CHAPTER 25

Caius and Marcus approached Aro. Caius almost bounced. His excitement at getting to a verdict was evident. Marcus, as usual, walked forward slowly. The rest of us followed, as well.

Edward returned to the other side of the field, pulling his family members with him, his daughter pulling the wolf by its tail. How strange.

I felt jittery now, realizing that the distance between our two forces could be bridged in one movement. My body was buzzing with the tension in the air.

I heard Caius. He was nearly yelling. "How can you abide this infamy? Why do we stand here impotently in the face of such an outrageous crime, covered by such a ridiculous deception?"

His stance provided insight into his state of mind. He was stiff, his hands in fists by his side. He was ready to explode in rage. He looked like a petulant child. It seemed as if he was ready to fight with Aro, but I knew better. This was their method. He yelled, Aro calmed, they discussed and did what they had always wanted to do. In the past, that meant Heidi's demise and Carlos' freedom. Today, it would mean the destruction of the Cullens.

"Because it's all true, every word of it. See how many witnesses stand ready to give evidence that they have seen this miraculous child grow and mature in just the short time they've known her. That they have felt the warmth of the blood that pulses in her veins," Aro said. He gestured at the crowd behind the Cullens. He was obviously reminding Caius that the show had to be well played out.

Caius jumped slightly when he heard the word witnesses. It seemed he had forgotten for a moment that we weren't in the confines of the Volturi chamber, with only loyal guard members watching. The rage drained from his body, and I watched a devious look cross his features. It was time to plot.

Our witnesses were shuffling behind us. They had come prepared to see a battle to the death. They wanted heads to roll. I could hear their impatience with the situation. Several stated their confusion.

"I thought there was an immortal child to deal with. Since there isn't, why are we still here?" one asked.

"There must be more to it than that," another whispered.

The guard was shuffling slightly, itching to get into their battle crouches. I felt the desire in my own body. It was time to protect my own and shred the enemy. I heard the hisses and growls that filled the air near me.

A slight whisper went down the lines of the guard.

"Hold. Wait for the signal. We are not to attack until the Brethren tell us it is time."

The guard quieted. Each member dug into their position, waiting for the signal that would tell us to attack.

Aro would lift a hand to the sky when it was time, a black scarf waving from his fingers. Then, we would move forward without hesitation.

I started to assess the vampires that stood in opposition to us. My group was to have taken care of Alice, capturing, not destroying her. It was my assignment to persuade her to stop fighting and join our side. She would not have been able to fight against my command. It was likely she would have helped to destroy her own family members.

She must have seen the outcome of staying here to fight. Maybe that's why she left.

But, since she was not here, we would be expected to take on another group. To kill, this time, not to capture. I focused on the Irish vampires. I may have a chance against the small female.

Although we had trained as groups, singling out one of the family members, with the large number of witnesses who stood with the Cullens, we would each be expected to fight a vampire, one on one. I was still young, but I had been trained well. Hopefully, I could handle a mature vampire on my own.

I looked at Bella. She seemed to be concentrating on something. I tried to see what had captured her interest, but she was studying each member of her family, and the line of their witnesses.

Caius' next words captured my attention. "The werewolves."

This was his attempt to maintain the Cullen's guilt. But, it was not to be.

"Ah, brother…" Aro said, with an exaggerated voice.

"Will you defend that alliance, too, Aro? The Children of the Moon have been our bitter enemies from the dawn of time. We have hunted them to near extinction in Europe and Asia. Yet, Carlisle encourages a familiar relationship with this enormous infestation – no doubt in an attempt to overthrow us. The better to protect his warped lifestyle," he spit out.

The crowd behind me reacted again. They had heard the theory of a revolution last night. Caius was working them up again, preparing them to side with the Volturi.

I heard Edward clear his throat, and watched as Aro placed a hand on his face, showing his embarrassment at Caius' words. He shook his head slightly.

"Caius, it's the middle of the day. These are not the Children of the Moon, clearly," Edward said, exasperated. "They bear no relation to your enemies on the other side of the world."

