Ninth Chapter of the Prequel for:

"Where's the Excitement?"

"Where we've been"

It had been a couple decades since Melissa and Stephanie joined our coven, and they fit perfectly. They keep the boys in check, make sure they follow all my orders, and follow my instructions to the mark with no need for punishments or reprimanding. We were a happy little family, just the five of us.

Their love for each of their mates has astounded me, even when the boys do something stupid and mindless, they find it in themselves to forgive them, and move on as nothing had happened.

I sat by and watched my coven grow stronger and stronger. The power I was holding in my hands made me giddy. The protection that they provided me meant there would be no need to ever have to hurt again.

I had been dodging calls from Demetri for almost years now, and just last week he called and threatened to come find me and make me talk to him. Frankly, I was thrilled that he would actually leave Volterra to come and see me, but I didn't want to disturb the domestic bliss that we were enjoying with a visit from him.

I was happy where I was, just enjoying life in our house in Nevada, right in the middle of Death Valley.

I noticed my phone ringing, it was Demetri calling me…again…and this time I actually answered.

"Oh your highness, you are actually gracing me with your voice, how grateful I am! Thank you!" He cheered sarcastically as I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"Wow no wonder I haven't been answering, you are overly sarcastic and annoying!"

"Oh Izzy you know that you love and miss me! I miss you…" His voice took a softer tone, laced with regret and guilt.

"Oh Demetri, I do miss you, but life here is good, and sometimes I just don't want you to disturb that…I'm not always avoiding you, although more times than not… I am, but I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to hurt your feelings."

"It's okay because I am coming to see you, so where are you?" He asked, trying to get me to up my location.

Eventually I did, may as well throw the boy a bone.

It was so easy to talk to Demetri and remember my life before…before everything turned dark. He was so calm and fun to talk with. He truly did love me, and when I really needed a shoulder, he would always be there.

VvVvV

It had been two weeks since I had spoken with Demetri and he was due to arrive quite soon, my chest was tightening, I could almost feel my pulse quicken and my breathing becoming erratic.

I knew I was just nervous, but why?

I had no idea…

As I waited, I heard the car's wheels crunching on the gravel driveway leading up to our grand ole' house. The car door opened and closed, more crunching from his feet on the stone walkway, and then the knock on the double wood doors.

I lifted myself from my comfortable position on the couch to stand by in the foyer as I watched Ethan open the door. Demetri looked into his eyes, coming to about the same height, a few inches over six feet. Their bodies were similar in form, muscular and defined, but Ethan was much more buff since his previous life's activities had made him a strong human creating an even more impressive vampire.

Demetri's red eyes roamed over Ethan with a strange aggravation written into his forehead. I quirked my head to the side, confused at the emotion.

"What? You've never seen a vampire on steroids?" Ethan asked with a lot of sarcasm. Demetri laughed a full blown out, head fallback laugh. Ethan seemed pleased by his display and welcomed him in, introducing himself.

"It's nice to meet you Ethan." Demetri said as he shook his hand. Andrew came up and did the same, and next the girls. He seemed to be confused by all these vampires in my house and in my company, there was also the question of Renesmee.

"Isabella," He sighed and approached me carefully then pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, "God I never thought I would ever get to hold you or see you again…" He whispered in my ear.

"I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere baby, and you need to relax a little bit," I sent him my reassurance and calmed him down a bit and he smiled thankfully.

"Alright, so what are we doing tonight? I think we should go out! I was thinking we could head to Vegas for the night, how's that sound?" He was effortlessly excited, and spread his enthusiasm around the room until everyone was on board.

There were nods of agreement and glee coming from the girls, and the guys seemed positive about that plan as well. I smiled at Demetri and pulled him up the stairs to my room for a while.

VvVvV

It was about four in the afternoon when we all left the house, knowing it would take a good three hours to drive to Vegas, even if we were going our top speed. The boys decided to drive with the girls, while Demetri and I went together.

Demetri sat next to me in the passenger seat of his rented Matte Black Lexus ES 350, which I had to beg him to let me drive. I was so hyper and excited that I didn't even realize I had been driving at 150 mph until I heard sirens coming up behind us.

I knowingly sped up past the next hill and down it, and camouflaged the car into the road color so that we wouldn't get caught.

