Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
*Big thanks to my beta Vintagejgc and my pre-readers kikki7 and Nkubie. I tinkered with this chapter this afternoon, so any mistakes are mine.
*I know it's been a while. My apologies for the wait. Writer's block sucks. For those of you that are still reading, I thank you!
Here's a quick recap! Edward and the packs are ready to fight. Meanwhile, Emmett has admitted to Carlisle that he is a spy for the Volturi and has asked Carlisle to join him, and the stars are disappearing from the sky...
Chapter 20
Above La Push the clouds stretched on in thick patches, a blanket of mist covering the ground. This type of weather was all too common in the Pacific Northwest of Washington state, and not an eye was batted as many a star silently disappeared into non existence.
The day had been long, the planning drawn out and tense. They had the advantage of Alice's visions but even so, Alice had seen many outcomes, every tiny choice causing one vision to blur into another. The air of uncertainty chilled them.
Bella taught the packs what she knew of vampire fighting styles and they listened with rapt attention, trying intently to memorize everything. Then- to Edward's amusement- they argued over who would go first in a spar with him. With a grin, Edward stood across from Jacob and nodded at him to begin. It was a challenge for Jacob, as Edward's speed and telepathy kept him one step ahead. It was an exercise that educated and excited him, also piquing his deep hatred for vampires.
Of course, Bella's edict stood firm and none of the wolves could harm Edward. Each member of the pack took their turn, all of them taking pure delight in this practice. It was a chance for them to explore a side of nature that often remained dormant, as actual interaction with vampires was something very foreign to them. Killing the three vampires of The Volturi had not been hard, because they had outnumbered them, but they would soon be facing something altogether different.
Leah had been the last one to take her turn. She had started out strong, using her new found power to keep up with Edward easily. She chased and lunged, her teeth close yet never making contact with his skin. She turned away from him and howled in victory after she caught his shirt sleeve and ripped it clean off. While she was distracted, Edward took this opportunity to teach her a lesson- coming up from behind, he grabbed her hind legs and pinned her to the ground.
Her jubilant howl then shifted into viscous snarls and snapping teeth. A very base part of her felt immensely threatened and she lashed out in uncontrollable fury. Edward released her immediately and jumped back into a crouch as Leah righted herself and Jared flanked her. She whipped her head around and growled at her mate, warning him to stay away and then she turned back to Edward, baring her teeth. Her entire focus was on the monster before her. She cared neither for his eye color, nor his hands as they rose in a surrendering gesture. Every cell in her body was screaming at her to kill him.
Bella appeared by Edward's side, air rushing past her as she channeled. A soft rain cascaded down from the sky and washed the air of tension, and yet it did not calm Leah. She scratched at the earth and her mind whirled in a haze of fiery contempt- fire prickled the air around her, crackling with heat. She reared back then lunged, roaring as she jumped. In mid-air she began to shift- bones and flesh contorting; a scream erupting from her mouth as she returned to her human form.
Edward was there to catch her trembling body and Bella had stepped in front of the two of them as Jared approached. He paced frantically- wanting to comfort his mate- he could feel her warring emotions. Becoming agitated he hissed and gave shrill whines as his mind became shrouded in spite. He would not be denied his imprint. No one could keep him from her.
He shifted then, at Bella's silent command and more water came from the sky. This was a hard rain- every drop weighing heavily on all of them. Jared sat up, covering himself and watched as Bella kneeled and took Leah in her arms.
"Let me go!" Leah shouted arms and legs flailing. She was trying to shift back into a wolf but Bella would not allow it. "Let me," she seethed glaring at Bella, "Let me do what I was made for, what you made me!"
"No," Bella said her voice calm and her hands firmly grasping Leah's shoulders, thumbs rubbing soothing circles in her skin. "Not until you calm down."
Leah huffed, her body still shaking and enraged. She didn't even bother trying to relax, she looked at Bella and thought defiantly, Make me.
Bella took her chin in her hand and gave Leah a pointed look. "Oh, we both know that I could make you, but know this; if you truly cannot control yourself then you have no business fighting. If you refuse to even try then you will stay behind with me."
Eyes wide with shock Leah scoffed. "But I'm the strongest! They need me there!"
"Physically strongest, yes, but you need mental strength for what you will face. I know this is hard, especially for you..." she paused and glanced at Jared then gave Leah a knowing look, "You feel things much more intensely now and that includes your natural abhorrence for vampires. When you have control over it, it can be a very good thing. You can use it to intimidate and overpower your enemy. Unchecked, your power is like fire- completely unpredictable. You must be able to focus on the real enemy, not just vampires in general."
Taking deep breaths, Leah said nothing. She knew what Bella was saying. This war was happening between two vampire covens, one of which they wanted to win. She would have to be able to distinguish one from the other; she would have to take great care not to kill Volturi. The very thought made her clench her teeth together. Aside from Edward, she wanted to kill them all.