"You breed mutants here!" Caius spit venom as he hissed out the words. He was losing patience quickly.

I watched curiously as Edward clenched his jaw, and after a moment unclenched, preparing to speak again. "They aren't even werewolves. Aro can tell you all about it, if you don't believe me."

His words were shocking to me. Not werewolves? But, even when the Cullens told me about the wolves, they have referred to them as werewolves more than one time. How was this possible? I wasn't the only one who was surprised by this information. I heard gasps all around me.

"Dear Caius," Aro said, breaking through the tension, "I would have warned you not to press this point if you had told me your thoughts. Though the creatures think of themselves as werewolves, they are not. The more accurate name for them would be shape-shifters. The choice of a wolf form was purely chance. It could have been a bear or a hawk or a panther when the first change was made. These creatures truly have nothing to do with the Children of the Moon. They have merely inherited this skill from their fathers. It's genetic – they do not continue their species by infecting others the way true werewolves do."

Incredible. A genetic quirk that allowed shape-shifting. I shouldn't be so surprised. After all, I was now a vampire. Many things existed in this world that I had been unaware of before my transformation. My mind was reeling with the implications of this truth.

I noticed that Caius was glaring at Aro now. His plans were dropping, one by one, and he was not amused.

"They know our secret." His voice was low and dangerous.

I saw Edward twitch out of the corner of my eye. He was ready to defend the wolves.

But, Aro spoke before he could. "They are creatures of our supernatural world, brother. Perhaps even more dependent upon secrecy than we are; they can hardly expose us."

He looked at Caius, his eyebrows raised. "Carefully, Caius. Specious allegations get us nowhere."

In other words - game on. They needed to proceed carefully at this point. The witnesses would take away the tale, whether in the favor of the Volturi or in the favor of the Cullens, no matter the outcome of the fight.

Caius took a deep breath. He nodded. They looked at each other for a moment. He understood what Aro was referring to, and he was already plotting again.

He quickly moved on to his next strategy. "I want to talk to the informant," he demanded.

Irina was in her own personal hell at this point. Her face was twisted and she was in so much emotional pain, that she didn't hear his request. She was watching her sisters; her desire to be with them on the other side of the field was evident.

"Irina," Caius barked. He did not like to be ignored.

She looked up at him. She was terrified at this point.

Caius snapped and she moved reluctantly back toward him.

"So, you appear to have been quite mistaken in your allegations," he stated.

There was a shift in the line on the other side. The two blonde women were leaning forward, ready to drop into an attack crouch. One side of Caius' mouth twitched at their movement. This was what he wanted.

"I'm sorry. I should have made sure of what I was seeing. But, I had no idea…" she whispered. Her hands fluttered, pointing at Bella and her child.

Aro jumped into the performance. "Dear Caius, could you expect her to have guessed in an instant something so strange and impossible? Any of us would have made the same assumption," he crooned.

Caius shook his finger in Aro's direction, and Aro smiled slightly as he stopped speaking.

"We all know you made a mistake. I meant to speak of your motivations," he said to Irina.

She stood for a moment, waiting for him to continue speaking. When it was clear that he was waiting for a response, she asked, "My motivations?"

"Yes, for coming to spy on them in the first place."

Caius took great pleasure in her pain as she heard the word spy. His smirk was evil.

"You were unhappy with the Cullens, were you not?" His words were sweet, almost comforting, but his meaning was the opposite.

Watching Caius play with Irina was like watching a cat with a mouse. At some point, the claws would come out, dealing a deadly blow, but nobody, especially the mouse, would be prepared when it happened.

She finally looked at him. Her face was torn, her eyes begging him to stop. "I was."

"Because?"

"Because the werewolves killed my friend. And the Cullens wouldn't stand aside to let me avenge him." I could barely hear her.

Aro's voice corrected her. "The shape-shifters," he said quietly.

Caius' voice grew stronger. "So, the Cullens sided with the shape-shifters against our own kind – against the friend of a friend, even."

So, this was his new tactic. The Cullens would be guilty of not taking care of their own species.

Irina flinched. "That's how I saw it," she said quietly.

