* Alice and Jasper leave hurriedly
* Bella tells Jacob that it's over, that they've all been sentenced to die
CHAPTER 29
* Alice and Jasper are gone
* Alice leaves a note listing the friends the Cullens need as witnesses
* Alice also leaves a secret note for Bella, in a copy of The Merchant of Venice, about J. Jenks; Bella realizes she needs to keep the note from Edward
* The Cullens split up to find their witnesses; Edward and Bella stay home to let their expected visitors see Renesmee for themselves
CHAPTER 30
* Bella wants to learn to fight so she can defend herself and her family
Edward explains the Volturi's strengths; Bella hopes she is immune to some of their gifts
* The Denalis arrive and are horrified to see Renesmee, who they think is an immortal child
Edward convinces them that Renesmee is half-vampire, half-human; they each let Renesmee touch them and show them her story
* The Denalis agree to witness, and feel sad that Irina is the cause of the danger
CHAPTER 31
* Eleazar, who has the gift of sensing the gifts of others, mentions that Bella is a shield
Bella and Edward are surprised; Kate wonders if Bella can project her shield onto others
* Under the circumstances, Eleazar has to rethink his opinion of the Volturi
Eleazar thinks the Volturi are coming not to punish, but to acquire
* More witnesses arrive; the explanations start again
CHAPTER 32
* The Cullens' house is crowded with visitors: the Denalis, Peter and Charlotte, the Irish clan, the Egyptians, a few nomads, the Amazons, the Romanians
A few refuse to touch Renesmee, but agree to witness
* Kate and Zafrina try to help Bella learn to project her shield; Bella wants to be able to protect her loved ones
* Bella practices on Edward; Garrett meets Kate
CHAPTER 33
* Bella takes Renesmee and Jacob to visit Charlie; there are twenty-seven vampires in the Cullen house
* Bella leaves to find J. Jenks, a lawyer who provides forged documents
Bella understands that Alice has given her a chance to save Renesmee; she knows that this means she and Edward must have no chance of surviving; she decides that Jacob can run with Renesmee to safety; J. Jenks tells her the documents will be ready in a week
CHAPTER 34
* Bella buys a Christmas present for Renesmee--an antique gold locket inscribed with the words more than my own life
* Edward knows Bella is keeping something from him
* Bella is happy that Jacob and Renesmee might survive, and glad that she and Edward will die together
* Bella, Edward, Renesmee, and Jacob spend Christmas with Charlie and the pack
* They return home to find that one of the nomads, Alistair, has run off
An Egyptian, Amun, thinks Carlisle is trying to steal half his coven; several vampires commit to fighting the Volturi; others are hesitant; the wolves are ready to fight alongside the vampires
CHAPTER 35
* Bella picks up the documents from J. Jenks
Bella fills a little backpack for Renesmee: documents, money, instructions, love notes
* The entire group prepares to meet the Volturi
"ON HER WRIST WAS AN INTRICATELY BRAIDED QUILEUTE VERSION OF A PROMISE RING. EDWARD HAD GRITTED HIS TEETH OVER THAT ONE...."
