HOPE

"And in this law of nature consisteth the fountain and original of justice. For where no covenant hath preceded, there hath no right been transferred, and every man has right to everything and consequently, no action can be unjust. But when a covenant is made, then to break it is unjust and the definition of injustice is no other than the not performance of covenant. And whatsoever is not unjust is just."

—Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

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DECEMBER 8TH 2039

VOLTERRA, ITALY

7 December 2039

Master,

I hope this message finds you swiftly and that you are in good spirits. I am here to assure you that progress has been made, that our chosen ally has performed his tasks, and that a snare has been laid.

The individual hired for the job is named Esteban. He is an old Spanish priest that has occupied the lands north of Durango for almost one-hundred forty years. He is a peculiar man who clings to his faith and is heavily scarred with visible deformities. They are so severe that a human's dull sight could instantly detect his disfigurement. I believe some, if not all, may have been caused or inflicted by Jasper Whitlock and his creator, who still resides in Monterrey. This detail surely helped to recruit him to assist. All the priest requested in return for his services was the permission to rid Monterrey of Whitlock's creator. We of course obliged the desire and he now fights to eliminate Whitlock and the woman, Maria. Our intention remains to dispose of him once Alice Cullen is in custody.

The army is large. Thirty-four existed when we located him, and they currently boast fifty-two. It is a mix of newborns and older vampires whose ages extend to almost forty years old on the high end. It's uncharacteristic of the opposing armies in the area, but his control over them serves him well. Currently he has three individuals loaned from us, including the hybrid girl.

Joham's death was expeditious and the retrieval of the youngest hybrid girl, the one named Jennifer, was effortless. The child is overly-emotional and unpleasant to be around, but as far as psychic protection goes, it appears that she has more than served her purpose. Esteban performed a bizarre test of the protective ability that I attempted to discourage but it proved successful. Although it proved the hybrid's effectiveness to him it also resulted the Cullen clan gaining an additional body. Their ally is the old colleague of Whitlock's that attended the trial, Peter. His mate was killed in the test. I expressed no need for the experiment, but the priest was adamant and I have been as hands-off as has been required of me.

With the intel given to him, the priest used a handful of his followers and also targeted Eleazar's coven in Alaska. As a strategic move I allowed it, but it has only driven their three survivors southward; I can sense their rapid approach and hope that these three also fall into the snare set. Eleazar, I regret to inform you, is dead, as is the coven leader, Tanya. With Katrina's addition into the area I may attempt her retrieval if possible, but of course, Alice Cullen remains the priority.

The snare I have been referring to is, of course, the making of Alec's with help from Rohit. Esteban's followers are able to traverse the area with Alec's continued focus and control, and all outsiders will fall upon entry. As of this afternoon, the Cullens are effectively trapped in their residence.

Only one member of the coven has escaped; I have been tracking the hybrid child, Renesmee, for several days now. Why they sent the girl away and not Alice or Bella Cullen, I do not know, but the child is currently hiding in Shanghai, alone.

Esteban has estimated that by the end of the week the trap will be triggered and they'll be able to strike once this happens. As long as Bella Cullen remains unaware, I believe it will go smoothly. If she is aware, and is able to protect against Alec's ability, even with Rohit's enhancements, then it is a matter of classic warfare. It will be fifty-two to nine. I hope for a cleaner outcome, but will also expect a battle to transpire, as well. The safety of Alice Cullen has been central to their plan. As has the possibility of retrieving Edward Cullen, too.

There is the matter of girl's safety. She trails after Rohit, who has become her primary minder in return, but the priest's tolerance of her grows thin, and I

Forgive the abrupt ending of this letter, Master. I am told that two individuals have fallen into the trap. One of them is believed to be Alice Cullen. I will confirm when I am able to. Until then, rest assured that your mission is in good hands.

- Demetri

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Aro softly smiled down at the message. He brushed the pale paper with the side of his finger and sighed with barely contained delight at what this meant for him and his brothers. What this meant for his guard and for peace in their world.

He sat back into his seat and ignored the curious looks from his brothers nearby. He reached into his pocket and produced a small pen, clicking it once and turning the paper over. There he began to write. It was not a reply. They were instructions.

Now, the guard on standby would head to America. There, they would report to the scene of the events, flanked with more muscle than they'd know what to do with, and prepare to receive what was leftover from this inflicted punishment.

It would be a sad thing, for Eleazar and Carlisle, and their darling wives, to meet their end at the hand of the barbarian who Demetri had recruited for this task. But unfortunately their defiance could not be forgiven. It was such a shame that the Cullens had chosen to live life alongside humans.

Aro had told Carlisle, years after he'd made out for the New World to study and learn what he could about the human world and their new developments in medicine, that he had best exercise caution. Not that Aro had ever thought Carlisle would slip up. Oh, heavens no. Time and time again, Carlisle had excused himself or pointedly look away, as if attempting politeness, when a member of the guard took a meal.

Aro sighed and paused his writing. Perhaps he'd given his old friend too many opportunities to make mistakes. It had been hard to refuse Carlisle Cullen anything. He was unheard of in their world!

Aro's mind drifted to the other members of the large coven and their golden animal eyes. What a shame for such an experiment to go so terribly. Aro should have known that their fraternization with the humans would produce untold horrors for their kind.

Now, Aro felt nothing but satisfaction as he thought about the veterans in their midst.

Aro was not a fool. He and his guard closely watched over the events constantly transpiring in the bottom half of North America. He simply let the men and women continue since they believed they were doing so discreetly.

And for as long as they remained discreet, and the humans were left unaware, Aro would allow the criminals to proceed with their uncivilized crusades. How sad that the soldiers of the American south had committed less grievous transgressions than a man who Aro once considered a dear friend of his.

Ah, well.

As long as Demetri returned, Alice Cullen in tow, then all would be satisfactory.

Everything else would either be a thrilling reward or a woebegone affair. The addition of Edward Cullen would be a best case scenario, and if they didn't manage to eliminate his wife, then Aro expected Bella to be brought to Volterra, too.

But if they ended up dead, Aro would mourn the loss of those abilities in time. It would be so easy to, with the future at his fingertips and nothing but plans to make.

It was hard not to begin his planning now. There was so much traveling to be done! So many people to visit. So many continents Aro had not seen firsthand for centuries.

He would remind the world what peace looked like, he would recruit more soldiers to his guard, scouring the Earth for more talent, and the Volturi would remind the vampire world who held the ultimate power.

The ability to wipe the slate clean and begin anew was a comforting warmth that Aro held close to his chest.

It would be interesting to see how many of Carlisle's old witnesses would remain distrustful after the Cullen coven was destroyed. Aro was eager to weigh their trust out and see whether or not their lives were worth salvaging.

Soon, a new era would be born.

A/N: I'm having a ridiculously bad week so here's a surprise bonus chapter. I don't ask for reviews often but please leave one if you can; I need the dopamine💀