Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [177]
Theyre coming for us, Alice and Edward whispered together, perfectly synchronized. All of them.
Silence.
For once, I was the quickest to understand- because something in their words triggered my own vision. It was only the distant memory of a dream-faint, transparent, indistinct as if I were peering through thick gauze In my head, I saw a line of black advancing on me, the ghost of my half-forgotten human nightmare. I could not see the glint of their ruby eyes in the shrouded image, or the shine of their sharp wet teeth, but I knew where the gleam should be
Stronger than the memory of the sight came the memory of the feel-the wrenching need to protect the precious thing behind me.
I wanted to snatch Renesmee up into my arms, to hide her behind my skin and hair, to make her invisible. But I couldnt even turn to look at her. I felt not like stone but ice. For the first time since Id been reborn a vampire, I felt cold.
I barely heard the confirmation of my fears. I didnt need it. I already knew.
The Volturi, Alice moaned.
All of them, Edward groaned at the same time.
Why? Alice whispered to herself. How?
When? Edward whispered.
Why? Esme echoed.
When? Jasper repeated in a voice like splintering ice.
Alices eyes didnt blink, but it was as if a veil covered them; they became perfectly blank. Only her mouth held on to her expression of horror.
Not long, she and Edward said together. Then she spoke alone. Theres snow on the forest, snow on the town. Little more than a month.
Why? Carlisle was the one to ask this time.
Esme answered. They must have a reason. Maybe to see
This isnt about Bella, Alice said hollowly. Theyre all coming-Aro, Caius, Marcus, every member of the guard, even the wives.
The wives never leave the tower, Jasper contradicted her in a flat voice. Never. Not during the southern rebellion. Not when the Romanians tried to overthrow them. Not even when they were hunting the immortal children. Never.
Theyre coming now, Edward whispered.
But why? Carlisle said again. Weve done nothing! And if we had, what could we possibly do that would bring this down on us?
There are so many of us, Edward answered dully. They must want to make sure that He didnt finish.
That doesnt answer the crucial question! Why?
I felt I knew the answer to Carlisles question, and yet at the same time I didnt. Renesmee was the reason why, I was sure. Somehow Id known from the very beginning that they would come for her. My subconscious had warned me before Id known I was carrying her. It felt oddly expected now. As if Id somehow always known that the Volturi would come to take my happiness from me.
But that still didnt answer the question.
Go back, Alice, Jasper pleaded. Look for the trigger. Search.
Alice shook her head slowly, her shoulders sagging. It came out of nowhere, Jazz. I wasnt looking for them, or even for us. I was just looking for Irina. She wasnt where I expected her to be Alice trailed off, her eyes drifting again. She stared at nothing for a long second.
And then her head jerked up, her eyes hard as flint. I heard Edward catch his breath.
She decided to go to them, Alice said. Irina decided to go to the Volturi. And then they will decide Its as if theyre waiting for her. Like their decision was already made, and just waiting on her
It was silent again as we digested this. What would Irina tell the Volturi that would result in Alices appalling vision?
Can we stop her? Jasper asked.
Theres no way. Shes almost there.
What is she doing? Carlisle was asking, but I wasnt paying attention to the discussion now. All my focus was on the picture that was painstakingly coming together in my head.
I pictured Irina poised on the cliff, watching. What had she seen? A vampire and a werewolf who were best friends. Id been focused on that image, one that would obviously explain her reaction. But that was not all that shed seen.
Shed also seen a child. An exquisitely beautiful child, showing off in the falling snow, clearly more than human
Irina the orphaned sisters Carlisle had said that losing their