"Thanks," Edward said, the corner of his lip rising into a smile.
Leah looked to him, his eyes a beautiful gold and his grin somehow melting away her resentment. She took in a big breath and squeezed her eyes shut. "Sorry, Edward."
"No harm done. No hard feelings. I'm sorry I had to take you down but you had to know..." His smile grew wider. "Vampires are sneaky bastards. Don't ever turn your back on them."
When the sparring was done, Edward, Bella and both packs moved into a large circle, hand-in-hand with their eyes closed. All four elements surrounded them, each one emerging gently at first, and then steadily growing in intensity. A cool rain, a fine mist, a wind that chilled their skin; a brush of heat in the breeze, sun that stayed hidden behind clouds, but its heat bearing down on them in a tempered swell.
In the hours before they would leave, Edward sat behind Bella on top of one of the smaller bluffs. It was a large piece of rock that jutted up from the sand and was surrounded by the small waves that tumbled onto shore. The view was exquisite, the color of a morning sky painting a soft pink and periwinkle on the surface of the water.
He smiled and inhaled as the wind blew her hair into his face. He held Bella in his arms, tightening his hold when her pulse sped. She was scared and Edward could feel the tiny flashes of fright, but it never showed on her face. Her expression was serene, eyes closed, mouth slightly parted; she looked as though she could have been sleeping.
She smiled at his thoughts and shifted back a little, snuggling closer and lifting her head for a kiss. A brush of his lips and she hummed, turning around to face him. She didn't kiss him again- she touched him. Slow drags of her fingertips across his jaw, through his hair, on any bare skin within reach.
She was trying very hard to distract herself from the already blooming distress of knowing that Edward would soon be far away from her. She had never anticipated the sheer intensity of their mate bond, it was sometimes disconcerting how much she wanted him, needed him.
For almost one thousand years she had walked this earth assuming a mate was something beyond her reach. It had never been a tangible option. She felt so very grateful to have been granted a mate who was both physically and mentally strong, a man who had lived through the most difficult situations and had managed to pull himself away from the darkest of temptations. Bella would never be remiss in recognizing Edward's accomplishments, even though he would humbly object to her opinion on the matter, thinking himself a soulless monster for the sins of his past. Bella wanted him to know that- more than anything- he was the most glorious creature she had ever laid eyes on, and she wasn't referring to his physical appearance. His control was nothing short of astounding, the fact that he could resist her blood spoke volumes.
She had thrust herself into his life and he accepted her, and loved her without question. She felt pure glee to know that even though she could read his mind, he constantly surprised her. His gentle hands and lips, his true and impassioned words, his mind so different than any vampire she had ever heard. He was a good man, one who had forsaken and sacrificed, one that would risk death trying to protect her and the world she was unwittingly connected to. He left her slack-jawed and stupefied over how much he had grown and learned in such of short amount of time. She was incredibly proud of him and would cherish every moment in his presence.
Up until this point, she had been steadfast in her positive attitude, but the closer they came to when he would leave her side, the more she feared what could happen. War was nothing new to Bella, she had seen so many in her lifetime, and she knew that where vampires where concerned, it would be ruthless and that there would be blood. No war would ever end without it. Historically speaking, even the winning side would incur loss of life in a war such as this. The near extinction of her race was proof positive of that.
A cold trickle of dread scraped through her and Edward held on tighter. He wanted so badly to take her fears and wash them away. He vowed to hold onto his newly found strength, to use everything that she had taught him and win. He would accept no other option nor outcome.
"I will come back to you," he whispered, taking her face in his hands, "I swear to you."
She nodded and kissed him, their lips meeting tentatively. His thoughts were a barrage of measured confidence, drenched in her words and advice spun back at her. She focused on him and the feel of his love and conviction.
She calmed under his mind and body, his hands gently massaging her shoulders then drifting down her arms. His fingers wandered over her hands, touching each one of her fingers before he lifted her hand so that he could kiss the pulse point on her wrist.
She threw herself at him then, her fingers twisting in the hair at the nape of his neck. She pulled herself close to him, lips to lips, chest to chest. Her breathing was ragged, her kisses hurried, and her thoughts a flurry of everything Edward; his smell, his taste, the sound of his voice, the delicious chill of his body.
Their embrace became intense, Bella's need for physical contact overwhelming the both of them. She pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it away carelessly. He responded eagerly with his mouth, his lips and tongue caressing her flesh but his hands remained steady on her hips.
"Touch me," Bella demanded.
He dipped his head low and licked the spot below her ear. She whimpered as his tongue slid down her neck, and pushed herself closer, grinding her lower body against his. He groaned at the feeling, his erection hard and straining against the fabric of his pants and his hands remaining firmly on her hips- gripping her with as much force as he could without hurting her. He was touching her, smelling her, his mouth on her throat- grounded by her pulse against his tongue, humbled that she would make herself so utterly vulnerable to him.
