My eyes flicked over each of them, a wave of dizziness washing over me, but I refused to let it distract me. I wasn't about to stop fighting now. I took a step forward, and in an instant, the women dissolved into mist. Time snapped back to its normal pace, the world around me rushing forward again.

My eyes fixed on Jasper's figure, and without hesitation, I extended my hand toward the Volturi guards. A surge of magic erupted, violently sweeping them off their feet. They were hurled into the air, crashing back to the ground with a sickening thud, like boulders crashing to the ground.

I spun around just in time to see Bella lash out with a powerful kick to Alec's chest, forcing him to stagger backwards. The impact sent him off balance, but in the process, she lost her footing and collapsed to the ground, along with him. A flare of fury ignited in my chest, and without thinking, I bolted toward them, my body moving faster than I could process. But then, I noticed Emmett already racing toward the scene as well, his focus locked on Alec.

Alec regained his footing and lunged toward Bella, his eyes cold with determination. Time seemed to slow as he leapt, but before he could even touch her, I raised my hand. He jolted in the air as if caught by an invisible hand, halting him mid-flight. His body jerked and hung suspended in the air, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

In the split second that followed, Emmett surged forward like a wave, closing the distance between them with brutal speed. He grabbed Alec by the throat, before Emmett slammed Alec into the snow-covered earth, the impact sending snow up around them.

Without hesitation, Emmett raised his foot, and he brought it down with bone-crushing force onto Alec's neck, grinding it into the cold, unforgiving ground. Emmett gripped Alec's body, his fingers tightening around his shoulders. He began to drag him back, never once lifting his foot from Alec's neck. The sound of crackling crystal echoed sharply, like the snap of it breaking in half. The noise was almost deafening, but Emmett didn't flinch. He pulled Alec's body further, his strength unmatched, until he finally released his hold. With a final, forceful motion, Emmett tossed Alec's broken form to the side, sending it skidding across the snow like a ragdoll discarded carelessly.

Once again, the sound of a bell rang out, sharp and clear, echoing in my ears. It was loud, almost deafening, but this time, the world didn't slow down.

"Seekest thou the road,
to all that's foul and fair,"

The words echoed through the air, sung with a single voice. It was angelic, sweet in its tone, yet hauntingly defeated, like a lullaby woven with something terrible to come. I found the source and it was behind, a few metres away from the battlefield, one of the Thirteen women stood there.

"Gather sisters, fire,
water, earth and air,"

She continued, her gaze piercing mine, but I couldn't see her face from this distance.

"Darkest hour, wake thy power.
Earthly and divine,"

As the words spilt from her lips, I felt myself drawn into the song as if I was feeling the emotions that she had attended me to feel from singing this, at this moment in time.

"Burn and brew with coven true,
and glory shall be thine,"

Her voice was both mesmerising and chilling.

"Down, down, down the road,
down the Witches' road,"

They repeated the verse two more times but the twelve other women were summoned into existence, by her voice. Six women appeared, flanking either side of her, forming a perfect ring of figures. Their voices intertwined in a perfect, haunting harmony, weaving a melody. Their harmony stayed the same as if they had sung this song before.

"Circle sewn with fate,
unlock thy hidden gate,"

The bell tolled again, its resonance vibrating through the air, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from them. It was as if the sound of the bell drew me in even more, building something up within the deepest part of me.

"Marching ever forward 'neath the wooded shrine.
I stray not from the path, I hold Death's hand in mine,"

Their voices intertwined in perfect harmony, sending a chill through the air. The mention of death spooked me. But I couldn't afford to be distracted. With a final glance at the witches, I turned back toward the chaos of the battlefield. My heart pounded as I sprinted forward, my hands shooting out in quick succession, sending Volturi guards flying into the air, their bodies tumbling away from me as my magic slammed them with relentless force. The battle raged on, but I was focused and relentless.

"Primal night giveth sight, familiar by thy side...
If one be gone, we carry on, spirit as our guide,"

A mournful howl echoed through the battlefield, sharp and full of anguish, cutting through the eerie song of the Salem Thirteen like a knife, but it was still clear as day. My heart clenched as I turned toward the source. There, in the midst of the chaos, stood Leah in her wolf form, her head tilted back as she let out a wail that seemed to pierce the air. But it was the sight beside her that shattered me—Seth's lifeless wolf form, just a few feet away, his fur now gathering the snow that fell. A heavy weight settled in my chest, and I gasped, the breath stolen from me as my heart broke.

