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In this chapter, the battle looms, and Nessie's nerves are pushed to the limit (in a good way)!


Disclaimer: The Twilight saga and all characters therein are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. No profit is being made from this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended.



Chapter Seventeen

Closer

Alice and Rosalie and I walked along Rio de Janeiro's most fashionable street, lined with designer boutiques. Bella, despite being a vampire, managed to drag her feet behind us.

I knew that the shopping trip was more for Alice's state of mind than anything else. It was a relief for her to foresee a simple outing, a dress that she would find, a pair of shoes. It made our trip efficient, too; there was no aimless browsing. Alice pointed at a shop and we walked in, leaving hordes of admiring male pedestrians in our wake.

On the streets of Rio, we were exceptional beauties, but not unheard of. This was one of the fashion capitals of the world and on the way into one shop, we passed a woman even taller and more model-esque than Rosalie, and almost (though never quite) as beautiful. I noticed she'd had the expensive glow treatment on her bronze skin. She could almost pass for a vampire.

We started with bikinis. Bella and I were shocked at how much they cost for such a scrap of fabric, but Alice insisted. I chose a dark red with metallic gold threads running through it. Rosalie picked ten suits, one of which was a genuine Brazilian-style thong. "For Emmett," she said, giggling.

I didn't even want to know what she meant by that.

At the next shop, for Bella, Alice bought a pair of silk cargo pants and a green blouse that set off the reddish tones in Bella's hair.

At the next store – shoes – Alice declared that boots were in season and practical for jungle-wear. I got a pair of tan ankle boots. Bella got ochre-colored riding boots. "Tuck those pants into the boots," Alice instructed her. Rosalie bought white and brown knee-highs, and Alice chose python-skin cowboy boots.

We moved on to a store with a massive gold chandelier and furniture in all shades of orange. Rosalie departed from the upcoming battle theme to buy a long, floating evening gown, and then chose a safari jumpsuit with many pockets.

"Lots of room for mirrors in there," I joked, thinking it was something Jake would say.

"Ha," said Rosalie, turning her nose up, but she grinned at me a few seconds later. I could always get away with teasing her.

For me, Alice chose a sleeveless shell top in a lavender and light brown tiger print, and a wide brown linen skirt with pockets. "It'll keep you cool," she said.

"I like these," said Rosalie, inspecting a pair of ruby and amber earrings.

"Oh, you're going to look gorgeous in them!" Alice said.

For herself, Alice chose a silk-cotton belted vest and tight cotton pants, along with a blue silk scarf to go around her neck. "All set!" she said, a little too brightly.

Bella and I looked at each other. Alice was worried.

Back at the hotel, we dropped off our purchases and gathered in the living room of the suite. Carlisle said that Kate had called from their flight; they would be landing at ten in the evening. "She said that Carmen and Eleazar will be home soon; they left a message for them to get here as soon as possible."

"This party'll be over by then," said Emmett.

"The rest of my pack should be getting here tomorrow morning, about seven," said Jacob. "They'll be ready to roll."

"We're overrunning the hotel," I said.

"Yeah," said Jacob, "You Cullens should think about keeping a house down here, seeing as you always end up in Brazil."

Bella giggled and Edward smiled knowingly.

"We already do," said Carlisle. "We own an island off the coast. It was a gift for my wife." He smiled fondly at Esme, who could be seen in the next room, looking over Rosalie's purchases.

"Oh! Psh! Well, of course you do," said Jacob. "I should have guessed you had your own island somewhere. But why does Bella look like she would be blushing, if she had any blood left?"

Bella was silent, biting her lip.

"We spent our honeymoon there," said Edward smoothly.

"Oh, ick," said Jacob.

I couldn't agree more… but I also couldn't help wondering if Jacob had once had a more jealous reaction to the cause of Bella's blushes.

"Ahem. So. Moving on," said Seth. "We're scheduled to pick up the charter plane to leave for Manaus at noon. It's fine for Edward to pilot. That okay?"

Alice paused. "Yes, it's still clouded over all day tomorrow." She wandered distractedly into the next room; Jasper followed her.