Caius was silent for a moment, allowing everyone to take in the accusation that had been made.

Finally, he spoke, "If you'd like to make a formal complaint against the shape-shifters – and the Cullens for supporting their actions – now would be the time."

He smiled at her, waiting for her decision. He knew where this would go.

She suddenly stood straighter. Her shoulders came up, as did her chin. She was now defiant and strong.

"No, I have no complaint against the wolves, or the Cullens. You came here today to destroy an immortal child. No immortal child exists. This was my mistake, and I take full responsibility for it. But the Cullens are innocent, and you have no reason to still be here. "

She turned to her sisters and the Cullens. "I'm so sorry."

The, she purposefully turned back to Caius and Aro, looking beyond them to the entire guard and the witnesses. In a very loud voice, she said, "There was no crime. There's no valid reason for you to continue here."

And then, the cat pounced with his claws out.

Caius raised his arm, his strange lighter gripped in his fingers. She had barely gotten the words out of her mouth when Janessa, Viktor and Juan jumped on her, their gray cloaks flowing around the scene.

I could hear the sharp keening noise of a vampire being dismembered. Irina was in pieces in seconds. Caius stepped forward, moving into the middle of the trio, and flames exploded from the ground. The guard members stepped back into their places, leaving Caius and his flame-thrower standing over Irina's burning remains.

He flipped his lighter closed, ending the spray of flame that had flowed from his hand, and chuckled. His face was gleeful. This was what he lived for - to destroy. I could almost feel the waves of pleasure coming off of him.

I shuddered. That could be me, or Demetri, if we were caught trying to defect.

My reaction was mild compared to many of the witnesses. They gasped and I heard several hisses filling the air behind me. The day had finally turned deadly, but now, the witnesses weren't sure if that was what they wanted.

The vampires on the other side of the battle line stood motionless. They were silent, shocked beyond belief.

"Now she has taken full responsibility for her actions," Caius sneered. His smile was broad and his eyes gleamed with joy.

He looked at Irina's sisters, obviously awaiting their reaction. The air was heavy. I tensed, sensing an end to the discussion and the beginning of the battle. I moved into my attack crouch, preparing to leap forward to take on the Irish vampire I had chosen. Sparks of energy moved through my body. I was ready for the fight.

I blanched when I heard Edward yell, "Stop them!"

He leapt forward, grabbing one woman's arm, stopping her in her place. Carlisle ran to his side, wrapping his arms around her waist. She struggled against them, but they had the upper hand. Her screams were deafening. I could see Edward talking to her, but I couldn't hear his words over her pleas to be released.

The other blonde was leaping forward from her crouch, starting to run at Caius, when Rosalie jumped her. As Rose prepared to wrap her arms around the woman's neck, she was thrown violently to the ground by an unseen force.

She shrieked out a fearsome growl when Emmett grabbed her by her arm. He slammed her into the ground. Then, he stepped back, his knees buckling beneath him, and he fell to the ground, as well.

I tensed. I knew that certain vampires had lethal gifts, but I wasn't sure what this gift was, how to defeat it.

She was rolling to her feet, her scream piercing the air, preparing to continue her attack, when a large man with long blond hair jumped on her, dragging her down again. He wrapped his arms around her, grabbing his own wrists to create a shackle. His body shuddered and his eyes rolled back in his head, but he didn't let go.

A feral growl worked its way out of my throat.

"Zafrina!" Edward yelled.

Both of the blonde women stopped fighting. They went limp. The screams that had filled the clearing wafted away, leaving only moans in their place.

"Give me my sight back," hissed the woman who Carlisle held.

The blond man on the ground seemed to recover. He whispered to the woman he held. She snarled, thrashing once again in his arms.

I could see Carlisle talking, reasoning with the two sisters. His face was full of concern. He whispered for a few moments to them both.

Finally, the woman in Carlisle's arms relaxed, her head falling to his shoulder, a sob echoing through the clearing. She shook in his arms as she cried for the loss of her sister. He stroked her back and her head, calming her and trying to ease her pain. Carlisle continued to speak to her as he held her.