They began to repeat the chorus, each voice picking up where the other had left off, seamlessly flowing into the next. The harmony was flawless, as if their voices were a single person, echoing through the battlefield in perfect sync.

The Volturi were closing in, overwhelming us with their sheer numbers. If we didn't act quickly, we would be wiped out. My eyes darted to the three guards advancing toward me, their expressions cold and relentless. I took a cautious step back, trying to gauge the distance, my mind racing for a way to turn the tide.

"Blood and tears, and bone.
Maiden, Mother, Crone,"

Their voices soared through the battlefield, each word vibrating in the air. A bell rang louder than before, its toll resonating deep within me. The ground beneath me trembled violently, and a massive crack split open the field. It swallowed a few Volturi whole, dragging them down into its fiery depths, where molten lava was kept.

I turned my head toward the source of the crack, my heart racing as I saw Benjamin rising to his feet. He commanded the earth beneath him with a focus, forcing the ground to split open even further. He had helped and turned the tide for us.

A Volturi vampire sped in front of me, but before he could react, I thrust my hand forward with a surge of power. The force sent him flying off his feet, hurtling straight into the widening crack in the earth.

"The road is wild and wicked.
Winding through the wood,"

I sprinted alongside the jagged crack in the earth, fending off Volturi guards as they rushed at me. With every step, I unleashed my magic—sending some guards crashing into the abyss with a forceful blast, while others writhed in agony from pain infliction, leaving them vulnerable for others to finish off.

"Where all that's wrong is right,
and all that's bad is good,"

I spotted Esme clinging desperately to the edge, a Volturi vampire trying to pull her into the abyss. My heart raced as I pushed my exhausted legs to move faster, determined to reach her in time. Suddenly, I tripped over a body, as my mind was too busy trying to save Esme, that I didn't see it. I tumbled forward, crashing face-first into the snow. I pressed my hands into the snow, pushing myself up just in time to see Leah's wolf form leap from the other side. She sank her teeth into the vampire gripping Esme, ripping him away—but in doing so, she doomed herself, plummeting into the chasm below.

Her death ignited a fire within me, a surge of anger and pain that overflowed, filling every inch of my being. I rushed to Esme's side, raising my hand, and with a surge of magic, I lifted her from the edge, gently placing her back on solid ground. I gave her a pained look, knowing we couldn't stop to talk about everything that had happened—we were still in the thick of battle. She gave a small nod, silently acknowledging the unspoken grief between us.

"Through many miles of tricks and trials,
we'll wander high and low."

Their tempo quickened, voices rising in unison, as though the song was building to its final crescendo. Esme dashed back into the fray, aiding those in need. I quickly scanned the battlefield and spotted Emmett on the other side of the chasm, locked in a fierce struggle against two Volturi soldiers. My eyes assessed the gap before me—an impossible jump for any human. But I wasn't human. I took a few steps back, gathering my energy, then launched myself forward. My legs screamed in protest, but I ignored the pain, pushing through the burn. As I reached the edge, I leapt with all my might, the use of my magic propelling me further, allowing me to clear the chasm and land on the other side.

As I surveyed the battlefield, the scene was haunting. Volturi bodies littered the ground, just as our own lay in ruin. The lifeless forms of the wolves were scattered across the snow. Everywhere I looked, there was nothing but loss, the air thick with the weight of it. So much death...

"Tame your fears, a door appears,
the time has come to go,"

I pushed forward through the chaos, determined to reach Emmett and offer my help. But just as I got close, he swiftly dispatched the vampire he had been battling. In that same moment, his gaze lifted, as if he could feel my presence near him. A wide smile spread across his face, his eyes lighting up with relief as he saw me, unharmed and standing. I returned his smile, my heart lifting, and then I sprinted towards him, eager to close the distance.

