Chapter Twenty-six: Toying with Jane and Alec
After discussing our plans to toy with Jane, Edward pulled me aside and kissed me passionately. "What was that for?" I asked. "I just needed to do that since you first started insulting Jane. You have no idea how beautiful you are or how much more beautiful and fierce you become once you tap into the vampire powers." He said as he hugged me tightly. "Well then I will have to remember to tap into them some more so that's not the only time you kiss me like that." I said as I tiptoed to kiss him gently on the lips.
"Didn't I tell you they are absolutely adorable?" Ranaan said as she wrapped herself around Nahuel's arm. "Yes my love, but we shouldn't have been watching them." Nahuel answered.
"I forgot we had an audience." Edward said.
"And one that takes after her Aunt Alice." I said as I winked at Alice.
"Of course she takes after me, after all who wouldn't want to be like me. Who wants to be a princess when you can be an all powerful vampire that just happens to look as dainty as a princess?" Alice trilled as she spun on her feet to leave the room.
When we walked back into the room Dmetri and Felix sat back further into the chairs they were sitting in. It was as if they were about to push through the wall behind them to make their escape. I'm not sure if what they feared most was my ability to put them in the bubble with Jane or Jane's vengeance if and when she ever caught up to them. By this time Jacob was full well into his act and moaning at a low level and pacing the floor nearest Renesmee. Mom looked terrified but I was sure that Ness had sent a thought to her about our impending victory.
I sat down in a chair near Jane and Alec and started my act of looking weak and tired. Out of the corner of my vision I saw Jane lift her chin and reveal a small smirk and decided to push my acting a bit further. I let out a little sigh of pain and raised my hand to my forehead as if I were to wipe away sweat. At that moment I could only see Jane's hands and she tightened both into fists.
Edward, was definitely the perfect husband doting on my every sigh and whimper. It took everything Jane had not to test my shield on the very first try. I was starting to believe that she would never test my strength when I decided to bump up my ability. I started to breath heavily and paced the floor behind Ness and my mom. As my mom was about to ask if I was okay Jane used that moment to throw as much of her ability at me as possible. Instantly Alec went down and looked as if he would pass out from the pain. Jane fell to her knees and it looked as if cracks were forming on her cheeks when she let out a horrendous scream and stopped using her ability.
"I'm wondering Jane, is this the first time you have felt the effects of your own ability?" I said while still pretending to be tired and weak.
"I can wait you out Bella, I am a great deal older than you or the rest of this coven and have had plenty of time to hone my skills." Jane said trying to hide the strain in her voice.
"It's useless to try and beat her Jane, I have practiced every day since her change to penetrate her mind and can only do so when she lifts the shield." Edward said as he caressed my shoulders, ever the faithful husband.
"Please, a handful of years over my centuries of practice. I doubt even Aro would have faith in your abilities." Jane retorted.
We sat in silence for a short while as I gave looks to Alice and Edward making it seem as if I doubted my own abilities. Again I watched Jane clinch her fists and this time she started to pace a few feet back and forth as if testing the length of my shield.
"Won't do you any good pacing, the shield stretches." Alice said.
Quietly I heard Ness in my mind telling me that she knew her time was near and that the burning was coming back. I sent a thought to Edward about using my shield on Ness and he silently looked from side to side. As if she were reading my thoughts Ness too said not to bother, she would be fine and that the burning was mild. Jacob also started more moaning and whimpering and I knew that he was feeling the pain as well.
"It seems as if your faithful dog is anxious. Could it be that the hybrid spawn is about to finish the change? Or is it not strong enough to handle the burning pain?" Alec said trying to upset me.
"Why do you insist on calling my daughter spawn or it? Do you want another dose of Jane's pain illusion?" I asked.
"Does it bother you that we see her as a thing or monster rather than the girl you keep referring to?" Jane asked.
"Does it bother you to know that not only can you not beat me that I won't even lower myself to fight you physically? Your death will come violently but at the hands of another. Maybe even someone in this very room." I declared.
"You cannot know such absurdities!" Dmetri cried out.
"I almost forgot you two were back there cowering in the corner. And yes I can, I have been told what the future holds for you all." I replied.
"Alice's vision are not set in stone, any of them can be changed." Jane announced.
