Chapter 24

The few hours after the information Alice gave to everybody were tense. Now that everybody knew the Volturi were returning with the possible intention of killing us all, in just two weeks, left us all considering possibilities that we shouldn't even think about. Things that brought us pain just by thinking about them.

I was positive everyone in this room was thinking of how this fight may affect this family in the long term. I know I was certainly thinking about it. Knowing that if any single member of this family was killed on that day… it hurt just to even think about it, the emotional pain would last for the rest of eternity, for the rest of us, and especially to whoever that person's mate was.

That's why I'm worrying over Edward.

Even though Alice believes it's uncertain, and that the future can change, the possibility of my death is still hanging over my head. If, and I pray to whatever God there is out there, if Edward can survive the battle, if Alice's vision is true, and I…die, I'm already thinking of what this will do to Edward.

Hopefully he wouldn't kill himself. He's had enough warnings from me to know better. He might have to deal with the pitying thoughts of the others in his head, struggle with an unbearable emotional pain, and ultimately live the rest of eternity upset.

Well I know I most certainly would be feeling those things if Edward died, except hearing the pitying thoughts. If I love him as much as he loves me, then surely what I am thinking is a possibility. As well, what would it do to Renesmee if she sees her father upset all the time? The repercussions could go on and on, and that's for any single member of this family.

Would the rest of the coven split? Or would they stick together, and live for the rest of eternity knowing that they still have each other?

Although I was sure everyone was thinking about it, no one was voicing their opinions out loud. I had put my shield around Edward so he wouldn't have to deal with all these different thoughts.

Carlisle had left earlier and had already started to call up the various covens we had met all those years ago, and Jasper said that we should start training tomorrow evening, since for the rest of today and the start of tomorrow we would be preparing to move back to Forks. That way we could also train with the wolf pack.

Jacob had quickly told Jordan what was happening, sparing the details on why exactly the Volturi were coming back. The poor thing had to deal with the fact the Volturi were coming back to Forks to kill his family, whilst apparently dealing with some angry members of the wolf pack who believed that this was endangering not just the pack, but also the humans in the area. He didn't even know if the current Alpha was going to agree and let the pack fight alongside us in another partnership. Fortunately though, he decided to help us, and once again I feel so grateful that they were risking their lives, not to particularly save us, but to be so brave and fight such skilled vampires to protect their land and their people.

We were hoping that the other covens would agree as well. If our numbers are too small, and if Alice is right about the Volturi numbers, then the chances of a win would be extremely slim. Carlisle had told us that they would get back in touch quickly, taking into account that this was more likely to turn out into a fight rather than a discussion.

Caitlin was still pretty pissed, to say the least, about the fact she wasn't allowed to be at the clearing that day. I guess if the situation related to Renesmee, like the previous time except there was no way to prove she was innocent, and that the Volturi had it out to kill her, then I would probably act in the same way as Nessie is doing now and protect my daughter. Hell, if I could get Edward out of there then that would be even better but I know that's a dead end.

Edward. I'm still battling between myself about just letting him know about Alice's vision. It was likely he would manage to catch a glimpse of her thoughts some time within the week, and to also lie to him was hard enough. I think I simply didn't want to hurt him.

If the roles were reversed and it was him in danger, and I found out he would die, then a part of me will be looking out for him every second of that fight, my concentration and my thoughts would constantly be on him, and whether he was alright, or if he had survived a fight.

I didn't want to jeopardize his own safety by focusing on me, when I would want him to protect himself and to just get out of this fight safe and unharmed.

That was why I thought it was best to just not tell him, not tell anybody but keep it between Alice and myself. Who, I still wanted to talk about over what exactly happens to me in her vision.

People had silently left the room, and it was only myself, Edward, Alice and Jasper. They both also stood up to leave the room, and Alice looked over to me briefly, and I tried to quickly convey to her with my eyes that I still wanted to speak to her. She nodded her head slightly, so I knew she understood.

Edward pulled me closer to him and I snuggled into his side, breathing in his scent, and just relaxing in this moment between us, because I knew that I didn't have much time left to savour it.

"Alright have we got our things?" Jasper asked, bearing in mind 'our things' only consisted of a few clothes to last us over the next two weeks.

"Yup, we're all set to go." Emmett said enthusiastically, and I was quite grateful that Emmett was being so optimistic, because it helped lift my mood so much more, "I call shotgun!" he shouted, and I couldn't help but laugh at him.

"I don't get why I have to go." Caitlin said as she walked out of the house carrying a relatively large bag over to one of the cars, lifting it and throwing it into the back of the car. "If I'm not going to be there then I might as well stay here."

"No chance," Renesmee said, "Because that'll leave you unprotected with no one to be there in case something happens."

