Seismic Shift Chapter 39

“Personal affection is a luxury you
 can have only after all your

enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone
 you love is a hostage, sapping your courage
 and corrupting your judgment.”

- Orson Scott Card, Empire

EPOV

All I could focus on as they came closer and closer was keeping Bella safe. Though I knew without a doubt that Jacob would lay down his life for her, I was not as confident in Charlie. Aro kept his thoughts muddled as he spoke to Carlisle, but his eyes continuously darted around those of us that had gathered, searching for the specific talents he so wished to add to his collection. He practically salivated at the chance to obtain a fortune teller and a mind reader, not to mention the shapeshifters.

It was not hard to figure out that he and the other two would use force to take what they wanted. They cared not for free will, or personal choice. They wished to build the biggest and most talented collection in the supernatural world so that nobody could ever challenge their place as leaders of what they created.

When they stopped pretending and made ready to move on us, I realized how impressive Bella's shielding talent was. She had covered Carlisle while he spoke to the Volturi leaders, and she and Renée had been able to cover all of us by combining their strengths. I was incredibly proud of her when she sent Demetri up in a towering inferno. He would never be able to track us again, and even if they found a new tracker, it would take years to learn our personal essence in order to find us should we run.

I lacked the time to rejoice, for the large group of Volturi guards that were left came running for us. The wives had fled to the trees when the wolves appeared, and only the worst offenders remained behind their masters. I shouted directions to disperse the wolves to take down Alec, Chelsea, Corin, and Felix, and saw Alice's vision of ripping Jane apart with the help of Connor. My goal was still to maintain cover for Bella, especially as I realized that the more she fought off approaching vampires, the harder it was for her to hurl fire. Carmen cried out but was able to recover as Alice caught up to Jane, and Carmen's pain eased.

Suddenly Bella called my name, and I looked to her in fear that I had missed an attacker. Instead, she lifted her chin in Aro's direction. He was going to flee, and he would get away if I did not stop him. I ran as fast as I was able, grabbing Jasper and Emmett, and together we made our way over the crevasse created by Bella. I sensed Jacob behind me and was thrilled to have the extra help. Charlie had stayed to protect Bella, who was holding her own.

Aro saw us coming and attempted to run. Jacob caught his flying robe in his mouth and yanked him back, which would have been comical under other circumstances. A few of the guard came to their master's rescue and launched themselves at Jacob. My brothers and I lunged at Aro, taking him down. Jasper stuck to Aro's back like a leech and began prying his head from his neck, but Aro was able to grab my hand and pull. He may have been ancient, but Aro had enough strength to dislocate my shoulder and begin the process of tearing it from my body. I would not embarrass myself by screaming, but there were several of Bella's favorite epithets involved as I struggled against his hold. Emmett used his strength to pull on my arm in my direction, but it made the situation worse for my hand.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, I heard the shrieking cry from across the field that came from my mate. I looked up in time to witness her power as she tore across snow and rocks to get to me, dismissing vampires with what appeared to be telekinesis as she ran. She was glorious in her full elemental power, wind whipping through her hair and fire from her hands as any that attempted to accost her fell like bricks to the earth as she neared, Charlie close on her heels. She redirected him to Jacob, and just as she yelled my brothers' names she released hell on Aro. He let out a most inhuman sound as the flames claimed him, licking across his robe and engulfing his face. He was reduced to purple smoke and ash as Emmett pulled me to safety.

Despite the fact that everything was not yet over, I huddled with Bella and offered her what comfort I could to assure her I was alive. We had to rejoin the others and finish off those that were still left behind, but I never would have expected Bella to be the one to handle that. The sound she emitted must have registered extremely high on a frequency scale, for it far surpassed what humans could accomplish and actually hurt my eardrums. There was more quaking, more rumbling and shaking, and I saw too late when my mother fell. Father and Leah were nearest, and they saved her from disappearing into the deepest pit that Bella had created with her earthquake.

Esme was limping, and I heard in her mind as she thought of the way Leah had been forced to grab her at the knee with her jaw and fling her in Carlisle's direction. Leah just managed not to fall herself, something she was not keen to be repeating from her last fight. I heard all of the thoughts of the others and sifted through them for who was still in danger, who needed help, and who had fled. We returned to the other side of the field, Emmett helping Bella along before taking off to check on Esme.

Just as I realized that we had lost Maria, Bella doubled over and lost the contents of her stomach before fainting. "Emmett!" I called him back, hating feeling useless with my arm mangled the way it was.

He picked her up and carried her to the trees and the place we had spent the morning, where most of our family had already gathered. Alice came over to our group and picked Bella up from Emmett's arms without warning. I protested as she sat her up and leaned her against her chest like Bella was a little child, especially considering Alice's smaller stature.

