CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
ARRIVAL OF THE WITNESSES

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THE NEXT FEW DAYS passed in a blur. It felt like Verona was always running, pushing her limits further and further until the earth was stumbling under her feet like a treadmill put to its highest speed. She struggled to keep up with her family as they prepared for the oncoming confrontation with the Volturi. It was decided that Verona would travel with Rosalie and Emmett while the others went their own way to cover more ground, hoping to convince as many vampires - red and gold alike - to support their cause.

But just as they were getting everything together, the Cullens were faced with another complication. One that no one had seen coming.

They waited until the dead of night, when everyone around them was too busy packing and planning to notice as they slipped away. They crossed onto La Push territory, seeking permission from Sam to access the ocean that resided by the reservation. And by the time Sam had come to inform the others, a goodbye letter clutched in one hand and a grim look in his eyes, it was too late to stop them. Alice and Jasper had chosen to leave. No warning, no reason, just a crumpled piece of paper ripped from a book, a suggestion to look for witnesses before the snow stuck hastily scribbled on the back.

"Why would they do this?" Verona frowned as she and the others stood opposite Sam on the front porch. The sun had just begun to rise above the treeline, casting a faint glow upon their translucent skin that went unnoticed as the news sunk in.

"She didn't say," Carlisle said with a sigh, staring down at the letter he was holding in disappointment.

Disappointment; something they were all feeling in the wake of Alice and Jasper's departure. Verona was feeling it most of all. Out of everyone in the Cullen family, she had known Alice and Jasper the longest. She and Alice grew up alongside each other; they were turned together, they met Jasper together, they joined the Cullen Coven together. She didn't understand how Alice could just leave her behind, how Jasper could follow her so easily, how neither of them even thought to tell her they were going. No one, not even Verona who hoped she would've noticed something as shocking as this, had realised they were even thinking about leaving them. It hurt. Underneath the confusion and worry, it hurt to know that when they needed them the most, Alice and Jasper could run without hesitance. Verona hoped they at least had a plan of their own, a reason for their absence, but she couldn't be sure. She didn't even see this coming and she was meant to be their friend, their sister.

What did that say about her?

"Well, they've made their choice," she muttered, pulling out of her thoughts. Everyone looked to her curiously, wondering what she was trying to say. "There's nothing we can do now, they're gone. Let's just get on with things."

No one said anything as she disappeared back inside, ready to pack the last of her things and get the hell out of Forks, Washington. Ready to gather as many witnesses as possible.

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IN THE END, THERE were eighteen vampires who decided to support the Cullens. Alongside both packs, they had a decent amount of numbers, but there was still a seed of doubt lingering in the back of Verona's mind. The Volturi would have so many more supporters, people who wanted to be there and others who didn't feel like they had a choice, fearful for their lives if they were to deny their rulers. The ones who joined the Cullens were few and far between, but they were there, and Verona could only hope that counted for something, even for a second.

Once everyone had arrived at the Cullen home, meeting Renesmee and hearing her story, they began to train. Again, they were missing Jasper's presence more than ever, his experience in combat and his empathetic powers would've helped make the witnesses feel at least somewhat comfortable deep in the Olympic forest, preparing to face off against the Volturi's almighty forces. Instead, they were left to their own devices, tension thick in the air with the uncommon mix of red and golden eyes in the group.

On one of the mornings that everyone had gathered outside, taking a break from combat to show off their gifts, Verona spent most of her time sat to the side with Renesmee next to her, the younger girl watching eagerly at the power display occurring before them. At the current moment, Bella was trying out her newly discovered shield, trying to perfect the defensive gift in the short amount of time they had left. So far, she wasn't having much luck, if Edward's pained face was anything to go by as Kate sent shockwave after shockwave up his arm.

"You seem to lack incentive," Kate hummed after yet another failed attempt. "Should we see if Renesmee wants to have a go?"

"Are you crazy?" Bella snapped, her frustration reaching its peak.

"Alright then," Kate was unphased by Bella's anger as she held her hand up in front of her. Emmett moved to help Edward to his feet, the bronze-haired boy wincing as he pushed his arm out in Kate's direction again. "This one's on full power."

A moment passed. Bella's shield slowly began to grow around her, forming a strange mist Verona had never seen before. Everyone watched in amazement, excluding Edward, who had his eyes clenched shut as Kate's hand met his skin. Another moment passed as everyone waited for Edward to fall or to cry out in pain, only his agony never came. He opened his eyes after an instant, a shocked grin tugging at his lips.

"It's painful, buts it's bearable," he announced as Kate stepped back, a pleased glint in her eyes.

Everyone shared a rare grin as Bella cheered at the achievement, then she was stepping toward Kate and Edward with less hesitance than before. "Okay, let's go again."

Before Kate could even consider using her gift on Edward again, a fearsome howl resonated from deep within the woods. The chatter in the yard immediately ceased, and that's when they heard it; the sound of quick footsteps pattering against the earth, getting closer and closer to the Cullen home at a speed that was far too fast to be human.

"Are we expecting anyone else?" Verona frowned, moving to stand beside a worried Carlisle as Bella ushered Renesmee into Rosalie's waiting arms.

"No," the blonde man shook his head, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Then he was racing into the woods, Verona and several of the others hot on his heels.

