Chapter 13

"She did WHAT?!" Dawn exploded.

Alice sighed.

"She went to the Volturi. She's there right now. She's in big trouble, Dawn. Aro finally found out that she's the one who attacked his wife."

The others didn't know what to expect, but they didn't expect Dawn's hysterical laughter.

"She..." Dawn couldn't get out another word. She would have fallen over if Carlisle hadn't caught her.

"She....got...in....trouble....HA! It's about damn time!"

She had her back turned to Carlisle, but she could feel his stern look. Recomposing herself, Dawn sighed and straightened up.

"Look, this is...weird, but you don't have to try and protect me anymore. That little tramp is getting exactly what she deserves and may Aro...."

Dawn cleared her throat, knowing Carlisle would be critical of that statement.

"Look," she sighed, "you guys have your little coven. With us Sirens, it's every man or woman for themselves. With her out of the way, you can get back to your lives and I can get back to mine."

She crossed her arms over her chest when Carlisle's look practically burned through the back of her head.

"Is that what you really want? For things to go back to the way they were?"

His voice was quiet, but it spoke volumes. And so, he pricked Dawn's stone-cold heart in a way that no one else could.

She remembered Pumpkin's soft, childish features and how she always seemed so scared and shy of everything. Whether it was an act or not, it was the way Dawn would always remember her. And though Pumpkin had caused her to live like a refugee for years...she couldn't really bring herself to hate the little runt. She knew that she'd live forever, knowing that she'd be the cause of her big blue-green eyes closing forever.

"Let's go to Italy before I change my mind and regret it," Dawn huffed.

It took them a matter of hours to be ready. Renesmee was forced to stay behind with Jacob, Seth, and Leah. She wasn't at all happy about it, either.

"I'm tired of all of you treating me like I'm a baby!" she yelled, slamming the door to her room.

"She'll be okay in a few minutes," Alice said, "now, come on!"

They managed to get on the nearest plane. Somehow or another, Edward and Carlisle pulled some strings and they flew first class. Occasionally, Alice would give them an update.

"Aro's letting her live for one reason," she said when they were almost there, "she's pregnant with Alex's child."

"Speaking of which...where is he?" Dawn asked.

"He never came back from his hunting trip," Emmett commented, "just didn't say anything to anyone."

"Everybody put this on," Carlisle said, passing out tubes of skin-colored cream, "it's the only way we can be out."

One by one, they went into the bathroom so that they could use the mirror. Dawn was almost regretful to see Carlisle's sparkling skin being covered up. She longed to see him in the sunlight again, being his true self.

"So...what's the plan?" Bella asked while Carlisle was in the bathroom.

"We go see Aro, we get Pumpkin back, then we let her have the baby. After that, I'll kill her myself."

She could tell that Dawn was joking, at least somewhat.

"Anything more specific? What if he tries to stop us?"

Dawn reclined her seat.

"He won't. The sword is only good when a Siren is vulnerable. If he's got one fighting him, he won't be able to swing that sucker fast enough."

She didn't sound as sure as she wished she could.

Carlisle emerged, his sparkling skin now safely camouflaged. As a test, Bella splashed some water on him and rubbed gently. The cream didn't come off, which was good. He joined Dawn, who was staring out the window at the late afternoon sun.

"You know what? I am absolutely furious with her. I want to yank out her lower heart and cut off her wings myself. But I just can't bring myself to truly hate her no matter what she's done," Dawn sighed, "maybe it's those big eyes of hers."

Carlisle couldn't help but smile.

"Or," he said, "maybe it's because you have some compassion in you after all."

"I don't," Dawn said dismissively, "I'm a big coward. I'm good at intimidating people. At least most of the time. If I ever did anything out of sheer stubbornness or creativity, I wouldn't recognize myself. I'm only doing this because I don't think I could live with myself if I let Aro kill her."

"Does she have another name like you?"

