Chapter 10

"Saviors"

My life is so beyond different now, so much to the point where not only did I hardly recognize myself anymore but most of the time I simply no longer wanted to be myself. Who I was before The Underground was a vague and distant kind and gentle memory. A naive one. A simple one. I'd often contemplate what I could have done differently to avoid this situation but every choice I'd made up to the point where I decided to leave for Ille Esme still felt right. I hadn't made a single "wrong" decision and I wouldn't have changed anything I had decided to do on my own accord even if I could. Though most of this seemed unnecessary and thoughtless as the authorities who ruled the Kingdom of The Underground had most definitely brought upon the death to their own kind the moment they decided to interfere with the life of a Vampire's child. However I simply couldn't shake the feeling that this was always in my path. A black spot that no one could have seen in or around, not even Alice. An unavoidable nightmare that I would never have been able to escape. They were always coming for me waiting in the dark for their opportunity to strike. At least my family was spared. One thing I was sure of was if Dane had wanted to kidnap me directly from my family's home with a big enough pack of Werewolves which he had plenty of access to he easily could have destroyed the majority if not all of our now combined family coven. Then no one would have the opportunity or ability to save me, to gather an army and fight a battle against the Werewolves that we now might have a chance to win.

My night visions of Jacob were still tricky to decide if they were real or just a figment of mine and Jacob Jr's imaginations. We both badly wanted to be near Jacob and I had caught him frequently dreaming of his father so it was hard to believe any of this new "dream walking" talent of his was real. Though if anyone would be able to teach someone how to awaken a dormant talent it most certainly was Elcrie. It was hard to prepare for a possible rescue without seeming suspicious or crazy so I decided that it would be best to continue to live as I had without change in my routine. Though I did keep Stella much closer and asked for her to move into my room to help with both Ann and Jacob Jr. Though I knew I should have told Jacob about Ann, the thought of him knowing my body had been taken by another wasn't a pill I could yet swallow. I told myself that anger and grief would consume him if I had told him and that I was doing him a favor by allowing him to focus on his mission to rescue myself and Jacob. The fact that I had no clue what anyone would think of Ann outside of Rosalie who would immediately accept her without question, made me sick to my stomach. What would she be to my parents? To Jacob and Jacob Jr? How would she fit in? Then there was the question of her mortality. Clearly she grew at an accelerated rate, that much was already quite clear. However Priah had said not a single one of Dane's biological children had survived infancy so I was unaware of how much time she would have in this world especially if she continued to age rapidly. Ann seemed perfectly healthy, she fed well and often had a habit that was hard to keep up with as I was essentially a milk machine for her and Jacob Jr's constant hunger. Even though I had recently started to allow Stella to give Jacob Jr mashed up fruit and vegetables he still prefers to breastfeed which has been taxing to say the least. Though I was quite grateful to be able to breastfeed in the first place. With my genetics I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to become pregnant let alone breastfeed.

I knew I needed to find a way to get Killian into my room at some point today as by the next Moon rise the Werewolves would be released back into their homes and the castle. Each day Killian visited for an hour or so to check on Ann's health, which would be my best opportunity. However I had no time frame on when anyone would be coming nor did I know who exactly would be coming if anyone. There was so much to think about and so little time. I must have forgotten along the way to some extent that this wasn't my forever no matter how much it felt like it. Though I certainly hadn't grown comfortable with this life and I knew my family would turn the world upside down and inside out to find me the longer I was kept in this prison the more familiar I became with it. It was terrifying but manageable for the sake of my child. I did what I could to make the best of our situation as I watched Jacob Jr grow each day. Suffering in silence to keep him warm and happy. Technically he had only been shown love from Dane and his servants even if it was a facade it was better than what it could have been. Even Priah who came to visit Ann twice a day still made a point to make Jacob Jr smile and kiss his small chunky hands before she left. It was hard to know sometimes exactly what to make of her though since Ann's birth she had been much kinder to me in a sense that she essentially no longer acknowledged my existence which was alright with me. We weren't friends, just two women stuck in a tomb created by an evil man. Her death would mean nothing to me though I feared she would do whatever it might take to get Ann out of my arms when the time comes. I hated myself for it but I knew deep down if it came to being the savior of Ann or Jacob Jr, my choice would always be my son. If I had too I would let Ann go in order to get my son home to his father but I pray it won't come to that.

"Is everything alright Queen Renesmee? You are even more quiet today than you were yesterday, are your dreams bothering you again?" Stella asked sweetly.

