CHAPTER NINE
(hope)

Vivienne collapsed onto her bed, mentally drained from enduring the onslaught of questions about her engagement from her family. As the bed slowly dipped, she heard a gentle chuckle from Benjamin, his voice warm and amused.

He spoke, "Did I ever mention how much I adore the company of your family?"

"Yes, and truthfully, you should be grateful that Jasper and Alice are not present at this moment. Otherwise, we would have been held captive for an extended period," Vivienne said with a hint of exhaustion. "Days, to be precise. And don't forget, Alice would have undoubtedly already initiated the wedding planning process," she added, her voice tinged with both adoration and resignation.

"Are they as menacing as Rosalie and Emmett?" Benjamin inquired, his body falling onto the bed next to hers, causing it to gently bounce.

Vivienne reached out to touch his cheek, her voice soft and slightly apologetic as she replied, "Oh, darling."

"Alice and Jasper are more terrifying than Rosalie and Emmett put together," Vivienne declared, her voice holding a mix of warning and affection. "They're the epitome of 'silent but deadly.'"

Benjamin let out a small chuckle at her words before gently meeting Vivi's lips with his own. Then, he pulled away slightly, his expression turned towards contemplating.

"How much do you want to wager," he began, a hint of humor in his voice, "that Amun will make things tougher for us after all of this?"

"Oh, he'll make it a living hell," Vivienne continued, propping herself up on her elbow as she looked down at him. "But then again," she added, a smirk playing on her lips, "with the Denali's and my family behind us, he wouldn't stand a chance."

Benjamin traced his fingers gently along her cheek, noticing a troubled expression in her eyes. He took a soothing breath before saying, "There's something bothering you, my love."

She reached out, her hand gently intertwining with Benjamin's as her eyes closed in contemplation. "Do you recall Alice's gift?" she inquired, her voice carrying a hint of trepidation.

Benjamin replied with a nod, his voice steady as he acknowledged, "Subjective precognition." His tone shifted to one of reassurance as he continued, "She sees things—things that could be, things that are nearing. However, the future is not set in stone, and it's always subject to change."

"Did she tell you something?" Benjamin inquired, his voice laced with a slight curiosity, sensing the tension in her words.

Vivienne voice lowered to a whisper as she met his gaze, a hint of worry in her eyes. "She said she can't see my future anymore," she confessed, her expression tinged with a mixture of confusion and unease.

Benjamin sat up, his eyes locking onto hers as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weakness that betrayed his concern, "Darling," he murmured, "What could it mean?"

Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, before letting out a shaky exhale. "Usually it indicates death," she said quietly, her voice barely above a murmur.

"But you said it can always change...right?" Benjamin pleaded, the crack in his voice betraying his growing fear.

Vivienne's chest felt heavy as she nodded her head and reassured him, "Everything will be alright. We will make it through this—together—all of us."

"It will be okay," Benjamin affirmed, his voice laced with determination. "I'm not just saying it because you asked, but because I truly believe we will all survive, every single one of us."

"Repeat it for me," Vivienne whispered, her intense gaze holding onto Benjamin's. He nodded, repeating the words over and over, each time with more conviction, until his voice grew hoarse.

As he continued to say it, Vivienne felt a growing sense of conviction, the words taking on a new weight and significance as she allowed herself to believe them.

When Vivienne had assured Jasper and Alice that she didn't care, her words had been a blatant lie, and she knew that Jasper had seen through her facade. It was alright to lie at times, but this was one instance where she should have openly admitted her fear.

The other immortals in the home had overheard the conversation thanks to the slightly open door, yet that slender crack had provided them all with a firm grasp of hope. Benjamin's whispered reassurances had instilled a sense of belief within them, and now they repeated those words to themselves, drawing strength from their shared conviction.

...

The following evening, everyone was assembled within the home, with the exception of Amun and Kebi, who were maintaining their distance, just as Edward had predicted they would.

"Why exactly did Alistair leave?" Bella inquired, her voice hushed as she sought her husband's explanation.

"No one is quite certain," Edward responded, his tone measured. "He failed to leave any indication of his reasoning. Based on his murmurs, it appears that he believes a confrontation is imminent. Despite his seemingly indifferent attitude, he harbors deep respect for Carlisle and couldn't bring himself to support the Volturi. I suppose he deemed the danger to be too great."

