Chapter 7

Dangerous Lion

The next morning it was New Year's Day. As soon as dawn approached I woke in the chair and realizing where I was, looked over where Jacob was sleeping, snoring like a chainsaw. I got up to shower and dress, then back downstairs to check on Jacob. He was still passed out. I started to fix something to eat for breakfast. I fixed a bagel, continuing to keep an eye on Jacob.

I was going on 10 am when I heard my parents come home. They walked into the living room, surprised to see Jacob sleeping on the couch. I just stood in the kitchen looking from afar.

"What the heck is going on here?" Dad asked picking up the empty champagne bottle off the floor. He looked to me in the kitchen. "Nessie, could you explain?"

"Jake got a little drunk last night and passed out on the couch."

"Drunk? What's going on?" I walked over to my parents and took the empty bottle from my Dad and threw it in the trash.

"It's over Dad. I've succeeded in breaking Jacob's heart. He got drunk last night because I told him I wasn't going to marry him, and we argued for a while, and now I feel like the worst person in the world." I was starting to cry again. My parents hugged me.

"It's for the best, Nessie. Jake's going to be upset for awhile, but you could still be friends with him couldn't you?"

I looked at my father, guilt in my eyes. "It's too late for that, now. We could never be just friends."

"Why? What happened?" Dad asked.

"I can't talk about it right now." I cried and ran to my room.

A few minutes later my mother came to my room. She held me in her small arms and caressed my hair.

"Will you talk to me about it, Nessie? I may be able to help."

"Oh, Momma!" I sobbed. "I've ruined everything. I was going to break up with Jacob, and as soon as I saw him, it was like we had never been apart. I was drawn to him and couldn't resist him as always."

"What happened, honey?"

"Jake and I made love, Mom. I could have killed him. It was a stupid mistake. I should have never given in to him like that. I'm a horrible person."

"No, you're not. You love Jake, and it was only natural for you to feel attraction to him. He adores you, Nessie. He only does what he believes is best for you. If you think its best to break up, then he will respect your wishes. It will be hard for him, but he'll do it. But I wouldn't hold out on him not trying to win you back. He is stubborn like that. Jake sticks to his guns."

"Mom, you know Jake probably better than me. You don't think he would try to harm himself, do you?"

"No. He has too much pride for that."

"There's something else, Mom. I haven't told anyone yet. I've been keeping a secret from everyone."

"I know you got your powers back."

"No, Mom, that's not it." I looked out my window, not facing her.

"What is it Nessie? You know you can tell me. Are you afraid for your father to know? Is that it? You know he can't read my mind."

"No, I've met someone." I didn't look at her.

"Someone? What are you talking about? A boy?"

"Yes."

Mom turned me around to face her. "You met someone, when?" She was surprised.

"The day after Dad and I got back from Forks. At the beach."

"And you've grown feelings for this person, is that it?"

"Yes."

"Who is this person?" Mom seemed concerned.

"His name is Leo. He came here from Crete, looking for me."

"What?" She was suddenly fearful."What do you mean?"

"Mom, it's not what you're thinking. He's not with the Volturi. He's like me."

"What do you mean? A half-vampire?"

"Yes. He's been tracking all of the kind like me. He visited the Amazonians, but there are others as well. Seven of us. He's seen them all, but only heard of me from the Amazonian boy. He was intrigued by my story."

"He's been to see all of them?"

"Yes, Mom. The Amazonians, one in Mongolia, and another in Africa. His stories of them are amazing. And I have grown very fond of him."

"Nessie, are you in love with this, Leo?" Mom was still wary.

"That's part of the problem. Jacob would be devastated, and Dad would freak out, you know how paranoid he is."

"How has your Dad not found out already?"

"I've been blocking my thoughts from him."

"Really? Has Leo been here? In our home?"

"Yes. When Dad was away." I said shamefully.

"What else aren't you telling me, Nessie?"
"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Did you have sex with Leo?"
"Mom!" I was embarrassed.

"Well, did you?"

I looked away from her. "Yes, Mom, Leo and I made love."

"Oh, Nessie. What have you gotten yourself into?"

"So you see why I'm in such a dilemma?"

"I know how you feel. I've been there, so to speak. In love with two people at the same time. But you have to decide which one to be with. You can't have it both ways.'

I kept looking away.

"You've already decided, haven't you?" Mom figured it out. "You've chosen a stranger over Jacob?"

"Mom, it's not like that. Leo's not a stranger. He is one of my kind. It's like we match."

"And what about Jacob? You're just going to forget about your history with him?"