"Come on! If anyone is unprotected it will be all of you when me and Jordan aren't there to help you!"

"Caitlin, we've just had this discussion, we're not going to risk your lives for the benefit of ours."

"But it's ridiculous, think of the scenarios where I could help you just like that." She said, with a quick snap of her fingers.

"Caitlin…"

"No, hear me out; I'll give you some examples. Let's say Emmett is surrounded by five vampires and he's struggling, everyone else is occupied and no one can help him. Then about five seconds later Emmett is safe with just piles of dust around him."

"Caitlin…"

"Or let's just say its Bella, she's keeping you all safe from all the mental attacks, she is suddenly attacked and no one can help her in time. She dies, then you all die, but no, Jordan and I could kill whoever it is in a second."

"Caitlin it's not happening!"

"But can't you see just how beneficial it would be?" She asked, her voice more calm, and talking to all of us now, "Just think about it, think of who we could save if we were there. Please."

Nessie and Jacob looked at each other as they had a quick, silent conversation between them. For a minute I thought they were going to let her, but Nessie turned back to Caitlin, her eyes glassy from unshed tears, "We don't want to risk losing you." She whispered, "I'm sorry Caitlin."

Caitlin looked like she was about to argue back again, but instead she just shook her head and climbed into the back of the car without saying another word.

Renesmee turned into Jacob and hugged him, and I felt really bad knowing what this was doing to her, to them both, to decide what is best for the safety of their children, even if it does turn them against you in the end, but you still do it knowing it's for the best.

I looked over to Jasper to see if he could help out. He looked over to me, understood what I was silently asking and nodded his head, whilst a soothing wave of calm relaxed me, and relaxed the rest of us.

"Is everyone ready?" Carlisle asked us. Jacob and Nessie pulled apart and nodded to him, and we all got into the cars. Carlisle's new black Jaguar, Edward's Audi R8 and Rosalie's Mercedes, knowing there wasn't really a point in taking all of the cars.

It didn't take too long before we were driving past the 'Welcome to Forks' sign. I pushed aside the previous memories I had of recently visiting here and focused on the good times we had, and on what was to come within the next two weeks.

The driveway was almost impossible to make out due to the overgrown branches weaving in and out of each other, blocking the entrance that used to be there. Emmett climbed out of his car and quickly torn down the branches so that the cars would be able to drive through. He didn't bother climbing back in, but sprinted off down the driveway and towards our old home.

And the word 'old' was what could describe it perfectly. The obvious sign of abandonment was clear on this house.

Plants had grown up the walls, providing the house with a green coating. The glass windows that covered most of the buildings walls were either filthy, or had managed to break. I didn't want to think of what nature had done to the inside of the place.

"Wow, you all used to live here?" Caitlin said, "If it didn't look such a mess I would have said its fab." She joked, causing us to smile at her.

"It was a nice place, did you know this was your mum's first home?" I said, and she shook her head.

"Yes, well we can spare her the details of all the human things I had to do which you all found funny." Renesmee cut in, glaring specifically at Emmett, who looked thoughtful for a minute, and then started laughing to himself over a past memory.

"You brought it up." I said to Nessie, nodding over to Emmett who looked over to her and started another round of laughter.

She muttered something under her breath and then quickly realised something else and quickly brightened up and turned to Jacob. "Can we go see Jordan now?"

"Don't worry; he'll be here in a few minutes." Alice said, tapping her head.

"But I thought-"

"Our future has just gone all fuzzy." She explained, and took her bag out of the boot of the car and made her way inside. "God this place is a mess." I heard her call out from inside.

I took a quick look around and noticed everyone was staying outside, most likely waiting for Jordan, except for Alice, so I used this as my opportunity to speak to her.

When no one was looking I quickly sprinted inside, and understood immediately why she thought this place was a mess. As well as leaves that had managed to get inside and cover the floor, moss, or some other sort of green plant was growing on the floor, due to the lack of cleaning the house has had for over fifty years.

Alice was making her way up the stairs so I quickly followed her, "Alice." I half-whispered, half-spoke.

"Yes Bella." She asked happily, appearing infront of me at the top of the stairs on the second level.

"Can you tell me now, please?" I asked, and Alice knew what it was about, and her happy mood disappeared instantly.

"Now?" She whined, walking down the hallway to Alice's and Jasper's previous room.

"Yes now. Please Alice I really need to know."

"You know curiosity killed the cat." She said quickly avoiding what I asked.

"Yes, but I'm going to get killed anyway so I might as well."

Alice stopped and turned around sharply causing me to stop abruptly, her expression a mixture between angry and sad. "Bella, I don't want you to say something like that again. Do you hear me?"

I nodded.