"Hope the plane is big enough for a pack of oversized dogs," said Bella, nudging Jacob in the ribs.

He shoved her back. "What do you think we are? It's a powerful jet. A big one."

"That's what she said," said Emmett. He and Jacob laughed.

Rolling my eyes, I retreated to my computer. I yearned for my Spider 3000 back in Rochester. This laptop, state-of-the-art though it was, could not compare to the sheer power of my home system. I sat down and checked my mail; there was a response from Silvius.

"We can surge Mendel's IP with a datastream, all we'll need to do is program some bots to swarm him. I learned how to do it a year ago; I've attached the code I used. I'd alter the modifiers so that it's coming from two directions. It'll put him offline and hopefully flood his drive with junk.

"Also, I'm sixteen, and I have brown hair and brown eyes, and some girls think I'm not bad-looking at all. Why, Morphette? You want to cyber? I'm not opposed, but it might make our D&D awkward. Think about it."

I laughed. He sounded just like a sixteen-year-old boy. He was my age… odd. I wrote him back a quick thanks and arranged a time to surge Mendel's system at eight in the morning tomorrow. I also mentioned that I had a real-life boyfriend who didn't want me having a cyber one, so Silvius was off the hook.

I hoped this bot stream idea worked. We would need to cut off their communications with the outside world so that the Volturi in Italy couldn't be warned, and so that Aro, Caius, and Marcus didn't bring anything more than a skeleton guard for their inspection.

An intuition rolled through me. Something dark lurked out in that forest, and sometimes it was best to leave monsters in the shadows. To bring them to light could prove too much to handle. The three leaders of the vampire world would be there, if Alice was right (and she almost always was), and I wondered if the conflict over my birth sixteen years ago was just the opening argument in an outright war.

No matter what, everything was about to change. The balance of power was tipping. It made me feel dizzy to think about the problem that had been lurking all these years… the Volturi, planning… the issue, unresolved.

Despite the balmy tropical air and my own body temperature, I shivered.

I heard footsteps behind me, light like a ballerina's; it was Alice. "Hey," I said, closing my computer. There wasn't much I could do with it yet, anyway.

"Could you do something for me, Ness?" Alice asked. Her chiming voice was shaky.

"Yeah, of course, anything!"

"Just decide, right now, to go along with whatever happens. Try not to make any sudden decisions. Resolve to do what we tell you. I have to try to see what's going to happen. I'm so worried."

"Yes, I can do that," I said. "That's my plan, anyway."

"'Kay," she said.

"You know, you've gotten pretty good at working around us freaky half-breeds," I smiled at her. "Don't doubt yourself. You're kind of awesome, Alice."

She smiled back at me. "Thanks, Ness. I'm doing my best." She squeezed my shoulder and walked away; I still detected a wavering in the way she walked.

An hour after night fell, I joined my family in the living room. It was an opulent place, all gleaming dark woods and silk lampshades and professional colors; it seemed too busy compared to our light, airy style of furnishings at home. Alice was gone; so were Jacob and the werewolves.

"She's thinking. And they're eating dinner and planning," said Edward.

I nodded.

"Remember, we don't fight anyone unless it's justified," said Carlisle. "We don't know what's happening out there."

"It'll be justified," said Emmett, barely containing the glee in his voice.

"I have to agree," said Jasper. He just sounded weary. "The Volturi have already overstepped the boundaries with taking Nessie. In fact, they overstepped sixteen years ago. This has been building for awhile."

"Still, we should be calm and deliberate," said Carlisle.

"Agreed," said Bella.

I sat down, worrying about how much use I would be if it came down to a fight. I wasn't as fast as a vampire; I was almost, but not quite. And I hadn't been able to replicate my thought-projection power, despite half-hearted efforts to try.

Edward said, "Don't worry. I don't plan on letting you fight, anyway, Ness."

I glowered at him. "You'll have to fight me to keep me away from the fight, Dad."

"Nessie, what you did with Demetri," Bella said, "well, just don't be surprised if it comes back if you need it to. That's what happened with me. I didn't know how to use my shield until things got really awful. And I got really mad."

