A/N: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.
I'd like to thank all my readers and to everyone who has posted a review. I really appreciate it.
Sorry it took me forever to produce another chapter. This story is almost coming to a close. I think there are only three more chapters to come after this one and then it's all over.
If anyone is interested, I need help going back through to the beginning and correcting the grammar mistakes this story has. I'm not going to rewrite the story. I just want to fix the mistakes. Please let me know if you are interested.
Please enjoy!
Chapter 29:
The Gathering
(Ashley POV)
Everything changed that day when Alice received her vision. Before it was peaceful, everyone was happy and everything okay; at least for the most part.
Jake and I had left for the day to be alone back at our place, because living with vampires can actually be a drag. We were happy because the Cullens had just thrown us an engagement party. We didn't have to keep it a secret anymore.
But when we came back from our outing, it wasn't a happy ending anymore.
When we were gone, Irina one of the Denali, had come to apology for her behavior at the wedding. Irina saw Renesmee and came to the wrong conclusion. Alice had a vision that the Volturi were finally coming, but it wasn't to see if Bella was a vampire. They were coming because of what Irina saw. The Volturi are under the impression that Renesmee is an immortal child.
To say the least; everyone is pretty much screwed.
XXX
(3rd Person POV)
"What exactly is an immortal child?" Ashley asked, "Is there a difference?"
"Yes," Carlisle answered as they sat in the library after Renesmee went to bed, "Immortal children are not born, they are made. They are very beautiful, so enchanting. To be near them was to love them."
"I take it you've seen one?" Ashley asked.
"It was long ago, but yes, I have seen one," Carlisle said, "Vasilii was just a small boy when Sasha turned him. At that time, Sasha was head of the Denali coven."
"So the Denali's mother made an immortal child?" Bella clarified.
"Yes, and she paid the price. Irina, Kate and Tonya didn't know what Sasha had done. So they were spared when the Volturi killed Sasha and Vasilii," Carlisle said.
"Why kill the boy?" Jacob asked.
"Their development is frozen at the ago they are turned," Carlisle explained, "They can't be taught or restrained. A single tantrum could destroy an entire village. Their thirst is far too great and they can't keep us a secret. Word spread and the Volturi were forced to act."
"Renesmee is nothing like those children," Bella said, "She was born, not bitten. She grows every single day."
"Can't you just explain that to the Volturi?" Jacob asked.
"Yeah, like that would work," Ashley said, "From what I understand about the Volturi, they don't like to be undermined in anyway."
"You're right," Edward said, "Plus, Aro has enough proof in Irina's thoughts."
Everyone was silent.
"So, what do we do?" Ashley asked.
"We fight," Jacob said.
"Their offensive weapons are too powerful," Jasper spoke up, "No one can stand against Jane."
"Alec's even worse," Alice said.
"So we're screwed," Ashley said.
"No," Bella said, "We convince them."
"They're coming to kill us, not to talk," Emmett said.
"No one asked your opinion," Ashley told him.
"It's the truth," Emmett said.
"No, you're right," Edward interrupted, "They won't listen to us, but maybe others can convince them. Carlisle, you have friends all around the world."
"I won't ask them to fight," Carlisle said.
"Not fight," Edward said, "Witness."
"Witness a massacre," Ashley said.
Sighing, "No," Edward said, "If enough people knew the truth, maybe we could convince the Volturi to listen."
"We can ask this of our friends," Esme told Carlisle.
Carlisle took a minute to decide, "Alright," he said, "I'll begin the process of reaching out. Might have to make a few round trips to get this completed."
"What can I do?" Ashley asked.
"I know you want to help," Carlisle said, "But most of our friends aren't on the vegetarian diet."
"It'll be best if you stay here with Jacob," Esme said.
"And then what?" she asked.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Jacob said before kissing her temple.
XXX
It was midmorning the next day when Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie were preparing to leave for their flights. Alice and Jasper had already left with their assignment. Edward and Bella will be staying behind with Renesmee and Ashley.
