It's starting off REALLY slow, but it will build up to the point of Bella and Edward's relationship. Just a lot of introductions of why Bella becomes an assassin is mentioned in the first couple chapters. Forgive me for it dragging on so slowly!

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Bella's Introduction: Chapter 1

Bella acquainted herself with the city, blending in with the locals, pretending to shop. With a few bags in tow, it was filled of commodities she would be needing for her mission later, and it also acted as a shopping bag. Her target was in the same city, within the block's vicinity.

The night before, in her hotel room, she studied the fax that was sent to her through hotel fax machine. Documents that displayed nothing but a gift certificate to one of the shops in Milan on the sent fax, but Bella knew it was just a cover. She was highly trained to read certain documents as this, a special coding imprint of the letters of any paper document, called Encoding Sequence System, or ESS. It revealed the location of her target, along with their name, age, description of looks, & the necessary weapon.

Leonard P. DeCawter III

The fax revealed the next target. She would need to go shopping, the reason why she walked hastily through the street, searching for hidden ESS markings on doors of the boutiques and shops. The store manager would be associated with the firm Bella was employed by, providing her with necessities, sometimes weapons, for the assignment.

The shops and boutiques in Milan were full of expensive and popular name brands. Bella eyed all the stores as she passed them all, hunting for a certain store that stood out from the sophisticated shops. An antique shop came into view and relief washed over her. The shop Hidden Treasures stood out besides the trendy shops, revealing the ESS code on the glass front door, stating it was associated with Bella's employer firm. No one would ever see it, except her, or another of her kind.

"Hello..welcome to Hidden Treasures. Is there anything I can help you with today?" a soft greeting from an older woman announced her presence behind the counter. The woman smiled sweetly, Bella returned the smile.

"Good afternoon. There is something you can help me with."

It was usually not customary to shake hands with any shop employers, but this was necessary if Bella was here to appropriate herself with the needed commodities. As Bella held out her hand for a polite handshake, she exposed a small mole on her palm, on the muscle of her thumb. It was a trademark for all assassins to acquire to work in the field, a mole randomly tattooed on the palm of their hand. It seemed natural to have a mole on a body part, it was a great cover. The woman recognized the mark immediately, smiling even wider, stating that she understood.

"I am inquiring for a treasure that you might carry rarely in your distinguished shop." Bella stated.

"I have might have exactly what you're searching for." The woman responded. "Let me show you our collection. Julia?" she spoke to a younger woman cruising the aisles, " will you please tend the register? I'll return in a moment."

The conversation was very nonchalant to other shoppers in the store. No suspicion detected between the two. The woman led the way towards the back of the shop to show Bella her "collection" of rare items they didn't carry in the front room.

"Please, make yourself comfortable." The woman brought her to a very small room, just big enough for 3 bodies to fit in. There was a chair that took up almost all the room and she sat on it, waiting patiently. "It'll be just a few seconds." The woman said before closing the door.

The woman was correct, stating it would be just a few seconds. Bella sat on the magnificent chair that was clearly antique, adorned with beautiful carvings on the arms and legs. The fabric on the back and seat of the chair was rarely worn, it had its own character and style to it. As quietly as it was, the chair started to move, it moved backwards, revealing the wall behind her opening into a completely different room. The motor that moved the chair was quiet, and it turned to have Bella sitting at a large table with a glass top. Lights illuminated the bigger room to reveal glass shelves full of the objects Bella was shopping for.

"Very sophisticated, indeed." Bella softly spoke, an anticipated smile on her face.

Before her were weapons of every shape, gadgetry, apparatus galore, also explosives that would have blown Milan off the map. Bella stood from the chair and looked through the special collection. The fax intended on a handgun adorned with a suppressor, & Bella already carried one, but she had been searching for the type that would suit her perfectly. Her heart stopped, then started to beat again at the sight of a Walter P99 handgun. Procrastination was not an option, she was going to purchase this beauty, with a suppressor along with it. She sat back down on the chair with the table in front of her, she pressed a button that called for the woman to help her with her purchase.

After a moment, the woman showed up, clearly delighted that Bella was happy about finding everything to her liking. They returned to the entrance of the little room, with Bella's new purchase, striking up a conversation that would not sound suspicious to the actions that just took place.

