Chapter 8

This is War

I prepared myself for battle and to be taken away. Goodbye Edward, Alice, Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Carlisle, Esme, & Bella. Hazel's going to die. My brain screamed EDWARD! I hoped he would hear me.

I walked to the door and stopped…what was I doing? Who did I think I was? I thought I was ready to die…or fight. But I wasn't too sure…Jason what would he do? Could I really just leave him that way? How could I be so heartless? I had been so distraught waiting for him? Now if he found out I had been murdered by the Volturi? What would it do to their reputation? To the entire vampire population?! NO! I thought I wasn't going to be that way I was going to fight.

I was going to fight for my will…to live. I knew it was the only way the Volturi would take me seriously. They wouldn't think I was just a dumb 12 year old vampire who was helpless (although I'm sure they didn't think I was helpless after all they had heard about what I did to Michael Levine). But I was still nervous about being taken I knew that there was 5 of them and 1 of me. I then thought back to the time where we were in Italy.

Bella, Alice, & I had rushed to Volterra to save Edward's life after he was going to kill himself because he thought Bella was dead. Aro, Marcus, Caius, Alec, & Jane were there with us in the room because Bella was human and had seen too much they were deciding what to do. They were experimenting with her and she couldn't have anything done to her. Aro was going to have Jane and Alec do something and Edward ran around and jumped on Caius because he was helping. Bella just stood there and I was mad about what they were doing to my brother so I jumped on Jane and strangled her neck hoping to break it but she grabbed my wrist and threw me onto the floor. Alice was then taken by Alec I kicked Jane in the face and she screamed so then she took me to Aro who was going to kill me and then Edward got in the way and Jane made me feel pain and Aro made everyone stop because Alice had seen Bella becoming one of us. I knew it wasn't a lie but Aro didn't believe me so he grabbed Alice and saw we were right.

I knew that the Volturi were TRYING to be good and they probably were. Maybe they just needed better editions to their clan to help be…more like they are the protectors of the vampire population? I knew that was what Edward, Carlisle, & Jasper would think because they don't like to think negative about the Volturi. I guess maybe I was inheriting it from Edward because he was my brother or Carlisle because he was my creator. I was busy thinking when I heard pounding and I didn't do anything because I had already tracked them. I knew the others wouldn't be back soon…not until a few hours or tomorrow. But now it didn't seem long because I never slept…anymore I hadn't slept for almost a hundred years.

I had been thinking about Marilynn and what she had done for the rest of her life. I don't know why. I also thought about Jason…oh Jason when are we going to meet! I knew it wouldn't be until after the Volturi drama because Alice had seen it and I tracked him. The Volturi were probably getting mad outside so I figured I should probably go…but I didn't want to. I felt like there was a force that was like pulling me to not go…like Edward was there or something. I tracked my siblings and Alice was freaking out…good old Alice I could always count on her to see something. My brothers were also freaking out because I was alone and the Volturi were at the door. They were now at the windows and I felt like I was in a horror movie or something like I was surrounded by my fears or tormentors. Jane was banging on the window and I slowly walked out of the door…purposely looking around even though I didn't think it would be my last time in the house.

Aro, Marcus, Caius, Jane, Felix, Alec, Dimitri & Chelsea were all there just as me and Alice had predicted. Aro stepped forward and I shut my eyes tight and bit my lip with my sharp teeth.

"Hazel, Hazel, Hazel so we meet again" he said.

I swallowed and opened my mouth to speak but I was too paralyzed with fear.

"They aren't here for you now are they?" Alec sneered.

I gritted my teeth trying to keep my cool. I tracked my siblings they were coming I felt a sigh of relief knowing I wasn't totally doomed knowing Carlisle, Esme, & Alice they would try to go for peace first but not Rosalie and my brothers they would want blood and gore I was like my brothers. I didn't want to attack yet in fear of being overpowered I would wait for my siblings and then attack. Alec pushed me to the ground but a figure stepped in front of me…Edward who else? He growled and I got onto my feet. Alec jumped back to the Volturi and my coven was gathered behind Carlisle. The Volturi were behind Aro.

"My dear friends…am I glad to meet" Aro said.

"Shut up Aro" Emmett said.

