Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer and do not own any of her characters; I'm just a fan having some fun. No copywrite infringement intended.

Chapter 18

Nessie's POV

I woke up in the forest, unsure of how I got there and why on Earth I'd been able to fall asleep in the first place. It was cold and foggy; the white haze not allowing me to see much past a few feet. I began to walk, at first confident but then confused once I realized I didn't recognize a single thing in this forest. Where the hell was I? I continued to make my way; walking, then jogging then bursting into a full run, thinking the more grown I'd cover the more likely I'd find a familiar spot and make my way home. I heard voices nearby and made my way toward them, relieved when I saw that it was Jacob, mom and dad. I smiled at them and began to walk into the clearing where they were standing; but oddly enough, they didn't acknowledge my presence. Was the fight over? What were they still doing in the forest?

"Hey!" – I called out, only to be ignored again. The fog didn't allow me to get a good look at them but they seemed fine enough to be able to hear me… so why weren't they?

Momma had something in her arms, and once I got close enough, I saw it was a baby. This was really weird. –"Hey!" – I called out again, but again none of them looked over. What is wrong with them? I was already close enough to make out their faces and expressions when Jacob silently asked mom for the baby. Nothing could have prepared me for Jacob's reaction to the child. He held it and looked at it with longing, love, devotion, almost infatuation. I was in shock and felt a surge of jealousy hit me like never before. Sure it was just a baby, but they way he was looking at it… I'd never seen him so fascinated by something… this had to stop.

I quickened my pace; my heart racing with anger… that thing was not taking Jacob away from me.

And then, when I was just about to snatch it from his hands, he held it up so I could see its face. It was a baby girl, about two years old, with copper curly hair adorning her angelic face. She didn't look at me, even though I was right in front of her, she only had eyes for Jacob; her pupils dilated in the middle of her almond colored eyes… my momma's eyes… my eyes.

"I love you Renesmee." – Spoke Jacob, looking at the child, not me. Was this some kind of dream? Why did it feel so real? Was I actually staring at myself as a child? The three of them rapidly turned their heads to look at something, and once I did the same, realized why they all had dread in their expressions.

Entering the clearing, like something out of my worst nightmares, was an entire battalion of cloaked beings, the Volturi. I swallowed hard and stood there, invisible next to the three people I love the most.

A man stepped out from the battalion and I recognized him to be Aro. He was just as I remembered, producing in me the same chill and ere I'd felt years ago as a child.

"So… will you be foolish enough to protect her?" – What? Was he talking about me? I saw with horror as Jacob and my parents nodded, Jacob setting the toddler on the ground and instructing her… me… to run and hide.

"So be it." – The entire battalion started approaching rapidly, like a wave of death and destruction I knew for sure my loved ones could not withstand.

"No!!! Stop!!! Please, no!!!" – My panicked shriek came out so loud it resonated through the forest, but had no effect on my family, not one flinch. This is a dream, this is a dream, this is a dream… I repeated in my head, watching as the light of my life was about to be extinguished.

"Renesmee honey, you have to wake up." – I opened my eyes and saw momma sitting on my bed, the one grandma bought and placed in the guest room when I was born, so I could occasionally stay over. I was still dazed and confused, my heart beating so wildly and rapidly that I was surprised it hadn't woke me up earlier.

"Mom?"

"Honey, get up… we need to move quickly."

I was still half asleep so I just followed her downstairs, unsure of what was going on but a bit alarmed by her agitation. What time was it anyway? How long had I been asleep? It was still dark out, so it couldn't have been for too long.

Once we reached the front entrance I saw my two aunts, grandma and grandpa.

"What's going on?"

"Things got a bit… complicated. A group of those things are coming here."

"Complicated? How? Is Jacob ok?" – I held my breath, knowing that was a question I really didn't want to make.

"Yes, he's fine… he sent Seth over here to warn us."

"Ok… so do we wait for them inside? Up front? Do we have time to hide and sneak up on them?" – Knowing Jacob was alright gave me all the strength and courage I needed to focus on the task at hand.

"No honey… you're not fighting. Your aunts and I will take care of them; you have to go with Carlisle and Esme, we don't have much time, they're almost here… do as I say." – She added that last part with the authority tone only a mother could muster.