I love my gifts…

Demetri smiled at me and kept his hand in mine as we listened to "Love Like Woe", by The Ready Set. I loved this song so much. I thought the beat was amazing and addictive; Demetri just loved seeing me happy and couldn't care less what it was that was keeping me going.

Cause you're a pretty little windstorm out on the boulevard

Something like a Sunset, oh you're a shooting star

And I might drive myself insane

if those lips aren't speaking my name

I sang the words loudly, with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. Demetri stared at me in awe. He never noticed that I had a good voice, well I didn't either, but hey, you learn something new every day…

it's like a hurricane, speed train, she's a moving car

Catch her in the fast lane, oh I gotta know,

Can I keep up with her pace?

Kick it into gear when I see that face

"You know you're different than before," he said in a star struck kind of way; I just nodded with a smile and kept on singing.

You can take up all my time cause you're the only one

That can make a storm cloud break, pulling out the sun

And I can't get caught in the rain

Can I get your lips to speak my name?

Cause I got some intuition,

Or maybe I'm superstitious

But I think you're a pretty sweet pill that I'm swallowing down

To counter this addiction, you've got me on a mission

Tell me darling, can I get a break somehow?

How could I say no?

VvVvV

We had spent most of the night riding around Vegas, stopping at bars, getting drinks we will puke up later, dancing, laughing, and generally having a good time overall.

I smiled as I watched Andrew get down on one knee and ask Melissa to marry him. Her shock and love made me smile.

Oh, thank god! Finally!

It seemed that she had been waiting a while now. They had been together almost twenty years, you'd think the guy would have gotten the clue…but sadly, he is a man.

Ethan then had the brilliant idea to do the same and propose to Stephanie, which she responded by smacking him upside the head. But her emotions were filled with love and joy that he had decided to follow suit. They were each other's worlds, just as mates should be.

Just as I should be…if I could ever get off my ass and go get my man…

They decided to have a double wedding at one of those stupid themed chapels in Vegas, so cliché, but it's what they wanted.

It was all beautiful and Demetri and I decided to let them be, and head off on our own. Truthfully, I was a little sour watching them be so happy together, and I just wanted to get away from them.

We got in the car and took a long drive up to Reno. I had been to Vegas a lot of times, but I'd never taken the time to go to Reno. Demetri didn't mind, he just wanted to spend time with me.

We got there and honestly it looked the same as Vegas, but I wasn't complaining.

I spent a lot of time just watching Demetri; he was so laid back being here with me. In jeans! I mean the man had awesome legs and if I were him I would show those sexy things off more often. Before I actually got to know him, I immediately thought he was a bit of a prude, but after we became more intimate, his inner demon came out quite often.

"Are you okay sweetie?" His used his deep hungry voice to ask me. I smirked at him and just nodded.

Demetri dragged me into another club and pulled me onto the dance floor. His red eyes covered by brown contacts made his eyes look dark and murky, but his brown eyes could captivate you in a second. I smiled as he moved us expertly around the floor, never letting me out of his arms.

His placed his smooth cool lips to my neck and whispered, "Will you come with me?" He practically moaned.

I smiled and dragged him through the back and into an alley. He pushed me up against the brick wall and stared into my dark eyes, his stare meeting mine in an intense meaningful look. He tried desperately to convey that if this was all we could have, then this is what we shall have.

"I want you baby-"He was cut off by an eardrum-breaking scream from further down the alley.

I pushed Demetri away from me quickly and ran to the sound.

As I approached the scene, I found a women, no a girl, practically a child bleeding from her core, her clothes were ripped, and her head had been bashed into the wall. She was left with a massive head wound that was oozing blood, fast.

I screamed, shocking myself and the women who had yet to lose consciousness.

"Help! Please! Help me!" She screamed for help over and over and sobbed while bleeding out, her life slipping away second by second as I stood over her and watched.

My body moved faster than my mind did, for the next thing I knew, I had injected my venom into the girl and sealed the wounds I could find, and I calmed the fire before her screams could ever begin.

I looked down at the broken girl in shame, her life was ruined and I felt that this change would do nothing to change what had just happen. The humiliation and fear that was coming from the girl were drowning me.

