AN: Welcome back everyone. I know it's been awhile but hope you guys enjoy. As a warning, toward the middle of the chapter there is violence depicted.
Over the course of a week, the rest of the covens and nomads arrived one by one. There were the Amazonians, Zafrina, Kachiri, and Senna, sisters with tan skin and highly feral in appearance and behavior. The Amazonians made no attempt to blend in with humans, having lived in isolated parts of South America for almost the entirety of their existence. Zafrina had the ability to project a vivid, excruciatingly real image into the minds of those around her, images that could be terrifying or achingly beautiful.
Soon after the Amazonians arrived, the Egyptian coven arrived as well. Their leader Amun was an ancient and considered himself to be the oldest of all existing vampires. His mate Kebi was also an ancient though far younger than her partner. With them was a tan young man with wide eyes and a bright smile, named Benjamin, that could manipulate the elements. His mate Tia was also there, though she remained fairly silent as the groups mingled amicably.
A few days later, the Irish coven also appeared, led by Siobhan. With her was a tall man named Liam and a young woman named Maggie. Within moments of arriving, the trio had already lightened the mood of the house considerably with their sarcastic jokes and sly smiles.
The French coven was the last to arrive, consisting of a dark-skinned man named Henri and a pale young woman with dark wavy hair. Henri was incredibly strong, stronger even than a newborn and Emmett quickly found himself 20 dollars less rich after losing an arm wrestle to the smiling man.
The groups went out in waves to train, pairing off and venturing outside to fight and/or practice with their gifts. Isabella's visual shield was put up around the clearing and the windows were coated in a liquid that prevented anyone from seeing into the house clearly but allowed those inside to see out without problem. Overall the plan was to remain off the radar of the newborn army and Abaddon as long as possible before bringing the fight to them.
It was late in the afternoon and the entire house was filled with shifters and vampires alike, chatting happily together like a large unorthodox family. Kate and Benjamin were taking turns splashing and shocking one another as well as pranking those around the room, Emmett and Henri were goofing off while flexing their large arms, Carlisle and Tanya were catching up on one of the couches over a book that looked suspiciously like a textbook, and Esme seemed to be raptly listening to Jax tell stories of his existence. The rest of the house's inhabitants were mingling amicably.
Rosalie felt a presence at her side as she observed those around her and turned to a slightly frowning blonde. She raised an eyebrow at the shorter woman in an unspoken question and the frown deepened.
"What?" Jane growled. "I'm not a fan of people."
Rosalie hid her smirk with practiced ease, a minute twitch of her lips showing her amusement at the grumpy woman. She nodded in understanding, knowing exactly how it felt to dislike large groups of people such as this. She was never one to grow attached to strangers or feel the need to humor them with polite conversation. That kind of forced mingling and practiced smile was part of her old life, something she was not looking to revisit.
"Come on," Rosalie spoke, heels already clicking across the dark wood floors as she left the living room and led Jane into an office of sorts. The office was ridiculously well organized, with a sleek wooden desk and large computer toward the back of the room, a floor to ceiling window pressed against a modern leather couch. Rosalie reached under the desk and pressed a button, from which a panel in the wall opened to reveal a glass container filled with amber liquid and ornate rocks glasses.
"Is that scotch?" Jane asked, a hint of surprise coloring her voice.
"Macallan 'M' to be precise" Rosalie responded. "Even though it doesn't do anything to us, I still enjoy drinking it sometimes."
Jane narrowed her eyes but accepted the offered glass, nose wrinkling at the strong smell. She tentatively took a sip, expecting something bitter and burning but instead getting a smooth taste of scotch with hints of cinnamon, apple, and wood smoke. It was odd, and Jane found herself enjoying it despite herself, much to the amusement of the other blonde in the room who took a seat on the couch and sipped her own drink with a smirk.
"I don't hate it" Jane stated, eyeing the liquid as it swirled in her glass. Rosalie smiled and nodded, satisfied with that omission.
Rosalie glanced at Jane, looking as if she were about to speak before deciding against it. Her fingers brushed out a non-existent wrinkle in her pants and Jane eyed her curiously. Rosalie caught the smaller woman's red eyes and glared, to which Jane only smirked.
"Whatever it is, you can ask it you know."
Rosalie's eyes narrowed, and she scoffed. "I know that," she responded. When Jane simply raised an eyebrow at her, Rosalie sighed. "Fine. What was she like?"
