"He was trying to protect his sisters," my father explained.
The only other vampire I had ever met that was like me was Nahuel. He was the reason that Aro decided not to kill me all those years ago. He became more than just a friend; he was a part of the family. He saw Bella as a sort of foster mother. He'd visit us several times a year. Nahuel was like an older brother to me and now he was gone.
"They were hiding with their father and Nahuel found them about the same time that the Volturi did. His sisters were trying to save their father. They didn't survive either."
"But why," I whispered as he cradled me in his arms.
"The Volturi felt threatened by vampires like Nahuel and his sisters."
"Vampires like me."
"No!" my mother came across the room to sit next us. "No one will ever hurt you. Do remember all those vampires that came when you were little and how they all wanted to keep you safe? They'd be here in a heartbeat if they thought you were in danger."
"And your mother would use her gift to keep you safe." He kissed my cheek.
I knew my parents were right, but I was still scared.
"And that's why Leah is going to stay with you whenever you go out."
I looked over at Leah who was leaning up against the wall smiling a concerned smile. She had agreed to move into one of the guestrooms. Jacob had probably made it another order and there was really no need.
"You don't have to do this Leah," I sobbed thinking what the last minutes of my friend's life must have been like, "I'm never leaving the house again anyway."
"What about your new friends? You can't expect them to always come here to see you." Edward stroked my hair as continued. "I will not let you live in fear do you hear me?"
It was hard to agree with him and believe that everything was going to be okay. I could still remember the how easily the Volturi had killed Irina. They could just as easily kill us if they really tried.
None of my family would let me stay in bed like I wanted. Not that being in my bed did any good. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Nahuel being ripped apart by the Volturi. Everyone was hurt by the loss, but they told me that I had to go on living. When that didn't work, Leah decided to play dirty. She picked up the phone, dialed a number and held it to my ear.
"I'm not protecting a shut in," was all she said before a voice came through the phone.
"Nessie, I haven't heard from you in over a week." Jake's hurt voice said.
He had called four times everyday only to have me refuse his calls. I refused to talk to anyone.
"I'm sorry."
"Sweetness I know you're sad, but you need to get out of the house. Why don't you visit Quinn? I'm sure she'd love to see you. Edward told me she's called about as much as I have."
It was true. She called three times a day. Then Toby would call every day, while Finn would stop by the house everyday only to be turned away by Leah.
"They miss you." He added.
I was too tired to argue so an hour later I was being driven by Leah to Quinn's house. Finn sounded so happy when he heard my voice on the phone. I called to see if it was okay to come over and if I could bring a friend.
He was waiting on the front step when we pulled up. I felt his arms wrap around me when I stepped out of the jeep.
"I'm sorry about your friend," he said.
"Uh, Finn this is Leah," I said not wanting to break down.
"We actually met." Finn led us toward the house and told us what he had planned. "You need cheering up and the best way to do that is an Adam Sandler marathon, the early years of course."
We were about to enter the house when Quinn ran out holding up a disposable frying pan. "Not yet! The popcorn's not ready."
Leah made some kind of strange grunting noise, "I haven't had Jiffy Pop in forever." She ran on ahead to help Quinn who only had experience with microwave popcorn.
"Finn, show Ness around while we make the snacks," Quinn ordered as she dragged Leah behind her.
We stood there in silence, Finn and I, with a gentle breeze forcing my wayward hair into my eyes. I was ready to rip out every strand when an elastic band appeared before my face.
"I always carry these things in my pocket for Quinn."
I greatfully accepted the hair tie, pulled my hair back and followed Finn as he gave me a tour of his home.
"And this is the garden," he gestured toward a kaleidoscope of colors that were several rose trees jumbled together. It looked as though they should have choked one another they were that close, but Finn claimed that having them grow that way helped to support their growth.
"They're beautiful. You did a great job." I told him.
"I can't take credit for this. Quinn planted them. Our mom used to do stuff like this all the time." He stopped talking and took a deep breath, "Quinn is just like her. I thought my aunt was going to have a fit when Heidi told her about them, but as it turns out, if Quinn wanted to burn the place to the ground she could."
Apparently the small house belonged to Finn and Quinn. It had been willed to their mother by some great-great aunt and when she died it was left to them. And it wasn't just the house. They had been left a great deal of money that would allow them to live very comfortably.
"Toby wants to know if I'll be his sugar daddy," Finn joked as we entered the house. The smell of warm butter filled the room.
Quinn sat me on the couch next to her while Finn set up the movie. He sat on my other side while Leah sat in a comfy armchair. "Toby said to start without him."
When I asked where he was I was told he had the unfortunate task of bringing Heidi to the airport. She decided she didn't want to stay in Rio once she realized her summer home wasn't actually hers.
Quinn came into the room carrying a huge tray filled with popcorn, M&M's, gummi bears and sodas. She was in her element, playing hostess to a group of people. She reminded me of a certain high strung vampire. The idea made me smile. Maybe the two of them could start their own business.
The first movie started, but my eyes were so heavy and I was so tired that I never made it past the opening credits. The pictures before me fluttered out of existence and were replaced by the young vampire from my dream that had asked for my help.
"You are a hard girl to get a hold of little one." He stroked my jaw with his thumb.
