Chapter 5: Visions KATE

The news of Renesmee's kidnapping put Bella's head into a spin. My heart went out to her; the pain she felt was visible on her face. She almost looked like she were going to faint, and that was something that I had never witnessed in my many long years as a vampire. Esme appeared to be more herself, and she rushed to Bella's side to comfort her. She patted her face and kissed her cheek, "Bella," she began, her voice shaky and hoarse, "The Cullens, if anything, are survivors."

She looked over at me and took my hand next, "As are all members of our family. We will find a way out of this, and bring our families home."

The warm elixir's sedating effects had worn off slightly and everyone began to ask questions at the same time. We told the Cullens about Stefan and Vladimir's folk tale, and Alice told us that she had envisioned a group of black haired women in her mind right before everything went dark. Esme had not seen any women, but she heard them speaking before she lost her senses to the grey abyss, "They had strange voices," she began, "and it was almost like they had two tones when they spoke; there was a higher voice and a lower voice that spoke in unison."

"Yes!" Alice's eyes lit when Esme's description triggered her memory, "It was like they were talking though a fan. I was terrified, but I couldn't stop myself from following them. I felt like I was under a trance, like I was drugged, but none of the fear was numbed." She cringed as she remembered more clearly, "There was also pain. My eyes and head felt like they were doused in burning gasoline right before everything went completely dark. After that there was only fear, and the alluring hum of the voices. I couldn't hear what they were saying though; it was more like tones than words."

Jasper quickly hopped to his feet, and he paced around the fire twice. He looked at the English and then at Jacob, "What's with the necklace?"

Jacob closed his eyes to try to decipher the messages in his mind. "The images," he started, "were all jumbled. They had no order, no sequence. The points on the stars represent the 8 other worlds, and the spirals drive them away, does that make any sense?" He put his hand to his head and closed his eyes in strain.

He huffed in exasperation. Jacob was clearly distraught at his inability to recall exact details from his time with the chief. The fact that the two shape shifters were able to communicate with images instead of language was in and of itself an incredible feat. Jake was being too hard on himself; he grunted in exasperation. An orange clad arm patted him on the back. The Inuit shape shifter exposed his fingers to the flames once more, this time pulling some ash from the edge of the small fire. He rubbed it between his palms and winked at Jake. He grabbed the metal cup quickly, flipping it in the air before he caught it in his other hand. His smile widened at his cocktail-like delivery. Garrett laughed with the elder and then he stopped and looked intensely at the cup he was holding. Carefully, he pointed his index finder and rimmed the edge of the small container. The oily residue that the cup left behind made the tip of his finger glisten in the firelight. He gestured for Jacob to come closer.

Jake looked at Bella momentarily, and then shrugged his shoulders and moved towards English. Jake was much taller than English, and English had to reach up to touch Jake's forehead. He rubbed the mystery blend into the spot between Jake's eyes, and then he then turned Jake towards us and put his hand between Jake's broad shoulders.

Jake breathed deeply, and his eyes glazed over. He stared at nothing, but we saw expressions wash over his face – awe, fear, anger… Garrett hugged me close to his body and I watched as Jake began to speak, "They are the Kolfinna family."

Jake's voice was low, monotone, and distant. It echoed through the walls of the igloo and I wondered if it were Jake or English that was leading the voice. Jake began again, his sentences fragmented and broken at first.

"3 sisters – each one strong, lovely and persuasive.

Ancestors of diabolic creatures that are not from this world;

the women carry the gene, and they become weaker with each passing generation."

Jake's speech began to flow more effortlessly, "They become more and more human each lifetime because their fathers are all human mortals. In attempt to richen the bloodline they look for special fathers."

I saw Bella and Esme stiffen, and they looked at each other without speaking a word. Bella's teeth clenched together and she urged Jake to continue.

Jake's voice began to resonate throughout the igloo, "The dark family hunted our people for many years. They came in the night, stealing our warriors and our children. Why they stole our children in the night we do not know. When my great-great grandfather crafted the protective pendants they worked to keep the women out of our villages, and more importantly, away from our young brothers. The symbols on the necklaces would repel and repulse any creature that was unnatural to our human world. The 8 pointed star was our redemption from the family from one of the other 8 worlds, and we felt shielded for many years.

