Don't read too much into the woman I gave Emmett at the end there (I really couldn't leave him single it would be too heartbreaking). She'll probably never get a name but I pictured Dichen Lachman's character Suren from the North American version of Being Human. But that does not mean that it is her, it's just what she looks like, kind of like a cardboard cutout of a person, no name or personality for the random woman. Feel free to imagine whatever or whomever you want. Make it you if you really wish. I'd like to imagine it was me.


Chapter 7

It only took a few short months before I heard of my maker and his chief tormentor again. I was in the gardens with Jane, she was braiding my blonde hair with vibrant pink and yellow flowers. Sitting on the grass with my face raised to the bright noon sun, I revelled in the simplicity of my life with my family. I heard my mate and son approach, or rather I heard Alec cheerfully telling his father about whatever silly stunt Santiago had pulled this time. For a man that was as physically intimating and ruthless as Felix, Santiago found himself in a lot of sticky situations that always ended up with him covered in some form of odd coloured liquid.

"And his face is still bright green!" Alec finished saying before he collapsed laughing next to his sister.

I looked at Demetri, wondering what exactly it was that happened and he simply shook his head. "You look beautiful." He told me smiling.

"Thank you, it's all thanks to Jane." I humbly preened.

He joined us on the grass, offering me a kiss before pulled Jane into his lap, "Of course it is, this one only knows how to make things pretty." He joked tickling her. She squealed happily until he stopped.

Alec sat between us, playing with the hem of my skirt as I asked, "So what did Aro want?"

"Hey, why don't you two go find Heidi, I imagine she's going to try and get the green out of Santiago soon." He suggested pushing Jane out of his lap. Something was up and I wasn't sure I was going to like it.

When the twins looked at me for permission, I granted it with a gentle nod. Whatever it was must be important if he didn't want them to know. We sat watching them disappear, listening for them to leave the garden so they wouldn't over hear. Once they were gone, I turned to him, the peace of the afternoon shattered, "What happened Demetri?"

"It looks like there's a newborn army being made in Seattle."

Okay, what was so secret about that? "What's the big deal with that? I mean, newborn armies can be incredibly scary because they have little discipline and immense strength, yes, but why keep that from the twins?"

He cringed and I really started to panic, "Carlisle and his coven live a short way from Seattle, Rose. Caius thinks that they are raising arms against us over what happened two months ago."

"What?" I asked incredulously, "We were nothing but hospitable, we even let them live when they should have been put down. How could Carlisle take offense to that?"

He shook his head and absently picked at the grass, "I don't know, but Aro wants me and Felix to check it out."

I nodded, "Good, if this is Carlisle he needs to be stopped, and if it's something else we need to know." He sighed and fell back to lay on the grass, pulling me all the way down with him. I curled against his chest, "There's more isn't there?"

"Marcus suggested that you join us given your history with Carlisle. I don't know why he thinks you might be able to help, you were with him for only a couple of months and I think any goodwill that still existed was destroyed when Edward was here, but Aro agreed." He paused to kiss the tip of my nose, "Jane and Alec will come with us. It could be just like Greece, only Felix would be there, and we'd have to deal with an army-"

"-Which you want me nowhere near." I added, knowing that that was what really had him frustrated with the situation.

"Exactly, but Caius taught you to fight so no matter how I feel, they want you there in case this does have something to do with Carlisle." He continued, "Talk him out of it, or whatever. We'd handle the army."

"And I will gladly let you." I reassured him with a kiss. I'd promised I would only fight as a last resort to protect my family, and despite now knowing how to fight, I didn't want to have to.

He sighed and held me close, I knew he didn't like this and was worried about me, "Thank you." He murmured kissing my forehead, "And you really do look beautiful." He added with another kiss, this one to my lips.

I laughed, "Of course I do, beauty might not be my gift like it is for Heidi, but I always was stunning." I kissed him again and we continued laying in the warm sun, living in the peace of the moment. After a half hour I asked, "When do we need to leave?"

Demetri answered after a minute, "Tomorrow at the latest, Aro wants this handled as soon as possible." Nodding I burrowed against him further, there was still time before I had to face Carlisle and Edward again and I wasn't going to let them ruin my day any further.

It took us a couple of days to reach Seattle, mainly because Felix still didn't trust airplanes so we were forced to run from Italy, across the Bering Strait, and down the western coast. I stayed in a hotel during the day with Jane and Alec, despite the day being rather grey. Felix and Demetri knew how to find people better than Jane and Alec did, besides two six year olds running around without anyone with them would be suspicious, and I would just get in everyone's way.

