Chapter 12
The Battle
Playing as shadows with some of us perched in the trees, Demetri climbed to the top of the canopy and saw the newborn army running over the mountain; I could hear a light rumbling through the ground as well, so at least the Cullens could hear them too. As one, we crept closer until we could hear that the battle had already begun; the Volturi semi-circled the battle clearing – oh no – the number of newborns had doubled. The Cullens, even with the packs, were outnumbered; through the fog I counted the minds of how many newborns there were… thirty eight.
But then I recognised Vladimir's anticipating mind.
"This was all plotted," Holding my Father's hand, I showed him Vladimir's scheme."A plot to lure us out, they weren't after the Cullens at all, they're after us."
"The Romanians' created an army to vanquish us." He replied, sounding not at all surprised.
Looking back I couldn't hear Renesmee thoughts – I could hardly hear any of the Cullens, Bella must have been trying to fight and hold her shield at the same time. But judging from the screams, Edward and Bella must have put her away from the battle and then I realised why; our living hearts – pumping blood through our bodies – I had to get my cousins out of here.
"Father, I have to get Dy and Thyia out of here, they're too much of a target."
He understood. "Fine, but listen to me, find somewhere safe; guard them well but do not move – I will find you after the battle, do you understand, I will come for you."
The girls gripped my hands tightly and we fled, all the time I tried to find Renesmee's scent; in my panic search and I finally found it – she was kept high up on the mountain side in a small tent, guarded by Seth. His semi-monstrous form leapt forward growling, Thyia fought back, pushing fear into his mind; the giant wolf wined and backed away from his spot. But then I saw Renesmee's rustic brown hair poke out from the tent.
"Gino!" she called. Running at full speed into my arms.
I kissed her hair fiercely, "Renesmee! Oh thank God, I found you."
"I can't believe you're here." She whispered wetly.
"I'm here, Nesmee… I'm here."
Thyia released Seth of his fear, apologised, and the girls embraced Renesmee tightly.
"Nesmee, we missed so much." Murmured Didyme,
Renesmee replied, happy to see them again, "I missed you too."
"Come on, let's get inside." I prompted.
We all got inside the tent and I monitored the battle through Seth – my family had just gotten into the battle; Jane fighting against one while terrorising another, Alec was trying to stun them all but there was too much movement and he couldn't find enough time to release a shock wave. Father had found Carlisle and the two, along with Esme and my mother, were taking down newborns far easier together; I had never seen my family in a fight like this, not even through past memories – I could see that my father was putting the memories of Jasper's teachings to good use.
Edward and Bella were fighting together, one had nearly over powered them, and even Felix and Emmett who had teamed together were slightly struggling. I had never seen my uncle Caius have so much fun during a massacre, though at the same time he was trying harder to avoid the shape-shifters; and dear Marcus had never been so lively and active.
But after watching this I went back outside frustrated, with the others following me. "Come on, there has to be something we can do? We can't just sit here and do nothing!"
Little nine-year-old Didyme asked, "What could we possibly do?"
"Yeah, we're only half vampires." Added Orithyia.
I thought about it for a moment and I then realised that maybe the answer was in the question. "That's it! That's it, we are only half vampire."
They looked at each other, confused. Dy stated, "Gino, where not following."
"Blood! We create our own blood – we can distract the newborns with our blood." I immediately turned to Seth. "Seth, bite me!"
Nesmee squealed, "What?"
"Blood has to be spilt in order for them to smell it. Seth, do it!"
I rolled back my sleeve and offered my arm to him, Seth looked at Renesmee worryingly.
"Only a little." She pushed.
The wolf nodded, wining before hand; and I knew Seth didn't want to harm me.
I half looked at him. "I just know Jacob's going to envy you after this." Seth then snarled and bit down on my arm.
My cry echoed through the mountains – through Seth's mind, all the newborns had immediately stopped fighting and were heading in our way; my skin was healing rapidly, and I saw that Alec had managed a shock wave that cut off half the newborn army. Sam's pack had stayed behind with some of the Guard to start burning the bodies but the rest of the Volturi and the Cullens, along with Jacob's pack, pursued the rest of the army.
Panting, I ordered. "We have to get out of here. Now!"
Renesmee and I placed Orithyia and Didyme on Seth's back; and we followed Seth through the Olympian mountains but the newborns were getting closer, fast.
