Chapter Twenty-Five: A Volturi check-in
Most of the rest of Ness's change went without a hitch. Mom flipped through dozens of albums that Alice and Rose put together of her growth. She watched the videos of Ness's wedding and the clips of the boys and Ranaan as they grew. She spent a large amount of time in the living room just being near Ness.
Jacob had his talk with Sam and as I suspected he already knew and was experiencing the change that Sam went through. I also had a suspicion that the moment Ness completed the change so would Jacob. They seemed to be completely in sync with the other.
Because of my bargain with Edward, Emmett took his wrath out on me. Since I couldn't shield him he settled for arm wrestling and forest clearing matches. But it's okay, I had fun and even my mom liked watching some of the matches.
As I was sitting in the living room watching my mom stroke Ness's hair and smirking at the pacing Jacob did I started to feel as if everything was finally settling down. How wrong I was about that was justified when Jacob howled and my mom screamed out in pain. Instantly my shield was thrown over the three of them and I saw them settle down but where did the pain come from? Ness was only a mere four hours from the completion of her change. She shouldn't have had another outburst of burning. I sensed a presence behind me that I hadn't felt in six years and panic took over as I sent a mental scream to Edward and whirled around to face Jane, Alec, Felix, and Dmetri.
"Well isn't this a cozy little family picture." Jane said in a condescending tone.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" I spat out the words as if the very taste of them repulsed me.
"Manners Bella, manners. Aro told you that we would be checking in and here we are. It is about the time that the hybrid spawn completed the change is it not?" The words oozed out of her mouth repulsing me even further.
"Yes, she is about to complete the change in the next few hours. Again I ask, why are you here? Why specifically now?" As I finished the sentence Edward was by my side along with Emmett and Jasper, Rose and Alice.
"How could I not see this coming? I was checking for this, why didn't I see it?" Alice questioned.
"Because we learned how to get around your visions. We just didn't make a solid decision to see the Cullen family, we just happened upon your home." Alec said.
"I see you have more humans in the house. Is this one a pet or a future meal? Oh wait, you don't eat red meat do you?" Jane said.
"She is of no concern to you and will not divulge any Volturi secrets. If you even think of harming her, I will make sure you pay for it severely." I said.
"How is it that the newborn became head of the household? Does Carlisle not care for the role anymore?" Dmetri asked.
"I think you should leave, you can report to Aro that Ness has made the change and has not endangered our secret existence. Like Bella said the human is of no concern to you. That is all you need to know and all you came to see so please leave. You weren't properly invited and have no right or claim to stay." Edward said. As he finished the thought he suddenly hit his knees and doubled over in sheer pain followed by the rest of my brothers and sisters. How could I be so stupid? I shielded only the weakest three in the room and forgot about Jane's need for torture. "I thought you knew better than that Bella, I always want to bring pain and suffering." Jane said as I extended my shield to cover them. Instantly the pain was gone and they resumed their positions at my side.
"Don't do this Jane, you'll lose." I threatened.
"I think perhaps I have a fighting chance this time. I see that you have recently fed but I doubt you are nearly as strong as us. Pity you didn't choose to come with Aro, you would have been a catastrophic force to be reckoned with in Volterra." Jane replied.
As I listened to her ramblings I heard Ness tell me that the boys were strengthening her ability and I heard their voices in unison agree. They had a plan to upset Jane to the point of her using the ability again and I decided to go along with it. Once I had her angry enough the boys would switch to boosting my power and I hoped that if I threw my shield on Jane and Alec that any force they sent out would only be directed back at them. It was a gamble but I believed it would work.
"Jane, you are nothing but a sorry excuse for a vampire. I'm surprised that Aro kept you around for so long. You must amuse him. Of course that's it he keeps you as a pet for entertainment only." I said digging in deep for the first punch.
"Bella what are you doing?" Edward said trying to look shocked although I know he heard the whole conversation in our minds.
"Just trying to get rid of some garbage that is stinking up the house. You know how Esme prefers it clean and tidy." I said.
"How dare you insult my sister. I will make sure your death takes weeks to be completed." Alec said fuming from outrage.
"Please, you spend most of the time standing in the shadow of your sister. Your ability creeps by while hers just tickles my sides." I said with dig number two.
"Now Bella is that any way to treat another kind of your species. Oh wait, we are the true vampires and you are a sad copy of our divine beauty." Jane said but I could tell that I was truly getting to her.
"True vampires you say, I doubt that if you drained the blood of a hundred humans you still couldn't hurt me or my family. I'm untouchable and you know it. Bring on the pain, bitch if you think you can." I said as I stared Jane down and saw the change of expression in her face.
"Pity, Aro so hoped that one day you would tire of playing house with the vegetarians and would come join us. I know he will be angry with me for this but you did ask for this." As Jane spoke the words I felt my skin tingle and my senses surge with power. The boys must be working overtime to give me such strength. Instantly I threw a bubble of my shield on both Jane and Alec and waited to see the response.
The word pain squeaked out of Jane's lips and instantly she and her brother collapsed to the floor.
"What have you done?" Felix bellowed at me.
"Just gave her a taste of her own medicine. I'm sure you know what it feels like so if you don't want to be inside the bubble I placed around her AND Alec I suggest that you leave immediately." I said with an air of confidence I didn't know I had in me.
