I begin to chew on my knuckles as I try and come up with some solution for this. There would be no way that Edward would allow for me to walk away with them, just like there would be no way I would allow him to but I just can't shake the feeling that the only way this is going to work is if I end up leaving my family. I would have to tell Edward silently as soon as I came up with a plan. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fully concentrate at the problem at hand. I would need to tell him I didn't need him to follow that he should go back to the family, and that if that didn't work I would have to tell him I didn't want him. I hated thinking like that but he would understand, he would have to understand. I would tell him to fill them in and wait for Aro's return, for him and the others to join with Aro and make it clear that I was not willingly working with Caius. That if they needed to attack I would not be part of it and that I would in fact be helping them from behind enemy lines.
Yes! I mentally reward myself for my thoughts, allowing a sly smile to spread across my face and shove my hands in my pockets, more for comfort than anything else. Frowning, I wrap my hand forcing it to close around what feels like a scrap of paper. I know it wasn't in there the last time I wore this coat, my pockets have become all but redundant since I came into this life, pulling it out I just stare at it in my hand for long moments before taking a deep breath and opening up the scrunched up note.
There written in the middle in Alice's tiny neat hand was one sentence. What was it with this family and riddles? I swear Alice could never just give direct instructions! That would just be too easy. At least I already have an idea of what I'm going to do.
Be brave B for you must both save him to save us all.
I re-read it another couple of times before shredding it into a million tiny pieces. So it's not good enough for it to just be me who goes with them. I have to risk my daughter's safety as well. Great! Edward will not be happy with this, I just hope he will actually listen to me for once in his existence. That he believes me when I tell him that we will be fine, that they need me and as long as we behave and don't cause a fuss they will have no reason to harm either of us, not that I would ever consider misbehaving with Renesmee under threat.
All this I do in a matter of seconds before Renesmee even had a chance to glance at the lettering. I finally know what I must do and this note has just confirmed it, I just hope I can get Edward to understand. As soon as he gets back to the family Alice will be able to fill him in, she will be able to keep an eye on us both. That should be enough to make sure Edward wasn't too worried.
I needed to do this.
"What was that Mummy?" My daughter whispers climbing back onto my lap.
"Oh, just something Alice needed me to see." I dismiss and thankfully she doesn't press guessing that whatever it was not meant to be seen by her. No one messes with Alice.
"So, what do we do now?" She enquires, I sigh and hope I can word this without worrying her too much.
"I need you to be very brave for me. Do you think you can do that?"
"I'm going to need to go with Caius aren't I? Are you coming too? Are we staying together? Will daddy be staying with us?" I pull her tight into my chest and stroke her hair in an attempt to calm her.
She has grown up too quickly; she should have had a nice peaceful childhood. Instead she has had it ripped away from her before she is even one. Having to grow up so quickly it pains me though I know there is no point in trying to keep her in the dark, she is clever enough to know what is going on and t is safer for her if she knows.
"Shhh baby, I would never allow for you to be alone with them. Ever. It will be just me and you ok? Just me and you. Daddy is needed back with the rest of the family. What I need to you do for me is remain silent and guard your thoughts from Daddy OK? Can you do that?" I ask hoping she has developed the skill of hiding things from her father, not that I should be the one promoting it.
She turns to smile at me. "Of course I can Mummy! Alice showed me how to do it while you were in Volterra. She said it was something I should learn how to with when we have a mind reader in the family. Do you think maybe she had seen this happen back then?" she wonders out loud.
"Yes, probably. She will have been trying to prepare us all. Though I must add, you should not use that unless absolutely necessary OK? You should never feel that you need to hide anything from your father. You must only do it when asked to do so by one of the family for a reason that is out of your control OK sweetie?"
"Yes mummy. Now how are we going to do this?" She asks just as desperate as me to get Edward out of trouble even if it did mean her own safety.