"War?" I screamed.
"It's about time, Jacob." Edward said.
"The Volturi have built their guard at an enormous rate - their numbers are multiplying too fast."
"We're going to crush them, Jake. For good." Emmett howled.
"Guys," I said, "What's the big deal here? Why?"
Edward called Renesmee in and told her to explain it. She took my hand, and the images flashed in my head. It was like watching home videos now, with sound and every sense. Her gift had become more powerful.
Renesmee was alone on the path we'd been walking along, and Caius was slashing at her. They slammed into some trees. Nessie launched Caius in the air and looked toward a lake, where I saw myself land.
"No use in fighting me, dear." Caius screeched, clawing at her some more. Her blood spattered all around.
"You, your pet, and the rest of your coven will no longer be able to resist the Volturi. We're going to end you and every other vampire who came to witness for your side that day. Our Guard is three times what it was back then, and we're still growing. Your coven made a huge mistake sending you to spy on us."
Through Renesmee's eyes, I saw Caius prepare to dismember her. Then I intervened.
Moments later, I saw the bottom half of my face as I carried her away. A sudden fog rolled in quickly, engulfing both of us, and Renesmee's head swiveled toward the trees, where Alec and Jane stood just before both of us blacked out.
"They're building an army to get revenge?" I asked.
"Yes," Carlisle sighed.
"Now, I'm strongly opposed to fighting. But I've done it once, and I'll do it again to protect my family and all the other innocents who would surely die in their war path."
I had no coherent thought process at the moment. It still made no sense to me. Battle plans that were sure to go down in supernatural history were unfolding before me, and I was brain dead.
"Get a hold of yourself, Jacob," Edward sighed, rolling his eyes. He cocked his head to the side, listening to a stray thought, then bolted out of the room.
"Carlisle, it still doesn't make sense. Isn't that Aro guy supposed to be your friend?" I asked. Carlisle sat in a chair across from me.
"Jacob, Aro's losing his power. Jane and Alec have left him to pursue the 'vegetarian' lifestyle. Smaller covens were given the impression that the Volturi had grown weak, and they looked to overthrow them. These smaller covens were destroyed, but they kept those with gifts."
"Now the Volturi is stronger than ever, and they're sure that they can rule every inch of land if they wish - but they're still very aware that we have Bella, with her gift of being a powerful shield. They also know we have your family of shapeshifting wolves, and many other gifted allies. They're building up to become stronger than ever. To dispel even the smallest idea to destroy the Volturi's standing. They want to destroy or assimilate all past competition, current competition, and future competition. They'll stop at nothing."
A vampire located in another room chimed in, "We're going to stop them dead in their tracks!"
Renesmee flinched at the word 'dead'.
"Dead." She said, staring blankly.
"Not this again, Nessie." I whined. She scrunched her face up, irritated. The room began to empty as the silence became deafening.
"Nessie - you still bleed. You still cry. Your eyes are still that wonderful brown. Your skin isn't that much colder - especially not to me. When you hug me, when your body's warm - I can feel your heartbeat. I swear it, Nessie." I was ready to call Edward to back me up, but she took a sharp breath.
"Is that what I've been feeling?" She asked, placing her hand on the left side of her chest..
"That's my heart beating inside of me? But, It's so quiet and -"
"Slow." I finished.
"How? Jane turned me. My heart stopped!"
"I don't know... but that's a heartbeat, and it's yours."
Renesmee smiled and gripped my hand with tears welling up in her eyes.
"No, Jacob. It's yours." I had my eyes closed when she said it, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
Between our mutual "I love you"s, we could hear Jasper planning the attack with the other selected group leaders.
