Chapter 13:
The Volturi

A heavy silence settled over them, but it wasn't as heavy as the awkwardness in the atmosphere around them. The elevator ride was accompanied by soft opera music and the tapping of Hunter's foot. Unsettled eyes glanced around, trying to avoid contact with another. It was a tight squeeze, that elevator.

Hunter's shoulder was practically attached to Edward's and their fingers brushed ever so softly. She felt nothing but he continued to battle whatever it was he felt for her. His face was stoic and unreadable and it frustrated her. She wished she could read his mind for a change.

The ride was over and they pile out of the elevator, an italian woman greeting them almost immediately. She was human. A human working for vampires in hopes to be gifted with immortality.

Jane led them down another hallway, her head held high in the air. She was confident in herself. She knew of her highness and she relished in it. Her cold hands push open the very large doors and it revealed a very open and historic room.

If Hunter had to guess, this was the court room. The place where the decisions are made and the death penalties take place. As soon as she passed the threshold, a shiver ran down her spin and a gasp left her lips. Her chest felt like it caved in and the goosebumps littered her body. It was a whole nother world.

She was tugged in by Bella, the pale human wanting to stay by her best friend's side through whatever this was.

"Sister, they send you out to get one and you bring back three? And a half?" A young boy asked, watching the crowd walk in. Jane said nothing as she waltzed over to his side, waiting for her next orders to come.

The man sat in the center of the thrones stood up, a rather wicked smile stretched on his lips, "What a happy surprise!" He exclaimed, holding his hands out with joy.

Hunter paid him no mind. Her eyes were too enthralled in how high the ceiling was and how perfect the floors were. Though she didn't forget about the feeling she received upon walking in. "Bella is alive after all." She assumed, Aro said. "Isn't that wonderful?" He approached them, "I love a happy ending."

He grabbed onto Edward's hand, leaving Bella with a gasp. "They are so rare." He mumbled. Edward gasped lightly and shook. He was watching his every thought, learning and gaining new information. "Her blood appeals to you so much. It makes me thirsty. How can you stand to be so close to her?"

Aro's revelation made Hunter nervous. What if he found too much and says what her mother told her in her nightmare?

Edward swallowed his saliva, his throat burning. "It's not without difficulty."

Aro nodded, "Yes I can see that." He chuckled lightly. Edward glanced at both girls, "Aro can read every thought I've ever had with one touch. And now you know everything. So get on with it."

The ruby red eyed man smiled, looking away from the couple. His eyes finally land on Hunter's and he glows in surprise. A loud and dramatic gasp leaves his lips, "Hunter. The daughter of the apple of my eye,"

Her skin whitened and she became paralyzed. The words that slipped out of his mouth couldn't have been real. She didn't want to believe it. The woman who had been tormenting her for months was never dead. The woman she had been mourning over since she could talk, blaming herself for killing her. Her mother was alive. Dead but still breathing and walking the same earth as her, living her best life.

"What." Hunter said through gritted teeth. Her hands were tight at her sides, each one begging to make contact with anything. She so badly wanted to run away and tear anyone who got in her way apart. She could feel that darkness in her creeping up again, pushing her to the edge she'd been so afraid of.

Aro's jaw stayed open in amusement and he moved over to her, "That's right, you don't know her." He reached to grab her hand but when he did, it was blank. He couldn't see not one thought, not even a smudge. His smile fell and his eyes widen, "Your thoughts are hidden. Something is pushing me out."

Hunter bit the inside of her cheek and her glare hardened. She was using every bit of her will to hold herself back. They were so close to leaving and she didn't want to be the one to spoil their chance. "Amazing." He beamed. "Willow dear," he called out, his eyes not moving from Hunter's, "Someone's here to see you."

Hunter yanked her hand away from Aro's and her breathing picked up. With her heart racing in her chest at a speed so incredibly dangerous, she believed that she would die right there.

Then, the woman from her night terrors emerged from a back room. She was everything she remembered, dark hair, pale skin, and sinister red eyes. "Hunter." Bella whispered, gently tugging on her. She needed to relax but how could she? Her dead mother was right before her.

