Steps To A War

Mitchell and Maria had to wait outside the inn; they were finding the smells and the pumping hearts of the humans too much. They were getting thirsty. I didn't have any complaints. Every vampire has to go through the pain of thirst. It is easier for some while others take years to be able to have a human pass them without jumping on them and draining them dry. C'est la vie

The inn was quite large. Rooms full of humans needing a roof over their heads for the night. Rooms full of whores working for their money. Rooms full of drunken men passed out at odd angles.

I looked for the old woman. We were told she always sits in the corner until midnight. Then they said she was impossible to find until the next day. Unlikely to a vampire not to find her but if a human didn't want to be found they had good means of hiding from others.

She was there. Sat in the corner, eyes down before her head lifted, her hazy grey eyes landed on me and tightened slightly. She knew. Her eyes watched me as I fluidly walked over to the stool in front of her. When I sat down she let out a small sigh and shifted slightly in her seat.

She didn't talk. I didn't either. If she was as good as she claimed to be she would know why I'm here.

I waited. And as I waited I watched.

Now that was new.

Her aura would be clear and then it would shimmer and disappear, almost like she wasn't sat opposite me at all, like she didn't exist for a fraction of time. Strange…

"You won't find them any time soon my dear." My eyes flashed to the old woman's face. Find who? "You can look but, were you seek they will not be. It will take years yet, but when you find them you'll no longer be alone, but ten years before you will find one who knows you and will be bonded to your life until his slowly passes. Watch for his drawings of dreams." Who? What did she mean? Who are 'they'?

"Who are you talking about? I didn't come here to ask you to find me a group of people. I thought you would of known that." I narrowed my eyes, causing a light blush to colour her wrinkled cheeks, her heart beat sped up.

"I know that wasn't your intention of seeing me this eve. Your subconscious has screamed it at me since I saw you." She paused and her eyes flickered to my shoulder, my shoulder with the scars from Theo. "You will return to them. Stay a few decades then come back here, but not stay for long." Her eyes flashed to my face and then to my scar filled arms.

"Before you go back you'll see brothers of three. They'll try to covet you, but they fail. You've already been coveted by your enemy." Her eyes returned to my face and stayed there. "As for your question I have no answer…only that you know how to win a war…It is in your nature, part of who you are…you just need to give into it and let the others bathe in your knowledge." I just stared. She really did know what I was and what I wanted, even if she couldn't give me a full answer.

She was worth the risk.

"Thank you." I whispered. She nodded staring back at me. I brought the bag of coins from my sleeve and pushed it across the table at her. "I know you don't want it but take it. You never know when you'll need it…also you never saw or spoke to me. I don't exist. Can you do that for me?" she nodded, her papery lips curling up into a small smile. She definitely knew. I didn't care.

*

I stood close to Mitchell, my body turned to him but my whole attention focused on Maria. I realised she was going to govern her own army, was going to be successful. Hadn't I seen the potential within her immortal self? My mind was reeling in the realisation of how strange our race was. How different we all were and how few of us were decent.

"Maria." I paused, not sure how to continue. How do you tell someone you're going to teach them how to fight and then give them their own army to play war with? "Would you like me to train you? You are already a natural at combat but I want to teach you how to win, and then maybe you can teach others…" I trailed off at her expression. It was calculating. She knew I was completely serious about this and she would accept. Just like we both knew she would. Predictability was never a desired trait in war.

"Isabella, let me get this right; you're going to teach me how to fight, how to win and then your going to give me my own army to have and use to fight with to control the city?" I nodded, feeling Mitchell tense slightly. "What about Mitchell? Are you going to do him the same honour?" I sighed.

Mitchell.

I turned towards him. Taking a step forwards, pushing my shield around us both. It felt so natural to have him protected with me. I reached for his hands, smiling as he entwined our fingers together. He was decent.

"Mitchell deserves more than what I could ever give him." I was shocked at the words that left my mouth. Where had they come from? I knew Mitchell seemed special to me but I didn't really pay close attention to my feelings. I didn't love him; I knew that much was true.

He just made me feel wanted.

"Um…yeah…if you two want some time alone I could go hunt…or something…" I chuckled when Mitchell started; he obviously had forgotten Maria was there.

"Maria go hunt…but bring back a dying person. They aren't hard to find…just ask around for a person ill of mind and bring them back here." I stopped and flickered my eyes to Maria, "try your best not to kill them; it would be hard to change them if their heart wasn't beating when they arrived."

