chapter┊ ✦. :: thirty seven
♡ ﹙fight﹚ ❋  ˚  ݂ ꛒ

Days began to pass with unsettling speed, and with them came Christmas, which meant snowfall. As Alice had told them, the Volturi would arrive very soon, and the truth was that no one felt truly tense or nervous. They were starting to accept the fact that they might die definitively this time, but no one seemed to really mind.

Mainly because they would fight for what they loved.

They had decided to set up a small camp near the battlefield. Vampires and werewolves had gathered around a bonfire.

It was that brief moment of happiness before the chaos. Lydia looked at them all from her place while carrying Maven covered in several blankets. The boy had fallen asleep not long ago, but he would start crying if Lydia tried to leave him anywhere.

Carlisle had approached them, leaving a kiss on each of their foreheads.

"Everything will be fine," he reminded her, although it seemed like he was saying it more to himself. "Do you want to join the others by the fire? It looks like they're about to start telling some stories. Garrett loves to boast about all the places he's been."

Lydia let out a short laugh. "Yes, I think I would like that."

The three of them approached the fire, Lydia sat on a log next to Seth and began listening to the man's story, noticing that Kate was sitting on his lap. They made a beautiful couple.

Carlisle had stayed behind, talking to Edward. Lydia supposed it was one of those emotional moments, so she focused solely on the vampires' words. Maybe they were all just as terrified as she was, but they managed to disguise it quite well.

A few minutes later, Edward and Carlisle approached the others. The blonde embraced Lydia by the shoulders and left a kiss on her cheek.

Actually, it was a rather pleasant night.

When dawn came, they packed up the small camp and headed to the field. Maven had his eyes wide open, looking around with great interest.

Lydia squeezed Carlisle's hand when the Volturi guard came into view. The man caressed her hand gently, indicating that everything would be fine.

They looked quite frightening with their dark cloaks and hateful glances. Lydia immediately identified Aro; she remembered him from the painting in the Cullen house, but seeing him in person was strange. And it was even more terrifying when, despite the great distance, the man looked directly into Lydia's eyes. Even Maven seemed restless.

But then everyone saw Bella, who was carrying a newborn in her arms. Edward seemed puzzled; he had mentally prepared himself for this moment, yet now that he was standing there, he felt like the wound was reopening. Esme and Evander approached Edward, each placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Aro promised Bella that if Lydia and Maven's information was correct, he would transform her and make her part of his guard," Edward murmured. "All of this is just because she wants to become immortal. The baby was born a month ago."

The wolves also approached, taking the opposing side completely by surprise. Bella looked somewhat panicked, as she never thought the Cullens would gather their own army and she was on the brink of achieving her goal.

Then Jacob stepped forward and looked at Bella from his place, almost sighing with relief to see that her baby was fine. That was all that mattered to him at that moment.

Carlisle took a few steps forward, letting go of Lydia's hand.

"Aro, I don't want to start a fight. Let's talk as we used to. In a civilized manner."

"Fair words, Carlisle," Aro began, "but a bit out of place considering the battalion you have gathered against us. Besides... I'm quite sad because you didn't tell me you had found your mate, let alone that your mate is half-angel."

Carlisle clenched his fist but quickly relaxed.

"I give you my word... that was never my intention. I just wanted to protect my family. Besides, no law has been broken."

The platinum-haired man next to Aro rolled his eyes.

"You knew how much Aro desired to find the blood of an angel," Cayo began, "you have created an abomination; that girl is a hybrid, and not only that, you had a child. We don't know the danger this may pose to us."

"They are no danger to anyone. Compared to a normal vampire, they are not as strong, and they don't feed entirely on blood. Since their transformation, neither of them has consumed blood, only human food."

"We don't know that, Carlisle. How do we know they won't try to create some kind of army of hybrids in the future? If you want us to leave them alone... we want the child."

Carlisle looked at them with some hatred. He would never allow it.

"All these people can testify that neither Lydia nor Maven are a danger to vampires. The child is growing up like a normal human child."

Aro raised a hand.

"We want to see the girl and the baby. I still can't believe that a vampire impregnated a human... who turned out to be a possessor of angel blood," he seemed genuinely amused.

Lydia looked at Carlisle, who nodded and began walking towards Aro. Carlisle followed closely, as did Emmett, Seth, and Jacob.

The girl didn't know where she found the courage that suddenly invaded her, but she would do everything in her power to protect her family.

Aro looked at the girl and the baby as if they were a feast. He could hardly believe it.

"It's fascinating," Aro murmured. "Their scent is almost imperceptible. So, you are the famous Lydia. Bella told me a lot about you. I can hear both of your hearts."

Everyone looked at Bella, who suddenly seemed uncomfortable and avoided the newcomers' gaze.

"I heard a lot about you too, Aro," Lydia spoke, with more confidence than she imagined she would have.

The man extended his hand, and although she hesitated for a second, she approached slowly. Emmett went on guard, and the wolves growled. Carlisle also prepared to attack if necessary.

Lydia extended her hand and let Aro delve into her mind. She didn't feel anything, but it was truly strange and uncomfortable.

"This is simply fascinating," the man murmured. "You even managed to hide in the thoughts of others, and I am not someone who easily overlooks details. You are very peculiar, dear Lydia. Wouldn't you like to join my guard?"

She withdrew her hand. Aro then stared directly at Maven, looking truly enchanted by the child, as if he had never seen such a beautiful being in all his immortal life. The boy seemed uncomfortable, so he turned to look at his mother for safety.

"I am perfectly fine with my family, Aro. But I appreciate your offer."

"I am not someone who accepts a no for an answer so easily," he said with a smile that was terrifying.

"If you don't comply, I'll kill them both," he pointed to Bella.