After their meeting in the library, Jacob left to tell the pack what was coming. He hasn't returned yet.
"At least we get to go to London again," Esme told Carlisle as they were finishing packing, "We haven't been there in a long time."
"You make it sound like you'll never return again," Ashley said, "Our plan might work."
Carlisle gave her a small smile, "We have to be prepared otherwise."
"You shouldn't have to worry about this," Rosalie said, coming into the room, "This is our problem."
"It's as much mine as it is yours," Ashley said, "I hate to quote a vampire show…We're family, always and forever."
"That's cheesy," Emmett commented, yelling from another room.
"I know it is," Ashley yelled back, "But its true," she said, looking at Rosalie.
Rosalie looked behind Ashley, causing her to look too. It was Jacob approaching the house from the woods. He didn't look happy.
Jacob entered the house through the patio doors, "Alice and Jasper crossed our lands to the ocean. Alice asked me to give this to you," he said before handing a note to Carlisle.
He took a moment reading the note.
"Carlisle?" Esme questioned.
He looked up and gave his family a sad look, "They've left us."
"Wasn't that the point when they went out this morning?" Ashley asked.
"Alice and Jasper were supposed to talk the Denali," Carlisle said, "Crossing Quileute land is the opposite direction."
"Why?" Rosalie asked.
"Yeah, why?" Ashley asked, "I'd like to think that Jasper would have told me he was leaving. Give me a goodbye or something."
"She didn't say," Carlisle answered.
"Can I see that?" Bella asked, stepping forward.
Carlisle handed her the note. Bella also took a moment to examine the note.
"What does it say?" Ashley asked.
Bella read, "'Gather as many witnesses as you can before the snow sticks to the ground. That's when they'll come.' I don't understand why they would abandon us in our time of need."
"Maybe Alice thinks it's a losing battle," Jacob said.
"Then why are you still here?" Rosalie asked him.
"I'm still here because of her," Jacob said, looking at his finance, "I also came to tell you, the pack is in. With the Volturi coming, it endangers the lives of the innocent people who live here. Renesmee is part human. She's one of those people…I might not agree with you most of the time, but we are family. Very distant family."
"I think I'm more in love with you," Ashley said as she kissed Jacob.
"You might not be after I tell you," he said, "Sam asked me to stay with the pack and train. And I have agreed with him," Ashley made a face, "We need to be at our best. The newborns are going to be a piece of cake compared to the Volturi."
"Where does that leave me in all of this?" she asked.
Jacob turned to look at Edward but he didn't say anything out loud.
Edward spoke up, "With us," he answered Ashley, "Bella and I will look after her," he spoke to Jacob, "You have my word. You're family now."
Jacob nodded his head to Edward as thanks. He knew Ashley would always be protected by them if he couldn't be there. He would always be grateful.
"You don't need to thank us, Jake," Bella said before turning to go back into the house. Alice's note stilled clutched in her hand.
"When are you leaving?" Ashley asked Jacob, getting his attention once more. He gave her a look. Sighing, "Now?!"
"I don't have a choice," he said, "Sam only let me come to inform the Cullens of the note and what we plan on doing."
At this point, the young couple was the only ones left on the porch. Everyone else went back inside to finish packing.
"What happened to you taking back Alpha from Sam?" she asked.
"You know why I can't," he said, "The pack needs someone who's going to be around."
"How long?"
"I don't know. I'll be back before the Cullens start to have their visitors. I promise," he said.
"You better or someone is going to be in the doghouse."
"Funny."
XXX
Later that day, Edward, Bella, Ashley and Renesmee were preparing to leave to visit the Denali coven. Since Alice and Jasper left unexpectedly, they had to pick up the slack. It was better this way so the Denali can see Renesmee for their own eyes instead of hearing about her.
Everyone else already left. Carlisle and Esme were traveling to Egypt first before making their way to London. Rosalie and Emmett left to find an old friend of Carlisle's, Garrett.
