I couldnt help counting. There were thirty-two of them. Even if you did not count the two drifting, waifish black-cloaked figures in the very back, who I took to be the wivestheir protected position suggesting that they would not be involved in the attackwe were still outnumbered. There were just nineteen of us who would fight, and then seven more to watch as we were destroyed. Even counting the ten wolves, they had us.
The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming, Garrett muttered mysteriously to himself and then chuckled once. He slid one step closer to Kate.
They did come, Vladimir whispered to Stefan.
The wives, Stefan hissed back. The entire guard. All of them together. Its well we didnt try Volterra.
And then, as if their numbers were not enough, while the Volturi slowly and majestically advanced, more vampires began entering the clearing behind them.
The faces in this seemingly endless influx of vampires were the antithesis to the Volturis expressionless disciplinethey wore a kaleidoscope of emotions. At first there was the shock and even some anxiety as they saw the unexpected force awaiting them. But that concern passed quickly; they were secure in their overwhelming numbers, secure in their position behind the unstoppable Volturi force. Their features returned to the expression theyd worn before wed surprised them.
It was easy enough to understand their mindsetthe faces were that explicit. This was an angry mob, whipped to a frenzy and slavering for justice. I did not fully realize the vampire worlds feeling toward the immortal children before I read these faces.
It was clear that this motley, disorganized hordemore than forty vampires altogetherwas the Volturis own kind of witness. When we were dead, they would spread the word that the criminals had been eradicated, that the Volturi had acted with nothing but impartiality. Most looked like they hoped for more than just an opportunity to witnessthey wanted to help tear and burn.
We didnt have a prayer. Even if we could somehow neutralize the Volturis advantages, they could still bury us in bodies. Even if we killed Demetri, Jacob would not be able to outrun this.
I could feel it as the same comprehension sunk in around me. Despair weighted the air, pushing me down with more pressure than before.
One vampire in the opposing force did not seem to belong to either party; I recognized Irina as she hesitated in between the two companies, her expression unique among the others. Irinas horrified gaze was locked on Tanyas position in the front line. Edward snarled, a very low but fervent sound.
Alistair was right, he murmured to Carlisle.
I watched Carlisle glance at Edward questioningly.
Alistair was right? Tanya whispered.
TheyCaius and Arocome to destroy and acquire, Edward breathed almost silently back; only our side could hear. They have many layers of strategy already in place. If Irinas accusation had somehow proven to be false, they were committed to find another reason to take offense. But they can see Renesmee now, so they are perfectly sanguine about their course. We could still attempt to defend against their other contrived charges, but first they have to stop, to hear the truth about Renesmee. Then, even lower. Which they have no intention of doing.
Jacob gave a strange little huff.
And then, unexpectedly, two seconds later, the procession did halt. The low music of perfectly synchronized movements turned to silence. The flawless discipline remained unbroken; the Volturi froze into absolute stillness as one. They stood about a hundred yards away from us.
Behind me, to the sides, I heard the beating of large hearts, closer than before. I risked glances to the left and the right from the corners of my eyes to see what had stopped the Volturi advance.
The wolves had joined us.
On either side of our uneven line, the wolves branched out in long, bordering arms. I only spared a fraction of a second to note that there were more than ten wolves, to recognize the wolves I knew and the ones Id never seen before. There were sixteen of them spaced evenly around usseventeen total, counting Jacob. It was clear from their heights and oversized paws that the newcomers all were very, very young. I supposed I should have foreseen this. With so many vampires encamped in the neighborhood, a werewolf population explosion was inevitable.
More children dying. I wondered why Sam had allowed this, and then I realized he had no other choice. If any of the wolves stood with us, the Volturi would be sure to search out the rest. They had gambled their entire species on this stand.
And we were going to lose.
Abruptly, I was furious. Beyond furious, I was murderously enraged. My hopeless despair vanished entirely. A faint reddish glow highlighted the dark figures in front of me, and all I wanted in that moment was the chance to sink my teeth into them, to rip their limbs from their bodies and pile them for burning. I was so maddened I could have danced around the pyre where they roasted alive; I would have laughed while their ashes smoldered. My lips curved back automatically, and a low, fierce snarl tore up my throat from the pit of my stomach. I realized the corners of my mouth were turned up in a smile.
Beside me, Zafrina and Senna echoed my hushed growl. Edward squeezed the hand he still held, cautioning me.
The shadowed Volturi faces were still expressionless for the most part. Only two sets of eyes betrayed any emotion at all. In the very center, touching hands, Aro and Caius had paused to evaluate, and the entire guard had paused with them, waiting for the order to kill. The two did not look at each other, but it was obvious that they were communicating. Marcus, though touching Aros other hand, did not seem part of the conversation. His expression was not as mindless as the guards, but it was nearly as blank. Like the one other time Id seen him, he appeared to be utterly bored.
