𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄
The bitter truth

"NOW YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR FUTURE. UNLESS YOU DECIDE ON ANOTHER COURSE," Alice says as she removes her hand from Aro's hold.

"We cannot alter our course, and the child still poses a great threat," Caius denies.

"But what if you were sure she could remain concealed from the human world? Could we leave in peace?" Edward negotiates.

"Of course, but that cannot be known," Caius answers.

"Actually, it can," Edward tells him as he reads Cordelia's and Alice's thoughts as the main reason for their sudden disappearance.

"We've been searching for witnesses of our own among the Ticuna tribes of Brazil," Cordelia announces to the three kings.

As Alice motioned Nahuel and Huilen to make their presence known, they walked toward the middle of the field, standing beside Cordelia and Alice.

"We have enough witnesses!" Caius objects.

"Let him speak, brother," Aro says as he motions his hand to Nahuel.

"I am half-human, half-vampire. Like a child, a vampire seduced my mother, who died giving birth to me. My aunt Huilen raised me as her own, and I made her immortal." Nahuel begins.

"How old are you?" Bella asks, her voice filled with hope.

"A hundred and fifty years," Nahuel answers honestly.

"At what age did you reach maturity?" Aro asks. He is also beginning to be curious about the hybrid.

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

"And your diet?" Aro asks again.

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

"These children are much like us," Marcus speaks for the first time since they arrived. Aro is still unconvinced. "But that child is still a danger!" Aro says furiously.

"Caius. You deserve the truth." Eden spoke. She has seen a different fate, much different from Alice's. And Eden had a motive.

"Of what?" Caius asks, suddenly intrigued.

"Aro has not been honest with you, and let me show you," Eden says as Cordelia steps forward, holding her hand as they suddenly thrust into a memory.

Eden was walking in the halls of the Volturi when she suddenly heard.

"Well done, Demetre." Aro commends his guard. "Anything for you, master."

"It is better for Caius to stay here."

"And not with that human. I needed to get rid of her." Aro tells him, and Eden covers her mouth.

And they were back in the snow-covered field. "Aro killed her, Caius."

Caius looks at Aro in betrayal, while the man in focus is now filled with nerves. "Aro?"

"No, brother, you know that is not true." Aro denies the accusation.

"Eden is telling the truth." Maggie interrupts.

"You know this, how child?" Caius snaps his head in Maggie's direction.

"I can detect lies. And I sense none to what we just saw. It is the truth." Maggie tells him. Caius looks at Eden.

"If you want the truth. A friend of mine can compel someone to tell the truth." Eden offers as Harper steps forward. Eden then looks at Caius. "Trust me, Caius. Please"

Caius looks at her for a second, then drags Aro in the middle, with the guards trying to step in while Marcus raises his hand for them to stop.

And they listened. After all, Marcus is their king too.

"Do it," Caius says. He is so close to the truth of what happened to his beloved after centuries of guilt.

Harper walks in front of Aro as he struggles in Caius' steel hold.

"What happened that night?" Harper asks, looking deeply into Aro's eyes. Aro tried to fight it off. But he failed.

Revealing his sins.

"I killed Caius' lover. She was a mere distraction, a human. I thought he would forget about her, but he didn't because it caused him to spiral. And I ordered Chelsea to strengthen his loyalties to us!" Aro spilled out forcedly. Caius looked back and ordered them to bring Chelsea forward.

"Eden, would you please," Caius says. "Honored." Eden smiled as she was suddenly in front of Chelsea. It all happened fast. All that was left was Chelsea's head rolling on the ground.

They all gasped.

As Caius breathed in relief. "Much better." All the rage and grief he felt before came through him in waves.

"Goodbye, brother," Caius says as he wraps an arm around Aro's neck, separating it from his body. All the Volturi members could do is watch. Then he burned it with a torch.

"Now. The Volturi cease to rule! But one rule shall remain. Is that we hide our kind from the humans." Caius yells out. He points out to Irina, motioning for them to release her. And so the guards did.

Irina ran towards her family.

"We shall forget that this ever happened. My sincerest apologies." Caius bows. He looks at Eden, then he nods, and they all leave like the gush of the wind.

"What the fuck just happened?" Emmett asks, confused.

"I guess it's over," Harper says with a smirk as she looks at Emmett's face.

"We have them on the run. Now is the time to attack." A platinum blond, red-eyes vampire says.

"Not today." Carlisle calmly says as he places a kiss on Thalia's forehead.

"You're all fools!" The man beside the platinum blond snaps.

They were ignored, so they angrily took off and left.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

BACK AT THE CULLEN RESIDENCE, thanking the vampires who are willing to be witnesses for Renesmee, they are preparing to go back to their homes.

And Harper was looking out the window as Alice glanced at her. Alice just gave her a grin.

"Why are you not packing?" Emmett asks as he approaches her.

"Do you want me to pack?" Harper sarcastically asks, and Emmett shakes his head.
"Stay with us? With me?"

"Of course. No need to ask. You're my sanctuary now, Emmett."