers, calmer than Charlie. "Edward is in South America, or he was the last time I spoke to him. Jasper is home with the rest of my family."

Home. The word feels like a stab wound. He desperately wants Charlie to ask where home is now- but the cover story had been set months ago. Apparently Carlisle got a job offer in sunny Los Angeles and couldn't refuse it.

Home, Elias thinks with building sadness, a torment. Jasper has a home and a family and a future... it is jealously that makes it feel like he's been stabbed? Or rejection that Jasper has all that without Elias?

"Well I hope they're enjoying themselves," Charlie snorts with distaste.

When Alice speaks next her voice is like steel. "Elias and Bella aren't the only ones hurting, Charlie."

It should have brought some type of relief- a 'hallelujah' of signs that Jasper loves Elias too, at least at one point for him to hurt when leaving. That him leaving, him hurting, showed he felt something towards Elias. That he missed him.

All it brought is more pain.

Elias squeezes his eyes shut and forces to not listen further, especially as every passing second more sorrow fills him. He'd wished- as painful as it was encouraging- that Jasper was happy, somehow. Elias would have rather doubled his hurting then let Jasper hurt for once second.

Somewhere in wishing the fire in him could burn away his sorrow, Elias falls asleep.

For the first time in half a year, he sees Jasper.

He didn't know he was capable of such a memory. He'd spent half a year pushing him away, and now here he was- every detail of his face clear, the smooth and strong coils of his stance showing his power, the colour of his eyes like sunshine, his hair brushing into his face.

His face, the agony, it tears his features into something that makes Elias indisticvly want to help him. To stop his pain even before Jasper starts to reach out to him for help.

Elias goes for his hand, too, but the signals get switched in his mind. His heart says go on, his mind steps back. So as his hand shoots out, his feet move backwards, putting distance between them.

The agony tears Jaspers face more, and as Elias walks away whilst still trying to reach him, he catches the silent cry Jasper does. "Elias," he sings in despair, "don't leave."

"Elias?" Another voice calls in despair, in panic. He snaps his eyes open as coldness seeps into his shoulder from where Alice touches him. "What's wrong? What's happening?"

Elias looks around in panic, the last part of his dream lingering on him like smoke. Alice is right in front of him, crouched to his level, and her face is distorted by the water, the tears, in Eli's eyes.

He rises one shaking hand to wipe the tears away, scooting backwards in the couch- being careful to not move Bella as she sleeps- until Alice drops her hand on him.

"Elias," Alice calls softly, scared of seeing the reaction of him sleeping. Elias knows them he must have been shaking, trying to breathe properly as he panicked. "What's wrong with you? What's happening?" She begs.

Elias knows she means the dream, but for a moment, deliberates telling her about the other things wrong with him. About the cancer, about dying, about refusing treatment.

But he imagines her reaction. He knows the reaction. He knows what it's like to be useless when watching some die- he has to watch his parents look at him every morning as he takes his pills. As they swallow their own hard pill- their son is dying and they can do nothing but watch. He watches Bella as she lingers over him when he winces from a headache or when he throws up so hard he can't breathe properly.

So as his mind and heart argue over a decision, his emotions take control- the anger takes control. For her coming back, for her leaving in the first place. For her presence triggering the dream. For her undoubted leaving again, and how it'll effect him despite him claiming it won't. "Don't pretend you care."

She flinches back a inch. "Of course I do," she denies.

Eli's watering eyes turn into narrow daggers. "If you cared you would have said goodbye to me," he sniffs, the anger being portrayed wrong with how his body's still getting over his panic attack.

Alice reaches out slowly, after a moment of seeing if Elias will move away, and places her hands on his bent knee. "I wanted to, I swear." Her eyes harden. "If I had my choice, I would have bitten you and ran the moment I knew what he was thinking. But..." she looks down, away from Eli's light eyes, "I saw too late. He'd already made up his mind, he'd 'saw the error of my ways and want to fix things'."