"Mad Bella," said Emmett, pretending to shudder.

"Hey, I beat you at arm wrestling," she retorted.

"You couldn't now," said Emmett.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but then laughed.

Edward closed his eyes and tensed. I watched as his mind's eye saw something… then, an instant later, Alice appeared in the doorway.

"I," she declared, "have had a vision!" She skipped into the room. "But I can't even begin to explain it."

Edward looked a little bit dazed, too. As if, for the first time, he disbelieved Alice.

"It was Marcus. Of the Volturi. And he was sitting in our living room at home in Rochester. Drinking a goblet of the chimpanzee blood. He was dubious at first, and then he admitted it was a fair substitute." She looked around, glee filling her face. "It was autumn of this year. The leaves were turning. Everyone was there. I couldn't see Nessie, of course, but I did see her school notebook on the table. Don't you see? It means that we're okay."

"But… Marcus?" said Esme. "Why him? What does that mean?"

"I can't imagine," Alice sang. "Whatever's about to happen, we're going to be okay." She paused. "At least, those of us in this room."

Fear rolled through me and I felt what I imagined stomach sickness felt like. The wolves. There were no guarantees about them.

"Don't worry," said Edward to me. "The wolves can take care of themselves."

"The Volturi have never actually seen the wolves in action," said Jasper. "They have no idea how well they're built to kill vampires."

Maybe if it wasn't Jacob at risk, I wouldn't be so anxious. A small, cowardly part of me wanted the both of us to stay behind, out of the fight; I shoved the thought away where it belonged, disgusted with myself.

Edward looked hopeful for a minute as he read my thoughts; his hope turned to rue as I dismissed the idea. Nice try, old man.

"We'll fight with the wolves as we have before," said Carlisle. "Edward and Bella, you stay near Jacob, since he's the Alpha. Nessie, I imagine you'll stay with Jacob as well."

I nodded.

"The rest of us fight as pairs. We don't know what we're up against or how many vampires are actually there. Or… whatever else they've created. Has everyone examined the satellite photo?"

Nods all around.

"Remember, there might not be any need for violence. Give them a chance to explain themselves and surrender peacefully."

"But not too much of a chance," said Jasper.

"And remember, the Denalis know what's happening, and today I posted copies of a letter to all those who stood with us last time," said Carlisle, "at least, those with mailing addresses. Though they might not be here in person, there will be many waiting to see how the Volturi conduct themselves."

Despite my nervousness, I yawned.

"You should get some rest, hon," said Bella, patting my knee.

"Okay." I stood up and looked into the white faces of my family. They were cool and smooth and so beautiful, looking like they belonged amongst the rich furniture, and yet as though they didn't. "I know you'll all tell me this wasn't my fault—"

"It wasn't," several Cullens chorused at once.

"—but I just want to say I'm sorry for walking us all into trouble like this."

"And let us go more than a decade without a good fight? No way!" said Emmett.

"Besides, someone needs to check on this situation," said Edward.

"We can't have someone trying to out-talent us," said Rosalie.

"Okay, okay!" I laughed, waving. "Goodnight, everyone."

"Night, Nessie." "G'night." "Sweet dreams."

I got down to my underwear and flopped onto the soft bed in my room, except it wasn't really my room. It was a posh hotel room full of the residual scent of other people. I left the windows open for the sea breeze to circulate; I preferred it to the air conditioning, although it was hot outside.

I kept yawning, but couldn't fall asleep. I couldn't stop thinking about the next day, and what was to come, and praying we would survive it. And what was Marcus of the Volturi doing in our living room at home? Alice was sure a strange one. She seemed certain of it.

I could just hear the murmurs of conversation from two rooms over, where the rest of the Cullens waited for Tanya, Kate, and Garrett to arrive from the airport. I tossed once in my bed, discontent. I didn't even feel tired anymore.

I stood up and went to the window, looking out on the ocean, remembering the long swim, the desperate exhaustion as I'd stumbled up onto that very beach. It was empty now but for a few couples out for a nighttime stroll, walking hand in hand.

The soft knock came on the door just as I realized what – or rather, who – it was I wanted.

