Prologue
Bella moved quickly through the darkened streets just ahead grey streaks of light heralded the prelude to dawn. Red-eyes followed hot on her heels before she managed to lose them. She caught her breath and looked for a safe place to hide. Near the end of the street warm light bathed the solid wood doors to an old stone church, sacred ground. A safe place. Making sure no red-eyes were in her path she made a fast move for the doors. Inside humans sat attending services and sleeping in the pews. Moments later, she caught sight of two of her men entering through a different door. They nodded and joined the service goers while she ducked into the confessional.
"Forgive me, father, for I have sinned." She said crossing herself.
"What have you done, my child?" The priest asked.
"I once loved a man."
"That is no sin, young one."
"I wasn't finished." She paused. "He was a vampire. When I turned eighteen the Volturri came and demanded he choose. Either I had to die or he had to change me. They gave him time to decide but I knew he did not want either of those options."
"I still do not see your sin, foolish choices, perhaps, but no real sin." The priest had moved the screen and was looking at her intently.
"If only the story ended there," she said wistfully. She looked down at her watch. "Forgive me, father, I fear I've wasted your time. You see I just needed to buy time until the sun rose." She smiled sweetly. "I have to go now; the Rebellion thanks you for your aid."
Her men joined her as she exited the confessional. One was a deep tan with a tribal tattoo on his left shoulder and the other was lanky and pale with a rifle on his back. The priest stumbled from the box to examine the woman he'd been speaking with only moments ago. She was small but the men behind her seemed more than willing to follow her. Pale skin puckered in places through ripped jeans hinting at old wounds and long battles.