Brightest Night Preface

My enemy, and my mothers before mine stared at me with her blood red eyes. She tortured me and I was left to wonder what she wanted of our encounter. My blood, my torture, my death, or revenge. I held on to the charm that my mother gave to me, before she knew it was the last time Id see her. And I let out a ferocious growl, ready to save my brightest night from being frozen over.

Chapter One - Forks

I wake from another nightmare on my birthday, its September 10th again and Ive always feared that one year I would simply not wake from my sleep. I look over my shoulder to see, my love. If thats what it is called. Ive never known a love before Jacob, Id never seen something so concrete and complete. Or pleasant. From the time I first saw him, the day of my birth suddenly he was a friend to me, and over the years, hes become more. He sacrificed for me a lot when I was young, and he had as little control over our connection than I did possibly less. He saw my mother come to near death as I was being born, the woman he loved, and he says he came downstairs to love me, though he didnt know it at the time. Then, his thoughts were focused on killing me for killing my

mother, Bella. Then, suddenly, we were each others worlds. We were wholly and completely dependent on each other. The next three days, though, were hard; l was without my mother, and my father, as he was occupied trying to save her through transforming her into one of the immortal. My father, Edward, is a vampire, as is my mother now, though she was human while carrying and birthing me. So, my aunt, Rosalie, and Jacob watched over and cared for me for those initial three days until my mother came to consciousness in her new form. However, it was still some time before she could interact with me as the others did, because for my being half human, I still have blood, and my mothers being a newborn put me in danger, or so thought my everyone else. But, from the first time I saw her, I knew my mother was strong. She was . . . special. My mothers greatest fear of ever becoming a vampire was being a newborn, completely consumed by her bloodlust, and she skipped that phase all together. And then trouble came to haunt my life when my mother, Jacob, and I were hunting, my mother and I for the animals blood we Cullens are vegetarians, we do not feed on the blood of humans and Jacob for the animal in all, for he is a shape-shifter who becomes a wolf at choice, for a long time confused to be a werewolf. A woman, also a vampire, saw three of us, and took my obvious being something more than human, for being a forbidden immortal child. These are vampires stuck in infantry, never aging and always killing. So, of course she ran off to tell the Volturi, the royal vampires who carry out the law of our secret world, Keep the Secret, which is a broad umbrella that also

covers, No Creating Immortal Children. Irina, the female vampire was soon to have the Volturi and their entire guard off to kill me, and all my family. The next months I was to think that all the trouble was my fault, but no, the Volturi were just waiting for an excuse to extinguish my large and powerful family. So, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett set out to find witnesses while my mother, father, Jacob and I stayed home to tell these witnesses the story, and though I advanced very quickly and could talk at 3 months of age, I communicated through a special ability of mine to share mental images and thoughts through touch. Some of these witnesses agreed they would fight with us, if it came to that. Others thought us insane, if it is at all possible for a vampire to go insane at all. However, once the Volturi forces arrived my mother was able to prevent a fight for some time with her gift of shielding a mental attack, which would handicap the Volturi and block their strongest offensive maneuvers. Alice, my other aunt, though, soon arrived with another like me, Nahuel, whom I learned a lot about myself from, like that Id stop aging seven years later, when I appeared to be approximately 16 years old. Though, now I prepare for my 116th birthday, a woman who looks 100 years younger than she really is, its what every human female wants, isnt it? My family has come back to Forks, Washington, everyone they have once known here is now gone, including my grandfather, Charlie, who died long ago. Jacob, like the rest of us, hasnt been here in a long time and is anxious to re-visit La Push, he has gone into wolf form often enough to have not

aged, but he does not know if the same is true for his former pack brothers, and sister. My heart races at the thought of Leah Clearwater, as it always does when I get jealous. Of course though, my never-sleeping family of super-hearing vampires hears this development and rush to my bedroom. Whats wrong, Nessie? calls my aunt, Rose, and my mother glares at her for the nickname that she absolutely detests. Im fine, really. I was just thinking thats all. Jacob stirred and awoke then. It was now time for the first day of school we all supposed. Carlisle would be going off to the hospital in just two hours, and Alice had forecast that it would be a very cloudy day, so well all be off to Forks High School, except for Jacob, who will be going to the reservation to make sure our visit isnt fought against by any wolves who have forgotten the treaty that promises peace. My mother and father, are the last to my room, seconds behind the others, as they were in the cottage, and my room is on the third story, where my fathers room was, before I was born. Their golden eyes reflect the choice that weve all made to spare the lives of humans. Of course, then along comes Alice, my mothers sister in-law, my aunt, my erratic, over the top, always-dancing, beautiful vampire aunt carrying a pile of clothes designated for everyone, based on the activities that well find ourselves engaged in later today, shed know better than any of us. Here, Nessie. Bella. Edward. Carlisle. Esme. Emmett. Rosalie. Jasper. Jacob.

You mean mutt, accused Rosalie. She never took a liking for Jacob, for reasons I never found. My dad sighed then, probably reading my mind. So, really, not much of my family approves of my loving a werewolf. I would never dare say this, and try my hardest not to think it, especially not around my father, but its a little hypocritical. I mean, my mother had loved a werewolf, the same werewolf that I do even. So much better my dad whispered then. Only I knew what he meant, that I could do so much better But, I dont want so much better and I need Jacob. My sunny moon. My brightest night. Lets go then, just a quick hunting trip before school couldnt hurt us any, added Jasper, he still struggles with vegetarian life centuries after being initiated into the lifestyle. A little fun before the tedium, Id say. Of course youre up for it, Emmett, said mom, who doesnt feel like hunting obviously. Though, we all did go. There has been a scarce amount of elk, though.