It wasn't that Edward didn't want her in that way because he did. Oh, how he did, but he didn't want it like this, not out of fear. "Please, Love, look at me."
She did, her eyes glassy, lips a little swollen from their aggressive kissing. He took her face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her. It was soft- his cool lips a lingering balm for hers. He pulled away and helped her stand just to undress her and then himself before they retook their position. Bella straddled his lap thinking about how much she wanted him- not out of fear, but rather because she deeply craved intimacy with him. She always had. She had to hold back in the beginning of their relationship but now... She trusted him completely. He had proven that he could resist her blood while pleasuring her body. She knew he could do this.
His hands finally moved up her sides then down past her hips and over her thighs. He cupped her bottom and moved her back and forth against him in a slow rhythm, letting them savor each and every moment, each and every wonderful sensation.
With the greatest care, he brought one hand to the back of her head and held her there, both of them staring deep into each other eyes.
"Do you feel me touching you now?" he asked as his other hand moved to her breast, "Can you feel the love in my touch?"
She nodded in response and rocked her hips in the slow pace he had set. His hand moved down to her stomach and then in between her legs where he could feel how wet she was, could feel them moving against each other. He touched her clit, his fingers sliding around until he found the spot that drove her crazy.
"You feel so good," she told him, her thoughts mirroring her words. She was letting herself get lost in sensation both physical and emotional. Yes, there was pleasure- Edward always made sure she experienced ecstasy- but this was more. She felt whole with him like this, naked and unshielded, letting him see her every fear, she hid nothing. It was something she had never done before, letting herself go, giving him her body and mind without a single reservation. She belonged to him. This was right, so right.
She grasped his shoulders and let out a soft moan as she came closer to release- their pace quickening, the race to finish upon them. He upped the speed of his fingers on her clit and she fell into him. He took her in his arms and finally moved his hips faster until he came, whispering her name over and over again.
He held her tenderly against him, letting her come down and cry a few anxious tears.
"A thousand years?" He asked, breaking any residual tension and making her laugh.
It had been a running joke between them, his ignorance to her age. She had lost count how many times he had asked and Bella had very much enjoyed watching him guess. She had obviously not been shielding earlier and he had been listening.
"Nosy little brat," she muttered, scowling playfully at him before leaning in to kiss his lips once more.
~O~
"Everything according to plan." It was a command, but Maria's voice was low and seductive, dripping with arousal as she slowly dragged her finger across Jasper's jaw.
"Divide and conquer," he replied, eyes fixated on hers as he absorbed her unadulterated lust. It wasn't the promise of sex that excited her, but the anticipation of what would soon be hers- an almost erotic desire for power, for the ultimate control; a wanton urge to take, take, take. He closed his eyes and took it all in- her glutinous arrogance, her hunger for everything.
"Yes," she whispered leaning into him, her lips hovering over his. She placed her hand on his stomach, slowly sliding lower until she was palming his hard erection over his pants. She smirked at him. "Don't worry your pretty little head, Major. There will be plenty of time for that when this is over."
She gave him one last squeeze before stepping away and saying, "Come to me once it's done."
She was gone in a flash and Jasper stood there for a moment trying to devour her emotions, to embolden himself with her almost giddy anticipation. They had every right to be confident, he thought. Just as he said he would, Jasper would be breaking up the newborns into groups and spreading them around- not only in the compound, but much of the surrounding area as well. The Volturi's power had a limit, and even their most gifted vampires could not be everywhere at once. Both he and Maria believed that they would use their most powerful weapons first- the twins.
Alec and Jane were rumored to be The Volturi's greatest weapon. They would no doubt be used and Jasper would serve up his weakest vampires as lambs for the slaughter. He would amp them up and send them right into Alec and Jane's clutches. He would allow The Volturi to think that they had been successful, but there would be many more newborns awaiting his signal. They would be starved and ravenous and Jasper would heighten it all, drive them mad with a terrorizing desire to fight and destroy anyone who stood in their way.
He strode into the main living quarters and called upon his Sergeants, doling out orders and giving his final commands before sending them off. Only Peter stayed behind, his trepidation lingering like smoke in the air- a flash of possessiveness cutting through it like a knife.
"I'm taking Charlotte with me," Peter said looking him in the eye.
Jasper grinned. "I was wondering when you were going to tell me."
Pete blew out a sigh of relief. He had been nervous about broaching the subject, especially when they had been surrounded by the others- he wouldn't dare disagree with Jasper in front of the lesser members in the coven.
