The battle scene wouldn't stop bugging me, sorry if it's not any good, I'm not good at action. Plus, a little surprise towards the very end, enjoy!
Standing in the clearing, my head tilted back as I inhale deeply, the scent of snow on the horizon, I turn to look at Jennifer, who nods to me, crossing to Garrett's side, he pauses his conversation with Carlisle, looking down as she reaches up, grabbing his face, and plants her lips against his, taking everyone else by surprise as she whirls around, crossing back to my side with a shy smile, and I nudge her playfully as Garrett remains frozen in his bent down form. Carlisle raises his eyebrow a his friend as the muddy eyed vampire straightens, looking at his friend in confusion, Carlisle merely shrugs, before Garrett is at Jennifer's side, grabbing her around the waist, and kisses her forcefully, causing Grace, Alice, Rosalie, Pandora, and I let out surprised gasps, that a mixed with laughter.
"Well then…" Jennifer gasps as the break apart, blinking rapidly. "wow."
"Right, you two have somethings to speak of." With that, I walk over to my fiancé, who is tag teaming my tent with Emmett, hopping onto his back, his hands grasp my knees from habit, my arms winding around his shoulder as I place a kiss to his cheek, and he chuckles.
"You ready for this, darlin?" He asks, his voice is soft, and I smirk.
"More than you think. Looks like Jennifer and Garrett are too." At my words, he glances over at my sister, who is currently in a liplock with the Revolutionary soldier, causing my fiancé to chuckle, a hint of surprise in his laugh, Emmett catcalls, causing Jennifer to flip him off, continuing to kiss her mate, who has pressed her against the tree, where they had been talking, out of the way, in hushed voices.
"You gonna be okay tonight?" Jasper asks softly, causing me to smile.
"It's a little snow, I'm fine. Besides, Alice promises that it won't stick." I hop off his back, Jasper turns to me, pulling me closer by my waist, causing me to smile up at him, softly. "Hey, stop worrying." I stroke his cheek, his eyes flutter as he leans into my touch, before he leans his forehead to my own.
"Force of habit, darlin. I don't like the idea of you being in this field, this fight, at all." He caresses my face, causing me nuzzle his hand.
"We've prepared for this." I remind him.
"Oh, would you two kiss already?!" Rosalie cries, causing heat to flood my face as I lean up on my tiptoes, and press a kiss to his lips, chaste, before we pull apart.
"Nobody here, is going to get hurt." I promise.
"I know. Hey," He kisses me softly, once more. "I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too." He pulls back, turning to help an irritated Emmett with pitching my tent while I turn in time to find Sheryl, Jason, Mary and Melody enter the field, each carrying a bag of vials, and Jennifer is at my side, Grace and Rosalie are sparring, Garrett and Carlisle are continuing their conversation, as if it hadn't been interrupted, and Esme is setting up a small fire for her to cook dinner for myself, Jennifer, and the other members of our coven, Alice and Pandora are also sparring. Later that night, Jasper sits on guard, outside my tent, while Jennifer and I huddle together against the storm, attempting to get enough rest, and before dawn breaks, we're up in time for a breakfast of cocoa, jerky, and donuts, before my coven and I dose ourselves with the strengthening potions, and everyone prepares for the battle in silence, the wolves joining us quickly.
Standing in waiting, I hear it, the sound of bare feet on the wet grass, a newborn, it's stalking is gaunt, ready for a fight at the same time, a beat, then more footsteps from behind him, the whole newborn army blitzes out of the woods and into the field. Seeing the frenzy in their eyes, their rabid thirst as the follow the mingling scent of Bella's blood, and my presence in the field, but the trail ends here, causing them all to pause in confusion, watching us. One of the wolves bolts from the trees with lightning speed, tackling a newborn, the other newborns spin to find a lethal-looking wolf in a crouch beside his victim's body, the battle begins, my family and coven mates charge forward while I am behind, casting barriers and healing, in a support role.