It was lunchtime in the Forks High School auditorium that we smelled them. All of their noses flared then wrinkled, mine was fine, because of not being wholly vampire, the smell doesnt offend me. Who invited the dogs to lunch? Since when do they come to school in town, werent they supposed to stay on the reservation?

Oh, dear God, my nose! I couldnt stop from laughing at my family. This certainly did shy from usual nonchalant silent spectacle of the Cullens the students were provided daily. Then our chimed sounds reached the ears of the hounds and our sweet smells alerted them. The Quileutes just got the message that the vampires are back in town. Then one looks over at us and gasps, and so do we, its impossible, absolutely unbelievable, Seth Clearwater.

Chapter Two Waiting

Seth signaled the Quileute boys to stay where they were and walked over to us, wide-eyed. You could see the words in his eyes; he was scared of us being there. How? Seth scared of the Cullens, just as impossible as the Quileutes being at Forks High School. What do you mean, Seth? my dad asked as he had the clearest idea of what it was Seth was looking at us like that for. I mean, Cullens, that you are not welcome in Forks. I love you all; you remember that. So, I dont want you all killed. What? we all asked in unison. So, Seth hadnt gone insane in his last 115 years, but, the reservation had a suddenly more strict policy against vampires and he didnt want us hurt. How sweet. But what had happened to the treaty? What, we cant be killed. We have a treaty with the Quileutes! Damn, you mutts are so pathetic! Aunt Rose proclaimed. Our heated discussion, though was so quiet no human ear was near enough to hear it.

Leah thinks that youve all killed Jake, and now I see that youve also created another one of you, at this Seth pointed a gaze toward me. But I was barely paying attention after the mention of Leah, Leah who apparently so cared for Jakes vengeance that shed set out on a 100 plus year bounty to kill the vampires. How many generations of werewolf were under her leadership? Its not just the wolves, the entire tribe considers Seth and Leah their immortal kings. Their gods, dad answered my unspoken question. Now my jaw dropped. Leah, a goddess? Whatever. Then I sighed for being so petty and I reached out to touch Seth. Immediately he retracted, then relaxed, then excited. Oh! Renesmee! Its you! Youre not another vampire, well wheres Jake? He was supposed to be going to La Push to ensure the treaty is still in tact. What are you doing here? Well, once the Cullens left there had to be some to protect the Forks humans from local vampires, so we come up every now and then to make sure no ones been drained, he said joking, but accusatively at the same time, Well, good youre all back. Especially Jake, now maybe Leah will bring our other wolves back so we can be a pack again, shes been sending out generations of wolf packs to find you ever since you left. Local vampires? That was my question too, Dad, I thought. Oh yeah. Werewolves I mean shape-shifters, he added with a smile and my dad grinned too, Arent the only things out there looking for you. Have we really been so hard to find? asked my mother, Bella.

Bells? Yeah. You guys are really low key about wherever youre moving to over time, and you take planes, its pretty hard tracking by smell through the air. What kind of vampires have been hunting down the Cullen clan, though? asked Emmett, intrigued. Oh, dont worry Emmett, if they find you, youll get your fight, ensured Seth, Stefan and Vladimir, the Romanian vampires have been looking for you. Theyre planning a war, they think its time to take down the Volturi.

After school we headed for the Quileute reservation to talk to Leah and make sense of this mess. I was only excited to see Jacob. Seth saw that the wolves, whom have all been 16 for ten years now, well, emotionally and mentally anyway, about 25 for ten years physically. Chris, one of the youngest of the wolves seemed to find an interest in us similar to a child to an animal itd always been taught was dangerous. Especially when it came to Rosalie, a pretty (and vicious) vampire that is not so reserved to hide her distaste for werewolves at all.

Chapter Three Surprise

Nessie, relax. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to Leah. If anyone were to fear her itd be your mother. They never did take a liking to each other, laughed Aunt Alice. Uncle Jas had told her of my emotional climate apparently. I know the others dont approve of Jake in that he smells and is

occasionally rude, her bell chime voice giggles again without the awkward brokenness that a normal human does, but he does love you with all his heart, Nessie. We understand that. Your mother and father should more than anyone else I thought. There was silence after this. We were within earshot of the others now, though of course Dad had still heard the entire conversation through our heads, but still, no need for everyone else to hear. We as a smoothly gliding bunch crossed in front of what used to be the Swan residence to wait for the wolves, which were indeed near, we could smell them. A little blonde boy poked his head through the curtains on the second level. I saw that it was my moms old room he was in. I tried to remember his name; although he was small he was actually our age. Or, rather the age we were pretending to be, and thus also attended Forks High School. My father chuckled, His name is Chuck. Chuck Wilder. Hes been trying to work up the nerve to talk to you all day. Hes debating whether he should come out now, Nessie. I sighed and frowned at the news. Ive got an admirer? Thats splendid. Well, Nessie. Im sure Jacob would have to worry about him more than you about Leah, added Mom from behind me. I thought she was joking but she was not. She was looking at me as if she thought shed suddenly develop a mind reading gift. Like she wanted to know every thought Id ever had. It was the look she gave me that reminded me how much she cared and how much she loved me as I loved her. Suddenly Aunt Alice gasped in surprise from her new vision and stared wide-eyed at my father.

