Leah, Seth, Quil, and Embry were assigned to run with Sam for now, and Jacob would have happily joined them, except that he couldnt stand to be away from Renesmee, and Renesmee was busy fascinating the strange collection of Carlisles friends.
Wed replayed the scene of Renesmees introduction to the Denali coven a half dozen times. First for Peter and Charlotte, whom Alice and Jasper had sent our way without giving them any explanation at all; like most people who knew Alice, they trusted her instructions despite the lack of information. Alice had told them nothing about which direction she and Jasper were heading. Shed made no promise to ever see them again in the future.
Neither Peter nor Charlotte had ever seen an immortal child. Though they knew the rule, their negative reaction was not as powerful as the Denali vampires had been at first. Curiosity had driven them to allow Renesmees explanation. And that was it. Now they were as committed to witnessing as Tanyas family.
Carlisle had sent friends from Ireland and Egypt.
The Irish clan arrived first, and they were surprisingly easy to convince. Siobhana woman of immense presence whose huge body was both beautiful and mesmerizing as it moved in smooth undulationswas the leader, but she and her hard-faced mate, Liam, were long used to trusting the judgment of their newest coven member. Little Maggie, with her bouncy red curls, was not physically imposing like the other two, but she had a gift for knowing when she was being lied to, and her verdicts were never contested. Maggie declared that Edward spoke the truth, and so Siobhan and Liam accepted our story absolutely before even touching Renesmee.
Amun and the other Egyptian vampires were another story. Even after two younger members of his coven, Benjamin and Tia, had been convinced by Renesmees explanation, Amun refused to touch her and ordered his coven to leave. Benjaminan oddly cheerful vampire who looked barely older than a boy and seemed both utterly confident and utterly careless at the same timepersuaded Amun to stay with a few subtle threats about disbanding their alliance. Amun stayed, but continued to refuse to touch Renesmee, and would not allow his mate, Kebi, to touch her, either. It seemed an unlikely groupingthough the Egyptians all looked so alike, with their midnight hair and olive-toned pallor, that they easily could have passed for a biological family. Amun was the senior member and the outspoken leader. Kebi never strayed farther away from Amun than his shadow, and I never heard her speak a single word. Tia, Benjamins mate, was a quiet woman as well, though when she did speak there was great insight and gravity to everything she said. Still, it was Benjamin whom they all seemed to revolve around, as if he had some invisible magnetism the others depended upon for their balance. I saw Eleazar staring at the boy with wide eyes and assumed Benjamin had a talent that drew the others to him.
Its not that, Edward told me when we were alone that night. His gift is so singular that Amun is terrified of losing him. Much like we had planned to keep Renesmee from Aros knowledgehe sighedAmun has been keeping Benjamin from Aros attention. Amun created Benjamin, knowing he would be special.
What can he do?
Something Eleazars never seen before. Something Ive never heard of. Something that even your shield would do nothing against. He grinned his crooked smile at me. He can actually influence the elementsearth, wind, water, and fire. True physical manipulation, no illusion of the mind. Benjamins still experimenting with it, and Amun tries to mold him into a weapon. But you see how independent Benjamin is. He wont be used.
You like him, I surmised from the tone of his voice.
He has a very clear sense of right and wrong. I like his attitude.
Amuns attitude was something else, and he and Kebi kept to themselves, though Benjamin and Tia were well on their way to being fast friends with both the Denali and the Irish covens. We hoped that Carlisles return would ease the remaining tension with Amun.
Emmett and Rose sent individualsany nomad friends of Carlisles that they could track down.
Garrett came firsta tall, rangy vampire with eager ruby eyes and long sandy hair he kept tied back with a leather thongand it was apparent immediately that he was an adventurer. I imagined that we could have presented him with any challenge and he would have accepted, just to test himself. He fell in quickly with the Denali sisters, asking endless questions about their unusual lifestyle. I wondered if vegetarianism was another challenge he would try, just to see if he could do it.
Mary and Randall also camefriends already, though they did not travel together. They listened to Renesmees story and stayed to witness like the others. Like the Denalis, they considered what they would do if the Volturi did not pause for explanations. All three of the nomads toyed with the idea of standing with us.
Of course, Jacob got more surly with each new addition. He kept his distance when he could, and when he couldnt he grumbled to Renesmee that someone was going to have to provide an index if anyone expected him to keep all the new bloodsuckers names straight.*
Carlisle and Esme returned a week after they had gone, Emmett and Rosalie just a few days later, and all of us felt better when they were home. Carlisle brought one more friend home with him, though friend might have been the wrong term. Alistair was a misanthropic English vampire who counted Carlisle as his closest acquaintance, though he could hardly stand a visit more than once a century. Alistair very much preferred to wander alone, and Carlisle had called in a lot of favors to get him here. He shunned all company, and it was clear he didnt have any admirers in the gathered covens.
The brooding dark-haired vampire took Carlisle at his word about Renesmees origins, refusing, like Amun, to touch her. Edward told Carlisle, Esme, and me that Alistair was afraid to be here, but more afraid of not knowing the outcome. He was deeply suspicious of all authority, and therefore naturally suspicious of the Volturi. What was happening now seemed to confirm all his fears.
