Unlocking the Hidden Secrets: Chapter 1

What is she? What is she…? She's hiding something. She's not human. I know she's not human. I wanted to believe that she was, but what was standing in front of me, showed me she wasn't human.

Why did she lie to me? Why did she keep secrets from me?

She was beautiful. She eyes… they were beautiful. Her hair was long, a lot more brown than I thought it was. Her outfit, it made it seem like she came from the 20th century, maybe even before…

What is she? She wasn't a vampire… Not a werewolf… There was something about her presence, something about her that drew me in more.

I wanted to be upset with her… from hiding this long-term secret from me. But I couldn't… She was too… beautiful. She was mine. She is mine.

Isabella's POV

It was happening… It was truly happening.

I stared at the Cullens, not sure of what to say next. I figured something was off when I first arrived to the house with Edward, but I didn't think I would be receiving these news.

Victoria. Victoria had made a newborn army. A newborn army that was set to kill me. She specifically wanted me dead, since Edward had killed her lover, James. She wants to get even with him. But that wasn't what scared me the most.

56… Victoria has made, and still counting, 56 newborns in the past two weeks. Already, I knew that the Cullens could not fight this fight alone. I knew that we were going to have to make the biggest move.

But why would she make so many? If she just wanted to get near me, she could have easily made ten newborns and be on with it. Why 56? What was her plan?

I felt sick to my stomach. These people were practically killed for Victoria's own sick and twisted games. And she still wasn't done. She still wasn't done making her army… All of these people, turning into vampires, newborns… killing humans for their bloodlust… She could easily wipe out the entire state of Washington if she isn't stopped. But that was my next question? How are we going to stop Victoria and her massive newborn army? Would I be crazy to just hand myself over to Victoria to stop the killings? Would she even stop there?

"Bella…" I heard Edward whisper. I looked up to see all of the Cullens watching me, with curious and concerned eyes. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. Victoria is officially calling an all-out war with just the 8 of us… versus 57… We were dead… Without a doubt… we were dead.

"You should feel a little bit more confident than what you're feeling now Bella…" I heard Jasper whisper. He was leaning against the wall, standing next to Alice.

"Confident?" I asked. "Victoria made a massive newborn army, to kill me, and you want me to feel confident?"

Jasper looked at Alice, waiting for her to say something. Was I missing something?

"Bella…" Alice hesitated. "Yes, Victoria made a massive newborn army. But we aren't badly outnumbered." What is she talking about? It's 57 versus the 8 of us. I was ready to say something until she held up one finger. "There are different Covens, ready to come help us…"

"Wait… what…?" I asked.

"The Amazon Coven, with Kachiri, Senna, and Zafrina. The Denali Coven, with Eleazar, Carmen, Irina, Kate, and Tanya. The Egyptian Coven, with Amun, Kebi, Benjamin, and Tia. The Irish Coven, with Maggie, Siobhan, and Liam. The Romanian Coven with Stefan and Vladimir…" Edward paused for a second, then went on. "There are some nomads who live in the United States, Garrett, Mary, Peter, Charlotte and Randall… There are some European nomads, like Alistair, Charlies, and Makenna…"

I haven't heard much about the other Covens. I only truly heard about the Denalis, the Cullen's closest friends. They were also the ones who converted to animal blood, unlike the all the other Covens and Nomads.

"That's still isn't enough. That is around 24 or 25 people…" I argued. And how would they be ok with this anyways?

"Bella… that isn't it." He started to hesitate. But he could tell by the look on my face, that I am not patient enough for hesitation. I needed to know anything and everything immediately from this moment on. "Renata, Corin, Santiago, Heidi, Chelsea, Afton, Demetri, Felix, Alec, Jane, Marcus, Caius, and Aro…The Volturi will be helping us…"

I froze. The Volturi… Last time I even thought about the Volturi was when I was in Italy, standing in front of them. It was my first time meeting them then and they were someone I would never want to even encounter again.

Edward went on to tell me about Alice's vision. The Volturi was going to arrive in Washington soon, along with all the other Covens. Apparently, Victoria's newborn army was so grand, that even the Volturi needed to step in. Usually it wasn't their problem, but it because their problem when she went over 20 newborns.

Edward even mentioned the werewolves might be joining the fight. Victoria stepped foot, just once, on the reservation, and they chased her. Although she was capable of getting away, Sam did not like the fact that she was even near the reservation. Now he's thinking of joining this deadly war with the other wolves…

"How long has this been going on?" I asked. "How long has this planning been going on? When were any of you going to tell me?"

