Hello everybody, I'm so sorry for not updating for so long. Life's just been busy and I've had a bit of a writer's block.
But I'm back with a spectacular chapter, if I do say so myself. A lot is going on. Have fun reading!
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Music:
Highway to hell – AC/DC
Nothing left to say – Imagine Dragons
Dance of Faith – Epica
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Chapter 40: The Volturi – The height of battle
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Jane
Owh, arrghh! Those ratchet, stinking mutts! And their stupid shield, Bella Cullen. Ugh, I was useless and got caught. Master Aro, where were you? I needed you. Didn't you have a plan to take out that annoying brat? She was the only one blocking me or our enemy would be writhing in pain and not me! I've seen pain in many vampires' eye, but never felt it myself after the fire of the stake and my change.
No, I was the one inflicting it, not receiving it. Now I knew how much it hurt, to miss my hands and foot. But I had to go on or at least save myself. Not being able to walk, left me with the only option; to crawl. Undignified through the snow. Everyone around me was fighting, my creator and Marcus against the Romanians, their oldest opponents. I looked for Renanta, she could save me. Unfortunately she teamed up with the invisible one, Jinn. Aaahhh, nooo! Grrr!
I gritted my teeth and moved on, way too slow. Canine stench floated in my direction from behind. Turning my head slightly I saw the palomino coloured one make its way towards me. Master Caius'plan had backfired somehow. In principal it had been good; take out the wolves by poisoning them. But the designated fighters who knew of this advantage had only managed to bite three of them.
Slow, lazy fools! Now the rest of them were focused on revenge completely. It seemed I wouldn't be able to escape, so I had to defend myself as best I could and hope someone would come and help me. Turning into a sitting position, I proceeded to push myself up and got to stand on my one foot.
Facing that wolf head on left me unsure a moment and a little afraid. He was so much bigger than me. Still, I had trained quite a bit this past year, master Aro insisted on that. We shouldn't depend solely on our gift, which was dangerous, so we learned to fight.
Damn, those lessons were frustrating! The first few months I lost every time. Felix and the other guys loved to see me riled up, knowing I was forbidden to make them hurt my way. Did they realise how many times I've gotten close to breaking that promise?! Arrgh! But I got better at it and used my size to my advantage. Plus my teeth. Yes, many guards' necks bared my mark now.
Right here and now I had to tap into that knowledge and use those skills. Not easy with key body parts missing. Well, I had my teeth, which I would use the first chance I got. Showing them to the mutt seemed to slow him down some. I let my mouth fill up with venom for maximum effect. It dripped out of the corners, down my chin.
Hopefully this made me look fierce and feral, unpredictable. Not desperate, like a cat backed into a corner. Letting out a deep warning growl was my final move. The hate for those filthy beasts flared up with it.
My opponent looked soft and sweet for a second, while he checked me out, until he too showed off his weapons. Followed by a loud snarl as he charged. My eyes focused on his face and then his neck, his ears. Once he was close, I jumped and spun in the air, using all my strength. Aiming to land on his back. But he twisted his body away from me, so I missed. Not him though. Before I touched the ground he had reached me and knocked me several yards away.
On my back again, the mutt was on top of me in an instant. Then, when I thought this might be the end, Heidi threw him off me. She stood between me and the enemy and I was glad. Until another wolf caught her by surprise, attacking from the behind.
The black one with the grey face sunk his teeth in, at the base of her neck. She screamed and ran, trying to get him off by grabbing his muzzle and digging her nails in. A yelp and they vanished, leaving me alone again, to face the golden one.
He seemed a bit groggy, shaking his head while pulling himself together. I glanced around the field and noticed my brother. Alec was practically in the same situation I was. He tried to produce some fog with his stump, even if it wouldn't do any good. A little puff was all he managed and he stuck his own face in it. A desperate move of a scared person. Terrified to feel pain and die, he wanted to numb himself.
Hah, weakling! Yes, a harsh thought to have about your twin, but right now I couldn't help it. Turning back to my opponent I saw he was ready. So, I sat up and held out my arms with no hands. This girl was going down fighting! He ran towards me fast, seeing only me with his big dark eyes. And those were the last things I saw before the huge set of teeth and a flash of fire.
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Marcus
This battle had many surprises, from the very start. From the moment we faced the Cullens and their allies again. The bonds between them had grown. Kate had found a mate in Garret and he changed his diet for her. Tanya also found someone, there was a strong attraction between her and a blond male I hadn't met before.