They came back that night having found the army, and we made our way out, keeping out of sight to keep our advantage. We found them destroying a car and feeding on the occupants. These newborns were terrible, they had no regard for the carnage they were causing or that they risked exposure.

I watched the scene below closely, there was someone, a boy, that seemed to be in command of them, but I didn't recognize him. Of course, when I was with Carlisle there was only him, Esme, and Edward. Now there was at least one other vampire, Alice; he could have added others and this boy was one of them.

"I can't tell who truly leads this rabble." I admitted looking over my shoulder at my mate. "But the boy, he is at least more than just a foot soldier, but if he is one of Carlisle's ... I don't know."

Demetri took me in his arms and kissed my shoulder, "They've already drawn too much attention."

"So has our inaction." Felix commented and I turned my head to look at him across from my children. He was still somewhat sour about Alec insisting we fly home when things were finished. "Others may begin to question the Volturi's effectiveness."

As hard as it was to admit, he had a point. But having people underestimating you could prove a greater strength. I knew that from experience.

"Let them." I whispered sparing a thought back to my fight with Azibo. Demetri's arms tightened around me minutely.

Felix turned away from the scene below us, "Maybe we should consult with Aro."

I was still watching the chaos below when I heard Felix grunt in pain. Jane was always such a bright little girl, perhaps not as wise as her brother but at least she knew the danger in speaking with Aro. "Aro's decisions are being watched." She commented petulantly. I turned slightly to glimpse my daughter just as she released Felix, "We must decide."

"Then decide sister." Alec told her impassively, sparing a glance at Demetri and myself. We had decided before leaving Volterra to give them more responsibility on this trip. They didn't normally receive it because of their innocent appearance, but I thought that with both Demetri and myself present they'd be well enough. "It's time."

We all turned back to the butchery. "Yes it is. Either we let them do what they were created for, or we end them." She remarked lazily. Her attitude shifted instantly and she smiled her childish grin. With a giddy laugh she remarked, "Decisions, decisions."

"Leave them." I whispered leaning back against Demetri, "Killing cannon fodder will do little good if we don't know who made them."

Alec smiled ruefully, "We follow them, learn who leads them than make our decision."

Demetri nodded, "Exactly, let's go."

It only took a couple of days before we were moving again, following the army to wherever they were going. We still didn't know exactly who was leading them, but from what we could gather, they were after the Cullens. Alec suggested we remain a fair distance behind the army, keep them unaware of our presence even still.

Demetri said they were heading towards a field on the edge of a small town called Forks, and that the Cullens were already there waiting. Having seen the size of the army Carlisle and his family faced, I knew they would not survive, no matter their size now. I cautioned my companions to let the Cullens do what they could and once they were removed we'd destroy the rest of the army. I pointedly ignored Demetri's disappointed look about my wishing the Cullens dead, but my children listened and Felix saw no issue with the plan.

We placed ourselves between the field and any paths the army could take into town. Despite everything we needed to maintain our anonymity from the humans, and if any of the army escaped looking for human blood, we would stop them. Demetri was less than pleased with my being alone for that part of the plan, so I relented to him and allowed Alec to stay with me.

An hour after we arrived, no one came. Felix suggested we check the field and so we went. Only to find the Cullens still standing and no sign of the army save a bonfire behind them.

I looked around at the group, Carlisle had grown his family since my departure. Edward stood to the side with his stupid human. Alice stood next to a stoic looking blonde with bite scars on most his exposed skin. Carlisle and Esme stood in the middle of the group next to a large bear of a man, a bedraggled though proud looking brunette woman was sitting cross-legged at his feet. A younger brunette woman cowered behind everyone.

"Impressive," I commented sharply catching Carlisle's gaze, "I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact."

Carlisle smiled and bowed his head slightly in greeting, "We were lucky."

"I doubt that." Jane remarked sourly. Her serious nature in place, protecting the innocence underneath.

I smiled at my daughter as my son spoke, "It appears we missed an entertaining fight."

Jane's detachment wavered as she smiled at her brother and added "Yes, it's not often we're rendered unnecessary."

"If you arrived a half hour ago you would have fulfilled your purpose." Edward informed us almost angrily.

I looked at him sharply. "Pity."

We all looked about the field again, observing Carlisle and his family. Jane must have seen the same thing I did because she pointed out, "You missed one." The blonde man moved to stand next to the cowering girl, the one with burgundy eyes that Carlisle would never permit among the members of his family.