"It's fine, I expected nothing less. Keep your woman out of trouble," Jasper said. He would have never separated the two anyway, and although he would never admit it, he frequently dipped into Peter's emotions where Charlotte was concerned. It was the only time he had ever found real peace. As selfish as it was, he didn't want to give that up. He shook Peter's hand and then nodded for him to go.
"Maria?" Peter asked.
"Not your concern," Jasper said curtly and Peter left without another word.
Annoyance flared through his body at the mention of Maria. By now she had hidden herself far away from where any battle would take place. Jasper tried to tamp down his nagging feeling of abandonment over this. He knew this was going to happen, and it was a fairly common strategy used by many leaders, never engaging in actual combat themselves. Breathing deeply he let himself be immersed in what was happening around him. His soldiers were being gathered in preparation, tension rippling through the crowds. With an even keeled focus, he sent out a wave of calm submission. He couldn't get them fired up. Not quite yet.
~O~
Emmett shook his head; he didn't have time to worry about what was happening to the stars. He had already taken a huge risk by coming here. At the faint smell of smoke his head snapped up. Scanning the horizon, he saw four distinct points of billowing smoke rise into the sky.
It was starting.
"Whatever you're going to do needs to be done now. You have less than an hour before you'll be required to assemble with everyone else." Emmett said.
Swallowing hard, Carlisle nodded and Emmett grasped his hand, giving it a firm squeeze before he took off running. Carlisle's mind was warring, his emotions in complete upheaval. He struggled to stand; he struggled to recognize himself at all. He felt himself a fool, a liar; the good man he tried to be overshadowed by his true nature. He had been prepared to fight alongside Maria's army for the sole purpose of self preservation and this was a direct contradiction of everything he thought he was. He was disregarding his loyalties and was disgusted with himself and his apparent weakness.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized what had been keeping him here. It was the one thing that he could not stop thinking about- the one thing that had suddenly consumed him.
Esme.
All of these blurred edges of doubt came into perfect focus when he thought of her. She was the one thing that somehow kept him grounded.
Then he was running to where he knew she would be. She had taken to staying in the large cavern where she had first awoken to her vampire life- the place where she buried her husband. He slowed when entering, trying to figure out what he would say and praying that she would listen.
Her scent lingered everywhere and Carlisle inhaled deeply, calm determination washing over him. He made his way down the spiraling tunnels, calling out her name. He only stopped when he felt the tell-tale feeling of her gift- a creeping sense of dread encompassing him. He wanted to flee, to run in the opposite direction but he held firm in his mission, calling her name one last time. The fear she instilled in him caused her name to fall from his lips in a desperate scream. He dropped to his knees and pleaded with her to listen.
Esme emerged slowly, taking labored breaths and trying to rein in her power. She looked down upon Carlisle, the sight of him in pain making her chest ache. She reached out and touched him- her hand softly stroking his hair. She felt something she couldn't explain- a tingling sensation that went beyond physical, it reached into her bones and set her alight with wonderful sensations. For the first time in her vampire life, she felt warm. He was warm.
She was awed, it felt so right and at the same time it was so wrong. Her husband was dead, his body lifeless and cold beneath the ground. She didn't deserve to feel anything but crushing guilt for what she had done. She wrenched her hand away and clutched it to her chest.
"Please..."' Carlisle whispered as he raised his head and met her gaze. "Esme, I need you."
~O~
The Volturi's army converged a few miles from Maria's compound. They were covered in dark hooded robes that concealed their eyes and hid their skin from the sun. Jane and Alec stood stoically at the forefront, only a few words spoken between them.
Twins by blood, the pair were turned when they were very young, on the precipice of puberty. Both had the fairest of blond hair and the sweetest smiles- the epitome of approachable- until you saw their eyes stained with the blood of innocents. They were gifted- as most of the Volturi guard was- Alec could paralyze his enemies and leave them defenseless to attack, while Jane could inflict the severest of pain.
Jane gave orders for the others to flank them as they incapacitated their enemy and then they would destroy them all. Indeed, they were confident. No coven had ever survived their wrath, and this one would be no exception.
"You underestimate them."
At the sound of Edward's voice, Alec and Jane's heads snapped in his direction- the others bent into crouches with narrowed gazes and low threatening growls.
Edward stepped out from the trees with his arms raised, his stance casual in demeanor. "I am your ally. I fight for the Volturi. I come to offer my help and advice."
"We don't need your advice, or your help." Jane hissed, "You will leave now."
Edward counted seventeen vampires- all of their thoughts over-confident to the point where they were bored in this mission. They had no idea what they would be up against here- they had grossly miscalculated how many were in Maria's army.
They also didn't trust Edward. At all.
He dropped to his knees, preparing to gain their favor by formally pledging his allegiance to The Volturi when Alec acted without a glance or thought.
