Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer and do not own any of the Twilight Series characters; I'm just a fan having fun. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 30

Nessie's POV

"Ness are you sure I can't get you something to drink?" – Billy wheeled himself closer to me, holding a shotgun on top of his lap, like that could somehow stand a chance against the werewolves or Volturi.

"I'm ok Billy… I really can't ingest anything right now."

"Ok, just let me know."

Grandma and Carmen had both taken over each of the windows in the living room, standing still like statues in front of them and looking out into the forest. We all had our significant others on the other side of those windows.

It was pitch dark and even though it was the middle of the night, they still hadn't come back. Pretty soon dawn would come and I was sure that by then I would have already lost it. It was hard sitting back and just waiting, knowing absolutely nothing of what was happening on the outside, feeling feeble and weak and worthless, feeling as though the people who matter the most were out there risking everything to protect me and I couldn't do a thing to help.

"I wish they could send someone to tell us what's going on."

"I do too honey… but don't worry, I'm sure we're winning." – Grandma said it completely convinced that it was true; if only I could have her faith.

I got up and walked over to her, hugging her from behind and peering over her shoulder out into the dark night. I was just about to sit back down when I saw a figure in the distance, making its way toward us, a wolf. I let go of her and ran out the door, ignoring everyone's protest to not go outside. Carmen even tried to catch up with me but I managed to slip past her, running out in my full vampire speed. My heart was pounding wildly at the expectation that the wolf might be Jacob.

I was almost half way toward the wolf when I caught a whiff of his scent, not Jacob, but Seth. I stopped running and waited nervously for him to get to me. The second he stepped close enough for Billy's outside light to hit him, I realized he was covered in blood.

"Seth! What happened? Is this your blood?" – He didn't look injured, so I hoped with all my heart for the blood to belong to the werewolves.

"Nessie."

I turned around at the sound of my name and saw that Aunt Rosalie was standing beside me, catching me completely off guard. Seth turned and headed toward a tree so he could phase back.

"Rose, what's going on… what happened?"

"I need you to stay calm honey." – Rosalie was holding my arms tightly and in that moment I feared the worst.

"What? Rose! What?"

"Things got complicated. Edward says the werewolves were communicating telepathically between themselves and possibly even with the Volturi. At first we had the upper hand, because Edward was reading their thoughts… they were confused, they were looking for Jacob but couldn't recognize him from the others…"

"Dammit Rosalie! Tell me what happened!"

"We were winning… Jacob was just about to kill the last one when… well… Jacob was wearing the dog tags you gave him…"

Everything started spinning around; the ground, the trees, Billy's house.

"The werewolf saw them and before Jacob could finish him off… he somehow send a message… out of nowhere dozens of werewolves appeared… we were outnumbered and it was too late to get backup."

"Tell me, Rose… just tell me." – I couldn't breathe; I just stood there, listening to the story as if I were underwater, as if she were standing far away, as if this nightmare had nothing to do with me.

"Nessie baby… they took him."

The only thing that kept me from breaking down right then and there was her words "they took him" not "they killed him".

"There were so many…" – Seth was now standing next to me, his face ashamed. – "We tried… "

"What happened… I mean, where… the others?" – I was having a hard time articulating a single sentence, but I needed to be tough and figure this out.

"Like I said… it got complicated… Jacob's pack communicated and so they broke apart from the other group to come and help us, because there were too many werewolves… and when Bella found out about Jacob… she… she… "

"Tell us Rose!" – Grandma spoke; she and Carmen were outside by now, grandma with her hands on my shoulders in a reassuring manner.

"Bella declared war on the Volturi… she approached them, not even pretending any more that we didn't know they were there and confronted Aro."

"Mom did what? Is she ok?"

"I don't know… that's the last thing I heard… Edward went running to aid her and the others in the confrontation and told us to come get you and take you away. He doesn't know what will happen, but he doesn't think it will end without a fight. Jacob's pack is still battling the werewolves. The best thing is to take you away while we settle this, so the Volturi can't get to you."

"No… no! I'm not leaving him!"

"This isn't debatable Ness; we'll get him back, I promise, but if the Volturi find you, it's over. Jacob instructed Seth to take care of you if something were to happen… I'm coming with you too."

