Chapter 25: Stupid Alligators (Edward & Renesmee's POV)
Edward's POV:
I hadn't experienced darkness like this in a long time. Being out in the desert with just my family and the animals was amazing. There couldn't be a visible flicker of light for at least a hundred miles. Nessie stayed close to Bella and I as we hunted a small pack of mountain lions. She seemed apprehensive at first, letting Bella and I go first and then she advanced quickly. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset her. I was sure she would bounce back in no time. I could hear Emmett and Rose in the distance as he howled at the full moon. Jasper joined him just to be elbowed by Alice as she shushed them both.
She alerted me that a young male was coming our way. I turned to see in the distance a figure moving swiftly across the dry desert. Nothing moved in the desert undetected. Like the tail on a comet, a visible cloud of dust loomed behind ever step. The visitors feet hit the dry caked dirt of the land kicking it up behind him. As he approached, Alice realized it was Taebhu. While everyone finished their hunt, I tracked down Carlisle. I followed his trail until I could hear him and Esme in the bushes. They were secluded from the rest of use deep in the brush near the river. I stopped quickly and turning my head away bashfully. I'll talk him later, I thought.
It was no surprise that Nessie was by his side when I returned. She acted like a human teenage girl drooling all over the poor boy like he was some sex god.
"Relax, honey." Bella said as she slipped in beside me. I watched unhappily in the distance. "He doesn't have a chance. She loves Jacob. By morning Taebhu will be a mere memory." she said confidently, but I didn't feel the same way.
"I don't think so, Bella. I have a gut feeling troubles on it's way. I don't know who or what, but I'm not sure if any of us are ready."
"I think your fatherly instincts are kicking in because you see a new boy interested in your daughter." she smirked leaving me to stare alone.
I heard Carlisle and Esme protrude from the bushes behind me. I smiled as they held one another closely laughing and smiling together. They were the perfect couple. He stopped when he reached me and Esme's hands lingered in his as their eyes met.
"Be good, boys." she teased heading towards the rest of the family.
"So what do we know about this guy?" I asked.
"Well, not a lot I'm afraid. A friend of Emmett's as you know. Good guy from what I can tell, and not to alarm you, but Nessie seems to have her eye on him." he said with a crooked smile.
"No. He's no better than Jacob." I squawked.
"No one is good enough for your daughter, Edward. You might as well accept that now and figure out who you can really trust." he elbowed me hiding his thoughts.
"And you think that is?"
"Jacob of course. Can you trust anyone more than Jacob? Honestly?" he said wide eyed.
I shook my head vehemently leaning my head back until I could see the stars. It was so beautiful in the desert at night. Billions of stars shining brightly throughout the blackened night sky. I could see why Rose and Emmett loved it here. Africa did have its beauty and charm.
"You can't base it on smell either." Carlisle teased. He was great spirits, as we all should be. Carlisle left me as well to joined the family.
We were all curious how exactly this was happening, since Jacob had imprinted on her when she was born. It was the first time we had seen her with someone other than Jacob. I liked the possibility, but at the same time I didn't know him. At least I knew Jacob. I wasn't ready to admit it out loud, but I was wishing Jacob was here to keep Taebhu away. If they got together, she would most likely come to Africa, and that was not ever going to happen in my extremely long vampire life.
"You need to talk to him. You have no idea where this relationship could lead. I'm sure its just puppy love. Something Ness has never experienced because of you know who." Rose complained enthusiastically.
He seemed mature for his age and very knowledgeable on traditions in African history. He spoke every dialect, which was fascinating to me. I knew some in Venda, the most common and widespread, but it was fairly rough. .
We headed up the side of a mountain that Nessie said was a must see. The sun would rise soon so I didn't disagree. Bella and I stayed near the back of the group watching Taebhu and Nessie together as they climbed. He barely spoke English, a few words that couldn't even make a sentence. Nessie would try to tell him something, but he just smiled with a husky grunt.
"I don't know what I was worrying about. They can't even communicate." I laughed. Just as the words slipped off my lips I saw Nessie reach over and place her hand on his cheek. I saw his eyes light up as he understood. He nodded in agreement and they both laughed.
