Half & Half

Half & Half - Chapter 27

Half & Half

Chapter Twenty Seven

    “Why would they want Renesmee as a bargaining chip?” Carlisle piped up after a long period of silence, her life had been in danger once before, that is why they can’t seem to think why she would be the bargaining chip they demanded.

    “I can’t see why.” Said Alice as she shook her head, wanting the thoughts out of it.

  By now Edward would have told Bella and Renesmee the news from the main house, Jasper could feel his worry and fear, mainly at the unknown for their missing reason for wanting Renesmee of all of the Cullens, as the bargaining chip.

    “Is she going to be okay?” Rosalie stood up with Emmett, to join the rest of their anxious family, addressing Alice with a hint of trepidation in her voice.

  Alice raised and lowered her shoulders ever so slightly.

    “I don’t know. That’s all they’re letting me see, they knew that I would be watching. Revealing our full family was a mistake.” Her voice trailed off in a whisper as Jasper folded her into his chest, stroking her short jet black hair.

  Their next step had to be thought out carefully, there was more to these two girls than they originally thought. They had tricks up their sleeves that were carefully concealed away from Alice until the time was right, then and only then would they allow the Cullens to see what they wanted them to see. Just as Jacob was about to speak, clearly bewildered as the rest of the family, a short  wisp of air and three figures stood in the window entrance to the first floor. Edward, Bella and Renesmee had joined them.

    “Nessie.” Jacob, deterred from what he was about to say, instead went over to Renesmee. Pulling her close, closer than ever he buried his nose into her auburn curls as far as he could go. She meant more than the meaning of the word life to him, even without a clue at why she was once more put into the firing range of a battle of brains, he was still rattled as much as any of them were at this point.

    “Jacob. Are you alright?” Renesmee said back when able to get some air.

    “Surely I should be the one asking you that..”

    “Well I’m asking you, answer me, please.”

  Jacob exhaled.

    “I’m…a little shaken, but otherwise fine. You?”

  Renesmee nodded, clearly feeling the same way.

    “The same. I just don’t understand.”

    “I don’t think any of us do.” Interjected Carlisle, moving from  Esme’s side.

  Bella and Edward moved from around the back of Renesmee and Jacob, feeling happy that she was alright in Jacob’s arms, to in front of Carlisle as the family looked on to hear what he had to say.

    “Alice as you know Edward can’t see what or why Renesmee is the one that they want or what they want her for. But we need to think long and hard, this time I feel it is more a game of brains than a battle of Braun. They want to see how we react to their actions, no matter which path we take, if we do something or nothing at all, they’ll be watching somehow.” He paused, looking at Jacob and Renesmee in a gentle embraced; now facing the three vampires in the middle of the room. “Whichever way we have gone so far, they’ve been able to manipulate us and scramble what we have achieved, so this is why this is a difficult decision to make.”

  All eyes in the room darted to Carlisle’s face if they were errant beforehand, keen to see what the head of the family had come up with this time.

    “What is it Carlisle?” Jasper prompted, feeling Carlisle’s uneasiness.

  Rubbing his chin, Carlisle knew that what he had planned would clearly upset and unsettle his family even more, but this might just bide them some time enough to fox the two terrible vampires long enough for them to feel unsettled themselves.

    “No” Edward spoke up, his voice no more than a whisper. “I won’t let you do that.”

    “Edward, it might work. I am not happy with it any more than you are. But, if we can pull this off, we might be able to advantage far enough ahead to get a better look at where this game is going.”

  A tap on Edward’s shoulder caused him to look around quickly at Alice who now stood behind him. “Tell me.” She said softly, knowing that once she heard Carlisle’s idea, she could see how it would play out to a certain degree.

  All ears tuned into what Edward would barely utter to Alice, in order for her to see the outcome. No one said a word or took an unnecessary breath, fearful that if they did, it would make Edward feel any more unhinged at the proposed idea from his adoptive father. He muttered to Alice the very idea, Jasper once more taking up a place behind her in case she would feel unsteady after seeing the vision.

  “Oh my.”

  “What is it?” Bella said as she poked her head from around the side of Edward, equally as interested and worried as her otherhalf.

  The smallest of smiles danced its way onto Alice’s face, earning looks from the family, more so Jacob and Renesmee who stood confused and confounded at what was going on. Jacob giving nothing away to Renesmee at this point.

  Alice turned to face Bella, putting her small hands onto her shoulders, her smile growing wider and wider until it was her usual dazzling counterpart.

    “We’re in luck. It will do the trick just nicely enough.” Nodding at Carlisle, he turned and put a hand on Edward’s shoulder. “You see son, have a little more faith in your old man, hm?”

  In an effort to ease any remaining tension, Carlisle’s wise crack cracked a smile onto Edward’s face as he snaked his arm around Bella’s waist. “Alright, I’m not happy about it completely, but seeing how it played out I can’t say no. We just need to ask the one person who this is affecting.”

  Every single last pair of eyes now changed direction, landing on Renesmee. Including Jacob’s eyes filled with nervousness for what his love had to go through for the sake of her family and that of the wolves.

    “What is it?” She said facing Carlisle, allowing him to deliver the nail in the coffin to their new plan.

    “Renesmee…you…have to die.”