I WOULDN'T MIND

sixteen. the next right thing

▬▬ EIGHTEEN. That's how many witnesses showed up, how many friends showed up. The house, which once felt hung to Cori, felt small and suffocating. Even more so with Jacob watching her with narrowed eyes. Her eyes were still mostly gold, but he didn't miss the crimson swirl that let everyone know that she had strayed from the vegetarian path. Even after she had explained, his eyes stayed narrowed and his arms crossed, it had even gotten to the point that he was cautious to let her near Renesmee.

Though, both she and Bella didn't care much about what the wolf thought. Cori spent most nights reading Renesmee books before tucking her into bed and kissing her forehead and Emmett was right next to her, adding his commentary on the story, which the kid seemed to enjoy.

Emmett's eyes narrowed slightly as he braided Cori's hair, they sat outside, his back against a tree and her between his legs with a book in her hands. He had seen her pull her hair up into a bun, which was cute, but he insisted and she couldn't deny his little pout. So there they sat in the dirt, her legs crossed and her elbow pressed into her thighs, one hand holding her book open and the other moving absently against his jeans that covered his thigh.

Not far from them, Zafrina – who had come all the way from the Amazon with Senna – was showing off her gift. She could make anyone see whatever she wanted them to. And while Edward looked around amazed, her having shown him the rainforest, Bella looked around confused, her not behind able to see a thing other than the tall evergreens that surrounded them.

"Edward, you didn't tell me your wife was a shield." Eleazar spoke as he neared them and Cori looked up, her eyebrows pinched.

"Stop moving." Emmett mumbled as Kate, Tayna, Carmen, Carlisle, and Esme passed them – the former three giving the couple a confused look as he tugged on her hair a little and she rolled her eyes in response.

"What's a shield?" Bella asked.

"The ones I've met are so different." Edward mumbled, looking down at her, the realization washing over him.

"It's a defensive talent."

"That's why I couldn't read your mind, even before. That's why Aro couldn't."

"You have a very powerful gift." Eleazar told her and Cori jumped up when Kate grabbed her sister's hand but she stopped when her gift had no effect on Bella. Kate's gift, which Cori would admit she was scared of, was psychic electrokinesis, as Edward had called it but Cori just called her a taser with amazing legs.

"I'm not done!" Emmett nearly shouted, jumping up after her, his large hands twisting the ends of her hair before securing a small elastic band around it. "Okay."

"Thanks, Tree." She hummed lovingly as she turned to kiss his cheek and he smiled proudly.

"Oh, yeah, she's a shield all right." Kate mused, pulling her hand back. "Should've put her on her ass."

"Or your voltage has been exaggerated." Garrett teased as he stepped towards her, seemingly coming out of nowhere, Cori and Emmett also moved closer, the girl smiling small when she met Carlisle's gaze. She knew he wasn't happy about the red swirl in her eyes, but he made no such comment.

"Maybe it only works on the weak." She held her hand out, giving him a challenging look. He stepped forward and raised his hand, moving just one finger towards her palm.

"Garrett, I wouldn't." Carlisle tried, but the other vampire didn't listen. He pressed his finger to her hand and in a second he was groaning as he fell to his knees, making Cori laugh.

He panted, looking up at the blonde before him. "You are an amazing woman."

"Do it again." Cori hummed, getting an amused look from Kate. "Oh, better yet, let me do it."

"What?" Garrett raised an eyebrow as he looked over at her, even on his knees he was taller than her.

She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes, then she looked over at Kate. "May I?"

Kate raised an eyebrow, but she was curious. "Yeah." She held her hand out and Cori took a breath as she wrapped her fingers around the blonde's, she groaned a little, her eyes squeezed shut and her jaw locked but it didn't last long. She let out a relieved breath and opened her eyes, looking up at Garrett, who was on his feet again.

"Ready?"

"I don't know what you think–" A groan cut off his words the second her hand met his, though the shock wasn't as strong as Kate's she held on a lot longer. "O...kay." He gritted out and she pulled her hand back, smiling as he slumped against a tree. He took a breath before looking up at her. "That was payback, wasn't it?"

"Oh, absolutely." She nodded and he just hummed, a simple sound of agreement.

"A mirror. You could be useful." Kate mused, looking over at the small vampire.

"You have no idea." Cori rocked back on her heels then Emmett wrapped his arm around her, only to groan, making her jump. "Sorry!" She quickly turned towards him, her hands over her mouth as she tried not to laugh at her boyfriend as he narrowed his eyes at her. "I wasn't- I didn't mean to."

"I'm just gonna..." He shoved his hands into his pockets and took a small step to the side, making those around them laugh. "Still love you though."

"Sorry." She pouted slightly before it faded, a smile taking over her face as she turned towards Edward.

"No, Cori, stay away from me." He pointed a stern finger at her, making everyone chuckle.

"Aww, come on, Psycho, I just want a hug." She took a step and he took a step backwards.