Willow's eyes scanned the room full of faces, wondering why Aro has called her from her chambers. She never liked to be disturbed. Once her eyes land on Hunter's her eyes shimmer over and a smirk spreads. "I can't believe this." She spoke, practically gliding across the floor to her.

Steam rolled from Hunter's ears, her nostrils burned with anger, and it felt like every bone in her body was shaking with hunger. She wanted nothing more than to rip apart the woman who caused her so much mental anguish. The woman who abandoned her own daughter to pursue a life of evil.

Willow's hand reached out to touch Hunter's cheek but the young girl pulled her face out of reach, pure disgust on her face. The woman wasn't offended, in fact, she expected this. "I've missed you, my child."

"Go to hell." Hunter spat, her grip on Bella's hand tightening drastically. She wanted this to be just another nightmare. To wake up in her bed and be safe, safer than she was now. Because if this wasn't a nightmare, then that meant that her mother was alive and well.

Willow blinked, her smile never leaving. She took good looks at everyone else, her eyes lingering on Bella. "You must be Bella. You poor, poor girl. Stuck in the middle."

Bella's eyebrows furrowed but she didn't think much of it. However, both Hunter and Edward knew exactly what this woman was trying to do. The secrets would come pouring out and there was no telling how bad this would end.

"I'm glad my daughter, half vampire half werewolf, is protecting you." Willow smirked. First secret revealed. Gasps erupted from Bella and the rest of the Volturi. Hunter exhaled deeply and her nails poked at her palms. "She's trying to trigger you. Don't let her get to you." Edward's voice spoke in her head.

Bella's hand slowly began to untighten, disbelief on her face. "It is possible you know." Willow continued, "Born with protecter's DNA, gifted with eternity."

Hunter scoffed, "It's possible to shut up too, you know."

Her mother nodded and clasped onto Aro's arm, "You are your father's daughter." Her tone was disgusted and annoyed, as if getting with her father was the worst decision she had ever made.

Hunter tried to run forward but Alice made sure to grab onto her arm, "Don't talk about my father!" She yelled, the darkness inside of her growing. "Hunter, you need to calm down." Alice told her, lightly pulling her back.

   "No it's quite alright, Ms. Alice." Willow smiled, "My child resents me and that's not unexpected."

   "Yeah because you left me. Everyone told me you died giving birth to me." Hunter hissed, "I should kill you now."

Aro laughed and held his hand up, "No need to make a scene. We're all friends here."

Hunter could hear her own heart beat pounding in her ears and there was a red color tinging the sides of her vision. She was boiling up like a tea kettle and when the kettle began to sing, she would blow up. "Some more than others." Willow smirked, eyeing Bella, "Isn't that right Edward."

Hunter snatched her hand out of Bella's, another secret was on the tip of her mother's tounge and she couldn't- she wouldn't, let it spill out. "What is she talking about Edward?" Bella asked, her face fearful.

   "Nothing. She's a manipulator, she stirs conflict. It's what she does. Anything she says is a lie." Edward told Bella, not letting his eyes leave the woman's.

   "On the contrary. My gift is knowing everyone's deepest secrets, their every thought, every decision. Everything I say, is the truth." Willow told Bella. "Though I can never see my own daughter's or yours, Bella. It's fascinating. I look at you both, and I see nothing. Just black."

Hunter and Bella find each other's eyes, both grateful that their minds weren't an open book. "I guess I'm just immune to parasites." Hunter spoke, ignoring Edward's now hurt eyes.

Aro smiled and released Willow, moving to the center of the room. "Let's see if you both are immune to all our powers. Shall we, Jane?"

Edward, already knowing what was about to happen, ran forward, "No!" Jane looked at him and without batting an eye, she started. "Pain." She said, watching Edward stop his movements and grunt, agonizing pain spreading through his body in less than a second.

Hunter's eyes widen and she slightly moves forward with concern. It was like he was being choked to death. His hands raise at his sides and his body almost floats off the ground. He was silenced, the pain being too much to even make a sound.

   "Stop!" Bella exclaimed as Edward collapsed onto the ground. Jane didn't let up. Bella went to move but the shorter vampire guard held her back, "No, stop! Please, stop!"

