Chapter 21 is now up! The big battle! I have had the ending in my head forever, so the next chapter is almost finished as well. I just have to smooth over a few more details.

Happy belated Birthday agirl2224! I tried to post this for your birthday, but you wouldn't have liked it if I did. I had to fix a lot on it yesterday. Well I hope everyone likes this chapter. ONE MORE LEFT!

Chapter 21: Magic

I braced myself. Thoughts were coursing through my brain. Will this hurt? What if my blood smells even stronger as a human? Will everyone be able to resist? What if I age and die? What if I can't be changed back? I did a quick evaluation of myself before I opened my eyes. Everything felt normal. I still felt strong. I could hear the Volturi's breaths over fifty yards away. Everything was normal. I opened my eyes and saw Ms. Wintours with her eyes closed and still chanting. I always assumed the transformation would be quick. Maybe I am transformed. I took a quick looked around and everything was still in sharp focus. My senses were still vampire senses. I saw Edward tensed, holding his breath, fearing for the worst. Renesmee had her arms wrapped around me. Ms. Wintours opened her eyes and looked at me. She looked unsure of herself and awkwardly put her hands down. She frowned.

"Still waiting?" Aro mocked. Ms. Wintours looked up at him, defeated.

"I'd never learned the secrets of the old souls." She confessed. Her shoulders sagged, and for the first time, her façade of age, was showing.

"You see, Ms. Wintours, until we have a real old soul witch to claim the council, it would be too dangerous to have you in power, with no way to control your subjects." Aro looked proud, like a teacher that has just resolved a school squabble. "Now, why don't you and your pupils run along, before we dispose of the rest of the witches." Ms. Wintours looked at him curiously, but turned to walk to the back of the group.

"Better yet," Caius started, "Stay, and see what happens when you interfere with the Volturi laws." Edward tilted his head as if something had caught his attention.

"It was you?" Edward asked, disgusted. "You were supposed to help them!" He growled. For the first time, Marcus looked amused. Edward turned to Ms. Wintours. "It was the Volturi that exposed the witches to the humans during the inquisition. They feared your growing power and let your secrets and weaknesses out so that you could be hunted down into extinction." Ms. Wintours turned on her heels and started screeching.

"You exposed us!" She was growing angrier by the second. "And then denied us help when we asked for it! You should all rot in a murky grave!" Marcus smiled.

"We believe that the strongest survive. Your rule was due to come to an end." He stated simply. Ms. Wintours continued to walk back, followed by three of her pupils. I watched the last of my hope walk to the back of our group. The witches would be all right, but my family isn't going to do as well.

"Renesmee Cullen. Please come forward." Aro commanded. Renesmee looked up at me, her eyes conveying all the feelings I was having. I walked forward with her. We were a few yards in front of the rest of our family. Jacob rushed over and leaned against her. I was on the other side with my hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Aro and smiled.

"Yes, Aro?" She asked sweetly. He smiled. Renesmee still possessed the power to make others fall in love with her.

"Renesmee, dear, I would like to know exactly what happened when you went into the sun." Aro motioned her to come forward. Renesmee stood still. She closed her eyes and I could tell Aro was seeing her visions. He stood motionless for a few moments. Renesmee was the first to open her eyes. She put her hand on Jacob's head. Aro opened his eyes and looked at his brothers.

"She has a remarkable gift. She doesn't need physical contact to project her visions."

"What is it that you saw, Aro?" Marcus demanded. Aro smiled.

"They are right, her family went out into the sun, but they did not sparkle, none of them. Then she showed her feelings toward the boy that had made fun of her family. She pushed him down, but refrained from biting him. She isn't posing a threat to the Volturi." Aro admitted.

"No, we must not go back on our decision." Caius argued. "The mixed breeds are too dangerous and must be disposed of immediately." The rest of our family growled. Renesmee took a step back.

"You said we could not create anymore." Carlisle's voice sounded strained. "You also prohibited her from having children, but you never said that she would have to be killed." Caius looked over towards Carlisle. Rosalie joined in.

"Can't Renesmee be apart of a Grandfather clause?" She questioned. Caius snarled.

"The Volturi does not work like the American government. If she is illegal, then she must be disposed of. We can't go around making exceptions to the rules." His face had contorted into a snarl. Aro raised his hands to quiet the growls and hisses.

"We must consider all of the options." Aro reminded both groups. I glanced over toward Alec and Jane, both were looking strained, trying to get their powers past my shield. All of the Volturi looked nervous and unsure. Without Alec and Jane keeping our minds locked, Jasper was free to work his powers. The Volturi was crumbling. Marcus was indifferent; Caius wanted all of us destroyed, while Aro wanted half of us for his collection. I could see the way he was eyeing Renesmee. He wanted her to join his collection along with the rest of us. He was not going to allow Marcus to destroy her quite so easily.

