The sunlight woke her the next morning as it peaked in the window. Jacob not surprisingly was still fast asleep sprawled across the bed. Her bronze curls were knotted where she'd obviously not had a great night's sleep. She slid out of the bed silently and back into her own room without as much as a sound. Peeking out her own windows she noted the sunshine wasn't going to last long today. The storm clouds were already rolling in. This would be perfect weather for their trip to Volterra since Nahuel's aunt wouldn't have to cover up as much. She wandered into the small bathroom in her room and began to run warm water in the claw foot tub. There were an array of salts and bubbles on a shelf in the room. She poured a little of the vanilla scented soap into the tub and watched it foam as she removed her cloths.
She dipped her toe in first to test the temperature and then slid the rest of her body. She was still exhausted from tossing and turning all night and found herself nodding off as she leaned her face on the side of the cold edge of the tub. She wasn't sure if it was a few moments later or several minutes when she heard the light wrap at her door. "Nessie, you in there?" she heard Jake ask from the other side of the door.
"Yeah" She made sure she was sufficiently covered in bubbles. "Come in, I'm covered."
She could tell Jake was blushing when he poked his head through the door despite the fact he was looking at the floor trying not to make eye contact and see anything he wasn't supposed to. "Your dad called a little bit ago Ness. He wanted to know if you'd left yet. I told him you'd call him back."
So I was out for a while.
"Also, Nahuel and his Aunt are ready to go to Volterra when you are. It looks like it's going to rain here in a little bit. Might want to think about that when you get dressed." The red deepened in his face. Nessie had never seen him blush quite that colored, it amused her. "I'm going to go make some pancakes and eggs, want some?"
"Sure" Nessie smiled gently. He's not even looking at me. She giggled and picked up bubbles blowing them to his feet. "I'll be down in a minute."
"Ok" He smiled at the bubbles at his feet but didn't look up as he shut the door.
I wonder if he knows I slept in the bed with him last night. I hope he's not upset, he didn't act upset but he sure looked embarrassed, that's not like him. She slipped under the water getting it wet and reached for her shampoo and conditioner as she came back up. When she finished washing the last of the suds out of her hair under the faucet she grabbed the large fuzzy yellow towel from the bar and stepped into her room. He has to know, my bed was still immaculate. She bit her lip as she started to paw through the clothes Alice had paced for her. She pulled out a dress she'd not seen before. A retro pencil skirt and ruffled white top attached to the hanger was a wide brimmed black hat. Very Italian Alice. She slipped it on and went back to the bathroom to dry her hair. She pulled it up into a tight bun at the nape of her neck as she reemerged from the bathroom to look for her shoes. The black pumps were easy enough to find. Collecting the rest of her belongings and a shawl she walked downstairs.
"Wow" She heard Jacob say as he looked up from his plate. "I haven't seen that dress before."
"I think it's new, Alice packed it." She said absently walking to table. "Thanks for making breakfast."
"No prob." He answered turning his attention back to the massive pile of eggs on his plate.
"So how did you sleep last night" She asked testing the waters.
"Um…ah. Not bad. I just had a really wild dream and I'm trying not to think about it so your dad doesn't kill me for it later." He said blushing the same deep shade of red she saw earlier.
"About?" She asked dragging out the syllables.
"Um, well wasn't that bad. Just that you crawled into bed with me last night."
She smiled letting one side of her lips curl up. "Oh."
She finished the last bite of eggs and pancakes and put the plate in the sink. "Don't be too bored without me today ok?"
"I'll be ok. I'm going to go for a run and then take a nap. Are you going to be gone all day?" He asked as Nessie picked up her hat and fastened it onto her head with a few pins from her clutch.
"I don't plan on it no. I'd like for this to be short since the following days might be longer." The look of worry spread across her face as Nahuel and his Aunt emerged from the hallway.
"We'll wait for you in the car Renesmee." Nahuel said as he walked to the door without so much as glancing at either of them.
"I'll try and hurry ok Jake. I wanted to do some sightseeing this evening with you." She said walking back into the kitchen. Leaning down to talk to him she whispered in his ear. "I love you Jacob Black. You weren't dreaming last night." She didn't even look back at him as she grabbed her stuff and walked out the door. She snickered under her breath as she walked to the car she liked that she affected him like that.
The atmosphere in the car was drastically different from inside. The air was cool and Nahuel and his Aunt did not seem happy.
"Are you two ok?" Nessie asked adjusting the mirror.
"Just nervous about today. We've only briefly met the Volturi." Nahuel answered quickly and coolly.
Putting the car in reverse and easing the car down the driveway and back out to the road she took the drive to Volterra at a human pace. It took the better part of thirty minutes to find a parking spot in the crowded streets. Finally she found a car leaving its spot along Viale del Ponti. They were going to have to walk a little ways, but she could use the time to steady her nerves. They had decided the previous night to leave Jacob at home. She'd though it might irritate them if she brought the werewolf with her into town for the visit.