Theyre coming, he announced, I shrugged it off knowing he meant the wolves, They want us to fight. Now this caught my attention, why would the wolves want us to fight? Then miles away, I searched for the scent that my familys must stronger full vampire noses had already caught. I smelled the sweet scent of a vampire, but this scent was odd in a way. I searched harder and a dangerous sense of recognition fell upon me. Stefan and Alistair had arrived. We all ran to meet them. All fearing what they would ask of us. We knew already, of course. They wanted us to fight the Volturi, but we would not. Would we? Of course not, I cant imagine, a suicide mission, it would be. Unless of course -- my thoughts veered as I caught the scents of many more less familiar vampires they had brought, drafted soldiers, new borns.

Chapter Four War

No, growled my dad before the two leaders, Stefan and Vladimir, had begun to talk. This was not a surprise in that his response was no, but that he said it so fiercely, so menacingly. Oh, now. Its not as if weve asked for your whole family, Edward, replied Stefan. Wed never do that, chimed in Vladimir. Oh, fantastic, they still like to finish each others sentences. Still, as annoying as that may be, another thing that hasnt come to change is their fragile looking skin, how fascinating. I wonder if this effect of staying in one place for so long is reversible.

What do they want, Edward? asked my grandfather Carlisle with an urgency. A portion of our family -- Jacob, Bella, me, Alice, and Jasper, and of course if we dont supply, well be the victims after theyre done with the Volturi. You must do this. You must fight with us. If not for freedom from the Volturi, for the safety of the rest of your family. I was not paying attention to who spoke the words, it was all a

ringing in my head, these these vampires wanted to take my family from me! My father, my mother, my aunt, my uncle, my love Its okay, Renesmee, they wont be getting to any of us, anyway. Come, said my father addressing my family to leave the Romanian clan behind us. I began to turn, but my mother seemed torn. Bella, please, yearned my father. I could see the force my mother was using to push her mental shield away from her head so that my father could read her thoughts. He gasped when he heard what she was thinking and she turned to the Romanians and said just this, lets make a deal.

My mom, dad, aunt and uncle left then. No one knew if theyd come back and my heart wrenched with the thought of my coming torture, I had to send Jacob after them. Aunt Rosalie, Uncle Emmett, Grandpa Carlisle, and I awaited our wolfy escorts to La Push as Grandma Esme sat at home, unaware that when we returned, it would be without half of our family. Then, the wolves approach could

be heard from the little woodsy area to our right. Seth Clearwater, Chris the young wolf, - and three other wolves that wed never met before emerged. All of their noses wrinkled and all but Seth were shaking, not quite violently, I could see theyd been warned of how many of us there would be, or rather how many of us there should have been. Jacob followed this group with a confused look on his face and I cried. I cried miserably. Aunt Rosalie comforted me; I could see that she felt sorrow for me with a slight pang of jealousy. All of my family had this feeling when I cried. Every one of them, as long as they could still have their partner wishes they could cry as Jacob and I could. Jacob looked at my tears and a look of terrible pain was on his face, it only made me cry more. Nessie. Whats wrong with you? I ignored the thoughtlessness that went into the question. You have to go, I sobbed. Then I sat there, there was a cloud over everything. I shut down the sharpness of my senses so I couldnt feel the hurt. I could barely here the words being passed between the wolves and the remnants of my family. Some phrases broke through the black numbness, like she made a deal with them, new borns? just the gifted, join them, Wait. What kind of deal? and friends. I cry more, my mother was stupid, that was a stupid deal to make, as if it would ever work. When the cloudiness was finally fading, my Brightest Night was on the trail for my family. I sat there in front of the former Swan residence and sobbed more, my patient family looked on. When you live forever, patience is easy to come by.

Thats when Chuck Wilder decided to come outside and talk to me.

Chapter Five Remember

Something very strange occurred when Chuck Wilder came outside to talk to me, suddenly a light came on and my head went awhirl. A sudden powerful urge came over me; it was not a thirst but a hunger just as powerful. It was like an electric pulse beating through him to me. I wanted nothing more than to touch him. Hey, are you okay? You seem kind of sick or something, he said to me. This small town human made me so desperate to be his friends it was almost criminal. He was a good person, I could see. Though, this terrified me. Knowing that he was a good person was bad. I knew that this was going to become something, but as much as I wanted it to, I hated the idea. I was in love, intensely, desperately in love with Jacob Black, my Jake. Im totally okay now, thank you. In those words, made my first ever human friend.

Chuck and I talked, something weird for me, I was not used to having to move my mouth to talk. It was always a simple matter of touching someone for me to talk before. My family didnt seem to mind, they just sat still patient, except of course for Aunt Rosalie, she was smug. Chuck and I talked for an hour, with meaningless light chatter, it was lighthearted and funny. It was like the years

between my early years in Forks and now. Chuck brought the human side of me out. Suddenly I wasnt the creature of gothic novels but a human. I noticed you earlier; youre whole family, actually. Its not often we get new students here at Forks High School. Id imagine. So small town here, I really like it, though. My dad, over there is working at the hospital. So, my brothers and sisters get to enjoy the easiness of the simple life. So you like it? Thats good. What about the rain, though? I heard your family moved here from Nevada. Yes, I do remember that being our cover story, the rain is definitely something to get used to, but, I can tell that theres something special about Forks. I hope youll like it, you and your whole family. You should come sit with me and my friends at lunch. Well, thats really nice of you, but, my brothers and sisters arent very social. Really? I could almost hear his thoughts in that one word, the Cullens arent social? Yeah right theyre all these statuesquely beautiful people who can outsmart the entire teaching faculty. Unsocial, yeah right. Yeah. But, Id love to sit with you, came out of my mouth without me thinking. It was just the strange impulsive human side of me. Great! he said elated. So, I grinned at him and looked back at my family, all three of the remaining Cullen clan were staring at me skeptically.

