I managed to get some rest through the night, though it was restless at best. My mind raced, consumed with thoughts of what lay ahead. Maybe it wouldn't come to a fight, maybe I wouldn't die. After all, the witch who read my taro hadn't explicitly said I was going to die. But she never denied it either.

The next day arrived all too quickly as if the universe itself were eager to push us toward whatever fate awaited. The air was cold and crisp, and the sky a pale, overcast grey. We found ourselves standing in a vast, open space blanketed in freshly fallen snow. It stretched out before us like an endless canvas, the pure white surface untouched except for the occasional footprint marking the ground.

On the outer edges of the clearing, tall trees stood, their bare branches reaching up toward the heavens. The woods surrounding us seemed almost too close in as if watching, waiting. The stillness of the place made the tension in the air even more suffocating. This was where everything was going to unfold.

We trudged through the snow, each step crunching beneath our feet as we made our way toward the centre of the open field. The wolves, camouflaged in the shadows of the trees, remained hidden, waiting for the signal to join us when the time came. As we reached the halfway point, we halted, the tension thick in the air. We formed our groups, positioning ourselves in a circle, and preparing for what was to come. I stood close to Rose and Emmett, his hand firmly clasped around mine, offering silent comfort. We stood there, side by side, eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting for the Volturi to make their appearance.

We all stood in silence, gazing ahead as the mist swirled across the open field, moving with an eerie, almost purposeful grace. I tried to peer through the fog, straining my eyes, but the world beyond was blurred, my human sight not nearly as sharp as the vampires'. My gaze shifted to Emmett, and without a word, he met my eyes. At that moment, he understood everything I couldn't put into words. Fear, worry, uncertainty—every emotion I was holding inside was there, clear in my eyes. And he didn't need to ask, because he knew.

I turned my head back toward the horizon, my other hand gripping the strap of the bag slung across my body. It was positioned for quick access, allowing me to reach in, grab a potion, and throw it without wasting precious moments fumbling with the bag.

"Whatever happens, stay close to me," he insisted, not even looking at me as he spoke. His eyes were fixed ahead, knowing exactly what was about to emerge from the tree line.

"The Redcoats are coming! The Redcoats are coming!" Garrett called out; his voice laced with a mix of tension as he scanned the mist. Slowly, dark cloaks began to materialize from the fog, moving steadily across the open space, their figures emerging like shadows in the cold, crisp air.

I had expected a small group, but I was quickly proven wrong. There were dozens of them, all cloaked in black, their presence looming and ominous. The sight of them sent a chill down my spine. As the Volturi drew nearer, the howls echoed through the forest. One by one, they emerged from the treeline and headed towards us.

I watched as Jake, now in his wolf form, padded past me. His golden eyes briefly met mine, and I offered him a reassuring smile before he moved to stand beside Bella. The Volturi came to a halt, and the tension in the air thickened. The wolves' growls gradually softened, then fell into a heavy silence.

The Volturi slowly lowered their hoods, revealing their pale, emotionless faces as they stood about 20 to 30 meters away. A surge of anger rushed through me, my blood boiling at the sight of them. This group was the reason witches had been hunted to extinction. They were the source of so much pain, and I could feel every ounce of that injustice in my veins.

We all stood frozen, eyes fixed on the Volturi, waiting for the first move to be made. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carlisle step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Bella, Edward, and Renesmee.

"Aro, let us discuss things as we used to. In a civilised manner," Carlisle's voice was calm and steady, his gaze fixed on Aro.

"Fair words, Carlisle," Aro responded, his voice crisp and clear, carrying through the air to my ears without any need for magic. The clarity of his words startled me—no spell had been cast, and yet I could hear him perfectly. "But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us," Aro continued, his tone smooth, almost conversational, as his eyes swept over our group, then back to Carlisle.

"I assure you, that was never my intention. No laws have been broken," Carlisle stated, his voice calm and composed, the kind of tone that made you feel as though you'd do anything he asked without question.

"We see the child. Do not treat us as fools," the blonde-haired figure stated sharply, stepping forward just inches behind Aro. It was Caius, his tone as cold and biting as his gaze.

"She is not an Immortal!" Carlisle shouted, his voice firm and resolute, trying to drive the point home. He turned, his gaze sweeping over all of us before locking back onto Aro. "These witnesses can attest to that. Or you can look..." He motioned toward Renesmee, his hand extended toward her as if to offer her up as proof. "See the flush of human blood in her cheeks?"

"Artifice!" Caius spat, his voice dripping with disbelief and anger as he stared, unable to accept what he was witnessing.