"No, Mom. Of course not. But you know Jacob's not safe with me."

"You think you are safe with Leo?"

"Leo's not here to hurt me, Mom. He came here looking for me. Nothing else. Mom, Leo is a good person. When you meet him you will know. He's special to me." I confirmed.

"Are you sure?What do you really know about him?" Mom asked.

"A lot actually. He's from an island near Crete. He was raised by his human grandfather, who died not too long ago, and has been alone for some time now. Then he started to search for the others like us. When he heard of our legend he came here, curious to see me. I think there was and instant attraction."

"But that is all you know. Nothing else?"

"I know Leo has a good heart, and cares about me."

"I hope you're right."

After Mom left I stayed hidden in my room, and decided to call Leo. I called the cabin he was staying at directly. He answered on the first ring.

"Renesmee? I've been waiting for you to call all night. Is everything alright?" He was elated to hear from me.

"Oh, everything is just a mess. Jacob and I got into this huge argument. I gave him his engagement ring back, and he decided to get drunk. He's still passed out, actually."

"Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he?"

"Oh, no, not anything like that. He would never intentionally hurt me, not like he could hurt me in his current state anyway."

"So you broke off your engagement? He didn't take that too well, did he?"

"No, not at all. But I knew he wouldn't. He blames himself actually."

"Of course he does."
"I wanted to let you know, I told my mother about you."

"And what about your father?"

"No, not yet. He can't read my mother. That's why I told her."

"Does Jacob know about me?"

"I haven't told Jacob yet." I said ashamed.

"You haven't told Jacob what?" Suddenly his voice appeared, startling me. He was standing in my doorway, angry and clearly hung over, glaring at me. I jumped up from my bed.

"Who are you talking to, Nessie?" Jacob tried to grab the phone from me. We struggled with it, and knocked it against the wall, shattering it. I accidentally scratched Jacob's neck in the struggle. The horror of my nightmare came into my head. I leapt backward away from Jacob. I saw the blood seep into the scratches on his neck. I crouched in the corner, snarling at Jacob. He clutched his neck with his hand. My parents came upstairs after hearing the struggle. My mother grabbed a towel for Jacob's neck, and kept her distance from him, as she smelled his blood. My father stood in front of me, guarding Jacob from me.

Mom started to push Jacob out my door and down the hall. Jacob was yelling at me as he was forced down the hall. "I want an answer, Nessie! Who were you talking to?!"

I stood up in the corner and composed myself. My Dad turned to me.

"What was that all about?"

I didn't get a chance to answer, I heard the front door slam open, downstairs.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Jacob spoke. I rushed downstairs as I heard another voice.

"Where is Renesmee?" Leo asked anxiously. I saw Leo standing in the foyer like he was ready to attack Jacob. He saw me come down the stairs and was relieved. My father was right behind me on the stairs suspicious of the stranger in our house.

"Nessie, who is this guy?" Jacob asked seething with jealousy.

Leo tried to step toward me, and Jacob was blocking him, then my Mom put herself between the two. My father passed me on the stairs and approached Leo. He was staring into his eyes. I knew he was trying to read his thoughts. I concentrated and tried to block my Dad's thoughts from entering Leo's mind. It must have worked, because my father was suddenly frustrated.

"Who are you? How do you know Renesmee?" Dad asked him. I put myself between Leo and my father, and pushed my father back.

"Dad, Leo is my friend?"

"Friend?!" Jacob asked. "Edward who is this clown?" He must have thought my father could read his thoughts.

"I can't tell, Jacob. I can't read him."

Jacob approached me, and tried to nudge me away from everyone. "Who is he, Nessie? Was he the one on the phone?" He was whispering to me clenching his teeth.

I tried to look at him, but couldn't. "Yes." I finally said timidly.

Jacob grew angrier and shot Leo an evil look. "What do you want from her?" Jacob asked of Leo still clenching his teeth.

Leo stood his ground. He wasn't fazed by Jacob's anger. "I am just here to make sure she was okay. I heard a struggle with the phone, and I was concerned something had happened to her."

Jacob faced me again."How long have you known this guy?"

"Just since we came back from Forks. I met him the day after we got back."

"What is he doing here, Nessie?" Jacob asked.

"He came looking for me."

My father's defenses rose, and he stood in front of me and Jacob, facing Leo. My mother was suddenly answering the phone.

"Why was he looking for you, Nessie?" My father asked. "Who is he?"

My block must have been working, because he would have had the answers by now. "Leo is half-vampire like me. He's a tracker. He's tracking all our kind like us. He was curious to find me and meet me." I answered.

