AN and the next chapter for all you lovelies still reading.

the end of the fight :)

Chapter 49 - Who's your bitch now?

BPOV

Shock.

That was the only thing coursing through me as Edward suddenly bolted from my side, as Aro was still busy going on his tangent.

Shock followed by pure anger.

That idiot.

I had warned him not to do anything stupid. I had warned him not to do this.

But then he yelled out for Demetri.

I frowned, confused as to what was happening. Had he heard something when I'd pulled him out from my shield that would tip the scales in our favour after all?

I was still confused as to how Angela had somehow been able to make me believe something… was she powerful enough to be able to penetrate my shield? Or was it because it was an outside projection that it also affected me?

Still, I wasn't completely convinced that she was on Aro's side. She seemed genuinely scared for her life as she stood next to him.

Edward surged forward and ploughed into Aro. While Demetri set off and sprinted towards Angela. I held my breath, he wasn't going to kill her was he? But then she simply scooped her up into his arms and set off at great speed.

The moment Angela was moved, the Volturi army disappeared. I gasped, as did the rest of the coven.

What was going on?!

Before I had time to focus back on Edward again and worry about what he had gotten himself into, a pair of iron arms wrapped around me from behind. Panic and adrenaline set in and I fought like hell to free myself.

Jasper had taught me well; never let them get their arms around you.

I stomped on a foot, then threw my elbow into their midriff, before snapping my head back and nailing them in the head. The grip around my waist loosened and I broke free, spinning at the same time to face my attacker.

Sculpicia.

The great army we had been facing just a moment ago might have disappeared, but there was a cavalry. It appeared Aro had been stalling to buy them time to get here and try to get rid of me and Edward probably.

I hissed at her. I wasn't going to let her beat me. The rest of the Coven charged the cavalry. There weren't too many, enough that we knew we had to get seirous again. But we were ready. Benjamin threw himself into the battle with abandon, as did the wolves. The Cullen family was slightly more careful, Rosalie stuck closely to Emmett, who had been injured. Alice was glue to Jasper's back and Carlisle simply hated killing people. Esme too. Still they charged ahead, helping the others but not finishing anyone off themselves, but helping nonetheless.

I took all this in in less than a second, before focussing back on Sulpicia. She was crouched in front of me, hissing and bearing her teeth. I guess she was still holding a grudge over what had happened in Volterra. I mean I had called her a waste of space and that her husband liked the company of other women over her… I guess I'd be pissed too.

'Give up, Sulpicia.' I hissed.

'You don't give orders to me, bitch.' She spat. I blinked at her foul language. Never in my life had I heard Sulpicia use that kind of language. I must have really gotten under her skin.

'You won't win this.' I said calmly.

'I have thousands of years on you, little girl. I'll teach you some manners while my husband kills your little boy toy.'

'Boy toy?' I cocked an eyebrow at her. 'Really?'

She hissed again. 'I will make you pay for every foul word you spoke to me last time we met. You will regret the day you were turned.'

God this was getting old. Her threats were laughable really. Regret being turned? I never wanted to be turned in the first place. Her dick of husband kidnapped me and forced me into being what essentially boiled down to his slave.

I didn't want to waste another breath on her.

I lunged.

She yelped in surprise. Apparently she had not expected that. The fight was short but brutal. I shot my foot into her stomach, sending her flying backwards. She sprang to her feet and retaliated hard. Her fist connected to the side of my face before I could jump back. That got me angry. I clambered to my feet and quickly jabbed my fist into her stomach, making her double over as the air left her body with force. Then I doubled down, jabbing my elbow in to her back, forcing her further down to the ground. Without waiting I drew back my foot and kicked her hard in the ribs. She groaned and hissed, trying to get back to her feet. But I wasn't going to let that happen. I drew my foot back again and this time kicked the side of her face with force. Her head snapped back and she didn't clamber back to her feet. I had stunned her it seemed.

I quickly grabbed hold of her neck and drew her up to her knees on the floor.

'It's over Sulpicia.' I hissed. Grabbing hold of her hair tightly with my right hand, while the other wrapped around her neck. I glanced around the battle ground, noticing the coven was winning, but still struggling. They were tired. Edward was also struggling, rolling around with Aro on the ground.

'Call off your dogs.' I hissed at her. 'Now!'

She hissed back at first, but as I tightened my grip on her to show her I wouldn't hesitate to kill her, she froze.

Then her voice rang out in panic. 'Stop!' she cried out. 'Please! Stop!'

'Tell them to halt their attack.' I commanded. The battle ground was slowly stopping, eyes were turning our way, but not fast enough for my liking.

'Everyone cease your attacks.' Sulpicia repeated. Her voice was strained as my hand around her neck tightened yet again.

Aro had frozen by the call of his helpless mate and Edward took advantage of that distraction now, jumping forward and grabbing hold of Aro in much the same way I was holding Sulpicia.

The battle stopped.
All eyes were on us.

'Volturi members. You have lost friends, mates and family. Do you wish to lose your own lives as well?' I asked them loud and clear. Edward turned to look at me, wondering where I was going with this probably.

'Your masters have been vindictive and monstrous. They have treated you like doormats, like property, like you were less than them. But that is not the way it has to be.'

'I will have your head for this!' Aro yelled out desperately, Edward quickly tightened his grip on Aro's neck, until he was gasping for air.

'You will be silent.' His hissed.

