Chapter 9 – Reassurances and disappointment
As several of the tribeswomen discussed strategies, Kaure headed over to Edward, Bella and Jacob to see how they were doing.
"Well that went well" Jacob said in a mocking tone.
Edward and Bella rolled their eyes.
Edward focused on Kaure.
"Are you okay" he asked.
Edward wished that he could read her mind, but she was totally silent to him.
"I know Felix said many hurtful things, but trust me, I read his mind. Many of his words were nothing more than an attempt to share his true feelings from Jane, Alec and Demitri. No amount of teasing from them would compare to the potential fallout from Aro and his brothers".
Kaure nodded her head and sighed.
"What did his mind say" she asked.
Edward moved towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"He felt true sorrow that Yula had died and wanted to ask you whether she had suffered, but his pride got the better of him so he decided to act like he didn't care instead".
Kaure took solace in Edward's words, somehow knowing that Felix did have feelings for her sister made a difference. She found herself thinking of Tawémake and wondered what Felix would make of her, not that she planned to let him get anywhere near her.
Bella interrupted her thoughts by calling out her name.
"Kaure... Do you mind if I ask a question?" she asked.
Kaure shook her head and raised her hand to encourage her to proceed.
"Back on the island, you joked that Edward wasn't the only Centenarian. Was your sister like you? I mean if she was like you, would she not have survived the birth more easily" Bella asked.
Bella looked at Kaure and looked out for a reaction. She thought that she saw Kaure's eyes narrow.
".. I'm sorry if the question was insensitive, I am just trying to ……"
Kaure raised her hand up in the air and cut Bella off mid sentence.
"The question was fine, don't worry. For a long time Yula was just like myself and the others who choose to shape shift, in fact she was one of the most experienced. It was about 2 years before she met Felix that she decided to stop shifting. Once she had stopped shifting, she started to age again, albeit a little slower than most."
Kaure closed her eyes as a vision of her sister filled her mind.
"The thing is, whilst we shape-shift, we are barren. We are unable to carry a child. Yula's desire to be a mother far outweighed her desire to exist. The fact that she fell for a vampire was just like my sister, she always seemed drawn to the wrong type. I guess it was a big part of who she was. The ability to see good in everyone, even when no-one else can."
Bella felt a surge of pity for Kaure.
"She sounds like such a wonderful person, I would have loved to meet her." She replied.
After an uneasy silence Kaure decided it was time to focus.
She gathered her fellow tribeswomen together in order to make preparations for the confrontation, which was now certain to happen.
Edward, Bella and Jacob joined in the discussions and marvelled at how confident Kaure and the others sounded.
"They seem so sure of themselves." said Bella to Edward, after dropping her shield.
Edward leaned into her and spoke softly in her ear "Let's hope that they have good reasons for their confidence."
Once Kaure convinced them that they knew what they need to do Edward, Bella and Jacob bid farewell and went to spend some time with Renesmee, before she was hidden away for her own safety.
Isle Esme
Aro, Marcus and Caius sat in the living room of Carlisle and Esme's home on the island. They were surrounded by members of their guard, whilst other members were outside exploring the island.
"How quaint" mused Aro enthusiastically whilst taking in all the room had to offer them in way of comfort.
Marcus and Caius shared a bemused look.
"If you say so, brother" replied Caius
Whilst his brother Marcus sighed.
"I never could understand Carlisle's fascination with appearing so human. Each to their own tastes, I guess"
Aro shook his head and chuckled at his brothers.
"You two are no fun. This place is obviously very special to Carlisle and Esme and once we've taken Edward, Bella and Renesmee home with us, it still will be, only for different reasons" he joked.
His brothers weren't sure how to respond to that so decided not to. The three brothers sat in silence until they sensed a commotion outside.
Caius waved a nearby member of the guard to go and find out was happening. The guardsman ran outside and returned shortly after.
"Masters, Jane, Alec, Dmitri and Felix are returning." He said.
Aro stood up from his seat and rubbed his hands together.
"They don't have anyone else with them master" said the guardsman with an unsteady voice.
Aro turned to his brothers and let out a guttural snarl.
"Come my brothers, let us find out why Jane and the others return empty handed"
He stormed outside, followed by his brothers to confront Jane.
"Where are my new acquisitions" Aro demanded.
Jane bowed her head and dropped her eyes to the ground.
"Forgive us master. Edward, Bella and Jacob were surrounded by others. They had hidden their child somewhere and showed no signs of wanting to come. I advised them that they had 2 hours to come here voluntarily, or that we would go and get them" she said.
Aro was not pleased.
"Who were these 'others' that they were surrounded by." He demanded.
Felix stepped forward and ignored the icy glare that Jane gave him.
"They're just a human tribe that live on the mainland. They are nothing that we can't handle. Bella was using her shield to block Jane and Alec's powers and even with our obvious advantage, there were enough there to cause slow us down. We didn't want Edward, Bella and Renesmee fleeing" Felix said.
Aro looked to his brothers and sighed.
"Very well, we will give them the two hours and if they do not return we will all go and get them. Those humans can be our pre-flight snack" he mused.
Jane, Alec, Demetri and Felix busied themselves with the rest of the guard and made plans for taking Edward, Bella and Renesmee by force. They also discussed how to divvy up the tribe between them all.
Felix joined in, but internally he was hoping to at least find out more about Yula's death, before Kaure was dispatched.
"I want Kaure" he snarled.
Jane shot him a suspicious look, but decided to let it go.
"She's fair game, if you get to her first you can have her, if not she's mine."
Felix nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders "Fair enough" he responded and decided to make reaching Kaure his top priority.
Aro paced the living room, whilst his brothers took a more relaxed approach and sat back on the sofas.
"Relax brother" ordered Marcus.
He watched on as Aro slowed his pace.
"Whatever happens you get your new acquisitions. If they come willingly then fair enough, if not then we get to have some fun, before we travel back. It's a win-win situation" mused Caius.
