I´m back with a real short chapter. Just a filler ;)
And thank you all for those wonderful reviews - just keep them coming :)
Enjoy :)
Italy
We landed in Italy just around dawn.
We had to change connections in New York. Just like the last time I was hurrying of to Italy with Alice.
It felt good to finally be in Italy. I felt closer to Nessie somehow.
I had a good feeling about this. Right up until I realized that Italy was a rather large country. Especially if you were looking for one individual. It was a huge haystack to go through for one needle. And not just any needle, I reminded myself.
We had to book some hotel rooms so we would have a place to hide out in the sunny hours. When we weren´t able to go outside the wolves would.
Alice had foreseen that today was going to be sunny until about 3.30pm. We didn´t know for how long we had to stay so we couldn´t very well cause any scenes. Much to Alice and Edwards's disapproval we rented a few cars and got to our hotel.
Grand theft auto and blending in somehow didn´t match.
We all gathered in Carlisle and Esme´s room and started planning.
"So how are we going to find that dungeon?" Emmet was the first to speak.
But he actually only voiced what was in all of our heads.
Carlisle sighed and straightened up.
"I think the best way for us to start is in Volterra," he said. He didn´t look like he liked the idea of returning to that city any better than I did.
Edward lowered his head. He was planning something.
"All right, Carlisle," he said. "I will go."
Of course he would. He didn´t want any of us to come anywhere near that city ever again. He would risk his own life to safe the rest of us. Typical Edward.
"And I´ll go with you," I said stubbornly.
"Absolute not!" he pretty much snarled it out. But he was not going to win this one.
"This is not up for discussion Edward," I answered him firmly.
"You´re right," he said. He was furious. "You´re not going anywhere near that city ever again. Do I make myself clear?"
"I hear you loud and clear Edward," I said. He was not going to make me change my mind on this one. Not this time.
He relaxed his body. He obviously thought he had won the argument already. HAH. Did he know me at all I thought to myself.
"But that doesn´t mean that I´m going to agree with you," I continued.
He tensed his muscles yet again.
"Bella! I will not discuss this with you. I will not change my mind." He looked at me angrily and tormented.
"Neither will I Edward," I said back to him. We were equally stubborn.
"NO!" he hissed back.
Carlisle cleared his throat as to remind us of their presence.
"Maybe it´s better if I went alone," Carlisle said. "Aro doesn´t hold a grudge against me and I have nothing he desires. He won't hurt me."
Esme looked like she would cry if she could, but tried to look strong. She placed her hand Carlisle´s shoulder to show her love and support. He took her hand in his and breathed out.
Edward shook his head. He was only willing to risk his own life.
"Aro wants you and Bella to join him. I fear that he wouldn´t let you leave once you get there," Carlisle kept explaining.
"But she´s my daughter," Edward said. He sounded like he knew Carlisle was speaking the truth.
"And mine too," I said.
"You´re NOT going Bella!" he said facing me.
I took a step forward and placed my one hand in his and the other on his right cheek.
"We´re one now, my love," I said. "Where you go I go. I can and will not continue my existence without you. You cannot talk me out of it no matter what you say."
His eyes pleaded with mine. He knew I was right. None of us could leave the other behind like that.
"It´s too dangerous Bella. I will not risk your safety," his voice was pleading like his eyes but he sounded like he was defeated.
"I will face whatever fate I might have with my head held high," I said trying to sound strong, "as long as I´m facing my face with you by my side."
This was it. He had given up. His eyes looked defeated and he let out a desperate sigh.
He gripped me around my waste and pulled me close.
"I love you," he breathed.
"I love you," I said back to him tugging my head into his marble chest.
"Alice can you see anything?" Esme asked her.
"I can only see Edward and Bella go to Volterra. I can´t see them coming back," Alice answered.
Esme gasped.
"I can´t see what they´ll choose to do. The Volturi don´t know Edward and Alice are coming so they can´t decide on anything yet," Alice explained.
"So that means you won´t be able to see before…" Jacob asked not finishing the sentence.
"Before they are already there and it is too late to do anything else," Alice finished the sentence for him and confirmed the fears of all who didn´t fully understand Alice´s power.
Nobody spoke for a short while.
Once again Edward´s and my fate lay in the hands of Aro and the rest of the Volturi.
We were willing to sacrifice out lives to keep our daughter safe. If Aro had Nessie we were willing to make a trade. Us for her.
I removed my shield to show Edward my thoughts.
"Let´s hope it doesn´t come to that, love," he whispered in my ear. He kissed my temple and hugged me tight.
Carlisle stood up from the bed and turned to face Jacob.
"Jake they can´t go before the sun is away. Maybe you could take a tour of the town to see if there´s anything, anything at all that could lead us to Nessie without having to go to see Aro," Carlisle asked Jacob.
"Of course," Jacob answered.
"Seth, Leah, Quil, Embry," Jacob said motioning them towards the door.
They all nodded and followed.
We waited for a couple of hours when Alice suddenly gasped.
We all turned our heads to face her.
She was having another vision.
I couldn´t stop myself from hoping.
"Is is Nessie?" I asked in a small voice.
"Yes," Alice answered.
"Tell us then," Rosalie said impatiently.
"It´s not Aro," Alice breathed.
She turned to face us.
"Oh Edward. Bella. Now you don´t have to go," she was relieved.
So was I and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Tell us everything," Jasper said to Alice.
Alice´s eyes glazed over again. She was having another vision.