"Who said the vision was Alice's?" Carlisle said as he entered the room with Esme at his side. "How is Ness, any change?"
"Not yet, but the change will be complete soon." Edward replied.
"And why have the Volturi come unannounced to our home?" Esme asked.
"They came to see the completion of the change in Renesmee or so they say." I replied.
"You never told me, who has given you a vision of my future demise." Jane asked.
I scanned the faces of my family to ascertain whether or not I should let the secret out of the bag or not. All the faces were showing me a resounding yes, not to mention the voices in my head. As I started to speak my grandchildren accompanied by their mates walked into the room.
"Jane, Alec, Felix, and Dmetri I would like to present the newest members of our family." I said.
"Ugh, more stray and wayward vampires that you have turned to vegetarians?" Jane asked.
"Vegetarians yes, wayward vampires no. The twins, Jaxon and Jace are my grandsons. The women next to them are their mates Tanya you know and Leah from Jacob's pack. The vision came from the girl standing behind them, their baby sister Ranaan. The man next to her you know as Nahuel and his aunt Huilen behind him." I said as I again pretended to fain weakness and thirst.
"What? The spawn mated and produced offspring?" Jane hissed.
"If you are referring to the marriage of my daughter and Jacob and the three children they produced, then yes they had offspring." I replied trying to look even more tired and stressed.
"When Caius finds out about this he is going to annihilate this coven." Alec said.
"Funny how you didn't mention Aro being upset about this. Has he already mentioned his own curiosity about Renesmee's capabilities as a vampire hybrid?" Edward asked.
As Edward and Carlisle probed Jane for answers about Aro's thoughts I could hear panic in the voices in my head. I left my mind open so that Edward would know what was happening.
Mom, the pain it's unbearable! I need to move but I can't. I know you're there but I can't sense you.
Ness, what's happening? I feel like I'm on fire! Bella I thought it was supposed to get easier towards the end. What's happening?
"I don't know, just hold on a moment. Ranaan I need you." I blurted.
"It seems the hybrid is almost completed. Is the burning too much for her? Would you like me to turn up the heat?" Jane said.
"Try and you and Alec will be the only ones experiencing the pain." I countered.
"I think not, you're tiring fast Bella. You should have fed on more human blood." Jane cackled.
Grams, what do you need?
"Ranaan, take care of your mother. I have faith in you, I know you can do this." I commanded.
"Now Jane, dear one, what was it you were blubbering about?" I said trying to sound as sweet and loving as Aro did when he spoke to her.
"You would let your own child suffer to keep me in your control? And to think I thought you were a good mother." Jane said.
"I assure you she is no longer suffering." I replied.
"And how is that? Does the offspring have more powers?" Alec asked.
"Yes, my shield and visions. They come from a talented family." I answered.
Bella the pain has stopped but I can't sense Ness. I can hear her heart its beating overtime but I can't sense her.
Grams I'm too late, she's not here I can't sense her either.
Neither can we Grams! What do we do? Listen, her heart…
Daddy, it stopped! I can't sense her! Where is she? Grams, where is she?
My head was spinning and I couldn't block out the voices, is this what it felt like for Edward. I hoped that he could still hear my thoughts and would come to my aid. I can't sense my daughter, her heart has stopped beating. I'm supposed to be the adult, the strength and I feel useless!
"I no longer hear her heartbeat! And she has not regained consciousness, pity she too would have made and interesting addition to the Volturi. My condolences on your loss dear Bella." Jane said in her all too pompous way.
I still was at a loss, Jacob and the pack were howling, my mother crying, my vampire family outraged at Jane's condescending tone. But what do I do, what do I do?
"Bella, pull yourself together. We need you now. Destroy Jane and Alec use your shield!" Edward commanded me.
That was all I needed to move on with the plan my daughter was supposed to be at the forefront on. Instantly my shield was stronger than ever and I could hear Jane and Alec moaned. Each complained about not being able to see and then of the pain that radiated through their bodies. As I focused on them I could see Felix and Dmetri edge forward hoping to getter closer to me in a sneak attack. As they did I jerked my head at Emmett and Jasper and then back to Felix and Dmetri. As Emmett lunged at Felix suddenly Dmetri froze in mid step and I could see that there was panic in his eyes. Somehow he was unable to move and in noticing that Jasper changed direction and pulled Rose and Alice with him to stand guard over Ness.