They eventually came across two vampires who were seated atop a cliff edge with Jacob and three newer wolves prowling beneath them, growling and snapping at their hanging ankles in annoyance. Carlisle froze at the sight of them, his eyes growing wide in surprise. Verona didn't recognise either of the men, though she figured by Carlisle's reaction that he hadn't expected them to show up.

"Vladimir, Stefan," he greeted as the others gathered behind him. "You're a long way from home."

"What are they doing here?" Kate hissed to Eleazar and Tanya, who stood either side of her as they flanked Carlisle defensively.

"We heard the Volturi were moving against you," one of the men - the one who's shocking white hair was as pale as his skin - exclaimed in a thick Roman accent. "But that you would not stand alone."

"We didn't do what we were accused of," Carlisle insisted with wariness spread across his features. He didn't trust Vladimir and Stefan, who'd clearly come to Forks for their own reasons.

"We do not care what you did, Carlisle," the same man dismissed him with an eye-roll. 

"We have been waiting a millennium for the Italian scum to be challenged," the other added, sneering down at them with bright red eyes. For an instant, he met Verona's gaze, recognition forming across his face. But before he could address her, Carlisle was speaking again.

"It's not our plan to fight the Volturi."

"Shame," the white-haired man gave a mocking sigh of disappointment. "Aro's witnesses will be so disappointed."

"They do enjoy a good fight," the other chuckled in amusement. Verona didn't know what to make of them, uncomfortable with the way that their eyes lingered on her, like they knew who she was and she made them feel sick to their stomachs.

Eleazar stepped towards Vladimir and Stefan with a confused frown, interrupting their staredown. "Aro's witnesses?"

"Oh, were you still hoping they would listen?" the white-haired man hummed, his eyes flashing to Verona again. "You have a witch twin's mate in your mix and even that hasn't stopped them."

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AS EVENING FELL, THE Cullens and their witnesses gathered in the living room, Vladimir and Stefan's shocking arrival bringing an array of questions around the Volturi's witnesses. Frankly, Verona was surprised that no one had stopped to think about the Volturi gathering their own army. Sure, they had a powerful guard to support them if it came down to a fight, but Aro was planning to eradicate an entire coven. Obviously, he would want witnesses to see the event, to recognise the Volturi's suffocating control over the supernatural world. How no one had realised that amazed Verona, who stood off to the side, avoiding Vladimir and Stefan's glares at all costs. With their arrival, she'd been quick to learn about their hatred for the Volturi. How the Romans used to lead the vampire community, then one day, Aro and his guard overpowered them and left them with nothing, took their thrones, their riches, their dignity without remorse. With her ties to Alec, it only made sense that they didn't trust her. Not that she cared. From what Verona had seen of Vladimir and Stefan, she didn't particularly like them either.

"When Aro wants someone from a coven, it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime," Eleazar explained from where stood beside Carmen. He knew the most about Aro and the way he and the others ruled, given the years that he spent working for them.

"So he's done this before," Bella scoffed, frustrated but not surprised by Eleazar's words.

"It happens so rarely," he sighed. "I never realised it was a pattern."

"Apparently, he always pardons one person who's thoughts he claims are repentant," Carlisle added.

"This person always has an ability, and they're always given a place with the guard."

"This is about Alice," Edward gasped. Verona shifted at the declaration, coming to the same conclusion as Edward and the others; Alice had seen Aro's plan and decided to leave with Jasper before the same thing could happen to their coven. 

"Well, why does he need witnesses?" Emmett frowned.

"Isn't it obvious?" Verona scoffed, and everyone's eyes were immediately on her. "Aro's showing anyone and everyone who even thinks about confronting the Volturi that they are no match for his power. That no matter what, he will serve justice."

"You seem to know an awful lot about the Volturi, Miss Hale," the white-haired man who Verona now knew was Vladimir sneered at her. 

"Well, it's pretty simple if you just think about," she snapped, causing everyone to fall silent.

Though a moment later, Amun was taking his mate by the hand and striding across the room to where Benjamin and Tia were sitting together, determination in his eyes. "Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving."

"And where will you go?" Edward hissed at him. "What makes you think they'll be satisfied with Alice? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Zafrina or Kate or anyone else with a gift? Their goal isn't punishment, it's power and acquisition." There was a pause, in which Edward's words seemed to register with everyone, who shared uncomfortable stares at the sickening realisation. "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 wanna live."

There was an instant of hesitation, then Jacob was rising to his feet and drawing everyone's attention towards him. "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires."

"We will fight," Tanya agreed, standing alongside Kate and Carmen.

Garrett moved to join them, "This won't be the first time I've fought a king's rule."

"We'll join you," Benjamin declared, deliberately ignoring Amun's disapproving glare.

"We will stand with you," Senna announced with a nod of support from Zafrina.

"So will we," Maggie of the Irish Coven assured, her coven mates rising from the lounge with her.

"And us," Peter and Charlotte stood too.

"Well, that didn't take much," Vladimir smirked, chuckling in amusement with Stefan.

Edward looked around the room at everyone willing to fight for his family, an appreciative yet hesitant glint in his eyes as he nodded at them. "Let's just hope it won't come to that."