The woman on the ground thrashed for a moment before finally succumbing to the comfort being offered by the blond man. He kissed the top of her head and spoke in her ear. His hand rubbed her arm in a caring gesture.

I watched the situation unfold, feeling my body relax slightly as the women calmed down. It wasn't time to attack…yet. All around me, the guard was crouched, ready for the signal. Caius was growling, a sound that permeated the air near me.

There were also sounds of shuffling coming from behind me. The witnesses were growing restless. I wondered what they were thinking now. Would they still support the Volturi? I found myself hoping that they would not, if it meant that Demetri and I could find a way to escape. I wondered if they knew the danger they would be in if they did not support Caius and Aro.

I watched Aro turn and glance at them. His eyebrows creased and he looked almost angry. This was not the outcome he had hoped for, and he was losing face with the crowd he had assembled for the trial.

I heard him whisper to Caius as he turned back, "Look at the Romanians."

They were rubbing their hands together. Their obvious amusement at the Volturi's situation angered Caius even more. He tensed again, his growl intensifying.

Sulpicia had noticed the Romanian's behavior. I heard her speak to Athenodora, "Stefan and Vladimir are enjoying this show, still hoping for their revenge. I wish I could get to them. I would destroy them for what they did to Didyme!"

Athenodora hushed her. "You should let the past die. It does you no good to be angry over things that happened centuries ago."

I was pulled away from their conversation by the look Bella was throwing at Demetri. It was pure hatred. She wanted him dead, of that I had no doubt.

I felt anger rise up in my chest. I would not allow Bella to live if my Demetri died! This was no longer about who was in the right; it was now about protecting the one I loved.

After what seemed like an eternity, Aro placed his hand on Caius' shoulder. He spoke, his voice loud and clear. "Irina has been punished for bearing false witness against this child. Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand."

Aro had managed to pull the focus back to himself, and his purpose here.

Caius stood straight again. His growl faded and his face hardened. He was, once again, ready for the show he was participating in, but his demeanor was that of a defeated child. He wasn't taking his losses well.

Aro patted his shoulder, giving him a knowing look. Then, he moved forward, toward the enemy. Renata never let go of his cloak, she followed him timidly. Demetri and Felix shadowed him. I tensed as they got closer to the other side. Aro was taking the lead now, pushing Caius to a proverbial back seat.

"Just to be thorough, I'd like to speak with a few of your witnesses. Procedure, you know," Aro said, waving his hand in the air in front of him.

Caius smiled and Edward hissed. I knew there was something more going on here than merely speaking to a few witnesses. The Cullens were all tense now, ready to snap at the slightest trigger.

I was curious to see how Aro would approach this. I knew what he was capable of. His own sister had died at his hand. His wife had barely been more fortunate on that fateful day. There was no cost too great for retaining power. I crouched lower, preparing myself for what was to come.

Aro wandered to the western edge of the field, his entourage close behind him. He stopped in front of a pair of vampires, a couple, it seemed. They were very dark under their pallor. The wolves on that side of the field bristled at his approach, but held their ground. Disciplined.

"Ah, Amun, my southern neighbor," Aro started, his voice warm and welcoming. "It has been so long since you've visited me."

Amun didn't move a muscle, but his eyes darted quickly back and forth, taking in the line of Volturi guards.

"Time means little; I never notice its passing."

"So true, but maybe you had another reason to stay away."

What could that mean?

"It can be terribly time-consuming to organize newcomers into a coven," Aro said, giving him an out. "I know that well! I'm grateful I have others to deal with the tedium. I'm glad your new additions have fit in so well. I would have loved to have been introduced. I'm sure you were meaning to come to see me soon." He pouted slightly, but the threat behind his words was obvious.

"Of course," Amun replied. His tone was flat, showing no emotion at all.

"Oh well," Aro sang. "We're all together now! Isn't it lovely?"

Amun just nodded.

Aro shook his head and frowned.

"But the reason for your presence here is not as pleasant, unfortunately. Carlisle called on you to witness." He sighed.

"Yes," Amun said.

"And what did you witness for him?"

