New Rise - Book 4

Chapter 16

When I had awaken the first thing on my mind was what had happened. The only memory I had of Paul bursting into his wolf form before attacking me. I remembered the heaviness in my chest, coughing up blood and my grandfather crying as he leaned over me, then all was black.

Inhaling deeply I winced slightly as I felt pain in my chest. Running my fingers along my chest I pulled up my shirt to inspect and found five faint pink scars.

I closed my eyes as the memory ran through my mind again. To my misfortune of having a infinite memory I knew the pain would never be forgotten, and neither would losing my Jacob to the Volturi.

I pushed myself up into a sitting position and looked around. I was in my room, but the question was which one?

Sniffing the air lightly I easily placed that I was in my room in my own house. With one more sniff I was able to tell my entire family was here including Nicholi's parents.

"I'm going to go and see how Renesmee is doing." I heard Nicholi say from somewhere in the house.

"That's the twelvth time in the past half hour, let the poor girl rest." Anne said.

Then I heard his footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hall. Was my door open? His footsteps entered my room without stopping, up the stairs and then he was at my side.

"Hello Renesmee." Nicholi said. His eyes seemed to glisten brighter then I remembered.

"Hi."

"I've been wondering when you would open your eyes."

I looked around the room not wanting to make eye contact. "So how long have I been... asleep?"

Nicholi took a seat on the edge of my bed. "Five days and a few hours."

I inhaled sharply from shock. How could I have slept for five days...

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked me.

I nodded my head. "Paul phased and I was too close."

"You were so close to death."

"Then why am I not dead? Did Carlisle save me?"

Nicholi shook his head. "I saved you."

"How?"

Nicholi rose his arm up and very slowly he used the tip of his nail to cut his arm. I kept silent despite my worry as the blood began to flow. Then he rose his other hand and placed it on the wound and closed his eyes. Suddenly a green light began glowing around him before it all disappeared into the entry of the wound. When he removed his hand the cut was gone.

"Wow, so that is how you saved me? What is it?"

Nicholi gave me a crooked grin. "I manipulate aura's on a high level. Long story."

I moved to the edge of my bed and kissed him on the cheek before raising to my feet. "Well I'd like to hear about it sometime when I'm not starving." I chuckled as I headed down stairs and out of my bedroom.

As I came downstairs I was greeted by both my mother and my father who embraced me.

"I'm sorry." I said once they released me. "It was my fault I got hurt, Paul upset me so I smacked him. That's why he phased and I got hurt."

"We know. Your mother and I are upset at his lack of control but you are okay so its just water under the bridge." my father said.

Somehow I had the feeling my father was more angry than he let on. Though his motive for keeping a level head was apparent. Charlie and Sue were together and if complications arose the relationship between Bella and Charlie would become more complicated then needed. Sue's children are wolves and Charlie's child -my mother- is a vampire. No matter what bridges were burned this one would always keep us connected.

"How have your wounds healed, are you in any pain?" My grandfather Carlisle asked as he came over to me.

I shook my head. "No, no pain unless you count the memories of the pain itself."

My mother gasped.

I cleared my throat. "I'm honestly fine. If I didn't remember the incident I would have just thought I had woke up from a regular nights sleep."

My father's thin lipped expression turned into a grin. "You are so much like your mother." He wrapped his arms around my mothers waist and pressed a kiss to her jaw.

"Sir." Nicholi began as he stepped forward from the back of the room. My father looked up. "I know this isn't exactly the proper time to ask but I was wondering whether it was at all possible if I could court your daughter."

My fathers hands dropped from my mothers waist. "Excuse me?"

Nicholi took another couple steps. "I would like your permission to court your daughter."

My father rubbed the back of his neck, his expresssion nerved. "You know what courting implies right?"

Nicholi nodded his head. "

During courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement."

My father turned to look at my mother. They whispered to one another silently for several minutes before turning their attention back to Nic.

"Before I give you my answer I would like to hear from my daughter." He turned to me. "Renesmee?"

