𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨. emmett cullen

eighty nine

It was time.

The day we all dreaded was here.

I strapped Eli's backpack to him before he could race off to find Seth. He waited for us in his wolf form, he'd be the one to stand beside us while we stood in the clearing. I buttoned up my jacket and walked outside where everyone was waiting. Emmett reached for my hand as he came up to me and gave me the most reassuring smile he could. It helped a little.

"It's time," Carlisle announced.

Rosalie carried Eli while Emmett carried me and together, we ran to the clearing. The giant area was empty except for us. Everybody seemed to hesitate before taking the first steps onto the snowy field. Edward and Bella walked ahead, they agreed that they should be front and center. Behind them and to their right, stood Emmett, Eli, and I. Seth and Jacob appeared beside us and I glanced behind me as our family and newfound friends came into their positions. Caleb and Gianna stood close to us and they both sent me careful smiles before looking ahead.

"Em," He looked down at me. "If we live through this, we'll try for another baby." He smiled widely and winked at me.

"Are you forgetting you almost died the first time?" Kate smirked.

"I said we'd try, not that we'd succeed." I retorted. We quieted down and nobody else spoke. I reached for Emmett's hand as he bent down to pick up Eli. He cradled our boy in his arms and my heart broke at the thought of never being able to see that again. I sighed shakily and allowed Emmett to pull me into his side.

"They're here." Everyone around me could hear what I couldn't. I could only see them as they appeared from the trees. Clad in black, stood a much bigger group of people than the one we had. They all formed a straight line until it broke and out came the kings. Aro headed the small trip, Marcus and Caius inches behind him. I could faintly see the guard march alongside them, my main focus is on the long-haired and red-eyed head vampire king. Even from afar, I could see the smirk on his face.

"Is that Irina?" I asked Em quietly. He nodded. I nervously glanced at Kate and Tanya and their eyes widened as they noticed their sister. Howls echoed around us and I could see the Volturi falter in step as the wolves circulated us. "It's starting." Emmett's hold on me tightened and I happily welcomed it. I saw Bella glance back at me and we both nodded discreetly. Our backup plan was set. We were both just hoping we didn't have to use it.

Carlisle stepped away from Esme and he took one look at all of us before speaking. I couldn't see his mouth moving but the wind was too loud and I couldn't make out what they were saying. "She is not an immortal!"

"Oh, so that's what they're saying," I mumbled. I heard chuckles behind me but I didn't turn around to look.

"He's not immortal either!" And now they were talking about us. "Our witnesses can attest to that. They have blood in their veins!" I couldn't hear what was said next but I didn't need superhearing to figure it out. Aro wanted proof. Proof he could get from Edward's thoughts. Edward walked forward and Bella shifted Nesmee closer to Jacob. I looked at Seth and he nodded but neither one of us moved to grab Eli from Emmett. It would only raise suspicions if he did.

"He wants to meet them." Carlisle turned and frowned at me. I gulped and he nodded. Emmett and I exchanged nervous glances before he clenched his jaw and began to walk forward. With his hand in mine and Eli in his hold, we walked behind Bella and Renesmee, and Jacob walking beside us. He let go of my hand the closer we got and he handed Eli to me. His little fists clenched my shirt as we continued walking and I nervously glanced at the group in front of us. Stood slightly to the side was Killian. His jaw was clenched and a scowl graced his face as he met my stare.

"Ah." Aro grinned evilly. "Young Bella. Immortality becomes you." Bella grimaced at his words. "And Clarissa, darling, still human." I nodded and refused to meet the glares the vampires behind him were sending me. Some time ago we were allies, now I posed a threat to their existence. That alliance was over. Aro began to giggle and it took everything in me not to cringe at the sound. "I can hear their strange hearts. His much louder than hers." Eli shifted in my hold and for a second, attention was on him until Nesmee stepped forward and greeted Aro.

"Hello, Aro." Aro blinked at the sound of her voice and grew more confused as her little hand reached up to cup his cheek. "Magnifico!" He gasped. "Half mortal, half immortal. The both of them! Conceived and carried by Clarissa and this newborn, while she was still human."

"Impossible," Caius grunted.

"Do you think they fooled me, brother?" Aro glared at him. Bella and Edward rushed Nesmee back to the others and when Emmett and I went to follow, Edward shook his head. That only meant one thing. They wanted to speak to me. Aro whirled around and I smiled awkwardly.

"Hello, Aro."

"Clarissa darling. How lovely to see you again." He joyously smiled at me.

"If only I could say the same," I replied softly. His eyes darkened for a brief second before they were filled with his usual mischievous glint.

"May I?" He gestured to Eli and I nodded, slowly.

"Eli," I coaxed his head out of my neck. "He wants to hold your hand, just for a second, okay?"

"Okay, mama." He nodded and turned to Aro. He held out his hand and smiled slightly at the red-eyed vampire. "Hi, I'm Eli."

"Hello." While Aro held his hand, I took the opportunity to look at the people I once called friends. Their attention seemed to be on Eli except for Jane's. In Volterra, she was my closest friend. I knew Aro was her king and she'd always side with him but a small part of me hoped she would at least try to hear our side. As her state turned into a glare, that hope within me died.

"It is true." Aro finally released Eli's hand and turned back to his brothers. This time, we did walk away. We didn't wait for him to say more. We repositioned ourselves beside Edward and Bella, this time with Jared flanking us as Seth moved to the back of the group.

"What are they doing?" I asked Bella as we watched them bring Irina forward.

"They're questioning her." I didn't need her to say more as Caius began to yell.

"Are those the children you saw?" He growled.

"They've changed! They've gotten bigger." Irina defended herself. Their conversation grew quiet and Bella translated for me.

"She's claiming we're innocent. She's taking full blame." I gasped and knew this wouldn't end well for the blonde woman. I'd seen Aro execute people for less, for a crime this widespread, he'd kill her.

"Caius, no!" Edward shouted. I gasped and my hand flew to my mouth. Eli buried his head in my shoulder and Emmett placed a hand protectively on his back.

"Irina!" Tanya and Kate screamed. Caius set flame to the torn-apart body as Tanya and Kate rushed forward. I settled Eli on Jared's back and we moved aside as Emmett and Eleazer rushed to stop them. It became a moment of chaos as three of our strongest were failing to hold them.

"Blind them," Edward told Zafrina. The girls eventually settled and Jacob moved beside me with Nesmee on his back. I glanced nervously at them before turning back to the scene before us. Caleb and Gianna moved closer to me and they stood as my protection while Emmett was momentarily preoccupied.

"Oh shit!" I gasped as Edward collapsed in pain. "Emmett." He appeared at my side before I could finish saying his name.

"It's okay." He tried to assure me.

"Is it?" I took one look at Edward and knew the real battle was starting. They were going to kill us anyway.