Chapter 26: Too Much
~Anna~
It was getting to be impossible to find time alone. Lily hadn't been able to show herself to me since Jacob came that night, and that had been a few days ago. The only time I was able to be on my own was when I had to go to the bathroom. It felt like I was getting smothered and I'd already yelled at Jacob a few times, telling him I just wanted him to go away. Staying at his house wasn't working out for me so they moved me to Sam and Emily's. Their house is more secluded and once I was there I hoped somehow Lily would show up, but then not. If they found her they were going to kill her. Paul already teased about it as did most of the Pack.
"Would you like some cookies?" Emily asked as she stepped out on their front patio. The summer dress she was wearing was pretty, and kind of like the one I had on.
When she sat next to me I took one and bit into it, shutting my eyes as I tried to figure out some way to see Lily.
"You've been very quiet," Emily observed.
"I'm tired of being protected all the time," I admitted, finishing off the cookie in a couple of bites.
"They do it because they love us and care for our tribe," Emily reminded as she gave me a glass of water. I sipped on it feeling guilty for complaining. Sam was the Alpha of the Pack and it made since for her to back him up.
"Do you ever get tired?"
"No, I worry about them patrolling and what other things might be out there manipulating this being that hurt you and Claire. Everyone worries about that," she answered, talking softly. Maybe Emily wanted me to say more, but I couldn't really tell her. I'd made a promise to Lily, and somehow I had to find a way of seeing her. Maybe the best place was in a public area. She didn't have to show herself, and if she was around the Wolves couldn't freak out or anything like that.
A little later, Claire arrived and Emily's attention was focused more on her. "Emily, I want to go for a walk. I promise not to leave site of the house," I said as I debated on wearing my shoes. Walks alone were allowed under those terms, and after deciding to go bare foot I went outside. It was gloomy, but warm enough that I didn't need a jacket to go over my summer dress. The wind was picking up causing the bottom part to billow out a little.
"You didn't say anything," Lily whispered. It felt like she was right by me, though there wasn't any cold. I stopped walking seeing another one of her visions. The same cabin was there in a forest. I heard screaming and we got closer.
"No daddy, no," Lily begged. I saw her and a man. He was tall with dark hair and he had her held in his arms so she couldn't get away. He was biting her neck and she was fighting with all she had. A moment later a woman ran in hitting him with a large pan of some sort. The man dropped Lily and turned, attacking the woman while Lily did her best to get away.
"He was a vampire?"
"We were meant to hide from him. My mother was human."
I started walking again as she faded away, feeling sick for what I saw. This secret was getting harder to keep, but until Lily agreed to let me tell them, I couldn't say a word. She needed someone on her side and I was going to be there for her, even if my tribe decided to cast me out.
When I got back to Emily's, Sam was home, and Claire was watching something on their small TV. How had Lily managed to see me and not have Sam or the Pack come after me. "Hi Sam," I said wondering if they did somehow know.
"Hey Anna, how was your walk."
"Pretty good. Do you know when Jacob will be here?"
"He went to Forks, but won't be there for long," Sam answered. He was calm and glanced over at Emily who was making dinner for everyone.
I nodded and went to the room I'd be sharing with Claire. When the door was shut, I sat down on the bed across the room trying to make those horrible images go away. How could a father do that to a child. Vampires weren't so bad, or maybe some of them were. The Cullens were nice enough, but that was different. I reached under the mattress and pulled out the diary that I'd gotten with a lock. The key was on my necklace, one Jacob had made me not long after he imprinted. I unlocked it and began writing everything down. I even wrote a message for Lily not to come around me for a while because I had a feeling the Pack was using me for bait.
At dinner most of the Pack was there, and those that weren't had to patrol. Jacob and I sat outside, and it was really hard keeping Lily's secret.
"What's wrong?" he asked, able to read me too easily.
"Nothing. I'm just tired of being moved around from place to place. All I really want is to just stay at my house, sleep in my own bed, and have time for things that aren't so complicated."
When he put his arm around me I sighed and leaned back against him. "I'm tired of the Pack joking about this girl. I know she hurt me, but I still feel like no one is giving her a chance to have her side of the story."
"I don't know that she has a side," Jacob said, holding me closer. "She's so young that whoever made her that way is likely just using her to spy. She's fast Anna."
"Do you know for sure if she's being used?" I asked trying to remain calm.
"No, but we can't really afford to stop and try and figure that out. We need to go on and deal with her before more trouble comes down on us."
