The weak August morning sunlight peaked through the open window. I slowly looked out the window and sighed. I didn't want the night to end. I turned and looked at Edward, my husband, and could tell he felt the same.
"Good morning." I whispered.
"Good morning, Bella." He flashed me my favorite crooked smile of his and I couldn't help but smile back. I got out of bed slowly and got dressed. I checked on our daughter, Renesmee, to find she was wide-awake. She sat there with a big smile on her face and a book in her lap. It had been two years since she had been born and she already looked like she was ten, though her mind was even farther in age. I walked over to her and kissed her on the head.
"Good morning, mommy." She kept her smile going.
"Good morning."
"What are we going to do today?"
"I don't know, but maybe daddy has something planned."
Renesmee's eyes sparked. She jumped off the bed, the book on her lap fell to the floor, and she danced into the living room. Edward came around the corner and almost crashed right into her. I tried to suppress a laugh but a small giggle escaped from my lips. I watched as he picked her up and whispered something into her ear, causing her to giggle. They both looked at me and then back at each other giggling some more. I rolled my eyes and went over to them.
Edward put Renesmee down as I got there. She ran quickly to the door and disappeared behind it.
"So I assume you don't have anything planned." I said.
He shook his head. "No, but I think Alice wanted to take her shopping."
I rolled my eyes. Like Renesmee needed more clothes. But then again Alice never let us wear the same thing twice.
Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me out of out little cottage. We ran the short distance to the house and as we entered I could hear Rosalie and Alice discussing what they would buy for Renesmee. I sighed and shook my head again. Before I knew it Alice was at my side and pulling me away from Edward.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Girls day." Alice smiled. "You have to come."
"Have fun." He smiled.
"You knew?" I glared at him.
"Of course." Before I could respond he walked into the kitchen where his father, Carlisle, and his brother, Emmett, where standing.
Alice dragged me into the garage and pushed me into her yellow Porsche. It was cramped with all the girls in the family in there but I decided not to complain. I knew I wouldn't win against Alice. Alice revved the engine and took off to Seattle for a long day of shopping.
We got back late that night and it was storming by then. At that point I was glad Alice had chosen to go to the mall and for once I did enjoy myself. Alice picked out some cute, fashionable clothes for Renesmee while Rosalie went for durable and stylish. I was even suckered into get something for myself.
I followed Rosalie and Alice into the house to watch them dress Renesmee in the new clothes. As we approached the kitchen I saw Carlisle hanging up with phone. His expression was odd. He seemed happy but also worried. His expression was the same when he welcomed us home.
"What is it?" Esme asked him. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing is wrong. That was Shannon on the phone. She wants us to come and visit."
Alice dropped the shopping bags and her eyes lit up. She started dancing around the room but then stopped abruptly as she got to the living room.
"We are going to see them right?" She asked, turning to Carlisle.
"Is she talking about the Alliance?" I turned and saw Jasper, Emmett, and Edward standing by the glass door in the living room. Water glistened off the tips of their hair. I could smell the fresh blood faintly rolling off their bodies. The smell reminded me how thirsty I was and I realized I hadn't had anything for a week or two.
Carlisle nodded to his question. "Yes, she called again. It seems to be very important to them."
"But isn't she worried about the disease that is spreading around them?" Rosalie asked him. Despite her worried words she seemed to be a little excited about the idea of seeing them as well.
"When I talked to her a few minutes ago she told me it had passed and only one remained with the disease, but is no longer contagious." Carlisle sighed.
"Who-" Esme stopped when she saw his face darken with grief. She put her hands to her mouth and gasped. "It can't be!"
Carlisle shook his head. "I'm afraid so."
"Who is it?" Edward demanded. Carlisle looked at all of us and frowned even more. "Aden." The room was silent. I didn't know what to do. I was confused about the subject but I could tell it wasn't good so I kept to myself.
"Well," Alice said to break the silence. "I say we go and visit. It's been a long time since we've seen them and if it's as bad as Shannon makes it seem, Aden won't be around much longer."
I could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke. This Alliance group must mean a lot to them. I thought about it for a while and never noticed I had moved to the door.
"Where are you going?" Edward asked.
"I don't know who these Alliance creatures are but I do know they mean a lot to this family." I began to explain. "Instead of asking questions now I'll ask them after you're all done figuring out what to do. In the meantime, I'm going to go hunt."
Renesmee ran over to me and wrapped her arms around my hips. I knew she would be thirsty too. Before anyone could reply to my words we left the house and headed swiftly to the woods. Movement caught my eye and I slowed down. Jacob ran over to me and looked at me sternly. His hair was plastered to his back from the rain.
"Where have you been?" He demanded. I was puzzled by his tone. "I've been wandering around all day hoping to find you and Renesmee."
"Alice forced us to go shopping today." I sighed. I knew he was only angry because he couldn't be around Renesmee.
"But it was sunny!" He exclaimed.
"Not in Seattle. It was like this all day there and it seems it followed us."
"I'll say." He folded his arms and grunted. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you come hunting with us?" He nodded and took Renesmee's hand.
I didn't take long for us to find something and fill ourselves. I was anxious to get back to the house and find out what was going on. Jacob noticed.
"What's wrong?" He came over and put his hand on my shoulder. His warmth made me shudder. "What's on your mind?"
"It's nothing really." I lied. He wasn't convinced.
"You will always suck at lying." He chuckled.
"I think we're planning on visiting a friend of the family. We got a phone call today with the request." I looked in the direction of the house. Jacob looked in a different direction, quickly losing interest. "This Alliance seems to be real important…" I broke off when Jacob snapped his head back to me, attention at full alert.
He looked intensely at me. "Did you say Alliance?"