Edward Cullen

I realised that the young wolf was Phoebe, my great granddaughter who had never phased before.

Phoebe was followed by Aurora. Clara was on the back of the wolf her head buried not looking up. Aurora had Elijah's lifeless body in her arms.

They momentarily paused before running faster towards us. Chantelle was already taking off her long trench coat as Phoebe reached us. She phased back and stepped straight into the coat before hugging her grandmother tightly.

"You phased?" Chantelle asked her.

"I had to. A need overtook me. I had no choice. I could feel Aurora downstairs. I knew she wasn't safe. They had me tranquilised but someone woke me. I think it was Alena." she explained looking at Zio and he hugged her next. Aurora was being hugged by Esther and I noticed Clara was being held by Zac. Her leg was broken.

"Your mother and sister are fine." He was telling her and she was crying. I looked to Elijah on the floor and realised there was no heartbeat. "I will take Clara and the boy back to Lidiya." Zac announced. I nodded and Clara turned to me then, hugging my waist. I wrapped my arms around my granddaughter before kissing her hair.

"Go back Clara. Go be with your family. We will end this," I told her.

"No I have to stay. I'm ok." She said turning to hug Bella.

"Clara. Your leg is broken," I said softly. There was no other way to say this. "I know I'm not your father but I'm going to order you to go home. Now." I said sternly. "You are weak, you are human and you are someone else to worry about. We are experienced in this sort of thing. You will get in the way," I said. I knew I had hurt her saying it but I needed to protect her. I promised Madeleine I'd send her home as soon as we had her. It was the best place for her. She flinched but nodded. Turning to Zac and taking his offered hand, hopping over to him. He lifted her into his arms.

"Phoebe," Chantelle said to her granddaughter,

"I know. I'll go with them. Just kill that bitch that took us ok?" she said and turned to her daughter. Aurora and Phoebe hugged.

"Stay alive," Phoebe demanded.

"I will momma. I'm there best chance. I've weakened witches before. I can weaken Lilim I know I can," she said and kissed her mother. Phoebe turned to Zac who was eying Elijah on the floor.

"Let's go," she said and she phased again. Her head was flooded with her husband back home and the voice of Jacob. Zac placed Clara on her back and he lifted Elijah.

"We have it under control Jacob," I said to Phoebe, her big brown eyes looking at me. I stroked her head quickly before I saw Jacob rant about how dangerous this all was and how worried he had been.

"You and me both Jake. Just keep Washington safe, we'll deal with Chicago," I told him and kissed Phoebe between her eyes before she took off running.

"So what's the plan now Zio?" I asked. He didn't say anything, he just took Chantelle's hand and started to walk to the house. There was shouting coming from inside. The second team stayed outside whilst the eleven of us made our way inside. Eddie and Bella linked hands. Esther linked her hand with Chantelle and Lexi took Benjamin's.

We'll stay here for look out. Benjamin said. Esther had opened a link between the eleven of us in our minds. It was rather handy not having to speak out loud in the enemies house.

Ben and Lexi remained at the door. I looked behind at my daughter momentarily. Our eyes locked and she nodded at me, saying she'd be ok. As the nine of us kept moving it was like a maze. It wasn't a house, there was an illusion running through it. Like it was bigger on the inside. There was a series of corridors leading to various directions. We found the stairs and paused. There was laughing and a shadow ran across the landing of the stairs.

What do we do Zio? Eddie asked.

We need Grace to remove the illusion don't we? Matthew asked looking at Esther. She nodded, looking sympathetic.

Call her in here. Zio announced and it was moments before Grace had made her way in the door. She frowned when she passed Lexi and Ben. With a wave of her hand the illusion around us fell and we were in the giant entry way of the traditional farm house. We had barely moved a step away from the front door.

"I'm impressed," Liana called walking down the stairs. She hadn't noticed Grace yet as she descended the stairs. I took a step closer to Eddie and Bella, wanting to step in front of them but in reality it should be me hiding behind them not the other way around. I just had to be close to them. I reached my hand out for Lexi and she was by me in seconds. Zio pulled Chantelle behind him but she stepped out next to his side, Esther still holding her hand boosting her ability. Aurora holding her other one. Grace had stepped behind them, I saw her change, from her normal self to an image of someone else but I doubted that would trick Lilim for long.

Liana was smiling at us, one by one looking at each of us, Grace was hiding behind Esther still but I doubted Liana was an idiot. She knew we wouldn't be able to remove the illusion. I just wished I could read her mind but she seemed to have the same protection that Axton had. As she stood there I realised in the silence there was screaming, shouting. Fighting.

What's going on out there? I asked Esther. She had opened her mind to thoughts but not to let me see what she was seeing or hearing. I didn't know what she knew and I realised why. She was hiding it from us.

They're being slaughtered by wolves. Chantelle choked. She turned to the door. The look of horror was on her face and everyone else in the room. It was the guard. The second wave was hidden by the house but the third was in the fields around us, in the open. They were being attacked. Zio took a step towards the door.