It was really hard, but I stayed with Jacob even when Paul Rachel, and a few other members of the Pack came out to join us. Paul made more jokes about Lily and I noticed that Rachel looked down at the ground each time he did. Maybe she knew something. When she got up to leave I went with her back in the house. "Rachel?"
She turned around smiling at me. "Were his jokes getting to you too?"
"A little bit," I said, going with her into Emily's small kitchen which was also their front room. We had the place alone and when Rachel offered to pour me a glass of coke, I let her. "Do you ever wonder if maybe what that girl wants is someone to help her?"
Rachel sighed as she sat down at the circular table, "It's hard to tell. For me just thinking about someone doing that to a child makes me wish I could turn into a wolf and go after that Vampire. I nodded, wishing the Pack would think of it that way. Sometimes I wondered if the Cullens could take care of Lily, but there were laws about Immortal Children, and I wasn't comfortable enough to tell that to Rachel. We talked for a little longer before everyone but Sam, Emily, Jacob and Claire left.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Jacob asked, while Sam and Emily went to get Claire ready for bed.
"Sounds good to me." When Jacob held out his hand I took it and a while later we ended up on the beach.
"Jacob. I need to talk to Bella again," I said hoping he wouldn't get on the defensive. He hadn't been happy that day I said I wanted to be bait, but I hoped he was over it now.
"Why do you need to talk to her? You don't have to tell me," he said sounding sad, and making me feel bad for keeping so much from him.
"Because I have an idea that the Pack won't go along with. Bella and the rest of them probably won't like it much either, but they won't think I'm betraying them," I said feeling my resolve to keep the secret slipping.
Jacob stopped walking and when I looked back at him he looked worried, "You know something don't you?"
"It's not my place to say, and if you love me you will help me talk to Bella again." I felt like a brat using my love for him as a way to get things done. What I needed was someone older on my side who I could tell about Lily's vision.
"You promised," Lily said sadly.
Jacob spun around and began to shake. "No Jacob," I yelled running to his side. I held his hand and got in front of him even as Lily stood her ground. "Jacob look at me," I said firmly, and he did.
"She needs someone on her side, and I'll let the tribe kick me out for it, but I'm on her side." He began to calm down even as Lily stayed where she was. Still holding his hand I turned to face her. "You need to show him."
"He wants me dead. My father wants me dead, but I am smarter than any of them," she said giggling.
"Let me help you," Jacob said gripping my hand a little too tight.
I pulled my hand free and ran to her. She was feather light and mostly skin and bone, and Jacob was shaking again.
"Run," she whispered.
I did, hearing Jacob yelling for me.
"Anna no," Jacob yelled.
"Can he see me?"
"Not now, but you got to go faster," Lily whispered.
~Bella~
Being away from my children for a week was too long, and Edward and I had been talking about heading back to the Island. The Pack seemed to have everything under control for the most part. Edward had gone with Carlisle and Esme to hunt, leaving me home to watch over Charlie, though my dad didn't know that was part of my reason for staying. He had just gone upstairs to go to bed when I heard someone approaching in the distance. I went out the back door not seeing anyone, and felt my body tense, ready to protect my father and myself when Anna appeared with a little girl on her back. My mind registered who the child was, and I knew I couldn't panic.
"We don't have anyplace to go, and Lily agreed to let someone help her as long as it's not the Pack."
My cell went off and I wondered how long it had taken Anna to get all the way here, or how long she had been gone. My caller Id registered Jacob's name, but I put the phone back in my pocket.
"She showed me what happened to her."
The child on Anna's back was not a full vampire, nor was she like my own children. The longer I stood there the more I realized that she had some human traits, like blood that I could smell running through her body at a very slow rate and a heart beat that barely registered unless I was focused. "Lily, is anyone with you?"
"I got away and I won't go back," she whispered.
My phone went off again, but I chose to ignore it as I stepped into the yard, slowly approaching them. "Will you let me help you?"
"You won't kill me?"
"No," I said unsure of keeping that promise if she became violent.
"You are nice to Renesmee," Lily said still clinging to Anna's back and neck. The fact that she had been around my daughter made it hard to stick to my promise. When I was close enough she held out her hand and a second later I was seeing images in my mind much like what Renesmee was able to do. As she showed me her past, I wondered if she had taught this to my baby or if some half human half vampire children possessed the ability to share.
"Is your father named Joham?"
Lily nodded her head and I reached for her as my cell went off again. With her in against my left hip I reached into my pocket and answered my cell. "Jacob, Anna is here. She's safe," I said.
"She took off with that thing," he growled.
"I'm aware of that. I need you to come alone."
"She's with you, that thing and you're actually going to defend it after what she did to Anna and Claire."
