I do not own Twilight.- Midnight Chaser

Chapter 11- Preparing for War

It's already been a month and two weeks since the date with Edward. We've gotten even closer since then. Although I know it may be selfish of me to want to be with him, I can't just walk away either. In one month school will be let out and I will be moving once again. The Cullens can't come with us. We all know that. And everyone has excepted it. I'll just have to tell the Cullens soon.

"Trying to figure out a way to tell them again?" Valeria smiled at me from her seat on the couch across from me.

"Yeah." I mumbled.

"Maybe we could write a letter." Sicily said and I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Brilliant idea. I'll just leave a letter saying that we're leaving and we'll never see them again." I said sarcastically.

"I knew you'd think it was a good plan." she giggled.

"Anybody else?" I sighed tiredly. Funny, vampires shouldn't get tired.

"Maybe we could leave them a message." Scarlet offered.

"I think that's even worse." Valeria said dully.

"Well then you think of an idea." Scarlet growled.

"I say we just pack up and leave and by the time they come over we'll all be gone." she shrugged.

"That's a little cruel." Cassia blinked in surprise at her suggestion.

"It's actually the most merciful." I informed her.

"What do you mean?" Scarlet asked.

"If we give them notice of our leaving they will try to stop us and when they can't they'll feel responsible and guilty. If we're already gone they'll know there was nothing they could do to stop us." I explained.

"But they deserve to know." Ellis said quietly.

"Perhaps we could just stay." Sicily sighed.

"After all, Ellis is in love with one of their coven members." Scarlet said.

"But we all can't travel together." Valeria said.

"Maybe we could leave Ellis behind." Scarlet teased.

"Guys." Ellis wined.

"Fine. We'll just kidnap Jackson." Sicily grinned.

"You both are awful sometimes." Cassia shook her head.

"Why thank you." they said at the same time.

"Anyways we better get going." I stood up and they followed.

"I'm glad today is Friday though. I really want to go hunting this weekend." Valeria stretched as she moved to my side.

When we arrived at school everyone else was already there. Edward immediately came to my side and walked me into the school. I was glad that everyone had gotten used to our close friendship and nobody butted into it. I was also glad that everyone at school was used to seeing us together. At first many rumors started but after a week or more they all got bored with us I suppose.

By the time school ended I was ready for a good hunt. The Cullens weren't coming so I had more time to tell them that we were leaving. Everyone was having trouble not thinking about it around Edward. I could only block them for so long without him noticing after all.

As I hunted I had a bad feeling creeping over me. I kept sensing someone or something nearby but there was nothing in sight. I couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary either. But I could feel it. Every cell in my body was warning me to be careful.

On my way back home Ellis came to me with worry in her eyes. At first she didn't say anything but as we got closer to the house she slowed down until she stopped. I could tell she was having a vision so I waited until she snapped out of it.

"What is it Ellis?" I asked gently.

"The Volturi are here." she growled.

"At our house?" I questioned.

"They're waiting in front of it." she informed me as everyone reached us.

"So the Volturi huh?" Thomas whistled.

"Apparently." I sighed. "Let's go see what they want." I started off again and they followed.

When we arrived at the house I noticed the three Volturi Kings right away. They had five guards with them. As we approached I felt one of them trying to use their ability and I immediately put my shield around everyone's mind. The shortest girl made a hissing sound and that's when I recognized her as Jane.

"Hello Aro." I smiled as I approached him and he came to me and gave me a hug.

"My dear it has been awhile. How is your coven?" he questioned.

"Everyone is doing well. Would you like to come in?" I offered and he nodded.

"Yes. This is Felix, Demetri, Alec, Jane, and Sebastian." I looked towards the one he called Sebastian and smirked.

"Nice to see you again Sebastian." I said dryly.

"Still not accepting the cards fate handed you I see." he mused and kissed my cheek when he stepped forward.

"I'd prefer to shuffle them again." I wasn't too happy with his being around me.

"So you two are friends?" Aro asked.

"Not exactly. Isabella can't warm up to me." he grinned slightly at his play on my powers.

"Oh so very funny." I dragged out the words and he laughed.

"Interesting." Aro smiled.

"Please come in everyone." I walked passed Sebastian and allowed them all to come inside the house.

"You have a lovely home Bella. It suits you." Aro approved.

