Chapter 2- Trust
After returning to check out the location that surrounded the old school, the Pack found no one there, so they ventured further into the haunted building itself. Belongings were scattered about the floor, filthy clothing was piled into a corner, and the arid smell of rotting flesh filled the air. Jacob tittered to himself as he sifted through stench. The Cullens may have fed on animals, but these newborns sure did live like them.
On the Pack's return to the Cullen home that evening, they all formed a plan. Edward and the others realized that whereas before they could have protected themselves with Bella's shield, now they had to rely on blunt, brute force. The newborns were strong, but alongside the wolves with their sheer power, the Cullens' different gifts and strengths would overpower them. They could do this ... they would do this. They had to. Because the newborns would be able to see them arriving, they arranged to go in 'all guns blazing,' as it were. This was it. Their time had finally come.
With Jacob and the other wolves leading the way, they crashed through the door to find the building seemingly empty. Had the newborns fled?
Instinctively, the Cullens spread out as they covered every corner of the floor area. With silent ease, they each sniffed the pungent air. Each crouched down into a defensive stance ready for any small or distinctive sound.
"I can still smell them," Alice quietly told the group, knowing they'd hear her. She was the most observant out of everyone as her senses were exceedingly fine-tuned and Edward depended on her the most.
Emmett's glance rifled through the stray belongings scattered along the floor. He picked up an abandoned shirt, pulled the garment to his nose and inhaled. They were here as the putrid stink of the cloth was still fresh. Discarding it aside, his thoughts circulated to the other in the group. "Alice is right. They're around here somewhere!"
"Come out, you cowards!" Edward growled as he grew impatient, holding his body in his fighting stance. "We know you're here! Come out and fight!"
Crouched in a circle, it was now Jasper's eyes that surveyed the room. His eyes flitted to his left of the neglected classroom closet and onto the mahogany teacher's desk that rotted at the edges. Dusty books and papers were piled on top of it, as if the humans had just left in haste. From deep within the closet, an obscure arrangement of broken tables and bent metal chairs remained there. In that second, there was a squeak so quiet, that the average human would never be able to hear.
But the Cullens were far from human.
"Left side!" Alice shouted and the frantic battle ensued as vamps attacked from all directions.
At lightning speed, Edward's strong arms picked up Alice's small frame. Together, they swung and kick two newborns at once. Carlisle jumped up to the old cobweb covered rafters pulling a leg from under another, causing him to fall to the ground. Esme stamped on his head breaking it clean from his neck.
The wolves snapped their teeth, snarling spittle at anything unfamiliar and as a further newborn male managed to get hold of Rosalie, Sam leapt for it, snapping off its leg. As it lost it's balance, it managed to get ahold of Sam's back leg and twisted it. The crack of his bone echoed around the hall, which was immediately followed by Sam's blood-curdling yelp. Rosalie roared in anger and tightened her grip quickly around the male's neck while Alice kicked the final blow into his chest.
The evil newborn villains high-pitched shrills ricocheted around them.
Carlisle protected Esme's back and crushed another by breaking their frame in half.
Edward squared up to yet another, distracting it as Emmett leaped into the air. He grabbed the wooden timber frame and with one foul boot, the newborn head rolled aimlessly along the floor.
Dust and ash filled the air, as bits of paper floated down like rose petals and the remnants of vampire body parts carpeted the ground. The ashes were pieces of evil, whose only goal was to destroy the Cullen family just for the hell of it.
But that goal would not be accomplished today.
As they surveyed their victory, it became apparent Bella's killer wasn't among them. Edward could not recognise her killers scent among any of their broken bodies. Glancing down, one lone male vampire struggled amongst the ashes.
As Emmett sneered and lifted his boot, Edward shouted "Wait!" Emmett instantly froze, his boot still aloft.
Bending down to the pathetic creature who was trying his best to wriggle away despite having no legs, Edward spat. "Where is he?"
Not getting the desired reaction, he stepped on the pale, white skin of his forearm. Trying again he bellowed "Where is that asshole that killed my Bella?"
The vampire, looked up with a haunting smile, and laughed eerily at him.
"You will never find him…" he taunted, his cackle echoing through the building. Edward couldn't tell if the newborn even knew of him, or if he was just provoking.
"Oh...I will! I will! But for now, you will pay!" Edward gave Emmett the signal he'd been waiting for, and Emmett's boot crushed the skull of the newborn.
That was the thing about vampires-they had immense power, strength, and most of all, will power.
But Edward's willpower to find that evil being?
That, like him, would live forever.
.
Regrouping at home, Carlisle tended to Sam's injury. They were grateful they lived out along a beaten track as his screams carried for miles.
The rest of the Pack licked their wounds as the family changed their clothes. They made sure to burn the garments to get rid of the newborn scents. It was a stench that couldn't be washed away and the family wanted no traces of their ties to newborn. They didn't want to advocate that they killed for the hell of it.
As Edward set a match to the pile of clothes, he cursed inwardly. Another group had been stopped, but the fact still remained that Bella's killer was still out there... somewhere. And while he was still an immortal, Edward would never rest easy. He knew he had to protect Renesmee no matter what the cost … and this time he wouldn't fail.
He couldn't.
"Those lessons paid off Edward." Jasper acknowledged him, patting his brother on his back. "We did well."
"Not well enough for my liking," Edward spat, shooting a cold glare at Jacob as he appeared in the doorway.
"Look, I'm sorry he wasn't among them." Jacob appeared back in human form covered in sweat.
His apology did nothing but fuel Edward's rage. He lashed out, but it was the only way he knew how to cope. His quip was cheap, but it's all he had right now.
"At least bring a damn shirt with you next time! Why don't wolves own shirts? We own shirts! So should you!"