Lily watched me closely. "Lily needs a chance and she won't bother your tribe again," I said calmly, knowing that my own husband would likely not be on board with keeping this child. Rosalie came to my mind, but for right now Anna needed to go home. In the end Jacob agreed to come alone to get her and we sat on the front porch waiting for him as Lily drifted to sleep cradled in my arms.
"Will you really help her?"
"We will find a way," I said softly.
Anna ran to Jacob the moment he was out of his car and he hugged her as she started to cry, worried about having to leave her home since she had stood up for the little girl. He glanced at me once as he got her into the car and when they were gone I called my husband.
"How far are you from home?"
"Why, what's happened?"
"I have Lily," I said hearing the wind blowing through the receiver of his phone as he began to run.
"She will have to be taken care of," he reminded.
"She's not immortal. She has blood in her body and a heart beat," I said and explained to him what I'd seen in Lily's mind sharing.
After hanging up with my husband, I went upstairs and laid Lily down in my bed. It was strange that she trusted us so easily after all of the dodging around she had done, and I hoped Edward would be able to hear her thoughts to be sure we weren't being fooled. Why was I so willing to put my family in danger to protect her, and was this need to keep Lily safe something she was doing to me? Once the covers were pulled over her, I got on my phone and got a hold of the private airlines our family used, booking a flight for the next evening.
By the time Edward got home our things were packed and he pulled me into his arms just at the top of the stairs where I had been sitting trying to clear my mind. "Do you get anything from her?"
First my husband kissed me before glancing at the closed door of my old room. Edward stood still for a few minutes before he focused on me again. "She's dreaming, but nothing solid. I won't know what she is thinking until she's awake. Bella, Carlisle and Esme suggested we let Rosalie and Emmett take the babies home."
It was difficult to think about being away from Renesmee and Anthony any longer than we needed, but Edward was right and I nodded. "Anyone who agrees to take care of her is at risk," I pointed out.
We stood up as we heard Charlie moving around and quietly slipped in to my room. Lily remained asleep only taking an occasional breath of air as she clutched my pillow against her chest. "I keep wondering if this need to protect her is something she's doing to me, and something she did to Anna."
Edward took my hands and I looked up at him, "I'm sure seeing what she showed you affected both of you in the same way. She should be protected and hopefully we can come up with a way to do that."
My thoughts had been on Rosalie and even Emmett wondering if they would be willing to do that. They knew we were bringing Lily to the Island and I wasn't aware of my sister making any protests of taking Renesmee and Anthony away. "How did Rosalie take the news?"
"Emmett says she's trying to keep her focus on our two, not wanting to get her hopes up. I think if we give them they choice they would take Lily and keep her safe," Edward said. There was a sadness in his voice and I knew what it was from.
"That means not seeing them as much."
"And it would mean ending Rosalie's pain over not having a child, so that might be better."
It wasn't long after Charlie left that Lily woke up. Edward was able to read her thoughts finding that she was very thirsty, something we took care of rather quickly. Once that was taken care of he made her breakfast, eggs and pancakes which Lily inhaled as though it had been months since she had eaten.
A little later Edward convinced Lily to let him see her memories and was as angered and shocked as I was that Joham would have done that to her. As Lily sat working a puzzle, still in her tattered dress, I was on the phone with Esme who was buying clothes for Lily to wear both here and at the Island. Carlisle was with Esme, and I hoped when they got back he would be able to examine Lily and maybe find some answers as to why she hadn't turned fully into a vampire at the time of her change.
"Will I live with you?" Lily asked Edward as I got off the phone.
"Is there anyone else you want us to help find?"
"No, they are all very bad." Lily left the puzzle he had been helping her with and began to play with some other toys on her own leaving me a chance to talk to my husband.
"She's keeping something from us?"
"Yes, I think there was more that happened the night she was turned." We didn't say anything other than that, not wanting to upset the little girl.
A few hours later Carlisle and Esme returned with several bags of clothing for Lily. By then the little girl was feeling comfortable around us. Carlisle was able to examine her without Lily being aware and agreed that she would likely grow into an adult just at a much slower rate than a normal child. While Esme took her upstairs to get a bath and try on some of the new clothes we sat in the living room while my father-in-law told us what he observed.
"Why is she so trusting of us?" I asked.
"She may have been able to observe how you care for Renesmee and Anthony and is too frightened to keep running. I would be interested in knowing how she can shield her entire body," Carlisle whispered
I nodded, "Maybe like how I am able to with my mind, but how could she learn that and not struggle the way I do?"
