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was deepest black。 Every face was cowled； shadowed。 The faint brushing sound of their feet was so
regular it was like music； a plicated beat that never faltered。
At some sign I did not see—or perhaps there was no sign； only millennia of practice—the configuration
folded outward。 The motion was too stiff； too square to resemble the opening of a flower； though the
color suggested that； it was the opening of a fan； graceful but very angular。 The graycloaked figures
spread to the flanks while the darker forms surged precisely forward in the center； each movement
closely controlled。
Their progress was slow but deliberate； with no hurry； no tension； no anxiety。 It was the pace of the
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invincible。
This was almost my old nightmare。 The only thing lacking was the gloating desire I'd seen on the faces in
my dream—the smiles of vindictive joy。 Thus far； the Volturi were too disciplined to show any emotion at
all。 They also showed no surprise or dismay at the collection of vampires that waited for them here—a
collection that looked suddenly disorganized and unprepared in parison。 They showed no surprise at
the giant wolf that stood in our midst。
I couldn't help counting。 There were thirtytwo of them。 Even if you did not count the two drifting；
waifish blackcloaked figures in the very back； who I took to be the wives—their protected position
suggesting that they would not be involved in the attack—we were still outnumbered。 There were just
nieen of us who would fight； and then seven more to watch as we were destroyed。 Even counting the
ten wolves； they had us。
〃The redcoats are ing； the redcoats are ing；〃 Garrett muttered mysteriously to himself and then
chuckled once。 He slid one step closer to Kate。
〃They did e；〃 Vladimir whispered to Stefan。
'The wives；〃 Stefan hissed back。 'The entire guard。 All of them together。 It's well we didn't try Volterra。〃
And then； as if their numbers were not enough； while the Volturi slowly and majestically advanced； more
vampires began entering the clearing behind them。
The faces in this seemingly endless influx of vampires were the antithesis to the Volturi's expressionless
discipline—they wore a kaleidoscope of emotions。 At first there was the shock and even some anxiety as
they saw the unexpected force awaiting them。 But that concern passed quickly； they were secure in their
overwhelming numbers； secure in their position behind the unstoppable Volturi force。 Their features
returned to the expression they'd worn before we'd surprised them。
It was easy enough to understand their mindset—the faces were that explicit。 This was an angry mob；
whipped to a frenzy and slavering for justice。 I did not fully realize the vampire world's feeling toward the
immortal children before I read these faces。
It was clear that this motley； disorganized horde—more than forty vampires altogether—was the
Volturi's own kind of witness。 When we were dead； they would spread the word that the criminals had
been eradicated； that the Volturi had acted with nothing but impartiality。 Most looked like they hoped for
more than just an opportunity to witness—they wanted to help tear and burn。
We didn't have a prayer。 Even if we could somehow neutralize the Volturi's advantages； they could still
bury us in bodies。 Even if we killed Demetri； Jacob would not be able to outrun this。
I could feel it as the same prehension sunk in around me。 Despair weighted the air； pushing me
down with more pressure than before。
One vampire in the opposing force did not seem to belong to either party； I recognized Irina as she
hesitated in between the two panies； her expression unique among the others。 Irina's horrified gaze
was locked on Tanya's position in the front line。 Edward snarled； a very low but fervent sound。
〃Alistairwas right；〃 he murmured to Carlisle。
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I watched Carlisle glance at Edward questioningly。
〃Alistair was right？〃 Tanya whispered。
'They—Caius and Aro—e to destroy and acquire；〃 Edward breathed almost silently back； only our
side could hear。 〃They have many layers of strategy already in place。 If Irina's accusation had somehow
proven to be false； they were mitted to find another reason to take offense。 But they can see
Renesmee now； so they are perfectly sanguine about their course。 We could still attempt to defend
against their other contrived charges； but first they have to stop； to hear the truth about Renesmee。〃 Then；
even lower。 〃Which they have no intention of doing。〃
Jacob gave a strange little huff。
And then； unexpectedly； two seconds later； the procession did halt。 The low music of perfectly
synchronized
movements turned to silence。 The flawless discipline remained unbroken； the Volturi froze into absolute
stillness as one。 They stood about a hundred yards away from us。
Behind me； to the sides； I heard the beating of large hearts； closer than before。 I risked glances to the left
and the right from the corners of my eyes to see what had stopped the Volturi advance。
The wolves had joined us。
On either side of our uneven line； the wolves branched out in long； bordering arms。 I only spared a
fraction of a second to note that there were more than ten wolves； to recognize the wolves I knew and
the ones I'd never seen before。 There were sixteen of them spaced evenly around us—seventeen total；
counting Jacob。 It was clear from their heights and oversized paws that the newers all were very；
very young。 I supposed I should have foreseen this。 With so many vampires encamped in the
neighborhood； a werewolf population explosion was inevitable。
More children dying。 I wondered why Sam had allowed this； and then I realized he had no other choice。
If any of the wolves stood with us； the Volturi would be sure to search out the rest。 They had gambled
their entire species on this stand。
And we were going to lose。
Abruptly； I was furious。 Beyond furious； I was murderously enraged。 My hopeless despair vanished
entirely。 A faint reddish glow highlighted the dark figures in front of me； and all I wanted in that moment
was the chance to sink my teeth into them； to rip their limbs from their bodies and pile them for burning。 I
was so maddened I could have danced around the pyre where they roasted alive； I would have laughed
while their ashes smoldered。 My lips curved back automatically； and a low； fierce snarl tore up my throat
from the pit of my stomach。 I realized the corners of my mouth were turned up in a smile。
Beside me； Zafrina and Senna echoed my hushed growl。 Edward squeezed the hand he still held；
cautioning me。
The shadowed Volturi faces were still expressionless for the most part。 Only two sets of eyes betrayed
any emotion at all。 In the very center； touching hands； Aro and Caius had paused to evaluate； and the
entire guard had paused with them； waiting for the order to kill。 The two did not look at each other； but it
was obvious that they were municating。 Marcus； though touching Aro's other hand； did not seem part
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of the conversation。 His expression was not as mindless as the guards'； but it was nearly as blank。 Like
the one other time I'd seen him； he appeared to be utterly bored。
The bodies of the VolturFs witnesses leaned toward us； their eyes fixed furiously on Renesmee and me；
but they stayed near the fringe of the forest； leaving a wide berth between themselves and the Volturi
soldiers。 Only Irina hovered close behind the Volturi； just a few paces away from the ancient females
—both fairhaired with powdery skin and filmed eyes—and their two massive bodyguards。
There was a woman in one of the darker gray cloaks just behind Aro。 I couldn't be sure； but it looked
like she might actually be touching his back。 Was this the other shield； Renata？ I wondered； as Eleazar
had； if she would be able to repel me。
But