"Kids always find a way." Alice said peeking around her bottom side from up ahead.
We all made the climb to the top quickly. Emmett put together a bonfire a mere hour before the sun would peek over the horizon.
Taebhu and Nessie showed each other different dance styles. They laughed together without a care in the world. I knew how Charlie felt for the first time. A strange boy hitting on my daughter. I didn't know his life any more than he knew ours, but there was a spark between them that I couldn't deny. Not another boy, I thought shaking my head.
"What are you doing, Edward Cullen?" Bella said as she sat on the log next to me.
"Watching our daughter." I said flashing her a warm smile. She squeezed her hands in my folded arms.
"So I see. You've been doing that all night. She's not a little girl anymore." Bella said looking as if she was affirming it to herself more than me.
"Don't remind me." I whispered between my lips as I kissed her gently. "Speaking of which, what are we going to do about the Jacob situation?" I said hating to even bring it up.
"I don't know." Bella whispered as she watched Nessie. "I myself can't help but blame him for what happened. It was reckless, but how could he have known that would have happened. At least he went and told them, but it was too late." She said resting her head against my shoulder.
"I just can't hate Jake like you." She whispered.
We snuggled together for several minutes watching everyone enjoy themselves. We had a wonderful family. Bella wiggled her toes in the sand moving a loose leaf around and drawing patterns with her big toe.
"Dance with me?" I said taking her hand.
We faced one another near the bonfire as Nessie began to sing one of our favorite songs, All I Want Is You by U2. Bella pressed her chest into mine wrapping her arms up and around me tightly. It Didn't take long for the mood on the mountain top to change from fun loving to slow romance. Jasper and Alice were the first to join, then Emmett and Rose. Everything quieted down as Nessie's voice grew louder. Carlisle and Esme didn't hesitate to slip in next to us. I started to sing along too, then Carlisle and the rest. Taebhu seemed surprised by our families closeness. He stood by Nessie watching our large family share an intimate moment. Bella raised her chin pressing her warm lips against mine. We danced under the stars and moonlight making our final African memories. Bella groaned as my hand glided down her back and rested on her waist. I was lucky to find my soul mate and to have an eternity with her. I could always count on Bella to be there. I wanted the same for Renesmee. I just wish I knew who it was.
"It's not your decision." I heard Nessie whisper from the other side of the bonfire. I stopped dancing but continued to hold Bella in my arms. I was the only one who could read minds. Nessie looked at me innocently. I must be losing my mind. It's not possible, I thought.
"What's a matter?" Bella asked.
"Nothing, just thought I heard something." I smiled. I started a new song thankful that Bella was not that type of girl that pestered until you told her what she wanted to hear. She easily became uninterested when I refused to tell her things. I think she always figured she'd find out sooner or later. Quite often Alice would spill the beans. Nessie rocked on her heels waiting for Taebhu to ask her to dance. I watched as he slipped his hand into hers. She looked at me with a smile.
As the sun made its appearance on the perfectly lined horizon I watched the sky change colors. I wrapped my arms around Bella from behind placing my cheek against hers.
"I'm glad we stayed to see this, as a family." she whispered.
"Hell yeah!" Emmett laughed.
"Shhh. You're ruining the perfect moment." Alice barked.
"Women. Even as vampires they drive us crazy." Emmett teased.
We made our way down the side of the mountain to spend the day at the village. It would be our last. The following day we would head home. I thought about Lucas and his connection to the Volturi. I wasn't worried about it yet, but I had to keep my eyes and ears open. When we'd get home, I'd have to sit down and tell them exactly what happened in that room and who Renesmee's captures were.
Like a little lost puppy, Taebhu tagged along for obvious reasons. Renesmee began to teach him more English words. He was a fast learner and speaking sentences in no time. I wondered if it was all a put on and he actually knew English.
"Your such a skeptic, Edward." Bella complained as we slipped into the convertible.
