Hey just a quick note. I decided to break the book up, Breaking Dawn style, I figured that Jacob needed to be heard and I kinda like writing for Jacob. Can you please let me know if this is a good idea or not. I just think that too much of the story is left unsaid if it stays only from Renesmees' pov.

Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Casualties of War

I backed away from what was left of our ragged little army; noticing as I did, the remaining members of our troupe were there as well, it seemed that Alice and Luca had been the only casualties. I glanced towards Voltera and was amazed to see a thick stream of purple smoke floating above the city, amazement flooded me and I wondered who, in that amazingly strong contingent of vampires, had been destroyed by the force that was my family. Daddy wrapped his arm around my shoulders and guided me into the house, as he did he whispered “Aro, Renata, Demetri, and Felix are gone. The others, or what is left of the others, are probably regrouping but I think the fact that we have destroyed three of their strongest fighters  and one of their oldest and most powerful that they may decide against coming after us. To know this for certain we need to get Alice back to full strength. She will need at least a couple of weeks to heal and there are no guarantees that she will ever be the same. How’s Jacob?” I started guiltily because I had momentarily forgotten Jacob in me grief over Alice, I sighed and said “He is resting. I don’t know how badly he is hurt or how badly they mistreated him and I need Carlisle to check him over to be sure but he seems okay.” As we reached the door my father hissed in disbelief “They have come for us already.” And it took me several seconds, in which they had group themselves into battle formation, before I realised and said in a squeaky voice I barely recognised as my own “No! It isn’t them, it’s Alyssa. She helped us escape. Without her we wouldn’t have made it out alive.” I could tell by the looks on their faces that they didn’t believe me so I said to my father “I’m serious, you of all people would know if I was lying to you or if she was hiding something.” I watched as my father concentrated on Alyssa’s thoughts and he seemed relieved to hear what he had within them because he said “Renesmee is right she is here to help and with Alice out of commission right now we need all the help we can get; and Alyssa, being able to see the wolves and Renesmee, will come in handy.” I turned away from the rest of the group assembled on the front yard and as I did this Daddy grumbled “She just saw us working together, and I thought Alice was smug when she was right about something and people doubt her, this one is worse.” I chuckled under my breath and continued into the house. The others followed and once we were safely within the walls of our hide-out they separated. Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper carried Alice up the stairs and into one of the rooms on the second floor; Esme, Rosalie, Momma and I went into the front room of the downstairs area and saw to Jake. I watched as Daddy consoled the remaining members of Luca’s pack before welcoming back the stolen members of our pack.

It wasn’t until I sat beside Jake in the relative safety of our hide-out that the anxiety that I had been feeling swamped me. I felt my hands start to shake and that was quickly followed by my entire body; I was shaking so hard that my teeth were clicking together. I felt Momma come and stand beside me and all I wanted was to breakdown and cry but I knew that once I started I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. Her hand rested on my shoulder and her musical voice floated softly to me “It’s gonna be ok. I promise you nothing bad will happen to either you or your baby. Carlisle will make sure of that, we all will make sure of that.” It wasn’t until she mentioned the baby that I had even thought about the small life growing inside of me but once she mentioned it that small life took centre-stage within my thoughts and I started to panic all over again. I truly didn’t think that I was ready to be a Mom, I was barely ready to be a wife, but here I was – both those things and with a husband who had not regained consciousness since we had made it back to base. I dropped my head and stared down at my hand as it lay next to Jacob’s, I was once again struck by the difference in our colouring and the difference in our size. It was as I sat staring down at his large hand that it suddenly moved and his hand covered mine. I started and my eyes flew to the face of the man I loved. He smiled up at me and whispered “Hey Nessie.” I sat stunned for a second before tears fell onto my cheeks and I threw my body over his, sobbing as I let go of the pain, anger, fear and distress that I had been feeling. He held me as I cried and it was only once my tears subsided that I raised my head, it was as I did this that I caught the grimace of pain he couldn’t quite hide. I pulled away from him and said “Oh my God Jake, I am so sorry. Where is it hurting? What can I do? Is there anything you need?” I could hear the hysteria creeping into my voice and I forced myself to quash it. My hands fluttered like the wings of a moth as I sat uselessly beside him, he moved and captured both of my wrists in one of his hands and said “That’s enough Ness. I am fine, nothing a few hours won’t fix. I want to know how you are, how both of you are.” I dropped my gaze and Mumbled “I’m fine, honestly.”

A sound swept through the room, the sound of a light breeze, and I looked away from Jacob in time to see my mother closing the door to the room we were in to give us some privacy, pointless really considering their hearing but I appreciated it all the same. I sat staring at the door for longer than strictly necessary but I couldn’t bring myself to look at Jake without showing him the fear and distress I was feeling. I had forgotten that our hands were still touching. “I’m sorry for doing this to you Ness.” As his whispered words reached my ears I turned to look at him, the questioning look on my face made him chuckle before he grimaced in pain. He raised one eyebrow and looked pointedly down at our joined hands and I closed my eyes with frustration, I smiled with false cheerfulness before saying “Jake it isn’t your fault that the Volturi blind-sided us. How were you supposed to know? I am just glad that you’re back and in one relative piece.” I could hear the out of control edge to my words and I knew that Jacob heard them too. He smiled sadly up at me and said “Honey you know that isn’t why I’m apologising. I should have taken more care with you; I shouldn’t have put you in this situation, I knew better but the only thing I can say is that I love you and I will be here for you; no matter what.” I dropped my eyes half way through his speech and I was only aware of crying when I watched a crystalline drop hit his chest, quickly followed in rapid succession by another and another. He shifted into a sitting position, completely ignoring my protests, and gathered me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his body as far as I could and clung tightly to him. This was what I had feared I would never get to do again and I knew that he had been feeling the same way. We clung to each other for several minutes until I heard my father and the others coming down from upstairs. I pulled away from Jake and sighed loudly “Alice.” Jake looked puzzled before his eyes clouded in grief and he asked “She got hurt?” I nodded and said “Badly but not that badly that they can’t put her back together.” He swallowed and nodded his head before swinging his legs over the edge of the lounge he had been lying on. I yelped “What are you thinking? Lay back down this instant!” He smiled and said “I can’t just lie here; I need to thank your family and mine for rescuing us, especially considering the cost.” I stuttered and tried to push him back down but it didn’t work, even in his extremely weakened state he was so much stronger than I was. I helped him stand in a semi-upright position before putting his arm over my shoulder, he looked down amusedly before saying “Honey that isn’t really gonna help.” I glared at him and said “Humour me please. I want you to lean on me. You have been through a lot in the last couple of days.” He smiled before dropping a kiss on my mouth and a hand to my stomach; a stomach which jumped and rolled at his touch. I stared mutely up at him as he said “I love you, both, very much.” I shook my head and said “What if Aro was wrong and I’m not pregnant?” I was shocked when a very wolfish grin spread across his face before he said “Then we’ll have to practise until you are.” I felt a hot blush flood my cheeks and I had to look away from the passion in his eyes. I cleared my throat and said brusquely “Since you insist on being up, let’s go and see how the rest of my family are faring.” I felt his chuckle as it vibrated through his body.

We walked across the room and we had barely made it to the doorway before an intense feeling of despair and pain washed over us. Jake looked down at me asking “Jasper?” I nodded saying “He can’t control it. He is so scared and angry and frustrated that there isn’t more that he can do. His pain and fury are cloaking the entire house, the next couple of days are gonna be hell around here considering that we were already on edge and fearful but having it magnified… let’s just say that emotions are gonna run crazy if Jazz doesn’t snap out of it soon.” and with his arm wrapped around me we walked into the kitchen. We had just cleared the threshold when there was a fierce clashing sound, like a rock slide, and I panicked thinking the Volturi had attacked. I was pulled away from Jake and I cried out in surprise. It took my fried brain a second to realise that the sound had been my Dad and Emmett slamming into Jasper as he lunged for Jacob. I looked to where Jacob stood leaning against the door frame, his face set in a mask of surprise and horror. I broke free of Momma’s restraining hold and crossed to Jake’s side, when I got there I turned towards Jasper and snarled “What the hell are you thinking?” I touched Jacob to make sure he was okay and I saw the slight nod of his head to reassure me of his well-being, once I was sure he was okay I advanced on Jasper. I stalked across the kitchen to where he had been slammed down into a chair, held in place by the large strong hands of Dad, Emmett, and Carlisle. I bent over him and all the frustration, anger, pain, and fear I had been feeling on my own- magnified by his own emotions- exploded. I opened my mouth and was stunned to hear the screaming words I threw at Jasper. “I know you’re scared and angry but attacking us is stupid, Alice knew what she was getting into and she would be extremely pissed at you for acting this way. I can’t believe you would attack Jacob, this isn’t his fault. He is a victim here, so are the other wolves and so is Alice, so snap out of this state of mind. If you want to know if Alice is gonna be ok ask Alyssa.” I stopped when I felt Jacob’s arms come around my waist, in gentle restraint, because it was then that I realised what I had been doing. I looked back at Jasper to see his head thrown back and a stunned expression on his face. There were several seconds of silence before Emmett said insultingly “That is a good idea and how come we didn’t think about asking Alyssa?” I shot him a dangerous look before stalking past the chair that my family had Jasper strapped to, without another glance at their captive, and went and stood beside Carlisle. I reached out a hand and touched his wrist, he cocked his head to assess the whole Jasper situation before letting him go and preceding me back towards the door to Jacob.

