Ok, so I'm really late again :( however, guess what I've been doing? I have an approximate chapter count for you! Yes, I outlined the rest of the chapters (first time actually lol…I know, not very responsible but, well the story's come along alright, no?) and it's going to be between seventy-five and eighty chapters total, depending on whether or not some scenes are longer than I outlined them. Given that we are on chapter 63 that means about another twelve to seventeen-eighteen chapters left, which (if I keep updating two to three times a week) means the story will be finished in four to six weeks! Yes, I know I said by July but…well, we'll see lol. Anyway, thanks again for all the lovely reviews, I love you guys, really I do! Here's the next one, read, review, and enjoy!
I do not own any of Stephanie Meyer's work, solely the plot and some new characters in this story.
******************Seth***********************
I ran as fast as I could home, not really knowing what I'd be packing—if I needed to at all—but knowing there was no point in waiting restlessly.
Seth, don't worry about packing, I'll take another set of clothes for you. Let the others know, Leah, Paul, and Jared. I'm making arrangements for our temporary leave.
Yes sir, I thought, right before his thoughts vanished.
Leah was going to be pissed, no doubt, but it was Jake's order. Luckily for me she found me before I found her.
HE SAID WHAT?
Relax, sis, we still have another couple of hours or so before—
WHY CAN'T THE BLOODSUCKERS JUST TAKE CARE OF IT THEMSELVES!
The Cullens, Leah, not bloodsuckers—
Oh please, now you're trying to be politically correct?
I sighed. The Cullens don't think we should be going at all, but…well you know Jake when it comes to Nessie. He wants us all on the next flight to Italy, about three hours after theirs actually. He—
So they don't even know we're going? GREAT, JUST PEACHY!
Calm down, Leah. Embry.
Yeah, we get to kill bloodsuckers! It'll be a blast! Paul
I didn't have to listen as Leah phased out to know what kind of thoughts were going through her head.
Hey guys, so where are we going?
I groaned at the last voice. Adrian, a newer member, way too young…
Sorry, kiddo, strictly fifteen and up, Jake's orders.
Aaawww! Come on, please!
Nope, sorry, Alpha says no need for kiddies. Besides, who's going to stay here and protect La Push while we're gone?
That seemed to brighten his mood. Hey yeah…and just like that, he was gone, off to tell the other pups—only about three more—the 'good' news.
I couldn't help but feel my own burst of energy. Those vampires would never know what hit them…
*************************Alice***********************************
It was only a matter of several more minutes, eternal minutes till our plane would arrive and we could board. I closed my eyes in pretense of mild sleep; the truth was I was completely frustrated. I'd been sitting here as calmly as I could, Jasper on my left and Jacob on my right—though I felt his warm skin brush away as he abruptly got up, something about the restroom. It was only several minutes ago I'd been able to see several things…Edward and Bella being led down a torch lit hallway…Caius smiling smugly in satisfaction…Felix and Demetri making their way down another hallway, slightly blurry so I could assume they were near Nessie or Oliver, or both…and then suddenly everything just disappeared.
I flashed my eyes open in alarm, Jasper's calming face immediately looking deeply into mine.
"Jazz, I—"
"What? What did you see?" he asked worriedly, brushing my hair back affectionately, his calming waves easing my anxiety.
"I saw several things, glimpses mainly, and then everything just disappeared…" I felt myself stop as the warm presence was by my arm again. Jacob looked at me curiously, his eyes confused with my alarm…or so he feigned. I quickly closed my mouth and looked at him more intensely, my eyes narrowing suspiciously, my thoughts working over time and making connections…maybe…he glanced away hurriedly, avoiding my gaze afterwards.
"Alice, what—"
"Never mind," I said, absentmindedly turning around to place a chaste kiss on Jasper's nose, "it must be Nessie and Oliver blocking me out, or even that Jeanine character."
He looked like he was about to say something else but I simply smiled at him and closed my eyes once more, this time in the pretense of doing what I had originally been doing. Beside me I could almost feel the tug of a small, understanding smile on Jacob's face.
****************************Nessie*********************************
I couldn't help the surge of happiness that rose in my chest with the knowledge that I'd be seeing my parents soon. Even Felix's taunting went ignored as we made our way down the hallway towards two large doors. I could feel my heart began to race, my emotions battling an eternal fight…anxiety, fear, happiness…
Jasper, where are you when I need you…
I was numbly aware of Oliver's hand in mine, and I gently squeezed it in reassurance, recalling Jeanine's story and how important my friend was to me. He glanced at me with a nervous expression, a wane smile.
Don't worry, Oliver, I won't let anything happen to you.
He almost rolled his eyes and returned the squeeze, a look that clearly said 'don't be stupid, I'm protecting you.'
Suddenly we were through the big doors, Demetri going in first with Oliver and I in the middle and Felix in the rear. As soon as we were in, however, Oliver was quickly grasped into Felix's iron grip and Demetri lightly took hold of my arm. Then I saw them.
"NESSIE!"
"SWEETHEART!"
I felt my tears brim over, cascading down the length of my cheeks, my throat heaving dry without explanation as words failed to escape. My body knew what I wanted, though, struggling against Demetri's grip instantly. Daddy made to move forward, a terrible anger in his agonized eyes but Aro suddenly spoke.
"Go ahead, Renesmee."
At this the stone fingers quickly released me, and I ran as fast as un-humanly possible into my parents waiting arms.
No words can explain the emotion I felt as their warm embraces and kisses enveloped me with love and affection, an unmistakable joy surrounding our huddled figures. I could smell their sweet breath, slightly cooler than a humans but delectable to my pathetic frame of mind, feel their arms, hands, crooks of their necks, holding me tightly as if they would never let me go. I definitely wouldn't mind.
