The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 29. Defection

We sat thither to each whizz told dark long, statues of horror and heartbreak, and Alice neer came venture.We were whole in nonwith refuseing at our limits frenzied into absolute appeaseness. Carlisle had b bely been able-bodied to move his lips to explain it solely to Jacob. The retelling affectmed to occupy it worse even Emmett stood silent and unperturbed from whencece on.It wasnt until the sun rose and I knew that Renesmee would soon be stirring on a lower deck my circulates that I wondered for the starting-year duration what could possibly be taking Alice so long. Id hoped to spot to a greater extent in advance I was scened with my daughters curiosity. To nourish some answers. several(prenominal) tiny, tiny portion of hope so that I could smile and nourishment the honor from terrifying her, too.My smell tangle for solid set into the fixed mask it had shake saturnine on all night. I wasnt sure I had the ability to smile eithermore.Jacob w as snoring in the corner, a mountain of fur on the floor, twit chin upg anxiously in his sleep. sur sheath-to- nervous strain missile knew ein truththing the wolves were gagevasying themselves for what was feeler. non that this preparation would do anything strainingly de segment them kil conduct with the relaxation method of my family.Thesun demoralise stone-broke through and through the congest windows, sparkling on Edwards skin. My count had non moved from his since Alices departure. Wed stared at each former(a) all night, sodding(a) at what neither of us could sleep with through losing the other. I truism my coefficient of reflection glimmer in his agonized eyeball as the sun touched my experience skin.His eyebrows moved an infinitesimal minute of arc, past his lips.Alice, he verbalize.The pass out-of-door of his theatrical role was deal ice cracking as it melted. All of us fractured a myopic, ho-hum a little. Moved once more.Shes been gone a long cloc k,Rosa lie murmured, stormd.W here could she be? Emmett wondered, taking a step toward the door.Esme come in a touch on her arm. We dont indispensableness to disturb Shes never taken so long expose front, Edward said. young worry splintered the mask his face had be deal. His features were quick again, his eyes suddenly massive with angelic fear, extra panic. Carlisle, you dont count on something preemptive? Would Alice stand had time to fall upon if they sent psyche for her?Aros translucent-skinned face filled my mind. Aro, who had seen into all the corners of Alices mind, who knew everything she was candid of Emmett cussed loud enough that Jacob lurched to his feet with a growl. In the yard, his growl was echoed by his pack. My family was already a blur of action.Stay with Renesmee I all and shrieked at Jacob as I sprinted through the door.I was yet stronger than the rest of them, and I apply that strength to push myself forward. I overtook Esme in a hardly a(p renominal) bounds, and Rosalie in effective a few strides more. I raced through the thick forest until I was in force(p) d protest Edward and Carlisle.Would they check been able to surprise her? Carlisle asked, his voice as even as if he were standing motionless sooner than running at full speed.I dont see how, Edward answered. notwithstanding Aro bops her better than anyone else. purify than I do.Is this a trap? Emmett called from behind us. perchance, Edward said. at that places no roll precisely Alice and Jasper. Where were they issue?Alice and Jaspers dog was curling into a wide arc it stretched first east of the house, besides tribal chiefed north on the other spot of the river, and then back west again subsequently a few miles. We recrossed the river, all six jumping within a uphold of each other. Edward ran in the lead, his immersion total.Did you guy cablech that scent? Esme called a notch a few moments after wed leaped the river for the second time. She was the far back, on the far leave bite of our hunting party. She gestured to the s surfaceheast.Keep to the master(prenominal) puff were almost to the Quileute border, Edward ordered tersely. Stay to prolongher. checker if they turned north or s breakh.I was not as familiar with the agreement line as the rest of them, merely I could smell the hint of wildcat in the breeze blowing from the east. Edward and Carlisle slowed a little out of habit, and I could see their heads lave from side to side, detainmenting for the trail to turn. then the wolf smell was suddenly stronger, and Edwards head snapped up. He came to a sudden stop. The rest of us froze, too.surface-to-air missile? Edward asked in a flat voice. What is this?surface-to-air missile came through the trees a few hundred yards past, locomote quickly toward us in his tender form, flanked by two big wolves Paul and Jared. It took surface-to-air missile a temporary hookup to reach us his human pace made me impa tient. I didnt want time to think well-nigh(predicate) what was happening. I precious to be in motion, to be doing something. I wanted to have my ordnance around Alice, to know beyond a doubt that she was safe.I watched Edwards face go absolutely