Red Moon ~ Chapter 24 ~ The Fight ~ Bella's POV

Chapter 24: The Fight

~Bella’s Point Of View~

We approached the hill where the city stood. The stone walls were high and made me feel awe but at the same time anger as we came closer. I squeezed Edwards hand harder and moved closer to him.

“We’re going to make it, love. Don’t worry about it.”

How can I not? I thought to myself shielding my thoughts from him.

I thought the whole nightmare was over. At least the part that involved Renesmee and Eshe. We flew all the way to the wilderness of the Alps to find out that what? The Volturi got them before we set a foot on the airport! And not only that! We hadn’t managed to figure out much since they escaped to France but there were more in it. The Volturi had been kidnapping half vampires for some time now! But the rest of them hadn’t been searched. They didn’t have anyone search for them…

We found this baby girl, Melanie… Her tiny, childish body curled up to a ball sobbing when we got there forced a wave of awful emotions to come on the surface. I remember me running to her and cradling her in my arms even if I had no idea who she was. When she spoke I recognized her voice. She was high pinched like Alice’s and I remember hearing it before in the background when I talked with my Nessie and Jake some days ago. She was so scared and then all of a sudden she stopped, murmuring a name of a boy and forced herself to be brave. She was strong. Much stronger than her fragile body would suggest.

“What is your name, baby?” I recalled Alice asking her coming closer and stoking her long, raven black hair.

“Me-la-nie,” she had answered trying to drown the sobs that were escaping her tiny chest.

I rocked her back and forth trying to comfort her and she clutched to my shirt but she looked at each of us with wide eyes examining us.

“Are you Nessie’s momma?” she asked me and I was shocked to be asked that.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“She has your look. And she smiles the same way.” I didn’t understand how she knew we had the same smile since she hadn’t seen me smile.

“And you’re her daddy, right?” she asked Edward. “Your hair is the color as hers are. And her scent is like yours…”

I saw Edward giving her a small smile, amused from her thoughts obviously. She focused then on Alice, observing her for some time as if she could see through her. Alice was frustrated by her constant staring but Edward knew something. He just wouldn’t tell us yet. Instead he asked her questions, she explained about Victor and Jake and Nessie and Eshe and that there were three other half vampires, Phillip, Cole and Dawn. Nahuel and Huilen jumped forward at the sound of the name Dawn, as if lighting had struck them. He explained us that she was another one of his half sisters, the youngest, and the one he got closer to. Huilen remained silent but sadness was all over her face.

There had been many who volunteered to come with us against the Volturi. Almost everyone who had come to witness Renesmee’s growth six years ago, everyone except Amun and Kebi, who kindly refused blaming it on issues with their coven, and Alistair, who had run off the last time and according to Carlisle was still hiding. The Amazons were here, Zafrina rushed in Sherrill as soon as she heard what happened. Kachiri told Nahuel and Huilen too and although Nahuel’s father, Joham, didn’t come, his other half sisters did. Except the little one because he couldn’t reach her. He thought she had moved somewhere else. Now he did know the truth. The Irish and the Egyptians, Benjamin and Tia came too. And of course the Denali coven, with Garrett who had joined them a couple of years ago. Jasper’s friends, Charlotte and Peter, learned from someone else and came in the last minute. They found us when we landed in France actually.

Now here we were, all of them, my family and the packs, ready to fight body and soul to get them back. Some came only for revenge. They didn’t really care about what would happen to us as long as they could see the Volturi burn. They didn’t have to say that aloud to be sure they thought it. Stefan and Vladimir. This was the only thing that could make them move their ancient bodies from their creepy castle in Romania to join a horde of vampires and shape shifters. The same motives six years ago and just the same motives now.