He stopped in front of Jake and said “I would like to examine you to make sure that there will be no lasting damage from your time spent in captivity.” Jacob rolled his eyes but kept his smart ass remark to himself instead he said “Where do you want me?” I sucked in a breath at the images that question created, even while his body was bruised and beaten I found him beautiful. I heard a sharp intake of breath and a low “Renesmee! I don’t think that was what Carlisle meant.” from my Daddy but I couldn’t bring myself to be ashamed of finding my husband beautiful. I just rolled my eyes and followed Carlisle and Jacob through the lower rooms of the house and up the stairs to the room where Alice lay; quiet and unmoving. Even up here a whole house away from Jasper the air was thick with fear and pain, I guess it was amazing the strength of his gift, something that had only been muted before. It was hard to see her lying so still when all I had ever known was her boundless energy and constant movements, but to add to that Jazz’s feelings I was emotionally overwhelmed. I moved closer to her side as Carlisle helped Jake sit on a spare bed, I could see the placed where her body had been torn apart and ugly red welts were it had been rejoined. I sat beside her and lent over kissing her face saying “I’m sorry Auntie Alice, you never wanted to come and you knew deep down that something wasn’t right, but thank you for helping.” There was no response and I felt my eyes well with tears before I took a deep breath to try and control my emotions. I shifted into a standing position and crossed to Carlisle side as he treated Jacob. I reached the bedside just as he slid a needle into Jake’s veins, my stomach heaved and my head spun in increasingly darkening circles. I moaned, the sound drawing both sets of their eyes to my face, I opened my mouth to tell them that I was okay but nothing came out and darkness overtook my vision.

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY
Ally or Enemy

Relief so strong it almost buckled my legs, flooded through me and I felt tears well in my eyes. I blinked them away so I could follow Alyssa’s quick furtive movements through the unfamiliar city. We skirted the battle and I gave a brief glance towards my fighting family, it was hard to see them fighting for us as hard as they were but I knew that if I was to disobey their orders that I would put them in more danger than if I got the prisoners to safety and waited for them to come back to me. As we followed Alyssa I felt a twinge of apprehension as we made our way from the battle, we seemed to be heading further into Voltera instead of out of the city. I was about to say something when Alyssa stopped and spoke “If we exit the city here than we have a greater chance of getting out alive than if we had’ve used the gate you entered through. You might want to check on your mate he is about to wake.” I swivelled on the balls of my feet in time to see Seth and Cameron struggling to hold a waking Jacob within their weakened grasps. I pushed past the others until I was standing beside Jake, touching his face gently I whispered “Hey baby, relax, we’re okay.” His dark eyes rolled within his head as he struggled to focus on me, his voice was rough as he husked “Nessie? Oh honey I am so glad to see you. Are you okay? What happened with the Volturi? Where are we, where is the rest of our family?” I huffed out a breath and said “I am fine. I am a lot stronger than you all give me credit for, the rest of our family are fighting for our escape and Alyssa here has been kind enough to help us find an out. We don’t have time for anything now” I said as I watched his eyes darken the way they did when he was feeling strongly about something but I needed to stop him because we really didn’t have the time to have any deep and meaningful conversations right then. “We will talk but first we need to get out of this blasted city and if you’re up to it we could use your help.” He shifted away from the helping hands of the other two men and wrapped me in a bear hug before setting me from him and saying, over the top of my head, to Alyssa “Thank you for helping us, now let’s get out of here.”

I looked over my shoulder into Alyssa’s watchful face; her red gaze seemed more contemplative than before maybe even saddened. She cocked her head in a way I was fast becoming used to as her ‘seeing’ what was coming. I tensed for barely a second before she said “Come, we can’t stay here anymore. They haven’t noticed that we’ve bailed but it won’t take them long to realise that your family are only diverting them and not actually fighting to kill.” A wry chuckle fell from her lips and with a shake of her head she muttered “A clan of vampires only pretending to fight, what the hell?” I sighed and said “I know it can be a lot but we will explain it all to you, I promise.” I walked back to the head of our posse and touched her shoulder gently. “That is the first time since I became a vampire that anyone has shown kindness.” even with the vampiric hearing I had I barely caught the words she spoke.

We exited Voltera and made our way cautiously around the outer edges of the city. The going was slow and I was becoming frustrated with the amounts of stops that our injured troupe required. Jake had slipped in and out of consciousness often and it was Alyssa’s visions that stopped him from hitting the ground, she always gave a heads’ up when his strength failed. I stayed at the head of our group, distancing myself from Jacob so I wouldn’t be tempted to ignore our mission and sit staring at his face, re-learning its beauty. I could feel his gaze on the back of my head, when he was conscious, and felt somewhat relieved when he wasn’t. We covertly made it three quarters of the way around the walled city before Alyssa stopped and hissed “They know that you have escaped! We need to blaze, move it!” I felt adrenalin rush through my system and it replaced my previous annoyance. I knew we were close to where we had entered Voltera because I could once again smell that overwhelming sickly sweet scent from before we entered the gates. I swallowed the nausea and focused on getting further away from the waring vampires. I took the lead once we were on the path I remembered from my hunt earlier in the day. The ailing werewolves kept good time and we made it to our base camp without incident.

The sight of the two storey, white stucco building that we had been calling home made my heart beat a bit faster; we shepherded everyone inside and locked the door, though we all knew that if any of the Volturi wanted in that the locked door wouldn’t stop them. The second we were over the threshold the emotions the werewolves had contained exploded; Leah rushed at Cameron and threw herself into his embrace, he held her tight and whispered gently into her ear. Alyssa sagged against the door and dropped her head back to stare up at the cracking paint on the ceiling before sinking down to the floor and burying her head into her knees. Antoinette and Vanessa hugged each other tightly, crying softly on each others’ shoulder. Seth deposited Jacob onto the chaise lounge in the sitting room before coming over to me and gripping my upper arms tightly, I recoiled slightly as his grip tightened. His eyes were wide and I could see the fear in them as he asked “Hayley? Is she alright? Did they hurt her?” I winced slightly as his fingers flexed but I answered him “She is fine, she felt some discomfort when they hurt you but that was all. Seth can you let go of my arms please, I might need them.” He dropped his gaze to where his hands were wrapped around my upper arms so tightly that my fingers were tingling, he looked surprised and said “Bugger, sorry ‘bout that Nessie.” before loosening his grip and rubbing the area his hands had been covering. I laughed and said “Don’t worry ‘bout it, I totally understand. Can you stand guard? I wanna go be with Jake when he wakes again.” He nodded and went and stood the opposite side of the door to Alyssa.

I walked into the sitting room, my eyes immediately going to the figure lying on the lounge. I hurried to his side and sunk down onto the carpet, taking his hand into mine. I kissed each grazed knuckle and took a mental note of all the cuts and bruises that covered his body. I don’t think my brain allowed me to see fully the damage that they had done to him in order for me to be able to function enough to escape but now that I could see the damage a rage the likes of which I had never know washed over me. I rose fluidly from the floor and rushed for the door, I reached for the handle and had the door opened before strong arms wrapped around me from behind. I didn’t recognise the scent of the person holding me and I growled low in the back of my throat “Let me go before I rip your arms off.” I heard Alyssa’s snort and I relaxed slightly. She didn’t let me go though; she just moved her arms so they weren’t crushing my stomach. Seth stepped in front of me and asked incredulously “Where the hell are you going?” I looked pleadingly up into his deep brown eyes and said “They hurt him Seth! What if it was Hayley? Wouldn’t you want some payback?” He shook his head and said “I know what they did to him. How do you think it felt to watch them do it to him? I understand that you want payback but I’m not gonna let you go back there, it’s a suicide mission. You saved him, go back in there and wait for him to wake up and when he does kiss him and think about how happy you are that he is safe.”

A logical part of my brain knew that what he was saying was true but my feelings were so much stronger than my logic that I snarled “NO! I want to rip them apart for doing this!” I felt Alyssa’s arms tighten slightly at the look that Seth shot her but I fought hard against their bind. I struggled until Seth said “If you have no regard for your life or for how much pain Jake will be in when he wakes up and you’re not here than think about your baby.” His words shocked me into stillness and I stared mutely up at him. He grinned wryly down at me and said “I was awake for Aro’s little show. Please don’t leave, I don’t think I could stop Jake if he wanted to go after you and in his condition he would surely die. Not to mention that I wouldn’t be a very good Uncle if I let you take my little niece or nephew back into a fight that you don’t need to be in.” I sagged into Alyssa’s embrace and she quickly passed me off to Seth who hugged me tightly as I cried out everything I had been feeling since we had escaped the Volturi. He held me for a long time before Alyssa’s voice broke the silence “Your family are coming.” I leapt from Seth’s embrace and ripped the door open. Battles are fierce and there are always casualties but when your family are strong and immortal you never think anything could hurt them. All I saw was my family, in their entirety, walking towards me. It took me several seconds to realise that they were far from being okay. They were smeared with blood and soot, my fractured brain had trouble processing why they would be covered with soot, I focused on each of them singularly; the first to draw my attention was my mother, she looked haggard but whole. My Dad was second and I sucked in a ragged breath as I realised that he was limping and carrying his left arm cradled against his chest. Carlisle and Esme were next and I was relieved to see that they seemed completely intact; the same went for Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper. It was then that my gaze fell to the make-shift stretcher they carried. Lying in pieces was the loving figure of Alice, she looked tiny and at first I couldn’t understand what I was seeing, I didn’t want to comprehend that I would never see her smile or go vague with ‘sight’. I must have made some small noise because the saddened faces of my family glanced my way. I raced across the small square of grass that constituted the front yard of our base camp; I wanted to get closer, to help in some small way – vampires can only ‘die’ if they are dismembered and their remains burned. I was stopped short by an overwhelming feeling of desolation and pain, my eyes flew back to Jasper and I could see in their depths a barely controlled fury. My father stepping in front of me saying “Renesmee don’t. We will try and help her but we have no guarantee that it’ll work, we think we have all of her but ...” I heard Jasper’s snarl ripple towards us and I knew that he wasn’t actually angry at us but the ferociousness of that snarl reminded me that for a long time Jasper was a trained killer and that he hadn’t used his conscious to determine his life, his actions had been fuelled by greed and gluttony. I felt anger and pain that wasn’t mine and I knew then that Jasper had lost control, he couldn’t control the emotions around him because his own were in such a bad shape. I wanted to hug him, to help him get through what needed to be done but I also knew, instinctively, that this was something he had to deal with on his own.