Jane made him feel pain but he took it like Emmett and just gritted his teeth Jane stopped after not getting her reaction again. I snapped at her Carlisle lightly pushed me behind him so I wouldn't start a fight. Bella was in the house with Alice in fear of leaving Bella alone I would fight however I wasn't afraid now that Edward was here.

"Now Aro we've been over this before about Alice and Hazel" Carlisle said.

"Bella needs to be silenced it's almost 2 years since she's known" Aro said.

"Bella will be turned as soon as possible but please we don't want it to come to this" Carlisle said.

"I'm afraid it already has" Marcus said in a bored tone.

Chelsea narrowed her eyes and scowled I looked at my brother and he smirked she growled.

"What is it?" I whispered.

"Chelsea is seeing that our ties aren't breakable that we Cullens would never turn on each other" Edward whispered back.

I nodded and listened carefully to Carlisle and Aro (who was beginning to get on my nerves) what was his problem anyway we never tried to take anyone from his stupid Volturi coven so why couldn't he again accept the fact me and Alice belonged to the Olympic Coven and move on. Then without warning Felix lunged at Edward who slugged him in the face and threw him against a tree. Jane went for me and I had her in a headlock. We all had a fight – mate. Edward and Felix, Chelsea and Rosalie, Carlisle & Aro, Jasper & Caius, Emmett & Marcus, Esme & Dimitri, & me & Jane the fight was officially on.

I was ready but the bad thing was I hadn't hunted in a long time but I wasn't too weak since I had been training (Emmett forced me). But now I was happy that he did. I turned to look at how the others were doing Rosalie, Carlisle, Edward, Emmett, & Jasper were all winning Esme was struggling with Dimitri but Jasper came and helped her out. It was just another typical vampire battle.

I felt rain coming down and could smell the mist. Suddenly I had a rush usually I only had that when I was mad and I guess maybe I was because the Volturi was really getting on my nerves. I began to think about my life which was flashing in front of me. I knew it would probably come down to the choice of me and Bella and I was ready to go. I had lived 100 years Bella only had 17.

I knew I had to let Edward be happy and couldn't end Bella's short life and Jason…I couldn't think about what I was doing to him. I was about to give up. I looked into my brother's eyes and he knew what I was thinking and he had that pained look which was his look of guilt and regret. I fought I was thinking about what would happen to my ashes after the Volturi burned me. I looked up at the sky which I often did when I needed an answered prayer. When I died make it not painful and fast don't let Edward and my coven suffer, & take care of my Jason.

"NO!" I thought to myself I couldn't let the Volturi ruin my life. I was an immortal and I couldn't just throw it away. I had to do it for everyone who died mama, papa, Marilynn, everyone who I couldn't do it to…Edward, Jason, The Olympic Coven, Bella.

Jane screeched and tackled me to the ground. I jumped up and pinned her to a tree holding her by the neck.

"ALEC" Jane screamed and Alec came so I now had to fight both of them.

I had no idea what to do I was trying to think and strategize in my head. I could go for Jane first and Alec would attack me from the back I would kick him and then be overpowered by Jane then get back up and step on her throat & tear out a piece of Alec's face then Jane would reach back up and I could…it was a little too complicated. Rain began to fall but we were used to it. I was afraid of messing up and ruining everything.

Jane pinned me down, "you are weak and your family would be better off without you! They hate you especially that stupid brother of yours."

I knew it wasn't true.

"GET OUT OF THIS EARTH YOU PIECE OF CRAP!" Alec screamed at me.

Aro called for peace and said "calm the fight will resume tomorrow we need to hunt" he smirked when he said that.

"YEAH" Jane yelled "LET'S GO KILL SOME PEOPLE!"

"JANE!" Alec said.

"Sorry got carried away."

"Jane do you understand what might've happened if someone heard you?" Marcus asked.

Meanwhile we were looking at them like they were crazy.

"Let's go hunt" Emmett said.

"HELL YEAH!" Jasper said.

"Hazel are you OK?" Rosalie asked.

"Leave my ashes by the window in my room" I said.

Edward closed his eyes and looked like he was about to cry if he could I would if I could too.