Alice stayed back with Melanie … Neither could we take the girl with us nor could we leave her alone into the wilderness! We needed Alice to help us with the fight but it was not as if anyone but Edward could be warned. She’d be bombarded by the decisions of one and the other side causing her only to get distracted… We left Brandy with her. He’d phase and Alice could inform the whole pack and Edward about what was happening. Although the wolves and the half breeds might make the bigger picture too blurry for her to see anything at all… We couldn’t know, not really.

I raised my shield showing all my worries to Edward. He placed an arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, “It’s alright. Everything’s going to be alright.”

“I hope so,” I said and tried to look optimistically at things.

I couldn’t wait for everything to be over. Until we could go back to Sherrill and be like before. My eyes fixed on Emma and Alem. They were pacing slowly next to us holding hands.

“Bella, you’d better raise your shield, we’re almost there,” Carlisle asked me.

“Oh, sure.”

I was so absent minded looking around gazing at the night sky. The moon hadn’t shown yet, it was hidden behind thick clouds. There were thunders every so and then and I thought that this would help us not be revealed to humans. The threat of the storm would keep them inside the city. And the sounds of the fight would probably be translated as many violent thunders.

Carlisle and Eleazar had the lead since they had lived in Volterra and knew how things here worked. Of course we wouldn’t go for a hearing but we needed a way to get in. Or somehow talk to them anyway.

“Bella? Have you covered all of us?” Edward asked again giving me a small nudge.

“Oh, no, sorry,” I apologized and closed my eyes concentrating on my shield.

Shielding others had been second nature to me after six years of practice. The Cullens could use some privacy from Edward’s mind reading. I knew Edward appreciated it too. Stretching my shield was easy, but there were many of us. We had been practicing for some time and while the others learned how to fight I was learning to keep re-shaping my shield so that it would keep our side protected all the time. We knew from the beginning that I wouldn’t fight except if it was absolutely necessary. Instead I would be standing in the background, monitoring the situation. I knew Edward had partially responsible for that decision because he wanted to keep me as far away as he could from the battlefield. I let the shield find its way around the group of vampires and wolves around us. It wasn’t necessary to keep all the wolves under my protection because their minds were somehow linked to each other’s but I tried being as cautious as I could.

“We’re fine now,” I assured him and felt Edward tense next to me.

“They know that we’re here. They’re waiting for us.”

“How many?” Carlisle asked.

“Around ten. But more are coming.”

“We can forget the element of surprise then. Well we can win some time by talking. I bet Aro would like to have one of his typical, fake-kind conversations Carlisle.” Jasper had left his calm face and was all serious and his mind was calculating any fighting possibilities.

Instead of stopping we approached, to see what Edward had warned us about. Dark cloaks near the walls. They were so still that I might not have noticed if I wasn’t told they were there. They were just shadows, barely noticeable in the dark. I took a deep breath and looked forward as we got closer. I had to keep an eye on the Volturi of course but my main concern –and mission– was to make sure I was protecting everyone. This time we weren’t trying to avoid trouble and wish that the Volturi would not want a fight and would pretend to be peaceful, even if they buckled we would fight.

The outlines of the cloaked figures were becoming more distinct, I could almost see the vampires’ facial characteristics –almost. When we were close enough to make out details and see who was who all of us froze and my mind –always surprisingly leaving me infinite space to think about everything– processed what was happening, listed the vampires of the guard standing across us and was also making sure that no humans were nearby. Hundreds of thoughts raced in my head and for a second I envied Edward and Jasper and the fact that they could get a feel of what was going on with the other side. What were they thinking? What were they feeling? Scare? Sarcasm? Did they believe we would be a large but rather easy situation to clean up? It would be expected by sadistic creatures like Aro. He was standing there, in the middle. But my attention was caught from the dark, almost shapeless figure behind him, she took a step forward and I made sure it was her. Renatta. She was only one but her shielding abilities could almost count her as if two vampires were protected. She was Aro’s personal bodyguard. From the beginning, from the other time I had seen her I held a strong dislike for her, not because she was shielding Aro but because she was part of this in general. It was a confusing emotion. And Jasper told us that during a battle emotions only get you killed. So ironic to hear that from an empath.

