Here's the first chapter so feel free to leave comments or reviews and I hope you enjoy the story…

I do not own Twilight or any of the wonderful characters that Stephenie Meyer created. This story is rated M for mature themes. Please do not read if you're easily offended or bothered by violence.

***Chapter 1***

When had her life become so cold? Bella thought to herself. She was going around doing her chores and realised that there was nothing in her life that was important and that she cared for no one. Her life had been empty and lonely for as long as she could remember.

Bella had no memory of her parents or birthplace except for a few recollections that haunted her dreams, faceless voices and the feelings of lost warmth.

She was now well and truly a young woman and it was a constant worry. She desperately wanted to know why she was left alone to begin with. She had so many questions but no one to ask.

For the eighteen years she could remember she had lived a simple and quiet life on the outskirts of a small village named Creolle. It was where she had been found wandering and alone at the age of six with a nasty bump on her head.

It was a wonder that she hadn't been hurt or worse before a lovely older lady had sheltered her. Eventually when she was old enough the same woman had helped her acquire the villa where she had lived ever since.

She mostly kept to herself not wanting to know anything of the town and especially not wanting to talk to the mindless young girls that gossiped every chance they had. She knew they talked behind her back as well, calling her a snob and an outcast and laughing at how plain she always looked.

She had to admit to herself though that she was quite plain when compared to most of the beauties in town. She had long brown hair that went to her waist and was always kept in a loose braid, warm brown eyes that turned honey coloured in the sun and a small slender figure that she normally covered in earth-toned gowns.

Where she lacked in looks however, she made up in other things. At present, she was the only woman in town who knew how to read and write in several different languages and had a collection of manuscripts from different cultures.

She had also learnt a great deal of swordsmanship which was normally only taught to young men so that they would be prepared if ever needed for war.

It was as she was cradling a full bucket of water from the well, up the dirt road to her home, that she heard the screams. Stilling instantly she turned back and saw tendrils of smoke curling towards the darkening sky and a sinking feeling turned her stomach.

She tossed the bucket aside, the cool water soaking up the dust as it drained down the hill after her running figure headed towards the smoke.

Knowing that it wouldn't be safe to run in the middle of the road she changed course. As quiet as a deer Bella ran through the trees, past the ferns, and over the moss covered rocks until she finally made it to the edging of the shadowed forest.

The sight that met her eyes was ghastly. There was blood mixed with the dirt as women and children screamed for their husbands, sons or brothers who fought the invaders only to fall and never rise.

One of those attackers ran past her hiding spot and he was close enough for her to make out the disfigured patch of skin on his arm; a branding melted onto the flesh.

Bella had seen a similar symbol in one of her many manuscripts and recognized it as a stylized dragon in rest; the insignia represented the men of Nordia. They were called Barbarians and came across the sea from the south whenever they pleased.

Her village was only one of many that were close to the temperamental waters and she was sad to think of the possible destruction they'd no doubt wreaked before arriving here.

She frantically paced the edge of the darkness looking for the elderly woman who had found her and cared for her, only to notice that she had already been herded into a wagon. She had been shoved alongside the rest of the women and some children that would surely be bound for places far away.

They would all be sold into slavery, of that Bella was certain, and she couldn't stand by and let that happen but she surely could not attack now. She would be outnumbered and no match for the Barbarians.

Bella realised she would have to take them by surprise and one by one.

Going through the plan in her head she ran back to her home as quiet as she had come and made it inside. Knowing it would be foolish to even light a small candle she felt her way around her home recalling from memory where she had kept her weapons and supplies; having stored them away for exactly this reason.

After quickly changing into her favourite dark blue travel dress that she'd bought years before; the one long sleeve that was left kept her warm. Covering the other arm in a fragmented armour she had put together herself.

Sliding her thigh sheath on Bella refrained from wearing her sandals and slipped them into her satchel, her stealth would be her closest friend for now.

Grasping the air tight bag that held dried foods and fruit, a water skin and a few knives she made her way into the kitchen after stuffing them in with her sandals. Standing on the tips of her toes she reached over the top of a cupboard and brought down her two favourite daggers.

She had always liked these blades in particular because not only were they light enough for her but they were also beautifully crafted from an exotic nation across the sea. They were named 'Sai' in their country of origin and she had straightaway purchased two from a travelling merchant.

Hurrying to her door, Bella had just touched the wood panelling when she heard the almost silent crunch of boots outside and realised that the Barbarians' scouts had found her home.

As fast as she could she ran to the window that was in her bedroom and slipped out of the opening. Dashing straight into the pitch black of the surrounding forest once she was sure she heard no movement on that side of the villa.

As Bella hid in the thickest part of the bushes she watched as two dark figures appeared around the side walls and eventually went inside. Seconds later she heard as things were broken and tossed around as they searched for anything of value.