"Jake said to remember your promise to him." – Seth softly spoke, looking at the ground instead of me.

"Shut up Seth! You don't know what you're talking about; there is no way in hell I'm hiding out while they have him!" - I was sobbing now, my entire body shaking as if I were a wolf about to phase.

"We have to hurry… they could follow our scent here. Mom, Carmen and Billy, you're coming too, it's not safe to stay here." – Rosalie completely ignored me as she told the others what to do.

"No! Rose please! Please let me help, let me stay! Please! I can't leave him, please!" – I was down to begging, begging to be allowed to help; this was my fight too. Rosalie took me by my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye.

"Renesmee Cullen, stop it! We are leaving whether you like it or not."

"Black… my name is Renesmee Black and I am not leaving Jacob." – I felt like punching her lights out, felt like screaming in rage, felt like running away. She sighed and let go of my arms.

"I'm sorry honey… but I can't let you do that." – As if they'd planned this, Seth took one of my arms while Rosalie took the other, making it impossible for me to break free. I kept screaming and threatening and begging, but they simply ignored me and began to run faster and faster, away from danger, away from Jacob.

We kept running and running. Billy decided to go stay with Rachel and not come with us, probably more than a little apprehensive about letting a bunch of vampires take him somewhere far away. We were almost nearing the Canadian border, where Rosalie said we'd hide out. We kept running in circles so our path wouldn't be easily distinguished by a tracker. Half the way there, Rose decided it best we split up, so Esme and Carmen took one route while Rose and Seth, still tightly grabbing me, took another.

I couldn't think or feel or anything, I was in a trance of fear and pain and anguish. My entire being was begging to be with Jacob, my insides screaming with hurt at the thought that I was abandoning him.

"It's ok Nessie, everything will be alright… you should have seen Bella… I mean, wow… I saw her through Leah's eyes when Jared phased to tell her what was happening on our side, what had happened to Jacob… she turned demon, just the most menacing vamp you'd ever see. The way she approached Aro and confronted him, I mean, even the old leech didn't know what hit him."

I knew Seth was trying to calm me down, tell me that we'd win in the end, that I didn't have to worry, but he had no clue what I was feeling, had no clue what it was like to have your imprint in danger and being told to stay away. I didn't even look at him, didn't even acknowledge his words, just kept staring towards the emptiness, my eyes and face numb and hot from my crying.

"We're almost there." – Rosalie broke the silence but wouldn't look at me, knowing I'd never forgive her for this. Her words again, sounded like I was underwater, as well as the rustling leaves, the cracking rocks and the insects and night critters surrounding us. It was beginning to get lighter and I didn't even want to think about what time it was, because I'd just get more desperate.

Then, like the most subtle thing ever, I felt a scent, a scent I didn't know but that was distinctively vampire. Before I could muster a word, Rosalie twirled me around and practically threw me against a tree, crouching in front of me in a defensive position. Seth phased immediately and growled in the same direction Rosalie was looking at. With a blink of an eye, Demetri, the Volturi tracker, was standing before us, and a second later, Felix and Afton were at his side.

They stood there with their horrible red eyes glaring from Rosalie, to Seth and then to me. Felix was standing in one corner, walking from side to side, never once taking his eyes off us, like a lion just waiting for the order to attack. Demetri was the first to speak.

"It's a shame you don't see things our way Rosalie, because you truly are a beautiful creature and would be even more powerful if you'd just give in to your instincts."

"My power doesn't come from human blood."

"Oh, yes… I forgot, you Cullens are so gullible you actually believe that love is stronger." – He smiled, almost a sneer, with his head tilted to the side, keeping his eyes on Rosalie but darting them occasionally toward me, blood lust visible in them.

"Give us the half breed and walk away, we do not mean harm to our own kind." - Afton spoke, his voice so alluring that if I didn't know better, I'd actually trust him.

"You'll have to kill me first."

"Tsk, tsk… what a waist. You realize you and your dog don't stand a chance against the three of us? You were born to be a princess, to be royalty, give it up." - Demetri was still speaking calmly, faking compassion, even though his posture was definitely on the offensive.

"You don't know me… you're just Aro's puppet, repeating what he's told you about me."