The newborns rush Jasper but three of them go down, tackled by Esme, Rosalie, Carlisle, Emmett, Pandora, and Alice, out of nowhere, Sam, flanked by two other wolves, lunges into the fray, tearing newborns to pieces, the other wolves dive into the fray, and across the field, Emmett sprints full-bore into the fight, relishing the battle, Rosalie and Grace backing him the entire way. Charlotte and Peter appear at either of my sides, suddenly sending two newborns back, that had been bashing relentlessly against my shield, I notice Sheryl go down with a frantic scream, a newborn about to finish her off, but Jason is on the newborn, cutting it clean down the middle with a flaming sword. Garrett body slams a newborn from Jennifer, her neck blood as the newborn convulses, exploding from the inside out, and Garrett looks at his mate with a look of pride.
The wolves work as a pack, coordinated, deadly. Jasper controls the field – strategy and speed vs strength, Rosalie fights with icy calm, Grace laughing happily at each newborn she bats away. Alice uses precognition with Pandora at her side every step of the way, Esme and Carlisle fight side by side, Charlotte and Peter use each other as battering rams, bouncing off each other to tackle any newborn that gets too close, Sheryl and Jason cover each other, one or the other casting an occasional spell, and Mary and Melody never leave each other's sides as they work together with their smoke-summoned weapons. Garrett is never more than ten feet from Jennifer at all times, hacking and slashing through newborns, who are still strong as hell, and brutal, I nearly wince whenever one manages to shatter a barrier I've casted, and actually manages to get someone, which I manage to heal nearly instantly, before casting another barrier.
Jacob charges into the clearing, tackling a newborn off Jennifer, going for it's neck, then Sam and Jacob charge a newborn, each grabbing an arm in their mouths and rip the arms clean off, suddenly I see something that shocks me. Paul is surrounded by three newborns, Emmett charges in, suddenly coming to his aid, they share a look, before bounding off as I manage to turn towards Esme and Carlisle, who move in on one of the newborns, who is staying out of the fighting, looking frantic, the take a step toward her, and she backs away, frightened, causing the two older vampires to share a look, they relax their attack stance, trying to calm her, to talk to her. Alice darts from newborn to newborn, not even looking at them, knowing their next move. She sweeps their feet, keeping them off balance, confusing them, Pandora and Jasper are a step behind her, trying to provide cover, I notice a newborn take note of their protectiveness over Alice, it appears behind Jasper and bites his shoulder, Pandora covers Alice, who turns, flinging the newborn across the field, toward Rosalie, Emmett, and Carlisle, who turn to kill him, but I summon lightning, making the newborn combust before they move, and race toward my fiancé, frantically tending to him.
"Darlin, get back to your spot." Jasper gasps in fear, I turn in time to cut a newborn's head clean off with my sword, before turning back to my fiancé, and focus on his bite.
"I can take care of myself, too." I argue, he stiffens as soon as he looks behind me, I turn in time to Victoria, she searches the battlefield from the treeline, eyes narrowing as she lands on me, she abruptly turns away from the fight, and starts running, ice draws into my stomach as I realize that she's caught a scent, more specifically, she's caught Edward's scent.
"Lilith!" I turn as someone screams my name, only for something to fly at me, tackling me as everything goes dark. Suddenly, my head thrums as I feel the unconsciousness slowly flowly away from me, a cool hand stroking my hair, then the scent of something sickly sweet and smoke, causing me to force my eyes open, discovering that my head is in Jennifer's lap, her clover eyes full of concern as I slowly sit up with a groan.
"What happened?" I ask.
"You were tackled by a newborn, before he could do more than knock you out, Garrett and Emmett tag teamed him." Jennifer answers as I look around, a massive fire burns as the Cullens and the wolves hurriedly drag what's left of the newborns to it for the incineration. A purple-black smoke rises. "Sheryl and the other members of the coven, Charlotte, Grace, and Peter had to leave. The Volturi are on their way."
"Jasper?" I ask, my tone is worried, suddenly my fiancé is at my side, grasping my chin, turning my face every which way, worry obvious as he looks for any bruises, or anything else.
"She's fine. I healed her." Jennifer reassures him, causing him to let out a breath of relief, helping me to my feet, his lips pressing to my own. Edward and Bella race out of the trees, bee-lining for Alice and the rest of the Cullens gathered near the fire, while Jennifer, Jasper, and I join as well.
"How long?" Edward inquires, causing Alice to focus.
"A few minutes, maybe ten." She answers,Bella scans the field for Jacob.
"They've timed their arrival well." Rosalie snarls in disgust.
