Before I could even take a moment to process what Bella had just said, Demetri and Felix charged in and started to restrain a screaming and thrashing Bella.
"Your family are never coming to visit again," Caius hissed in annoyance as he shifted underneath me, aware that any intimacy between us was now long gone…much to the amusement of Aro and Marcus. I placed both my hands on Caius' face and pressed our lips together in a, although be it brief, passionate kiss before focusing my attention back onto the problem at hand.
"What?" I asked in surprised as I quickly pulled the top of my dress back up and zipped the back up. I, with as much grace as possible, slid off Caius lap and turned to face my twin…also mindful to shield Caius as much as possible because I was very aware of the tent currently pitched in his pants at the moment. I signalled Demetri and Felix to release my sister and the remainder of the Cullen coven arrived in the throne room. Some of the Cullens looked a bit worse for wear while Jane and Alec walked in looking very pleased with themselves. I was going to hazard a guess that Alec, Demetri, Felix and Jane intercepted the Cullens before they came into the throne room while Bella with her shield power was able to slip through. The Cullens' eyes roamed over my bloody top and I could practically feel their judgment. However, their opinion mattered not to me.
"What do you mean she's been taken?" I asked in confusion, "She was in your room wasn't she?".
"No," Bella responded immediately, "Rosalie took her to see Jake and was attacked on the way there". It was only then that I really looked at Rosalie and saw that her injuries were far worst then anything the guards could have done in the short amount of time. Her face had taken quite a beating with deep cracks covering her face and one of her arms was quite mangled. I could see that the deep scratches on her face were very, very slowly starting to heal. Probably because of her animal blood diet it was taking longer for them to do so.
"What happened?" Marcus questioned Rosalie.
Rosalie sobbed and even after all these months, it was still very strange not to see any tears, "Nessie and I were headed to the hotel where the mutt was staying. We were about two blocks away when these two women approached us, one with blonde hair and one with black hair, they smelt strange. By the time I figured out we were in danger, I was attacked and Nessie ripped from my arms". I stared at the blonde Cullen, slowly processing what she had told me.
"Elaborate by what you mean by strange?" Aro questioned further.
"Did you not hear me?" Rosalie screamed back while her family quickly hissed at her, trying to remind her of who she was addressing.
"Mrs Cullen," Aro warned, "Do not forget who you are speaking too. I will forgive you on this occasion but I would be mindful of what comes out of your mouth next. Be thankful that you are…family for others have been killed for far less".
Reason seemed to come to Rosalie as she quickly muttered an apology before continuing, "I thought they were originally human tourist. It was only when they got closer that…that I truly smelt their scent. They…they were human but not human at the same time".
Carlisle frowned as he caught Aro's gaze, "Potentially more hybrids I fear".
Marcus hummed in agreement, "Nahuel did mention his father created other hybrids. Potentially his half-sisters are involved?".
"Perhaps we should contact him and see whether he can confirm the identity of the two mystery vampires?" I proposed.
Caius nodded in agreement, "Yes. We need to move quickly but quietly. We need as much advantage as we can get".
"Demetri," Aro ordered, "Please bring our dear friend Nahuel to us". The underlying 'by whatever means necessary' was not lost to Demetri. Demetri nodded and bowed before he quickly left the room. I was about to say something when I noticed Bella shifting nervously from one foot to another. It was something she used to do when she was a human and had something on her mind but was too shy to say it.
"Isabella?" I questioned as her eyes snapped to mine, "Something you would like to share?".
Her eyes stayed locked on mine before she looked at Edward and then back to me, "I think Jake should be here". A tense silence filled the room.
"I think Bella is right," Carlisle hesitantly broke the silence, "Jacob is Nessie's mate. He'll be able to sense her and feel through their bond where she is". I wasn't even aware that the bond between Jacob and Nessie was that deep and strong. While I knew Jacob would never hurt Nessie, the significant age difference between the two of them and how young Nessie was made me a bit uncomfortable over the thought of their bond.
Aro on the other hand looked excited. It reminded me of a child learning something new and exciting for the first time.
"Their bond works in such a way?" Aro prompted, clearly seeking a further explanation.
Bella cautiously nodded, "Nessie confided about the bond to me. When they played hide and seek together…she just knew how to always find him and vice versa. She once mentioned that she saw a faint red string and by following that, it always leads to Jacob".
"And here I thought your niece would be the normal one of the family," Marcus teased softly so only myself and my mates could hear. I glared at him from the corner of my eye and pushed my annoyance with him through our bond.
"Not helping," I hissed at him. When I first met my mates, I remember thinking Caius would be the naughty one…who would have ever thought it would be Marcus.
"How wonderful," Aro continued the conversation with my sister, completely ignoring Marcus and I, "Perhaps we should bring him here to help us". Bella and the other Cullens tensed up at the suggestion.
"Aro," Edward hesitantly spoke, "Mr Black…he is a shapeshifter and…has a unique smell".
Aro smiled in a very condescending way that only he could ever pull off as far as I was concerned, "I am very aware of what Mr Black is young mind reader. Do you not trust my judgment?".
"Of course I trust your judgment sir," Edward quickly realised the error of his ways, "My wife and I will bring him now".