"Yes. Her true name is Pomona, Roman goddess of harvest. Just like I was named after the goddess of the sunrise."

Carlisle could actually see pain in her dark eyes. Dawn suddenly looked completely different to him, her face turning gold in the waning sunlight.

"I hate surprises," she confessed, "I'm not sure what's going on and that scares me a bit."

He nodded. He didn't even realize he'd placed his hand on Dawn's until he felt the warmth.

"I'm sorry things worked out the way they did," Dawn sighed, "I shouldn't have dragged you all into this in the first place. I don't want anything to happen to any of you. Hell, you treated me like family when I was a total snob."

She smiled faintly, remembering the shopping trips with Alice, the bookstore visits with Bella and Renesmee, playing baseball with all of them, and racing with the wolves. Edward had taught Dawn a few recipes since he still cooked for Renesmee on occasion. Jasper had lent her some of his books and they'd had several discussions about different things. Rosalie and Bella had taught Dawn to change the oil in her car, for which she was eternally grateful. Renesmee had requested music lessons and she'd come a long way in a short amount of time.

Then, the memories of her and Carlisle started. The past month had been a complete charade, but they'd pulled it off well. Carlisle had even "spent the night" in Dawn's castle. They'd stay up all night talking and Dawn would work on art. She'd even painted him a few more times with his consent. His favorite one was the one where she'd painted Esme in the background, sheer and transparent like a ghost. They had become friends during this time and Dawn was beginning to see the world from Carlisle's point of view.

"It's going to be okay," Carlisle said, although not too convincingly, "we'll get Pumpkin back."

The plane touched down all too soon. They said nothing as they went through the airport and then to a nearby hotel. While Dawn wolfed down a huge room-service dinner, they talked potential strategy. In reality, they really didn't have the upper hand and they knew it.

"Don't worry," Dawn said, wiping her mouth, "I know what to do. They're taking advantage of the fact that Pumpkin's weak. I'll give 'em a piece of my mind. But if I do, you guys can't fight with me. I don't want you getting in any trouble. If you did, I'd never forgive myself. Let's go get this over with."

It was the first time that any of them had been out in broad sunlight. All of them were a little bit nervous because of that, but no one ever paid any attention to them. They ventured closer and closer. The guards seeing them immediately ushered them inside. It looked as though Aro had definitely been expecting them.

"Bold move going out in sunlight," one of the guards commented, "how did you do it without attracting attention?"

"A special cream," Edward answered, holding his arm out into a stream of the waning sunlight so that she could see.

"Impressive."

Aro emerged, dark robes billowing around him.

"Ah, the Cullens. Had a safe trip, I see."

But Dawn was not one for formalities.

"Cut the small-talk, Aro. Where's my cousin?"

The others flinched a little, but Aro regarded the impatient Siren calmly.

"She is safe. I wouldn't think of harming someone in her...delicate condition. It seems I owe you an apology, Aurora."

"Damn straight you do," Dawn said, the attitude lending her a sharp edge in her voice, "now take me to my cousin."

Aro seemed rather dismissive of her giving him orders.

"Take her to the prisoner," he said to one of the guards dismissively, "I will stay here and catch up with my friend Carlisle."

Dawn was led down a dark corridor to a locked door at the end. The guard unlocked the door and let her in.

As far as prisons go, this one was relatively nice. A large, lavish bed had been put in the corner and was piled with pillows. A table that had some half-eaten food on it was there. Dawn picked up the silver goblet and examined it. It was half-full of blood. She shuddered.

Pumpkin lay in the bed, her face buried.

"Hey, you." Dawn stood over the bed.

"DAWN!" Pumpkin pounced on her, hugging her fiercely.

"Yeah, okay, good to see you're still breathing," Dawn grunted, feeling one of her ribs snap. She untangled herself from Pumpkin's grip.

"What happened to you? You look like something the vampire dragged in," Dawn commented, seeing the multiple tear tracks on Pumpkin's face.

