Chapter One - Her life.

'Sometimes I gaze into my reflection, but the only thing I see is my sorrow.'

-Unknown.

Nothing, and I do mean nothing, was more unappealing then these dreadfully long and dull mazes of halls, I not called home.

Nothing.

My forever unchanging home was, as of right now, without the luxuries of mindless amusement.

Something, I was in dire need of right now.

I had, misguidedly, decided to go for a stroll around the halls, trying to find something to ease my boredom.

No such luck.

Because, almost everyone had been drafted into missions, I was forced to wander the halls aimlessly. Which even to a trained Vampire like me all looked the god damn same.

I was subsequently more bored then I had been before.

I didn't know what Father was trying to achieve. He had all eternity; it wouldn't kill him to do something, anything with the place.

Did he want his home to be amazingly boring? Because that's what it was. Or did he just like the idea of boredom crazed Vampires running amuck?

Because I was sure that these halls, this place, could drive anyone insane. I would know, because it really wasn't helping my already questionable sanity.

The boredom was choking me.

Where was Jane when you needed her? Little pest was never around when you needed her and always around when you didn't. 'Cause flinging Jane threw a couple of these walls would be amusing and it would, maybe, give Father the incentive to redecorate.

And I do say maybe.

I looked around. Where was she? She was too damn small to go on missions, no one took her seriously until they were dead – and then it just didn't matter.

"Bella!" A chipper, childlike voice called through the halls. It echoed, I twitched – not the voice I wanted to hear when I was imagining his pet flying threw a wall.

Or two. Okay, maybe three.

Without replying to the summon, I pushed the thoughts of Jane flying through walls to the back of my mind and took off down the hall.

In the next instant I was standing in front of two large mahogany doors. Why was everything in this place so damn big?

Compensating for something? I snickered and flung the doors open, strolling in, lazily.

The room, like everything else in this place, was large and well furbished with that same boring dull appearance that every room had.

I walked in, looking up to the three elaborately decorated thrones and the three faces I associated them with.

Three faces I knew so well, Aro, Marcus and Caius.

They looked down at me, smiling slightly and looking relaxed, like they always did when I was around. I didn't smile back, and my face was a cruel mask of indifference.

"Fathers." I said politely.

Aro beamed down at me, practically flying down from his throe to wrap me in a hug. I was now rather used to his eccentric behavior. It didn't mean I liked it, or was comfortable with it. I gave him an uninterested and stiff one-armed hug back, just to get him off me.

I hated most close contact.

I lived in the Volturi now. After I had changed, I had sort them out and they had taken me in. They had taught me their ways, trained me and treated me as one of their own – their Daughter. For this I was grateful. I treated them all like Fathers.

Aro chuckled, pulling back from his enthusiastic hug and motioning for me to take a seat. I gracefully dropped into a lounge chair, slumping back.

Yeah, I had no idea why they had lounge chairs either…

"Bella dear, we have a mission for you." Always right to the point.

My eyes lit up though – a cure for my boredom. Thank God. Seemingly ignoring my look Aro passed me a photo, taking it from his pale fingers I gave it a look over. Taking in every little detail.

The photo was of a woman. She was beautiful, like all Vampires, with long ink black hair that fell round her face in soft curls and blood red eyes, curtsey of her diet. She had a beauty spot just under her eye right eye. She was also well groomed, noticeably not a nomad.

Aro continued: "Her name is Elara. Recently, as you well know, there have been an increase in the number of missions, because of course, to counter the rise in renegade Vampires threatening to expose us." I nodded in understanding, just to appease him, he sounded like an old news reporter.

And in breaking news, rouge Newborns threaten to expose Vampires to Human world…

I couldn't help the twitch of a smirk at the thought.

But as he knew, I was well aware of the influx. Midnight and myself had been sent on a number of missions regarding them.

Midnight was actually on one now.

And thinking of…

I let my mind stretch out, relax and wander, searching. Suddenly I could feel a new set of emotions running through me, a new set of thoughts.

I huffed, jumping back into my own head, the trickle of emotions and thoughts were still there, they always were, but Midnight was having fun.

'Come on now! Don't you wanna play?'

Unlike me, she wasn't bored.

"We now have reason to believe that these are not random occurrences but rather, planned." His voice was suddenly grave and un-reporter-like and my eyes shot up to look at him sharply, mildly surprised by the new information.

Planned?

Going through the scenarios I couldn't quite see what they would achieve by exposing us.

But then again, there could be more to this then we knew. Though, what did it matter? They would all die anyway.

"Our information, if correct, points to her as the ring leader of all this. She needs to be dealt with." Aro was still talking.

