After the stories Bella had heard of the Volturi, sparse as they had been, she never expected she'd be going to their strong hold. Certainly not to support them against her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. And yet as little as she did not believe it, that was the state of her life right now.
After Peter had given the news Jasper had been excused from practice for the first couple hours, instead he was tasked with organising transport for their group. Peter had clearly got across the idea that the sooner they left the better. Before they had started with their practice for that day Peter had looked at them with the deadliest serious look, he had given them so far, providing that ultimatum once again.
Bella was surprised that they had all once again stayed dead fast, proud even, because even without Jasper's gift she could tell the worry and fear that danced in her family's eyes. What worried Bella the most was that, that emotion was not limited to the Cullen's. She expected their fear, they were lovers before they were fighters, but Peter and Charlotte, they had seen some of the darkest aspects of vampire nature, had indulged in it, but even they were worried at this prospect.
Peter had gone harder on them today than he had in the whole time, his temper short and his corrections harsh as they were useful. Only when Jasper had returned had there been a lull, his gift taking the edge from the toxic mix of fear in the air.
When the training was over, they had not all gone their separate ways had been the norm, instead they had stayed together, packing a few meagre belongings before trekking to the airport. The mood was solemn at best, and yet most of the darkness was not for themselves but for the fear of losing each other, losing their mates, or other family members. They all understood the severity of the upcoming days, knew this coming war would make or break them. Even if they won, there was no guarantee they would come out better.
They sat together on the plane, there as a unit, but separate in their own way, mated pairs trying to provide comfort in the face of fear. Carlisle trying to soothe Esme's fears, Rosalie trying to soothe Emmett's, Peter and Charlotte trying to soothe each other's. Trying to give comfort with mere presence.
And through it all, Bella hated it. She hated how, when she was just starting to settle into life, having found both coven and family and, dare she think it, even love. And now they were hundreds of miles in the air and on a precipice, at risk of losing it all, or even part of it. She turned to Jasper, her heart heavy, and yet just looking at him brought a modicum of the warmth back.
"I don't know what any of what has happened between us means for us, Jasper, and I hate that it's already at risk. But you mean the absolute world to me, and for what it's worth I'm gonna fight with all I've got, to stay with you and fight for this life we can have." Her heart told her she loved him, but it also told her it wasn't the right time to say, that it would hurt all the more if she said it and then lost him in the war, but she also needed him to know she cared so damn much about him.
He took her hand in his, she was sure she'd never seen such a tender and heart-breaking look on his face, she didn't his gift to project his emotions, it was all on his sleeve, he raised her hand to his lips, placing the gentlest of barely there kisses to the back.
"I am so very glad you let us back into your life Darlin', though fraught with this tension, you have made these past weeks the happiest of my life."
Though unknowingly, Jasper's heart copied Bella's, stopping him saying the words he knew was true, words that had slowly being building themselves in his soul for days now. He wasn't scared for himself, he knew war, knew his own abilities, was even accepting of the mortality in his immortality, but Bella, while he knew she had received the very best training she could, he didn't want her anywhere near this. There was a difference between training and actual fights, and in his eyes, Bella was too beautiful, too pure to have to see the ugly truths of war.
But it was unavoidable, and so after placing a kiss onto her hand, once the plain deemed movement safe, he pulled her into his lap, be damned with what his family thought of it. Trapped in their own little bubble they let the plane ride pass them by, he regaled her with another story of his childhood. He knew distinctly how much she loved the stories, could feel her relax and melt into him, and between the feeling of Bella in his arms and the warm nostalgia he felt himself start to relax as well, soon there would be no time at all for relaxation, so he would make the most of it now.
The plane journey had gone much faster than he could ever have hoped for, he wished it had been timeless, but it had not.
Jasper had rung ahead to the Volturi, alerting them to the fact that Garrett had informed them of the impending war and as such they were arriving to supply reinforcements. He did not imagine just turning up would have ended up well for them while the Volturi were on high alert, especially when they were known to associate with Alice and Edward. As such, it was unsurprising when two large black SUV's with blacked out windows were waiting for them in the car park of the airport. Due to their night-time arrival, the two Volturi guard who were obviously acting as drivers had forgone their cloaks. Instead they were dressed in impeccable suits.
He could guess by here-say alone that their companions for the ride were the fabled witch twins. They were older than they looked, cursed by a baby face, though it certainly helped with subterfuge if they played it to their goals. Jane's face was neutral, her emotions displaying an undercurrent of worry, but otherwise nothing too hostile. The same could not be said for her brother, he did not need his gift to know that Alec was not too fond of the Cullen clan, his disgust was written on his etched in scowl.
Alec didn't like this situation at all. Between the war coming just the next day, and the arrival of the Cullen's he was less than pleased. He doubted Alice and Edward's little revolt faired as much danger as the Master's seemed to think, but who was he other than the lowly little messenger boy. He let Jane take over the diplomatic part of welcoming their 'guests'. Everyone always mistook Jane for the hostile one, based on her gift alone, but in fact she just wanted people to see past her gift, he was the natural loner, angry at the world. And very little disgruntled him more, than the Cullen's, their high and mighty attitudes and their unnatural diets. He was curious as to who the new girl was, not enough to pay attention to her name of course, but still it was strange for the Captain and Lieutenant to allow anyone other than the Major into their fold, and yet by her eyes, she must be with them.
