Hello all! This is a pretty heavy chapter, and so is the next one. I'm about halfway through that chapter so the wait shouldn't be too long. Also, for anyone who donated to Fandom for Hope and Relief, I had to make a last minute change to my submission, because that one shot was not talking. The submission will be a new fic that I will post later this year. It is a Rancherward that I've been playing around with for a while. But I finally found a way to make the story something unique and special to me. So I hope you enjoy when it goes live.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 24

Felix made the first move, running headlong towards me. I ran out and watched as Vladimir tackled him around the waist. I reached down and tore his right arm from his body as Vladimir removed his head. Caius roared, watching as his son fell and joined the fray with everyone else.

Our strategy of quick moves and non-obvious attacks worked well in the beginning as the followers of our enemies fell. It was clear they had not trained their "witnesses" well.

The first on our side to fall was Amun, immobilized by Alec and his mate until Demitri was able to end him. Benjamin slammed his fist into the ground, opening the surface to catch Athenodora, Sulpicia, and Bree into the crack and then the lightning came down to catch a fallen tree on fire and burn the trio.

Riley allowed the rage to overcome him and he attacked Jasper, Garrett catching him by the neck and tearing his head from his body.

I tried not to look for my family, because I knew it would be the death of me, but I would catch glimpses as I fought off my own opponents.

Caius caught Carmen as she ended a follower aimed at Jasper, taking his time to kill her. That pause sent Eleazar flying at him, and while he was too late so save his love, a royal line was officially ended.

I didn't see Vladimir fall, but I saw his remains as I bested another of Victoria's witnesses. A cry from behind me caught my attention as Bella grabbed a fistfull of red hair and pulled Victoria's hair back at an unusual angle. I watched in awe as she clawed out the front of her throat and then allowed Alice to grip her shoulders and end the twin of her tormentor.

A movement caught my eye, but only because of the unnatural nature of it. A young woman was almost on me, and then she wasn't, her body turning and headed back the way she came. I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand, fearing the cause.

I fought my way through the witnesses still coming at me, searching wildly for what I feared I would find. People kept shifting away from killing blows against our allies and I knew without a shadow of a doubt she was here.

An unearthly scream echoed throughout the clearing and froze everyone in their place. The blonde, Alec's mate, had her arms wrapped around Renata, who thrashed against her. Kate smacked her hands against the ground and Alec and Aro ran to the woman's defense, but they were soon caught and restrained.

Kate's blow had the desired effect, but the little witch held firm to Renata, shocking her too. My father appeared behind the woman, severing her head just as Kate stopped the flow of her gift.

"Jane, no!" Alec thrashed in Jasper and Garrett's arms, but their grip was firm.

I moved towards them, but Bella was quicker. "You have done nothing but try to control and hurt my family since the moment I was brought here. Your mate is dead, and soon, your father and you will join her. But first, you will feel the pain my Edward did at your hands."

Bella reached for Alec's right forearm and Jasper let go of the arm so she could rip it from his body. A second later, she did the same with his left, his head coming off before his scream of agony had finished.

I turned to Aro, who was staring at the broken remains of his son. Emmett and Eleazar held him steady as our guard tightened the circle around the clearing so there was no chance of escape. My hand reached down where one of the torches had been discarded in the race to catch Aro, while my other hand reached for the lighter I carried in my front pocket.

Igniting the torch, I turned to Aro, the fire in my eyes as bright as the one I held in my hand. "You were one of the first to start this feud, and you will be the last to perish in it."

I pressed the torch into his chest, watching the anguish on his face as he realized these were his last seconds. The second the flames grew beyond his midsection his body was dropped and the flames overtook him.

I ran to Renata, completely oblivious to the crumpled remnants of Jane. She didn't move, dead weight in my arms as my father surrendered her over to me.

I lifted her and turned to my people, who still had the remaining fighters surrounded.

"What should we do with them, Majesty?" a member of the guard asked.

"Burn them all. No one who supported the traitors will live." I turned to Bella, who looked distraught. "Go with Jasper and Alice into the tunnel and make sure Marcus and Rosalie are okay. I'll be back at the residence."