"Even if the others don't know what'll happen we'll protect you, we'll protect each other. Now don't start accepting your death. It's not going to happen."

"But Alice, your vision…"

"Ignore it. For once I would actually say bet against it, because it's not going to happen."

"Fine, but will you still tell me what you saw?"

Alice paused, and I noticed we had made it to her old bedroom. The rooms upstairs didn't look as bad as the rest of the house. Alice put her bag down onto a relatively clean spot of floor, and turned to me.

"Okay." She agreed, and I quickly hugged her in thanks. "But if you don't like what I tell you…" She warned.

"Then it was simply my own fault."

"And is it alright if you don't interrupt with any questions? Not until I've finished."

I nodded. She breathed in an unnecessary breath of air, a human trait they took on to help calm themselves down.

"We are all in the clearing; from the looks of things we have a suitable amount of people on our side. You've been placed near the back of all of us…"

"What?" I quickly interrupted, "Why am I at the back of the line? I …" Alice raised her eyebrow at me, "Oh yeah, sorry. Carry on."

"You've been placed at the back for your own safety." She answered anyway. "For the Volturi to use their best two guards, they have to get rid of you. With you alive, they're helpless. That is why, I'm assuming, you're at the back; because the Volturi would have to go through a lot of people to get to you.

"We try to work something out with them anyway. They bargain that they won't fight, and in return they want some people to join the Volturi. Obviously we disagree to that and they find no other choice but to kill us; especially because we were hiding, and defending the two people they were here to kill.

"I guess it was their plan to start off with…" She said, and she took another shaky breath. "Sorry Bella. It's just… I keep seeing people die, and… it's just hard to tell-"

"It's okay Alice, I understand. Just take your time okay."

She nodded and continued with what she was saying, "I think it was their main plan to start out with, that's why I saw it first because they had made the decision to go forward with that plan.

"Basically, a group of them, maybe six or seven, charge forward unexpectedly and jump over most of us and land towards the back. The few people on our side, who try to stop them, fail, and even though some of them are occupied, it still leaves a couple of them to get … to you.

"In the split-second it takes for everyone else to realise, the rest of the Volturi attack. We try but no one can get to you, it's like the other purpose for the second attack was to stop people getting to you.

"You try your hardest, but because there are so many onto you it doesn't take long before the last four or five of them have managed to kill you, and before I know it, a fire's been lighted, and they…they throw your body in."

She started to shake her head as though she was trying to clear away the image from her mind, "It get's all blurry then, the wolves must be entering then."

"You mean the wolves weren't there in the first place?"

"No, I think it was maybe a plan, you know, make the Volturi think they have the upper hand or something by thinking the wolves they had last saw had died off or something, then surprise them when they least expect it."

Alice looked up at me and gave me another hug, and I knew she needed to be comforted, especially as she had most likely saw most of her family getting killed. I hugged her back, and I heard her whisper into my shoulder, "There's got to be something we can do."

I pulled her back and looked her in the eye, "Maybe there is Alice, what isn't there in that vision, that you think could help save everyone?"

"Erm…the wolves don't come in until after…after you've died."

"Okay, so we try and persuade them that they have to be there from the very start, not hanging back. Anything else?"

"There is one thing, they'd be very useful, but I think it would be hard to persuade some people to let us do it."

Apprehension dawned on me as I understand where she was going with this. There was someone we needed to talk to.

"No way, it's not happening." Renesmee said shaking her head after Alice and I just asked her our opinion on actually letting both Caitlin and Jordan to be at the clearing. "I thought you were with me on this anyway!" She exclaimed.

"We were," I reasoned, "but taking into account what could happen at the clearing, and what Caitlin said before, don't you think it would be a bit better to let them be there?"

"Yes of course I know it would be better. I'm not stupid; I know how powerful they both are."

"Then what's the harm with using them."

"Because I feel like I am doing just that. Using them. It's selfish and I'm putting them both into a dangerous situation. Jacob and I would be so worried during the whole thing."

I looked over to Alice knowing that this was likely to be a dead end. But she was conveying a different message.

Just tell them, her eyes plead, and I shook my head in disagreement behind Renesmee's back.

Alice's vision was not something I was going to use as a bargaining chip to get my own way.

I didn't want to push Renesmee too much with her decision and I didn't want to force it out of her. It wasn't a decision to be taken lightly. I stood up from the chair I was sitting in and faced Nessie.

"If you really honestly think that it would be better to leave them out of it, then we'll respect your decision." I said, turning quickly to Alice to make sure she wouldn't object, "But really think this through Nessie. I understand completely your perspective of things. As a mother, I would try my best to protect you, and if it wasn't for you inheriting my stubbornness, then I would be telling you to stay out of the fight as well.