The last part is a quotation, her voice masking Jaspers southern drawl so perfect that Eli's jaw tightens. "Falling in love with me was really that much of a mistake that he ran without looking back," he laughs without mercy, grey eyes hardening to burn coal, "or did he not even love me?"

Alice shakes her head so strong that strands of her ink hair fly out of place. "He left because he loved you too much. He said that, he still says that now." She tuts as Eli's eyes water, like the answers obvious. As if Elias hasn't spent six months agonising over it. "You have never been good at seeing other people's perspectives, not right away at least."

Eli's chest burns again. He's up on his feet instantly as his skin sparks, as his throat bulges in the words he wants to scream at her- what he would scream at her if not for Bella being asleep. Alice follows him to the kitchen, her stance confused but ready for his fury.

Elias turns on his heels and glares at her, the words come out in a seething tone, "Sorry for not understanding why I got promised a life with a family I love and it got yanked away from me."

Alice flinches again and her true sorrow shows on her face. "I'm sorry,"  she repeats, looking at him in the eyes. "We wanted, he wanted you to have a chance at being human. To try and live without us tinting your vision- you have the choice of a full human life, I've seen it one upon a time, remember? I've known you a hundred years, and I've seen all the ways your life could have gone."

Elias doesn't think as he says, "You should really stop relying so heavily on your visions, Alice. You know you can get them wrong."

The silence that sets in the room could kill. Elias curses in his head, only he can almost reveal a secret just to prove a point. Without permission his body melts the anger, especially as Alice starts to pick him apart.

"Why can't I see you Elias?" She asks, stepping to him, glazed eyes telling him she's trying. "Even now, I can't see you. In any versions of the future."

See in Eli's mind, he knows very well what would happen if Alice found out. If he told her- She'd tell Jasper, and he'd come back.

Elias doesn't want Jasper to come back just because he found out Elias was dying. He doesn't want Jasper to feel like he has to save Eli's life out of guilt. Elias doesn't want someone who could have lived their life without him, as selfish and dark and toxic as it was.

See, he loves Jasper with that all consuming kind of love- the love that makes it hard to breathe and think without them. The love that alters you without choice and makes you do whatever you can to keep them happy. The love that makes you better and worse at the same time because oh god, I'd genuinely kill for them.

And he'd thought Jasper loved him back like that...until he left.

I don't want someone who decides to come back to love me as a second choice.

So Elias meets her gaze dead on, his shoulders dropping their tension. "I don't know," he feigns.

Alice's teeth grind together. She knows him too well. "I don't believe you Elle."

Elias eyes are a dead gaze as he shrugs. "Then I guess you don't believe me," is all he utters.

"Elias? Alice?" Bella calls out, still half asleep but searching for them.

"We're in here!" Elias shouts back, not looking away from where Alice is staring at him, still trying to figure it out.

It only takes half a day before she does.

"You're dying?" Alice snarls, her expression gleaming with anger and panic as she comes out from the Swan back door.

"What-" Elias chokes on the smoke in his lungs from shock. He exhales quickly, throws and stomps on the cigarette to put it out. When he looks up again Alice watching him with a look that could kill, "did Bella tell you?"

"No, your werewolf friend is here to talk to Bella. He said, and I quote, 'checking to see if Elias hasn't died yet, at least more then he already is," she perfectly copies Jakes voice before shaking her head. "That's why I can't see you. A dying man doesn't have a future."

Elias feels his teeth sink on his lip."Fucking Jacob," he swears, having half a mind to go into the boy and burn him. So much for trying to keep his decision his.

"Elias," Alice calls, frailer. She steps to him, her small hands coming up to cradle his jaw, making him stop staring through the back door and instead into her eyes. They're shining like she wants to cry, but can't physically produce tears. "Are you dying?" She asks thickly.

Oh, Eli thinks with a pinch of sorrow, now I know how the doctors felt when they had to come in and tell my parents.

Slowly, Elias nods. "It's tumours, in my head...there's nothing anyone can do," he admits in a whisper.

"Oh' Eli..." She cries, chest heaving, and she pulls him into her for a hug like she can't think of anything else to do. The coldness of her body wraps Elias comfortingly, and Eli melts into her without thinking about it.

