Chapter Twenty-One
Emmett lifts me into his arms and jumps up easily, pulling us both through a maze of debris and collapsed rooms above. Everything that isn't stone is blackened, and I wonder how they stopped the fires they started. The plan doesn't seem as foolproof now that I've seen it in action. We go down another set of stairs, coming to a room with a fire burning bright. I cough harshly, the thick, sweet-smelling smoke filling my lungs. Looking in the direction of the towering flames, I make out the shapes of two people standing in the distance. My heart jumps. Alec and Demitri? Alec and Jane? Felix?
As quickly as it had sprung to life, my heart plummets. It's my parents. And as glad as I am to see them, they aren't the people I had hoped for.
"Renesmee!" my mother cries. My father turns to see me, and echoes the exclamation. They both run for us, at our sides in seconds. Emmett passes me into my father's arms. I cough harder. They run up another set of stairs, all the while showering me with kisses and exclamations of greeting. I don't return the excitement, burrowing into my father's chest.
"Sweetheart," he murmurs. I wonder what he's thinking, if he can make sense of my thoughts. I know that I can't. He sets me down on an especially low pile of stone, and he and Mom crouch to meet my gaze. He sees the sloppy bandage and examines it closely.
Mom gasps. "Edward, look. Is that a burn? It's a burn, isn't it?"
"Darling," he says, shushing her. "It's not too bad."
"What's wrong, honey?" Mom whispers, moving to sit next to me. I lean my head on her shoulder, and she combs through my dust-covered hair with her gentle fingers. "Are you hurt somewhere else? Is it the smoke?"
Dad's eyes widen when he catches on. "Where did he go?" he asks me.
"He went after his sister," I say, my voice rough. I clear my throat, and Mom wipes my eyes with her shirtsleeves.
Mom looks at Dad for confirmation, and he nods. Alec, he mouths. Mom presses her lips together.
Emmett seems to have followed us, and now he's standing a few feet behind my father. "Hey, kiddo. No crying. Jasper and I are going to go after him—I'm sure he's fine."
Jasper walks up behind him and smiles at me comfortingly. They're probably right. It can't have been more than ten minutes since he left me. What could have happened in ten minutes? "Thank you," I say to them. "Thank you so much. I've missed everyone more than you all can imagine—I didn't want to be such a mess when I saw you again." I wipe my eyes. "Sorry, Mom, Dad. I really am happy to see you."
They smile at me the way they always have, perfectly in sync with each other. Mom takes my left hand, and Dad takes my right. Jasper and Emmett have vanished.
"We missed you, sweetheart," Mom says.
"It wasn't the same without you," Dad says softly. "Nothing was the same without you." He presses his lips to my cheek.
Mom kisses my hand. "We were so worried. Your father"—she winks—"was especially terrified."
Dad looks embarrassed but doesn't disagree. "You're my little girl," he says.
Mom laughs lightly, but I can see in her eyes how worried she really was. "You're starting to remind me of Charlie," she mock-whispers to him.
Dad sighs. His long fingers cup my cheeks. "Don't listen to your mother. She's gone somewhat crazy in your absence, honey."
"Crazy?" Mom repeats, eyes wide. "You should have seen your father. He—"
Dad clears his throat, and she breaks off, her eyes smiling. I laugh, squeezing their hands. "I missed you both so much."
Mom tightens her grip on my shoulders, and Dad pulls me closer. Her eyes are bright as she tucks my hair behind my ears.
"Here she goes," Dad whispers to me. We both laugh.
Mom glares at Dad before turning to me with a smile. Her eyes are bright. "So tell us about your man," she says.
"My man," I repeat. My stomach is still in knots at the thought of Alec being trapped by fire—or worse—but the thought of finally gossiping with my mother about the man I love makes me smile. I'm reminded of last night, and my cheeks start to burn. I block my mind from my father's that instant; shove the thoughts deep into my mind. I've gotten so used to being here without anyone looking into my head that I've forgotten to hide . . . certain . . . things.
Dad starts to groan. "Oh, Renesmee. Please, don't tell us. Don't. I'll kill him."
Mom sighs. "I'll tell you later," I say to her.
Dad's expression shifts, and he seems serious. "The Alec I remember . . ." he trails off. He looks concerned. I'm immediately reminded of how long it's been since we've spoken, of how much time has passed without my father's presence. He's never met my Alec.
"He's changed," I tell him.
"Love changes people," Mom adds.
Dad nods slowly. "I just wanted to make sure, love."
I realize now why Alec's endearing way of addressing me—love—had seemed so sweet. It's because that's what my father calls my mother, and sometimes calls me. And I've never seen two people more in love than my parents. Dad stands, and so does Mom. They pull me up gently.