Eventually she let out a small sigh of relief when she watched them leave the way they had come, clutching a few small bags of whatever they thought could be sold. The relief of not being found was overwhelming. Bella knew that the gods had favoured her on this night and mayhap they believed that she could save those that were trapped.

They were the only people she'd ever known, whether she was close to them or not, no one deserved what would surely happen to them as captives.

As she made her way back to the village in hopes of following the caravan of wagons she never noticed the eyes that followed her every movement from afar. She never noticed the silent figure as they followed in her footsteps.

***B***

It had been at least a day since Creolle had been attacked and they had spent it travelling.

She'd foolishly thought that they would stop to rest and feed the prisoners but then concluded that they needed less rest than herself. As she grew more tired the distance between them had grown until she could no longer hear the rumble of wooden wheels over rocks or the neighing of the horses.

Even though this was bad it gave her a chance to think through her plan. As she killed off the men one by one they would soon realise something was wrong as their numbers eventually dwindled. She would have to think of some way to not alert them to her presence and the sudden howl of a wild cat gave her an idea.

The large beasts that inhabited these areas were often known to have the strength of several strong men as they grew to unusually large sizes. They were also known to enjoy stalking their prey, for miles, without getting tired or being seen.

She knew that if she managed to kill any of the men she could disguise the knife wounds as claw marks and imitate a hungry wild cat prowling the area. Not only would this give the men fear but it would also put them off her trail. Pleased with the plan she only just noticed that she could hear voices rumbling up ahead and figured that they must have finally stopped for a breather.

She hurriedly moved further into the darkening forest as night fell and circled around until she could see the glint of flames through trees and moving men. Silently scaling a hidden branch that overlooked the area Bella made sure that her footing was strong before getting comfortable for the waiting game that she would have to play now.

"Are you ready to sleep my darling?" the woman with dark hair asked. Her voice was beautiful with its lilting tones and soft hands stroked through the child's curls and ringlets.

"Yes mama but I must bid papa goodnight as well or the monsters will come."

'The child is as stubborn as her father' the woman mumbled to herself before laughing and stroking the child's hair once more, leaning on her side on the tiny bed suitable for her daughter.

"You know he will be late this evening. Do you not trust me to keep you safe my little darling girl?"

"Of course mama but papa has a sword."

"Did you not know my darling? A goodnight kiss is more powerful than any weapon." The dark haired woman smiled and it was as bright as the morning sun. The little girl giggled when her mother leant down and nuzzled her delicate cheeks.

Placing a kiss on the same soft skin the woman drew back and-

Snapping awake at the sound of dried leaves rustling below her she looked down and saw that one Barbarian had finally broken from the group to do his business.

It was now or never and the nervous tremble of her hands forced her to double check her grip on the daggers. Making sure her satchel was securely hanging on one of the sturdier branches she quietly ascended down to the leaf-covered floor and followed the bumbling figure in front of her.

He was intoxicated, Bella gladly noticed. This would certainly make taking him down less harrowing as he was one of the few giants of the group. The muscles in his arm where the size of the trunks of the trees that surrounded her and his chest gleamed as the moonlight shined off the metal armour that covered it.

Coming to a crouched halt when he did, Bella saw his head move slightly to the side and she worried he might have heard her. With relief, she saw him shake his head and mutter to himself as he found the tree he was after.

Silently she inched closer until she could count the material threads in his red tunic. Leaping onto his back she sliced the daggers against his throat before he could even croak out a sound.

Hopping away from the spray and the falling body she swallowed back the bile that threatened to come as she heard the wet sounds of a man choking on his own blood. Bella kept reminding herself of all the people he had most likely killed, some she knew and some she didn't, and that kept her calm until he finally fell silent and still.

Grudgingly, she forced herself to stick to her plan and moved to his side. Scraping at the leaves and dirt around him she made sure to wipe some debris on his clothes, face and skin as if he had been tossed around then dragged.

She then drew out a smaller knife, and despite the bile rising again, she made several more gashes against his throat until it was only a jagged, bloody mess. A few more slashes against his forearms as if he was clawed and she backed away as quickly as possible.

Inhaling as much of the cool night air as possible she eventually calmed herself and realised that she had killed someone. He wasn't exactly a good person but he was still a human being. That thought was struck down immediately when she heard the screams and cries coming from the clearing where the rest of the Barbarian's had gathered.

Quickly cleaning her daggers and knife on a bit of his tunic she rushed back to her tree and the sight before her cleared her mind of any future torment she would face in killing these men.

They would suffer in pain before she was done.

She was just sad that she couldn't protect these women and the helplessness slithered like ice over her skin. The cries growing louder.

It was early morning before things went silent apart from the women who had been selected the night before. She had cried silent tears of pain all the while and had gotten no sleep or even rest. Not only because of the hard branches digging into her flesh but also from the unheard pleas of the shattered women below.

***B***

I'm going to try and update this regularly about every week or two so hopefully you'll stick around for more. :D

Have a lovely week!