The strongest and newest bonds though, were between a new female vampire from Australian descend and the Cullens, plus all the wolves. She seemed to bind them together even more than Renesmee, the little hybrid girl. It even went as far as forming a couple with one of the canines. She really loved the sandy wolf next to her.
I really couldn't understand why or how this had come to be, but there was no mistaking it. Letting Aro know was an automatic reaction of me.
When the fight began, it became clear quickly; our opponent was prepared as well as we were. This was not going to be an easy win. Which I expected. Still the three of us didn't think we had to join our soldiers so fast. Benjamin's move to attack us from below came out of the blue. Rock-columns rising up beneath Renata and Jinn threw them through the air like baseballs.
Caius' plan for the wolves was also a surprise, he hadn't said a word. When it happened, only a devious grin crossed his face. Things between all us Volturi hadn't been the same since we lost Chelsea. Bonds had weakened and many had their own life as a priority now. If they had to choose. The three Children of the Moon on the field only fuelled those feelings. Each of us had made their own (back-up) plans. Even me.
It had to be done, because something had been off ever since Argus joined us. No one knew what his gift was, besides Aro and that bothered me. I had some idea though, after he touched me. It was so strange, like he was in my mind, but in a different way from Aro. He did something and it lifted a weight from me. I felt better than I had in centuries, lighter.
Yet, afterwards, when I was alone in my quarters, I knew something was missing. Like I forgot a very important detail of my life. That couldn't be though, right, vampires had perfect memories, perfect recall. So I dismissed these worries as silly. I focused on other matters, like Nahuel's sisters. They were fascinating to me somehow and here was the chance to study them. Aro didn't bother, so I had free reign.
It was good to have something new to do, with all those millennia of knowledge one like me gathered, that didn't happen often. Why hadn't we heard of them before? Surely there had been rumours. Or had my brother kept more information like this from us? Why didn't we investigate? My trust in Aro had decreased. Luckily he didn't realise this, as I kept my skin contact with him to a minimum.
He didn't know I wasn't fully committed to this battle. Or maybe he did have some suspicions. Would I find out? Hmm, I don't think I care. The main thought I'm having is preserving certain lives. Gifted ones shouldn't be wasted. Well, not all of them. Hard as it may sound, I've had enough, I'm tired of Jane and Alec.
Even if we saved their lives centuries ago, fact remained they were too young. And Aro gave them too much power on missions. Of course that could be because he was just a bit afraid of them. Way in the back of his mind, he knew they were definitely capable of bringing him down.
But the chance of that happening was slim to non. Even now when they were at deaths door, they remained loyal. The Volturi were all they knew practically and we had been good to them. Humans not so much. Sigh.
I refocused my attention on Stefan, as Aro fought with Vladimir. Caius had Lucian and his Children of the Moon closing in on him. The grey one had finished helping the spirit-wolf. The task of killing the Romanians, our oldest enemies I had no problem with. They had ruled the same way we did, so they were no better than us. Plus their attitude really irritated me.
Them being smaller in stature worked in our favour. I hit Stefan with several quick, hard blows to his head and upper body. Cracks appeared on his skin as he fell back in the snow. He could handle this though, jumping up fast showed that. We started a boxing match and I must admit, it was kind of fun. Letting my strength flow through my body for once, feeling energized.
It had been so long .... Why was that? My mind wandered a second and I realised there was a gap in my memory. What! No! A forceful blow to my jaw brought me back to reality. Followed by a surge in anger taking me over. I had been toyed with, manipulated and some would have to answer for that, soon! Stefan was the first target to bare my wrath.
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Demetri
This black wolf was tough, powerful. The hate in his eyes was intense; a fire for revenge was burning there. Caius' plan had backfired in major way. And the minds of these animals being linked wasn't to our advantage either. The way they moved, fought and worked as a unit had me worried. No opponent we've ever had encountered was this coordinated.
But I had many centuries of experience on him, this canine and focused on that. It was strange how I could not feel him with my gift, not catch his essence like with most. That must be the work of Bella Cullen, she was the first and only exception. Her shield was so strong now, it handicapped us.
Of course we knew she was their greatest asset, yet we hadn't expected this. How was she able to cover everybody on the Cullen-team? Jane and Alec were useless now and out of the corner of my eye, I saw two wolves finish them off. Despite our efforts to protect them.
The black one charged me again, so I jumped up high and landed a blow on his skull. He crashed into the snow, got up and shook his head. Gritting my teeth, I went for him myself. He was groggy, but just wouldn't stay down! Damn it! Maybe I should try to bite him, because that did work. Ugh, the idea of that beast's filthy fur in my mouth though, stopped me.