"But…"

"No buts Renesmee… the three of you are hiding out until we finish them off."

Grandma took my hand and started leading me to the back of the house, as momma kissed my cheek, Aunt Alice winked at me and Aunt Rose blew me a kiss, saying – "Don't worry my darling."

We were already entering the house's storage room when I heard Seth howl just outside the house; those things where here.

Grandpa pushed us in and closed the door behind him, standing in front of it as a protective shield. I felt horrible, absolutely horrible. Sure grandma isn't really a fighter, but grandpa should definitely be out there and he's stuck here, protecting me like some precious jewel everybody seems to want to risk their life for.

The room had a small window facing the side of the house, so I perched myself up as to be able to see something, as if by witnessing the events I'd be able to help in some way. It was so dark that if not by my enhanced eyes, I wouldn't have been able to make out anything.

It was so quiet I wondered if there really was a fight going on, until I saw four of the creatures walking slowly, almost creeping, toward the house. They looked exactly like the woman we'd fought. There were three men and one woman, all tall, tanned, dirty and wild.

Momma, Alice and Rose appeared before my eyes, all of them so beautiful and graceful, like three petite angelic models, that next to the creatures you'd think they were goners.

The woman spoke to the men, giving them some sort of order in the form of a snarl and a growl, exposing her pointy beastlike teeth.

The fight began so quickly I barely had time to prepare myself. I was in awe as I watched momma fight in such a way that made Alice and Rose look weak and tame. She hit one of the men straight across the face; the blow throwing him far into the forest, killing him instantly; his neck snapping and dislocating in a way that made his head wobble as he flew across and disappeared into the darkness.

Alice was fighting the other two men and was so quick I had a hard time keeping up with her. She seemed to have everything under control until one of them was able to hold her down while the other one pulled one of her arms off, producing the most horrible metallic sound. Momma stepped in and they both continued to punch, kick and bite the creatures; my poor aunt with just one arm but fury and determination in her eyes.

Aunt Rose was the farthest from my view, combating with such elegance that she seemed more like she was dancing than fighting. The contrast between her and the filthy retched woman was gigantic and I suddenly felt very proud to be her niece.

When I turned to glance back at momma and Alice, I saw that my dear aunt had already attached her arm back and was healing rapidly, still unable to use it but moving in sync with the rest of her.

Suddenly Aunt Rose came flying through the air, her body twisting as if she were performing aerial back flips. She hit a series of trees, knocking them down one by one until the last one was sturdy enough to only crack. She fell to the ground but recovered quickly, getting up and crouching defensively, exposing her teeth in a warning snarl. The woman was crouching as well, exposing her own jagged teeth. They began to run toward each other, like two bulls about to tackle, when the woman leaped up and transformed in mid air into a giant werewolf.

I had to pull back from the window upon seeing this. My eyes were wide in shock. I'd never seen anyone phase in mid air like that apart from Jacob; it was an impressive quality that I suspected many of the other wolves envied, because maybe in some way it reminded them the Jake was different, better, regal. But now, watching the woman do it in the same impressive manner really shook my world.

Her gigantic mouth closed around my aunt's shoulder, throwing her down to the ground. As Aunt Rose was struggling to break free from the fearsome grip of the creature's jaw, I felt grandma hold my hand a bit tighter; this couldn't be easy for her, watching the creature's teeth pierce her daughter.

Neither momma nor Alice could help her, by now they were fighting back to back, combining their strengths and abilities against the two remaining men, in the form of a well choreographed collaboration. I wanted to help, needed to help, knew in my gut that I could help.

Momma took a giant branch that had fallen from one of the trees Aunt Rose brought down and rammed it straight into one of the men, the branch sticking out from the other side of him. The sight was gruesome and bloody and I wondered just how much more of this I could stand to watch. She then hurried to Rosalie's side, tackling the woman in wolf form and freeing my aunt. Aunt Rose didn't look so good, stepping back from the fight for a moment.

Now it was momma and the woman battling it out. I cringed every time mom received a heavy blow, remembering what Tanya had said about them being strong like newborn vampires. Not only were they as strong as Tanya had warned, but they were equally fast and agile, unlike what the Denalis had experienced. Could it be possible that they were evolving rapidly? Getting better and better with each fight?

