Hometown Glory.

Part One: Insomnia

Chapter Seven: Time is Running Out

Previously....

"Don't go any further."

--

What the heck, Tom? Come back here this instant!

His demand was ignored. Instead, Tomas raised himself to a kneeling position, glaring at the two vampires, his eyes glowing an eerie red. Power crackled around him, as he hissed at them menacingly. They weren't coming any closer that much was for certain.

"Ah, you've waken," James purred, he took a step towards Tom. He banged harshly against a barrier, his eyes widening in shock and want. Tom smirked. "Don't come any closer," he hissed again. He lifted a hand towards the female vampire who had stood to her feet, dropping Edward unceremoniously to the ground. His hand glowed for a second before diminishing. Somewhere deep within, she felt a sharp jolt before she slammed back against a nearby tree.

"He will never be your companion," Tom snarled, his eyes darting to the frozen form of James. "He is and will always be mine." Shakily, he stood to his feet, regaining some semblance of balance. He dropped the shield with a snap of his fingers.

"That's what you think," James taunted. He didn't try to go further, opting to pace in a circular pattern in vampire speed. Tom narrowed his eyes, easily keeping up with the vampires movements. He wasn't easily fooled. The vampire, James, was going to attack at his weakest point. It was an easy plan to read. The female, Bella if he remembered correctly, originally planned to hand over Hadrian to the male in return for safety. It would have been somewhat honorable, if it weren't for the fact that the bargaining chip was one of his own.

Finally he spoke, "What purpose does my mate serve for you?" He needed answers and time...time would be good.

TOM!

What?! Can't you see I'm busy? I'm trying to save your life. Tom fought to keep a neutral expression, though inwardly he was both amused and irritated.

Is that what you're trying to do? You're not doing a good job of it.

Shut it!

Shut it, echoed a mocking tone. No, I don't think I will.

Now, is not the time, Potter...

Actually, it's Potter-Riddle, or did you forget so quickly....sweetheart.

James coughed, drawing Tom's attention back to him. A low growl erupted from Tom's chest. "Answer my question."

"I want to claim him for myself," James replied simply, he inhaled deeply catching an earthy scent that could only belong to the other, still unconscious creature. "What are you?" His interest was captured by the being in front of him. If the barrier that had appeared before him was anything to go by, this being wasn't normal.

"You aren't human," Bella observed quietly from the sidelines. She kept one eye on the unknown being and James, while watching Edward for any signs of movement. He had yet to come out of his trance, and she worried that he might not ever.

"How keen of you," Tom said sarcastically, rolling his shoulders. He held his body in a reasonably relaxed position to throw the male vampire off. If he looked weak for the most part, then he would be able to catch the other off guard. Bella frowned. "It seems you are capable of logical reasoning seeing as you almost sold my mate to that bastard over there." He was baiting James, waiting for him to make the first move. Sadly it only caused the male to chuckle softly, eyes locked on the prone form of Hadrian.

Be ready to run, he warned.

I'm not leaving you, Hadrian cried stubbornly. Tom could almost see him crossing his arms childishly in his head, pouting cutely.

You're safety is much more important than my own.

As Tom was lost once more in his thoughts and Hadrian's he didn't pay any attention to outside forces. James saw it as an opportunity to pounce, knocking him to the ground.

Tom!

He winced slightly, trying to push the stronger off his body. The female, he noticed out of the corner of his eye, was frozen. She appeared torn between watching her 'mate' he assumed and fighting off James. It didn't surprise him. He had, after all, interrupted a deal between the two. For all he knew, James could have told her to jump in at a certain time. Yes, she was definitely someone to watch out for.

James leaned down, pining Tom's arms tightly above his head, "He will be mine. I live for anything less."

He sent a shock through his trapped arms to the vampire, smirking as he fell over onto the ground beside him with a groan, "That's if you survive. Which luckily I don't think you will."

--

Almost there, Alice thought nervously, almost...

Yes!, she yelled triumphantly in her head.

"Come on," she called behind her to the others, "They're this way!" She heard the other's pick up their slowed pace, crushing leaves and other debris underneath their feet. "Hurry!"

There they were. Bella stood off to the side, watching as two men, someone who looked very similar to....James. But he's dead, she thought confused. He's dead. She repeated it over and over again as she slowed down so that the three weren't alerted to her presence too soon. It was very worrying because if that person was James than who was it that they killed all those years ago. Unless, of course, James figured out a way to come back to life...

"Alice?"

"Hush," she muttered with vampire speed. Carlisle came up to stand beside her, "We must intervene."

Alice shook her head, "We can't not yet, at least."

