Chapter 14

Italy

Edward made all of our flight arrangements and Jasper took care of getting Charlie a passport. We decided that would be best to split in three groups, taking different flights, so that we could more easily blend in.

I explained to Renesmee that we were going away for a few days and that we needed Jacob to stay here, assuring her that she would be able to talk to him on the phone; she understood. I just wished Jacob would be that easy to deal with.

Edward, Charlie, Renesmee, Elizabeth and I left first. We were the largest group. Then Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie went on the next available flight. Alice was just so excited about being able to shop in Italy, not that she had never done that before. Esme and Carlisle would leave a few hours later. We decided they would explain to Jacob that we had a family emergency and that we had to leave town. We figured he wouldn't overreact if Carlisle explained to him in person, what was happening, assuring him that Renesmee was not in danger and that we would return in just a few days.

I often wondered what Jacob would do when we left Forks. We knew the time was coming sooner than we liked, but I just could not imagine Jacob leaving the reservation to follow us to wherever we went. I was also not so sure about how Charlie would react; he never lived anywhere else.

Our flight went smoothly and time went by fast. This had been Renesmee's first flight and she just loved it. She sat by Charlie and talked to him pretty much the whole flight. Charlie enjoyed the quality time he was getting with her, without Jacob hovering.

Once in Volterra, we all met at the hotel. The plan was to not even see the Volturi; only to be close enough to disable their abilities and then go back to Forks.

I panicked at the thought that once we left, the distance between them and Charlie would lead the Volturi to regain their abilities. I froze in place as I realized that if that was how Charlie's power worked, we would have to be near the Volturi for … eternity!

Everyone seemed too preoccupied with making plans to notice my expression. If Edward was here he would have certainly noticed, but he was helping Emmet with the suitcases. Throughout my anxiety attack, Demetri crossed my mind and I realized that he was the answer. I wondered if when he left Forks, he ever regained his tracking ability.

I called Alice and Elizabeth and asked if they had any visions related to Demetri.

I heard Elizabeth chuckle.

"If you are trying to find out if he has been able to use his ability, the answer is no." she laughed. "He is so frustrated; he is hoping that once Charlie "joins" the Volturi, as he believed it would happen; that Charlie will give back his ability."

I was able to relax now that I knew the Volturi would not get their ability back and come after us. So, it seemed that Charlie had to be somewhat near someone to disable their ability, but once that was done, only Charlie could reverse that; distance was not a factor in undoing it. That was interesting. From all of Carlisle's stories, I had never heard of a power like Charlie's.

We now just waited for Esme and Carlisle to arrive.

While we waited, Elizabeth sat next to Charlie and went over all of the Volturi's powers: Scarlett's, Jane's… When she talked about Jane, I just wished for a second that like Alice and Elizabeth, I could have visions, just to have a glimpse of Jane's face when she could no longer hurt anyone.

Carlisle and Esme arrived a few hours later. Elizabeth had sent Aro a message through someone she trusted. He would meet us within the next hour. While we waited, Charlie got to work. It did not take long. Seemed as if he had taken care of every Volturi within minutes; Alice and Elizabeth's visions were overwhelmed. Two things we knew for sure: every single one of the Volturi was angry, and they knew who had done it; unfortunately, Alice's visions were so overwhelmed that she could not see what they were planning.

Aro arrived. We hoped he would have some insight on how his brothers behaved; he may be able to predict some of his brother's plans.

"Aro!" Elizabeth seemed happy to see him, to know that he was not harmed.

"Hello everyone." Aro said in a pleasing tone. "Very nice job, Mr. Swan… I left the house just when they started to realize what was happening."

"What is the plan now, Aro." Carlisle asked intrigued.

"Well, that is what I came here to talk to you about. I can't enforce our rules by myself, so I propose a partnership. I am trying to get some of our old member back, now that things are handled; but your coven is still the strongest, the largest."

"What type of partnership do you propose?" Carlisle seemed even more curious now.

"You all could go back to your town, and run things from there. I would stay here, and warn you of anything out of the ordinary. I will have to pretend not to have my ability, so my brothers won't suspect my role in this."

We suddenly heard Charlie speak, in a shaken voice. "And where would Elizabeth be?"

Aro gazed at Charlie.

"I owe you more than you imagine. I believe that I will have to leave that decision up to Elizabeth."

Elizabeth seemed surprised by Aro's willingness to let her go. She gazed at Aro, and then she tilted her head down. "I will go with the Cullen's if that is all right."

Aro assured her that would be fine. I actually saw Charlie smiling.

Carlisle still seemed concerned, as he continued asking Aro questions.

"What about your brothers, what do you think they will do next?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Carlisle. I will be around and keep you informed on their moves, but I assume that with or without their abilities, they will come to Forks after your family. When that happens, I will send help; although, it is likely that you won't need it."

Carlisle just nodded; I was sure that we were all thinking the same thing. This family responsibility that we acquired was going to keep us busy for a very long time.

Aro was about to leave when he turned and faced us all, and with a warning tone he said. "I don't suppose that you all will be staying in Forks for much longer… this is just a possibility, but knowing my brothers, I suspect they may soon have a plan. Their angle may be the reservation that you have come to protect. If you leave your town, just make sure the wolves are prepared."

I felt awful as I turned to Edward to find Renesmee in his arms, with her head turned against his chest; she cried, asking to see Jacob.