I looked back at Chuck, Ill see you tomorrow. A promise that I truly intended to keep, one Id never made to any human before in my 116 years.

Once home, Aunt Rosalie went toward the piano and played a familiar song, Esmes favorite. I grinned and went upstairs and awaited the moment when the rest of my family would begin to break it to my grandmother that more than half of her family had gone. I would join them and cry with her, she would cradle me in my sleep as her silent and tearless sobs ran in time with mine. First though, my eyes fell on something brownish-russet. I crossed my room and looked at the small figurine atop the bed I share with Jacob. There were actually three things, one was a small wooden wolf charm for a bracelet, another was a wrought-iron rose that seemed to be made of the exact same material as my bed post, the third item was a note.

Renesmee, keep these things and always remember us, I know that the deal I made doesnt make much sense now, but it will make things better This wolf charm was given to me by Jacob, years ago, over a century ago The rose came from your father Within the envelope you should see a crushed lilac, let the scent remind you of me, Sweet Nessie ~Your mother, Bella

I checked the envelope that held the note, and of course there was a lilac inside, a very pretty flower. I sighed and lay these items on the bed then went

downstairs to join the rest of my family as I heard Grandma Esme say, That was beautiful, Rosalie, but what is this all about? It was a long night and as I figured things would happen, I fell asleep cuddling with my grandmother as my tears fell and her tearless sobs made the room dark with the cloud of earlier that day. The next day, however I knew the cloud would be gone because I would see Chuck Wilder, whom my dreams that night were about. Pleasant dreams, the kind of dreams a human should have, a dream of an anticipation for the coming day; rather than a dread.

Chuck and I became inseparable, I often went to his house as he and I would do homework, or rather I did his for him considering the advancement of my knowledge. We would talk about things and laugh and be normal, it was a dream, suddenly I realized that I was special not for just being the only remaining hybrid, but because I could lead two lives. At school I stopped sitting by my family and sat by my new friends; Chuck, Arianna, Lauren, Matthew, Hector, and Nicole. It was great sitting with humans, but, I could see my comfort with humans brought unease to my aunt; she seemed to get mad at me whenever I sat with the humans. She later told me it was because she wished she could sit with humans, but some part of me didnt care how she felt about it, part of me wanted me to stay away from her. As I sat with my human friends, the human part of me became stronger, I didnt care. My instincts, the ones my mother lacked, told me to stay away from the vampires my family, without me ever knowing why. I became more

comfortable talking and began to stop using my gift. Itd been a week and I was struggling to remember what it felt like to live in secret, to remember what the vampire side of me was like. I began eating human food and stopped hunting with my remaining family; I was losing half of myself as I lost half of them.

Chapter Six Almost Human

Over the weeks, Chuck, Arianna, Lauren, Matthew, Hector, Nicole and I became Forks High Schools most popular. It was strange, popularity because at every school before this I was surrounded by family, which humans instinctively and to them inexplicably shy away from the incognito full vampires. I liked being popular; there was a sense of control over everyone and I was in a way like my aunt, Rosalie, very shallow and addicted to the attention. Over most weekends I spent the night with Lauren, as she was the nicest and wasnt convinced that Id stolen her boyfriend as Nicole was certain Id taken her Matthew and Arianna her Hector. Lauren was quiet she didnt like to talk much, in a way like me; except she didnt have a simpler, more thorough means of communication. Some nights we would talk of boys, sometimes about homework, or even family. Lauren and I were very personal with each other except of course for the secret I could never tell her because of the vampire law, Keep the secret. I recalled the night Id almost slipped We were wide awake in Laurens pink room with the purple bedrolls under us looking up at her ceiling. This night Arianna was in our company. It was fine,

she carried the conversation and Lauren and I commented at the appropriate times. So, Ive been thinking about spring fling. I wonder what Im going to wear, my mom took me to Port Angeles last week, but it was all all small town, at this I laughed, was she not small town herself? Whats so funny, Ness? Oh nothing. I was just being giggly. Oh well, anyway, I saw a very pretty dark blue silk dress in Bazaar, but Im not sure its the one, you know? I might make my daddy get it for me, though, Arianna grinned thinking she was about to get another chance to brag of her familys wealth again which shed found was only trumped by that of mine. Lauren saw it coming, rolled her eyes and changed the subject very subtly well, not quite so subtle as intriguing, in a way that captured Arianna that made her think she was getting gossip. Renesmme, can I ask you a question? Lauren asked me unsure of herself. Ariannas ears poked up in anticipation. Sure, Lauren, what do want to know? I was wondering what the question would be and if it was too terrible I would lie. How did you get your name? I was surprised at the question. This was simple to answer. Its a family name. Really? Thats cool, Chuck has a family name too, I think, I could see she was struggling for something to talk about that would keep Arianna quiet. As she did,

Arianna smiled to see my response to Chucks name apparently everyone knew of his affection. Is that so? Yeah, actually, I think hes named after his grandpa, Chuck Newton, I was shocked, you could not see from the outside, but this was exciting news to me. I knew of Chuck Newton after my birth my family stayed in Forks for some years in secret except from my Grandpa Charlie and the wolves. And Forks being so small of course Charlie knew when Mike Newton and Jessica Webber married and had a baby, Chuck Newton. My mother knew Chucks great-grandmother and great-grandfather! I was about to mention this fact, then I remembered that it would be odd if my mother were so old; Id almost given away the knowledge of my familys immortality. Hm, I murmured instead impassively. That was the end of conversation for the night as Arianna was annoyed with the gossip-missing discussion and was just fumbling with her music player. Lauren had seen this and was satisfied with this and rolled on to her back to sleep. The rest of the night was uneventful.

