Chapter 26

"These designs are absolutely amazing Esme." I admired, as I looked upon the various sheets that were strewn over a working table, full of pictures and sketches of Esme's ideas for when she liked to take part in designing.

"These are just a few simple things I've come up with dear." She said as she wrote on another piece of paper, moving at vampire speed to get the words down quicker, and yet they came out in Esme's neat handwriting. "The companies very rarely come to me for help, yet they still try to get me to provide some ideas. With the Volturi coming in a few days, well…" she paused and a hurt expression covered her face, "…if anyone is unable to make it…" she took a calming breath in and then continued to work, "…well I don't know if I would be up to completing them. I might not even be here to finish them anyway."

She placed the pencil down and rested her chin on her hands, looking ahead into the opposite wall. The expression on her face was one I had rarely seen, but seen nonetheless. It looked like any second now she would break down into tearless sobs.

I quickly moved from my place on the other side of her desk, to standing next to her and comforting her. She placed her hand on the arm that I had wrapped around her.

"Oh Bella you don't have to worry about me." She soothed as she patted my arm.

I felt like I needed to offer some comforting words to her to help lift her mood, yet even I couldn't think of anything positive to say, and I was sure Esme knew the same thing.

I guess I could understand her position though just a bit better than the others. I was a mother, and Esme, even though not biologically related, was a mother to the rest of the Cullens. I knew that feeling when I worried over if my child would die; the pain I felt wasn't like anything else. Yet Renesmee wasn't taking part in this fight and I was grateful that there was a chance she could continue to live. But Esme however, she knew that all her children would be fighting that day and there was a chance her children might not survive.

I held her tighter, ironically taking the motherly role when comforting her. Kind of reminded me of times when I had to look after Renee.

"You know that we all love you though, and I'm so thankful that I have you as a mother-in-law, and ever since my mother passed I've seen you more as my own mother, and you're so compassionate and caring, so even if something happens that day, just know that we love you and we're all grateful to have you."

When I finished I felt Esme shake once from what I assumed was a sob and she stood up from the chair to hug me properly.

"Thank you." She whispered to me, "And I want you to know you've been a wonderful daughter, and I'm glad you came into our lives." She gave me another squeeze and then pulled away and sat back down behind her desk and looking over the sheets again. "There are a few more finalizations you can help me with if you want to stay?" She asked turning to me and I was happy to see that most of the sadness behind her eyes were gone.

"Oh and I just realized that someone's going to have to go shopping again, since Emmett ate all the food in the fridge." She said with a pointed look at me but I could see the smile forming at her lips. She thought it was funny to watch Emmett eat all that food as much as I did.

"I'll do it!" A bell-like voice called from the doorway and I saw Alice standing there with a smile on her face.

"She meant grocery shopping Alice." I tried to explain, even though she most likely heard Esme's sentence.

"I know, but you never know what you may see along the way." She smiled. "I'll go grab some money."

"Wait, I'll come with you." I called out as Alice went to turn away, but she suddenly stopped and turned to face me with her mouth hanging slightly open.

"Did I just hear you correctly?" She asked and I smiled to myself knowing with our vampire hearing and recollection, hearing what I said would have been easy. She huffed. "I can't believe that now is when you volunteer to come shopping with me." She whined and stepped forward pointing an accusing finger at me. "Of all the time we had, the years before us, you want to come shopping right now." She said with disbelief.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Yes, unless you don't like this new volunteering side of me, and I'll just say no and you can persuade me until you have to drag me away kicking and screami-"

"No!" She shouted out before I could finish and quickly dragged me out of the room before I could protest. "Oh." She stopped for a moment. "Let me just grab something." She said and in a flash she was gone and then reappeared with four black bin bags.

"Taking out the garbage?" I teased.

"Nope." She said as she threw the four bags into the trunk of her car. "I've decided to make a few donations." We both opened the car doors and climbed in, and Alice started the car and we drove away from the house.

"Donations? You, are donating to charity?"