"Sorry, I just - There's a lot on my mind these days." I replied as I stared at the gates that contained the Werewolves who would soon wake from their slumber. "What would happen if there was an incident? Would Priah release them?"

"Well when I was 2 the town caught fire, Pariah opened the gates and awoke a handful of the Wolves from their slumber and they quickly helped get it under control before returning to their slumber." Stella replied.

"What does this "slumber" do for them?"

"Well unfortunately it does weaken them as they have lost much of their power from being down here for so many generations. In order to keep what is left of their ancestors Lycian blood in their veins they have surrendered to King Dane, the last of the Werewolf elders direct bloodlines. King Dane absorbs most of their strength each year in order to maintain his own immortality and carry on protecting what is left of our kind."

"He steals their strength for himself and yet they still follow him?"

"We are one and King Dane is our protector. From a young age we are taught all about how the outside world has nearly destroyed all of our kind topside. This home that Dane created was the last refuge for our kind. Our last hope. I know it might sound like a poor choice to relinquish so much power to one man but Dane is the savior of Werewolves, our forever King."

"Why does a forever King need an heir?"

"To expand our world I suppose or perhaps he simply no longer wishes to live forever. There's been talk recently about bringing more human children down here to mix into our families and create a bigger gene pool." Stella informed me, her tone excited as she spoke. "Our people call it the Time of Invitation."

"Human Trafficking and Kidnapping is what they call it "topside". It's not something to be excited about Stella." I replied, trying to not sound too angry as I recalled that she herself is only a child.

"My apologies… It happens every 50 years or so. A group of 15-20 children no older than 4 are brought down here to be raised and eventually bred with someone of Werewolf descent."

"That's awful…"

"Well… It's how things are. My father was one of those children years ago, invited into our home and he turned out fine I think."

"Your father grew up without ever knowing who his true family was. His true mother and father. What if he had siblings? Someone who misses him?" I shot back.

"I - I um… I suppose I never thought about that…" Stella whispered.

"I can't stand this place…" I replied as a lump formed in my throat.

The afternoon was silent after our conversation. I felt a division created by my words and Stella's inability to see how jaded the world she called her home truly was. Though I wanted to ask more about how an emergency situation where the Underground had to be evacuated would work I imagine that conversation would closely mirror that of an escape plan so instead I was silent. There are hardly any book, or entertainment in the Underground which has been a torture in its own. I had read the same three books about human anatomy that Killian had loaned me to help pass the time while I breast fed Jacob at least five times and each boom was at least 8 inches thick. Not only could I recite them by now but I also edited some mistakes I found which made Killian quite happy though he chose by his own accord not to mention it to anyone.

As I stared out into the dimly lit town I began to imagine how and where my family might appear from the dark edges of The Undergrounds territory. It was difficult even with heightened abilities to see past the cave's edge as there was hardly any light. It was as if the Underground had a thick black shield that operated as a border for humans. It would be easy for even just my family to destroy the towns, though I feared what might come from the amount of blood shed that would come along with said destruction. It makes me terribly sad to think of the progress my family has made to defend their way of life and continue living it. Every sacrifice they had made would now potentially be meaningless as they may have to start over once more, if they choose to do so. It might not be so easy. All those years of repression boiling finally to the surface. The opportunity alone would be nearly impossible to turn down. If they bring Volturi they will certainly do what they can to persuade my family to feast alongside them. The Werewolves however, if they are let out they would most definitely overwhelm my family and Volturi. From what I understand they are locked away but Priah does have the ability to wake them when needed and I image in the case of an emergency such as an invasion it wouldn't take long for the Werewolves to sense the danger and rally together to fight for their home and their King. The only way this all ends is in dramatic loss on either side or perhaps both. I wonder if I'll have to fight… Who will carry Jacob Jr and the baby? Will Jacob remember Stella and Killian?

Just then a knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Killian, visiting to check on baby Ann once more as our day was already coming to an end. I'd spent all day feeding the babies changing them all the while mindlessly thinking of all of the new possibilities of what was to come potentially. God I hope I'm not just going mad. One more Moon after tonight's… That's all that's left before any element of surprise would be lost until the next blood moon. I smiled at Kilian who greeted me by kissing my hand gently before he passed by Stella and twirled her long braids through his fingers before he walked up to to Ann's bassinet.

"Is she still feeding fine?" Killian asked after a quick examination.