--Bella, on the bracelet Jacob gives Renesmee (Breaking Dawn, Chapter 34)
CHAPTER 36
* The Volturi come with pageantry--slowly, with the pace of the invincible
Bella counts thirty-two Volturi, plus about forty witnesses
* The wolves, now numbering seventeen, join the Cullens; the Volturi halt
* Edward reads their layers of strategy for finding guilt
* Carlisle greets Aro, and explains that no law has been broken
Aro wants to hear from Edward; Bella is so angry that she flings her shield across the field with no effort; Aro next wants to see Renesmee
* Aro is convinced that Renesmee is not an immortal child
Aro wonders if the werewolves could be loyal to him
CHAPTER 37
* Aro confers with Caius; the Volturi's witnesses grow uneasy
Bella inspects her shield, wraps it closer around her allies
* Caius proclaims that an alliance with werewolves is against their law
Edward explains that the wolves are shape-shifters, not true werewolves
* Caius calls for Irina
Irina refuses to make a formal complaint, and takes responsibility for her mistake; Caius executes Irina; Carlisle and Garrett restrain Irina's sisters, Tanya and Kate
* The Volturi witnesses are suspicious; Aro's need for an audience has backfired; the Romanians murmur in glee
Aro speaks with a few of the Cullens' witnesses; the Volturi drift closer; Aro declares that they need to know with absolute certainty what Renesmee will become if she is to live; Garrett gives a speech about tyranny and freedom; Aro is amused
* More of the Volturi's witnesses retreat
Aro, Caius, and Marcus counsel together
* Bella sees the danger coming; she kisses Renesmee goodbye and instructs Jacob to run away with her as soon as the Volturi are distracted
Carlisle acknowledges that there's no hope; there are goodbyes and murmured expressions of love
CHAPTER 38
* While Aro, Caius, and Marcus "counsel," Chelsea tries to break the Cullens' emotional ties but can't find them
Edward asks Bella if she's shielding them, and she confirms that she is; Jane sends sharp jabs at Bella's shield, but the shield remains undamaged; Jane is furious; Alec takes over; a strange haze oozes toward the shield, but swirls harmlessly around the edges
* Aro calls for a vote
Caius votes to destroy Renesmee; Marcus sees no immediate danger; Aro must cast the deciding vote
* Edward asks to clarify one point; he asks Aro if they'll be forgiven if they can prove that Renesmee is not a threat; Aro agrees
* Edward invites Alice into the clearing
Alice has returned from South America with an olive-skinned female vampire named Huilen and her nephew, Nahuel
* Huilen tells their story; Nahuel is half-vampire, half-human; he matured at seven years and has not changed since; he can drink blood or eat human food
Nahuel has sisters, all of whom are nonvenomous
* Aro declares that he sees no threat
* The Volturi leave
* Cheers erupt from the Cullens and friends
Bella promises Renesmee that they'll be together forever
CHAPTER 39
* All the Cullens' friends return to their homes
The Romanians are extremely disappointed but have enjoyed the Volturi's cowardice; Garrett leaves with Kate; the Cullens have a joyous reunion with Alice and Jasper
* Edward explains that the Volturi's confidence has been shattered
They have never before been outnumbered, the wolves frightened them, and they were terrified of Bella's power; Alice gave them an excuse to get out of the fight
* Bella pushes her shield away from her mind, and Edward is able to read her thoughts for the first time
* The "happily ever after" begins
Though, unlike Bella, I do speak Car and Driver to an extent, I would never classify myself as an expert. I wanted this section to offer a rundown on each of the vehicles appearing in the Twilight Saga, so I turned to my usual adviser on all things automotive: my younger brother--and car enthusiast--Jacob Morgan. Jacob wrote the following piece, which sheds light not only on the characters' views of vehicles themselves--describing them in more detail than I'm capable of--but also the way those vehicles reflect the personalities of the characters who drive them. Enjoy! (And never let a mechanic talk down to you.)
CARLISLE: MERCEDES S55 AMG
COLOR: Black
ENGINE: 5.4-liter supercharged V8
HORSEPOWER: 469 hp at 6100 rpm
TORQUE: 516 ft.-lbs. at 2650 rpm
0-60: 4.5 seconds
CARLISLE'S MERCEDES S55 AMG
"I MIGHT BE THE FURTHEST THING FROM AN AUTOPHILE, BUT I COULD TELL YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR CAR. IT WAS A MERCEDES S55 AMG.... IT WAS CARLISLE'S CAR."