His gift swept over Edward like a ghostly tidal wave, drowning out his senses. He could not see, nor hear or smell. No sense of touch or taste. There was no physical sensation left, just his mind spinning in panic. His telepathy had not failed him. He could hear Jane and Alec discussing his fate. Then he heard the wolves.
They were coming for him.
The panthers stayed back, laying in wait for their signal as the wolves sprinted through the trees. The Volturi were mixed in their reactions- some hissing in warning, some itching to flee- knowing full well what these creatures were and what they could do. Alec and Jane gave each other a knowing look and together they cast their collective gifts out over the pack. The wolves were halted in their tracks, paralyzed or desperately screaming; shrieking inner monologues that made Edward cringe. Bella had told him that the twins had limits to their power- not being able to take on many enemies at once but she had been wrong. They seem to do it with ease, their thoughts sharp with haughty disdain. They had both Edward and every wolf at their mercy.
Jane grinned, "Should we kill all the mutts?"
Alec grinned back. "Caius will be very angry if we kill all of them. I say we save him a few."
She snorted and retrieved her phone. She would let Aro decide.
Inside his mind, Edward was stricken; he feared the panthers may not come without the signal. He feared that The Volturi would end them. Had they already lost? Would he fail to keep his promises to Bella?
Edward was petrified, the possibility that he had already failed plaguing him, defeating him, and he found himself wishing that The Volturi would end him and be done with it.
I'll end you myself if you keep thinking like that! Jared thought to Edward. Stop being an idiot and do something!
I can't! Edward mentally shouted back. I can't do anything!
Your body is the thing that is paralyzed, you tool. Not your mind. Don't you remember what Isabella taught us? Your mental strength is where your power lies. Your physical strength is an afterthought. Now, stop whining like a little bitch and fight!
Jared projected his own memories of Isabella; the narrowed gaze she tended to give when chastising and the smile that she only gave to Edward. He pictured her channeling with perfect clarity- the wind and rain circling her in a spinning vortex that rose above her and took hold over the sky. The inky blackness of night melting into a simmering dawn- soft pale colors saturating the horizon as fire pooled a gentle heat into the rising sun.
Jared focused on the sun and the pure power behind its very existence. Inside his mind was fierce orange and yellow, flashes of bright crimson and blinding white heat lightening.
He thought of fire and Edward instantly understood.
Without the luxury of a calming breath, Edward focused his mind, pushed away his darkened fear and called upon fire.
Heat descended in thick waves, the earth dry and scorched from the intensity. Edward's venom raged. It pushed and pulsed, taking fire and reining it in, bending it to his will. A new power surged within him- the yin and yang of dark and light, venom and fire igniting and setting his mind alight. It bolstered his need to fight- his shield pushed outward freeing him from Alec's hold.
Edward rose from the ground and stood to his full height, growling, venom dripping down his chin. He looked feral, wild black eyes glittering and teeth bared.
When one of the guards lunged for him, Edward's arm flew out in deflection- throwing him back a great distance. Faster than even the vampires could see, Edward moved with a vastly increased speed. He turned looking for the wolves, throwing out his shield- sharp gusts of humid wind emerging from his palm and freeing the wolves one by one.
As soon as the wolves could move, they lunged, running toward the nearest vampire. Edward snarled and threw his hand up before commanding the wolves to stop. They remained motionless where they stood. With another simple hand gesture from Edward the wolves retreated slowly, moving away from the Volturi but never taking their eyes off of them. They gathered behind Edward in a V formation.
"Sit," Edward ordered and the wolves complied, their inner monologue filled with scoffs and warnings that Edward better not get used to this type of behavior. This was only for show.
Edward walked toward Jane and Alec, his stride oddly easy and the wolves followed behind, growling low at any vampire who looked at them.
Outwardly, the twins remained composed, not an ounce of trepidation in their expressions, but Edward knew the truth. Their minds were frantic, Jane especially now that he had proven impervious to her gift.
"As I was saying," Edward began, "With all due respect, you have come unprepared. Maria is more powerful than you assumed. I humbly offer my assistance in this matter."
Alec sniffed and then grimaced. "And what of your dogs?"
Edward gave a wicked sneer. "They are mine to command, and as you already know, they can kill vampires with precision. They lend us a great advantage against the newborns."
Alec did not believe the wolves were needed at all and he was very close to insisting that they leave- mostly because he thought their scent was vile. The chosen guard members could handle the situation here. Yes, it was a large coven, but he didn't believe that it was an army. He believed Aro's worries were unfounded, his flair for the dramatic making him act irrationally.
Edward barked out a laugh. "It is an army. That is exactly what Maria has created. She plans to make The Volturi fall and to reveal our race to human kind."
Alec scoffed at this and tried once more- in vain- to incapacitate Edward with his gift. This only served to make Edward glare at him. With fire racing through his veins, heat seeped from his body making the air around him shimmer and crackle. A low growl rumbled in his chest and Alec and Jane were both in awe and sincerely frightened by the aura of malice that seemed to surround him.
