War

I was going to die.

I had known it going in, but as I felt the two vampires were now coming at me, the reality finally sunk in. I was still clinging to Caius's back, in full-attack, but he was fighting me. Pitting his millennia of existence and experience against my one month of life. And now, Demetri and another vampire whose name I didn't know were charging, victory in their eyes, right for me.

They had me.

I was done for.

And yet, I was not afraid.

I snarled defiantly, waiting for them to hit me…

There was suddenly a loud CRACK, and they were no longer in my line of sight.

"BELLA!" I heard Edward's voice coming from the ground, where he had just thrown Demetri. Stefan was already making short work of the other vampire. Producing a lighter from his pocket, he shot out a jet of flames with a maniacal cackle.

"SHIELD, BELLA! SHIELD!" Edward yelled at me, and then I remembered. In my blind, frenzied charge, I had neglected to keep the shield taut and strong. It was still there, but it had become penetrable. I heard a sudden scream from the other side of the chasm, and looking back, I saw Carmen on the ground. Jane was standing over her.

Suddenly, another figure was by my side, helping me to wrestle Caius down.

"Go!" he snarled at me, and I realized that it was Vladimir. "I'll break this one!" he cried. "Stefan!" he shouted victoriously to his friend. "Come and join me!"

I knew I had to help Carmen, but instinct made me pause to look back at Edward. He was fighting Demetri viciously; both their jaws were snapping as they attacked, each more animal than human.

And then, the fear hit me.

"Bella!" I heard Tanya cry from across the chasm, where she had just finished off another of the Volturi's guard.

I nodded, leaping back to our side. I concentrated my power on Carmen. My shield met with Jane's power with a surge of heat and light. Carmen moaned on the ground, but her body grew still. Jane's face screwed up in concentration, trying to penetrate the obstacle I had thrown in her way.

"Good work, Bella!" I heard Zafrina call out to me, and in the same instant, I saw Eleazar go to Carmen's side, helping her up while Jane retreated, rage in her eyes. So she was afraid of the fight, I thought. Little coward.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Emmett. He'd just demolished two of the Volturi witnesses who had decided to enter the fray. From the inside of his jacket, he produced a lighter, and what looked like an aerosol can.

"Let's fire things up a bit!" he cried victoriously. Catching my eye and smiling his trademark Emmett-smile, he flicked open the lighter and sprayed. In a blinding flash, the vampires burned.

"We've got this, Bella!" Zafrina called out to me. "Just keep shielding us!"

I closed my eyes, pulling all of my focus toward my shield. Zafrina would keep me safe, as she'd promised Edward, and I'd keep everyone else safe. We'd win.

I felt confidence flow me, until something derailed my focus.

Renesmee.

In my rage, I'd forgotten just why we were here.

I snapped my eyes open, looking around wildly for her.

I finally found her, and my voluntarily-beating vampire heart stopped.

My daughter—and by extension, Jacob—was surrounded by the Volturi guard. Looking closer, I also saw Rosalie with them, and what looked like Sam and several of the werewolves. Rose was crouched before the oncoming guard, a deep growl coming forth from her throat.

It happened all at once. The Volturi soldiers sprung at the same time the wolves did. There was barking, followed by the sound of tearing flesh, followed by yelps of pain. Jacob made a run for it, and Rosalie followed them closely, snarling as she went. Suddenly, one of the vampires broke free, and caught her by the hair, dragging her down. Rosalie in a fight was a terrifying sight. Her eyes were merciless as she got to her feet, countering the vampire deliberately.

"Give up the child," the Volturi guard snarled.

"Never," she hissed.

He sprung at her; this time, she couldn't keep him off. Horrified, I watched as he wrestled her to the ground. Jacob whined, but hesitated from helping her. He had Renesmee to worry about.

Rosalie raised her head, looked Jacob in the eyes, and screamed, "GO!"

I closed my eyes as the Volturi guard destroyed her.

"ROSE!" Emmett's cry boomed thunderously throughout the clearing as he saw her body burn. His look of triumph had gone— it was replaced by a look of wild rage… and despair.

He moved so quickly, it evaded even my vampire eyes. He was beside his mate's killer in half-a-heartbeat, ripping him apart with a deranged cry. He lit the remains on fire, before turning to where the wolves fought.

Jumping in with them, he wrestled another vampire to oblivion, and burned the bodies of the other that the wolves had killed. He didn't stop there. Crossing the chasm to the other side, he sprang at the nearest of the Volturi—Alec.

Jane's brother didn't last long—he was ashes in under two minutes.

I saw what was about to happen next before Emmett did.

Renata—Aro's guard—was coming up behind him.

I had to help my brother.

I charged forward, ignoring Zafrina's cries for me to stop. I would not lose another member of my family tonight.

I cleared the chasm, running toward him, but it was too late. Renata was swift. Emmett, like Rosalie, was no more than a heap of ash.

The grief hit my heart instantly. Emmett was gone… and Rose… Rose who had believed in my baby, who had listened to me when the world had thought I'd gone crazy.

An anguished cry ripped itself from my throat. I felt myself losing control… I sprang at Renata, but suddenly I couldn't move. I was immobilized. How…?

And then I remembered. "If she tried to keep you back, I wonder who would win?"

The answer to Edward's question, apparently, was neither of us.

Our stalemate continued… Renata looked confused, her brow was furrowed in concentration as she tried to approach me. My legs ached—they felt like they were wood, not stone, and beginning to splinter. I couldn't let her win out…

With a jolt, I remembered my own shield.

All I could feel now were holes… gaps in my defense. I panicked. I was leaving our side vulnerable… we would lose even more than we had already. I tried to stretch out my protection again, but locked in this impasse with Renata, I felt weak.

She saw my face, and smiled.

She was winning, and she knew it. If she broke through, she would destroy me.

From behind Renata, I saw Carlisle. He looked at me very deliberately. "Fight," he mouthed to me. He crept toward Renata testily… trying to see how close he could come. Trying to see if I was enough of a diversion to her shield to leave her vulnerable. I fixed every ounce of energy in my body on Renata. Her face contorted in pain as I forced my shield against hers. It seemed to be enough… Carlisle was close enough to touch her now, and she felt nothing. Finally, he jumped, cutting her down quickly. I felt her shield release, and I collapsed, feeling broken. I saw the flash of light that told me she was dead.

"Bella!" said Carlisle urgently, coming to my side. "Bella, you must strengthen your shield."

"I can't—," I said through clenched teeth.

"Bella." There was a tortured look in his face. He knew something. "Bella, you must."

I locked eyes with him. "What's going on?"

"Edward."