Everybody looked away from me when I asked. For the past two weeks, I have been in danger… An army was being built up, the Volturi is coming to Washington, along with a bunch of other vampires… And no one told me. Not even Jacob and he hates it when Edward hides things from me.

This was going to be the biggest, most deadly, war. And I would be standing along the Volturi, of all people, going against Victoria.

I had three days until all of the Covens and the Volturi would be arriving. And I was simply not prepared. They could have gave me more time, they could have told me this a long time ago. Why would they wait so long? For these past two weeks, I could tell something was wrong, but I didn't think it would be this extreme. I was happy, I was relaxed… I was with Edward again. But now, all of that just fled my body. I am now scared of what's to come next.

Three days, I kept telling myself. Three days…

I stayed over at the Cullen's house that night. I called Charlie to make sure he was ok with it… not really knowing he didn't have a say in what I do. It was truly just to check on him.

I was sitting on Edward's grand canopy bed. The sheets, pillows, everything, were all black, which I hated. Edward wasn't one for color. He thinks I'm not either and believes that I love wearing dark clothes. It's partially true, but I like color. His room was just so plain. How could he have a king size canopy bed, with absolutely no color? It made the room dark and gloomy.

Edward was already lying down on the bed. His arms crossed behind his head, so he could stare up at the ceiling. I would occasionally look at him, mainly because I was upset with him and wanted him to see that I was hurt by his decision on waiting to tell me.

"Come lay down with me." Edward whispered.

I scoffed, surprised he would even say that to me right now. I did lay down, but purposely under the blankets, away from him. Of course, he scooted closer to me, wanting to cuddle with me, but I just wasn't in the mood. The Volturi is coming in three days, in the same town with a bunch of werewolves… And humans… Just even thinking about it made me shudder. And made me even more upset with Edward.

"I'm sorry, Bella." He whispered in my ear. His voice was soft, sweet, and gentle. "I should have told you earlier. I don't know what I was thinking."

Who would wait this long to tell someone these news? I mean, it is quite ridiculous.

What made me more concerned was the fact that, most of these vampires, drank human blood, refusing to convert to animal blood, like the Cullens and the Denalis. Victoria wasn't going to be the only one killing humans.. I would be sitting next to a bunch of vampires, knowing they would be killing some in the meantime…

Edward sighed, breaking my thoughts about this whole situation. He rolled off of me, turning of the lamp. I loved Edward, I did. I would do anything and everything for him. But holding secrets, especially after what we've been through together. Victoria, James, Laurent, and most importantly the Volturi.

After an hour or so repeatedly thinking about the Volturi and Victoria, I finally fell asleep. But it wasn't any better. I needed to be back where I was… or rather be back to who I was. It would make this process much easier.

In the morning, Edward was already out of the bed, sitting with his laptop on the small loveseat couch that he had in his room…which was black of course. Just looking at this room upset me. Absolutely no color. Absolutely none..

"Umm… good morning?" Edward said. "Or are you still upset with me?"

I rolled my eyes at him. There was something about him at times, which made me fall in love with him over and over. He was quiet, at times, very classy. I had a heavy interest for the classics. Considering that I was…

"Bella." Edward said, sternly. He was sitting on the bed in front of me. I looked into his eyes, filled with concern. "You keep spacing out."

"I'm not spacing out." I argued. "I have a lot on my mind… that's all."

"Look, Bella, I messed up. Big time. I should have told you this a long time ago, right when it started happening. But right now, we are going to need to push what's happening between us to the side, until we are through with this fight." Edward grabbed my hands and kissed them.

He was right. We had to push away my problem with him right now, to focus on the bigger issue. Victoria.

"Fine." I whispered. "But when this is over… I'm kicking your ass." He chuckled, yet I was serious. I'll figure out a way to get him back. Maybe I'll use Emmett.

Quickly kissed his lips, then went off to the bathroom. Ready to take a shower, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My faded, long brown hair was in a messy knot. I was wearing a "I hate the mornings" yellow shirt, with faded grey shorts. I frowned. This outfit, this girl. Everything. It didn't show the real me. It didn't define who I really was.

I took a quick shower, then threw on some jeans and a red flannel. Alice absolutely hated when I dressed so "lazy". She constantly bashed on my clothes and hair, determined that one day, I will wear makeup and heels. I knew once I came downstairs, I would hear Alice's complaints.

Maybe I wouldn't, considering all of these vampires would be coming in three days, including the Volturi.

Right when I was about to leave the room, heading downstairs. I saw Edward paused in the middle of the room, eyes wide.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked at me, frowning. "They're early…" He said. "They're here. The Covens… and the Volturi… They're here."