Oh the sides I could see Demetri and Felix, probably the only ones without a strong talent that would be useful in battle. In the center stood all three of them and their expressions were almost like our last encounter six years ago. But the lack of snow and the completely different landscape, the high, threatening, medieval walls and the slope of the cliff we were on reminded me of how different the situation was. Not like the one in Forks. We were coming here, in their territory, demanding what is ours. But intending to kill them anyway.

“Carlisle! What a pleasant surprise! Quite an odd time for a visit isn’t it?” Aro said expanding his arms in the air, as if he was surprised and excited.

I heard a low snarl from a wolf nearby, one of the newbie’s, Denis. He silenced himself quickly and I suspected that Sam was the one asking him to considering the way he lowered his head as a bow of respect. The twins, Alex and Nick, looked completely different in wolf form, one of them the darkest shade of browns while the other a fair, snow white. They looked at him in sympathy, their grey eyes almost glowing in the darkness of the night.

Carlisle’s lips twitched and for the first time I really saw that he was a vampire, strong and lethal like the rest of them. It was hard to picture this only with my imagination when I had this caring and loving man who appreciated and valued human life so much. Now, with another kind of fire burning his eyes, I could see clearly another side of him. Yet he smiled gloomily, an expression that I wasn’t sure that Aro could make out from this far.

 “I believed it would be an appropriate time. And rather a surprise also. I know you were waiting.” He meant that Aro must have been waiting our visit. A long time ago too. If it weren’t for some vampires’ careful planning, patience and experience I’d be here the next day, trying even on my own to fight them to get to my little Renesmee.

A low chuckle escaped Aro’s chest but it wasn’t amused. “Indeed I was waiting for you. Although I expected you to bring… different company than this.” His look was on the wolves. Specifically Sam. Their eyes locked for a second and the hatred between the two sides was almost causing sparks to fly around. I wondered what the thoughts crossing Aro’s mind were at the moment. Was he looking down at the wolves? Or maybe was scared of them?

“Never underestimate the enemy,” Carlisle warned and this was when they both let the masks of kindness aside and exchanged a nod, as if they knew that after this was told something would change.

It was a cue that I might not be the only lot to recognize. In the blink of an eye everyone was lowering in a defensive crouch and I felt lost. There was something I was missing here. Maybe I was concentrating really hard on my shield. Two cold arms caught me from behind and pulled me backwards, not roughly but with a lot of nerve.

“Bella, you know what to do,” Edward’s soft voice forced me to focus. He was the one holding my shoulder.

I nodded and moved the furthest away from what would become the battlefield. I needed to have a good look on everyone.

After all these planning and the technique learning during the last month someone would expect me to understand more looking at the bigger picture but I still could see each of them, individually, fighting the others. Emmett crashed against Demetri, just like he said he would. I thought he was joking all the way about wanting to fight with him but it proved that he was honest. Demetri was his first target. I could see Jasper with swift, methodical moves, years and years of tactful fighting coming on the surface and dealing with the most inexperienced in seconds. His speed was a challenge for my shield, to keep him in but the others outside. The wolves were not my main concern. If one was safe all of them were. I kept my focus only on George, one of them, the one who was also closer to me, and concentrated on the vampires who were more and as they mixed up with the guard it was getting more and more difficult to keep them safe.

Zafrina was fighting against someone else, someone I hadn’t seen before, a man tall and lean, with deep red eyes and fair blond hair. He didn’t stand a chance. He wasn’t inexperienced but Zafrina’s wild battle style was something beyond what he could deal with. His look turned blank for a second and I knew that Zafrina was probably using her gift, showing him some horrible image to distract him before she could behead him.

With the corner of my eye I caught Rosalie on my left and Tanya on my right lighting up bonfires, big and threatening ones. I knew that it was the only way to really finish them off though. We had to get them before they caught us.

