Chapter Eighteen

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Renesmee

I awoke to knock at my door. "It's me," Nick said from outside in the hallway. Jumping out of bed, I smiled when I saw him on the other side. He held his hands around my waist, staring deep into my eyes. After a few seconds, when he could truly see into my soul, his smile faded, just as I knew it would.

"You've been thinking about him all night, haven't you?" he asked softly.

Another lie formed on my tongue, ready to escape, but halting when he spoke once more. "You deserve to be with someone who does not lie to you. Someone who shows you the truth rather than keeping it from you."

I nodded, simply to appease him, although I knew he could see right through me.

"It's the truth. Anyway...enough about your family. This day is all about you," he said, leaning down to give me a kiss. "Can you be ready in an hour?"

"Can you tell me where we're going?" I leaned back against the door frame, attempting to process all of this.

"To visit my uncle," he replied. "I believe you'll find him quite intriguing."

"But, Nick, how does your uncle connect to me? How does…"

He put a finger to my lips, stopping the questions before they poured out of me at an unstoppable pace.

"Everything will make sense soon, I promise." He kissed me softly once more, holding my chin in the tips of his fingers as he stared at me with pure promise in his eyes. "Now, get ready to leave. I'll come back to your room in an hour."

I nodded, but was still unsure how meeting his uncle was going to be conducive to my mission. However, I trusted Nick and was willing to go where ever he took me. Obviously, as in just 24 hours I had ended up halfway around the world, without the permission of my parents. After showering and getting dressed, I laid on the bed for a minute, waiting for the knock on my door that would begin the greatest adventure of my life.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realized that I should send another text to one of my parents to let them know that I was okay. Powering my phone back on, I typed a message to my father with shaking hands.

I'm safe. And very, very, VERY sorry. I will call you soon.

Nick's return to my room caused me to push my father and the rest of my family to the back of my mind. I quickly shut my phone once more, fighting the urge to look at the dozens and dozens of messages.

And then, it was time.

‡

"He lives right down this street," Nick noted, raising my hand to his lips as we walked into the flowing crowd.

We maneuvered through the thick mass of people, holding hands to avoid separation. Every once in a while, he would look down and give me as reassuring smile, probably sensing how terrified I was. Finally, we reached our destination.

"Your uncle lives here?" I asked, gazing at the magnificent structure before me. Like the rest of the buildings in the city, this one was just as old. However, it seemed more grand than the others, as if it were the center of the city. Comprised of many different sections of antiquated brick, it seemed more of a governmental building than a home. Outside, the courtyard glistened in the sun as people, taking in the beauty of the day, sat all around the stone pavement.

"Yes," he answered as he pushed open the massive doors that led inside. I almost expected a team of guards to knock us to the ground for trespassing. However, entered without any difficulty. I heard the doors slam shut behind us just as the cold of the building hit me like an arctic wind. I shivered, wishing I could seek Nick's warmth but knowing it was not there to give.

In the dimly lit halls, brightened only by candlelight, I barely noticed the man standing at the top of the staircase at the end of the hallway.

"Hello," he greeted, his voice was low and enchanting. It instantly calmed me at the sound of it echoing off the beautiful brick walls.

"Uncle Aro," Nick replied, walking forward to embrace him with a handshake. "Uncle, this is Renesemee."

I swallowed, slowly striding toward him. Immediately, I noticed his beautiful eyes, dark like Nick's. He too had pale skin, which made him look eerie in the candlelit hallway. The black cloak he was wearing flowed to the ground and covered the top of his head with a dark hood. It was as if he were something out of a horror movie. Every instinct inside of me told me to run, while my heart told me to continue approaching him. I knew my heart had won the battle when I found myself unable to stop myself from moving. I didn't question it; I only mustered up all of the courage I could and continued moving toward the staircase.

With each step came a pang of fear. There was something about this situation that seemed familiar. There was something about this man's voice and appearance that brought back the outline of memories; not the entire remembrance, but enough to know that something had once occurred.

He extended his hand to help me up the last step, which I took.

Strangely, the second our hands touched, a memory suddenly flowed forth, filling my mind so that I could no longer contemplate what was happening in front of me. In it was my entire family, standing by this man, whom one minute ago I believed I had never met before. But the vision was through my eyes; there was no denying that we had indeed seen each other once, a long time ago. The second we dropped our hands, the memory disappeared, once again joining my many other lost recollections.

