⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Edward picked up Anna's body, he noticed Bella's distraught expression along with the dazed look in her eyes. The silence that surrounded them as they walked down the mountain was deafening but nothing prepared them for the response of the others. Bella's heart broke when she saw Jasper turn to them, his face broke into sorrow and the remaining Swan twin was convinced that it Jasper was still human he'd would've wailed in pain with tears. Jasper took Anna from Edward's arms, dropping to his knees as he caressed her face and blocked out everyone else. Paul ─ still in his wolf form ─ whimpered as he stared at the sight of his Imprint dead in her mates arms.

No one knew what to do in regards to Anna but they knew the Volturi was coming; at least, Jane was accompanied by Alec, Felix and Demetri. "How long?" Edward asked Alice breaking the broken silence. "A few minutes. Maybe ten," Alice answered in a shaky tone, Colton grabbed her hand comfortingly. "They timed their arrival well," Rosalie sneered though her eyes had yet to leave Jasper and Anna. "Probably hoping the newborns took a few of us out," Emmett told her. Edward looked towards the fire and spotted a young girl standing there, "What's she doing here?" Esme stepped forward to protect the young girl, "We offered her safe haven if she stopped fighting, she took it."

"The pack needs to leave. The Volturi won't honor a truce with the werewolves," Carlisle said before looking towards Anna and Jasper, his dead heart hurt for the sight. Jasper was staring blankly at his mate, his mind and emotions were numb as he continued to stroke her cheek as the others dealt with the surrounding environment. Jasper hadn't even noticed the mini fight which resulted in Jacob getting hurt, he was only focused on the woman in his arms trying to sense even the slightest bit of life in her. "Should we move Anna?" Esme asked Carlisle after the wolves had left. "I don't think Jasper will let us," Alice said with a sad expression.

"It appears you've done our work for us," Jane spoke as she approached, her companions stood behind her. "Impressive. I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact," Jane continued before her eyes landed on Anna's body, "Almost escape, I guess." Rosalie glared at Jane's amused expression at the loss of Annabeth in the battle. "It appears we missed an entertaining fight," Alec spoke up from beside his sister. "Yes. It's not often we're rendered unnecessary," Jane voiced though anyone could tell they were mocking the coven. "If you'd arrived a half hour ago, you would've fulfilled your purpose," Edward told her with a glare on his face, Bella was still crying silently beside him.

"Pity," Jane said before noticing Bree Tanner standing off to the side, "You missed one." Bree watched fearfully, looking from the blonde woman to the family that offered her asylum after being cursed. "We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," Carlisle informed her as Esme tried to keep Bree out of view and safe. "That wasn't yours to offer," Jane sneered at Carlisle before looking at Bree, "Why did you come?" Before Bree could answer, Jane activated her power causing Bree to scream out in pain. "They came to destroy us ─ to kill Anna," Esme told Jane in hopes to protect the young girl but Jane ignores the woman, clearly enjoying the torture.

"Who created you?" Jane asked next but the girl was in too much pain to say anything. "You don't need to do that. She'll tell you anything you want to know," Esme said with a distressed expression, she didn't like seeing Bree in pain. "I know," Jane said as Carlisle placed his hand on his wifes shoulder, Jane deactivated her power leaving Bree panting. "I don't know... Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe," Bree told Jane, she just wanted a chance to live but Jane simply focused her power on the girl again. "Her name was Victoria. Perhaps you knew her," Edward snapped, between Anna's death and Bree's torture, he had enough of the Volturi Guard's games.

Bree's pain subsided as Jane turned to Edward with an innocent smile that unnerved everyone but her companions. "Edward," Carlisle spoke with a warning tone, "If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?" Jane looked towards Carlisle and the air was tense and silent for a moment but it was that single moment that allowed Jasper to hear a faint shaky beat of a heart; slow enough that it was impossible to survive. "Of course," Jane said to Carlisle before signalling Felix who moved toward Bree. "She didn't know what she was doing. We'll take responsibility for her, give her a chance," Esme pleaded with them.

"The Volturi don't give second chances," Jane told Esme before looking towards Edward and Bella, "Keep that in mind. Caius will be interested to know that she's still human." Bella swallowed slowly before clearing her throat, "The date is set." Jane is ever so slightly taken aback by Bella's confidence, the presence reminding her of the blonde laying in Jasper's arms. "Take care of that, Felix. I'd like to go home," Jane spoke but as Felix went to step towards Bree, a grey mist appeared protectively in front of her stunning everyone. Felix stepped back from the strange presence but Jane knew who it was, Edward furrowed his brows hearing Jane's thoughts; he turned to Anna and focused on her heart ─ after a moment, it thumped softly.

"It seems to me someone doesn't want you to harm her," Edward spoke as Esme pulled Bree to stand between her and Carlisle. "So it seems your loss is complicated," Jane said with gritted teeth, she had been keen to inform Aro of Anna's death but knowing the possibility that she was still alive prevented that. "Felix," Jane called him back to her, he was clearly upset about not being able to kill Bree. "Until next time," Jane said as she glanced at Anna before she and her companions left. Carlisle rushed over to Anna and Jasper as the grey mist disappeared, "Her magic must be keeping her alive but I don't know how long that will last." Jasper looked up at Carlisle, "What can I do?"

