Author's Note:
Hey everyone!
Hope you all had a merry Christmas.
So sorry about the confusion on POV switches. I tried to add in some ****** for emphasis between the switches but the document was not replacing the old chapter with the updated one.
I want to thank all of you for reviewing and reading my story. I'm glad some of you seem to be enjoying it.
Special thanks to Angel1D98.
You're the best! Thanks for informing me about the confusion and for reading this fic.
Thanks again to everyone, couldn't do it without you.
Disclaimer: Don't own it
Back in Forks
Our discussion with the pack went as smoothly as it can go. Carlisle proposed the idea I had considered and the pack agreed to give additional protection and assistance.
Paul had informed Jacob and Embry and we were all waiting for a response.
"They heard us but told us to wait." Paul sneered as he stuck his feet onto the table.
Rosalie glared at him but made to say nothing else.
"Half wolf half vampire. Who knew?" Seth said lightly trying to break the tension.
"Well…..in all fairness...vampires can be pretty damn hot." Paul responded as he looked around. "Sadly..there is not one here today."
"THAT'S IT! ENOUGH WITH YOUR SNARKY COMMENTS. I SWEAR…-" Rosalie shouted angrily as she stood defensively.
"Shut up!" Jasper and Sam said together.
"Stop flirting and focus." Quil smirked.
"Watch it you little-"
"Rosalie..that's enough." Carlisle said.
"I wonder why they told us to wait." Esme said worriedly. "Do you think something is wrong?"
"Let's hope not." Sam said as we waited in silence.
Back in Volterra
"Renesmee?! Where are you! Renesmee?" I yelled looking around me anxiously looking for my daughter.
"Mommy?" The little voice yelled nervously.
I swiveled left and right as I searched desperately for Renesmee.
"Bella! Bella!" Alice called.
"What?!" I hissed as I continued to search for her.
"Look up." Alice suggested. The rest of them were looking up in horror.
I looked up and immediately collapsed on my knees. Jane stood at the top of an archway that was near the ceiling. She was holding Renesmee by the scruff of her now tattered dress. She was dangling over us reaching her hands for me. She was crying quietly as Jane smiled down at us.
"Jane! I swear if you hurt her..I will tear…-"
"Tell your mommy that you're not hurt." Jane commanded as she stared at the small figure of Renesmee.
Renesmee immediately started to scream and cry in pain as she writhed and thrashed to get free. I looked in horror as Jane continued to torture my daughter.
I gathered the remnants of my strength and surrounded all of us in my protective shield. In an instant her wails died down and Jane's glare returned.
"Tell her...you're not hurt!" Jane yelled.
"I'm…..I'm…." Renesmee croaked as she cried painfully.
"Tell her!" Jane ordered as she dropped Renesmee slightly and caught her before she came tumbling down.
"I'm...not hurt!" Renesmee wailed.
"Jane let her go!" I pleaded.
"Aro...continue what you were discussing. Renesmee and I are returning to her...room." Jane beamed as she hauled Renesmee back up to the archway and prodded her to walk.
"Renesmee!" I cried.
"Mommy…" Renesmee whispered before she was pushed through a door and the door was slammed shut.
Back in Forks
"Bloody hell." Paul said as he stumbled back inside and sat down on the couch.
"What? What happened?" I begged as I stood and walked in front of Paul.
"They were torturing Renesmee. They were torturing Renesmee in front of them and now they're back to negotiating with the Volturi," Paul said dead faced. I could hear Esme and Rosalie whispering angrily and fearfully with each other. The others were disgusted and revolted and horrified as I was. I fell back and knocked over the coffee table in the process. I was angry and sad and vengeful and scared and worried all at once. I couldn't imagine how Bella was feeling and I instantly wanted to die. How could they even touch Renesmee let alone torture her like that? I was grieving inside and trying not to scream and head to Volterra right now to have their heads.
"We need to kill them. I'm going to kill them." I muttered as Carlisle and Esme helped me sit on the couch in between them. I put my head in my hands and longed for Bella and Renesmee.
I hadn't been consoled by a "parent" in centuries. Esme hesitantly put an arm around me. I leaned into her and hitched some sobs escaping me. Carlisle put a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry.." I said as I rubbed my forehead. Esme wouldn't hear it and pulled me back.