Amun's voice did not change at all. "I've observed the child in question. It was evident almost immediately that she was not an immortal child…"

Aro cut him off. "Perhaps we should define our terminology, now that there seem to be new classifications. By immortal child, you mean of course a human child, who had been bitten and thus transformed into a vampire."

"Yes, that's what I meant."

Aro stroked his cheek, as if deep in thought.

"What else did you observe about the child?" he asked.

"The same things that you surely saw in Edward's mind. That the child is his biologically. That she grows. That she learns."

"Yes, yes. But specifically, in your few weeks here, what did you see?" Aro was not getting the information he wanted, and his impatience was starting to show.

Amun struggled for a minute, trying to give the correct answer. "That she grows…quickly."

Aro smiled. "And do you believe that she should be allowed to live?"

The effect of this question was stunning. Gasps, hisses, growls and jerky movements started from all areas of the field. The witnesses behind me did not like the question, they were hissing and angry words were being whispered back and forth.

"She's not an immortal child, why should they destroy her?" asked one person.

"What is he trying to do?" added another.

The situation seemed fraught with more danger than before. Our witnesses were changing sides!

I turned to the front, noticing Edward's restraining hand on Bella's wrist. Of course, she would be furious at that question.

Amun glanced around, taking in all of the reactions. "I did not come to make judgments."

Aro laughed, seemingly unaffected by the flare of anger around him. "Just your opinion."

Amun lifted his chin and replied, "I see no danger in the child. She learns even more quickly than she grows."

Aro nodded, and brought his hand to his chin. He was acting like he was thinking about his next question. I had no doubt he had this all planned out.

He turned to walk away, and Amun called out to him. "Aro?"

"Yes, friend?" Aro said, turning back to him.

"I gave my witness. I have no more business here. My mate and I would like to take our leave now."

Aro smiled at him. The look in his eyes, however, was dangerous.

"Of course. I'm so glad we were able to chat for a bit. And I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."

Amun tipped his head at Aro. His face revealed his knowledge of the threat that had been issued in those words. He touched his mate's arm and they took off, blurring with speed as they left the meadow. Their leaving seemed like a cowardly act, to me.

Aro ignored him, walked back to the east. He stopped in front of the large female. He looked her up and down, as if assessing her form.

"Hello, dear Siobhan. You are as lovely as ever."

She inclined her head.

"And you? Would you answer my questions the same way Amun has?"

Siobhan stood proudly. "I would. But, I would perhaps add a little more. Renesmee understand the limitations. She's no danger to humans – she blends in better than we do. She poses no threat of exposure."

"Can you think of none?" Aro asked, his voice dropping in tone.

Edward growled loudly. Aro's thoughts were upsetting him.

Caius smiled more brightly. He understood where Aro was going with his argument. He would have his violent fight after all!

I watched as the tall blond male stepped away from Irina's sister, brushing her hand off when she tried to stop him. He moved forward, toward Aro.

Siobhan had a troubled look on her face. She said, "I don't think I follow you."

Aro moved subtly closer to his guard, stepping back slowly. His guards shifted with him. I watched as Demetri stepped back, flanking Aro, keeping him safe. I was torn. Part of me wished that someone would destroy Aro, taking away the threat to Demetri and me. Part of me wished he was closer to our side, safe from harm.

"There is no broken law," Aro said, and I held my breath, waiting for the rest of his statement. "No broken law. However, does it follow then that there is no danger? No. That is a separate issue."

Murmurs of confusion broke out behind me. Our witnesses weren't sure what they were seeing anymore. The small Irish vampire looked angry, like she was ready to explode with righteous indignation.

Aro paced back and forth, moving closer to us with each pass. He was distancing himself from the enemy. He was preparing for whatever he was planning, and it must not be good.

"She is unique…utterly, impossibly unique. Such a waste it would be, to destroy something so lovely. Especially when we could learn so much…" Aro sighed.

I knew he was envisioning himself back in Volterra, his newest acquisition safely by his side. He would mold her, create what he wanted. And, she was gifted, that much was obvious. He was practically drooling.

"But, there is danger, danger that cannot simply be ignored."

