Marcus’s beatific form damn near materialized in from of me. He searched the surrounding area then turned his intense gaze back to me. “Come, my Bella.” He held out his pale hand and I found that mine was already reaching for him. The moment our hands touched I was instantly in his thrall again. The battle was irrelevant, Edward immaterial. “It is too dangerous for you here. We must leave now.” He pulled me into his arms and began to run from the macabre scene.

Heidi’s fist came out of nowhere and used our own momentum from running to drive her hand through his chest, fingers locked around his heart. His hand that was gripping mine convulsed and he released me. I stumbled away from the scene, my heart torn at the sight of his anguished face and the blood-like venom roiling out of his transparent chest. Bella, please.

Aro’s hard hand rested on my shoulder, restraining me from going to Marcus’s aid. I was torn, Heidi was family now, but the urge to attack her was like no other. Only Aro’s strong hand kept me in place as the two graceful vampires fought. His thoughts filled my mind. He has used his power over love on her and now she’s completely besotted with him. He should die for this blasphemy. He knew that I wished her to be my mate. Marcus’s face, contorted in pain, found mine and he reached for me again. The vision I’d had during my transformation burned through my thoughts.

As Heidi began to yank Marcus’s heart from his chest, Aro’s resolve wavered. I cannot allow this traitor to defeat one of the most powerful vampires in the world. Just as he finished this thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

Caius’s long fingers came out of nowhere and were just as quickly embedded into Heidi’s throat. With a thick wet sound her head was torn off and flung towards the fire that was raging a mere few feet away. I screamed as I used all my newborn strength to escape Aro’s clutches and raced toward the fire to stop her head from being burned.

Edward’s face snapped in my direction and horror colored his features as he realized that I was in the midst of the true force of the Volturi. He sprinted up the beach, Demetri close on his heels. He fell to his knees and let out a gut-wrenching scream at the sight of his beloved’s head still clasped in my hands.