I carefully lifted her into my arms, trying desperately to cover her body with mine. I moved swiftly out of the alley and around front to our car. I placed her gently into the back seat of the car, her blood rubbing into the fabric most definitely leaving a stain.

I sighed in sadness and in fear for what was to come of us now. I had just taken another step in my role as a savior of the broken. It was instinctual; I couldn't have stopped myself if I had tried.

Demetri was right behind me when I turned around with a frantic look; I quickly composed myself and got in the front seat of the car without a word to him. I was not going to discuss this out in the middle of the street. His eyes were glaring at me, hard.

My frustration grew as he continued to stand there not moving.

"Demetri, get in the car or I am leaving you here," I said with a stern and demanding voice.

He quickly got in and shut up, didn't say a word at all. Neither did I, not until I pulled out my cell and dialed Andrew. He answered immediately.

"Yeah Izz?"

"We got another one, set up a room in the house for her, oh and this one is going to be tricky, I can feel it. Some real power is coming off her. She was raped and beaten, I found her in an alley while Demetri and I were in Reno. I'm on my way home, but I'm going to drop off Demetri on the way."

"Okay boss. I'll let everyone know. Should we head home now?"

"I need you to be there before, but I won't be there for a few more hours. Make sure Peter knows about this. He'll need to come up for a bit, I have to go, see you when I get there," I hung up quickly and pushed the car as fast as it would go.

Demetri looked over at me with a big question on his face.

"Demetri, would you stop looking at me like that. I wasn't sure how to tell you, but this is what I do. I save humans; I change them and let them join my family, my Coven. This is how I created my life, without them, I would have nothing and I would be alone. I need this."

He didn't answer me and we didn't say much for a while. I started to pull off the highway towards the Airport when Demetri spoke up.

"Where is Nessi?" He asked with a sad tone. I had a feeling he knew, but he asked anyways.

"She's gone Demetri. She's just gone." I said coldly.

"What do you mean she is just gone? Isabella that is not an answer! I want a real answer, and I mean it." He said sternly.

I sighed, "Victoria killed her, I wasn't careful and she wasn't strong enough on her own, I should have known better."

"You moved on from this haven't you? I can tell you don't even seem fazed right now?"

"I can't let it faze me, I have a life now, people to protect, people who count on me. There needs to be order and control, I can't keep losing my fuse every two seconds because of my daughter, that isn't going to help us get anywhere. So, yes right now, it isn't fazing me because I have a 16-year-old girl in the backseat of this car going through her change. Don't you see, I do not have time to be worried about my dead daughter, I just can't." We were almost at the airport, and I needed to start getting a grip. This was not the time to be consumed by my emotions. The girl behind me needed my help.

"I understand Isabella. Thank you for letting me come and visit you, hopefully we will see each other again soon. I love you sweetie and I always will. Good luck, with everything." He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and got out of the car.

I pulled away from the airport, got back onto the highway, and drove home.

VvVvV

I lifted the girl's limp body from the backseat and carried her up the steps. When I hit the last step, the doors flew open, Melissa and Stephanie came out and helped me take the girl up to her new room.

We have two more days, we have time, and oh god I've done it again.

I remembered the last time I had been in this position; I had run off in the middle of the night to find solace in the arms of a random vampire. At the time, it had been a poor choice, but the comfort I could definitely use.

I guess it's time I give Henry a call.

I waited barely two rings before I heard his sweet voice come on the line, "Hello, Henry speaking."

"Oh I've missed that voice… guess who?" I said in a sultry tone.

"My god, is that Miss Isabella? Calling little ole' me? This can't really be happening, can it?" His sarcasm was somewhat endearing.

"Yes, and I need you to come to Death Valley." I said urgently.

"Good thing I'm in Sacramento, I'll be there soon."

"Please hurry, it's an emergency." I whispered in desperation.

"I'm on my way now. Hang on sweetie, I'm coming." He assured me.

We hung up and I waited.

I sat on the bed next to the girl, I tried my best to keep pain away. I couldn't let her feel any more pain then she had already been through… god she reminded me of Rosalie. I could feel her pain, but it wasn't the burning I was expecting, this pain bubbling inside of her was purely from her heart. It was broken; she gave up on her life.

