Inevitability

5


Wren's Point of View


"So…this is the werewolf imprint."

I was so tired, and the icy presences all around me were making me shiver, but I forced myself to look up, to glare defiantly at the figures before me. It wasn't an easy task. My random sketches hadn't done them justice.

So these were the Volturi.

I hadn't seen them for ten years, and though I remembered every detail about that day, my memory hadn't fully captured the…aura…of power around them. Their skin – chalky and white – made them seem breakable, as did the cloudy film of their eyes, but the rest of it; their voices, their guards, their thrones. They looked the image of kings.

Dictators.

"Yes, my Lord," Jason answered from behind me, stepping forward from the trio. The other two – who I had learned were called Eric and Taylor – remained where they were, still as statues and with their eyes focused respectfully downward.

Dictators.

"You've done well, Jason. You and your coven shall be rewarded."

He had his own coven? I thought that they all belonged to the Volturi…The train of thought slipped away as the baby kicked, hard. I stifled a whimper. The Volturi couldn't know that I was pregnant, and I preferred it to stay that way. Strange how only a few hours ago I had wanted the thing out, and now I was doing anything possible to prolong its existence. Motherhood is confusing.

Aro's clouded eyes focused on me, his prospectively warm and friendly smile making an appearance on his face. I hated that smile, hated his façade of kindness and equality. Damn him and his brothers to whatever dark pit they crawled from. I was disgusted to think that we were of the same species, so to speak.

"Thank you, my Lord." Jason bowed, as did his wingmen, and they left with an equal flurry of cloaks, having donned them in the bright Volterra sun.

"Well, well, Renesmee, you have grown." Aro reclined back in his chair, steepling his fingers and watching me over them. I said nothing. That was probably the wisest thing to do, right now. "So much like your mother, you know. Except your hair…" He tilted his head, studying me thoughtfully. "And the other obvious differences." I said nothing again. Let him think what he likes.

"It is so interesting…for a werewolf to imprint on a vampire Halfling…of course, we did not believe such a thing existed, and yet here you stand!" He chuckled. Personally, I didn't see the humor in the situation. "Your family continues to astound us."

"I'm sure," I couldn't stop myself muttering it, and immediately shut my mouth. Crap. Aro merely smiled.

"Indeed. May I?" He extended his hand to me, and I knew what he wanted. He would be able to read all of my thoughts, just like I had let him ten years ago. Just like he had read my father's. But he couldn't read Bella's, I remembered that. If I allowed this, he would be able to see that I was pregnant, if he didn't know already.

But did he know? That was why he wanted me, right? Or was I bait for the bigger catch? Pull the Cullen off, one by one, until all of them are forced into submission at the Volturi's will. I stared at the three on the thrones, one by one. They all had different expressions – boredom, triumph, never-ending genteel – but they all disgusted me. Damn them to hell.

"I'd…really rather you didn't…" I said carefully, wringing my hands.

"Of course! Lord knows I wouldn't force you into anything." Um…except kidnapping me, right? Whatever. "Jane, please escort Miss Cullen to her quarters. I will come to speak to her later."

And force me into letting you read my mind. Bastard.

He would be able to know I thought all of this.

Hmm…

When I reached my 'quarters', which was more like a gusseyed-up cell, I collapsed onto the bed, suddenly exhausted. My stomach growled loudly, and I mentally shushed it, having no energy to actually speak. I curled up into a ball, and let my mind wander.

Sadness was the first thing I felt. Not anger, or fear, simply sorrows. I would probably stay here, give birth here, and Jacob might not ever know his child. The thought made me want to cry. Damn hormones. Damn vampires. Damn everything! Anger came swiftly then. This was infuriating! None of this should have happened! Edward should have died in 1918 of the Influenza, then Bella would have married…I don't know…Jacob or something…

Although the thought of my father imprinting on me was kind of creepy…

But maybe…if I was Jacob and Bella's child…he wouldn't imprint on me. I'm sure inbreeding is frowned upon, even in wolf packs…so I would be able to live a normal life, and I wouldn't be a pregnant ten-year-old, and I wouldn't look seventeen, and I wouldn't freaking drink blood and glow in the sunlight! I wouldn't run insanely fast, and I wouldn't be able to jump up to the highest point on a tree, or hold my breath for a really long time, or go for ages without sleep…

But…I liked running…I liked it, side by side with my father, the wind from our own speed blowing back hair of the same color. I liked listening to him play the piano, faster than any human could. I liked listening to stories that Emmett and Jasper would tell me. I love Esme, and Alice, and my mother, and Rosalie. I loved Jake.

