We returned to the house, now enveloped in night. Everyone who had gathered as witnesses was assembled in the largest room, which featured two couches flanking a cosy fireplace, with a table set between them. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. I stood in the corner alongside Emmett, slipping my hand into his as I stared loving into his eyes.

"When Aro wants someone from a coven it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime," Eleazar spoke, beginning to recognize the pattern in Aro's tactics.

"So he's done this before then?" Bella inquired, from her seated position next to Jacob.

"It happens so rarely, I never realised it was a pattern," Eleazar responded, his arms remaining folded over his chest.

"Apparently he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant," Carlisle explained, scanning our faces as his gaze moved from one group to another. The balcony doors were also open to accommodate the Romanians and the Amazons.

"This person always has an ability. And they're always given a place with the Guard," Eleazar stated. I placed my other hand on Emmett's forearm, gripping it tightly, almost as if I were hugging his arm. He gently squeezed my hand in return, offering a sense of comfort.

"This is all about Alice. He has no one like her," Edward interjected into the conversation.

"Which is why she left," Bella quickly interjected as Edward concluded.

"Why does he need witnesses?" Emmett's strong voice resonated through the room, filled with concern as he didn't understand why Aro needed witnesses.

"To spread the word that justice has been served... After he slaughters an entire coven," Alistair, the last witness to arrive, a friend of Carlisle's, interjected. Concern flickered across the faces of some vampires as they exchanged anxious glances with their family members.

"Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving," Amun declared to his coven, determined to keep them out of the Volturi's reach.

"And where will you go?" Edward asked quickly, fixing his gaze on Amun. "What makes you think they'll be satisfied with just Alice? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Zafrina, or Kate..." His eyes flicked to each individual as he named them. "Or anyone else with a gift? Anyone they choose... Their goal isn't punishment, it's power. It's acquisition," Edward spoke plainly, "Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will. For the sake of my family, but also for yours. And for the way you want to live." Everyone's eyes locked onto him, their responses still hanging in the air, undecided.

A moment of silence fell over the room as everyone glanced around, waiting for someone to speak up first. I removed my hand from Emmett's and stepped forward.

"I will fight," I declared confidently, first looking at Bella and then at Emmett behind me before facing forward again. "My kind has never been scared of vampires" I added with a broad smile, earning smiles back from Edward and the rest of the family.

Suddenly, Jacob rose from his chair. "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires," he declared proudly.

Next, Tanya and her coven stood up. "We will fight," Tanya announced, representing her entire coven.

"This won't be the first time I fought a king's rule," Garrett declared, stepping forward to show his support.

"We'll join you," Benjamin declared from his spot. Amun immediately turned to him, concern etched on his face.

"No," he insisted, clearly anxious about Benjamin's safety. Benjamin met Amun's pleading gaze.

"I will do the right thing, Amun. You may do as you please," he replied firmly, just as Bella rose from her seat.

"We will stand with you," the Amazon coven joined in.

"So will we," the Irish coven chimed in as they rose from their seats. The nomads also nodded in agreement, stepping forward to show their support.

"That didn't take much," Vladimir remarked, clearly taken aback by our united front with the Cullens.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Edward said as the others began discussing among themselves.

"We'll see," Alistair said, leaning toward Carlisle before turning and leaving the room. Everyone watched him leave, sensing his belief that convincing them would only lead to our demise.

As I made my way back to Emmett, my eyes momentarily drifted to the balcony, where I spotted a familiar figure in a hooded dress standing behind Senna and Zafrina—the same ghost that had been haunting me. I came to a complete stop, my gaze fixed on the figure as I watched intently. My breath caught in my throat as I thought summoning her, hoping that confronting her might put an end to this haunting.

But as I continued to stare, a deep unease settled in my stomach. It dawned on me that this wasn't the same woman I had summoned; it was an entirely different figure. But still wore the same attire as the one I talked to. Just as that thought crossed my mind, two more emerged from behind her, moving in eerie unison. I instinctively took a few steps back and squeezed my eyes shut tightly, as if that would somehow end their haunting.

"Charlotte," Emmett's voice resonated in my ears, bringing a wave of calm over me. I slowly opened my eyes, only to find the three women encircling me. All of them were pointing at me.

"Unlock thy hidden self," they chanted in unison before rushing toward me like apparitions. A scream escaped my lips as I dropped to a crouch, instinctively trying to shield myself from their approach.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I huddled into a ball, my arms shielding my face. Reality crashed back in when I felt strong hands on my shoulders, causing me to whip my head up to see Emmett crouching in front of me, worry etched across his face. I caught glimpses of the others, all sharing his concern over my sudden outburst.