While Bella and Edward went to fetch Jacob, my mates and I got a more detailed description of the two potential hybrids from Rosalie before we sent the Cullens back to their rooms while my mates and I waited silently for Bella, Edward and Jacob to arrive. I had to resist the urge to screw my face up when a vial scent filled the air. It smelt as if someone had left a shaggy rug in water for too long and left it out to dry on a muggy day. It was truly unpleasant and I reluctantly had to acknowledge how remarkable it was that the Cullens were able to stand being in such close proximity to the shapeshifters of La Push. Honestly, the smell was horrible!
"I stand corrected," Caius muttered unhappily, "Your family are never allowed to visit again". I smiled slightly at my mate's snarky comment and pushed my love for him through our bond. Caius grunted and accepted my love, though his emotions made it very obvious he still wasn't happy about the situation. The doors opened and in walked Edward, Bella and Jacob. It was my first-time seeing Jacob in several months. He looked just as I remembered…though I don't remember him having such big muscles. I watched as Jake shifted uncomfortably under my intense gaze and his eyes roamed over my figure.
"Jacob Black. Leader of the Black pack and mate to Renesmee Cullen," I formally greeted, "It is good to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances". Jake flinched at my voice and he looked at me for a moment before quickly looking away once he made eye contact with my bright red eyes.
'Well this is going to be a long and awkward meeting if that's the case,' I thought.
"…Lottie," Jake hesitantly greeted in reply, I could practically hear the distain in his voice. Unlike Embry and Quil who, while shocked, accepted me for who I was. It was evident that Jake wasn't at that stage. Probably because Embry and Quil knew that it would be the last time I ever saw them…they didn't really have an option but to get over it. Jake on the other hand…he knew that he had time…probably why he wasn't quite at the stage where he was accepting that I was a vampire…who drunk human blood…who was Queen of the very race he despised. I felt the cold fury from my mates through our bond. It seemed that they had also heard the distain in Jake's voice.
"Are you able to sense where Renesmee Cullen is currently?" Aro asked in a calm voice, though I could feel his fury at Jake in my bond. I tried to soothe my mates by sending my love and acceptance for Jake's slow coming around but it seemed that it was doing very little to help them. Marcus' had his eyes locked firmly on Jacob with a blank expression while Caius openly scowled at the shapeshifter.
Jake shifted uneasily, "She's too far away for me to pinpoint exactly but I can sense the area. Once I'm close enough, I'll know her exact location".
There was a loud knock on the throne room door.
"Enter," Caius ordered. A very cocky looking Demetri and a very uncomfortable looking Nahuel entered.
"Ah Demetri," Aro greeted cheerfully, "And welcome once again Nahuel". The hybrid smiled nervously as Aro's intense gaze fell upon him.
"I wasn't really given a choice and I've not been told why I'm here," Nahuel replied, causing Demetri to look even more pleased with himself.
Ever the diplomat, Marcus quickly responded, "Due to the very delicate and pressing nature of the situation, I'm sure you can understand why Demetri insisted you come straight away".
"Renesmee Cullen was kidnapped by two unknown potential hybrids," I bluntly added on, "Based on the information from the surviving witness, we suspect this was done by two female hybrids". Nahuel's reaction was very interesting. While outwardly his expression didn't change, his heart rate skyrocketed.
"…what did the witness say?" Nahuel hesitantly asked. If my mates and I had any doubts over whether it was Nahuel's half sisters who kidnapped Nessie, that quickly disappeared based on Nahuel's reaction to the description Caius gave.
"Your half-sisters?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Nahuel was looking very pale and he nodded his head, "Serena and Maysun".
"Where are they?" Bella and Jake demanded at the same time. I looked at my sister, slightly surprised she had managed to stay quiet for so long. Nahuel didn't reply. His heart started beating faster at their question though.
'So he knows,' I thought, 'But probably too scared to say. The Volturi isn't exactly known for its forgiveness'.
"Nahuel," I said softly causing the hybrid's attention to snap to me, "Time is of the essence. We need to find them before any harm comes to my niece". A gentle reminder to him about Nessie's connection to the Volturi.
Nahuel looked conflicted, "My sisters aren't bad. They would have been acting on orders from my father. He's not someone you say no too".
"I understand. It's hard to say no to someone who particularly raised you and is your anchor in this world," I continued as I slowly approached the hybrid, "While the Volturi carries out justice, we are merciful. If your sisters were found to be acting under distress, we will take this into consideration". I stopped in front of the hybrid and placed my hand on his cheek, trying to offer a 'motherly' comfort.
"You won't harm them?" Nahuel looked hopefully at me.
I smiled gently at him once more, "I promise that we will consider everything you've told us about your father before we decide anything and let your sisters explain the situation". A promise without a promise. However, it seemed to be all that Nahuel needed.
"My father has a home in Rome. I've never been there but I heard Maysun mention it once. If she was taken from here, that's the closest place they would go," Nahuel explained.
"Is Rome to the south?" Jacob quickly intervened, "I can feel the pull heading there. I will be able to pinpoint her location when we get closer!". Edward and Bella looked relieved by Jake's comment and part of me was also relieved too…however there was still too much to do before I could relax.
Caius hummed as a wicked smile appeared on his face, "We better start a plan of attack then".
Hello everyone! My sincere apologies for the delay and such a short chapter!
I've recently started studying and forgot how time consuming that it! I wanted to get something out since it's been so long! I have started getting into the swing of things and my time management is much better! This chapter was a bit of a struggle for me and I'm not very happy with how it turned out but it lays the foundation for the next chapters.
Stay safe xxx