It would be a few days before anybody, if anyone, would show up at the Cullen's house.
"I don't understand," Renesmee spoke up on the way to the car, "Where are we going?"
"To see our cousins in the north, Denali," Edward explained, "We want them to meet you."
"What if they don't like me?" the little girl asked.
"You don't have anything to worry about," Bella said, helping her in the back seat.
"Yeah, they will freak when they see you," Ashley said, "Maybe that was the wrong word to use."
Edward rolled his eyes, "Just get in the car."
Doing a mock salute, "Yes, Captain Hair," Ashley said before getting in beside Renesmee. Leaning close to the girl, "How much hair gel do you think Daddy uses everyday to get his hair to look like that?"
"He made me promise not to tell," she said, innocently.
"It's a long trip," Ashley said, "I'll get it out of you eventually."
"It's only a day's drive," Edward said, starting up the car, "Please don't cause too much trouble. I'd hate to tell Jacob you jumped out and fell off a mountain on the way back."
"Yeah," Bella agreed, "You're the clumsy human now."
"Says the vamp that sparkles."
XXX
It was early the next morning, when Edward drove up to a beautiful wooden house built into the side of a snowy mountain, where the Denali lived. This was a moment of truth for them. Was their plan going to work?
Edward got out meeting their cousins as they filled out of the wooden house, "Edward is everything all right?" Tanya asked.
"Here we go," Ashley said.
Bella turned around to face her friend, "Everything is going to be fine. They have to listen."
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" they heard Tanya ask.
"You didn't tell them we were coming?" Ashley asked.
"And say what?" Bella asked.
"Right," Ashley said, "Don't mind the stupid human."
"Are we here?" Renesmee asked.
"We are sweaty," Bella said, "We are just going to wait a minute while Daddy talks to them."
"I can't hear them anymore. What are they saying?" Ashley asked.
"They are talking about Irina and they asked why you are here," Bella answered, "Edward is just telling them why we came. He's asking them to keep an open mind."
Edward then turned to face the car.
"Moment of truth," Ashley said.
Bella looked at her daughter, "Time to meet some new people," and then looked at her friend, "Help her get out."
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Ashley reached over to help Renesmee. Following Bella's lead, she opened the door and grabbed the girl's hand before sliding out. All doors are closed as they stand almost in a line in the snow, facing the Denali.
Tanya, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar gasped as their eyes landed on Renesmee.
"The Volturi will come for all of us!" Kate said, "You get that thing out of here."
"She's not what she looks like," Edward tried to explain.
"Maybe he should have explained before we exited the car," Ashley said.
"Not now, Ash," Bella said.
"This is a crime!" Tanya shouted before lunging forward at Edward.
He deflected her attack by pushing her away. Then Kate lunged for him too. She used her voltage ability on him. This was when Bella got angry.
"Stay with her," Bella ordered before coming to Edward's aid. Bella grabbed Kate to get her off when the blonde vampire tried to use her ability on Bella, but it didn't work. Bella pushed the vampire away.
In retaliation both Kate and Tanya charged them before Bella warned them to stay away. The blonde vampires listened to her warning.
"She has blood in her veins," Edward pleaded, "You can feel her warmth."
The Denali looked one more time at the girl.
"I feel it," Carmen announced.
Ashley bent over to pick Renesmee up in her arms before moving closer to the group.
"I'm her biological father," Edward explained, "Bella is her mother."
"Impossible," Kate said.
"Its true," Ashley said before stopping. She still kept a few feet between them and Renesmee. "I was there when Bella gave birth to her."
"She was born when I was still human," Bella said.
"I've never heard of such a thing," Eleazar said.
"Its possible," Ashley said, "Male vamps still have swimmers."
She earned a few odd looks.
"Renesmee can show you, if you let her," Edward said, "Tanya, you owe us this much. We're all under a death sentence because your sister didn't let us explain."
Tanya agreed before Ashley walked closer with Renesmee still in her arms.