"Yup. Clothes." She looked at me and probably saw my shocked expression. It was not often that Alice gave away clothes. Instead she keeps the ones she thinks will come back into fashion in later years. "Don't be surprised Bella. I don't always buy; I like to give back as well. And plus, I had my reasons."

"Like what?" I asked her suspiciously.

Her expression saddened briefly and I knew the reason why she was donating the clothes, and felt bad for asking.

"I know that by doing this, I'm in ways accepting what's going to happen." She said sadly. "But I thought I might as well give back some of the clothes from the each of us, you know, just incase."

"Well you should have just emptied the rest of my closet." I said lightly, but Alice, with her eyes still focused on the road, started hitting me with her right hand. "Hey! Stop!" I protested as she kept batting at me with her hand.

"You've – got – to – stop – saying – that." She said, each word punctuated with a hit of her hand. "I don't like accepting that particular part of the vision, don't like believing it." She thankfully stopped hitting me and returned her hand to the steering wheel.

"Alice I don't get this. You have seemed to accept there's a chance everyone else will die." I said with a gesture to the back of the car where the bags of clothes were. "Yet whenever I mention my death, you get all defensive and hit me."

"Like you said Bella, there's a chance the others won't make it, but with you…" She shook her head. "…you're the only death that I've seen, which seems to be definite. Even with the changes we all made at training, I some how know you're not going to make it. Even when Jasper included Zafrina, things changed for the better, but something happens that still gets you killed."

I was surprised at the last part of her sentence. When the Amazonian coven arrived, we decided to alter the plans a little differently, especially as we had Zafrina. Instead of a group of people defending me, I would have a few less, and also have Zafrina by my side, and who would project a black image so anyone who got too close would be helpless. Just like last time.

"And also I don't like how you seem to carry on as if everything was normal and you're not going to die in three days."

I winced at her words but she didn't notice. "In fairness, I've got to act as if everything was normal; I don't want everyone to know that I'm a definite goner that day. But it still affects me, still hurts knowing I might not see anyone again, you, Rose, Carlisle, Esme, Jake, Em and Jazz, that I won't ever see my husband or my daughter again, and how it will affect them. I've been trying to say goodbye to everyone, but made it discreet so that they didn't know I was saying goodbye."

She looked upset that she had said what she said, and looked quite regretful. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you about what was going to happen that day."

I noticed that she had stopped driving and that we were parked at the closest mall. I didn't even know how long it had been when she stopped driving.

"I'm glad you told me." I reassured. "Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to say my own personal goodbyes to everyone."

She looked thoughtful for a minute and then spoke. "Is that what you were doing when you had that Trivia game with Jazz over American War history?"

I shrugged. It wasn't my best idea but I knew it was something that Jasper liked, even if I lost the game terribly.

"I wondered why you done that, it seemed so random. Although Jazz did suspect something was wrong, said your emotions kept changing." I nodded. "And with Esme just before and helping Rosalie with the cars yesterday?"

I nodded again. "Also when I went to the hospital before we came to Forks with Carlisle, and a few days ago with Em." I added.

"When he had to eat the human food?" I nodded. "Ha, that was priceless." We laughed as we both remembered how Emmett was like before and after the food.

"Yeah, it wasn't nice to see him bring it back up again though." I said and we both started laughing again, until the laughing calmed down and it was silent in Alice's car.

"Have you spoken to Edward yet?" She asked gently, breaking the silence and ending the light atmosphere that we had a few minutes before.

I shook my head. "I don't know what I'm going to say, it'll be too hard." I whispered.

She didn't say anything else and I was thankful she didn't offer any help or anything. I shifted in my seat to face her.

"Alice, I just need you to know that you've been an amazing sister to me and-"

"No, no, no, I don't want to hear it." She said, shaking her head and getting out of the car. I quickly followed behind.

"But Alice-"

"Nope." She declined as she kept walking ahead of me. "If this is the reason why you wanted to come shopping with me – shoot, the clothes." She turned back quickly and ran to the car to get the clothes out the trunk. "We are here to shop and donate, no goodbyes, and no sad thoughts of the fight, we are here to have fun, okay?"