Nobody cared about the fair haired vampire that Zafrina killed so the coast was clear to get him the fire before he could reattach himself. The sweet scent of burnt vampire filled the air but nobody seemed to care. Everyone was too caught up with fighting to bother with this.

Closer to where I was standing, but without coming against me, was Caius was struggling with Sam. Actually it didn’t really look like he was struggling. His moves were so ethereal and light, avoiding Sam’s attacks in the way that only a thousand of years old immortal could. Sam let a loud growl in annoyance but I could see him being more tired. I bounced on my heels impatiently, worrying about him and on the verge of running towards him to assist. Just in time I saw Eleazar and Peter sneaking behind him and I smiled. Caius turned around quickly and gave them a hateful look as he went for Peter. Sam jumped on his back throwing him on the ground and ripping away his arm.

I turned away my look hoping that they would deal with the rest of Caius too. A messy, bronze head in the background caught my attention this time. Edward. He along with Carlisle and Rosalie were fighting with three more vampires; I could recognize the two of them from the trial six years ago and the other was a blurry human memory. Someone I had seen only for a little in my previous short visit in Volterra. Shielding them was tricky because they had surrounded the other vampires but I managed to keep them out of my shield. I had to tell Edward somehow that if he moved a little further away I wouldn’t be able to protect them. I was already reaching my limits and I couldn’t promise that I would manage to stretch my shield much further. To my surprise I saw the vampires turning against each other instead of Carlisle, Edward or Rosalie. I chuckled imagining Edward revealing some dark secret of one of them to the other two… I knew that these ones would be fine too.

It was hard to make out our side anymore because most of the guard had let their cloaks go, they were only useless weight on their shoulders. Now everything looked just like heads. Heads here, heads there. It felt confusing and overwhelming, I almost let Chelsea in. I focused even harder and after a long time remembered how being tired felt like. Not physically tired but mentally. It was almost as bad. But I knew I had to hold on. For Nessie. For Jacob. For all of them.

I saw five new vampires appearing from a small crack in the wall, and shivered. I didn’t know what to expect as I was Jane and Alec made their appearance. Their big, childish eyes investigated the battlefield counting the loses. They had many. We had some too. I didn’t know who they were though. I felt some heads missing under my shield though. Two of them were wolves. Some of the new ones. Poor kids… And I couldn’t spot Charlotte. And one of Nahuel’s sisters. Awiti. I hoped that they just was out of the shield.

The Volturi were missing more. Eight vampires were down. Five of them newborns. I saw Jasper taking them down. And the three with whom Edward, Carlisle and Rosalie were dealing with. And Caius probably too. He couldn’t have survived the attack of two vampires and a shape shifter. It was almost impossible. And Emmett was fighting Demetri… My eyes searched for him. I found him some meters further away from where he was the last time. Demetri was nowhere in sight but new smoke was rising from the fire. Deep, purple smoke. Emmett had a playful smile on his face which made him look even more dangerous. I saw Chelsea jumping on him and pieces of her ended up everywhere. I flinched and paid close attention to the wolves for the first time.

Sam was fighting another vampire, a blond man, tall and lean, whose name was Santiago as far as I knew. I could see Sam’s deep, black fur raise as he snarled and leaped on Santiago ripping his leg and then his head out of place and bringing him closer to the fire.

Jolie was closer to the fire, her light gray-white fur almost shining silver in the fire’s light as she fought another dark haired vampire, Afton. She lost her focus from a second and I wondered if another wolf distracted her. Afton reached behind her, almost getting her for a while. If he reached her from behind he’s choke her to death. I held my breath and the urge to run down there and help was back, stronger. I wanted to protect her. Soon enough Leah approached and helped her instead.