I've missed you Alice, Eli thinks, breathing in her strong and pretty scent. He pushes the softness of the thought, hell, the whole thought away. He can't keep getting lost and attached like that.

Her sadness only last a minute before she pulls back. All traces of distress have hardened into determination- Elias knows what she's going to say even before the words spill out, "Well this changes everything, this completely overrides any point Jasper can make of bringing you back to us. I have to tell-"

"-No," Elias cuts her off strongly, his heart spasming so much that he actually winces. Alice's mouth clinks shut as Eli orders angrily, "no, you don't get to tell him anything."

The realisation of his words sets heavy. She steps out of his embrace, betrayal soaking her stance. "But this changes everything Elias."

"No it doesn't. I don't want it, not as freely as I used to," he starts, and Alice opens her mouth to interrupt before he adds, "and before you start picking up your argument of me finally understanding people's perspectives and thinking you're right about how I'd come to value my human life because your family left me."

Eli's hand comes to trace the scar along his neck. For a brief second, he thinks of how angry Bella would be if she heard the conversation... "I wouldn't take it because it would mean leaving Bella behind."

Alice's argument dies on her tongue. She knows she can't offer the same deal of immortality with Bella, not since Edward was so against it.

"Elias, please-" she starts, rubbing her temple like she's getting a headache.

Elias decides then he needs to tell the truth. "And I don't want to have the option just because you all feel guilty to seeing my life end," he admits, the words hurting him to say.

Alice's eyes flash in fire. "It's not like that."

"Still," Elias shakes his head and crosses his arms to ground himself, feeling more solid in his next argument. "Trust me, I'm a cunning little fucker. If I turn, if you happen to tell him and it happens, I'll never forgive you. I'll also find a way to bring Bella with me."

Alice can't seem to do anything but shake her head. Elias recognises a glimpse of Bella in her then with both of them trying their hardest to change his mind. "You're not thinking straight," she realises.

Eli's stance turns defensive. "I've had six months to think about it. I know what I'm talking about," he scoffs, glaring at her again.

She goes to say something, both of them arguing with no end in sight. But Eli's glare flattens out into all consuming concern as Alice's eyes glaze over and her mouth opens wide. "No!" She calls out to something unseen, her hands coming to her neck like she's choking.

Eli's burning heart drops.

"Alice?" Eli shouts, gripping her elbows, the words coming out in memory of all the times Nate has been there when she's had a vision, "Whats wrong. What do you see?"

Alice shakes her head in a silent cry, "It's Edward, he's," she chokes, her skin turning white as bone, "no, no he can't!"

"Alice? What's happening!" Elias shouts, shaking her, but she slips out of his grasps and back through the back door.

He chases after the vampire, panic forming in his chest as he thinks of the copper haired Cullen. Alice heads straight into the kitchen, where Bella and Jake are, the latter is shaking from head to toe.

"Bella, it's Edward!" Alice cries, pulling Bella away from the werewolf, "He thinks you are dead. Rosalie told him why I came here," she explains out quickly.

Bellas face morphs into the same slow shock Eli feels. She turns to Jake, betrayal rattling her features.  "Why would you... Why didn't you let me speak to him!" She screams, looking close to hitting the wolf.

Jakes teeth grind together in a painful noise. "He didn't ask for you," he growls coldly, close to her face.

Elias lunges to pull her back the same time Alice does. Their hands overlap as they grab Bellas wrist. She turns to them with watering eyes.

Alice looks at her directly, both girls eyes matching in panic. "Bella, he's going to the Volturi. He wants to die too."

Bella blinks, the situation at hand settling like quick sand. "No he can't! He, he didn't want me. He wanted me human, he'd know I'd die eventually! What difference does it make!" She's panting at the end. Eli wraps his arm around her, concerned she might faint.

Alice shakes her head solemnly, her voice quiet as she finally understands it too, "I don't think he ever planned to outlive you."

"What can we do?" Elias asks, head held high, his mind running to try figure out all the possibilities.