"Alright." I agreed reluctantly, and I took two of the bags off her so it wouldn't look suspicious. "But just so you know, I am thankful."

She looked over her shoulder to me and I saw her nod, understanding all the feelings I wanted to say out loud to my sister and best friend.

"Now these charity stores better be grateful because they are about to get some really great donations."

…

"I did try to explain to her that if she's donating clothes, then there's no need to buy new ones. But once Alice has her mind set on something, and there's a sale on, it's pretty hard to stop her." I explained to Carlisle when he asked why Alice came in with more bags than she left with.

"They're not for all of us." Alice argued with a pointed look at me as she quickly whizzed upstairs to drop some bags off and then returned holding the groceries and taking them into the kitchen. "Not everyone is fighting."

"I don't think they'll fit in that tiny shirt you bought." I reminded.

"Alright, I admit that one was for me, but I had reasons." She smiled innocently as she returned from the kitchen. "Where's everyone else?" She asked, and I noticed that it was just us three in the house.

"They've left early. They thought it would be best to get the extra hours in. Just head up there whenever you're ready." He nodded to us and then left out of the back door.

After we put the food in the fridge and Alice had put the new clothes in one of the closets, we both headed out and towards the field where we were practicing.

"Do you know what we're doing tonight?" I asked Alice as we ran.

"I think we're finalizing everything, ending up the training tonight."

"Tonight?" I asked shocked, thinking of all the time I've spent practicing with my ability. "Why?"

Alice sighed. "I think it's better if we have our last day with our loved ones."

"Yeah, I guess it is." I said, and we didn't say anymore as we continued to run to the clearing, and once we arrived, it seemed like they hadn't started yet.

Once they knew Alice and I had arrived, they immediately started with practicing, dividing us into some groups to practice various things, how to avoid attacks, defend yourself etcetera… With it being the last session as well, it seemed like emotions between everyone had intensified, everyone wanted to get things right bearing in mind there would be no room for mistakes the day after tomorrow.

Time passed quickly, and it was soon time for the wolves to go, so Carlisle called us all together so we could go over everything that was happening. Even though it was embedded in our memory, there was more of a chance the wolves could forget something, so it was helpful for it to be refreshed in their minds.

"Alright, we'll get into our positions about twenty minutes before the time Alice predicted they would pass through Forks, and hopefully stop them from going any further. Once they have stopped, the wolves will move into there positions behind the Volturi. Alice also said the direction of the wind will be in favour of you, so you won't get caught.

"We'll try our best to delay them, maybe stop them altogether, but we know that's a slim possibility.

"Nessie, you'll be at the very back, just to show your face to the Volturi, but as soon as they fight starts, you will run back to where Caitlin and Jordan will be located, and tell them to come back. And as agreed by Bella, Edward and Jake, you'll continue back to La Push where the younger wolves will also be."

Carlisle looked over to Edward and I to check if that was correct, and we nodded.

"The rest of us know our positions in the field. Zafrina and the others who have been told will guard Bella at the back. Hopefully Zafrina's ability will be able to hold off the attackers until we deal with Alec, Jane and Chelsea. Then it should be easier to deal with the rest of them. You know who those three are," He said to the wolves, "they'll be our primary targets."

"The fight can move pretty quickly, remember that if you can, try and have two of us against one of them, and if Caitlin and Jordan arrive pretty soon then we are to defend those two, and hopefully it will allow us to defeat the Volturi once and for all."

There was a small cheer from Stefan and Vladimir that caused some of us to chuckle.

"I guess that's all there is to say." He said looking around to check there wasn't anything else that someone wanted to bring up. "Get some rest, and we'll see you all on Thursday. Thank you once again for agreeing to help us." He nodded to them and they all left.

"Bella, you up for giving your ability one last shot?"

I looked over to the wolves who were leaving and to the other vampires with us, and my family.

"Sure."

I went through the basic stuff first, one-on-ones that seemed to go alright, and I lasted even longer when faced by a large group, even though Jasper explained that if that happened, then someone else would come over quickly to help me.