"Nessie, sweetheart, we've missed you so much, been so worried—" mom spoke to me softly, hurriedly, her hair brushing against my cheek as I burrowed my face into her shoulder, feeling like the fragile child I should be.
I could feel daddy's chest pressed safely behind me, protecting and secure as he clasped our embrace. His voice, more throaty than mom's, muttered incoherently, worried and scared for me, but relieved to finally have me in his arms. I said nothing, could say nothing; I was too happy, if at least for the moment.
Daddy suddenly flipped me around to face him, his haggard appearance finally fully registering in my memory.
"Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?" he demanded, anger seething out with each word. I knew he already knew what I was thinking, of course, but I could see just how frantic he was, worried out of his mind. I felt a pang of guilt with the realization, imagining the horror my already paranoid father must've gone through with my disappearance, which of course brought more tears.
"I—n-no, daddy," I managed to croak out. He realized what had been going through my mind and immediately swept me into his arms fully, holding me to the point of almost crushing; I felt no pain however, simply overwhelmed with emotion as my loving, over analytical, and obsessed father tucked me into his chest and wept as only a vampire could, his hands caressing soothingly against my shoulders and back. I embraced him with as much fervor, clutching every bit of him as I could. Mom was behind me now, softly stroking my hair as daddy continued to babble how none of this was my fault, and how he promised he would figure out how to fix everything, to save Oliver as well. His protective arms continued holding onto me, convincing all of us that they would never let go, that I would always be safe, in the invincible power that were my parents.
It was a moment of complete happiness, a moment of complete sadness. I closed my eyes and basked in this moment, never wanting to be away from them. How I missed them so! Mom, so strong, even in moments like now, shielding the world and all its evil from me; daddy, passionate and raging with the ones he loved, ready to take on whatever evils managed to escape with a vengeance only the impossible could imagine.
I should have known moments like this, amidst a peril like now, would never be long enough.
Aro said one word, one name. "Felix."
And just like that, I could feel my self being ripped away from my parents.
"DADDY! MOMMY! NO!" I screamed, kicking and flailing. Both of my parents reacted immediately, their snarls and rage bursting as they tackled my captor simultaneously, throwing him down to the floor. I only barely had time to get out of their way as daddy continued struggling against Felix's thrown figure, mom swiftly taking me into her protective hold.
"DADDY!" I cried, knowing just how strong Felix was, but my cry went in vain, as did my parents attempt to keep me from returning to their predatory arms.
In a flash, Jane walked in and appeared by Oliver's side, her teeth bared with venom as she hovered dangerously close to the crook of his neck. Oliver struggled, shaking uncontrollably as Demetri whispered something into his ear, easily audible.
"Phase and she dies."
I felt myself pale, despite mom's comforting form. I turned towards the struggle and cried out. "Daddy! Stop! They're going to hurt Oliver!"
Jane was laughing at this point, her eyes gleaming at our impossible attempts. Daddy was sent hurling towards the wall, a crack rising from the impact. I could see Jane getting closer to Oliver, licking the bare pulse of his neck lightly, threateningly.
Daddy, please! I begged.
It was instant. He looked at me and then at Oliver, anger impaling his features once more; in a flash he was by my side, wrapping his arms protectively around us. He glared at Aro and in a poisonous snarl said, "So that's it, then? Use the boy as bait? He shouldn't even be here, he didn't commit any crim—"
"But is necessary for the girls, and yours, cooperation, as you so eagerly just demonstrated," Aro interrupted. He bore an expression of pity, but I could easily guess through his lingering gaze just how eager and interested our case was to him. "Now," he continued, "if you would be so kind, Edward, Isabella, to release your daughter back into Felix's trusting care, I promise no—"
"Like hell I—" daddy began, gripping me tighter.
"—harm will come to either if you just cooperate," he continued, "don't forget, the trial is not till tomorrow and I would hate to indict the Cullen family any more than already necessary. You have seen your daughter, safe and unharmed as promised, now please release her."
I meekly stepped forward, knowing there was no other choice, but my parents' grips were no match for mine. I looked at them in surprise. Surely they knew…
"Daddy?" I spoke timidly, "Mom?"
Mom looked at me with anxious golden eyes, a quick glance in Oliver's direction, and back into mine. She hesitantly let me go, defeated. Daddy, however, remained unmoved.
"Edward," mom said softly, her eyes pleading with him. His mind seemed to be racing, fury exchanging places with fear, worry with hatred. Very reluctantly, his arms loosened around mine, his mouth hovering over my forehead with a kiss.
"I love you, Nessie, stay safe for me." He said, his eyes tortured.
"Stay strong sweetheart, I know you can," mom attempting smiling, embracing me once more before kissing me as well, "I love you."
I nodded, my voice gone and my tears falling once over. Before I could say anything Felix grabbed me and began hauling me back towards the doors, a smug smile on his disgusting face. I turned one last time as I reached the door, looking dejectedly but determinedly into my beautiful parents' faces.
I love you both.
*hides in an unknown neighbors basement* Yes, so horrible of me, I know. But there's good news too! In the next chapter we'll see both Edward's POV and Jake's POV. Let's just say that Oliver actually thought of something quite useful during this whole ordeal…hehehe. As for Jake, however…well, you may not like my latest angst event, so sorry, but…well, you'll see. I'd like to thank you all again for all the support, it's unbelievable, really, and I'm forever grateful :) Since I took forever on these last two updates I will make it a priority to update again soon, thanks everyone, love you all!