»—— act five. breaking dawn, part two
☽⋅──SIX──long trip ahead─⋅☾

The sunlight streamed through the windows, signalling the start of a new day, but the house felt heavy with tension. Since Alice's abrupt departure, the family had spent the night in uneasy silence, staring at one another, haunted by the thought of losing what mattered most: each other.

Edward's voice broke the stillness, low and tense like ice cracking under pressure. "Alice."

The sound shattered the silence, and the room seemed to stir. The family members glanced at one another, their resolve softening slightly, though worry lingered in their eyes.

"She's been gone a long time," Rosalie murmured, her tone tinged with unease.

"Where could she be?" Emmett asked, his voice firm, but his step toward the door betrayed his concern.

Eve sighed, her hand rubbing her arm nervously until Carlisle covered it gently with his own. "We don't want to disturb..." she began, her voice trailing off.

Edward frowned deeply, his brow furrowing as fresh anxiety overtook him. "She's never taken so long before," he said, his voice cracking under the strain. "Carlisle, you don't think—could they have acted preemptively? Would Alice have had time to see if they sent someone for her?"

Before Carlisle could respond, a low whine cut through the tension. The family turned to see Seth, in his wolf form, rising from where he had been playing with the twins. He nudged his nose toward the window, and an answering howl echoed in the distance.

Eleanor tilted her head, listening. "Is that Sam's pack?"

The family exchanged glances, and Eve crouched next to Seth. "Can you watch the twins for us?"

Seth nodded, his large, furry head dipping slightly as Celeste and Ciel continued tugging playfully at his fur.

Eve and the others stepped outside, their steps purposeful as they headed across the yard and into the forest. They didn't stop until they reached the treaty line.

"Sam?" Edward called flatly as figures emerged from the trees. "What is this?"

Sam appeared in human form, flanked by Paul and Jared in their wolf forms. He approached swiftly, his expression stern but purposeful.

He ignored Edward's question, his eyes locking with Carlisle's as he began to speak. "Right after midnight, Alice and Jasper came here and asked for permission to cross our land to the ocean. I escorted them myself and watched them enter the water. They did not return. Before we parted, Alice gave me strict instructions to deliver this note in the morning. She told me our lives depended on it."

Sam reached into his pocket and handed Carlisle a folded piece of paper. For a moment, there was silence as Carlisle unfolded and read the note.

"Alice has decided to leave us," he said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"What?" Rosalie cried, her voice breaking.

Carlisle turned the paper to show them.

Don't look for us. There isn't time to waste. Remember: Tanya, Siobhan, Amun, Alistair, all the nomads you can find. We'll seek out Peter and Charlotte on our way. We're sorry we had to leave this way, without goodbyes. It's the only way. We love you.

Edward's expression hardened, and he spoke with quiet certainty hearing Sam' thoughts, "Yes, things are that dangerous."

Sam's jaw tightened as he frowned. "Dangerous enough to abandon your family?" His tone was sharp, tinged with judgment.

Edward's face twisted with pain. "We don't know what Alice saw," he said tightly. "She's not unfeeling, and she's no coward. She has more information than we do."

Sam crossed his arms, his gaze darkening. "We don't run away."

Paul let out a low snort behind him, but Carlisle spoke calmly. "Don't let pride get your family killed."

Sam turned to Carlisle, his features softening slightly. "The twins are part of our family now, as much as they are yours. Seth won't abandon them, and neither will we."

Edward's voice was icy. "You don't know Alice like we do."

"Do you?" Sam countered, his tone blunt.

Eve's eyes narrowed, her simmering anger boiling over. "Alice loves her family," she said sharply. "She understands what's at stake. That's more than I can say for you, Sam. You didn't give us a chance before—you tried to kill my children." Her voice trembled, but her glare was unwavering. "So don't stand there and judge my family."

Sam's expression softened into one of contrition. "You're right, Eve. I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Eve exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Apology accepted. But if you want to help, prove it by standing with us."

Sam nodded solemnly. "We're with you."

The family thanked the pack before heading back home to prepare for the arduous journey ahead. They needed to find allies and witnesses, and every moment counted. Inside, the house buzzed with quiet urgency. Eve meticulously packed Carlisle's bag, separating it from her own.

Carlisle and Edward were tasked with visiting distant covens, while Eve would head north to Alaska to appeal to the Denali family.

Eve folded one of Carlisle's shirts and sighed softly, her brow furrowed with concern. She wanted to be by his side, to ensure his safety, but she understood the importance of her mission.

"I should be back in a few weeks," Carlisle reassured her, noticing her worried expression. "I'll visit Ireland first, then Egypt," he added, placing a few last items in his bag.

Eve nodded, though her hands stilled for a moment. "Anywhere else you'll stop?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.

Carlisle hesitated, his movement halting as he stood upright. His expression grew serious as he turned to face her. "Actually, yes," he said, his tone softening. "But first, we need to talk."

Eve blinked at the sudden shift in his demeanour but nodded, setting the bag aside. "Of course, anything, Carlisle."

He motioned for her to sit beside him on the edge of the bed, his hand finding hers as he gathered his thoughts. "I'm going to seek out a nomad," he began carefully, his voice low. "This particular nomad... I don't want to raise your hopes unnecessarily, but there's a chance—a slim chance—that he might be the father who left you."