Silence. Nobody breathed. There was no movement, not a single shuffle. Even the wolves seemed to hold their breath, their hearts slowed. This was a pivotal moment.

Finally, Aro spoke again. "How ironic it is that as the humans advance, as their faith in science grows and controls their world, the more free we are from discovery. Yet, as we become ever more uninhibited by their disbelief in the supernatural, they become strong enough in their technologies that, if they wished, they could actually pose a threat to us, even destroy some of us."

I had no idea what he was talking about. We were nearly indestructible. We were more of a threat to each other than any human could ever be.

"For thousands and thousands of years, our secrecy has been more a matter of convenience, of ease, than of actual safety. This last raw, angry century has given birth to weapons of such power that they endanger even immortals. Now our status as mere myth in truth protects us from these weak creatures we hunt.

"This amazing child" - he acted as though he was placing his hand on her small head, though she was nowhere near him -"if we could but know her potential – know with absolute certainty that she could always remain shrouded within the obscurity that protects us. But we know nothing of what she will become! Her own parents are plagued by fears of her future. We cannot know what she will grow to be."

He looked at the multitude gathered with the Cullens, taking in each one of them. Then, he turned, looking at our witnesses. His face was torn, looking as sad as he possibly could. He shrugged to them, as if he wished there was something he could do, but he was at a loss. He sighed again, his shoulders rising and falling. Masterful performance.

Before turning back to the Cullens, he said, "Only the known is safe. Only the known is tolerable. The unknown is…a vulnerability."

He knew exactly what buttons to push. He was winning our witnesses back to his side. I was waiting for him to offer to take her to Volterra to watch her, to train her, and to make sure she was in 'safe' hands.

Caius was practically bursting with mirth. He was ecstatic with this turn of events.

"You're reaching, Aro," Carlisle said, with a darkness in his voice.

"Peace, friend. Let us not be hasty. Let us look at this from every side," Aro sang.

"May I offer a side to be considered?" the tall blond male asked.

Aro stiffened a little. It was hardly noticeable. "Nomad," he said, nodding.

The man lifted his head and looked toward the group of witnesses behind us. He spoke to them.

"I came here at Carlisle's request, as the others, to witness. That is certainly no longer necessary, with regard to the child. We all see what she is." He was certain, strong. I couldn't figure out what he was doing.

"I stayed to witness something else. You." He lifted his finger, pointing to several of the Volturi witnesses. "Two of you I know – Makenna, Charles – and I can see that many of you others are also wanderers, roamers like myself, answering to none. Think carefully on what I tell you now." His voice smoothed, became more powerful as he spoke.

"These ancient ones did not come here for justice as they told you. We suspected as much, and now it has been proved. They came, misled, but with a valid excuse for their action. Witness now as they seek flimsy excuses to continue their true mission. Witness them struggle to find a justification for their true purpose – to destroy this family here."

His arms gestured toward Carlisle, then toward Irina's sisters.

"The Volturi come to erase what they perceive as the competition. Perhaps, like me, you look as this clan's golden eyes and marvel. They are difficult to understand, it's true. But the ancient ones look and see something besides their strange choice. They see power."His emphasis of the last word rang through the clearing. I heard shuffling feet behind me, and I turned to see the confused looks on most of their faces. He was impacting them. His words were strong, and he knew how to lead a crowd almost as well as Aro.

"I have witnessed the bonds within this family – I say family and not coven. These strange golden-eyed ones deny their very nature. But in return, have they found something worth even more, perhaps, than mere gratification of desire? I've made a little study of them in my time here, and it seems to me that intrinsic to this intense family binding – that which makes it possible at all – is the peaceful character of this life of sacrifice. There is no aggression here like we all saw in the large southern clans that grew and diminished so quickly in their wild feuds. There is no thought for domination. And Aro know this better than I do." He held his hand toward Aro, a look of determination on his face. He was right, and most of the witnesses were squirming at his words.

Aro didn't flinch. He didn't move from his position. He stood, unfazed by the words that would damn him. In fact, he looked amused, from what I could see of his profile.

