Quinn O'Connell was the pretty girl in pink, the homecoming queen and all-around straight-A student. Most people saw her as uptight, narcissistic but most importantly... They saw her as a control freak with her perfect blonde hair and patronising sm...
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It could be tasted in the air; the change that had fallen upon them in such few simple words. The beautiful snow globe that had been their life had shattered into a million fragments, incapable of repair because their new life had been obliterated with a simple vision.
"Aro, Caius, Marcus, the guard... And Irina" Alice breathed, accepting the side hug that Jasper offered and the room seemed to freeze as if captured in a moment, the vampires solidifying into statues because even without knowing the reason for the visit- They knew that it couldn't be good.
"Why?" Carlisle questioned, taking Quinn easily into his arms and it was clear to see that around the room- the other couples had done the same. A soulmate was like a good-luck charm and if anything could bring happiness at a dark time- it would be them.
"What did Irina see in the woods?" Edward attempted, scanning Quinn and Jacobs minds as they unconsciously replayed the events.
"We were just walking" Bella frowned, completely unsure of why this was happening to them.
"Ness was catching snowflakes" Jacob offered and Edward froze in a mask of horrified realisation.
"Of course" he breathed, blinking at Carlisle- Knowing that the man must've cottoned on too. "Irina thinks Renesmee's an immortal child." and that was the thing that would cause all of their downfalls. They'd be slaughtered for this and all those who knew the Volturi knew that.
-
"Immortal children were very beautiful" Carlisle informed softly, his hands on either of Quinn's shoulders as he stood behind where she sat at the dining room table with Bella. He hadn't been able to let go of her since the ordeal began, she was the thing that was keeping his perfectly cool calm facade in place. "Enchanting. To be near them was to love them. But 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." he sighed before continuing.
"The creators grew very attached. And fought to protect them. Covens were torn apart... Humans were slaughtered. Traditions, friends... Even families, lost." and he explained the situation to the best of his ability, rubbing soothing circles in Quinn's neck though it soothed him too.
"So, the Denalis mother made an immortal child?" Bella frowned, disturbed.
"Yes... And she paid the price."
"Well, Renesmee is nothing like those children" Bella persisted as if convincing Carlisle was the solution to the problem. "She was born, not bitten. She grows every single day."
"So can't you just explain that to the Volturi?" Jacob frowned, looking around the group rather cluelessly. He didn't know the Volturi as the others did, they weren't the listening, forgiving type.
"Aro has enough proof in Irina's thoughts" Edward countered, shaking his head and closing his eyes tightly in pain.
"So we fight" Jacob tried, voice shaking.
"Their offensive weapons are too powerful... No one could stand against Jane" Jasper contradicted.
"Alec's even worse" Alice added.
"Well, then we convince them" Bella returned and Quinn placed her head in her hands.
"They're coming to kill us" Emmett returned bitterly. "Not to talk."
"No, you're right" Edward nodded, thinking. "They won't listen to us. But maybe others can convince them. Carlisle, you have friends all over the world" the mind reader frowned.
"I won't ask them to fight" he rejected and Quinn reached up, taking his hand on her shoulder with her own, running a finger over it calmly where it rested.
"Not fight" the son promised. "Witness. If enough people knew the truth, maybe we could convince the Volturi to listen."
"We can ask this of our friends" Esme nodded around the room. In their years on earth, the Cullen coven had amassed quite a collection of friends. And so it was decided, that that was their plan and everything else went completely out the window as their preparations began. Nothing would ever come as close to importance as that moment; their lives were on the line and they'd all agreed to do anything to protect their family, a very long time ago. If it meant fighting to the death, then so be it.
Quinn knew as she looked around the room, that she would have no life without the Cullens in it and therefore; she would sacrifice herself to save them. Looking up into the hauntingly pained eyes of her best friend who loitered beside the bookcase- a silent exchange took place. Just a glance from him was enough to assure Quinn O'Connell that he was experiencing the greatest agony and that his whole existence was on the line at that moment... And just a nod from her was enough to tell him that she would do anything to save him.
Perhaps the Cullen covens love would be their downfall, but it was also their greatest strength.
