Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Based on characters created by Stephanie Meyer in her Twilight series

Done By Dawn

Chapter 8

"What do you mean, "Too bad they didn't listen,"?" Jenna glared at Alice, and then Bella.

"I thought you knew?" Bella started. "About the Volturi coming to Washington."

"That sounds like an old black and white movie, 'The Volturi Go To Washington' but no, I didn't know. I knew about your trip to Italy. I was, unfortunately a few hours behind you. You were safe, before I could reach you. But I do want you to know, that should you have been killed, not a single one of them would have been spared from the fire I would have created."

Edward and Alice both shivered as they looked into Jenna's eyes, and saw the depth of her commitment to that end.

"They thought Renesmee was an immortal child," Edward's hand covered Bella's, as it rested on the table near her coffee cup. "It was a close call, but Bella saved us. Her shield covered us all." His eyes locked with hers as a smile lifted one side of his mouth. Bella felt herself draw in a sharp breath, as she temporarily lost herself in the beauty of his face. "We know it's only a matter of time before they try again." Edward looked at Jenna then. "Aro wants Alice and me to join him. With his penchant for collecting strong abilities, I'm sure he's just salivating at any opportunity to grab Bella as well."

"There's also Aro's fear of the size of our family." Alice added. "He considers us a threat to the reign of the Volturi. He actually thinks that we would challenge them." Alice stilled for a moment, drawing Edwards attention immediately.

"Alice?" Bella stiffened.

"I'm sorry!" Alice's voice carried a note of fear. "I was so wrapped up in what was going on with Bella, that I forgot to watch." The rest of the Cullen family suddenly filled the room. Jasper placed his hands on Alice's shoulders, as he attempted to calm her.

"What's happened?" Carlisle asked calmly. He motioned for everyone to sit as he took a seat at the large dinning room table.

"They know that Bella is human," Edward stated simply.

"Yeah!" Emmett cheered. "Bring it on!" Rose rolled her eyes at him and punched him in the arm.

"Chill out, monkey-man. You're not at home," Rose warned him.

"Sorry," Emmett calmed down, but still sat forward in his chair, anxious to hear what was going to happen next.

"They're trying to find out where we are." Edward relayed for Alice.

"Connie," Jenna called her in from the kitchen.

"Yes?" Connie hurried in, wiping her hands dry with her apron.

"Would you ask Tony to call for Cory, please?"

"Certainly," and she ran back into the kitchen. Shortly after the back door slammed shut, they all heard a high pitched whistle. All except Bella.

"A dog whistle?" Esme asked.

Jenna shrugged. "It works," she smiled a rather lopsided smile. "Cory will be here shortly."

"Why bring in dog-boy?" Jacob walked in pulling his fingers from his ears. "Or were you trying to get my attention?" he asked. Renesmee took hold of his fingers as she walked beside him, into the room. She sat on his lap when he took a seat next to Edward. Renesmee reached out for Edward's face, and caught up with the events of the day.

"If there is a chance that the Volturi might show up here, he has a right to know. Remember, Cory and his brother, Caius, did not part on the best of terms."

"Of course," Carlisle said. "Caius thinks he's dead. That could cause quite a problem for him. Especially with his scent so prevalent here."

"Who's scent is so prevalent?" Cory asked as he walked through the door and joined the group. He gave Jenna a peck on the cheek and sat down on the empty chair next to her. "What's up?"

Jenna took a deep breath before she started, "It appears that the Volturi know that Bella is now human."

Alice was still rigid with the visions she was continuing to have. Edward relayed what he saw in her mind, while Jasper worked to keep her calm.

"They believe that we somehow tricked them into believing that we had turned her, when in fact we hadn't." Edward reached one arm around Bella, pulling her closer to him, and the other held Renesmee's hand, as he continued to verbalize the visions in Alice's mind. "Marcus is laughing at them. He's trying to remind Aro of the—prophesy." Edward's eyes jerked to Jenna. "Your prophesy. Aro refuses to listen to him. He won't even let him finish." Edward fell silent. He looked at Bella, and for the first time in a long time, she saw fear and anger in his eyes.

