"What happened here?"Tanya asked no one in particular. She and her sisters had been in their home when a half a dozen Volturi guard members had come and captured them. No matter how many times they asked the guards wouldn't tell them why. Where they were brought to had Tanya even more confused. It was like they stepped into a scene out of nightmares. All around them where dead bodies and destroyed fires were raging and the sounds of a toddler crying was the only true signs of life other than Tanya, Irina, Kate and the guards. Tanya figured that a group of newborns had done all this and wasn't sure why she and her sisters were involved.
"What happened is a very important law was broken."A male voice said.
"Shit."Kate hissed when the man stepped towards them and it was revealed to be Aro one of the vampire kings.
"What does this have to do with us?"Irina asked.
"Jane dear bring forward the prisoner."Aro called out ignoring Irina's question.
Tanya's eyes widened when Jane dragged their maker Sasha into the clearing and threw her to the ground in front of the king."Mother what have you done?"
"Are you saying you don't know what your maker has been up to?"Aro asked in disbelief.
"We know nothing."Tanya said.
"We will see."Aro took Sasha's hand in his own and concentrated."It seems that your maker has kept many things from you."
"What is going on?"Tanya's heart sank when a guard member came to the clearing holding a red eyed toddler who was screaming at the top of its lungs. Tanya instantly understood why they were there."I can't believe you did this."
"This is not the first child she has created."A woman in black robes with a skull mask said as she appeared out of thin air next to the king.
If Tanya was afraid before she was terrified now. Everyone knew the vampire who dressed like that and when they showed up nothing good happened. In fact they only showed up when extreme punishments were to be dealt out. Taking a deep breath Tanya looked to Death's Shadow only to freeze in shock when she made eye contact. Suddenly the world had righted itself. The feeling of loneliness that she tried to fill with random women had dissolved into nothing. This woman was the meaning of her existence. Tanya had found her mate."Fuck."
"Interesting."Death's Shadow said.
"What is it?"Aro asked Death's Shadow.
"Bring forward that one."Death's Shadow pointed to Irina.
"Wait, no she didn't do anything wrong!"Kate screamed.
"That's what we are about to find out."Aro held Irina's hand in his own. Taking a moment to concentrate he spoke."She and her sisters had no knowledge of their maker's activities.
"Then I request for the three of them to be let go."Death's Shadow said.
"Are you sure?"Aro asked.
Death's Shadow nodded."They will be a living reminder to what happens for breaking such a law."
"If that is what you wish then they will be let go."Aro turned his attention to Sasha."You however will not be let off so easily."
"My lord please spare me.I am a coven leader."Sasha pleaded.
"I already spared you once and you made me look like a fool."Aro motioned to the guard holding the toddler."Throw it in the fire."
"No!"Sasha fought against her guards trying to get to the child.
"Watch."Death's Shadow ordered as she took Sasha's face in her hands and forced her to watch the child burn to death.
"Please. Don't hurt my baby."Sasha begged.
Tanya was surprised that after everything their mother put them through that Sasha was still trying to keep the child alive. The feeling of betrayal was overwhelming. Sasha had always claimed that she loved Tanya and her sisters like they were her own children but here she was more worried about an immortal child than she was about them. She hadn't even pleaded for them to be let go. Death's Shadow had put in more of an effort to get them freedom than their own mother did.
"You understand that a serious law has been broken not once but twice?Your sire can not be let go again."Death's Shadow told the sisters.
"What do you mean it has been broken twice?"Kate asked.
"This is not the first immortal child Sasha has created. She was let go with a warning to never do it again."Aro explained.
"You have done this before!"Any sympathy Tanya had felt for her mother was no more. After creating an immortal child and getting away with it once only to do it again showed how little Tanya and her sisters meant to the woman.
"Do we mean anything to you at all?"Irina sobbed.
When Sasha didn't answer and continued to stare at the fire where they burned the child Tanya felt her anger rise."Even now when we are standing in front of you all you care about is that thing!"