"I love your lovely tidbits! I'll be sure to inform my friends of your fascinating shop. Thank you so much for you help." Bella sounded like an excited shopper who just found her treasure.

"You're certainly welcome. I'm delighted you found what you're looking for." The woman carried a bag with Bella's gun and suppressor in her hands, already wrapped and covered with tissue paper.

"Oh! Will you please add this also? My mother will absolutely love it." Bella lied through her teeth, grabbing a porcelain mask with a crack on the side of the cheek, but it was whatever had to be done to hide her secret intention. "She collects all sorts of masks. And this would be perfect."

The woman received the old mask and rang it up on the old cash register, the bell dinging open after a few buttons were pressed. Bella handed the woman cash, credit cards were dangerous and traceable. The woman added the wrapped mask inside the bag with the gun, making sure the tissue paper hid and cushioned the gun on the bottom.

"Thank you for shopping with us today. Have a great evening."

"Thank you. You do the same." Bella responded. She exited the shop and headed back to her hotel room.

It was time to ready herself for the night's mission. All was prepared, except for herself. She needed to change her attire and wait till the sun was completely down to start her assignment. Dinner would be a good thing to occupy herself with right now.

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Before Bella became an assassin, surprisingly she joined the military right after high school. It was the only option that would pay for her college without having to ask Renee or Charlie for help in the funds department. Bootcamp was hell, but it helped her to control some of her clumsiness that always ruled her life. With practice, she became very graceful on her feet and stealthy. Charlie was so proud of his daughter, it was close enough to the career he settled for himself.

Bella was grateful that she became athletic, she thought it would have been helpful back in high school, remembering how she injured Mike Newton a few times with her clumsy hand. Paying for schooling by the military though was Bella's intention. She was able to go through school with flying colors and learned a few languages along the way. Anything to keep herself occupied. She was still a loner all these years and she was used to it, always keeping to herself.

Becoming an assassin was a complete accident. Through a test-op that was required for all new stationed recruits somewhere overseas, Bella scored high scores in infiltration without detection, paralyzing an opponent with no weapons, weapons familiarity and use, the list went on. The advisor specialist took interest in her skills and that's where it started. Now she was one of the highest preferred employees.

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Bella's last assignment was a success. She took out her target without a hitch, she was well deserved of a break. Her firm, Sunset, their cover as a travel agency were pleased with Bella's work. They had promised her a small vacation to rejuvenate and enjoy her time with her father, Charlie, in Forks. Anticipating this break for about a year, she was excited to visit her dad.

Bella dialed the number on her cell phone by memory, speed dial was not an option with her job, no ties to family would be too dangerous for her and anyone else she was related to.

"Hello. Dad?... It's Bella! ...I know! How are you? ...Really? How interesting, but I'm doing great... Wait, before we start a big conversation, guess what!...I'm coming to visit!....Yeah!! I'm excited too. I miss you so much....I'll call you later with the details, alright? I need to go home & pack.....I can't wait either! Love you, dad....Okay, bye."

She finished her call with her father and continued to drive home toward her temporary residence. Arriving just 15 minutes later, she took her dufflebag and packed every bit of her belongings into it, stuffing it to the rim. She showered, taking her time, washing away the night before away from her skin. The smell of blood that used to bother her before was more of an alert that blood was spilled and it was time to get away from the scene. She felt like she was saturated with it, even though none was apparent on her clothes or skin.

Her long brown hair stuck to her back as the hot water cascaded down her back. She sat on the floor, folding her knees under her chin and let the water roughly fall on top of her head. After the shower, she dried herself, tying her hair into a messy ponytail. She donned on old jeans and an extra large sized sweater. Even at the age of 24, she still looked like a younger college student.

In her large dufflebag, she stuffed her new weapon, specially made to pass the metal detectors in the airport. She would have no use of it in her carry on purse. Before turning off the lights to her hotel room, she eyed the room for anything left behind. The room looked like no one ever used it. Locking the door with her card, she made her way down the hall to the elevator.

Make use of this time to rest, Bella. You'll need it.

She spoke quietly to herself in her head. She smiled, excited to see her dad for over 4 years. She took the time in the flight to sleep off her exhaustion, if the excitement didn't keep her up. The elevator dinged at the floor she wanted and she stepped out into the lobby.