"Was she here?" Emmett asked. I had chosen not to share what had happened at my house the other night with him or the others. The women I summoned had practically read my future, and if it hinted at my death, I didn't want them to worry. Or worry about this darkness I harboured within me. They'd insist I stay home while they faced the Volturi, and I refused to miss out on that.

"Yeah," I whispered, trying to will my tears to stop, but they kept flowing. Emmett gently helped me to my feet, and I could feel the weight of everyone's questions hanging in the air.

Emmett pulled me into a tight embrace, and I rested my head against his chest, the tears still falling. I just wanted it all to stop. There was already too much weighing on me.

.........................

I opened the front door to my home, sliding the key from the lock and dropping it into the pot by the entrance. My other hand was occupied with the Book of Shadows in the crook of my arm. The faint sound of shuffling came from the living room, after closing the door behind me.

"You're home," my Grams called out, her voice filling the air as she hurried into the hallway. Her eyes quickly met mine, a book clutched in her hands. "I think I've found something," she said, turning and heading back into the living room. I walked in to find the fireplace glowing warmly, casting a soft heat.

I noticed the coffee table piled high with books as she sat down on the couch. I joined her, placing the Book of Shadows onto the edge of the table where it kept its balance. "There's a mention in one of these," she began, glancing at the stack before turning her attention to the book in her hands. "It led me to this one... and I found a passage." She flipped through the pages until she reached the marked spot, then handed the book to me to read.

"Salem Thirteen?" I read aloud, scanning the brief, highlighted passage. My eyes lifted to meet my Gram's expectant gaze.

"When the Salem trials were taking place, thirteen women united to form a powerful coven. Their goal was to stop the Volturi from wiping out any more of our kind," she explained, her eyes holding mine the entire time. "For a time they planned and fought against them. But they were discovered and captured. Each was burned at the stake, one by one. I believe one of them is the one haunting you," she said with absolute certainty, and I didn't doubt her for a second.

"I don't think it's just one," I admitted quietly, giving her a quick glance as her brows furrowed in confusion. "I saw three of them today," I said in a single breath. "I just don't get it. What do they want from me? Why can't they just tell me?" My voice spiked in frustration, unable to contain it any longer.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," my Grams said gently, her expression warm and reassuring. "But I truly believe they wouldn't mean you any harm."

It was a comforting thought that they meant me no harm, even if it was just my Grams' word for it. Deep down, I felt they were trying to communicate something important, but for some reason, they didn't want to or they couldn't.

"I can sense that something is going to happen to me. I feel it in my bones, and I don't think it's going to be good," I said, my mind drifting back to the night of my tarot reading. While nothing was explicitly stated, there were clear hints that something was coming my way.

"Don't say that, sweetheart," my Grams said quickly, taking my hand and holding it tightly. "We don't know what she meant. Transformation? Hidden abilities? Darkness? They could be metaphorical. We can't be sure."

"But I do have darkness," I shot back quickly.

"We all do," she replied. "It's part of being human, dear. Embracing that darkness is what helps us grow and understand ourselves better. Doesn't mean you're bad,"

I absorbed her words, but I raised my hands to my face, hiding behind them. I rubbed my eyes with my palms and then ran my hands through my hair before turning my gaze back to my Grams.

"I haven't even told Emmett," I murmured, the shame evident in my voice for not sharing this with my boyfriend, despite our promise to be open with each other. "I know he'd just worry and tell me to stay home," I confessed, my voice trembling slightly. "But I can't do that. I won't," my tone held conviction as I couldn't let the Volturi guide my decisions. It was more for all the innocent blood they shed in their conquest for power and dominance.

"I know," she said softly, nodding as she scooted closer and wrapped me in a comforting sideways hug. "But I think you should stay here," she said gently, making me snap my head up, my brows knitting in confusion. "The Volturi won't change their minds about you. Not now, not ever. They'll demand you be burned at the stake, and if you fight... the Cullens, everyone who stands with you, will die. Even if you manage to convince them about Renesmee," she spoke quickly, her words sharp and precise, trying to soften the impact.

"No..." I whispered, shaking my head as the weight of her words hit me. "I can't just sit here and do nothing, Grams. I can't let them win, not after everything they've done. I won't let them hurt the people I love," My voice wavered, but I held firm, my heart racing as the fear and determination clashed within me. "I have to fight. For my sisters. For all the innocent lives they've taken." Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of my resolve sank in. I was doing this for every witch the Volturi had condemned, for all those who had perished at their hands.

She gave me a knowing smile, but I could see the fear lingering behind it, no matter how much she tried to hide it. She would worry, of course—she was my grandmother, and she loved me more than anything. At the same time, she understood that I had to do this—not just for myself, but for every witch who had suffered before me.

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