"Brothers? We should have a conference." Aro smiled towards us. I didn't trust his smile. He took a few steps back to join his brothers. They turned and formed a small circle, both brothers offering Aro their hands. I turned around to look at Edward, who was only a few feet behind me. The rest of the family was a few yards behind him. I saw something shift in my peripheral vision. It was Angela. She must be working her powers to help her blend in. Edward walked up behind us during the conference. I turned around and noticed that Demetri was anxious. He looked like he was about to pace. His eyes were darting around looking for a place to fight or flee. Jasper was pushing out feelings of intimidation towards him. Alec and Jane seemed to cower near each other. Aro , Caius and Marcus turned to face us. They took a collective step backwards.

"I believe your family is not a threat; however my brother thinks we need to attack." Aro stated calmly. Marcus turned eyes to Demetri and smiled. In an instant Demetri lunged. He was aiming at me. Edward gave me a hard shove backwards, sending me back towards my family. He flew towards Demetri, snarling. Renesmee jumped on Jacob's back and Jacob tore off toward the woods. The rest of the wolves descended from the woods, their eyes glowing in the night. Rosalie dashed up towards the front. She and Leah seemed determined to help with the fight together. Alice turned her eyes toward me. She must have had a vision. In that second, the rest of the guard rushed toward the group. Aro, Marcus and Caius stayed behind. Alec and Jane stayed behind them. The vampires clashed. It was fairly even. I heard Rosalie shriek. One of the guard members dug his nails into her arm. Emmet was right behind him. Emmet picked the guy up, as if he weighed nothing, and heaved him into the woods. I then saw Seth tear into another guard. He took a chunk of flesh from the side of one of the vampires. I was left, temporarily forgotten. I saw Edward and Demetri fight briefly. Demetri took a swing at Edward and the hit connected with Edward's body, sending Edward flying at an angle. Edward was a few yards away, on the ground, slightly stunned. Demetri looked up, remembering his original target. His eyes met mine. He lunged.

I dodged his moves. Jasper had trained with me the night before, and Jasper's techniques were a little more advanced than Demetri's. My fight was purely defensive. He had me a few times, and I had given him a small scratch across the face, but for the most part, we were playing a game of keep away.

"Bella watch out!" Alice screamed. I heard her cry and turned to her. That was my mistake. Demetri's leg kicked my legs out from under me. I felt for a second that time had slowed down. I saw Edward rushing to help me. I saw Alice wince, knowing she was the one that helped her own vision come true. I saw Jacob come running back from the woods, without Renesmee. She was safely hidden. I felt my body hit the ground.

In that instant, time sped up, and started going even faster, as if to make up for slowing down. Demetri was all over me. He had my arms wrenched behind my back, and his free hand had shoved my head to a side. His teeth were inches from my skin. I could feel his pride radiating off of him.

"Everyone stop, or she dies!" He screamed. I heard the fight go silent. No one was fighting. I was facing Aro, Marcu, and Caius. Jane and Alec were farther back, avoiding the fight. Jane looked as giddy as Alice. Her little hands pulled together almost in a clap. She was grinning. I felt her attacks grow stronger around my shield. I saw Edward out of the corner of my eye. He was motionless. He looked cornered. He wanted to spring into attack, but he knew that if he attacked, I would be a goner. Aro looked slightly remorseful.

"Bella, if you and your family join us, we will all go away." He smiled.

"Bella, we can join, it will save you." Edward pleaded. I heard his whisper, his voice frantic. "We'll join." He said quietly. "Please."

"Aro, it won't work this time!" Caius bellowed. "She's too dangerous. No one would have a warning if she decided to attack. She will only get stronger. She must be destroyed. You can keep the telepath, and the psychic, but the shield will be destroyed. You have been out voted." Caius gave Demetri a stern look and a nod. Demetri smiled.

"With the death of you, will be the death of the Cullen clan. Your family will follow closely behind you." He whispered. Then I heard it. He took an intake of breath and prepared to strike, much like a snake, going for the kill on a rodent.

"Bella! No! LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!" Angela came running between the groups of vampires, her hands raised toward Demetri. I thought I saw a small spark leap from her fingers. Demetri smiled at her and then stopped. I looked up at him and noticed that his smile had faded. He was now looking ill. His arms were shaking. I was able to wrench my arms out of his grip. I quickly scrambled away from him and into Edward's arms. Edward held me tight. Demetri coughed, and he coughed again, this time his cough produced dust from his mouth. His body wretched violently, his shoulder blades looked as if they were popping out of his back. He was now on his knees, his head flailed upwards toward the moon, convulsing. His mouth dropped open. In a matter of seconds, his beautiful features started aging. His eyes became sunken and black; his skin had turned to wrinkles, and then started pulling tight against the bone. His pale skin was white, and then bones started to protrude through the flesh. Demetri fell to the ground, his body no longer moving. His clothes started to deteriorate, as if lye had been poured upon them. His head turned toward me and I saw his blank eyes shrivel into the sockets. His last act was to open his mouth, and I watched his gleaming white teeth fall from his jaw. His bones started to dry and then decay. Within the minute dust was the only thing in Demetri's place. No one spoke for a few seconds. Everyone was too shocked. Angela moved closer to the place where Demetri's body used to be. She carefully stepped around it. She ran up to Edward and me and hugged us.