white as he read what surface-to-air missile was thinking. Sam ignored him, face straight at Carlisle as he stopped walking and began to speak.Right after midnight, Alice and Jasper came to this place and asked allowance to cross our land to the ocean. I given(p) them that and escorted them to the coast myself. They went immediately into the water and did not return. As we journeyed, Alice told me it was of the utmost importance that I say nothing to Jacob nigh perceive her until I spoke to you. I was to time lag here for you to come experienceing for her and then give you this note. She told me to obey her as if all our lives dep terminate on it.Sams face was grim as he held out a folded rag of paper, printed all over with small stern text. It was a varlet out of a mass my discriminating eyes read the printed rowing as Carlisle unfolded it to see the other side. The side facing me was the copy refine page from The merchandiser of Venice. A hint of my own scent blew off of it as Carlisle move the paper flat. I realise it was a page torn from one of my books. Id brought a few things from Charlies house to the bungalow a few sets of normal c masshes, all the earn from my mother, and my favorite books. My tattered collection of Shakespeare paperbacks had been on the bookshelf in the cottages little brisk agency yesterday morning.Alice has decided to lead us, Carlisle whispered.What? Rosalie cried.Carlisle turned the page around so that we all could read.Dont look for us. at that place isnt time to waste. Remember Tanya, Siobhan, Amun, Alistair, all the nomads you can go through. Well set close out Peter and Charlotte on our modal value. Were so sorry that we have to leave you this way, with no goodbyes or explanations. Its the except way for us. We cheat you.We stood frozen again, the repose total plainly for the sound of the wolves take heedtbeats, their breathing. Their plans essential have been loud, too. Edward was first to move again, speaking in repartee to what he heard in Sams head.Yes, things are that dangerous.Enough that you would stop your family? Sam asked out loud, censure in his tone. It was dismiss that he had not read the note before giving it to Carlisle. He was upset now, looking as if he regretted listening to Alice.Edwards font was stiff to Sam it credibly looked sore or arrogant, entirely I could see the shape of pain in the steadfastly planes of his face.We dont know what she saw, Edward said. Alice is neither un facial expressioning nor a coward. She dear has more information than we do.Wewould not , Sam began.You are bound otherwise than we are, Edward snapped. 1/1/e each still have our free for admit.Sams chin jerked up, and hi s eyes looked suddenly flat black. further you should heed the warning, Edward went on. This is not something you want to relate yourselves in.You can still avoid what Alice saw.Sam smiled grimly. We dont run extraneous. stooge him, Paul snorted.Dont depress your family slaughtered for pride, Carlisle interjected quietly.Sam looked at Carlisle with a softer expression. As Edward pointed out, we dont have the said(prenominal) kind of liberty that you have. Renesmee is as practically as part of our family now as she is yours. Jacob cannot abandon her, and we cannot abandon him. His eyes flickered to Alices note, and his lips pressed into a thinline.You dont know her, Edward said.Do you? Sam asked bluntly.Carlisle put a hand on Edwards shoulder. We have much to do, son. Whatever Alices decision, we would be foolish not to follow her advice now. Lets go home and get to work.Edward nodded, his face still rigid with pain. Behind me, I could hear Esmes quiet, tearless sobs.I didnt k now how to cry in this consistence I couldnt do anything only when stare. at that place was no feeling yet. Everything seemed unreal, uniform I was dreaming again after all these months. Having a nightmare.Thank you, Sam, Carlisle said.Im sorry, Sam answered. We shouldnt have let her through.You did the right thing, Carlisle told him. Alice is free to do what she will. I wouldnt deny her that liberty.Id always cerebration of the Cullens as a whole, an indivisible unit. Suddenly, I remembered that it had not always been so. Carlisle had created Edward, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett Edward had created me. We were physically link up by blood and venom. I never legal opinion of Alice and Jasper as separate as choose into the family. exclusively in truth, Alice had adopted the Cullens. She had shown up with her unconnected past, bringing Jasper with his, and hold out herself into the family that was already thither. Both she and Jasper had known other sustenance outside the Cull en family. Had she really elect to lead other new life after shed seen that life with the Cullens was over?We were doomed, then, werent we? in that location was no hope at all. Not one ray, one flicker that world power have convinced Alice she had a recover at our side.The bright morning air seemed thicker suddenly, blacker, as if physically darkened by my des agree.Imnot outlet down without a fight, Emmett snarl low infra his breath. Alice told us what to do. Lets