Aunt Alice was still fighting the last man standing; her speed was an advantage, although he was stronger, knocking her around whenever he could catch her.

I turned back to mom and saw that she had obtained the upper hand, having knocked the creature so hard on the ground that a huge depression was formed. The beast was almost underground in the concave floor struggling to get up when momma raced away and came back with an immense boulder; holding it above her head, ready to knock it into the wolf.

And then… the most alarming thing happened, the woman turned her wolf face and looked at me, right into my eyes, and for the strangest reason, I saw recognition in her stare, like somehow she knew me. My reaction was to step back from the window but it was too late. She knocked mom down by biting her legs and launching her away and began to run straight toward me on all four, her eyes evil and possessed.

Grandma took hold of me, wrapping her arms securely around me and twirling us across to room so we were standing in the opposite corner.

"Carlisle!!!" – She screamed out at the same time that the woman rammed her beastly body straight into the concrete wall, going right through it, debris and wreckage exploding everywhere. She growled fiercely once she was inside the room with us, her eyes still on me.

Grandpa jumped in front of her and was such a good fighter, that she was on the ground in under a minute, blood oozing rapidly from the area in her throat where grandpa had bit her. Momma was now holding her down as grandpa sat on top of her. She was panting and struggling, growling so loudly I felt the urge to cover my ears.

"Calm down please… there is no reason for us to fight, we do not know you and if not for the fact that you so violently came to attack us, we would not mean you any harm. Now, you are losing blood at a rapid pace… I am a doctor… I can help you if you help us understand your motives."

The woman phased back into human form, not like Jacob who does it with a bang, but as if a balloon were gently deflated until reaching its original form. She was naked, covered with dirt and her own blood. She was snarling out what seemed to be curse words in some sort of wolf language.

"Can you speak English?" – She nodded, obviously a bit weak from the amount of blood she was losing.

"Good… now answer me, who sent you? Where do you come from?"

"Master… my master is powerful and will kill you for this." – It was as if a wolf could actually speak; her voice came out in growls and snarls that sounded like words. It would have been interesting and amusing if not for the fact that her voice, and the way it resonated in her chest, was terribly frightening.

"Who is your master?"

"He made me, gave me life… I will not betray him."

"I must remind you that your life hangs in the balance… I am a compassionate person, but I will let you die if you do not answer me."

"Person… you're an asanguisuga, bevitore di sangue". – She was laughing disdainfully, sounding almost like a wheezing cough.

Grandpa sighed. – "Fine, any last words?"

"No… wait…" – She seemed in pain, her voice gurgling from the blood accumulated in her throat. Her eyes grew wide once she began to struggle for breath.

"Don't kill me."

"Then tell me who your master is?" – She shook her head.

"Alright, then tell me what you came for… what you want with us." – Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head and she was gasping for breath.

"There's not much time… tell me and I'll help you." – Grandpa had a pained expression on his face, probably because he's used to saving and helping however he can without setting conditions.

The woman began to lift her head off the floor, writhing in pain. Her voice came out so low that even I had trouble hearing it.

"He said… kill… kill the vampires… conquer il dominante… acquire… acquire his treasure."

"Carlisle?" – Momma looked up at him when the woman became silent and went limp.

"She's dead."

Aunt Alice and Rose stepped inside the wrecked storage room. In the distance I could see the corpse of the last werewolf, but not even the sight of all the monsters dead was enough to ease me, because I still didn't know how Jacob was doing.

"What do you think that means?" – Momma was looking at grandpa with a thoughtful expression, but relaxed considering what had just happened.

"It's obvious these creatures were sent to murder us… and the part about il dominante… and the treasure, I don't know. One thing I do know… asanguisuga means leech in Italian and I can only think of one person, or persons, that would want us dead."

"The Volturi." - We all spoke their name in unison, the sound causing pain in the pit of my stomach.

I was sitting in the living room, the sun's early weak rays penetrating the otherwise dark space. I could smell the corpses burning in the back of the house, letting off a putrid rotting smell that burned my nose.

