A few days later, the Cullens and their witnesses were gathered together in their home, along with Jacob, Paul, and Calypso. The Cullens stood at the front of the room, the Denali coven sitting on the plush chairs across from then, the Amazon coven as well as the Romanians beside those two women, the Nomads standing to their left. Across the room sat the Irish coven, with Bella and Jacob seated beside them. Calypso stood next to where Jacob was sitting, Paul standing on her other side, putting distance between her and the Egyptian coven. A growl rumbled from his throat when Benjamin tried to move near Calypso, which earned him a glare from the blonde.

Eleazar was the one who spoke up first. "When Aro wants someone from a coven, it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime."

"So he's done this before?" Bella piped up a question, her dark brows creasing in confusion.

"It happens so rarely, I never realized it was a pattern." Eleazar replied.

"Apparently he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repenting." Carlisle spoke up, stepping near his friend, who was the only one of the Denali coven currently standing with the Cullens.

"This person always has an ability," Eleazar added. "And always given a place with the guard."

Edward's eyes widened. "This is all about Alice. He has no one like her."

"Which is why she left!" Bella realized.

Emmett furrowed his brow, crossing his burly arms over his chest. "But why does he need witnesses?"

"To spread the word that justice has been served..." Alistair replied, stepping forward. "After he slaughters an entire coven."

Amun visibly tensed, looking towards his family. "Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving."

"And where will you go? What makes you think they'll be satisfied with Alice? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Calypso, Zafrina, or Kate, or anyone else with a gift, anyone they want." Amun looked towards Benjamin, who looked over at Calypso. Paul growled, baring his teeth. Calypso frowned and set a hand on his arm, trying to calm him, but he shrugged it off. "They're goal isn't punishment, it's about power, it's acquisition. Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will. For the sake of my family, but also for yours, and for the way you wanna live."

No one spoke for a moment, each vampire, wolf, and hybrid looking around the room at each other, waiting for someone to speak.

Jacob was the first to stand and step forward. "The packs will fight." He said, watching as Paul stepped forward to stand beside him, standing in front of Calypso. "We've never been afraid of vampires." He added, looking at Edward, who looked at him with a look of respect.

The Denali coven stood next, Tanya at the front. "We will fight." The blonde said.

Garrett stepped up next. "This won't be the first time I've fought a king's rule."

Benjamin stepped up as well, a smile on his face. "We will join you."

Amun looked appalled. "No!"

"I will do the right thing, Amun." Benjamin replied, turning to look at his creator, who looked surprised to see Benjamin doing this. "You may do as you please."

Senna spoke up next. "We will stand with you."

"So will we." Siobhan added, standing with Liam and Maggie.

Calypso was the last to step up, stepping around Paul, who attempted to keep her back, but to no avail. "I'll fight."

"Cal..." Paul growled threateningly.

"Paul, you're not my father, nor are you my imprintee." Calypso replied, throwing him a look. "You can't control what I do, and if you're fighting, I am, too."

The rest of the vampires took a step forward, the Nomads giving Edward a nod in comfirmation that they would fight.

"That didn't take much." Vladimir commented. Senna threw him a look.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Edward spoke up.

"We'll see." Alistair replied, giving Carlisle a look before he left the room.


"Everyone showed courage, though we knew that Aro's army was moving against us. Soon we would face the dark gifts of Jane, and worse the paralyzing vapor of her brother Alec, who could rob of you sight, sound and touch."


Toshiro ran down the streets of London at a rapid pace, his eyes wide, fear clear in his dark eyes. He gets cornered in an alley by Demetri and Felix, who then proceed to take him down and shove him up against a wall.

Alec and Jane appeared, Jane standing by her brother as he released his vapor, allowing the dark mist to take away Toshiro's senses as he walked closer to him.

"Alec." Aro said warningly as he stepped closer. Alec paused before he retracted his gift, allowing Aro to walk closer to Toshiro.

"I will never go against you." Toshiro said shakily. It was obvious that he was lying, and it was made even more obvious by look in his eyes and the tone in his voice.

"Of course not." Aro replied, smiling in a sickly sweet way. "My dear... Toshiro." He held out his hand expectantly, indicating for Toshiro to give him his hand. Toshiro obliged, though he gulped, obviously scared for his life.

"It seems that Carlisle is still expecting you." Aro revealed after a moment of silence, dropping Toshiro's hand. He turned, motioning for his guard to kill Toshiro before he walked off with Caius and Marcus.

"Carlisle is all but ensuring his own destruction." Caius said.

Aro nodded his head, musing, "Sad, isn't it?"


"Aro will want us incapacitated before he attacks." Edward spoke. "Jane and Alec will try and take me out first, because I can anticipate their moves."

"Too bad we don't all have your shield." Garrett replied from across the counter.

"Doesn't help me fight though." Bella replied, casting her brown eyes onto the counter.

"No, but it could help the rest of us if you could project it." Tanya replied.

Bella furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean shield someone other than yourself." The blonde answered.

Bella blinked, looking around at the vampires that surrounded her. " Is that possible?" She questioned.

"Gifts can be developed, over time." Carlisle answered her.

"At first mine was just in my palms," Kate responded, holding out her palms for emphasis. "Now I can radiate it all over my body."

"How do you do it?" Bella asked, a grin on her face. She grabbed Kate's hand, very clearly gripping it too hard. "Tell me." She urged.

Kate looked from her hand to Bella. "Ow."

As she, Emmett, Garrett, Edward, and Kate went outside, Calypso sat inside. She usually wanted to be over there, and the only time she wasn't with Paul was when he absolutely had to leave. Whenever he did, though, he made Jacob promise to watch her like a hawk. He promised, but he never actually did it.

"You should start practicing with your gift as well, Calypso." Carlisle said to the blonde.

"What do you mean?" Calypso questioned.

"Gain some of the gifts from the vampires around the house." Jacob replied, walking into the room while chewing on a sandwich. "You've already got Kate's, so get the rest of them. You'll need it."

"Well, like who?" Calypso questioned, hopping off of the stool that she'd been seated on.

"I'd like to try it out." Calypso looked up, only to see Benjamin walking into the room with a smile on his face. He held out his hand. "If that's alright with you." He added.

Calypso slowly nodded, looking down at his hand before looking back at him. "Alright." She reached out, slowly putting her hand in his. Her fingertips were first, resting ever so lightly on the palm of his hand. His hand was cold, she realized, but it was a comforting kind of cold. She put her hand in his, closing her eyes. Her gift didn't require her to close her eyes, but she really couldn't deal with the heated look that Benjamin was giving her.

She felt something else within her; some fire, which was an indication that she'd copied his power. She felt something similar when she copied Renesmee's and Kate's powers. She released his hand, opening her eyes and stepping back. "I think I have it." She replied. She concentrated, thinking of Benjamin's power, before a flame sparked on the tip of her finger. It died out instantly, making her frown.

"Keep trying." Benjamin urged her. "You'll get it."

Calypso nodded, turning back to her hand. Suddenly, the fire came back, but this time it stayed there. Calypso grinned, staring at her finger in fascination. "Wow." She breathed, grinning at Benjamin. "You one seriously a kick ass gift." She said, making him laugh.