If Jane was surprised by the question she didn't show it. "I assume you mean Isabella. She was infuriating and pathetic at first. Clumsy, heartbroken, and scared when we first found her. But, she had a gift, a rather impressive one, so we took her back with us. Alec turned her. She had impeccable control, like nothing I've ever seen before. Within an hour of being turned, purple eyes gave her blessing to a human that accidentally entered the throne room. Her fucking blessing." Jane laughed to herself, catching the look of incredulity on Rosalie's face.
"I know," she continued. "She began her training and for reasons we still aren't sure about, she developed some weird connection with the shifter. As far as I know, Isabella was the first one to ever see his shifted form. She let Alec and I in on their little secret after I confronted her about it. We got close after a while; it's hard not to love her once you know her."
Jane's eyes took on a slightly distant look and Rosalie felt an odd sensation bubble in her chest. She stifled the growl that threatened to come out, but Jane seemed to notice because she raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Look frosty, I won't say that I didn't have feelings for her. But, there's no need to be jealous" Jane was interrupted by Rosalie's scoff and felt herself smile. "We both have our mates now. She's great and all but Leah's better, at least for me. She saved my life though, not long after she first arrived and before we were truly friends. I wasn't even sure she liked me, not outside of my brother at least."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow at her and Jane continued. "I was training a new guard member and he attacked me, he was so fast. She discovered the physical part of her shield that day. If it weren't for her I wouldn't be standing here today. We went on dozens of missions together after her training was over. She learns quickly and is fiercely protective of those she cares about, that much is for sure. You'll never have to doubt her loyalty to you."
Rosalie gave Jane a soft smile that was returned, albeit begrudgingly. The pair was interrupted from their moment however as Isabella burst through the door, eyes wide.
"We gotta go. Now!"
As Isabella sped out of the room, Jane and Rosalie raced after her, met with a panicked room of vampires and shifters.
"We will explain on the way, everyone get to the jet." Isabella demanded, her violet eyes flashing.
Once the familiar Volturi jet was in the air, now packed with dozens of people looking incredibly confused, Isabella stood at the front of the plane. Jax placed a strong hand on her shoulder for reassurance.
"Volterra has been attacked. I got the call from Aro less than half an hour ago. They are holding them off, but they need reinforcements. It looks like Abaddon is behind this, distracting us here just long enough to go there and form an attack." Isabella took a breath, her eyes connecting with those of Alec and Jane who sat impossibly still.
"We have no idea the damage that has been done so far or how much the situation will have changed once we arrive. Be prepared to fight the moment that we land." Jax's deep voice rumbled. There were murmurs and shifts throughout the plane, uneasy looks being thrown around from group to group.
"We should talk about strategy going in." Jasper declared from the back of the plane, standing up to address the group. "Isabella should shield those with powers first since they will be the first targets if the group we are fighting has any training at all. Those of us who have fought before should be the front line. It is likely that the castle will have been taken by the time we arrive so we must work our way to and into the castle before working our way back out. We must also remember that Abaddon has compulsion powers that are largely unknown to us. We know nothing of the extent or range of his powers so we must be careful. We also have no idea how many enemies we will be up against. This all puts us at a severe disadvantage."
Jax nodded in agreement. "The man that we are up against is powerful, ancient, and arguably pure evil. He killed my entire family and species as well as many of the vampires we fought alongside during the first Great War. He will not hesitate to kill any one of us, nor will he hesitate to kill innocent civilians that are nearby. Use caution and fight smart my friends. This is a day that will be remembered for a long time to come."
Isabella crossed the plane to Rosalie once the speeches and plans were made, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. She inhaled her mate's scent and pulled back to look into the bright gold eyes before her. There was fear, so much fear, present in those golden orbs as Isabella placed a soft hand against Rosalie's cheek. She leaned in, closing the space between them, lips meeting in a passionate kiss that felt far too much like a goodbye.
"I can't lose you" Rosalie whispered, her eyes filling with venom that blurred her sight, though the tears could not fall. Her voice wavered and broke and Isabella wrapped her arms around her before whispering in her ear.
"You won't lose me Rose. Not now, not ever. I won't let anything happen to you."
Across the plane, similar exchanges were being made between all of the mated pairs and family members. Alice was terrified, that much was obvious, but she was holding Jasper tight, trying to help relieve the toll that receiving so many strong emotions was having on him.
As the plane landed, determined faces filed out of the plane on high alert, Isabella's shield surrounding them as they cautiously snuck up to the castle. Once there, the group let out collective gasps of surprise at the sight that met them. Bodies littered the castle grounds, unfamiliar newborns among them, multiple fires were burning as well, acrid smoke filling the air. The castle was eerily quiet however, not a single sound or movement save for the surprised murmurs and shifts from the newly arrived group.
