So, as usual, I was right

So, as usual, I was right.

Bella was learning quickly, almost as quickly as I did. We were in the backyard, again, practicing with the entire family. Bella was working on her newfound shielding skill, the reason Edward could not read her mind, and the reason Jane and Alec had no affect on her. An elastic-like substance protruded from around her, and covered those she wished to protect like a blanket. This skill was found thanks to the help of Kate and Eleazar, whom, with the rest of the Denali family, had decided to come.

Bella had gotten particularly good at her skill in the last hours we've discovered it, she's been going at it non stop. This skill could protect many of our family members. But not all.

I looked around the crowd of vampires and wondered which of my family would die tomorrow.

Would it be one of my closest family members? I was really glad Edward was too be hearing my thoughts now. He was helping Bella with her shield, graciously allowing Kate to use her own shield to shock him, while Bella tried to protect him. Poor bloke.

Fortunately for me, I had better means of practicing. Emmett. And I was currently proving to him that I wasn't as much of a "sissy fighter" as he thought me to be. I had beaten him countless numbers of times now. He just wouldn't give up. But that was fine with me. I could use the practice, and not to mention the bragging rights. But sooner or later we had to stop because Carlisle and Demetrius, a distant uncle, had decided everyone should hunt before the fight so we would be at our strongest. Edward and I were going to share, since we had had some earlier. I wondered what would happen to vampires if they drank too much blood. I guessed the same thing that happened to humans when they ate too much food…

"Liv! Snap out of it!" Edward yelled. "We have to go hunt now." He turned away from me, then we both started running to the river, then he halted to a stop. "And by the way, vampires aren't stupid enough to drink too much blood, like humans eat too much food. But yes, you have the general idea."

"Thanks." I said hotly.

He jumped across the river with me right behind him, and we soon caught the scent of mountain lion, Edward's favorite, on the jutting cliffs.

"Would you like to do the honors?" I asked.

"Sure? Why not? I get first bite!" he exclaimed in his best impersonation of one of Dracula's brides.

"Nice impersonation. I'll have to tell Emmett that one. If Alice hasn't already.

"Ha, ha. I'm laughing, really."

"Just hurry up or I get first bite."

"Fine. Fine. Hold your horses."

I grunted, a clear sign for him to shut up. He caught it.

He crouched down on all fours and began to stalk the mountain lion. He paused on the edge of the cliff, then sprang just as the lion reared onto his hind legs, paws extended, trying to fend off his attacker. But he was no match for the mighty Edward, and was taken down immediately by the blunt force of his strong teeth and jaws. I marveled at his work. He made it seem much easier than it really was.

He stood up and wiped the dirt off his hands that he had picked up from the mountain lion. Then turned to face me.

"Go on. You go first." He insisted.

He gestured towards the dead cat. But I was intent on making it hard. He knew it.

"You caught it. You go first."

"I'd like you to."

"It would be wonderful if you would."

"I got first bite, you get first drink."

"Second is just as good."

He sighed, then glared, and then growled at the same time.

"Fine!" He huffed. He knew I wasn't backing down.

He bent over the lion, and his half of the blood, while I studied the trees to give him some privacy. He stood up after a minute.

"You should go back to Bella. There is no reason for you to stay here." I said with a smile. He sighed. Again.

"I guess you are right." He obviously didn't want to get shocked again by Kate.

"Have fun." I told him.

"Thanks." He yelled back, already half way there.

I bent over the remains of the dead animal, and began to drink my share.

Bella was getting very good at her shield. I was hoping it would intimidate James, or at least cause him to hesitate, long enough for someone to take him out. How would his army react without a leader? But what about Victoria? She was sure to be there. She had been ready to smash us to the ground when we first met, or at least, she would try to smash us to the ground. So that was it. Take out the leader. Don't you dare take my idea

Edward Anthony Mason Cullen.

I finished the rest of the mountain lion, and began to run for home. It would soon be time to face James and his minions. It was now almost midnight. We had about twelve more hours to prepare ourselves mentally, as well as physically. Physically, we could make it, mentally, I wasn't so sure. The whole property was an emotional uproar. I have never been this overwhelmed in all my life.

I crossed the river by barely pushing off with my feet, and ran for the backyard. We were going to practice all out until we had to leave. Some of the Cullen's needed their memory refreshed.

Emmett was working with Ramus, a cousin, so I went looking for someone new to test my skills with.

I spotted a well muscled, lithe figure wondering the grounds not that far away. I ran to him and did not stop when I reached him. I bowled him over and he reacted immediately by trying to roll me on my back. I squirmed out from under him and threw myself onto his unprotected back. He slumped to the ground under my weight. I put my teeth at his throat to signal he had lost.

"Nice try. But better luck next time." I smirked.

"That was unfair. You jumped me from behind."

"One should always keep their guard. Even in friendly territories," I contradicted, "and I came from the side, not the back."

"Anyhow, that was some fancy fighting."

"It's been known to happen."

"Well then, nice to meet you. I'm Marcin."

"Nice to meet you too. I'm Livra. But you should call me Liv."

"So I have heard. I hear a great deal about you."

"Me? Who would be talking about me?"

"Never you mind. It's not important." He said.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Honestly."

"Whatever." I stood up from where I was sitting and felt slightly, well…bored. There was no other word for it. I had nothing to do. Everyone else was busy practicing combat. Okay. I was that desperate.

I turned around to offer a rematch, but he had already gone. He sure was strange.

Now what the heck was I supposed to do? I couldn't just wonder around all day. Maybe I would go help Bella…wait. Never mind. Edward has it covered, I didn't want to get shocked. I guess I should go find Carlisle. He would give me something to do, I was sure of that. But where was he? Crap. Oh well, though. More to do.

I searched and searched, then finally found Carlisle in his study. The very first place I should have looked.

I pushed the door open, to find Carlisle and Demetrius pouring over maps of the entire estate, confirming his plan. I tried to back out quickly before he noticed me, but he held up his hand for me to stop.

"We are finished here." He said.

Demetrius smiled at me as he walked by, and I smiled back, feeling a bit awkward.

"Everything okay?" he asked me.

"Fine. Everything is fine. I was just wondering if you had anything for me to do."

"Bored?" He smiled at me. "Edward told me about your little revelation a while ago, by the way. You know, about taking out the leaders first?"

"What? Oh, yes! That! I had forgotten."

"It is a very wonderful idea. I was just discussing it with Demetrius." He said.

"Thanks," I said, slightly awkward again.

"We both think you are right. Which is why Edward, you, Demetrius, and I, will go after James and Victoria. To ensure they do not survive. You and I shall take Victoria; Edward and Demetrius get James."

"Okay. I can do that. Don't worry."

"Oh, I have no worries," he ensured me.

"Good, 'cause if you do, I shall know it," I warned him as I backed out of the room, into the hallway. I guess I was going to practice more with Emmett. I was sick of practicing. But it had to be done to avoid complete and total boredom. It was 10:30 now, and we were going to leave at eleven to try to head James off. I spotted Emmett walking across the lawn by himself, and ran to catch up to him.

"Want a rematch? I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself."

"You are on, short stuff."

"Don't say a thing on my height." I warned him.

"Really?" he hovered his hand above my head. I think you might be a centimeter taller than Alice."

And then, I lunged at his throat.

I couldn't hurt him, of course, seeing as though he was already dead. We just tussled on the ground a bit. Did I win, you ask? Of course.