Soon enough pleasantries were over and it was time for them to be leaving for the castle, it might be a short drive but Alec was damned if he would spend it cooped up with the Cullen's, so before his sweet little sister got any ideas he called dibs.
"I'll take the human drinkers, and the Major, I suppose, you can take the bunny-munchers Janie my dear." She sent him a glare, more at the name than the arrangements, but nodded nonetheless. And then we were going.
Just like he hoped, very little in the way of conversation occurred, he couldn't imagine Jane was fairing quite as well. For as much as he disliked the company, the journey was far from unpleasant. He led his group towards the throne room without waiting for Jane, the less he had to interact with the Cullen's was better in his mind.
Peter, despite the situation, was more than a little amused by Alec's attitude towards the Cullen's, damn not too long ago, while not to the same severity, he would have been right there with him. What little amusement he felt though was killed when they entered the throne room. It was definitely more than a little extravagant, but his sense of wonder thwarted by the serious look upon the three king's faces as they sat before them.
Aro nodded respectfully at him, and his companions, an action he returned swiftly. The room waited in silence for Jane to arrive with the Cullen's, giving Peter apt time to assess the room and any possible escape routes, there weren't many, but should they need it at any point he'd found them. Not that they'd be easy to get to, either now or during the battle did. Peter kept a firm grip on Char's hand, both needing that physical affirmation of her presence and hoping to provide some comfort to her as well. On his other side stood Bella, her head help high but he could practically see feel her trembling from his place, so as with his mate he squeezed her hand, making sure she knew she wasn't alone.
It wasn't very long at all before the Cullen's turned up looking, if possible, even more wary than Bella. With the whole gang finally here, business began.
"While it is wonderful dear Carlisle, I only wish it wasn't under such grave circumstances." The old friends shared a solemn nod.
"I only wish I had caught on to their treachery sooner." There was genuine regret in Carlisle's voice, though all was not for his spoken words, some was for what was yet to come. He, and all assembled here, knew that the coming day would be a strain on all.
"Likewise, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, I had always desired to see your famed prowess, we had always desired to see you in action, I am just saddened it is under such heavy circumstances it must occur." Peter rolled his eyes at the fanfare, but nodded once again in acquiescence.
Once he'd regaled the 'known' members of the party, Aro's eyes roved over the fellow companions. Carlisle's mate… unsurprising, likewise were the two other golden eyed vampires, Aro kept a good eye on his old friend, but the final female, eyes bright and red, seemingly a newborn, but impeccably controlled was unsurprising. She looked wary but still made and held eye contact when he made it with her.
"You have a newborn with you?" The first question was addressed to the group at large before focussing in on the girl herself, "And who might you be?" He beckoned her forwards, a light in his eyes. She accepted his awaiting hand, her head still held high.
"I'm Isabella Whitlock, sir." And what a curious newborn she was, a Whitlock, and there wasn't a peep from her mind when he tried to read it.
"A Whitlock? Normally, I wouldn't have to ask, but it appears my gift is ineffective on you, how pray tell did you come to this life. My knowledge of the Whitlock's is few and far between but I know they are renowned for their privacy." All the Cullen's eyebrows rose at that, though maybe, due to Edward's inability to read her too, they should not have been that surprised.
Bella told her story quickly, with as little information as possible before Aro nodded and let her back. For the first time, a king other than Aro spoke.
"Is that not enough on the small talk, Aro. War is coming in a few short hours, we must strategise!" Caius had always been the war orientated king, a feature from his Roman past that had never quite left, while the others tried to avoid battle where they could, Caius advocated for it.
For once his single mindedness was relevant, and with little more fanfare, preparations began.
They were ready, and the Volturi were unsuspecting, maybe it would not even be war, maybe it would just be slaughter. Alice did not know, and while she did not say, and while she did not let Edward see, it scared her. She did not like going in blind, especially when she did not know why. It was too late now, the troops were ready, and with a roar of triumph from Edward… they stormed the gates.
Bella was sure that in a different situation she would have marvelled at the beauty of the Volturi castle, but her mind was anywhere but at the architecture at this point. Her mind was racing over all the different possibilities on how the war could go as she stood in the final few moments before it began.
She wasn't ready, she wasn't sure she'd ever be ready, even if she was physically ready. But her time to ruminate was over, first came the humans, bursting through the doors, guns wielded before them. It took all of 1 second for the vampires assembled to realise the guns were actually dangerous and with single minded savagery a bloodbath occurred.
Bella hated every second of it, tearing through the humans as if they were butter, watching those around her do the same, her skin tainted red, roars of anger and fury flying around her. It felt like hours, but she was sure it was only a short amount of time the humans were gone, but the battle was not over.
She had barely seconds to check for her loved ones before the next wave came, the vampires. It was worse than even the previous, they were strong and trained, and angry. They came in waves and droves, she could not think, barely see, she had just gone on autopilot.
She had been bitten more than once, pieces of flesh were hanging off and venom was leaking all over, pain was all she knew at this point. But still she was single minded, focused on getting just one more of the enemy.
After nearly five hours she found a lull, still the fighting was constant, but she could focus on other parts, but she wish she hadn't.
She felt her heart stop as she took in the scene just feet away from her, somehow Peter and Charlotte had been separated, and though a formidable fighter, Charlotte was currently outnumbered 15 to herself, and one had just got a grip on her head, a smirk on his unfamiliar, vampiric face.
We're nearly at the end guys… Maybe like 2 more chapter… would love if we could break 300 reviews before the end 3