"Dawn, you would never forgive me for what I've done..." her eyes burned, but there were no more tears to be had.

Dawn raised an eyebrow.

"Stop your sniffing and get to the point."

She retrieved a cloth napkin from the table and wet it from the glass of water. Then, she started scrubbing Pumpkin's face. Dawn's touch was rough, but Pumpkin didn't complain.

"Alex and I were spies," she said shakily, "I was going to..."

She couldn't go on.

"Out with it," Dawn demanded.

"...to turn you in....and the Cullens....but I was going to ask them to keep Carlisle alive."

She braced herself for the punches she was sure to get, but she was surprised when Dawn only rolled her eyes.

"You know, Pumpkin, I really wanted to believe that you weren't all bad. I wanted to believe that someone like you would have a little decency. I know you hate my guts. I know that the two of us continuously get on each other's nerves. But this is a new low even for you. I had no idea that you could have the gall to betray me a second time."

Pumpkin had begun to cry again.

"I...n-never hated you..." she wailed, "I was....j-jealous of you...."

Dawn laughed.

"Jealous? Jealous of what? You have that cute little face and that cute little figure that everybody freaking LOVES, and you have that cute little voice and everybody liked you better. What the Hell could you have been jealous of?"

Pumpkin took the napkin and blew her nose.

"I was jealous because you were always so strong," she sniffed, "you always got what you wanted because you knew how to fight for it. You never let anybody walk on you. No one ever takes me seriously."

Dawn saw the bite-mark on Pumpkin's shoulder.

"This wasn't about me at all, was it?"

"Only a little," she answered, staring at her covers, "he was hurting me. I needed to get away from him."

Dawn growled.

"That bastard. I knew he was trouble. Geez, Pumpkin, you really know how to pick your situations. Where do you get these guys? First Aro, then Alex. Speaking of which, where is that rat? I'd like to give him a piece of my mind."

Pumpkin sighed.

"He left. He sent me a letter telling me it's over. He's asked Aro if he can have our child when Aro's done with it. I suppose I deserve everything I'm getting."

She suddenly realized something.

"Dawn, why did you come, anyway?"

Dawn rolled her eyes again.

"I came because somehow or another, Carlisle managed to guilt me into it. He actually somehow got me to thinking that you deserve to live even if you did some really crappy things."

"They'll never let me escape," she lamented, "it's over. Maybe this is a blessing for both of us."

Dawn shook her head.

"But who's going to fight with me and make me look like an ugly old tomcat standing next to a sweet little kitten?"

Pumpkin's smile was faint, but it was there nonetheless.

"That's not how you look and you know it," she said accusingly.

"Maybe not," Dawn admitted, "but that's how I feel when I stand next to you."

It was awkward having all that truth out, but at least it was over with.

"You really love Dr. Cullen, don't you," Pumpkin commented.

Dawn snatched an untouched apple from the table.

"I don't know if love was the right word for it," she admitted, "but I do feel a lot for him. He's so...not like me. He cares about everybody. He makes me want to change for the better."

"It sounds like love," Pumpkin accused.

Dawn passed her the silver cup.

"Oh, hush. Drink your blood."

Pumpkin grimaced.

"That's blood?"

"Of course it's blood, you twit! You're carrying a VAMPIRE baby, remember?"

"But...it tastes good. I didn't even have to use an illusion on it."

Dawn laughed.

"Hence come the cravings. I'm sure you'll never want to touch it again after the baby's born."

Pumpkin's features darkened again.

"Dawn, could I ask a favor?"

Dawn sighed.

"I suppose."

"Would...you take the baby? I don't want Alex to have it. He'll hurt it and I won't be here to...well, not that I was ever good at protecting people anyway, but...I just want to know it will be safe. I always wanted a baby."

"Don't talk like that," Dawn snapped, "we'll think of something."