"Probably hoping the newborns picked some of us off." Emmett snipes as I feel something akin to a rock, settling in my stomach.
"What's she doing here?" Edward practically snarls, looking at the newborn, that I notice is curled up beside the fire, whimpering in fear, Bella notices too.
"We offered her safe haven if she stopped fighting, she took it." Esme answers.
"She wasn't even fighting, in the first place." I point out, causing Edward to look confused, focusing on my thoughts to see the truth.
"The pack needs to leave. The Volturi won't honor our truce with the werewolves." Carlisle suddenly says.
"Where's Jacob?" Bella asks, her tone a bit frantic.
"There…" Edward answers, causing Bella to focus on the treeline, where Jacob emerges in wolf form, Bella sighs with enormous relief, he sees her as well, starts toward her, but suddenly he hears a vicious snarl coming from behind him in the woods, spins to see a light grey wolf, Leah, by her markings, cornering one last male newborn who was hiding. Leah charges, and everything is blur, suddenly Jacob leaps on the newborn, tacking him as they roll into the clearing, where Jacob bites off a piece of his face, but the newborn gets his arms around Jacob, crushing him as Bella and I rush forward a bit.
"Jacob!" We shout in unison, worry evident, the other wolves are instantly there, and pounce on the newborn, tearing it limb from the limb, I'm right beside Edward and Carlisle as we rush to Jacob's side, I find myself surprised as Jacob transforms back into a human, naked, grotesquely twisted and broken, barely able to breathe. Carlisle quickly examines him as he writhes in pain; Edward steadies him, gripping his hand.
"Jacob, hold on. Carlisle's gonna take care of you." Edward attempts to sooth him, Bella is frantic behind us.
"The bones on the right half of his body are shattered." Carlisle is instantly in doctor mode, Jacob, in excruciating pain, squeezes Edward's hand, Bella drops to her knees beside Jacob, stroking his face in an attempt to soothe him.
"Jacob, I'm right here." She calls softly.
"There's nothing I can do. His body's accelerated healing is already kicking in." I say, my glowing golden hands hovering my friend, tears welling in my eyes, Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry, Quil and Leah, now in human form race up.
"Jacob, you idiot! I had it." Leah spits out, but the look on her face is worried.
"Leah." Sam shakes his head.
"I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing kicks in. It's already starting." Carlisle looks at me, and I nod.
"We need to get him out of here. We're not gonna win a fight with the Volturi." Edward's tone is frantic as I stand, looking at Sam, who nods.
"We'll take him back to Billy's." Sam answers, stepping forward with the others.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Carlisle answers.
"Hang in there, Jake. We got you." Bella whimpers, standing as Jacob cries out, the pack members lifting him, Bella agonizes as she watches them disappear into the woods, she and Edward exchange a look of shared concern.
"They're here!" Alice calls, we gather in the center of the field, converging around Bella, I notice that I am jostled into Jasper's arms nearest to them, Garrett and Jennifer standing on either side of the protective area. From out of the mist and the smoke emerge cloaked figures, by a guess, The Volturi, a small girl and behind her, a tall brunette that looks stronger than Emmett, a blonde man, and a smaller brunette that looks a bit like the young girl. The girl assess the scene, taking in Bella and myself, Jennifer and Garrett as well.
"It appears, you've done our work for us." The girl speaks up. "Impressive, I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude, intact."
"We were lucky." Carlisle answers, smoothly.
"I doubt that." The girl retorts, sharply.
"It appears, we missed an entertaining fight." The smaller brunette boy says.
"Yes. It's not often we're rendered unnecessary." The girl answers, I can feel annoyance radiating off her.
"If you'd arrived a half hour ago, you would've fulfilled your purpose." Edward retorts sharply, causing her to look at him.
"Pity." Her tone is snide as she looks around, then notices the newborn cowering by the fire. "You missed one."
"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender." Esme steps in.
"That wasn't yours to offer." The girl retorts.
"Actually, seeing as the attack was on this coven, and not the Volturi, it is their's to offer." I answer, drawing the attention to me, the girl looks slightly shocked at my interruption.
"Who is this human?" She demands.
"I'm a witch, and as part of the magical community, that is not under your jurisdiction, I am immune to anything you are permitted for vampires." I answer.