It was five already and no sign of Jacob or any of the men in my family. I'd asked to go looking for them but was obviously denied permission.

"It's over honey… Alice saw them all returning home." – Mom had replied, urging me to stay put, assuring me they were probably cleaning up as we were.

So I sat there, alone and waiting, holding my bent knees to my chest, feeling my eyelids grow heavy but refusing to give in to my exhaustion.

And then… I smelled him; like the most stimulating and uplifting aroma I would ever encounter. I quickly got up from the couch and opened the front door. The others had made their way directly to the back of the house; I knew this because I could smell them there despite the harsh stench of the burning bodies.

Jacob was standing in front of the door, alive and well. My eyes scanned his perfect half naked body only to find that its perfection was still intact, not a scratch or dent on him. But something wasn't quite right; even though I knew they'd been victorious, Jacob did not look triumphant, if anything, he looked defeated and devastated.

"What…?" – Was all my confused brain could come up with.

"Sam's dead." – His voice was hoarse and barely audible. His eyes were stinging with tears, the skin around them tense and red. I covered my mouth in shock, holding my breath for fear I might scream. I'd never known anyone to die; all my loved ones, all the people I'd ever known, mortal or immortal, were still living.

"But… but how?" – It wasn't really a question a needed an answer to, it was more of a protest. – "He didn't fight!!! Why would they kill him? I… I don't…"

"He did fight… once he saw they meant us all harm, he ordered his pack to fight. I tried… I tried to get to him… but… I failed… I failed him."

"No." – I took Jacob in my arms, hugging him as strongly and reassuringly as I could despite my own uneasiness and distress. I knew Sam since I was a baby, spent entire afternoons in he's and Emily's cabin, Emily cooking up a storm and feeding all my wolf friends. Emily… the thought of her hit me hard, did she know already? Who had told her? Had she sensed it when it happened? I couldn't even begin to imagine what she must be feeling, the pain; the agonizing heart wrenching soul searing pain.

"It's like they knew… knew he was the alpha… they all went for him… it was… it was horrible."

My stomach was churning from the images my mind was fabricating.

"I'm sorry Jake… I'm so sorry." – He continued to bury his face in my curls, holding on so tight I was sure his hands would leave bruises, that is, if I could bruise.

"I don't know what I'm going to do… everything's changed."

"What do you mean?" – He pulled back to look at me and I could see so much grief, remorse and sorrow in his eyes that my heart broke.

"Ness… the second he died… I… I was able to hear everyone's thoughts, not just my pack's, but his as well."

"You mean…"

"I'm the new alpha… it's so… so sick and… and twisted."

"Don't look at it that way Jake… you were always meant to be the alpha." – I said, trying to soothe him.

"But not at his expense!!! It's like I'm benefiting from his death… I don't want it… I never did!!!"

Jacob was just about to keep going when mom and dad entered the living room from the back, causing Jake to close his eyes and inhale, stopping himself from continuing.

"I'm very sorry Jacob."

"Not now Edward." – I knew he meant for it to sound intimidating, but it came out exhausted. Dad simply nodded.

"It's been a long day… you should get some rest."

"Are you kicking me out?" – Jacob opened his eyes to look at dad, and this time, his tone definitely sounded intimidating. He was looking at dad with defiance and a hint anger, waiting for his response. Dad's voice never changed from a calm and soothing tone.

"Of course not, I was simply suggesting that you both go to bed, you've been up since yesterday morning and already fought two different times."

Dad turned on his heel and headed upstairs, while mom came over to hug us both, lingering a bit longer with Jacob.

"Night Jake… goodnight honey." – She called out as she too headed upstairs.

"Come on… do you want to go back to the cottage or stay here?"

"I don't care… I just want to be with you." – He sounded more than exhausted, so I decided it would be best not prolonged this and just use the guest room. I also didn't want to venture far away from my family or the security of the big house.

I took his hand and led him upstairs into the room. We got inside the covers and wrapped our arms around each other. Sam was dead, the reality of this was shocking and overwhelming, not only because he was one of the fiercest strongest wolves out there but because he was so much like Jacob. I couldn't help but compare them, knowing it could have been Jake…

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