"Son….you've been strong for too long. Let it out." Carlisle instructed. I leaned back into Esme and threw my head back as I prayed that they would come back to me. I was regretting letting them out of my sights.
I looked around embarrassed but everyone else hadn't even noticed me. They were all horrified themselves and was handling it in their own ways.
"Renesmee.." I shook my head as we sat there. Helpless as can be. There was no telling how the negotiation would go. If they didn't get the demands we wanted, we wouldn't be able to take down the Volturi in our favor. If the Volturi declined some of our demands, and insisted on their own...our destruction of them wouldn't come as easily.
"I'm going to kill them. I'm going to kill them. I'm going to kill them," I insisted as I clenched my fists. My hate for the Volturi was boiling to the point of it overflowing.
All I fantasised about was the destruction of the Volturi and how I could tear it down.
I also fantasised about a reunion. A reunion with Bella that included a lot of love making. A reunion with Renesmee. One where we would live in peace forever. One where I could hear both their voices, see both their faces and feel both their love.
Back in Volterra
Emmett was half supporting me as he led me back to where the rest of the group was waiting to meet the demands with the Volturi.
I didn't even look up at them. I couldn't bear to see the delight and pleasure splattered on their faces.
Embry was now guarding the group from the back and I swear I saw a tear slip from his eyes. Alice was still in front further from the group than what I would have prefered. But she had backed up slightly to stand in front of me. Blocking their view of me in the slightest and mine too. Jacob was beside me growling quietly, his paws digging into the ground. I knew he was taking this harshly seeing how defensive he was. I just hoped he didn't blow our cover. Then again I nearly did. Angelina was by my side holding my hand tightly as she stared determinedly up at the Volturi. She had a look of being scarred from what she saw. Xavier was beside Embry and had his arms crossed and I could see the nervous twitch of his eyes always darting to the ceiling.
"Can we continue negotiating?" Alice asked nervously and slightly impatiently.
"The floor is yours." Aro said peevishly.
I snarled and hissed but I was shushed by Emmett's grip. tightening.
"So can the demands be met? We get to go home once a week, we get visiting hours any time and we have a list of people that are not to be harmed. Following, you are to return Renesmee to us and she gets to go home and you don't get any right to touch her again. When we join the Volturi, we get the rights of any of the regular workers. We get to start regular hours and we get to quit if we choose. We don't have to do anything that we deeply do not wish to do and our hunting can be done elsewhere on animals. We are allowed to call and contact our loved ones and we are our own selves not your property." Alice finished looking at each of the the three staring them each down.
"Well...that is hardly a few." Aro smiled. "A moment if you will," He said as he and the other two huddled together in the corner of the room.
"Bella...listen to me." Alice said urgently as she spun around to face me. She kneeled so she was level with me, since I was practically buckling and lying on the floor. "Jacob guard the front." Alice barked. I saw his canine figure standing front of all of us.
"You need to be strong for Renesmee. You cannot. I repeat cannot give in to the Volturi tricks. You are stronger than this and you have to be strong for Renesmee. She will lose all hope upon seeing you like this." Alice pleaded as the three returned to their seats. I nodded curtly as she returned to the front and Jacob to the side. I stood and clenched my fists.
"Marina! Take notes." Caius snapped as a skinny, redheaded girl in a skimpy white dress pranced inside with a pad and pen.
"Visiting hours are allowed any time. As in, they come here. You may receive a regular treatment as the other workers by working regular hours. You can hunt however you wish. Renesmee will be returned to you after some things are handled and we will accept your list of people to remain unharmed. You may contact you loved ones two times a week via phone. You may remain "yourselves." You can quit after a while yes. No you may not return home. That was a typo in the letter made by our foolish secretary. When Renesmee returns home we won't interfere with that. And I believe that was it?" Aro asked lazily.
"And why can't we return home to visit?" Alice asked.
"We don't need you people trading in our ways and secrets." Caius remarked. I gritted my teeth to refrain from ripping his head off.
"But they can come and visit us anytime correct?" Alice asked.
"Quite," Aro nodded.
"You will also follow any orders given to you to complete. And if it is a little extreme we can consider but otherwise we are your "boss or manager" and you take orders no exceptions." Caius said.
