Remembering Bella

Prologue.

The snow made a soft crunching noise under her feet... she could move silently if she wished but they had been surveying these forests for the last two weeks and she was bored.

She blew out a breath and thought about how when humans did that a small white cloud would emerge from the heat of their bodies.

She couldn't feel the cold, couldn't remember what it was to be cold. She had heard a human say once that they were so cold their fingers were numb... she knew what it felt to be numb. It was required with her position. It was a position of honor to be sure. A position she was grateful for, but you couldn't show weakness if you were the head of the guard for Aro, weakness was not to be tolerated.

That was the first thing he had taught her.

No she couldn't remember the cold... only the pain. The pain that had shuttled her into this life and out of her old one. Not the burning pain of the venom in her veins... but the pain of a bone snapping... head pounding... blood spilling. Her blood spilling.

Then Aro... walking towards her from the darkness. He had offered her his hand and his protection. He had taught her everything. He had made her into the vampire she was... and she owed him her existence for it. She had taken his hand and she had honed the memory of that pain into a rage. It was the only part of her human life she still had.

That wasn't entirely true.

There were the eyes as well... the golden eyes taunting and mocking her. Reveling in her pain as she cried out for help. That was her last memory... no help had come. Aro had found her covered in her own blood... her body broken and he had saved her. He had given her a second chance.

"Do you want every newborn in the Olympic Peninsula to know we are here?" Demetri hissed at her. She hadn't realized she still crunched the snow under her feet intentionally. She was lost in thought.

"Lighten up, Demetri... we haven't caught a fresh scent in two days." She said to her companion. Jane and the others waited for updates in Seattle and kept track of the human disappearances. She and Demetri had been tracking the multiple bands of newborns... trying to figure out their commanders and if there might be any talent amongst them.

Aro did so hate to see talent go to waste. Chelsea was at the ready for them to call her should they need someone's allegiance altered.

"Isa we are only two. We still must be cautious." Demetri cautioned.

Isabella rolled her eyes. "You're the greatest tracker in the world... you truly think some frantic newborn could surprise us?"

Demetri smirked at her compliment and she knew he wasn't annoyed with her any longer. Demetri was her closest and perhaps only friend. He was also the only other vampire she truly trusted besides Aro. It was a game of power they all played and you had to always watch your back. She didn't have to do that with Demetri.

"Still... silence please. If we did walk into an ambush and something happened to you, Aro would have my head on a pike." She didn't comment because she knew he wasn't wrong. She was Aro's favorite. A powerful title to hold... but a dangerous one as well.

They walked for a bit longer but were picking up nothing.

"We need to split up." She sighed. She had suggested it the day before but Demetri was protective and did not like to send her off alone. He sighed now though because he knew she was right.

"Fine... I'll go west. We will circle back and meet up at dawn." She saluted him and began to head in the opposite direction he was headed but he grabbed her arm.

"Call me if you find anything or need my help." He said seriously and she rolled her eyes.

"I appreciate the concern but I think I can handle myself."

"You weren't alive for the last wars, Isa. You've only dealt with one newborn at a time... maybe two. When there is an entire platoon you don't stand a chance... they're volatile. So please... don't be stupid." He warned and she nodded though she wanted to roll her eyes again.

"I will be careful, Demetri." He seemed pleased with her words so with a quick nod he disappeared.

Isabella continued her slow walk through the forest. Taking in every scent she could. After a few hours she stopped as a peculiar smell filled her nose. She took a deep breath. It was a vampire... but not a newborn. The vampire had age... but their scent was odd. She sniffed again, there were three of them, they all smelled... gamey.

She began walking towards the vampires and she could hear they approached her as well. Did they know she was Volturi? She stopped walking as Demetri's warning filled her mind. It could be a trap... or these strange vampires could be the ones creating these newborns. She wondered if she should call Demetri but the steps were getting closer. If she tried to run now they would surely pursue... she needed to play it by ear.

"We are no threat to you!" A voice called from a clearing. She put her hood on and stepped from the trees.

"I will determine that." She replied in a low voice.

"You are with the Volturi are you not? Aro has sent you?" A feminine voice inquired. Isabella did not respond. She listened to their closeness and honed in on her surroundings should she need to flee.

"Our leader... Carlisle, is an old friend of Aro's. We only want to offer aid to the Volturi with this new threat." A man's voice said.

"The Volturi neither wants or requires the help of some small band of nomads." She hissed.

"We are not nomads... we have a permanent residence in the area. We can go there to speak if you wish." The man said softly. She thought this was all very bizarre.

She pulled her hood away so that she could look upon these strange vampire's faces. The man in front had copper colored hair and he stared openly at her now with his mouth agape. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Bella." He whispered... his voice full of some long forgotten emotion that Isabella could not place.

She scanned his face... nothing about him was familiar to her except... his eyes.

Golden eyes that had haunted her ever since her awakening.

Isabella gasped as the familiar pain shot through her.