I even tried a different activity, where I had to keep different people underneath my shield which were placed in different spots, but not letting any of the 'attackers' accidently under. It was hard the first time I tried, being able to manoeuvre my shield around particular people and avoiding others, and it was much harder once someone came to 'attack' me, but with practice I was able to get it relatively under control.

"Well done love." Edward congratulated me once we finished, "You done great, you'll be fine tomorrow." He encouraged and kissed the top of my head.

"Hopefully." I said back as we headed to the house.

….

When you have eternity on your hands, it may seem like the life you're living is going slowly, and that because you have so much time on your hands there's no need to rush it. Well then I hate the fact things have opposites, because right now we didn't have all the time in our hands and it was going past far too fast.

As much as I wanted to spend time with Nessie and Jake, Caitlin and Jordan, they needed to sleep so they were rested for the battle. So whilst we stayed with the others, I was fully aware of the time ticking away at the back of mind.

I mean what would you do if you knew you only had one day left with your loved ones. Would you try and do something fun? Take your mind of what is going to happen. Or would you just want to be in the company of them, no matter what you're going to do?

I could see the reluctance in their eyes when we told them they had to sleep. I don't think they wanted to sleep as much as we wanted them to, but we knew it would be for the better once they did.

For that evening and most of the morning, we, along with the other vampires that had agreed to help us, just sat together and talked.

No one spoke of the next day, or brought up any tactics, many were just reminiscing on past memories or just talking about things in general. It took our minds off things, well, I think it did anyway.

We were shocked to see Nessie and Jacob come down the stairs at five o'clock in the morning, followed by a sleepy Caitlin and Jordan, insisting they start the day now.

"We're going down to the beach in La Push." Nessie stated to Edward and I when we walked up to them. "You, Dad, Jacob and the kids. We can watch the sunrise and then think of something to do."

"Sure, it sounds great." Edward smiled.

"I was thinking we can do something later on with everyone else so they don't feel left out," Nessie whispered. "but I just want right now to be our family, if you get me?"

We both nodded. "We understand." I said.

"Alright then, so can we go now?"

"Yes, do we need anything?"

Nessie shook her head. "Just yourselves." She then held Jacob's hand and walked out the door, followed by Caitlin and Jordan.

"We'll be back before noon." Edward told Carlisle before taking my hand and leading me out the door. Nessie, Jacob and the kids were already buckled in the Jeep, so we climbed in and we set forward to La Push beach.

We found a nice spot on a cliff overlooking the beach and the ocean, and could see the pink tinges of light across the horizon to the west. Nessie was snuggled up into Jacob, and Caitlin and Jordan were both throwing stones into the ocean, to see who could throw it the furthest, and I was leaning against Edward, his arm wrapped around me; comfortingly, protectively.

We watched the sunrise silently, perfectly content with each other's presence. For the hours during the sunrise, I wouldn't be surprised if they had pretty much forgotten what was going to happen. And that was a good thing, and for me it was a great way to spend what could be the last day with my family. Having fun. Putting away the dread and fear and just focus on the good things.

We didn't move when the sunlight hit our skin and reflected off of it like diamonds. No humans were close to see us, but it was nice not to even care about the little things like that.

"It still freaks me out to see you all glittery like that." Jacob said from besides us.

Nessie hit him in the arm. "Hey! I do that as well you know."

"Yeah but you're not as sparkly as those two over there. Especially with Edward, looks a bit too feminine."

"Jacob," Edward started, "you may be my son-in-law…but I can still punch you." He smiled at Jacob and he just remained silent whilst Ness and I laughed at the two of them.

Edward then sighed and glanced down to his watch. "We'll have to head back soon." He said.

The sadness fell immediately on Nessie's face and if I could, then I would just stay with her for the rest of the day. But even Ness knew that it wasn't fair on the others who may want some time with us.

She nodded and placed her hand in Jake's as he helped lift her up. Caitlin and Jordan were walking back from the edge of the cliff, "We heading home already?"

Jacob packed the blanket into his backpack, "Yes, we promised the others we'll be back around noon."

