Violet Forsythe has finally found peace.
She successfully escaped a coven of malignant vampires, worked hard to get an education, and has actually managed to pull herself together.
But, as old acquaintances begin to resurface, the life that Violet w...
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"Aro," Carlisle said, intervening on the discussion as it continued to spiral toward the pits of hell, "At the end of the day, all we really want is peace."
"Ah. Peace," Aro sighed lightly, "Unfortunately, Carlisle, I'm not convinced this is possible."
"How so?"
"Your entire coven has come barreling into my home, only to point fingers and aggravate my guard. Violet is a newborn. We already have our hands full with simply raising her, yet your coven chooses to attack and antagonize her in her own home."
"And yet you demand peace," Caius scoffed.
"Asking," Carlisle corrected. "Edward and Bella are upset on behalf of their child. Surely you can understand that, Aro."
"Unfortunately, this is not the first time Edward and Bella has drug your whole coven into the line of extreme danger - over frivolous drama they created."
"Perfectly avoidable," Marcus said.
"We've given your coven many chances," Aro said gently, although there was a clear threat underneath his words.
"If we had any sense, we'd let Violet have her way with you," Caius said.
"She doesn't play nice," Marcus said.
"Please. We just want peace," Carlisle insisted.
Aro stood silently with a look of deep concentration on his face. It was clear that he was thoroughly assessing his options.
"It would be easy enough for you to take us out right now, but at what cost to your coven?" Edward remarked, forcing Aro's personal thoughts into an open dialogue in front of everyone.
"But, how would we know," Aro said, his voice jumping up an octave. "Alice cannot read the future with Renesmee here, correct? And even if she could, it would be impossible for you to verify your threat with Bella's shield pulled over her."
"I don't mean it as a threat," Edward said. "Just food for thought."
"Hmm," Aro hummed pensively.
Realistically, he was probably still weighing the odds - take out the Cullens now while he had them surrounded, or keep his coven fully in tact. There was no way the Volturi would get away without any fatalities should a battle break out. It would be an outright massacre.
"We," Aro said slowly, "are in a very unique predicament. This isn't a matter to take lightly."
"We have much to consider," Caius said tartly, aiming his words at Aro. He seemed to sense that his brother was about to make a large decision without his input. "Perhaps we should consult each other."
"What is there to consider?" I blurted out against my better judgement. All eyes turned to me; a wide array of shock, confusion, indignant, and concern.
Aro tilted his head to the side as he stared at me.
"What kind of example is this to everyone else?" I pushed forward before I lost my nerve. "Renesmee has incited a witch hunt against me. She's lying - and there's no way the rest of her coven doesn't know that by now."
"I'm not lying," Renesmee snapped, her big brown eyes filled with hurt.
"You said we forced you to tag along on our mission. You know that's a lie. Jane told you to hit the road so many times. You were the one who wouldn't listen," I retorted.
"For such an angel, you are quite the liar," Jane sneered. "I wonder what other poison you've been spewing behind our backs."
Aro looked curiously at Jane and me, then turned his gaze to Renesmee. He was willing to step back and allow the conversation to play out; things were just starting to get good.
"Renesmee only—" Bella began.
"Please," Aro said, quickly cutting her off, "Allow the child to speak on her own behalf.
"I..." Renesmee began tentatively, "I was only trying to help you, Violet. I was trying to help you before it was too late."
"Too late for what?" Jane demanded, her voice dripping with acid, "Joining the Volturi?"
"Violet joined our coven a long time ago," Alec said, following up his sister's words.
"She still had a choice," Renesmee retorted.
"You don't know her nearly as well as you think you do," Jane said smugly.
"Finally. Something we can all agree on," Edward said snarkily.
Jane gave Edward an icy glare; she had never a fan of backtalk - especially from a Cullen.
"I never asked for your help," I said to Renesmee as anger continued to boil in the pit of my stomach. "You showed up on your own."
"And you chose to follow them instead of leaving with me," Renesmee shot back, "even thought you knew I couldn't let you go alone."
"Are you seriously doubling down on this?" I asked incredulously. "You're still going to try to pin your shitty decision making on me?"
"You were in danger!" Renesmee cried.
"How?" I exclaimed. "How do you know that? Because of Alice's vision? Because I still have yet to see any proof of that happening."
Renesmee stared at me with hurt in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
"Your vision makes no sense," I said to Alice, lowering my voice and shooting her a dark glare.
Alice blinked at me before exchanging a glance with Edward.
"You had a vision that pertains to our Violet?" Aro asked, his interest in the conversation deepening.
"Yes," Jane said, taking control of the dialogue. "Renesmee appeared out of thin air in Texas and claimed that Alice saw Demetri brutally attack Violet."
"She said he was going to kill me," I spat.
"She also claimed that Violet would feed on animals instead of humans," Demetri added languidly. "Awfully convenient for your narrative, isn't it, Renesmee?"
Renesmee's cheeks burned brightly and her heart began to race as she averted her eyes from us.
"Alice?" Aro asked with notes of glee returning to his voice.
Alice looked at Aro before returning her gaze to me.
I had to resist making a face and growling.
Alice shook her head slowly as she continued to stare at me.