Cautiously, they made their way inside the castle, silently dispatching a few newborn hostiles that appeared to be cleaning up the halls and rooms by throwing the bodies into the scattered fires throughout the castle. After the entire castle was systematically swept by the group, they finally arrived at the throne room. Upon entering, Isabella gasped at the sight of Aro sitting in his throne completely oblivious to the newcomers and very much alive. Dropping the shield around herself, Jane, Alec, and Jax, Isabella approached the man.
"Isabella!" Aro called out, his smile genuine. "What a nice surprise, what brings you here today? Did you manage to dispel the newborn army in Forks? Also, have you seen my brothers? We were supposed to have a meeting, but they seem to be running late."
Isabella looked at the man bewildered before looking to the friends at her side. They all looked equally as confused and worried at this strange turn of events.
"Aro…" Isabella began, her face contorting in pain.
"What is it my dear? Is it your mate? Is she alright?" Aro's questions came rapidly, his concern evident, a fatherly expression of worry on his face.
"Do you not know what happened here?" she asked.
Aro squinted at her in confusion, tilting his head to the side. "Of course I know what happened here today. I'm the king of the Volturi, I know everything that happens within these walls and most of what happens outside of these walls. Are you alright?"
"Aro… There was an attack on the castle. You called me to come help. When we arrived" Isabella took a shaky breath. "They're dead Aro. So many dead. He must've wiped your memory somehow, left you here to deal with the aftermath as part of some twisted game."
Aro frowned and shook his head vigorously. He turned and blurred to the window behind the throne that Isabella knew had a beautiful view of the courtyard below. When Aro dropped to his knees, an agonized cry tearing from his lips, Isabella and the remaining guard rushed to his side. Isabella held the king as he wept unshed tears for his fallen servants, guards, and family.
Suddenly however the cries morphed into something far worse, laughter. Aro began to cackle almost hysterically, causing everyone in the room to take steps back in alarm. Glowing red eyes looked up at Isabella's shocked face before flitting over to and settling on Jax. A cruel smirk curled Aro's lips and the room looked on in horror.
"Hello Ajax" Aro spoke, the smile never leaving his face. "How're the parents? Oh right…" Aro began to laugh, an empty sound filled with hate.
Jax faltered slightly, pain quickly transforming into anger as he leapt at Aro, caught midair by Isabella who held him back as his chest heaved and his body shook with anger and hate. Aro tutted, moving his finger back and forth teasingly.
"Are you so much of a coward that you cannot face me yourself Abaddon?" Jax growled.
Aro's eyes narrowed dangerously and a low growl came from his lips. The dark expression quickly changed into that signature smirk however and the vampire tilted his head to the side.
"This is far more fun for now. Don't worry little Abaven, your day too will come." With that, Aro reached into his pocket, revealing a very familiar orange pill. "See you soon."
As Isabella reacted, shields thrown up instinctually in an attempt to prevent Aro's body from moving, she realized that it was too late as the pill landed in his mouth. Red eyes peered at her with smug satisfaction before flames erupted from Aro's body, quickly spreading until his body was merely a pile of ash on the granite floors.
Isabella cried out, dropped to her knees alongside Alec and Jane, tears forming in her eyes as she mourned the loss of a king she had come to consider like a father. Soon, strong arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into an embrace. Isabella's shields dropped instantly, and she buried her face in the familiar smell that comforted her far less than usual. All around the room, everyone was reacting differently though surprise, pain, anger, and grief were all present.
Jasper attempted to calm the room and Isabella looked to him appreciatively. Jane growled viciously, and Leah stepped up to hold her as Jane's fist caused a rather large crater in the floor. "I'm going to fucking kill him." Jane's eyes flashed dangerously and Isabella instinctually threw up her mental shield just in case Jane accidentally took out her pain and anger on anyone in the room.
"What do we do now?" Alec asked, his voice small.
Everyone looked to Isabella and Jax, causing Isabella to falter with uncertainty.
"Isabella is heir apparent to the Volturi throne. She was made a princess before being sent to Forks, making her the rightful ruler of Volterra." Jax spoke, his dark eyes finding those of the terrified vampire beside him.
"I never thought it would mean anything though" Isabella responded, her eyes showing the depths of her uncertainty and fear.
"I know that this is scary young one." Jax's voice rumbled in her mind. "You may appoint someone else if that is what you wish but deep down we both know it has to be you. We will make Abaddon pay for the lives that he has so carelessly taken and destroyed. I will be by your side every step of the way little one. It is time to stand up and fight back, to lead those you love to the future you desire."