Startled, I jerked away from him and looked around only to see that we were alone. The stranger held up his hand in a defensive pose. "Sorry."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Sky Quapaw."
He was named that because of the color of his eyes. They were even brighter than the last time. "That's pretty." I said sliding away from him.
"My first name is actually Mahpee, but the translation sounds better…or at least I thought it did. Pretty huh?" Sky had told me he needed my help and here I was insulting him.
"Sorry," I grabbed the cushion on the couch and laid it in my lap. "What do you need help with and what makes you think I can help you?"
"It's because of who you are, because of who your parents are. My family is in danger Renesmee and you are the only one who can help. I need you to tell your family that we're coming and that we mean you no harm."
He was stroking my jaw again and it felt nice. His touch was soothing and was drawing me towards him like a magnet. There was reason why his touching me should have bothered me, but I couldn't remember why. The smell of the leather jacket he was wearing was so strong. I touched the hand that was touching me. I wanted to see who this stranger was and why I was so attracted to him, but nothing happened. He was shielding his mind from me. I wanted to be offended, but his eyes sucked me back in again, locking me into trace.
"So, will you help me?"
"What?" his voice sounded strange, like it was coming from the end of a tunnel. The dream was ending and I was waking up, but the words kept repeating. I tried to grab his hand to keep him from leaving, but an image of Jacob that flashed in my head kept me from trying too hard.
"You're going to wake Ness up, keep it down," Finn's voice said.
"You might want to listen to your friend boy," Leah hissed.
My eyes fluttered open to see Toby grinning at Leah like an idiot. She looked like she wanted to knock the boy through a wall. I squeezed the cushion closer to my body.
"Hey sleeping beauty," I jumped when I looked up and saw that I was practically curled up in Finn's lap; and it wasn't a cushion I was holding, it was his arm.
Finn helped my sit up. "How long was I asleep?"
"A couple of hours," Leah had turned her back on Toby. "I didn't think we should wake you." An annoyed look came across her face as Toby came to stand behind her.
"What did I miss?" stifling a smile. I glanced between Leah and Toby.
"Toby has finally found love," Quinn threw a handful of popcorn and the lovesick boy.
"Is it my fault that Pocahontas and I are destined to be together?" He leaned in to smell Leah's hair.
"So help me I will end you!" Leah smacked him away.
Help me.
Pulling my cell from my back pocket, I got up. "Excuse me for a minute. I forgot to give my dad a message before we left."
It took five rings before Emmett answered the phone. I relayed the message from my dream.
"I'll tell them Nessie, but you might want to come home. Alice and Jasper are going on a trip."
"Trip? Where?"
"America. They're going to see that lawyer guy."
A muffled voice ordered Emmett to hand over the phone. Then Alice's voice came on the line.
"Don't you dare come home Renesmee Cullen. You're having fun with your friends."
She told me that she and Jasper would only be gone for a short time. That they would be back before we even knew they were gone. She told me she loved me and to enjoy the concert, whatever that meant. She then put Jasper on the phone so that he could say his goodbyes.
I had only been separated from my aunt and uncle once before. Since that day they, like the rest of my family, had been a constant in my life.
"That's it, we're leaving!" Leah shouted as she exited the house. "I swear if that idiot uses one more line on me…He keeps sniffing my hair Nessie, that's just weird."
We went back into the house one last time before we went home. Finn told us to wait just one second and left the room only to come back moments later holding two strips of paper in his hand.
"Yeah, so there's this outdoor concert in a couple of weeks and we've got these extra tickets if you wanted to come. Leah can come too." He held the two tickets out and waited for me to take them.
I didn't get a chance. Leah snapped up the tickets and thanked Finn and Quinn for a lovely day and then glared at Toby.
"Bye guys."
"See you Ness," Quinn hugged me and then whispered, "and don't worry, they'll be back before you even know they're gone."
Quinn had repeated the exact words that Alice had said. It was odd because I never told her who had called or what the call was about. I told myself it was nothing more than a coincidence. Besides I had more important thing on my mind. I had to go home and get ready. Company was coming.
*NOTE* Entertainment Weekly online has been doing this poll getting readers to vote on who the sexier beast is. The reason I bring this up is because in the forth slot it is Jacob Black AKA Taylor Lautner (Eclipse) vs. Michael Corvin AKA Scott Speedman (Underworld). I thought this was funny because I mentioned this movie a few chapters ago.
OMG! Not only does Renesmee have Jacob and Finn after her, now it looks like a new sexy vampire on the way into town.
CHAPTER 9 TEASER:
"I just don't think it's a good idea, that's all," Bella said for the millionth time. "Sky and his family could be showing up any minute and how can we be sure that we can trust them? We haven't heard from Alice in nearly a month so we can't be sure that you'll be safe on your own. Besides, you are too young to be going to concert by yourself in Rio. Until all this mess is figured out I think it would be best if you stayed close to home."
"I've been staying close to home my entire life. What's the big deal? It's just a concert. And I won't be alone, Leah will be there." I argued. "And Sky isn't evil."
"How can you be sure Nessie?" Edward asked playing the role of good cop.
"Because he told me," I said.
Rosalie let out a frustrated sigh. "Oh well if he told you so then it must be true." She went on to tell me that she had some magic beans she wanted to sell me.