"But we both believe you should take this into consideration, we think they could be really useful."

She stayed silent but she nodded her head.

"And I don't want you to think we're being selfish though either, but against the Volturi we're going to need all the help we can get."

"Bella's right." Alice joined in, "I've seen the Volturi's numbers. If we can't get enough people to agree then we're all going to be in serious trouble."

Nessie remained silent, looking as though she was considering her options.

"Is it alright if I have a little longer to decide? I need to speak with Jake too."

"Just take your time Ness; it doesn't have to be made right now."

She nodded her head and then left the room.

"Why didn't you just tell her?" Alice whispered to me.

I turned around to face her, "I can't just tell her I'm going to die! That would just be selfish and inconsiderate of her feelings."

"I understand that Bella, but maybe by saying that there's a chance you're going to die…" She paused briefly, "Never mind, Jordan's coming in."

"Alice! Bella!" I heard coming from behind me, so I turned around and done a double-take on what I saw.

Jordan was standing in the doorway to the room, but he looked so different from when I last remembered him.

Since he has been away he must have had another growth spurt because he looked like he was taller than 6ft. He had cut his dark, black hair into a shorter crop like Jacob has. He didn't look like a fifteen year old boy, but rather someone who was in their late-teens, and who worked out everyday.

He quickly strode across the room, reaching me first as I was closer, and enveloped me in a hug, his skin burning my own on contact. He jumped back and shivered, "Man, I keep forgetting that you guys are super cold. Okay Alice be prepared, you're turn." He moved away from me and had to bend down to hug Alice properly.

"So what's life like in the wolf-pack?" I asked, sitting down on one of the couches with my legs crossed beneath me.

"It's amazing. Once they get over the fact I'm related to vampires, they're all pretty nice guys." He suddenly started laughing, "You should have been there when they found that out, one of the lad's, Ian, he completely fell off his seat and…and his food…" he started laughing again, but he didn't get to finish as Jasper walked in then, making his way over to Alice and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"The wolves say they're ready." He said to the both of us, and Jordan turned around in his seat.

"We're doing this now?" He asked, his earlier cheerful mood dissipating into the air as he figured out what he was talking about, "But I thought you just got here?"

"We did." Jasper said sighing, "But we need to get this started as quickly as possible."

"The earlier we prepare the higher the chance we'll have more survivors." Alice finished off.

Jordan flinched when Alice said 'survivors' and I assumed he wasn't as used to considering death as we were.

"You know some of them don't want to fight." Jordan said, "Since they don't know you, and the fact you're all vampires, it's kinda hard to persuade them."

"Do you know how many will be there tonight?" Jasper asked.

"I'm guessing all of them. Some might just go as protection or because they're curious."

"How many of them are there anyway?"

"Not that many." he admitted, "There weren't enough vampires to stay in a single place for a long period of time. Because that pop-up vamp we had been chasing kept re-appearing, it managed to affect the gene, just not in a lot of us."

"It's going to be more difficult than we thought." Jasper thought aloud, looking at both me and Alice.

"We might as well give them a try, right? As long as we have some numbers on our side it'll give us some hope." I said, trying to lift the mood.

"Of course." Jasper agreed nodding his head. "Everyone has made their way to the clearing. Edward's waiting outside for you Bella."

I nodded to him and made my way out of the house, Edward was standing in the middle of the pathway and he smiled to me as I stepped out.

"So not enough numbers then?" He said hearing what we said inside, as we started to walk together towards the edge of the forest.

"No, not for the wolves. Do you think it might make this harder? The fight I mean."

"No, I don't think so. But then again anything could happen."

I'm assuming when Jasper said everyone, he meant our side, because we were the only ones standing in the clearing at that moment. The wolves hadn't shown up yet.

Edward was translating Jacob's and Jordan's thoughts for us when necessary, as they were standing in their wolf forms, perhaps just to ease the other packs worries or for some other reason.

"Jacob says they're on the way, about two minutes from here."

"How much of us do they know about Jacob?" Carlisle asked, his eyes searching in the trees to see if he could see the wolves.

"Just from a few memories they've seen from Jordan," Edward translated, "and of course they know from treaty."

Edward concentrated for a moment, and then his fists clenched at his sides. I held my hand in his and his hand relaxed slightly.

"Apparently there are a one or two wolves that were there the time after Charlie's funeral." I knew now why Edward was suddenly angry.

"Of course they know now." Edward answered bitterly to a thought in either Jacob's or Jordan's head and I saw them flinch just the tiniest bit at the tone of Edward's voice, "The point is they should have already known before they attacked."

