BELLA
Eliot gets here alright. Jen is very happy to see him. I am too, of course, but not as happy as his wife. They are too cute. I can't help but smile as they hold hands and gaze at each other. They have been together for centuries and they still act like teenagers. Whenever they are together, they are always holding hands or have their arms around each other. I am truly happy for Jen. But that doesn't stop me from wondering if I will ever have that? After Edward, can I ever have that?
Dakota arrives a little later. She is happy to be home I point out that we are in a safe house. She tells me that home is with us. I agree. I would be lost without Jen, Eliot, and Dakota. Okay, Jake and Nestalia too, I guess. Usually it's just Jen, Dakota, and me though. Often Eliot too, but he's not with us always. The council frowns upon married teammates. Dakota introduces herself to Bethany. Bethany is, of course, acting shy. Thos two will be great friends though, provided that we don't run into a healer very soon. Our Seer won't rest until they are.
"You guys up for a game?" Jake asks us all.
"My turn to pick," announces Nestalia. Jake is crestfallen.
"Okay," Eliot and Jen answer in stereo.
"Why not?" I sigh at Jake's antics.
"Umm…" Bethany stalls.
"We will have loads of fun," Dakota informs us. That ends the discussion and we all head into the game room.
EDWARD
How will we know where Bella will be? Carlisle says that Bella and that other girl wanted Demetri to deliver the message that they are going after the Volturi. So… any of the Elite Guard could be their next target. Jasper thinks about things tactically. He comes up with Demetri. The theory is that Bella and that girl left him alive so that he could deliver their message, therefore when the message has been delivered he will have outlived his usefulness. They might go back and finish the job before moving on, or they might wait. But they will come back for him. They have a plan of action, their method is so deliberate. I agree with my brother, Demetri is our best shot. They will have to come back to him eventually.
The Volturi are very anxious. We don't actually go to their residence as they might try to make Jasper, Alice, and I an offer with no chance of our refusal. We are in their city though. Demetri hasn't left the Volturi's residence since he lost his arm. At least, that's the story that is going around. Things could be worse I guess. I'm just glad we finally have a plan of action. When Bella and that girl go for Demetri, we have a shot at running into them on their way out of town.
Actually, it's kind of amazing that we have heard anything about Demetri at all. The Volturi have gotten very quiet. They also are being very careful about any information that leaves their presence. Carlisle thinks that they know what Bella is. As far as I know, the Volturi have never even hinted at the existence of other kinds of immortals. It's entirely possible that they do know though. I mean, let's face it, the Volturi are not known for their generosity with anything, especially information. If they do know what Bella is, then they might also know any limitations there might be to her immortality. I wish I could be there with her, just in case.
BELLA
The coward is trying to hide behind mommy's skirts. What Demetri doesn't know is that he isn't any safer with the Volturi than he would be anywhere else. He is just making it more fun for us. Jen and I can get to him easily enough, but where's the fun in that? Since we have to go in anyways, why not mess with the Volturi while we are there?
We settle into the new safe house and wait for Dakota to arrive. She took a detour to do whatever it is that she does when she takes a detour. We each get our own space, we are adults after all. Jake and Nestalia are christening their new bedroom. Bethany is being diligent with her meditation. Jen and Eliot are sitting very close together on a couch in the playroom and are talking quietly. I get a chance to read more of Gone with the Wind. I only have 120 pages left. I hope I can finally finish it. It's starting to feel like I started reading it in a different life. Okay, it's only been a few months. How sad is it that I am still reading it? I mean, I really can't stand Scarlett. She's one of the main characters. And I can't stand her, at all. Yet I keep on reading. Why? Because I already invested about 900 pages of reading, I have to finish now. Even if Scarlett pisses me off.
Dakota arrives, thankfully, after I finish the book. We all catch up. Then, we set up for the next day. It is decided that, while probably unnecessary, we want to do a little recon work. Hopefully, they have joined this century and now use computers to keep track of their people. That way we can hack into their system and have a more exact idea of where to find our targets will be. I know their human secretary…Gina, I think…has a computer at her desk. She might prove helpful, even if she was just recently hired.
EDWARD
It's official, this waiting is killing me. I thought it was bad not knowing anything, but this is worse. There she was…and I blew it. Now I get the added pleasure of explaining Tanya after I convince Bella that I lied. Fantastic. At least I have the possibility of seeing her again. I was so stupid. What if she doesn't even let me try to explain? What if she is going to avoid me for eternity? She did a great job for over 50 years. It would be no more than what I deserve.
Alice and Rosalie are making it clear that they are on Bella's side if a fight breaks out. A verbal fight of course, I would never be able to hit my Bella. I expected as much. They have every right to choose her side. Emmett and Jasper are less vocal, yet no less adamant, about the matter. You should never go against your mate. Carlisle and Esme will help, if they can. Not one of us knows how this whole thing will play out. Most of the possibilities are not good for me.
We have been scouring the forest surrounding the city for hours. I think that I know where they will go through on their way out of town. Jasper and Carlisle agree with each other on the fact that it's not on the quickest route out of town. Alice just keeps looking at me. Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett are on their way here. I can hear the confusion in everyone's thoughts. Everyone's except Alice's, that is. I can't get a hold on what exactly she is thinking around everyone else's thoughts. I don't even know what she's doing. I know this is the right place. Maybe it's instinct or maybe it's desperation. Suddenly, Alice goes to a log on the edge of the clearing and sits down. Now all there is to do is wait.