Isabella nodded her head, determination taking over her features. "I never wanted this. Aro was like a father to me for the time I knew him. We will avenge his death make no doubt about that. We will start by cleaning up the castle and holding a funeral for those fallen. Tonight, we will grieve and let ourselves be vulnerable, but tomorrow we will stand up and rebuild stronger than before. We will not let the lives of those fallen here today be lost in vain. Abaddon is vain and believes himself to be untouchable, the master of a game that we cannot even begin to understand. He. Is. Wrong. Tomorrow we stand up, recruit, learn, and fight. He will not be prepared for us when we come for him."
After the funeral was held, the group went their separate ways. The castle was massive and easily fit all of the different covens and pairs in separate rooms. There was a heavy weight settled in the air, a tense atmosphere of loss and suffering that no amount of cleaning or physical rebuilding of the walls had been able to help.
Rosalie and Isabella were lying in bed later that night when a loud crash was heard from outside and growls broke through the silence. They quickly ran to the source of the commotion, surprised to see a very familiar vampire flat on their back in the dirt, hands held up in surrender.
A large russet colored wolf had the vampire pinned, snarling with large fangs bared. It was only when Leah came out of the castle, followed by everyone, that the wolf stepped off, ears still flat against its head.
"Edward" Isabella spoke, voice obviously laced with surprise and mild contempt. The bronze haired man gave a crooked, albeit guilty smile from where he sat on the ground.
"I had no idea that this is what he was planning, Bella. You have to believe me." Edward looked up at her pleadingly, golden eyes filled with what appeared to be genuine regret. "I was angry and hurt. I wanted you away from Rose and back with me. I still do. But I never meant to hurt anyone. The man I met, the one responsible for all of this, he has some strange power to control people. He took every bad emotion and thought that I had and used it against me. I felt powerful for the first time in, well probably forever. He was unbelievably easy to follow. He sent me here to help take over the Volturi. It was a massacre…" Edward trailed off, flinching at the memories. "I heard them all. Every single person murdered here today I heard all of their thoughts."
Maggie glanced at Isabella and nodded. Isabella narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why would he leave you here for us to find? That makes no sense."
Edward shrugged. "He told me it would hurt more to have me back than it would to find my body. That he was finished with me but killing me would be a waste since seeing me again, knowing that he had control of me and made me do things that weren't entirely things I did not already want to do, would hurt far worse than anything else. He said I would be outcast, killed, or even better, accepted back but forced to face my mate with someone else and a family that lost faith in me."
Maggie once again nodded at Isabella and Isabella sighed, running her fingers through her dark chestnut hair. Esme stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her estranged son hesitantly. Edward nearly collapsed into them.
"Abaddon has the ability of compulsion. Mind control more or less. We can all understand the power of his compulsion having seen it ourselves firsthand. But Edward, you behaved like a prideful, petulant man. You believed that you somehow still had a right to me, even knowing that I was never your true mate and seeing me with Rose." Isabella paused. "I promised you Edward Cullen that I would spare you just that once and I did. If you ever attack me, my friends, my family, or especially my mate ever again it will be the last thing you ever do. Do you understand?"
Isabella's eyes were a hard, dark purple brimming with emotion as Edward nodded.
"I know that I was wrong, Bella. I am sorry." When Maggie nodded once again, Edward's brow furrowed as he glanced toward her. "Why does she keep nodding?"
Maggie laughed, jutting her thumb toward herself with a grin. "I'm a human lie detector."
Edward squinted, and Isabella rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. When Edward's eyes widened and Maggie stilled suddenly, Isabella glanced between them with her brow furrowing in confusion. Edward glanced at Isabella and gave her a sheepish smile, running his fingers through his already ruffled hair.
"I definitely was never your mate."
"I know that… Rose is my mate." Isabella said, her voice lilting up ever so slightly in a question.
Edward stepped forward, crooked grin sliding into place, causing Maggie to smile. Isabella looked between them once again until realization slammed into her. She was beaten to the punch however by Kate and Emmett who began laughing up a storm from off to their right.
"Eddie boy!" Kate yelled out, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"Ah man this is good" Emmett boomed, ruffling Edward's hair.
Rosalie came to stand by Isabella's side, still unsure of what to feel. Edward looked happy, and Rosalie was concerned.
"Edward what the hell?" Isabella asked. "Why can't you ever make things easy, dammit."
"Bro, you will never get away with anything now" Emmett laughed, clapping Edward on the shoulder. "Worst mate ever, no offence mags!" Emmett grinned goofily, and Maggie smirked with a nod. Edward for his part looked a little afraid at the revelation.