"Nope." He shook his head.

"Damn." She huffed, then she looked around. "Where's Travis when you need him?"

"Devious." Emmett mused. "Damn, I love you." He moved towards her. "Don't shock me." He mumbled.

"I make no promises." She hummed as he wrapped his arms around her, tugging her into his chest before pressing his lips against hers and there was a small zap when her lips touched his, but it faded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. But the two pulled apart and the light mood was dampened when they all heard something in the distance, the shifting of tree branches, the crunching of leaves, followed by the growling of the wolves.

Cori was the first to take off, Emmett on her heels and the others close behind him. When they reached the disturbance, two vampires were peached on a high boulder, sitting back to back as the wolves – Jacob and three newbies – growled at them.

"Vladimir, Stefan, you're a long way from home." Carlisle greeted the two as Cori made her way towards the three young wolves.

"You guys okay?" She asked quickly, meeting each of their eyes, getting nods in return.

"What are they doing here?" Kate asked, her voice quiet. Clearly she – along with everyone else – wasn't thrilled with their arrival.

"We heard the Voltrui were moving against you." The blond spoke, his russian accent heavy. "But that you would not stand along." Something about them made Cori's skin crawl, she shifted on her feet, putting herself in front of the three wolves because she didn't trust that they wouldn't get hurt. Emmett even moved to stand with her, he knew how protective she was of the younger wolves and he understood why.

"We didn't do what we were accused of." Carlisle told them, hoping to turn them away.

Vladimir rolled his eyes. "We do not care what you did, Carlisle."

"We have been waiting a millennium for the Italian scum to be challenged." Stefan added, his accent somehow thicker.

Carlisle jumped in again, hoping to dissuade them. "It's not our plan to fight the Volturi."

"Shame." Vladimir breathed out. "Aro's witnesses will be so disappointed.

"They enjoy a good fight." Stefan agreed, chuckling a little.

"Aro has witnesses?" Eleazar asked, stepping forward and looking over at Carlisle. Cori shifted on her feet, her eyes still on the two vampires before her.

She had never once thought that Aro had witnesses. And if he did have them, then there was no discussion to be had. There'd be a fight, a brutal bloodbath. There'd be lives lost.

"Aw," Vladimir cooed, his eyes roaming over the collection of vampires before him, his red eyes settling on Cori and Emmett as the big vampire wrapped his arms around her waist, anchoring her to him. A silent i love you. A wordless promise to protect her. A simple want to have her as close as possible for as long as possible. "Still hoping they'll listen?"

>>>>> • <<<<<

▬▬ CORI KEPT HER EYES on her hand as she pressed her palm against Emmett's before slipping her fingers through his. Then she unlaced their fingers, pressing her hand against his once again. He simply smiled as he watched her repeat the action, his other hand resting on her back under the shirt she wore with his thumb moving her over soft skin. He knew she was panicking, even if she was hiding it well, he could tell.

"When Aro wants someone from a coven it's never long before evidence turns up proving that coven committed some crime." Eleazar explained, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked around the room.

"So he's done this before?" Bella asked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees.

"It happens so rarely, I never realized it was a pattern."

"Apparently he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant." Carlisle explained, glancing around the room.

"This person always has an ability." Eleazar added. "And they're always given a place with the Guard."

Edward frowned slightly. "This is all about Alice. He has no one like her."

"Which is why she left." Bella stated as if it all made sense.

"I don't think so." Cori hummed, her voice soft and her eyes still trained on her hand as she toyed with her boyfriend's fingers. "Alice wouldn't leave us for dead if this was about her."

Emmett looked up at the girl on his lap, her hair still in the braids he had twisted together, but her eyes never left their hands. "Why does he need witnesses?" He asked, looking over at Eleazar.

But Alistar, the vampire that had become a recluse in the attic, answered. "To spread the word that justice has been served." Cori's hand tightened around Emmett's as she closed her eyes, taking a slow breath to calm her nerves. "After he slaughters an entire coven."

Amun, Carlisle's friend from Egypt, started towards the door. "Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving."

"And where will you go?" Edward stopped 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? Anyone they want. Their goal isn't punishment, it's power. It's acquisition. 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."

Everyone was silent, everyone glancing around to see what the person next to them would do, then Jacob stood up. "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires."

Carmen, Tanya and Kate all rose to their feet. "We will fight."

"This won't be the first time I fought a king's rule." Garrett spoke, pushing himself off the wall.

"We will join you." Benjamin nodded his head a little.

"No." Amun quickly denied.

"I will do the right thing, Amun." The younger vampire told him. "You may do as you please."

And one by one, the others agreed to fight, to stand with the Cullens. Even the nomads. Still, Cori felt as though no matter how many agreed to fight, they were doomed.

Vladimir leaned towards Stefan, "that didn't take much."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Edward stated.

"We'll see." Alistar muttered, leaning over Carlisle's shoulder before he left the room, returning to the attic.