"Down, down, the road,
down the Witches' road,"

The chorus returned, now louder and more powerful than ever, their voices intertwining in a harmonious swell that filled the air. My heart raced as I saw three Volturi vampires, cloaked in their signature black robes, charging towards Emmett. Before he could even react, they descended on him, their movements swift and deadly.

"NO!" I screamed; my voice raw with panic. I pushed my legs harder, sprinting through the chaos, vaulting over fallen bodies, desperate to reach him in time. I watched helplessly as Emmett fought valiantly, his strength unmatched, but there were too many of them. He was outnumbered, and no one else could get to him in time—everyone was caught in their own battle. Tears blurred my vision, the cold air biting at my cheeks as I continued to run.

Two of the vampires pinned him down, while the third gripped his head with cruel determination. I could hear the sickening crack of crystal splitting, even from where I stood. My heart shattered along with the sound. As I neared him, I saw it happen in a blur—Emmett's head was wrenched from his body, the brutal motion stopping me dead in my tracks. It felt like I had slammed into a brick wall, the shock of the moment freezing me in place.

For a split second, everything around me seemed to fade into silence, the world reduced to just me and the horrifying image of him—motionless, torn apart. A wave of despair crashed over me, heavy and suffocating, stealing the breath from my lungs. The ache that followed was unbearable, as though my soul itself was being ripped apart. Rage, grief, and helplessness tangled inside me, making my legs weak, and my vision blurred with unshed tears. Emmett, my love, was gone—and in that moment, I felt like I had lost every part of myself with him.

My hands shot out, trembling with rage, and in an instant, the Volturi were ripped from their feet and tossed like ragdolls. I could barely comprehend what had just happened. I ran, every step harder than the last, until my legs gave way beneath me. Collapsing to my knees, I crawled the rest of the way toward him, my breath ragged, my sobs shaking me to my core. I could hear the agonized wails tearing from my throat, but I couldn't stop.

Another agonizing wail tore from my throat as I cradled his head in my hands, pressing it desperately against my chest. My body shook with the intensity of the grief, and another heart-wrenching cry escaped me, echoing the pain that consumed every part of me.

"Follow me, my friend...
To glory at the end,"

The final chime of the bell reverberated in my ears, blending with my screams of agony. As my eyes fluttered open, the world around me blurred, and I realized, in a daze, that I was surrounded by the Salem Thirteen. They encircled me.

"Take me," I choked out through the sobs, my tears flowing like a flood. "Bring him back... Bring them all back. Please!" I begged through my sobs, wanting everyone who died for us to come back.

"We are not Gods," one of the women spoke, her voice calm while it echoed in my mind. I couldn't tell who it was; none of them moved their lips. It was as if the words were spoken telepathically.

"We are but women," another voice chimed in, still a mystery, their eyes fixed on me with an unreadable expression.

"Then what's the point of you!" I screamed, the grief consuming me. "I loved him!" My words cracked as the sobs wracked my body, and I clutched his head tighter to my chest as if trying to hold onto the last remnants of him. "I love him..." My voice faltered, barely above a whisper, trembling as I clung to him, holding him close against my chest. The words broke, just like my heart, as the weight of my grief threatened to crush me.

"And you know exactly who to seek justice from," another voice reverberated through the circle of women, and in that instant, I knew exactly who she meant. The Volturi. "Unleash that darkness completely," she whispered softly. "They killed Carlisle, Seth, Leah... and your beloved," one voice urged, her words laced with cold certainty.

"And they'll destroy everyone here, including you," another female voice chimed in, a chilling echo that seemed to hang in the air like a death sentence.

I could feel the weight of their words sinking deep into my chest, each word striking against my broken heart. The grief, the anger, the pain—it all churned inside me, an explosive storm waiting to explode.

"Make them pay," a voice whispered, almost tenderly, as though it were a gentle push into madness.

I trembled, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my vision blurring with hot, relentless tears. Emmett's lifeless body was nearby, his head in my arms, his absence an unbearable hole in my soul. But the rage was overwhelming. I could feel it bubbling up, surging through my veins like fire. The power that had once been a part of me, something I had controlled with such careful precision, now threatened to consume me entirely. The magic, the chaos—everything I had kept at bay now screamed to be unleashed.

They were right...

They had taken everything from me...

Everyone I loved...