"She had too," Edward said as Carlisle and I turned to look at him. "What her father did to her was beyond cruel. If there was more done to her, she may have developed that to get away."
We all stopped talking when we heard the water being let out of the bath and a few minutes later Esme came downstairs holding Lily against her right hip. The little girl was all clean and there was a little color in her cheeks.
"Are we really going to an Island?"
"Yes we are," Carlisle said as Esme sat next to him.
With Lily safe Edward and I went outside to hunt. It was getting close to the time we needed to leave and we were hunting one last time more for my benefit than his. This time I followed him, focusing on maintaining control as he led the way. Always when we hunted I tried to go my own way because I felt threatened even by my own husband when I made a kill. Edward sped up and I sniffed the air smelling a bear. By the time I got to him the bear was down and he gazed up at me as I stood several feet away from him. He started to leave the bear and I realized what he was doing, wanting to tell him not to give up what he had worked hard to catch and track down, but my throat was burning and he wanted this for me.
Later, once we had disposed of the bear carcass and the lion he had caught while I drank, my husband took my hand and we ran side by side back toward Forks. "What if we're wrong about Lily and there is someone who can hide like she can?"
"I've been thinking about that. I believe that at one point whoever she was with had some sort of control over her, but not like that. Her thoughts keep taking her back to that night she was turned, or almost turned," Edward said as we began slowing down.
"How is it that she isn't a full Vampire? Joham bit her for that intent."
"Carlisle was thinking about that once he saw her vision and he believes that since she was born half vampire that those genes somehow protected her, keeping some part of her human."
"Is there a way he can know for sure?"
Edward shook his head, "Not without bringing her pain and he's worried she wouldn't trust us if that happened."
There was so much to think about and consider, like if she did get upset would she just disappear and run away again. I managed to slip my shield away and Edward faltered in his run when he heard my thoughts. "Your getting better at that," he observed. "We will have to find a way to get her to agree not to disappear and run away even when something she doesn't like happens to take place."
When we got home Lily ran to me and laughed when I lifted her above my head. She told me all about what had gone on while Edward and I hunted and kept talking in between bites of steak and sweet potatoes, anxious for the trip ahead of us. Charlie came home as she was finishing and Lily stopped talking the moment she heard his car.
A second later Edward had her in his arms, "You don't need to disappear. Charlie is Bella's father, and a good man."
"He won't be mad?"
"No," I answered as I left to greet my father at the door.
My dad noticed all of our bags and looked over at me as I approached him, "I thought you were staying for a while."
"We had a change of plans." He looked past me and I knew without having to see that he was gazing at Lily in Edward's arms.
"I see," he said, realizing who she was from how we all stood around her. It was Esme who coaxed Lily into helping her pack a bag of things for the plane, and when Charlie agreed to walk with me outside I was relieved.
It was threatening to rain so we stuck close to the house as I explained to Charlie what had happened with Anna, and what Lily had shown us.
"This puts all of you in danger with that Royal Clan of vampires doesn't it?"
"Yes, which is why Rosalie and Emmett took the kids back to Maine. Having her is going to mean we have to be more vigilant and she won't be staying with Edward and me," I assured.
"I wish there was more I could do," Charlie said running his hand over the back of his head.
"You being safe is all I ask." He hugged me before we headed back inside.
~Edward~
Lily was very much afraid when we got to the airport and wanted to use her ability to disappear, but Esme convinced her not to. By the time our flight was underway she had gone to sleep in one of the reclining chairs assured that we wouldn't let anyone hurt her. Carlisle and I sat in the back of the plane and he theorized that Lily would likely loose that ability the longer she was with people who would care for her the right way and keep her safe.
"Do you think Joham was working with The Children of the Night?" My thoughts had been on the first time Bella and I encountered Lily at our home in Maine. We thought Renesmee was making a play friend at the time but someone had to have gotten Lily from our home back to Forks, but for what reason?
"I'm not sure he would. They are unpredictable, which was why Caius feared them. You still believe they were using her to watch us?"
It was difficult to know what to believe or where to find the answers we needed. Having Lily under our care meant they couldn't use her anymore, but how many other children like her were out there. "I just keep wondering when the Volturi will find out and bring down wrath on them or on us," I finally said shutting my eyes.
~*~
AN: Alright, another chapter completed. So what did you think? There are many possibilities now that they have Lily and ways to find some answers but that won't be easy. My idea that they would help Lily comes from BD when they were willing to give Bree a chance with the family. I'm not sure who will take care of her at this point and it may not be them or Rosalie or Emmett, but we shall see. Let me know what you thought and as always thank you so much for reading and reviewing. That all means a great deal to me.