"That's impossible." Marcus sputtered. "The only one that could do that was an.."

"Old soul," Angela finished, her confidence growing. Aro's mouth had been hanging open slightly, as he took Angela's words in.

"But we made sure to exterminate all of the Old souls." He seemed flummoxed. Angela took a step forward.

"My ancestors took to hiding. They lived as humans did and passed their knowledge down from mother to daughter. Our fight tonight brought it out. Now if I am correct, my show of power means that the witches are now head of council." Aro nodded numbly. He could not argue. "My first act as head council is to declare the Cullens a sub species of vampires. We will refer to them as the, 'golden eyed' vampires. They will be protected. There is to be no law stating that they have to follow the diets of the Volturi." She looked at everyone. The guard had dashed back to the Volturi's side, and even Renesmee was back near Angela. "Renesmee is also considered a hybrid. She is protected also. She is allowed to have children, and if more of these hybrids are created, they are acceptable, as long as they adhere to the laws of mythical creatures." Marcus looked sick, as did the rest of the Volturi. Aro tried to look defiant. Angela must have been able to read his posture,

"If you doubt my powers Aro, I could demonstrate it again." She offered, "I hear my friend Bella, doesn't like Jane much." She smiled and let the threat linger in the air. Jane gasped and took a step to place Alec in front of her. She glared at Angela. Aro put his hands up.

"No, no, dear Angela. I trust your ability as an Old Soul. I was just wondering about our position now." He said, trying to keep Angela from taking his collection of gifted vampires away. She thought for a moment.

"The council will meet in Forks, Washington. I want two representatives from every species. We will ensure that our meetings are never during a full moon, nor during the day." She looked at Carlisle and smiled. "I have chosen Carlisle to help decide who represents their species in the council." She stood a little taller, making herself look bigger. "The council will not disband the Volturi, and we will not disrupt your home in Volterra. You may still protect it, just as we hope you understand that Forks will be a safe haven for the council. Now, I would appreciate it, if your coven left the town of Marks and refrain from hunting with in a hundred miles of the city borders." The brothers joined together near the front of the line, they were only feet from Angela.

"It seems we have nothing more to say to the Cullens. We shall return to Volterra." Caius replied and the Volturi turned and started gliding away. We watched the figures disappear slowly. I was grateful to see them leave. Jane turned and gave me one last glare before her silhouette disappeared into the woods.

When we were sure the Volturi were gone, I hugged Angela.

"Thank you for keeping us safe." Angela returned the hug and looked at the rest of our group. The witches were still there, near the back. Ms. Wintours looked at Angela differently.

"Why didn't you tell us you were an Old Soul?" Angela looked away from our family.

"I honestly didn't know. I just knew that my mother had told me stories about my family having witches in the bloodline." Angela shrugged.

"How did you know how to use the spell? You had told me earlier that you were too inexperienced to do the spell and turn vampires into humans." I marveled at how Angela seemed to almost glow.

"I am too inexperienced to know the spell. I remember once being told by Ms. Wintours, Old Souls come into their power once they accept themselves and their destiny. I didn't accept my destiny as a witch until your family gave me the necklace. I then had a family and a purpose for living for a few centuries." Angela looked at Renesmee and then me, "The Cullens gave me a purpose. When I saw Bella in danger I snapped and I wanted that vampire gone. I didn't care where he went, I just wanted my family to be safe, the sparks flew from my fingertips and before I knew what I had done, he shriveled up." Angela admitted. Ms. Wintours looked stunned.

"No one messes with our new youngest sister!" Emmet proclaimed proudly. "She makes newborns look tame." The family gathered around Angela.

"So, who are the representatives going to be?" Jasper asked calmly.

"I was hoping Carlisle would be one for the golden eyed vampires. And from there, I do not know. Sam and Jacob will represent the shape shifters. I guess Stephanie could be a human representative, since not many humans are allowed to know about mythical creatures and live." Angela looked overwhelmed. "I'm sure my family will help me find werewolf representatives and red eyed vampire representatives." Renesmee hugged Jacob and Jacob kept his arm around her. Edward glared at Jacob first, then smiled. It was a time for celebration. He wrapped me in his arms and the world seemed to be perfect once more.

"Stephanie! We should call her and let her know that she can return to Marks." Esme reminded. "Angela, may I call her and give her the good news?" Angela nodded. Then she smiled

"I have a special job for our new human representative." I tilted my head and looked at her.

"A job? What would you like her to do?" Angela gave me a devilish smile.

"A project I've been contemplating called, Operation Daybreak."

~*~

Operation Daybreak? I had to leave you wanting to read the final chapter! Remember Reviews are loved. I'm so excited about the ending.