〃Aro；　would　you　ask　Jane　to　stop　attacking　my　wife？〃　Edward　asked　courteously。　〃We　are　still
  discussing　evidence。〃
  Aro　raised　one　hand。　〃Peace；　dear　ones。　Let　us　hear　him　out。〃
  The　pressure　disappeared。　Jane　bared　her　teeth　at　me；　I　couldn't　help　grinning　back　at　her。
  〃Why　don't　you　join　us；　Alice？〃　Edward　called　loudly。
  〃Alice；〃　Esme　whispered　in　shock。
  Alice！
  Alice；　Alice；　Alice！
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  〃Alice！〃　〃Alice！〃　other　voices　murmured　around　me。
  〃Alice；〃　Aro　breathed。
  Relief　and　violent　joy　surged　through　me。　It　took　all　my　will　to　keep　the　shield　where　it　was。　Alec's　mist
  still　tested；　seeking　a　weakness—Jane　would　see　if　I　left　any　holes。
  And　then　I　heard　them　running　through　the　forest；　flying；　closing　the　distance　as　quickly　as　they　could
  with　no　slowing　effort　at　silence。
  Both　sides　were　motionless　in　expectation。　The　Volturi　witnesses　scowled　in　fresh　confusion。
  Then　Alice　danced　into　the　clearing　from　the　southwest；　and　I　felt　like　the　bliss　of　seeing　her　face　again
  might　knock　me　off　my　feet。　Jasper　was　only　inches　behind　her；　his　sharp　eyes　fierce。　Close　after　them
  ran　three　strangers；　the　first　was　a　tall；　muscular　female　with　wild　dark　hair—obviously　Kachiri。　She　had
  the　same　elongated　limbs　and　features　as　the　other　Amazons；　even　more　pronounced　in　her　case。
  The　next　was　a　small　olive…toned　female　vampire　with　a　long　braid　of　black　hair　bobbing　against　her
  back。　Her　deep　burgundy　eyes　flitted　nervously　around　the　confrontation　before　her。
  And　the　last　was　a　young　man。。。　not　quite　as　fast　nor　quite　as　fluid　in　his　run。　His　skin　was　an　impossible
  rich；　dark　brown。　His　wary　eyes　flashed　across　the　gathering；　and　they　were　the　color　of　warm　teak。　His
  hair　was　black　and　braided；　too；　like　the　woman's；　though　not　as　long。　He　was　beautiful。
  As　he　neared　us；　a　new　sound　sent　shock　waves　through　the　watching　crowd—the　sound　of　another
  heartbeat；　accelerated　with　exertion。
  Alice　leaped　lightly　over　the　edges　of　the　dissipating　mist　that　lapped　at　my　shield　and　came　to　a　sinuous
  stop　at　Edward's　side。　I　reached　out　to　touch　her　arm；　and　so　did　Edward；　Esme；　Carlisle。　There　wasn't
  time　for　any　other　welcome。　Jasper　and　the　others　followed　her　through　the　shield。
  All　the　guard　watched；　speculation　in　their　eyes；　as　the　latecomers　crossed　the　invisible　border　without
  difficulty。　The　brawny　ones；　Felix　and　the　others　like　him；　focused　their　suddenly　hopeful　eyes　on　me。
  They　had　not　been　sure　of　what　my　shield　repelled；　but　it　was　clear　now　that　it　would　not　stop　a　physical
  attack。　As　soon　as　Aro　gave　the　order；　the　blitz　would　ensue；　me　the　only　object。　I　wondered　how　many
  Zafrina　would　be　able　to　blind；　and　how　much　that　would　slow　them。　Long　enough　for　Kate　and　Vladimir
  to　take　Jane　and　Alec　out　of　the　equation？　That　was　all　I
  could　ask　for。
  Edward；　despite　his　absorption　in　the　coup　he　was　directing；　stiffened　furiously　in　response　to　their
  thoughts。　He　controlled　himself　and　spoke　to　Aro　again。
  〃Alice　has　been　searching　for　her　own　witnesses　these　last　weeks；〃　he　said　to　the　ancient。　〃And　she　does
  not　come　back　empty…handed。　Alice；　why　don't　you　introduce　the　witnesses　you've　brought？〃
  Caius　snarled。　〃The　time　for　witnesses　is　past！　Cast　your　vote；　Aro！〃
  Aro　raised　one　finger　to　silence　his　brother；　his　eyes　glued　to　Alice's　face。
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  Alice　stepped　forward　lightly　and　introduced　the　strangers。　〃This　is　Huilen　and　her　nephew；　Nahuel。〃
  Hearing　her　voice。。。　it　was　like　she'd　never　left。
  Caius's　eyes　tightened　as　Alice　named　the　relationship　between　the　newcomers。　The　Volturi　witnesses
  hissed　amongst　themselves。　The　vampire　world　was　changing；　and　everyone　could　feel　it。
  〃Speak；　Huilen；〃　Aro　commanded。　〃Give　us　the　witness　you　were　brought　to　bear。〃
  The　slight　woman　looked　to　Alice　nervously。　Alice　nodded　in　encouragement；　and　Kachiri　put　her　long
  hand　on　the　little　vampire's　shoulder。
  〃I　am　Huilen；〃　the　woman　announced　in　clear　but　strangely　accented　English。　As　she　continued；　it　was
  apparent　she　had　prepared　herself　to　tell　this　story；　that　she　had　practiced。　It　flowed　like　a　well…known
  nursery　rhyme。　〃A　century　and　a　half　ago；　I　lived　with　my　people；　the　Mapuche。　My　sister　was　Pire。　Our
