Chapter 10

Rio de Janeiro

Renesmee's POV

Daddy came back with Jacob, following a few feet behind him, Mom and I overheard everything that was verbal; so it was official that Jacob loved me just as much as I knew Ambrogio did – but now every time Jake and I hunted, there was always a moment when he tried to kiss me again. I tried to avoid kissing him as much as I could but occasionally I allowed him to have a kiss, but only so I wouldn't hurt his feelings. Jake was trying his best to convince me to return my feelings for him – but my Jacob was be whatever I required him to be, and right now I only wanted him to be a big brother.

But one day I was sitting down in the lounge room reading William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, the girl Katharina reminded me a little of myself; being herself and refusing to be what everyone wanted her to be, in spite of what everyone thought of her – I wanted to be with Ambrogio, despite the fact that my entire family wanted me to be with Jacob; Uncle Jasper was the only one who confessed that he supported my love for Gino over Jacob.

Suddenly Mom came into the room. "Hey, Sweetie," She stroked and kissed my hair, before sitting down beside me.

I sighed, placing the book down on the coffee table. "Momma, I just wanted to apologise again; you know for running away, I know it's been over a year now..."

"Renesmee, I didn't see you for nearly four days, but I suppose I should thank you. Now I know what hell I put Charlie through." She replied.

"I'm really sorry, Mom."

We embraced each other in a hug. "Listen, Nessie. I hate punishing you so how about this; if you promise not to do anything so reckless or dangerous ever again then you're not grounded anymore – and as a special treat your Dad and I have decided to take you to Isle of Esme, in Rio de Janeiro."

My eyes opened wide I was shocked and amazed. "Oh Mom!" hugging her again.

I had been longing to see Isle of Esme my whole life. The day after I packed my things and I wrote Ambrogio a note, just to tell him how everything was going. We said good bye to the family, we went to the airport and caught the next plane to Brazil.

When we landed the air was so humid and warm, the heat was trapped under the partial blanket of clouds; but thankfully it was night when we got off the plane and the breeze was perfect to make the heat not as bothersome. With our bags, Daddy led us to the bay where we had a small private boat waiting for us. Dumping everything on the boat, the motor roared to life, and we sped off into the darkness; for half an hour we blazed in the same direction until I could just make out a small strip of white on the horizon.

"There it is!" Dad didn't take much effort to yell over the motor.

The motor began to die down and we hovered to the small island's port, Mom and Dad picked up all the bags and waltzed on the path through the lush jungle with smiles on their faces.

"It's almost just as we left it." Said Mom, gleefully.

"Well not quite, the cleaners fixed the beds and I've had them put in some food for you, Nessie. Though you'll probably want to hunt with us."

"Oh I don't mind a little human food now and again." I replied. Truly I didn't really like human food, sure there were different tastes to it but none that jumped or thrilled me; but it was a good way to help maintain our camouflage around humans.

We got settled in, I got the blue room all to myself while Mom and Dad got the big white room, which led out onto a small garden leading to the beach – it reminded me of the little garden back home outside their bedroom, now I knew where the inspiration had come from. Later on that night, in my bed I laid wondering if Gino had read the letter I sent him.

Ambrogio's POV

It was a dark rainy day in Volterra, afternoon tea was delicious as always, but light was shed on my day when Demetri approached me in my bed chamber.

"This just came for you, Gino." He smoothly handed me a letter. "It's from your girlfriend."

I recognised the handwriting, instantly I ripped it open, and read the note immediately –

Dear Ambrogio,

I just wanted to say hi and to let you know that I absolutely love the birthday present you sent me, truly it's perfect.
Anyway I just wanted to let you know that Mom and Dad are taking me to Isle Esme, in Rio de Janeiro; I really wish you'd come, I really want to talk to you.

P.S

Tell Didyme and Orithyia I miss them so much; though not as terribly as I miss you.

Love Always,

Renesmee.