"A tracker? Nessie, I'm not too sure you know who he is?" Dad's paranoia was showing.

"Dad, he's not Volturi. The Volturi don't even know about him. He's like a nomad."

I was suddenly distracted by my mother's phone call. "Who's Mom talking to?" Then she was off the phone.

"Alice is on her way. She's only a few miles away. She's seen something, Edward."

"What?" He asked.

"She'll fill us in when she gets here."

"What do you mean, Mom? What has she seen? Does it have to do with Leo? Why is she coming here, now? There is no danger from Leo."

"She'll explain." Mom said vehemently.

I looked to Leo, and we caught glances. He looked confused. I gave him a half smile in reassurance.

"I'd like to know what the hell is going on here!!!" Jacob yelled trying to get someone's attention.

My Dad took him aside trying to calm him down. Dad was murmuring to him. I tried to ease my way closer to Leo, but Mom stood between us. I looked over to Jacob, who was leering at me.

Just then, Alice and Jasper burst through the front door. Jasper was on guard, and surveyed the room. Leo slinked back in a corner, nervous about the new arrivals. He looked at me with pleading eyes as for me to save him. Alice went to Edward and whispered in his ear. He looked back and forth between me and Leo, then revulsion and fear came into his face.

"Nessie, Alice has seen a vision of pure abhorration."

I looked at him in skepticism.

"What's going on, Dad? What are you saying?"

"Leo's not who he says he is. He is hiding a horrible secret."

I looked to Leo. He looked at me and shook his head in disagreement.

"No, it's not true. Leo is my friend. He wouldn't keep anything from me."

"He's a tracker alright, Nessie. He's found all of the half-vampires and destroyed them! They're all dead! You would have been next."

My mouth dropped and tears stung my eyes. "No!!!" I screamed. "It's not true! Is it Leo?! Tell them it's not true!" I looked to him, he was still in shock yet saddened from the news. "Leo!" I screamed at him. He looked in my eyes.

"It's not true, Renesmee. They're wrong. I would never hurt you, or the others." He said calmly.

"Don't listen to him, Nessie. He's manipulating you. Can't you see that?" My father scolded me.

"No, Dad! Alice is wrong! She has the wrong person! Leo wouldn't harm me or the others like us!"

"Why are you standing up for this creep, Nessie?" Jacob chimed in. He faced Leo, close enough to make me nervous.

"What did you do to her?" Jacob talked through his teeth. "You got to her, didn't you? Messed with her head. Played on her emotions. You slept with my Nessie, didn't you?"

Jacob started poking Leo in the chest, and Leo became furious. His teeth snarled and he pounced on Jacob, pinning him to the ground. He nearly snapped his teeth at Jacob's neck, but my father flew across the room and kicked Leo in the chest that knocked him through the front door and onto the lawn. I was frozen in my spot. I could only watch the event unfold.

My father helped Jacob up. I looked out the door and saw Leo stand up and look back at me. I looked him in the eyes and projected to him. Run, Leo! Go to our cave. I will find you. He nodded once and was gone.

My Dad and Jasper were about to go after him, but Alice stopped them. "No, it's not safe."

I felt Jacob's stare burning into me. I meekly looked at him, not lifting my head, only looking up with my eyes. Jacob was gritting his teeth. If he were still werewolf, he would have torn Leo to shreds. I know he could have. He shook his head at me, and I saw a tear fall down his cheek. Then he couldn't look at me again. Mom, tried to console him, but he pushed her away in anger and hurt. I tried to go to Jacob, but I was concreted to my spot. Jacob slumped on the couch and put his face in his hands, and it was clear he was crying. My Mother rubbed his back, and was whispering in his ear. My Dad, Alice and Jasper were chattering in the corner of the living room. I was still in shock. Everyone but Jacob looked my way, and then everything was spinning, and suddenly was black. I felt my body falling, but someone caught me before I hit the floor.

When I woke up, Mom, Dad, Alice and Jasper hovered around me as I lay in bed. I must have fainted. I looked around at my concerned families faces. But someone was missing. I shot up in my bed.

"Where's Jacob?"

My Dad placed his cold hand on my forehead.

"Lie back down, Nessie, you may faint again."

"No, where is Jacob?"

"He's not here, honey." Mom informed me. "He went back to home to Forks. He won't be back."

"What do you mean? How long have I been out?"

"Just an hour or so."

"I can still stop him. He doesn't have to leave. I need to explain. I need to talk to him."

"It's too late, honey. His plane's already gone."

