Hi everyone!
Apologies for the extremely long unplanned hiatus! Life happened, as it does.
Good news is, the story is now finished!
I will be posting chapters every week or so until we reach the end.
Please give your thanks to JaneyGWF for her gentle nudging, prompting and beta-ing to get this out to you.
Also thanks to everyone who messaged asking if the story was going to be finished, it was really nice to know that people were still interested!
Enjoy!
Maura was pushed back to her knees by the combined grief from her allies. The Cullens, the werewolves, everyone had deeply felt Carlisle's sudden passing. The whole field was frozen in shock at what they'd just witnessed, staring at the spot where two of the oldest vampires known had met their sudden demise.
Under the barrage of borrowed emotional agony, Maura could feel her own grief as well. Carlisle had been the first vampire to show her kindness and compassion, going out of his way to help her in one of her darkest moments. He had been generous, and genuinely cared. He hadn't deserved the way his life had just been cruelly ended.
Esme's anguished scream abruptly broke the stunned silence of the battlefield, as if it was permission to move. All the combatants snapped out of their stupor and resumed the fight, but none more explosively than the Cullens.
Alice and Bella rushed to Esme's side, holding her up and moving into defensive stances. They immediately started attacking any Volturi in arms reach, their expressions pure fury. Edward lunged for the gun Caius had dropped, firing off a few rounds at the closest of the guard before lunging into the middle of a fierce close combat fight between two Volturi and a brown furred wolf. Jasper became a barely visible blur as he sped through the Volturi, landing blows furiously and knocking enemies in every direction.
Esme was teetering between rage and despair, but the hands of her family grasping her trembling shoulders was pushing her in the more productive direction, the one that would help get them out alive. She suddenly came alive, lunging past Alice and striking out against their assailants.
Reaching out mentally, Maura realised she couldn't hear any of the Cullens except Esme, so Bella must have them included in her shield. Unfortunately, Maura found she also couldn't hear any of the Volturi, leading her to believe they had managed to put some kind of shield of their own in place. That must have been why she couldn't stop Caius from pulling the trigger a few moments earlier.
After a few ineffective attempts, Maura realised that none of her powers were working against the Volturi, and a glance at Betty's frustrated and panicked face indicated her powers were faring no better. With a sinking feeling, Maura realised their primary advantage had been neutralised.
Before she could decide on a new course of action, Maura felt Jane yelling for help in her mind. She grasped for her friend's position through their miraculously intact mental connection, finding her still in the plane. With desperate speed, Maura dashed across the battle, skirting around friend and foe alike in her rush to find Jane.
Moving furtively, Maura managed to avoid being pulled into any of the fierce violence around her, until she was abruptly hit from the side, knocking her off course and ruining her momentum. She tried to reorient herself, only to see a serious looking Volturi charging towards her again. She had no time to brace herself before his bulk smashed into her side, driving her into the ground with bone-shaking force. A pained cry left her lips as his arms captured hers, pulling them behind her back painfully.
The hold was broken a moment later when a blur tackled him off her. Maura whipped her head around frantically, and was surprised to find Betty straddling his back, pulling at his head even as his arms reached for her legs. Maura lunged forward, adding her strength, and his head finally twisted too far with a squeal.
The two fell back in shock from the body, looking at each other in thanks before jumping to their feet and returning their attention to the battle. Maura knew that she would feel awful for her actions later, but violence and brutality was necessary to defeat the Volturi. The stakes were just too high.
Maura felt Betty following her as she weaved through the fighting, finally reaching the plane with the fervent hope that she hadn't taken too long to get there.
When Maura flew up the stairs of the plane, she gasped at the sight she found. Jane and Catalina were locked in a fierce battle, their hands wrapped around each other, legs struggling for purchase, teeth bared and eyes blazing in hatred. Hope was awake, and for some reason was lunging towards Jane's back, throwing her shoulder into Jane with reckless abandon. Her forehead was already split open, and her hands were bloodied from her own wounds.
Jane's eyes flashed to Maura's as soon as she ran in, desperate for help. Maura, please, get your mother out of here, now, I managed to turn off her vampire brain thingy and she woke up and was fine, but now I think she's being controlled or something, she keeps charging into me. She's going to kill herself! Get her out of here!
Maura glanced at Catalina in confusion, wondering why she couldn't simply help overcome the vicious vampire first. When she stepped towards the enraged woman, Jane frowned and yelled louder in her mind. No, Maura! She'll kill you if you touch her! I'm holding her powers back with mine, but I might not be able to stop her if she gets her hands on you. Please, just get Hope out of here, I'll handle this crazy psycho once you guys are clear. Please!
With a nod, Maura edged past the deadlocked pair and grabbed Hope before she could throw herself forward again. Hope's wild eyes found Maura's, and she immediately understood why Jane thought she was being controlled, though possessed might have been a better description.
Hope switched her frenzied attacks to Maura, her arms flailing ineffectually and more than likely painfully against her daughter's impervious skin. Maura bundled her mother over her shoulder, an arm around Hope's wrists to restrain her. With one last impassioned demand to leave from Jane, Maura ducked past the vicious Volturi holding her friend in a death grip and fled the plane.
