After Dawn Broke

Chapter Eight: Locket

The pain I saw in Grandma's expression was killing me. It pained me to see my loved ones hurting. But I was also hurting. Especially when Grandma reached in her jeans pocket and pulled out a familiar golden locket with the intricate design of a fluer-de-lis on it.

It was the same exact locket she gave my mother on her first Christmas. The one my mom never takes off. I sat motionless on the edge of the hospital bed next to Grandma and Grandpa while I stared at it. I watched as Grandma Bella carefully opened it, so that we could see the inscription and pictures. I read the quote, which I had already memorized.

"Plus que ma propre vie," I whispered to myself, although I knew they could all hear.

"More than my own life," Grandma whispered her translation.

She picked up a small picture that was laying in the locket and held it delicately between her thumb and forefinger. There was one behind it of her and Grandpa. They looked so happy and loving together. I watched as the corner of her mouth raised slightly into a crooked smile as she looked at Grandpa. Then our attention shifted to the picture she had placed between her slender fingers. It was of Mom, Elizabeth, and me opening presents last Christmas.

Lizzy was wearing a purple shirt with a monkey on it and plain purple silky bottoms. She was holding a polka-dotted journal with a pink "E" on it. I was sitting on the wooden floor next to her, wearing my usual red Christmas pajamas. I was holding my new iHome. Mom was sitting behind us wearing a nightgown that went to her knees with tiny Christmas trees on it. My eyes froze when they spotted the golden locket around her neck.

"Where did you find it?" I asked as a hot tear rolled down my porcelain cheek.

"The first part of our plan was to check your house. We found it laying on your parents' unmade bed," she explained painfully. I'm not sure if it pained her or me worse. Just the fact that the bed was unmade left us queasy; my mom always makes her bed in the morning. It is the first thing she does when she wakes up.

Grandpa Edward muttered, "Wolves... always making things difficult." I looked at him sadly. How could he say that about my dad? Grandpa looked at me sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. I did not mean to hurt your feelings... It's just frustrating to me that we cannot even make use of our advantages." I could see the pain filling his beautiful topaz eyes.

(What do you mean?) I thought to him as I let my shield expand.

(For example, Alice's visions. They can't help us because wolves block her abilities.) He frowned as he thought about it.

That's right. Why hadn't I thought about Aunt Alice's visions? (Has she seen anything that could help us?) I asked him through my thoughts.

He sat completely motionless for a few seconds, and then his sculpture-like figure leaned forward as Grandma Bella leaned back, so he could look at me. I could tell he didn't want to tell me, but I had to know. "Alice saw Renesmee... and someone in a black robe coming after her," he stated agonizingly. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as soon as I processed his words.

"The dreams..." I muttered while staring blankly at my hands. I began to replay the vivid nightmares in my head so that Grandpa Edward could see them.

"It can't be..." he snarled. I watched as Grandpa placed his elbows on his lap and rested his head in his hands.

Grandma Bella placed her hand on the small of his back and leaned against his shoulder. "What's wrong?" she whispered anxiously in his ear.

"They're back, and they want revenge," he whispered. What was he talking about?

Just then, Alice, Jasper, and Elizabeth walked in with multiple colorful shopping bags. Grandma Bella beckoned for Elizabeth to come to her. I watched as she gracefully made her way to us. Grandpa hugged her tightly, and Grandma pulled her onto her lap. It was comforting to have Lizzy back in my presence, but I was still puzzled.

"They're back? Who's back?" I whimpered. Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper remained standing in the doorway. Li looked at Grandpa Edward expectantly.

"The one's in your dreams... the Volturi."