Despite the conversation's supposed privacy, Eleazar had chimed in, offering clarification. "From his whispered remarks," he explained, "it seems that Alistair's concerns went beyond the surface. Though we haven't discussed the Volturi's intentions in-depth, Alistair worried that even if we were able to convincingly demonstrate our innocence, the Volturi would still seek a pretext to pursue their goals here."

The tension in the room became palpable as each individual exchanged nervous glances with one another. The notion that the Volturi might twist their own sacred rule for personal gain was a disquieting thought, one that stirred anxiety amongst them all. The only exceptions were Vladimir and Stefan, who remained outwardly unfazed, as usual, seemingly entertained by the unfolding situation.

"I truly hope that Alistair was correct about this," Stefan whispered to Vladimir, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "Regardless of the result, word will definitely get out. It's high time our world recognizes the Volturi for what they've become. They'll never be toppled if everyone continues to believe in this absurd notion of them safeguarding our lifestyle."

"At least when we reigned," Vladimir added, his voice carrying a touch of nostalgia, "we were honest about our own nature."

"We never hid behind the facade of sainthood," Stefan agreed, "pretending to be benevolent guardians."

"I believe it's time to take a stand," Vladimir declared, a resolute tone in his voice. "How can we possibly stumble upon a more favorable alliance? Or another chance as promising as this?"

Stefan furrowed his brows, contemplating, "Nothing is insurmountable. Perhaps one day—" he began, only to be interrupted by Vladimir.

"We've been waiting for fifteen hundred years, Stefan," Vladimir retorted, his gaze shifting to Bella as she hung onto their words intently. "And in that time, they've only become stronger. Just look at the extent they're willing to go now."

"If the Volturi emerge victorious from this conflict," Vladimir continued, "they will depart with even greater power than they arrived with. With each conquest, they augment their forces. Consider the newborn alone—" he glanced at Bella—"and she is still unearthing her abilities. And the earth-mover." He nodded towards Benjamin before turning his gaze to Vivienne, "And someone who can harness life from anything." She pressed her lips firmly together in a grim expression.

The entire assembly turned their gaze towards the Romanians with rapt attention, their collective focus completely fixed on them. The truth in their statements was apparent, and each individual, some with firsthand knowledge of the elder ones, silently concurred with their words, disregarding any sense of intrusion.

"No need for the illusionist or the fire touch," he added, his gaze shifting to Zafrina then Kate. "Not when they possess the witch twins, who wield even greater powers."

Stefan turned his gaze towards Edward. "True, the mind reader isn't absolutely necessary," he conceded. "But you're right; they would gain a significant advantage if they claim victory."

Vladimir rolled his eyes in response, his voice filled with a hint of frustration. "More than we can afford to allow them to gain," he asserted.

Stefan paused for a moment, before responding with a resigned sigh, "I suppose I must concur. Which means..."

"We must face them as long as there's a chance," Vladimir declared, his voice resolute.

"If we can manage to undermine them, even expose them...," Stefan added, the implication clear in his words.

"Then, someday, others will finish the job," Vladimir stated, the words carrying a sense of finality.

"And our enduring feud will be avenged. At last," Stefan affirmed, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

They locked eyes, exchanging a silent understanding before speaking together in agreement, their voices almost a whisper.

"It appears to be the only path."

"So we fight," Stefan declared, his voice firm with resolve.

Though the others could discern the inner turmoil within them, the conflict between self-preservation and the yearning for revenge was evident. Yet, the smile shared between Vladimir and Stefan was filled with a sense of impending excitement.

"We fight," Vladimir echoed in accord.

"The Volturi have no claim over us," Vivienne asserted, her voice strong and determined. "We are not their property. If it comes to it, we will fight. For our family, and for all those wronged by them." As she spoke, her gaze swept across the room, settling on those she knew had been personally aggrieved by the Volturi.

Benjamin placed his arm on her shoulder, his voice filled with conviction. "Yes, if it comes to it, we'll fight. Because it seems I'm quite sought after." A hint of irony tinged his words as he continued "Apparently, I have to earn my freedom, and not just me, but all of us."