My stomach flip-flopped in a very pleasant way. I grabbed the white terrycloth robe off the hangar by the door and tied it around myself; then, quiet as I could, I pulled open the door. I hoped my family wouldn't quite be able to tell which door it was. Besides, they would soon be distracted by the Denalis' arrival.

Jacob stood in the hall, the soft lights throwing his tall, muscular figure into silhouette.

Reaching out, I tugged him by the arm. Come in, I thought.

He wore nothing but jeans and flip-flops. His cropped hair was messy. I couldn't stop looking at him and had to work to keep my eyes focused on his face, and not the taut planes of his stomach and the broadness of his chest…

All planned out? I thought at him, thinking that if we were conversing, I might keep my wits.

He nodded and whispered, "It's a good thing these hotel rooms are so huge. We had to move all the furniture to the sides to make room."

My mouth dropped open. You transformed? HERE?

"Yep." Jacob grinned. "Don't look so horrified. We have tight control over ourselves now. Two decades of practice makes perfect."

You do, but Leah?

"She's alright. Besides, I'm Alpha. She does what I tell her."

Conceding the point, I thought, I can't sleep.

"I thought you'd be awake." He still spoke in soft tones, as though he didn't want anyone to know he was here. In spite of imminent danger tomorrow, I knew that my dad would have kittens if Jacob slept in the same room as me.

Whatever, I thought for Edward's benefit, who was surely listening to our thoughts. Mom told me how you used to sneak into her room every single night. So don't even think about stopping me. And try to listen to someone else's thoughts for awhile; Jake and I need to talk privately.

I hoped that got the message across.

I sat down on the bed and patted the space next to me.

Jacob eased down next to me. The dim light from outside made a silvery outline on his skin; I saw the proud lines of his head, his profile, the sharp hollows of his muscles, the utterly capable hands. I was blown away. How had I never really noticed how attractive Jacob was? He looked like the cover of a romance novel. He looked like… a warrior chief, I thought. Magnificent.

My body was suddenly flushed. All I needed to do was reach out… but no. We really did need to talk first.

"Ness," he said.

"Jake," I said.

"I love you," he said.

The sound of those words made me take a quick breath. He'd never said them in quite that way before… not like he loved me, but like he was in love with me.

"I love you, too," I whispered back.

Heat emanated off his body like he was on fire. The air between us seemed magnetized, drawing me closer. I was overwhelmed with yearning for him. Not yet, Ness, I told myself.

"I guess now's as good a time as any," he said.

"You sure you're not a mind-reader, too?"

"Just perceptive," he said, brushing his fingers across my cheekbone, pushing back a stray lock of hair.

I shivered, but not from cold.

"Okay," I said, pulling myself into a cross-legged position, facing him. "I have some questions for you."

"Can I answer them now? You don't even need to ask."

"It hurts me to even think about having to ask them."

"Then don't ask."

"But…"

"How about I just talk," Jacob said. "I'll tell you the whole story. I should have told you years ago. We just never thought it would be… relevant. It's so ancient, it's like it didn't even happen."
"But it did!" My whisper was a low wail and I seized his forearm, trying to ignore its tensile strength, the hard, silky smooth skin over muscle. You were in love with my mother before I was born. And that's twisted.

Jacob pursed his lips and said, "Are you going to let me explain?"

Oh, fine.

"Okay. I had kind of a crush on Bella, starting when I was fourteen. And there's your first clue, I was a teenage idiot who latched on to the only pretty girl I had even a ghost of a chance with. And then, when the leech – I mean, your father – left her for her own safety, she kind of broke down. I was there, her only friend, and we became best friends."

My dad left my mom?

"Yeah, well, they were teenage idiots too. Okay, Edward was, like, a hundred by then, but that didn't stop him from acting the age he looks. He was convinced that Bella needed a chance at a human life without him to complicate it."

I laughed softly at the thought of my mother, born to be a vampire, ever having a normal human life.

