Chapter 12: Race

Jacob's POV

I'll have to hand it to Alice for getting us tickets for the flight to London, and having us on the plane two hours after we last talked to Bella and Edward. Once the plane was in the air, I tried focusing on Renesmee. I hoped she would make contact with me again, or that I could do that for her. Leaning back in the seat, and stretching my legs forward, I found myself glad Alice had gotten us first class tickets. As I thought over all that had happened today, I figured out one main aspect to all of this. Nessie only connected with me when she was in trouble, and upset. It kind of made me feel sorry for Edward because he couldn't do this with her, and what was happening had to be a part of her being my imprint.

I kept wondering why they wanted her so much, what made her so special. Granted she was very special, but what did a bunch of out of control Werewolves need from Nessie? As I thought about that, my back began to burn and I sat up reaching back with my long arms, rubbing my hand on the places the burning was coming from.

Once the burning went away I shut my eyes, focusing on my memory of Nessie. Her smell was etched into my memory, so much so, that I could call it up when I was missing her. Along with that was the sound of her voice, and I wished I could really hear her. How was she able to connect to me? Maybe it was a part of her gift, something maybe I gave her when the imprint happened. I wondered if the others had that capability and would have to ask Billy.

My back itching and burning brought me out of thought, and I sat up scratching it again.

"What is it?" Alice asked as she turned from gazing out the window.

"My back is bugging me."

"Do you want me to look?"

I turned, letting her lift my shirt.

"Nothing amiss," Alice said.

After that I pushed it to the back of my mind, figuring it must just be the new shirt I'd gotten a few weeks ago.

Somewhere along the way I managed to drift off to sleep, and at first I wasn't dreaming about anything. Later on my back began to burn again, worse than before. When I started to wake up my head began to hurt. This time I prepared myself, knowing what was coming, and vaguely aware that we were on a plane full of people.

I felt the coolness of Alice's hand on my arm and gritted my teeth as my head felt like it as splitting open. Maybe there was a way to avoid this, but when it suddenly stopped there was nothing to see. I was in the dark and it was cold even for me. I heard Renesmee crying and focused on her. Hey, cutie, we are all gathering together to try and find you.

The first thing I really took notice of, aside from her crying, was that my back was hurting again worse than it had. There were prickles of pain going all up and down it, and suddenly I knew that it was Nessie's pain. Is your back hurting?

She was afraid, and kept crying. Renesmee, we have to find a way out, another voice said.

The voice had to belong to another kid and I felt my throat burning. I bit my lip because I had a feeling if I panicked she would feel it. What happened to your back?

Suddenly I was back on the plane, and Alice was looking at me. I looked around realizing with relief that I hadn't alerted anyone to anything out of the ordinary. "She's hurt, and trapped someplace with another kid. Her throat is burning."

The moment that last word was out of my mouth, Alice was on her cell dialing a number. I had a pretty good idea of who it was and felt my back burning again, though not as bad as it had when Nessie and I had been connected.

~*~*~*~

Edward's POV

Bella and I were on our way back to the hotel when my phone began to vibrate. Her hand, which I had been holding, moved away and she picked the phone up, opening it before putting it against her ear.

"Alice?" My wife was silent far longer than she should have been, and when I turned to look at her, Bella's face was void of any sort of expression.

I heard Alice calling her name and eased the phone from her fingers while putting the phone to my ear. "Alice what's happened?"

"Jacob connected with Nessie. He said she's hurt. His back is burning, and he thinks something happened to her."

I had a pretty good idea how my baby got hurt and had to focus on not breaking the stirring wheel. "What else did he see?"

"Nothing, he said it was really dark and she was crying. Edward there is something else but I'm not sure…"

I cut her off, "Spill it."

"Where ever she is, Renesmee is not alone. Jacob said she's with another child and that she is thirsty."

My anger was so great, that I had to pull over. "Alice, we'll talk when we see you."

When I set the phone down I leaned my head against the back of the seat. What the hell were they trying to do with my little girl? What was the point of tempting her to take a human life?

"We have to find her, Edward," Bella whispered, and I remembered that she was hurting just as much as I was.

"We are going to find her." After taking my wife's hand, I pulled back into the street and drove us toward the hotel, hoping the others were there now. We didn't have anymore time for waiting.