Suddenly I stopped. "We're surrounded!"
At that moment two newborns lunged through the spray of the trees.
"No!" I rushed to Thyia and Dy who had been knocked off Seth's back.
Guarding them with Renesmee, we watched the wolves Jacob and Leah jump into the circle, helping Seth take down the two newborns; Renesmee and I tried to escape with Thyia and Dy but there was no time as the rest of the army came crashing through the trees – each of their eyes blazing with thirst.
I turned to Nessie, taking her hand in mine, and finally I said slowly and kindly, "Renesmee... I should have told you from the moment I could..." She looked at me with clouding tears as I admitted, "... I love you."
Renesmee smiled overwhelmingly, "I know... and I love you."
With smiles on our faces the both of us ran head on into the army; my heartbeat was pounding in my temples, I thought that this was going to be the end as I ran towards a newborn – but at least dying beside the one that I loved seemed the noblest way to go.
Suddenly I flipped over the newborn, ripping off his head – tearing, slashing, biting, and breaking – I managed to kill three newborns. Running to Renesmee's aid while trying to help Didyme, as the newborn had surrounded them; thankfully Thyia was a natural born fighter as she spread fear into their minds. Under such desperation her ability had broken outside its normal range as she was inflicting five at a single time – but it was not enough to keep them all at bay for long.
Seeing even Jacob's pack struggling, I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of imminent defeat; I could only think of one thing that would bring me peace.
"Renesmee!" I called through the yelling of the newborns. "Will you marry me?"
She looked at me with such shock as she tore off a newborn's arm. "Gino is now really a good time?" she asked.
I laughed, "I feel now might be the only time, my Darling."
We came together and took each other's hand. "Renesmee, I love you." Our hands were still as one we fought back against others in what appeared as a combination of dance and combat. "Renesmee Cullen, do you take me to be your husband?" I asked.
We came together again, and she answered cheering highly. "I do!"
Even on the field of battle, I smiled for my heart was filled with such joy.
"Ambrogio Voltago! Do you take me to be your wife?" She asked, "For as long as we both shall live!"
Kicking off my rival's head, I replied to her. "I do!"
Seth and Jacob cleared some newborns away from us. I pulled Renesmee to me and together we shared the binding kiss; the brief sensation coursed through our bodies as all our love for each other was poured into this one moment. As we parted suddenly I saw the rest of our families come to our rescue; but in my distraction a newborn caught me and bound me in a head lock.
Suddenly I heard my father's cry, "AMBROGIO!" as he leapt over the newborn and broke me free.
Together the Volturi, the Cullens, and the wolf packs fought side by side as equals – fur was stripped and diamond shards of flesh were split with blood. Alice and Jasper fought together, though like me, Jasper was trying to be everywhere at once; Rosalie and Heidi alongside Felix and Emmett fought with synchronised technique but the newborns were suddenly over powering us – but then one by one the newborns fell as I saw Alec stood by the trees and his slow shockwave cut them off one at a time.
But it was only until this time that I noticed that both Stefan and Vladimir had already fled.
A flickering fire smouldered as we burnt the remains of the newborn army. My mother and father hugged me, Jane, and Alec; a united family at last, for what was only a few hours seemed like an eternity – Marcus and Didyme embraced in a hug that I knew would not end unless Didyme would do it herself – even Caius expressed his relief to see his daughter safe and well.
"Wonderful job, my darling." He whispered to her.
"Ambrogio, I'm so proud of you; I'm so proud of all of you – from the very first moment I've been proud of each of you." Father praised us with pride as the family hug continued.
I congratulated my brother, "Well done, Alec. We'd still be in battle if it weren't for you."
Alec smiled, he then turned to Orithyia; embracing her as he held her in his arms, they shared a light kiss. I looked over at Renesmee with her family, so happy to be with them again, she smiled to her father and then started walking over toward me. But at the last moment, from the trees I saw one last living newborn – it leapt at full strike towards her.
I yelled to her, "RENESMEE!" I went to save her but someone had already lunged forward.
"FATHER!"
The newborn had both of them around the waist; they hollered in pain until Sam jumped and grabbed the newborn in his teeth – I watch horrified at the sound of my father's cries as I heard a loud breaking crack – Sam's head lashed back and forth and then he tossed his mouthful at a wall of rock, as I watched stone flesh shatter.
"NOOOOOO!"