"Yeah, pretty silly. But none of us knew better. I was glad the Cullens left; back then, we weren't such great buddies. But Bella… she was a mess. An absolute wreck. You know how vampires freak out when they lose their mates… well, Bella, being an intense vampire at heart, was a hollow shell. And I was there for her.

"Edward came back, of course, and there was a lot of drama after that, mostly because I thought I was in love with her. I think it was more like an intense physical longing to be near her, and I couldn't translate it any other way. And of course I love her as a person, too. After lots of needless trouble, Bells made her choice to marry Edward. I still hated vampires then. See, you know about the treaty the werewolves had with the Cullens?"

I nodded.

"Edward was going to violate it and turn Bella into a leech. And I couldn't forgive him for that. I ran away –"

Oh, you, too?

Jacob grinned in the darkness. "Guilty. And then when Bells came home from her honeymoon she was pregnant with you, and the compulsion to be near her was overwhelming. I thought I was some crazy kind of masochist… watching the lee—sorry, I mean, Edward's – baby destroy her from the inside out."

I winced. I always felt bad about that one.

"S'okay, you were what I called the monster fetus, you didn't know any better." He ruffled my hair.

Aw, shucks, Jake.

"And then you were born, and I was completely about to kill you, and then I looked into your eyes…" he shrugged. "The rest you know."

Okay, fine, I said. But what about the kiss? And – oh, God, Jake, you didn't do anything else with her!?

"No!" His eyes widened. "No, I never. And I kissed Bells, trying to persuade her to choose me over Edward, and frankly, it wasn't even that great of a kiss. Remember, I was a teenage idiot. It got her all mad and she punched me in the jaw. I deserved it."

Yes, you did deserve it.

"So you see, Ness, it's all such ancient history. It means nothing now. Bella and I are exactly what we were meant to be, best friends. And I'm pretty sure I was so obsessed with her because she was almost you… that's why it was so intense. Somehow I knew that my true love was associated with Bella. I never imagined –" his voice broke slightly "—I never imagined such a miraculous, beautiful creature as you could ever exist for me."

"Oh," I breathed aloud.

"Ness," he said, taking my head in his hands, lacing his fingers through my curls. My scalp tingled under his touch. "Are you okay now?"

I'm better than okay, I thought. Jake, stay with me tonight. I don't know what'll happen tomorrow.

"I'm here," he whispered. His deep voice was a trembling vibration on the air.

I stood on my knees and leaned forward, swaying towards him. His hands moved down to my shoulders, my arms, my hands.

All I wanted in the whole world was here in front of me. He was the center of my awareness. Nothing else mattered. Feeling bold, I untied the sash of my cloth robe and let it fall open.

I was very glad that I was wearing the adorable white-and-blue lace underwear set that Alice had given me for my birthday.

I could almost feel the path of Jacob's gaze over my skin. His breathing hitched. When he finally spoke, his voice was full of wonder. "Oh, Ness…" Then his hands reached around my waist and he pulled me down next to him on the bed, and his mouth covered mine in a heated kiss.

I moaned into his mouth and twisted myself closer to him, shrugging my arms out of the robe. It was incredible, being skin to skin, feeling the contrast between the smooth ripples of his stomach and the rough fabric of his jeans. My hands raced down his spine, resting in the small of his bare back, pulling him closer to me.

His kisses were dizzying, somehow tender and rough at the same time, and I was putty in his arms. I couldn't even think, only feel as he kissed along my jaw, down my throat, down even further…

I wrapped my legs around him. "Jake…"

He could see what was in my mind and his hands were everywhere I wanted them to be. I only existed to know myself through his touch. I was nothing in the entire universe but Jake's.

Just when I felt I was about to melt from the heat between us, his breath tickled my ear. "If we go any farther, you know your dad's going to come barging in here."

I pouted. He was right.

"Besides, if we want any hope of getting him to leave us alone in the future…"

Less talking, more kissing, I demanded.

Jacob chuckled, but continued, "As I was saying. You're my Almighty Imprinted One, as you love to say. That means I'm bound by wolfish duty to do the right thing for you… and that's to marry you."

Fine, fine, marry me, whatever! Just don't stop kissing me.

Then I pulled his head down and silenced him on my own.