Carlisle turned to look at me as he spoke. "We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender."

I sneered, "That wasn't yours to offer." He must have thought he'd be able to gain the young girl clemency by appealing to me, but I held no love for the man that turned me, and he needed to realize that.

Jane addressed the girl, "Why did you come?" When she didn't answer right away, Jane applied her gift, making the new thing scream. "Who created you?"

Esme broke through the line of her family, speaking over the newborn's screams, "You don't need to do that, she'll tell you anything you want to know."

"I know." Jane responded with a shrug before releasing the girl from her hold. She curled further into a ball before raising her head and looking at us.

"I don't know." She finally said, "Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe." I shook my head slightly, of course they weren't, not with Edward around to brain rape you.

"Her name was Victoria." Edward informed us coldly. "Perhaps you knew her."

"Edward," Carlisle cautioned, "if the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria they would have stopped her." He turned from his son to look at us. To look at me, "Isn't that right Rosalie?"

I stepped forward away from the line of my companions, Demetri I knew was instantly unhappy with me. I walked over to my old family and looked them all over very carefully, my crimson eyes dragging over each individual and committing their appearance and scent to memory. "Of course, but we didn't, so your anger, Edward, is unfounded."

I turned my back on them and walked back to my family. I nodded at Jane as I grew close, but continued on to my mate. Demetri wrapped an arm around my waist and held me to his side, it told of our relationship, but maybe not the full nature of it. Besides, I knew from Demetri's face that after what I had just done, he needed me there to know I was safe.

As I reached Demetri's side, Jane called out, "Felix." The impressively built guardsman stepped forward to truly finish off this Victoria woman's army. No doubt the Cullens had made certain she was dead.

Esme stepped forward and hastily said, "She didn't know what she was doing." Alec raised a hand and Felix stopped moving. "We'll take responsibility for her."

"Give her a chance." Carlisle entreated us.

I smiled, "The Volturi don't give second chances, much like you, if I recall correctly." Carlisle and Esme both looked away from me sharply, remembering my departure from their little family. "Keep that in mind."

"Caius will be interested to know she's still human." Demetri added casually.

Bella looked at us quickly before stating tightly, "The date is set."

Jane nodded before turning back to Felix, "Take care of that Felix. I'd like to go home."

Felix passed through the line the Cullens made and up to the girl. With movements too quick for even my eyes, he tore her head from her shoulders and tossed the disconnected appendage into the fire. He rejoined our group and we turned to leave.

"Rosalie." Esme called out and with a quick glance at my mate I turned back to face her. I knew the moment we stepped into this field and realized the Cullens still lived I would have to face this. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what? Meeting your expectations?" I asked them angry. "You wanted me to keep drinking from humans, I simply did as you wished."

Esme looked away pained at my response, but Carlisle spoke up. "We never wanted that."

"Than why did you do it? Why did you throw me away, only three months after you turned me?" I demanded of him. Turning to face the rest of his family I addressed them, "Did you know that, I was a newborn, trying to fit into a new world and I slipped, so they threw me out. Nice people aren't they?"

Edward growled, "That's not what happened, Rosalie, you enjoyed it."

I rounded on him angrily, "And how would you know?" I shouted, "Oh yeah, by mind raping me! You hated me Edward, so you made sure I couldn't give my side, you made damn certain I got thrown out. So you want to know who really is to blame, it's you! I slipped, same as you I'm sure, same as all of you I'd imagine, but oh no, precious pious Edward wanted to stay the golden child. The center of Carlisle and Esme's world so he did what he had to short of killing me." Demetri wrapped an arm around my middle to hold me back and I took a second to take an unneeded breathe and calm myself.

"You enjoyed it too much and weren't going to stop. Say whatever you want to make yourself feel better Rosalie, but that's the real truth." Edward bit back.

"Edward that's enough." Carlisle told him sharply and I gave the bronze haired man a lethal sneer. What I wouldn't give to have Jane's gift right then. "Rosalie, whatever the case may have been, we were too quick to judge. Please, forgive us."

"I'll forgive you when you're dead Carlisle." I informed him coolly. Turning to Edward's human I told her calmly, "Take heed of what happened to me silly thing, be careful you don't bore him or slip up, you could find yourself in the same position as me. But know that Aro will always hold a place for you among the guard for when it does occur. And really, it's very nice in Volterra, I'm ever so glad I was given the opportunity to live there."

With that I turned and led the way out of the field, I'd said everything I needed to and being around those hateful people was making my skin crawl. Jane was right, I wanted to go home.