Hey, sorry for the long update! Hope you guys like it, and please review!

This chapter's title is from, Battlefield, by Jordin Sparks

Chapter 9: To Start A War

Time seemed to come to an abrupt stop as I heard those words, and my hands remained glued to his face, my face blank with shock. I couldn't speak, thinking was impossible. The seconds ticked by at an unbearably slow rate, and my friend's eyes never wavered as he stared me down, gauging my reaction.

Seth.

His laugh, his smile, all of those looks that I hadn't seen until now.

Seth stared at me as I walked beside him toward the forest, and I was too comfortable with our friendship to notice the longing that lay behind those expressive eyes.

As I jumped over the river, his shoulder would gently brush against mine, his hand softly tracing over my fingers. So subtly that I had seen it as a casual accident, no big deal.

His voice only minutes ago, low and intense.

"You don't have to be with a vampire."

Then was this so called friendship present just because his werewolf side found me attractive? Did he love me for myself, or was it just some chemical thing?

I felt hurt, no, beyond hurt…I felt angry.

Why hadn't he told me before? How could he lie to me, when he was supposed to be my best friend, the one thing that was semi-normal in my life? My sanctuary. My Seth.

All a lie.

I felt anger boiling in me so suddenly that I almost snarled. Seth's hands were coming up to cradle my hands in his own, but I yanked them away, my face still unable to form any kind of expression.

"Terra, I know that it's sudden, but you have to understand, I had no choice! It was–"

"No, I get it." I was surprised to find that my tone was still as calm as it was, and I stared at his face, trying to find some molecule of hope to cling to. But it was clear that anything that he felt for me was…predetermined. He didn't need to know me at all, just my body.

"I'm just an imprint who you like because of some physical reaction. That's…great, Seth."

"No, Terra, listen! I know that you might be angry, but let me explain."

"What is there to explain, Seth?!" I yelled, jumping to my feet. He rose with me, and tried to touch my shoulder. I shoved him away, feeling something crack as I pushed with all my force.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed, backing away from him. "You trail me along, making me believe that you actually liked me for me, and then I find out that you only love me because of some animal instinct! It's disgusting; Seth Clearwater, and I can't believe that you're okay with this! Do I not get a say? Or if I refuse, will I loose you as a friend? Oh, yeah, you were only my friend because I'm your imprint, not because you enjoy my company as a person!"

Seth was silent, his eyes filling with tears as I screamed at him. I was too angry to feel any remorse. He tried to say something again, his arms reaching out again, but I shoved him again, harder than before. He was sent flying into the wall, the plaster cracking and crumbling as his large form crashed into it. He yelped as something snapped in his shoulder, a crack that made me flinch. I snarled at him, red tainting my vision as he turned his remorseful eyes on me.

I felt venom pooling in my mouth as I saw something bright red dripping on the carpet, and hissed as the bitter smell of werewolf filled my nose along with it. Seth growled in pain, and struggled to keep the pain from his face.

He thought that he was hurt? It was nothing compared to what I felt.

My heart was shattered. I was truly alone, Seth was just a werewolf boy, and I was just a vampire freak who had bad people skills.

I leaned over him, teeth bared, ready to sink them into his throat. Growls came from my throat, like the humming of angry bees.

I wanted to kill him. I wanted to make him feel the pain that was pounding in my chest as if my heart was still beating.

But…I stared down at him, his familiar face that had helped me through everything…and I couldn't bring myself to move. His eyes weren't angry, they were sad, guilty. His large hand was clutching his bleeding shoulder, the bright red rivers shining against his russet skin.

His breath, rushing in and out as his heart pounded.

He was still Seth.

My Seth…and he was bleeding. I wanted to suck his blood. I was a vampire. A monster.

I felt a sob rising in my throat.

"I hate you…" I sobbed, and his fingers slowly reached up.

"I'm sorry." He whispered brokenly, coughing with a grimace of pain. I snarled, moving backward as fast as I could.

"I hate you!" I screamed, and I turned and fled from the house. I came upon Renesmee and Jacob, who were staring at me with wide eyes. Jacob was vibrating, Renesmee's hand reaching out to me in comfort. I pushed her away hurriedly, running past them, bolting toward the trees.

I had to run.

I had to get away from him.

Seth.

I knew that the instant I said those words, something was wrong. Terra went unusually still, and her eyes widened, those beautiful reddish amber eyes that filled my entire world.

She was my only love, my imprint. Now she finally knew.

Why did I feel so uneasy?

Her face was shifting into something else, and I slowly lifted my hands to touch her hands that were still holding my face, hoping to comfort her. Her hands dissapearedm clenched into loose fists, away from me. She was hurt; I could see that much in her slowly narrowing eyes.

I spoke quickly. "Terra, I know that it's sudden, but you have to understand, I had no choice! It was–"

Beyond my control. It was destiny; none of us have a choice.

Her low voice cut me off, and I flinched at the coldness that was the underlying tone in her seemingly calm voice.

"No, I get it. I'm just an imprint who you like because of some physical reaction. That's…great, Seth."

No, that wasn't what I meant at all! I was given the need to know you through this bond; I never would have loved you like this if I weren't a werewolf!

I spoke pleadingly. "No, Terra, listen! I know that you might be angry, but let me explain."

I needed to tell her what I meant. I loved her for herself; I loved the way her eyes warmed when she was making a funny face to make Nessie laugh. I loved her warm laugh that filled the entire room. I loved her witty remarks that always made me smile.

I loved Terra Lily Porter so much it hurt.

Her eyes flashed, and she jerked to her feet. "What is there to explain, Seth?!"

I stood with her, and bit my lip. She was angry now, and I couldn't help that notice how beautiful she was, even when hopelessly furious.

