Disclaimer : Neither the Covenant or Twilight belongs to me. Surprising, I know.

Prelude

Dear Edward,

I'm sorry for leaving so early, and I'm sorry for not saying goodbye, but it's better this way. There are things, important things, in my life that you are unaware of, things you should stay unaware of. I wish I could tell you, but...I made a promise, or rather, I inherited one.

Not that it makes much difference, really. You were probably on your way to say goodbye to me, and that's when you found this letter. I know you better than you think I do, Edward. Not that a blind monkey couldn't have figured out what you planned. The look in your eyes after Jasper attacked me? After you told me that you were damned and refused to take away my soul, too?Not hard to figure out what you were thinking, which is 'I'm too dangerous for her'.

So maybe I'm just beating you to the punch, leaving you before you can leave me. That's what my brother would say, you know. That I'm being a coward. I like to think, though, that I'm keeping you safe from the harm that my eighteenth birthday will bring. Yeah, sorry about that lie, too. My eighteenth birthday is September 15, which is tomorrow, or today, depending on if its midnight yet.

I love you so, so much, Edward, I really do. I'm sorry I had to leave like this, but...well, but nothing. I'm just plain sorry.

Maybe one day I'll contact you again, or we'll run into each other. Part of me hopes so, but the other part knows you could very well hate me after this...

Forever your's,

Isabella Marie

She sighed and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face, not bothering to tuck it back into the ponytail. She reread the letter once more, making sure that her tears landed on the stripped bed and not the actual letter, then folded it into a heart shape. She slipped the cheesy note into a manila folder with a picture of her and Edward together (one of the few she had), then gulped back the next wave.

"You ready, Isy?" Her brother asked softly from the doorway, green eyes sad as he watched his half-sister suffer. He really hated to do this to her, but she had asked.

Her hand reached out and he moved to hold it, pulling her off the bed and into a side hug. His eyes pulsed amber for a second, then the whites seeped to black as her suitcases vanished. Thirty seconds later, the entire room was empty except the base furniture and the manila envelope, the named Edward Cullen scrawled on the front.

Three Hours Later

"Dude, what the fuck was that?"

Reid wasn't surprised that the first thing out of Caleb's mouth was a demand. Ever since Sarah had left to visit her cousin over the break, their 'fearless leader' had been more stick-up-the-ass than usual.

"Keep your damn voice down, got it?" Reid snarled back, his eyes flashing as he shoved his blonde hair out of his face. "And that was me traveling to fucking Washington, that's what that was."

Caleb froze at that, eyes widening. There was only one thing in Washington that Reid, or any of them, for that matter, would Use so much for. Stepping around Reid, the leader of the group poked his head around the door of the small house. A second later, he was perched on the bed, staring at his friend's little sister.

"I thought we agreed not to bring her back, for her own good," Caleb whispered, though he didn't sound angry. The group had always been more complete during those rare times that Isy had been around.

"Yeah, well, she called me, said she needed us," Reid shrugged, "Besides, have you forgotten? She's almost eighteen; she'll be ascending in a few days." A glance at the clock had him wincing, "Okay, less than two days."

She was the youngest, even younger than Tyler, who had ascended a few months ago. She was also the least experienced and the least powerful. In some ways, because she was weak on the power scale, and because she had people to guide her, her ascension would be easy. In other ways? Well, Isy had never been much for Using, and she had almost no training. That would make it a little more complicated.

"Damn, that's right." Caleb muttered after a second, brushing her hair back from her face. "She looks horrible, too. Wonder if she's been sleeping at all."

Reid grumbled under her breath. "Probably not," He motioned for Caleb to leave the room with a jerk of his head. "Though it seems more guy problems than fear."

Caleb froze in the doorway, dark eyes narrowing. As both the youngest and the only girl, Isy was the most protected. "Are we going to have to kick some ass? Because..." He trailed off as Reid shook his head.

"Much as I'd like to? Nope. Promised the princess that I wouldn't touch him." Anger and distaste filled his face. He might be an asshole, but like all the boys, Reid took 'big brother duties' seriously.

Tyler chose that moment to put his head around the doorway, eyebrows raised. "Did someone just mention the princess?"

At first, the nickname had been a joke. Reid had always teased her because she was so much better than them, with her morals and compassion. Isy had always gotten so mad when they called her princess, but then it became more of affection and less of teasing.

"Yeah, she's sleeping in Reid's room," Caleb answered before Reid had a chance to.

Tyler stepped into the hallway made his way past them, ducking into Reid's bedroom. A few seconds later, and Tyler was back, frowning. "She looks horrible. Like she hasn't slept in a while."

"She's going through her ascension soon, remember?" Reid pointed out. "A day and a half or so, and she's gonna go through the same hell she remembers us in."

They were interrupted again, though this time by Isabella herself. A sob came from the bedroom, and a minute later, they heard the tears start. Conversation time was over; it was time to comfort their girl.