"They're coming," Bella whispered to him. Edward gave a small nod.

"As soon as they can figure out where we are." Edward gave her hand a tender squeeze.

"Well don't that just scald the ass off a werewolf pup," Cory leaned back in his chair, with his hands laced behind his head. He gave Jenna a sly smile. "Guess it's been a long run, babe. Time to pay the bill."

"You know what it'll mean," Jenna brushed her hand down Cory's cheek.

"Yeah, I know. But it's been years since I saw that over-inflated, self-important, idiot of a brother of mine. Who knows, maybe he'll have forgotten about it all, by now."

"I seriously doubt that," Carlisle interjected.

"Doesn't matter. It's time to settle this. None of you should have to live under the threat of those three delinquents, and their band of un-merry men. Jenna gave them a warning. They should have taken her seriously. I did, from the moment I met her. It's their own over-aggressive sense of self-worth that has brought this on. It's time it was done." Cory flipped his chair back to all four legs. His eyes turned a bright yellow, as his wolf aggression fought to surface.

"Relax," Jenna placed her hand on his arm to sooth him. "It's a simple matter to let them know our location."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Carlisle asked. "They will come as a solid force. The entire guard, as well. After last time, Aro will not come unprepared."

"I'm sure he's been hard at work recruiting new talent for his guard." Jasper's military mind was fast at work. "He won't dare approach us without vastly superior numbers. It won't be anything like it was last time. Aro considers his life far too important to take any chances with it."

"But I will still be the surprise. They don't know I'm here. They don't know that I'm not a vampire. They don't know a lot of things." Jenna began to laugh. "The amount of things they don't know is simply staggering."

"True, but they do know that I'm not a vampire any more," Bella piped up weakly. "How did they find out?"

"Could they have a seer? Like Alice?" Esme asked calmly.

"Anything is possible," Jenna replied. "That's why I keep a shield over this place at all times. You never know who might be trying to watch, or listen in."

"A shield?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, Bill's more than a top mechanic and driver. He's an engineer. Between the two of us, we designed a shield. We can spy out, but nothing, organic or mechanical, can spy in. Handy little devise. Covers about a 20 mile radius."

"Cool!" Emmett chimed, then fell silent.

The whole room went silent, as each of them pondered the question; how could the Volturi have found out about Bella? And the more important question; when would they find out where they were?

"Alright," Jenna broke the silence after a few minutes. "Bill, you and Edward take Bella into town for groceries, clothes, supplies, whatever. Take her to a couple different towns. Cory, you and Jacob start patrolling the perimeter. I'll join you when I can."

"Seems to me that's a job for us four footed," Jacob laughed.

"I can wolf out, Jake," Jenna gave him a dirty look.

"I thought you had to sample the DNA of something to mimic it?" Jake looked puzzled.

Jenna gave Cory a look, and he shrugged. "I kind of lost my head one night," he smiled at the eyes that were trained on him.

"What?-It happens!" and he shrugged again. "She can be a very exciting woman," and he leered at Jenna.

"That one only took me a couple weeks to lock away," Jenna said as she rose from the table.

"Hey," Jacob stopped everyone from leaving. "Should I call down the troops?"

"No," Jenna responded. "They need to keep a closer watch on your place there. You said they know you're gone?" Edward nodded. "So who's been in the area since you all left?"

"I'll find out if they sniffed anything." Jake shifted Renesmee to Edward and Bella, pulled his cell phone from his pocket and went out the front door.

Everyone began to leave the room, except for Bella, Edward and Jenna.

"Mother?"

Jenna thought she felt her heart stop for a moment. "Yes?"

"I still want to know, what are you? Please, all you ever say is that you are my mother, but that's not really an answer. What are you?"