My heart beat steadily, a rhythm of determination echoing in my chest. The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs grew louder, each sounds a reminder of the impending threat. Their approach was relentless, but I refused to falter. I summoned every ounce of energy, every spark of anger, and every flicker of courage within me. Fear had no place in my heart now. I was ready to face this head-on, unafraid of what the outcome might be.

Shapes emerged from the treeline, a varied assembly of heights and genders, but one common feature among them: piercing red eyes. Their numbers were too vast to tally, a daunting sight indeed. Jasper took the lead, his charge breaking the tension, and the rest of us surged forward in his wake. My legs propelled me forward with every ounce of determination I could muster, closing the distance to the oncoming vampires with relentless speed.

Jasper's fist connected with a newborn's head, the force so immense that it cleanly severed from its body, like a crystal shattering into pieces. Though the scene unfolded before me, my mind was elsewhere, focused on the task at hand. While I lagged behind due to lacking super-speed like the others, it granted me a few precious moments to collect my thoughts and prepare myself mentally for the impending battle.

In the heat of the moment, my senses heightened, and I spotted two male newborns barrelling towards me with alarming speed. Reacting instinctively, I thrust both hands forward, channelling my energy into a powerful force that surged through the air and struck them square in the chest. The impact sent them hurtling backwards, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud akin to rocks colliding.

But the brief respite was shattered as my peripheral vision caught sight of a female newborn charging towards me with deadly intent. Swift as a snake, I pivoted on my heel and extended my arm diagonally, summoning the latent energy of the earth. Vines erupted from the ground, snaking their way toward her with deadly precision. Writhing around her throat, they tightened their grip, immobilizing her in an instant. With a swift, decisive motion, I clenched my fist, causing the vines to constrict with such force that her head was severed from her body, thudding to the ground with finality.

Refocusing on the two newborns who had attempted to outmanoeuvre me, I observed their strategic split, each aiming to catch me off guard.

Undeterred, I channelled my power, the incantation rolling off my tongue with practised ease. "Fiate fulguris!" I commanded, and in response, the sky above churned ominously.

Suddenly, thunder reverberated through the air, a precursor to the imminent strike. With a blinding flash, lightning crackled forth, arcing toward both targets with unerring precision. The electrifying surge enveloped them in a sizzling blaze, sending them writhing in agony as the potent energy surged through their bodies, incapacitating them where they stood.

As I advanced, my gaze fixed on Emmett, who seized a newborn by the neck, his movements swift and decisive. With a sharp twist, he snapped her neck, rendering her lifeless before tossing her aside with practised ease. Meanwhile, I made my way toward the prominent rock jutting from the earth. I used my magic, effortlessly flinging them away from me as though they were mere rag dolls.

A newborn vampire came into my sight, its eyes wild and hungry. With a swift flick of my wrist, as if twisting a light bulb, I snapped its neck. The sickening crack echoed as its head shattered and tumbled to the ground. But the respite was brief. More newborns, driven by insatiable thirst and ferocity, surged forward. Esme and Carlisle stood their ground, valiantly attempting to fend off the onslaught and protect me, but the numbers were overwhelming.

I pressed my back against the cold stone, preparing to speak, when eerie growls reverberated from above. I looked up just in time to see a pack of wolves leap into the fray. Their powerful jaws tore into the newborns, breaking bones and ripping through flesh. The once-intimidating horde quickly dissolved under the wolves' relentless assault.

Relief washed over me. With the wolves' arrival, the tide had turned in our favour. The odds were now on our side, and my thoughts finally began to calm.

With a few newborn vampires still lingering around, I pushed myself away from the stone. "Motus!" I shouted, thrusting both of my hands outward. Instantly, the remaining newborns surrounding us were lifted off their feet and hurled several metres back, crashing into the ground with force.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Emmett grab hold of one of the newborns. With his immense strength, he slammed the vampire's head against his own, shattering its crystal-like skull with a sickening crunch.

Suddenly, I noticed another newborn scaling the rock, snarling as he prepared to leap. As he pounced, I extended my hand toward him. He froze in mid-air as if he had collided with an invisible barrier. Emmett's eyes widened in shock as he turned to see me holding the newborn in place with my power.

With a swift flick of my wrist, the newborn's limbs were torn from their sockets, leaving him with a dismembered head and torso. The newborn was flung off to the side, as I lowered my hand. Emmett's eyes locked with mine, and I watched as the dark cracks on his forehead began to seal, his perfect skin reforming. Despite my limited knowledge of vampires, Jasper had made it clear: dismember them and then burn the pieces. It was the only way to ensure that they stayed dead.

I offered Emmett a quick smile, but my attention quickly shifted to an oncoming newborn. Reacting swiftly, I summoned vines from the earth with a flick of my wrist. They snaked around the newborn's legs, yanking him off his feet. More vines erupted from the ground, entwining and encasing his entire body. They constricted tighter and tighter until the unmistakable sound of shattering echoed through the air.