"Hazel, please I would never let that happen to you" Edward said my vibrator didn't go off. Edward kissed my hair and said "race ya to the woods" then he gave me his special smile that he only did to me. I laughed slightly and ran of course he let me beat him. We made sure we got more than usual because we wanted to have a lot of energy.

Edward ran to the house where Bella and Alice waited. Bella was so happy to see Edward was OK. I went to my room while being followed by Emmett.

"Hey" he said.

I turned around "aren't you going to call me dwarf?" I asked.

"Nah."

I shrugged and looked at old photographs of me in my human life.

"Was that you?" Emmett asked.

"No" I said sarcastically.

"Who's that?" he asked pointing to Marilynn who was next to me in the picture.

"Marilynn" I said.

"Oh" Emmett said.

"Why are you hanging out with me?"

"I don't know" I raised my eyebrows and my vibration didn't go off.

"I'm going downstairs…later" Emmett said "later" I said.

That night was very uneasy for me. Bella was sleeping in Edward's arms as usual Emmett & Jasper were hanging out and Rosalie and Alice were doing girls stuff. I stared at the ceiling in the darkness of my room wondering if I would be here tomorrow night or be in the clutches of the Volturi. I was going to fight for myself, Alice, Bella, Jasper, & Emmett so we wouldn't be taken away. I would show Jane and Alec I wasn't stupid weak Hazel but I was stronger than them.

I thought about Jason and why it was set for a certain time for us to meet. It was pretty annoying waiting I stared at the floor and then got up from the couch I was laying on and listening to my 80's CD. I crept downstairs and saw Jane from behind the tree.

"Give up now" Edward came up from behind me.

"You know you'll never get me right?" I asked.

"Yeah I know" he said.

"Where's Bella?" I asked.

"Sleeping in bed."

"Who's watching her?" I asked.

"Alice" Edward replied.

"Um Edward" I said.

"Yeah I know" he said "why are you thinking about our human life?"

"I don't know" I said.

"I can't believe that was us either" he said.

"OK seriously Eddie" I said.

Edward rolled his eyes "I'm enjoying this" he said.

"Yes I'm sure you are" I said.

"You ready for tomorrow?" Edward asked.

"I guess to a degree" I said.

"Jazz really needs to stop teaching you these sayings" Edward said.

I rolled my eyes "I'm 100 years old! I ought to know!"

Edward laughed a little and raised his eyebrows. He ruffled then kissed my hair. "I'm going to be with Bella if you need me OK?" he said.

"Yup I know" I said.

"See ya Hayz" Edward said.

"See ya" I said.

I remained in my room for the evening listening to my CD's and playing my guitar. Rosalie was sitting with me and watching me I don't know why. She claimed she was bored. When the sun rose for the first time in weeks I ran outside to the yard. It had rained the night before so I loved feeling the sensation of the wet grass on my bare feet. The grass was the pretty forest green color and everything seemed so much nicer with the sun out I ran out to the sunniest part of the yard and let the sun come down on me. My skin was reacting but I didn't care.

"Hazel inside now!" Rosalie called to me and I sprinted inside.

"What?" I asked.

"We are waiting for the Volturi" Emmett explained.

"They're in the woods" I said.

"Where?" Jasper asked.

"They're close I can hear Jane's thoughts" Edward said.

Then there was a knock at the door.

"Is everyone ready?" Carlisle asked.

"Ready as we'll ever be" I said.

"Hazel!" Edward said when he heard what I was thinking…about my death.

"What's she doing?" Esme asked Edward whispered something to her and she sighed.

Carlisle got the door and Aro pushed him out of the way. I bit my lip and raised my eyebrows. Jane made me feel pain but I ignored it even though I felt like I was burning much like the sensation of how I felt when I was transformed.

"Stop! You…you witch!" Emmett shouted at Jane and she laughed her mean laugh and stopped torturing me.

Bella darted upstairs and Edward motioned for Alice to follow her.

"As day 2 of the cause begins" Aro began.

"Our noble cause" Caius and Marcus said together.

Edward had his teeth gritted and Jasper looked like he wanted to tackle them and Emmett looked like he was going to punch someone. I had to fight to keep my growl down. Alec shot me a glare and I looked at Edward who had read his mind.