~*~*~*~

Jacob's POV

By the time the plane touched down, I'd lost my lunch twice. Alice seemed as aware as I was that this was connected in some way to Nessie, and I had to find a way to channel my strength to her, so she could hold on until we got there. It was hard to walk, but I pushed myself to be strong.

When we got to baggage claim I found a seat and took it, resting my head on my hands while Alice went to look for our stuff.

"Jake?" Bella asked.

How did I face her with what I knew? I was Nessie's link in so many words, and that was important but Bella's the one who fought to keep her, and if she knew what this was.

"Jake, what's wrong?"

I lifted my head, glad my stomach was empty. "Just something I ate," I tried but she puckered her lips, and I knew Bella wasn't buying it. "Okay, I think I'm this way because your daughter is," I whispered as Alice came with Edward behind her.

The look in Edwards's eyes told me he already knew, and I took in a breath and got to my feet.

We got in the car and Edward started to drive when my eyes were no longer my own. Someone let us out she's hurting, that other little voice pleaded.

I focused all my strength on Nessie, wanting to get out and run until I found her. Fight, you don't have to do this much longer, cutie, we are coming for you.

The burn was back in my throat worse than ever but I felt too weak to do anything. Nessie being so weak seemed the one thing that was keeping the other girl from harm.

Again I was back in the car feeling dizzy but not sick anymore. "Did you see?" I asked Edward.

"Yes. What letters do you remember the most in the sign you saw?" Edward asked, rather calm given what we had both seen.

"Just a C, capitalized. I think a city but I have no idea which one."

Bella looked back at me with sad eyes before turning to Alice. "What cities have snow?"

"Most of Germany, some cities in France, Russia. Edward, do you still think she may be there?" Alice asked.

"I don't know, it's possible. We need to figure out a plan and split up territories when we get to the hotel."

As he talked I shut my eyes, willing my body to try and separate from Nessie, just enough to gain some strength. While resting, I tried to think of that sign and picture it in my mind. Nessie had been falling because someone pushed her down, and I only had one second of clear vision before our connection broken away.

By the time we got to the hotel I was feeling a little stronger, and the sting in my back wasn't as bad. Everyone was waiting in the huge suite Edward and Bella had been staying in, and I idly wondered how they managed not to draw attention by spending so much money.

"How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked as I took a seat on a cream color sofa.

"Better, but I'm focusing on pulling a little away from her. Doc, what do you think this means, and how did they manage to hurt her?"

Carlisle looked at me for one very long moment before he began, "I believe her immune system has been compromised. I also believe one of them may have infected her."

It took me a second to figure out what he meant, but when I did I was on my feet and the room spun. It was Emmett and Jasper who steadied me, and once I was, I tried to pull away from them. "Do you know what that means? If she is like me that's really bad," I said, unwilling to voice exactly how bad.

My eyes fell on Bella who was in her husband's arms, and I suddenly felt like an ass. Maybe she hadn't figured it out and Edward was trying to protect her, but we couldn't afford to hide the truth, not when Nessie's life was on the line.

Nooo. There was a large chamber, one I had seen before, and something was trying to hold me down. The pain in my back was overwhelming as I heard Nessie's screams filling my head.

I'm here, cutie. Try and show me what you saw when you were running. Do you remember the sign? Focus on that so we can find you.

As much pain as we were both in, as she was in, Nessie was able to pull that memory out and view it. I hoped to God Edward was paying attention because the pain was distracting me.

Why was I not informed of this? Find blood for her now, Nicoli bellowed.

Everyone was standing around me when the room came back into focus, and I shut my eyes, trying to pull my self together. "They know now," I said hating the way my voice shook.

"Alice, pull up a map now," Edward demanded.

He was pacing the room and I stood up, pushing Jasper's offered hand away as I went too him. "What did she show me?"

"That sign had one distinguishing word, Czech," Edward said as he stopped in front of me. "What are you feeling now?"

The odd thing was, my throat was burning again, and I was probably the only guy in my tribe who could almost sympathize with a bloodsucker.

Evidently Edward was aware of my thoughts and placed his hand on my shoulder before he moved off to see what Alice was doing on the computer.

I noticed Bella sitting alone on one of the other sofa's and went to her, sitting down beside her. "How are you holding up?"

"I've never wanted to kill anyone the way I want to kill those who took my baby, not even that day the Volturi came."