A small pinch, more disturbing than painful was hitting various spots in my shield. Jane. She looked down at me, still far away, next to Aro, to be safe from the fighting vampires and shape shifters but trying to do as much harm as she could. I could he her frustration as she couldn’t find a weak spot, someone exposed to her power. She was tapping her foot on the damp ground and brought her eyebrows closer, resembling a spoiled child that didn’t get things done her way. Actually that was what she was. A little child. And she would keep being that.

A hand on my sleeve caused me to crouch close to the ground and jumping some feet away I raised my upper lip exposing my teeth and hissed. My stance softened though then I realized it was Zafrina. Her look was wild, even in the clothes Alice had given her (‘to blend with the humans’ she told us) her jeans were ripped apart and there were brown smudges all over her from the knees of the jeans to her cheekbones. Her hair used to be held in tight braids but had loosened from the fight and half of it was floating around her, looking like a dark halo around her head.

For the first time I noticed that she looked tired. Something on her showed that she was drained of energy. Maybe it was the darkness of her eyes. We had all fed just one day before –I avoided to think how most of our allies had– and everyone’s eyes were a lively shade of crimson or gold. I couldn’t imagine how Zafrina’s eyes got so dark in so little time and I caught myself wondering how much my own eyes had darkened in the meantime.

“I think it’s time,” she said and her deep, heavy accent seemed like bringing a sense of me back. It was almost as if for all this time I had set the fight in mute, not hearing the thunders above us, just like I couldn’t hear the snarls and growls from the vampires in the battlefield. I had been hearing only what I focused hard on and now the battle sounds startled me.

“Is the coast clear?” I asked trying to imagine my way through the crowd.

“I will make sure it will be.” Her eyes showed that she was not joking. She looked down at Senna and Kachiri for a second, they were struggling with four more vampires; judging from the brightness of the eyes and lack of technique they were young. Maybe one year old. Maybe two. But not older.

I nodded and silently prepared to do it. I closed my eyes and made sure that Zafrina was out of my shield just for a second, long enough to see most vampires, the one I wasn’t familiar with freeze and look around with wide horrified eyes. I let Zafrina back in and didn’t look back. I hoped that she’d manage to hold them long enough for the whole thing to be done but I highly doubted that I would be this lucky. Everything was working according to the plan. While the Volturi would be distracted by whatever Zafrina was showing them I would get my way to Renatta. And Aro.

As I passed in front of Edward he gave me a small encouraging nod. If there was anyone able to do this it was me. Time to prove if Eleazar’s theory about me being able to get through Renatta’s shield is true.

Everything felt like slow motion even when running in vampire speed. Everyone in the guard looked so lost and scared, even Jane. I looked straight at Renatta who wasn’t looking somewhere in particular. The wolves took advantage of the situation and tried getting rid of as many vampires as possible and the ripping sounds were accompanied by the angry thunders of the approaching storm. I was prepared for what would happened if Renatta’s shield had an effect on me, Eleazar had explained to me exactly how it did work. I would probably end up heading somewhere away from Renatta without even being sure about the reason my course changed. I came closer and closer and expected to bump on someone else. She was still lost and so was Aro. Almost. Aro seemed more concentrated on the surroundings, his eyes scared but not as much as the rest of them.

To my surprise I got a grip on Renatta’s arm. I didn’t even realize I was this close. She flinched away and asked with shaky voice, “Who is there?”

For a second I felt grateful I wasn’t the one under Zafrina’s spell as I ripped out Renatta’s arm. She tried to defend herself but her moves were in vain. She couldn’t even see me coming, didn’t know where I was. Her eyes turned completely blank as I beheaded her and threw her limp body in the fire. The scent was move vivid; I was much closer. I smiled at myself and went for Aro.

His hand caught my wrist midair and I heard a cracking sound as I felt him breaking it and letting it fall on the ground. I gasped in shock and took some steps back, reaching to put it back in place. Edward let go of the terrified vampire he was dealing with and was at my side instantly.

