Chapter 38- Each with their own plan

"Was it the right decision?" asked a voice filled with both beauty and tension, reminiscent of the delicate strings of a violin.

"It's too late now," replied another voice, similar in tone but with a sense of calmness, as if trying to comfort the other.

'Reporting from the city of xyz, the once vibrant streets have been overrun by a horde of powerful humanoids, capable of effortlessly demolishing cars and tossing them aside like ragdolls. The people of the city have faced a merciless massacre, with no regard for age or gender. The bustling town has transformed into a desolate ghost city overnight'

In the dimly lit room, illuminated solely by the glow of the television, a couple held each other tightly as they watched the devastating report unfold before their eyes.

The reporter continued to narrate, her voice trembling with emotion as she fought back tears. Despite her own distress, she maintained a professional demeanor. With each word spoken by the reporter, the couple in the dark room clung to each other even tighter, their gaze fixated on the screen as if they could witness the ticking countdown of their own lives.

"It will be alright here," a soothing male voice whispered in the darkness, unsure if he was trying to reassure his partner or himself.

"This is the safest place in the world," the voice continued, offering comfort to his trembling companion.

"We should have never defied Him," the female spoke in a quivering tone, hesitant to utter the name of her dreaded adversary.

"It was a foolish, foolish decision," she continued, her voice cracking under the weight of the gruesome images on the screen. As an undead who had lived for centuries, even she found them unbearable.

"At that moment, it felt like the right thing to do," the male persisted, embracing his shuddering partner. Her eyes widened in horror as the screen displayed more scenes of brutality. He reached out to change the channel, but a flawless hand stopped him. Meeting his partner's intense gaze, he halted with a deep sigh.

"He would have pursued us regardless; taking the initiative was the only option," the male spoke, gently massaging his partner's shoulder in an attempt to provide warmth, even though it was impossible.

"Was that everything? Or did you have intentions of leveraging His reputation to elevate the standing of our Irish coven?" Her voice grew increasingly sharp, causing the ancient room to tremble.

She maintained her intense gaze, her icy eyes piercing his heart with sorrow, yet he chose to remain silent and bowed his head slightly to kiss her.

"Thwack"

Her smooth hand struck him with immense force, sending him sprawling across the floor.

"You agreed to the scheme of those Amazonian women to enhance our coven's reputation." Each word she uttered lost its sweetness, becoming incomprehensible as her voice reached an unbearable pitch, causing the TV screen to crack.

"And you used me as a mere pawn!" She screeched loudly, causing debris to rain down from the ceiling.

"Woosh"

She appeared suddenly in front of her partner, swiftly grabbing him by the throat and exerting enough force to make his neck emit a sickening crunch. Glowing crystal dust cascaded down as a result of her actions.

Surprisingly, he offered no resistance, almost as if he had accepted his fate without protest.

"Was the reputation of our coven more important than me?" she screamed, her grip tightening even further. The cracks on his neck extended to his face, yet he remained unresponsive, seemingly resigned to his impending demise.

Observing his complete lack of resistance, a complex glimmer flickered in her crimson eyes, as if she was reminiscing about the countless experiences they had shared over the past five centuries.

She let out a deep sigh.

With a heavy sigh, she released her grip and let him go. Turning away, she glanced at the barely functioning screen, which displayed the reporter's face covered in cracks. The speakers emitted only garbled, unintelligible sounds.

"Crash"

"Smash"

Without warning, a car or some other object violently collided with the helicopter, engulfing it in flames while it was still in mid-air. The crew onboard didn't even have time to scream, as the entire incident unfolded in a matter of seconds.

The helicopter made a deafening crash landing, coinciding with the explosion of the television, causing shards of glass to scatter across the room.

Whether it was a supernatural occurrence or simply a strange coincidence, this event caused the female vampire to release a hysterical scream, as if she had witnessed her own demise on the television screen.

"Swoosh"

"Boom"

Consumed by paranoia, she forcefully crashed through the weak wall, effortlessly breaking through its aged structure.

She continued her rampage, demolishing one wall after another, leaving a path of destruction in her wake. Surprisingly, the ancient structure somehow withstood her relentless assault and remained standing.