"Can we see the list of people to remain unharmed?" Aro asked lazily sticking a hand out. Alice advanced with Xavier at her side and handed the sheet to Aro. They then retreated back to their original positions.
"Now all we need is for you all to sign a contract stating that you all agree to the terms and will oblige to follow them. It lists your demands and our modified ones we just accepted." Aro said. "We will also attach a work schedule for all of you and a list of jobs to be completed for each day you work. I'm sure the Bianchi's can assist you on reading the schedules."
"Marina! The contracts better not have any typos or errors!" Caius warned. Marina nodded vigorously as she finished off writing.
"Go type it and fast. I want the contracts back here in 5 minutes along with their schedules. One for each." Caius commanded as Marina bowed and ran as fast as her 3.5 inch heels could carry her.
Back in Forks
"They're making deals! They've negotiated and they're getting final contracts soon." Paul shouted as he burst into the room mid-change.
We all groaned.
"Paul! Don't come in here unless you're fully human." Sam begged.
"Oh, come on. Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it,"
Sam glared pointedly at Paul. Paul merrily sat down ignoring all our disgusted faces.
"They're making decisions and agreements already?" Jasper asked shocked. "Tell them to be careful. The Volturi will surely attempt to trick them into signing something they haven't discussed." Jasper warned. "Go tell them!" Jasper urged Paul.
Paul sighed and ran out shutting the door mid-change.
Alice better read the contract carefully. Who knows how they will fool them. They're manipulative schemers that have to be watched carefully. *Jasper
I'm pretty damn hot no matter what anyone says. I swear the blonde was intrigued, *Paul
Aro will trick them. He will do something to get what he wants. One way or another. He was always very skilled with words. *Carlisle
"You don't really think that do you?" I asked Carlisle anxiously.
"It's possible. Aro was very talented with wording. He seemed to always not what to say and how to say it." Carlisle sighed as he leaned into the couch.
The door opened and in walked Emily. She sat beside Sam and smiled at all of us.
"Hey everyone. Sorry to intrude. But it's getting late and I figured some of you would be hungry." Emily said warily as she pulled out plates of food. Rosalie groaned at the the thought of seeing them all eat again. I too was slightly disgusted with the thought. They were never full.
"I told them," Paul said as he was quickly distracted by the food. He marched towards a platter of steak.
Jasper stepped in front of it.
"What did they say?"
"Alice told you to relax and that she's got this. Bella was relieved to hear Charlie was okay and wanted to tell Edward that she loved him. Emmett reenacted a very inappropriate scene for Rosalie and yeah. So move so I can get my steak." Paul ordered. Jasper pursed his lips but moved to the side.
Bella loved me. Still the fact that by some miracle she loved me, it was amazing. It shocked me every time.
"I love you too Bella," I murmured to myself as we waited for more news.
Back in Volterra
Marina came toddling back with sheets of paper overflowing from her arms. She dropped them on a table as she kicked out a chair and pulled out a stack of large brown envelopes. She sorted a package of stapled papers, one in each. She then read several papers and stuffed them into specific envelopes. She then slapped a label onto each envelope and stood collecting them in her arms.
I was still entirely relieved to hear that Charlie was okay. And I was also reassured to tell Edward that I loved him.
Marina ran to Caius and tripped and dropped the envelopes. Caius snarled.
"Demetri! Felix!" Caius hollered. The figures approached from a nearby hallway and were instantly at Caius' side. Caius pointed at Marina and snapped his fingers. Felix and Demetri smiled and picked Marina up by the arms and walked out of the room. I felt immense pity for her and wanted to go after them and beg them not to kill her. Emmett's warning glare held me back.
"Alec!" Caius yelled. Alec came running into his side. 'We need a new secretary."
Alec nodded and was gone as fast as he came back. He came back with a short brunette with hair that hung near her hips. She had a nice body and was wearing a lacy pink dress that was extremely short.
Caius motioned for her to continue where Marina left off.
"That's Selena." Alec said to Caius before taking off.
"Thank you Selena. And I advise you not to mess up as horribly as our other secretary." Caius said kindly to Selena as she retreated to the shadows of the room.
"Sorry for the delay. Here you are. Sign at the bottom and hand it to Selena on your way out. Your hours are up for the day." Caius said as he handed them out.