"Don't speak about Vasilii that way!"Sasha yelled.
"Vasilli?!You named it after your dead son?It was always about him. You never really did love us did you?"Tanya concluded.
"You could never replace my son!"Sasha spat in the direction of the sisters earning a punch to the face from Death's Shadow.
"Mother!"Kate cried out in shock.
Tanya sneered at Sasha."Kate don't call her that. The woman is no mother of ours."
"Why did you even turn us?"Irina asked.
When Sasha didn't answer Death's Shadow punched her again."Answer her."
"I created you to fulfill my wish to have a family again."Sasha told them.
"Then why did you need the child if you had us?"Tanya knew she wasn't going to like the answer but wanted to know.
"Because the three of you were just one disappointment after the other."Sasha said earning a punch to the stomach from Death's Shadow this time.
"How dare you!"Tanya made a move towards Sasha but was held back by the guards.
"You honestly think that you could hurt me?!"Sasha laughed."You're nothing. Without me the three of you will be dead within a few days."
"Let her go."Death's Shadow told the guards holding Tanya.
Tanya wasted no time running up to Sasha and punching her as hard she could in the face causing the skin to splinter. As the woman kept laughing Tanya ripped off her arm and threw it in the fire. Making a move to remove her head she was stopped by Death's Shadow."I want her head."
"Let me do that for you."Death's Shadow said.
"She is my responsibility."Tanya wasn't going to make anyone take the life of her maker. As her first turned it was Tanya's job to clean up her coven's messes.
"You will regret it later."Death's Shadow told her.
Tanya paused at the look of sadness and understanding that Death's Shadow's eyes showed. Nodding she made her way back to her sisters. She was immediately engulfed in hugs from both Irina and Kate."It'll be alright."
"Sasha as you have been found guilty of the crime of creating an immoral child.I herby sentence you to death."Aro proclaimed as just a formality. Everyone there knew that Sasha wasn't going to make it out of this alive."Do you have any last words?"
Sasha bared her teeth at the sisters."My only regret in this life was that I wasted my venom on such unworthy women."
"You bitch!"Tanya screamed as she once again made a move towards the woman. Death's Shadow was quicker than her however and had already removed Sasha's head by the time Tanya was at her side.
"It's over."Death's Shadow told her as she tossed Sasha's head followed by her body into the fire.
Tanya's body sagged with the weight of anger, grief and disbelief that was overwhelming her. Looking to Death's Shadow all she wanted was for the vampire to take her in her arms and make all of this go away but when she opened her arms the dangerous woman shook her head. Tanya's first reaction was to be offended but when Death's Shadow motioned to Aro and the guards Tanya understood. Death's Shadow didn't want anyone to know they were mates. It made sense because Tanya would be a target if she was linked to Death's Shadow.
"Now that we have taken care of that we will take our leave. Let this be a warning to you three that if you break the law we will be forced to punish you without mercy."Aro warned.
"We understand."Tanya said. Watching them walk away she waited until they were out of sight before addressing Death's Shadow."I need to take care of my sisters but would you come with us?"
"Of course."Death's Shadow agreed.
"Come on Kate, Irina let's go home."Tanya held her hands out for both her sisters to take and led them back to their home. She wasn't sure what was going to happen to them but Tanya knew that it was up to her to take the lead. The last few months Sasha had been distant and had been known to leave for sometimes weeks at a time. The sisters had been looking to Tanya for guidance while their maker was away so it would only be natural that Tanya took the role as coven leader. It wasn't something she really wanted to do but would step up to make sure her sisters stayed safe. Looking behind her to make sure Death's Shadow was following them Tanya sighed. Not only was she dealing with Sasha's betrayal but she was dealing with a new mate bond. It was supposed to be a time of joy and happiness but Sasha had ruined it. That being another thing Tanya was angry at Sasha for.