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The morning reached all too soon for the Blacks. Summer forced whatever last minute items she could into her suitcase, and Jake was discussing extra responsibilities with Chloe downstairs. “Chloe,” Jake gave her solemn, fatherly look, “handling sixteen year old twin boys is not an easy task, so if you must for any reason whatsoever, please give your mother and I a call.” Chloe casually flipped back her dazzling black hair and stared her dad in the eye, returning his serious look as best as she could, “Daddy,” she tried hard not to laugh, “the twins and I will be absolutely fine. Quit worrying! Goodness, although I am technically eighteen, I actually am twenty one. I can totally handle my two younger brothers. I’ll be the sweetest, strictest sis you all have ever known.” Jake smirked and patted her hand, “I wasn’t worried about you, honey. I was worried about Aiden and Caleb having to put up with a warden like you.” Chloe’s jaw dropped, “Well, I never! We’ll see who the real warden is when y’all get back, dad!” They laughed.
Aidan and Caleb couldn’t help but overhearing the conversation. They came running down the staircase and into the living room where their sister and dad were. “Wait, dad!” Aidan exclaimed in exasperation, “you can’t leave us here alone with her! By the time you come back home, we’ll be missing without a trace!” Jake tightened his lips and raised an eyebrow at his boys, “Well, you are certainly not coming with us, and I am not giving the Cullens the dreadful task of caring for you while we’re gone, so your kind and considerate big sister will be taking care of you. I leave you guys in her capable hands.” Caleb rolled his eyes out of habit, “You mean her perfectly evil hands,” he mumbled. Unexpectedly, he looked up only to find his sister smiling deviously at him. He forced a loud gulp. What a week it would be for them. Jake rose from the armchair he was seated in, “I’m going to check on your mother and Anakin. Chloe will fix something up for breakfast. DO NOT let me hear any whining, understood?” The boys had to fight the urge to salute to Jake like soldiers at a boot camp, “Whatever, dad.” Jake paused in the doorway and slightly glanced over his shoulder, “Excuse me?” “Uh…um…yes, dad.” Jake smiled, “Good dogs.” He and Chloe chuckled while Aidan and Caleb groaned in humiliation.
As Jake passed Anakin’s bedroom, the door opened and out walked Anakin with one piece of luggage in his left hand. In the other hand, he carried a small brown notebook. Anakin paused, “Why are you studying me like that?” Jake pointed to Anakin’s luggage, “Is that all you’re carrying with you, son?” Anakin fought back a snarl. He was not happy with Jake calling him his “son.” He wondered why it did not bother him before. It was most probably because he now knew the full story behind his Aro’s death. “Yes,” Anakin replied coldly, “what is it to you? I have enough for seven days. It’s none of your business what I choose to carry.” He began walking down the staircase when Jake called out to him, “Anakin, you know better than to speak to me that way.” Anakin stopped and smiled to himself. He didn’t turn to look Jake in the eyes, “I knew better when I thought I had a reason to respect you. Now, you’re just an unjust murderer.” Anakin’s brash words cut through Jake’s heart with astounding ferocity, the same way Anakin’s reaction the night before had affected Summer. Jake’s footsteps became heavier as he approached the bedroom down the hall. He opened up the door and found Summer hustling with incredible speed to get some last minute packing done.
Summer seemed so out of energy. Jake knew that she spent no time sleeping last night because of the incident. She stuffed a toiletries bag into her luggage and then zipped it shut in a matter of seconds. She sat on the edge of the bed and sighed with relief, “Finally. Even when you’re half-vampire, you can never stop packing.” Jake smiled and took a seat next to her. He put his arm around her and whispered softly in her ear, “Things are going to work out the way we want them to. Don’t be stressed, love. Please?” Summer rested her head on Jake’s shoulder, “I’m trying, darling. It’s just…well…I love all of our children so much. What will we do if…” Her voice trailed off. Jake surprised her with a gentle kiss, “Don’t worry your pretty self about a thing. Anakin is still our compassionate, devoted son. He’s just confused.” Summer bit her lip, “I hope you’re right.”
Jake, Summer, and Anakin said their last goodbyes to Chloe and the twins; the pack would’ve been there if they hadn’t had guard duty that morning. On the way to the airport, Jake stopped off at Billy’s home to say a quick goodbye to his dad; Billy was delighted to see them all, but he too was disheartened when he realized Anakin’s change in behavior. After the visit, they gathered back into the car and Jake sped down the highway. He followed the off-ramp that led to the nearest international airport. He left the car with the airport’s rental company and the three of them strolled into the baggage check area. All the while, Anakin had remained silent and somber. Jake and Summer simply stared at each other, silently wondering what could be done to change his mood. After their bags had been checked in, they made their way through security and finally boarded the airplane after a long and awkward hour. Anakin had still not said one word. With each passing moment, Summer found it hard to fight back the desire to slowly and painfully destroy the Volturi. Thoughts of torturing them rolled over and again in her head. While on the plane, Jake took her hand in his and stroked it tenderly. Thanks to Jake, Summer was temporarily able to calm her anger and sadness. They arrived in Volterra after six in the evening. They gathered their bags and Jake tried to stop a taxi on the bustling Italian street. Still, Anakin had said nothing; all he did was write in his notebook. Summer wished she could read his mind, but his shield was much too powerful for her to accomplish that.