Chapter Seven Awakened

Itd been three months since half of my family left. Three months of no word, and then Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper arrived. I could not believe the relief I felt on that day, it was a sunny day and I decided to stay home as the rest of my family would have. Id gone three months only noticing the lack of cloudiness thanks to my human friends, however I did not notice until some of my missing

family had returned that I was lacking anything. It was as if half of me was asleep. My vampire side and it was aching to be awakened. Aunt Alice, I jumped excitedly as my aunt danced her way to the house, I met her halfway in three seconds, and yelled more, youre back! Youre finally back! I was in awe, could it be possible that she was more beautiful. No, I supposed not, but it seemed so, how Id missed her. It was only minutes before I noticed a pain in my re-awakened vampire awareness. Uncle Jasper noticed my anxiety and braced himself. Calm down, Nessie, Alice will explain, he looked at me with his pained intensity. Youve noticed, my aunt Alice said with sympathy in her chiming voice, Dont worry. Youre mother and father will be here in perhaps a week. A week? Yes, youre mother and father are on a search, Jasper and I decided to abandon the search and rejoin you, she smiled at me. I didnt smile back, my mind made the connection the connection she tried to leave out. She did not mention Jacob. My mother and father were on a search. My mother and father were on a search for my Jake. My Jake my Brightest Night, he was in danger. A growl rolled out of me. Someone took my love. My reason.

Chapter Eight Denial

I accepted nothing of what Aunt Alice said as the truth. It was impossible for any of it to be real. This was a terrible fantasy, a nightmare, a horror. There was no way that my surreally beautiful life had come to a madness so great. No, I snarled after my growl. Renesmee, Jasper and Carlisle said at once, Carlisle in a calming assuring tone, and Jasper using his gift for calming, though at the same time Jasper was in his defensive crouch guarding Alice, which alarmed me to find that I was the only danger. I didnt care, I let that vampire out of me and demanded to know the rest. Renesmee, calm down, Jacob, yes, has gone missing, but we know who he is with. Ill explain everything, claimed Aunt Alice, calming me, We won the war, the Romanian vampires and we who helped them, the Volturi is out of power and dead, as well as the most of their guard. Once the war was coming to a close though, one of their guard members made a run for it though and Jacob noticed, ran after her, not recognizing she had a gift and when he caught up, she captured him as she made him unable to defend himself. It was a hopeless fight really. In the fight, our two phones were destroyed; wed only brought two phones, you know. So, for the two months that we were following after Jane the vampire who kidnapped Jake we could not contact you until we were in Canada, when Jasper and I decided to come with you. I was infuriated! You did what? You should have stayed! Your visions would have helped, now my mom and dad are lost and well never know if theyre okay! Oh yes we will, Im watching them, Nessie. Calm down.

I will not calm down! You should be out there, watching for Jane, protecting Jake, with them. Your visions can help them. No, they cant, Jane is acting on impulse, not choice, I can hardly see before shes changing paths again. My gift was no help tracking her. After all this Aunt Rosalie stalked over to us in her graceful way. Well, to Alice, right past me almost through me. Aunt Alice noticed this and her brow furrowed. Youll have to tell me what Ive been absent for, you all, she said softly, knowing we would all here. I could tell that Aunt Rosalie had probably decided to write down what her problem was so that Aunt Alice would see it in her vision. Aaw, I understand, she nodded, glancing at me for a second. Ill go find Edward and Bella, I dont feel much in the mood for home anymore. Emmett of course will come with me, right? Uncle Emmett looked up at Aunt Rosalie, in this moment quite serious as he rarely is. Of course. I glided up to my room and found the stray disk of Claude Debussy compositions including Clair de Lune and turn it on. I cry to the sounds of the song that built a connection between my father and mother as I consider never finding my love again. The most horrific idea Id ever known.

Chapter Nine Life Story

I think Claude Debussy read my life story in the pages of his mind, I think he read it and wrote it down in music through Clair de Lune. Why? Its all there, my life was a beautifully gradually moving dont rock the boat piece for a long time, and all of the beauty of it was natural and routine. It was special, yes, it

was perfect, most of the time, but for me that was normal. Then, the rhythm was disturbed by just one little thing. What was that one little not that changed the mood of the song? Suddenly the dancer to the song was no longer floating on the placid beautiful sparkling water, but storming through it. She was trying to find her dance again, and then she did. Eventually, but that dance was not so beautiful anymore. It was a new steady rhythm. One that shed never known but immediately felt natural, then once that original normal beauty finally seemed to be coming back. The storm returned, just momentarily until a more amazing beauty than whatd ever been seen before ended the song. So, what is Clair de Lune but my life story. I listened to it for hours. I wanted to just be in that moment in that final beautiful moment, but I knew it would be long before I got there. I lay there imagining beauty and only a face of an angel came to mind, it was the face that Clair de Lune brought to me, it was the face that life brought to me, it was the face of love. It was Jacob. My Jacob. In this moment I did not want to be Renesmee Carlie Cullen anymore, suddenly I wanted nothing more than to not be. I wanted to be his. I wanted to belong to the rusted heat of his skin. I wanted the dark of his eyes to arrest and own me. I wanted to be surrounded in fire, a fire more intense warm comfortable and beautiful than being changed from human to vampire. I wanted a fire more loving close heated and overwhelming than being burned to death as a vampire. I wanted to be Mrs. Renesmee Black more than anything. I wanted to belong to him but now, he was gone.