Renesmee appeared back in the room, just as Carlisle stepped in to ease the tension.
"Edward! This is not Jacob's fault!" Carlisle chastised him. Maybe not, but Edward felt the need to blame someone. Anyone.
Even if it was a loyal wolf.
"Hey, man!" Jacob exclaimed, holding up his hands defensively. "We did our best. I understand how frustrated you must be. Don't worry. We'll keep an eye out, morning, noon, and night. We WILL catch them Edward!"
"How dare you assume you know what I'm feeling! You haven't the foggiest idea how upset I am right now! And yes, I will catch them, with or without your help!" Edward shoved past Jacob's shoulder in the doorway and began ascending the stairs, before stopping halfway to turn back with anger-filled eyes.
"…and Renesmee sleeps here tonight!"
Edward ran the rest of the way and slammed his door behind him, its wooden threshold nearly splintering off of the hinges.
.
The nights were so long now, it was times like this Edward wished he could sleep, hoping at least his nightmares would keep his mind busy. The nothingness just let memories replay over and over again. Without even knowing, a smiling Bella appeared, and his fist had made yet another hole in his wall.
He wished he could feel at least some pain ... he could punish himself for letting Bella die. Why hadn't he fought harder to break free? The only thing keeping him from the Volturi right now was Renesmee. She needed him now more than ever.
As everyone went off to hunt in the early hours of that next morning, Edward stood over Renesmee. He never allowed Jacob to stay in his room where she slept when they stayed there. Under his roof, he was assigned the sofa.
In the quiet still, Edward watched her sleep, just like he used to do with Bella back in Forks. Renesmee occasionally had bad dreams, but not nearly as often now as she used to. He sighed breathlessly just as he felt the family walk back through the door.
Joining Edward, Alice whispered "You need to hunt." Edward did leave, but not before looking back wistfully at Renesmee. It was so difficult to leave her, but he knew Alice would watch over her.
The town's wildlife was full of deer that he feasted upon. Ensuring he was back just before sunrise, he returned full and bounding with energy. With a storm on the horizon, maybe a game of baseball was just what everyone needed to relieve some of the tension.
Feeling happiness, Renesmee was thrilled she could finally join in on something. She had her father's genes and the love of the game ran through her.
Jacob never cared to play, but he watched her from the sidelines. It annoyed Edward to no end, but he'd always think back to Bella's father, Charlie Swan and how he always tried to keep Bella and him apart. Edward realized now being a father himself, how much he was just trying to protect Bella. Maybe Bella would still be alive now if he had forbid it.
But maybe that was just a thought of wishes that drowned into an everlasting pool of regret.
"Dad, you know I'm going to marry him, don't you?" Renesmee glanced at her father as she packed her and Jacob's belongings to head back to their cottage.
"Not anytime soon I hope?" Edward handed her a top he'd folded painfully neat. Smiling, she took it and placed it softly into her case.
"Well not until I'm a bit older anyway." Bit older? She was only seven. It just didn't seem right or fair.
"Good, now I have longer to try to put you off his scent!" he retorted back, handing her another piece of folded clothing.
"Da-ad..." She giggled and took hold of his hand. As she did, she saw in her vision he was thinking about her mother again. Renesmee felt saddened she couldn't protect him from his own thoughts.
"Mom knew you loved her. I'm sure she didn't – I mean doesn't – blame you. You have to stop blaming yourself now! Let it go."
"Not till my head is ripped off my shoulders," he said passionately. "I won't rest until I find him!"
"Dad, don't say things like that … I don't want lose you too!" A tear trickled down her pale face which she swiftly wiped away.
"I'm sorry, Beautiful. I shouldn't talk like that in front of you, but just know this..." He took hold of both her hands now, pulling her to face him. "I will protect you! They will never get the chance to hurt you. You know that, right?"
"I know," Renesmee looked at her father with wet eyes. "I know everyone is there to protect me. Jacob and the pack, the family ... I'm not worried about me; I'm worried about you! You have to let this stop ruining your existence. Nobody blames you. It was out of any of our control. Jacob still cries for her as well you know."
"Hmmmm...well." Edward pulled his precious daughter into a hug.
"We're all hurting, Dad. Just let us in. Let us help carry your grief. We hate seeing you like this."
"Well, I'll try." Pulling away again, Edward wiped away more of her stray tears. "I promise..."
"All set?" Jacob entered the room, glancing side to side at the emotions that filled the air between Edward and Renesmee.
Edward knew he had been outside the door for a while as Jacob's scent carried easily. He sighed, knowing that eventually, he had to stop blaming Jacob. It wasn't his fault, and despite all his fears about the situation, he knew Jacob wouldn't be going anywhere, anytime soon. Edward found it so damn easy to criticize someone other than himself, someone who was dear to Bella too.
"I'm good to go!" Renesmee replied, zipping up the case. They all filed downstairs to say their goodbyes. One by one they all embraced, and leaving her father last, Renesmee hugged him tight. "Bye, Dad."
"Don't do anything crazy, you hear me?" Edward closed his eyes to stop the tears stinging.
"I'll look after her, I promise." Jacob said, waiting upon his motorbike.
They sped off, out of Edward's reach. It killed him he couldn't be near her all the time, but deep down in the core of his heart he trusted Jacob.
He had to.
.
.
.
A/N: Who else is proud of Edwards fathering skills? Yep! Not just me then.
He really doesn't like that Jacob Guy though. Shame as he's gonna be around for a longgggg time yet.
Many Thanks for all your comments on Chapter One. I've loved writing for many Years, its only now i am actually learning how to do it.
This is all down to my wonderful BETA ThisIsReallyHappening (Author of Cadillac and Cotton Belt) You have gone out of your way to help me. That i will truly remember forever. xxx
Onto Chapter 3 then...