I paid no attention to Maria's reaction, or her departure. I need to sort my head out; I needed to know what to do with Mitchell. And dealing with Mitchell would help me keep my mind off taking a life.

I didn't seem or feel he could be a lover to me…he just felt so much like a brother? A brother that would give love and comfort to a sister?

*

He understood. He was the one who was the first to say it and he said it without hesitation.

"Isa…before we do anything I want to be truthful with you…I don't have any romantic feelings towards you…it feels like you're my sister…someone I should stick up for and tell her that everything is going to be okay…it seems so strange to feel this way but I do."

As soon as he had stopped talking I had tackled him into a hug on the ground. Squeezing him with all my strength as he squeezed me back with his. Albeit he still had some of his newborn strength in him and wasn't holding it back.

I kissed his cheek and untangled myself from his strong limbs. If I was going to change someone I needed to be cautious. The smell of blood no longer affected me the way it did when I was first reborn but I had only smelled it. I had never tasted human blood and thinking about I was going to do scared me. Plus I hadn't spent much time among humans as I usually did.

I was scared I wouldn't be able to stop. I was scared that I would turn into more of a soulless being than I already was.

"Are you going to go hunting?" I nodded, not looking down at Mitchell. I wanted a new area to hunt just in case humans hunted the deer in the wood. "Can I come with you Isa?" This time I looked at him. He wanted to go and hunt animals? Animals? Why?

I frowned at him. "Mitchell…don't feel you have to feed the way I do…just because I want to stay with you doesn't mean we have to adapt to each others lifestyles. We'll get along fine."

He just laughed and grabbed one of my hands, tugging it slightly in the direction I wanted to go in. I shook my head but gave in and allowed him to pull me along behind him, laughing at his face when he ran.

When we were a fair way into the woods I pulled Mitchell to a stop and pulled my hand from his. I tilted my head back at looked up at the sky. Shocked to see it was actually day time. I sighed. There was never going to be a time were I would actually acknowledge the coming and going of a day. I wanted to but I always found things that were far more interesting to get distracted with.

I took a deep breath. A large herd of deer were drinking from a stream not far west. It was quick and easy for Mitchell's first hunt, he would have to deal with it and maybe we could find more exciting prey when we left. I wished there was a meat eating animal around for him. They were the ones that smelled closest to a human so I assumed they would taste that way as well, but even then I don't think they would taste anywhere near the same.

"So what now Isa?" he didn't seem at all reluctant, mostly excited. I sighed, I had no idea why he wanted to try eating animals when he had been living in a life filled with human blood. I didn't know if he could even last long with this lifestyle. How long would it take until he gave up and wanted to leave?

I brought my fingertips up to his eyes and carefully pulled down his eyelids. "Now let your senses take over. Breathe in the woods. Breathe in all of the smells that the forest holds. Breathe in the smell of you prey…" I stopped watching his face tense slightly as he caught scent of the deer. "Run!" I whispered silently following after him. Watching as he gracefully pounced on a deer and began to drink greedily from his neck.

I trapped the others from fleeing and began to feed myself. My eyes flashing open and locking onto Mitchell's, becoming in sync as we satiated our thirst.

*

My head was lying on Mitchell's stomach when we heard Maria's return. I had almost forgotten about what I was going to do. My head too filled up with my hunt and the wrestling match with Mitchell. I had won much to Mitchell's dismay.

Mitchell's hunt had been good but he was clearly disappointed that his eyes hadn't immediately turned golden like mine, but was partly cheered up when I told him it wouldn't take them long only if he kept drinking the blood of animals.

I stood up and pulled my shield away from Mitchell, wrapping it tightly around myself, feeling safe in my own protection, but feeling a loss at protecting Mitchell. I had asked Mitchell if he could sense or feel any difference between my shield being around him and then just around me. Apparently it all felt the same.

Maria slowed to a walk when she wasn't too far away. A male human was thrown over her shoulder. One of his legs was at an odd angle. She had broken it. At least he was alive and not drained dry, even if he wouldn't be for much longer. I forced all the thoughts of how wrong it is to do this and let a blank wall come into my view. I neither needed nor wanted any thoughts in my head. I needed to have my whole concentration fixed on only putting venom into his mortal body and not letting any of his blood enter my mouth.

"Maria place him on the floor…I'm guessing you broke his leg because he tried to run?" she nodded and callously dropped him on the floor. He looked up at my approach, his eyes widening and the rhythm of his heart drastically increasing. I could hear Mitchell and Maria growling at him so placed him within my shield and knelt beside him.

