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𝑳 𝑰 𝑭 𝑬  𝑷 𝑨 𝑻 𝑯
❝ 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚒𝚝 ❞

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ㅤ𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐃𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 as every vampire who came to aid the Cullens gathered in a circle to discuss the new information the Romanians have given them. Despite the dislike she held for the two, she can understand why they wanted to destroy the Volturi. The Italians destroyed their coven, and destroyed countless of others, without having a second thought.

Everyone focused on Eleazar. "When Aro wants someone from a coven, it's never long before evidence turns up, proving that coven committed some crime," he explained.

"So, he's done this before?" Bella asked.

"It happens so rarely," the elder vampire replied. "I never realized it was a pattern."

"Apparently, he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant," Carlisle added.

"This person always has an ability," Eleazar further explains. "And they're always given a place with the Guard." The princess couldn't help but roll her eyes at their words, a scoff of annoyance escaping her lips.

"This is all about Alice," Edward realized. "He has no one like her."

"Which is why she left," his wife concluded.

"Why does he need witnesses?" Emmett asked, his face scrunching up in conclusion.

It was then that Alistair spoke. "To spread the word that justice has been served." He made eye contact with his mate. "After he slaughters an entire coven."

Amun then quickly decided that he didn't want to perish at the hands of the Volturi, beginning to walk away with his mate following behind him. "Benjamin, Tia, we're leaving."

"And where will you go?" Edward's words made him stop in his tracks. "What makes you think they'll be satisfied with Alice? What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next? Or Zafrina, or Kate? Especially Ariadne? Or anyone else with a gift? Anyone they want." Ariadne tensed at his words, meeting eyes with every gifted vampire in the room. "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."

The room was then shrouded in silence for a few moments, before Jacob stood up. "The packs will fight. We've never been afraid of vampires."

The Denali's stood next. "We will fight."

"This won't be the first time I fought a king's rule," Garrett declared.

"We'll join you," Benjamin spoke up, causing his coven leader's head to turn to him in defiance.

"No," Amun rejected.

"I will do the right thing, Amun," Benjamin faced him. "You may do as you please."

"We will stand with you." The Amazons.

"So will we." The Irish.

Even Charlotte and Peter nodded in agreement. Now everyone in the room was standing, both in a literal as well as symbolic way; they were all aware that this wasn't just the Cullens' fight, it was theirs too. Edward's words echoed in Ariadne's mind as she turned to look at each and every person in the room, seeing their goals suddenly change. It went from merely helping out their friends, to actively wanting to join a revolution and take down tyranny.

"That didn't take much," Vladimir said to his friend, earning him annoyed looks.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Edward quickly added.

Alistair took a step closer to Carlisle. "We'll see," he pessimistically spoke, scoffing before turning to Ariadne and beckoning her to follow him.

Ariadne gave everyone an apologetic smile before rushing after Alistair who was once again in the attic. She gave him a glare.

"What's that all about?" She hissed.

"What do you mean?" He had the audacity to look sheepish.

"That! I already told you, we'll all be fine, we'll all be safe," she groaned. "Do you not trust me?"

Alistair scoffed. "Of course I trust you! But you can't blame me for being the least bit pessimistic. This is the Volturi we're talking about!"

"But you have me, who is literally like a good luck charm," Ariadne crossed her arms in annoyance. "It's like you didn't even listen to me when I explained how my powers work. I told you, we'll come out of this whole thing unscathed--"

Alistair cut off her rambling with a passionate kiss that immediately had her weak in the knees. He went even further by grabbing a hold of her waist and pushing her closer to his body. He then slowly let their lips separate, but Ariadne grabbed the back of his head and let their lips crash against each other again, wrapping her free arm around his shoulders.

The hunter groaned when he felt her bite his lip. They could kiss each other forever, seeing as they didn't need any air, but he still hesitantly pulled away. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"You were talking too much," he whispered, his breath fanning against her lips. His eyes were intensely staring into hers.

Ariadne's eyes fluttered at the sensation. "If that's what happens if I talk too much..."

"Don't get any ideas," he chuckled, wrapping her in a hug and placing his chin on her head. "I do trust you, okay? I do."

"Thank you."

Alistair had an arm wrapped around Ariadne's waist as the two of them stood on a branch of a high tree, their eyes trained on Bella's determined stance. The newborn was being taught by Kate how to improve her shield, so she could help everyone block off any mental attacks.

"You need to visualize it," Kate began. "See how it moves, what color it is. Now picture it expanding, will it to go beyond you."

Alistair hummed, turning to whisper to his mate. "You think she'll be able to do it?"

"I know she will," Ariadne whispered back, giggling at his appalled expression. "Why are you still shocked? You know it's my gift."

"Still, spoilers," he muttered, giving her a playful smirk.

The pair watched as translucent veil escape from Bella, but quickly retracted.

"I think she needs someone to motivate her," Kate noted.

Reading her mind, Edward hesitantly stepped forward, removing his hands from his pockets as he seemed nervous about his next actions. Bella was quick to catch on.

"No," she refused.

"It's alright, I can take it," her husband tried to reassure, but the slight tremor in his voice was obvious.

"He says that now," Garrett commented.

"Focus, Bella, or he's gonna be hurting," Emmett's words didn't help the situation, with Bella giving him an annoyed glance.

"Edward, I'm not ready to do this yet--" The mind reader's squeak of pain made Ariadne snort from where she stood, Alistair burying his face in her neck to mask his laughter. "I'm sorry! I said I wasn't ready!"

"Dude, you're not motivating her," Emmett mocked.

"You want to try?!" Edward challenged, causing his brother to hold up his hands in surrender.

Bella then immediately projected her shield, but it still wasn't enough when Kate put her hand on Edward's neck, which caused him to let out a groan and fall on his knees.

"Kate!"

"You seem to lack incentive," Kate ignored the newborn's growing anger towards her. "Should I go see if Renesmee's awake?"

"Are you crazy?!"

Kate lifted up her hand again. "Alright, this one's on full power."

Edward gave his wife a wide-eyed look, which Ariadne caught and caused her to shake in silent laughter. Edward slowly lifted his arm towards Kate, his eyes shut in anticipation. Alistair curiously eyed the scene as he saw Bella's shield slowly projecting again, just before Kate put a hand on the mind reader's arm.

Her husband still grunted in slight pain, but the fact that he didn't fall on his knees made Bella relieved. Her eyes glinted in optimism, before retracting her shield when Kate let go.

"It's painful, but it's bearable," Edward pointed out, turning to his wife, who gave a triumphant smile.

"Okay, we should go again," Bella was happy to finally be able to shield her husband, but Edward had enough of being electrocuted.

"Emmett?"

"...I'm good."

author's note: we're already pretty much halfway through the movie and it's only the fourth chapter SO, i'm gonna try and stretch it out as much as i could. gonna add a bit more development for alistair and ariadne's relationship, especially since i've envisioned it as kind of tumultuous because they're kind of polar opposites.

by polar opposites as i mean: alistair is super pessimistic, but ariadne's gift allows her to be optimistic. so, like, y'all see what i'm at?

anyway, i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! don't forget to vote and tell me what you think! please point out if i have any spelling or grammatical mistakes!