Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [205]
The vampires at the door were both slight and short, one dark-haired and the other with hair so ashy blond that it looked pale gray. They had the same powdery look to their skin as the Volturi, though I thought it was not so pronounced. I couldnt be sure about that, as I had never seen the Volturi except with human eyes; I could not make a perfect comparison. Their sharp, narrow eyes were dark burgundy, with no milky film. They wore very simple black clothes that could pass as modern but hinted at older designs.
The dark one grinned when I came into view. Well, well, Carlisle. You have been naughty, havent you?
Shes not what you think, Stefan.
And we dont care either way, the blonde responded. As we said before.
Then youre welcome to observe, Vladimir, but it is definitely not our plan to challenge the Volturi, as we said before.
Then well just cross our fingers, Stefan began.
And hope we get lucky, finished Vladimir.
In the end, we had pulled together seventeen witnesses-the Irish, Siobhan, Liam, and Maggie; the Egyptians, Amun, Kebi, Benjamin, and Tia; the Amazons, Zafrina and Senna; the Romanians, Vladimir and Stefan; and the nomads, Charlotte and Peter, Garrett, Alistair, Mary, and Randall-to supplement our family of eleven. Tanya, Kate, Eleazar, and Carmen insisted on being counted as part of our family.
Aside from the Volturi, it was probably the largest friendly gathering of mature vampires in immortal history.
We all were beginning to be a little bit hopeful. Even I couldnt help it. Renesmee had won over so many in such a brief time. The Volturi only had to listen for just the tiniest second
The last two surviving Romanians-focused only on their bitter resentment of the ones who had overthrown their empire fifteen hundred years earlier-took everything in stride. They would not touch Renesmee, but they showed no aversion to her. They seemed mysteriously delighted by our alliance with the werewolves. They watched me practice my shield with Zafrina and Kate, watched Edward answer unspoken questions, watched Benjamin pull geysers of water from the river or sharp gusts of wind from the still air with just his mind, and their eyes glowed with their fierce hope that the Volturi had finally met their match.
We did not hope for the same things, but we all hoped.
* * *
33. FORGERY
Charlie, weve still got that strictly need- to-know company situation going. I know its been more than a week since you saw Renesmee, but a visit is just not a good idea right now. How about I bring Renesmee over to see you?
Charlie was quiet for so long that I wondered if he heard the strain beneath my façade.
But then he muttered, Need to know, ugh, and I realized it was just his wariness of the supernatural that made him slow to respond.
Okay, kid, Charlie said. Can you bring her over this morning? Sues bringing me lunch. Shes just as horrified by my cooking as you were when you first showed up.
Charlie laughed and then sighed for the old days.
This morning will be perfect. The sooner the better. Id already put this off too long.
Is Jake coming with you guys?
Though Charlie didnt know anything about werewolf imprinting, no one could be oblivious to the attachment between Jacob and Renesmee.
Probably. There was no way Jacob would voluntarily miss an afternoon with Renesmee sans bloodsuckers.
Maybe I should invite Billy, too, Charlie mused. But hmm. Maybe another time.
I was only half paying attention to Charlie- enough to notice the strange reluctance in his voice when he spoke of Billy, but not enough to worry what that was about. Charlie and Billy were