10. Decided

It was a few seconds before they actually showed up, but when they did, hate and violence flowed though me.

I was never part of the succession. I was never permitted to leave Italy. I would never be part of that.

They looked almost scary. A perfectly-shaped group, grey on the outside and getting darker until the deepest black in the center. They glided over the grass, and the mass unfolded like a dark flower. I saw some of the faces as they advanced a ways.

They stopped when there was about a hundred feet of space between both sides. I heard the intimidation in their minds – they didn't want to advance on the wolves.

Edward had said that the wives had come the first time. They weren't here now. I remembered what he said about their witnesses, but they didn't come either. It was our side against theirs – and they were grossly outnumbered.

Both sides stood in silence for what seemed like hours. Nobody spoke or moved or showed any sign of wanting to.

I felt Bella throw out her shield. I did my best to help, doubling that power, and using Renata's shield against her. Maybe a bit of sensory-deprivation to cover it, should they come closer…? The mist folded around our bubble, fully invisible when I made it stretch.

"Should I open this time, as well?" someone murmured ahead of me. I saw Edward nod slightly.

"No, you won't," I called, before I could stop myself. "I've got something to say."

All eyes – from both sides, vampire and wolf alike – turned to me. Some looked surprised; some looked frightened from my tone; one looked bored, but there was a shimmer in the eyes across the clearing.

I stepped forward carefully, towing Cameron with me. He followed easily, as if he were just another limb on my body – like a comb was to the fifties' guy. Seth stayed where he was, sitting on his big tan wolf bum. I made a small hole for us in the shield as we walked through into no-man's land, stopping a little closer to the Italian monsters than originally planned.

The worried thoughts behind me seemed like wind. Anger flowed through me, and there was nothing Jasper could do about it – I felt him trying to make me sane.

I let go of Cameron's arm. Involuntarily, I bowed my head slightly. Then I looked directly at the three darkest figures: Aro, Caius and Marcus.

I had thought about what I would say when I confronted them. But now, standing in front of them, my mind took a different course – first meeting.

"My name is Loreli," I said calmly. "This is my twin brother, Cameron. And this –" I waved an arm behind me, "– is my family."

Aro's face showed a flicker of surprise, but it was smiling before a human would notice the fault. He said nothing, though, and no one supplied any conversation.

Two people came out of their line. Aro didn't look annoyed, Marcus still looked bored, and Caius looked greatly irritated – like old times.

No! I commanded myself. You are not seeing the good in this!

I knew one was relatively new. Their cloak was normal grey – the lowest "rank" in the Volturi guard. The second one was –

"Demetri?" I gasped, and I heard hisses from our side.

Demetri pulled the hood of his cloak down, and I was glad to see a small smile on his face. The other vampire removed their hood, and I ran to her.

"Gianna!" I cried, jumping into her arms. Her red eyes didn't throw me off at all – I knew this would be the second thing she asked for once I got Aro to see reason. "You're new! Who did it?"

"Demetri," she laughed in a beautiful new voice. "I asked, but no one volunteered, then he just came up behind me." She grinned. "I'm his now."

Demetri leaned closer to Gianna and smiled bigger. I gave him a high-five, ignoring the anger behind me.

No time for making up, Edward reminded me. Get to your point, so we can.

Right.

"So, Aro," I said, turning away from new Gianna and Demetri. "We all know you came for Renesmee, and you can easily see that she's grown and not killing people, so you can leave with your little posse, but not before Gianna and Demetri ask you something." I felt anger switch to surprise immediately on both sides. Even Marcus looked a little confused.

"Aro," Gianna said quietly, "she's right. We don't need to be here." She looked to Demetri, who nodded.

"Excuse me! I think I should get to speak for myself!" Renesmee walked gracefully to my side, Jacob-wolf beside her. Some of the guard recoiled and hissed.

"Hello, dear child," Aro said cheerily. "It's so nice to see you again!"

"Nice to see you, too," she said politely. I heard Maggie snicker at the lie.

I nearly freaked out when she shook Aro's hand, as if she didn't know what he could do. After a second, though, I realized she meant to show him her thoughts.

He didn't try to spend time seeing her history; she let go quickly.

"Where is your Nahuel?" he asked, probing through our group. "Is he not here?"

"No," I said. "I think Renesmee can explain for herself, don't you? Besides, you can't make someone belong to anyone else."

Aro hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Yes, of course."

Cameron fell back, pulling me with him. We settled back to our places and turned back to the Volturi and Renesmee and Jacob.

"We don't need to even discuss it, Aro," Demetri muttered. "She's done nothing. We can leave."

Why hasn't Caius said anything? I asked Edward.

Gianna told him to shut up, he replied. He listened.

Are they going to "think about it"? Or are they just going to leave?

You'll be surprised.

I sincerely hoped I wouldn't be.