This chapter will be all on Bella's POV.


"No."

Just a simple word, cutting all rising arguements. She watched as her younger daughter's shadow disappeared into the night. Her heart ached, for no reasons at all, really, because she knew that her daughter knew the forest like the back of her hand. Maybe that was just mother instinct, acting all protective. Maybe there was truly no fear at all.

Even to herself, she had to admit, it was a horrible lie.

Bella bit her lower lips, unable to turn around to face her family. She did not want her nonsense worry to rub on her loved ones.

Since Volterra, everything had changed, though very slowly. It was only by the mother instinct inside her that she could see what happened. Edward could not share her feeling, he couldn't see it so clearly as her. She didn't blame him though, since they were half of her, and she knew herself very well.


Renesmee, her sunshine, little Renesmee, who brought smile upon everyone. She always saw the best in people. No matter what the Volturi had done, she forgave them all, especially after that trip. It should not have surprised her at all, that Nessie and Heldi were now penpal, given the time the two spent together.

Her little precious Renesmee, oh how she would sacrifice everything to give her daughter a better world. Beautiful Renesmee, who everyone loved at the very first sight.

The thought brought an almost teary smile upon her face.

If only her sister were the same.


Silence. That was the best word she came up with when thinking of her little one. Anne.

Anne, the unexpected gift. The one who was cursed with a power no one could understand. The little one who had been scared for half of her life.

It was Anne who she was so worried about.

Anne, silent. Anne, unpredictable. Anne, rebellious, in her very own way. She should have never agreed to let her Anne to Volterra. She should never have. Look at what those monsters have done to her daughter! Anne, sweet little Anne of hers, where was she? Where was the girl with the big brown eyes that wanted nothing more than to be seen and loved by her family? Where was her daughter?

She only had a person to blame.

Herself.


She did not jump up when the image of an isolated Anne turning her back to run away from family popped up in her mind. It felt warm, safe, and familiar. It was nice to share the weight on her shoulder to someone for a little while.

"I know, little Nessie." - She whispered, shielding her child away from the world with an embrace of a mother. - "I know. I'm worried too."

The image changed, this time, it was the two sisters, back in the old day, laughing and running in the oval field.

How she wanted to cry so much, grieving for the childhood that was taken so cruelly and so quickly away from her daughters.

"It will be fine, my princess. All will be fine." - She murmured, louder a bit, more to assure herself.

Renesmee gave her a sad knowing smile.

I know.


She spent that night alone, sitting on the sofa in the living room. Renesmee had gone to sleep, Edward stayed with Carlisle to talk about what they should do with the offer. Bella looked down at her hand, clutching a piece of very fine paper. You didn't usually catch that kind of paper anywhere, and not even with that handwriting.

She wanted nothing more than to tear it apart and throw it in the fire.

How dare he!

After what he had done, after what they had done to her daughter, how dare he even think of offering two guards of the Volturi to come.

Not just any guards, but that two guards. The two bitches. The wicked twins.

If Jane ever dared to come near her Anne...

Bella took a deep breath, not wanting to break the coffee table.

She would burn the Volturi to ashes if she needed to.

The thought brought a sinister smile on her face. Yep, burn them all.

The door opened, and Anne stepped in. She looked surprised for a brief moment when she saw Bella was still waiting. She patted the seat next to her, hoping that her daughter would not turn away this time.

Her heart ached so much as if it could break into pieces as she watched her own daughter eyeing her nervously before approaching slowly and cautiously.

As if she would hurt her anytime.

She bit back the urge to pull her little one into an embrace, knowing that it would make her run away. Like the last time.

"How was the hunting, Anne?"

"Good." - Simple and short. It would be considered extreme luck if she, or anyone, could get Anne to speak up something more than three words.

Burn the Volturi.

She reached up and touch her daughter's hand. At least she didn't pull away. Not yet.

They sat there in silence. For Bella, she was too afraid of breaking up this moment because of her stupidity.

"I'm fine, mom." - She said it without even a glance at Bella.

No you're not fine. Just tell me what's wrong, please Anne. Please.

But she said nothing, just held her daughter's hand tighter.

I would not lose you.

"Let me go."

"No. Don't push me away anymore Anne. What's wrong? You used to want to be around with us a lot, and now you turn away everytime we try to talk to you. Anne, please, I'll never, ever judge you, no matter what. Please, please open up to me. At least please give me a hint of what happened to you." - She almost cried, clutching Anne's hand so that she would not lose her daughter. She would not lose her for anything.

Anne finched, ever so lightly. Her shoulder tensed up. Bella felt as if there was a tickling bomb inside her chest.

"Let me go."


(*)She blinked, looking around. Why was she in the living room again? Standing up, she decided to check on Renesmee, but then changed her mind.

She felt like missing something. Edward was still at Carlisle? Why was he there? Why taking so long?

A sparkle came to her mind. The letter from Aro. He offered... something, like,...

Something about the twins, why were the twins coming to her home? Why both of them? They had seen Renesmee less than two years ago.

Something clicked.(*)

Damit, Bella ran to the table to find that the letter was gone. Anne's smell was still fresh and new, but she could only track it so far to the waterfall.

Damit, Bella. She cursed herself. She had hoped that they could cancel the plan of Aro, or at the very least be able to brace her daughters up before telling them of this upcoming visit.

This was not the way Bella wanted to break the news to her daughters, especially her Anne.


(*) Bella's under the influence of Anne's power. She was made to forget Anne temporally.

Next chapter we will be back to Anne's POV, or peak through what's in Renesmee's mind. I haven't decided yet. Which one do you prefer?