Jake, Summer, and Anakin pushed their luggage into the taxi’s trunk and huddled into the car.
The weather was frightfully chilly that evening, but it obviously bothered neither of them. Summer took in the gorgeous Italian scenery as they whizzed pass some of the local tourist attractions on their way to Volterra. She recalled the time when she and Aro visited one of the largest parks in Italy together at two in the morning; it was the only the time the park was rarely busy with different people of different ages. That was the night he proposed to her. Fortunately Summer didn’t miss Aro at all. In fact, she never accused herself for not thinking about him from time to time. He was so revolting.
Everything about him that once drew her so passionately to him had vanished. Why would she even think twice about a man like Aro when she was married to her Prince Charming, Jake? If only Anakin could realize how repulsive his father truly was. Only then would he appreciate Jake to the fullest extent. The cab stopped in front of a large brass gate, “We’re here.” The driver informed. Jake took thirty Euros out of his wallet and handed it to the driver, “Keep the change.” The driver’s eyes widened in disbelief, “But this is…” Jake smiled and patted the man on the shoulder, “It was a smooth ride. You earned it.” The man shook Jake’s hand in gratitude, “Thank you, sir.” “You’re very welcome.”
As expected, the streets in this part of Volterra were empty at this hour in the night, so the Volturi clan would often come out to enjoy some cool night air. However, that was not the reason the elders had gathered outside tonight. When the taxi sped away, Jane, Caius, and Marcus stepped out of the shadows. They put on their most alluring smiles and walked at a human pace toward the family. Jake and Summer grimaced, but all Anakin could do was stare. Their red eyes were so unlike what he was accustomed to seeing around vampires. His gaze was particularly focused on Jane. She was so unorthodoxly beautiful. Her angelic golden hair added the perfect amount of contrast to her mischievous temperament. Anakin was smitten by her façade. Summer picked up on his emotions. She could barely believe that Anakin would be attracted to Jane in any way possible. This certainly did not bode well for her and Jake.
“Hello again, Jacob and Summer.” Marcus greeted them with a feigned grin, “How wonderful it is to see you all again, like we had planned. And look at this handsome young gentleman.” Anakin cordially shook hands with Marcus and Caius. Jane stayed her distance, but, according to Summer, she was not and had not been thinking any particular thoughts about Anakin. “He has grown into such a lad.” Marcus continued, “He most definitely takes after his father, Aro.”
Summer smothered an agitated growl. Jake wrapped one arm around her waist as a reminder that she should remain tranquil. “Well,” Caius interrupted, glaring at no one other than Summer, “why don’t we show the boy inside, where he’ll be spending the next week with us?” “Certainly.” Marcus agreed. Summer rushed to hug her son one last time, “Ani, I will miss you dearly. Please, return to us safely.” Shockingly, he returned her embrace, “I will, mom.” Summer felt a bit of relief after not hearing her son’s voice for hours since their argument. Jake cautiously approached Anakin. Anakin turned to face him. Although Anakin said nothing, he did smile at Jake, which was something Jake hadn’t expected. He gave Anakin a big hug. He didn’t want to let his son run off with these careless vampires for a week, but he had absolutely no control over the situation. After a minute, he regretfully let his son go.
Together, Jake and Summer watched Jane, Caius, and Marcus retreat back into the Volturi’s hideaway through the gate, but before they were completely out of sight, Summer’s anger got the best of her. She broke away from Jake’s hold and rushed up to Caius, grabbing his neck vehemently.
She growled lowly, “If you all do ANYTHING to hurt him, or if you all tell him ANY lies, or if you all so much as let him smell a whiff of human blood, the entire Volturi will not only be answering to the Cullens and us; you will be answering to many highly trained vampires, and when I see my son again, as I am sure I will because of what we have agreed to concerning his fate, I will know EVERYTHING that he has been exposed to. If I catch any of you jeopardizing his morals or his safety, I will come at you with more force than when we killed Aro.” For the first time in her life, Summer witnessed true fear in Caius prideful eyes. Now she felt more certain the Volturi would realize that she and Jake were not to be trifled with. Unwillingly, she let Caius go, and, without pause, he was the last to run through the gate. He locked it securely, as if he hoped it would keep Summer out permanently. Jake playfully embraced her from behind, “I always knew I married a fighter. That’s my girl.” Summer held onto Jake’s hands while he hugged her firmly by the waist. Now they’d just need to wait and see if her intervention would cause more good than harm, and with the Volturi, it was virtually impossible to guess the outcome.
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