"Thank you. Is there anything I can do for you?" I made sure he got my point and he nodded.

"We are indeed here on business. You see the large scale newborn outbreaks have been causing more problems. We are certain that a large scaled newborn attack will be coming here in two weeks. Right when school lets out here." he mused.

"They're coming here?" I questioned.

"Yes. Sebastian here has seen it. I'm sure you know his ability." I nodded. "We've came here to set up an area in order to fight him. We found out that you were living here along with my good friend Carlisle only when we got here. I decided that I'd stay with you. After all it is your admirer who is creating so many newborns." he said.

"I see Sebastian still doesn't know how to bite his tongue." I sent a glance at him then looked back to Aro. "Are you certain that it is Darien?" I asked.

"Most certain. We've been after him for so long. This time we might actually be able to get him." he said and I nodded.

"I'll aide you then. If you are after my enemy that makes you an ally." I turned to my family.

"Help them with anything they need. I'll call Carlisle." I said but Aro stopped me.

"I'm actually going over there to visit. But Sebastian wishes to speak with you." he had a note of curiosity in his voice when he said this.

"Very well." I nodded to him.

"Would you mind if I take your coven? I would like to talk with everyone about the battles ahead." he paused. "They are aware of Darien correct?"

"You are correct as always." I laughed when he grinned.

"Thank you my dear. I will be leaving now." and with that they all left after I gestured for my family to follow.

"Sebastian." I nodded and started to go to my study and he followed.

"How have you been?" he asked cheerfully.

"Fine. No thanks to you." I growled.

"I'm sorry for my part in burdening you but what I told you is true." he insisted.

"I do not believe your words." I sat down in my desk chair and he sat down across from me.

"Yet you still haven't stopped fighting and you still haven't given into your desires." he mused.

"Your visions are wrong and I have no choice but to fight. As for my desires, you don't know anything about them." I said with a bit of bite in my words.

"I had a vision of you long before I met you. I saw you falling for Edward Cullen and learning about our kind. I saw you being attacked and I saw you surviving. I saw the Cullens leaving and the pain you went through. I saw your pain and your strength while being tortured. I saw how strong you'd become. I saw you learning of your powers and creating a family. I saw how you would leave them when you thought you'd put them in danger. I saw you defeating your enemies and returning to your family. I saw you reuniting with the Cullens. I saw you falling once more for Edward. And I saw you dying because of it." he said.

"And yet I'm alive." I mused.

"Because you are still fighting yourself. You are trying so hard not to fall for him. But you don't realize that you've already taken a step towards your death." he said.

"Excuse me?" I glowered a him.

"You kissed him." he said simply.

"So?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Even though I seems so irrelevant, you kissed him with love. And all you needed was to have your love reach him with your body. That kiss was just as good as loving him with your entire body." he informed me slowly.

"Wait. Are you saying that I've already loved him with my body?" I asked shocked.

"Yes." he nodded.

"But it was just a kiss." I defended.

"The most powerful form of love starts with a kiss." he said.

"But that's just not right." I frowned.

"It may not be right but it's true." he assured me.

"You still think I'm going to go against my family?" I asked.

"I saw a war between you and Darien. I saw him finally catching you. I saw you by his side. I saw you imprisoning your family. And then I saw you die in your Edward's arm." he said.

"I will not betray them." I said fiercely.

"Just because you say that doesn't mean you won't." he shrugged.

"I still don't trust your words." I growled.

"Because you don't like them." he smirked at me amusedly.

"I will never go to Darien." I said loudly.

"But you will. I have seen it." he smiled.

"You're wrong." I tried to reign in my anger.

"My dear I am never wrong." he assured me.

"Nobody is right every time." I shot back.

"I was right about you and Victoria. I knew you had performed the Devil's Trade. I knew you gave your weak human heart to her and you gave her the ability to control fire. If you try to take back what you've given you will die." he said gravely.

"I have no heart to give so I will live." I glared towards Sebastian.

"You shouldn't have a heart but you do. It's been sealed. And you are beginning to unseal it. If you begin to love Edward with your mind and your soul then you will die." he said.

"As I told you last time I can't love again."

"Yet you do."

"Sebastian I really want to smack that smirk off your face."

"Always so feisty."

"Tell me, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here with Aro."

