Bella couldn't sit still. She kept eyeing the door where Edward had left a couple of hours ago. He had reassured her that he would be back with a solution. Right now, she wasn't sure she could wait anymore. Esme appeared in the doorway leading to the kitchen, she was holding a glass full to the rim with an almost black liquid. Bella could smell it from where she was sitting on the couch. Her back went rigid from the call, an ancient curse coursing through her veins.
"No, Esme. Not right now." She waved her away. But The older woman only offered a gentle smile and approached her.
"Everyone is out there searching for her. You shouldn't worry." She pushed the glass into her hands and she gripped it without thinking. The thirst pulsed in her tempers to almost agony. Beads of sweat gathered over her forehead. "Drink," said Esme in her maternal tone. Bella emptied the glass in a couple of gulps and then placed the glass down with trembling fingers. She had waited too long to feed. "You should rest." They both peered at the glowing dawn pressing against the window.
"I can't. I have to wait for Edward's return. I have to wait for my little girl. What if she comes back and I don't greet her?" Esma threw her arms around Bella's shoulders. She was shivering, her skin icy cold.
"They'll bring her back. They must." The doorbell made them both jolt to their feet.
"Edward!" Bella rushed and yanked the door open. She blinked a couple of times before recognizing the person standing on her doorstep. Bronze skin, almost black eyes, long shiny black hair, and a distinct smell of fur.
"Shouldn't you be like in a coffin or something at this hour?" Reka Singh, Renesme's best friend, smirked at Bella. Esme slowly joined them with a frown. "Hello, Madame Cullen." She bobbed her head to greet the woman. Esme nodded back. Reka wrinkled her nose at them and then shoved her hands in her pockets. The reek of blood hung in the air making her nervous. "So it is true," she murmured to herself. "Jacob came and took Renesme away." Bella shook her head, her eyes resting on the trees bordering the edge of their yard. The sky was quickly taking a pink hue, soon the lethal rays would peek through the orange clouds and will shred the night to ribbons. The last night creatures were crawling back to their day hideouts for a well-deserved rest. Still, Bella squinted through the branches, leaves, and shadows for any movement.
"No." She shook her head again. "Jacob didn't take her away." There was a beat of silence. "That thing inside Renesme woke up and took my little girl... and I'll bring her back." She stepped outside shoving Reka aside, who barely regained her footing. In a flash, she dashed through the underwood, branches slapping her face, leaves rushing in her wake. Her feet were as light as the wind.
"Bella!" called Esme in the distance, her voice last in the thumping of Bella's undead heart.