"She just needs to make contact with you," Ashley explained when she stood before Tanya, "It doesn't hurt unlike some other abilities," she gave a pointed look at Kate.
"Do you want a demonstration?" Kate asked.
"Maybe later, blondie," Ashley said sarcastically.
Renesmee held out her tiny hand toward Tanya's cheek.
"Don't be afraid," Bella said, "Its how she communicates."
Tanya allowed the girl to touch her. They watched as an amazed look came across the vampire's features. She was now a true believer.
"It's true," Tanya said as she turned toward her sister, "She's not immortal."
Kate still looked surprised but she believed her sister. Carmen and Eleazar were also surprised by the turn of events.
"Please come inside," Tanya said before looking at Ashley, "You two must be freezing."
Once inside, Eleazar worked on setting a fire in the fireplace while Carmen played with Renesmee. Tanya and Kate entertained the rest of them.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything to offer you," Tanya told Ashley.
"Thank you anyway," she said.
"Your speech at the wedding was very heartfelt," Tanya said, "I was sorry to hear that you lost your mother."
"Thank you," Ashley said, "I was sorry to hear who you lost your mother as well."
Tanya only nodded.
"Are you still with that wolf?" Kate asked.
"Kate, please," Tanya scolded.
"Well, you can't really change imprinting," Ashley said.
"If it wasn't for the wolves, we wouldn't be in this mess. Irina would never have gone to the Volturi," Kate said.
"How is this Jake's fault?" Ashley asked.
"They killed Laurent," Kate said, "Irina's mate."
"Laurent was going to kill me if the pack didn't chase him off," Bella defended, "It's not their fault. They were only doing their duty."
"You should know," Edward spoke up, "The pack is also going to be apart of this when the Volturi come."
"They're going to help you?" Kate asked.
"They've helped us before," Edward said.
"I'm sorry we couldn't help with the newborns. We knew what was happening in Seattle but we didn't know it was going to end in Forks," Tanya said.
"We understand," Edward said, "At least you can help us now."
Turning to smile at Ashley, "I'm sure your Jake is a good mate. Do you love him?" Tanya asked.
"I love him completely," Ashley answered.
"Then that's all that matters," Tanya said, "We will come back to Forks with you today."
XXX
The Denali came back with them like they said; making them the first Witnesses. The Denali coven was vegetarian, so Jacob didn't feel the need to come back just yet.
In the days that followed more vampires showed up at the house. They had agreed to stand with them. Most of the vampire that showed weren't on the same animal diet. Their eyes were blood red.
The first to arrive was Garrett who came back with Emmett and Rosalie. He was an old patriot friend and ally of Carlisle from the Battle of Yorktown. The only thing he needed to here was 'Carlisle needs you' and he was in. Knowing it had something to do with the Volturi was a plus. He wasn't the only vampire that knew the Volturi was becoming a problem.
Garrett would become one of their unlikely allies, but just like the Denali, he was won over by Renesmee.
"You have a remarkable and beautiful daughter," Garrett told Bella, "She's worth fighting for."
"Thank you," Bella said, "Ashley has mentioned that once."
Garrett's eyes landed on Ashley as she came to stand next to Bella, "Is that your pet's name? She's is also beautiful herself."
"She's hands off," Bella demanded.
"Yeah and I'm not the pet," Ashley said.
Garrett sniffed the air, "But you have a pet of your own," he said, "I could smell his stitch in the driveway. You belong to him."
"Its called imprint," Ashley defended.
"Same thing, darling," Garrett said before connecting eyes with Kate on the other side of the room, "If you'll excuse me."
Ashley turned to whisper to Bella, "What an ass."
"He does have a cute one," Bella whispered as looked at Garrett's retreating back.
"Bella! I can't believe you said that," Ashley exclaimed. She looked too, "You are so right. If I didn't have Jake, I would totally go for that."
Garrett knowingly looked back at the pair of girls. Even though they were whispering, he heard every word. Ashley even turned her back to him to hide her blushing face.
