Chapter 16

Forks

We all got home the next morning. I felt helpless; I could not get the others out of my mind. I wished I was able to be in New Hampshire helping them, we all did.

Jacob came over to the house a few minutes after we arrived. He seemed happy, as if he had already forgotten the way that we had left. He hugged Renesmee and welcomed us back to Forks, looking around, wondering where the others were.

Edward was clearly reading Jacob's mind as he answered his unspoken question. "The others had to make a stop in New Hampshire."

When Jacob asked how our trip was, Carlisle asked him to have a seat.

"This can't be good." Jacob said in an alarmed voice.

Carlisle started to explain everything that had happened in Italy. Carlisle explained Aro's prediction; the threat that they presented to the reservation.

Jacob seemed puzzled. "If the Volturi are this angry, why don't they just come straight after you?"

Carlisle answered that question in a way that we now all understood Aro's reasoning.

"The Volturi have relied so much on their abilities over the past decades, centuries, that now they are probably feeling vulnerable. They know that they would not have a chance if fighting us directly. On the other hand, going to the reservation would be an indirect way of attacking us… They know the relationship that we have built and they know that we would not be allowed inside the reservation; we would not be able to protect anyone inside the reservation because of our treaty… So our hands are tied. One way or another the treaty would be broken by our kind, whether it is us going in to protect you or them going in to cause chaos… This is just a possibility, but knowing the Volturi, it is likely to happen sooner or later. They are angry and they won't let it go."

We all listened carefully. Jacob seemed to take all of this in quite well. He was calm and relaxed. "I will we warn everyone in the reservation."

As I looked around, seeing our family missing so many members worried me. I was even more concerned when I realized that without Alice and Elizabeth, we might not know when and if the Volturi are coming.

Carlisle noticed my concern. "Bella, is everything all right?"

"Carlisle, Alice's visions are probably focused on a different direction right now, she may not see them coming; she may not be able to warn us."

Before anyone could even react, Seth and Sue Clearwater stormed through the front door. They were both out of breath and with a blank look of their faces. We all just stared at them shocked, as Seth blurted out the reason for their being here.

"A couple, a man and a woman in the 30's were attacked by something in the reservation… They did not make it."

Carlisle was asking Seth for more details when the phone rang.

I answered.

The voice on the phone was whispering. "They are there." That is all he said, hanging up right after finishing his sentence; but the message was clear.

I dropped the phone, and in a broken voice I said. "It was the Volturi."

Everyone just stood there, I felt impatient, as if time was being wasted. Edward looked at me in shock, as my voice became firm, and I started giving orders, to everyone!

"Sue, take Renesmee to Charlie's house and stay there until one of us comes to get you. Rosalie, go with them to make sure they are not being followed, then meet us at the reservation."

Rosalie looked confused. "Won't that break the treaty?"

We all gazed at Jacob.

"I will go to the reservation and let everyone know that you are coming. Seth will escort you. I am sure that they would rather have you in the reservation helping protect everyone, then have those bloodsuckers there attacking people."

We all left the house. Rosalie took Sue and Renesmee in her car, everyone else decided that having our cars in the reservation would be a warning that we were there, so we just ran. As we got into the forest, we could already smell their scent, which was now faded; they had been near the house a few hours ago.

Everyone in the reservation was divided in groups. Most people were either at Jacob's or Seth's house. Rosalie got there not much longer after us. We split into groups ourselves, tracking different locations in the reservation. There were no sign that they were still there. We met back at Jacob's house and then decided to follow their scent into town.

Carlisle suggested that Jacob and his pack stayed to protect the reservation. They all agreed with no hesitation.

We were able to determine that there were only two scents present, both familiar scents: Demetri and Scarlett. Both scents were leading us into town, becoming stronger as we got closer to… Charlie's house!

My legs were shaking, I could barely move, Edward sped up to Charlie's house. At that moment I couldn't even think. Thinking of Renesmee, I found enough strength to pick up the pace and caught up with Edward.

The front door to Charlie's house was open, Edward ordered me to stay outside with Esme and Rosalie, but once he realized that would not happen, he just ordered me to stay behind him.

We walked in to find Sue on the floor, screaming in pain, she seemed to have a broken leg. Carlisle rushed to her side to give her medical treatment. She was in tears.

Panic took over my body and mind.

"Where is Renesmee?!?" I had never been so afraid in my life.

Sue, still sobbing, managed to get a few words out. "They came in and took her. The man… Demetri… said she will be unharmed. He said you will get her back once you give back what you took from them."

Edward's eyes turned dark with anger, and I could tell so did mine. Without sharing a word, or having any plans, we left the house following Renesmee and Demetri's scent.

There were now only two things going through my mind: getting Renesmee back and destroying the Volturi.