Garrett chuckled in response, a hint of playful mockery in his voice. He walked over to where Vivienne and Benjamin stood, positioning himself between them, and placed his arms on their shoulders as he said, "Here's to freedom from oppression." The couple exchanged knowing smiles, their determination to fight against tyranny growing stronger.

Tanya stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. She declared, "We stand with Carlisle. And we will fight alongside him."

Peter spoke up, his expression reflecting a hint of discontent as he looked at Charlotte. "We have yet to make up our minds," he stated. No one tried to force their decision; they allowed them the space to choose for themselves. Mary and Randall nodded in agreement, also still undecided.

Jacob stood up, his voice firm and filled with conviction. "The packs will fight alongside the Cullens; we're not afraid of vampires."

Vivienne quipped, "You go wolfie," to which Jacob rolled his eyes, but their playful banter hinted at a strong friendship. In the short time they'd known each other, the two of them had developed a strong bond, and those familiar with Vivienne found the development unsurprising.

Vivienne may have come across as alluring and arrogant, but beneath the surface, she proved easy to befriend. The key was to keep your tongue under control, especially when it came to wisecracking, to avoid ending up on her bad side. Show her and those important to her respect, and building a connection would be a breeze.

Maggie shrugged out of Siobhan's restraining hand and asserted, "I'm in, too. I know Carlisle speaks the truth, and I can't turn a blind eye to that."

Siobhan turned her gaze to Carlisle, her worry evident in her eyes, as she voiced her concern. "Carlisle, I'd rather not see it all come down to a fight."

Carlisle responded with a half-smile, his voice gentle. "I know, Siobhan. Fighting is the last thing I wish for."

Vivienne's gaze shifted to Siobhan, and she offered a smile. "Just focus on maintaining the peace," she suggested before adding with a slight shake of her head, "You know worrying won't change anything."

Carlisle stood up and turned to Siobhan, a small smile on his lips. "Perhaps a little optimism couldn't hurt," he said.

Siobhan rolled her eyes in response, retorting sarcastically, "Should I start visualizing the outcome I want, then?"

There was a sense of confusion among those gathered in the room, as only a few were privy to the conversation between Carlisle and Rose. Siobhan possessed a potent ability to sway situations to her favor, yet she was skeptical of its legitimacy. However, Eleazar had confirmed her gift, but she still remained in denial about it.

As the night progressed, the conversation evolved into a mix of banter. Some people remained undecided about joining the fight, while others were resolute in their decision to defend their loved ones and their way of life if it came down to it.

...

Benjamin and Vivienne had ventured out to the outskirts of town, their attention focused on hunting and searching for prey, as they needed sustenance.

The pair silently moved through the outskirts of the town, their senses alert as they searched for prey to satiate their hunger. Their stealthy approach was driven by necessity and the need to find suitable sustenance.

Benjamin turned to Vivienne, a curious look in his eyes, as he inquired, "Why have you never chosen to go vegetarian like your family?" The two stood silently for a moment as they watched the bodies of their prey burning, the flames dancing in the darkness.

Vivienne shared a glance with Benjamin, her voice carrying a note of honesty as she confessed, "I actually tried it once." She watched him wipe his chin clean, a thoughtful expression on her face. "But Carlisle picked up on the fact that my body couldn't handle the strain my gift placed on me physically."

Benjamin furrowed his brow in curiosity, prompting him to ask, "What do you mean?"

Benjamin listened intently as Vivienne explained, his face reflecting his horror at her words. She continued, "My skin started to turn extremely pale, to the point where it felt like it was turning to dust. It was just as horrifying as it sounds. It happened during the fifth month of consuming animal blood. My powers put a strain on my body, as it was the wrong type of blood. My body naturally rejects the blood, but it also serves as a source of nourishment for my toxic power."

"So human blood keeps it at bay?" he questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Vivienne nodded in agreement, adding, "And it makes my gift much easier to control as well."

Benjamin chimed in, a smile playing on his lips, "Thank goodness that I have no intention of ever going vegetarian." They clasped hands and continued their night, taking in the beauty of their surroundings and reveling in the precious time they had together before the impending conflict.