Ashes of the Moon

Chapter 1 - Never Forgotten

It was like history is repeating itself.

How could anyone forget when the world almost stopped seven years ago?

It was snow that blanketed the clearing before.

Now, just icy silence, muffling breath and sound as if the world had been paused, again. The wind howled gently across the vast field: cold, ancient, unforgiving.

And on either side of the clearing, two worlds stood ready to destroy each other.

The Cullen alliance stood united.

Bella had expanded her shield like a dome, bigger and stronger than the last time, shimmering clearly in the cold light. Edward stood at her side, his hand brushing hers. Renesmee clutched Jacob's fingers, who remained in his human form, for now, but his muscles were coiled, his golden-brown eyes scanning every movement across the divide.

On Bella's other side stood Luna, silent, composed, but her fingers trembled. Alexander stood near her in his human form, tall and tense, his sharp eyes rarely leaving her face.

Behind them, dozens of wolves, more than a hundred, watched from the edge of the forest, golden eyes glowing like lanterns in the mist.

Garrett and Benjamin, Zafrina and Kebi. Carmen and Eleazar. Tanya, Kate, and the rest of the Denali. The Romanians: Stefan and Vladimir, stood just beside Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice and Jasper

The alliance was ready.

But so was the enemy.

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Across the clearing, the Volturi had arrived in grim, theatrical grace.

Aro. Marcus. And Caius, draped in black and red, surrounded by their elite guards, and more than a dozen new faces, additions to their growing army. Among them, a vampire gifted with shield-breaking, whose range required him to be within five meters to truly be effective. He waited quietly, like a lion on a chain. Jane and Alec in tow. Time stopper. Lightning Speed.

And in the middle of the Volturi stood their ancient kings.

Caius's jaw was tight. His eyes flicked across the Cullen ranks: hungry, calculating every single one on the other side and finding every possible weakness.

The Cullens.

Edward. Bella. Their Miracle hybrid and wolf.

Old and new faces. The Romanians are there again.

But then

They stopped.

His breath caught as he locked eyes on someone near the front.

The newborn. Luna

She stood unaware, the dirt and wind gently dusting her dark hair, her posture unsure but brave. And in that moment, Caius didn't see the girl. He saw the reason he was still alive.

The very reason he had endured centuries of emptiness and rage.

Selena.

His soul seized. His body stilled.

He was too stunned to speak or move as if his mind was playing tricks on him.

Aro, sensing the sudden emotional rupture in his brother, turned. "Caius?" he asked smoothly.

Caius said nothing.

Aro, intrigued, touched his palm to Caius's hand and staggered.

The visions came all at once: Caius's centuries of grief. His relentless search for a supernatural strong enough to bring Selena back. And now, his mind that was burning with recognition. With certainty.