“Ahhh, Edward, good to have you nearby.” His eyes were still staring in the empty space between my head and Edward’s so Zafrina’s gift was working. I felt the venom sealing the wound as my hand was put in place and I clutched my fingers into fists to make sure it was working.

I let a low growl and tried to put Edward behind me but Edward gently put an arm around my waist to keep me in place.

“I’m not one of these inexperienced newborns that you’ve fought in the past. This wild vampires tricks mean nothing to me.” He said the word ‘wild’ as if he had to swallow human food; absolutely disgusted.

As if you’re the civilized one, monster! I wanted to say but I kept it inside my head.

“You’re armless now, Aro. Give up and save yourself,” Edward told him still not letting me go.

“Both of us know that this is a big lie. You won’t let me live no matter what. But if I kill you first…”

Without warning he jumped forward and although lacking any sense or orientation his moves were almost graceful and accurate. Edward pulled me back and hissed for me to get Carlisle or the Romanians. I looked around quickly, the enemies seemed to be back to reality little by little which meant that the effect of Zafrina’s power was wearing off. I spotted the Romanians first and run to them the soonest I could.

Stefan was wearing a sly grin on his face and Vladimir was smiling too; the smile not even close to reaching his eyes.

“Want to kill Aro? It’s your chance,” I said trying to sound braver but that odd, chalk like, gray tone of them was creeping me out as much as the first time.

I leaned against the stone wall behind me trying not to let my guard down. I was on the other side of the battlefield but again, just like when I was hidden behind my own friends and family, my enemies acted as if I was invisible. Ignoring me completely.

I put aside a curl that had fallen in front of my eyes as I ran and took deep breaths, as if it would calm me.

How many more were there? Where was Nessie?

My eyes scanned the battlefield once more, desperately looking for the sings of any new arrivals. Renesmee and Jacob’s. I only caught a glimpse of Emma fighting side to side with Seth with… Caius!

But I thought he was dead!

He was more alive than ever –at least as alive a vampire can be– and fighting, focusing on Seth. I knew that he disliked the wolves, he had shown it clearly from the very beginning. He glanced up, at something close to me and then ran away, disappearing into the woods. He gave up. He ran away. He thinks his side doesn’t stand a chance.

I heard steps on a small patch of grass behind me; a sound too low for human ears to hear. I was about to growl but a hand clapped against my mouth. A blonde woman with milky, red eyes.

“I mean no harm. I have to warn you.” Her voice was low and she was talking fast, so fast that I barely understood her. “Promise you won’t cause any trouble or shout if I remove my hand?”

I rolled my eyes and wished I could reply but I just nodded.

“What do you want?” I turned around so that I was really facing her and the memory hit me. She was one of the dark cloaked wives, hidden behind the crowd in the trial. Probably Caius’ mate.

Her gaze wandered down at the real battlefield and a small smile of satisfaction lit up her face. “I see you’re wining. That’s good.”

“Aren’t you supposed to try to kill me right now?” was all I managed to say shocked by the fact that my hands and head were still in place.

“Bella, I told you I am here for your side’s benefit. The half breeds and the wolf are on their way. And actually you will soon see that they will come through the passage behind you.” A long, perfectly manicured fingernail pointed towards a small black hole behind me. I shuddered at the memory of that dark passage in Volterra, the one I was left to fall into, right into the darkness and Alice caught me before I touched the ground and broke every single bone on myself. I could feel the old, cool air coming from the opening brushing my bare ankles and looked on inside intently.

“Why are you helping us?” I asked suspiciously.

“Because Aro got the power he wanted and used it the wrong way. I want this to stop.” Her words seemed so simple and rational, almost making it impossible to imagine that she was part of the guard. Even less one of the wives.

“When you said the half breeds and the wolf you meant… Renesmee, Jacob and–”

She interrupted me and finished, “–yes all of them. All the others too.” I felt like a weight was raised from my chest and inhaled deeply. I felt so relieved to know that all of them were safe! “That wild vampire… the vision maker… who is she?” I caught her staring at Zafrina, more fascinated than scared.