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

See What Happens When You Double Cross Others

Luca stepped forward and barked a grating laugh “We don’t care if they kill you, why the hell do we care if a group of vampires take out another group of vampires? We only care enough to get our family back and then you can go about ripping one another to shreds. I admit that it was easier to get along with you than I had expected, you don’t smell as bad as these,” she gestured with her head towards the Volturi “do but nonetheless we still find you disgusting and we want nothing to do with you.” Turning to Aro she spoke with quiet reverence, which even to my ears sounded forced and insincere, saying “We have held up our end of the bargain, please release our family and we will leave you in peace as long as we catch none of you on our land.” She had barely finished speaking before Aro begun to laugh, his chuckle dry like autumn leaves scraping against the pavement, he raised one eyebrow and said “Let you go? I thought you were clever, you will never leave here. Demetri” Before we could speak, or react, Demetri had sprung forward; the knife he had held at Jacob’s throat glinting in his hand, he flicked his wrist and in the space of a second Luca’s head was severed from her body. Antonio and Joseph howled in stunned pain and lurched in fury at the vampire who had just decapitated their sister.

Chaos erupted and I found myself released from momma’s protective embrace, she placed me at her side, her lips quivering with the speed at which she spoke to me “Go and get Jacob and the others, we will take care of the Volturi. They are the main concern. I couldn’t stand to lose either one of you, so get yourselves out of here. Be careful because he is too weak to protect you if something should happen.” She kissed my cheek and flung herself into the fracas. I made my way quietly across to Jacob, he lay unconscious against the flagged stones of the courtyard, I knelt down at his head and tapped his face lightly with my hand, mindful of the broken bones inflicted by Aro “Come on Jake, wake up. Please! Come on! Please Jake, we need you.” I touched the side of his face and let what Aro had said run through my mind, if he was telling the truth than I needed Jake more than ever. Still Jake didn’t move, panic was starting to well within me and I felt my breathing accelerate and my mind start to malfunction. How in the world was I supposed to get a person as big as Jacob out of this vampire guarded city and to safety, not to mention leave my family to fight when they were extremely outnumbered.

I darted away from Jacob and over to where Leah, Seth and the other captives were. I was relieved to see that they were all conscious at least, drugged to their eyeballs, but awake and willing to try and help me get them away from this vile place. I worked on the bonds that were holding them against the wall, iron chains that bit into their flesh and created welts and in some cases cuts if they fought hard against their restraints. I had complete faith in my family but I knew I that I needed help to get out of here alive. I put my head against Seth’s ear and whispered “What’s wrong with Jacob? Why is he so much more affected by what they gave you?” Seth, who had more energy than was normal for any one person to have, stared listlessly up at me before saying hoarsely “Because he is the Alpha he took more subduing, they doubled the dose that they had used on us and dosed him more regularly. He has been barely conscious in the last couple of days.” I heard my whimper of disbelief but I hardened my mind to the pain that Jacob and the others had been through and focused my entire strength on freeing them. I gripped the chains that held the wolf-pack to the wall and ripped it out of the stone with an ease that surprised even me. He rolled to his side and pushed himself up onto his knees to help me free Leah, I was frustrated at their weakness because I knew my own and I also knew the strength of the vampires around us. I buried my frustration as deeply as I could and helped Seth free Leah and the members of the Italian wolf pack; though I was tempted to leave them tied up because of their role in bringing us here. That petty thought and my hesitation lasted barely a second before I helped Seth free the other wolves, there were two female and a male wolf and I was surprised to see Leah crawl to the side of the male and tenderly touch his cheek, I had never seen her show affection toward anyone besides Sue and Seth and it threw me momentarily before the sound of Jacob moaning snagged my attention fully.

I motioned to Seth and he crawled to my side, I waited for him to put his head close to mine, mainly to keep our plans from the super hearing of the vampires around us, when he got so close that I could see every individual hair on his face I whispered “I need to know if you and the others are up to helping us escape. I can’t get Jacob out of here because he is just too big. If you are up to helping me carry him out then those are our orders. Get out and don’t worry about the others.” I saw the surprise flicker across Seth’s face and I heard the suck of air as he inhaled sharply, indicating that he didn’t like leaving the rest of my family any more than I did, I nodded my head and whispered “I know, I hate it too but if we hang around we will be a liability and we will end up getting one or all of them killed.” He sighed deeply before saying “They didn’t give the rest of us much attention, they just drugged us when they remembered so we still have most of our strength just not enough to take them on or phase, so tell us what you want us to do and we’ll do it.” I smiled grimly and said “I want you and the other male to get Jacob and head out the gate we entered in, don’t stop! Leah and the other two females will be directly behind you. I will bring up the rear.” at this Seth’s head automatically started shaking but I spoke over his objection “I am the only one who isn’t drugged and I can move quick enough to escape. Just concentrate on getting the others out and I will look after myself. No arguments!” he sighed and said “Fine but if Jacob wakes enough to realise what is happening he will tear me a new one.” I showed him my teeth and said “If you don’t do what I’ve asked I will tear you a new one!” he chuckled but nodded his head. He moved away from me and towards the remaining hostages and I went back to Jacob.

I was so focused on getting out of Voltera that I had unconsciously forgotten about the raging war that was being played out around me. I was violently reminded of this fact as Alice went flying over my head, snarling and snapping at Demetri who had leapt after her. I gasped as they slammed into the building opposite me with enough force to crack the exterior, sending bits of brick and cement flying through the air; I crouched over Jacob protecting him from the debris. I felt myself wince as the detritus sliced into my back but I ignored the pain and the wet slickness of blood as it slid down my spine and pulled Jake into a sitting position, he stirred but didn’t regain consciousness and I couldn’t help wondering if he was ever going to come to. A small sound behind me had me spinning into a defensive crouch, baring my teeth and snarling low in the back of my throat, the sight of three scared humans and two slightly incredulous ones had me relaxing my stance and allowing them access to the prone figure I had been protecting.

Seth and the other male, who had introduced himself as Cameron, gathered Jacob up off the dirty road and with Leah, Antoinette and Vanessa, the other female wolves, heading up our pathetic looking rescue team and me bringing up the rear we made a covert attempt to flee the carnage that Voltera had become. We stuck to the darkness of the walls and I allowed myself the luxury of a sigh of relief as we neared the gate, it was short lived when our way was suddenly blocked by the slight figure of Alyssa. My little band of escapees paused and looked back at me to see what I wanted to do, I hesitated because she was so new to this life and I didn’t want to kill her if I had a choice; that thought  gave me pause, could I destroy her? Even if I wanted to, I didn’t know if I had the strength to do it but she was stopping our departure and that meant that she was putting Jacob in danger and I couldn’t have that. I moved to the front of our posse and stood protectively between them and her, she cocked her head inquisitively to one side before saying slowly “I can see that you will do anything to protect these people and even though I can’t see why, I respect you for that.” She raised her slim shoulders in an eloquent shrug before continuing “But Aro made me and I am loyal.” As she spoke I was struck with an idea; moving closer to Alyssa, the various sounds of warning coming from those behind me made the skin at the back of my neck prickle but I ignored them and concentrated on my thoughts, I held out my hand and said “You know what I want to show you and you can see that I’m not lying to you. You’ve seen how we live, you’ve seen how much we love one another, and we can show you how to live your life without the need to take human lives. Please I can see that you aren’t like the others and I would like to get these people out of harms’ way; I know the loyalty that you feel and I can see that you feel torn between them and the life that my family represents.” Alyssa contemplated me silently before saying softly “I know where you’re coming from and I know that I can trust you but what of the dogs that you are trying to help escape?  Can you promise me that they won’t be hunting me in the hours, days, weeks, and centuries ahead?” I dragged a breath into lungs that refused to co-operate, I knew that our escape hinged on getting this girl to help us leave. “They won’t hunt you as long as you aren’t hunting humans. You can come back to the States with us and we will help you assimilate into our lifestyle.” I stopped speaking again and waited precious seconds for her to speak again, when she took longer than I hoped she would I gave up my dignity and did the only thing I knew that I had left, I begged “Please Alyssa, I am having a baby. You saw that, surely you wouldn’t let them kill me and I can’t raise this baby on my own. I need Jacob, we need each other. The others are my family, I ...” Alyssa cut across me and said “Sheesh you are such a drama queen, I admit that I am curious about how you live your life, I don’t know if I’d cut it but I want to see if I can. Aro was so dead set about how you needed to be taught a lesson, never got the feeling that you were dangerous. So let’s blow this pop stand and get you to safety so your other family members don’t hunt me down and rip out my throat for not helping you.” She turned her red eyes on us.