Both? Did she have a daughter? Lydia was speechless, and Jacob had already started growling.

"You promised to transform me," Bella complained.

Aro shrugged.

"You are a simple human, Bella. You don't compare to someone who possesses mysterious angel blood," he looked directly at Lydia, "What will you do? Will you let them die because of you

?"

"Lydia won't go with you, Aro. And neither will my son," Carlisle spoke. "Bella made her own choices, and everything led to this point. We are no longer responsible for whether she lives or dies."

Lydia glanced quickly at her. She seemed more angry than desperate, not like a normal mother would be when her child's life is threatened. Now she understood that Bella only cared about the immortality of vampires.

"My answer is still no," she spoke firmly.

Aro smiled and made a gesture with his hand. Felix took Bella by the arm and made her walk forward.

"In truth, we are not interested in the baby," he took him in his arms. "He won't stop crying, and it's the most annoying sound in the world," he dropped him in the snow. "Besides, he has a strange dog smell."

Jacob growled and took his daughter carefully between his teeth. He immediately ran off to take her to a safer place.

"But Bella won't be so lucky."

"Do what you have to," Lydia told him, although she was truly terrified of what he might do.

She turned around and began to walk back to where the others were. Lydia trembled a little when she heard something crack and then fall to the ground. She didn't want to turn and look, so instead, she squeezed Carlisle's hand tightly.

What she did see was Edward trembling in his place. She wasn't sure if it was anger or sadness, perhaps a bit of both.

"As I said, I never receive a no for an answer, and I will do whatever it takes to get that blood."

Lydia then turned to look at the man; she noticed the lifeless body resting in the snow. It was inevitable to feel guilty.

Aro opened his mouth to say something else, but his words froze when a blinding light appeared in the middle of the field.

Lydia covered her son and moved closer to Carlisle to protect herself.

"What was that?" she heard Edward's voice.

But everyone was astonished to see a man with enormous white wings in the middle of the field. His wings were as white as snow.

"Holy shit," they heard Emmett mutter. But everyone thought exactly the same thing.

Even Aro seemed to be speechless for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Who are you?" he spoke to the mysterious being.

"My name doesn't matter," his voice was soft and pleasant, Lydia was dying of curiosity to see his face, "but I have come to protect my own. Lydia is one of my daughters, and so is Maven. I won't let you harm them, Aro."

He let out a laugh.

"And what will you do?" he asked mockingly.

"Actually, I came to make a deal. You want angel blood, don't you? Well, I am one. I'll give you a taste of my blood, but I warn you it's something you won't like at all."

This time, Aro seemed more interested.

"Will you let me taste your blood if I leave those vampires alone?"

He nodded.

"That's my deal."

Aro took a step forward, but Cayo stopped him instantly.

"Wouldn't it be better if you send someone else first?"

He stared into Cayo's eyes for a moment. But he nodded; he couldn't risk it that way. He looked at his followers and smiled pleased.

"A volunteer?"

Several took a few steps forward, but in the end, Aro chose a guy whose name he didn't really remember; he couldn't risk losing valuable elements either.

The guy approached the angel with some concern; the angel raised his arm, and the vampire sank his fangs into it with some force to begin sucking. When he stopped and pulled away, he looked at Aro. Everyone watched the scene with some impact, waiting to see what would happen next.

"How do you feel?" Aro asked him.

The guy looked at his hands; he was starting to feel dizzy.

"It's strange. I feel like... like something is changing inside me, but..." he fell to the ground, and his body began to disintegrate.

"Now you know," the angel spoke again, "if you consume angel blood, your human senses will return, but that means you will also start aging again. And according to the time you have lived, it's equivalent to how quickly you will die."

Aro was shocked. He still felt curious, but he no longer wanted to try. He fell silent for a moment, staring intently at the beautiful angel in front of him; he was much more beautiful than a vampire.

"I understand. We withdraw," he looked at his brothers, who were still looking at the guy's remains, "I don't think there is a need to start an unnecessary war."

They nodded. They didn't want to die that way, and they didn't want to face an angel either because they didn't know the abilities and skills he possessed.

Aro looked at the opposing side and nodded.

"It won't be the last time we see each other," he sounded almost like a threat, but no one said anything else, and they all withdrew.

Lydia breathed a sigh of relief and almost started crying. But before she could, she approached the winged man and looked at him for the first time. He was identical to the man in her dreams, the time she was about to die.

"Thank you," she said.

The man smiled, and his eyes went to Maven. He gave the boy a quick stroke on the cheek, who immediately burst into laughter.

"Maybe I exaggerated a bit. And don't worry, your blood won't do the same to your family, Lydia. My blood is too pure, and it completely transformed them into humans; yours only did it partially."

She nodded in relief. It was just what she needed to hear.

"Why did you help us?"

"Well, I said it. You are my daughter... I don't mean you were born directly from me," he smiled, "but you understand what I mean. The nephilim are about to disappear, and it's not something I would like to happen soon. You still have a lot to live for, Lydia. You and your family. Your son will be a great man; maybe you want to know that he will stop growing approximately when he turns twenty. His vampire part will make him immortal, but you must take good care of him."

Lydia smiled, looking at her son again.

"Thank you for everything."

The man placed a hand on Lydia's cheek and then on Maven's head.

"Don't mention it. Close your eyes, or I'll dazzle you when I leave."

That's what they did. A light appeared suddenly, and when they opened their eyes, they were completely alone.

Carlisle approached Lydia and hugged her tightly. Everything had been so strange and sudden, as if nothing made sense.

But at least they were alive, and they hadn't had to fight and sacrifice their lives.

Now they had to tell Charlie that his daughter had died. He wouldn't take it well, and most of them felt a little guilty; they never wished Bella's death, and it was unfortunate that it ended that way.

But everything was over now. It really was over forever.

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