“Zafrina. But why…”

“Do I care? Well, she is powerful. I guess the distraction won’t be needed after all.” I saw a peaceful look on her face even if she was gazing down at horror.

I couldn’t help but look her with troubled eyes, wondering what was going on in her ancient head.

“I will probably die tonight. By your side will it be? By my own? I’m a traitor after all. That’s what happens to traitors. They die.”

“Traitor? To whom?”

“The Volturi. How do you think that the half breeds and the wolf escaped?” I didn’t really know. The time I had talked with any of them was limited, even more when it came to escape details. I just knew that they somehow made it.

“I don’t know,” I finally admitted.

“Sulpicia and me gave them money and instructions to get through the city. They almost made it. And now we helped them again. Fooled the guards and freed them. We had a plan for the battle. To give it the wanted outtake. To fulfill the scenario the way both of us imagined. Your side wining.”

“Plan? So you knew that we were coming?” As the time passed I was getting used to her presence, not as a thread, only as someone interesting to be close to. She had a lot to tell. And I was not scared that she’d stab my back when in turned around anymore.

“The ‘Main Distraction’. That’s how we had named it. We’d go in front of everyone and admit our treachery. Our side would be shocked. Stunned even. They would have never seen it coming. But now… Aro gone… Caius also…” I caught the sad tone on her voice as she said Caius’ name. I personally held no preference for Caius, I believed he was just as horrible but seeing her like that hurt me.

“Caius isn’t gone,” I spitted out before I could think clearly. “He ran away. He’s alive.”

“Really?” There was honest shock in her voice, and something else… Relief? “I– I think that I will try finding him later. If I make it out of here alive. So where was I? Oh, yeah. The treachery. Yes. It would probably get both of us killed. Me and Sulpicia. But… It would gain enough time for you to get rid of most vampires in the meantime. But this vision maker… She did what we were intending to do. There are like seven of us left. Me and Sulpicia included.”

“We will not kill you. We would be eternally grateful to you,” I said honestly.

“Don’t worry about us. We have dealt with the idea of death. It will be more like something that should have happened many years ago. It will be like a sleep. I haven’t slept for thousands of years. I missed it.”

Could someone get tired of eternity? Want to get rid of it?

Without moving her look from Zafrina she answered the question I never spoke aloud, “Maybe, if I lived under other circumstances, spent the eternity with someone else it would be different. Just maybe. I have seen too many mistakes, monstrosities, to forgive my kind, my existence. A rest would be nice.”

“So you don’t really want to go with Caius.” It was not a question.

“I do. Maybe if we get a fresh start, away from Aro’s influence he will be different. I don’t mean that he was innocent. No, he’s far from that. But maybe the lust for power and this goose hunt for world domination will get crossed out from his ambition list if he doesn’t have Aro accessing his head and finding his weak points all the time. But then again. If I’m wrong… I won’t get another chance like this.” Her eyes looked blankly at the fire and I could see the jumping flames mirroring in her pupils.

“I think you should give it a chance,” I encouraged.

I still was trying to understand how I could have such a calm conversation during that battle. My shield was still covering everyone, my job being much easier now that almost everyone was out of the way. Marcus shouldn’t be much of a problem. Neither the other two vampires that were fighting with the wolves. But there were two hiding. Two that we couldn’t allow to live and do more harm. The witch twins. Alec and Jane.

I opened my mouth to say something but just then I heard a small snarl and before I could process what was happening a fox came into view. With big, blue eyes. And behind her A russet mass of fur. Jacob. And Renesmee.

My baby girl was in my arms before neither of us knew it. If I could cry it would be impossible to stop right now. I hugged her tightly and held her close to me whispering to her that it was all over. We were together and nothing could separate us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click here to get to the next chapter!