I darted off, determined to give the newborns hell. Wielding my magic with fierce intensity, I unleashed every spell I knew to bring them down. I hurled them off their feet with invisible waves of energy, and sank them into the earth where they flailed helplessly until a wolf swooped in to bite their heads off. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around the newborns, constricting their movements until I could deliver the final blow. Each spell and strike were precise and relentless.

I pivoted swiftly on my feet, watching as the newborn I had just faced crumpled to the ground. In the distance, I caught sight of Emmett locked in combat, his powerful blows leaving bodies behind. Closer by, I noticed Paul struggling under the assault of several newborns. Emmett, seeing him in peril, dashed towards him.

With a display of immense strength, Emmett grabbed the newborns attacking Paul and hurled them aside, their bodies flying through the air. This intervention gave Paul the chance he needed. Regaining his footing, Paul took the upper hand, his sharp teeth tearing into the newborns with lethal precision. Emmett cast one last glance at Paul before dashing off to confront the next newborn.

Perhaps I could create large vines to distract the newborns, giving the others a chance to kill them. Before I could fully consider the plan, I took a deep breath and began to raise my hands. My palms faced upward, fingers slightly curled, as I prepared to summon the vines. With a single thought, the ground beneath my feet started to vibrate, then intensified into a violent shake, as if something massive was about to erupt from the earth. At that very moment, two thick vines burst through the soil, beside me, shooting upwards before curling at their peaks, poised like serpents ready to strike. Both vines seemed to select their target with unerring precision. Once chosen, the sharp-tipped vines lashed out with the speed of bullets, plunging into the newborns. The force of the impact was so powerful that it skewered them effortlessly. The vines retracted, then struck again, selecting another target and then another, skewering the newborns like pieces of fruit on a skewer. Each vine soon became laden with wriggling, struggling newborns, their desperate movements futile against the relentless grip of the vines. As I envisioned large, spiky thorns emerging to sever the writhing bodies, the vines responded instantly. Sharp thorns erupted from the stems, slicing cleanly through the newborns and cutting their bodies in two. I watched their bodies drop to the ground.

The two remaining vines stood guard, their sharp thorns poised and ready. As the newborns drew closer to me, the vines sprang into action, slashing through them with swift, precise movements. Unlike before, they didn't impale their targets. Instead, they wielded their thorns like blades, slicing through the newborns with lethal efficiency, ensuring none could get close enough to touch me. It was as if the vines had become my personal protectors, defending me from every threat with deadly accuracy.

A few newborns managed to slip past the vines and reach me, but I swiftly disposed of them, either with a spell or even with a single glance. I didn't understand why, but I was on a magical high. It felt as if each time I used my magic, it grew stronger and more potent. However, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind, warning me to stop before it was too late, that I was pushing myself too far. But I couldn't listen, I had to keep fighting.

I pushed the thought aside and focused on the vines, watching them expertly deal with the last few stragglers near me. As the final body was sliced in half, I willed the vines to retreat. They obediently sank back into the earth, leaving behind only patches of disturbed dirt on either side of me as evidence of their presence. I lowered my hands to my sides and turned my attention to the battlefield, now littered with bodies. No blood was spilt, as their bodies no longer held any. Instead, it looked as though the ground was covered in fractured crystals.

I walked over to a nearby severed body, noticing the newborn's head lying just a few inches from the jagged edges of his neck. Leaning in closer, I examined the face, observing the marks where his head had been detached. The sight was difficult to describe, but the first word that came to mind was "crystals." In an instant, the male's eyes snapped open, fixing their gaze on me. Startled, I instinctively recoiled, only to feel hands encircle my arms moments later. Surprisingly, I remained calm, a deep intuition guiding me to recognize the owner of these hands.

"You were incredible!" Emmett exclaimed; his voice filled with admiration. I spun within his grasp to face him, greeted by a radiant smile that illuminated his features. Amidst his joyful expression, I noticed a smudge of dirt on his cheek. "I didn't expect those massive vines!" He continued, marvelling at my actions. To be honest, I hadn't realized I had it within me. Would that even be considered witchcraft? Or something else?

My attention snapped back to reality as Jasper called out to Emmett, asking for assistance in gathering the severed halves of the newborns and adding them to the growing pile they were assembling. Emmett lowered his hands and immediately set to work. Meanwhile, I surveyed the area and with a flick of my wrist, magically lifted a few nearby newborns, gently guiding them over to join the pile.

"Would you light it?" Jasper's voice echoed beside me, drawing my attention. Without needing to glance at him, I simply nodded in affirmation.