"Yes, sometimes I think her and Jacob might be in an eating competition that neither of them have decided to discuss with me." I joked.

"She's been growing so fast. Just three days and Ann's about the size of a two month old. It's actually quite peculiar."

"Well, she does have some Vampire in her." I reminded him.

"Is that how it works? Was your growth as a child accelerated?" Killian asked.

"How do you not know the answer to that?" I replied confused as I assumed he knew most everything about me medically as my appointed physician.

"Well… Most of the information Dane's - King Dane's - topside spies collected was, vague to say the least. From the start I told them this was a poor choice. Not that I would want any other woman to stand before me but… Well this was all completely avoidable really. Drawing attention to our home like this just for another try at an heir… I fear it will only bring trouble."

"What do you mean "attention"? I was under the assumption I was brought here discreetly and that no one could ever find me or The Underground."

"I know more about Vampires now than I ever have before. The King allowed me to read his diaries from the beginning of his creation of this world. How he came to be here, underground and alone. How he lost his ability to produce valuable offspring." Killian began.

"Is there anything you can tell me? If not for mine, then for Ann's sake… As her mother it would be nice to know if she stands a chance…" The words felt fake as I said them.

Not that I don't care about Ann's well being but even though I knew she was a part of me I still felt no maternal bond to her.

"A Vampire named Caius poisoned him over half a millennium ago. In order to weaken him in an attempt to end his life. However it only seemed to weaken his genetic code. First he thought it was the woman he chose but after so many lost souls it was apparent the common denominator was in fact King Dane." Killian spoke freely and I watched as the human guards began to tense at his words, though I could tell they were certainly interested in what he had to say. "When word of your existence came along from his spies he decided that it would make sense that a non venomous child of an immortal and a human could potentially be the missing code to his ability to pass his bloodline onto the next generations of Werewolves. So that he might finally begin his eternal rest once our Lady Ann here becomes of age and takes her place upon the throne."

"Wait… Is he dying or going to die then?" I asked.

"Yes of course. Werewolves are not immortal like Vampires. Dane has only survived this long from the power he pulls from his pack. He's wanted to die for some time now. I can only imagine what it must be like, to feel the responsibility to survive for those around you no matter how much you wish you could just… pass away in the night…" Killians eyes became lost as he spoke and I watched as Stella eyed him sadly as the words slipped from his lips.

"Yes. Whoa is the rapist King." I replied, though I was sad that Killian most definitely felt his own words, I have no sympathy for Dane. "He should have died alone and -"

"That's enough!" One of the guards interrupted. "You will not speak of King Dane in such a way! Dane is the greatest man to have ever walked this earth!"

Before I knew it I had fled from my chair and was on the guard with my hands around his neck. I heard Stella screech yet Killian only sighed deeply and chose to do nothing but stand there. Mistakenly I took this as permission to continue and turned the man's head in order to begin taking his blood... His life really. A loud blast rang through my ears and sent my body scattering away from the guards body. A gun had gone off and a bullet was shot directly into my leg. The bullet lodged into my skin and burned as it came to a halt. The man struggled to stand up, his neck bleeding badly but nothing fatal. I'd never hunted before, humans at least and my decision to drink their blood in order to stay strong had certainly strengthened my urge to hunt them. It wasn't as satisfying as I had imagined it might be in my younger days. In fact I could hunt a bear more graceful than the mess I had just made with this one messily human man.

"Renesmee! Are you alright! Stella, please take the children to the nursery now!" Killian's voice shouted as I grabbed my leg which began to writhe in pain.

"Is she okay?! Did you not see what that bitch just tried to do to me?!" The guard shouted, I watched as his gun waved in his left hand while his right grabbed his neck.

"Hold your tongue! Or I will rewrite this story in a way that does not favor you to the King!" Killian warned.

"Renesmee, you're losing some blood. Get my medical kit stat! What the hell are you all standing around staring at me for!" Killian shouted.

I watched then as a group of armed men including the guard I had attacked rushed out of the room to get Killian supplies. Now was my chance we were alone, I had to try.

"Killian… Make it a point to stay inside my room tonight, no matter what you do not leave once the moon rises. They're coming for me… My family. Don't ask how I know just - stay, please. It's the only way I can save you and Stella." It took some deep concentration but once the words left my lips it was up to him whether or not to follow my instructions.