I looked over to Alice, her face was suddenly like stone, and she was staring in space. Jasper whispered something in her ear. "Someone's here."

"Who?" I asked.

"Demetrie." My Dad replied.

"Dad, who is Demetrie?" I asked confused.

"He's the Volturi's personal tracker."

"What do you think he's doing here."

"I don't know." Dad looked to Alice. "How long Alice?"

"I can't see. Someone is blocking." They all looked at my mother.

"It's not me. I'm not even trying."

They all looked back at me. "It's Nessie. I can't see through her shield."

A few moments later there was a knock on our broken door frame.

"Nessie, stay here. Stay hidden. We will see what he wants. One of us will let you know when the coast is clear."

Everyone went downstairs to greet the visitor, Demetrie. I crouched low, hidden at the top of the stairs, listening in on the conversation.

"Hello, Edward. Nice to see you again." The low grainy voice greeted my father.

"Demetrie. What brings you here?" My Dad asked matter-of-factly. "Has Aros sent you?"

"Straight to the point, then, right? Well, Edward I am searching for a fugitive. A half-vampire male."

My father looked to Alice, but she shook her head in unknowing.

"What do you want with him?"

"You must have had a struggle here, your door is broken."

"Yes, he tried to attack my friend, Jacob."

"Right, the moon child." Demetrie squinted at Jacob. "He's different. Not the same." He sniffed the air. "He's been injured."

'He's fine."

My mother, Alice and Jasper blocked Jacob from Demetrie.

"Where is your child, Edward. The half-vampire girl?"

"She's not here."

Demetrie sniffed the air again. "Don't lie to me Edward. I know better."

"What do you want with my daughter?"

"She's consorting with the fugitive, harboring him nearby. I haven't found him yet, but I will soon."

"What do you want with him?"
"I have strict orders to destroy him." I panicked and ran to my room. I put my coat on and jumped out the window.

"He's lying, Alice."

"I can see again, Edward." Nessie's gone. Alice thought in her mind.

Edward looked at the top of the stairs, then back to Demetrie. "You're here to kill them both, aren't you? Just like you killed the others?"

Bella was horrified. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"He's under orders." Edward stated.

"Aros?" Bella asked.

"No, Caius. Aros wanted me to collect them, but Caius had other ideas. He sent me to destroy them all, including your daughter!" Demetrie snarled at Edward.

Edward took a defensive stance, and Bella, Jasper, and Alice stood beside him like a wall of vampires. Demetrie seemed intimidated and ran off out numbered.

"He's going after Nessie and Leo. We have to stop him before he finds them."

I ran through the woods, to the cliffs above the alcove and jumped down to the beach. I jumped over the water to the cave, and half-somersaulted into the cave and stood up. Leo was standing there in the cave and rushed to me, and held me in his arms.

"You came. I am so glad. I thought you would be convinced by your family that I was a killer."

I pulled myself away from him and looked in his eyes. I believed he was not a killer. His eyes did not lie.

"I won't let you be persecuted for something you didn't do. I believe you wouldn't kill anybody. Not intentionally. Its not in your nature. Especially not the others like us."

"I'm so glad you feel that way. Thank you for believing in me." He hugged me again.

I pried myself away from him. "But we have to leave. The Volturi have sent their tracker, Demetrie to find you and kill you."

"You're going with me?"

"Yes, of course. I don't want anything happen to you. Do you have a passport?" He nodded. "Good, and your clothes are here?"

"Yes, I went to the Inn before I came here. I knew somehow I had to leave."

"Good, then let's go." I grabbed him by the hand and we started to exit the cave. Just as we were about to leap up the cliff, a cloaked figure dropped down next to us. Demetrie was standing before us. I placed myself in front of Leo. Demetrie's face glowed white against his cloak. He grinned an ominous grin.

"Good, now I have you both together. Two birds with one stone. That was easier than I thought it would be."

I looked at him terrified. He tried to lunge toward us, but suddenly my Mom, Dad, Alice and Jasper were in front of us blocking Demetrie. He hissed and snarled at them. Dad looked back at me. "Run, Nessie! Take Leo, and run! Demetrie is the one who killed the others. Just run!"

I nodded my head and said a soft. "I love you all." Then I took Leo by the hand and we jumped up the cliff and back through the woods to my house. I gathered my clothes, essentials, extra money, and my passport and other papers. I put all the things in the Tourig, and we pulled away from the house. I just drove as fast as the car would go, and far away as possible. Leo held my hand in the car most of the way through New Hampshire, north. Leo dozed off, as I drove through the night.