"Alright then." Caitlin agreed without argument. Any other time it would be surprising, but given the circumstances, it made total sense.

We packed the things in the jeep and we set off back home.

"What are we going to do when we get back?" Caitlin asked whilst staring out the window.

"Hope it's something fun." Jordan said, "I know the fights tomorrow but there's no point spending what could be your last night all doom and gloom."

"Well we might just leave the decision to your Uncle Emmett then."

.

.

"Karaoke!"

"Emmett come on, be reasonable."

"What's wrong with karaoke? It'll be fun, and we can all laugh at Edward's dreadful singing." Emmett laughed and Edward just rolled his eyes.

"I'm doin' a duet with Uncle Em first." Jordan shouted and Emmett cheered and bumped fists with him.

"Fine then, we'll do this, but not for too long though."

Emmett cheered again and ran to set it up whilst everyone else started talking between themselves.

I felt Edward lean down to my ear, "Shall we skip the mind-destroying voice that belongs to Emmett?"

I looked over to everyone, Alice catching my eye as she raised her eyebrow at me.

I nodded, and he held my hand as we both sneaked out the back door and ran into the forest.

An idea suddenly popped into my mind and I quickly pulled Edward into a different direction, knowing the perfect place that I wanted to be this evening.

He must have recognised the direction we were going as he was running along besides me rather than being pulled into the direction.

We both slowed down to a walk once we reached the opening, he held his hand in mine as we both stepped through the forest line and into the meadow; our meadow. It made sense that we should be here on the final night together; a closing of sorts for me.

It seemed like forever since we had been here, and further time when I was human. A memory that I was desperate to hold on to, even if it was a little bit fuzzy around the edges.

"Good idea." Edward stated, as we both walked towards the centre.

The sun was setting, but the weather had changed so that there was a large amount of cloud covering the sky so you could barely see the warm red and pink light across the sky. Guess we wouldn't be able to see the stars tonight either.

"Thanks, disappointed about the sky though, kind of hoping the great Forks weather would work in our favour tonight."

Edward pulled me down besides him on the ground. "I'm not bothered about the weather, why would I be looking at the sky when you're by my side." He said softly, leaning in to kiss me.

"Hmm, when did you get so cheesy?" I joked.

Edward shrugged and smiled, before leaning in and kissing me again.

I pulled back and sighed against his lips. "I know you probably don't want to talk about this," I whispered, "but I need you to promise me something."

"Anything." He answered back as he pulled back and looked into my eyes.

"Tomorrow," I started, "if something happens to either of us," my mind quickly flashed to what may or will happen in Alice's vision, "we need to promise that if one of us…you know," I said, ignoring the pain in my chest of thinking Edward dead, "then the other must stay alive. No selfishness, just stay alive for Nessie's sake."

Edward's expression was hard to read.

"Agreed?" I asked.

He nodded his head. "Of course." He swallowed and then shook his head at something. "Yes alright." His hand then came up and cupped my face, his thumb grazing over my cheek.

"You do know though," he said, his voice completely full with emotion, "that I would never be able to live my life the same, to know that you wouldn't be in my life on a permanent basis."

My hand lifted up and I placed it upon his own which was resting against my cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you." Edward replied, and he leaned forward to reclaim my lips.

…

We stayed in the meadow till the early hours of the morning, before the sun had even started to rise. We both wanted to be home to be with our family. We did feel a little bit bad that we ran out on what might have been an entertaining night with Emmett and a microphone.

We ran in a comfortable silence back to the house, yet I felt that the suspense and tension was already starting to surround and close in on me.

I couldn't tell Edward about what I knew of Alice's vision. It may have been our final night together, and I didn't want to ruin it by telling him that it was highly probable that I may die today.

When we returned back, everyone was up except those that needed to sleep.

"Hmm…returning very early morning, still in last nights clothes…have a nice night you two?" Emmett cheekily asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Hmm…no one in the same room as you, silence within the house…did we save ourselves after you destroyed everyone's eardrums with your singing?" I retorted.