Bellas body trembled lightly in his arms, "What, th-there's something we can do, right?" She begs.

Alice's lips press together, her face wavering in a decision. "Its dangerous, a practical suicide mission. I don't think I can ask you to-"

"-Then don't ask. Tell me," Bella demands, and Elias feels how much she put her heart into the words.

"Ok," Alice sighs, the words, the plan, falling off her lips a mile a minute.

Eli's heart slugs harder in his chest as she speaks.

The second Alice stops talking, Bella freezes. Deliberating. Then the shock wears off and she turns around and acts. Elias runs after Bella as she dashes upstairs into her room, rushing to pack a minimum amount of clothes into a black backpack.

"I'm going," her voice wavers as she pants around her words, "you might not agree with me running to a chance of death for Edw-"

Elias places his hand over her shaking one, stopping her from zipping the backpack. "-I know, I know. You love him, there is no choice for you," he says slowly, his own voice uneven. He knows because like he said- he loves Jasper in the all consuming way that he'd kill for him. Even if that person was himself. At one point, it was himself- or his human self.

Eli's shoulder straightens as he declares. "It's why I'm coming too."

He turns, grabbing another backpack off the hooks of Bellas door. A white delicate hand grips his, stopping him. "You can't," Alice cries, shaking her head quickly. "The Volturi, they'll kill you for being with us, especially because Jasper isn't here to defend your case."

The raw pain of hearing his name is minimal compared to the image of Bella going there alone. Elias glares at the vampire, ripping himself off her, "I'm not letting my best friend rush to the chance of death on her own," he scoffs coldly, moving around the room, starting to pack a set of clothes.

Alice is right behind him. "You'll slow us down and they'll kill you Elias!" She denies, slamming her hand on his wallet as he goes to pick it up. "You will die," she states slowly, as if he doesn't understand.

Elias turns to her with a cold look. "I'm already dying, remember?" he spits through a clenched jaw.

"Listen to me Elle," Bella appears between them, her whole body shaking. She grabs him by the jaw, forcing brown eyes meeting grey. "I'm going to save him, I'm going save him and come back to you okay?"

"But-" Elias starts, knowing where this is going, what she's about to say. It causes tears to line his grey eyes.

"You know- you know you can't come, there's too many complications and you will slow us down," her eyes fall to his medical ID bracelet, showing exactly what she means. Elias chokes on a sob, some part of him wondering if this is a last goodbye.

"I love you Elias and you're my best friend... but please stay here," Bella begs.

The words sink into his pounding brain. He knows she's right, he's heard the stories of the Volturi and how they work- Bella has a chance of surviving them, a slim one, but a chance. Elias didn't.

"Listen here you bastard," he starts in a poor attempt of anger, "I want you to come back, I want you to try your hardest. Promise me," he demands, the tears falling down his cheeks now as he holds a pinky up.

Bella nods quickly, "brother promise," she vows, linking her pinky with his. It feels more like a seal of their death then a promise of trying to live.

Elias turns to Alice. "Promise me you'll do everything in your power," he demands.

Alice nods as well, golden eyes bleeding in honesty, "I promise Elias, I'll protect her with my life," she admits softly, but it doesn't stop how his body fills with anxiety.

Elias helps Bella pack as Alice gets the car ready. By the time two come downstairs, Jake and Alice are locked in a confrontation near the open front door. They're meters away, but for them it might as well have been face to face. Bella doesn't seem to notice them, too far into her own head as she goes to find a pen and paper to write a note to Charlie.

"You might control yourself on occasion, but these leeches you're taking her to—" Jacob furiouslyaccuses her.

"Yes. You're right, dog." Alice is snarling, too. Shorter but more angry. "The Volturi are the very essence of our kind—they're the reason your hair stands on end when you smell me. They are the substance of your nightmares, the dread behind your instincts. I'm not unaware of that."

Eli sees how a shudder rips down Jakes spine- similar to the one Eli does.

"And you take her to them like a bottle of wine for a party!" he shouts, and the shudder turns into shaking of him trying not to turn.