"I will collect every facet of the truth." Aro declared, raising his hand to silence Caius, before slowly lowering it again. "But from someone more central to the story... Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved," Aro continued, extending his hand toward Edward, gesturing for him to step forward, as he also began to take a few steps forward.

Edward hesitated for a moment, his gaze briefly shifting to Renesmee, then to Bella. With a quiet, reluctant sigh, he moved toward Aro, ready to offer the information he had, though his eyes betrayed a deep conflict.

As Edward made his way toward Aro, Renesmee moved to Bella's other side, positioning herself to stand next to Jake. Bella watched her husband, her gaze filled with worry, and I could see the tendrils of golden energy—her mental shield—reaching out to him. It extended toward Edward, wrapping around him like a shield. But as he moved further away, the energy began to lose its strength, fraying at the edges. It snapped back into Bella, leaving Edward vulnerable and defenceless in its absence.

Edward reached Aro in a matter of minutes, his every step measured and cautious. Aro's hand remained extended, waiting. For a brief moment, Edward hesitated, his mind working through the risks, before he finally placed his hand in Aro's. As their skin touched, Aro's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, savouring the flood of Edward's thoughts and memories. When he finally lifted his gaze, it was clear he had gathered all the information he needed.

"I would like to meet her," Aro stated, his gaze fixed on Renesmee. At his words, Jake's growl rumbled through the air, a warning, fierce and protective. Bella and Renesmee began to step forward, heading toward Aro. However, Bella paused, her eyes flickering over to Emmett, a silent plea for him to join them, to stand guard just in case things went awry. Emmett stepped away, my hand slipping from his as he moved. I watched him walk toward them, my gaze fixed on the four of them as they made their way toward Aro.

The four of them finally came to a halt in front of Aro, with Edward by Bella's side. Emmett moved to the right of Renesmee, positioning himself close, but not too close. Aro's gaze shifted from Renesmee to Bella.

"Ah, young Bella," he murmured as I could still hear him clear as day, his tongue briefly flicking against the roof of his mouth as he spoke her name. "Immortality becomes you," he said. Aro's laughter echoed in an unsettling way as he slowly extended his index finger toward Renesmee. "I can hear her... strange heart," he said, his finger now pointing directly at her chest.

From where I stood, I watched as Renesmee glanced up at her mother, seeking reassurance before she took a cautious step toward Aro. He leaned forward, extending his hand toward her, his fingers poised to touch hers, eager to delve into her memories of the truth behind her birth.

"Hello, Aro," I heard Renesmee speak softly. I see her reach up and place her hand gently on his left cheek. It was a tender touch, delicate and unhurried as if offering him a silent understanding rather than forcing the truth upon him.

"Magnifico," was Aro's next word, his tone in disbelief of what he had just witnessed. "Half mortal, half immortal." Bella immediately stepped forward, her hand reaching out to gently pull Renesmee back, guiding her to stand between her and Edward. Aro turned to his fellow vampires, speaking with a mix of intrigue and disbelief. "Conceived and carried by this..." He glanced back at Bella. "Newborn. While she was still human."

"Impossible!" Caius demanded; his voice filled with disbelief.

"Do you think they fooled me, brother?" Aro's tone was cold. The next thing I heard was Jacob growling, a low, threatening sound that built into a sharp bark, directed at Aro and his followers. Bella, Renesmee, Edward, Emmett, and Jacob began to retreat, stepping back toward our side of the field, the tension thick in the air.

"Bring the informer forward," Caius stated, and the whole group walked closer, as if closing ranks, and crowding around. "Is that the child you saw?" He questioned.

"I'm not sure," Irina replied after a long pause, her gaze lingering on Renesmee.

"Jane," Caius's voice was sharp, more a command than a request.

"She's changed. This child is... bigger," Irina admitted, her voice faltering slightly.

"Then your allegations were false," Caius stated.

"The Cullens are innocent. I take full responsibility for my mistake," Irina stated, her voice heavy with regret for the role she had played in dragging the Volturi into this. "I'm sorry," she added, no doubt looking towards Bella as she said it.

The next thing I saw was a torch being lit, its flames flickering ominously in the air. "Caius, no!" Edward shouted, stepping forward in a desperate attempt to stop him. Before any of us could react, Irina's arms were wrenched from her body.

"Irina!" Tanya and Kate shouted in unison, rushing forward. In a swift, brutal motion, they tore Irina's head from her body and set her lifeless form ablaze with a torch. The flames engulfed her, scorching everything in an instant.