"As if, vampire's eardrums can't burst." He smiled

I nodded my head, "That's my point."

His smile quickly disappeared and I laughed at him as the others started to come down the stairs and into the room.

"We need the others to be down here by 10, and then we need to tell the wolves to wait at their starting positions by 12, so that when the Volturi come, we'll all be in position." Alice said when she entered the room, and just like that, reality came crashing down on us.

After Alice spoke everyone was silent. It was as though it had just hit us all that we would be fighting the Volturi today.

Edward's arm went around my waist and pulled me to him, and I noticed others were doing similar actions.

"How long do we have?" Someone asked.

"About seven, maybe eight hours." Alice said sadly.

We all stayed silent. I don't even think Jasper could have changed the mood for us.

"What do you think we should do?" Someone else asked, in a quiet voice.

"I suppose we could have a little bit of time to hunt. Only search in the immediate area, that way we'll have fresh strength for the battle, and be close to the area if we are needed."

Carlisle looked at each of us individually, and sensed no objection with anybody.

"Alright then, I guess we all go hunt."

…

12:26pm.

Everyone was in position.

Alice told us a few seconds ago that the Volturi were close by, and Edward translated from a nearby Jacob that the wolves were moving into position behind them.

I felt that I was too far away from Edward. I wanted to be by his side. Not confined, no matter how important I may be for everyone.

Renesmee was standing next to me, holding my hand. She said she would move once the Volturi pass the forest lining.

Caitlin and Jordan were about two miles back for safety. If the worst came to happen, they were close enough for Ness to run to them and tell them to help, or to tell them to run away.

No one wanted that to be the last resort.

Edward turned his head and looked over his shoulder to me, mouthed the words 'I love you' and then nodded his head.

That was the signal that they were really close by so that Edward could read their mind. I quickly extended my shield covering everyone, and it wasn't long before I could feel the sharp stabs attacking my shield, by none other than Jane.

"They've started." I whispered, looking up to where I could see the attacks. Obviously no one else could see it, but they could tell from my expression what I meant.

"Aro wouldn't attack without talking first, we have some time." Carlisle said from besides Edward, yet I could still hear him.

I knew that if my heart was human, it would be beating so hard in my chest, and my palms would be sweating from nervousness.

You're going to die Bella.

Alice's voice echoed in my mind and I automatically held Ness closer to me.

"Mum, are you alright?" She whispered, turning her head slightly to see me. And right there I saw the little girl who was sitting on Jacob's back all those years ago.

"I'm fine." I said back, restraining my voice from breaking. "Step back, they'll be here soon."

"I'm staying with you still the last minute."

I opened my mouth to argue, but it was comforting to have her by my side.

"They're here." Edward stated, and we all looked up to see the Volturi guard walk past the trees, lead by Aro, with Caius and Marcus besides him, and then flanked by their minions from hell. Jane and Alec of course.

And the cloaks just kept on coming. A few of us gasped at the increase in their numbers. Alice was right, yet it seemed like we may have underestimated how many they would bring.

There was someone behind Alec that seemed familiar to me, yet I didn't know how. A girl, with shoulder-length black hair. The way she was walking was like she didn't want to bring attention to herself. Did she not want to be here or was she just trying to be undetected…

…the pop-up vampire has been coming in and out of town recently…

…the woman, the vampire who was in La Push, she's part of the Volturi.

Now I remembered who she was.

"My, my, my," Aro said as he clapped his hands together, "I thought we would see you here. It's been such a long time hasn't it my friends." He said as the Volturi stopped walking. Looking over them now, it seemed like they outnumbered us at least 2 to 1.

"We know why you're here Aro, and I'm sorry but we can't let you do it." Carlisle said.

"Carlisle, my good friend, we do not wish to harm you, we would just like to seek what we came here for."

Nessie growled behind me.

Aro looked past Carlisle and spotted her.

"My dear Renesmee look how much you've grown, yet how young you still look. I guess we made the correct decision after all."

"Don't talk to her." Edward growled.

Caius stepped forward in reaction but Aro lifted a hand to keep him back.

