Vagabond

The Newborns

Present Day

Adrenaline and excitement filled me as I stood still, patiently waiting for the newborn army to break through the trees. I could hear them crashing recklessly through the forest. Bella's scent and the blood she had smeared along the path drawing them closer to their deaths.

It was such a waste. All those lives stolen by Victoria, pawns in her game, each one destined to die on this field tonight. The first pale face appeared and I launched into action. The Cullens followed as I made quick work in disposing of the first newborn. It was true what Jasper and I told the others - newborns are harder to kill than normal vampires. However, I had lived a very long time. I had fought battles and wars and killed more than I could count in this lifetime. Even without my powers, nobody stood a chance against me.

I allowed myself to be consumed with the rush of battle. Ripping and tearing through the oncoming army as the sound of snarls and porcelain skin cracking could be heard all around me. Shortly after the battle had begun, the wolves launched themselves into the mix. I paused for a moment near the tree line to take in the sight before me. Vampires and werewolves working together against a common enemy.

In my moment of pause I heard someone behind me. Whipping around, prepared to attack, I stopped short at the figure in front of me. The girl couldn't have been much older than fifteen and she was small, even for her age. She looked terrified. As though she didn't want to be there. I noticed her eyes were scanning the field, desperately trying to find someone in the mix. When the girl finally realized I had spotted her hiding spot she gasped and fell to the ground.

She reminded me of Helga.

"Shh, it's alright. I am not going to hurt you." The girls dark hair swung low to her waist as she shook in fear. Glancing behind me, I made sure nobody was paying attention to us before crouching down to her level.

 "My name is Elsie, what's your name?"

"Bree." The girl stuttered out.

"Okay Bree, I am going to offer you a choice right now - which isn't something I give very often - but you need to think quickly. Either I kill you here and I make it swift. Or you help me out and I can offer you sanctuary."

Bree's eyes scanned behind me once more. I watched as a sadness filled her young eyes as she came to some sort of conclusion before she spoke, "What do you want from me?"

The girl was incredibly smart and observant I realized as she told me everything. From how Riley had been turned first, used to lure in the numbers so Victoria could change them and stay out of the Cullens' powers. About her mate Diego who had been killed by Victoria and her friend Fred who was waiting for her in Vancouver. I was particularly interested in Fred's powers.

I had just finished giving Bree instructions for what to do should the time come. Bree had seen Victoria go up the mountain while she was hiding and I knew Edward would need help.

I smelled Carlisle and Esme as the appeared behind us, Bree's face confirming as it lit up in terror. I did my best to calm her down, standing between her and the Cullens.

"What's this?" Esme asked.

"This is Bree. I have offered her sanctuary in exchange for her cooperation." I glanced over my shoulder to where Bree was cowering behind me, "Bree these are my friends. They are going to protect you while I take care of Victoria."

Carlisle looked like he wanted to protest so I quickly told him, "Please Carlisle, she's just a girl. She didn't know what she was doing."

My old friend looked at Bree for a moment in contemplation before he nodded once. I told Bree that I would be back for her soon and then turned to race up the mountain, hopefully in time to save the biggest pains in my ass I had ever met.