The bodies of the Volturis witnesses leaned toward us, their eyes fixed furiously on Renesmee and me, but they stayed near the fringe of the forest, leaving a wide berth between themselves and the Volturi soldiers. Only Irina hovered close behind the Volturi, just a few paces away from the ancient femalesboth fair-haired with powdery skin and filmed eyesand their two massive bodyguards.
There was a woman in one of the darker gray cloaks just behind Aro. I couldnt be sure, but it looked like she might actually be touching his back. Was this the other shield, Renata? I wondered, as Eleazar had, if she would be able to repel me.
But I would not waste my life trying to get to Caius or Aro. I had more vital targets.
I searched the line for them now and had no difficulty picking out the two petite, deep gray cloaks near the heart of the arrangement. Alec and Jane, easily the smallest members of the guard, stood just to Marcuss side, flanked by Demetri on the other. Their lovely faces were smooth, giving nothing away; they wore the darkest cloaks beside the pure black of the ancients. The witch twins, Vladimir had called them. Their powers were the cornerstone of the Volturi offensive. The jewels in Aros collection.
My muscles flexed, and venom welled in my mouth.
Aros and Caiuss clouded red eyes flickered across our line. I read disappointment in Aros face as his gaze roved over our faces again and again, looking for one that was missing. Chagrin tightened his lips.
In that moment, I was nothing but grateful that Alice had run.
As the pause lengthened, I heard Edwards breath speed.
Edward? Carlisle asked, low and anxious.
Theyre not sure how to proceed. Theyre weighing options, choosing key targetsme, of course, you, Eleazar, Tanya. Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other, looking for weak points. The Romanians presence irritates them. Theyre worried about the faces they dont recognizeZafrina and Senna in particularand the wolves, naturally. Theyve never been outnumbered before. Thats what stopped them.
Outnumbered? Tanya whispered incredulously.
They dont count their witnesses, Edward breathed. They are nonentities, meaningless to the guard. Aro just enjoys an audience.
Should I speak? Carlisle asked.
Edward hesitated, then nodded. This is the only chance youll get.
/>
Carlisle squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line. I hated to see him alone, unprotected.
He spread his arms, holding his palms up as if in greeting. Aro, my old friend. Its been centuries.
The white clearing was dead silent for a long moment. I could feel the tension rolling off Edward as he listened to Aros assessment of Carlisles words. The strain mounted as the seconds ticked by.
And then Aro stepped forward out of the center of the Volturi formation. The shield, Renata, moved with him as if the tips of her fingers were sewn to his robe. For the first time, the Volturi ranks reacted. A muttered grumble rolled through the line, eyebrows lowered into scowls, lips curled back from teeth. A few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch.
Aro held one hand up toward them. Peace.
He walked just a few paces more, then cocked his head to one side. His milky eyes glinted with curiosity.
Fair words, Carlisle, he breathed in his thin, wispy voice. They seem out of place, considering the army youve assembled to kill me, and to kill my dear ones.
Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand forward as if there were not still almost a hundred yards between them. You have but to touch my hand to know that was never my intent.
Aros shrewd eyes narrowed. But how can your intent possibly matter, dear Carlisle, in the face of what you have done? He frowned, and a shadow of sadness crossed his featureswhether it was genuine or not, I could not tell.
I have not committed the crime you are here to punish me for.
Then step aside and let us punish those responsible. Truly, Carlisle, nothing would please me more than to preserve your life today.
No one has broken the law, Aro. Let me explain. Again, Carlisle offered his hand.
Before Aro could answer, Caius drifted swiftly forward to Aros side.
So many pointless rules, so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself, Carlisle, the white-haired ancient hissed. How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one that truly matters?
The law is not broken. If you would listen
We see the child, Carlisle, Caius snarled. Do not treat us as fools.
She is not an immortal. She is not a vampire. I can easily prove this with just a few moments
Caius cut him off. If she is not one of the forbidden, then why have you massed a battalion to protect her?
Witnesses, Caius, just as you have brought. Carlisle gestured to the angry horde at the edge of the woods; some of them growled in response. Any one of these friends can tell you the truth about the child. Or you could just look at her, Caius. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks.
Artifice! Caius snapped. Where is the informer? Let her come forward! He craned his neck around until he spotted Irina lingering behind the wives. You! Come!
Irina stared at him uncomprehendingly, her face like that of someone who has not entirely awakened from a hideous nightmare. Impatiently, Caius snapped his fingers. One of the wives huge bodyguards moved to Irinas side and prodded her roughly in the back. Irina blinked twice and then walked slowly toward Caius in a daze. She stopped several yards short, her eyes still on her sisters.
Caius closed the distance between them and slapped her across the face.
It couldnt have hurt, but there was something terribly degrading about the action. It was like watching someone kick a dog. Tanya and Kate hissed in synchronization.
Irinas body went rigid and her eyes finally focused on Caius. He pointed one clawed finger at Renesmee, where she clung to my back, her fingers still tangled in Jacobs fur. Caius turned entirely red in my furious view. A growl rumbled through Jacobs chest.
This is the child you saw? Caius demanded. The one that was obviously more than human?