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

To Prepare For War You Need To Be Prepared To Lose

As we assembled in the front yard of the house that we had commandeered I was amazed at how relaxed the other pack of wolves had become in the short time that they had been with us, less than a day and they seemed comfortable besides the fact that the smell of vampiric skin apparently burned their nostrils. It seemed wrong somehow and made me edgier than I already was because of their smell but I avoided thinking about this near my father for the simple fact that we needed them to make sure our plan succeeded. We were given our final plans by Jasper, due to his military training, and then we made our way to the gates of Voltera and the waiting Volturi. As we neared the outer wall I heard nothing but the sounds of a sleeping city and nothing seemed untoward.  I watched my vampire family separate only to link up with a wolf partner, a twinge of unease again slid down my spine and settled in my stomach, we were going in as a group but if we got separated than we were to stay with our partner and escape to the safety of base camp. As we marched on the gate we were surprised as it swung open and allowed us access. We walked through the open portal and were greeted by the complete Volturi guard, the sight of the entire guard facing our poultry defence was intimidating to say the least, alongside their guard, lying on the street, were the people we had come to rescue and the sight of them bolstered our confidence. The piercing sweet scent that clouded my senses was overwhelming and I felt myself dry-heave.

I waited for someone to speak and wasn’t at all surprised to hear the high reedy voice of Aro, the leader of the Volturi as he addressed our group. “We welcome you to Voltera friends, though I am surprised to see you all here.” The snort my father tried to suppress alerted us to the falseness of Aro’s words, he whispered “Liar!” Carlisle shot my dad a look that clearly said ‘don’t antagonise them’ but I didn’t care. I could see Jacob passed out on the dirty street and the most intense feeling of fury flooded my system and I felt a snarl rip through my chest and ripple through the air, the sound was fierce and it surprised the majority of those standing around me, I found myself bound against Emmett’s chest. I hadn’t noticed him moving and I was stunned to feel his iron grip around me.

Aro and Caius stared at me with amused incredulity while Marcus’ expression did not change from one of indifferent boredom. There was a hiss of disbelief and fury at my attitude which drew my gaze to the small form of Jane who stood just behind Aro, next to his shield Renata, she had her beautiful face twisted in a look of rage and then as we looked on her expression changed to one of peaceful contemplation. Her eyes dropped to the prone form of Jacob and I didn’t need my dad’s harsh “NO!” to know what she was going to do. Suddenly pain ripped through me causing my knees to buckle and an involuntary scream ripped its way from my throat. I forced myself to open my eyes, I could see Jacob’s large form twisting and writhing in pain and even though momma’s shield was protecting the rest of our family from Jane it wasn’t protecting Jake and it didn’t stop the transferred pain that I was feeling. I cried out “Momma! Please!” but before she could do anything Demetri moved forward with a wicked looking knife he knelt beside Jake and Aro said “Uh ah, none of that. Jane that’s enough, Carlisle, you might want to stop your daughter-in-law so that I won’t have to order the death of such an interesting specimen.” My dad growled “Bella, Nessie, stop he actually means it. If you want Jacob and the others safe then stand and listen to what he has to say.” I stopped struggling against Emmett and held my breath as we waited for Aro to play his next hand. I felt a curious calm wash over me as Jasper worked his magic to keep us calm enough that we didn’t do anything rash and endanger those we had come to rescue.

Aro smiled in a smug manner before turning his gaze back to Carlisle and Dad, he raised one thin black eyebrow before saying “Renesmee can you come here please.” I was shocked, to say the least, and it was this shock that made my feet refuse to move. When several milliseconds passed and I didn’t move Aro sighed and said without a trace of the friendliness with which he had greeted us “Now Renesmee, I am fast becoming bored.” I heard the hiss from my family but I heard more clearly the sound of Jacob’s pained gasp “NO!” before he slid into unconsciousness. I hurried forward and went to stand in front of Aro. He reached out his hands and I knew that I had no choice but to place mine within his. He stood staring at me and as every thought I had ever had passed unheard –except by my father- into his brain I waited for him to be finished with me. A slight form with flowing red hair, that reminded me of Frina, came forward; her head bowed and body hunched in on itself, she gently touched Aro on the wrist before hurrying back to her spot in the enemy line. I was dazed when he pulled back his lips over his perfect teeth and hissed a profanity. I leant back away from him, the severity of Aro’s anger threw me and I stumbled back to our side of the invisible line. I looked at my father for some hint of how I had angered Aro but I needn’t have bothered. Aro was speaking again and his voice had returned to the friendly tone he had used earlier. “Ah it seems congratulations are in order.” I looked confused and when I searched everyone else’s face they seemed to be exhibiting the same sense of confusion, the last face I looked into was my father’s and he refused to meet my gaze. I looked at Aro and asked “Why?”

Aro’s reedy laughter rang out across the courtyard but he didn’t answer me, instead he went and crouched down near Jacob. I immediately felt Emmett’s arms around my torso, preventing me from rushing to Jacob’s side, and I struggled until Aro reached out a hand to grab a fist full of my Jacob’s silky hair. He dragged Jacob upright and slapped his face to bring him back to consciousness, I heard the crack as Jake’s jaw broke with the force of the blow, I whimpered and I felt tears running down my face. Only once Jacob’s eyes had opened and he was focusing on Aro did Aro speak again “Good you’re awake.” He shook the hand that had Jacob’s hair wrapped within it and I watched in horror as Jake’s head flopped like a rag-dolls, he laughed again and said “There is something you need to know before you die.” I flinched at the tone Aro used and prayed that he was wrong about the dying thing. I listened as Jacob’s deep voice, even weak from the drugs they had given them to stop them from phasing, asked in his usual smart-alecky tone “What makes you think I care what you have to say?” under any other situation I probably would have laughed but suddenly Aro had the wicked looking knife from before and it was placed lovingly against Jacobs’ neck. Aro snarled and said “Be careful mutt I could end your life with a flick of my wrist, then what would your mate do with your pup?”

The sudden silence was deafening and for about a second after Aro spoke I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying, but the second Jacob gasped and started pleading for Aro to let me go I understood what he had said and I started to laugh. My laughter startled every being in that vicinity and it even drew Aro’s gaze from Jacob. It took me several long seconds to control my laughing enough to say “I think you’re a little off this time Aro. I never thought that, so, I don’t know where you got it but it wasn’t from me.” I laughed again and sniggered “Pregnant, ha, ha, ha. That's hilarious Aro!” So quickly, that I had missed the movement, Demetri was in front of me, snarling. I heard the swift movements of my family as they crowded in and surrounded both Emmett and I. I hissed in disbelief and it stopped my bout of laughter, in the background I could still hear Jacob pleading with Aro to not harm me, I jerked my head back and stared in shock at the ferocious vampire in front of me. He leant forward and snarled “Watch your attitude, freak. It wouldn’t take much to destroy you or the thing you sleep with.” I felt a shudder ripple through me and as I stood scared silent by the fierceness in the ruby-red eyes of the vampires surrounding us, another strong pair of arms replaced the ones around me and I found my gaze blocked by Emmett’s broad back and shoulders. I twisted in the arms of the person holding me and saw the worried look on my mother’s face. I reached out a hand and touched it to my father’s but the second I touched him he jerked away as if stung by my touch.

Aro’s voice sounded from behind the mountain that was Demetri and the large Volturi warrior backed into the line facing us. My family stood waiting for the next shoe to drop; we didn’t have to wait long. “See the thing is my dear Renesmee,” Aro’s voice was whisper quiet and deceptively calm as he continued “there is something your family doesn’t know. Since our last meeting we have acquired” the way he said it actually made it sound as if they had purchased whatever it was that he was talking about “a new member to our clan. Like Alice she can see the future, but unlike Alice she isn’t limited to only being able to see others like us or humans’, Alyssa can you come here?” The tiny girl, there was no other way to describe her, who had touched his wrist seconds before stepped out from behind him and looked curiously at our assembled group. She had a street savvy air about her; a feeling that she was only playing at being submissive, her face held fear tinged with frustration at being treated like a possession, she didn’t say anything as she just touched her hand lightly to Aro’s before stepping further back into the group behind her.

