CHAPTER TWELVE:
BATTLE CRY

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VERONA HALE COLLIDED AGAINST the nearest newborn with an almighty slam. The crash of their bodies meshing together resonated around the clearing, their limbs a blur of colour in the misty air. Verona dodged a potentially fatal blow from the blonde in question, hissing in annoyance as her arm was gripped by frozen fingers, razor-sharp teeth grazing her skin. She swung out of the hold the newborn had managed to get on her, flipping the blonde over her shoulder and relishing in the way she screamed in frustration, before she hooked her fingers under the girl's jaw, separating her head from her body. She threw the limb aside, not even sparing it a glance as it slumped to the ground like dead weight.

Verona was moving again, appearing on the other side of the clearing as two newborns gripped onto one of the shifters' fur. Verona lurched her body onto a red-headed boy, whose teeth were about to dig into the shifter's neck. The newborn howled in rage, throwing her from his back and sending her tumbling through the air. She landed on her feet, her hands thrown out in front of her, before she raced back towards the red-head, grabbing one of his arms as the shifter - who'd just torn the boy's dark-haired companion to pieces - grabbed onto the other, the two enemies managing to rip them from his body. Verona nodded at the shifter, who nodded back after an instant of hesitation, a silent promise to finish the kill.

Alice was fighting against another rowdy newborn nearby. Her arms were looped around the dark-haired girl's neck, but her own limbs were vulnerable to the ruthless fingers on the girl's hands, which clawed at her body without remorse. Verona swooped towards them as the newborn's nails scratched down her best friend's face, legs swinging out to knock the girl's feet from under her, distracting her for long enough to allow her sister to separate her head from her body, rips and tears filling the air.

Verona went to say something, but before she could so much as open her mouth, a sandy-haired boy threw his body at her, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Alice moved to help her, but she too was distracted by a set of blonde twins rushing at her. Verona spluttered for unneeded air as the boy's arms wrapped around her neck, splinters of skin cascading from her body. She kicked and punched with everything she was worth, panic seeping to her bones as his grip on her became tighter and tighter. Darkness formed at the corners of her eyes, and she let out a strangled sob as her neck began to stretch.

Then suddenly, everything was bright again. The hold around her neck was ripped away. Rosalie's furious eyes peered down at her, fingers ripping the newborn that had almost killed her sister to shreds, a glint of triumph shining in her eyes. Verona accepted her hand with a sigh of gratitude, brushing the dirt from her clothes as she scrambled to her feet, ready to jump back into the fight.

And before she knew it, everything was over. Broken bodies were sprawled around the clearing, their family and the wolves standing above them. They'd won the fight, torn apart their enemies without remorse, and lived to see another day. Verona stood in the centre of everything, taking in the mess around her. Esme stopped by her daughter's side as they began to drag the bodies towards a fire burning bright in the distance, ready to rid them from the world for good.

"You okay, darling?" Esme asked, brushing a gentle hand down her daughter's arm.

"I'm fine," Verona breathed, though her mother didn't believe her for a second.

Verona sent her a tiny smile, which wavered into a grimace as she walked away, bending down to haul one of the newborn corpses towards the fire. It went that way for a long time, the two natural enemies working together to finish off their foes. And just as they were done, Alice let out a gasp, her eyes fading as she was hit by a vision. Verona was by her side in a second, confused by the worried look that her sister shot her, arms wrapping around her torso instinctively as she waited for an explanation.

"Alice," Verona frowned. "What's wrong?"

"They're coming."

Her heart sunk, stomach twisting in dread. Alice had a look in her eyes that told her everything she needed to know. Alec and his coven, they were coming for them.

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VERONA WAS FROZEN IN place, staring at the tree looming opposite to where she stood, her family surrounding her in suffocating silence. In the distance, they could hear the wolves' retreating footsteps as they made their way back to the reservation, one of their own being carried on their shoulders, his whimpers of agony tinging the air. Jacob had been injured by a stray newborn they hadn't managed to defeat, who'd been stupid enough to attack one of his pack members. Jacob decided to play the hero, and in the end, he had most of the bones in his body broken, the harsh grip of a vampire being too much for him to bare. 

Verona couldn't find it in her to be concerned about him, though. Not when another cacophony of footsteps - four pairs, to be exact - were making their way towards them. Edward shot her a cautious look as he came to a stop by her side, his arms wrapped around his nervous girlfriend, who's human heart was beating like a drum. Bella sent her a wavering smile, which she responded to with a blank stare, turning her gaze back to the woods as four cloaked figures appeared by the treeline, their crimson eyes taking in the chaos.

Alec was quick to search for his mate. He found her standing by the human, one of her hands gripping the mortal's as she and her family stood against him and his coven. His frozen heart clenched at the thought, but he forced the emotions away as he turned towards his sister, who smirked at the opposing coven. 

"Impressive," she mused. "I've never seen a coven escape an attack of this magnitude before."

The witch twins were the centre of attention, cautious but confident. Demetri was standing to the right of them with an eager glint in his eyes, relishing in the charred limbs that stuck out of the fire separating them. Felix stood to the other side of the twins, his tall frame looming over the rest of his coven members. He was ready to attack if he needed to, the risk of a threat being something that none of them were willing to tolerate.

"We were lucky," Carlisle hummed, eyes raking over each of them.

"I doubt that," Jane sneered, upper lip curled in disgust.

"It appears we missed an entertaining fight."

Verona's eyes darted up from the ground, meeting her mate's in an instant. There was a tug in her stomach, begging her to race towards him, to hold him in her arms and never let go. She both despised and loved the feeling. Bella squeezed her hand, snapping her out of her trance, and she glanced towards her with a tiny smile, ignoring the longing gaze that was still lingering on her.

