I looked out of the carriage window to see my beloved hometown, Kent Washington, pass by me in a blur. I wondered if I would ever see the beautiful sun again. Or smell the fresh air. Or look up at a clear sky filled with blue and the occasional puffy white cloud. I sighed.

"Second thought, Isabella?" Jacob asked, looking at me from the opposite seat. Jake was one of many who formed our team. I was a part of that team. The team of hunters. Vampire hunters to be exact. I've been a part of this team officially on my seventeenth birthday, but I trained to be a vampire killer ever since my parents were murdered by those bloodsucking leeches.

Right now, our mission is to go to Forks, Washington, along with a smaller unit of vampire hunters to hunt down the thing that really caused the unusually high fatalities in Seattle and Forks. We had a long suspect list, but number one on that list is Cullen. Edward Cullen. Although there is no proof that he is a vampire, we are sure it is him. An inside spy has confirmed why this man has never gone out much, doesn't go into the market to trade for food, or when that horse tramped him, didn't cause any harm to him.

The citizens in the small village of Forks already believe there to be a vampire. The bite marks on the deceased proves it. But Cullen arrived after many of the deaths occurred, so no one believes it to be him, except for us.

"Don't call me Isabella, Jakey." I snapped at him. He frowned.

"Don't call me Jakey." He said sounding annoyed. I smirked and stretched my arms.

"Seriously though, Bella, do you know what you're getting yourself into? There's a big chance that you could die." He looked at me, concern in his eyes. Ever since the beginning, I knew Jacob Black was in love with me. The only thing was, I wasn't in love with him. I knew that when the time came, I'd find that special someone. But right now, being a vampire hunter was my life, and no one could change that. Not even the kind eighteen-year-old boy who smiled at me the first time we met.

He still reminds me of that little kid, even if Jacob's a year older than me.

"Come off it, Jake. Don't act like I haven't killed vampires before. Because I have. I know what I'm doing. Relax." I said, while he gave me a strange look

"You've never seduced a vampire before." He implied. I rolled my eyes.

"look, all I have to do is show up the stupid ball in a stupid pretty dress, "seduce" him somehow, get him alone and shove the silver stake at him where his heart should be before he can kill me. It's gonna be okay. 'Sides, I got you guys scattered everywhere in case something goes wrong. I'll be fine. I reassured him. Jake gave me an impish smile

"Okay, so we're picking up Hunter Angela Weber and Hunter Seth Clearwater at the nearest city. Everyone else is arriving in different carriages. We are not to stay at the same tavern. Hunter Swan, you will be staying with Hunter Jessica Stanley and Hunter Weber. Understood?" His eyes were hardening with what I knew to be worry and pain. He sounded just like a commander.

"'Ere we are." Quil Aterea called from the reins. I could here him slowing the horses down until we were at a complete standstill. We both waited while Quil hopped off from the driver's seat to retrieve our two hunters.

Ten minutes later, the door to the carriage opened and in came Angela, sitting next to me, and Seth sitting across the carriage next to Jacob.

"Seth, long time, no see." Jacob greeted his friend.

"Bella! It's so good to see you all healthy and well!" Angela hugged me.

"Yeah, it's great to see you, too!" I returned the hug. Quil whistled a warning call and we closed the door, seating ourselves while he stared moving again, moving us closer and closer to Forks.

"So, what's going on? How's it going?" Angela asked after an hour of listening to Seth talk.

"Uh, nothing much going on really. Are you still seeing Ben?" I asked. She blushed and nodded.

"Aye! It's nightfall! We should stop at the next village and spend the night!" Quil shouted from outside.

"Sure!" Jacob shouted back. Little did we know that the nearest village was Seattle. We'd spend the night in a tavern there and head to Forks by tomorrow.

Hiding our weapons under our coats, we bought room for ourselves, bid each other goodnight, and disappeared into our rooms.

I took out all my weapons from my coat and placed them onto the roughly-cut wooden table. My mother's silver stake, a couple of vials containing holy water attached to a belt, several crosses of different sizes, and my father's gun filled with bullets made of silver. These weapons were screaming to be used, and I was ready to use them at any given time. I took my mother's silver stake and gripped it tightly in my hand. This is what I would be killing Cullen with.

I went over to the night table and blew out the candles that lit up this room. I placed the stake under my pillow in case I needed it at a moment's notice. I crawled into my bed, pulling up the sheets and closing my eyes.

"Would you like to see my art collection? It consists of many famous artists' originals that I have bought. Cullen said in a husky, seductive voice. I stared up at him.

"Why, I would be honored Mr. Cullen." I smiled back at him, eyelashes batting. He smiled, eyes growing with lust as he stared at my neck. Panic rose in me as I saw his ruby eyes darken into a black hole. He leaned forward.

"Uh, Mr. Cullen? The paintings?" I said nervously. He kept getting closer until his face was buried into the crook of my neck.

"Mmmmmm." His cool voice hummed against my throat. I felt a searing pain in my neck and started screaming, suddenly aware that my neck was practically on fire. The fire was spreading in my body and my screaming got louder-

"BELLA!" A frantic voice shouted into my ear, most likely causing me to become deaf.

"Gah!" I gasped and opened my eyes.

"Are you okay? Jeez, I thought a vampire was attacking you." Angela said, calming down immediately.

"No, I'm fine. It was just a nightmare." I said, feeling my heartbeat start to slow down.

"Okay, good. Hunter Black and Hunter Clearwater are awake. Let's eat some breakfast!" She smiled and tugged me out of the door. I quickly slipped the silver stake into my right pocket. You never know when you might need it.

"Morning Hunter Weber, Hunter Swan." Seth greeted us. It was formal to greet everyone as "Hunter" and then add their last name if they were part of the team.

I nodded to him in greeting and we headed to the local marked, buying some eggs, bread and fruit and making breakfast.

After we were done, we left and headed out for Forks, which was only three hours away. Great.

Cullen was hosting this big party in his house, which is where the magic happens. We have it all planned out.

The party starts tonight so hopefully I can be dressed and then make it in time for me to do my job.

"'Ere we are! Forks, Washington!" Quil shouted. We all looked outside the big window, trying to capture every detail of the small village. We've never been so far away from home before.

"Alright, you all go to the taverns that you've been arranged to stay at. I 'ave to talk to Sam about my 'unting position so I may not see any of you for the duration of our mission. 'Ave fun and stay safe!" Quil waved away as we took all of our belongings and jumped off the carriage. We all moved and said our parting goodbyes for the day and went inside to meet the rest of the team and my other roommate.

"Hello. Welcome. This is where you will be staying for the duration of our mission. May I ask you your names?" A tall muscular male greeted us and we shook hands.

"I'm Hunter Weber."

"Hunter Black."

"Hunter Clearwater here!"

"I am Hunter Swan." I said nervously. Everyone in the room turned their heads toward me and stared.