The Edge

xxi.

"When Aro wants someone from a coven it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime." Eleazar stood with his arms crossed as the conversation from the woods had carried to the living room. "So, he's done this before?" Bella looked up at the vampire for confirmation. "It happens so rarely; I've never realized it was a pattern." Carlisle processed the man's words. "Apparently he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant." Carlisle began to realize why Alice left. "This person always has an ability and they're always given a place in the guard. This is all about Alice, he has no one like her." Edward read Carlisle's mind and spoke aloud to the group. "Which is why she left." Paul spoke up as he walked into the living room from the kitchen, leaving the new shifters alone. Emma glanced over at his mate as he walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Why does he need witnesses?" Emmett questioned as the family tried to piece everything together. "To spread the word that justice has been served, after he slaughters an entire coven." Alistair stepped forward and looked at the vampires around him. The covens all look around at their own members before Amun and Kebi rush forward to leave. "Benjamin, Tia; we are leaving." Amun demanded for the rest of his coven to join him. "And where will you go? What makes you think they'll be satisfied with Alice? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next?" Edward stopped the man in his steps.

"Or Zafrina or Kate, or anyone else with a gift? Anyone they want. Their goal isn't punishment, it's power; it's acquisition." Edward continued to make a point, angered that the Volturi was coming for his family. "Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will. For the sake of my family, but also for yours. And for the way you want to live" Edward glanced around at the vampires in the room with him, causing them to look at each other again. "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires." Jacob was the first to make a motion to support Edward. "We will fight." Tanya spoke up for herself and Kate, earning a nod from Carmen. "This won't be the first time I fought a king's rule." Garett stepped forward next. "We'll join you." Benjamin stood with Tia. "No." Amun immediately interjected, looking at Benjamin is betrayal. "I will do the right thing, Amun. You may do as you please." Benjamin gave his coven leader a firm look. "We will stand with you." Zafrina spoke up next, sending a nod toward Edward. "So will we." Siobhan from the Irish coven stood with her family next. "That didn't take much." Vladimir commented snidely to Stefan. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Carlisle spoke to Edward. "We'll see." Alistair commented close to Carlisle's ear as he walked past Emma and Paul and out of the home. Carlisle let out a loud sigh as he watched his friend leave.

"Aro will want us incapacitated before he attacks. Jane and Alec will try to take me out first because I can anticipate their moves." Edward talked strategy with the few coven members that stuck around. "Too bad we don't all have your shield." Garret commented with a small amount of snark. "Doesn't help me fight though." Bella downplayed her newfound ability. "No, but you could help the rest of us, if you could project it." Tanya proposed, knowing more about shields than the rest of them. "What do you mean?" Bella was confused by the suggestion. "I mean shield someone other than yourself." Tanya explained to the newborn. "Is that possible?" Bella questioned eagerly, glancing at Carlisle. "Gifts can develop. Over time." Carlisle was cautious about Bella's control over her ability. "At first mine was just in my palms, now I can radiate it all over my body." Kate explained from beside Bella. "How do you do it?" Bella twitched in excitement; Kate lifted her hands to dismiss the growth, but Bella snatched her hand. "Tell me." Bella looked at Kare with a hopeful smile. "Ow." Kate glanced at Bella, amused, the newborn forgetting her own strength.

"This is going to be interesting." Paul looked over at Bella in amusement as Emma leaned back into his chest. "How are the boys?" Emma looked over her shoulder at her mate as Kate began to guide Bella outside to practice. "They are eating Esme's food faster than the guys and I ever have." Paul let a small smile appear on his face at the thought of the youthful boys around the corner. Emma could tell that despite the stress the new shifters brought, he was enjoying having the younger boys around. Paul's family was a touchy subject and he rarely talked about his parents, Emma could tell the pack was his real family and he was slowly accepting his 'big brother' role. "Should we go check on them then?" Emma worried about leaving the boys alone for too long. "Sure." Paul responded, Emma lifting herself off his chest and grabbing his hand as they walked to the kitchen.