"Ok, let's get this over with." – Felix seemed un-amused and even a little bored. I braced myself, knowing quite well that even on their best day, Rosalie and Seth were no match against three Volturi guards.

This was it, the end. I pictured Jacob's face in my mind, tried to remember every line of his face, his warmth, his love and everything that made him perfect. I was deep in concentration when an external sensation broke into my thoughts, sending a shiver of hope all through my body… a scent; a scent I knew and loved… Emmett.

I opened my eyes and saw him arrive, just as Demetri, Felix and Afton sprinted forward to attack. Seth must have communicated, using the pack mind, that we were in trouble. How Emmett was able to get here so fast, I have no idea; but when love is concerned, we can do the unimaginable.

The fight was a haze, that if not for my enhanced vision, I would not have been able to make out a thing. Emmett of course was taking on Felix, something he'd been yearning to do for quite some time. Rosalie took on Demetri as Seth battled Afton. Emmett and Felix were like two boulders smashing each other and everything around, leaving the space were they fought tree-free and the ground cracked.

Even though I worried about my three loved ones, there was something much more engraved in me… Jacob. So without thinking, I sprinted and ran away as fast as I could. Rosalie yelled after me but couldn't go after me, not when she was in the middle of a fight. I didn't want to leave them, but I couldn't stay, my place was somewhere else, they needed to understand that.

So I ran as fast as my body could go, not really sure where I was going but hoping my instincts would kick in and I'd be able to track Jacob before they were able to track me.

I could feel the ground shake and heard loud thunder a few miles up ahead and knew it was my family and loved ones, fighting the Volturi. The gloves were off as they say, it was kill or be killed, no more false diplomacy or good intentions, it was taking down their whole corrupted empire. I crouched down and closed my eyes, taking in long breaths as to regulate my frantic heartbeat; pretty soon I was able to listen more clearly. To the north was the Volturi fight, I was certain, and then to the east I could hear faint growls, deducing it was Jacob's pack fighting the werewolves. I strained even more but got not much else. I opened my eyes and tried to catch a scent, any scent, anything that could lead me to Jacob. I walked around, stopping ever so often to pick up any new sounds, but so far I'd gotten no information to go on.

I took a different route, hoping to have more luck there. After several minutes I was beginning to lose hope on this route as well, when out of nowhere, my worst nightmare immerged… well, my second worst. In front of me, as if they'd always been standing there, were two werewolves. They were still in their "human" form, looking as disgusting and hostile as ever, their putrid smell burning my nose, with their wild yellow eyes scanning me and their greasy dreadlocked hair falling over their aggressive faces. I could tell they were taking in my scent and knew it wouldn't be long before they discovered who I was. I couldn't let that happen, otherwise more of them would come and I'd be a goner. So I did the only thing I could do, I ran toward them and jumped in mid air, striking the first one with such force that he went flying and knocked over a tree. This was do or die; suddenly mi mind was clear of all thoughts and my vampire instincts took over.

I was faster than them, being my father's daughter, but not stronger. Every one of their blows send me flying, disorienting and knocking the wind out of me. At one point one of them was able to get a hold of me and bit me in the leg, causing severe pain and a bloody gash that didn't seem to heal. Thankfully, being half vampire, I was impervious to their venom, so the bite only slowed me down but didn't stop me.

I continued to fight them, realizing I was in way over my head with two opponents twice my size and strength, however I didn't give up, knowing I needed to get to Jacob and that nothing, nothing, would stop me. I was finally able to climb the back of one of them and using my entire source of strength, pulled his head off, ripping it from his neck and tossing it as far away as I could. I jumped back, watching as his enormous body fell limb on the forest ground.

The second one started howling in rage, running with all his strength toward me, jumping, phasing in mid air and landing on top of me in full wolf form. He began to bite into my shoulder as I kicked him as hard as I could, trying to get him off me. When I realized he was too strong for me I panicked, looking around and trying to find something, anything, to stop him. A large tree branch was lying next to me. I reached my arm toward it, feeling how his teeth sunk deeper into my skin and knowing from the warm wet sensation that I was bleeding, a lot. I knew I was at risk of passing out, so I stretched farther, getting a hold of the long pointed branch and screaming in pain as I was able to ram it in the side of his neck all the way through until it came out the other end. I watched in horror as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his jaw loosened the grip on me. He fell back gasping until he didn't breathe any more.