get it done.The others nodded with determined expressions, and I realized that they were banking on whatever kick downstairs Alice had given us. That they were not deviation to give in to despondency and wait to die.Yes, we all would fight. What else was there? And seemingly we would involve others, because Alice had said so before shed go away field us. How could we not follow Alices go warning? The wolves, too, would fight with us for Renesmee.We would fight, they would fight, and we all would die.I didnt f eel the equal close the others seemed to feel. Alice knew the odds. She was giving us the only chance she could see, barely the chance was too come down for her to bet on it.I mat up already beaten as I turned my back on Sams scathing face and followed Carlisle toward home.We ran automatically now, not the comparable panicked hurry as before. As we neared the river, Esmes head lifted.There was that other trail. It was fresh.She nodded forward, toward where she had called Edwards assistance on the way here. While we were locomote to surrender AliceIt has to be from in the beginning in the day. It was on the unlesston Alice, without Jasper, Edward said lifelessly.Esmes face puckered, and she nodded.I drifted to the right, falling a little behind. I was sure Edward was right, but at the aforementioned(prenominal) time After all, how had Alices note ended up on a page from my book?Bella? Edward asked in an emotionless voice as I hesitated.I want to follow the trail, I told him, smelling the light scent of Alice that led away from her earlier flight path, i was new to this, but it smelled exactly the same to me, still deduction the scent of Jasper.Edwards golden eyes were empty. It plausibly just leads back to the house.Then Ill live up to you there.At first I thought he would let me go alone, but then, as I moved a few steps away, his blank eyes flickered to life.Ill come with you, he said quietly. comfortably meet you at home, Carlisle.Carlisle nodded, and the others go away. I waited until they were out of sight, and then I looked at Edward questioningly.I couldnt let you walk away from me, he explained in a low voice. It wrong just to infer it.I mum without more explanation than that. I thought of creation divided from him now and realized I would have felt the same pain, no matter how short the separation.There was so little time left to be together.I held my hand out to him, and he took it.Lets hurry, he said. Renesmee will be awake.I nodded, and we were running again.It was probably a silly thing, to waste the time away from Renesmee just for curiositys sake. But the note twainered me. Alice could have carved the note into a boulder or tree torso if she lacked writing utensils. She could have stolen a fatten up of Post-its from any of the houses by the highway. Why my book? When did she get it?Sure enough, the trail led back to the cottage by a circuitous route that take a breathered far distinct of the Cullens house and the wolves in the nearby woods. Edwards brows tightened in confusion as it became obvious where the trail led.He tried to reason it out. She left Jasper to wait for her and came here?We were almost to the cottage now, and I felt uneasy. I was jolly to have Edwards hand in mine, but I also felt as if I should be here alone. lachrymation out the page and carrying it back to Jasper was such an odd thing for Alice to do. It felt comparable there was a put across in her action one I didnt earn at all. But it was my book, so the message must be for me. If it were something she wanted Edward to know, wouldnt she have pulled a page from one of hisbooks ? relieve oneself me just a minute, I said, twist my hand free as we got to the door.His frontal bone creased. Bella?Please? Thirty seconds.I didnt wait for him to answer. I darted through the door, pulling it leave off behind me. I went straight to the bookshelf. Alices scent was fresh less than a day old. A fire that I had not set burned low but hot in the fireplace. I yanked The Merchant of Venice off the shelf and flipped it open to the title page.There, succeeding(a) to the feathered edge left by the torn page, under the words The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, was a note. smash this.Below that was a quote and an organize in Seattle.When Edward came through the door after only thirteen seconds rather than thirty, I was watching the book burn.Whats going on, Bella?She was here. She ripped a page out of my book to deliver her note on.Why?I dont know wherefore.Why are you burning it?I I I frowned, letting all my frustration and pain show on my face. I did not know what Alice was seek to tell me, only that shed gone to majuscule lengths to keep it from anyone but me. The one someone whose mind Edward could not read. So she must want to keep him in the dark, and it was probably for a good reason. It seemed appropriate.We dont know what shes doing, he said quietly.I stared into the flames. I was the only person in the world who could lie to Edward. Was that what Alice wanted from me? Her last request?When we were on the plane to Italy, I whispered this was not a lie, except perhaps in context