THE REST OF TOMORROW
Chapter 8: Dead Ends Edward's POV Maintaining control while trying to push through the people crowded streets of Rio was something I had to focus on. Bella was still behind me, still holding on to my hand as we wove in between tourists and residences alike. Our daughter's scent had not faded, nor had the strong smell of the Werewolf we encountered moments ago, only now he wasn't behind us he was in front of us. The most alarming part was that he wasn't alone. He had human allies who more than likely knew that Bella and I were vampires and that was a very disturbing discovery. Ahead of us was a clearing and I picked up the pace, needing to get out in the open, or at least to a place where we could travel in the jungle at a faster speed. What about the humans? Bella's thoughts filled my mind, clouding my goal for a second before I shoved them back, focusing on the task at hand. "They know," I called back to her as we finally broke through the crowd. The winding streets ahead of us were not empty, but not as packed. It hindered my wife and me from using our full speed. I took in a deep breath of air, growling because our daughter's scent was growing more distant. The ones who had Renesmee had the upper hand and they seemed to be well aware of that. The way they were heading eventually led to the air field and that only made the need to travel faster more paramount. Finally clear of the city, Bella and I took to the forest. I let her hand go and ran faster than I ever had, pushing myself to get to my baby and have her safe in my arms once more. Renesmee's scent was stronger, and I had been right, they were heading for the air field, in a vehicle of some sort. I could smell the gas along with her scent, the scent of the humans and the Werewolf. "They can't get her on a plane," Bella said from right beside me. Her words pushed me to work harder, run faster. In the very back recesses of my mind I knew this was something we would not accomplish but I couldn't let that stop me from trying. The closer we got to the air field the less coverage we had to run. Why had we come here on this day to hunt, and how had they known? We ran out of forest space a few miles from the air field and had to slow to a normal human jog. A few jeeps passed us by, and by the time we finally arrived it was too late. Bella had a hold of my hand again and her grip grew tighter as she too realized what I had. Taking the lead, I pulled her off the road in between some old buildings before holding her in my arms. When her shield was thrown I shut my eyes. Her thoughts of anger were deserved. I had promised our daughter that her dream wasn't real, and that I would keep her safe. Even through her anger, Bella clung to me and a strangled sob tore from her throat. I wanted to join her, but we didn't have time to do this now. "Bella, love, we need to go back to the Island and get packed up." My wife lifted her head from where it had rested against my chest, the hurt evident in her eyes and on her face. "Where do we go from here?" "Back to Washington. Jacob needs to know what is happening, and we need to figure out a plan." "How, these monsters could have taken her anywhere." "Yes, but the Werewolf was spotted in Washington two times. I think starting there is our best bet." Bella nodded and hugged me again. I held her until she composed herself and once we were both better prepared, we moved into an area where we could hale a taxi to take us back to the docks. ~*~*~*~*~ By evening we were on a flight back to the United States. When we had gotten back to the island, I checked my cell finding twenty messages left by my sister. Alice had been frantic when I told her about Renesmee and Rosalie had grabbed the phone, berating me for losing my own child. That hadn't gone over very well, but eventually Emmett got the phone away from her and gave it back to Alice. Carlisle agreed to wait for Bella and me to return before telling Jacob. I needed to be the one to break the news to him, quiet simply because none of us knew how he would react. Beside me. Bella was sitting as still as a stone, and every now and again I had to remind her to move or pretend like she was taking a breath. Her thoughts were a part of me now, and both of us were analyzing how this had all happened. The people who now had our daughter had obviously planned this very well. In a street as crowded as the one we were in, there was no way to act. Bella had been helpless when three people moved between her and me. While she had been unable to react, a burly man had grabbed Renesmee away from me. At the time, I thought Bella had taken her, too focused on the Werewolf just a few feet away from me. What disturbed both of us was that with all those people, someone had to have seen what had taken place. Then again the dancing and chaos of the street fair had many people distracted. "I keep wondering how she is," Bella whispered pulling her shield in. I turned and looked at my wife, not knowing how to respond. It had been my failure that had led to all of this. "I'm sorry." Bella's expression softened and she reached out and touched her hand to my cheek. "We had no way of knowing this was going to happen, and we are both to blame." "No, those that took Renesmee are to blame and they won't know what is coming," I practically snarled. For a moment all I could see was red and I felt my control slipping. That was when her voice brought me back. "Don't, we can't afford to slip again," she pleaded, her voice breaking. I put my arms around her and Bella slipped closer, leaning against me in silence as the flight continued onward. ~*~*~*~*~ When we arrived at the airport in Port Angeles, my entire family was waiting. Bella remained composed until we reached the parking garage. Once we were there she sobbed silently as Rosalie walked over to us. My sister hadn't looked at me once, but seemed to be willing to help Bella. Once she and Esme were leading her away I began to think about what we needed to do next. "Do you want to gather our friends?" Carlisle asked as we reached his Mercedes. "No. I am aware that the Volturi don't know of what is happening and I'd like to keep it that way. My fear is that if Caius finds out, he will send Demetri to track Renesmee. If he gets his hands on her, there is no telling what will happen." Carlisle's expression of support never wavered and he seemed to realize what I was saying. "We need help son," he replied after another long moment of silence. "For now we have to do this on our own. I am going to talk to Jacob as soon as we get