As time passed the dark ones became more and more human, and the enchanted symbols that repelled them grew impotent. Now, the women wear our pendants in triumph, because their strange magic no longer touches them. Now the sisters do not belong to this world, nor do they belong to the one from which they came. They live fading on the edge of both, entering the human world at their leisure while endlessly waiting to return their own. The only time to find them is when they rest at night. They do so between the worlds. The drink that I offered you has quenched your thirst for many days. You will not need to feed for much time. The place between worlds that they call home will have nothing to sustain you, nor will it have food for the shape shifter. The blend of ingredients will allow you an easier passage, and it will help to defend your minds from their clever illusion."

I thought about how wonderful the drink had made me feel, and I realized now that the burning had completely gone from my throat. The sensation was one of weightlessness and serenity. My world was turned upside down in the last 24 hours and the stories and the myths were almost too much to grasp. I wondered if life would ever return to normal, and I thought of my family caught in the grey void that Alice and Esme spoke of. Tanya, Eleazar Carmen, hold on. Please. .
I couldn't handle losing anyone else. I thought of Tanya's warm laughter and quick wit, and it was as if Garrett read my mind when he asked, "What do we need to do ? Where do we need to go ?"

There was a long pause and Jake's voice reverberated solemnly though the dome for the last time "They will let your family starve to death if they are of no use to the women. They are nomads, sticking to the shore of the ocean. The veil between the worlds will thin when the moon is highest in the sky. Once each night you will see their glow. I, I……. I must….. rest."

English fell to he ground and Jake shook his head as his eyes came into focus. "Wow English, that was insane. I was like a human amplifier," his voice trailed off when he noticed English on the floor.

The chief was breathing heavily to our relief, and I relaxed when he let out a loud snore. From out of nowhere the young boy who greeted us on the horizon entered the large room.

He giggled and sat on English as if the orange sweater were the best seat in the house. He placed his palms together and put them under his tilted head; it must have been time for everyone to rest. The small boy bounced up, and then poked his head outside and pointed into the night air. Jasper was the first to follow him outside and stare at the large moon that hung low in the sky. "We should hurry," Garrett turned to the group, "Jake, do you need to rest ?"

"Not on your life," Jake replied, and then cocked his head in thought, "Or – er – on your unlife."

We hugged our young host appreciatively, and he patted each one of our hearts. He laughed when he patted my heart and then he pulled his ear to my chest. He nodded again as he listened and then shrugged at me when there was no heartbeat to be found. He waved a warm goodbye and we took off west towards the ocean.

We were unusually quiet, the seven of us, as we quickly gained ground. The northern lights glowed eerily in above the horizon. They seemed to dance in their green and yellow glow, and they cast stretched shadows over the landscape. Alice was complaining that her visions were being blocked by something, and that she couldn't see the others. Esme seemed so small and frail as she walked alone behind her family in the moonlight. I knew that she wasn't frail, but I had never seen her without Carlisle by her side. She looked like half of a whole, rather than one of a pair. She hugged her arms to her chest as she walked, and I knew it wasn't the cold that made her shiver. I tugged on Garrett's hand to speed up, so that we could catch up with her.

"Esme I know you must be so worried," I empathized. She had only looked down when we told her about Carlisle's strange reactions and the female Korfinna. There was no anger in her actions, only WORRY.

She looked for a fleeting moment like she would break down into sobs, but she held firm and regained her composure.
"Thanks Kate," she replied, forcing a smile, "we will find them. There is no other option."

I thought about Edward's Volturi stunt when he was convinced that he lost Bella forever, and I knew that Esme was not kidding about the limited options. Garrett and I fell back as she joined up with Bella ahead. They linked arms in mutual support. Esme knew no life other than the one that she had with Carlisle. I shuddered to think what would become of her if she ever lost her mate.

Jake stopped abruptly and he told us that he was going to hunt. I looked over the barren landscape and I didn't detect anything at all in the air. There were large rocks, ice boulders, and snow. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Trust me. I have no idea what to expect when we get there," he tried to joke, "but you guys do not want to be near me when I am hungry."