Emmett easily killed Felix and was about to attack Dmetri when I told him to stop. Shock washed over his face but he obeyed my command.
In my head I heard a familiar voice and it announced the following, Family I am well keep up the act of confusion and make sure that Jane is focused on breaking mom's shield. My darling daughter, ever the showboat, like father like daughter.
I feigned weakness again and even though they knew I was acting Emmett and Edward rushed to my side. Jane took it as the inch she needed to escape my shield. Instead of using her ability she quickly maneuvered herself behind Alec and around a couple chairs but she was too late and too slow. At that instant Ness vaulted off of the couch and tackled Jane head-on. She did a maneuver that I had seen once before from Edward when he was fighting Victoria in the mountains just a few short years ago. When lunging at Jane she pulled her legs to the side and had Jane in a choke hold over her left shoulder. It looked as if she were hefting a sack out to the trash. In one swift movement she quickly twisted Jane's head off with a thunderous crunching sound of stone grinding together.
"Edward she reminds me so much of you when she does things like that." I said.
"I thought she seemed more like you standing up against insurmountable odds." Edward replied as he moved my hair to the side to kiss my neck.
"I was gonna say she reminded me of me!" Emmett commented and left out a boisterous laugh.
"I'll wager my Astin Martin that she looked like Emmett with that move." Rose added.
"See how much we're loved, we're just the parents now and no longer the center of attention." Edward whispered in my ear.
"That's fine by me, I like my privacy." I whispered back.
"Do I get to tell you who I think I act like?" Ness piped in to the conversation. "I believe I carry the best and brightest of you all but with my own personal flair.
As we all laughed and patted and hugged Ness for a job well done we quickly realized that Dmetri was getting anxious and that Alec was still blind and trapped in his bubble.
"What are we to do with this one?" Emmett asked.
"First we need to give Alec his sight back. Bella would you mind?" Carlisle asked.
"Oh yes of course, I almost forgot about him." I said. "Boys I need the reverse so that he doesn't try to harm anyone else when I let the shield down."
"Yes grams." They said in unison. Oh that never gets old and I will love it for eternity.
"As will I my love, as will I." Edward whispered in my ear.
"Alec, I'm dropping my shield. Can you hear me or see me?" I asked.
"What's going on? I couldn't see or hear anything. I just felt like – " Alec started to say when he focused on the decapitated body of his twin sister.
"Jane! What have you done to my sister? I promise I will end this coven!" He screamed as the red in his eyes started to burn brighter.
He ran to his sister's side and I felt my family move forward but I waved them back. "Don't harm him, he's going to do it all on his own." I announced. Just as Ranaan had predicted he fell to his knees and while sobbing for his sister slipped into a self induced coma of sorts.
"Excuse me, but he is inconsolable. He loved his sister dearly and is lost without her. I on the other hand wish to be released from this hold you have on me Bella." Dmetri said politely and in a whisper.
"Hold, what are you talking about? I'm not doing that." I replied.
"But then who, does the spawn have more hidden talents you have not explained to us?" Dmetri asked.
"No, they do not but I do and I would also appreciate you not referring to my family as spawn! If it continues I will release you so that Emmett can have another brawl. Albeit will be much quicker than the one he just had with Felix I believe you called him." Emily said as she and Sam walked through the doorway from the backyard.
"Emily? You did that? I can't thank you enough! It's good to see you and I am very pleased with your timing." Esme said as she hugged her tightly.
"And who is this? Another pathetic vegetarian you are sheltering?" Dmetri asked.
"Dmetri I would like to introduce you to Emily. She was born only a short time ago and is married to Sam another wolf and part of the Quilete tribe." I said.
"Carlisle do you ever tire of changing the pathetic humans that should have been left for dead?" Dmetri asked.
"I didn't change her, Bella did. She is extremely more talented than I and should not be underestimated by the Volturi." Carlisle replied.
"I think it's time that you leave Dmetri. And this time don't come back." Edward said. "We'll let Aro know of your arrival and departure from Forks so you can just collect Alec and leave now."