"We're going to find her," I promised.

There was commotion and we both watched as Edward began moving things from their room into where we had all gathered in the main room. He was packing, and Bella left to help out. Everyone seemed to have a task except for me and I shut my eyes, realizing that I was a little hungry and not as tired.

"Jacob, you need to eat. Alice is getting a flight for us into Berlin."

I sucked at Geography, and didn't know where exactly that was, only that it was in Germany, and was once divided by a wall. "Do you guys even have food?"

"Kitchen is in there," Blondie said as she came out of another bedroom. It was odd having her not calling me names, and maybe she was glad I was around, but I wasn't going to hold my breath.

~*~*~*~*~

Edward's POV

Having a sister who was as well organized and efficient as Alice was a true blessing. It was difficult to focus on the simplest things such as packing and making sure we had the proper IDs, when Bella and I knew our daughter was hurt. Jacob hadn't been able to connect with her, and none of us were willing to discuss what that could mean. I wasn't giving up on finding my baby, but the biggest problem we faced was how many we would have to fight off to get to her. The wolves didn't worry me as much as how many humans were in league with them.

"I keep wondering what she's thinking right now." Bella murmured as she rested her cheek against my chest.

I leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. "I'm hoping she's getting some rest. What Jacob saw was their leader angry about not knowing how injured she was."

Bella lifted her head away from me, looking up at me with a troubled expression on her face. "Why is he putting her through so much? If he cares about her, why is he forcing her to commit things she's not prepared to face, and should never have too?"

"The moon was full the night she left them. I think as much as he seems to be in control, when he goes through that change he's not able to keep from being angry."

"That makes him dangerous, all of them. I just want to hold her and keep her safe, how can we do that when there are monsters like him?"

We hugged, and Bella didn't say anymore. Once we had Renesmee home again we would have to be very careful. The one thing that troubled me the most was how we didn't know The Children of the Night were watching us.

When we reached Berlin, we headed for the train station. Alice felt that we needed to start with the largest cities in the Czech Republic, and the first one on her list was Prague.

It was still early enough in the morning that day light wouldn't harm us, but Alice had gotten us private coaches. She said the weather was calling for more snow, which was to our advantage.

In the coach Bella and I were staying in, Jasper joined us, carrying with him several maps. He put them down on the small table in front of us, and unrolled the largest most descriptive one. "I think Alice may have been right to start in Prague," Jasper said looking from me to Bella.

I tried jogging my memory on any history here, but again Renesmee's last connection left it difficult for me to focus. "What makes you think that?" I asked him.

My brother put his finger on a green area of the map. "This is mostly just forest now, but there were always rumors and some truth, that the Nazis had an underground facility where they were making weapons for the war. It was also used for a Nazi Concentration Camp. You and Alice have both said that when Jacob's connected to Nessie, she's been in a cavern like area. I think maybe they are using those forgotten tunnels to hide out."

As Jasper described all of that to us, I began to recall studying some of what he was talking about. The Nazis had used an old fortress built in a much earlier time of history to manufacture weapons and as a prison.

I wasn't aware of the tunnels, but was glad my brother had such an interest in history. "How far is Terezin from Prague?"

"The main facility that is still a tourist attraction is about sixty kilometers from there, but the tunnels go on for several more kilometers. There has to be a way they are getting in and out of there. When Jacob wakes up I need to see if he can give some more description into that night Nessie got away from them."

Bella tensed up and I put my arm around her. I knew what she was feeling without having to hear her thoughts. Our baby had been close that night to getting away, but where would she have gone? "Jasper, get Emmett in here. We need to start figuring out what we will do once we get to Prague. I'm not sure we should find any place to stay there. What other towns are close by?"

"Dresden in about the same distance from Terezin coming from the western side, but we don't know if this is right, I'm just going on history, and there are probably more tunnels in other cities. Bella, I'm sorry if I'm getting your hopes up prematurely."

My wife shook her head. "No, I think you're right on this. Call it mother's intuition, but I have a good feeling we are going to find her."

I hoped Bella was right, but was preparing myself for the worst, which was not finding her here.

~*~*~*~*~

It was snowing when the train arrived at the main station in Prague and all of us kept on our guard as we began to mill our way out of the station. We were heading north, and most of the travel would be open land. Jacob said there were many trees Renesmee ran through when she was trying to escape, so that meant the tunnels had to be much further than the main facility at Terezin.

