In all of the training and travel over the past days, I have to admit that it never once occurred to me that it would all go down like this.

The rhythmic, reassuring beating of our hearts seems to echo in the enormous stone chamber, and sounds of the battle raging below us reverberate through the stone walls of the castle. I shift slightly, balancing my weight on the balls of my feet, ready to spring. My brothers surround me, all in similar positions; we had to phase back to our human forms to make it through the narrow, winding halls. Our vampire allies stand with us as well, as still as stone, their breathing almost synchronized.

It appears that we have interrupted something.

We fought our way through nearly a dozen vampires to get to this chamber. We anticipated and trained for more of the same upon our entrance to the innermost vault of the Volturi stronghold, but now that we're here, it's just…confusing.

The powerful trio that is the primary subject of our ire stands in a loose semicircle with Marcus and Caius flanking Aro, palpable tension in the air. No one has even acknowledged our presence in the room yet. Marcus and Caius wear grave expressions, but Aro's face is a carefully composed portrait of surprise and sorrow. "Brothers. When did you decide that my actions deserved your treachery?"

Caius speaks first, his tone clipped and impatient. "When you took upon yourself the duties of judge, jury, and executioner, Aro."

Aro speaks again, passionate, indignant, although it is clear this is just another of his façades. He speaks breathlessly, as though he has been punched in the stomach, and his gaze flickers between the other two ancients standing on either side of him. "But the law requires a firm and powerful hand, upon that we have always agreed. There must be consequences; else, the law becomes a hollow institution. Words, my dear brothers, do not themselves contain an inherent power and only become meaningful when decisive action is taken on their behalf by those pledged to their cause. This has been my only desire these many years, an ambition I thought we shared."

This time it is Marcos, his gravelly voice quiet and his cadence slow, tired. "A logical point to be sure, but you can no longer hide your true intentions behind the pretense of the law, Aro. You have bent it, twisted it until it has become no more than a thinly veiled justification for your desire of power."

It is silent in the great room for a moment; Aro has closed his eyes in apparent contemplation. He exhales slowly, a great sigh. "It seems that we must agree to disagree on this matter." He pauses, folding his hands together and opening his eyes to focus on his former brethren, his disappointment evident in his features. "And so this is the course you have chosen, brothers? To ally yourselves with those that so blatantly flaunt their disregard for the very laws that you hold dear? Those that live their lives so contrary to their nature, to your nature, simply for the pleasure of declaring themselves to be 'moral'? To satisfy their own craving for power?"

Caius' tilts his head upward slightly, indignant. "We ally ourselves with no one, Aro, although your claims against this family have proven false before and are without merit once more. But we can no longer stand idly by while your insatiable thirst devours all that we have built." Caius glances towards Marcos with a slight nod of his head. My mind sort of unconsciously registers that he and Marcos have maneuvered themselves much closer to Aro than before, close enough to touch him, should they so choose…

Many of the vampires standing behind the trio look confused, but the rest look almost resolved, anticipatory. In fact, some of them even look as though they are ready to pounce…though not necessarily in our direction. It is curious, to be sure, but my attention is drawn back to the brothers as Marcos speaks once more. His tone is placating, soothing, almost monotone, as though he is speaking to a small, frightened child. "We have been together for millennia, Aro. You must understand that this is not a decision that was made lightly or with insidious intentions. If there were any other way…"

Caius places a hand on Aro's shoulder, looking every bit the repentant transgressor. Marcos is on Aro's other side, still as a statue. Caius raises his guilt-filled eyes to search out Aro's gaze once more before speaking. "Forgive us, Aro, for what we must now do."

Aro looks surprised for a moment. I blink involuntarily and the next thing I see is Aro's head in Marcos' hands, shock and betrayal now etched forever on his lifeless face.

Silence. For one second, two, three, four…

Everything commences very quickly. The giant stone room suddenly becomes an echo chamber; snaps, snarls, and shreds bounce off the walls coalescing into a heavy, foreboding cacophony.

I phase along with my brothers, easy as breathing, and jump into the fray.

Wow. First, I would like to apologize. I really, really never intended to let it go this long. Please, forgive me! I know that it is unexcusably short, but I've had this FOREVER, and I just finally decided to get it cleaned up and published. Anyway, I will get this wrapped up...we're so close to the end! Thank ya'll so much for sticking with me! I also have another story in the works that I hope to debut when I post the next chapter of Homecoming...I'm very, very excited about the new one and I really hope that you all will give it a shot!