Eve froze, her wide eyes locking with his. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Carlisle offered her a pained smile, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. "I didn't want to tell you before now because I wasn't certain. I didn't want to give you false hope. But with everything that's happening, I thought you deserved to know—before I simply showed up with him."

Eve was silent for a long moment, the weight of his words settling over her. Slowly, she shook her head, her expression softening as she reached up to cradle his cheek in her hand. "Carlisle, whether he is or isn't my father, it will be okay. If by chance he is, I hope it means I can finally ask him why he left. If he's not... it's not the end of the world. We have eternity. I can keep searching. So please, don't worry."

Her calm acceptance seemed to surprise him. "Are you sure?" he asked gently, his gaze searching hers.

Eve smiled softly, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips. When she pulled back, she rested her forehead against his, her voice steady and filled with warmth. "Yes, I'm sure. Just promise me you'll come back."

Carlisle closed his eyes briefly, exhaling a breath of relief as he pressed a kiss to her hand. "I promise," he murmured. "I'll always come back to you."

Eve smiled softly, her gaze lingering on Carlisle for a moment before she stood, brushing her hands over her skirt. "I hope the Denali family will listen," she said, her voice tinged with both determination and uncertainty.

Carlisle rose to his feet, his expression calm and reassuring. "I believe they will," he replied confidently. "At the very least, Carmen won't hesitate. She has always been open-minded. And once they hear the twins' heartbeats for themselves—once they see Ciel's ability and what he's capable of showing them—how could they not believe us?"

Eve nodded thoughtfully, her hands clasping in front of her as she looked out the window. The first hints of dawn illuminated the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the forest. "I suppose you're right. It's just... with everything at stake, I can't help but worry."

Carlisle stepped closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "It's natural to worry," he said softly, his voice steady. "But we're not alone in this. We have each other, our family, and now we'll have allies. Trust in that, Eve."

She turned to look at him, her eyes softening as she saw the quiet strength in his expression. "I do trust in it," she admitted. "And in you. Just make sure you stay safe while you're out there."

Carlisle smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "I could say the same to you," he teased gently. "But I know you'll handle the Denalis with grace and conviction. They won't stand a chance against your resolve."

Eve chuckled at that, her tension easing slightly. "Let's hope you're right," she said, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. "We'll both do our parts—and when this is all over, we'll come back home, together."

"Together," Carlisle echoed, his voice firm with promise.

A few moments later, Eve stood outside the house, waving as the cars began to pull away. Rosalie and Emmett were the first to leave, their car disappearing down the long driveway, followed by Edward and Carlisle in another vehicle. Each departure carried with it a sense of finality and purpose, a reminder of the weight of the mission they all shared.

Eve remained rooted in place, her arms crossed against the crisp morning air, watching until the taillights vanished completely. The quiet settled heavily around her, leaving her momentarily alone with her thoughts.

Her solitude didn't last long. From the corner of her eye, she spotted movement, and soon Seth and Leah emerged from the tree line, both carrying duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Their expressions were resolute, though a touch of apprehension flickered in Leah's eyes. They were here to join Eve, Eleanor, and the twins on the journey to Alaska, where they would seek the support of the Denali Coven.

Eve offered them a small smile as they approached. "All set?" she asked.

Seth nodded enthusiastically. "Ready as we'll ever be," he said, his usual optimism shining through. "We'll get this done, Eve. The Denalis will hear us out."

Leah, more reserved, simply gave a curt nod, her sharp eyes scanning the area as if already preparing for the challenges ahead. "Let's not waste any time," she said, her voice steady but laced with quiet determination.

Eve nodded in agreement, her resolve hardening. "Let's get inside and go over the plan one more time. The sooner we leave, the better."

The three of them headed toward the house, their steps purposeful. The weight of what lay ahead was undeniable, but at this moment, they were united—a small but steadfast group ready to face whatever challenges awaited them in Alaska.

As they stepped into the house, they found Eleanor at the dining table, meticulously organizing their passports and documents. She glanced up at their arrival and let out a dry snort, holding up one of the passports.

"Honestly, living as a vampire really highlights how much we falsify our personal information," she quipped, shaking her head with mock exasperation.

Eve chuckled at the remark, shaking off some of the tension in the air. Before she could respond, Ciel and Celeste, darted across the room, their infectious laughter filling the space as they began circling Seth and Leah in a whirlwind of energy. Seth grinned, lowering himself slightly to engage with their antics, while Leah crossed her arms, watching with a mix of amusement and caution.

Eve folded her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips as she observed the scene. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos they were preparing for. She considered stepping in to corral the twins but decided against it. Letting them burn off their boundless energy would make the upcoming flight easier for everyone.

"This time, at least, we're flying in style," Eve said, glancing at Eleanor. "No crowded airports or public transportation. A private jet should make things smoother."

Eleanor smirked, slipping the passports into a leather case. "Well, let's hope the twins don't decide to turn the jet into their personal playground."

Leah raised an eyebrow. "With their energy? I'd say the odds aren't in our favour."

Seth laughed. "At least it'll be entertaining."

Eve sighed with a playful shake of her head. "As long as they don't tire out the pilot, I'll take what I can get."

The group shared a light laugh, a much-needed reprieve before the serious task at hand. Eve motioned toward the twins, finally corralling them toward their travel bags. "Come on, you two. Let's get ready. We've got a long trip ahead."

The mood shifted slightly as they gathered their belongings, the gravity of their mission lingering just beneath the surface. But for now, they held onto these small moments of levity, knowing they would need them in the days to come.