He paused for a bit while one of them spoke to him through their mind, "I know…I'm sorry I reacted like that to you. I guess I'm still not exactly over it." He said, and his hand tightened around my own. I moved my hand gently up and down his arm to help calm him, and he relaxed under my touch.

"They're here." He suddenly stated, and all our heads turned to the general direction of where the wolves were appearing from.

It didn't take long before the first wolf emerged from the woods and entered the clearing, soon followed by others. The one who entered first was a dark grey, close to black, and he was just smaller than Jacob and Jordan, Jacob being the largest wolf out of all of them. He was flanked by two brown wolves, one a shade darker than the other.

Jacob stepped forward from our line and towards the wolves, in what I assumed was some sort of greeting for them.

"Jacob's just explaining some things." Edward whispered to me, his head bent close to my ear even though I could hear each word perfectly. "He's telling them about me, well about my gift, and how we are planning things out."

I nodded my head as he turned his own to look at Carlisle. "Carlisle, Jacob says you should speak now."

Carlisle moved forward as Jacob stepped back. His posture showed a more relaxed stance, a clear way he meant no harm, just as a reminder incase they didn't believe Jacob and couldn't trust us vampires. It reminded me of another time like this, although the images are blurry and hard to define. Just before the attack with the newborns and we made our alliance with the previous pack then. The image was being played out almost exactly.

"Firstly I apologise for what this upcoming fight will do for your pack and I am quite honoured that you agreed to help us."

"It wasn't an easy decision to make," Edward translated, "but bearing in mind it risked one of own, and the family of our own, then we knew we would help protect them."

"Well thank you. Now on more pressing matters…" Carlisle paused and he made a few more steps towards them, but they did not move. "…this fight will not be like the ones you've taken part in around the boundaries of La Push and Forks. These vampires are very old, therefore they are very wise and very skilled, and so they will be much more difficult to defeat.

"For us to have a chance in succeeding, then we have to work together. Even though it will be quite difficult seeing as we don't know each other very well, I propose that we should come here every night until the Volturi arrive. Although I don't doubt your own abilities, I still think it would be best if you come here and at least take in some advice."

"Alright then, but if these Volturi are so skilled, then what are our chances of surviving?" Edward asked, and I saw Carlisle bow his head.

"Right now, not very high." For such a compassionate man it must be hard to even confirm it aloud. "We don't have the numbers, and if what we've seen is right, then we'll be greatly outnumbered at this moment."

"And you know this because of the future-seeing vampire." Edward translated again.

"Yes we do. Alice has seen the fight, that is why we know the date and other details."

There was a pause as Edward listened in on what they were saying to him. "They've seen some of Jacob's memories and they want us to be sure we are protected against the Volturi's more skilled guards."

"Well you don't have to worry. My daughter Bella, as you may have seen, still has the ability which leaves some of the Volturi's main guards to be useless. These two members are extremely dangerous if their power is unleashed on you, and can leave you completely defenceless. But for that we are protected. If other vampires do support us, there are others, who also have abilities, who would be valuable to us if there are more skilled vampires on the Volturi's side."

There seemed to be a small rumbling through the wolves, and I realised it was like a growl of disapproval. I guess they didn't like the fact there would be even more vampires on our side.

"They didn't think there would be more. They're wondering if they expect you to believe that the wolves would be able to trust these newer vampires, knowing nothing about them and that they themselves would be outnumbered."

"I assure you there won't be a problem. The last time the other vampires on our side got along well with the pack, you don't have to worry about anything just because you're a different pack." He waited for a bit incase Edward said anything more and then said, "Is there any questions before we get started?"

"Nope, they can't think of any right now." Edward answered, "You're good to go."

"Jasper?" Carlisle asked, stepping aside to let Jasper stand upfront.

"Before we actually start with the training, I thought it would be good to create a brief plan of how we are going to face the Volturi once the day comes. Things like defensive and attacking techniques. Overall, a simple decision could either save someone's life, or destroy it."

He let the message sink in before he spoke again. "I know not everyone is here who could be here, but I think something simple like a formation would be simple to start out with. If we're spaced too far apart, it will give one of the Volturi an easier chance of attacking. Closer together and they might rethink their decision incase they worry about being outnumbered. Even though it's quite simple, I don't know how comfortable you would be with some of our kind being close to you, so you can see why we might want to get this sorted."

"I want Bella near the back." Edward spoke from next to me and I simultaneously rolled my eyes at his over-protective nature, whilst worry slightly knowing this was a part of Alice's vision.

"Don't be stupid Edward; let me be closer to the front with the rest of you."

"Perhaps Edward is right Bella." Jasper said and I looked to him, "We know the Volturi would want to get to you because you're ruining their best weapons. If they saw a mass number of people infront of you then perhaps they would reconsider going for you straight away. It would give us time to attack Jane and Alec."