"It is wonderful to have you here, my dear," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "Welcome to Volterra."

"Thank you," I replied sweetly, pushing my fear aside. If my family had stood in his company, he must be a friend. And a friend of my family's was a friend of mine. For that reason I had nothing to be afraid of. This was the man who was going to answer the questions. The only thing I had to be afraid of now was hearing the truth.

We walked in silence down a long hallway, candlelit like its counterparts. Finally, we arrived outside two giant double doors, which led into one of the biggest rooms I had ever found myself in.

Ancient carvings of various scenes were engraved in the stone walls. In one of them, a group of people with pitchforks and determined faces were hunting a monster. It was clear that the people in the depiction did not realize that while they were looking in one direction, the monster had ended up right behind them. I wanted to take time to study the rest of the etchings, but Aro's low voice pulled my focus back.

"The others will be in shortly," he told us, startling me out of my thoughts. "I trust your stay in Volterra has been well so far?"

I smiled, walking alongside Nick farther into the room. "It has been wonderful. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I am looking forward the rest of our trip."

Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. "Welcome," it said. When I turned around, I saw that the man was dressed like Aro, but with white hair instead of black.

"Renesmee, Nicholas, this is Caius, my dearest friend," Aro said.

"Hello," Nick and I replied at the same time, and Caius nodded in acknowledgment.

Following him inside were five other people—three men and a small boy and girl, both seemingly a little younger than me. All were wearing the same dark cloaks with the physical features that had now become a prevalent sight in my life.

"This is Marcus, Demitri, Matthew, Alec, and Jane," Aro said, pointing to them respectively.

Although none of their welcomes were warm, the excitement that I felt seeing them was my compensation. I was not sure who these people were or how a group of people wearing black cloaks in a foreign connected to my family, but I did know that the people who stood before me were the key to everything.

"Thank you all for joining us this morning. Please, come inside." Aro ushered the group farther into the room. They seemed to glide instead of walk as they made their way to the long wooden table. He sat at the head, with Caius and Marcus next to him on the sides of the table. Next to Caius sat Demitri and Matthew, while Jane and Alec took their places next to Marcus.

Nick and I sat on the opposite end of Aro, in two seats next to each other. He took my hand under the table, giving it a squeeze as a gentle reassurance. His hands were soft and gentle, unlike Jake's, which were always callused. I wished more than anything that Jacob was beside me instead of Nick. Of course, I would be eternally grateful for everything Nick had done for me so far. But there was something about having your life changed forever that made you want your first true love by your side.

And my parents. And my grandparents. And my aunts and uncles. I was about to experience a life-changing moment, and the people who were the most important to me were not by my side. Homesickness hit me suddenly, and felt the urge to leave. Maybe if I went home, they would realize I was serious, and they would tell me the truth.

However, I knew that was a risk I could not be willing to take.

"Wonderful," Aro said once everyone was settled in, once again bringing my focus back to the task at hand. "Now, where to begin?"

"Uncle, Renesmee's family has kept the truth from her for so long. When I first met her, I saw how miserable she was, having such a big part of her own life hidden from her."

Aro nodded. "I can understand your frustration. The truth can be a beautiful thing, once it is spoken. As I'm sure you are aware, Renesmee, we are different from other people you have met. Your family is different as well. What are some characteristics you have noticed?"

"Well," I began, slowly but boldly. "You all have pale skin. And amazing eyes that entrance you the moment you look into them. Your skin is cold. My family does not seem to age. They do not sleep and the do not eat."

"Very clever observations," he said. Then, he folded his hands in front of him and stared at me intently.

When he did not speak, I asked. "So what does it mean? All of it?"

"Do you have any theories?"

I took a deep breath, ashamed. I considered myself clever, but there was something about this mystery that when I started theorizing, answers would not come. It was like there was a block in my mind that was keeping me from uncovering the truth.

"No," I admitted, shaking my head slowly. "I have no theories."

Aro paused once more before speaking the words that would change my life forever. "Renesmee, your family as well as those you see before you, are vampires."