Edward stepped closer, his telepathy strong and pulsating with distance that he had never achieved before. He could hear everything being discussed and thought. He was focusing in on one person in particular- the man from Alice's visions, Jasper- his mind was filled with all of their battle plans. The power within Edward sweltered, fire and venom moving together in a subdued aggression. It was ebbing and flowing, waiting to be unleashed.
He narrowed his gaze upon the twins, fire reached out in unseen flames which scorched their robes. "Did you know that there are teams of newborns not only in this compound, but in six other locations? There is a group in the main house, the twelve of them put there to lure you in. They are a decoy to get you inside. We're surrounded."
Edward stood before them, towering over the pair. The air around him raced upward in a massive gust, clouds parting in its wake. The midnight sky was a blank slate canvas of black stretching at an unnatural speed. Every vampire looked up, unsure at what they were seeing. Edward did not want to contemplate what was happening in the sky. He briefly recalled Bella telling him that the stars told the tale of Fae history and what he saw above him was a gaping void. No star, no moon, just…darkness.
Anger surged within him. Fire longed to burn and eviscerate, clawing deep within his very being, ripping through layers of twisting venom until something inside of Edward burst. Light unbidden throbbed, pushing out with every licking flame and growing more powerful with every breath he took.
He felt unstoppable, he had a fleeting notion to disregard The Volturi completely and take on Maria's army himself.
"There is a balance in this world that needs to be kept, it's the reason your masters enforce our laws. The Volturi must rule. We fight with you, for you, and we don't need your permission to do so."
The wolves behind him whined, itching to fight. They were more wolf than human in this moment, all instinct and hairs on end. Only Leah had enough control to project her inner monologue.
Careful, she warned. Keep it there. Don't push too hard. Do what Isabella told you.
He focused on the twins, on their inner monologue specifically. In what Bella would call a thrall, he entered the depths of their thoughts and manipulated. He projected thoughts to them, mirroring their own inner voices and prompting them to start now. He had no time to waste.
It worked far better than he ever could have imagined. These two were so confident, so utterly sure of themselves, that they didn't hesitate to order the guard to begin.
They moved in unison, striding toward the compound with their heads held high and ever present arrogance in their gait.
Edward and the wolves waited and watched as the first groups of newborns ran shrieking from the house- running right at the guard in haste. Jane and Alec made quick work of the group, some paralyzed, some writhing in pain- all incapacitated.
It was an easy battle for the guard to win, ripping the newborns apart and throwing their body parts upon a burning pyre. Thick, cloying purple smoke rose into the sky and the wolves chorused in an eerie howl before they ran, intercepting the second wave of newborns that were descending from the south.
This time it was the guard who watched, all of them curious at the wolves' ability. They stood at the ready as a flurry of newborns came rushing in, rage coursing through them. The wolves did not hesitate, lunging forward with mouths wide open. Horrid sounds filled the air, piercing screams, the metallic crunching of vampire flesh being torn away.
"Go," Jane commanded and four guard members ran to assist. The wolves had taken down six of the fourteen newborns, a few of them fleeing the scene. Unfortunately for them, the panthers were laying in wait, blocking their escape and chasing them back toward the compound where the wolves were waiting- high on adrenaline and chomping at the bit to kill.
The panthers came to stand before Edward, heads bowed, silently asking him for further instruction. Edward took a moment to assess the situation, trying to weed through all of the thoughts of those who surrounded him.
He went stock still as he listened; the third group wasn't coming. They were being led by a female whose mind was focused on herding the newborns away from the battle. She was defying Maria, as was her mate- a Volturi spy who was heading up the fourth group. She led fourteen ravenous vampires into the mountain valley, down into the spiraling caverns that sank deep into the earth.
The newborns had been starved, running in desperation with the promise of blood ahead. She let them take the lead, held back and when they were far enough down she began pounding her fists into the rocky walls, making them crumble around her. She did this over and over again as she ascended, hoping that this would hold the newborns off long enough for she, Emmett, and Carlisle to gain the advantage.
Carlisle! Edward thought. This girl... Rosalie, she was thinking about Carlisle. She was a newborn herself and held a running disdain for her maker and yet she emulated him by feeding from animals.
Carlisle is her sire.
"Oh, my God," Edward whispered, dumbfounded at this turn of events. He sought out Carlisle's mind, craved that familiarity of his maker's compassion and love. Heaving a sigh of relief, Edward was utterly relived that Carlisle was alive and unharmed.
Carlisle was not alone. Outside the cavern, he stood hand in hand with a woman and his thoughts... Edward had never seen or heard Carlisle like this. He looked haggard but his eyes were determined- the ring of gold that surrounded his pupil blazing. Carlisle was scared, but not for himself. He…was scared for her, the woman beside him.
