I WOULDN'T MIND

twenty. consorting with werewolves

▬▬ EMMETT HAD NEVER been frozen in his life. Not even when that bear attacked him and Travis all those years ago. He had simply fought, giving it everything he had to save his brother... but standing there, his eyes glued to Cori's decapitated head he couldn't move. He shut down. His heart clenching in his chest, his eyes prickling with unshed tears, his entire body aching with the loss of his mate. And the only thought running through his head was that he hadn't said it back... she had told him she loved him, a just in case i love you but an i love you nonetheless. And he hadn't said it back. Because he never once thought this could happen. The idea of her dying never once crossed his mind, it was too hard to think about, too hard to even fathom.

Now, here he was. Her head at his feet, her body in pieces just feet away from him.  Demetri wore a smug smirk, that is until Paul ripped his head from his body before ripping each limb from his torso, one at a time, excruciatingly slow. Still Emmett couldn't move, despite the chaos raging around him.

Bella let out a torturous scream the second her eyes landed on her sister's head, still in front of Emmett – who had sunk to his knees, his hands in the snow and his head hanging low as he squeezed his eyes shut.

An indescribable rage filled the older Swan and her fury filled eyes landed on Aro, who had finally decided to join the battle. She charged, but the older vampire simply threw her backwards, right into Edward.

After sharing a look, Edward – more or less – tossed his wife towards the king and she kicked him hard in the chest. Before jumping over him and shoving him backwards into Edward's awaiting arms. But Aro easily got free of the headlock, pushing Edward's head backwards but before he could decapitate him Bella jumped onto his shoulders and twisted his head to the side. Edward got free and kicked his legs out from under him, giving Bella just enough momentum to rip his head from his body. His head rolled across the snow and Bella was quick to grab a torch, setting him a blaze... and the last thing he saw were the flames encompassing him.

Aro flinched, taking a step back and letting Alice's hand fall from his, ending the vision. He looked scared, his eyes wide as he looked from her, to the group that stood across the clearing. No one had moved, all just waiting as the minutes ticked by at a pace that could only be agonizing.

Edward smirked, sharing a look with Cori, who he had reached for the minute Alice had latched onto Aro's hand. She looked up at him, her golden eyes wide and glossy with tears that would never fall. He gave her a simple nod as he let his hand fall from hers and she shifted a little in the snow, leaning into Emmett's side, her hands grabbing at his clothes. She couldn't believe she had watched him watch her die. That was something she would never be able to forget, the way he froze, nearly caving in on himself, unable to do anything but sink to the snow covered ground.

"Now you know." Alice spoke, pulling Aro's attention back to her, but the fear never once left his blood red irises. "That's your future. Unless you decide on another course."

Again, his eyes roamed over every individual that stood before him. He now knew what each of them were capable of, he knew that it would end in his death. Caius, however, did not. "We cannot alter our course. The child still poses a grave threat."

"But what if you were sure she could remain concealed from the human world?" Edward asked, having peeked into Alice's head. "Could we leave in peace?"

"Of course." Caius scoffed. "But that cannot be known."

The mind reader smirked. "Actually, it can."

Two more people broke through the treeline, their feet crushing against the snow with purposeful steps. Everyone watched them, all slightly confused, with the exception of Edward. Cori would've been in the loop, but she was too consumed with what she had just seen – her death – and she couldn't think about much else.

They came to a stop just steps behind Alice, the woman, clearly a vampire and the man, well, they could all hear his strange heartbeat. "I've been searching for witnesses of my own among the Ticuna tribes of Brazil."

"We have enough witness-" Ciaus huffed.

"Let him speak, Brother." Aro rushed out, holding his hand up to stop him.

The man with a strange heart beat, Nahuel, spoke. "I am half human, half vampire. Like the child. A vampire seduced my mother, who died giving birth to me. My aunt Huilen raised me as her own. I made her immortal."

"How old are you?" Bella asked quickly, she needed answers.

"150 years." He nodded his head,

"At what age did you reach maturity?" Aro questioned, his intrigue – and his want to not die – peaked.

"I became full grown seven years after my birth. I have not changed since then."

"And your diet?"

