Solar Eclipse - Book 5

Chapter 17

While the vampires and wolves in the house began going over strategy and plans us half breeds were excused to our rooms. Tonight I wasn't in the mood to sleep because of the rising anxiety in the house. Every minute that passed was just another bucket dump of tension in the already unstable environment that was supposed to be my and Nic's home.

Moving in together was supposed to be so we could enjoy each others company and get to know one another before we tied the knot. Whenever that was to happen, at least. There was supposed to be no drama, no stress, just learning and eventually loving. But like always, in my life, whenever we gained some ounce of serene happiness and stability it was ripped out from underneath us as if we didn't deserve any of it.

Luckily I had music though, without that and reading there would be no escape for me.

"Tea, Renesmee?" Nic said as he came waltzing gracefully into the piano room carrying a tray adorned with pastries, ornate tea cups and a tea pot steaming with water.

I smiled, keeping my eyes on the ivory keys that my fingers danced across. I loved a good cup of tea after playing the piano. That and some music or a good classic to read.

When I first started ending my piano sessions with a cup of tea my father told me about his human life and how he would do the same thing.

Great Grandma Mason taught him how to play the piano when he would go to her house to visit. After the lessons she would make tea and bring out some home bakes and she would tell him stories about her youth and how she met her late husband.

These visits continued until he was ten years old, then she passed away. The piano playing and tea stayed with my father until he became a vampire. He continued playing the piano but stopped drinking tea. But that didn't stop him from taking up a hobby in collecting teas from all over the world when he traveled and learning to make blends of his own.

My fathers favorite tea blends were Oolongs. He would tell me about how Grandpa Mason would go on business trips to Aurora Illinois and bring him back fancy teas for him as a gift after Great Grandma Mason had passed away.

Sniffing the air lightly, I tasted the aroma coming from the kettle on the tray. It was French Spice Quartet.

This Oolong tea blend was made from the fame Quatre Epices of France. The blend consisted of the perfect portions of cloves, nutmeg, ginger and sweet cinnamon, with black peppercorn, Madagascar vanilla and peppermint. It was perfect for nights like these when there was nothing but stress to deal with.

The sweetness would effortlessly relax me while spices filled my heart with warmth. Usually after I drank this it was a matter of time before I would succumb to a sleep.

My fingers grazed over the keys for the final two measures of the song and then I turned to face Nic, placing my hands in my lap.

"I thought we were out of French Spice?" I smiled as I reached out and took the cup he handed to me.

"We were, yes. But I had more delivered." Nic replied casually as he poured himself a cup.

"We don't have mail delivered to our personal residences, we have-"

"P.O. Boxes. This I know."

I nodded my head as I took a long sip.

"I am not aware if you have ever heard of Teavana."

"Of course, my grandma Esme bought me some tea from there a few times."

"I bought the company." I watched him pick up a piece of formal paper and hand it to me. "This is the deed for the company, it is yours now."

I stared in awe at the paper. This tea company was mine.

"I also purchased American Tea Room and Adagio Teas so every week we will be shipped assortments of tea blends. We will have more tea than we can drink."

I smiled, my eyes bright and wide, as I looked into his beautiful eyes. "Thank you, er, this is very generous of you."

Though I hated getting gifts I couldn't help but appreciate this.

"I want to give you everything you deserve dearest Renesmee and you, my love, deserve the world." Nic cupped his large hand to my cheek and brushed his thumb along my cheek bones.

I felt my face warm incredibly and knew I was blushing madly. Embarrassed I dropped my gaze and quickly pulled away.

"What is wrong Renesmee?" he asked as I rose to my feet.

I brought my hand to my forehead and laughed nervously. "Nothing.... I'm, I'm just tired." I inhaled deeply. "The tea."

Nic got to his feet and wrapped his arm around my waist. "Bed, then I will come and clean up our dishes after you have fallen asleep."

I walked with Nic up the two flights of stairs that separated our bedrooms from the music room. Releasing his hand from my waist he opened my bedroom door and stood back to let me enter before he followed.

"I will get the bath water started." He said as he passed me, walking towards my bathroom.

Blushing again I froze in my steps. "Are you...." I couldn't even finish the sentence, let alone the thought of him bathing with me.

Nic had his hand on the door knob when he tensed up. I knew he understood what I wasn't saying.

"Renesmee, never in my long, lonely life have I ever laid eyes on a bare woman. Though you and I will eventually be husband and wife I prefer to keep this innocence between us intact. The day my eyes look upon your bareness will be the night of our honeymoon." His words flowed confidently from his mouth.

I took a deep breath, turning my back on him so I didn't have to look at him. I felt embarrassed for even allowing myself to think that he had such intentions.

I jumped slightly when a hand rested on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry if I offended you." Nic's voice spoke into my ear.

I shrugged gently away from his touch, crossing my arms casually at my waist. "No, you didn't offend me I'm just really tired and think I will save my bath for the morning."

"The tea-"

"-I think it was a little bit stronger than I am used to so it is very effective." I lied. As the last word left my lips I felt the blood pooling into my cheeks. Tilting my head to the side I let my curls fall forward, creating a curtain between him and my blushing.

"Goodnight then." he whispered before pressing his lips to my forehead. "Sleep well."

Then he left the room.

After a few seconds I tucked my hair away from my face and began undressing from my day clothes. Walking to my closet I put my dirty clothes away and then pulled on my pajama's. Because we had company, other than family, I decided to wear my more conservative pajamas.