I might not ever see them again.

Try as I might, I couldn't stop the tears spilling over.


Jacob's Point of View


"Come on, Bella. Again."

"I'm tired. Please can't I rest?"

"I thought vampires didn't get tired."

"This happens to be very mentally strenuous. You wouldn't know of stretching your brain, Jake."

"'Cause I'm so smart and I know everything."

"Right."

Bella sighed, getting up from where she had sat down. I didn't exactly understand what exactly was making her tired, but this was important; only if she mastered this could our plan work.

"Again."

She nodded, and focused on me. Edward looked up, then, after a moment, he frowned and shook his head. Bella and I both let out little growls of frustration.

"Damnit! We'll never get her back!" She spun around, colliding her fist with a tree. Before she could do it again, Edward stepped forward and caught her wrist.

"Now, now, don't tear down the forest. Have a rest, and then we can try again."

"Hey Guys!" Giant leech – Emmett – came thundering out of the trees, grinning. "I heard a punch being thrown. Did I miss much?"

"Bella's just trying to knock down the forest."

"Huh." He frowned. "Why?"

"Because it's not working."

"What's not?"

"Our plan."

"Let me guess; this is a very convoluted plan, full of twists and back-up plans, but every one relies on one success?"

"Um…" I exchanged looks with Edward. "Kind of, actually."

"It will never work."

"Oh shut up, Em," Bella hissed, beginning to pace while she rubbed her temples with her fingertips. "What do you know?"

"Not an expert here, but I do know that this sort of thing would include…hmm…I don't know…a tactician? Maybe?"

Bella stopped pacing, glaring at him with the look people get when they just realized that they overlooked something that could be spotted by someone of much lower intellect than them. I sniggered.

"You're right, actually, Em. Could you go get Jasper?"

"Your wish, my command, Madame." He bowed and was gone in a flash. I sat down, resting my elbows on my knees, and my chin in my hands. This whole planning and testing thing was getting to me. It had been days sine I'd seen Wren. I missed her so much. I had to know that she was okay, and that my child was okay. If they had touched her…

I immediately felt a wave of calm come over me.

Jasper was here.

"So, what's the problem?" he asked as he stepped out of the trees, leaving a large distance between me and him.

"Well, we have an idea for getting Nessie back, but it's not exactly…working." Edward ran his fingers through his hair, while glancing at Bella. It was obvious that he wasn't trying to blame her, but it was kind of her fault.

I mean, we were relying on her.

"Alright, alright. Explain what you're trying to achieve." Jasper's calming influence inserted itself into the atmosphere once more.

"Well…you know how Bella can use her power to block all of us from someone's powers?" Jasper nodded. "We're trying to accomplish that…but make it more…selective."

"How do you mean?"

"Well…we intend to go to the Volturi, and ask to see Nessie. We'll cross the bridge of what we're doing there afterwards, but we need a way to get past Aro. Aro can read every thought your mind has ever had, but Bella can block that. If she blocked everything, though, then Aro would become suspicious, so we just want her to block the actual plan, and nothing else. But it's not working. Either I can here everything, or nothing. She needs help practicing the specifics."

"Or you need a new plan."

"Right. Any ideas?"

"Well…how did you manage to be able to filter out specific thoughts, after you found out about your ability?"

"I…" Edward trailed off as he lost himself in thought. He was silent for a while, like a really long time. Enough for everyone else to get annoyed. I mean, we weren't the mind readers!

"I think…I have an idea…" Edward's eyes brightened as he smiled. It better be a freaking good idea, that's all I could say. Anything that would get Nessie back. "Bella, come here." She immediately went over to him, and he sat her down across from him. "Open your mind to me." She closed her eyes, and he did too.

They were silent.

