Chapter 34 — Renee Swan

The more successful the villain, the more successful the picture.

Alfred Hitchcock

Jacob's POV

Storming into my Forks home, I threw a "don't even ask" look at my father. Billy never liked the choices I made in life, and I wasn't about to discuss why I had been behind bars.

"I'm not staying long, Dad," I said. "All I need is a shower and fresh clothes, and then I'll be out of your hair."

Once in my old bedroom, I opened and closed my dresser drawers, searching for something suitable to wear. Nothing, absolutely nothing. All the clothing I had left behind, when I moved out, was complete garbage, but what I found would have to do until I returned to Seattle.

After stripping off the three-piece suit, which would be burned, I stepped into the hot spray. The stink and filth of the jail cell swirled down the drain. Refreshed, I rejoined my father in the living room, tossing the suit into the fire.

Billy's eyes moved to the fire a moment before looking away. "How's Bella?" he asked.

My hands balled into fists. "How she's doing is none of your concern," I said.

He "hmmm'd." "Have you two set a date?"

I turned, hate for my father filling me, but I said nothing. He had wanted to see Bella and me get married, and she and I did talk about the future before I had made certain life-changing decisions that ended with me getting arrested for the first time. Plus, her parents didn't see the future Bella and I had laid out, and they made Bella break up with me. Three weeks later, I killed them and kidnapped Bella. I told Billy that Bella had come to me for protection. He bought it hook, line, and sinker. But where he had gotten the idea we were getting married was beyond me. There was only one reason I put up with her bullshit all these years—I wanted her powers. But I had to wait until she turned twenty-one—only then would she have her full powers. "No, we haven't," I answered, fisting my hands. "Bella doesn't want to get married until she's twenty-one. You know that."

Billy nodded. "Still, you can start planning. Some places you have to book a year in advance. She deserves a day she will remember forever."

"You just don't understand. You never did." Throwing up my hands, I walked out of the house and vanished.

Bella's POV

Darkness surrounded me as I woke with a sense of dread. Jacob was free; I didn't know how I knew that, but I did. "Edward," I whispered, shaking him. No response other than a loud snore. I shook him hard. Again, no response, not even a snore. "Edward, please wake up."

"Ouch," he said sleepily, rubbing his shoulder. "Why did you shock me?"

"Huh?" I remarked, looking at my hands. They were tingling. "I didn't. At least, I don't think I did."

Edward sat up, glancing around the dark room. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

I wasn't sure how to answer. "Nightmare, I think." I sighed. "Has Jacob been released?"

His shoulders slumped forward. "Yes."

"When were you going to tell me?" I questioned.

He took a deep breath and released it. "Love, you've been through so much because of him," he replied.

My eyes went wide. "You weren't going to tell me."

He ran a rough hand down his face. "No, I wasn't," he admitted, defeated. "Not because you don't deserve to know, Bella. It's more like my way of protecting you from unneeded stress."

My eyes closed and I shook my head. "I know you want to protect me, but keeping things from me is not a good idea. I'd rather hear something unpleasant from you than to find from someone else."

Edward cupped my cheek, leaning forward until his forehead rested on mine. "I'm sorry, love. I can't promise to not keep things from you, especially when your safety is concerned." He blew out a breath that tickled my lips while he brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "How did you find out? I told no one, and I don't think Brody heard that part of the call with Emmett."

I bit my lip, and he prized it free. "I was dreaming about something. I can't remember what it was about, but Jacob appeared and I was instantly afraid." With a sigh, I slipped my arms around his neck.

His arms wound around me, pulling me close. "I won't let him take you from me, Isabella. I'll slaughter him if he tries."

Edward's POV

Once Bella was asleep again, I slipped from bed and left the room. I wasn't sure who was up with the watch—Finlay or Brody—but I needed to talk to one of them.

"Ye should be in bed," Brody said from the table, setting his cards down on the table. "Ah fauld." He stood, stretching. "What has ye up at this hour?"

"Something that was said on the journey here," I said. "Are there any other stories about these caves other than the one Isabella shared?"

He scratched his head. "Naught that I know of. Finlay might know of more," he replied. "He'll be up in a half hour."

That was too long to be away from Bella. With my head, I motioned to those still playing cards. "Would any of them know?"

"Ouch, no. They're clan members but didn't grow up in these parts. Finlay be the better bet. He's not strayed far from the keep."

I ran a hand roughly down my face, glancing over my shoulder at the curtained-off chamber.

"Her ladyship will be fine," Brody said. "Ye'll hear if she calls out."

I turned back to face him, deciding to wait until Finlay was up.

Finlay did know of another story but informed me that is was just a variation of the one Bella told.

