I stared helplessly into Edward's eyes, hoping; almost praying, that something would stop history from repeating itself. The next morning, Jacob rose early to meet Renesmee. She told him everything from her dream, and Jacob then told his pack. I met up with him at a now rarely visited spot - his red house back on the Quileute rez. It felt just like home, except smaller. I guess everywhere felt a little smaller when you knew you could tear the door off it's hinges at the lift of a finger.
I sat my lithe body on Billy's old sofa. Jake opened a can of Coke and thought twice before asking if I wanted a sip. It was almost unbelievable how much Jacob had changed, and yet still stayed the same. His hair, a now cropped field of black wheat, stood tousled and wet from the rain outside. His build, evermore impressive, stood out modestly from his gray plaid button-up and ripped jeans.
We sat together for a while and talked about my daughter, whom I had come to terms with my wolf friend imprinting upon. Now, there were bigger problems. In all honesty, I felt cheated. As if bleeding and fighting and crying for my family wasn't enough, I now had to do it all over again. All I wanted was the forever I was promised.
So we traveled on foot, with the exception of a bed-ridden Alice, at incredible speed to Hurricane Mountain, where the flatbed rock seemed to go on for thousands of miles without stopping. The sky peered listlessly through thick clouds of fog, even in the middle of the day.
When we finally reached the peak, I spotted them. Standing in a row like so many pawns on a chessboard, the chalky, red-eyed vampires stood like statues carved from the edge of the mountain itself.
My coven flanked Edward and I on one side, Jacob shielding and protecting my daughter on the other. This was our move.
Jasper had spoken briefly, like any good soldier, about what should be done in the event of his capture. Mostly, we were asked to leave him behind. Carlisle informed him that this would not be an option. We mirrored the Volturi and formed a straight line, each of us slowly walking towards our threat with stiff jaws and snarling throats. Aro was the first to speak.
"Why, is that little Renesmee I see peering from Mr. Black's protective arms?"
"Hello again, Aro." My daughter retorted bravely.
"You've grown so, indeed." He smiled sheepishly. "But you're not what I want, this time."
Edward turned carefully to Jasper, trying to pick up thoughts from Aro's labyrinth of a mind. "Oh, yes," he continued, "I'm in the market for a valuable new addition to my army. So glad that you all showed up though; I love volunteers." He laughed raggedly, signaling to Alec, who grabbed Edward by the arm and lead him over forcefully.
Jasper, Carlisle, and Emmett all hunched in attack positions. But Aro had something else in mind. "Tut, tut," he grinned. "Now, Cullen, do tell me who I'll be bringing with me on this trip."
Edward locked eyes with Jasper, and he nodded ever so slowly.