Of course, now theyll know I was here, we heard him grumble to himself in the attichis preferred spot to sulk. No way to keep it from Aro at this point. Centuries on the run, thats what this will mean. Everyone Carlisles talked to in the last decade will be on their list. I cant believe I got myself sucked into this mess. What a fine way to treat your friends.
But if he was right about having to run from the Volturi, at least he had more hope of doing that than the rest of us. Alistair was a tracker, though not nearly as precise and efficient as Demetri. Alistair just felt an elusive pull toward whatever he was seeking. But that pull would be enough to tell him which direction to runthe opposite direction from Demetri.
And then another pair of unexpected friends arrivedunexpected, because neither Carlisle nor Rosalie had been able to contact the Amazons.
Carlisle, the taller of the two very tall feline women greeted him when they arrived. Both of them seemed as if theyd been stretchedlong arms and legs, long fingers, long black braids, and long faces with long noses. They wore nothing but animal skinshide vests and tight-fitting pants that laced on the sides with leather ties. It wasnt just their eccentric clothes that made them seem wild but everything about them, from their restless crimson eyes to their sudden, darting movements. Id never met any vampires less civilized.
But Alice had sent them, and that was interesting news, to put it mildly. Why was Alice in South America? Just because shed seen that no one else would be able to get in touch with the Amazons?
Zafrina and Senna! But wheres Kachiri? Carlisle asked. Ive never seen you three apart.
Alice told us we needed to separate, Zafrina answered in the rough, deep voice that matched her wild appearance. Its uncomfortable to be away from each other, but Alice assured us that you needed us here, while she very much needed Kachiri somewhere else. Thats all she would tell us, except that there was a great hurry ? Zafrinas statement trailed off into a question, andwith the tremor of nerves that never went away no matter how often I did thisI brought Renesmee out to meet them.
Despite their fierce appearance, they listened very calmly to our story, and then allowed Renesmee to prove the point. They were every
bit as taken with Renesmee as any of the other vampires, but I couldnt help worrying as I watched their swift, jerky movements so close beside her. Senna was always near Zafrina, never speaking, but it wasnt the same as Amun and Kebi. Kebis manner seemed obedient; Senna and Zafrina were more like two limbs of one organismZafrina just happened to be the mouthpiece.
The news about Alice was oddly comforting. Clearly, she was on some obscure mission of her own as she avoided whatever Aro had planned for her.
Edward was thrilled to have the Amazons with us, because Zafrina was enormously talented; her gift could make a very dangerous offensive weapon. Not that Edward was asking for Zafrina to side with us in the battle, but if the Volturi did not pause when they saw our witnesses, perhaps they would pause for a different kind of scene.
Its a very straightforward illusion, Edward explained when it turned out that I couldnt see anything, as usual. Zafrina was intrigued and amused by my immunitysomething shed never encountered beforeand she hovered restlessly while Edward described what I was missing. Edwards eyes unfocused slightly as he continued. She can make most people see whatever she wants them to seesee that, and nothing else. For example, right now I would appear to be alone in the middle of a rain forest. Its so clear I might possibly believe it, except for the fact that I can still feel you in my arms.
Zafrinas lips twitched into her hard version of a smile. A second later, Edwards eyes focused again, and he grinned back.
Impressive, he said.
Renesmee was fascinated with the conversation, and she reached out fearlessly toward Zafrina.
Can I see? she asked.
What would you like to see? Zafrina asked.
What you showed Daddy.
Zafrina nodded, and I watched anxiously as Renesmees eyes stared blankly into space. A second later, Renesmees dazzling smile lit up her face.
More, she commanded.
After that, it was hard to keep Renesmee away from Zafrina and her pretty pictures. I worried, because I was quite sure that Zafrina was able to create images that were not pretty at all. But through Renesmees thoughts I could see Zafrinas visions for myselfthey were as clear as any of Renesmees own memories, like they were realand thus judge for myself whether they were appropriate or not.
Though I didnt give her up easily, I had to admit it was a good thing Zafrina was keeping Renesmee entertained. I needed my hands. I had so much to learn, both physically and mentally, and the time was so short.
My first attempt at learning to fight did not go well.
Edward had me pinned in about two seconds. But instead of letting me wrestle my way freewhich I absolutely could havehed leaped up and away from me. I knew immediately that something was wrong; he was still as stone, staring across the meadow we were practicing in.
Im sorry, Bella, he said.
No, Im fine, I said. Lets go again.
I cant.
What do you mean, you cant? We just started.
He didnt answer.
Look, I know Im no good at this, but I cant get better if you dont help me.
He said nothing. Playfully, I sprang at him. He made no defense at all, and we both fell to the ground. He was motionless as I pressed my lips to his jugular.
I win, I announced.
His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Edward? Whats wrong? Why wont you teach me?
A full minute passed before he spoke again.