Hunter slaps her hand on the guard's chest and gave him a warning look, "Back up." She held out her other arm to keep Bella out of harm's way and the guard smirked at her.

   "Just stop hurting him! Please! Please!" Bella cried, her eyes piercing into Aro's and her hands holding onto Hunter for dear life.

Aro tilted his head, "Jane?" Almost instantly, the blonde girl shifted her eyes away from Edward and to Aro, "Master?"

Hunter cringed and watched Edward gasp for air. He was okay. "You're a crazy one aren't you?" Hunter mumbled, knowing that Jane could hear her.

   "Go ahead, my dear." Willow ordered Jane, watching her daughter with mischief.

Jane's eyes fly over to Bella with a grin, "This may hurt just a little." Hunter pulled her friend behind her and glared holes into the little vampire, "Don't even try it."

Bella put her hand on Hunter's shoulder, a somber look in her eyes, "Hunter, it's okay. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

The hybrid sighed, "I won't let you suffer either."

   "It's my decision. I'll be okay." Bella assured, lightly pushing Hunter's arms down. Hunter moved aside and ignored Edward's pleading eyes. If anything too serious happens, Hunter was ready to attack. She would never let Bella die.

Bella breathed heavily and readied herself, glaring at Jane who only smiled with glee. They all stood, waiting, but nothing happened. Jane's smile slipped away and Aro broke out into laughter, amazed. "Remarkable." He whispered.

Before he could say anything else, Jane continued, "Pain." She said, a bit louder than usual. Hunter's eyes flickered to her's and a burning sensation quickly spread throughout her body. She grunted and reached for her throat. It felt as if her body was deteriorating from the inside, all the oxygen escaping and being replaced with a molten fire in her lungs.

She fell onto her knees and Bella ran to her, "Stop!" She yelled again, only to be held back by the same guard again.

Hunter breathed out angrily, her mind not resting for the pain. Her threatening eyes flicker back over to Jane and eyebrows raise in anticipation. She pushed, mentally. She imagined all the pain she felt flowing out from her body and it worked. Her legs stopped aching, her arms gained feeling, and air filled her again.

Jane's smile left again and she immediately reached for her throat. The pain was in her now. Everyone's eyes flicker to Jane with amazement, she was suffering from her own gift.

Aro lifted up his hand, "Enough." Hunter huffed and dragged her eyes away from Jane, the girl erupting into coughs and gasping for air.

   "Gifted with I assume, telekinesis?" Willow asked, her lips reaching her ears in a grin. She looked like she was plotting, a very probing look in her eyes. It didn't settle well with anyone.

   "They confound us all." Aro smiled, "So what do we do with you now?"

Hunter stood frozen. Her fists stayed at her sides and she silently teased them all, daring them to start a fight. She believed that they'd make it out alive. An older man in the back, seated on a throne spoke, "You already know what you're going to do, Aro." His voice sounded hoarse and tired, like this has been the normal routine for centuries.

Willow smirked, "Bella knows too much. She's a liability." Aro sighed. Bella slumped her shoulders and her mouth slightly opened, they were going to kill her. "That's true." Aro mumbled, "Felix."

The short vampire turned Bella around in less than a second and a gasp left her lips. "No!" Edward yelled, getting to her side in an instant and flipping Bella behind him. He pounced onto Felix, both of them hissing with anger.

Alice ran to help out her brother but the shorter guard held her back, putting her in a headlock she couldn't escape. Hunter growled when Felix pushed Edward off him, letting him soar through the air before he rushed over, grabbed him by the troat, and slammed him onto the ground, cracks forming from the force.

Hunter moved to run over and help but her mother was in front of her in a millisecond. She gasped and stopped. Willow smiled before she grabbed her daughter's head. Hunter yelped and watched the world around her crumble.

Her reality was being altered. The room disappeared as did everyone else and the two of them were back in Forks, in the field where her nightmares occured. The sunlight poured through and the grass was dead. Hunter whimpered and looked around, afraid that everything that just happened was in fact just a dream. She fell to her knees and gripped at the grass, "No, no, no, no, no!" She screamed.