To my surprise Killian nodded in agreement without hesitation and prepped my leg to have the bullet removed. It felt like forever but eventually the guards came with Killian's supplies and in a few swift moves Killian dislodged the bullet and wrapped my legs up neatly. It had already begun to heal itself. Killian was amazed but myself, I knew it was a sign, the first one I had since the beginning that Jacob was in fact near. By the time Killian was done word had spread of course and Priah was on her way. Before she got to the door I knew he was irate from the sound of her footsteps. Killian helped me in bed and brought both babies to my side while Stella cleaned up the mess that had been made.

"I can not believe this! A fight that ends in a gunshot the day before the rest ends! Do you have any idea the gravity of this situation girl? You can not afford to lose control! Have you no brains at all?" Priah scolded.

I wanted to fight back but… Priah was right. Letting rage get the best of me wasn't a good look. I'd survived mostly unharmed from my ability to restrain myself in difficult situations. I shouldn't have let one stupid comment get under my skin. It was too risky. Especially with my family on the way. If I somehow ruined their opportunity to surprise The Underground I would never forgive myself and there are already so many things I couldn't forgive myself for now…

"It won't happen again."

"Well I'd hope not!" Priah snapped back.

"Priah, I know you're upset but the babies need to feed." Killian cut in, coming to my rescue. "Now unless you have any more guards who would like to interrupt conversations that don't pertain to them, I think Renesmee could use some privacy."

"How is she?" Priah asked.

"Perfectly healthy, four ounces heavier today than yesterday." Killian replied as he handed Ann to me quickly.

"Good. And the boy?"

"Still as healthy and happy as ever." Killian said as he snuggled Jacob Jr who smiled at the sight of Killian reaching for him.

"Well then, I suppose that is all that matters. Lucky for you the humans and the Wolves are deep in slumber this time of night. I do hope that I don't need to warn you of the consequences of a repeat of your actions here today young lady." Priah continued as she stared me down.

"Of course not…" I replied sheepishly.

I needed to seem small to her right now. I couldn't risk her perceiving me as a threat. Priah already knew how I felt about this entire situation, however if she believed for a second that I would attack The Underground in any ways while the Werewolves were locked away, she would have me in chains away from the babies until Dane woke up to decide my fate from then on. Priah waited until Stella and Killian had the room cleaned up to leave. Killian convinced her that he should stay with me for the night in order to observe my wound and make sure it healed properly. Thankfully Priah was still just tired enough to agree before she left without saying goodbye. Sleep began to call my name once the babies went down, Stella convinced me to eat a plate of food before I laid down for my night which began the people of the Undergrounds day. I asked her to pull her cot to the side of my bed for the night so I could rest with the comfort of knowing a second person was there in the event one of the babies woke up and I needed a hand. As usual without hesitation she listened and readied her bed next to mine. Killian sat in a chair facing my bed and the three of us spoke nonsense until the guards finally exited the interior of the room for the night so we could rest. I wonder if Jacob will come again…

Soon enough my slumber was again interrupted with a delightful image of bright lights that let me know Jacob was in fact on his way. A man appeared in my room at first just a black figure but it quickly formed into that of the man I love.

"Jacob? Jacob! Is that you again? Is it really you?!"

"Yes! Ness we're almost there! You just have to hold on for a little while longer! We found a map of the cave systems! It's old but we think we know where you are! Just stay put in your room! Whatever you do, try not to leave!"

"Jacob! I've been waiting for what feels like forever to hear you say that... God I hope this isn't just a good dream..."

I ran to him as he faded in and out of my vision. A pain ran through my leg and I reacted before I could catch myself.

"What is it?"

Crap… "It's nothing I just got a charlie horse is all…"

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen-Black you have never had a charlie horse in your entire life. Give me your leg, now." Jacob ordered.

I could leave and continue to hide the reality of my situation from him… But I didn't want to… Besides if I left now I wasn't sure when I would see him next, war was coming and Jacob would most definitely be on the front lines… Reluctantly I showed him my leg. Bullet wound and all. Jacob was horrified and scarily silent as he looked it over.

"Th-They did this... to you?" Jacob asked, his voice cracking from anger.

"I attacked a guard… a human guard…"

"So they shot at you?!"

"I shouldn't have started a fight… I'm sorry…"

"They're all going to die… every last one of them…" Jacobs eyes were dark and if I was in a different place in my life I'd think they were terrifying; but in this moment I found nothing sexier than the deep look of rage that festered behind his deep brown eyes.

I wrapped myself in his arms and without thinking I began to take off our clothes and without hesitation Jacob followed suit…