[BamaFan121s]

She nodded solemnly and drew in a deep breath. Shakily, she began speaking, her tone very quiet and full of grief. "It all started shortly after you all left. After your visit, Marcus began changing. He became even more withdrawn that ever. He wouldn't speak and he refused to feed. It was like he was grieving - just like he did when Didyme died. He came to Aro one day and told him that the bonds within the guard were weakening. He was right - I could sense it before he ever mentioned it to Aro, but I was afraid to bring it up to him myself, afraid that it was something I was doing wrong, and I didn't want him to be displeased with me." She met Carlisle's gaze, her eyes seemingly begged him to understand.

He nodded, patting her hand sympathetically. She drew in another shaky breath and continued. "He was right. Jane and Alec began to favor Caius, just as Demetri had."

I processed this information quickly in my mind. I remembered the angry look on Jane's face as Aro had reprimanded her and chastised her in our presence. But Demetri on the other hand and been absent during our entire visit.

"And did Aro ever approach you about any of this?" Carlisle asked her.

"Oh yes, he came to me, questioning my ability, urging me to try harder. But my power is only so strong!" Her voice rose an octave, now pleading and frantic. "But still I tried, but failed him. I begged him to confide in me. I hoped that if I could figure out the reasons behind the waning loyalty of the others that I could strengthen out bonds once again. And he did - he told me of how not all of the members of the guard were in favor to the changes being made, including Caius." She lowered her head before continuing, her voice just above a whisper. "And he told me of how he'd killed Didyme long ago."

"But you were not the only one who found out about that, were you?" Edward asked. I looked to him confused, to find his face full of fury. Chelsea didn't speak to respond, she raised her head, and her eyes filled with sorrow and slowly shook her head.

Edward tightened his hands into fists, his voice tight and controlled as he locked his gaze with Chelsea and spoke aloud the images he picked from her mind. "Jane overhead Aro. And she ran to her more preferred master and gave him all he needed to divide everyone...and to turn Marcus against Aro."

Chelsea dropped her head into her hands again, her whole frame shaking. Esme sat beside her, placing her motherly arm around her in comfort as her words came out in broken sobs. "It was all my fault...if I could only have tried a little harder...none of this would have happened."

Edward looked at Carlisle and began filling in the gaps as Chelsea leaned into Esme and succumbed to tearless sobs. "Once Aro was out of the way, Caius was free to come after us without any resistance. And of course, there were still plenty of the guard left willing to support him."

"But that doesn't make any sense," I interrupted, confused. "Why target Jacob when they're after us?"

This time it was Alice who supplied the answer. "Because they knew I wouldn't see it."

"Caius still sees you as a threat to the power he holds. And they are counting on you to come after him. Caius knows the bond you all have with the shape shifters. He expects you will retaliate." Chelsea looked up apologetically at all of us, her eyes seeming to beg for forgiveness. "Not everyone agreed with Caius, but we knew that Caius would have us destroyed without hesitation if we rebelled against him. We knew he'd send Demitri after anyone who left the city. Still, some of us tried. And I too have failed."

Suddenly, a very sickening sensation began to creep its way into my stomach. This had all been planned and thought out - very thoroughly. But something Chelsea had said caught my attention. "You said you too have failed - you're not the first to try to contact us, are you?" Chelsea didn't speak-- she merely met my eyes with her own mournful pair and shook her head slowly. A knot clenched in my stomach and I brought my fingers to my temples. Someone - some unknown ally we'd had within the ranks of the Volturi had sacrificed their very existance trying to warn us that we were in danger. My breathing became short and ragged. "Who?" I asked her. "Who came to try to warn us...that Demitri already found."

"Heidi," she spoke, her voice breaking. "She never made it out of Europe. Renata and I left next - we made it as far as the east coast here together, but Demitri caught up with us there just before we crossed the great river."

"And now he's after you," I stated simply, my voice barely above a whisper. "Demetri is here in Forks." The hiss that escaped Edward's lips was matched by several others in the family. In a flash, Jasper was at the small, concealed control panel, punching in numbers on the keypad. The steel shutters I'd only seen once before slid closed over all of the windows in the house. My eyes instinctively moved to look out the front door and searched the darkness beyond for any slight movement that would indicate Demetri had followed Chelsea.

Chelsea shuddered. "He's not far behind, I'm sure of it. He won't come close enough here for Edward to be able to hear his mind though. But he'll wait. And eventually, he'll find me. He'll follow orders." He words were monotone and hopeless. "And he captures his prey in the end. He very rarely fails..." As she trailed off, her eyes drifted to Alice, lingering on her for a moment.

"You'll stay here, with us-" Carlisle began.

Chelsea cut him off. "No. I won't stay here and endanger you any further." She rose to her feet, her face set and determined. "If I stay here, it will lead him right to you."

"If Demetri was anywhere near you - even within the same state - he already knows you're here," Edward countered. Chelsea pursed her lips together tightly, seemingly unable to contradict his statement.

Carlisle spoke urgently, almost pleadingly to Chelsea, "I know it's a great deal to ask of you given what you've already sacrificed on behalf of my family, but if we are going to have any chance at all, you must tell us what you know. And we must act quickly. What do you know of Caius' plans?"

Chelsea took a deep breath. "Caius knows that you outnumber his forces now, given your alliances with the shape shifters - even within the walls of his own city, you would likely have the advantage. He'll try to divide you."

"Oh yeah? And how the hell does he figure he'll be able to do that?" Emmett asked with a confident smirk. I was in agreement with Emmett, given what Caius has seen first hand, surely he must know that was impossible. We'd proven that even when Chelsea had been on the Volturi side.