Chapter One
20 years later
Bella narrowed her eyes as she watched in a crouched position; all of her avenues for escape disappear. A snarl ripped out of her throat while lunging at the couple of vampires in front of her. Grabbing them by the hair, she threw them across the room, and whirled around faster than any of them can blink. Her nails lengthened into claws, and she ripped the air.
The ones, now in front of her fell and withered in pain as gigantic tears became visible in their chest. The other looked at each other warily, and with a small nod, all jumped Bella. She looked at the lunging vampires and leaped up herself, creating a force field that dispelled all the rest that tried. Bella clung onto the bar on the ceiling, watching impassively as the rest fell, and groaned in defeat.
"Any other challengers?" she snapped out. While she spoke, the chilling scarlet of eyes rushed and became darker, into an onyx black.
The vampires shook their head quickly, and scattered in silence, too freaked out to linger for long.
The silence remained until a single clap echoed around the room.
"Excellent job, Isabella, very efficient, as usual," Caius smirked at her. Bella ignored him, and let go of the bar, letting herself fall, before flipping around and landing on her feet.
She dusted herself off as she asked, "What do you need?"
"As always, directly to the point," he replied. She ignored him and started walking out of the training room.
Caius chuckled lightly and caught up with her, "Aro wants to see you," he answered to her unspoken question. She frowned.
"Can that wait? I am hungry," she answered dismissively, and opened the door to walk out.
"No, I am afraid he insisted it is quite urgent," he told her.
She sighed, slightly irritated, and changed directions, both heading to Aro's room.
"Aro," she raised her head a little higher as she greeted him coolly.
There was a gasp from the shadows of the corner of the room, and she whirled around, crouching in defense.
"Bella?"
The person stepped out of the shadows. As she stepped out, Bella launched herself on them, ready to tear down their defenses. Before she could attack, Bella glimpsed a pixie-like face, spiked hair…Alice!
Bella froze, then backtracked, until she was in no contact with her, then turned around, her back to Alice, to Aro.
"What do you need, Aro?" Bella snapped, her eyes turning a blood lust red. He merely chuckled.
"Dear Isabella, you are so impatient," he tsk-ed in mocking disappointment. Bella growled, then wheeled around.
"Hurry up, and tell me what you want. Then get the hell out of here," Bella addressed Alice flatly, eyes turning an icy gray.
Alice flinched. It was the first time that Bella saw her looking uncertain, doubting herself. The sadistic side of her smirked, savoring Alice's fear.
"I-I…its…Edward!" Alice finally murmured.
Bella froze as His name came up…after twenty years of pain, betrayal…loss…heartbreak. That particular memories kept playing in her mind….I don't love you anymore….I don't love you anymore…I don't lo-
The memories were flashing, until Alice touched Bella's arm.
Bella flinched away, her eyes turning red again.
"What does he have to do with me?" she turned away, not quite able to hide the quiver in her voice.
Alice laughed sadly. "It has everything to do with you. The last time we saw him, he said that only you could bring him back."
Bella laughed coldly, her melodious voice making it sound like bells. Brittle, hard, glass bells.
"And if I don't?" she asked, bitter resent masking the hint of curiosity in her voice.
Alice sighed, "Our entire family is broken. Emmett never laughs any more, Esme cries all the time, Carlisle hides himself into his study, never coming out, Rosalie is worried to death about Emmett, and Jasper…he has to leave to escape the depression everyone is feeling."
Bella's eyes slowly turned blue, almost pitying and sorrow, with a hint of guilt.
Alice asked tentatively, "Are you going to come back to us?"
Bella hesitated, "I…."
The memories flashed through of Him, flashed again, despite her best to suppress them.
She, again, turned her back from Alice, and growled, "No,"
Her tone was final, resolute, as she tried to block out the pain of her non-existing heart bleed.
"I assume that is all you need, Aro," she spat as she strode out the doors, opened and then closed it with a resonating bang.
A/N: How is chapter one? Review please!