Maura could hear Jane thank her profusely before she returned her full attention to Catalina. Maura hadn't felt a lie when Jane said she could handle her once the distraction was gone, so she had confidence that Jane would be okay. She knew Jane was probably right about her being unable to help, since the shield Maura was still maintaining around her group of allies only defended against mental powers and Catalina's energy sucking powers were energy based. Deciding to believe in Jane's ability to take out the bad guys, Maura found the quickest route to the forest and quickly dashed away, avoiding the battle that was only increasing in ferocity.
Knowing she needed to stay in range of the battle to keep the shield around her allies, Maura stopped and carefully placed Hope on her feet, gently restraining her in case she continued to attack. Hope was obviously injured, her movements jerky and uncoordinated as she tried to ineffectually shake loose of Maura's grip. Blood seeped out of several cuts on her face, hands and shoulders, most likely received during her mindless assault on Jane's impervious skin. Maura tried to use her powers to get into Hope's head, but she was completely locked out, as if Hope's mind was protected by the same shield as the Volturi.
A whoosh heralded the arrival of Betty, her face panicked as she glanced back at the continuing battle. "Maura, just leave her and come back to help. She'll be fine for a few minutes."
Hope's head swung around at the sound of Betty's voice, a giddy smile on her face that seemed completely out of character. "Lisbet, so nice to see you again."
Maura and Betty both recoiled at the syrupy voice that poured from Hope's lips, the inflection and European accent clearly not her own. Betty hissed out a strangled reply. "Aro? What the hell?"
Hope continued to sway in place, the sickly smile still adorning her face in stark contrast to the smears of blood and sallow skin. "Don't be so surprised, my dear, you knew I wanted to borrow your network. This is just my way of testing it out. I must say, I'm so far enjoying the benefits."
The psychotic laugh that exploded out of Hope at the sight of Betty's disgust made Maura shiver in disgust, which only grew more pronounced as Aro turned Hope's eyes towards her. "And you Maura, so nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you from my dear family. I simply must make your acquaintance in person."
Betty immediately grabbed Maura's hand, pulling her away from her possessed mother. "No, Maura, stay away from him. He'll kill you."
Hope's lip curled in displeasure as Aro's will forced her to crouch and pick up a sharp rock from the ground. "I really must insist, my dear. I would like to know just how you've managed to resist the scent of your mother's blood, despite still being a newborn. And I'm afraid that's a face to face conversation."
When Betty still continued to pull on Maura's arm, Hope's expression hardened and her hand clenched tightly around the rock, drawing more blood from her already damaged hands. "I really must insist."
Maura darted forward, knocking the rock away and restraining Hope again. Aro simply laughed in her face through Hope, a tinge of insanity in the sound. "Do you think this body is the only one I control? Let me be very clear. If you are not back at that airfield in the next minute, your mother Constance will be given an overdose of morphine in the hospital you left her in mere hours ago. Your father Patrick will be painfully murdered in prison. Your other father will simply walk himself off a nearby mountain, never to be found. Have I made myself clear?"
Maura let go of Hope's arms, backing away with a horrified expression. It was possible that Aro was lying, but there was no way for her to find out. Her family was scattered across the globe, and by the time she found a way to contact them, it would be too late.
She spared a glance at Betty, who had a fearful look of anticipation as she cautiously approached Hope. "What about my coven? What have you done with them? Why can't I feel them? Why didn't they stop you?"
Hope smiled cruelly at Betty's worried questions. "Don't worry, Lisbet, they are too valuable to destroy. I've got a place in my new world for all of you. And as soon as Maura and I have our little chat, she's going to take down her shield, and you will be welcomed back into the network with open arms. You know I just want us all to be family."
Betty seemed lost, her eyes hopeless as they turned back to Maura, hoping for a way out. Unfortunately, Maura couldn't see one; he held their entire world hostage, and their small group had no way to release everyone in Aro's thrall. It was still possible that it was a trick, that Aro didn't really have control over the whole world, but dread was starting to pervade Maura's mind at the suspicion that he might be telling the truth.
Before either would react, two figures sped out of the trees and stopped next to Hope. Maura stepped back in surprise, recognising Lily and Cassandra, the two new vampires that had abandoned the Volturi at the start of the battle. Betty stepped back as well, tugging on Maura's arm in a fearful plea.
In unison, the two Volturi and Hope spoke as one using Aro's inflection. "I am not trying to deceive you, my precious friends. I simply want you to join our family as you were meant to. Come now, I would hate for us to disagree over something so foolish. Lisbet may remain here, but you will come to me now Maura. You will drop your shield, and I will understand you. Won't that be nice, to be understood?"
Maura nodded in resignation, looking back at her biological mother for what could be the last time. "I'm sorry, Hope. Betty, please take care of her."
Without waiting for an answer, Maura turned and ran back to the airfield as fast as she could.