Jake took off and I mused at the thought of a werewolf friend. I was actually beginning to warm up to him, despite my initial disgust at the wolves when we they attended Edward and Bella's wedding. The Cullens stopped to wait for Jake near a large heap of ice. I watched them from a close distance; they were just within earshot. Jasper and Alice were trying to decide which direction would be the best one for us to head in, and I noticed Bella was very strangely quiet as she listened to the others. It thought it was peculiar that she was still carrying her daughter's jacket. Perhaps she did it to comfort herself, or maybe she thought it would useful later. Whatever the reason, she had not let go of the small pink bomber since she picked it up in Carmen's room. I wondered for a moment how it would feel to have a daughter. The idea of being a mother had never crossed my mind after I was transformed, however, the idea of a mate…was an idea that I had envisioned for as long as I could remember. For endless years I had watched my Cullen cousins in their seemingly perfect pairings, and I would be the first to admit that I was more than a little bit jealous when Edward met Bella. Not that I was ever interested in Edward that way, but he was unmatched, as Tanya and I were, and it made it seem more tolerable. Normal, even.

I longed for so many years to have someone to spend my long nights with. I smiled to myself as the thought of the handsome wander that followed me. Garrett approached me from behind and put his arms around me. I felt his large frame behind mine, and I crooned, "Well hello there, sir."

He pushed my hair back with his chin and whispered in my ear, "Have you noticed that no one is paying attention to us?"

My chest jumped with the thrill of his touch, and the fire in my eyes burned wildly. I breathed out a hum as an answer, failing miserably to disguise my excitement in his words. He loosened his embrace when his right hand moved to my lower stomach, and he slowly worked his way up to my ribs. My breathing quickened and I felt wild with anticipation. His hands moved up my sides and he began to kiss the nape of my neck softly. His touch was electric and a quiet moan escaped my lips as I thought of the possible outcome of our encounter.

He moved to the other ear and I felt him breathing, "Do you suppose," he inhaled excitedly, "That they would miss us if we were to disappear for a little?"

His other hand moved under my layers and down my midriff and his hand touched my skin dangerously close to the button of my low-rise denims. I felt my chest rise and fall as I inhaled uncontrollably, and I managed to constrain my breath enough to speak. He was driving me insane, "What are you trying to do to me ?"

I turned to face Garrett and before our eyes even met he pulled me forcefully towards him and he let out a deep sigh. There were no words between us and he ran his fingers through my hair and then cupped the small of my back in his embrace. His rugged beauty blinded my reason and I pushed myself closer to him still. He gathered me up in his strong arms as I wrapped one leg around him while my other foot was barely skimming the ground. I waited impatiently for his lips to touch mine. We pressed tighter towards each other as he caught his breath, and nodded in the direction away from the Cullens. I nodded, my body on fire, and we slipped silently into the privacy of the night.

When we stopped walking he touched my feet to the ground and he looked at my face as if he were seeing each detail of it for the first time. "May I kiss you Kate Denali ?"

I laughed with one quiet gasp, "Please. This is almost painful."

I looked into his almond eyes and his lips finally came crashing down on mine It felt like a thousand sparks flew between us and our kisses blazed under my lips. We pulled around each other like two opposite magnets, and I realized that I was absolutely captivated by this man. The desire to be closer to Garrett flooded all my senses, and I reached down to the icy ground. He kissed me with a passion I had only read about, and I screamed on the inside for more.
He paused, and looked at me, "Are you alright with this Kate ? Like this?"

"Please stop being so 19th century Garret."

He kissed me gently on the lips, and caressed my cheek in pensively.

"I am so happy Kate," he murmured.

I had a longing for him I smiled coyly as I tilted my head back slightly and pushed my chest forwards. I didn't want him to stop, and I began to unbutton his shirt eagerly.

It pushed Garrett over the top and the blazing fire in his eyes exploded. His kiss was more eager than before, and he finally moved to the ground with me. I melted in his arms and I was inebriated with him. The sheer bliss that followed was nothing like anything that I had ever imagined. It was so much more than that. We were perfect together; the way we moved, the way we loved.

Loved.

I was finally, after all of these years, falling in love. Of all the circumstances – and in of all the places !