'The Volturi have filled your heads with lies about the Cullen coven. With lies they try to justify killing a peaceful coven in cold blood. But we wouldn't stand for it. And we will no longer tolerate their lies. Aro has been lying to you all for centuries. He even lied to his own brothers. All for the sake of power. Didyme was his first victim. Then it was all of you as he acquired a gifted vampire named Chelsea. She manipulated all of you under Aro's command. He used you as his own personal puppet. We now give you a choice. A choice to be your own persons. You may stay or you may go. The only thing we ask you is to refrain from violence against our coven.'

I saw Edward nod in agreement. 'There are other ways to live than the Volturi have shown you. Peaceful ways. We need not always be at war.' Edward added.

'This can only end if you kill them both.' A gravelly voice called out. I frowned and zeroed in on the voice.

'Marcus?' I asked in shock. I had thought Aro had already killed him.

He stepped forward, looking severely mishappen. Aro had definitely done a number on him. He had probably played dead to trick Aro into thining he'd been killed to get away.

'Brother?' Aro gasped out, hoping his savior had turned up, but judging from the look in Marcus' eye, Aro was far from being saved.

'Volturi members. Everything the Cullens have told you is true. Aro has lied and deceived us all. He killed my wife.' He spat at Aro. 'He lied and kept us all under his control by using Chelsea and Corin.'

The remaining Volturi members were muttering and mumbling amongst themselves. It was almost as if you could hear the gears turning in their heads. What Marcus was saying was resonating with a lot of them. You could see it in their faces.

'You traitor.' Aro yelled. 'You useless sack of dung! I should have never let my sister marry someone like you.'

Marcus's eyes flared as Aro yelled obscenities at his former brother. It seemed he realized that his fate was sealed now.

Edward looked at Marcus for a moment, before gesturing him to come over.

'My lord Edward.' Marcus started very formally. 'Although my time is coming to an end, and I have no right to ask any favours from you… I request the priviledge of knocking out my brother for the last time, as I am sure my strength will have left me after that and I will perish and leave this world.'

Edward seemed to hesitate and he looked over to me.

'Bella?' he asked softly. He was asking my opinion? My permission perhaps even? I was shocked. He really intended for us to be equal then… he wasn't going to simply agree or do something just because he held the title of coven master. We were in this together.

I gave him a nod. Let Marcus have his last fun.

Edward nodded to Marcus. 'We grant you your last request, Marcus Volturi.'

'Please… call me Marcus of Cyrene… As I was known when she met me.'

Edward bowed his head once. 'Marcus of Cyrene.' He repeated.

'Thank you.'

There was nothing left of the frightening man that had haunted me. It was clear that Aro had manipulated his pain and anger at losing his mate in the most beastly ways. Now it had all been revealed to him, there was nothing left but a sad and broken man.

'Marcus of Cyrene.' I repeated.

A small smile graced his lips as more and more vampires repeated it as Marcus stepped over to Aro. Edward was still holding him securely.

'I am sorry for the pain I have caused, be it through my brother's manipulations or my own hatred. I had lost my ways and I repent.' He muttered before crossing himself and muttering a short prayer. He turned around for a moment taking in all the vampires surrounding him saying his true name.

He closed his eyes. Then he turned to face Aro.

'I am coming Didyme.' He whispered. He pulled his arm back, curled his hand into a fist and with all his strength and might brought it down on Aro's chin.

Edward released Aro at the last moment, making sure he wouldn't absorb any of the blow. Aro went down with a scream of pain as the sound of metallic tearing filled the clearing. Marcus had torn off a piece of ARo's jaw with his blow. Sulpicia trashed in my hold crying out for her mate. Keening for his pain.

The dazed Aro remained on the floor, but Edward quickly took hold of him again, taking no risks. Marcus swayed on his feet for a moment, a smile on his face. Together we watched as Marcus dropped to his knees. Then further down, leaning on one arm, before that one gave out and he fell to the ground with a soft thud.

He didn't move again. He was gone.

'The time has come.' Carlisle's voice cut through the thick silence that filled the clearing. 'There has been enough death here today. Let us pass judgement on the Coven master and mistress of the Volturi and then let us be done with this.'

He directed his words to the remaining Volturi before he turned to Edward and I.

'Coven Mistress, Master. What is your judgement?'

I took a deep breath before looking over at Edward. He was already looking at me.

'Whatever you feel is right, love.' He whispered.

'I love you.' I whispered back. He smiled brightly at me.

'We cannot let Aro and Sulpicia Volturi go. Their hearts are black as night. They have done nothing but lie, deceive and torture people they had sworn to protect. They have failed in their duty as coven Masters, but they also failed in their duty to protect the vampire race. They have become arrogant in their hubris and they have endangered us all. There can be no mercy.' I finished confidently.

'I concur.' Edward spoke beside me, clearly and strongly. 'We pass the judgement of death.'

The crowd before us was silent as they took everything in. Carlisle gave us a minute nod of his head and I looked over at Edward. With a small nod he gripped Aro's head in earnest and a pitiful sound of terror seeped from his lips.

Then the tearing began.

Sulpicia trashed in my arms again, as her mate was torn apart beside her. I wasted no time to follow Edward's lead. I grasped hold of her neck and bit my nails into her skin, tearing her head clean off her body.

As the metallic tearing stopped, the clearing grew silent. It descended heavily around us.

Then the wolves started howling. First one, long and sorrowful. Then the next and next joined in, until the entire pack was howling into the night. As the howls of lament continued the vampires sank to their knees boing their heads and listening to the homage that was being paid by the wolves to the fallen.

It was a beautiful homage to all that had been lost.