   "Did I forget to mention that I can control what the mind sees? Living, dead, sleeping, or even wide awake." Willow chuckled, walking over towards her daughter. "If the mind is weak enough, or if I'm in close enough contact, I can alter everything you see."

Hunter breathed heavily and got onto her feet, looking for anyone, "Bella! Alice! Wake me up!" She screamed, hoping she could be saved.

Willow brushed hair out of Hunter's face only for her hand to be slapped away, "Don't try it. No one can see or hear us anymore."

Hunter shoved her mother, "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

Her mother held her hands out, "I want you to join us. Become apart of the Volturi, put your gifts to good use. Don't you want to be powerful?" Hunter shook her head, acknowledging how close to the edge she was.

   "I never want to be like you." She hissed.

Willow sighed, "I am your mother, I know what's best for yo-"

   "You are not my mom!" Hunter yelled, "You decided that when you left me. You don't get to use that on me."

Willow scoffed, "You were a virus. A terrible nine months that was for me. I wanted to get rid of you but your father convinced me not to. And me, being the lovesick imbecile that I was, listened."

Tears brimmed her eyes and soft sobs escaped. "But when you were born, I realized that I made no mistake. I knew you would become the strong woman you are now. I couldn't stay. There was so much I wanted to do, so much I needed to do. I loved you too much to ruin your life. So I left. I told your father my true intentions and he let me go. Said I was an abomination."

   "You are." Hunter spat, letting her tears free.

   "Love was a weakness I couldn't afford to have." Willow explained, her figure moving around aimlessly. "If I had stayed, you and your father would've been dead. So you're welcome."

Hunter stared at her with disbelief, "My dad is dead. He died! He was killed in a hunting accident!" Willow's face fell and it was filled with an unreadable expression. It seemed like she was caught off guard. "But I blame you. I blame you for everything that has ever happened to us."

   "Oh come on darling, I did nothing but save you." Willow sneered.

Everytime she opened her mouth, Hunter only grew angrier. The red around the edges of her eyes started to spread, covering her entire vision. The only thing on her mind was killing this woman, ripping her head off and burning the rest.

   "You'll learn how bad love is when that boy you like so much is put in harms way. Or when Bella hates you for Edward being in love with you?" Willow laughed, watching her daughter grow angrier by the second. She backed up into the center of the field, basking in the sunshine and warm air. Her skin sparkled and her smell intruded in Hunter's nose.
The smell of a vampire.

   "Or even worse, when I kill everyone you've ever loved-" she was cut off by bones snapping and growls echoing around her.

The floor vibrated and the atmosphere rumbled with a roar so loud, even everyone in the real world heard it. Willow turned around to see a very large, all grey werewolf standing where her daughter previously was. The red eyes of the wolf pierced into her own and she sighed, "Okay Hunter, you've done it. We know already, there's no need to show off."

Without another sound, Hunter sped over to her mother and pranced onto her, her claws piercing in Willow's arms. The older woman screamed in agony and the woods began to deteriorate.

They fell from mid-air and onto the ground in the Volturi court room, alerting everyone around them. Willow's screams leaked through the room and Aro widened his eyes.

Hunter used her teeth to grab onto Willow's robe and she lifted her up, the woman whimpering in fear. "Please, child, forgive me." She begged. Hunter huffed out through her nose, the force blowing Willow's dark hair around. Without another thought, Hunter flung her mother away, letting her body slam into the wall across the room. Aro yelped and watched his lover with concern.

Her wolf form watched her friends. She found Bella and Edward safe in each other's arms and Alice right beside them. Edward seemed happy to see her, Bella was relieved yet afraid, and Alice seemed reluctant to even look at her. Everyone was okay.

All Volturi eyes turned to her, angrily and threateningly. She stomped her right paw and let out one last angry roar, everyone shaking and covering their ears.

Then her bones snapped back, her body morphing into her human self again. Everyone looked away instantly. "Get her a robe, please." Edward said, looking to one of the guards.

Hunter looked down and noticed that she was indeed naked. "Of course." She sighed. The shorter