reaching dusk (WATTY Awards 2013)

chapter 13

Jacob and I were the last to arrive back at the house. The downstairs was once again crowded as ever, but this time with much more appealing company. Nahuel and his sisters thanked everyone and said a hasty good-bye as soon they could without being rude.

Carlisle and the rest of our family had gathered around the dining room table. Carlisle sat at one end of the colossal table and Marcus sat at the other with his face resting wearily on his right hand, eyes cast down on the dark mahogany surface. His face, as always, betrayed his broken and desolate posture as the rest of our guests filled in the empty space around the table.

Jacob and I took refuge in the corner facing the table. My body wasn't tired but I leaned backwards into his chest and he wrapped his strong arms around the tops of my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. I reached up and curved my fingers as best I could around his forearms. I couldn't resist touching him now that I knew the danger had pasts us over once again.

Renata sat to Marcus's left looking just as devastated as he did, while the other three new vampires sat opposite them at the table next to Alice and Jasper. It was strange to think that these six new vampires now made up the new Volturi and the guard. Felix and Renata joined Marcus, replacing Aro and Caius, and the other three made up the cornerstones of the Volturi defense. The little blond vampire with curly hair flashed everyone wide smiles around the table- obviously her mood had not been damped by the earlier afternoon. Carlisle caught her eye and smiled softly before he spoke.

"Marcus, we can't thank you and your new guard enough for what you have done for us. We are sorry for uniting with the Volturi to stand against you, but you must know what we were led to believe. We have nothing but gracious thoughts for you all now." He began. "Of course you are all welcome to stay here as long as you wish."

Marcus sat up straight, pulling his face off his hands, clasping both of them on the table in front of him. His expression was still miserable but his eyes softened as he looked around the room at our family finally resting his gaze on Carlisle.

"I did what I knew to be right," he said with reverence. "I used to believe in the legitimacy of our great counsel, but over the last few centuries Aro and Caius have bastardized our reputation, making excuses and grasping at straws to enact their own sense of 'justice.' They have done nothing short of initiating a tyrannical quest for power and domination, just like this vendetta against your family. Now we can return this counsel to what it was originally intended for- maintaining order and enforcing justice. "

Marcus paused for a moment looking around the room at all our faces again. The richness of his voice still lingered in the air as we all held tight to his every word. He smiled wryly and continued.

"Aro was threatened by your talented family and was unable to stand the humiliation of being defeated in front of so many witnesses last time." He looked directly over at me and I felt Jacob's arms tighten around me in response.

"He used the excuse of your lovely daughter and the alliance with the wolves, as an excuse to return, but I would not stand for it. I am sure you are able to piece together what happened next?" he looked meaningfully to my parents and my father nodded back to him in response. He was reading Marcus's thoughts easily, but remained silent giving Marcus the floor.

"I set out to find anyone who would side me to protect your family. I did not have enough time to gather everyone who stood with you last time so I singled out the individuals who I sensed had the strongest bond and loyalty to your family and to your daughter- Zafrina was an obvious choice and she was near the other half-breeds, but Demetri got to them first." He explained. He gestured to the other new vampires sitting to his right with a casual wave of his hand. They looked around excitedly, happy to finally be introduced.