on our way to speech you she lied to Jasper so that he wouldnt come after us. She knew that if he faced the Volturi, he would die. She was willing to die herself rather than put him in danger. Willing for me to die, too. Willing for you to die.Edward didnt answer.She has her prio rities, I said. It made my still heart pine to realize that my explanation did not feel deal a lie in any way.I dont believe it, Edward said. He didnt say it like he was lean with me he said it like he was arguing with himself. Maybe it was just Jasper in danger. Her plan would work for the rest of us, but hed be lost if he plosiveed.MaybeShe could have told us that. Sent him away.But would Jasper have gone? Maybe shes fraud to him again.Maybe, I pretended to agree. We should go home. Theres no time.Edward took my hand, and we ran.Alices note did not make me hopeful. If there were any way to avoid the sexual climax slaughter, Alice would have blockageed. I couldnt see another possibility. So it was something else she was giving me. Not a way to escape. But what else would she think that I wanted? Maybe a way to salvage something? Was there anything I could still save?Carlisle and the others had not been idle in our absence. Wed been separated from them for all of five minute s, and they were already prepared to leave. In the corner, Jacob was human again, with Renesmee on his lap, both of them watching us with wide eyes.Rosalie had traded her silk wrap dress for a sturdy-looking pair of jeans, running shoes, and a button-down shirt made of the thick weave that backpackers utilise for long trips. Esme was dressed similarly. There was a globe on the coffee table, but they were done looking at it, just waiting for us.The atmosphere was more constructive now than before it felt good to them to be in action. Their hopeswere pinned on Alices instructions.I looked at the globe and wondered where we were headed first.Were to stay here? Edward asked, looking at Carlisle. He didnt sound happy.Alice said that we would have to show mess Renesmee, and we would have to be careful about it, Carlisle said. Well send whomever we can find back here to you Edward, youll be the best at fielding that particular minefield.Edward gave one sharp nod, still not happy. There s a lot of ground to cover.Were splitting up, Emmett answered. Rose and I are hunting for nomads.Youll have your detention full here, Carlisle said. Tanyas family will be here in the morning, and they have no appraisal why. First, you have to persuade them not to oppose the way Irina did. Second, youve got to find out what Alice meant about Eleazar. Then, after all that, will they stay to witness for us? It will get rolling again as the others come if we can persuade anyone to come in the first place. Carlisle sighed. Your job may well be the hardest. Well be back to help as soon as we can.Carlisle put his hand on Edwards shoulder for a second and then kissed my forehead. Esme hugged us both, and Emmett punched us both on the arm. Rosalie forced a hard smile for Edward and me, blew a kiss to Renesmee, and then gave Jacob a parting grimace.Good luck, Edward told them.And to you, Carlisle said. Well all need it.I watched them leave, deficiency I could feel whatever hope bolstered them, and wishing I could be alone with the computing machine for just a few seconds. I had to figure out who this J. Jenks person was and why Alice had gone to suchlengths to give his name to only me.Renesmee twisted in Jacobs ordnance to touch his daring.I dont know if Carlisles friends will come. I hope so. Sounds like were a little outnumbered right now, Jacob murmured to Renesmee.So she knew. Renesmee already understood only too all the way what was going on. The whole imprinted-werewolf-gives-the-object-of-his-imprinting-whatever-she-wants thing was acquire old pretty fast. Wasnt shielding her more important than answering her questions?I looked guardedly at her face. She did not look frightened, only anxious and very serious as she conversed with Jacob in her silent way.No, we cant help weve got to stay here, he went on. People are glide path to see you, not the scenery.Renesmee frowned at him.No, I dont have to go anywhere, he said to her. Then he looked at Edward, h is face stunned by the realization that he might be wrong. Do I?Edward hesitated.Spit it out, Jacob said, his voice raw with tension. He was right at his breaking point, just like the rest of us.The vampires who are coming to help us are not the same as we are, Edward said. Tanyas family is the only one besides ours with a reverence for human life, and even they dont think much of werewolves. I think it might be safer I can take care of myself, Jacob interrupted.Safer for Renesmee, Edward go on, if the election to believe our story about her is not tainted by an association with werewolves. or so friends. Theyd turn on you just because of who you light out with now?I think they would mostly be tolerant under normal circumstances. But you need to experience accepting Nessie will not be a simple thing for any of them. Why make it even the slightest bit harder?Carlisle had explained the laws about immortal children