Quickly Dmetri and Felix backed up a few steps but did not leave the house. As they moved back Jane finally regained her composure and commanded them not to move. Alec seemed to compose himself even slower and I wondered if she pushed most of the pain to him. "Sister, our abilities are trapped inside her shield how do you suppose we defeat them." Alec said straining to stand tall beside her. "Simple my darling brother, we wait out her strength. She is after all a vampire and will need to feed to keep up this shield we are trapped in." Jane replied.
Damn, she's right, I thought as I looked in Edward's direction. Think Bella, think. What can I do to get the advantage? Of course, that's it. Quickly I sent a thought to Edward to let him know that first she was right but second I could last for a few hours before needing to feed and third we needed to use both the boys and Ranaan's talents to make this work. Slowly Edward shifted his eyesight to the floor and then to the ceiling and back to the floor. Once he had told me that it was the secret way he communicated with Alice so that the rest of the family didn't know. After receiving his approval I told Felix and Dmetri that if they intended to stay they could find themselves a place in the corner out of my way and I believe that they were frightened because they immediately obeyed. I scanned the faces of my brothers and sisters and told them that I was fine and would be able to hold the shield indefinitely. They relaxed a bit but refused to move out of the path of Jane to Renesmee. Next I asked Emmett and Jasper to keep a close guard on our guests while I took a moment to take care of some business. As I walked past them I winked at Emmett and gave Jasper a 'Ness type of hug' letting him feel the full power of my emotions, a mixture of hatred for Jane and confidence of my abilities. I believe that hatred was enough to fuel him for a few hours along with the ego that was pouring off of Emmett.
I walked out into the hall with Edward at my side to find the boys standing just on the other side of the wall that Felix and Dmetri had backed themselves into. Ranaan was standing behind them in a trance and I knew she was searching the future for a possible win on our behalf.
"Boys, here's the situation. I'm good for a few hours on my own so you can relax your abilities. But Jane's right I will need to feed to keep up the shield indefinitely. When I have to leave I want you to use the reverse to weaken Jane and Alec while Ranaan uses her shield to protect the others. Can you do that for me?" I said.
"Of course but grams, we're not boosting you right now. We gave you a boost to jumpstart your shield but you didn't need us after that. This is all you grams, we're just standing here in case you need us." Jace said while Jaxon nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean I'm doing this on my own? I've never been able to do this much on my own before." I asked.
"Well you're doing it now grams." Jaxon said.
"Plan now, discussion of abilities later. We need to find out what Ranaan is seeing so we can be prepared." Edward said.
"Can't you read her mind?" I asked.
"No, her visions are like watching High Definition TV for humans so she uses her shield to protect herself while they come through." He replied.
"Okay, so we wait." I said as I watched Ranaan's eyes flutter and she let out a small gasp. A second later Alice let out a gasp as well, I assume Alice just saw the same thing.
"Ranaan my love, what did you see?" Nahuel asked.
"Mom and Dad are plotting a distraction. Mom will complete her change in less than two hours but she's going to pretend not to wake up. Dad's going to start howling and moaning like he just lost her to distract everyone. Once he starts that Mom wants Uncle Jaz and Emmett to guard great grams. The twins are going to use their ability to weaken Jane and Alec while Grams keeps her shield on everyone. Then mom is going to kill Jane and the shock of it is going to cause Alec to go into a self induced coma of some sort." Ranaan explained.
"Kill Jane, she could be hurt in the process." I said.
"Nope, no one sees it coming after her change mom picks up Papa E's speed." Ranaan countered.
"But killing Jane, won't that infuriate the Volturi? Aro will send the entire guard here to wipe us out. We'll have to leave immediately." Edward said as he pulled me tight to his side.
"Wrong again Papa. That's where you come into the game plan. Apparently after Mom's change you go through a change as well. Grams is already experiencing it probably because of turning Emily and having tasted human blood. I think mom has some sort of spiritual and possibly metaphysical connection with the both of you and once her change is complete you both get a boost to your abilities." Ranaan said.
"But how does that keep Aro from sending the guards to kill us all?" Edward asked.
"If you gave her a chance to explain you would know. Your ability to hear people's thoughts can now expand the entire Earth. Once Jane is dead and the others leave, you call Aro directly to tell him that you are sending back three even though he sent four to us. As Aro talks to you about how he understands it was a necessity to kill Jane he is thinking about sending the guard to wipe us out including the pack. You then tell him that you can hear his thoughts and that we plan to wipe out the guard if they try. This completely floors Aro and he promises to leave us alone for all eternity." Alice finished.
"Okay so what should we do for the next two hours? Mess with Alec and Jane or put on a 'I'm so weak keeping up my abilities act'." I asked.
"Why not a mixture of the both?" Alice responded.
"I like where your mind is at Alice." Edward chuckled.
"You two can be such children sometimes. Just tell me what you want me to do." I said.
"Edward, why is the youngest vampire in the family always the one that acts like such an old senile woman?" Alice said with a smirk.
"To keep the old vampires from getting a God complex of sorts." I retorted.
"Ha ha, so let's go to the kitchen to discuss the plan." Alice said.