"You're OK" he assured me and it wasn't a lie…for now.

"We now have to have pair ups…" Aro smirked "Edward…Alec. Felix…Emmett. Jasper…Demitri. Chelsea…Rosalie. Jane…Hazel. Esme…Marcus. Carlisle…Caius."

I wanted to laugh because Aro was sitting out. The Volturi had outnumbered us Cullens. Well not technically because Alice was with Bella (who had originally wanted Edward to sit out with her). But Edward knew we needed him to fight. I was happy that he was fighting because it gave me motivation and he was fighting for us.

Jane had her evil smirk and I knew what was coming.

"Look…Jane" I started.

"You really are Carlisle's adopted kid aren't you…reasoning instead of fighting" she said.

"SHUT THE HELL UP JANE!" I shouted because she was making fun of my coven.

"What are you going to do" she taunted "go to Edward and Emmett crying" she laughed.

I got mad so I fought with all my strength and I didn't care what happened if I got burned in the process. She made me feel like I was being ripped to shreds. I didn't care I just fought and fought and fought. I wasn't too sure what would happen to my coven but I knew I had to fight anyway. I didn't want to feel that feeling of guilt again…it was a habit I had whenever something was going to happen and I always felt like it was my fault. It was something I had inherited from Edward who did the same thing.

I looked over at my siblings to see how their fight was going. Edward and Alec were having a pretty good fight it was a fairly even matchup because they were both the same size…well Alec was a little smaller than Edward but he had extraordinary powers. He could take away all of your 5 senses and that was very significant in a fight. Edward had a strong will to keep fighting though…he didn't want Bella to be taken or the rest of us for that matter. I think he was where I had gotten my strong will to fight from. But I wasn't sure where he had gotten it from.

Felix and Emmett's fight was different. Since they both do not possess any psychic powers and are both of equal size and strength the fight was even. Emmett was fighting very well since he had excellent training and a lot of willpower he didn't want to be taken himself and he didn't want our coven to be in danger any more than we already were. Felix was fighting well also (which wasn't necessarily a good thing) he was very smitten with Bella which annoyed my brother and I couldn't blame him because if it was some jerk who liked Jason then yes I would be very annoyed.

Another factor to my being annoyed with the Volturi I remember the time when we were in Volterra saving Edward because he was going to kill himself after thinking Bella was dead. Felix wanted to kill Bella and Alice, Edward, & I fought but Felix almost killed Edward before Bella and I intervened.

Jasper and Demitri's fight was going rather well because Jasper had extraordinary training in fighting unfortunately so did Demitri. Jasper, like Emmett didn't want to be taken as well and didn't want Alice either to be taken. We all had very reasonable motives to fight and not to be taken. Rosalie and Chelsea's fight was progressing to a level that no one had ever seen her fight at. Rosalie didn't have a power like Chelsea but she also had a will…she didn't want Emmett to be taken. Chelsea was trying to break her ties with the rest of us but it was impossible because we had been together for too long and had a different relationship than most covens. Esme and Marcus were having an interesting fight because most people perceive Esme as one of the weakest Cullens…but she wasn't she was actually a good fighter. Marcus was one of the nicer Volturi members. His mate Didyme was killed so he wasn't much of a killer or one to take someone. I wasn't too sure he even agreed with taking us but Jane probably did something to him so he would feel pain if he didn't go along. Carlisle and Caius were also getting into a good fight. Like my brothers Carlisle had excellent fight training and was also an excellent fighter. But Caius was cruel and was taunting him…Caius has to be my least favorite out of the leaders known to me for his cruelty other than Jane.

I kicked Jane …HARD but it was no use Felix had his arm around my neck and lifted me off the ground.

"NO!" I screamed.

Demitri had Alice and Caius and Marcus each had Jasper and Emmett. Jane had Bella they were taking us to their truck.

"EDWARD!" I screamed.

Edward sprinted to the truck attempting to fight off Felix but Jane made him feel pain and Alec cut off his senses.

"HAZEL!BELLA!" he shouted into the fog and mist.

As I was shoved into the truck I looked back and saw my family trying to get to us…but they just couldn't. Alice put her arm around me and I leaned into her arms I shut my eyes tight and prayed that I was dreaming…