Everyone rushed to intervene, but it was a struggle. Kate unleashed her electrical powers, sending jolts of energy to anyone who tried to get near her. Emmett had rushed to Tanya and grabbed hold of her alongside Eleazar. Garrett, desperate to stop her, grabbed hold of Kate, only to be met with a surge of electricity. He screamed in agony as the shock coursed through him, his body convulsing under the pain.

"Blind them," Edward commanded, his voice firm as he turned toward Zafrina. Without hesitation, she fixed her gaze on Tanya and Kate, her power immediately clouding their vision.

"Give me my sight back!" Tanya argued, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and grief. The raw emotions of losing Irina surged through her, intensifying her rage, along with Kate.

"Tanya, this is what they want. If you attack now, we'll all die," Edward said, stepping in front of her, his voice steady and truthful.

He turned his gaze toward Zafrina, and as her influence over them dissipated, Emmett and Eleazar released their grip on Tanya, while Garrett stepped back, finally letting go of Kate. My gaze shifted to the Volturi, and a fierce hatred burned within me, fuelled by the brutal act they had just committed against Irina.

Edward started making his way back toward Bella, Renesmee—who was now safely on Jacob's back—and me, but suddenly he collapsed to the ground, clutching himself in total agony. Bella took a step forward, but she quickly halted, her focus shifting as she concentrated on using her mental shield.

Bella's shield began to expand outward, stretching over the entire group, its protective barrier growing wider until it enveloped everyone present, creating a safe zone for us all. Edward no longer felt Jane's ability, and slowly got to his feet, and walked back over to Bella.

A few moments of tense silence passed, Jane took a step forward, but her brother Alec quickly halted her. Alec then summoned tendrils of shadow, a dark mist creeping from his hands and moving toward us. But before it could reach past Aro – he raised a hand, and the darkness immediately receded, disappearing into Alec's palms as if it had never been there.

"Aro, you see there's no law broken here," Carlisle said softly, his calm voice cutting through the tension as the wolves' low growls faded into silence.

"Agreed," Aro replied. "But does it then follow that there is no danger?" He took a few steps forward, extending his hands slightly. "For the first time in our history, humans pose a threat to our kind. Their modern technology has given birth to weapons that could destroy." His body turned to his followers before, turning back to look at us. "Maintaining our secret has never been more imperative... In such perilous times, only the known is safe... only the known is tolerable. And we know nothing of what this child will become." He stretched out his hand toward Renesmee, as though her existence was the very symbol of his paranoia. "Can we live with such... uncertainty? Spare ourselves a fight today, only to die tomorrow?"

He was spouting nonsense, unable to see the future. He couldn't possibly know whether Renesmee would ever pose a threat to their kind. How could he make that decision? It was beyond him.

A sudden gasp escaped Aro as he turned to look behind us, his gaze fixed on the treeline.

"Alice," Edward murmured, sensing her arrival. Everyone's attention shifted as Alice and Jasper made their way toward Aro. She took her gaze over to the group we had assembled. But as they drew nearer, a couple of guards stepped forward and grabbed them by the shoulders, halting their progress.

"My dear, dear Alice," Aro said, his voice thick with insincere joy. "We're so glad to see you here, after all."

"I have evidence that the child won't be a risk to our kind," Alice said, her voice firm as Aro's gaze sharpened on her. She extended her hand toward him, even though he was several meters away. "Let me show you."

"Brother?" Caius stated, his tone cautious. But Aro, clearly eager, waved his hand toward Alice, signalling her to approach. Alice pushed the guard's hand off her and began walking toward Aro. I saw one of the guards slap Jasper, and my stomach churned with helplessness as he struggled against the two others holding him back. I couldn't do a thing to stop it.

Once Alice stood before Aro, he swiftly grasped her hand, his fingers tightening around hers as he began to delve into her thoughts, absorbing the visions she had seen. Suddenly, a soft whisper brushed against my ear, fleeting and barely audible, as if someone had spoken directly to me. But it lasted only a second, and I dismissed it, thinking it was just the wind...

There was a tense silence as Aro continued to delve into Alice's mind, his gaze fixed on her as though in a trance. Moments passed, Alice's body stiffened, and her voice broke the stillness. "It doesn't matter what I show you... Even when you see," she yanked her hand away from his, a flash of anger coursing through her. "You still won't change your decision." Turning toward Bella, she whispered urgently, "Now."

I watched as Jacob sprinted back towards the treeline, Renesmee securely on his back, ready to protect her at all costs. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly turned my attention back to the Volturi — this was it, the battle was about to begin. Suddenly, Alice spun on her heels, her foot connecting sharply with Aro's chin. The force of the kick sent him flying into the air.

I wasn't going out without a fight...

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