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Nessie's Voice

Was this how I was going to end the world? Were vampires now going to run rampant, terrorizing and destroying humanity without the threat of the Volturi? Part of me wanted to step in and help Marcus and the Guard establish a new Volturi Council. A bigger part of me wanted to run screaming. Aside from Marcus, no one on the Volturi Council had stayed sane. And Marcus hadn't really been on the Council for the past couple hundred years. Who knew what he would become if he took over? I realized I hadn't exactly thought this part out. In my mind, it was always 'someone else' who would handle the issue. Until the Guard tried to make me their new Lieutenant, I never had seen that 'someone' as myself.

As we raced down corridor after corridor, through chamber after chamber I told myself that would have to wait for later. Right now I had to deal with Aro. This really was a time to act first and think later. There would be no later if I didn't act now. If Aro had been dangerous before, he was a thousand times more lethal now. I was no longer a sparkly object he admired. I had become a worthy opponent. Aro hadn't had a worthy opponent in over half a millennia. I was certain he would take his time, relishing the game. He would be capable of anything to slowly break my mind, my spirit, and finally my body.

Finally, the corridor I and the Guard were running along ended in a cavernous Great Hall. The floor shimmered like still water, reflecting the light streaming down from massive chandeliers formed from the stalactites that had been present at the time when this was still a natural cavern. Into the mirror-like surface was etched the Volturi crest. Torches hung from sconces scattered amongst the furthest reaches of the Hall not touched by the light pouring from the chandeliers. Across the room, stairs curved gently up from the floor to a balcony stretching across that far wall. I recognized them. They were the ones in my Grandfather Carlisle's painting from his time with the Volturi.

My attention was immediately drawn to the two figures grappling in the center of the room. Aro's immaculate waistcoat had been shredded to ribbons and deep gouges ran across the entire left side of his body. Marcus was missing his right arm. Jane, Alec, and Chelsea stood to the side, hissing in frustration. My shield apparently was still holding off their best efforts. The tiniest of creases between Jane's eyebrows along with an expression beyond fury showed that it was even holding her at bay.

Even pinned down as they were, their expressions still radiated smugness. They fully expected Aro to be able to tear Marcus apart without any help at all.

I growled in anticipation of joining in the fray. Jane's head snapped up at my growl. She glared, very clearly expressing a message of 'you're next' as she began edging around the duel in progress.

Whoops. Jane wasn't bound against interfering with me. I nodded at Felix and Nahuel, indicating they should take care of her if she should make any trouble. My attention was needed the first moment I could possibly enter the fight between Aro and Marcus. I turned to Demetri and said, "When I move, please tell everyone else not to follow me no matter what."

Nahuel and Felix stood, poised to spring, waiting for Jane to make trouble. Clearly, at least Felix was itching for a fight with her. Jane didn't disappoint. Predictably enough, she opted for sheer physical brutality. Jane ignored Felix and Nahuel as mere nuisances, leaping directly at me. She didn't make it far. Suddenly, Felix was between her and I.

Jane slammed into Felix like a brick wall. Her enraged snarl rattled the chandeliers and shook some of the soot built up on the roof loose so that it drifted down like snow. Nahuel took advantage of her inattention. He circled behind her and tore her in half before she had time to react. Felix quickly followed finishing the job.

I shivered at Felix's expression. It was in a cold place beyond anger, gloating, or self-assuredness. His eyes locked with Alec's directly across the combat field. I caught sight of Alec as I followed the blurring of Aro and Marcus back and forth. However much of an inhuman monster he had seemed, apparently he was still capable of strong feelings. He looked as if he was the one being dismembered.

I pulled out the 'pocket brimstone' again and made short work of what was left before Felix could continue his shredding.

Seeing his sister being torn apart had been bad enough, but having to stand and watch her burn was too much for Alec. He roared and sprang. Apparently he hadn't spent much time studying physics or learning how to aim. He crashed straight into the pair locked in combat, bowling over Aro and shoving Marcus at least two hundred feet away. Aro glared at Alec. Even now, he tried to keep his façade of the cultured gentleman. While Marcus took a moment to consider his next move, Aro reached out and gathered Alec under his arm. He reached up as if to stroke the hair back from Alec's forehead, bringing his other arm up as if to embrace Alec. I started to reconsider some of what I thought about Aro at such a tender gesture. Then Aro seamlessly ripped the head from Alec's shoulders. Without even the faintest hint of a change in expression, Aro then tossed the head to Chelsea. "Dispose of that, would you?"