Renesmee's POV:
My uncles were already making bets on who would arrive at the village first. We had four cars and ten people. Grandpa Charlie was already on a plane heading home. Mom told him that we would be coming a day later, but he had work to get back to, not that he didn't offer to stay. Grandpa knew we were different and had slowly been exposed to our kind, starting with Jacob phasing in front of him over ten years ago. He knew I was half and half and that Mom now sparkled. He was really great about it, but still preferred to keep things simple.
The race came down to Dad, Jasper, and Emmett. Those not wishing to ride along in the race rode with Grandpa Carlisle and Esme. Taebhu, Mom, and I rode with Dad cheering him on enthusiastically. Grandma Esme volunteered to honk their horn to begin the race. We all lined up at the foot of the mountain. We could only see flat, dry land in front of us for miles. They revved their engines in anticipation.
"Yee Haa!" Emmett shouted spinning his back tires. "Let's get it on!"
Jasper leaned over kissing Alice in the passenger seat.
"Let's gett'em tiger." she said.
"Gett'em tiger" Taebhu repeated in broken English from the back seat. He patted Dad's shoulder in encouragement. Mom and I laughed aloud hysterically.
"Uh, thanks buddy." Dad said awkwardly unsure of how to respond.
Grandma laid on the horn long and hard as the three cars spun briefly in the African dirt and then we were all off. It was steady at first, all staying fairly tie next to one another. Emmett loudly screamed and carried on fully excited. Jasper was more military, so he stayed focus on the horizon perfectly executing his mark. Dad was more relaxed happy to just be with the family and having fun. Mom thumbed through a magazine waiting to reach the village.
"Give me a break." I heard Emmett shout.
We all saw the large pack of hyena's ahead. I had never seen so many in one place and running together like a herd. Mom pointed to the large animal in pursuit.
"Jaguar" she said. There were at least three at the very back chasing and successfully attacking several.
"Left!" Emmett shouted edging all three cars to merge left to miss the pack of wild beast running swiftly to our right. Alice was shouting something in the chaos, but I couldn't understand in that brief moment. It was Taebhu who saw the destruction she was warning us about. He tapped Dad on the shoulder unable to communicate the words except by pointing frantically.
It was too late. For the second time on this very short trip Dad would face elephants. They charged towards us without fear. This was their land and their watering hole. We hit the water at a hundred and six miles an hour. Jasper, in the middle, missed the water barely, but it still caused their car to spin out of control and into a large ditch. Emmett went directly into the pack swerving between the animals. Amazingly he made it through the herd without damage. The chaos of the moment was so loud I grabbed Taebhu tightly as we slide back and forth in the leather seats. The impact tossed Mom through the front windshield into the alligator infested water. Dad climbed out the moon roof and plunged off the hood of the car to find her. Taebhu helped me out of the sinking car by breaking the back window and over the trunk. We were tough mythical creates, but still vulnerable to multiple alligators if alone. Mom stuck her head up out of the water and warned Dad to stay put.
"I'm fine. I have my shield up and I think it will protect me." she stopped and slipped down into the water disappearing from sight. Bubbles rose up at first, then the water splashed excessively from thrashing below. I watched in horror as several jagged, Alligator tails flew up out of the water and slammed back against the rippling water. The force of their tails could literally take of a limb.
"Mom!" I shouted as Taebhu held me by the waters edge.
Before Dad could even reach Mom she popped back up angrily. Dad pushed his way through the waist high water.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Stupid alligators." she pouted heading his way.
"How could you not see that?" Jasper shouted at Emmett.
"What about you? Army didn't teach you to spot elephants?" he shoved Jasper chest.
Before we knew it Jasper and Emmett were rolling around in the dirt. We all jumped in pulling them apart as Mom and Dad came dripping out of the water. My aunts ridiculed them both for their stupidity.
"I'm not paying for this car." Dad said furiously. "The first one was my fault, but not this time."
"What? What first one?" Mom asked. "Your car trouble?" she questioned pulling on his wet, muddy sleeve.
"Elephants Hun. They just pop up." he said in a high pitched tone. His arms flew up expressing his complete shock.
"Exactly." Emmett spat. "Not my fault." he said to Jasper.
"Everyone just calm down." Grandpa said as he slid closed the car door behind him, "What happened?"