I smiled speechlessly at Garrett and relaxed into his arms,
"I think I might be…." I started but I couldn't finish the sentence. Falling in love. Tell him.

Garrett hugged me close and a huge smile crept onto his face. It was clear to see that he was as happy as I was. He tucked my hair behind my ear and he rolled onto his back and pulled my head to his chest.
"I am hopelessly in love with you, Kate," he said sincerely. He was so confident when he spoke, and his words made my chest soar. I was intoxicated with happiness, and I could only nod in agreement.

"I do hope the feeling is somewhat mutual," he strained his neck to see my face, and I nodded again. I was speechless and he let out cheerful laugh and gave me one final hug. "I would love to stay here forever… but…..,"he glanced away, "We have some pressing matters to attend to."

The reality of our situation crowded into my private utopia. At first I was annoyed at the reminder, but I quickly realized that the moon was rising and we couldn't waste the time that we did have. Everything seemed a little less dreadful now. I had Garrett by my side and I felt like we were ready to take on the world.

Aro's face flashed through my mind and I recalculated my assertion. I decided that we were ready to take on these sisters. Nothing they could offer me with their tempting illusions could possibly be better than my time with Garrett.

"Let's go find these sisters," I said confidently, "Whom, by the way, are nothing like any character from any fairy tale. I told you it was impossible."

Garrett looked at me with an amused look on his face.

"Thanks for not shocking me this time," Garrett teased relentlessly. He poked me in the stomach playfully and he continued, "We should get back, unless you are afraid of some little elves."

I bit my lip, pretending to be offended, "You had better be careful Garrett, or you will get shocked."

We laughed together and returned to the others.
Jake was smiling at us with one eyebrow raised wittingly, and he joked, "Only vampires could do that in this temperature."

Garrett shifted uncomfortably for a split second and then he laughed it off, "Oh my dear Jake, I am positive that wolves would manage just fine."

"Urrrgh," I squished my nose into my face, "Jake you smell terrible."

"Lots of fish," he laughed, "Unlike you, I can do cold-blooded. Come on, the river over there will lead us to the ocean."

We moved quickly, and a wave of adrenaline washed over us as we approached the ocean's edge. As we got closer, the ice boulders grew into massive rocks and large crevices opened up in the ground to reveal the black water below. The moon had shifted and it was directly overhead; high in the night sky. Bella suddenly froze.

"Over there," she whispered soundlessly, but we all heard her. She stood petrified and my eyes followed hers until I saw the massive jagged glacier that pointed out of the ocean and into the night sky. The northern lights' brightest center perched directly above the huge mound of ice.

Her hands moved in a blur and she scurried to find the note that Renesmee's jacket had hidden.

Nes
Korfinna coven
borealis tower below

"The Aurora Borealis," she hummed, "and the tower."

We instinctively began to walk closer to the sides of the ice rocks so that we would be less likely to be seen. None of us knew what to expect or even what to look for, but Bella was sure that this was the place.
We reached the water and stood in silence for what seemed like an hour. There was nothing there and we had no idea where to go from there. Jasper walked along the ice shore searching for something that he couldn't see, while Jake rested, leaning up against the icy wall to our left.

Suddenly the green dancing lights of the Northern Lights turned to soft orange in the centre spot that was just above the jagged glacier. I gasped and Garrett was the first one to reach the top.
He held his hand out to me as we raced to his side. We stood on the tip of the pointed mountain of ice-rock and the lights appeared to be in the sky right in front of us. They seemed so close, but when Jasper put his hand out to touch them he couldn't reach them. Alice jumped in front of Jasper and she smiled tiny smile and she gave him a quick hug. She stepped off the edge of the glacier and instead of falling to the ground she – disappeared.

I gasped and watched as Jasper immediately followed her. Bella disappeared with Jake and Esme, and then it was just us. Garrett and I stood on the edge of uncertainty for a fleeting second. He kissed me softly and he took a step towards the edge. I hesitated in fear and he winked at me, "I meant every word."

He held my hand tight and I looked into his loving eyes one last time before we stepped towards the unknown, together.

**Chapter 6 will be uploaded soon !** Please review ! Thank you