Aro watched as my family tried to figure out what it was that he had meant, his head cocked contemplatively to the side, his ruby red eyes travelling leisurely over our assemble group waiting for his meaning to sink in. It was my dad that said “She can see the wolves and she can see Nessie.” His tone was flat and carried nothing in it. I shot Jacob another look as he lay huddled against cobbled street, I pulled against the arms that bound me, eager to escape them and go to his side. My mother tightened her grasp and whispered “Wait Ness.” I quietened down in my attempts to escape and focused my sole attention on Aro. He seemed to be warming to his role as ringmaster in this strange circus, he moved further towards our group and, protected by Renata, he stopped in front of me and said “She can see you, Renesmee, and do you know what she sees happening in the near future? No? Give up? You, she sees you, having a little wolf cub. I’m surprised at you, considering you had actually thought about this. Back in Forks after Billy died.” I heard myself growl “Don’t say his name.” But Aro had continued to speak as if not interested in the topic “And again while on your honeymoon.” I growled “You have no idea what you’re talking about. You are a nut case.” I was stunned to realise I was screaming and even though I was surrounded by strong vampires Aro lashed out and slapped my face hissing “Don’t speak to me in that tone, you need to learn some respect.” I looked over at Jacob and watched as he struggled to get to his feet before collapsing back to the ground apparently unconscious. I was so incensed that I hissed back “I’ll show you the respect you earn, I’m not exactly sure what I thought months ago has to do with this absurd notion that I’m pregnant.” Aro moved back slightly and rolled his eyes before saying “In less than three months you will be welcoming a cub into this world and I can’t allow that. I was hoping to get there before this happened, which is why I sent Nahuel but obviously he failed and will be dealt with accordingly, before I was forced to destroy you as well. You are so unique that I am hesitant to kill you but since you gave yourself to the abhorrent creature huddling on the dirty street I have had to rethink my position.”

Aro paused in his rant and I reeled from his revelation and the fact that he seemed intent on killing us, I shot a look at my father and saw the tense set of his jaw and knew, without him telling us, that we were in deep trouble and if we made it out of this alive it would be miraculous. It was then that I thought of the wolves, we had six gigantic wolves on our side. The wolves existed solely to destroy vampires, it was as this uplifting thought shot like a falling star through my head that Aro spoke again “Ah, as for the team you have assembled to help you recover your pack there is something you don’t, well didn’t, know.” He smiled again and it was a chillingly cold smile, a serial killer smile and we all looked expectantly at my dad who said in a flat monochromatic tone “They’re in on it. They were told that we were the bad guys and that the Volturi needed their help in destroying a dangerous clan, one that had enslaved others of their kind; us.” I gasped and whirled to face the trio of wolves that had slowly made their way to stand away from us and more towards the Volturi; I stepped towards them, unmindful of the fact that I was still restrained by my mother’s arms, and snarled “What the hell are you thinking? Surely after spending the last few days with us you have realised that what they had told you was wrong! You have seen us hunt and you know we don’t hunt people. Don’t you think that, if we had enslaved the wolves that we came here to save, we would have done the same to you? Can’t you see that they used you and if you help them, we all die, and that includes you.”

Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Another Rescue Mission to Italy… Hope We Get There In Time

We flew into Italy less than twenty-four hours later; and for me it had been the longest day in my life. We had called on Hayley and she said that she was physically okay, that she had felt odd but hadn’t experienced any physical pain. This confused me but Carlisle explained it away, saying that the bond between Jacob and I was probably stronger because of the time we had been together, but I wasn’t totally convinced. We waited for the few wolves without familial obligations to arrive from Forks. It turned out to be Brady, Collin and Will; all of who were eager to assist in destroying the vampires who had stolen members of their family. I had suffered several more bouts of ‘transferred pain’ and was being watched closely by my family, especially Carlisle whose concern was noted by my dad. I was exhausted but I was also determined and, even without my fathers’ ability to read minds, my family knew this and they didn’t bring up my exhaustion. After we touched down in Italy we made our way to Voltera. We set up base camp; that was what it was called according to Jasper, on the outskirts of Voltera and went about setting our rescue operation into effect. We were pretty certain that they had at least one wolf within the city because Alice couldn’t see any of the Volturi and the only things, or so she said, that could do that was a Halfling or a wolf, she had trouble seeing others when I was with them, so I guess she was right. We wanted to ascertain if they had all of the wolves hidden within Voltera and since we couldn’t just walk through those imposing city gates and ask and our best offensive weapon was flying blind, so to speak, we sent our next best weapons within the walls of the enemy city; my parents. The minute they left our side I started to pace. Not only did they have the other half of my soul but they might also have my parents, the only consolation was that together they would have advanced warning against danger, thanks to my dad, and against any mental torture –a preferred method of the Volturi - my mother could cover them both but it still didn’t make the fact that they were only two against a legion any easier to swallow. The wolves that were with us made it impossible for Alice to see how this was going to work out and I hadn’t realise until that exact point how much our family relied on her visions to make sure everything would work out.

Speaking of the wolves that were with us, they were still learning to fight the repulsion that was inbred through generation upon generation of fighting our kind rather than working with us, they had remained in human form for the majority of the time they had been with us and I knew that they were itching to cut loose and go for a run. I turned my attention towards them and said “Collin, Brady, Will why don’t you guys go for a hunt. There isn’t anything we can do until my parents get back and even then we’re not sure what we can do, if anything.” Collin, who had assumed the role of Alpha while away from the pack, stood considering me for several long seconds before he spoke “We will go for a hunt but I want your promise that you will rest while we are gone. If you can feel Jacobs’ pain then he can probably feel your strength, if you’re dead on your feet how will that help?” I swallowed the acerbic retort that bubbled up within my throat, I wanted to help Jacob and if Collin thought rest would help than that was what I do. So sighing loudly in the quiet room I agreed to his terms “Fine I’ll rest but don’t expect me to enjoy it!” the wolf pack barked their laughter in unison and what was left of my family snickered to show their amusement. The trio of wolves went out of the room and phased before racing toward the forest behind us, as they flew away from us Alice sighed in relief, I shot her a look and she said “Sorry it just makes everything so much easier to see.” I nodded and sitting in a nearby chair I curled up and closed my eyes.

I had only meant to rest my eyes but the lack of sleep that I had suffered and the effect of the transferred pain had taken toll on me and when I woke up it was dark and there was murmuring voices coming from another room in the small house we had commandeered as our headquarters. At first I had trouble distinguishing voices but as sleep faded and alertness replaced the exhaustion from earlier I was able to discriminate to whom the voices belonged. The rougher, deeper voices belonged to the wolf pack from Forks, the varying high-ringing tones belonged to my family, and then there were a third set of voices. These voices I didn’t recognise but I could tell two things straight away about our guests, one they weren’t vampires and two they were locals. Realising that I was no longer in the chair that I had curled up in downstairs and that I was in fact in a bedroom upstairs I checked my appearance within the mirror hanging over the small dresser and seeing that I look at least presentable I hurried out of the room. I figured the voices were coming from the small kitchen at the rear of the downstairs so I headed in that direction. I was at the foot of the stairs when one of the voices, a woman’s, said “What is that noise? I thought you said that there were no humans here.” I continued my course and reached the door as my father answered, relief that he and my mother had made it back safely was overwhelming, and ignoring the fact that there were people in there that I didn’t know I raced across the small space and threw myself into his arms, crying “Daddy your back.” I wrapped my arms tightly around his marble smooth next and hugged hard; I was beyond relieved that they were back. I released him and crossed to my mother’s side where I snuggled in close to her while observing the stunned looks from the new-comers to our group.

My father chuckled as he read the thoughts of the people within the room, he grinned at the astounded faces of the Italian wolf pack before saying “The noise you heard is our daughter Renesmee, as you can no doubt already tell she is not a vampire, not totally, she is a Halfling and the reason we are here. Jacob, whom we already spoke of, is her imprinter and the others that have been taken are part of his pack and so part of our family. Nessie these are Joseph, Antonio and Luciana they are from the local wolf-pack, your mother and I came across them as we were searching Voltera for Jacob and the others. Luca was telling us before your, enthusiastic, entrance that three of their number had also been taken, and that they had been trying for the better half of a week to find a weakness to exploit but they have been unsuccessful.” I leant forward and shook the hands of the three unexpected allies, they all wore expressions of disbelief and in Luca’s case outright scepticism, their scent was off and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why but I took a deep breath and said “Welcome, we need all the help we can get. We are flying a little more... blind than we’d like but we are prepared and any information you can give us would be appreciated.” The trio noticed my slight pause but none of them commented but I was hesitant in how much information I was supposed to be giving them.

Once they had gotten over my abrupt entrance the conversation returned to the breaching of Voltera’s walls, the dangerous trip my parents had undertaken had paid off handsomely. They had been able to get close enough for my dad to ‘hear’ whether or not they had the people we were seeking and it was while doing this that they had found out about the three extra captives the Volturi had acquired. I was weak in the knees with relief at hearing that for now Jacob was alive and so were the others we sought. Continuing his story Dad told us how they had gone in search for the tribe to which these extra wolves had belonged, they had taken quite a lot of persuading especially considering their natural abhorrence of our kind. Once they had been persuaded they had sent their three best fighters to our aid with express conditions that this was a one-time offer, fighting together was a once in a life-time thing. I was feeling better with the knowledge that we had extra fighters at our disposal and for the first time since Jacob had been taken I felt confident that I would see him again.  The conversation around the room was breaking into smaller components and I found myself being confronted by Luca. She cornered me away from everyone else, saying “How are you even alive? What are you and what gives you the right to belong to a member of a wolf-pack?”