I nodded and he bent down to kiss the top of my head, he expression showing that spark of worry, I held my place. Years of practice meant I now didn't flinch away from his contact.

"It will be done, Fathers." I said coolly, standing up and dipping my head in respect.

They were always like this when I left, worried. It didn't help matters when both Midnight and I were away at once.

I turned to leave without another word, photo still in hand, I strolled to the doors, Aro's voice stopped me. "Be careful, Bella." I didn't turn round and threw the doors open once again.

"Always." I breathed back, smirking.

I knew they could hear me – hear the obvious and barely concealed lie in my voice. I was never careful, always reckless, it was fun that way, and I had no need to be careful.

I continued walking, the doors behind me falling shut. I flipped over the photo, eyes catching the location.

Washington.

Clearing my mind, I flew towards my room. I would leave now, no need to stay here. I opened the rather, to my immense dislike however, extravagant door to my room and walked in quickly.

My room was a dull gray colour, not by choice however, and was plain except for the necessities and a small collection of items that were important to me. I didn't use my room often and I had no real need for trivial belongings.

Strolling gracefully to my walk in wardrobe I pulled out, what Midnight had dubbed, my 'mission cloths.'

The cloths were a jet black off the shoulder crop-top that thinned out into two black ribbons, which crossed around my mid section and hitched onto my black shirt.

The crop top had one long sleeve on the right side, the left a, black ribbon crossed down my arm and hitched to my black fingerless glove.

Two black belts crossed over my skirt, holding two twin pistols that my Midnight had given too me. Over the top of all this I threw my black hooded Volturi cape.

Turning sharply I caught my reflection in my cracked mirror. The only reflective object in my room.

A distorted reflection of myself met my eyes, the same chocolate brown hair framed my pail and now flawless face. But, blood red eyes looked back at me. Broken and emotionless.

I huffed, and walked out my still closing door. My reflection had never been so true.

My eyes, like every other Vampires around here, were crimson red. Where as my Human self had found them off putting and frightening, I loved them. Red. They suited me.

Running along the halls, my cape flapping annoyingly round my heels, I checked my skirt pockets. My hand came into contact with items that were easily distinguishable – credit card, ID and contacts.

Opening the door at the end of the hall, I slowed my Vampire speed to a Human walk as I stepped outside, flipping up my hood. Wind blew the sweet smell of Human blood towards me, my nostrils flared.

Promising myself I would grab a snack after all this was taken care of, I began to expertly weave my way through the crowds of people. I pulled my cape closer around me.

No one person glanced in my direction, the residents of this area were quite accustomed to seeing random people stroll down the streets in black hooded capes.

They ignored us, and so they should. People, human people, were idiots.

Casually walking down the streets, I turned into a near-by car park. You'd think people around here would be wary, suspicious or even notice large crowds of people disappearing and their transport being stolen, but no.

They didn't seem to notice or mind, further proof that humans were idiots.

I looked around, trying to find a suitable mode of transport, which would take me to the airport. My usual transport had been taken with Midnight, the thieving girl.

My eyes caught sight of a sleek black and green Ninja motorbike. I smirked in approval. I loved bikes. Walking over to it, I threw my leg over the seat.

Now this was how I was getting to the airport…

The engine purred to life.

I disembarked the flight – hood up, ignoring the stairs – and snorted in distaste.

I absolutely loathed flying. The annoying people and attendants, them especially, I liked imagining them flying out of the plane.

I made my way through the crowd, walking to the exit.

Around me people were reuniting with loved ones in a public display of sappy irrelevant emotion. I didn't care for their petty emotional displays of affection.

Emotion only got in the way of things, it was too Human – they were unnecessary. A burden and I knew from experience.

I lived it.

The horrific experience that was my changing and the last moments of my pathetic Human life had left an unwanted lasting and reoccurring impression on me.

Like a damn imprint - forever there, haunting, lingering and I couldn't forget.

I was haunted by the memories I unconsciously replayed over and over through the course of my change. It was times like this I relished in the thought of never sleeping.

I never felt the physical pain, just the emotional.

Unlike others, my last Human moments had not faded, had not been swept up in the hunger for Human blood. The memories would never fade, etched into my mind.

I awoke from my transformation void and erased of any and all emotion. I had to learn to feel again.

When I had found Aro I had been an emotionless zombie, unable to feel anything – to show any emotional at all.

But, as I recovered my emotions, I fought to keep them under my control. I learnt to control them, manipulate them, until I could once again erase my emotions willingly.

Like flipping a switch off.

An emotionless assassin.

The abyss I had been thrust into, the abyss I now lived in, and the wall I kept up meant I was the perfect killer. Unattached and distant.

Broken.