  parents　named　her　after　the　snow　on　the　mountains　because　of　her　fair　skin。　And　she　was　very　beautiful
  —too　beautiful。　She　came　to　me　one　day　in　secret　and　told　me　of　the　angel　that　found　her　in　the　woods；
  that　visited　her　by　night。　I　warned　her。〃　Huilen　shook　her　head　mournfully。　〃As　if　the　bruises　on　her　skin
  were　not　warning　enough。　I　knew　it　was　the　Libishomen　of　our　legends；　but　she　would　not　listen。　She
  was　bewitched。
  〃She　told　me　when　she　was　sure　her　dark　angel's　child　was　growing　inside　her。　I　didn't　try　to　discourage
  her　from　her　plan　to　run　away—I　knew　even　our　father　and　mother　would　agree　that　the　child　must　be
  destroyed；　Pire　with　it。　I　went　with　her　into　the　deepest　parts　of　the　forest。　She　searched　for　her　demon
  angel　but　found　nothing；　i　cared　for　her；　hunted　for　her　when　her　strength　failed。　She　ate　the　animals　raw；
  drinking　their　blood。　I　needed　no　more　confirmation　of　what　she　carried　in　her　womb。　I　hoped　to　save
  her　life　before　I　killed　the　monster。
  〃But　she　loved　the　child　inside　her。　She　called　him　Nahuel；　after　the　jungle　cat；　when　he　grew　strong　and
  broke　her　bones—and　loved　him　still。
  〃I　could　not　save　her。　The　child　ripped　his　way　free　of　her；　and　she　died　quickly；　begging　all　the　while
  that　I　would　care　for　her　Nahuel。　Her　dying　wish—and　I　agreed。
  〃He　bit　me；　though；　when　I　tried　to　lift　him　from　her　body。　I　crawled　away　into　the　jungle　to　die。　I　didn't
  get　far—the　pain　was　too　much。　But　he　found　me；　the　newborn　child　struggled　through　the　underbrush　to
  my　side　and　waited　for　me。　When　the　pain　ended；　he　was　curled　against　my　side；　sleeping。
  〃I　cared　for　him　until　he　was　able　to　hunt　for　himself。　We　hunted　the　villages　around　our　forest；　staying　to
  ourselves。　We　have　never　come　so　far　from　our　home；　but　Nahuel　wished　to　see　the　child　here。〃
  Huilen　bowed　her　head　when　she　was　finished　and　moved　back　so　she　was　partially　hidden　behind
  Kachiri。
  Aro's　lips　were　pursed。　He　stared　at　the　dark…skinned　youth。
  〃Nahuel；　you　are　one　hundred　and　fifty　years　old？〃　he　questioned。
  〃Give　or　take　a　decade；〃　he　answered　in　a　clear；　beautifully　warm　voice。　His　accent　was　barely
  noticeable。　〃We　don't　keep　track。〃
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  〃And　you　reached　maturity　at　what　age？〃
  〃About　seven　years　after　my　birth；　more　or　less；　I　was　full　grown。〃
  〃You　have　not　changed　since　then？〃
  Nahuel　shrugged。　〃Not　that　I've　noticed。〃
  I　felt　a　shudder　tremble　through　Jacob's　body。　I　didn't　want　to　think　about　this　yet。　I　would　wait　till　the
  danger　was　past　and　I　could　concentrate。
  〃And　your　diet？〃　Aro　pressed；　seeming　interested　in　spite　of　himself。
  〃Mostly　blood；　but　some　human　food；　too。　I　can　survive　on　either。〃
  〃You　were　able　to　create　an　immortal？〃　As　Aro　gestured　to　Huilen；　his　voice　was　abruptly　intense。　I
  refocused　on　my　shield；　perhaps　he　was　seeking　a　new　excuse。
  〃Yes；　but　none　of　the　rest　can。〃
  A　shocked　murmur　ran　through　all　three　groups。
  Aro's　eyebrows　shot　up。　〃The　rest？〃
  〃My　sisters。〃　Nahuel　shrugged　again。
  Aro　stared　wildly　for　a　moment　before　composing　his　face。
  〃Perhaps　you　would　tell　us　the　rest　of　your　story；　for　there　seems　to　be　more。〃
  Nahuel　frowned。
  〃My　father　came　looking　for　me　a　few　years　after　my　mother's　death。〃　His　handsome　face　distorted
  slightly。　〃He　was　pleased　to　find　me。〃　Nahuel's　tone　suggested　the　feeling　was　not　mutual。　〃He　had　two
  daughters；　but　no　sons。　He　expected　me　to　join　him；　as　my　sisters　had。
  〃He　was　surprised　I　was　not　alone。　My　sisters　are　not　venomous；　but　whether　that's　due　to　gender　or　a
  random　chance。。。　who　knows？　I　already　had　my　family　with　Huilen；　and　I　was　not　interested*—he
  twisted　the　word—〃in　making　a　change。　I　see　him　from　time　to　time。　I　have　a　new　sister；　she　reached
  maturity　about　ten　years　back。〃
  〃Your　father's　name？〃　Caius　asked　through　gritted　teeth。
  〃Joham；〃　Nahuel　answered。　〃He　considers　himself　a　scientist。　He　thinks　he's　creating　a　new　super…race。〃
  He　made　no　attempt　to　disguise　the　disgust　in　his　tone。
  Caius　looked　at　me。　〃Your　daughter；　is　she　venomous？〃　he　demanded　harshly。
  〃No；〃　I　responded。　Nahuel's　head　snapped　up　at　Aro's　question；　and　his　teak　eyes　turned　to　bore　into
  my　face。