home." "Might I suggest that you take Jasper and Emmett along with you?" I nodded once before slipping into the back of the car grateful that Emmett and Jasper had tended to getting our luggage. At home Bella went with my sisters and mother to hunt and to try and calm down. I hadn't told her about talking to Jacob, though I was fairly certain she would be frustrated once she found out I had gone without her. My brothers and I hadn't traveled very far before the smell of Jacob and his pack was overwhelming. "You two stay here," I told my Jasper and Emmett before moving on by myself. If it got dicey they would come and help, but my hope was that it would not. "Edward, what the hell is going on?" Jacob asked as he stepped out from the woods. He was confused but not angry. "Renesmee was taken from us." Suddenly Jacob was shaking violently, and I stood as still as a stone hoping he could compose himself. It took a number of minutes but he finally calmed down. Once the shaking had subsided he knelt down, running both of his hands through his hair, "How?" "The Werewolf Brady and Quil encountered somehow knew we were in Rio. There was a street fair and no way for Bella and me to react." For a moment he was silent then he glared up at me. "You let her get taken?" "You know better than that. There were too many people. You know what would have happened if either Bella or I would have retaliated. It happened so fast that we weren't prepared, and there were humans helping that animal." He groaned, realizing what we had against us. "I knew I should have come," he growled while standing. "Would you have been able to do anything, could you have controlled yourself not to change? Look we can debate into the next century what should have or could have been done differently. The fact is, my daughter is gone and the longer we wait the more time those that have her can hide her more thoroughly. Right now I need you to talk to Sam and the rest of your pack. We can't have another gathering without the Volturi knowing, and we need to start looking." At that point two wolves stepped out of the forest and I recognized both of them. You have my support, Quil thought. And mine, Embry joined in. "Thank you both. Jacob, will you meet us back at the house in an hour, with Sam and as many of the others as you can gather?" "Yeah," he answered before turning and walking away. Once he was gone, I took off toward home and a second later my brothers were running with me. "Any ideas on where to start?" Emmett asked. "All over the peninsula. He's been here stalking us, figuring out what we are. He's had help so we start here." ~*~*~*~*~ Jacob's POV How could they have let someone take her? Screw being exposed, they could have called for help done something to draw attention. Quil's thoughts joined my own. Do you think that Werewolf would have minded changing in front of all of those people? Then what? The Volturi come marching in and that one vampire takes interest in Renesmee again? Jacob it sounds like they knew what they were up against. He was right, but it still bugged me. Before Embry could add what he thought, I shifted back into my human form and pulled on a pair of cut offs. "You two go run patrols, I need to cool off." I felt bad about giving orders like that, but I also hated that Quil had a point. Bella had never encountered anything like that before in her vampire form, and she could have broken a few people and brought those Italian blood suckers back for vengeance. The last thing we need is them, and if they don't know about Renesmee being taken then that's one less thing we have to worry about. Home was empty and I was glad. My father was spending a lot of time with Charlie and Sue. I wondered what the Chief would do if he found out his granddaughter was taken. Werewolf or not he would probably tear into anyone he could to get her back. God, this was real. Renesmee was gone and who knows what they were doing to her. No, I wouldn't think about that. We would find her if we had to search every city, every crevice on this earth. Once I was finished working out my anger I ran toward the woods and once there I shifted again not caring that I busted out of my jeans. Sam? I'm here Jacob. Renesmee was taken by that Werewolf Brady and Quil saw. Edward and Bella need help searching. I know it's not your obligation… Renesmee is one of us, and it is on all of us to help her. What do they need? Good, he was willing to help, that was a start. ~*~*~*~*~ Edwards POV Alone in my old room, I sat on Renesmee's bed holding her favorite stuffed animal. Jack looked like he had seen better days, but my daughter loved him. How was she coping without him? My little girl always slept with this animal, a present from Jacob. Renesmee once said that she felt like Jacob was with her when she held him. "Edward?" My wife walked slowly to my side and sat next to me. "I want to kill them all," she whispered. I put Jack down on the pillows and pulled Bella to sit on my lap. "We will have to." At some point, and I'm not sure when, I knew that the humans who were aware of what we were, and most likely what Renesmee was would be a liability to us all, not only to my family, but to any immortals anywhere. The Volturi would kill them, but the risk of exposure was greater now than any other time. "Do you think they took her to study her?" "No, that Werewolf seemed to be in charge of this, and I'm not sure his intent just yet, but there is a reason beyond that of trying to figure out how our daughter exists." "She doesn't have her medicine." My eyes shut and I took in a deep breath. When I opened them I stood us up. "We need to get this search going." Bella nodded once and before heading down stairs, I turned her to face me. Placing both my hands on either side of her face, I held her as I brought my lips down against hers. The kiss, both passion filled and intoxicating, came to an end as quickly as it started, and we held hands as we headed down stairs where the rest of our family both Vampire and Shape Shifter waited. ~*~*~*~ AN: Okay this was a faster add, but this goes along with chapter seven. Maddy, I'm glad you liked that scene with Edward, it was one of my favorite ones to write and I had a clear picture of movie Edward in mind when I was writing it. I was as surprised as you were at the end of that about Renesmee getting taken. I didn't set out for that part of the story to happen so soon, but the muse was pushing for it. All my other readers and reviewers alike, thank you for your support. ~Ella~
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