Dad starts to lead us further away from the rising smoke. "We'll go outside to wait. It's very . . . smoky in here."
"Aro?" I ask. I can't believe I hadn't thought to ask before. For a moment my heart stops at the idea that he got away.
Dad pauses to look at me. "Taken care of," he says.
My heart jump starts. "Caius?"
"The same."
"Marcus is fine," Mom adds. "He's gone into hiding, for the moment. We know how he helped you."
I nod. "Thank you."
My parents lead me outside, where we sit on a street corner in front of Jasper's convertible to wait for everyone else, plus Alec and hopefully Jane. I wonder where Felix is, and the rest of the guard. I ask my parents.
"They've all fled," Dad says honestly.
"Not Felix," Mom argues. "We never even saw Felix. Or Demitri."
"Demitri is with Alec," I say quietly.
"I don't especially want to see Felix," Dad says. "Not if you don't hope to see him torn to bits."
I groan. "Dad, seriously? Not you too. Alec freaked out, Grandpa freaked out . . . He had to, okay? I'm fine. Clearly." I rub my arms in the cold air, shrugging. "He apologized, anyways."
Dad looks at me sideways. "He apologized? Renesmee. You give others too much credit."
I glare at him. "Don't start with that one, either. I already got that from Grandpa."
"Good," Dad says. "You need to hear it. And maybe this will teach you not to take out the trash by yourself in the snow without shoes on."
I roll my eyes. "Are you—"
Mom sighs. "Stop it, you two. No fighting."
"Fine. What's taking everyone so long?" I ask. I pick up a stick and twirl it in the dirt in the gutter. "I mean, Aro's dead, Caius is dead . . ." Mom and Dad are standing slowly at either side of me, and I look up to see Jasper and Emmett walking toward us, followed by Demitri and Felix.
I look between everyone, and my heart stops. I stand up slowly. "Where is he?" I ask. "Demitri, where is he?"
Felix looks morose, Demitri frantic. "I don't know how it spread so quickly," Demitri explains, panicked. "We were looking for her, and . . . it just came down in front of me. The fire—I couldn't get through."
Jasper looks worried, and Emmett sad. "We're so sorry, kid," Emmett whispers. Their eyes relay the truth that no one will speak.
"No." My knees give out, and I slump forward. Jasper rushes to grab my arms, lowering me to the ground carefully. "No, he promised. He promised we would be safe. He has to be safe."
"Sweet girl." Dad sits down on the ground beside me, Jasper's arm around my shoulder to keep me upright.
"We looked everywhere," Jasper says. His hair is matted to the side of his face, gray with ashes. "We went around the fire, but he couldn't have escaped through the back—that was where the fire came from. I don't think he could have made it out, sweetheart."
My breath comes in spasms, ripping through my chest, a thousand knives in my throat.
Felix crouches in front of me, and I can see in his eyes how much pain he is in. Jane and Alec, the last of his family. I see that he is the only person who is in the same agony as me. He gently takes my hands in his. "Mia cara," he whispers, and the mere tone of his voice is enough to send me into tears.
"We need to go back. We need to find him." I try to pull my hands away, try to stand, but even my grief can't break the steady hold of three vampires. "Please," I cry openly. "Let me go, please."
Jasper's eyes darken with worry, and so do everyone else's.
"There isn't anything left to find," Emmett says gently.
Again, I try to shake off my dad and Jasper, but I only succeed in pulling my hands from Felix's.
Felix turns to Demitri. "Demitri. Please."
Demitri nods, looking at me warily. Felix looks back to me once more, squeezing my knees gently. "Arrivederci, cara."
My dad looks at him, confused by something. All he says is, "Grazie," and then Felix and Demitri turn to leave. They stop before turning down the corner.
"Where are you staying?" Felix asks, looking at my dad.
"Santa Luce," my dad answers, and Felix nods.
"Grazie," he says, repeating my dad's statement from before. I have enough sense to know he's saying thank you.
Sorry for the delay. And sorry if it's not all you hoped for! Only maybe three chapters left, BUT I've decided to make a sequel. School starts the day after tomorrow, so hopefully once everything's settled I'll have a schedule: after homework, one hour for book reviews (at my blog, Simply Nerdy Book Reviews) daily, and a couple hundred words for fanfic for every review I write. Until I get a job, that is. Sorry again. I've been getting a ton of reviews asking for updates-if you've reviewed recently, I'm sorry I've been unable to respond. I've been back in the States for exactly a month tomorrow, and things are CRAZY. Anyway, hoped it wasn't too disappointing. Next chapter up soon, I swear. I'm ready to finish this one!
If you're not too upset, review!