"I know you Sebastian. I know that you avoid wars as if they are the fire that can kill you. You are always excused from battling with the Volturi because Aro considers you such a valuable asset. You will not join a battle unless you can gain something. What is it you want?"

"And here I thought I was the one who knew everything. Actually I am here to try and keep you alive."

"Why?"

"I've watched you my entire life. For well over a thousand years I've seen your face. But I never knew where you were. And when you were finally born I had to wait for you to turn into a vampire. I wanted you to join with me and the Volturi but you aren't easy to persuade. I see you loosing your life in this battle. I consider you family. I do not like to loose family."

"I see." I heard the door downstairs open.

"It appears we have some guests." he mused.

"Not the Volturi or my family. Not the Cullens either." I said after sniffing deeply.

"But you know the scent." he laughed when I made a face.

"Oh this is just great." I growled and swiftly stood.

"Our allies are here now too." he followed me out the door and I was hit with the scents of everyone.

"Did you know they were coming?"

"Yes."

"And you decided not to tell me?"

"I wanted to see that startled face."

"You're so sweet." I said sarcastically and started down the stairs knowing what was about to come.

~*~

It was a surprise to see the Volturi at the door with Bella's family. Aro had quickly explained to us what was going on and then told us that Bella was talking with Sebastian.

I didn't like that at all. And neither did Victoria who kept trying to think of a way to get to Bella. I concentrated on the Volturi's thoughts in case they were planning on getting Bella in some way. But they honestly had no idea that Sebastian and Bella knew one another.

After awhile of their talking I picked up a vision from Alice. I was not happy about the vision of our guests and right after she had it I frowned. I then picked up on a vision coming from Ellis and concentrated hard on it realizing it was about Bella and Sebastian. I couldn't really hear anything but I could lip read some of it. I didn't get it all but I knew Bella wasn't happy. When the vision ended Ellis looked upset and completely blocked her mind from me. This only made me worry.

Aro then suggested that we all go to Bella's. He said that our guests would be there. After informing everyone who our guests were nobody looked too happy. He then informed us that some more people would be joining us as well. He said they were great friends of Bella's but he never said or thought about who they were.

When we arrived at Bella's the guests were already there. I didn't look to them at first but the moment I got through the door I was hit with a tight hug. One I didn't want.

"Hello Edward!" Tanya cooed.

"Tanya." I pushed her gently off.

"Why are we here?" Irina looked to Aro but then Laurent when he stepped through the door.

"As I told you before I will explain soon." Aro smiled and looked up the steps when Bella stepped to the top with Sebastian beside her.

He was six-foot three-inches and was pale, even for a vampire, kind of like Bella. His eyes were truly strange. They were silver with golden specs in them. He had long white hair even though he looked about nineteen. He had a knowing look in his eyes and a kind smile. He was quiet muscular, slightly bigger than Jasper. He wore white dress pants with a white dress shirt and white shoes. He also had a pale cloak on. He seemed so open and I didn't like him. Not because he seemed like a bad person but because he knew too much about Bella and was too close to her. And I didn't have to look to Jasper to know that he was getting jealousy waves off of me right now. Because I most definitely am.

"Edward?" Tanya wined and Bella smirked at the scene below her.

"Tanya." I sighed in a warning tone.

"Oh don't be like that." she giggled and tried wrapping her arms around me but I stepped out of her way.

"Tanya please." I sighed again.

"Come on Edward. I haven't see you in so long." she purred and stalked to me when suddenly Bella laughed and she stopped and stared at me and in her thoughts I saw her remembering the sound of that laugh.

"Still chasing after men you can't get?" Bella put on a mocking cat like grin and Tanya turned and stared at her.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Check the address sweetie. This is my house." Sebastian was laughing across from her and I really got annoyed at him.

"Aro never told me you would be here." she mumbled watching Bella like a bird would watch a snake.

"Well nobody said you would be here either." she started down the stairs gracefully.

"There's a reason for that." Sebastian informed them both.

"Really?" they asked at the same time.

"Yes. We wanted the Denali Coven and the Cullen Coven both to aide us. We weren't going to do anything that would make one of them refuse to aide us." Aro smiled.

"What is it you need us for?" Eleazar asked.

"We will be explaining that to you all soon." Aro started for the living room and gestured everyone to follow.

"What is it you are waiting for?" Bella questioned.

"Perceptive." he smiled. "We are awaiting for the arrival of one more Coven." he informed her.