Leaning out from my bed, I looked down at my mother Sonja's red ruby ring, and considered on whether or not I should go; suddenly without thinking I rushed to my father and told him that I had to go to Brazil. It took a while to convince him to let me go, let alone go unescorted; but finally with the help from my mother, Father allowed me to go alone.

"But Son, just be very careful; from our understanding there have been some unexplainable killings happening in that area." Father warned.

I understood.

Taking the next flight to Brazil, on the plane thoughts went through my head of what I was going to say; I knew Edward wasn't going to forgive me easily for chocking Renesmee, I had my doubts that Bella ever would, but at least I would be able to apologise to Renesmee personally.

The plane landed and I managed to find the Isle of Esme with the help of the Cullen scent leading the way – I was even a little impressed with my sense of smell after following the trail over the body of water – but most of the help was with the cleaning crew handling the boat. Though it was hard because of the woman; she constantly stared at me, whispering to her associate in her foreign tongue. I saw in her mind that she was more aware of the supernatural world through her culture's myths and legends; my skin was glowing so perhaps she had noticed it in comparison with her own skin.

When we got to the island, it was far more beautiful than Edward's mind let on, the very place where Renesmee was conceived; we approached the house, Edward welcomed the humans in their common tongue – but not me.

"What are you doing here, Ambrogio?" he asked gravely.

His arm arched firmly across the door way so I couldn't enter; in his mind he was a little surprised by my dark transformation but also believed that I somehow soothed his daughter into running away to join Volturi.

"Mr. Cullen, I'm terribly sorry about what I did to your daughter – hitting her and then having the nerve of allowing her to stay with my family. When I should have trusted my instincts and taken her home. But please I just wanted to see Renesmee; apologise to her properly."

He stared at me and shook his head. "No."

I replied. "Edward, please."

Just then I saw Bella come in with Renesmee.

"Gino?" She came to hug me but Bella took hold of her arm.

"Nessie stay inside." Ordered Edward.

"Renesmee…"

Edward then threatened me. "Voltago, you should leave – now."

But Renesmee squirmed out of her mother's arms, Edward's hand tried to rip her back but Nesmee pushed me into the sunlight – our skin glowed but not enough for the humans to be too suspicious, or at least I didn't think so, as our skin was glowing quite bright. Edward's face carved itself in fury but Nesmee gripped my arm and pulled me further away from the house and from any shadows so they couldn't reach us. She then took me down to the beach and we walked with the sand in between our toes; and then, when we were out of view from the house, she hugged me viciously.

"I'm so glad you got my message." she smiled whitely.

"Yes. I just wanted to apologise to you, personally…" I looked down at her right wrist; she was still wearing the opal bracelet I sent to her for her birthday.

Renesmee half smiled. "By the way, I love it." Referring to the bracelet.

"I'm sorry." I sighed, "For everything."

In her mind she was hoping that I would finally proclaim my love for her but no, not here – at least not now.

"And by the way my cousins said 'Hi'."

Renesmee chuckled, "I miss them."

"Yeah they're growing so fast. Well everything is really."

As we strolled further together along the beach, hand in hand; I caught Renesmee staring at me, then it became too much to bear and she had to address the subject of my complexion. Why my skin was so pale and why my appearance was more frightening.

"Gino, what's happened to you?" she asked.

I half smiled, "Volterra has taken its toll on me; for the best I think, at least I fit in better with my home's gothic yet rustic authenticity."

"I like it. It gives a more old-fashioned, mysterious gentleman to your character." She complemented.

"Well, I am an Ancient Child after all." I grinned.

But then in her past memories I saw something I wished I hadn't – I saw Jacob and Nes hunting and then I saw them kissing. Though it was pathetic of me really, I was stung by the fact that perhaps she had finally moved on but this is what I wanted for her; for her to be happy – even if it was with Jacob.

Nes caught my rather depressed expression. "You found it, huh?" she spoke, "When I kissed Jake."

"Looks like you two are getting close." I replied.

"Gino, it was a friendship kiss. Nothing more."