"Ah ah ah," Liana laughed. "Now you're here do you think I'll be allowing you to leave? All of you are here that I need. You won't be leaving this house until I say so or those hiding around the house are next."

It's ok. We'll get Anelie and Lidiya here when it's all over. They'll be ok. All of them. Esther comforted Chantelle but Chantelle had already faltered. She and Zio viewed their guard as family, they treated them with fairness and respect. They loved each of them and knew every one of them. Their family were being slaughtered and Chantelle couldn't think straight over their screams. Zio had wrapped his arm around her waist holding her up as silent tears streamed down her face. She was watching Liana with the deadliest look I had ever seen from my niece. She let out a scream of frustration and Liana only laughed.

"Your ability doesn't work on me my dear, not even magnified," she said looking at Esther.

"Mine does though," Aurora said her hand reaching out and gripping Liana's arm. She was momentarily shocked. Perhaps Axton hadn't told her about Aurora. Liana physically reacted, gasping and stepping back.

"Why you little-" she began and stalked towards Aurora but she was weak. Aurora did it. There was no teleporting across the room, no magic death for Aurora. Liana had to physically get to her to hurt her. A smile of triumph spread across Aurora's face and I'm sure many others here. Grace stepped out from behind Esther showing her face for the first time. It changed from the stranger to her normal face. Liana faltered again.

"Gracie?" she shook.

"Hello sister," she said and stepped forward. They embraced, something I was definitely not expecting.

"Grace" Liana's voice shook as she hugged her sister. "Where have you been dear sister? I have not seen you in centuries, I haven't been able to find you," she said but then it registered who she'd been hiding behind. Liana's eyes locked on Esther. "She is why," she added.

"You are attacking my daughter and her family Lilim. Does power really threaten you so?" she asked softly.

"They killed my sons Grace, they took over from the only person that kept control of the vampires, put a child in charge and let vampires think they were immune to the consequences of wrongdoing. vampires started to think they were invincible, they started murdering witches and warlocks, my friends. I tried to stop them and I was the one tracked down. I had to hide, I used my sons to learn about them and reverse their poison but it only got them killed. I am only doing what needs to be done to eradicate the damage the Cullen's have done to our world," she said, bitterness coating her voice when she said our name.

"Your sons were despicable. Both of them tried and one succeeded in murdering a child. Your sons deserved everything they got!" Bella spat. I tightened my hand on hers to try and keep her calm but my anger matched hers. It was hard to hold her back.

Grace was silent as if she was processing new information and she turned to Esther.

"Is this correct my dear?" she asked. Esther slowly nodded but they exchanged a look for quite a few seconds and I hoped Esther was updating her on our side of the story.

"Sister, we were taught better than to answer violence with violence. Instead of taking matters into your own hands why didn't you just talk to them? In the few short hours I have been with my daughters family I have seen compassion, understanding and above all love. You said it yourself. You saw the compassion they gave vampires when in trouble. Why did you not think they would offer the same to you? Even an alliance if you had said who you were." Grace said.

"Because I'm not like that! You know I'm not. I'm not perfect like you sister. I want blood for blood. I want revenge!" she shouted, anger boiling to the surface. Lilim was the polar opposite of the peaceful Grace and I wasn't sure Grace could really kill her own sister, not after seeing how they embraced.

"I am sorry little sister," Liana said and sparks came from her hand knocking Grace back. We were all knocked back against the wall. I saw Grace's arms extended to us. She had moved us out of the way. She stood facing her sister.

"I don't want to do this Lilim," she said softly, something else coming from her hand and Liana moving to dodge it.

"Then don't, let me have my revenge," she said, throwing more magic at her sister. Grace dodged it and the pair began duelling with magic. Their eyes never leaving each other. It didn't last long, Liana turned suddenly and targeted Esther. A ball of blue sparks hit her in the chest and she fell to the ground, Grace screamed but it had already faltered her attack. Liana laughed, magic hitting Grace and Grace fell. Liana frowned as Grace lay unconscious on the floor and Esther stood up. She looked between the two confused. Esther ran to Grace, Grace opened her eyes as the two embraced. Esther was crying, in relief or pain I wasn't sure. The second team had rushed in. Allesandra going straight to her father. Aleksander momentarily shocked, unsure whether he should go to his wife or not.

"Esther... Esther my daughter. Look at me," Grace whispered. Esther looked up and Grace kissed her forehead. The second she did Esther looked horrified. Like Grace had just given her the kiss of death. Only I didn't think it was the kiss of death. It was the complete opposite.

Grace fell and Esther did a battle cry that had everyone flinching. Even Lilim herself. The scream momentarily distracted everyone, giving Esther the second she needed to get over to her enemy across the room. I looked up and saw Esther had hold of her. Lilim was struggling but Esther had her hands on her head. I had no idea what she was doing but I hoped it was working.

"Don't you remember what Axton told us? Esther is the key and the only one that can defeat Lilim on the sole purpose she is part of her. Esther is essentially a daughter of Lilim, she was created by her descendents, she has witch power running in her veins, dormant but there." Zio announced to us all. This was his plan? Lilim started screaming. I saw Grace twitch, unsure if she was alive or not. Aleksander was at her side, doing whatever he did to try and save her.