Alice's lips rise to show her pointed gleaming teeth. "You think she'd be better off if I left her here alone, with Victoria stalking her?"

Jakes eyes turn to slits. "We can handle the redhead."

"Then why is she still hunting?" Alice hisses.

Elias steps in then, his hand scorching hot as he pushed Jake back from taking a step closer to Alice. He let out a hiss of pain as the material of his shirt melts into his skin. Behind him, Alice grabs Eli's wrist and pulls him away from Jake in fear of being hurt.

"Shut up Jake, it isn't your decision, sitting here arguing is doing shit but making things worse," Eli speaks through his own disappointment, turning his head to the pixie girl looking up at him with gleaming eyes, "Is there anything I can do?"

Alice nods. "Hurry Bella!" She calls out over her shoulder, before pulling Elias out of the house and towards the car parked outside.

Elias thinks she's going to retrieve something to give him before she turns abruptly to face him. Elias stumbles a moment as the intensity of her eyes make him feel like a noose is around his neck.

"Elias," Alice speaks softly but quickly, "If this all goes wrong, you're not going to be alone."

The colour drains from Eli's face. "What?" He whispers, wanting to tell her to not think like that but the look on her face tells him she's going through all the stops of every vision she's seen coming for them.

"I'm telling Carlisle to come here, he needs to if we all end up dying. To sort the story out and to help," she shudders as she speaks and Eli knows then she means with the funerals, with the police. She reaches to grab Eli's hand, squeezing it tightly, "you won't mourn alone if we die, it's not much. But it's something to settle my mind."

Her eyes gleam as she watches something in her future. Eli can't speak even if he has any idea as to what to say. The panic and confusion  on his face says enough, and Alice gives him a sad smile as she vows, "Carlisle will help you, no matter what."

There a clear intention to her words. Even with the incoming doom, Alice still wants him to know he has options to live.

"Alice..." Elias stutters through a hitch in his throat, taking in the features of his friend. Elias had known the minute he saw her that she would leave again and any moment with her might he his last- nothings changed. Only the context that Elias might not see her again because she might die. Bella might die.

Elias can't help but throw his arms around her. At least this time he gets a goodbye. "Alice, I'm angry at you, but that doesn't mean I-"

"I know," Alice shushes him, hugging him back quickly. Elias hears Bella and Jake, they're arguing as they walk down the porch steps. Alice takes Eli's face in his hands as she tells him in a rushed tone, "I have to say if, for the chance I don't see you again. Don't stay angry at Jasper, he's hurting from his own actions, okay? He was doing what he thought was best for you."

Eli's mouth opens in the words he can't get out. Alice's cold embrace is switched with Bella- she squeezes too tight and not tight enough and Elias feels his heart break further in his chest when she pulls back to say, "Thank you for being my brother."

The worst part is Bella doesn't have to wait for him to say anything- she's always been too good at reading him. At knowing when his hearts breaking.

"Be strong," is all Eli manages to whisper, and Bellas lips uptick as she nods.

"Please look after Charlie for me," Bella says, pressing her lips into Eli's cheek, ignoring the saltiness from his tears. Elias nods back at her, looking at her through distant eyes, a numb dissociation feeling spreading from his chest.

It seems like he blinks and suddenly the car is gone, leaving him and Jake alone. Some part of him is screaming in terror and the other is crying in numbness.

"You let her go," Jake accuses Eli, body shaking as if he's going to turn.

"We both know there was nothing going to stop her," Eli says in a blank voice, turning to look at him. The world feels fuzzy around the edges and the last time he remembers this feeling he had a concussion. "She loves him, and Bella does anything for the people she loves."

"She's going to die for him," Jake cries in fury, chest heaving.

Elias turns back to the road, feeling his body disconnect from his brain at the thought of his best friends being gone. Theres a large chance it will happen, that they won't get there in time, or they will and it's still not enough.

"Then I guess I'll be with her in four months."

Jasper should be in the next chapter. Also- I'm trying very hard to show Eli's emotions and his thinking. I hope it's clear- if not just drop me a question and I'll answer :)

Don't be a silent reader!