You can't imagine how sad and comical I looked when I wrote the previous bit. I was like: "Oh, god, it's so sad, but I have to kill you, but I like you too much, but you must vanish, but you love her and she loves you, but... waaaah, I can't take it anymore!" xD
What is more... Happy New Year, guys! :))) I'm uploading the rest of the story :) I hope you guys will be happy. As you've noticed before, there are additional comments in square brackets. If you wish, read while listening to my suggestions :) It's the song I listened to while writing a chapter.
14. Destiny
I felt empty. And utterly exhausted.
I drove the body to a cemetery near Rome. I left it in an old crypt, laying across a stone pedestal. I changed into my casual clothes. Then, I did a strange thing.
I laid out my gown across the body. I didn't want to wear it ever again, nor to see it. It was expensive, it brought up good memories, but I felt cold and frozen inside. Like a robot, made only of steel, I thought and felt nothing. I just acted.
However, only after returning the car did I realize I was still wearing the ruby necklace. I took it off and stuck into my bag.
I went to the airport by taxi. As it slowly rode across the city, I looked absentmindedly through the glass.
If only all of this had been a dream... My world wouldn't have been so badly shaken and turned upside down. Who knew what would happen later? Maybe Aro had already killed my family. Maybe he would do so after a few weeks.
I was shattered and at a loss. The enormity of the situation overwhelmed me: I became a criminal and a victim at once. More importantly, I didn't have any excuses for being either. Therefore, I felt like a failure. I didn't have it in me to return to the family. I was a shame to them and to myself.
But, most of all, I regretted not having the courage to speak to Jacob about his true feelings before I met Alexander. Did Jake really love only Mother, whereas I meant nothing?
Well, it didn't matter anymore. I screwed everything up. Nothing could have been worse than that. Or so I thought.
I released the taxi and went into the airport building. I didn't know what to do, so I just slumped over one of the chairs in the waiting room. And waited for my destiny to guide me.
I didn't hope for it to respond so quickly, but it did.
A group of 20-somethings ran into the room. They seemed familiar.
Suddenly, one over-muscular guy halted when our gazes met. His bag dropped to the ground. My heartbeat shot up.
He walked up to me.
I stood up.
"Renesmee... I thought I'd never see you again."
Jacob enveloped me in his warm and tight embrace, so familiar and comforting I wanted to weep from joy.
"Me, too."
"He seemed to be a human." I felt Mother and Father hugging me and Jacob. Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett, Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper surrounded us. All of my family, coming here, risking their lives...
Ashamed, I slightly shook my head.
"I knew it the second I finished reading your letter", sighed Jake.
"You are mad at me." I was on the verge of tears.
"Yes", confirmed Mother.
"No", denied Jacob.
"Why? You should be..."
"Because he used his powers on you."
It should have been that simple, but I didn't believe it was.
"I am sorry. You should abandon me from the coven. I am a threat to you all."
"Don't say so. More importantly, we aren't just a coven, we are a family." Grandmother Esme playfully pinched my cheek. "So don't cry, my baby, you'll always be with us, no matter what you did."
Now or never.
"Even if I unintentionally helped Alexander to kill Caius?"
"What?!"
Despite the grave circumstances, the look on their faces was priceless.
"I'll go and book the first flight home", said Emmett.
"That would be a great idea", agreed Father in a suddenly croaky voice.
We returned only in the evening. Luckily, the guests were informed that my "seventeenth" birthday party had to be canceled. And Grandma Renee agreed to stay overnight at Grandpa and Sue's.
Throughout the journey home, I didn't let go of Jacob's hand, not even once. I needed to hold on to him to stay sane. Interestingly, he didn't let go of me either.
"I believe it's time I took her for a walk in the beach..." Jacob told my parents when we stopped in front of the Cullens' house. He had something in his mind, I could see it. And, apparently, my parents knew what exactly it was that he hinted.
"I don't think it is a good idea", started Father, "considering the situation..."
"Jacob, don't, she's too...!", exclaimed Mother.
"She's too what? Too young to know the truth? Too young to decide for herself? Don't you see what has happened?"
the awkward prolonged silence that followed his question made me squirm from uneasiness. I was puzzled. What was going on?
"I've had enough. I'm taking her with me." Jacob swung the car doors open and got out.
"Jacob, no. Think about her", pleaded Mother.
Jacob paused to look back at my parents as he took me from the car seat.
"That's exactly what I'm doing."