[BamaFan121s]

Chelsea looked at him with pity. "Demetri's orders are to locate and eliminate me first, preferably before I'd had the chance to warn you. But Caius knows there's one member of your family that you wouldn't risk bringing to Italy. One member that you'll leave behind - his next target."

My hands shot to my throat both in shock and in an attempt to stifle the feral growl that clawed at my throat. "Renesmee," I gasped, suddenly realizing how easy it would be for Caius to accomplish his goal. He had assumed correctly - we would never chance taking her with us, but we wouldn't leave her behind unprotected either. Some would stay with her, reducing our numbers and tipping the odds in favor of the Italian coven.

I looked around at the faces of my family. They all wore the same, calculating expressions, each of them, like me, trying to find a flaw in Caius' plan. I could see none.

And who would stay behind? I could only thing of one option for Renesmee's safety. The only people I would entrust with the life of my daughter, as I had trusted with my own. "We'll leave her with the pack. They protected me from Victoria for months. And their numbers were half then what they are now. They can run her out of Forks...to Denali."

I looked to Alice, for some indication that the plan would work. "Bella, you know I can't see what will happen. It's hard enough to try to see the future around Nessie alone, but with the whole pack surrounding her..." She shook her head, and put her hands to her face helplessly.

Edward looked at me appraisingly. I watched his expression as he considered the option. However, he didn't have a chance to respond before Chelsea spoke again. "He'll choose another target as soon as they're out of the area." She met my eyes, her own filled with helpless sympathy. "He's going to go after your father, Bella."

As my mind conjured an image of Charlie's face, my resolve crumbled. After all I'd done to try to protect my father - all that I'd been willing to sacrifice, I'd never felt more helpless than I did in this moment. After a moment, his face was easily replaced with others. Billy, Sue, Emily... I couldn't protect them all, and Caius knew it. But still, he was counting on me to try.

Reading my angst, Edward pulled me to his side, rubbing my arm consolingly. "We'll think of something, love."

Carlisle remained silent for a moment, but was now pacing the length of the foyer. Finally, he came to a stop in front of Chelsea, but did not turn to face her. "Who remains loyal to him? Aside from the obvious? Who would we need to factor meeting within the city."

"Demetri, obviously, and Jane and Alec." She narrowed her eyes for a moment, pausing in thought. "His own wife, of course, although I'm sure she'll be well guarded, or hidden out of the city altogether. Felix...and a few of the guard whom he trained extensively in combat..."

"And Marcus? Where do his loyalties lie?" Carlisle asked in a brisk tone.

Chelsea paused, her voice growing quiet again. "That...is rather difficult to say. Presently, Marcus is not acting on his own accord." There was something more under her words - something she didn't voice outright.

Carlisle turned to face her, his brow pulling down in frustration. "How so?"

At that moment, I took note that Chelsea's hands had begun to shake at her side. "Before everything happened, Caius sent Demetri away - that was why he was not there during your visit. He was searching." She looked reluctant to continue, her whole frame shaking visibly now. "There have been...additions."

"What?" Edward asked incredulously. "You mean this was being planned a long ago? Before we visited even?"

But Carlisle did not allow her time to answer. He approached her and grasped her shoulders, his face full of seriousness as she met his gaze. Something about what Chelsea had said unnerved him. When he spoke, his voice was firm and demanding, all signs of patience gone - unlike I'd ever heard him before. "Where? Where was he searching Chelsea?"

Her lip trembled for a moment, matching the rhythm her body already kept. Her voice cracked as she spoke one, single word that seemed to be the answer Carlisle was dreading. "Romania."

Carlisle released his grip and slowly stepped back. His already fair complexion seemed to grow even paler, his lips barely moving as he uttered his next words. "God help us all...he found them."