As soon as she cleared the tree line, Maura realised the tide of the battle had turned, and not in their favour. The wolves were all retreating into the forest, most of them limping or whimpering in pain. Several fur covered bodies were scattered around the field, but Maura couldn't tell if they were still breathing. She still had the wolves, Jane, Betty and Esme in her shield, but the mental protection hadn't done much to affect the outcome of the physical fight.
A line of Volturi had created a protective guard around the inner circle. Aro was standing in the centre, his gleeful eyes locked on Maura the moment she had appeared. Her eyes flicked over the vampires surrounding him, identifying all their key targets except Catalina, who she could hear still struggling with Jane inside the plane.
With a sharp intake of air, Maura realised that the Cullens were also standing alongside the Volturi, with Edward and Jasper holding Esme between them. All of the Cullens were expressionless, their faces a blank mask of indifference as they held their mother in painful restraint. Maura frantically met Esme's eyes, and tried to hear anything through their mental connection.
After a few seconds, Esme's thoughts made it through her misery. It was Renesmee. Aro made it clear that he had her under his control. He said he would kill her if Bella didn't drop the shield. I had to surrender, I couldn't risk hurting my family.
Maura nodded in understanding, not expecting anything less from a mother in defence of her child. This confirmed Aro must have control over anyone in the mental network not protected by a shield, even hybrids. That was the great pressure she had felt, which had knocked her to her knees right before Carlisle had been killed. That meant that Jane, herself, Betty, Esme and the wolves might be the only free minds left in the world.
With some unheard prompt, the Volturi guard stepped aside, giving Aro a clear line of sight to Maura. He looked over her with unrestrained giddiness, and actually let out a high pitched giggle as he waved her over.
With a jolt of revulsion, Maura started moving towards him. She glanced around the now quiet battlefield, hoping to find something, anything, to give them a last minute advantage. The only thing she found was broken bodies and the remains of a wasted struggle.
Before reaching the vile man, Maura spared a thought for Jane, still locked in a stalemate with Catalina. She despaired at the realisation that she wouldn't get the chance to say goodbye, not to Jane or any of her loved ones. Maybe as they were incorporated into Aro's network, they would still exist in some way. Maybe once Aro was done conquering the world, or destroying his enemies, or whatever his end goal actually was, they would be able to reclaim some sort of life again.
But that brief glimmer of hope was lost when she glanced around the Volturi and Cullens standing like statues around Aro. They were motionless husks, only extensions of Aro's will. They didn't appear to have any of their previous emotions or thoughts, they simply stood where they had been left and waited for instructions.
As she stopped in front of a still grinning Aro, Maura sent a burst of emotion towards Jane, hoping that the message would be received. That Jane would understand how much Maura wished this wasn't the end, and how much her desire to go on was because of how Jane had made her understand life again. How much she wished they could have had a long life of shared experience together.
It was so unfair, to have endured all they had only to have it end like this. How had they ended up stuck in the middle of a war, one which had resulted in the death of free will throughout the world? They had led relatively simple lives, and yet they were apparently key figures in a vampire war. And despite whatever hopes the coven had held for them, they had failed.
Despite all the armies and weapons that had been painstakingly built, every effort of the human race to protect themselves, they had succumbed to an invisible enemy they didn't know existed. The fact that she was the last witness to individuality should have given her a sense of importance, but it just made her deeply sad. What had been the point of everything if it was to end in total destruction? Maura had no answer. The magnitude of the reality the world faced was too high for any one person to understand, she could only feel her own loss as her world ended. In a last attempt to go out the way she wanted, she could only push her feelings at Jane in apology, hoping her best friend could somehow understand her regrets and sorrows, as well as her deep gratefulness that Jane had chosen to be her friend.
Maura could feel Jane's confusion and defiance flying back into her mind as soon as Jane realised what the stream of emotion from Maura meant. It wasn't in Jane's nature to give up, or say goodbye. Instead, she screamed at Maura with every emotion she could muster, making her flinch with the force of her demand for Maura to turn around and get away from danger. Maura knew Jane would fight with every spark of life in her body, and if she wasn't still locked in deadly combat with yet another psychopath, she would have been right at Maura's side. As selfish as it was, Maura wished Jane could have been by her side at the end.
But reality stared her in the face in the form of an immortal madman, so regretfully Maura pulled her emotions in and focused on the moment, feeling a last tug of desperate pleading from Jane before she separated their minds.
Aro cackled once more, apparently so overcome with the heady sensation of his mastery of the network that he couldn't contain himself. Instead of speaking, he simply held out his hand to Maura. His expression may have been distended in child-like glee, but his eyes were serious and uncompromising, conveying clearly that any rash action would be swiftly punished.
His skin was pale and chalky, reminding Maura of the way her skin had looked when she had been near death and mindless. She remembered Betty telling them about Aro, that he knew every thought his followers had ever experienced, and realised he must need to touch his victims. She suppressed a shudder at the notion that their powers worked in similar ways, but instead of recoiling she pushed her revulsion away, dropped her shield, grasped his hand, and surrendered.