The gathering of Witnesses was going to be fun.
The day the Egyptian coven came was the same day Jacob came back.
There were four of them and Renesmee won them over. There was one vampire that introduced himself by sharing his ability with the girl. His name was Benjamin and he could influence the elements.
Their eyes were clear that they feed on the blood of humans. Jacob wouldn't leave her sight. After some discussion with the Egyptian coven, the Denali and Garrett, they found Ashley was not appetizing to them because of Jacob's scent. They couldn't smell her blood. They could only smell Jacob on her.
This cleared worries the Cullens and Jacob shared about the situation of more and more vampires coming to help. They didn't have to worry about Ashley being hurt because of the increasing number of vampires in the area.
Ashley, of course, was a little insulted that the new vampires didn't find her appetizing. But that didn't stop Garrett's constant flirting and teasing.
Next to come were Peter and Charlotte including a few other nomadic vampires. Peter and Charlotte loyalty lie with Jasper, who knew them since the Mexican coven. Peter and Jasper worked side by side building a newborn army during the Civil War. It wasn't too hard to figure out who had sent them
Zafrina and Senna from the Amazon coven were the next to arrive. They said Alice and Jasper had sent them. They were one member short, Kachiri, who stayed behind to help Alice and Jasper with something. They wouldn't say why, but said it was important. Zafrina was also special. She had something called visual projection. She could make anyone see what she wanted them to see.
Upon meeting Renesmee, Zafrina was very protective of the young girl. Even went out of the way to tell Bella, 'No one will touch this young one'. She formed a bond with Renesmee from day one.
The Irish coven were better much the same when it came to Renesmee. They had three members in which one of them could detect when someone was lying. It was safe to say that they believed everything Carlisle told them when he convinced them to make a journey to Forks.
Carlisle and Esme finally came back to Forks after their long journey around the world talking to old friends. With them they had brought the last Witness, Alistair. He was an English solider and an acquaintance of Carlisle. They weren't exactly friends but Carlisle had helped Alistair at one point.
Alistair had made it pretty clear he didn't really want to be there and he wasn't going to fight with them. If it all came down to a fight against the Volturi, everyone was going to die. And yet, he still came. He didn't like meeting new vampires, so he stayed up in the attic most of the time. Only to come out to feed and tell everyone they weren't going to survive.
Ashley made a point to stay clear of the broody bloodthirsty vampire.
There were a total of eighteen Witnesses to stand against the Volturi. To make them listen. It didn't seem like a lot but Carlisle was sure it would be enough.
XXX
It has been a few days since the entire Cullen family has been reunited and all the Witnesses had gathered. Everyone stayed in their own coven circle but little by little they were all branching out and forming new connections.
"What about your human life?" Ashley asked Garrett as she ate her lunch.
"What about it?"
"Did you have a family before your vampire glorious life?" she asked.
He smiled his charming smile that made her almost want to die, "I had a wife but we were never blessed with children. The way my life has turned out, maybe that was a good thing."
"What do we have here?" Alistair asked as he entered the kitchen, "Chanting up the Cullen's pet."
Before Ashley could say anything, Garrett stood up, "She's not their pet. She's part of their family."
Alistair laughed, "Humans and vampires cannot live in harmony. Its not in our nature," he circled Ashley, "They are only good for one thing…"
Garrett pushed Alistair against the wall hard, almost cracking the poor structure.
"You better leave before you regret doing something," Garrett threatened.
Ashley sat at the table wide eyed watching the scene before her. She wondered no one else came in to stop the two vampires from fighting.
"Please," Alistair said, "She even smells like her dog. I wouldn't suck her dry, even if she were the last human one earth."
Ashley swallowed hard as Garrett released him and allowed him to leave through the patio doors. He turned back to the human girl.
"Thanks for that," she said.
"If he bothers you again, scream and I'll come running," he said, "No one messes with Carlisle's family."
Jacob came walking in a few minutes later, seeing his fiancé smiling at the vampire, "What did I miss?"