Rosalie came running out, kicking and pounding the rock around the cave entrance over and over until it nothing but a huge pile of crumbling rock.
She turned to the woman beside Carlisle and sneered, "You and I, Esme… We both want the same thing. Help us and I'll let you kill him."
Esme snarled, letting go of Carlisle's hand, her mind filled with images of Jasper. She touched her neck, fingertips tracing the mark of Jasper's teeth. This was his fault. She wanted him dead. Her gift curled around her, both Carlisle and Rosalie stepping back, suddenly frightened and cowering.
"Cut that shit out. Save it for Jasper." Rosalie snapped and Esme stepped toward her, glaring before saying, "Watch your mouth."
Then the three of them ran toward the compound.
Edward was shocked and amazed, but he didn't have time to analyze everything. He scanned the area, searching through every mind, shocked at the betrayal of Maria's own coven against her. Alice hadn't seen anything like this, the unfolding events were more positive than he ever could have hoped for.
A drastic change of plans was in order.
Jane and Alec had realized that they were indeed out-numbered and they would have to utilize any advantage offered, even if that meant taking the help of rancid dogs. Failure was not an option for The Volturi.
"New plan," Edward told the panthers. "There is mutiny within the army. Two groups of newborns have been… detained. The rest are coming here, so we stay put and finish this."
~O~
Jasper was furious.
Both the third and fourth group of newborns had disappeared. The Volturi had come and destroyed many and then there was those creatures…werewolves and some type of cat- as large as horses and absolutely viscous. He couldn't believe that The Volturi would use such tactics, although he could admit that it was smart, making those beasts do all their dirty work.
He grew irritated and impatient, and then he too changed plans.
"We finish this!" He roared- pure malice pouring through his voice and emerging like a tsunami from his body, drowning his soldiers in unadulterated hate.
The men around him screamed out in a mixture of surprise and terror before they rampaged.
They followed Jasper and ran; some crying out in fractured snarls, some screaming for blood as they were starving. They would do anything Jasper said, as long as he agreed to feed them.
The sky above was naked of stars. There was no moonlight shining down, lending an even darker feel to the night. Heat circled in the breeze and rain came down in sheets. The air pressure would spike up then down, the ground would rumble beneath their feet but they didn't seem to notice or care. They were just running, frantic in a mania that caused one instinct to rule.
To kill.
To take.
The desert floor scorched and burned- the rain steaming when it hit the ground.
When they arrived at the compound, they did not slow. Fueled by Jasper's influence their determination knew no bounds.
Run.
Tear, scratch, bite.
Take no prisoners. Die to defend.
Blood
Kill
Take
With many of his men dead, Jasper unleashed the fiercest of emotions, and together his army ran toward their enemy.
The Volturi guard, Edward, and the wolves and panthers stood in a line, waiting.
Edward looked to his right and then turned to Alec. "Your spy approaches. He brings with him three others. They will stand with us." Although Edward did not know these people, he knew that Carlisle trusted them and that was enough.
Alec rolled his eyes. He had never been Emmett's biggest fan, thought him too young and reckless, but that was no matter. At this point, the more he had on his side, the better.
Less than one minute later, Emmett, Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme came through the trees, Emmett emerging first and kneeling before Alec and Jane.
"Rise and join us," Alec commanded and Emmett nodded taking Rosalie's hand and leading her, Carlisle, and Esme to take a stance at the end of the line.
Carlisle was silently praying and thanking God for Edward's safety as well as Esme's. Edward raised an eyebrow at him as he passed and Carlisle thought, I'm so sorry, Edward, as he recalled the last time he had been in Forks, when he had fought with his son and fantasized about killing Bella. God forgive me. Please forgive me, son.
Edward's expression softened. He could not ever hate Carlisle, not when his reaction to Bella had been beyond his control.
But there was no time for confessions or rights of forgiveness. The newborns were very close now and Edward focused his mind on defeating them.
Like the most frightening wave imaginable, powerful and shrill in their cries, Maria's army came rushing across the field.
Jane and Alec unleashed their gift on as many as they could and a dozen vampires fell to the ground but another thirty were still charging forward, their minds reeling in the need for blood, the need to kill.
A deep growl rumbled in Edward's chest as he called upon fire once again. His shields bounded forward protecting himself, the packs and everyone else in the line they held.
Jasper's gift was all together wasted on them, but he did not relent. The spite and contempt he conjured was riveting his psyche, fueling his desire. He ran faster, Peter right behind him doubling his bravado.
With Edward's next inhale the barren black sky cracked open, shifting into a navy pool. Fire unleashed itself and rose into the night creating colors that made it look as if the blue sky was bleeding.
Blood red, deep purple, and flashes of white heat flamed above them but the vampires below were too consumed to notice.
