Edward
My daughter knows exactly how to push my buttons. It's not that I don't trust Jacob. In fact, I should probably be thankful. If she's going to be with someone, at least it's someone who is wired to always act in her best interest. But why does she have to be with someone? Time moves differently when you've been alive for over a century. Nessie's childhood would have been short for anyone, but for me it seems like it ended in the blink of an eye. I'm not ready to admit she's an adult yet. Even though I know she is. I try my hardest to stay out of her mind, but when I slip, I'm amazed by the maturity of her thoughts. I swear she could save the world is she weren't half vampire. I know every parent feels that way about their child, but with Nessie it's true.
But she will have to limit herself, the same way we all have to limit ourselves. All that intelligence and compassion, and she'll never be able to properly utilise it without drawing a dangerous amount of attention. All because her father is a vampire. It's a knowledge I live with every day. Some day she may come to resent it. We all resent our supernatural identities at some point or another. But I'll do anything to hold on to her child-like wonder and optimism for as long as I can. Even if it means being a little overprotective when it comes to her and Jacob.
After hanging up the phone, I turn my attention back to my wife, who is once again trying to engage Alexa in conversation. We're going to have our work cut out for us there. Bella had extended her shield to Demetri back in Volterra, not wanting his judgement to become compromised by Alexa's supposed magnetism. But she left the girl unshielded. I'm sure this is her subtle way of asking me to peek in on Alexa's thoughts. It was almost impossible not to, considering she's the only one in our party I can currently read, but there's a lot going on in there. She seems to zip from one thought to the next at lightening speed. Her innocence is genuine, which makes it difficult to sort through all the wonder and amazement at the world around her. But she's also afraid. Her internal monologue is going at a hundred miles an hour, but she keeps coming back to the fear. It's understandable, reassuring actually. She seems to trust Demetri unconditionally, but she knows there's something that should worry her. She's going to have to learn some hard truths over the coming weeks. Perhaps the fear might cushion the blow a bit.
"Ready to go?" I ask once I've made my way back to our table in the restaurant.
"You're sure it's safe?" Alexa questions hesitantly, the fear practically screaming in her head now.
"I'll always keep you safe." Demetri tells her. Ordinarily, I would have rolled my eyes at him. His innate charm always came off as a tad manipulative. But with her, he seems completely genuine. Their relationship reminds me a great deal of Nessie and Jacob not too long ago. It seems to transcend ordinary friendship. It's clear that he would do anything for this girl, even at his own peril, and expected nothing in return except for her happiness. Back in Forks I had spent the whole day listening to Demetri's thoughts in order to ensure there was no hint of deception there. All I had heard was genuine, frantic concern for the girl's wellbeing, as well as a healthy dose of self-loathing.
Demetri's reassurance seems to quiet Alexa's fears enough for her to take his hand. Her thoughts make it clear that she'll follow him anywhere. While I find his feelings regarding her comforting, I find hers troubling. She's far too trusting for someone in her position. We'll need to instill a certain amount of scepticism in her. She doesn't have the luxury of going through life trusting people who haven't earned it. I suppose Demetri was earning it now, turning his back on the Volturi to rescue her from Aro. But she doesn't grasp the enormity of that.
To her, he's just the boy she's been passing love notes to her entire life. I can hear her childish fantasies of an innocent storybook romance between the two, not having any inkling of the horrible life she might have had if Demetri had simply gone along with the obscene mating ritual Aro seemed intent to force upon her. When she had been warned by her human companions that it might hurt, it was the understatement of the century. It would have destroyed her.
When I look at her, I see the same light shining in her eyes that Nessie has. The thought of a father extinguishing that light in his own child is too much to take. Aro needs to be destroyed. And I will happily be the one to do it if necessary. It's not like me to seek vengeance instead of diplomacy. But there is no diplomacy amongst monsters, and Aro has passed the point of no return.
As we make our way out of the city, Alexa hops on Demetri's back again so we can pick up the pace. Her mind becomes a flutter with child-like visions of them riding off into the sunset and a happy home full of children, most likely brought by the stork. I try to tune her thoughts out a bit, feeling like I've intruded enough. It's difficult though, with Demetri and Bella's minds shielded from me, there's not much else I can concentrate on.
Instead, I start making a plan in my own head, a strategy for Aro's demise. It won't be easy, and we can't do it alone. But perhaps the time has come for revolution. We've already planted the seeds in the minds of several vampires, back when Nessie was in trouble. Perhaps now it is time to reap what we have sown. The Romanian's will help I'm sure, and if Demetri asks Amun himself, we can almost certainly get the Egyptians to fight with us. And the Denali are still looking for some sort of justice for Irina's unnecessary death. This still won't be enough to defeat the whole Volturi guard. But perhaps we won't have to. Perhaps we can be tactical, rather than brutal. The possibilities and pitfalls flood my mind for the rest of our journey.
Before I know it, we're nearing the suburbs of Paris. This is where we'll part ways, with myself and Bella taking a flight back to Seattle, and Demetri and Alexa heading up to Calais, where they'll take a ship to England and then another one to New York. It will be easier to smuggle Alexa into the US that way. For all the superhuman abilities vampires possess, we're somehow still limited by the laws of man when it comes to border control.
I find myself saddened by the thought of leaving Alexa. Perhaps it's concern for her safety, perhaps it's her similarities to my own daughter that make me fond of her. Either way, I'll be glad once we're all safe and reunited in Forks.
"Make sure he takes good care of you, okay?" Bella says, looking at Alexa. I don't have to be able to read her thoughts to know that they mirror my own.
"I will." Alexa tells her. "He'll keep my safe, he promised." She says innocently, as if all promises are magically binding.
"He better." I warn, giving Demetri a pointed look. "You have our number if you need us." I remind him.
"I'll see you in a week." He nods, shaking my hand. If only ships could run as fast as vampires.
"Alexa," I say, turning my attention to the girl. "I know this is probably all a bit overwhelming. But you have friends now. And once you get to Forks, you'll have a home. You probably don't know us well enough yet to see it that way, but I hope you will someday. And if there's anything you ever need, we'll be here for you." I say, not expecting her to reply, but then she surprises me. Returning my gaze with what appear to be tears in her eyes, she throws her arms around me in a hug.
"Thank you." She whispers, I can hear a tightness in her throat. "And thank you." She says, hugging my wife next. We'll definitely have to work on her too trusting nature, but right now, I find I can't bring myself to resent it. "I'll see you in a week?" She asks, as if unsure.
"Absolutely." Bella smiles at her. "We'll be waiting."
Demetri gathers Alexa on his back once again, and before I can blink they're off into the distance.
"She'll be okay." I say, putting my arm around my wife, but I know I'm saying it to reassure myself just as much as Bella.