𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 / 𝐈𝐈𝐈.

19.

the eclipse

Beneath the cloud bank, the sun peaks through and warms my skin as Edward and I reach the clearing. Smoke rises above the trees as the pile of ash grows from the remains of the newborn army. The Cullens stand in a cluster, waiting vigilantly for the imminent arrival of the Volturi Guard. The pack has long disappeared, only their paw prints left in the mud that clings to my shoes, knowing that shifters are despised by the vampire royalty. And after the events of today, we didn't need any more fighting.

"Heather!" Someone screeches out my name, like the calling of a wounded animal I instinctually recoil into Edward's grasp. The hairs on my neck standing up. "Heather, please! What is happening!"

Huddled up behind Carlisle and Esme, clawing at her throat, the face of an old peer seeks me out. I freeze, remembering hearing about her disappearance on the radio and the murmurs around town. I hadn't connected the dots until now, but I can't even look up at her. The strange morph of the face I remember, gaunt and sunken, eyes boiling red as she tearlessly cries.

Hiding my face from her, I ignore the pleas in guilt and shame. The realization of how much death and grief had happened because of Victoria's vendetta. How Gracie Smith's parents would never know what became of their daughter. It sickens me, and the grasp Edward has on me tightens in an attempt to reassure me.

"It's not your fault." He mutters softly against my skin as the Cullens stand around us stiff and unmoving. But his reassurance doesn't ease the pain as I steal a glance over at her. She whose life was ruined because of me, nothing could clean that wound.

"What'll happen to her?" I ask, but he cannot give me an answer. We're still not out of the woods, the mist still hangs around and blinds us towards the future as we wait. So much could happen, the Volturi are quick to change the tide and overreact. They are unpredictable and I don't like what might happen to us even though we have broken no laws.

"Stay quiet and don't draw attention to yourself, they're looking for a reason to react," Edward whispers to me as he can hear their thoughts now as they encroach on us.

  The only sound is the erratic sobs of the confused Gracie Smith, even with Jasper pulling a veil of calm over the coven, she is still upset and I stand agitated. A cold spell whips through the summer afternoon as the dark hooded figures shade the green, crushing ferns and grass beneath their heavy footsteps. In the front, Jane removes her hood and searches the faces of the coven, her dark red eyes drifting past to the dying pillar of smoke.

"I've never seen a coven take on an army of this size without taking damage." She remarks, her gaze darting over to me. I lower my head, turning into Edward's grasp while my teeth dig against each other, the ache distracting me from the presence of the enemy.

"We were lucky to make it out," Carlisle speaks up, stepping forward and taking his place as the head of the family. "Had the guard arrived sooner, the problem at hand could've been avoided."

Her face turns into a sneer at Carlisle's remark, twisting with irritation. "We did what we could," Jane responds, her body twitching. Were it not for whatever orders Aro had given her, she would try to sink her teeth into us. "But perhaps we can finish the job, it seems there's still one left."

"She's agreed to surrender and change her ways," Carlisle tells Jane, but there's guilt in his voice. He knows as well as I do what Jane is saying. Death: a painful and cruel one. "She's just a girl, Jane."

"Peace isn't yours to offer. We will do what is fit and right for our kind. Now," All eyes turn to Gracie, fear leaping out at me as I realize the fate they'll enforce.

"She didn't know any better, she was following orders given to her just like you do," I speak up, my voice quivering but I don't stop.

"Heather," Edward hisses as Jane snaps her head to look at me. Behind her, Felix has a sick smirk painted across his face at my reaction. The fragile human girl speaking up against the vampires, what a sight to see.

"Had the Volturi stepped in when Victoria first started to create her army, this wouldn't have happened. But as it is, humans grew suspicious of supernatural existence and you allowed this army to grow just to destroy it." I say, though my boyfriend is desperately trying to stop me from speaking. Maybe I should, but I can't just let them kill Gracie when she is not the one at fault.

"The Volturi do not give second chances to criminals. She and the army aroused too much suspicion and threatened the safety of our kind. You'd be wise to remember that as you have yet to fulfill your promise." Jane tells me, causing my blood to boil.

"A date's been set," I respond through gritted teeth, biting back the irrationality that is trying to seize me. Remembering tragically where my place is in this, I can talk all I want but I can only go as far as to what I did to Riley in retaliation. I cannot stand up against the Volturi as much as I wish I could.

"We'll take care of the girl, she won't hurt anyone else. She's hardly responsible for what has happened, this seems unnecessary." Esme speaks up softly, gripping onto her husband's arm. But no amount of protesting can save the girl, the Volturi are set in their ways, and they won't listen. I can't save Gracie in the end, no more than I could save her from being turned.

"Felix, deal with the vermin. I'd like to go home." Jane orders, the corners of her mouth curling into a smirk. The giant walks forward, pushing past Emmett and Jasper to tower over Gracie who attempts to crawl back and away from him.

My hands cover my ears, the cool of Edward's palm blocking out the light from my eyes as he presses me close into his chest. But it can't stop the screeching that rings through my senses as Felix rips what life remains from Gracie. Her stone body falls to the ground with a hard thud that echos in my bones. Death follows where I go.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Do you want me to walk you in?" Edward asks as he parks the jeep out in front of my house. His face shaded with a baseball cap as he squints against the setting sun.

"No. Thanks." I mutter, my body dull and numb as I unbuckle. Forcing myself out of the passenger seat, I grab my backpack and give him one last pitiful smile before closing the door.

He watches as I head up the pathway, my feet dragging. On the other side of the faded blue front door, I can hear my mother's voice in the hall as she talks loudly on the phone. Cringing, I open the door quietly, with a false hope that I can slip upstairs without her noticing. But she turns and sees me, her face falling as she looks me over.

Once the phone is hung back on the receiver, I crumple into her arms crying. She doesn't question it, not caring to ask why I'm upset. Mom just keeps me close as I hold onto her warm, blue cardigan.

"I'm so, so sorry for everything." I croak out, trembling as I plead for forgiveness. The events of the day had dragged me back onto the mortal plain. I only had so much time before I'd disappear from her life like Gracie did from her parents' lives.

But for now, the sun is still shining in the day. The eclipse has passed, and all is bright in our little piece of the world.

Sana's Note
Just to refresh your memory, in chapter four Gracie Smith's disappearance has been brought up. She stands as the replacement for Bree Tanner! Also, Fuck the Volturi.