"Incendia," I murmured softly, my voice barely audible as the incantation flowed from my lips. With each syllable spoken with care, the pile of newborns erupted into flames, engulfing their bodies within seconds of the final utterance slipping into the air.

I sensed a gaze upon me and traced it back to Alice, who was staring in my direction. However, it wasn't a normal stare; it felt as if she were looking through me, as though she was receiving a vision and I just happened to be in her line of sight.

"They're coming," she spoke, her voice snapping us back to reality as her eyes darted around, taking in our gathered group. "The Volturi," she announced, her words carrying a weight that made my heart quicken its pace within my chest. My hands instinctively curled into fists, and a surge of anger pulsed through my veins at the mere mention of their name.

We carried on bringing the bodies of the newborns to the blazing pile, each addition fuelling the flames higher and hotter. When the task was complete, I stood beside Emmett, his hand intertwined with my right one, his presence serving as my only anchor in my anger towards the Volturi.

Footsteps approached from behind, prompting me to glance over my shoulder to see Bella and Edward. Bella and I locked eyes, and relief washed over me; she was safe, and so was our town. I smiled at her, a silent acknowledgement of our shared victory.

"How long?" Edward asked, his gaze fixed intently on Alice.

"A few minutes. Maybe ten?" Alice responded, unable to provide a precise timeframe.

"The pack needs to leave," Carlisle declared, his tone firm. "The Volturi won't honour a truce with the werewolves." It was a stark, undeniable truth. Unlike the Cullens, the Volturi wouldn't be so accommodating.

Suddenly, a ferocious snarl pierced the air, snapping our attention to its source. There stood a vampire and a wolf with white fur streaked with patches of black. The wolf lunged to attack, but the newborn intercepted, and they clashed violently.

"Leah, don't!" Edward shouted, rushing towards her. But Jacob leapt ahead, reaching the vampire first and sinking his teeth into him. They tumbled and rolled in a brutal struggle. Somehow, the newborn manoeuvred behind Jacob, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing with relentless force. I heard the sickening snap of bones, followed by Jacob's agonized whine before the newborn finally released his grip.

The other wolves arrived swiftly, dispatching the last newborn with such speed that I couldn't even utter a word or move. It was over in the blink of an eye.

"Jacob!" Bella screamed, her voice echoing across the field as she saw him shift back into his human form. She sprinted towards him, but Carlisle and Edward reached him before she could even make it halfway.

I watched the entire scene unfold, tightening my grip on Emmett's hand. He didn't flinch, unaffected by the pressure. The rest of the pack emerged from the treeline, now dressed, unlike Jacob, who lay naked on the wet grass. I couldn't hear their words, but I knew Carlisle well enough to be certain that he would do everything in his power to help Jacob.

"I need you to go with them," Emmett's deep voice resonated in my ears, drawing my attention to him. "You can't be here when the Volturi come," he insisted, concern etched into his expression, worried that I might get hurt.

"I'm not leaving you," I replied firmly, my voice resolute.

"Charlotte, this isn't up for debate," Emmett replied, his tone just as firm as mine. "You don't know what they're like," he continued, his voice heavy with concern. "If they see you and somehow discover what you are..." His words trailed off, the thought of what the Volturi might do to me or he knew exactly what they would do. It terrified him.

"I'm not leaving," I declared, standing my ground with unwavering resolve. I wanted to face this together. "Invisique," I whispered, casting the spell. Instantly, Emmett's eyes widened, darting around in search of me.

"If I wasn't holding your hand, I wouldn't even know you're here," Emmett said, still gripping my hand—the only physical sensation that reassured him of my presence.

"They won't be able to see, hear, or smell me," I explained, the words rolling off my tongue as I described the full extent of the cloaking spell. "But I need you to let go of my hand," I added in a whisper, reluctant to release his grasp but understanding the necessity to avoid arousing suspicion if he appeared to be holding onto thin air.

His grip lingered for a few moments before he finally released me. "They're coming," Alice announced, her words coming just in time for me to turn and face the impending threat. I noticed Emmett's decision to cross his arms over his chest, a subtle gesture indicating his reluctance to reach out to me.

Four vampires strode across the field, their figures silhouetted against the backdrop of the burning pile of newborns. Each one wore a cloak, their necks adorned with necklaces bearing the symbol of the Volturi. My hands clenched into fists as anger surged within me, bubbling just beneath the surface. Among them were three male vampires, each varying in height, accompanied by a female whose gaze darted across the Cullens and Bella. Instantly, I knew she was the leader of this little group.

As they drew closer, they simultaneously dropped their hoods, revealing their faces. Each of them also wore black leather gloves.

"Impressive," remarked the blonde female in a tone that bordered on monotone. "I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact."

"We were lucky," Carlisle announced, his words gentle as they hung in the air.

"I doubt that," she replied coolly.

