Renesmee
For once, I actually have the house to myself. The rest of the family is out hunting. I told them I wasn't hungry. I'm not quite as fast as they are and I didn't want to slow them down. Rosalie and Grandma were worried about leaving me alone with everything going on, but Grandpa was able to convince them. If anything were to happen they would all need their strength.
I was hoping Jake and I could take advantage of the alone time, but he has to work. He promised me he'd try to get out early, but business is good right now. I know he has to take advantage of it while it lasts. But it would also be nice if we could take advantage of my parent's temporary absence while it lasts. They haven't called yet. Alice's visions stopped working sometime this morning, which we have to assume means they've found Alexa. I know there's probably not a whole lot of opportunities to stop and make a phone call when you're on the run from the Volturi, but I hope they get a chance soon.
I've spent the last thirty minutes at the piano, trying to distract myself. But eventually my curiosity gets the better of me and I head up to the guest bedroom where Demetri has left what few possessions he's deemed worthy of saving. If you were about to have a one thousand year old vampire living with your family, you'd be curious too.
Truthfully, I was intrigued by the Volturi, I have been ever since I met them as a child. I've never known a vampire who actually likes them, and yet they still have all the power. How does that even work? Dad says they just haven't done anything bad enough to upset the status quo. But maybe that's changing. Emmett said none of the Volturi guard had ever turned against Aro. I can tell that this is the start of something big, but no one seems to be able to tell me what. Maybe because they don't actually know themselves.
As I slip into the guest room, I notice that it looks exactly the same as it did a few days ago, except for the small case in the corner. I pick it up, putting it on the desk, mentally preparing myself to open it. When I undo the clasps, the top pops up a bit. I reach down and lift it all the way up. There isn't much in it. I start with the small black velvet bag, emptying it's contents into my hand. I gasp as I see the colourful jewels set into a silver comb and a gorgeous emerald ring. They look old, as in ancient. I quickly put them back, afraid just holding them might somehow devalue their worth. I don't know why I'm so surprised. He's been around since before the fall of the Roman Empire. I guess I just wasn't expecting him to have something like that. He doesn't strike me as someone who would keep jewellery. If he was planning on selling it, he would have done so long ago, meaning it must have some sort of sentimental value.
I take out the next item in the case. It's a painted portrait of a family. The colours are still bright, it's been well preserved. The father has a stern look, but the mother seems soft and gentle. In her arms, she's holding a young girl, probably not more than four or five years old. Next to the father stands a teenage boy. There's no denying the boy is Demetri. He looked a bit younger then, but his charming smile is a dead giveaway. He was quite handsome, even as a human.
The rest of the case is full of folded pieces of parchment paper. There must be over a hundred or so. As I go to pick one up, I notice a photograph under it. The sharp resolution tells me it's recent, probably taken within the last decade or so. The woman featured in the photo is smiling, she seems so full of life. She's the type of person you see and know immediately that you want to be friends with her. I turn it around to see just one word scribbled on the back. Alexandria. This is Alexa's mother.
"Someone's snooping." I hear Jake say behind me, startling me a bit.
"Busted." I reply, turning around and giving him a cheeky smile.
"So what information have you gathered about Cannibal Casanova?" Jake asks.
"He's not a cannibal." I scold. Jake's aversion to vampires has decreased over time thanks to me. But his prejudice still comes out every now and again. I guess I can't really blame him, I mean vampires are by definition monsters. Plus, it's kind of in his DNA to hate them.
"Does he eat people?" Jake retorts.
"Not exactly." I try to defend, but I know it's no use. Most vampires are predators of human kind.
"So what does he keep in there anyway, souvenirs of his kills?" Jake jokes, pointing to the case.
"No, everything seems to have some sort of sentimental value." I answer.
"He has sentiment?" Jake questions, not convinced. "What are these?" He continues, reaching for one of the folded pieces of parchment paper.
"I don't know. Letters, maybe." I guess.
"It's a message from Alexa." He smirks.
"Maybe we shouldn't." I say, suddenly feeling very intrusive for the first time.