I just cant bear it. Emmett and Rosalie know as much as I do. Tanya and Eleazar probably know more. Ask someone else.
Thats not fair! Youre good at this. You helped Jasper beforeyou fought with him and all the others, too. Why not me? What did I do wrong?
He sighed, exasperated. His eyes were dark, barely any gold to lighten the black.
Looking at you that way, analyzing you as a target. Seeing all the ways I can kill you . . . He flinched. It just makes it too real for me. We dont have so much time that it will really make a difference who your teacher is. Anyone can teach you the fundamentals.
I scowled.
He touched my pouting lower lip and smiled. Besides, its unnecessary. The Volturi will stop. They will be made to understand.
But if they dont! I need to learn this.
Find another teacher.
That was not our last conversation on the subject, but I never swayed him an inch from his decision.
Emmett was more than willing to help, though his teaching felt to me a lot like revenge for all the lost arm-wrestling matches. If I could still bruise, I would have been purple from head to toe. Rose, Tanya, and Eleazar all were patient and supportive. Their lessons reminded me of Jaspers fighting instructions to the others last June, though those memories were fuzzy and indistinct. Some of the visitors found my education entertaining, and some even offered assistance. The nomad Garrett took a few turnshe was a surprisingly good teacher; he interacted so easily with others in general that I wondered how hed never found a coven. I even fought once with Zafrina while Renesmee watched from Jacobs arms. I learned several tricks, but I never asked for her help again. In truth, though I liked Zafrina very much and I knew she wouldnt really hurt me, the wild woman scared me to death.
I learned many things from my teachers, but I had the sense that my knowledge was still impossibly basic. I had no idea how many seconds I would last against Alec and Jane. I only prayed that it would be long enough to help.
Every minute of the day that I wasnt with Renesmee or learning to fight, I was in the backyard working with Kate, trying to push my internal shield outside of my own brain to protect someone else. Edward encouraged me in this training. I knew he hoped I would find a way of contributing that satisfied me while also keeping me out of the line of fire.
It was just so hard. There was nothing to get a hold of, nothing solid to work with. I had only my raging desire to be of use, to be able to keep Edward, Renesmee, and as much of my family as possible safe with me. Over and over I tried to force the nebulous shield outside of myself, with only faint, sporadic success. It felt like I was wrestling to stretch an invisible rubber banda band that would change from concrete tangibility into insubstantial smoke at any random moment.
Only Edward was willing to be our guinea pigto receive shock after shock from Kate while I grappled incompetently with the insides of my head. We worked for hours at a time, and I felt like I should be covered in sweat from the exertion, but of course my perfect body didnt betray me that way. My weariness was all mental.
It killed me that it was Edward who had to suffer, my arms wrapped uselessly around him while he winced over and over from Kates low setting. I tried as hard as I could to push my shield around us both; every now and then I would get it, and then it would slip away again.
I hated this practice, and I wished that Zafrina would help instead of Kate. Then all Edward would have to do was look at Zafrinas illusions until I could stop him from seeing them. But Kate insisted that I needed better motivationby which she meant my hatred of watching Edwards pain. I was beginning to doubt her assertion from the first day wed metthat she wasnt sadistic about the use of her gift. She seemed to be enjoying herself to me.
Hey, Edward said cheerfully, trying to hide any evidence of distress in his voice. Anything to keep me from fighting practice. That one barely stung. Good job, Bella.
I took a deep breath, trying to grasp exactly what Id done right. I tested the elastic band, struggling to force it to remain solid as I stretched it away from me.
Again, Kate, I grunted through my clenched teeth.
Kate pressed her palm to Edwards shoulder.
He sighed in relief. Nothing that time.
She raised an eyebrow. That wasnt low, either.
Good, I huffed.
Get ready, she told me, and reached out to Edward again.
This time he shuddered, and a low breath hissed between his teeth.
Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! I chanted, biting my lip. Why couldnt I get this right?
Youre doing a
n amazing job, Bella, Edward said, pulling me tight against him. Youve really only been working at this for a few days and youre already projecting sporadically. Kate, tell her how well shes doing.
Kate pursed her lips. I dont know. Shes obviously got tremendous ability, and were only beginning to touch it. She can do better, Im sure. Shes just lacking incentive.
I stared at her in disbelief, my lips automatically curling back from my teeth. How could she think I lacked motivation with her shocking Edward right here in front of me?
I heard murmurs from the audience that had grown steadily as I practicedonly Eleazar, Carmen, and Tanya at first, but then Garrett had wandered over, then Benjamin and Tia, Siobhan and Maggie, and now even Alistair was peering down from a window on the third story. The spectators agreed with Edward; they thought I was already doing well.
Kate, Edward said in a warning voice as some new course of action occurred to her, but she was already in motion. She darted along the curve of the river to where Zafrina, Senna, and Renesmee were walking slowly, Renesmees hand in Zafrinas as they traded pictures back and forth. Jacob shadowed them from a few feet behind.
Nessie, Kate saidthe newcomers had quickly picked up the irritating nickname, would you like to come help your mother?
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