"What other Coven?" she asked.

"You will see." he smiled to her.

"Sebastian?" Bella turned and faced him.

"Yes Isabella?" he laughed at her annoyed frown.

"Who else will be appearing at my house?" she questioned.

"How should I know?" he shrugged.

"You should know." she said with annoyance.

"I thought you said I didn't know everything?" he asked.

"You don't." she growled.

"Then I suppose that this is one of those things that I do not know." he mused.

"I'm not playing with you." she growled.

"I know. You are much too serious to ever play around." he grinned at her.

"I really want to slap you." she mumbled.

"But you won't." he grinned.

"Maybe just for now." she said honestly.

"And when you slap me I will know that you are going to before you even do the action." he said smugly.

"Now children please." Aro said in a scolding tone and if looks could kill Aro would be dead from Bella's eyes.

"Mom do you know what is going on here?" Ellis asked.

"I have an idea." she sighed.

"Good. Then maybe you can feel us in." Oliver smiled.

"I will when-" she paused. "Who was it that was coming?" she smiled sweetly at Aro.

"Oh it was the-" he stopped himself and laughed. "You are quite amusing young one." he said with a laugh.

"Can't blame me for trying." she shrugged.

"Hardly." Aro seemed very amused by Bella and his thoughts showed that he saw she was powerful but not a threat to him so he was alright with her being away from the Volturi because he knew he could always ask her for her aide and she'd agree instantly.

"Is anyone going to tell us what the hell we're doing here?" Kate sighed.

"Jeez Kate. Are you hungry?" Bella smiled teasingly at Kate who laughed.

"Ate on my way over Bells." she smiled.

"Bells?" Tanya glowered a Kate.

"Hey just cause she kicked your ass doesn't mean I don't like her." she shrugged.

"You haven't even talked to her." she shot back.

"Really? Who do you think I was mailing those emails and postcards to?" she questioned and Tanya hissed.

"I can't believe you." she bit out.

"Really cause I can." Kate smirked as the door rang.

"I'll get it." Ellis smiled.

"It's alright. I have it." Dallas said and went to answer the door.

"I suppose the guests have arrived." Aro smiled.

"Where is my wild Amazon flower?!" someone yelled and Bella jolted up and smiled wildly.

"Zafrina!" she called happily and three wild looking women came into the room.

"We heard you were in some trouble." one of them said as she approached Bella.

"Thanks for coming Zafrina." she hugged her then turned to the other two.

"We're happy to help." one smiled.

"Thank you also, Senna." Bella hugged her then went to the other one. "And you too Kachiri." she hugged her also.

"So they are indeed friends of yours?" Aro questioned.

"Yes." she nodded.

"Who are they?" Carlisle asked curiously noticing that their eyes were also gold.

"We are the Amazon Coven. I am Zafrina. This is Senna and this is Kachiri." she smiled.

"Forgive me but are you perhaps vegetarians?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes. Bella converted us I suppose. She helped us out big time and in her honor we changed our diet." she looked to Bella with sisterly affection.

"Now that everyone is here how about we get down to business?" Aro looked to everyone.

"What is it you summoned us for?" Tanya questioned.

"Well you see we are preparing for a war." he said and everyone besides Bella and Sebastian along with the other Volturi members froze.

"War?" Carmen questioned.

"Yes. To put it shortly a man named Darien has been creating newborn armies and is causing a lot of trouble. He is going to be targeting this area. He will send a massive army and will destroy many people. We are asking you all to aide us. Do you all except?" he asked.

"Guys? You don't have to fight with me. I can go by myself. Back out now and you won't have to go through another war." Bella said slowly.

"We're with you all the way Ice Angel." Oliver nodded and so did the rest of her coven.

"Looks like my family is in." Bella nodded to Aro who smiled.

"And the Cullens?" he questioned.

"We're with Bella." we answered at the same time.

"We will assist you Aro." Carlisle said more firmly.

"I thought so. Denali Coven?" he looked to Tanya.

"We will help you as well." she promised.

"Then the Amazon Coven?" he questioned.

"We will aide Bella in any way we can." Zafrina said.

"Then it looks like everyone here will be assisting us." Aro looked to Caius who nodded.

"Very well. We shall begin preparing for war." he said loudly and began giving out information on Darien and his newborn army.