Chapter Ten Decisions

The trick to getting around Aunt Alices visions is to act as soon as you think of the idea and pray to any god a vampire may have that you can be faster than her. Then of course it helps if she can barely see you in her visions of course. I grabbed the wooden charm, the wrought iron rose, and the lilac off my bed and jumped out the window. Id never done such a thing and the rocks looked terrifyingly sharp, I didnt mind, I ran. I ran straight for the trees and didnt turn around at the sound of pursuit. I would not wait for my parents to bring me the bad news, I would find Jane. I would hunt her down and if she hurt Jacob, she would kill me with him. No, I would not let this Jane lay a finger on Jacob. Then, suddenly, a memory came forward to me. No, Jane would not have to lay a finger on Jacob, she had all she needed to hurt him in her mind; she could burn him mentally. She could send him straight to hell as he stood in one place in agony. Hed be rendered in the most painful state possible. The only way to stop this from happening is using a mental shield, a mental shield like my mother Thats why I

remembered, this Jane she was an enemy of my mothers as my mother was the only one ever capable of keeping Jane out and ensuring that she could not hurt those she loved surrounding her. Jane of course did not like my mother for this, and now, perhaps seeing the best friend connection my mother had with him decided to have Jacob I assume. Jane could not have known the connection between Jacob and I -- could she?

Once I was far into the forest I began to think, to concentrate on that pull I always feel. Its an odd feeling, I dont believe others feel it, but I have since I was born. It was a pull that directed me towards life. Pull me toward a bright moon, a bright night. My Brightest Night, it led me there, it was always there. It was like a life source, like it bound me with an essentiality stronger than gravity, but very similar. This pull led me to the north east, I followed it, this is where my Brightest Night would be, my Jacob. I shoved the flower, fake rose, and wooden charm into my pocket as I ran, itd been a week since I last hunted and Id hunt again soon as I knew I needed all my strength to defeat or at all compete with Jane. I growled in anticipation to find my love even though it might kill me. I was in desperation. Life had been a dream except for when it was a nightmare, and I was prepared to die to let part of that dream survive me. I was aware that no one was following me, I wondered why. Perhaps Aunt Alice had seen where my decision would lead me. If she had no one pursuing me then it must have been good and I leaned into my already perilously fast run to pick up pace. I would find my Brightest Night, I was sure of it.

Chapter Eleven Extraordinary

I would never claim to be a tracker. Of course not, except for in the case of Jacob. I would always know exactly how to get to him; it was an affect of his imprinting on me. It was something anyone who is part of an imprinting equation would experience, an allusive pull to your other half. No not other half, for its more than that your soul mate, your universe. Yes, Jacob Black was my all. In

the six days it took to reach him, I slept with dreams completely consumed by his image. In my mind, under the cover of the night, I would memorize every plane and tone of his face. There was nothing more perfect in the world, nothing more wonderful than my fire. Every time that I thought this it made me smile; something was pleasing about thinking, my fire. He is mine, I would think. I imagined the way he talked; the rough and tired sound of his voice and realized how every imperfection made him so perfect. He was the only fiery moon in existence, it made him so special. It made him extraordinary. One night as I lay under the stars, I allowed my mind to wander off about trivial things, though. Trivial things that hurt me terribly, that confused me so deeply that I could not understand meaning anymore. Ive never had a choice, I realized on this night. It was something I wouldnt have thought about if Id stayed on more harmful topics. Why did I have to wonder off in my thoughts about school? It would have been fine to wander about the coming danger my possible death. I was thinking about a project that I would miss in English, it was to be about the contemporary ideas of King Lear from William Shakespeare. I was thinking about . . . Chuck. Mr. Beckson will be disappointed that Ill miss my presentation. Im sure hell miss my opinion considering Im far older and more advanced than he is in several topics including English, but of course he wouldnt know that. Though, Im sure Chuck will do a suitable job of delivering our oral report. Perhaps hell do even a better job of the public speaking than I would have as I am still not quite accustomed to the constant attention of humans or talking much. Hell

probably just make something up instead of use the speech outline, I can imagine it now, Its a classic case of paranoia! I mean come on everyone thinks that people are out to hack them up for money at some point! Its a theme that transcends time, the whole class would laugh; it would be so true and so funny. All at once, so like Chuck. Hes witty and so very smart. Its one of the reasons we get along so well, no he may not be as smart as me but he makes up for that with his clever jokes. He can always make you laugh. I realized that in a way he was unlike Jacob in an almost equally remarkable way. I spent the night remembering how Jacob was wild and fun, but never seemed to take things seriously. I spent that same time comparing it to how Chuck could joke but be serious about something as well. I found myself so in love with both of them, the mystery and fantasy that has been my whole life with Jacob Black was still the love in my heart I never chose, that I never decided on. I considered what it would be like to choose my life, what it would be like to be your average human wrapped in the arms of Chuck Wilder as he made me giggle giggle?! Id never done such a thing and what it was like to be trying to save the life of my werewolf soul mate, the vampire and human halves of me warred again, as I laid there risking my life to save one love I realized I never had a choice between natural and supernatural and considered what the difference between the two lives I could have led was. I would be strong enough to save Jacob but would he be strong enough to accept any choice I made as I realized there was ever a choice to begin with. Chuck Wilder saved me and he only deserved me for that, he brought me out of a haze and welcomed me to humanity my dreams

compared two faces now, both alike in beauty for different reasons one natural, one magical; one eternal and one for a lifetime. No longer did I memorize the face of Jacob Black; no longer was I so wrapped in the warmth of his strong fiery arms. Now I was memorizing two faces. Two loves, confused by the two contrasting temperatures; I struggled to come to the surface of my drowning love; I was overcome by a need to be with them to be not Renesmee Carlie Cullen, but Renesmee Black and Renesmee Wilder. Yes, indeed I would find my Jacob, my Bright Night, but I would fear not Jane the decision I would have to make clear to him. I would choose a human life; because that is the beauty of a choice.