I was taken aback by her attack on me but I understood where it came from, Leah had once yelled something similar to me and when that had happened Jacob had stood in front of me and protected me from her anger. He had said to her ‘Renesmee is mine and I am hers, she chose me and I chose her, we are meant to be and nothing will keep us apart. You understand the imprinting Leah, you of all people should know that no matter what when you meet that special person that is it, it doesn’t matter who they are or even what they are, they are your life and nothing else matters.’ I smiled slightly at the memory and it was this that I channelled as I spoke to the angry young woman in front of me “I am a Halfling, my mother conceived and carried me while human, my father is a vampire and I have several vampiric traits but I have many human traits as well. Jacob is my life, my husband and nothing and no-one will stop me from getting to him, I love him and he loves me. We belong together and if you understand the imprinting that happens within your tribes then you know that we didn’t actually have a choice, it was together or nothing.” I watched as Luca tried to find an ulterior motive behind my explanation but before she could voice them I was struck by another wave of pain.

Crying out I doubled over in agony, there were hands holding me and guiding me to the nearby sofa where they pressed me into the soft fabric of the chair. I looked up through my pain and saw the sad eyes of my mother. She crouched down and whispered to me “I am so sorry that this is happening Renesmee, if I had’ve been strong enough to leave Forks and Jacob I wouldn’t be seeing you in so much pain and agony.” I grimace, for it couldn’t be called a smile, and said “Don’t worry Momma, I would have found Jacob even if you hadn’t been friends. He is my sun, I can’t grow and I can’t live without him.” My mother turned clouded topaz eyes to me and said “I know exactly how you feel, it is the way I feel about your father.” She sighed and there was something hidden in that sigh, something that I couldn’t quite grasp “What’s the matter Momma?” She sighed again and fluidly rose to her feet, she started to pace up and down in front of my chair and I was momentarily distracted by her beauty. She and I were the same height, we had the same build and I had been told that when she had been human that her eyes were the exact shade that mine were now, but that was where the similarities ended. She was so beautiful, her skin gleaming like diamond infused silk and her gorgeous hair hung down her back in a gleaming curtain, I always felt pale and insignificant next to my mother. I knew I was considered beautiful by my family but I just couldn’t see how, when compared to them, they could say that. My skin had a nice glow to it, even though it was alabaster white, my eyes were a nice chocolate brown colour and my hair was the same bronze colour as my dad’s and I was soft but in a tough sort of way. I shook myself out of my self-induced comparison and focused more on the pacing my mother was doing, she finally stopped in front of me and said “I understand the all consuming love you have for Jacob; I do but I also know how it feels to lose that love. I don’t want you to go through what I went through when you’re father went away, thinking it was the best thing for me, it almost killed me and I would do anything to prevent you feeling that type of pain.”

I sat shocked as she talked to me so openly, I mean not that we haven’t always had an open relationship but momma was one of these people that found it hard to talk about their feelings, I understood what she was telling me but I already knew that I couldn’t handle losing Jacob so I said “It is impossible for me not to love him, I can’t think properly when he isn’t near me, and no matter what anyone says Jacob and I belong together, I know where you’re coming from but can’t you understand where I’m coming from?” She nodded her head so swiftly that anyone else would have missed it, before saying “I do understand where you’re coming from sweetheart, more than you know.” She pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. “I will be here for you for as long as you need me.” I smiled up at her through my tears and said wetly “I will always need you Momma.” We sat holding hands and not moving as we watched the various sentient beings race around our make-shift home.

I had been sitting there beside momma for a while when Alice came up and spoke to us “We have decided to go and meet with the Volturi and ask them to give us back the wolves, Edward has told me to let you know so that you can go hunt and be prepared for tonight. Bella, he wanted you to take Renesmee and go with Emmett, he said she would be safer if she was with the two of you, he doesn’t want her too far from you if she is hit with another bout of pain, and since I can’t see what is going to happen he has decided to not let anyone go anywhere solo.” Both momma and I nodded as she danced away to take Jasper’s hand before flying out the door followed swiftly by Rose. I knew it was a ridiculous feeling in the face of the danger that we were facing but my heart beat a little faster with anticipation of seeing Jacob again, and having been present for the last battle between my family and the Volturi and knowing that we defeated them without bloodshed before buoyed my spirits. I could probably even have been jovial if it wasn’t for the bouts of pain that were coming in ever increasing frequency and intensity. I was glad that tonight was the last night that we would have to be without the rest of our family because I didn’t think that I could handle one more night.

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Where For Out Thou Jacob?

It was Friday, two weeks after the wedding, and Jacob and I had celebrated in our new home. We were coming home from our spot when we decided that we should hunt and then go home and watch TV. I pretended to decide whether I wanted to hunt or not and when Jacob was aptly annoyed I took off running, calling as I ran “Catch me if you can Jake.” I heard the ripping of his body as he phased and I could hear him racing after me. I laughed and lengthened my stride, this was one time that I wasn’t going to let him win, as I raced further away from him and as I entered a clearing I caught the sickening scent that had been lingering around for the last fortnight but this time it was so over-poweringly sweet that I felt my stomach jump. This triggered a memory of a different field not that long ago, a field where my family faced death but somehow managed to escape. I paused mid stride and switching my direction, I ran towards Jacob and called out his name, it was as I did this that I saw the creature who’s scent I had just caught, he was hidden in a copse of trees to my left and even though he knew that I had seen him, he never moved. I wasn’t overly scared, that was until Jacob didn’t answer my call. I looked around for him without really taking my eyes from the vampire in front of me. I called for Jacob again and still there was no answer that was when the vampire in front of me spoke. “Is that the wolf? He has been... detained, unavoidable actually but whatever.”

                I swore softly and he laughingly said “Now what would your parents think about that kind of language?” I opened my mouth to speak when, with relief, I heard my fathers’ voice answer from behind me. “Why don’t you ask us yourself Alec? What are you doing here?” I felt panic mounting within me as I listened, their banter continued. Alec smiled at my Dad actually it was more a bearing of teeth before saying “Edward, Bella, it’s been a while. How have you been?” I heard my mother’s snarl and Alec’s chuckle before he continued “Did you honestly think that the Volturi were going to let you get away with the way you treated them before?” I waited for my dad to speak and I knew that he was searching through Alec’s thoughts to see if there was any immediate danger to us and when he growled I knew that it was not good. Edging closer to Dad I placed my hand in his and he shot me a confused look. He turned his attention back to Alec and he asked “Where is the wolf?” I felt my heartbeat jack up a few notches and the acceleration didn’t go unnoticed by the prowling vampire facing us. I saw his pupils dilate and his nostrils flare and I knew- even without the ripping snarl that came from my Dad- that Alec thought of me as food. I didn’t care about my safety I wanted Jacob, nothing had ever stopped him from coming to me when I called, and this thing knew where he was. I crouched into an attacking position and growled at him through my clenched teeth “Where is Jacob? What have you done with him?”

                Before Alec could answer my Dad said “He was sent as a diversion. Several others were sent to capture Jacob and any other wolves they could find. So far they have Jacob, Seth, and Leah. He hasn’t hurt them they were under strict orders to deliver them safely.” Apparently Alec had enough of my Dad poking around inside his head because he hissed “Enough, I am bored with this.” He crouched down into a position identical to the one I had held for several minutes. He launched himself at me and I tensed, waiting, for his body to collide with mine. I felt the flood of adrenalin flow through me and I had never wished more, than I did at that precise moment, that I was a full vampire and that I had the strength to take him on. As he sprung at me my father hissed “Bella grab Renesmee and leave.” He slid in front of me and Alec crashed into him, the sound was like two boulders smashing together. I felt my mothers’ arms holding me tightly against her and suddenly we were several feet away, even as I fought I knew it was hopeless, there was no way Momma was letting me go until she was sure that we were safe. The battle between my father and Alec lasted less than five minutes and in the end my father stood over the disassembled and flaming remains of one of the Volturi’s greatest weapons. The smoke that drifted skyward was so sweetly sick that I actually had to cover my nose and turn away. As dad walked towards us I saw in his eyes the pain and fear that I was feeling and it wasn’t until momma loosened her grasp and turned me to face her that I realised I had been sobbing, great wrenching sobs that wracked my frame. I watched as they embraced and a fresh stab of pain pierced my heart, would I ever see Jake again? Would I ever again hold him like that? I looked into the faces of two of the people I loved most in this world, beside Jake, and saw reflected there, in degrees less than my own, the pain I was feeling. Dad’s softly spoken words sounded false to my ears as he said “Ness, this isn’t your fault. Aro had them target you and Jacob because he knew that Alice couldn’t see either of you and that, as long as they didn’t plan to hurt any of us, Alice wouldn’t be alerted to their plan. We need to contact everyone, Carlisle and Esme’s place is closer and it’ll make a good enough headquarters so we can figure out where to go from here.”

                We raced back to my grandparents house and I wasn’t really surprised to see my entire family there waiting for us and that they already knew what was happening. As I mounted the steps Rose came forward and wrapped me up in her cold embrace, she kissed my forehead and said “Don’t worry Ness, the dog’ll be okay.” I almost smiled at the use of her name for Jacob, they had a hate-hate relationship, but the situation was far too serious for nicknames. Carlisle was standing at the front of our family line letting my dad see his thoughts and at the stiffening of my dad’s spine I knew that Jacob was in deeper danger than I had first anticipated. The silence stretched further and my nerves, being as taught as they were, couldn’t take the inaction any more. I pulled away from Rose and cried out “What are we waiting for? They have Jacob! I can’t stand here and wait for them to send him back to me in a box!” as I said the words my bravery crumbled and a fresh wave of panic and fear crippled me. I sank to the floor and whispered “Oh God what if they’ve killed him. What am I gonna do?” My mother crouched down beside me and pulling my hands away from my face she spoke in a clearly agitated manner “You need to calm down! We will get Jacob back. In the mean time we need to discuss our plans and you need some sleep. Go up to the spare room and crash.” I stared at her and as her words sank in the pain and fear were replaced by fury, I leapt to my feet and as I spoke I was amazed at how calm and rational I sounded “You want me to go and sleep!? You want me to get some rest when they could be torturing Jake right now?” I felt nausea roiling inside my stomach at the thought of what they could be doing to him right now as we deliberated on how to go about saving him and the others.