The packs held back no longer and their line was broken. They jumped forward into the fray, lightening crashed down all over the horizon- the battle had begun. Wolves and panthers leaped with sharp teeth bared, hungry for the death of their enemy. A rampant need for what was right propelled them forward into the skin of dark beasts who threatened their very existence.
Newborns attacked with no forethought, and many of them were crushed and ripped apart, left to burn- their ashes scattered and forgotten. Jasper was twisting and dodging, barely escaping Jane's power. He lunged and snapped, wounding several and killing two Volturi in mere seconds. He turned and saw Charlotte facing one of the wolves. Instead of fighting it, she ducked as it lunged for her. The wolf soaring right over her, sinking its teeth to the neck of one of his soldiers.
"Coward!" He bellowed. He would not stand for this; he would kill her for being so weak.
He sent a crippling wave of fear at Charlotte. She was huddled to the ground, shaking and crying; Jasper was just a few steps away when Esme crouched in front of her. Her gift flew forward and encompassed Jasper- his eyes wide, his legs giving out beneath him. Esme snarled at him, her arms stretching upward to protect Charlotte. She had Jasper at her mercy and there was a riveting need to end him for what he had done. There had never been an urge to kill this strong. But even through her haze of hunger to punish Jasper, she felt the tiniest spark of sympathy for him. She briefly wondered how he had been turned and if he had been given a choice. Her power surged and Jasper was compelled to rise to his feet. He had no control over his actions anymore, Esme did but somewhere within her, somewhere foreign and far away from the forefront of her mind, she felt sympathy and guilt spring forward. She couldn't find it in herself to kill again, not even the beast that had taken her life from her.
He looked from side to side, whimpering at the sight before him. His army was losing, so many of them betraying him and suddenly... he was both terrified and touched. Esme could have killed him, she had every opportunity to do so but she did not. He could feel her remorse; her sheer guilt and her unbreakable will to never make anyone else suffer like she had. She was selfless, her emotions so soft and yet hitting him like a punch in the gut.
He did the only thing he could- he let Esme's power wash over him- through him and then he ran, fled the scene and sprinted toward Maria's hiding place.
Without Jasper's influence, the newborns were disoriented. They didn't know who was friend or foe, they struck out at any vampire within their reach, grappling and fighting each other with little regard for anything besides saving their own lives- biting and snapping in blinding bloodlust.
It was then that The Volturi moved to finish this, using their gifts and swiftly killing, creating great plumes of deep amethyst smoke that tried to curl upward but was doused by the still falling rain, the earth saturated in an angry violet ash.
Some soldiers were fleeing, cognizant enough to realize that they had two choices- to run or die. Peter was scrambling to find Charlotte, sprinting on the outskirts of the battleground and screaming her name. He saw her and gasped- she was standing with Esme- both of them face to face with a massive silver wolf.
What Peter didn't know was that Leah saw something in the both of them- something that prevented her from killing them. When she looked at these two immortal women, she saw their golden eyes- she saw their light.
With a primal scream emerging from his chest, he lunged forward, intent on killing the creature that threatened his mate.
When Charlotte saw him moving as a blur toward her, she screamed, "Peter, no!"
But it was too late. He grabbed Leah's paw, yanked her back and beat her with his fists until she lay unmoving at his feet.
~O~
In La Push the rain was constant and Bella did nothing to stop it. She was restless, worried sick, and could do nothing but wait. Lying face down in bed, her face was pressed up against a pillow that was damp from her tears. She sighed and rolled over, scowling at the ceiling, wanted nothing more than for this to be over. She wanted Edward; she wanted her packs home and safe.
Bella gasped, her breath caught in her throat. In her chest was an ache so deep, she couldn't move. There was a light inside of her that was dimming. Bringing her hand over her heart, Bella felt of the tug of her bond with the wolves. Something was wrong. One of her pack was wounded and close to death. She could feel their magic waning. It was the same thing she had felt when her mother was killed.
She screamed through her tears, fighting with herself. She wanted to go to her pack, to heal, to protect. The air around her flashed in harsh swiping gusts- an apt representation of her conflicting emotions. She wanted to go but she'd promised Edward she wouldn't...
She could apparate to whoever was wounded; grab hold of them and apparate right back. It could work- she'd had lots of practice evading vampires, and her teleporting skills were better than they had ever been. She could do this, she had to do this, her every instinct drawing her toward her pack- her children. She would do anything to protect them, even if that meant risking her own life.
She rose to her feet, closed her eyes and channeled- evoking every element with a practiced skill and silently apologized to Edward before she apparated away.
~O~
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Need a fic rec?
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Crimson and Clover by SydneyAlice. Cursed to a life of immortality unless he finds his mate, a desperate vampire makes a wish on a shooting star. His wish is granted, but can she love both the man and the beast?