Chapter Twelve Tradition

I thought of the decision Id made the night before as I was on the final leg of my trip to meeting Jane and finding Jacob. I knew I would not sway from this decision to be stubborn was in my veins; my father, my mother they were both quite stubborn. I still loved Jacob, as I always would, this I could not help it was a supernatural bond that no one had ever broken before me but -- though he would forever be my Brightest Night he would no longer be mine. Perhaps this would become a family tradition, I mean hurting Jacob to keep a love far less natural but all the more appealing and full. I never had a choice in Jacob, did I? I cried for the most of that day, even as I pummeled the moose that would replenish my strength for the day.

I heard the rough but light rubbing of antlers against a Maple tree and knew Id found my prey, perhaps just a half-mile to the northwest; itd be just a slight bit off course to my destination. I pounded my way across the terrain running no more than two minutes to reach the trees by the small clearing where the moose drank water from a small pond. Quickly and silently I climbed the tree as a breeze blew in, as to hide my threatening scent from the animal not that mine would strike so much fear as that of my full vampire family, it was just habit. Its scent was washed up to me and the smell of fresh warm blood made me ravenous, as I pounced from a branch and smashed the moose flat, my mouth searched gracefully for the strongest concentration of blood; suddenly naturally a warm liquid rushed down my throat soothing the dry ache there.

Chapter Thirteen Arrival

I grabbed the wolf chain out of my pocket once I was done quenching the thirst I had and replenishing my strength. I gripped it with a strength that surprisingly did not crush it into a fine wood powder. It took me a whole six days to get here; I was in a densely populated town. Vancouver, Canada. This place has a small abandoned warehouse that no one ever visits or checks for its vacancy; here it is always dark, no sun reaches within the walls of this warehouse at all. The homeless used to use this place as a joint home, trading random rare belongings for drugs. These people did this for years until just recently 2 days ago to be exact. The day that a very beautiful short-haired young or young in as sense, anyway woman appeared and convinced them

quite assertively to leave. Her name was Jane, she had a man with him, she was carrying him and he seamed to be tortured. He was cursing and practically yelling, he was shaking all over and sweating you could see he was hurting, none of us wanted to get sick with whatever that boy had, so they all left. So Lance, a homeless man told me, he had been very close to the warehouse that I felt the pull toward. So, I asked him, Do you see that building over there? What can you tell me about it? He took his time telling me, probably figuring whether I was a cop or not, I was not sure. Then, Lance told me all this. So, yes, Jane was there and yes shed just arrived so my parents were probably not very close, and Jacob, as I knew he would be, was there. I clutched the charm even tighter as I faced the dark blue warehouse on the corner. I knew what I had to do. I breathed to deep breaths then turned to Lance. Thank you, Lance. Perhaps well meet again, someday, I smiled at him politely. No problem, Lady. You might not want to go in there alone though, youre pretty young, no tellin whatd happen to you if you got sick, he grinned, obviously pleased that Id smiled at him. His smile was made up of just nine teeth but this didnt bother me, it made me sympathetic for him. No, I know exactly who he is and what he is sick with. Good bye, Lance. Look at me, making friends with humans before I race to my death. I smiled and waved at him as I ran off.

Once within the walls of the warehouse I knew pain was coming, it was the most ominous setting Id ever come across. I hated it; I hated being in the dark and I hated knowing that hurt was about to come and I couldnt not face it. Of course Jane growled at me, to her I would smell like a human thats simply been to close to a vampire. She would think me her prey. So, I growled back, just to let her know what she was messing with.

Chapter Fourteen To Die

Jane stopped her growling immediately, soon a light was on and she glided toward me. I saw a faint red in her eye, though it was so subtle that a human would think her eyes were onyx. Oh to joy, Jane was thirsty. I was sure she saw them, when she looked at me everyone thatd ever met my mother before she was a vampire saw my eyes, the very eyes that used to be hers. The vampire blinked in surprise. The hybrid The hybrid? Id never heard the Volturis name for me. Apparently though, because of my vampire-human being I was the hybrid to them. That was interesting. My name is Renesmee actually, Jane. Have you forgotten so soon? Its only been say 115 years? Give or take a month or two. She growled ferociously at me, but I heard another growl, one of warning, not directed at me but toward her. Jacob.