--Bella (New Moon, Chapter 16)
Carlisle's choice of car reveals his controlled and reserved personality. Most will recognize the S-class as the pinnacle of luxury cars, but only a few will understand the meaning of the AMG badging on the vehicle. Few differences are apparent from the outside, but the supercharged V8 under the hood produces enough power to shame most of the super exotics offered by legitimate sports-car brands. Mercedes engineers did not stop at the engine; they enhanced all elements of driving, including a stiffer suspension and larger brakes. Despite having sports-car capabilities, this S55 AMG travels mainly unnoticed, being recognized with its more obtainable S-class relatives. The S55 allows Carlisle to cover ground as quickly as any of his children do, and is certainly as expensive as his children's impressive cars, but does not stand out like any of his children's cars--with the notable exception of Edward's S60R. Showcasing his uniquely strong personality, this car represents Carlisle's extreme abilities hidden by his eloquent, yet humble, actions and words.
EDWARD: VOLVO S60R
COLOR: Silver
ENGINE: 2.5-liter turbocharged I-5
HORSEPOWER: 300 hp at 5500 rpm
TORQUE: 295 ft.-lbs. at 1950 rpm
0-60: 5.5 seconds
EDWARD'S VOLVO S60R
"THE SILVER CAR WAS ALREADY THERE, WAITING IN CHARLIE'S SPOT ON THE DRIVEWAY. I BOUNDED DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT THE FRONT DOOR, WONDERING HOW LONG THIS BIZARRE ROUTINE WOULD CONTINUE. I NEVER WANTED IT TO END."
--Bella (Twilight, Chapter 11)
Most often overlooked, yet also one of the most illuminating of all the cars in the story, is the Silver Volvo S60R. The perfect car for Edward's lifestyle and personality, an S60R is the ideal choice for him. Bearing almost no marks to set this simple Volvo apart from its more sedate siblings, the S60R brings no attention to its sports-sedan intent. With 300 horsepower on tap from the doubled pressure of the turbocharger, and an advanced six-speed manual transmission providing power to all four wheels, the silver car is more capable than anyone would guess, assuming that anyone would notice the car in the first place. With a higher lateral acceleration than even Rosalie's BMW M3, Edward views the Volvo S60R as capable of cutting through the narrow, winding Washington roads better than all but two of the vehicles in the books: Edward's Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and Bella's Ferrari F430, shown later. This vehicle was chosen by Edward as an extension of his personality--someone always desiring to blend in, while offering more under the skin than anyone could imagine.
EDWARD: ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH
COLOR: Silver
ENGINE: 5.9-liter V12
HORSEPOWER: 460 hp at 6500 rpm
TORQUE: 400 ft.-lbs. at 5000 rpm
0-60: 4.4 seconds
EDWARD'S ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH
"IT WAS ANOTHER CAR--A STANDOUT EVEN IN THE LONG LINE OF VEHICLES THAT WERE MOSTLY ALL DROOL-WORTHY IN THEIR OWN WAYS."
--Jacob (Breaking Dawn, Chapter 17)
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is the English company's response to the world-renowned grand touring cars offered by Ferrari and Mercedes. Splitting those two dissimilar personalities down the middle is the Vanquish, a car that has the looks, performance, and competence of a true sports car, while offering enough luxury to call into question its sporting nature. While capable on a racetrack, this Aston is more comfortable in high-performance cruising, transporting its occupants in the utmost style and comfort.
While the Volvo S60R is the outward expression of Edward's inner personality, the silver Aston Martin is more the automotive equivalent to the story's hero. While technically a sports car, the British-made Aston is the proper gentleman of the group, just as the Ferrari F430 is the cocky hero. Made in true British style, every ounce of this car alludes to old-world money, power, and manners. The Vanquish stands as a supreme offering from the sports-car world for the reserved driver.
ROSALIE: BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE
COLOR: Red
ENGINE: 3.2-liter Inline 6
HORSEPOWER: 333 hp at 7900 rpm
TORQUE: 262 ft.-lbs. at 4900 rpm
REDLINE: 8000 rpm
0-60: 4.8 seconds
ROSALIE: BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE
"A CROWD OF PEOPLE, ALL BOYS... WERE ACTUALLY CIRCLED AROUND ROSALIE'S RED CONVERTIBLE, UNMISTAKABLE LUST IN THEIR EYES."