Her heals clicked along the cobble stones streets. She took several mental notes about where she wanted to go when she went sightseeing, including a lovely little jewelry shop. She liked to pretend she wasn't like Alice, but honestly she loved shopping and finding something special.
They approached the town center quicker then she'd hoped. The clock tower was just where Edward had said it would be. She could see the doors he had told her to walk through when she arrived. She felt tightness in her chest just then as they approached the fountain in the center of the square.
"You are getting nervous, I can tell." Nahuel said looking at her with a look of concern. "Are you going to be ok? Do we need to stop and rest?"
"No, no I'll be ok." Nessie answered taking a deep breath and reaching for the door handle. The door was lighter then she expected and it swung open a little too easy. Once the three of them were inside she shut the door behind them. "Now what?" She asked genuinely confused as to what to do next.
"I thought Carlyle said they would come to us at this point." Nahuel too looked confused as they stood in the dark hallway alone. They never even heard the footsteps enter the room.
"Renesmee, Nahuel…you've joined us. The Elders are excited to see the both of you again. Please follow us." The deep voice requested. When the face took a step into the only light into the hallway Renesmee recognized the face from her father's description. He was larger than even her uncle Emmett.
"You must be Felix." She purred in her polite voice.
"Indeed. Please follow me, and watch your step. These first stairs are step." The group walked down a set of uneven stone steps and then down another stone hallway that lead to an elevator that looked strangely out of place in the historic building. Nessie was not sure exactly how many floors they had gone down but when the doors open they found a modern office setting in front of them. Just as Mom described. That's not the same secretary though. This one is human though.
They continued past the desk and through another set of doors that revealed the stone floor of the sanctuary. Nessie took a swift breath in. The air was shockingly cooler inside the round room then out in the office. She couldn't keep her eyes off the art in the room and they immediately traveled to the ceiling when she walked in the room. She'd only seen art like this in the books from her history classes in school. She'd borrowed an art book for a project once and had seen something similar. It's breath taking.
"My Darling Renesmee, so happy you've joined us. I received your reply a few days ago, such a lovely response." The voice cooed from somewhere in front of her. Snapping her attention back forward she reached up and removed the pins from her hair and her hat.
"Tante Gratzie, Aro, so much for the invitation." She smiled sweetly at the vampire she knew was probably the most dangerous, she didn't see the ones her family had described called Jane or Alec. The only Vampires in the room where the guard and the ancients.
"I trust you've found a place to stay and it's comfortable."
"Yes we have a lovely home far in the countryside. Plenty of room to hunt."
He reached out for her hand. Instinctually she grabbed it to show him.
"Ah yes, that's right you've got such a lovely talent. The opposite of my own. How are your mother and father?"
"Very well." She showed him a lovely picture of the two of them only a few days prior at her party looking still totally in love.
"I see Bella has grown even more into her vampire skin." Aro grinned. "You dance now?" He asked truly interested.
"Yes, I've been offered a position with the Anchorage Ballet." She answered out loud for the benefit of the others in the room while showing Aro her memories of the last rectal she'd given."
"You must dance while you are here. I will have the secretary arrange a guest spot with the town's ballet while you are here. That is if you will indulge us. We do so love the arts."
He dropped her hand satisfied with all she'd shown him. "I suppose Carlyle told you we're in the middle of festival season. There are many things to participate in within the city while you are here as well as one or two Volturi sponsored events you may be interested in. As you leave Chantal can give you the information you need. We'd very much like to have you join us for our grand ball. You can meet those of us who are missing this morning. Nahuel we are also pleased to see you are well. The same invitations apply to you as well."
Before she knew it they were being escorted back up to the street level by Felix and Demetri. That was so short. He barely even talked to Nahuel and his aunt. Nessie stepped out into the street without her hat only to realize the rain had begun. She quickly replaced her hat and before she could say anything Felix handed her an umbrella that she took with a little confusion.
"Would be a shame to ruin that lovely hat and dress in this rain." He said to her handing another to Nahuel as he walked out into the street with his aunt. They are being so nice to us, this feels so very strange. I'm going to have to call Edward and Carlyle as soon as I return.
Thank you Felix. She said as she reached forward and shook his hand before he ducked back inside. He looked shocked that he could hear her voice at first but then he returned her smile and shut the door.
They returned down the same street they entered the city in back to the car. By the time they reached the car the rain was coming down in sheet. The ride back to the cottage was silent as Nessie maneuvered the car deftly through the streets. As she left the city gate the thought occurred to her. Jane and Alec were gone, why were they gone, did they know Jake was there? She slammed her foot down on the gas pedal. I have to check on him now. The sheer terror drove the car faster down the winding roads. As she rounded the last corner into the driveway she saw what confirmed her fears. A dark black Mercedes parked in the driveway.