Vampires. I processed the word slowly, as if it were spoken in Italian. Word associations flew through my mind: Dracula, blood thirsty, monsters, vicious. I thought back to just a few days ago, when Jasper had the crazed look in his eyes when the woman came to the door. When my grandfather and Emmett had to hold him back from doing something so evil, my father had to block me with his body to keep me from seeing.

Vampires. And I was in a room full of them. I felt my leg twitch, as my body urged me to run once more. Only this time, it wasn't due to homesickness. I felt the presence of evil around me, and a sense of dread that told me I would not make it out of this situation alive if I did not thinking quickly. I felt Nick's hand tightened around mine, causing my heart to start pounding. I was trapped, vampires all around me, and there was nothing I could do about it.

And then, Aro's calm voice. "You do not have to be afraid, my child. We do not eat what you think we eat. We have chosen to survive on the blood of animals. We will not harm you."

Adrenaline was still pumping through my body, but I felt myself relax slightly. After all, what reason did they have to lie to me? If they wanted to kill me, they could have done so at any time.

Nick turned to me with a smile. "Please don't be scared, Renesmee. I understand that this is a lot to take in. However, I knew from the moment I saw you that you were one of us. That I had to tell you the truth."

"One...one of you?" My gaze moved back and forth quickly from Aro to Nick. "I don't...I'm not a..."

"Renesmee, you are a half-breed," Aro replied. "Created through love between mortal and immortal. Born from a mother who was still human."

"Still human...and now she's a..." I didn't even realize that I had started to stand up until I heard the sliding of the chair across the tile floor. Nick immediately stood up as well, taking my arm to steady me. "And Jacob? What is he?"

"Jacob is a werewolf," Nick told me. "Our sworn enemy."

"Enemy? But…" I paused, unable to process. And then, "Why didn't they tell me any of this? Why hide it for years?"

Aro's face instantly grew solemn at this question. "They are ashamed about what you are."

"As they should be!" Marcus shouted. "She's an abomination!" His voice bounced off the stone walls, filling me once more with a sense of dread.

Holding up a steady hand, his leader silenced him. "Enough. Renesmee's very existence is nothing short of a miracle. We should be honored to be in her presence." And then, turning back to me. "Your parents thought if they hid you, the rest of our world would forget that you existed too. However, I believe that you need to be celebrated."

"She is fascinating," said Jane, who was staring at me intensely. "And her mother survived childbirth?"

Aro nodded. "Yes. Renesmee's father changed her mother immediately afterwards, preventing her death."

"Ch...changed?" I asked. "My father changed my mother into a vampire? How?"

"I know this is much to process right now," Nick told me gently. "Perhaps it would be best if you rested for a little while. You don't look well."

"No," I told him firmly, remaining standing. "Thank you, but no. I have more questions. Did my mother want to be changed into a vampire?"

Again, it was Aro who responded, still seated. "She did. She had known the truth about them for a few years before she was changed and desired to be like us. We required it. You see, it is important that we protect our secret at all costs. A vampire and human having an intimate relationship could be dangerous for us."

I stayed silent for a moment, working up the courage to ask my next question. "I've...I've met you before. Haven't I?" There was an accusing undertone, from the part of me that did not fully trust the man who was standing before me.

And then, for a moment, just a moment, I thought I saw a dark, loathing look wash over his face. A feeling of uneasiness filled my body once more. "Yes, my child," he spoke. "We have met before. I had heard that your parents wanted to take you into hiding. I implored them not to do so; how much we could learn from you, half mortal, half immortal! Born from two with great power..."

"Power?"

Now it was Caius' turn to speak. "When a vampire is created, there are times that they hold great powers."

"My mother and father?" I asked. "What kind of powers?" A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt Nick's strong hands on my back steadying me.

"Really, Nessie, you don't look well..." he whispered.

"I'm fine," I spoke sharply. My eyes met his, and I gave him a pleading look. I could not stop now; not when I was so close to finding out the entire truth. Turning back to the group before me, I repeated "What kind of powers?"

"Your mother is a shield. That means she cannot be affected by the powers of any other vampire," Jane told me. Again, like Aro, there seemed to be a flash of anger as she spoke. Just for a moment, and then it was gone. "She can also protect others."

"And my father?"

Aro paused, a small smile appearing on his face. "Your father can read minds."

And then, my world went black, as I felt myself falling toward the concrete floor.