These were a pair of my favorite -pre courting- pajamas. They were my Olivia Von Halle's in my favorite shade of blue.

I put my hair back in two plaits and climbed into bed. Wearing my favorite color put me at peace.

My favorite color is blue but when it came to the shade it was previously Royal Blue. That was until I saw Nic's eyes transform as he told me he loved me for the first time. It took me several days to find out the name of the very shade. But when I did my new favorite shade of blue was Cerulean.

It's the kind of blue an ocean can be. Where the pigment is saturated with light parts that shimmer and every time you look at it the hue changes.

It was like a flame, his eyes, when he looked at me after his confession. The blue hues danced magically. It drew me in.

The day I fell in love with Cerulean Blue was the day I knew I fell in love with him.

Closing my eyes, I pulled my duvet closer against my body and began daydreaming about his eyes. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep with my mind in their comfort. When my eyes opened again it was morning.

The sun was cheerfully shining through my white silk curtains creating a gentle burst of light that illuminated my room. I sighed and closed my eyes wanting to lay and enjoy the serene moment.

It was perfect, the gentle caress of the warmth from the morning sun and the smell of pine and the morning dew that was carried by a gentle breeze. I loved the smell and with the addition of the song birds I was at complete ease.

The peaceful state began to fall away and was quickly replaced by an unwanted feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something wasn't right.

Again came the breeze that carried the smell of pine and dew.

Sitting upright in my bed I turned my head to look at my balcony doors which were wide open. Raising slowly to my feet I took a breath, tasting the air for the scent of who had been here.

"Hello my pretty." a shrill voice spoke.

My body began trembling from fear as I took a step, backing away from the doors.

"Where are you going?" The voice called again, only it was behind me now.

Jumping slightly, I turned around only to come face to face with Genevieve.

"How... How did you get in here?" She smiled sinisterly, her lips curling to bare her teeth. My heart began pounding faster than it had ever before. "DAD?!" I screamed, hoping he would be here in seconds.

"Dad." She mimicked me in a whinny voice. "Daddy can't save you."

"MOM! DAD!!!" I screamed again.

"If your daddy dearest can't save you, what makes you think wittle mummy could."

A tear slid down my face, cooling the flame boiling beneath my cheeks. "What have you done to my family?" I asked, my voice shaking as I held back tears.

"We haven't done a thing."

I turned my head to look over my shoulder and sure enough Fallon was standing by the doors.

"We recently made friends with the Volturi and they have agreed to help us out with our endeavor." Fallon said as she took a step towards me. "They are currently downstairs, keeping every body in control."

"Please don't hurt them." I pleaded.

"They won't hurt them, after all Aro can find use in their powers amongst the guard. You are a universal bargaining chip. See, little Renesmee-" Genevieve crooned as she brushed her hand along my cheek. "Your life is in my hands and your family knows this. If they don't listen you will be punished, if they try and run away or attempt to rescue you, you will die.... slowly."

"After the Volturi gets what they want from your family, we get to have you, Matthew and Prissy Penelope to ourselves. You and your cousins will pay for taking away what was meant to be mine." Fallon threatened.

Without hesitation I turned and bolted past Fallon, out the balcony doors. Leaping over the balcony I landed in the creek bed below. Pushing myself forward I pulled my body out of the water and took off running towards the woods.

Where was I going to go? That thought alone was stupid as I knew I couldn't successfully outrun a vampire. Maybe for a few seconds I would have an advantage, but only because I had a head start.

From my right shoulder I could hear footsteps growing closer and closer. Jumping up onto a thick branch in an ever green tree to my left, I missed being tackled by one of the sister by half a second. I didn't stay in the spot for long because I knew she would be on her feet in under a second.

I continued my escape, sticking to the trees. Leaping from one branch to the next I zigzag through the trees.

Up, down, up, left, down, right, up, right, left, left, right, left.

I didn't think as I jumped from branch to branch, doing my best to evade them. But they were on my tail.

I knew I couldn't keep this up forever because unlike vampires I would eventually get tired and need to rest. I was half human.

Then I messed up and Fallon aimed a blow to my chest that sent me flying in the air. My body was airborne for ten seconds. I was lucky to crash through only a few branches, missing the massive trunks that they were attached to. Then my luck ran out as my back came to a stop as I collided with the trunk of a large pine tree.

The pain I felt in the moment was unbearable and it was impossible to not scream as I fell fifteen feet to the ground.

I laid in a crumpled heap, sobbing from the pain that was radiating in my spine. It hurt. But it hurt even more to scream so I did my best to hold it in.

"Like I said, you run, you will get hurt." Fallon said as she stooped over me.

"You...." I winced as I took a deep breath. "... never said that."

She snatched me up by my hair and yanked my head backwards causing me to scream. "It was implied." She growled before forcing me forward.

"Where are we going?" I whimpered. "Please, just let me see my family."

"Oh you will see them alright." Genevieve laughed as she skipped ahead.

In just under a minute we were back in the yard. From where we were I could see through the windows, my family was there and so were the Volturi. I could see my family, they had their eyes on me and their expressions were somber as they knew there was nothing they could do to help me.

"Now for the fun part." Gen teased as she ran forward to the wall of the house that separated me and my family.

Her body began zipping around in a blur breaking down the wall until there was nothing more except debris.

"Renesmee are you alright?" My mother called out to me.

"I'm scared." was all I could say.