A few hours passed before I could hear a motorcycle rumble way off in the distance. I let everything black out and slumped to the ground, exhausted and worn out from saving lives.

God my life needs saving.

VvVvV

I could feel the cold stone arms lift me from my spot on the floor. The comfort I felt was immediate, I snuggled into the strong arms and sighed in contentment.

I could feel the small chuckle from the man holding me, but I couldn't care less, I'll let myself feel vulnerable for a little while, I need to, I need a break from the harsh and cruelty of reality.

The strong body didn't stop holding me, until I felt us lay down onto a bed. He slowly removed my peep toe leather ankle boots. His hands ghosted up my legs to my zipper and slowly pulled my leather dress off my shivering body. My black lace panties started to dampen with all these light touches causing my desire to heighten. I moaned low as he traced his fingers over my mound.

"So beautiful." He murmured against my abdomen, he left me in my bra and panties, clinging to him for comfort. I sighed and opened my eyes to see Henry's golden eyes staring at me.

I looked up at him in question, "Why?" I whispered as I traced my fingers across his cheek and up to his eyes, they fluttered closed and he leaned into my touch. He inhaled sharply, opened his lovely eyes, and stared at me.

"I wanted to try it…I went up to Denali, I wanted to experience this lifestyle a little more, I wanted to try it for you." He kissed my chest, resting his chin between my breasts and stared at me through his eyelashes. He smiled softly. "Why did you change that girl? She is so young Isabella," He asked with deep concern.

"She had been raped, I found her broken and beaten. I heard her crying for help…her eyes were blank, her mind was broken, she had no heart left, and her head was split open! I had to do something because I wasn't just going to leave her like that. She asked for help, and before I knew it, I had done it and I was carrying her to my car…" I looked at him with sad eyes, I let the venom tear slip down my cheek, and he caught it with a frown.

"You saved her? Is that what you've been doing? Is that what you did for those other girls, and those boys? You see someone dying who deserves more and you change them?" He seemed to understand, but he seemed wary of my choices.

"Yes, don't you see, these people were practically murdered, how can I just let that go? I wasn't given a choice Henry, my innocence was taken from me and then I was left with a child I couldn't take care of! I couldn't take care of a baby, but I was forced to and then that baby was murdered in front of me. Henry I watched my baby die…oh god!" I moaned at the painful memory.

Ethan and Andrew came running into my room and when they saw Henry on top of me, they smirked but bypassed that and came to me.

"No honey, no please don't cry, Izzy it's not your fault, we have been over this for the past sixty years, she tried to save you, she wanted to save you and she died trying." Ethan cooed and ran his hand through my hair. Andrew sighed and turned to Henry.

"Isabella was hunted as a human by a tracker, Ethan and I were changed into newborns to help destroy her, but Isabella let us live and ever since that day we have been following her. Wherever she went, we followed right behind her. She is our leader, our caretaker, our guardian, our everything…"

"Oh my boys, come here." I pulled them to me and held them, they kissed my cheeks and smiled at me, "Please go check on the girl, she has a day left, and I want her to feel safe. I can't have any males in the house when she wakes up. She may go off on her own, but it's still not clear what will happen. I want to be prepared."

"We'll go to the guest house and stay there. Should we take the girls or do you want their help?" Andrew asked.

"I think it would be best if I did this alone. I want to talk to her first, and make her feel better," The boys nodded and walked out, shutting the door behind them.

Henry looked at me, "Maybe you should take a shower and get cleaned up. Don't worry, I'll go stay with everyone at the guest house and I won't leave until you ask me to. I'll be in earshot of you, always. I'll be back soon baby." He lowered his lips to mine and kissed me gently. I could feel his affection for me, his desire to protect me. He wanted me to see him clearly, and I could. He was honest, and true to his word, he wouldn't lie to me.

"Thank you Henry, for everything."

VvVvV

I took a moment to prepare myself before I walked to the door.

She had already awoken and was scanning the room and house for danger.

She was frantic, desperate, scared, and very frightened of the burn in her throat.

I heard her move around the room and into the bathroom, catching the view of her new body. I heard her gasp and felt her awe when she closely examined her new self. She walked back into the room and sighed, "now what?" She mumbled to herself.