In an instant, a group of individuals dressed in black cloaks emerged from the shadows, launching a surprise attack on her and restraining her forcefully.

"Kaach"

"Kaach"

With an uncanny level of precision, they swiftly removed one of her limbs, as if they had been trained for this very moment throughout their entire lives. Shortly after, her piercing scream pierced through the air. The excruciating pain snapped her back to reality, reminding her of where she was and the irreversible actions she had taken.

A frail and pallid hand slowly approached her skull, its seemingly feeble touch causing the air to whistle. Hearing the sound above her, she began to thrash about frantically, driven by her instinct to survive. However, nothing changed. She remained immobilized, devoid of her limbs.

"Woosh".

Just as the hand was about to shatter her skull, a second vampire appeared with remarkable speed. However, his efforts were futile as he too was held back by the black cloaks, who seemed to materialize out of the darkness like phantoms.

"Enough! Please, stop!" he cried out in a raspy voice, devoid of its usual gentleness, likely due to the injuries to his throat as his face and neck slowly healed.

The slender hand paused at the woman's neck, but the pressure remained, causing her to wince in agony.

"She possesses the ability of 'Outcome manipulation.' She can alter the course of any situation. It's a potent gift. Spare her life, and this will not happen again," he pleaded, still held in place as more shards of crystal dust fell from his face.

The hand ceased its pressure on the woman's neck but lingered there, prompting him to continue his impassioned plea to the black cloaks.

We will lead the charge in the upcoming battle. The man's words were spoken in haste, without fully considering the repercussions.

The dark figures vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving the woman without limbs writhing in agony, while her partner rushed to her aid.

Seeing his once vibrant companion now lying on the ground, limbless and with vacant eyes, covered in dust, caused him immense sorrow.

"Take it easy, my love. This is just a temporary setback. You will heal soon," he reassured her, carefully examining each limb to find them unharmed, letting out a deep sigh of relief.

He silently thanked their attackers for not destroying her limbs, as he brought them to her mouth for her to coat the ends with her venom.

In no time, she was standing on her own two feet, resembling a doll being pieced back together.

It was hard to believe that she had been reduced to dust and immobility. Only the scars hidden beneath her clothing and hair served as a reminder.

Embracing her from behind, he whispered in her ear...

"We find ourselves within the confines of Volturi's domain, commonly referred to as 'the safest place'. Our survival hinges on our collaboration with the other coven that has gathered here". With these words, he paused and surveyed the bustling compound of Volturi. It became apparent that, in her crazed state, she had inadvertently made her way into the open compound.

Numerous humans scurried about, engaged in various tasks and menial jobs. Some yearned for immortality, while others suffered from chronic illnesses or faced imminent demise. The remaining individuals sought vengeance.

"Fools," his mate uttered from his embrace. She spoke the truth, for once their usefulness waned, they would either be eliminated or left to perish in a desolate dungeon.

Clearing his mind, he extended his finger towards the distant sea of dark cloaks. These individuals displayed complete indifference towards the humans toiling around them. Like well-trained canines, they would only strike upon command, showcasing their formidable level of discipline.

He quietly murmured, ensuring that their conversation remained confidential.

"All those black cloaks with impeccable discipline are the barrier separating us from Jason," he sensed her slight shiver at the mention of the name, yet he persisted.

"Numerous covens have gathered here, many possessing formidable abilities," he continued, gradually captivating his partner.

The pair stood locked in each other's arms, exchanging hushed words, yet the peculiar sight went unnoticed as the vampires around them busied themselves in preparation for the impending war. Even the humans paid them no mind, as if they were invisible.

Sensing a presence, the male vampire lifted his gaze and met the eyes of Aro, who stood on his balcony like a monarch surveying his realm, his all-seeing gaze fixed on the duo, as if he could peer into their minds with his cloudy yet penetrating eyes.

With a subtle nod towards Aro, the pair vanished into the shadows once more, while other vampires set about repairing the damages. Aro observed with keen interest, finding entertainment in the seemingly mundane task, despite his millennia of existence.