I lay there, also gasping, feeling my body twitching in pain. I looked down at my leg and realized it was slowly healing, soon my shoulder would to. It took me a minute to gather the strength to get up and examine the corpses to see if in fact they were dead. Once I assessed that they were, I continued to run, this time with a clear direction, following the scented path they'd left on their way toward me. Something in my gut told me they were coming from wherever Jacob was being held captive. Just the thought of Jacob made me forget my throbbing shoulder and leg and gave me the boost of energy and courage I needed to keep going.

The sun was already coming up, giving the forest an eerie appearance. It began to drizzle and I couldn't help but feel cold and alone, realizing just how hopeless my situation was. I couldn't run too fast, because my leg was still sore and my shoulder was still bleeding heavily, but I kept on going anyway, tracking the werewolves scent and feeling reassured when it kept getting stronger and stronger.

I came to a halt when I saw smoke in the distance; a camp site, probably were they were keeping Jake. Despite the pain, I quickened my pace, my eyes fixed on the smoke as I got closer and closer… and then.

Pain. Pain. PAIN.

I fell to the ground throbbing and thrashing. I felt as though someone were ramming a blade all over my insides, like I was being cut open and ripped apart. I couldn't breathe or think or move, all I could do was whimper and shake kneeling on the ground. Another second of this and I'd pass out from the pain. I frantically looked around but found no one. Jane couldn't possibly be here, could she? I looked around again, trying to keep my eyes opened and alert even through the agony, but again, nothing. So if this wasn't Jane, what was it?

And then, just like it came, it went. The pain left my body so that I could finally catch my breath and steady myself. It had been less than a minute, but enough to leave me feeling dizzy and weak.

As I was slowly getting up, a realization hit me harder than anything had ever hit me in my life. Jacob… Jacob was in pain. My brain started throwing at me clips of our life together, of all the times he "sensed" I was sad or mad or anything or of how when I was a kid I knew he'd come the second I got in a fight with my parents. If he could sense a minor distress in me, couldn't I sense it in him? Neither one of us had ever gotten hurt before, so this whole feeling was something new, but I suddenly remembered the time little Clair was playing outside and Quil got up running the moment she fell and sprained her ankle, as if he'd known, as if he'd felt it.

My heart started beating so loud I was having a hard time hearing myself think. My entire body was covered in cold sweat and I could feel my eyes stinging with tears. Jacob needed me and I needed to get to him. I felt so desperate and frantic at the thought that something bad had happened to him, that somehow they were hurting him. I continued to get closer to the smoke, until I had to stop running and began to creep closer.

I was shaking so bad and my heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure any of them would easily hear or see me. My breathing was coming out ragged and despite my trying to control it, there was no way I could calm down; not when I'd felt his pain, not until I could actually see him. I crept closer until I could see the camp site, just a few feet away.

They had a bonfire at the center, surrounded by a few shabby tents. It looked empty, except for two werewolves sitting near the fire and eating what looked like raw meat. The stench was nearly unbearable and didn't allow for me to smell much of anything else. So I got closer, my eyes wide and alert, my movements slow and steady, despite the fact that I was still shaking.

I finally got close enough to see the entire site and asses that in fact the two werewolves were alone. I was running my eyes all around, analyzing the situation, when I came across my worst nightmare, this time for real. There, in the ground, next to the two monsters, was Jacob, my Jacob. His hands and feet were tied with steel chains and he was almost naked if not for a dirty cloth they'd tied around his waist, but that wasn't the alarming part, the alarming part was he wasn't moving. I couldn't see his face but could tell his entire body was pale. My heart rate began to increase as I tried to pull myself together and strained my ears, isolating every sound until there was only him. I braced myself for the worst as I continued to listen, closing my eyes and knowing that if he was dead, so was I.

I was just about drop in complete agony when I heard it… the faintest most beautiful sound in the universe… Jacob's heart… barely beating.

I'm trying to update as soon as possible, so my chapters might be a little smaller, which I hope ads to the suspense Thank you for sticking with this story and for your reviews! I still miss reviews from some of you that began to read it from the start, from the first moment I posted the story, if you're still out there, please pretty please tell me what you think!