Angels were sent down from time to time to help guide the vampires of the earth. Sometimes they come as vampires, others as humans. They looked normal from the outside, but the difference lies in their souls. They shine purer than moonbeams. They often don't remember that they are an angel or what they came to do, but their soul knows and guides them on their mission.

Vampires were put on the earth to protect the human race. They were given the ability to stop drinking before they killed a victim. They were granted the ability to hypnotize their victims so they wouldn't remember the vampire taking the blood. They were given healing saliva to heal and remove all evidence of a wound. Many chose to walk a dark path however. They chose to ignore the angel's warnings and kill humans.

The Cullens were different. They sensed the path the angels wanted them to walk. They chose to drink from animals rather than humans because they feared the weakness of will so common amongst their bretheren. They are the Protectors. They help put things right. They send out their family members out to help hold lives together, to help protect and heal this crumbling world. Once a protector strayed from the path of the light and gave in to the darkness until an angel found him and led him out of the darkness and into the light once more. Her name at the time was Elizabeth Jaysmith. You know her now as Bella Swan.