Exiting the airport, I walked into the light, pulling my cloak around me tighter and taking a glance around – no one was looking – I took off.

Too fast for Human eyes, regardless, even if they had been looking.

I felt my contacts finally dissolve as I ran – thank God, those things were annoying. Wind whipped round me, making my cloak billow out behind me – the feeling was sensational.

Soon, I could see a house, my eyes sort out the number – seven – this was the house. I slowed down, shifting gracefully into a confident stroll. The house was large, almost homely and well kept, though I could smell Vampires.

Not at all what I had been expecting, really.

I walked noiselessly to the front door, briefly entertained the idea of knocking before I just opened the carelessly unlocked thing.

The inside, like the exterior, was well kept, well furbished and had that same homely look about it. I quirked an eyebrow. Our information had been wrong, this lady, whom ever she was, was not the ringleader.

This was obviously a smaller base, a decoy. They were well organized and clever, this was just to distract us.

Distract me, rather.

I heard the sound of light footsteps making their way towards my location. I shut the door with a click, walking into the hall and slumping against a wall – waiting.

Elara, looking like a goddess in a short red dress, rounded the corner, her face a mix of forced confusion and shock.

I could see right through it. She might not have been the leader, but she was defiantly apart of this, her eyes gave her away.

"I'm sorry, have I done something to upset the Volturi?" Polite and sweet her voice was like melting honey. I looked her over, she was stunningly beautiful, and it was a shame I had to kill her.

"It seems, regarding information, you're a suspected ringleader in the increasing New Born attacks." Blunt, my voice was as cold and emotionless as it always was, boredom seeping into my voice.

I flipped my hood down, flicking long dark brown locks over my shoulder.

Elara looked startled before she quickly regained her composure and faked false innocence. "Really? Miss, I beg your pardon but your information must be wrong, I would never be involved in something as crude as that."

I smirked.

Her lie was as practiced as all Vampires and usually things like Newborn attacks were overlooked – Humans disappeared all the time.

But these attacks were different, Humans were being slaughtered and people were getting suspicious – worked up – by the lack of subtly.

It would only be a matter of time before one of them exposed us.

Elara, ignoring my smirk, bit her lip suggestively, seductively, taking a swaggering step towards me, I didn't move.

Her hands came up to trail down my arms, body pressing up against mine. Her eyes traced over my face, hot breath ghosting over my lips, I cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm sure you could over look this little error in information." Her lips teasingly brushed against mine, her fingers tracing slow patterns over my stomach.

It really was a shame I had to kill her.

"I suppose I could…" I smirked devilishly, feeling one hand dip lower away from my body, darting into her pocket – I saw the glint of Silver, a knife? – she was trying to distract me.

I inwardly sighed, this was just starting to get good too. Too bad.

My eyes glowed an intense crimson red and Elara stopped dead in her tracks – freezing. The knife stopped behind my neck, I tutted. "But then I don't think you just want this little error over looked, hm?"

I chuckled with dark amusement as fear, genuine fear, flickered in her eyes. I brushed a stray hair behind her ear, fingers trailing over her jaw.

"I can spare your existence, if you tell me where the real ring leader is…" I leant forward, lips ghosting over her neck, I heard her inhale sharply.

"So, do you want to tell me?" I asked again, turning my glowing eyes to hers; she blinked, the only flinch she could muster while immobile.

Her mouth locked up. I twitched; she was not going to tell me anything willingly. I sighed, tapping into my power, making it flow into her - eyes glowing brighter.

"He's somewhere in Forks. That's all I know. I just take orders." Her mouth seamed to move on it's own.

My hands tensed unconsciously around Elara's arms, she twitched under the strength and I scowled. Forks, of course they would be there.

I stepped back and pulled out my gun. Elara tensed in fear.

She knew what it was, because she too had one. I briefly wondered where she had acquired such a rare weapon, but pushed the thought aside, they were popping up in large Vampire groups.

"You said if I told you!" She demanded, voice shrill with fear. I could feel her struggling against my power, I laughed, low and dark – angry at the thought of Forks.

Her eyes never left the gun in my hand, she could feel its power, and she knew what it could do.

She knew my gun held the power to end her existence with a single shot.

I shook my head. "I had to make you tell me. That wasn't my deal, Beautiful." I taunted, before flicking my wrist and pulling the trigger.

Elara crumpled to the floor – dead.

"I lied anyway."

My eyes stopped glowing and I smirked, hearing Vampires moving towards me. I pulled out my other gun, still leaning against the wall, I watched with dark amusement Vampires fly in and register their dead leader.

Their eyes blazed. Commitment.

It didn't matter though. I would kill them all.

This was my life now.

I pushed off the wall…