I pursed my lips to side. "Yes father?"

"What do you think about Nicholi?" he asked me.

I looked over my shoulder at Nicholi who stood with his hands in his front pockets and a content expression on his face. Like everytime I took the time to look at him I saw only beauty. His blue eyes, sunkissed skin, long limbs, beautiful dirty brown hair. Everything on him was beautiful.

My lips parted slightly as my mind wandered off. It was like I couldn't get enough of looking at him. Something about him drew me in.

"Renesmee?" My father called to draw me from my stupor.

My head snapped back to look at my father.

"Yes?"

"I was asking you what you thought of Nicholi."

I rubbed my upper arm and then wrapped my arms around my waist. "I like him."

My father nodded his head. "Then I will allow it. But there are conditions."

I sighed. Of course, with my father there were always conditions."

"Dad I'm not a child." I whispered.

"I know but it is more of a request than a condition." I nodded my head. "When you start school I want your mind in your work 100%"

"Dad you know I'd never accept less from myself." I grinned as I walked over to his room and wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you sir." Nicholi said as he closed the distance between my father to shake his hand.

"I knew it!" It was Alice.

"Of course.... That explains why you were repeatedly thinking about the weather, the stock market and the words written on the US Constitution." My father replied. He then turned to Nicholi and myself. "Alice has made you both an agenda for your courtship."

"Really?" I said in disbelief as I looked at my aunt who was re-entering the room with a thin leather binder in her hand. With a swift and elegant movement she handed it to Nicholi.

"Thank you." He said, nodding curteously in her direction.

Without another word she skipped to the door where Jasper too her hand and they both left.

"Wow.... this is very thorough." Nicholi said as he flipped through the pages of the binder.

Every few pages was a calender that marked the activites for the day. The month of September had all the Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays marked out for my college classes. Tuesdays were marked out for my music lessons and Wednesdays were marked out for family time. The weekends were each marked with a small silver star.

On the next page it had the activities for the weekends, information pamplets, tickets, directions and more.

Nicholi quickly closed the binder and set it on the coffee table.

"How about we start off with something simple like a picnic in the park or dinner?" Anne suggested.

"That sounds fair." My father replied.

"But not today. Renesmee needs to make sure she is well rested. Might I suggest this coming Saturday yes?"

I looked at my father who nodded his head and then smiled. Why was he smiling?

"That sounds good." I replied.

My hands flew straight to my stomach as a growling ache reminded me of my original mission, to get food. Once my stomach ache had subsided I excused myself and went to the kitchen.

I grabbed an apple to naw on while I made myself something to satiate my hunger. Once I had quenched my current needs I decided to go and take a nice long relaxing bath. It had been a long week with Jake's transfomation, the newly found information we had discovered, the incident and my fathers permission to let me and Nicholi get to know each other on another level.

Once I sank into the tub I relaxed almost immeadiately only my mind kept racing about the most recent events. Nicholi wanting to court me.

I closed my eyes from the world and allowed myself to actually think on the possibilites with this courting. I had read once about courting, it was an old fashioned ritual basically for a man and a woman whose intentions were to marry.

I wasn't stupid, I knew that Nicholi's intentions were to wed me but was that what I wanted for my future? Nicholi was nice, protective, gentle, caring, and it was a plus that he was handsome. Could I see us together ten years from now, what about fifty or one hundred I mean we were part vampire so we would both live forever like our parents.

If he wanted kids was I ready to step up and procreate with him? Would I even be a good wife let alone a good mother? Could I?

My eyes flashed open as the worries of my future lay out in front of me. This was the next path I had to go down. This was the next chapter of my life. I could either continue on and see where the story went or I could rip out the pages and write anew.

I took a deep breath and then slowly let it out before I allowed myself to sink into the tub, submerging my body completely. I stayed under, holding my breath for a few moments before I rose up. I wiped the water out of my face and sighed.

"This is it Renesmee. This is it."