"So, you don't know what will happen if an uninvited magical guest enters the caves?" I asked.

Finlay shook his head. "But if what happened to ye and Isabella is any indication, the spirits will mess with any who enter."

I stared at him for a long moment. "Jacob's been released and could be looking for her," I said. "I need to know if the spirits will help protect her or if I need to take her somewhere else."

All but five candles in the main chamber went out. Finlay, Brody, and the rest of the elite guard jumped into action, hands going to the dirks at their waists. Finlay moved swiftly toward the curtained-off chamber, and the others chose one candle to face.

When I went to stand, a hand came to a rest on my shoulder. "Your heart is in the right place, Edward," a female voice said. "But this is the safest place for my daughter."

My heart was pounding loudly in my ears as I turned and came face to face with someone who vaguely looked like Bella—or was it Bella that looked like the woman who was sitting next to me. "W–who are you?" I asked, backing away quickly.

"Renee Swan," she answered. "Bella's mother."

Swallowing loudly, I looked around. Finlay was frozen mid-step, halfway between the spot where I sat and the chamber Bella was asleep in. The others were also in a state of suspended animation. I returned my attention to Renee.

"There's no need to worry. The spirits will protect the both of you from Jacob Black if he steps foot in these caves," she said.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Why is Jacob intent on harming Bella?"

Renee gazed sadly in the direction of where Bella slept. "He wants her powers," she replied, facing me again. "But what he doesn't know is that he's already too late."

"What do you mean?"

A tear slowly slid down her face. "Jacob believes that he can obtain her powers when she turns twenty-one. And he could have if it wasn't for her finding you." Renee lifted her hand, touching my face. "The reason Charlie invited you over the night we were killed was so you could meet Bella. What he didn't know was that she already had plans with a friend."

"Angela," I said.

She nodded. "It was too late to call and reschedule. You arrived five minutes after she and Angela had left."

My head fell into my hands. "Had I not been delayed, I would have been there before she left," I whispered to myself.

Renee caressed my back. "Don't blame yourself, Edward. You didn't know Charlie and Malcolm had an ulterior motive. Destiny had other plans for you and Bella, and it brought you together in the end."

There was nothing I could say to refute that statement. "But that doesn't explain why Jacob is too late," I remarked, glancing at her.

She smiled at me. "Doesn't it. Paulo Coelho wasn't wrong when he said, 'Destiny means there are opportunities to turn right or left, but fate is a one-way street. I believe we all have the choice as to whether we fulfil our destiny, but our fate is sealed.' You had a choice in September to either approach or ignore Bella at the bar, and you chose to be drawn in. Had you chosen the other path, destiny would have found another way to get you two together."

I sat back, thinking about that. Malcolm had said something I repeated hours ago to Bella about her and my fate being written in the stars. "How do you know what happened in September?"

She let out a laugh much like Bella's. "Charlie and I had been watching over Bella. We stopped when you took her up to your sister's office, knowing she was in good hands."

I grimaced, thinking about what transpired between Bella and me yesterday. "You haven't been checking on her from time to time, have you?"

She raised an eyebrow. "We have, but not since the graveyard. Is there a reason you're asking?"

"No, just curious."

The candles flickered. "My time is drawing to a close. Charlie and I are happy you found our daughter."

"I love her," I said.

She smiled widely, showing her teeth. "I know. You've looked over toward the curtain six times since I appeared. Take care of her," she said, vanishing as the extinguished candles lit again.

"Keep an eye, men," Finlay said, coming back to life.

"There's no danger, Finlay," I shouted. "Renee wanted to talk to me."

He swung around to face me. "Renee? She been in the grave for three years."

"That doesn't mean she can't become a corporal being for a brief time," I said.

Finlay's eyes went wide as he took in the rest of the group and how they were positioned. "A pentagram," he whispered, crossing himself. "By the saints and spirits, I didn't recognize it before, just jumping to action."

I shook my head. "I don't think they'll hold it against you. And I won't be taking Bella anywhere. She's safe here," I said, standing. A yawn escaped me. "I'm going back to bed."

A smile split my face when I saw Bella was still sleeping soundly as I reentered the chamber. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I brushed my knuckles over her cheek before leaning down and kissing it. "I love you," I whispered.

A/N: Looking back at the quote at the beginning of the chapter, it's a bit ironic since Jacob has been very unsuccessful in re-kidnapping Bella. :)

Some definitions:

Ah fauld is Scottish for "I fold."

According to the Scottish National Dictionary, "Ouch" is an interjection meaning "a sound representing a forcible expulsion of breath, a gasp or grunt, used as an exclamation of exertion, pain or disgust."

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