NIGHTMARES. ❪ Alec Volturi ❫ ✓

three

"The pack needs to leave," Carlisle announced. "The Volturi won't honor a truce with the werewolves."

"Where's Jacob?" Bella asked.

Jacob emerged from the trees, and Bella sighed with relief. Jacob saw her but stopped once he heard something. Leah cornered one last male newborn who was hiding before charging for him.

"Leah, don't!" Edward warned.

It was too late. Jacob tackled the newborn as it leapt into the air, intent on killing Leah. The newborn crushed Jacob, and he howled in pain.

"Jacob!" Bella exclaimed.

The pack immediately pounced on the newborn, tearing the newborn off of Jacob and tearing his head off.

Carlisle quickly reached Jacob and examined him as he moved around in pain. "The bones on the right half of his body are shattered," Carlisle said.

"Jacob, you idiot. I had it," Leah hissed.

"Leah," Sam said.

She immediately quieted.

Carlisle sighed. "I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing kicks in. It's already starting."

Edward shook his head. "We need to get him out of here. We're not gonna win a fight with the Volturi."

Sam nodded. "We'll take him back to Billy's."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Carlisle said.

"Hang in there, Jake. We got you," Bella said.

The pack carried back into the woods, their figures growing more and more distant. Beatrice stared at the pack. She didn't hate them, but she didn't love them either. Even after being alive for around two-hundred years, she still never grew accustomed to the smell of wet fur.

"They're here," Alice whispered.

Even without Alice whispering that, the Cullens could sense it. The Volturi guard had an aura of authority and power around them. They knew they were the best. Beatrice was behind Emmett. He was slightly shielding her. Ever since her nightmare about Alec, the Cullens had been trying to keep her clear of him. She deserved happiness, but they didn't think he was that. After all of Carlisle's memories, she had never caught a glimpse of Alec's face or his name. Edward always looked into the memories after she woke up from them. When he saw Alec, he knew it wasn't going to be good.

The Cullens gathered in the center of the field, converging around Bella.

"It appears you've done our work for us," Jane said as Felix, Demetri, and Alec flanked her sides. Jane looked around, noticing the ruins and Bella. "Impressive. I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact."

Carlisle smiled. "We were lucky."

Jane softly scoffed, a sound that every vampire could hear. "I doubt that."

Beatrice looked intently at Alec as she pushed Emmett slightly behind her. Emmett stared at her in worry as she stepped forward slightly, the snow crunching under her weight.

Alec licked his lips, taking in every inch of her body and face. He turned back to the rest of the Cullens. "It appears we missed an entertaining fight," Alec said.

Jane smiled. "Yes. It's not often we're rendered unnecessary."

"If you'd arrived a half hour ago, you would've fulfilled your purpose," Edward shot back.

"Pity," she merely said. Jane spotted Bree, who was still crouching by the fire. "You missed one."

"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," Carlisle defended.

"That wasn't yours to offer," Jane said.

As Jane moved to Bree, Esme shot Carlisle a concerned look, but Carlisle subtly shook his head.

"Why did you come?" Jane asked Bree.

Before Bree could even answer, Jane used her power on her, sending an invisible searing current through Bree's body. Bree screamed in pain, and Bella flinched at the sound and look on Bree's face.

Esme quickly stepped up. "They came to destroy us - to kill Bella."

Jane ignored Esme and continued her torture. "Who created you?"

"You don't need to do that. She'll tell you anything you want to know," Esme pleaded.

Jane smirked. "I know."

Carlisle put a hand on Esme's shoulder as a sign of comfort. Bree's screaming suddenly stopped as Jane waited for an answer.

Bree heaved heavy breaths she didn't need. "I don't know. Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe."

"Her name was Victoria," Edward spoke. "Perhaps you knew her."

Carlisle stepped in. "Edward, if the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?"

Jane looked at them, almost as if she were curious. "Of course," she replied. "Felix."

Felix moved to Bree upon her command.

"She didn't know what she was doing. We'll take responsibility for her. Give her a chance," Esme pleaded once more.

"The Volturi don't give second chances. Keep that in mind. Caius will be interested to know that she's still human," Jane hissed. "Take care of that, Felix. I'd like to go home," Jane said.

Felix easily tore off Bree's head, her screams and whimpers the last thing the Cullens heard before her demise.

"Thank you, Felix. Until next time," Jane directed toward the Cullens.

They turned to leave, but Alec lingered behind. Beatrice and he were still staring at each other.

"Do I know you?" Alec asked.

She shook her head. "No... I - I don't think so."

She was lying. She had seen him in her nightmares. It was his memories she lived through. Even after her answer, he still didn't leave. That was his mate - and she was a Cullen.

"Alec!" Jane hissed.

He let out a hmph and turned swiftly on his heel, walking to his sister.