"Can we read them over and return it to you in the morning?" Alice said sweetly directly at Aro.
"Anything for my favorite new member." Aro said sheepishly as he motioned for us to leave.
As we exited the room I felt a weight lifted off my shoulder.
"Renesmee?" I asked hopefully at Alice.
"Not yet Bella. Soon," She responded as we marched out of the castle.
Soon was never going to come soon enough.
Back in Forks
"Alice and Aro agreed to hand in the contract tomorrow. After they've read it over." Paul announced as he yawned from the couch.
"Good. Make sure they know that they have to watch out for any wording that could mean something else." Jasper said.
"Anything else?" Paul sighed as he stood.
"You can go home. Thank you for your help." Carlisle said.
Paul smirked as he headed out. The pack had already left. Leah and Seth were staying here with Sue until she was more controlled.
Blood…..human blood. 400 meters from here. *Sue
Tired. I'm so tired. Hopefully Leah can stay on ears first. *Seth
"Should we go hunting?" I asked looking at Sue for any signs of sudden action. I could smell the human blood too. Probably not as prominently as she could.
"Elsewhere." Carlisle agreed as we headed out.
"When is Brad coming?" Esme asked as we walked with Sue in the middle to a further location to hunt.
"They haven't asked Angelina and Xavier if they're okay with it." I answered.
"The poor kid won't know what dangers are out there. We should be extra careful with him." Esme said. And I knew we all thought back to Renee and Phil. We all let them down. And we would never be able to repay the price. As much of the blame as Bella thinks she owns, it was partially our fault as well. We had been careless enough to forget that they were humans that should be guarded. Afterall, that was the main reason we had kept them in Forks. In fact, it might have been my idea that they should stay.
And then of course, that put a lot of pressure and trouble on Bella's shoulders and I was to blame. I smiled at Bella's eye roll she probably would have given me if she were here. And that brought Bella to my thoughts again. She was always a main factor in my thoughts. Whether she was here or not. But now, I longed for her and needed her and wanted her more than ever. I wanted her to reassure me and to kiss me and just be here. This really went to show how much we depended on each other.
Back in Volterra
As we entered Angelina and Xavier's house, Brad came running into Angelina's arms. They all looked so happy together I couldn't help but feel jealous. I just wanted to have that with Edward and Renesmee. But then I remembered the suggestion Edward had to bring Brad to the Cullen's.
"Hey, Emmett go play with Brad." I said as Emmet smiled wickedly and the two dashed into the house.
"Angelina, Brad. So my husband had a thought. He and the rest of my family have offered to well...take in Brad while we destroy the Volturi. We all are aware of the dangers of him being here and we want to help. They will protect him. You don't have to decide anything yet. It was just a suggestion that may help keep his life safe." I offered as we sat in their living room.
Xavier squeezed Angelina's hand. "We will consider. Brad means the world to us and we would be so much more assured to know that he's being protected. We are helping you because we want to keep Brad away from the Volturi and because they have done terrible, horrible things." Angelina said.
"Thank you for considering and helping us." Alice smiled. "Now. We need to carefully read these contracts. Jasper advised us to be careful because the wording could mean a completely different thing. The Volturi could very well trick us. We need to be careful before we sign."
We all nodded. "Let's hope Marina didn't make a typo." Emmett chuckled.
I slapped his arm as I pulled the sheets out of the envelope.
"I can't believe they dispose of the secretaries like that." Xavier said as he shook his head. "It's so harsh and so barbaric."
"Yes. Who knew the Volturi-our form of government, could do such horrid things." Angelina shivered.
"Thank you for coming with us today too. You risked your lives and your jobs." I said. They had risked everything by entering the main room with us. "And for talking so civilly with Jane. I don't think I could have done it. In fact, I didn't do it." I continued.
"Jane was….so….she was unbelievable. She was always so polite and kind and sweet and she was always popular with the Volturi. She was definitely out of line this time and I cannot get over how cruel and vicious she could be with a poor little innocent Renesmee." Angelina shook her head. I bowed mine as the vision of Jane torturing Renesmee overpowered my mind again.
That was one of the most painful things I've had to watch. It was so terrible and so tragic that that had to have happened.
I don't think I'll ever recover from that.
"Well...let's work on these contracts." Alice said after a moment of silence.