The Edge

xxii.

Emma stood with her parents the next day, each coven looking out over the icy opening in front of them. The wolves remained far back, ready to intervene if necessary. If it wasn't for death looming over them, the sight before them would've been beautiful. "If we live through this, I'll follow you anywhere woman." Garrett revealed as he glanced over at Kate, not too far from where the Cullen coven stood. "Now you tell me." Kate spoke softly, with a small sense of humor in her voice. The Volturi could be heard before they were seen. "The redcoats are coming; the redcoats are coming." Garrett muttered as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Fear struck Emma's heart when she saw the vast number of the Volturi guard in the distance. Emma had never seen so many vampires in one place, let alone vampires with such special abilities. The Volturi split into smaller groups as they neared Bella and Edward, the couple leading the front with their daughter. "Aro's looking for Alice." Edward spoke to his wife, loud enough that all could hear. Howls echo the mountains as the wolves stepped out from their hiding place, sending their own threat of warning to the Volturi. Emma nearly jumped as Paul moved to stand beside her, gently pressing himself onto her side. Emma glanced over to meet the shifter's eyes, her hand gripping onto his long coat.

Aro signaled for all the stop when Jacob made it to the front line, standing tall beside Renesmee. The group of Aro's most trusted guards pushed back their hoods and Carlisle took the first step, moving closer to the Volturi than any of the others. "Aro, let us discuss things as we used to , in a civilized manner." Carlisle spoke, yearning to keep the peace like always. "Fair words, Carlisle, but a little out of place given the battalion you've assembled against us." Aro lacked no malice as he glanced over the covens that stood by Carlisle. "I promise you that was never my intention, no laws have been broken." Carlisle promised Aro, keeping his tone neutral. "We see the child, do not treat us at fools." Caius scoffed at the inquisition, glaring down the man. "She is not an immortal!" Carlisle yelled out this time, meaning to get his words across to all that stand in the field. "These witnesses can attest to that, or you can look." Carlisle redirected Aro's mind. "See the flush of human blood in her cheeks." Carlisle gestured to Renesmee as she now stood tucked between her parents. "Artifice!" Caius was not having it, wanting desperately to kill the Cullen coven. "I will collect every facet of the truth, but from someone more central to the story." Aro dismissed Caius' anger, placing his eyes on Edward, glancing over Bella as well.

"Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved." Aro stepped closer to the family, reaching his hand out for the vampire to take. Edward looks down at his daughter and wife with care before leaving them, Renesmee now moving back between Bella and Jacob to remain safe. Emma misunderstood just how far the Volturi stopped from them as she watched Bella attempt to send her shield over her husband. Edward gave Aro his hand when he finally made the distance, the ancient vampire grinning ear to ear as he looked into Edward's mind. The smile quickly disappeared from Aro's face when he learned there indeed had been no rules broken. Edward took his and away from Aro and the older vampires eyes moved to Renesmee. "I'd like to meet her." Aro glanced up to Edward again, eager to learn about the young girl. Edward was still for awhile before he turned for his family to join him. Jacob let out a small snarl before he, Bella, and Renesemee began walking forward. The family got a few yards away before Bella stopped and turned back to Emma's family. Emma's grip on Paul's fur tightened as she watched her father figure squeeze her mother's hand before leaving their side. Emmett joined Jacob's side and the two followed closely behind Bella and Renesmee.

Ah, young Bella, immortality becomes you." Aro stared at Bella in wonder as she shielded Renesmee with part of her body. A creepy laugh escapes Aro as he looks into the eyes of Renesmee, glancing over the child's appearance. "I hear her heart." Aro points toward the young girl. It takes a few seconds before Bell and Edward allow Renesmee forward. "Hello Aro." Renesmee greets the man respectfully as he hold his hand out for her. Instead of placing her hand in Aro's, she shocks the man as she reaches up to chip his left cheek and project her life story to him. "Magnifico!" Aro has a face of mixed emotions as he slowly pulls away from the child. "Half mortal, half immortal." Aro turned to his royal guard as Bella reached to pull Renesmee back. "Conceived and carried by this newborn while she was still human." Aro glanced between his guard and Bella, his interest peaked. "Impossible!" Caius interrupted again, earning a glare from Aro. "Do you think they fooled me brother?" Aro turned to address one of his closest colleagues. Jacob growled lowly at the vampire as Edward, Renesmee, and Bella turned to walk back to their family.

"Bring the informer forward." Caius declared and Irina slowly moved to the center of the Volturi guard, the guard forming around her. Emma could sense the Denali coven's unease and she felt horrible for Kate and Tanya. "Is that the child you saw?" Caius pointed toward Renesmee as he questioned Irina, causing the family to pause their walk back and turn around again. "I'm not sure." Irina hesitated before shaking her head. "Jane." Caius signaled for the gifted vampire to force an answer. "She's changed, this child is bigger." Irina looked down in shame. "Then your allegations were false." Caius deadpanned. "The Cullens are innocent, I take full responsibility for my mistake." Irina apologized to the royal guard. "I'm sorry." the blonde vampire then looked past the guard and toward the new family. "Caius, no!" Edward read the guard's mind moments before two vampires stepped up and tore Irina's limbs off. Kate and Tanya both screamed out in horror and protest as they watched their sister's body drop and be lit on fire. Tanya and Kate both ran forward and many of the vampires on the Cullen's side rushed to stop them from making matters worse. Bella rushed to put Renesmee on Jacob's back, worst case scenario running through her mind. Paul moved to shield Emma from any harm. Tanya was caught by Emmett and Eleazar, but Garret struggled as Kate electrocuted him with all her power.

"Blind them!" Edward called out to the Amazon women, who immediately blinded the sisters. "Give me my sight back!" Tanya yelled out in anger as Kate stopped electrocuting Garret. "If you attack now, we'll all die." Edward moved to stand in front of Tanya, wanting to reason with her. Tanya relaxed her body as she took a deep breath and Edward nodded for the sisters' sight to be returned. The Volturi watched anxiously as the covens all regained their peace, now much closer to the Volturi than before. Edward stepped forward again and Jane glared at the man. "Pain." Jane sent waves of pain toward Edward and the man fell to him knees in pain. Bella took a step forward and focused intently on her husband, successfully shielding him. Edward looked back at his wife in awe as he stood to his feet again before rejoining his wife's side. Jane grew angry and focused her energy on anyone who caught her eye, but Bella had cascaded her shield over every single one of them and Jane's. Bella smirked at Jane's failure and the blonde rushed forward to attack in anger, only to be held back by another guard. The wolves took a threatening step forward, a loud rumbled echoing from Paul and Sam. Alec moved next, releasing his painful mist toward the family, only to be scolded by Aro. Alec looked disappointed by the outcome but followed his master's ruling.