Knowing I wouldn't be able to argue with the decision I just nodded my head in agreement. "We could put some extra people around you, for extra protection incase the worst happens."

"I'm not a baby," I answered, my tone harsher than what I had meant it to be, "you don't have to risk other peoples lives for the sake of mine."

"Alright then, forget I said it." He smiled at me and I knew he forgot about the tone of my voice with him.

As Jasper continued to talk to the wolf pack, I extended my shield do Edward would be able to hear my thoughts.

You shouldn't have done that, placing me at the back of everyone.

I didn't want to be angry with him, but I didn't want to be useless at the back while everyone else could get easily hurt.

Edward bent his head closer to mine and spoke low enough so only the two of us could hear.

"I just want to protect you."

And how am I supposed to protect you.

"Bella…"

I want to protect Nessie as well. She said she's going to go, so she's more vulnerable than everyone else.

He didn't answer, but instead he wrapped his hand within my own, tracing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. "We'll see what happens." He finally said.

I let that slip but then something else quickly popped into my head.

Do you agree with me on this? I quickly thought, thinking of something that I wanted to happen which related to the formation. He nodded his head and I knew he was with me.

"Okay then," I said, and I spoke up so everyone could hear me, "I don't want Nessie to be there either. At the very least she can be a last form of defence if things progress too far."

I immediately saw Nessie's huff of protest and start to turn around so she could argue her side, but before she could say anything Edward was defending our decision.

"You're not physically strong enough to fight someone as strong as those in the Volturi."

"We know you want to be there, but we want to do our best to protect you. The Volturi won't let up on you because you're different." I continued.

She was silent as she thought about what we were saying.

"Jacob?" Edward asked, and he lifted his large wolf head to look at Edward, "You have as much a say in this as we do?" I squeezed Edward's hand glad that Jacob was being apart of the decision-making. It was surprising how things had progressed from Edward originally snapping at Jacob because he found out that things had moved more romantically between Ness and Jake, to Edward allowing Jacob to help decide what would be best for his wife and her safety.

Edward listened carefully to what Jacob was thinking. After a few seconds Jacob whined and nudged Ness with his snout, and Ness immediately knew what his decision was.

"Come on Jake, please." She pleaded, and even though I didn't know what they were saying through there silent conversation, I knew if Jacob was in his human form, then I'm sure it would be a lot like mine and Edward's discussion just a moment before.

I had momentarily forgotten that we had an audience whilst we had our small family conversation. Everyone was looking intently at us, the wolves especially. I guess it must be hard for the newer ones to grasp that we were father, mother and daughter.

"Alright then," Jasper said, "We know that Bella will be the Volturi's primary target as her gift will be able to shield us from Jane's and Alec's ability, and also stops Chelsea from separating us. If we are able to form some sort of defensive circle around her, then as well as protecting her so in turn she can protect us, it might separate some of the Volturi, giving us a stronger attack."

"The wolves want to know what their part in the formation would be."

"Well the last time the wolves were around the outside. You could do that or be mixed up with us." Jasper offered.

The wolves didn't respond straight away, and it seemed as though they were thinking of another plan and explaining it to Edward.

"It could work." Edward said quietly, having his one-way conversation with one of the wolves, I presumed it was Jake though.

"It would be like with the newborns, the element of surprise."

"Dad," Nessie cut in, "could you please just let us in with what you're both saying?"

He smiled at her and told us what the wolves thought.

"The Volturi don't know anything about the wolves, and perhaps, well we're hoping that the Volturi are naïve enough to not take much into consideration with the shape-shifters and that they won't know that some have lasted without ageing and that others have appeared after all these years. They might just think they're dead and won't expect them.

"What the wolves are proposing is that they won't be there at the clearing when the day comes."

"Well that works out perfectly for them not to fight." Rosalie added bitterly and Edward turned to her.

"They are still going to fight, however they won't be in the Volturi's line of sight. They'll hide away within the forest until they appear. If they go unnoticed they could attack them from behind, closing them down into a circle so that some of them have to move into our lines just so they aren't trapped. They would be singled out and easier to attack."

"So the wolves won't be there when the Volturi first arrive?" Jasper confirmed.

Edward shook his head and I quickly turned to Alice. She knew immediately what my expression was saying. This was one of the things we had to make sure wouldn't happen so that more people could survive.

Just as I was about to argue against the wolves, I saw Alice's hand just lift slightly, a motion for me to stop what I was doing. I looked over to her confused, but she simply mouthed the words 'I'll explain later'.

"Alice," Carlisle asked, making her turn back to the front, "can you see if it'll work?"

She closed her eyes as she searched through the future. Eventually she opened them, "I can't really tell. The wolves are too involved for me to see clearly. Maybe if I move away later the images might be clearer."

