Aro took Renesmee from Bella and she reached up to touch his face.
When she took it away Aro laughed and said, "Of course I wish to not harm your family, dear Renesmee."
Beside me Maggie hissed, outraged at the lie. I peeked at her to see her shaking with anger and looking murderous. I squeezed her and when she looked at me I gave her a warning look that plainly said, "Keep your head!" and turned back to the Volturi.
I was nervous as hell though. The only hope we had would be if we somehow talked ourselves out of this. I was so wrapped up in my panicking that when Caius confronted Irina I let out a very quiet hiss of shock and warning. It was Maggie's turn to throw me a warning glance. I calmed down and straightened out of the crouch I was in. Caius asked, "Do you still have a complaint against the Cullens? If so, now would be the time to mention it."
Irina squared her shoulders and said, "No, I have no complaint against the Cullens. You came here to destroy an immortal child, and no immortal child exists. This was my mistake, I take full responsibility for it, but the Cullens are innocent. There is no reason for you to still be here. I'm so sorry." She added to Tanya and Kate.
It happened very fast. Caius raised his hand and in it was something like a silver cigarette lighter and the guard immediately acted. Three of them leapt forward and Irina was obscured by grey cloaks, then Caius lifted the lighter looking thing and burned her pieces with it. When Caius thought she was safely on fire, he pulled away and a small ripple of gasps went through the Volturi witnesses.
"Now she has taken full responsibility for what she has done." Caius said, smiling coldly and looking to Tanya and Kate's horrified figures.
I realized what Tanya and Kate were about to do and Edward cried, "Stop them!" He grabbed Tanya's arm at the same instant she let out a cry of rage, looking at Caius like she wanted to kill him, and couldn't get out before I ran forward and locked my arms around her waist.
"Tanya, you can't do anything! Don't give him what he wants! Do you want us all to die?" I asked her desperately.
Kate was way harder to manage. She was shocking everyone that tried to grab her and finally Garrett grabbed her and didn't let go no matter what she did. Finally Edward shouted, "Zafrina," and Kate's cries of rage turned to moans. Tanya stopped struggling too.
"Listen you two," I said angrily, "You're not helping. Think about what you're doing! We will all die if you attack them, and Irina wouldn't want you to waste your lives this way!"
Everyone but me and Garrett were on their guard again. Tanya gave up and Kate stopped thrashing, and Garrett picked her up off the ground but still held tight to her. My clutch on Tanya turned into more of a comforting hug, which she appreciated, and looked like she was trying very hard not to break down and sob tearlessly. I whispered words of comfort to her. I heard Aro explain to his witnesses, "Irina has been punished for bearing false witness against this child. Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand?" he asked Caius, and Caius straitened up. Aro turned to us, "I wish to speak to a few of your witnesses." And he stepped forward to confront them.
"Ah, Amun, how nice to see you again!" Aro said warmly.
Amun said nothing. So Aro resumed, "What have you witnessed about the child?"
"The same things you probably witnessed in Edward's mind," said Amun, "That the child is his biologically. That she grows. That she learns."
"But in the few weeks you've been here," Aro said, "What did you see?"
Amun furrowed his brow, "That she grows… quickly."
"And do you think she should be allowed to live?" Aro asked.
Bella and many others hissed.
Amun lifted his chin, "I see no danger in the child. She learns as swiftly as she grows."
Aro nodded and started to turn away when Amun suddenly said, "Aro?"
Aro turned back around, "Yes, friend?"
"I have given my opinion. My mate and I wish to leave." Amun said confidently.
Aro nodded and turned back around. Amun and his mate ran into the trees.
He approached Siobhan and I felt the sudden urge to leap in front of them and shield her.
"And you, Lovely Siobhan, would you say the same thing dear Amun said?" Aro asked.
"I would." Siobhan said.
"Alas," Aro said, turning away from Siobhan, "We cannot know what the child will become, but I will here out the rest of the witnesses." He turned to a few more and asked the same question. They said the same thing Siobhan and Amun said and asked to leave. A few others left after them.
Aro sighed and turned to his guard and brothers, "We are outnumbered dearest ones," He said, "Brothers, there is much to consider here."
"Let us council," said Caius excitedly.
"Let us council," said Marcus in an uninterested tone.
Aro turned back and joined hands with his brothers to form a triangle. i heard Bella say a very sad goodbye to Renesmee and Jacob.
"Is there no hope then?" Carlisle whispered.
Everyone was saying their farewells, too. Maggie came up to me and hugged me. I let go of Tanya and hugged her back. She turned and left and now Tanya was hugging me. The whole time I stayed here, Tanya and I had become best friends. I leaned into Tanya, now trying not to break down either.
"Get ready," Bella murmured, "It's starting."