"Are you kidding? If anything is going to give us some sort of insight into Captain Creepy, it's these." Jake laughs.
"Yeah, but how would you like it if someone read our notes to each other?" I argue.
"Your father can read my mind. My definition of privacy changed years ago." Jake retorts. He has a point. Nothing is exactly private in this house. Not with my dad around listening in on everyone's thoughts. Thankfully Alice's visions didn't work on me and Jake, otherwise she would probably know about all our firsts before we did. So would my dad. There's a thought I didn't want to give any further consideration to.
"So what does it say?" I ask, giving in to the curiosity. Jake holds the note between the two of us, so I can read it too.
Metri,
You'll never guess what happened today. The girls taught me to do a somersault! I told them I wanted to go outside and run around, like the people in my books. I begged them to take me out, but they wouldn't. So instead they taught me all these things I could do inside to let my energy out. I didn't much like the jumping jacks, or the push ups, but the somersaults are so much fun! Metri I can't wait until I can show you, by then I'll be a somersault master! I bet you'll be so impressed. Do you know how long it might be until we can meet again? The girls say they don't know, that it might be a while, but I feel like there's something they're not telling me. They say I shouldn't worry about it, but what else am I going to do all day? I know it's dangerous for me to go outside. I know I'm in here for my own protection. I know it's all for my own good. But sometimes I wish it wasn't. I miss you Metri. I know that sounds silly, because it's been years since we've seen each other and I was a baby then. But I do. I miss you. Whatever it is that's making you unable to see me, please try to make it go away. Or speed it up. Or whatever it is you have to do. Just do it. Please?
Always yours,
Little Lexa
"If someone had locked you up as a child, I think you would have exploded." Jake says.
"I can't imagine spending my whole childhood inside." I agree, even now I need to run, need to hunt, need to feel the wind against my skin. As a child that need had been even stronger. My parents could barely keep me inside most days.
"Maybe we should leave the rest." Jake sighs. "I feel more like I'm invading her privacy than his, and I'm not sure she deserves that."
"You're right." I say, carefully packing the case back up again. We head back downstairs once everything is safely packed away. I feel terrible for this girl. Every new thing I learn about her just makes me realise how horrible her life must be. And she's honestly been led to believe that it's for her own good.
"What's going on in your head Ness?" Jake asks, nudging me out of my thoughts.
"It's my fault. Partially anyway. I know everyone says it's not, but it is. Maybe if I hadn't been in the woods that day, if Irina had never saw me, then Aro wouldn't know I exist and Alexa wouldn't—"
"Be alive?" Jake cuts me off. "Nessie, you can't feel guilty for your existence, or hers. She's been around for six years. And she'll be around for hundreds more. It might have started off rough, but it can get better. We'll make it happen." He always knows what to say.
"Do you think so?" I ask, still needing some reassurance.
"I know so. Because anyone who gets to be friends with you is incredibly lucky. You make people's lives better. You always have. You always will." Jake smiles at me. I return it, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. His arms snake around my waste.
"Now Miss Cullen. I do believe we have the house to ourselves for once. Whatever shall we do?" He jokes. I start to feel a bit nervous all the sudden, without realising it I guess I project my feelings to Jake, accidentally using my ability. "Hey, hey, Ness, no, it's okay. Sorry, I didn't mean- We won't do anything you're not ready for." He stammers, reacting to my nervousness.
"Are you ready for it?" I ask before I can stop myself.
"Not until you are." He smiles. Of course he'd say that. The imprint won't let him do anything that's not in my best interest. Sometimes I wish it didn't exist. Then maybe I'd know what he actually wanted.
"How about we just watch a movie." He suggests.
"Just?" I ask, a cheeky smile spreading across my face.
"Maybe not just." He smirks. He races the couch and I follow. He pulls me onto his lap before I get a chance to sit down then grabs the remote to put something on the tv. I have no idea what it is. Neither of us plan on watching it. He lowers his lips to mine and kisses me softly. I immediately return it, but with far more eagerness and urgency. He responds, nipping my bottom lip with his teeth. I give him access and he slides his tongue into my mouth, exploring. I shift my position, straddling him. "You're going to be the death of me Ness." He growls.