I wasn't sure if she was lying or not. From her earlier vision it was clear that this idea wouldn't help much. There were more casualties there than if the wolves stayed and were in clear sight.

But then again I didn't know if she had seen another vision. Perhaps that was why she didn't want me to say anything. Does this idea actually work? Does it affect my death?

Either way, if it means more survivors on our side then I won't argue against it.

"Alright," Jasper continued, "The wolves will be in the surrounding area hidden behind the trees. Depending on the direction of the wind it might affect your position.

"Bella would be protected at the back, with perhaps four or five of us just in a loose circle around her. Defensively, we could protect her if they get too close, but it won't be so much so she feels useless." He looked at me then to check and I nodded to him.

"Renesmee, Jordan and Caitlin will stay in La Push for safety…"

Before Jasper even finished the sentence, there was an eruption of growls from the wolves side, even Jordan seemed to object to what Jasper had said.

Caitlin stepped forward from her place behind all of us, looking between Nessie's uneasy expression to Jordan, who even in his wolf form you could tell he was shocked and angry.

"You never told him?" Caitlin asked her, and then looked to Jacob. "Don't they even know?"

"The wolves want to know why Jordan is not going to be at the fight when he clearly has an advantage over the Volturi," Edward interrupted, "and Jordan is saying more or less the same thing, except he knows Caitlin knows something he doesn't." He quickly added.

Nessie looked overwhelmed. She was torn between doing what was best for her children to putting them at risk but likely to help win the fight. Plus the fact it was all being brought up immediately at this moment, with the wolf pack present, and not in the comfort of our home where she could have discussed it more privately.

Instead of letting Nessie explain it in her own time, Caitlin walked up to Jordan and explained it anyway.

"They're not letting us fight, Mum and Dad! They think it's a safety risk!" Without the need for Edward to translate Jordan's thoughts, it was like Caitlin understood what he said anyway.

"I know, I said that to them! How can we be in trouble? I don't think they understand how much help we can provide."

"That's not true Caitlin and you know it." Nessie interrupted, moving forward to Caitlin and Jordan.

Jordan started to walk away towards the line of the forest and Nessie started to follow him, worried she may have upset him too much.

"He's just going to change; he'll be back in a second." Edward explained, and she stopped following him and turned back to Caitlin.

"You know why we can't let you be there." She reasoned, her voice calmer.

"Why can't you let us be there?" Came another voice, and Jordan emerged from the line of trees in his pants. The expression on his face showed us that he wasn't happy with what he discovered. "What does everyone know that I don't?"

I'm sure most of us bowed our heads down to avoid Jordan's stare. None of us told him why the Volturi were returning, and bearing in mind Caitlin knew, I guess it was only fair that Jordan should have been told too.

"I know you're not telling me something, I could tell dad was trying to avoid thinking of something."

It looked like Nessie was too upset to answer her son, but eventually Carlisle stepped forward.

"Alice saw a vision of the vampire you have been chasing go to the Volturi, she was working for them, as a spy you could say.

"She knew about you and your sister's abilities, and how much of a threat they would be to the Volturi. They don't want any risks, and so want to eliminate those who pose a threat."

Jordan stayed still has he processed this information, but it didn't take long for him to speak.

"So they're actually coming for us? To kill me and Caitlin?"

Carlisle simply nodded.

"So that's why we can't be there? Because it makes it easier for them to kill us?"

He nodded again.

"Theoretically, wouldn't it make it easier for us to kill them?" he asked, sounding hopeful.

Carlisle didn't move and I heard Nessie sigh. There was a rumbling from the wolves in agreement with Jordan.

"Jordan, please understand where I'm coming from. I just want you safe." Nessie pleaded.

"Don't you want everyone else to be safe as well?" He asked, watching Nessie's expression.

She looked around to all of us, her gaze longer as she looked at Edward and I, and at Jacob. She looked down and breathed in deeply. "Of course I do." She whispered.

From the way the corners of Jordan's lips seemed to lift into a small smile showed that he knew he was close to getting Nessie to change her mind.

"Then please let us be there, you know how much safer it would be. Please mum."

Nessie looked at Jacob, and I watched as he moved his head up and down slightly. She turned back to Jordan and Caitlin, who seemed unaware of their parent's exchange, but rather were focused on Nessie's expression.

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she fought with herself to make the right decision. She took another look at the rest of us and turned back to her children.

"Okay." She whispered, and the responding smiles from Caitlin and Jordan just showed they heard it perfectly. "But I want one condition." She added, and their smiles faltered a bit.

She looked to Jacob who nodded after a silent conversation between them. Caitlin and Jordan looked slightly worried as they watched them both this time.

