Jacob cussed and his came around my waist. There were several hisses around me, Emmett swore loudly.
"When?" Bella had finally found her voice.
"The most important question-" murmured Carlisle "Is why?"
Edward looked pointedly at me. "They think she may still be a problem and threat to human life and that she needs to be dealt with."
Jacob growled. "Over my dead body!"
Edwards lips twitched in dry humor "If that's what it takes then I'm sure that's what will happen."
I finally was able to speak past the lump in my throat "Why?! We already have proven that I'm no threat to humans! We proved that to be so when Nahuel came as a witness! "
"Why now?" Rosalie asked "Why not when she was more vulnerable?"
Jacob snorted "Vulnerable? She has never been vulnerable!" Rosalie gave him a cool stare. "Even dogs can die; want me to show you how?"
Jacob rolled his eyes. They're relationship had hardly improved over the years.
"Enough!" Edward shouted but then his voice quieted, sounding almost defeated. "The Volturi have been deliberating for reasons of they're own, they have only just made this decision because there's no proof of what a female hybrid would do…they have schemed that Nahuel was far different from Renesmee and they want an excuse, to revisit us, to see if we have broken any laws. They also have suspicions about Charlie…"
I was stunned into silence. The old nightmares were coming back. The line of black cloaks, Metallic screeching, a fire crackling hungrily with purple smoke rising into the sky and the smell of bittersweet flesh burning.
I shuddered.
"Charlie?" Bella whispered "He'll have to be changed won't he?"
"Yes, but it's for his own good." said Carlisle but his eyes were pained, he hated when peoples will were taken from them, especially when it came to making them a vampire.
"We could fight them?" Emmett said enthusiastically.
Edward shook his head "No, we would lose too many of our family, its not worth it. Its better for Charlie in one sense at least; he won't have to be lied to anymore."
"Couldn't we reason with them?" said Esme desperately.
"That's all we can do but some will be trouble" I searched his eyes questioningly.
"Caius, at least, has a love for…destruction." Edwards face was pained.
An image crept to the surface of my mind, pale blond hair almost silver, straight as ruler to the chin and accusing, but fearful, golden eyes; Irina. Her love of the law to be upheld had been her downfall. Again the sound of metallic screeching and the sweet burning flesh smell filled my memories and I shivered. Jacobs arm tightened around me.
Bella stepped forward "I'll do it. Charlie would want me to. I'm his family and I know I wouldn't kill him, I have the control."
Edward nodded in agreement and the room was silent as everyone became lost in his or hers thoughts.
I couldn't stand it. Jasper, for some reason of his own, was keeping the atmosphere the way it was, maybe to keep all our minds sharp with the reality, I didn't care. The memories were overwhelming. I reached up to touch Jacobs face, envisioning us alone in the cottage. He nodded. No one noticed us leave.
As soon as we had left the house I was able to breathe again, the atmosphere had been stifling, the fear and the memories.
We reached the cottage, I opened the door and walked straight to the bedroom, there, looking as if it has always been there was a massive king size bed with a huge feather blanket. There was a note;
"Nessie, I was finally able to convince Edward but he hopes you'll have some control. Hope you like it. Though you probably won't need the blanket, considering Jacob is your own personal space heater. Love Bella."
I groaned and lay down on the bed, still to shocked by Edwards news to be pleased. "Nessie?" Jacob sat down and was looking at me worriedly.
"Distract me." I ordered, desperate.
He understood.
"Your wish is my command." He took my face in his giant hands and kissed me. This kiss was different form the others; there was a fierce urgency about it, like we only had so much time left to be together which, I thought with a feeling of dread, maybe we did. At that thought I instantly pulled him closer, his breath was hot in my mouth and soon I was gasping for air. He let me loose. "No!" I panted "I must not think." I could feel his heart pounding under my hands, the heat of his skin was perfect. "Please?" I whispered. He kissed me again. There was still the same urgency, the same fear, but it was enough to sooth me. Eventually from lack of air, I pulled away. Then we lay there for what seemed like hours, staring into each others eyes, as if memorizing each other.