"Nothing to worry about, kid," Garrett said, "I was just leaving."
"Were you flirting with him again?" Jacob asked.
"What?! I don't flirt with him," she protested.
"Yes you do."
"Alright maybe I do a little," she said, "But you can't blame me, he's gorgeous."
"So you keep telling me," Jacob said before the Irish coven enters through the patio door. They had just returned from hunting, "There are a lot of red eyes around here."
"They're not hunting in the area," Ashley said, "Bella told me they agreed to that."
"But they're feeding somewhere," he sighed, "There's a lot more Quileutes turning everyday before of the ever growing vampire population. It's almost overwhelming."
"It's a good thing they have a good leader to lead them on the right path," Ashley told him before taking his hand, "And of course they have you."
Some of the vampires with their own special abilities grouped together in the back to show them off. Ashley was among them because Jacob had taken off early that morning to help with the new werewolves.
Zafrina was showing hers off first by making Edward think they were in a tropical forest.
"If Bella weren't holding my hand right now, I could swear this was real," Edward commented.
"I don't see anything," Bella said.
"You don't?" Ashley asked.
Eleazar was a quite vampire who only spoke up when he had something important to say, "Edward, you didn't tell me your wife is a shield," he said. He had the power to identify other vampire's abilities.
"What's a shield?" Bella asked.
"I second that," Ashley said.
"The ones I've met are so different," Edward said before turning to Eleazar to explain.
"It's a defensive talent," he said.
"I still don't get it," Ashley said.
"It's why I couldn't read your mind, even before. It's why Aro couldn't," Edward said.
"You have a very powerful gift," Eleazar commented.
"Is there a way she can use it against the Volturi?" Ashley asked.
Her question was answered before Kate choice that moment to make contact with Bella again and use her power on her.
"Oh, yeah, she's a shield, all right," Kate said, "Should have put her on her ass."
"Or maybe you weren't trying hard enough," Ashley commented.
Kate locked eyes with the human, "Like I said before, do you want a demonstration?"
"Kate," Tanya warned, "You know it would kill her."
"I agree with the human," Garrett said as he watched the entire scene unfold, "Your voltage might have been exaggerated."
Smirking, Kate held out her hand toward him, "Maybe it only works on the weak."
Everyone stood idly by as they watched Garrett step forward with a finger extended.
"Garrett, I wouldn't," Carlisle warned.
Garrett was a daredevil. He had to try. He smiled at Carlisle before he made contact with Kate. Everyone watched as the blonde vampire's ability worked on him as he groaned and fell to his knees because the voltage was too powerful.
After his shock, he looked back up at the blonde vampire with a big smile on his face, "You are an amazing woman."
Kate returned the smile.
Just then everyone's attention turned toward the woods.
"What's going on?" Ashley asked.
"Someone is approaching," Edward answered.
"Someone friendly?" she asked.
"We don't know," Carlisle said, "Lets go see," looking at Garrett, "Stay with Ashley."
Ashley stood alone with Garrett as she watched them flash away in a blur.
"Vampires get to have all the fun," she said.
"Do you want to become one of us?" Garrett asked, "You'd be a great asset against the Volturi if it comes down to a fight. Newborns have great strength."
Ashley stared at him, "And leave Jake alone. I can't do that to him. Even if I'm an asset for the greater good."
"You won't be alone forever," he said, "You'll always have a family with the Cullens. Maybe even with me."
"Weren't you just two minutes ago flirting with Kate?"
"Can't a vampire do both," he said.
"Not if you want to keep your vampire manhood."
XXX
At this point, everyone is on edge. And it's all because of the unknown future. They don't know what's going to happen. They don't know if their plan is going to be successful or fail. Is someone going to loose their life because of their decisions?
Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing. It can drive a person mad not knowing how something is going to work out.
There is only one other thing in the world that is more powerful that the fear of the unknown and that is fear of the Volturi. They have become the most powerful coven of vampires the world has ever seen.
Power always comes with a price.
