Crescent Moon (Stopped! Don't read!)

Chapter 2

Esme inhales sharply, her body heaving.

"Edward, Henry said that the Volturi won't harm him? Why don't the Volturi just kill him?" Demetri whispers to snarls erupting all around the room. Demetri didn't mean it like that...he's just trying to understand what's happening.

"He knows, because the Volturi know his power now," I whisper, the image of Henry in the cloak makes me shudder.

"So what? Wouldn't it be safer for them to kill him off?" Demetri continues.

"Demetri...I saw Henry, in a cloak. His cloak is almost pitch black," I murmur. Demetri's eyes grow huge, he's incredulous.

"Don't all the guard wear black cloaks?" Rose asks.

"The shade denotes their standing, right?" Bella says suddenly.

I nod at her and turn back to my family, "Henry's cloak is the darkest I have ever seen besides the ancients themselves."

"Darker than Jane and Alec's?" Jazz asks.

"Definitely," I ascertain.

"Oh...so that's why he's so confident about not being hurt," Demetri murmurs.

"What do you mean?" Nessie asks sharply, gaining her composure.

"Aro was always partial to Jane and Alec. He protected them. If anybody laid a finger on either one of them, they would have to answer to Aro himself. That's why Henry is so confident. He's Aro's pet. He has Aro's protection," Demetri explains simply.

I simply nod in agreement.

Everyone remains quiet, trying to process this information.

"What do we do?" Esme asks, her voice breaking.

"We go after him of course," Emmett growls.

"No. Henry made me promise not to come. It's a trap...the Volturi will kill us. All of us. They have no need for any of us, not now that they have Henry," I correct him, pacing up and down.

"We can't just leave him with them!" Tanya shudders, her spirit broken.

"Edward...what if we go, but Henry doesn't come back with us?" Jazz asks suddenly.

"Are you insane?! Of course he'll come back with us!" Jake spits.

"Shut up, mutt!" Jazz snarls.

"Guys!" I say, stopping them before anything escalates. "Jazz is right...Chelsea would be working on him. Henry would be tied to the Volturi, wouldn't he?" I muse.

"Not necessarily," Carlisle murmurs. "We know Chelsea won't be able to severe his bond to us, he sees us as a real family."

"You're right. He won't attack us, for sure. But what if he decides to stay with them?" I ask again.

"Then it's his choice," Bella whispers, her face broken and pained.

I wrap her into my arms. I never want to have to see that look on her beautiful face, ever again!

"Henry is worried that we will be killed, right? But if Henry himself wouldn't be capable of hurting us, I doubt the rest of the guard would," Alice muses.

Of course! Alice is right!

"You see, Henry means a lot to them, right? Aro is smart enough to know that if he harms any one of us, Henry will leave, not before wreaking havoc himself. Nobody would be dumb enough to antagonize Henry now that they know his ability," Alice clarifies.

"Alice is right. So we will go to Volterra," I announce simply.

"We need to stop in Forks first. I need to check for any of my brothers who would stand with us," Jake murmurs.

"Yes, and we can ask Kain's pack," Carlisle continues.

I nod my head.

Everyone disperses, preparing themselves, and in some cases, spending every minute they can with their mate.

I look over at Bella, her eyes huge. I know what she's thinking. The Volturi have caused us so much pain. But they've been an intricate part of Bella and my life in particular.

First they were after Bella.

Then they were after Nessie.

And now they are after Henry.

I look around at the determined looks on everyone's face. All of them are willing to do whatever it takes to get Henry back. No matter the cost.

I can't be sure about Demetri and Gianna, but everyone else knows what is at stake, and yet is willing to lose everything.

Hang in there, Henry. We're coming.