"Blood, human food. I can survive on either."

"These children are much like us." Marcus spoke up in amazement.

"Regardless, the Cullens have been consorting with werewolves. Our natural enemies." Caius tried to reason with them, but Aro quickly turned, silencing his brother.

"Dear ones," Aro turned to his army, "there's no danger here. We will not fight today." And though a few were disappointed that there wouldn't be a fight, they all left the clearing. But Aro turned back, his eyes roaming from Alice, to Bella and then to Cori – who he now knew possessed a very rare gift. "Such a prize." Then he was gone.

"We have them on the run! Now is the time to attack." Vladimir exclaimed, his steps sure as he moved forward, hoping to get the others on his side to enact his vendetta.

"Not today." Carlisle shook his head as the others broke into cheers, hugging each other and sharing kisses. Travis grinned as he pressed his lips against Rosalie's and she giggled a little against his lips.

Emmett grinned, lifting Cori off the ground and she giggled as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands weaving into his hair as she rested her forehead against his, both smiling as he peppered her face with featherlight kisses.

"You're all fools!" Stefan shouted. "The Volturi might be gone but they will never forgive what happened here." They were ignored as celebratory cheers filled the air, so they ran off.

"You okay, Shortcake?" Emmett asked, his voice soft as he met her eyes. They looked haunted almost, and though she knew that was not their future, it was hard to shake it from her head. "What'd you see?" He asked softly, his hand moving up her spine in hopes of bringing her comfort but she shook her head.

"I'll tell you later." She leaned down and pressed her lips to his, but the two pulled apart when Paul bumped into them and they smiled over at the wolf. "Go tell Rachel you're not dead." He made a sound of agreement before joining the rest of the wolves as they left the clearing.

>>>>> • <<<<<

▬▬ "ONE MORE TIME." Cori grinned, rocking back on her heels as she looked up at Benjamin with wide hopeful eyes.

"Fine, one more time." He chuckled, shaking his head a little.

"Yes!" She cheered and he placed his hand in hers for a moment as they stood in the Cullen's kitchen.

"Remember, breathe and feel the water move." He told her and she nodded, pulling the water that sat in the sink – the two had spent a few hours since the almost battle waterbending as she liked to call it. She moved her hand up and the water moved, following every twitch of her fingers.

"Hey, whatcha-"

Cori jumped, throwing her hands out and the water hit Emmett in the face, soaking through his clothes as he closed his eyes. "Sorry!"

"Waterbending." He mumbled, wiping his eyes.

"Cori, the floors." Esme huffed as she stopped in the doorway, her eyes on the puddle at Emmett's feet.

"It was Benji!" She pointed at him, only to get a confused and slightly appalled look from the vampire to her left.

"Just get the mop, please." Esme mumbled, shaking her head as she left the room, a small chuckle leaving her lips.

"I cannot believe-"

"I panicked." Cori shrugged, looking over at the red-eyed vampire.

"Well, I'm gonna go change. Again."

"I'm sorry, Tree." She mumbled, moving towards him and standing on her toes as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, not caring that his shirt was wet.

He chuckled, his hands finding her waist. "No, it's my fault. Shouldn't sneak up on you."

"Oh, very true." She nodded and he leaned down, pressing his lips against hers. She hummed as she fell back to her heels and he rolled his eyes a little as he left the room. "A little help?" She grinned and Benjamin chuckled, waving his hand a little and the puddle moved up from the floor and into the sink.

"You amuse me." He told her.

"I get that a lot."

"This life is a long one and I hope you never lose that wonder you still see the world with." He reached for her hands, his voice taking a serious tone. "Look at the world the way you do now, and eternity will be a breeze."

"Thank you, Benji." She moved forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he chuckled. "Maybe we'll come visit you, you know, after we finally climb Mount Everest."

"I'd like that." He nodded. "Now, I must go say my goodbyes. Amun doesn't like to be kept waiting." She laughed lightly as she pulled back, waving as he left the room.

"Is it safe?" Emmett asked, peeking around the corner and Cori smiled over at him, her hands raised as if in surrender. He stepped into the room, making his way towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You ready to do this?"

"So ready."