"And what a sweet death it will be." I whisper in his ear.
"The sweetest." He agrees, kissing my neck before biting it softly, sucking the skin into his mouth. I moan a little, and I hear him respond with a deep rumbling noise in his throat.
And then the phone rings.
"Ignore it." He tries to command, his words muffled because his lips haven't left my neck yet.
"It's probably my parents." I tell him.
"You should get it." He sighs, removing his hands from my hips and letting me jump off him to grab the phone. I run across the living room to where it's hanging on the wall and pick it up.
"Mom?" I answer, not even entertaining the possibility that it's someone else.
"Ness, it's so good to hear your voice." She says. I can hear her smile through the phone.
"How is it going? Are you and Dad alright?" I ask, not able to keep the concern out of my voice.
"Yes, everything is fine. There was a bit of a sticky situation earlier, but it's all okay now." She reassures me.
"Are you in France?" I reply, heading back to the couch and snuggling into Jake's side. He puts his arm around me, drawing me in closer.
"No, we're just about to leave Milan." Mom answers.
"Milan? That's not on the way." I say, puzzled.
"I know, honey, there was a slight detour. We'll explain the whole thing when we get home tomorrow." She tells me.
"Will Alexa be here tomorrow too?" I ask, my curiosity apparent in my voice.
"No, she and Demetri will have to take a boat. She doesn't exactly have a passport." Mom explains.
"Well, what's she like?" I question, eager for any information about my future roommate and hopefully friend.
"She's a lot like you. Curious, funny, incredibly intelligent. But there's a lot we're going to have to teach her. She doesn't know much about our world, or the world in general really." Mom tells me.
"Aro's an asshole." I say, summing up my thoughts in three words.
"Normally I'd tell you to watch your language, but I think you pretty much hit the nail right on the head this time." Mom agrees. "I'm going to put your dad on, he wants to talk to you."
"Hi Sweetheart." I hear my dad say.
"Hi Dad, I hear you're in Milan." I reply.
"We are, it's been an eventful day. But we'll be home soon. How is everything there?" He asks me.
"Good, the rest of the family is out hunting." I tell him.
"You're alone?" He sounds concerned. I mentally slap myself for not thinking this one through. I consider lying, but I've never been a good liar. It probably has something to do with my father being able to read my mind.
"No Jake's here." I say, the truth winning out.
"You two are alone?" He interrogates.
"I'm an adult now Dad." I argue.
"You might be, but I'm not so sure he is." My dad replies. I can practically here the scowl in his voice.
"Dad be nice." I tell him. I know my dad secretly likes Jake, he just has the whole protective father complex going on. I get it.
"Put him on the phone." Dad commands.
"I'm not putting him on the phone." I respond.
"Why not?" Dad asks.
"Because anything you have to say to him you can say to me."
"Well, tell him to keep his paws to himself." Dad grumbles. I know a part of him is joking, but a bigger part is serious.
"I love you Dad." I say.
"I love you too Sweetheart, we'll see you tomorrow." He says before hanging up. I can tell he doesn't want to, but I guess saving Alexa from her evil father takes precedence over protecting me from my devoted boyfriend.
"Everything okay?" Jake asks.
"Yeah, they'll be home tomorrow. I guess they got into a bit of a sticky situation and ended up in Milan, but they seem fine now." I answer.
"Good, now where were we?" Jake smirks.
"I believe I was here." I say, straddling him again. "And your paws were here." I grab his hands and put them on my hips.
"Your father told me to keep my paws off you again, didn't he?" Jake asks, looking utterly unamused.
"He's a dad. He finds that joke is hilarious." I reply.
"Well, this is how funny I find it." Jake says, grabbing my hips and pulling me closer to him, kissing me deeply. I know we probably don't have much longer until my family gets back from their hunt, so we'll just have to make every moment count.