"Why not," Jasper asked, he projected his confusion and misunderstanding. "That man there," he pointed to the prone figure underneath James, "He needs our help. And there's Edward."

Esme sniffed dryly, "Edward!" She tried to yell out, but Alice immediately jumped to smother her cries. They couldn't hear them; they couldn't know of their prescence. It was detrimental that they didn't. The future may not have been set in stone, but if they wanted Hadrian to live than they had to be quiet and get to Edward swiftly and unnoticed. She voiced this aloud to the rest of her family.

"What about Hadrian," Jasper narrowed his eyes, "I know that's him. He's in danger." He wondered with slight anger why his mate would chose Edward, an immortal vampire, over the more defenseless bleeding Hadrian, their human brother. "You can't mean to leave him there," he accused.

Alice's eyes widened. "That's not-" she squinted her eyes, "I didn't see that either," she said truthfully, "I didn't!' It wasn't an all that common occurence for her to not see something in her visions, but it was plausible.

"Then we have to get them both, perhaps Edward first, along with Bella," Jasper suggested, crouching low in the forestry. The fight between the two men was becoming faster paced, and Jasper marveled at how the human succeeded in keeping...James?

"Is that who I think it is," he whispered, "He's dead. Alice?" '

"I'm just as shocked."

Carlisle looked between the two vampires in bemusement, "Who?"

Alice answered in one word:

"James."

"He's dead," Carlisle repeated quickly. His face betrayed nothing as he looked back out to the fight. He could see the resemblance, but there was a sincere difference. The James he knew, had blonde hair, not black, and was much paler. "I don't think we're seeing the whole picture."

"What do you mean, darling," Esme inquired, her eyes nervous as they remained glued on her son's still figure.

"Well, I don't think vampires can dye their hair," he pointed out the black hair, recalling the blonde hair he used to have, "And another thing is that he's much tanner, and slighter than the James we burned."

Once pointed out, Alice recognized the difference. "But then, who is that? Because he sure as hell looks like the James we all knew."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Jasper said. The others agreed, but alas it was placed on the back burner as they began to plan quickly.

--

Tom, you idiot! Once I regain full consciousness, I'm whopping your butt.

You can try, he ducked to avoid a kick to his head, the strength behind it was sure to break his neck, which was pain to heal. I doubt it.

You just wait! Hadrian grumbled. You should kick him in the nuts.

Whatever you say, Tom shrugged mentally, mechanically kicking his foot out. He flinched as the vampire groaned out in pain.

He built up power in his hands, his eyes glowing again, this time a golden white as he allowed his powers to overtake his natural mind. "You will be judged." His voice was omnious and echoed out into the forest and road. The air seemed to gain a chill, as the clouds darkened. Bella whimpered, falling further back into covering.

Be careful, Hadrian input worriedly.

James, sensing the upcoming danger, tried to regain his footing, but found himself stuck to the ground on his knees. His eyes glared up at the glowing creature. "Let. Me. Go!"

"You will be judged," Tom repeated breathlessly. He held his hands back out in front of him, "and you have been found..."

He paused, deliberating.

"...guilty."

That's when the screaming started.

--

If any of the Cullens had a heartbeat, they would be bursting out of their chests. The screams had started and they were all shivering from fear. It was a mixture of pain, and suffering, and of every horrid thing they could imagine.

Jasper clenched a fist at his chest, feeling the rapid emotions as if they were his own. So much pain, and suffering. He emitted a soft choked sob, falling onto his knees, his eyes glued to the screaming vampire.

"Jasper!" Alice rushed to his side immediately, patting his face and murmuring soft encouragement, "It's okay, it's almost over, almos over."

--

"Die," Tom hissed. He sucked the vampire's life force away, leaving a faceless husk. The corpse gave one last shudder before coming to a complete rest.

Tomas Emerson Riddle, don't you EVER do that again, Hadrian groaned, opening his eyes slowly. He glared at the smirk on his mate's face, though he could feel one of his own forming. He sat up, gasping out as pain roiled from down his spinal cord. Tom smoothly bent down to pick him up into the safety of his arms.

"It's not my fault that I have the need to protect you."

True, but that doesn't mean you need to do this, Hadrian argued, gesturing animatedly to the dry husk of a vampire. Neither noticed five vampires creeping closer to them, or at least Hadrian didn't. He nuzzled his face into Tom's neck breathing in the heady scent of vanilla and tropical smells that just was his mate.

"Who are you," Tom demanded, startling an almost relaxed Hadrian in his arms. Tom's hold tightened as he huddled him closer to his own body, eyes suspicious of the other vampires. Hadrian looked through his fringe, cringing as he recognized four of the five vampires. He met their eyes indifferently, landing on the comforting one's he knew so well.