"Yes," Jane muttered her agreement. "It's not often we're rendered unnecessary."

"If you'd have arrived an hour ago, you'd have fulfilled your purpose," Edward scowled at them.

"Pity," she scoffed, unphased by his annoyance.

A sick smile formed on her face, her eyes moving past them and catching sight of someone she hadn't noticed until then. Verona followed her gaze to the newborn they'd saved, the one that surrendered to Carlisle at the beginning of the fight, hating the cause she was fighting for.

"You missed one."

Verona wasn't sure what she was thinking, but she took a step closer to the young girl, who was watching everything through wide eyes. Jasper had done the same thing, their stances protective as she trembled behind them, fear beginning to consume her. Bree was young, maybe fourteen at the most. She would've had a long life ahead of her when she was turned. And she deserved to live that life, even if it meant she was stuck as a teenager forever. Verona reached out to grasp the girl's hand in her own. Bree accepted her offer, using every bit of strength she had to grip onto her saviour.

"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," Carlisle told them, eyeing his children as they protected the newborn.

"That wasn't your's to offer." Jane turned her gaze on the girl again, red eyes narrowed. "Why did you come?"

Bree's shrill scream pierced the air. Verona's hand was released as she fell to the ground, thrashing as agony consumed her. Verona's conscious was quick to latch onto her presence, black veins forming on her arms as she eased the poor girl's pain. Bree's screams turned into sobs as her body shook, her bright eyes pleading for an end. 

"Who created you?" Jane wasn't letting up, though, her brows furrowing in annoyance as she pushed her power further. Bree's shrieks grew louder again and Verona panicked, the black lines on her arm thickening as she continued to absorb the young girl's pain, sending a stinging sensation through her own body, prompting spots to form in her vision.

"You don't need to do that," Esme implored, sensing the wavering strength of her daughter and wanting the confrontation to stop. "She'll tell you anything you want to know."

"I know," Jane smirked.

Bree's screams stopped, but her body was still shaking with tremors from the torture she'd endured. Verona peered down at her with sadness in her eyes, the black veins on her arms disappearing, though the faint sting still remained. Bree propped her body up on her elbows, her terrified eyes glancing around at them.

"I don't know," she stuttered, desperate. "Riley wouldn't tell us who turned us, he said our thoughts weren't safe."

"Her name was Victoria," Edward spat, furious with Jane's games. "Perhaps you knew her."

There was no 'perhaps' about it. Verona knew that for a fact, for Alec had admitted as much to her. He seemed to be thinking the same thing, for their eyes met again, a hint of sadness on his face that had her insides squirming. She wanted to comfort him, to soothe his pain, and she hated how she was feeling that way. He didn't deserve her love, but she kept giving it to him anyway. How much of a fool did that make her?

"Edward," Carlisle chastised, though he knew deep down that his son was telling the truth, he was just trying to keep the peace. "If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?"

"Of course," Jane nodded, though no one believed her for a second.

They were consumed by silence then. Verona's shoulders were tense as she shielded the newborn lying in the dirt, her eyes analysing her potential opponents. Jasper had taught her to always be on her guard in situations like this, and she wasn't going to forget that any time soon.

"Felix," Jane hummed, head leaning towards the buff vampire.

He began to move towards them. Verona's hands curled into fists as she leaned forward on the balls of her feet, anticipating his movements. Bree whimpered in fear as she scrambled to her feet behind her, despite the pain that still resonated through her bones.

"She didn't know what she was doing," Esme cried in horror. "We'll take responsibility for her." 

"Give her a chance," Carlisle added, resting a comforting hand on his wife's arm.

"We don't give second chances." Jane's eyes darted to Bella, her upper lip curled in distaste at the sight of her. "Keep that in mind. Caius will be interested to know that she's still human."

"The date is set," Bella retorted, her jaw clenching. She wasn't afraid of the blonde, not after everything she'd been through.

Jane scowled, but she didn't validate Bella with a response. Instead, she turned towards her coven, a bored look appearing on her face. "Take care of that, Felix. I'd like to go home."

Felix began to prowl towards them again. Verona didn't move from in front of the newborn, even as he gave a hiss of warning. Jasper reached for his sister, gripping her arms and forcing her aside before she was able to make the situation worse. Bree began to splutter as Felix loomed over her small frame, looking around at those who'd saved her previously, yes begging for them to help her again. Verona looked to the ground, a glint of pain morphing her features. She winced as the sound of tears resonated through the air. Bree's screams turned ear-piercing, before falling silent as her head was separated from her shoulders. Felix smirked in triumph, throwing her body into the fire.

Then he began his retreat, sending his enemies one final look as he went. Verona glared daggers into his back, her bottom lip trembling as she caught sight of Bree's mangled limbs sticking out of the flames. Alec caught sight of his mate's defeated expression, and he hesitated as the rest of his coven began to disappear into the trees. He hated to see her upset, and for a moment, he was consumed by remorse for supporting his coven, when she was the only one that truly mattered in his life. But before he could fall too deep into that train of thought, his sister sent him a sharp glare, a hiss of warning slipping from her lips, almost like she knew what he was thinking. Alec shook his head to push the thoughts away, before following her out of the clearing without so much as a glance back. 

Verona watched him in disappointment, frozen in place again. Alice appeared beside her, letting out a sigh as she looped her arm through hers, causing her gaze to flicker towards her.

"Come on," she muttered. "Let's go home."

And away they went, the two of them against the world, just like it always had been.