"Surely there is some way to avoid all of this." Carlisle explained.

…We try to work something out with them anyway…

The words flashed in my mind, from when Alice told me about the fight.

"We want nothing more than to avoid all this." Aro smiled, "Now, where are the two young ones who we would like to meet. I hear they have quite interesting abilities."

Nessie growled from besides me again and then recognition filled his eyes and he clapped his hands together again.

"Of course, how did I not figure this out? Young Renesmee is a mother, how fantastic…But wait, one of your children…" He was thoughtful as he remembered something, and then his face turned into one of slight disgust. "The thought of a vampire and a child of the moon."

Marcus flinched and stepped besides Aro and leant to his ear, but we still heard him. "Surely this changes things Aro, mixing breeds, who knows what dangers will surface."

Aro lifted his hand up to quiet him and he stepped back a little.

"Surely Aro, is there no way we can avoid this bloodshed. They're children, they mean no harm."

Aro was silent as he thought, and then something flashed behind his eyes.

"You know," he started, glancing between Edward, Alice and myself, "we can always promise safety along the ranks of the Volturi. Your gifts would be highly valuable…"

…In return they want some people to join the Volturi…

"…and no one will be hurt today." He smiled.

"No chance." Carlisle declined immediately, "I am not splitting up my family."

Disappointment wavered on his face, and then he looked to those who weren't in the Cullen clan. "And to the rest of you, would anyone like to be a part of our group, where I promise, your lives will be spared." His eyes flickered to everyone, and no one stepped forward.

"Caius, Marcus," He called out, "let us consult.", and turned around to speak with his two partners.

"This is it," I whispered to Nessie, "go now. Wait behind the trees till they give the order, then run to Jordan and Caitlin, and tell them to come." I faced her and noticed a tear fall down her cheek. "I love you." I whispered to her as I gave her a hug.

"Love you too." She whispered back before quickly pulling away and running to the trees.

I took in a staggered breath in and prayed, prayed that that wasn't my last moment with my daughter.

It didn't take long for them to come to a decision. Aro stepped forward and the other two fell in place behind them. I watched as Jane smirked.

"Due to the fact you won't surrender, and you are hiding what we believe to be highly dangerous beings, we have no choice but to sentence you all to death."

And then it started.

All at once I felt multiple hits on my shield right above where I was.

"You're set Bella; no one will be getting close to you." Zafrina whispered from besides me.

Before our group began to charge, a number of the Volturi, behind the second line ran forward and leaped.

…A group of them, maybe six or seven, charge forward unexpectedly and jump over most of us and land towards the back…

A few closer ones try to jump up and reach them, one person manages to take hold of their legs and pull them down, however the rest of them all land close to the circle protecting me.

The people around me have no other choice but to attack the ones that are close by, Zafrina included.

I saw as Edward was starting to turn around, perhaps to get to me, when the second wave attacked.

...It's like the other purpose for the second attack was to stop people getting to you...

The front line of our group was suddenly attacked, everyone was caught up in a battle of there own, whilst others quickly ran to help them.

I wanted to help; I desperately wanted to fight by someone's side.

A Volturi member suddenly dropped to the floor besides me; blinded by what I assumed was Zafrina's ability, where she quickly finished him off and threw his limbs somewhere.

A fire had already been started near the centre of the field, but I didn't want to think who may be in there, but there was a fair few that I certainly hoped would be there already.

There was growling and the sound of ripping all around me, when I heard a growl extremely close by.

I turned quickly, expecting to see a nearby fight, but instead there were two lone guards staring at me with their eyes wild and their teeth bared.

No one else was close, everyone was fighting.

It still leaves a couple of them to get … to you.

AN - So here's another chapter, and I am sad to say that this story will probably end within maybe 2/3 more chapters.

I apologise for updates being slow; last year it was GCSE's, this year it's A-levels, and then soon after that it'll be University so I just ask that you bear with me, I will try and update as quick as I can, so I thank you for being patient with me :)

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year.

Thanks for reading, please review :)

Jaimie xx