The man continued, "Carlisle assured us all, when he told us what was coming, that he did not call us here to fight. These witnesses" - he pointed to the Irish vampires - "agreed to give evidence, to slow the Volturi advance with their presence so that Carlisle would get the chance to present his case.

"But, some of us wondered" – his eyes flashed to the dark haired man who stood by Irina's sister – "if Carlisle having truth on his side would be enough to stop the so-called justice. Are the Volturi here to protect the safety of our secrecy, or to protect their own power? Did they come to destroy an illegal creation, or a way of life? Could they be satisfied when the danger turned out to be no more than a misunderstanding? Or would they push the issue without the excuse of justice?

"We have the answer to all these questions. We heard it in Aro's lying words – we have one with a gift of knowing such things for certain – and we see it now in Caius' eager smile. Their guard is just a mindless weapon, a tool in their masters' quest for domination."

He was working up to a crescendo. He knew how to speak to the nomads. This was his political platform, so to speak.

"So now there are more questions, questions that you must answer." He pointed to each of the Volturi witnesses, one at a time, as he continued. "Who rules you, nomads? Do you answer to someone's will besides your own? Are you free to choose your path, or will the Volturi decide how you will live?"

A rumble was working its way through the people behind me. They were listening, but there were now murmurs of assent, agreement with the nomad in front of them.

"I came to witness. I stay to fight!" Gasps sounded around me. "The Volturi care nothing for the death of the child. They seek the death of our free will!"

He faced Aro and Caius, who were now very near each other. He looked over at Marcus, then back at the duo in front of him.

"So come, I say! Let's hear no more lying rationalizations. Be honest in your intents as we will be honest in ours. We will defend our freedom. You will or will not attack it. Choose now, and let these witnesses see the true issue debated here."

I could hear Sulpicia and Athenodora whispering behind me. I couldn't make out the words, but could imagine their fear. Their husbands were being called tyrants! They were in great danger at this moment.

The man looked at the witnesses again. He slowly scanned the entire group, his eyes resting on each face for a moment, meeting their eyes with his own. I was in awe as I looked from him to the group he was addressing. His words had affected them deeply.

"You might consider joining us. If you think the Volturi will let you live to tell this tale, you are mistaken. We may all be destroyed, but then again, maybe not. Perhaps we are on more equal footing then they know. Perhaps the Volturi have finally met their match. I promise you this, though – if we fall, so do you."

A chill ran through me. I wondered if we would really be sent to destroy the witnesses if they did not agree with the outcome of this venture.

He nodded, satisfied that he had said his piece, and took a few steps back, returning to the side of Irina's sister. Then, he dropped into an attack crouch. He was ready to defend his rights.

Aro smiled and clapped his hands lightly, as if he were appreciating a fine performance on stage.

"A very pretty speech, my revolutionary friend," he mused.

"Revolutionary?" the man growled. "Who am I revolting against, might I ask? Are you my king? Do you wish me to call you master, too, like your sycophantic guard?"

Aro realized he had made a mistake, and quickly rectified it, as well as he could. "Peace, Garrett. I meant only to refer to your time of birth." He smiled. "Still a patriot, I see."

Garrett glared at him.

Aro had to act now, before his plan dissolved completely.

"Let us ask our witnesses. Let us hear their thoughts before we make our decision. Tell us, friends," he said, turning his back on the Cullens and walking toward the witnesses behind me, "what do you think of all this? I can assure you, the child is not what we feared. Do we take the risk and let the child live? Do we put our world in jeopardy to preserve their family intact? Or does earnest Garrett have the right of it? Will you join the in a fight against our sudden quest for dominion?" His last words were almost mocking.

I watched the witnesses carefully. They all remained stoic, hiding their emotions for the moment.

Makenna looked at Charles. He nodded; a move that was barely perceptible.

"Are those our only choices?" she asked, looking directly at Aro. "Agree with you, or fight against you?"

"Of course not, most charming Makenna," Aro said, feigning shock. "You may go in peace, of course, as Amun did, even if you disagree with the council's decision."

Makenna looked at Charles again. He nodded, once more.