"His name is Adam; he was on the streets begging for forgiveness from the sky. I thought you'd like him for that." I couldn't see Maria's face but I knew there would be a malicious smile placed there. She didn't understand my issues with God and I didn't care enough to elaborate them for her.

I placed my stone hand on his hot forehead and thanked God for his soul and apologised that I was going to take one of his children and lead him straight into the devils welcoming arms for eternity, or as long as Maria had use for him.

I took a deep breath, letting the venom flood into my mouth. I clamped my hands down on his squirming shoulders, forcing him to the ground, silent and stilled. I lowered my head to his jaw; allowing my nose to rub gently against it. I moved my mouth to his neck and placed a kiss before I opened my mouth and plunged my teeth through the thin membrane. Warm liquid pooled into my mouth and down my throat. It tasted so good. I took another gulp and another.

Screams filled my ears. Crushing the monster inside of me down and letting my real self come forward. I pulled my teeth from Adam and spat what blood I had in my mouth on the dusty floor. I stopped breathing for a moment before letting the smell of human blood invade my senses. Happy when I was able to squash the monster down and not feel the need to lunge at the seeping wound on his neck and continue sucking the life out of him.

I knelt back on my legs and watched his body writhe and twist in agony. The fire would burn for at least two days. The fire would burn away his soul. The fire would burn away his humanity. The fire I lit.

I looked over to Mitchell and Maria, their eyes looked crazed. Maria's eyes were filled with hunger, looking longingly at Adam. Mitchell's eyes were panicked, searching my face looking for any sign of distress. He found none and relaxed, but still stayed his distance from the changing human. Adam's screams filled the dry air. Small animals were scurrying away from the pain filled wails. Away from the dangerous monsters and their pet.

He screamed and screamed and screamed. If I could get a head ache I would have the worlds worst. I sat down beside him, both of us protected by my shield. Maria had tried once to get through it but with her failure she went to go hunting, she was so bloodthirsty. Mitchell had seemed to want to lunge for him but he settled for not breathing. I smiled widely at him. I was proud. He was so young and yet he was able to sit not far away from a human who had a habit of scratching his skin and causing him to start bleeding.

I'd had enough of his screams piercing through my brain, causing me to internally flinch when images of what I had done to him entered my mind. I paid no attention to them. I was alone and a soulless being. It was in my nature to take what I wanted and use it to my will. I had hardly done it before, so now I was going to catch up. I pushed my mental shield over him and instantly felt his presence under my protection. I pulled it slightly so it was wrapped snugly around his heated brain.

He stopped.

He stopped screaming.

He stopped moving.

But his heart kept beating. He was alive. He was still changing, but his mind didn't control his body. I did. I had his mind wrapped in my shield. It wasn't fully disconnected from his body yet if wasn't fully connected either. I didn't think about the outcomes of my doing this. If he was silent and still; not able to feel the pain, he was better off right?

*

It took three days for the signs that Adam was near the end of his change. Most of the three days he had been silent and still under my shield. I had whispered to Mitchell what I had done and he was in awe, he didn't fear what I was doing he thought it was better off if Adam couldn't feel the burning pain that was wracking through his body, he was lucky enough to be left out of it.

Maria had returned, her eyes blazing the brightest crimson I had seen in her eyes. Many humans had died then. She had news that didn't shock me; I had been looking forward to it, surprised it hadn't even happened earlier. I wanted to fight. I wanted to let myself go to my instincts and rip others to pieces.

Three covens had become and alliance against the feared new army in the South. They planned to march this way the next day. I welcomed their attack. We planned that Maria would take Adam hunting and Mitchell and I were to take them down. I tried to persuade Mitchell to go with them to make sure Maria could handle Adam but it was Maria who proved that she could handle him, no man human or vampire could resist a woman's body. As soon as his eyes opened she dragged him to his feet and pulled him away before he could utter a single word.

That left me and Mitchell chasing each other round the small area we had come to call our home. I let him catch me which made him protest saying that wasn't being fair. When I didn't hold back he ended up telling me that maybe when I held back wasn't so bad for his ego anymore.

I froze, causing Mitchell to slam into me, our bodies sounding like thunder when they connected. They were close. I giggled, my body already sensing the fight and making me feel energised.

Mitchell stood in front of me, being the show of the leader out of the two of us; even though we were equal to each other and couldn't order the other around. Much.