My voice rose as I continued to speak “How am I to do that? I can barely breathe for the pain I’m in and you want me to not have a part in this? No way! I am helping and there isn’t anything you can do to stop me. I have heard about your impromptu trip to Italy when dad had gone there after he thought you had died, and after feeling that way you want me to sit here and what? Twiddle my thumbs while you traipse off to try and rescue the wolves. Nah ah, no way, I am coming and that is all there is to it.” As I opened my mouth to continue to rant a feeling of peace and contentment washed over me, I knew immediately who was responsible for this feeling and I shot him a dirty look before snarling at him “Stop that right now. I have every right to feel this way, stop trying to make it go away. What if it was Alice they had taken?” Jasper stared open mouthed at me, I had never spoken this way to any of them and I regretted doing it now but Jakes’ life was at stake and I wasn’t going to sit idly by and let someone else go after him.

                I pushed past them and entered the house, I made a bee-line for the phone and the second I picked it up my dad was there to put it back in its cradle “You can’t ring Sam. We can’t risk anymore of them to try and get Jacob and the others back.” I was frustrated that my plan had been thwarted but I wasn’t going to give up. I turned to stare at him when a sharp pain in my chest caused me to gasp out loud, clutching my chest I sank down onto the pale carpet that covered the floor. Everyone was suddenly there, they all reached for me with concern and worry in their golden eyes and before I could tell them I was okay another pain hit me. This time it was like a serious blow to the abdomen, I had only once felt this type of pain and that had been when I had been mucking around with Emmett and he had forgotten that I was only part vampire and that he was a lot bigger than me; he had broken two of my ribs, I cried out as the pain struck again and again. Through the pain I heard my parents cry out for Carlisle to do something and I felt him examining my body as pain after pain ran through me. After several intense seconds there was a break in the pain and I was able to gulp in enough air to whisper huskily “Jake” before I slid into unconsciousness.

I came to with the awareness that for the moment the pain had stopped. I moved my limbs carefully making sure that everything was still where it should be before I swung my legs over the edge of the bed I was lying on. I could hear everyone moving about downstairs and I knew that my dad knew that I was awake and as I made my way downstairs I prayed, perhaps futilely, that there had been a break in the situation. The second I walked into the tense atmosphere in the kitchen, the only room that wasn’t used for its intended purpose, I knew that no further breaks had been made. I walked over to Carlisle and placed a hand on his arm, he shook his head as I ‘asked’ him if he knew what was happening to me. Everyone was staring at me and I waited patiently for them to ask me the questions that blazed in their topaz coloured eyes. It was momma who asked softly “Renesmee how do you feel?” I knew that they meant health wise but I couldn’t allow myself to worry about my health when Jake had been taken from me. “I’m worried. It has been long enough already can we please go and get Jake and the others? Hayley must be beside herself.” I said and I knew instinctively that she had been feeling the same pain I had been feeling earlier. My father creased his marble brow and said “I never thought about that.” I stared in confusion at him along with everyone else and he finally answered the room “Ness was just thinking about the pain she was experiencing earlier” I saw his agony as he relived the pain again before saying “Maybe she isn’t actually hurting.” I huffed in disbelief it sure had felt painful to me. The corner of his grimly set mouth twitched upwards as he continued “Maybe it’s a pain transference thing. Maybe Jacob was in pain and as his imprintee Renesmee felt the pain too.” This explanation clarified the pain I felt earlier but also caused grief to well within me, Jake was hurting and I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. I walked further into the room and said “We can’t wait any longer. We need to go to Italy, now, before they hurt him anymore.”

My proclamation wasn’t unexpected but it was still greeted with silence, well except for Emmett who growled “You can count me in, I’m always up for a fight, when do we leave?” I smiled gratefully at him only to have my hopes dashed by Alice “I don’t think it is going to be that easy. I can’t see them, the minute they grabbed the wolves I couldn’t see them anymore, we don’t even know if they’ve taken them to Italy. We have no way of knowing anything because we have nothing to go on. There is a way; well at least I think there might be a way, but...” Alice was cut short by the instant dismissal of my father “We can’t Alice. I don’t want to put them at risk; if we take them to Italy and the Volturi are ‘collecting’ them we are putting them in immense danger.” Carlisle broke in gently “Edward we need to ask them to help us, can you imagine if it was Renesmee that the Volturi had and the Werewolves never told us about it, we would be furious at being kept in the dark.” I was grateful that the rest of my family felt the same way I did; we needed the rest of the packs help. I walked across the room towards the phone and Dads’ sharp “Renesmee.” Would normally have stopped me in my tracks but I ignored him and picking up the phone I dialled Sam’s number. It rang twice before Emily’s soft friendly voice called down the line “Hello.” I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and clearing it noisily I said “Emily, its Renesmee, is Sam there?” I heard her cover the phone with her hand before calling softly for Sam. It took barely a second for Sam to get to the phone and as he answered I could picture him standing in the kitchen of the house he shared with Emily and their kids, I could see his hands trembling as he waited for bad news, which would be the only reason I would be ringing and not Jacob.  His gruff voice masked his intense feelings of love and affection for his pack and I hated having to ask him what I needed to. I cleared my throat again and as I did he spoke “Where is Jacob?” I caught the sob before it escaped fully but I know he heard it and I said as simply as I could “The Volturi have him, and Seth and Leah as well. We didn’t know and they ambushed us while we were alone.” I couldn’t make the pleading note that had crept into my voice leave, I needed him to understand that I would have done anything to prevent this, Sam swore loudly in his native tongue and I cringed because I thought the curse was aimed at me but his next words confirmed that he didn’t hold me responsible “They used the flaw in Alice’s foresight to get close without alerting anyone didn’t they.” I was nodding my head until I realised that he couldn’t see me and I croaked “Yep.” He swore again and this time I heard Emily’s admonishment, before he told her what had happened, and when he spoke to me again he said “Was it the same one from when you were down here? What do you need from us?” and I felt tears of relief course down my cheeks. Between bouts of crying I outlined the plans we had for getting our pack back.

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Surprises

As the night drew to a close we discovered that we had at least one surprise waiting for us that we hadn’t known about. Jacob and I were preparing to leave (someone, though no-one was telling me who –my guess was Mom- had arranged for us to go on a honeymoon) and as we were saying goodbye to our friends and family we were stopped short by the presentation of a small nondescript box. I felt my confusion mirrored by Jake and only when prompted did either of us actually make any move to open the box. I lifted the lid and stared in mute mystification at the two tiny metal keys that lay inside on a cushion of velvet. I looked up at Jake and he just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, I dropped on hand from the box and touched his palm, his smile was reassuring and he cleared his throat before saying “Ah, thanks, we think anyway.” The crowd laughed and Emmett spoke from near the back of the room “That was pretty much what Bella said when we handed her a similar box.” Still confused I just stared at the tiny keys and obviously our inability to understand what they were was irritating for him because Emmett growled “They are keys,” ‘no kidding’ I thought and heard Daddy snicker before Emmett continued “For your new house!” I stood staring in stunned silence at the many faces of our family and the only words my stunned brain could get out were “No way!” laughter erupted around us and I felt a blush stain my cheeks, I buried my head into Jacobs’ chest. It vibrated with suppressed laughter but I didn’t care, I couldn’t stop the tears that flooded my eyes and spilled over onto my cheeks and I didn’t want my family to see them. I gripped Jacobs’ hand tight and he hugged me closer, his words echoing through his wide chest. Emotion rich in every word “We can’t thank you enough for everything that you guys have done for us.” He bent down and kissed my head before continuing “We feel so blessed at having family and friends as wonderful as the ones we have.” There was a resounding cheer at his words and I finally felt in control enough to look up, every one of the faces staring at us was filled with love and happiness. I smiled wetly before saying “Thank you all for making this day so special and we will see you when we get back.” We kissed and hugged everyone again before making our way out to the waiting car.

We made it to the car and out onto the road before we spoke, and the silence was broken by Jake “Ness, are you okay?” I smiled over at him and said “I couldn’t be happier if I tried, why do you ask? Are you happy?” He glanced over at me and his smile seemed to glow in the dim light, he sighed and said “I am fantastic, I get you to myself for an entire week and we are finally married and I am ecstatic!” I laughed gently at him; I leant across the small space between us and whispered in his ear “I can’t wait to get you alone.” My breath against his earlobe caused him to shudder, I felt the deep breath he took and wasn’t surprised when he said “I think you had better sit back and give me some space otherwise we won’t get to the airport for our flight.” We had a flight booked that left for Hawaii at one in the morning and it was already pushing midnight so I leant back and closed my eyes. I was tired from the emotions of the day but wired at the same time.