"We don't want you to be there at the very start." She turned to the rest of us more as she explained. "If the two of them are there then wouldn't there be a higher chance of the Volturi attacking quicker. It could give us a chance to try and persuade them to stop."

"Nessie honey," Alice said, "I've seen it, they're not going to change their minds, no matter how hard we try."

"But we thought that last time didn't we, and look what happened."

My mind quickly reeled back to our last encounter with the Volturi, and how close we were to a fight. If it wasn't for Alice and Jasper finding Nahuel, who knows how many of us would have actually survived.

"We were lucky last time. It will be almost impossible to change their mind. They're here to kill us all."

"But the fact is if their not there at the very start… Alice, are you okay?"

We all turned quickly to Alice who had a faraway look in her eyes; another vision.

"Honey, what can you see?" Jasper asked.

"There's a better outcome," she started, still staring straight ahead, "With them not there it buys the wolves some time to get into position, and it does actually stall them for a while. Overall it looks like we'll have more survivors with them there."

Once she finished she was brought back to the present, and looked at everyone except for me. There must be something she's still hiding from me.

"Hold up what was that?" Edward asked. He looked too confused to be worried, as he stared at a sudden wide-eyed Alice. She masked it up quickly and looked pointedly at me. I quickly extended my shield so that he hopefully wouldn't see anything more.

I saw Edward huff in exasperation as he couldn't see what Alice could see.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Alice quickly lied, but I don't think anyone else knew she was lying except for myself.

"So things are looking good then?" Jasper asked optimistically.

"So far..." She answered.

"Well since we've sorted those things out would anyone else like to add anything?" He asked, more specifically to the wolves.

"They want to know if it would be best to leave out the younger wolves, since these vampires are so skilled." Edward translated for them.

"For their safety, I think that would be best. But that means we'll have fewer numbers on our side."

I thought about what it would mean if we had fewer numbers on our side. In an obvious way it meant that we had more of a risk of getting killed than we previously had. If it just ends up with our coven and the few wolves, we won't stand a chance. I guess we were lucky last time because our witnesses were hoping to walk away, but it won't be probable in this case.

"Since that is settled for now, I think it would be best to start a little bit of training. We'll start with a bit of group work, show you how to deal with the pressure. Emmett would you like to go first?"

Emmett moved to the front enthusiastically, excited for a little bit of a fight.

Everyone turned their attention to Emmett, who was up against Jasper, Carlisle, Edward and Jacob, the only wolf who would voluntarily take part.

Alice was standing by herself, so I made my way over to her to ask what she saw earlier.

She saw me making my way over to her, and as if she knew what I was about to talk to her about, she moved back away from everyone else so it was less likely for them to hear us.

"What happened to keeping the wolves there from the start?" I asked immediately.

"The vision changed." She explained, "For some reason it doesn't look like you're going to die so quickly."

I sighed and bowed my head. "So it still looks like I'm going to die."

"I'm so sorry Bella," Alice said sincerely, "if it comes down to a fight then as well as Jordan and Caitlin, they want you dead just as much. With the wolves and the other two there, it just seems to delay it."

"No, I understand. At least we tried right." I said lightly.

"I'm still so sorry Bella. I thought this would be enough but…"

"It's okay Ally, don't you worry. I'll try my best alright?"

She nodded her head

"Alice, Bella, join in," Jasper called out, pulling us out of our conversation, "Emmett's doing too well."

We both looked over to Emmett, who surprisingly, was doing pretty well with three vampires and a wolf already against him.

Whenever one of them jumped on him, he managed to shake them off and defend himself, and he just avoided Jacob's attacks.

We quickly joined in, circling around Emmett and trying to 'attack' him when his defence was down.

Eventually, the numbers on our side managed to defeat Emmett, who ended up lying down on the floor, pretty disappointed that he lost.

Jasper explained that it would be best for all of us to try some of that group attack, just so we would be prepared incase we were outnumbered.

"The sun's going to rise soon, we'll have to go." Carlisle told us, and then he turned to the other wolves. "Thank you for cooperating with us, we'll continue practising the same time each night."

There was a murmur amongst the wolves and one by one they each turned back into the forest, leaving us alone in the clearing.

With one training session already over, the fight just seemed so much more closer than it did a few days ago, whether it was because I was aware of the fact I was going to die might be a part of it.

However right now, I just think the days are passing by too quickly.

A/N: So my exams are over :D and I managed to finally finish this chapter and get it posted. With my summer starting earlier, hopefully it means I can write more and update more often.

On another note, saw Eclipse on Sunday and it was amazing! Seeing it again on Friday with mates. Won't say anything though incase people haven't seen it.

Please review :) !

Jaimie x