"We did not come for a fight. We came here to witness. And our witness is that this condemned family is innocent. Everything that Garrett claimed is the truth."

I couldn't believe she had so openly opposed Aro. I feared for her life.

"Ah, I'm sorry you see us in that way. But such is the nature of our work," Aro said sadly, shrugging.

"It is not what I see, but what I feel," Charles said. He looked at Garrett. "Garrett said they have ways of knowing lies. I, too, know when I am hearing the truth, and when I am not." He was scared. He moved closer to Makenna, placing his arm around her shoulder.

"Do not fear us, friend Charles. No doubt the patriot truly believes what he says." Aro laughed lightly.

Charles eyes narrowed and he growled.

"That is our witness," Makenna said. "We're leaving now."

She looked toward Demetri, her eyes begging him to help them. She knew that if the Volturi wanted to harm her, he would be asked to track her whereabouts.

I turned enough to see him tip his head in her direction. He would never harm his friends.

I watched as she and Charles walked backwards, heading back into the forest. I could hear their steps as they started to run. Another witness followed. Then, three more ran into the trees.

The faces of the witnesses were wildly different than last night as they had followed Aro's words, believed him completely. They were confused and scared. They feared for their own lives now. The child was not a threat. The real danger here was us.

Most of them twitched, looking as though they would flee into the forest soon. Some looked torn. They wanted to know what happened here, if they were going to be running from us when this was done.

Aro's face changed as he watched them. I saw a flicker of fear cross his features before he controlled them. His hands were fisted by his side. He was losing!

He turned and walked back to his previous position.

"We are outnumbered, dearest ones. We can expect no outside help. Should we leave this question undecided to save ourselves?" He was addressing his guard, but obviously still hoping for support from the witnesses.

"No, master," we all said. The urge to fight was still flowing through me.

"Is the protection of our world worth perhaps the loss of some of our number?"

I shivered. Demetri, I thought. I can't lose my Demetri. Nothing in the world is worth that.

"Yes. We are not afraid," they all said. But, I couldn't. My lips wouldn't move.

Aro smiled. He was still in control of his guard. He turned to Caius and then to Marcus, "Brothers, there is much to consider here."

Caius smiled at him. This was what he loved. "Let us counsel."

"Let us counsel," Marcus said in his normal monotone. His face didn't change.

The trio formed a triangle. Marcus and Caius each reached out to touch Aro's hands.

I heard footsteps behind me as more witnesses fled.

The air sparked with the anticipation of what was to come. I wasn't sure if I would be fighting in a few minutes, or retreating into the forest. This had not gone according to Aro's plan.

I focused on the Cullens and their friends.

Bella loosened her daughter's arms from her neck. She whispered to her, and the child nodded. Edward watched them, concern on his face. Bella kissed her child on the head, then whispered to the wolf. The girl reached for Edward. He took her from Bella and they embraced. Edward was whispering to Bella. She nodded at something he said. He kissed his daughter's head and her cheeks and lifted her to sit on the wolf. She climbed into place, taking hold of his fur.

The wolf turned his head toward Edward and Bella. She spoke quietly to him and he butted his large head into her shoulder. I watched in amazement as Edward leaned into the wolf, speaking to him.

Every member of the guard watched this scene unfold. Most of them looked horrified, but the Cullens were mesmerized by it.

Carlisle whispered something and Bella answered him. Edward reached for her hand.

Suddenly, Esme moved, she walked past Bella and Edward, touching their faces as she passed. She went to stand with Carlisle, reaching for his hand.

This set off a flurry of what looked like farewells. I ached to be near Demetri, to touch his face and hold his hand. I didn't know if we would survive this day. I understood the silent goodbyes. We were all afraid of what was to come.

Bella whispered and the entire group stiffened, waiting.

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A/N Much of the dialogue from this chapter is taken directly from Breaking Dawn. I have made a few changes…very small changes.

This is the longest chapter in this story. It does go hand in hand with SM's story – just from the other side of the line. Hope you enjoyed it!!

The last chapter of the battle scene is coming. Then, I get to finish the story of the Volturi!!

Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!