"It appears we missed an entertaining fight," the man to her right interjected, his gaze sweeping to the left.

"Yes," the female agreed. "It's not often we're rendered unnecessary."

"If you'd arrived a half hour ago, you would have fulfilled your purpose," Edward remarked.

"Pity," she responded, her eyes briefly meeting Edward's before shifting to linger on a newborn nearby. Carlisle and Esme had mentioned she didn't fight, and didn't want to. "You missed one," the blonde stated. I noticed Jasper move from his position to approach the girl nearby, silently indicating to the Volturi that she was under their protection.

"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," Carlisle redirected the conversation back to the blonde.

"That wasn't yours to offer," the blonde retorted sharply, her words laced with disdain. My hands clenched even harder at her tone. "Why did you come?" she demanded, her voice rising as her gaze locked onto the newborn. Suddenly, the newborn screamed, causing me to jump in my spot. I watched in horror as she arched her back as if reaching for the sky, clearly in immense pain. The newborn collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

I noticed Emmett had uncrossed his arms and clenched his own hands into fists at his sides. Despite the intensity of the situation, he remained unfazed. It was clear he needed to maintain his composure, to focus on something else so he would start punching.

I gently placed my hand on his forearm, knowing he would instantly feel my touch. "What is she doing to her?" I asked silently, using my mind to reach into his and communicate without words.

"Who created you?" The blonde's inquiry sought to uncover the origins of this army. However, the newborn screamed again, the sound growing more agonizing by the moment.

"Emmett," my voice cracked, even within his mind.

"Please. Don't react. I can't lose you," Emmett's deep voice echoed in my mind, as though he were speaking directly to me.

"You don't need to do that," Esme interjected, redirecting her gaze to the blonde. "She'll tell you anything you want to know," Esme's words carried a silent plea to cease the blonde from using her gift to torment the poor girl.

"I know," the blonde replied smugly, her tone suggesting she was merely using her power for amusement.

"I don't know," the newborn began hesitantly. "Riley wouldn't tell us," she added, still grappling with the effects of the blonde's gift. "He said our thoughts weren't safe."

"Her name was Victoria. Perhaps you knew her," Edward interjected, his gaze piercing into the Volturi blonde.

"Edward, if the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would have stopped her," Carlisle stated softly, glancing over his shoulder at Edward. "Isn't that right, Jane?" He directed his question at her, turning his head back to face her.

"Of course," Jane replied after a brief pause. I could sense that she clearly knew Victoria, but she was lying. "Felix," she called, turning her head halfway over her shoulder to signal to the tall brute behind her to do his job.

He stepped forward, but before he could act, Esme spoke up. "She didn't know what she was doing," Esme exclaimed, a pang of sympathy evident in her voice as she anticipated the fate awaiting the girl. Jane extended her arm, halting Felix in his tracks. "We'll take responsibility for her," Esme interjected, attempting to smooth things over and offer the newborn a chance at a different life. But I could tell from Jane's demeanour that she had no intention of letting the newborn live.

"Give her a chance," Carlisle pleaded.

"The Volturi don't give second chances," Jane retorted, her words sending a shiver down my spine. I tightened my grip on Emmett, needing something to ground me before I did something I'd regret. "Keep that in mind," her red eyes fixed on Edward and Bella. "Caius will be interested to know that she's still human."

"The date is set," Bella responded calmly.

"Take care of that, Felix," Jane commanded, her gaze fixed on the newborn. "I'd like to go home," she added, turning to walk towards the girl.

"Look away," Emmett's voice rang urgently in my mind, his tone stern and demanding. "Please, look away," he pleaded, his voice softening as he begged me not to witness what was about to unfold.

I watched as Felix strode forward, passing by Esme and Carlisle, who moved aside without protest. Emmett's gaze followed Felix's movements, and I couldn't tear my eyes away either. Felix grabbed the girl roughly by the arm, hauling her up as she began to scream in terror. Deep inside her mind, she knew her death was coming. Despite Emmett's repeated pleas for me to avert my gaze, I couldn't help but watch. For a split second longer, I saw Felix grip her tightly by the waist before pushing, and in that instant, I shut my eyes tightly as the girl let out a piercing, terrified scream. The sound of the crystallized shattering echoed in my ears, reverberating through the air before giving way to an eerie silence.

I opened my eyes just in time to witness Felix marching back the way he came, the newborn girl split in half, each one in one of his hands. Before he tossed her onto the burning pile alongside the rest of them. None of us moved. We stood there, silent witnesses, allowing them to tear a girl apart and burn her as if she were nothing.

I watched as the Volturi, raise their hoods, and turned away with swift, almost blinding speed, disappearing into the treeline, leaving the scene behind without a second thought. My body remained rooted to the spot, not out of fear but out of seething anger, a boiling rage that left me paralyzed.

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