"So…Mitchell how many do you want at a time? I'll keep the scary looking ones away from you in case they are lonely and want to rape you." I heard Mitchell chuckle.

"You are so considerate Isa but no more than three would be okay for me…speaking about the rape…will you be okay with that? Now you mentioned it are you okay trapped in you shield with ravenous newborns?"

I didn't bother answering him, hoping that a snort would suffice. He really was taking this brother part seriously. Next he will be trying to find me a suitor to marry. I giggle silently to myself at the thought of Mitchell finding me a man to marry.

When they came into sight Mitchell and I backed up a few paces, leaving a large space in front of us.

Their numbers were around one hundred. Not many for three covens to be joined together but Mitchell had said that many of the covens were small, their number never going higher than thirty. He explained that the first army I had destroyed had been over ten joined together, they had planned to take out all other armies to have the city to themselves.

Mitchell growled back at the snapping jaws of the vampires in front of us. I just laughed, feeling carefree and happy again. Which was strange considering what I was about to face. A normal person would at least feel a small amount of fear…

"Where is the army? Were the army that has been destroying everyone?" I cocked my head to the side, staring at the vampire who had spoken. I laughed again and danced around Mitchell to be in full sight. I waved at everybody, causing some to wave back and others to look confused at my action. I giggled again, before giving Mitchell the signal and throwing my shield over everybody.

I beckoned them closer while scanning their auras for any differences. There was one so I took in his features to make sure he would stay alive. I knew it was what the Volturi did, taking those who were talented and kept them to their own use but I was going to let him do as his wished.

I looked over to Mitchell and nodded my head to two of the vampires, indicating these were his to dismantle. I slyly pushed them out and began to walk fluidly over to a male. I ran my hands over his broad chest and looked up into his eyes. Smiling as he gasped. I stood up on my toes; my lips brushing against his ear, he shivered in response, his hands rising and then dropping to his sides.

I licked and kissed his neck before I sunk my teeth into his flesh, the screeching sound making the others panic and try to flee but they just hit my shield. Causing me to flinch at their strength.

I carried on ripping and tearing away the limbs of the ones that came to attack me. I didn't give Mitchell any more; they were mine. I paid no attention to the ones behind me until I felt a pair of sharp teeth sink into my shoulder. I hissed and ripped the head out of my shoulder tearing it off its body and throwing it into the thinning crowd before me. I ignored Mitchell's calls and threw my mental shield over every one of them. It didn't make them freeze. I could feel them under my shield but I realised all I was doing was protecting them. Their minds were much stronger than a humans'.

I growled in frustration, letting my anger fuel my actions; I was getting careless, letting their venom coated teeth come into contact with my skin. I didn't care, I ripped them all to pieces; not bothering about the one that was talented and let them all become unscrewed.

There was none left. Their body parts writhing on the ground trying to find another piece of itself. I heard someone approaching slowly from behind me; I quickly turned round crouching and growling at the vampire that had escaped my torture.

Not enemy vampire.

Friend.

Mitchell.

He had his palms raised, as in surrender. He stopped approaching when he looked at my face. His expression going into full blown panic. Was it that bad? Was the monster in control of my face as well? I closed my eyes in full knowledge that they would be blacker than the night.

When I opened them again I saw Mitchell hadn't move but as he glanced into my eyes he took a hesitant step forward. I stood and met him halfway. Throwing my shield over us both, I hissed and the stinging of the venom that felt like it was burning holes through my shoulders and arms.

Mitchell still moved cautiously until he was kneeling in front of me and I followed suit. Slowly, ever so slowly he brought his hands to either side of my face and held my head steady between them. His eyes bored into mine, like he was trying to find a person hiding behind them.

He stayed in front of me while I relaxed and calmed myself down fully. His presence was somewhat soothing and helped greatly to make sure the darkness was gone from my mind and body. He then glanced down at my shoulders and arms, growling at the damage I couldn't find the space to care about.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"No problem. I don't mind helping out my little sister when she needs it. It's what big brothers do." He replied, and removed his hands from my face. I growled. Big brother indeed.

Before I could reply, Maria returned. Her face was a mix of fury and wonder. She was dragging a very distressed looking Adam by the arm behind her.

"Isabella…we have a serious problem." She hissed.

Thanks for reading (: reviews get you a sneak peak. Go check out Lolashoes she's a great author and her new story my yes my no is amazing :)