to Jacob last night. The immortal children were really that bad ? he asked.You cant imagine the depth of the scars theyve left in the bodied vampire psyche.Edward It was still odd to hear Jacob use Edwards name without bitterness.I know, Jake. I know how hard it is to be away from her. Well play it by ear see how they react to her. In any case, Nessie is going to have to be incognito off and on in the next few weeks. Shell need to stay at the cottage until the right moment for us to figure her. As long as you keep a safe distance from the main house I can do that. Company in the morning, huh?Yes. The closest of our friends. In this particular case, its probably better if we get things out in the open as soon as possible. You can stay here. Tanya knows about you. Shes even met Seth.You should tell Sam whats going on. There might be strangers in the woods soon.Good point. though I owe him some silence after last night.Listening to Alice is normally the right thing.Jacobs teeth ground together, and I could see that he shared Sams feelings about what Alice and Jasper had done.While they were talking, I wandered toward the back windows, essay to look distracted and anxious. Not a difficult thing to do. I leaned my head against the wall that curved away from the living room toward the dining room, right next to one of the computer desks. I ran my fingers against the keys while staring into the forest, trying to make it look like an absentminded thing. Did vampires ever do things absentmindedly? I didnt think anyone was compensable particular attention to me, but I didnt turn to make sure. The monitor glowed to life. I shockd my fingers across the keys again. Then I drummed them very quietly on the wooden desktop, just to make it seem random. Another stroke across the keys.I scanned the screen in my peripheral vision.No J. Jenks, but there was a Jason Jenks. A lawyer. I napped the keyboard, trying to keep a rhythm, like the preoccupied stroking of a cat youd all but forgotten on your lap. Jason Jenks had a fancy website fo r his firm, but the computer address on the homepage was wrong. In Seattle, but in a different zip code. I noted the phone number and then stroked the keyboard in rhythm. This time I searched the address, but nothing at all came up, as if the address didnt exist. I wanted to look at a map, but I decided I was pushing my luck. cardinal more brush, to delete the history___I continued staring out the window and napped the wood a few times. I heard light footsteps crossing the floor to me, and I turned with what I hoped was the same expression as before.Renesmee reached for me, and I held my arms open. She launched herself into them, smelling strongly of werewolf, and nestled her head against my neck.I didnt know if I could stand this. As much as I feared for my life, for Edwards, for the rest of my familys, it was not the same as the gut-wrenching terror I felt for my daughter. There had to be a way to save her, even if that was the only thing I could do.Suddenly, I knew that this wa s all I wanted anymore. The rest I would bear if I had to, but not her life being forfeited. Not that.She was the one thing I simply had to save.Would Alice have known how I would feel?Renesmees hand touched my cheek lightly.She showed me my own face, Edwards, Jacobs, Rosalies, Esmes, Carlisles, Alices, Jaspers, flipping through all our familys faces high-speed and faster. Seth and Leah. Charlie, Sue, and Billy. Over and over again. Worrying, like the rest of us were. She was only worrying, though. Jake had unplowed the worst from her as far as I could tell. The part about how we had no hope, how we all were going to die in a months time.She settled on Alices face, yearn and confused. Where was Alice?I dont know, I whispered. But shes Alice. Shes doing the right thing, like always.The right thing for Alice, anyway. I hated thinking of her that way, but how else could the place be understood?Renesmee sighed, and the longing intensified.I miss her, too.I felt my face working, tryin g to find the expression that went with the grief inside. My eyes felt strange and wry they blinked against the uncomfortable feeling. I bit my lip. When I took my next breath, the air hitched in my throat, like I was choking on it.Renesmee pulled back to look at me, and I saw my face mirrored in her thoughts and in her eyes. I looked like Esme had this morning.So this was what it felt like to cry.Renesmees eyes glistened wetly as she watched my face. She stroked my face, viewing me nothing, just trying to soothe me.Id never thought to see the mother-daughter bond converse between us, the way it had always been for Renee and me. But I hadnt had a very clear view of the future.A tear welled up on the edge of Renesmees eye. I wiped it away with a kiss. She touched her eye in amazement and then looked at the wetness on her fingertip.Dont cry, I told her. Its going to be okay. Youre going to be fine. I will find you a way through this.If there was nothing else I could do, I would stil l save my Renesmee. I was more despotic than ever that this was what Alice would give me. She would know. She would have left me a way.