Jasper and I were just left to stare at them. Can someone say awkward?

After about ten minutes Edward let out a breath, opening his eyes. Bella simply looked confused.

"What did you do?"

"Just try it. Jacob, think of the plan, and Bella, try and block it. We'll see if it worked."

We obeyed, though reluctantly because we both were kind of thinking he'd gone more crazy than usual. I mean, I'll never get rid of that crazy episode he had when he asked me to have a kid with Bella. I don't think anyone suffers through that sort of pain without side effects. He'd been eerily calm sine Nessie was born, and the Volturi threat hadn't been immediate. It was weird, actually.

So I thought of the plan. Hard. Bella focused on me, and I focused on Edward, shouting the plan at him in my head.

All at once, I felt a weird sensation in my head. It was like a curtain had been drawn across a section of my mind. I could still hear it, but no one outside of my mind would be able to. Edward smiled widely.

Was it working then?

"Yes! It worked!"

"Really?"

"Yes!" Edward grinned. "I can't hear the plan anymore."

"Okay…so what changed?" All were watching Edward curiously, who shrugged and grinned some more, tapping the side of his nose in the universal gesture of 'it's a secret'. You know, no matter how many times you see it; it doesn't get any less annoying. I sighed. Whatever, the bloodsucker could have his secret. I just wanted Nessie back.

"Alright, we need to see Carlisle now. He will set up our visit, so that the Volturi will be expecting us."

"I won't be able to come, will I?" I asked. The Italian Leeches probably wouldn't like my presence there.

"I'm sorry Jacob, but no. Besides, if you don't go, then Alice will be more likely to see the outcome, although her vision is still funny when concerning Nessie. We can still try."

Great. I get to sit home like a good little dog, guarding the house until the owners get home. Freaking great.

Why so glum, Jake-y? I would have thought getting laid would be a good thing for you. Loosen you up, came Leah's smug thought as I fazed, to keep up with the vampires. Great, just what I needed.

Shut up, Leah. Jesus, I so do not need this right now. You wouldn't understand it; being away from your imprint by your supposed mortal enemy.

Yeah yeah, I'm a genetic defect, I get it. Listen, I just wanted to say good luck. You'll need it, where foreign leeches are concerned.

Um…thanks, Leah. Okay, I have to admit, I was surprised by her thoughtfulness.

Hey! I deserve more credit than that! I may not have ever imprinted, but I have been in love. I know the pain of separation. You are not alone in this. Hell, you were with Bella when she went downhill, right?

I winced. I would never forget.

Okay Leah, stopping the lovey dovey ness now. It's freaking me out. I'm fazing now. I didn't wait for her response before I changed, then pulled on my trademark cut-offs. I followed Bella and Edward into the house, making myself at home on their couch. Jasper had stayed behind, saying something about hunting. I remembered hunting with Nessie. It had been fun. She would get the blood, and I would get the meat. It was a good system. I chuckled a little as I remembered one of the first times we had hunted together, and she had mistook me for dinner. Her teeth had been small then, but sharp! The wound didn't heal for weeks. Thank God she didn't have venom.


Wren's Point of View


Finally! Food I could keep down! I devoured the bloody steak hungrily. It smelled absolutely delicious, but I guess it would; the child was werewolf, right? It made sense; meat. Rare, to satisfy the vampire side.

Aro had, of course, known that I was pregnant as soon as he touched me. It was inevitable, even if he hadn't heard the heartbeat. I didn't know what he intended to do with me, but I could guess. He was probably after the child; it's not everyday you get a werewolf-vampire hybrid. And, though I hated to consider this, he would probably keep me to breed. I mean, the resulting offspring would be more powerful than I, because the father would be a full vampire, and I was half. I would shudder at the thought, and the kicks would become more insistent until I calmed down. Of course, I would fight such an option, but there was only so much a weak Halfling could do.

I felt trapped.


Author's Note: Yes, I'm dragging out the rescue. Just so you know, I'm not making Edward go crazy again, or anthing. I just thought that Jacob would contemplate things like that. And it's been three days since she was captured.

I just had to get this up, because it's been too long since I have, so I haven't checked it. Any mistakes let me know.

Love you all!

HigherMagic x