I knocked quietly on the door, trying to be calm.

Her fear heightened, but she tried to hide it and pushed it down. She walked to the door swiftly, opened it and looked me in the eye.

Her hair was short, straight, and black, and hung just above her shoulders, right below her chin. She had a very slim face, high cheekbones, small eyes, but the red shinning from them was frightening, making her seem much more terrifying than she actually was. She wasn't taller than me, but she was about the same height, just a bit over five feet without any shoes on.

"Hello." I said with a smile.

She seemed to not know how to answer.

"May I come in?" I asked calmly.

She nodded slowly and moved from the doorway to let me through. I moved inside, went to the window, sat on the ledge, and smiled at her.

She fidgeted, and looked around franticly, her nerves never calmed, so I tried to ease it out of her, and saw her shoulders slump down as she sat down on the bed.

"My name is Isabella, do you remember me?"

"I saw you in the alley, you heard me screaming and you came to help me." She said quietly.

"Yes I did, what's your name sweetie?"

"Trisha, thank you for saving me, but I don't understand, I was dying.. how did you- wait, what are you?" She whispered, like she didn't want anyone to overhear us.

"There is no one to hear you, don't worry. I didn't want to frighten you more than you already were. We are vampires."

"Vampires?"

"Yes. We are immortal, never aging or growing. I know this might seem a little unbelievable, but I am serious. I think it's time we went on your first hunt. You need blood."

"Will you show me how?"

"If that's what you want, I will do my best to teach you everything you need to know about this life." I gave her my hand, but braced myself for the shock that I knew I would feel when our skin touched. She felt the electric current run into my body and she gasped, but it didn't hurt me.

"What is that?"

"It must be your gift; some vampires that are changed into this life have something like an extra sense." I knew that didn't make a lot of sense to her. None of this did.

"Oh…I don't understand." She looked at me with a blank look.

"Sweetie don't worry about it right now. Let's go." I tried to reassure her. She would have plenty of time to work on her gift.

I went to the window and with Trisha's hand in mine, we jumped to the ground.

She beamed at me and we took off into the lovely Death Valley, Nevada National Park.

She was quick, very quick, I wasn't surprised but she almost outran me. I smiled at my newest family member in awe.

She seemed carefree running here, then she smelt the blood of a pack of boar and she took off.

Trisha launched into the air and landed on one of the boar's backs, and without thinking, she slammed her teeth into its neck with a horrifying look and an earnest I had never seen before. I was shocked to say that I felt a little scared, I moved back slowly, jumped into the trees above, and watched.

She went after six more and when she was done, she looked at her kills in sorrow, fell to the ground, and sobbed.

I jumped down and pulled her into me, but I forgot about her shock and it hit me hard causing me to fall back and whither in pain.

"Trisha! Stop!" I commanded her. The pain immediately stopped as she fell back as well.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm a monster!" she screamed as she took off and ran away from me.

Dammit this was not what I was hoping would happen, shit!

I let her go, I let her run. She would have to come back and then we could fix this.

I went to the guesthouse and fell through the door. The aftershock still was coursing through my body, leaving a dull ache in my limbs.

"She is a strong little thing, that's for fucking sure." I whimpered. The pain was still lingering in my body as I fell down. "She has a gift, a strong one, she knocked me on my fucking ass! Oww…my head hurts…"

Everyone was looking at me with curious looks and confused faces. It all seemed kind of comical so I start laughing. I felt insane, but I couldn't wrap my head around this.

"Did the little newborn actually hurt the infamous Isabella Hunter? I do not believe it." Melissa quirked with a smile branded onto her face. I chuckled and sat up against the wall, groaning slightly at the feel against my body.

"Where is she?" Ethan asked.

"I have no idea, I lost the newborn, and I know it sounds bad, but she'll come back. When she does, we will clean up her mess, if she has killed humans then I'll deal with it, but I can't go after her. She is in too much pain."

"Maybe I should do this? Isn't this my territory a little more? I know how she must be feeling right now." Stephanie said.

"You want to go find her?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Brave girl.

"Of course, I would love to. Are you letting me loose?" She asked with a raised eyebrow in return.

"Just bring her back in one piece, okay?"

She smiled, nodded, kissed my cheek and ran out the door.