--Bella (Twilight, Chapter 11)
Rosalie's choice of car is limited by the necessity to seat her siblings. Though her personality is best captured by a Lambor-ghini Murcielago, the M3 represents the most extreme sports car that can fit her constraints. The BMW M3 is recognized as one of the best all-around sports cars in the world. While Edward's S60R has an all-wheel-drive advantage, and certain offerings from Mercedes-Benz outpower the bimmer, the M3 is recognized as a purist sports car, providing greater driving feel than nearly anything on the road.
With a front-biased weight distribution, rear-wheel drive, and aggressive dry-weather treaded tires, the M3 is not an ideal choice for wet-weather, high-speed driving. These factors, however, are outweighed by its dry-weather performance. And, of course, how good it looks in red.
EMMETT: JEEP WRANGLER
COLOR: Red
ENGINE: 5.7-liter V8
HORSEPOWER: 400 hp
TORQUE: 600 ft.-lbs.
0-60: 4.5 seconds
EMMETT'S JEEP WRANGLER
"THERE, BEHIND MY TRUCK, WAS A MONSTER JEEP. ITS TIRES WERE HIGHER THAN MY WAIST."
--Bella (Twilight, Chapter 17)
Emmett's Jeep started life as a 4.0-liter inline 6-powered Wrangler Rubicon. That quickly changed in Rosalie's hands, as the brand-new engine was tossed in favor of a heavily modified Chevrolet small-block V8. Every piece of the already new and capable suspension was replaced to provide several inches of lift and enough strength to take anything the Washington terrain can throw at it.
The bulletproof power train features a five-speed manual transmission, a 4:1 low-range transfer case, 4.10 differential gears, and Dana 44 axles front and rear. Coupled with the high-torque small block, this setup allows Emmett to scale slopes that send other four-wheel-drive vehicles looking for friendlier routes.
Not satisfied with mechanical superiority, Rosalie added everything from massive KC lights to aggressively treaded all-terrain tires to safety harnesses. All of these modifications create a Jeep that is not only the most capable off-road vehicle money can buy, but one that looks equally menacing, acting as the automotive equivalent to the character whose immense strength is easily seen.
ALICE: PORSCHE 911 TURBO
COLOR: Yellow
ENGINE: 3.6-liter Flat 6
HORSEPOWER: 415 hp at 6000 rpm
TORQUE: 415 ft.-lbs. at 2700 rpm
0-60: 4.0 seconds
ALICE'S PORSCHE 911 TURBO
"A BRIGHT YELLOW PORSCHE SCREAMED TO A STOP A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF WHERE I PACED, THE WORD TURBO SCRAWLED IN SILVER CURSIVE ACROSS ITS BACK. EVERYONE BESIDE ME ON THE CROWDED AIRPORT SIDEWALK STARED."
--Bella (New Moon, Chapter 19)
When a fast car is needed to negotiate the tight and often twisting roads of the Italian countryside, Alice turns to, or rather steals, the Porsche 911 turbo. While beautiful, the 911 turbo bears a striking resemblance to its siblings, the base 911 Carreras. Should onlookers miss the large side scoop air intake or the wider body stance over the rear wheels, the turbo could be mistaken for a car not nearly as capable. The 911 turbo is nimble and balanced, making the most of its turbocharged engine by sending power to all four wheels through a complicated all-wheel-drive system. Performing better than even its numbers would suggest, this high-perfo
rmance 911 variant was engineered on the racetrack, and every piece was purpose-built to allow it to pass much more powerful and expensive cars. Porsche engineers focused on the entire package, ensuring that the engine, suspension, brakes, tires, and every other piece of the puzzle fit together seamlessly.
It is fitting that Alice would fall in love with this car, which offers the same characteristics that she possesses. The Porsche is generally the smallest in the exotic race, offering fewer cylinders and less power in a package that is seemingly less race inspired, yet its subsequent agility allows it to beat its flashier competitors.