I saw Esther explode with rage, pushing on Lilim's chest. She went flying into the wall behind her, I was expecting her to fall to the ground unconscious but she disappeared through the wall.

She had teleported at the very last second.

I looked back to see Esther had moved faster than even my eyes could keep up with. She was with Aleksander now and an unconscious Grace.

"Grace. Please wake up, I need you." she whispered to the girl on the floor. Aleksander had lifted her to rest her head on his lap but she wasn't moving. "Grace please," Esther began sobbing. "You can't die. You're not allowed to die. You're immortal. Wake up!" she was ranting but no breath and no heartbeat came from the girl in front of her. Esther began to sob, real tears fell from her eyes as she cried over the body in her husband's lap. The whole room was silent except for the cries of Esther. No one dared to move, no one dared to speak or even breathe. Something was wrong.

"My sweet child." Grace's voice radiated through my head and Esther stopped crying immediately. "You knew this would happen," she said. Esther had silent tears pouring down her cheeks. She shook her head violently from side to side.

"No you're immortal. It can't," she ranted.

"I gave my immortality and power to you my sweet girl. My power has been flooding into you for millennia. My power was your power and I didn't have enough left. You needed that little bit more to beat her and you did my wonderful girl. You did it." Grace said. Esther closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

"She's still alive. I don't know where she is but she'll come back."

"It doesn't matter. You are all that was of me, my daughter. There will never be a soul that can defeat you now, my child, not even God himself"

"I don't want it. I don't want that much power. I want you. I want my mother, I need you to help me finish this," Esther sobbed.

"I shall always be with you." She said and the presence everyone could feel in their mind had gone. Esther fell to the floor crying. Aleksander lay Grace's body on the floor and embraced his wife. The whole room was silent, no one was even breathing that didn't have to. We all watched as Esther cried over the one person that had looked out for her for thousands of years.

There wasn't time to grieve though.

Suddenly the room exploded and an invisible force had Aurora against the wall. Emmett began to run, he was thrown against the wall and all hell broke loose. Wolves came running in, we all fell into the fight, knocking them across the room but they kept coming.

"Enough," Esther said, she wiped her tears away and stood up. She stepped away from her husband and turned to face the wall Liana had disappeared through. Everyone stopped moving, the wolves included, and Liana appeared, weak, barely standing but there.

"I won't stop and I can't die Esther. What are you going to do?" she asked. Maybe she couldn't die but she didn't look like she could last like this much longer.

"Why don't you and I have a little chat Lilim? Leave my family out of it. It's me you want."

Liana cocked her head to the side as if she was deciding on how serious Esther was. She waved her hand and the wolves dispersed. Axton and Alena appeared out of nowhere. Their hands entwined, power radiating off them standing there like gods. They were stronger together, that was so blatant I wondered if they were powerful enough to defeat Liana themselves. That was if they'd even help us. Axton got what he wanted from Liana, his sister alive and well. Was his love for my granddaughter strong enough for him to want to help? Aurora glared at her Esther.

This isn't a good idea. What do you think you're doing? Aurora asked.

It's alright Aura. It's part of my plan.

What plan? Esty, what are you doing? she asked. Esther faltered at Aurora's name for her and I saw it briefly in her mind. She was offering Liana a deal. Our lives for her. She kissed her husband, it barely lasted more than a second before she was teleported from the room.

"Esther!" I shouted as she disappeared from the room.

"It's ok," Axton said softly but I had the biggest feeling of dread in my stomach that it may have been the last we'll see of Esther. I hated it. the link in our mind broke and it overwhelmed me. Esther couldn't leave us. She couldn't.

"Axton, what's going on?" I asked him.

"You all need to leave now. Whilst she's gone."

"We're not leaving Esther. No way," Zio said.

"You have to. She's already gone. She's not in that room. Lilim got what she wanted and Esther gave it to her."

"No."

"What? what do you mean?"

"No Esther wouldn't do that."

"We were about to win!"

There were various proclamations of disbelief but of course Esther would do that. She mentioned it before, sacrificing herself for us. She wouldn't even hesitate.

"We had Grace though. She was supposed to win this!" Chantelle said in disbelief.

"She's gone." Eddie said. First thing he'd said during this whole encounter. "Esther's gone" his voice broke. "I can't feel her... I can't see her." his eyes weren't fixated on anything in particular. He was searching in his mind for her. His best friend of many decades, a permanent presence in his mind. Gone.

I looked to Aleksander. He wasn't moving. He was staring at the place where Esther had disappeared. I scanned his mind but it was all in Bulgarian. He was in disbelief. The last thing shed put in his head was I love you, take care of them. Nothing else. Just that. It felt like a goodbye to him.

"We need to get back." Aurora said sadly. "Esther will return to us when she can, I know she will."

I hoped she was right. Not only for Aleksander but for those at home waiting for all of their loved ones to return.