I stepped out, replacing Marcus in the circle before he could move. Aro smirked and inclined his head. "You're not as much of a child as I thought."

"And you're every bit, plus more, of the monster I thought you were. If you would, I'd rather get to killing you than stand here exchanging pleasantries. I'm on a bit of a limited schedule."

He sighed. "Very well, as you wish. But it will be I killing you and your mongrel offspring."

I forced myself not to take the deliberate bait. Aro was clearly toying with me.

Not giving Aro a chance to attack first, I launched myself at him. His left side was already somewhat the worse for wear, so I clawed in further gouges, and managed to tear away his left hand.

Aro didn't hesitate in his response. Three failed swipes to the head and five likewise failed attempts to batter me to the ground later, Aro paused to consider the wisdom of keeping this a purely physical fight.

His next tactic shamefully caused me to hesitate. I almost fell under the spell of his honeyed lies.

"You don't have to do this, you know. We could rebuild the Council. I see I was wrong now. I am even willing to consider adopting your unnatural diet. I'll even welcome your mate. Just take my hand."

Did I really have to kill Aro? Or was there something that could be salvaged? Perhaps I wouldn't have to take responsibility for the Volturi falling apart.

What brought me to my senses was a flutter. Apparently even my daughter could tell when Aro was lying and was willing to call him on it.

My eyes fluttered with shock, and I shook my head to clear it. Just in time, too. Aro had been circling closer the entire time he was speaking, closing within striking range. Another minute and my head would have joined Alec's.

Behind me, I heard a scuffling as Chelsea finally got tired of watching the duel and tried to enter the fray. From what I could see out of the corner of my eye, a few of the Guard were literally sitting on her. I heard Marcus, Nahuel, and Felix muttering about tossing out my 'no matter what, no one follows me' dictate. After all, I was the one who told them to take responsibility for themselves.

Aro spent a minute or so too long trying to worm his way out of what was coming. Between one heartbeat and the next I vaulted onto him, delivering a spinning kick that flung him across the dueling circle.

Then I heard a sound that made my heart leap in my chest. A heartbeat. Low, steady, and strong. One I would know anywhere. Jake stepped out into the Hall and stopped, clearly wanting to race to my side, but understanding even without Marcus' whispered explanation that he could not.

I stepped down on my instincts to go running to Jake right this instant. Turning my attention back to the matter at hand, I skipped to the side just a second too late. Aro's fist caught my shoulder and I went flying back. I managed to turn myself so that I rolled into a crouch without even hitting the floor.

Now Jake was being sat on by some of the Guard as well. It was past time to finish this. I waited for Aro to launch himself again, staying exactly in targeted range until his heel was millimeters from my chin. I grabbed him by the ankle, spinning him around and over my head several times before finally bracing my hands one on each ankle. With all too little effort, I tore Aro right down the middle.

Chelsea screamed, "Master!," and exploded into a fury of motion. Metallic screeching filled the air as she followed the one she had loved.

Woodenly, I dropped the halves, and sank to the floor breathing heavily.

Jake raced across the room, dropping down beside me, cradling me to his chest. Wordlessly, he wrapped me in love. Sensing being near the disposal effort being carried out with a bit too enthusiastic glee by the Guard was difficult on me, Jake swooped me up in his arms and carried me to the first open chamber.

The room we entered was some kind of den or library. Jake deposited me on the large sofa just in front of the fireplace and curled up beside me. We stayed that way for minutes or hours, Jake stroking my hair and trailing kisses over the top of my head and down my shoulders. Eventually I relaxed and let myself get swept away in Jake's embrace. I started returning his kisses with enthusiasm, our tongues merging and dancing, almost melting into one. My hands started to trail down his shirt towards its hem, lifting and tugging.

Jake pulled away slightly, starting to murmur something.

I looked up at him, hurt and confused. He'd never pulled away before. Did he see me as someone awful after that fight? I started trying to explain, stumbling over my own words.

He put a finger to my lips before any more could tumble out.

"Ness, there is nothing wrong with defending yourself."

"So why pull away, then?"

"You tend to get a bit single-minded at times like this and I wanted to make sure you were okay first."

I laughed. "I'm mostly fine. A bit nauseous, but that should pass in about two months when our baby is born."

"Our baby?," he choked out half stunned.

"Yes. Our daughter, I think. I took his hand and dropped it to my now noticeably swelling abdomen.

He looked down with wonder as our daughter stirred at his touch. "I was thinking we could name her Sarah."