Irina peered at us, examining Renesmee for the first time since entering the clearing. Her head tilted to the side, confusion crossed her features.
Well? Caius snarled.
I Im not sure, she said, her tone perplexed.
Caiuss hand twitched as if he wanted to slap her again. What do you mean? he said in a steely whisper.
Shes not the same, but I think its the same child. What I mean is, shes changed. This child is bigger than the one I saw, but
Caiuss furious gasp crackled through his suddenly bared teeth, and Irina broke off without finishing. Aro flitted to Caiuss side and put a restraining hand on his shoulder.
Be composed, brother. We have time to sort this out. No need to be hasty.
With a sullen expression, Caius turned his back on Irina.
Now, sweetling, Aro said in a warm, sugary murmur. Show me what youre trying to say. He held his hand out to the bewildered vampire.
Uncertainly, Irina took his hand. He held hers for only five seconds.
You see, Caius? he said. Its a simple matter to get what we need.
Caius didnt answer him. From the corner of his eye, Aro glanced once at his audience, his mob, and then turned back to Carlisle.
And so we have a mystery on our hands, it seems. It would appear the child has grown. Yet Irinas first memory was clearly that of an immortal child. Curious.
Thats exactly what Im trying to explain, Carlisle said, and from the change in his voice, I could guess at his relief. This was the pause we had pinned all our nebulous hopes on.
I felt no relief. I waited, almost numb with rage, for the layers of strategy Edward had promised.
Carlisle held out his hand again.
Aro hesitated for a moment. I would rather have the explanation from someone more central to the story, my friend. Am I wrong to assume that this breach was not of your making?
There was no breach.
Be that as it may, I will have every facet of the truth. Aros feathery voice hardened. And the best way to get that is to have the evidence directly from your talented son. He inclined his head in Edwards direction. As the child clings to his newborn mate, Im assuming Edward is involved.
Of course he wanted Edward. Once he could see into Edwards mind, he would know all our thoughts. Except mine.
Edward turned to quickly kiss my forehead and Renesmees, not meeting my eyes. Then he strode across the snowy field, clapping Carlisle on the shoulder as he passed. I heard a low whimper from behind meEsmes terror breaking through.
The red haze I saw around the Volturi army flamed brighter than before. I could not bear to watch Edward cross the empty white space alonebut I also could not endure to have Renesmee one step closer to our adversaries. The opposing needs tore at me; I was frozen so tightly it felt like my bones might shatter from the pressure of it.
I saw Jane smile as Edward crossed the midpoint in the distance between us, when he was closer to them than he was to us.
That smug little smile did it. My fury peaked, higher even than the raging bloodlust Id felt the moment the wolves had committed to this doomed fight. I could taste madness on my tongueI felt it flow through me like a tidal wave of pure power. My muscles tightened, and I acted automatically. I threw my shield with all the force in my mind, flung it across the impossible expanse of the fieldten times my best distancelike a javelin. My breath rushed out in a huff with the exertion.
The shield blew out from me in a bubble of sheer energy, a mushroom cloud of liquid steel. It pulsed like a living thingI could feel it, from the apex to the edges.
There was no recoil to the elastic fabric now; in that instant of raw force, I saw that the backlash Id felt before was of my own makingI had been clinging to that invisible part of me in self-defense, subconsciously unwilling to let it go. Now I set it free, and my shield exploded a good fifty yards out from me effortlessly, taking only a fraction of my concentration. I could feel it flex like just another muscle, obedient to my will. I pushed it, shaped it to a long, pointed oval. Everything underneath the flexible iron shield was suddenly a part of meI could feel the life force of everything it covered like points of bright heat, dazzling sparks of light surrounding me. I thrust the shield forward the le
ngth of the clearing, and exhaled in relief when I felt Edwards brilliant light within my protection. I held there, contracting this new muscle so that it closely surrounded Edward, a thin but unbreakable sheet between his body and our enemies.
Barely a second had passed. Edward was still walking to Aro. Everything had changed absolutely, but no one had noticed the explosion except for me. A startled laugh burst through my lips. I felt the others glancing at me and saw Jacobs big black eye roll down to stare at me like Id lost my mind.
Edward stopped a few steps away from Aro, and I realized with some chagrin that though I certainly could, I should not prevent this exchange from happening. This was the point of all our preparations: getting Aro to hear our side of the story. It was almost physically painful to do it, but reluctantly I pulled my shield back and left Edward exposed again. The laughing mood had vanished. I focused totally on Edward, ready to shield him instantly if something went wrong.
Edwards chin came up arrogantly, and he held his hand out to Aro as if he were conferring a great honor. Aro seemed only delighted with his attitude, but his delight was not universal. Renata fluttered nervously in Aros shadow. Caiuss scowl was so deep it looked like his papery, translucent skin would crease permanently. Little Jane showed her teeth, and beside her Alecs eyes narrowed in concentration. I guessed that he was ready, like me, to act at a seconds notice.
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