Chapter 16! Phew, glad we made it! Thanks for reading everyone! And special thanks to those of you who've reviewed (you know who you are) - hope you all know how much I appreciate it ;)

Paul

Emily emerges from the kitchen with a well-stocked first aid kit. I look at her gratefully and settle back on the couch. Valerie sits silently next to me, tenderly holding her arm. The blood had seeped through her towel by now and I bite my lip in worry. I shouldn't have let her fall. If I'd stayed closer to her I could've caught her. There's a lot of blood. It makes me feel weak.

"Wow, well we'll get this fixed up as fast as possible," Emily smiles kindly and kneels in front of Valerie.

"Do you think it'll need stiches?" She asks calmly, though I can see her tremble at the thought.

"Hm, I don't think so," Emily takes her arm and removes the bloody towel. "It's pretty bad, but that's because it's wide and luckily not deep," she finishes and pulls out wound cleaner.

"I'm sorry," I say again.

"You've said that at least five times," Valerie laughs, "It's alright! I was just being clumsy." I roll my eyes and snort.

"Yeah but if you're clumsy around me I'm expected to catch you!"

"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself," she retorts.

"Enough you two! You're worse than Sam and I!" Emily scolds while wiping away the last of the blood. The cut is longer and wider than I thought, almost the entire length of her forearm. Damn, I should've caught her.

Emily finishes dressing it and then helps Valerie up. We say our thanks and head to my house. As the door shuts, Valerie's phone rings. Mine rings simultaneously. We look at each other and shrug, answering.

"Paul man! Hey, come down to the boat yard," Embry sounds serious.

"What's going on?" I say suspiciously.

"The Volturi are here and want to meet by the water," he sounds nervous too.

"Okay. I'll be there soon," I finally say and hang up.

I turn to Valerie. She's talking to Trevor and after a few words a relieved look passes across her face. She hangs up and turns back to me.

"Hey, I have to go," I say lamely, "I'm really sorry… it's important." I stare at my feet, feeling like a complete asshole.

"It's okay," she smiles at me forgivingly, "You'll just have to make it up to me… I'm thinking a cheesy, romance movie watching marathon!" She grins slyly.

"Hah, you're on!" I laugh and toss her the keys to my house and run off to the docks.

Alice

The arrival of the Volturi made us all tense. Jasper and I's reunion hadn't exactly gone as planned either. We'd spent the night in each other's arms, and yet it was still as if he was distant to me. Something was pulling him in another direction. It pained me. Then the Volturi had come. Aro and the rest made my skin crawl.

They'd originally come to our house and when it looked as if things were moving more quickly than we'd thought, Carlisle called Jasper, Emmett, and Edward back. They'd only just been able to find Sam. The wolves' involvement meant I couldn't see a thing. It bothered me. Stupid dogs.

Now, Aro and his crew of ancient and powerful vampires was sitting in our living room. Ironic that a crowd of creatures that should already be dead should meet in a "living" room. They sat silently and unflinchingly as Carlisle told them the wolves were meeting us at the shipyard down the coast.

"I am interested in seeing this rebel group," Aro was saying nonchalantly.

"Yes, well they've made some very serious threats to my family and the wolves," Carlisle looks dark and anxious.

"Even so," Aro smiles sweetly, "I'm curious as to how they eluded our radar for so long."

"The wolves are moving now," Edward cuts in, "We should get going." Bella and Rosalie stand stiffly at his side, looking warily at the Volturi.

There's around twenty or so of them. Most remained outside out of courtesy. Aro and his closest cohorts were only allowed inside. I shuddered at the thought of what incredible powers the rest of them had.

At Edward's suggestion Aro rose and strode to the door. Carlisle followed after him.

"This should be fun," Aro laughs, stepping into the pale light.

Valerie

Paul leaving me was a bit of a bummer. But I couldn't blame him, he had important wolf and vampire things to do. Especially if this Volturi group was coming. It sounded very serious. Though as much as I don't like the idea of the Volturi, I would rather have them than the rebel group. They were scary and unpredictable. I never truly felt safe. Only when I was with Paul did I feel safe.

Now, as I walk toward his house I get a tingling feeling down my spine. It makes me shiver and I speed up my steps, clutching my arm tightly.

It happens in half a second. One minute I'm walking, the next I'm knocked to the ground. I look up, dazed, and see a man standing in front of me. His eyes glint red. Not a man, a vampire.

Thalia

It had been surprising to hear from the leader of the Cullen coven. I hadn't expected that. I should have, but I certainly won't let the others know that I was shocked. They would never see fear or doubt in me. I would lead them with strength and fury.

A meeting with the Cullens sounded promising. No doubt they wanted to fight us alone and leave the poor, mangy mutts out of the battle. In its own way that was too bad. I had really wanted to rip the head off of one of those filthy creatures myself. They'd almost hunted vampires to extinction. Revenge would be delicious.

Still, a battle with the Cullens will be a good start to the rebellion. I'm sure it will prove very cataclysmic.

Jacob

Sam leads swiftly through the undergrowth of the forest. I follow easily behind him and feel Quin and Jared to my left. The others are on their way. I think about what will happen next. Surely some sort of fight. The numbers of Volturi make me uneasy, but at least they're on our side. For now.

We reach more open land and go into a full-fledged run. My deep, brown fur ripples in the wind. It's exhilarating. I catch myself grinning and am reprimanded by Sam to keep a straight face.

We eventually reach the marina. Boats bob peacefully on the water, and we sniff and glance around before we step onto the dock. Nobody is around and I huff in relief that we don't have any weird story to make up about unnaturally large wolves in the area.

I don't like this. Leah's voice echoes in our heads as she bounds up beside us. She'd left Trevor very suddenly to come join us. She knew he was worried.

Yeah, you and me both. Collin murmurs.

This dock is ridiculous, Paul charges in, how're we supposed to fight on such a tiny piece of crap?

Paul. Sam growls. We don't want to fight today.

Maybe you don't, but I sure as hell do! Paul barks back, scratching his claws against the worn wooden planks.

How bad can this rebel group be anyway? Seth intercedes peaceably.

Who knows kid. Jared huffs and sits.

Suddenly, I hear a rustling. My ears perk up at the sound and I see gliding figures slowly emerge from our right. Vampires. Luckily, our vampires. I see the entire Cullen clan and members of the Volturi. I'm surprised the Cullens' friends didn't come, but I guess the Italians strong-armed them into keeping quiet. Stupid vampire politics. I'm just grateful Reneesme isn't here to see this. It could get bad.

I watch as the Volturi sink into the water, hidden from sight and smell. That's actually a good plan, I muse to myself. I hear the others grudgingly agree. We nod to the Cullens and I know Edward is reading Sam's mind. We all agree to wait patiently in the cover of the woods. Edward nods to Sam and we melt into the greenery.

We wait. It seems like years pass. I sit on my haunches and think about Reneesme, but I can't help but feel like something bad is going to happen. It's a weird, bone-tingling sensation. I can't shake it.

Gradually, I pick up on a smell. It's foreign to me, but Paul immediately recognizes it.

The rebels, he snarls.

We watch as a small group of four vampires emerges in front of the Cullens, their backs to us. Wait. I peer hard at the group. One isn't a vampire. She's being held around the neck and a hand covers he mouth. I smell her scent and react just in time to push Paul back. It's Valerie. The rebels have Valerie.