A/N: One day, while running, this idea ambushed me suddenly. I wrote it down, typed up the first two chapters, and went on an insane writing binge. Hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Oh yeah, there are 16 planned chapters, plus the Prologue and Epilogue.

This is, if my plan goes right and I post at 12:01 am exactly, the first story of '08.

Prologue: Battle

EPOV

"You need to make your choice." The voice was cold and hard. I could hear Bella's screams, but focused on the woman who would decide my fate. She looked frail, not capable of committing the supposed evils we had heard she had. She appeared sweet and innocent, but I knew otherwise.

"I'm not joining you," I snarled, knowing this would probably be one of my last sentences.

"And Bella?" I heard a roar from the background, and knew her answer.

"I figured it would be that way this time." What did she mean, this time? She continued speaking. It was as if we were in a bubble, and everyone else was on the outside.

"Sometimes you joined us, sometimes not…" she trailed off, seeing my confused expression. "Maybe it will be different."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said tightly. I needed to get to Bella.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you just how many times this has gone on," she rambled on. I looked for a sign of lying, but her voice was level and she looked calm.

"You see," she told me, "I have a very… special gift. I would explain," she paused with a hideous smile, "but you'll find out soon. Maybe it will be different." I looked at her incredulously.

"Trust me, you'll find out later." I was chilled by her words.

"I don't know who you are, but I don't care for games." I attempted to get around her once more, but I couldn't. Were Bella and I destined to die here, on the cold floor of Volterra? I wasn't sure what was real or not right now.

"Maybe this time will be different," she said, half to herself. She granted me a quick smile and advanced forward to kill me. She struck a harsh blow, and I pretended to fall.

"That easy?" She sounded surprised. She leaned over me, preparing.

I grabbed ahold of her, and she screamed. Energy burst forth in radiating waves. Heat radiated off her in sheets as she struggled against me. My nails dug into her skin as she fell to the ground, and the world seemed to shift around us.

As soon as I thought I had her, she flipped me over. It was then that I truly realized I was going to die here. I thought not of the hell that I would surely end up in, but the angel who had saved me from it. Instead of my life flashing before my eyes, I saw her life. With me. Every single day I had spent with her- it flew by in my mind backwards. From the day that we were married, backwards, to Forks. To our last year there. To her first year there. To her first day there.

My head throbbed as I witnessed it all happening at super speed, like a tape on rewind. Bella cried out in the background, as if she too could feel the intense pain. I collapsed on the floor, and heard her scream louder as she thrashed against the guards.

I could still hear her scream when everything went black.