Her hair was like fire against her pale skin, loose ringlets that went to her shoulder blades. Full lips angrily bared to reveal pearly teeth that shone in the light. Her voice was husky and low with restrained rage, and her slender fingers clenched into lethal fists.

I reached out to touch her tense shoulder, but she snarled in warning, shoving me backward so I stumbled away from her.

"Don't touch me!" She hissed, and I flinched in pain at her words. "You trail me along, making me believe that you actually liked me for me, and then I find out that you only love me because of some animal instinct! It's disgusting; Seth Clearwater, and I can't believe that you're okay with this! Do I not get a say? Or if I refuse, will I loose you as a friend? Oh, yeah, you were only my friend because I'm your imprint, not because you enjoy my company as a person!"

I felt as if she had just slapped me. I couldn't answer, and for the first time in years…I felt tears welling up in my eyes. It was like my heart was being torn out of my chest, how could she imagine that any of those things were true? I loved her more than I did myself, not because I was only attracted to her body. It was so much more, and yet I couldn't find the strength to tell her.

Staring at her was the only thing I was capable of in this moment.

Terra was blinking rapidly, and her face was so torn and so sad that I felt myself reaching out instinctively.

"Please, Terra, I–"

But her eyes flashed, and I was suddenly flying toward the wall behind me, and I prepared myself for the impact.

My shoulder cracked loudly, and I yelled when I felt my collarbone snapping cleanly near the shoulder, something scraping inside my skin that made my teeth grind together in pain. I struggled to breathe evenly – I think one of my ribs was broken, and the burning pressure made it difficult to inhale – while staring at Terra, who looked so fragile, even though she had just thrown me across the room. Her eyes were so different though, burning bright and clear.

It reminded me of the first time I had met her face to face. That confident smile that was tinged with sadness.

"Hey Seth. I'm Terra Porter."

I struggled to keep the pain from showing on my face as she danced over to me, leaning over me, her eyes darkening at the sight of blood. Oh yeah, I was bleeding. She was a vampire, she wanted blood. Her eyes were glowing, amber coals that burned straight to my soul.

She stared at me for a moment, and her eyes seemed to cloud over as her lips turned downward in a desperate sob, her face so desolate that it made the tears spring back to my eyes.

"I hate you…" Terra said shakily, blinking rapidly as she stood straight again, breathless sobs punctuating her breathing, her eyes tearing themselves away from the blood that continued to drip down my arm. I swallowed hard, forcing the lump back from my throat.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, trying to put all of my love into those words.

Her face twisted in betrayal, in pain. "I hate you!" She screamed, and before I could call out to her, she was gone. I leaned so the back of my head was leaning against the wall, the tears finally spilling over my closed lids.

She was a vampire.

"So…you're one of those wolves, right"

I was a werewolf.

Natural enemies. Born to kill each other.

But she was Terra…my Terra. How could I ever hurt her? I couldn't, it would kill me if I did. No…I couldn't hurt her, I loved her.

It was my fault she was hurt…it was all my fault.

Why did I have to fall in love?

In the city of Volterra, a shadowy figure paced across the dimly lit hall, his dark cloak whispering across the marble stone floor. Shoulder length hair – hair that was almost as pale as the marble tiles fitted on the floor – whirled around as he turned to pace in the other direction, his cloudy red eyes icy and cold, just like his skin.

Just like his heart, the heart that hadn't beat in so many years…so many years.

Caius smirked to himself as he paced, his hands clenching around a fistful of his robes, eyes gazing up at the murals that were scattered across the walls, their bright colors somewhat faded after so many centuries.

It reminded Caius of himself, somehow. His eyes were not bright crimson after feeding anymore, instead remaining that dark burgundy color of aged wine. His skin was ashen and translucent, hard as granite and yet still looked so frail.

But appearances had long since ceased mattering to Caius.

His ancient mind was boiling in fury, as it hadn't in years. It had been that way ever since the Cullen incident…the one where the Volturi had been forced to back down from what Caius had been looking forward to, the act of eradicating the troublesome coven from the Earth.

Now was his chance to do that.

Aro and Marcus were uncooperative, but he didn't need them to carry out his plan. Aro didn't really care, though he made Caius swear he would try to convince them to join their ranks, and Caius had agreed.

Of course Caius would ask, but even if they agreed, he would kill them. He was proficient enough at lying with his thoughts to get past Aro's ability, no one would ever know.

Caius would finally kill the family that had shattered his pride so long ago.

But…he couldn't do it without some kind of reason. He would have to give the Cullens something to start a fight with him and his guard over…but what?

The vampire stared up at a particular mural, and his thin lips turned up in an evil smile. The mural was of a woman holding a lovely baby boy, his cheeks cherubic and innocent in a way that reminded Caius of the immortal children.

Vampire children. Or half-vampire children.

He knew how he would provoke the Cullen coven.

The shadows shifted as two small figures appeared; hands intertwined together, their vivid ruby eyes glinting in the firelight. One of them was a tiny girl with short brown hair, and a angelic face that was slightly ruined by the fact that there was a huge grimace on her face, a scowl that was so malicious that it made the entire hallway seem cold. The other was a boy, just as beautiful, with a calm and emotionless expression on his face.

The boy glanced over at the girl beside him, and spoke slowly.

"Master? Your orders?"

Caius turned to smile at the two who would be crucial if his plan was to be a success.

"Yes, my dears. I want you to round up the most proficient fighters. Bring them before me, and then I will give you further instructions."

They bowed, and disappeared again. Caius smiled even more widely, and looked back up at the mural, watching the faded child smile up at his mother. The mother's expression was so full of life that it made him chuckle.

I wonder…how far would a mother and father go to protect their child?