Edward faced the man expressionlessly, eyes narrowed. "Ashcelestia." He repeated.

"I'm telling you," The man shook his head, "There's no such place in Italy."

Edward turned away, his face growing softer when he saw the fragile expression on Bella's face.

She turned to face Alice, who was just behind her.

"Have you seen anything else?" Bella asked anxiously.

Alice hesitated, shaking her head in defeat.

"I only saw Cate," She reminded her, "Only once. Jacob Black is involved in this, I can't see anything beyond where she was, and it was nearly a week ago."

Emmett growled. "This should be easy."

Carlisle shook his head. "We're dealing with others of us. No interaction with others is easy."

Rosalie snorted, "We're not dealing with the Volterra, we're dealing with a band of maybe two, three lunatics."

"I don't think Jacob and our daughter would still be held captive after three weeks if these people weren't powerful." Bella said slowly.

Rosalie shrugged.

"Ashcelestia," Jasper repeated softly.

Alice met his thoughtful gaze with hard eyes."Ashcelestia."

Ashareth strode to Jacob's bedside, composed and cruel even in what Jacob knew was an intense fury lurking beneath his cold expression. His eyes flashed, and his dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, crimson bright behind a sheet of black satin.

"Clever," Ashareth began, "Very clever."

Jacob looked at him boredly. This ought to be fascinating.

"Do you honestly think seeing your daughter by feigning sick is good for her? She is constantly in a fit. Have you ever heard of a clean break?"

"The break can heal quicker, but whoever said it was less painful?"

"Then welcome the torment in the thought that soon it will cease."

"The damage is done. You didn't make the wound, Ashareth. You took away the anesthetic."

His regal eyes flashed, and something passed between them, from gold to black eyes.

Ashareth gazed at him unflinchingly, despite Jacob's penetrating glare.

"She'll be here soon." Ashareth told him, turning his heal.

Breanna watched her husband leave before jumping on Jacob.

"Are you alright?" She drawled, stroking his face.

Jacob jerked away from her touch. "You really don't get it do you?" He asked her flatly.

Her expression froze, then turned dangerous. "Get what?"

"How many times?" He wondered tiredly, "Am I going to have to reject you before you finally understand I'm not interested?"

She rose gracefully to her feet. "Jacob Black," She whispered, "You are mine."

"No," He said tonelessly, "No I'm really not."

"There is no other woman in the world more attractive than I." And it wasn't a boast, it was fact.

"It really doesn't matter to me how you look," He informed her, "I think you're repulsive."

"My smell?" She demanded.

"Naw," He shrugged, "Just you."

"How dare you." Breanna hissed.

He grinned. "The truth isn't very pretty is it?"

Breanna stared at him. Turning her heel, she left. He'd won the battle, but not the war. She was far from giving up.

Sara watched Breanna leave, eyes huge.

She turned to face Jacob. "You," She breathed, "Are so dead it's not even funny."

"Sure it is," He shrugged. "I'm amused."

"With what? You're just encouraging her you know."

He raised his brows. "I really don't think I encouraged her Sara."

"She loves a challenge," Sara sighed.

"Well she'll definitely get one."

SLAM! The doors flung open. Roxy strode in, carrying the most beautiful thing Jacob had ever seen.

"DADDY!!!!!!!"

Cate was in his arms before Roxy was two feet away from him.

She started to cry, tears rolling down her cherry cheeks like dew down a rose petal.

He held her close to him, and knew he was crying too.

"I love you," He whispered.

Cate's large green eyes met his. "Me too." She said in her soft, bell-like voice.

He kissed the tears away from her face, from her eyelids, down to her cheeks. Cate closed her eyes, clinging to him like she'd never let go.

Jacob hoped she never would.

Sara watched them silently.

"Sara," Jacob breathed, "Thank you."

"What?" Sara asked, surprised. "I wasn't the one who got her here."

"I know," He said, and for the first time his black eyes looked up from his baby girl's little face. "But you helped me survive till then."