They smelled so bad, how could our enemies stand them, or even fraternise with them?! Yuck, that Australian girl must be mad or something. Hmm, of course I hadn't seen them in their human form. E-uwh, no, still not getting it. Biting I would leave as a last resort, I decided.
We slammed into each other, wrestling; I narrowly avoided his teeth snapping at me. The mutt's stench surrounded me, making me gag, but his big heart beating, pumping his blood around, drew me in. Maybe I could bite him, now. Then, as if he sensed that, he pushed me away with his paws, tearing up my clothes in the process. Once more we were yards apart, trying to decide what to do. He was panting from the pressure I had put on his ribs.
Time seemed to slow down as suddenly I could feel everyone with my gift again. It was overwhelming to have all their essences wash over me all at once. My eyes shot to where the twins' bodies had been, there were only smouldering ashes left. Bella had dropped her shield and charged across the field to where I knew Jinn was. And Sulpicia and Athenodora.
Oh why did Aro want to keep them close, right in the middle of the battlefield? They would've been safer to the back, with the hybrid sisters. Still, Renata was there too, the Cullen-girl couldn't get past her. I hoped.
For a split second I was torn about going to protect them. That, added to the time I'd been distracted by the other stuff, gave the wolf a chance to recover. He was on me faster than I expected, knocking me down. On my back I started punching his muzzle with all my strength while holding him off. Our fight wasn't over yet, not by a long shot!
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Felix
This fight had turned out to be interesting. Sure, some of our opponents were ..., okay, impressive to watch. And I had to be smart if I was going to end up on top. Not dive in stupid like Ulrich had done. What a lunatic, all muscle and no brain. He really wasn't much use to us in the end. If I could right now, I'd give Aro a look which said "I told you so!".
It was chaotic and there was no telling for sure who would win. Plans, strategies, many could be thrown to the wind as things progressed. I had surveyed the field and saw we had lost many. The Cullens only had three that were out of commission, and not dead, yet. Still we had the numbers, only just, but that could be enough. More reinforcements coming would be better. Were our kings counting on that?
I didn't know and had taken on some of canines, plus the two who came with the Children of the Moon. Until the twins were targeted. Demetri and I were summoned then, to defend them. With some others.
Hah! Those two had been useless too, because of beautiful IsaBella's shield. Ah, yes, that girl was a prize to strive for. I'm not sure why, but ever since we met, she intrigued me. There was something about her which drew me in. As a human it was her mouth-watering scent first, followed by her slim, lovely figure next. Now a vampire she looked stunning.
I never really noticed women before, they just gave me pleasure from time to time and that was it. Heidi and I were what they call 'friends with benefits' for example, but she could never fascinate me. Grinning, I felt exited at the prospect of us winning; yes I would fight for that, a taste of Bella Cullen, for the victor. 'Read my mind, Eddie-boy, for I intend to at least devour your wife's mouth!'
With those thoughts in mind, I faced another Cullen and I was eager to take him down. Emmet has been on my list for a long time and I'm sure I'm on his. "Felix, he called, we finally have our moment." It's about time!" "Ah yes, brother, I think so too," I replied. We both knew this was going be good. Gleaming eyes, fists raised and we were off!
Quite evenly matched, we both got in our hits. Jumping, crashing and sliding through the snow we went all out. I threw off my cloak, it was in the way. "Come on, I said, beckoning him with my hand, let's continue." Helping the twins was far from my mind now. I was only focused 'the bear' in front of me. He didn't seem that big to me.
Smirking we charged each other for the tenth time. He had learned some new moves it seemed and he tested them all out on me. Not that they worked, I saw through everything because of his body-language. Emmet had so many little tell tale signs to tell what he was up to. Like now, the look in his eyes; he was ready to jump again to get on top of me.
'No way, dude, I'll meet you half way!' Pushing off I was in the air when two feet slammed into my chest without warning. Surprised I was sent flying. I spun around to land face forward, when I got crushed into the ground. He had his full weight on my back and I didn't understand how. And there was no time, as his arm circled my neck in a headlock.
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Did you like these points of view? Were the characters like you expected?
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Finally Argus' gift is revealed; he can erase memories. Which do you think Marcus has lost?
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I need your help for the remainder of the battle; SO PLEASE REVIEW.
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* Who's point of view do still want to see, really? (besides the Cullens and Denali's, who I will probably put in one chapter, together)
* And who should die? Who do you want to kill, if you were there?
* Or maybe you really want certain characters to survive, on the enemies' side.
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Oh, and did you recognize Emmet's last move? (heheh, wink, wink)