I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I knew Jacob was shaking me gently whispering “Ness you need to wake up, we’re at the airport.” His words jolted me awake and I practically bounced from the car saying “I’m good, I’m awake. Let’s go.” He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around me as we walked into the almost empty airport. We checked in and barely had time to go to the bathroom before our flight was called. As the plane taxied down the runway I felt nervous, I had never been in a plane and I was a little scared about the whole thing. I focused on Jacob and before I knew it we were in the air and I had felt nothing. Jacob pulled me closer to him, kissing my hair and touching my face, I held still, enjoying his attention. A flight attendant asked if we would care for anything to drink and I touched Jakes’ hand ‘asking’ jokingly, if he thought they’d have blood. He chuckled before shaking his head and asking for two cokes to be brought over. The attendant looked at us strangely before walking away.

The flight wasn’t as long, or as stressful, as I thought it would be and before I knew it we were bustling through the airport and out into the warm night air of Hawaii. I was excited about the sunshine and being able to go out into it without a care in the world. Jake didn’t sparkle and the shine to my skin was subtle and it lent a luminosity that many would pay money for, so we didn’t have to worry about that. It was early enough that the streets were basically empty and when we checked into the hotel we were greeted by a sleepy concierge and directed to our room, assisted by a slightly vacant looking bellhop. The room that had been booked was the penthouse suite, I was as surprised as much as Jacob at the generosity of my family and we were also surprised that even our activities had been paid for. Jake tipped the bellhop and we turned from the door to look around the luxuriously appointed suite of rooms. When Jake swept me off my feet and carried me into the room, I squealed in surprise “Jacob what are you doing?” He chuckled and said it is customary to carry the bride over the threshold.” I laughed and said “Yes but isn’t that of the home you’re going to share, not every threshold?” he frowned at me before asking “You don’t want me to carry you?” I sighed, my shoulders slumping as I realised that I had upset him. I touched his cheek and said “Honey you can carry me anywhere any time but the one place I would like you to carry me is the bedroom.” I had barely gotten the words out before I was being laid down on the silk coverlet of the king sized bed.

I was amazed at how quickly the time does go when you want it to last forever, the morning of our last day in Hawaii dawned with sizzling heat and as I strode to the window I thought about the people waiting for us at home. It was then that I remembered that we hadn’t gotten any souvenirs for anyone. I turned from the window, sensing that I was no longer alone, and said “We had better go and do some souvenir shopping before we go home, Seth and Emmett will be bitterly disappointed if we return without gifts for them.” I laughed softly as I walked into Jake’s open arms, the second they closed around me I felt safe and loved and a fierce need for him that hadn’t faded in the time we had been alone. He kissed my cheek and whispered “Can’t we just get them something from the airport? That way we can spend the rest of the day right here.” My stomach pulled as my blood heated, I did want to spend the day with him but I wanted to buy something special for our family, I pulled out of his arms and mock-scolded him “Jacob Black is that all you think about?” I laughed as he growled “Hell yes it is” before stalking me through the room. I bounded lightly over the couch but as I landed a wave of vertigo struck and I stumbled to my knees. Jacob was beside me in a second, gathering me into his arms. Concern shone from his eyes as he asked ‘Ness! Are you okay? What happened?” I laughed, the sound coming out hollow to my own ears, because I didn’t want to worry him on the last of our time together so I said “See what happens when you wear me out! I need some time to recover so we need to shop.” He smiled warily before agreeing to my plan. He went to shower and I let my worry run rampant, I was so concerned about the dizzy spells and the clumsy episodes but I hadn’t wanted to worry anyone else so I hadn’t asked anyone about it but they were getting more frequent and obvious to everyone around me. I resolved myself to ask Carlisle when we got home if there was something wrong with me.

By the time Jake had finished in the shower I was calm and before he could ask me how I felt I escaped into the bathroom, I locked the door and stood beneath the calming spray of the shower for longer than I normally would. I hurried through dressing, deciding that I wasn’t going to give him the time to ask if I was okay, and met him in the lounge. I smiled brightly up at him and said “Let’s go shopping there are so many people I want to buy for. We should get something for Seth and Hayley’s wedding while we are here that way it will be unique.” This comment distracted him enough “Wedding? What wedding? Seth never mentioned getting married!” I smiled and said “Neither did Hayley but if the conversation we had the day before our wedding is anything to go by there will be another wedding shortly.” I replayed the conversation with Hayley through my head as I held his hand; Jake chuckled and shook his head saying “I know what you mean. That girl is definitely stubborn and poor Seth is like a love sick puppy, no pun intended, around her.” We laughed as we made our way through the tourist laden streets. By lunchtime we had brought for almost every one, we only had Carlisle and Sam to go, in the end we brought Sam a carving of a dolphin and Carlisle a landscape painting, I was pleased that we were able to get such personalised gifts but I was exhausted and I suggested we go back to the hotel and sleep before our flight that evening. Jake agreed and we did go back to the hotel but we didn’t sleep.

As we followed the bellhop through the noisy lobby I felt fatigue come over me in a wave and I could barely keep my eyes opened to get through the airport and onto the plane. Jake was supporting me the majority of the way but I couldn’t have cared less. The second we were seated on the flight home I closed my eyes and flaked out, I woke briefly about two hours into the flight but sleep claimed me again quickly. It wasn’t until Jake moved from beneath my resting head that I woke enough to ask him “Are we back yet?” He smiled softly and said “Yeah Honey we are, I was just going to carry you out but I think the stewardess was concerned that I had kidnapped you and I think she might be planning on calling security if you don’t walk out of here on your own power. Once we’re in the car you can sleep again, your dad sent me a text with the directions to our house but if you want to be more awake for the great exploration than we should just go back to your parents until morning.” I was so grateful that he knew me as well as he did and I said “If you can hold off carrying me over every threshold than I think we should go back to my parents place, we can give them their presents and then in the morning when I’m more awake than we can go explore our new home.” And as I said the words ‘new home’ I felt a kick of excitement but it wasn’t enough to ward off my exhaustion. I crashed within seconds of falling into the car, I wasn’t even sure that I had put my seatbelt on. I slept until we reached the house my parents lived in, the second we pulled to a stop and Jacob cut the engine my eyes flew open and I felt energy flowing through my body, more energy than I had felt in days.

I jumped out of the car and flew across the yard to throw my arms around the marbled hardness that was my father. His arms came around me and I felt great joy at seeing them again, he pulled me tighter into his embrace saying “It is good to have you home Renesmee, it seems that you have been gone forever.” I laughed and looked past him for Mom, I wasn’t disappointed because she was standing several feet behind Daddy but she wasn’t alone. My entire family were waiting for us and I felt joy and happiness welling within me. I disentangled myself from Daddy and went to hug Momma, she pulled me hard against her and whispered “Welcome back baby.” Her voice rough from the emotion she was trying to hide. It was as I pulled away from her that I noticed the smell, it was kind of sweet and slightly sickly. I sniffed and wondered where it was coming from. Daddy’s voice came from behind me saying “I can’t smell anything.” I shrugged and tried to forget about it as I went to greet the rest of my family but the smell lingered and it was causing my stomach to revolt. I was careful to keep my mind blank so that Daddy wasn’t alerted to my distress and I quickly threw myself into handing out presents.

Since we had missed Christmas while we had been away, Jake and I had decided that the presents could act as Christmas gifts as well. I handed out each gift, giving my family strict instructions that they were to wait to open their present until everyone had their gift, I knew that it was pointless because Alice could see every present and Daddy could read the thoughts as they passed through her mind but I still wanted it to be a surprise. Both Jacob and I were pleased that everyone seemed to genuinely love their present and exclaimed their delight loudly. After they had opened all of their gifts Mom got up from the lounge that she had been sitting on and disappeared, she appeared seconds later with an armful of gifts of her own. This made several other members of our family do the same thing. I was touched that they had waited to have a Christmas until we had returned and we were all together and happy.

Several hours later I was still wide awake and still struggling to discover the origin of the scent that I could smell. Jake eventually called an end to our night and whisked me away from my family to the house they had built for us not far from their own. As we drove away from everyone the smell became less noticeable and I was thankful that I didn’t have to worry about it. I looked out through the windscreen of the car watching the world fly by as we sped towards our house. We rounded a bend in the road and sitting straight ahead of us was a single storey ranch inspired house. It had wide sprawling verandas wrapping around the entire building, it was painted a bright clean creamy-white and the shutters on the windows were a deep red. I fell in love with it the second I saw it, I could see myself here, raising a family and watching the ones I love coming and going. I barely waited for the car to come to a stop before I jumped from the passenger seat and walked towards the front steps. I had climbed them and was about to open the front door when strong arms swept we off the ground and I was suddenly looking up into Jacob’s intense features. He looked slightly perplexed at the sudden about face in my exhaustion and I could hear it in his voice as he playfully asked “Were you really going to deprive me of carrying you over the threshold after I restrained myself from doing it in every room in your parent’s house?” I giggled and said “Of course not! I wouldn’t dream of depriving you of anything you wanted.” I knew he got my meaning because he swiftly shifted my weight, swung the front door open and had me over the threshold and into a wide foyer before I could even finish my statement. He didn’t put me down as we quickly searched every room for the one room we wanted, the master bedroom. The rest of the house could be explored later.