"Also, according to the guidelines of the Grism magical laws, set by your masters in a diplomatic solution for peace, anything you do to harm us, gives our coven the right to kill you, and you're not allowed to retaliate, nor is any member of your clan." Jennifer steps in, causing the girl to scowl, then turn to the newborn.
"We need answers." She hisses, eyes narrowing on the girl. "Why did you come?" Before the newborn can answer, the girl seems to focus her power, sending the newborn's body arching in agony, the newborn screams in pain, and Bella flinches, Esme quickly steps up.
"They came to destroy us- to kill Bella." Esme answers for the newborn, the twisted girl ignores Esme, continuing the torture on the newborn.
"Who created you?" The girl demands, her tone is now cold.
"You don't need to do that. She'll tell you anything you want to know." Esme protests as I clench my fist.
"I know." The blonde girl answers, a bit smugly, Carlisle puts a hand on Esme's shoulder, the newborn screaming briefly stops, and the twisted girl waits for an answer.
"I don't know. Riley wouldn't tell us, he said our thoughts weren't safe!" The newborn cries, suddenly she arches in agony, screaming again, I can see Esme about to say something.
"Her name was Victoria. Perhaps you knew her." Edward butts in, suddenly the newborn's screams stop, the young blonde turns towards us with an unnervingly innocent smile, the other three Volturi are suddenly positioned behind Jane. I didn't even see them move, Bella plants herself firmly at Edward's side, the air is tense. This could turn bad, fast. Carlisle intercedes with great and purposeful calm.
"Edward. If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?" Carlisle glances at the blonde, Jane, who is silent for a long moment.
"Of course. Felix." The bulky brunette goes to move, when Esme steps in.
"She didn't know what she was doing. We'll take responsibility for her. Give her a chance." Esme practically begs.
"The Volturi don't give second chances. Keep that in mind. Caius will be interested to know she's still human." Jane nods towards Bella.
"The date is set." Bella snaps, while I glare at Jane, who is ever so slightly taken aback by Bella's confidence, her look lingers on Bella, I can see what she's trying to do, Edward stands ready to defend her, but Jane turns back to Felix.
"Take care of that, Felix. I'd like to go home." Jane retorts, Felix moves forward again, when Jennifer and I both step out of the formation of our family.
"Prohibere!" Felix and Jane freeze, looking at us.
"What?" Jane asks, her tone annoyed.
"Mea est!" Jennifer snarls, causing Jane to freeze, I can see her face fall. That she understands.
"Y-You can't do that!" She objects.
"According to the guidelines, set by the Grisms magical law, If the convicted has personally done no wrong to the witch who claims Mea est, and is found innocent by one other coven member, then Mea est is legal." I quote, word of word, from my grimoire. "I also find that she was drawn into this unfairly, without being told anything, and so I validify Mea est." Jane's face drops as she sweeps her arm dramatically, it's obvious that she's angry as Felix backs away from the newborn.
"Until next time." Jane snipes, the Volturi quickly disappear, causing my family to celebrate as I walk over to the newborn, crouching down to look at her.
"What's your name?" I ask, she stares at me in awe.
"B-Bree." She stammers out.
"Well, Bree, you're under the protection of my sister and I now, meaning you're family. Do you think you can control your thirst around Bella from now on?" She nods as she slowly sits up, venom filling her tears.
"Th-Thank you." She sobs out, I glance over at Rosalie, who is watching with venom in her eyes.
"Rose." The blonde looks at me, scurrying over to kneel down. "Bree, this is Rose. She's a wonderful person, I think you're going to get along fabulously." I smile as I stand, walking over to Jasper, who lifts me in his arms, spinning me around, causing me to laugh, the two of us pressing our lips together in a loving kiss. "Hello, my love."
"Hi, darlin." He murmurs, setting me on the ground once more.
"Guess what." I tease.
"What?" He asks softly.
"I love you." I answer, causing him to chuckle softly.
"Well, guess what." He taunts.
"Hmm?" I tilt my head.
"I love you, too." He answers, kissing me again.
Things are definitely changing, now.
Ta-da! I decided to save Bree! She's going to go live with the Irish Coven, but I have plans for her later. ^-^ Please don't hate me too much, for changing the books so much. Please read, review, and enjoy!