Chapter 92
"It's almost time," Alice said to everyone, who had packed themselves into the Cullens' living room. She glanced at a clock and read the hands as they sat facing specific Roman numerals. "They'll be here before five."
Everyone looked at the clock simultaneously, noticing it read ten minutes past four.
"I'd say at four thirty, everyone should get down there," she concluded, linking hands with Jasper.
Everyone nodded and exchanged glances. Some were nervous; some determined and others a combination of a number of things.
Carlisle looked over at Masen, who was clutching his necklace and rubbing it nervously. He draped an arm around Leah's shoulders and she leaned herself into him.
"Ready?" Esme asked him. He switched his gaze to hers and felt her reaching for his hand.
"I'm ready," Carlisle told her. He planted a kiss on her cheek and left his lips there for a few extra seconds, "I'll do everything I can to protect you both."
Esme closed her eyes and pulled him into a tight hug.
Bella and Edward both looked at his parents, then to each other.
"This sucks," Bella told him quietly, "Carlisle and Esme, they don't deserve to go through this."
Edward grazed her face with his hand, "I know. Hopefully Aro will come to his senses."
"That's doubtful. Alice would have said something."
"If that's the case, all we can do is fight... and pray."
Bella looked back to Carlisle and Esme, who had separated only a little, speaking very closely to each other. She then looked to Renesme and Jacob, who were heading across the room to them.
"I won't let anything happen to Renesme," Jacob promised.
"What is that Masen asked you to do?" Bella asked.
This was the first time Edward heard of any plan, and read his daughter's thoughts before she could answer.
"That's the best idea for you," he told her, approving of the situation.
"What?" Bella asked again.
"Me and Jacob are going out by the ledge to make a fire," Renesme told her.
"For what?"
They both looked over toward Carlisle and Esme, and Edward knew that there was a plan in effect involving Masen that none of them wanted his parents to know about. He was about to protest, but Jacob spoke before he could.
"Alice knows," he said, "She already confirmed that it would be a success."
"Alice knows?" Edward asked.
Bella was still in the dark and looked back and forth between them all.
"Yes," Jacob explained, "And as you probably can tell by now, so do Emmett and Jasper."
They both looked over their shoulders, seeing if anyone had picked up on their conversation. No one had, too in depth with their own interactions.
Edward knew it wouldn't work if Carlisle and Esme found out because they would certainly try to prevent the plan, depsite Alice's visions. He whipped out his phone and texted Jacob so no one would know what they were saying.
Bella followed over Edward's shoulder, and within a few minutes, the phone conversation ended with Jacob's text in full capital letters stating: DON'T SAY ANYTHING!
They all nodded in understanding. Edward caught sight of Masen using his phone, as well and picked up on Emmett across the room responding every ten to twenty seconds, or so. He knew they were doing the same thing.
"Why doesn't Rosalie know?" Bella whispered.
"For the same reason as my parents," Edward whispered.
People began filling out of the house, eager to get things started and even more to get things finished, one way or another. Their group of four made their way toward the back doors. As they began to exit, Edward and Carlisle became shoulder to shoulder and made eye contact.
"Can I talk to you for a second," Edward asked.
Esme and Bella exchanged glances and left the house together, though didn't go very far. They watched through the windows at their husbands' conversation.
"Carlisle, if things start getting out of line," Edward said, "I want you, Esme and Masen to leave. Renesme and Jacob are going to be out by the cliff overhanging the beach. Take the two of them and go."
He shook his head, "Edward, I'm not leaving you all."
"You've created this wonderful family. Even if it's without us, you and Esme, Masen and Renesme... Leah and Jacob, can start over."
"You're not going to fall today son," Carlisle told him, "I won't let you."
"I won't let you," Edward said back sternly, but sadness lingered in his voice, "Our world needs you. It would be so inhumane without you."
Carlisle put a hand on his shoulder, "I understand your feelings, and if something terrible were to happen, I'd send Masen after Renesme and tell them to go," he shook his head, "But I'm not leaving until the Volturi back down, until they're dead or... or until I'm dead."
Bella saw the pained look on Esme's face at Carlisle's choice of words. She seemed to wince as if someone punched her in the chest.
"They're going to be fine," Bella tried reassuring her. The two of them shared a long hug. Over Esme's shoulder, Masen, Leah, Renesme and Jacob waited for them patiently.
Carlisle and Edward both looked down at Esme and Bella. "Come on, son," Carlisle said, "We should go."
Edward pulled his father in for a hug, "We won't let them hurt Masen."
"We won't let them hurt Renesme," Carlisle said back.
They left the house, each grabbing the hand of their mate and walked to their children. The eight of them marched to the field, where most of the vampires were waiting as Alice instructed. Some of the wolves were in hiding, knowing that the Volturi were bringing some newborns along. Although they were certain Aro would have them trained, the act of surprise was an advantage they chose to persue.
"We'd better get going," Jacob said to the group.
Bella and Edward gave separate hugs to Renesme, each whispering words of love and wisdom to their daughter as they did. Her amber eyes were covered with tears that were yet to fall, though as Edward pulled her in a second time for a hug, she let them out in full force.
Carlisle saw the hurt expression on Edward's face, as well as Bella's as she stroked her daughter's back.
"Alice said we'll be okay," Jacob said reassuringly.
Edward nodded to him, "Take care of her out there."
"What did Alice see?" Esme asked.
The last thing Edward wanted to do right before a potentially deathly battle was to lie to his parents, so he told as much of the truth as he could without ruining the plan.
"Just that Renesme and Jacob would be safe at their place that she set up for them."
The explanation seemed to satisfy her, and he was thankful she didn't press the issue. Bella clutched Edward's arm as Jacob and Renesme darted off to where they could no longer be seen.
"So this is it, huh?" Masen asked, looking at Carlsle.
"This is where we stand up for what's right," his father told him.
He nodded, then looked at Esme, "Mom. Dad, said it would be pointless, but I want to ask you anyway. Will you sit this out, and go down to the reservation with Charlie and Sue?"
Esme looked around, "Masen, I can't-"
"I don't want anything to happen to you," he told her, "I can't have something happen to you because of me."
She walked up to her son and pulled him into her arms, "Masen, none of this is because of you. It's because of the Volturi's greed. You're my little boy Masen. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Nothing in this world could make me leave you right now."
Carlisle saw tears about to fall from his son's eyes as the two of them made eye contact, and didn't break it. A single tear slid down Carlisle's face, that matched the few that began to fall down Masen's onto Esme's shoulder. He made his way to his father next and hugged him fiercely.
"Even if this doesn't end up the way it should," Masen said, "Thank you for a great year."
Carlisle found himself speechless, and continued to hug him, making eye contact with Esme the same way he had before with Masen.
"I see them," Alice's voice came, bringing everyone back to reality.
Masen and Carlisle broke apart and they all raced up to where the front line of their defense stood.
Across the field of white, a parade of black and gray streamed from the privacy of the trees and into their once peaceful realm. The day had come again, and this time they were certain that Aro was out for blood.