We all had on warm parkas even Jacob. Again I was grateful for Alice and her ability to plan far ahead even when she couldn't use her vision.

"Are we doing this on foot?" Jacob asked as he moved beside me and Bella once we were outside the station.

"No, there is too great a risk for all of us."

Carlisle had taken the liberty of getting us transportation, and once we were underway I tried picturing the map Jasper and I had studied before Esme came and told us that Jacob had connected with Renesmee again. My baby had been upset because they were talking about leaving, which made finding her now the most important thing we did.

"Where would they take her?" Bella asked drawing my attention away from my troubling thoughts.

"I'm not sure. I've been trying to understand why they took her from us to begin with. Their leader seems interested in studying her, maybe in away to figure out his own beginnings, but beyond that I'm not sure."

By the time we got to Terezin, it was early afternoon. Jasper took the lead taking us into the main facility first. He wanted to see if there were any maps other than the ones he had gotten when he had taken interest in this a few years ago.

With Bella's hand in mine I followed, noticing that Jacob was falling behind. My wife saw that as well and we went over to him.

"Jake, what is it?" Bella asked.

"I don't know," he said looking behind us.

I suddenly found myself a little more on edge and left Bella to go talk to the others. It was almost as if we were being watched which was disturbing. We needed to scatter and find a place further out of the way to regroup.

Everyone else was already inside, and I went over to Carlisle discretely telling him about Jacob and about my own feelings. Once he was aware, Carlisle went over to Esme and I headed over to talk to my brother's and sisters.

That was when Bella came running to me out of breath. "He's gone."

I shut my eyes and counted to ten, very slowly. The last thing we needed was to go at it alone and I concentrated on Jacob's thoughts. He wasn't trying to block me because he had picked up on the scent of a true werewolf. "We need to go now," I whispered casually taking my wife's hand and guiding her out, hoping everyone else would find a way to follow without us looking like we were up to something.

~*~*~*~

Jacob's Point of View

I knew that scent the moment it was with me and instinct kicked in. I took off leaving Bella standing there confused. Thankfully, she had gone the other way, and I knew Edward would give me hell but he could do that later. My back was hurting again and I had a headache, but I was focusing on the scent trying to track who ever it was. Terezin was a maze of old buildings. Fortunately there weren't that many tourists with the weather the way it was.

Keeping alert was the key and I had a feeling this one was trying to lead me into a trap. I wished more than anything that my brothers were with me, but if we had to kill humans, I wasn't about to ask them to betray what I would to save Nessie.

Once I was clear of the fortress there was open land, but not enough cover for me to get out of the bulky clothes I had on to phase. I felt I had the advantage because Children of the Night couldn't change unless the moon was full, or at least that's what the legends said.

"Jacob," Edward called out from behind me. I didn't slow down or even stop.

"Sorry, I can't wait," I told him when he easily caught up to me.

"We can't go in blindly."

"You guys go back and plan, I'm going to get her back no matter what happens to me."

"How will she handle it if you get hurt or trapped? Don't you think they would use you to try and get Renesmee to do something like taking another human's life?"

He had a point and I slowed to a walk. "My back is hurting again, and we have to be close."

When he put his hand on my shoulder I didn't flinch away. We were on a dirt road and there wasn't any one in sight. "I know how you feel, but we have to do better than going at it blindly."

"And if they know we are around, don't you think they will move her. You know, I've been thinking about this. The Volturi tried to wipe them out. Maybe the reason Nicoli took her was to bargain with them."

Edward froze and it was as if he hadn't thought of that. When he did move he didn't turn around to go the other way. "I thought you said going blindly wasn't the way."

"We don't have the luxury to plan. The others are on their way, and Jasper and Emmett were already planning a little."

~*~*~*~

AN: I had another day off and time to work on this and get it back from Mac to post before bed. One thing I want to address is the end. I know the books say that Edward and his family can multitask, but I also see this whole thing with his daugher missing as something that would have them all distracted especially him and Bella. The ending just came to me and I didn't want to change it. I hope you all are okay and don't think it too much out of his character.

Maddy, I hope I cleared up some of the conflicting actions accuring with Nicoli. Thanks for keeping up and reviewing

Everyone else, thanks a million for sticking with me and for the great feed back. On we go..

~Ella~