Prodigal Daughter
The four of us were compelled to return to Forks. Bree was feeding on humans again and had become faster and stronger than us. Tracking her down was different from when we'd fought Victoria's army of newborns; we had fought to kill.
"I see her hitching a ride at a cargo ship to Russia, for some reason," said Alice, who was sitting in the living room scouring possible futures.
"Could you see why?" asked Edward.
Alice's face wrinkled with concentration. And then her eyes widened with terror. Her pupils were dilated. Alice let out a scream, like a child suffering in a nightmare.
"Alice!" called Jasper, holding her steady. Alice's breathing slowed; her eyes closed and then opened abruptly, as though she had awoken from a dream.
"Alice, come on, what did you see?" asked Bella impatiently.
"A werewolf," said Alice.
"What does Jacob …" began Renesmée.
"No—Children of the Moon!" shrieked Alice.
"Impossible—the Volturi killed them all!" said Rosalie.
"There could be a few left. James hunted one in Siberia, remember?" said Alice.
"There are probably a few left …" repeated Emmett thoughtfully.
"She is going to lead them here; is that what you saw?" I asked Alice.
Alice looked helplessly at me. She leaned against Jasper's shoulder and cried.
"I'm going to contact the Romanian coven … They live closest to where Bree is going; they could help us," said Esme.
"How about the Volturi?" suggested Rosalie.
"No," I said. "If they find out what Bree's up to, they'll kill her for sure. I'm not about to let that happen."
Jasper, Edward and Alice left that night to keep following Bree and try to prevent her from finding any werewolves, if she hadn't yet. Meanwhile, Renesmée visited La Push to ask for the wolf packs' help. Only Jacob's pack came to our house and volunteered to protect it and Forks; Sam Uley's stayed at La Push to protect their families.
"If only my shield works on physical attacks, too," said Bella.
"That's what we're here for, Bells," said Jacob Black.
"And you vampires have your own super strength at your disposal," added Seth Clearwater.
Only Leah said nothing, but I was sure she was about as confident as the rest of the pack. I would have preferred feeling the same, but I just couldn't be at ease knowing that Bree, Jasper, Edward and Alice were still out there. Without Edward and Alice, I felt helpless, not knowing what to expect.
Daylight shone upon the mountains, but it brought no promise of a happy fate for my children. It was uncharacteristic of me to be this pessimistic. Normally, I was my family's source of hope and encouragement; but as long as there was no sign of Bree and the others, I grew increasingly anxious.
I let the members of the pack sleep in the morning; the Children of the Moon turned back into their human forms in daytime. I had never encountered one before, but from the stories I heard during the years I spent with the Volturi, they were ferocious in wolf form, but vulnerable once they transform back. They wouldn't even remember attacking anyone.
After five days, Alice, Edward and Jasper returned with Bree and a young man with strawberry blond hair and striking icy gray eyes. Bree and the stranger were both under Jasper's control. The young man's arms were each held by Edward and Jasper. Esme and I hugged Bree; we were both so happy that we initially didn't mind that she didn't reciprocate our gesture. "Darling, don't ever do that again!" I cried.
"Why shouldn't I?" asked Bree spitefully. That was when I noticed that her irises were still red. "If it weren't for her"—she nodded toward Bella—"and your irrational kindness toward her, she wouldn't have been there when Victoria's coven passed by. James wouldn't have died and compelled Victoria to make me a vampire. My parents would still be alive! YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!"
That scream broke Jasper's concentration and freed Bree, who sprang forward and landed on Bella. Strangling her, Bree shrieked: "YOU killed my parents! YOU ruined my LIFE!"
"Bree, stop it!" roared Emmett, who pulled Bree from Bella, who was speechless on the floor. Rosalie rushed to her side.
"If it weren't for my irrational kindness, you wouldn't be alive!" I said to Bree.
An unfamiliar voice spoke, reminding me that we had a stranger in the house. The young man had to be no older than any of my other children. His bedraggled appearance made him look weary and aged. Frightened, he was speaking to me in what I recognized to be an Eastern European dialect. He was almost as tall and muscular as Edward or Jasper, but from what I estimated to be several months—if not years—of malnutrition and fatigue, his frame looked shriveled.
"Let's put him in the basement," suggested Jasper.
"We let him freshen up first," I told him firmly. "Do you speak German?" I asked the stranger, in German.
"Yes," he replied, "but not very well."
"Do you understand English?"
"My English is worse, sir," he said in English, with a heavy accent.
"I'm sure this is sufficient," I said in German again. "What is your name?"
"Žarko*," he said. "Please … What is going on? Why did you take me here? I want to go home!"
"I'm afraid we can't just let you go, Žarko," I said soothingly, "not with your condition. You are aware of that, aren't you?"
Žarko hung his head and nodded.
"If you promise you will not escape or make trouble, I'll let you freshen up before we put you and Bree in the basement," I told him.
"I'll be good," he said.
"Good," I said.
"What now?" asked Edward.
"Please, escort Žarko to the bathroom and lend him clothes before taking him to the basement," I said. Then, I rounded on Bree. "As for you," I said. But I wasn't able to quite stay angry with her. Sighing, I continued, "Bree, I love you, as I love your brothers and sisters. But this is out of line! You will stay in the basement whether you like it or not!"
Bree struggled even as Emmett effortlessly carried her to the basement.
Weary, I sat on the couch and rested my head on my hands. By then, each of my other children had retreated to their bedrooms. "Esme, please, tell Jacob and his friends to go home. We have everything under control now," I said.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" asked Esme.
I tried to smile, but it wasn't convincing enough. "I'm just staying here, I promise."
Satisfied, Esme left the room.
* Ž is pronounced with the "zh" sound, like Zhang Ziyi.
