𝙁𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘿 ➣ 𝐸. 𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛✔

thirty-five

I smiled as I watched Edward and Renesmee play the piano. Everyone was in the room, watching and listening except for Alice, who just walked in. She gasped, dropping a vase full of flowers. The music stopped. Jasper sped over to her.

"What is it Alice?" He asked softly.

"The Volturi," Alice replied, looking around the room at everyone. "They're coming for us. Aro, Caius, Marcus, the guard...and Irina."

I grabbed Emmett's hand. Why would Irina be with the Volturi? Bella got Renesmee's attention, holding onto her.

"Why?" Edward asked. "What did Irina see in the woods."

"We were just walking," Bella answered.

"Ness was catching snowflakes," Jacob added.

Everyone was silent. A look of realization came over Edward's face. "Of course. Irina thinks Renesmee is an immortal child."

***

"The immortal children were very beautiful," Carlisle explained as Bella flipped through a book of lore. I stood next to Emmett, facing Bella who sat at the table in front of me. "So enchanting. To be near then was to love them. Their development was frozen at the age they were turned. They couldn't be taught or restrained. A single tantrum could destroy an entire village. Humans heard about the devastation; stories spread. The Volturi were forced to intervene. Since the children couldn't protect our secret, they had to be destroyed. Their creators grew very attached; fought to protect them. Long established covens were torn apart. Countless humans slaughtered; traditions, friends, even families lost."

"So the Denali's mother made an immortal child?" Bella asked.

"Yes," Carlisle answered. "And she paid the price."

"Well, Renesmee is nothing like those children," Bella said. I could sense she was getting angry. "She was born, not bitten. She grows every single day."

"So can't you just explain that to the Volturi?" Jacob asked.

Edward spoke next. "Aro has enough proof in Irina's thoughts."

No one said anything for a moment.

"So we fight," Jacob said.

"Their offensive weapons are too powerful," Jasper said. "No one can stand against Jane."

"Alec's even worse," Alice added.

"Well, then we convince them," my sister stated.

"I agree with Bella," I said for the first time. "We have to try to convince them."

"They're coming to kill us, not to talk," Ray stated.

"No, you're right. They won't listen to us." I looked at Edward confused. "But maybe others can convince them. Carlisle, you've got friends all around the world."

Carlisle shook his head. "We won't ask them to fight."

"Not fight," Edward corrected. "Witness. If enough people knew the truth, maybe we could convince the Volturi to listen."

Esme grabbed onto Carlisle's arm gently. "We can ask this of our friends."

Carlisle nodded after a moment.