"Turn her," Bella said catching everyone's attention, they looked towards Bella with slight hesitation but Bella's determined expression showed she wouldn't back down. "I know it's not what you two planned but she's holding on and I'll deal with her anger if there is any," Bella told them, she sniffled and looked directly at Jasper who seemed hesitant himself. "Trust me, Jasper. This is what she'd want," Bella whispered to him as Edward looked at Carlisle. "Maybe Carlisle should--" Jasper cut Edward off with the shake of his head, "I promised her that it'd be me. Only me." Jasper stood up with her in his arms, "I'll take her home... just..." Carlisle nodded knowing he wanted to be alone.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Jasper laid Anna's body down on his bed, he paced for a moment before turning back to her; he wouldn't lose her. Jasper grabbed Anna's wrist and lifted it close to his mouth, he kissed her wrist gently before sinking his teeth into her skin letting the venom enter her system. Jasper pulled back and placed her hand on the bed, he closed his eyes for a moment before he approached his drawers. Jasper pulled out a yellow sundress that belonged to Anna, he put it aside before grabbing other clothes for her as Rosalie knocked on the door. "Esme and I can do that, Jasper. Take a moment. Carlisle wants to talk to you," Rosalie told him as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Jasper was hesitant on leaving Anna's side but he had already done what he could, so trusting his mate in his sisters capable hands, he made his way downstairs where Carlisle stood with Emmett and Colton. Rosalie, however, made her way into the room as Esme walked in with a bowl of warm water and a couple of towels. The two women worked together to clean the blood and dirt from Annabeth's skin, both trying their best to stay strong. Rosalie changed Anna into the yellow sundress before she brushed her hair, "She didn't want this so early..." Esme frowned as she placed her hand on Rosalie's shoulders, "Everything happens for a reason."

Once the two were done, Rosalie pulled a thin blanket over Anna's body hoping to convince herself that Anna was simply sleeping and she'd be awake the next morning. Esme headed straight to Bree and reassured the young girl that she was indeed safe and they'd help her with her new life; Rosalie was keen on taking the young teen under her wing. The house was silent as they all prepared to wait the agonising two to three days for Anna to wake up but of course, they held concerns due to her magic; they had no idea how she'd respond to the venom of what may happen. Jasper sat on the couch in his room watching the forest awaiting for his mate to open her eyes.

Meanwhile, Bella had convinced Charlie that Anna and Jasper had gone away for a small holiday to celebrate graduation and with Grandma Rose's help, he held no doubts in their words. Grandma Rose had informed them that she didn't know what the outcome would be but she was more certain than everyone else that Anna would wake up. She had been in contact with the spirits in the veil and the sprites lurking the forests, all had informed her that Anna's survival was in the high nineties but they had no knowledge of what the young witch would become; she'd possibly be the first of a new species or just a simple vampire with gifts.

Jasper didn't care either way, he just wanted to hold the woman in his arms again. He wanted to kiss her and tell her how much he loved her, remind her everyday that every moment with her was a blessing. He wanted to tell her that he lives to make her proud, that he'd move mountains for her, and that no one could ever replace her; she was it for him. He wanted to show her the world, to see her smile and watch the way her eyes lit up when she saw something adorable or when she spoke passionately about something. He would listen to her talk about her recent book for hours without getting bored, listen to her favourite songs on repeat and dance with her under the moonlight. He loved her so much it hurt.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Meanwhile, Paul was sitting on the La Push beach watching the waves lap against the shore, his mind was numb as someone moved to sit down next to him. "Carlisle said that there is still hope," Rachel Black ─ Jacob's older sister ─ spoke after a few moments of silence watching the water. She moved to rest her head on Paul's shoulder, the two had been seeing each other since her recent return from college; Anna had been the one to push Paul to make the move on the woman he had a crush on in Senior year. "I felt the link snap," Paul replied to her in a monotonous voice that caused Rachel to frown, she couldn't understand the impact that had outside his words.

"My one job was to protect my Imprint and I couldn't even do that," Paul added as he felt anger rise within him, "I knew something was off with her." Paul pushed himself up and began pacing, Rachel stayed in her spot knowing Emily's story all too well, she knew not to get in his way. "She had to of known something... I saw it in her eyes and I didn't push her to talk," Paul rambled as he became more and more angry with himself. "Because you respect her," Rachel said softly making him stop and look towards the ground, "You understood she didn't want to talk about it. You trusted her and it is something she adores about you." Paul took in slow breaths as Anna had taught him.

"I know..." Paul whispered as Rachel stood up trusting that he had calmed himself. "The real question is... will her transition change how you see her?" Rachel asked Paul, placing her hand on the side of his face in the process. "No way... Anna is still Anna no matter what," Paul answered Rachel, just the idea of shunning her for that made him angry; Anna would always be just Anna, she'd always be his little sister. "Then that's all that matters at the end of the day," Rachel told him before wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Paul wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close to him with his eyes closed. "I just want her to wake up," Paul whispered. "She will," Rachel replied with certainty.

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

⊱ ──── {⋆☂ ❉ ☽⋆} ──── ⊰

Rosemary Speaks

Y'all really thought that was the end of Anna's story? No way! She's the main character for a reason in this book; Plot protection.

Also, I had to save Bree.
She shouldn't have been killed like that in my opinion. So yeah, I saved her and she'll practically be a daughter to Rosalie and Emmett.
She won't have a ton of screen time but she'll be a member of the family.

Hope y'all are still enjoying this book.
I'm actually proud of myself with the flow of this book. I was so stuck for a while and now the chapters are pumping out.

Also, thank you to the ones commenting, it means so much to me and genuinely encourages me to keep writing. You know who you are, thank you!!!

See you in the next chapter!