Chapter 18: The Attack

The entire room was still in an eerie silence, no noise escaped from the huddled group in the centre of the room. In one swift motion Emmett moved away from his family. "I'm going to see what's going on," he informed hurrying towards the big wooden door. Chasing him, Rosalie desperately grabbed his arm in the hope it would stop him going any further into the unknown.

She hissed quietly into his ear keeping her voice as low as possible, "Carlisle told us to stay here," the fear clearly evident in her normally seductive voice.

Turning to kiss his wife he gave her a comforting smile as he pulled away. "I'll be back" he assured looking deep into her eyes backing up the conviction of his words. His family watched anxiously as her disappeared through a door only they knew. Jasper tenderly kissed Alice before he set off after Emmett.

"Dammit," Edward hissed, closing his eyes.

Trails of light beamed through the windows of the Cullen house illuminating the features. Rushing to peep out Edward exclaimed "No no" as he caught a glimpse of who was advancing, quickly rushing out of the darkened building.

A sense of fear stuck Bella as she exited her truck instantly noticing the unnatural dark silence that surrounded the house. Swallowing the lump that had appeared in her throat Bella looked around the yard for signs of life. Stifling a scream as cold hand clamped over her mouth, another wound its way around her waist, she stiffened. Feeling the breathe of the person behind tickle at her neck she relaxed as the words drifted to her ears. "Bella it's only me" softly fell from her boyfriends lips.

Releasing her, Edward turned her to look at him. "What are you doing here?" He asked softly.

"I had to see what was going on with you," she replied her voice the same quiet level as his.

Edward took her hand, carefully leading her back up the hill towards the house. Out of nowhere the rest of his family appeared running directly to the pair. Edward, fearing the worst, was about to ask what was going on when Esme let out a dry sob, "Our home!" she wailed. Looking towards the once majestic house he only saw the orange glow as the flames licked out of the windows. Shocked beyond belief Bella's hands instinctively moved to cover her gapping jaw as the Cullen's beautiful house began to fall in on itself.

"Emmett, where's Emmett?" Rosalie asked, her voice shaking with fear.

"And Jasper!" Alice questioned with just as much desperation.

In the midst of the failing search for the two missing Cullen's a distressed cry disrupted the hunt. Carlisle let out a groan as he hit the ground hard. Watching in horror the rest of the family saw Demetri throw him to the dirt, his hand wrapped like a vice around Carlisle's neck. Esme gasped to scared to move, "Carlisle!" she screamed in a tone that would bring cold sweats to any human. Bella could only watch motionless as the rest of the Cullen family, her new family, got pinned, fear pulsing through her entire being.

"Get off!" Rosalie roared trying feverishly to shake the guards off her.

Shoving Bella roughly behind himself , Edward stood with his shoulders squared prepared at any cost to protect her. Aro, Marcus, and Caius made their way out from their dense wooded hiding places. "Well well, Edward, how nice to see you again," Aro greeted with an arrogant grin.

"I wish I could say the same for you," Edward barked back not willing to play games.

"Oh come, come my dear Edward did I not warn you this would happen?" Aro taunted as he walked around Carlisle who had been dragged up by Demetri whose hand was still tightly around his neck.

"So you were the one threatening my son," Carlisle challenged angrily trying to get Demetri to relax his grip providing him with an opportunity to escape.

Smirking, Aro shook his head slowly with a sigh, "Carlisle, Carlisle, did you really think that two of your children could stop me?" he asked rhetorically. Hearing a small shriek from Alice, Emmett and Jasper came into view, forced down to their knees by the guards that held their heads bowed. "I saw these two trying to stop this little meeting, but luckily Demetri was able to spot them before they could attack," Aro explained.

"Don't hurt them please!" Alice pleaded soulfully giving of the distinct impression that if she could cry she would be right now.

Lifting his head, Caius took a long sniff of the frigid air; a grin appearing upon his stone features "Aro, we have a human in our midst," He revealed with glee. Edward's deep growl radiated from his chest as he moved to keep Bella behind himself. Gripping the back of Edward's shirt, Bella bit her lip in terror as she peered over her shields shoulder.

"You will not touch her," Edward snarled in a low, dangerous tone.

Marcus who was standing next to Carlisle, looking at the couple with a small grin on his face. "I sense a relationship Aro," he commented casually. Looking at Edward, Aro took a step closer only to have Edward and Bella step back simultaneously.

"Well, Edward, I never thought of you being a law breaker. Actually, I would not have believed Carlisle would break a law for that matter," he jeered, his voice strangely calm.

Clutching onto his girlfriend, Edward glowered at Aro. "Let my family go, Aro, they have nothing to do with this," he implored bravely.

"Well you see that's not true now is it Edward? The Cullen family broke a law, a human knows of our existence. By law, the family and the human must be destroyed," Aro recapped smugly as he walked around the small circle of vampires.

Stopping in front of Carlisle, Aro asked curiously. "Why the fuming expression my friend?"

Glaring daggers at the Volturi leader, Carlisle stood up straighter.

"You threatened my son," he stated in a venomous tone.

"I did not threaten your son, merely warned him," Aro claimed innocently.

"You threatened my son and for that I didn't see him for two hundred years!" Carlisle snapped furiously.

Aro waved his words off, discarding them to the breeze. "What do you think Caius, the Cullens have broken our law, what should we do?" He asked his loyal companion. Feeling her heart rate increase, Bella saw Aro's gaze land on her. "What a lovely human specimen Edward," Aro complimented lightly.

"Aro, please, she won't tell anyone, don't kill her or the family I beg of you," Edward beseeched.

Aro shrugged, suddenly losing interest in Bella. Feeling the alarm build up inside him, Edward saw Aro's eyes return to his father. "As warned…" the Volturi leader started as he gestured for someone to come forward. Following her leader's instructions, Jane removed her hood with a small smile.

"Your orders?" She asked Aro as she stood menacingly in front of the Cullen leader.

Edward heard Aro's thoughts before he could say them aloud. "NO!" he bellowed. Letting Bella go unprotected he sped to shove Jane away from his father. Felix pounced, forcing Edward to the ground holding him there.

"Do your worst," Aro instructed, seeing Carlisle's eyes widen in horror.

"NO! DON'T ARO PLEASE!" Edward shouted frantically as he struggled against Felix.

Ignoring Edward's pleas, Jane advanced on Carlisle and in seconds the oldest Cullen was screaming in agony. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Emmett boomed as he tried to get up from the forest floor. Simply ignoring their pleas, Aro looked over at Edward to see him struggling against Felix still.

As he watched his father be tortured, Edward knew it would be to the death. Looking over at his newfound family, Edward could see the expression of sheer horror on their pale faces. Glancing at Esme he looked away her features were contorted heartbreakingly. "No Edward! Don't!" He heard Alice screech. Giving up on his struggle, Edward gave in to Felix's strength.

"ARO I SURRENDER!" He shouted louder than everyone else.