"Jasper," he whispered, nudging Tom to put him down, or did so quickly.

Can he be trusted? Tom stood nearby as the vampire, Jasper, breezed to stand in front of Hadrian. For a moment, there was an intense silence, in which Hadrian's eyes bored into those of Jasper's. They stayed that way, the others staring in fascination, except for curious Bella.

Yes, yes, he can.

As soon as he sent the thought, Jasper found himself with an armful of Hadrian, who kissed both cheeks exuberantly. Jasper gripped Hadrian's waist securely, enjoying the animation in which his brother signed to him.

Tom observed interested in the new developments. He had heard brief mentions of a Jasper from when his mate had first appeared before him, but after that such descriptions dwindled to nil. It was nice to see that he hadn't forgotten Jasper after all.

"I missed you so much," Jasper pressed his face into Hadrian's neck, breathing deeply. "So much, little brother." He paused, peering at Hadrian as though he was just noticing him for the first time. He glanced down at his brother's hands in thought. "Why are you using your hands to speak?" He attempted to belay the shock and fear in his voice, but Hadrian caught it anyway.

'Many things have happened since I've been gone. One of them being I lost the use of my voice,' he explained vaguely. The subject of his voice was a troubling, and somewhat heartbreaking one. A story he only wanted to tell once. He looked behind Jasper's back to Alice, Carlisle, and Esme. He kept his face stoic, showing no emotion. 'Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen,' he greeted. Esme looked ready to burst into tears at any moment, and Carlisle nodded his head in shock.

'Alice.' His hand movements were sharp, calculated, impersonal.

"Harry." She cocked her head to the side, sending a meaningful glance to Jasper, who shook his head curtly, tightening his grip on Hadrian.

Hadrian frowned at the use of his old name, 'That's not my name anymore.'

At the mention of his name, his emotions went haywire: sadness, anger, nostalgia, pain...Jasper tilted Hadrian' s face upwards. "Be calm," he said simply.

He smiled at the recognition in Hadrian's eyes. It was an something he used to always tell him to avoid using his powers. For some reason, it always worked to calm Hadrian down, no matter the situation.

"Who are you," Bella cut in, interrupting the moment. She had her hands on her hips. By now, everyone had forgotten the still unconscious Edward before them.

'Hadrian Potter-Riddle,' he signed proudly, smiling appreciatively at a smug Tom.

"I'm sorry I don't understand sign language," Bella said coldly. The other Cullens shot her warning glares. Hadrian was unfazed. Instead her focused intently on the air in front of him. A few seconds later, golden letters appeared in front of him.

'My name is Hadrian Potter-Riddle,' he inscribed in the air. 'We've never met before.'

Bella's face looked unsure, "I'm Bella Cullen, Edward's wife." Though it sounded polite, Hadrian knew she was laying claim; but it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. Of course, one never knew how they would react to the person their ex- cheated on them with.

'So you are my new sister in law,' he noted. 'Rosalie mentioned Edward was getting married.' Though it was a lie, it was one he needed to make. Hadrian wanted it to be clear to the others that Edward's and his relationship was in the past. There was no returning, no going back to normal, none of that. He moved on, and Edward had done the same.

He realized then that the aforementioned vampire was absent. 'Where's Rosalie?'

--

"Maybe you can help me," a dark voice hissed, "I seemed to be in search of something....precious."

Amber eyes sneered down at her, and she recognized the male vampire as one of the Volturi. Panic spread through her body, freezing her motions. Why would the Volturi be in Forks…again?

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, keeping all apprehension out of her voice.

Hands pushed her further into the brick wall, and it actually hurt, which should have been impossible except for the fact that this was another vampire.

"I think you do," the voice muttered thoughtfully," but you're afraid…so you won't tell me." The vampire stated the last part, but Rosalie took it as a question.

"No," she answered, "I have no idea what you are referring to, but I hope that you find whatever it is you're looking f-"

The vampire slapped a hand over Rosalie's mouth, "You're talking to much," he looked around, as if sensing someone in the shadows. He nodded once, turning to smirk at her. As quickly as the vampire had taken hold of her he let her slide out of his grasp.

"Sorry about that," he apologized.

"Who the hell are you," she snarled, taking up a defensive stance.

"Demetri of the Volturi."

Another cliffy. What's going on, mhm? Next chapter: more Rosalie/Demetri interaction. I probably tamed her down a bit, but it's all in how I view her character. I don't see her as someone to attack without getting all the answers and some of you might disagree with that. I'll try not to keep you waiting long.

XD ameths