Jake. I was immediately distracted, I lost all concentration. Jane took the chance to pounce at me, immediately I was at the wall of the warehouse, I would not let her win. I noticed then that Jacob was in wolf form, if it was so, why was he still here? The big mound of fur leaped across floor and onto Jane, immediately his teeth were dangerously close to her neck. She would not forget her gift though and sent Jacob into a spiral of pain with her uncanny ability to burn one with her mind. Jacob naked and human was immediately fallen on the floor by her feet, whimpering. I stood and ran for her, I managed to reach her and bite from her arm before she noticed my attack. Soon her gift was used to attack my senses, and I kicked out, hoping the force from my foot would distract her somehow and as she flailed across the vast room it did. Allowing me to stand after the small echo of the pain she could enforce. She growled again once, and her deep blood red eyes stared at me as I clutched the small wooden wolf charm that Jacob had once given my mother. In response, I looked at Jacob weak on the ground and growled at the beautiful hateful face that loathed my mother so strongly that she chose this as her revenge. I thought the wolf would be good enough, to make her watch me kill her best friend would be justice to your mother. Now I see, Ill just let her find the bodies of her daughter and her wolf best friend here. I growled ferociously and she hissed just as fiercely, I ran toward her, never evaluating how dumb and fatal this move may have been she, grinned and waited to rip me to pieces in result of my rash impulsive act. Jacob, in all his

agony managed to break free of it somehow. He jumped into my path never even bothering to become a wolf, but he knocked me out of the way that would lead me to Jane. However, in the impact between me with my rock hard body and Jacobs human form I hit his head so hard in the brace he was left unconscious as we sprawled across the warehouse and I dropped the wolf charm somewhere along the way. Jane noticed development. That Jake was unconscious, that she not longer needed to use her gift on him and her bright white teeth flashed at me. Suddenly the world was on fire. It was not the fire of Jacobs body. It was not the fire of comforting friendship I got from Chuck. It was not the fire of blood. It was not even the fire of a thirst, it was far worse; it was a burning of hell. It was as if I was at the stake and being burned from the inside rather than the outside. It was a physical hatred so powerful that my body went weak using all its strength to reject it. Id never felt pain before. Never in my life; never in all my 116 years had I ever felt hell like this before. This was beyond pain, this was beyond agony. I was being stabbed, burned, and betrayed in the most terrible physical sense ever. It diminished my being. To die would be better. To let a darkness consume me and never come out would be better. I screamed. I screamed ferociously, this was hell in its most horrific interpretation. I wanted to die, I wanted Jacob to come and put out the fire with his own comforting soft heat. I wanted Chuck Wilder to touch me with his cool human hand and make the fire go away, to make the pain go away. I wanted my daddy to come and kill me if thats what it took. I screamed and screamed and cried and the pain continued it was a

torture, the world didnt exist anymore, just the fire that was burning it. I looked at Jane she was spinning and smiling as she burned me then a light cast on her face and the hurt went away, but I didnt feel better because I didnt feel anything, I went immediately unconscious; I welcomed drowning into the black haziness to get away from the burning. To die would be a welcomed idea, anything to make it go away.

Epilogue Waking Up
Theres no pain in death, Im sure. This I know because everyone deserves complete peace after they go through hell. Im convinced, thats what the world is. When happiness can never be fully obtained, that is hell; that is life. Life is hard. I can never have both halves of me, and as convinced as I thought I was before I saved Jacob, Im not sure which half I will choose, of course I want to be natural, but there is something about the supernatural I just cant let go of. Of course Id have my family either way, but the choice is really between answering my human love and answering my magic love. My heart is torn. I opened my eyes to my familys living room, it was dark and out the glass wall I could see a full moon. There were people there in the room though, several. I tried to say, Hello. I was still week, though. Shes coming around, I think. Jacob claimed anxiously, I could not disappoint him, I would awake. Eventually, I decided after struggling through the dark bonds of a diminishing unconsciousness.

Renesmee, my mother cooed at me. Finally, I smiled. Mom, I answered her, pleased to finally hear her voice again. Of course she wants Bella, Aunt Rosalie said, I could see that whatever shed been mad at me for was settled by her tone. Oh, Renesmee, trust me, Jane is gone. Shell never hurt you again. Neither of us, I promise, I reached my hand up to touch my mothers face, I love you, Mom. Ive missed you and Im so glad that you are finally back. I smiled, knowing she would have heard my thoughts as I touched her. You too, Dad. Everything has been confusing since you left. I knew hed hear me because of his ability to read minds. That night everyone explained the events to me. As Jane burned me, my mother and father arrived and my mom immediately stretched out her shield to protect Dad, Jacob, and I from Janes gift. Together, they ripped Jane apart and burned the pieces, the only way to kill a vampire. I had many injuries and I was unconscious for part of the time because of shock, a blow to the head, and later morphine. We reached home in three days, as my mom and dad were able to carry Jake and I without sleeping, running their fastest the entire time. My mothers part of the deal with Stefan and Vladimir had begun and the newborn vampires were training to get along with humans, more specifically the humans of La Push. No one mentioned my crazy, Im better than you because Im half human behavior towards the half of my family that remained in Forks. It was the happy ending, for the most part.

I still had no clue what my decision would be, but surely my father knew of the decision I was planning to make, he said no word of it to me. Jacob though was fine and behaving as usual, I loved him for it. At Forks, Jacob joined us, as another adopted brother; of course he looked older than the rest of us and was considered an eighteen year old senior. He thus could not act as my boyfriend in school. Every other day I sat with my human friends and I felt as divided as I had since the day half of my family went off to war. Every now and then Seth would come to visit with news about progress the newborns, whom had all been taught self-control by my mother, father, aunt, and uncle during the war and search. Uncle Jasper met with the Quileutes daily to make sure the newborns were behaving well and controlling their emotional climates. My mother was convinced that she was doing something good by making the deal that shed fight with the Romanians if all the newborns were taught to work with humans. She was right, of course, the newborns were making fantastic progress and the Quileutes became our friends as they had been all those years ago. Things were well, and I was happy to be living as hard as things may have been, it was the Half Human Half Vampire life that no girl would even think to ask for.