Twilight: A New Story

Chapter 8

We were sat watching the news when Bella and Edward came in. The reporter was talking about the rising number of deaths and disappearances.

'It's getting worse. We're going to have to do something,' Carlisle said.

'It takes more than one of our kind to cause the damage they're reporting. Quite a few more. They're undisciplined, conspicuous...' Jasper said.

'Newborns,' I concluded.

'You mean... New vampires?' Bella asked.

'In the first few months after the change we are at our most vicious, uncontrollable, insane with thirst. No one has trained these newborns, but this isn't random,' Jasper said.

Realisation dawned on our faces.

'Someone's creating an army,' Carlisle said.

'Well, now we're definitely going to Seattle,' Emmett stood up.

'Wait, an army? Of vampires?' Bella asked.

'There haven't been any newborn armies in over a century that I know of,' Carlisle said.

'There is now. And they've been created to fight someone,' Jasper said.

'We're the only clan even close to Seattle,' I commented.

'Regardless, if we don't put a stop to it, the Volturi will,' Carlisle sighed, 'I'm surprised they let it go on for this long.'

'Maybe they're ignoring it. Or even... behind it,' I frowned at Edward's comment, 'When we were in Italy, I read it in Aro's mind. He didn't want me to see it, but it was there. He wants me, Alice, and Molly to join him. Our gifts would make him more powerful. But he knows we would never choose him as long as our family is alive. An army would solve that for him.'

I stared at Edward in shock.

'We can't wait two weeks for graduation; you need to change me now!' Bella exclaimed.

'You'd be a liability as a newborn. Unable to control your instincts. An easy target,' Jasper told her.

Carlisle put a hand on Bella's shoulder.

'There's also your mother and father to consider. How terrible would it be for them if you suddenly disappeared?' he said.

'But... we are gonna kick someone's ass, right?' Emmett asked, confused.

~*~

I walked into the kitchen after doing some tracking to find Bella getting her hand bandaged. From reading Edward's thoughts, I discovered she had punched Jacob Black in the face.

'Nice,' I commented, grinning.

'Did you find any leads?' Edward asked me.

'No sign of the intruder but Victoria continues to make appearances,' I told them.

'She's toying with us. Keeping us distracted,' Carlisle said.

'From Seattle?' Emmett asked.

'Or the intruder. Or something else,' I said.

'Alice can keep tracking her decisions but we have to track her on the ground,' Edward said.

'We've already covered the entire southern peninsula down to Quinault,' Jasper said.

'We'll search the northwestern trail...' Edward continued but I caught a look from Carlisle that told me to go hunt.

I stepped outside to hear Rosalie lecturing Bella on becoming a vampire. She told Bella she was making the wrong choice as none of us wanted this life. None of us chose it and would have been happier leading a human life.