"Calm yourself, Edward. I want a moment with my sister. She'll wake soon; using all of her powers at once drained her significantly."

Sure enough, Bella stirred and then gasped as she sat upright in Alice's lap. "Edward?"

"It is over. We won."

She scrambled off Alice and crossed to me, standing in front of me looking unsure. "Are you okay?" she whispered. Pain flitted across her face as she took in my appearance.

I sighed. "I will be, I promise."

And I would, but Carlisle would have to help me realign my hand and my shoulder correctly.

"Dude, we won!" Emmett cheered, and I smiled.

Bella sat beside me, and I was stroking her cheek as Carlisle came to join us. "There is one that wants to join us as animal drinkers. He helped the Denali sisters end Caius, and seems quite taken with Kate."

"That's cool," Jasper snickered, and I grinned at his thoughts of the new vampire being whipped by Kate's good looks.

"His name is Garrett, and he is already eager to explore Alaska." Carlisle looked around at us all. "Esme is attempting to find the chunk taken from her leg. Carmen was affected for several minutes from Jane's power, but has recovered." He cleared his throat. "We lost Maria, but she is the only casualty from our group. Zafrina blames herself and is inconsolable, but her sisters are caring for her."

"Do you think Marcus will rule in Volterra now?" I asked. I listened to the steady beating of Bella's heart as Carlisle answered my question.

"For centuries we have looked upon the Volturi as our rulers. I believe there are too many nomads that need to have the knowledge of someone greater than themselves out there in order to keep them in line. If Marcus wishes, he can run things with the remaining wives and guard."

Rose walked up at the tail end of Carlisle's sentence. "Oh, good, so we can have Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy running the empire."

Emmett guffawed and high fived his wife, pulling her close and kissing her so intimately I had to look away. I understood the feelings of victory and great relief that we had not all perished as we had feared, but I worried for my Bella.

"Are you truly well?" I asked her. She buried her face in my neck, but I felt her nod.

"I'm overwhelmed. With gratitude, with sorrow, and with awe. I had no idea I could do what I did. The consequences of my actions injured Esme and got Maria killed, though."

"Now, that is not the truth. The blame solely belongs to the Volturi for coming here and assuming that they could pick us up like a collection of powerful tchotkes. That is not now, nor will it ever be, how we live our lives." I stroked her hair with my good hand, and in the back of my mind I wondered how long I had before my arm would heal improperly.

"I know you're right, but I can't help feeling responsible," she said in a small voice.

"Do you blame Zafrina for what happened to Maria?"

"What? No!"

I smiled. "Then you cannot blame yourself."

Satisfied that I had made my point, I looked pointedly at Carlisle. "We need to move back to the house to help those that are injured." I looked at Emmett and Jasper. "You will keep an eye out for stragglers?"

They nodded, and Alice flitted off to round up the others. I noticed differing expressions on the faces around me, and then spotted Charlie and Renée. They huddled together in the clearing, Charlie's hands gripping the sides of his wife's face as he kissed her temple. Her arms were wound tightly around his torso, her hands coming up to cup his shoulders. I need not be an empath to understand the sentiments they were expressing.

When we returned to the house, I experienced a sense of nostalgia; I had not expected to ever see the house again. Bella had trudged alongside me, refusing help from any who offered her a piggyback ride, and now I sat on the couch to ensure she sat and rested. Carlisle went off to his office and returned with a sling and compression bandages. Bella watched carefully as Carlisle sat on the coffee table and set my shoulder back in place before settling it into the sling, and then he used the bandages to set my hand in the proper placement.

"His body will be healed before the night is over," Carlisle reassured Bella, who I noticed was crying.

"Hey, now, no tears. We were victorious."

"I know," she hiccuped. "It's just a rush of emotion after all that we had been prepared for, you know? I'm so glad it's over, and that we made it through." Her gaze drifted to the glass doors leading to the deck. "Or, most of us did." She looked back at me. "How is Esme?"

I listened intently to the thoughts throughout the house before turning my attention back to her. "Carlisle is doing for her what he did for me. She had to remove her pants to reach the spot, so they are in their bedroom. The missing piece is damaged, so time will tell if it heals as it should."

Bella groaned from next to me. "Also my fault."

"Hey, your earthquakes gained us the upper hand, so do not think like that."

I was interrupted by Charlie, who came to sit on Bella's other side. He dropped into the seat beside her and hugged her quite fiercely. Her arms went around him as well, and she cried into his shirt for several moments.

Some good had come out of this day. Charlie and Bella were closer than ever. Bella had learned she had more talent in her pinky toe than the rest of us combined. We gained a new family member, who would live with the Denalis in Alaska.

And I realized that forever was exactly as long as I had imagined. Our forever would equal the rest of eternity.