Well, hey there! Long time no see! Alas, this is but a short chapter, a lead in of sorts to the next. Enjoy :)
Chapter 23: Three Days
"What's going on here?" Nahuel asked, helping Jacob and Renesmee up off the ground as he looked warily at Jane and Alec.
Renesmee looked down at her feet, and said quietly, "I have declined the Volturi's offer to join them." Nahuel was shocked and slightly confused until Renesmee just barely touched his hand so Jane and Alec wouldn't notice. The touch was enough though to show Nahuel everything that had happened, and her reason for refusing the powerful creatures. Nahuel understood everything. He also knew what he had to do to help the girl whom he loved more than his any of his "real" sisters. He took her hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Then, as the only male vampire-human hybrid, Jane, I should like the chance to present myself to Aro in Renesmee's place," Nahuel said, his voice strong and sure of this decision he was so suddenly making.
Jacob looked over Renesmee's head at Nahuel. What the heck was he thinking? But, if it kept his little Nessie safe, Jacob wasn't going to fight him on it. A picture of Nahuel with bright red eyes flashed in Renesmee's mind and a small cry escaped her lips. Through the touch of their hands, Nahuel saw it too, but he looked down at her and nodded slightly to assure her that he knew what he was doing.
"Aro is interested in more than just Renesmee's genetics. What do you have to offer the Volturi?" Jane asked, still infuriated with the Cullen girl, but intrigued by this new opportunity she had been presented with.
"I can offer the Volturi my gift," Nahuel said, letting go of Renesmee's hand and taking a step back away from everyone. Jacob wrapped his shaking arms tighter around Renesmee. It had never been so difficult not to phase. He hated the way Alec was staring at Renesmee. What he wouldn't give to be a wolf now and tear his cold body... Jacob's murderous thoughts were interrupted by Renesmee's voice in his head as she squeezed his arm, Just hold on to me, Jake. I'm right here, take a deep breath. Calm down. We're gonna get through this.
Jacob sighed and placed a kiss into her hair, silently begging Edward to hurry. He had to get Renesmee out of here.
Nahuel looked at those before him, and closed his eyes. In an instant, he was gone completely. He had disappeared without a trace. When he reappeared, he stood behind Jane and Alec. "What do you think, Jane?" he asked with a smirk. Jane's shock was clearly written across her face. "Would Aro be pleased?"
Jane quickly regained her composure. She looked at Nahuel and said thoughtfully, "You may be of use." Turning back to look at Jacob and Renesmee, she grinned cruelly, "I do believe I hear your precious family coming. I would stay to greet them, but Aro grows anxious for our return. Come to Italy in three days, Nahuel. You may be of use to us. Good-bye, little Renesmee."
As suddenly as they had appeared, Jane and Alec were gone, leaving Renesmee, Jacob, and Nahuel alone. Renesmee breathed a sigh of relief and Jacob pulled her into his chest when he noticed a few tears slip down her cheeks. "It's ok now, Ness," he whispered hoarsely, "they're gone."
"Renesmee! Jacob!" they heard Edward's voice mere seconds before they saw him and Bella come out from the shadows. Bella immediately crushed her daughter in an embrace, and Edward kissed her head. "What happened?" Edward asked.
"The Volturi found us," Renesmee said quietly, the name still striking fear into her heart, her knees shaking at the thought of what she had just done. Edward's face was pained as he heard Jacob's thoughts on the incident and his daughter's as well through their contact. He thanked God that they were both safe.
Jacob turned to leave. All the emotion built up inside him was getting ready to explode and he didn't want to be around any one when it happened.
"Jake," Bella called after him, her golden eyes frantic. "Where are you going?"
"For a run," he said. The look of worry that he saw in her face though, stopped him in his tracks. He held up his hands which were now visibly shaking uncontrollably. "I have to."
Bella looked from her friend to Edward who nodded. "It should be safe. Meet us back at the house, Jacob, as soon as you can."
Jacob nodded, attempting to smile at Renesmee, before he ran off into the woods.
Bella took her daughter by the shoulders and looked into the chocolate brown eyes that had once belonged to her. "Are you sure you're alright? I'm so sorry we weren't here. I can't believe you two had to face the Volturi alone!"
A small smile formed on Renesmee's lips. "We weren't alone though, Mom. Nahuel helped us."
"Nahuel?" Edward echoed in confusion. Looking around, he did indeed see Nahuel standing off to the side while they had their family moment. He must have remembered about the mind reading ability, for Edward had heard nothing from him this whole time. Nahuel was guarding his thoughts quite carefully.
"Hello Edward," Nahuel nodded as he stepped toward them. "Hello Bella."
Bella was in shock. It'd been so long since they had seen or heard from him, and now he had apparently just saved her daughter's life. "Nahuel," she smiled, unable to find the right words to express her gratitude.
Edward reached out and shook Nahuel's hand. "I cannot thank you enough."
"I did nothing," Nahuel said modestly. Renesmee had to hold back her protests. Practically signing your life over to the Volturi was definitely something in her book. "Renesmee was the brave one."
"I believe that," Edward said smiling at his daughter. Then he looked back at Nahuel. "Thank you, nonetheless, for whatever you did to help my family."
"Consider it a repayment for all the kindness your family has shown me," Nahuel said.
Bella looked up at her husband. "Let's go home, Edward."
Edward nodded. "Will you join us, Nahuel? I know everyone will be delighted to see you."
"I would be honored."
Me again. Sooo what'd y'all think of Nahuel's power? Kinda far out there, I know, but this is a world where vampires and werewolves are real... in my mind, that means not much is off limits ;)