"They slaughtered us, and countless others, simply for being who we were. Mothers, daughters, sisters—each of us condemned to the flames, burned at the stake for nothing more than existing." One of the women added, her voice heavy with sorrow, as the distant, haunting screams of children and women seemed to echo around me, reverberating in the very air.

I gently lowered Emmett's head onto the snow, unable to bear the sight of his vacant, lifeless eyes. Yet even as I set him down, a part of me refused to let go. The ache in my chest was unbearable, but through it, one thing remained clear—they would pay for what they had done.

My hands trembled as they brushed through the cold snow, and then, in a desperate, uncontrollable motion, I clenched my fists tightly, clutching a handful of snow.

"Let your chaos explode," one of them spoke, it sounded like a mere whisper in the ear. As if urging me to let go, allowing everything within me to explode. Without thought, without hesitation, I released it. A surge of red energy erupted from me, a violent explosion of raw power. It ripped through the air like a storm, sending a shockwave of crimson energy outward, knocking those closest to me off their feet, their bodies thrown back by the sheer intensity of the blast. The Salem Thirteen remained in place, their eyes fixed on the scene, faint smiles playing on their lips as they watched.

I felt myself become weightless, my body lifting off the ground, rising higher into the air. From this vantage point, the world below seemed little, and I could feel every pair of eyes turning towards me in stunned silence. My gaze locked onto a handful of Volturi guards nearby. With a swift, fluid motion, I raised my hand, and red energy shot from my palm in a sharp, focused beam. The blast struck them with terrifying precision, and before they could even react, their bodies were consumed by the energy, disintegrating into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

My eyes swept across the battlefield, locking onto Aro and his brothers standing at the far side. Without hesitation, I leaned forward, my body flowing effortlessly through the air, racing toward them. As I neared the ground, the crimson energy enveloping me dissipated, and I fell for a brief moment, weightless in the air. Just before impact, I thrust both hands downward, releasing two powerful orbs of red energy that struck the earth below. The force of the impact slowed my descent, and a shockwave of searing energy radiated outward, disintegrating anyone who was in the landing zone.

I lifted my head, locking eyes with Aro, my voice cold and fierce. "You took everything from me," I spat through clenched teeth, each word laced with fury. "And now I will take everything from you," I hissed, my voice thick with poison.

My anger surged through me, and without hesitation, I thrust my hand forward. Crimson energy shot from my fingertips, swirling like a storm around Aro and his companions. It spread faster than they could react, wrapping tightly around their necks. The energy constricted, not by decapitation, but in a far more brutal way. Their bodies trembled before they disintegrated into nothing. Caius, Marcus, and the others—each of them vanished, turned to ash in an instant, scattered into the wind as if they had never been.

Aro was left standing alone, completely defenceless, as his companions were reduced to nothingness. The sounds of the battle still echoed around me, but I was beyond it now. With a single thought of everything unravelling around me, a fierce surge of energy erupted from within, exploding outward like a tidal wave. It crashed through the battlefield, unstoppable and fierce. Those who had sided against the Volturi were caught in its path, their bodies disintegrating instantly, turning to ash and scattering in the wind.

The once chaotic battle fell silent.

With a flick of my wrist, Aro was immediately engulfed by swirling crimson energy. The tendrils wrapped around him like serpents, binding him tightly, and restricting every movement he tried to make. The red force held him in place, leaving him helpless and unable to escape.

I sensed Bella and Edward's presence behind me, their steps purposeful as they moved past me, heading straight for Aro. Without a moment's hesitation, they worked in perfect unison. With brutal force, they tore his head from his body, the sound of his neck snapping echoing through the air. As his severed head rolled back toward the crumpled form of his body, the red energy that had once bound him suddenly exploded in a violent blaze. Flames erupted from the energy, engulfing him entirely—his body and head were consumed in an inferno that left nothing...

***********************

‎‧₊˚✧ [𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣 ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤] ✧˚₊‧

╰┈➤ DON'T LOOK AT ME!
i know i decided to kill him, and i didn't need to. But she needed to see it! Her poor little heart shattered, and i actually felt quiet emotion when i was writing this chapter.
Only a few chapters left now! We're so close to the end!
Please don't forget to vote, and comment on the chapter :)