"Live, Isabella."

Aro's words echoed in her head as she relaxed into her warm bath. Izzy was trying to acclimate to dry land but she was still indulging in frequent baths to relax her body and mute her sharp, vampire senses. The sweet-smelling salts Jane had found for her added to the comforting experience. Izzy really missed her time in the oceans. She hoped she and Alec would be able to return there soon for an extended stay.

Unfortunately, Izzy couldn't seem to escape her former life. She almost couldn't believe she was the same person as she had been when she was called Bella. Looking back, that seemed like someone else's life instead of her own.

Victoria still sought revenge. That was bad enough. Sending Laurent around the world after her seemed extreme. Did Victoria really still believe she could achieve her aim? Did she have a death wish or did she simply not understand how things had changed?

Izzy tried to imagine how she'd feel if something happened to the ones she loved but she just couldn't understand the rage that would drive someone so far. Perhaps it wasn't in her or perhaps it just wasn't something one could imagine.

Then there was Laurent himself. Izzy had no delusions about her sire. He'd never meant to change her. He was only supposed to fetch her for Victoria. What kind of loyalty, or perhaps fear, could he have for Victoria that would lead him to try again to retrieve Izzy?

She knew now from Aro's probe of Laurent's mind that it was Irina's appearance that had interrupted what should have been her death. She didn't know how to process Irina's part in all this. What would the succubus do when she learned her mate had been locked away in the castle? As if Izzy needed another enemy among the Denali. She wondered how many enemies a person could acquire unintentionally before such a thing became fatal.

Thoughts of the Denali led unfortunately to thoughts of her first vampire family. She thought back to the moments when she had seen them last. Most of her attention had been focused on Edward in those moments but upon review she remembered Rosalie sharply. She couldn't shake the surprise that Rosalie would be concerned for her in anyway. Maybe Izzy simply didn't understand anyone anymore. And Alice said she didn't look because Edward asked her not to. Some best friend.

Izzy sighed and turned the tap on to reheat the water. She wondered how long she could get away with hiding in here. She knew Felix was supposed to be collecting her at some point for a training session.

Thoughts of Felix, as they often did lately, reminded her of Emmett. She could say unequivocally that he was the Cullen she missed the most. He was just one of those people it was hard to stay mad at. Along with Jasper, she sort of assumed they had the least responsibility when it came to her abandonment. Jasper probably blamed himself. Izzy hoped she had an opportunity to make it clear to him that she never blamed him for what happened at Alice's stupid birthday party. Though technically it had been Izzy's birthday, that party was all Alice's damn fault. She and Edward had one thing in common, neither could listen worth a damn.

She wasn't ready to see Alice or Edward and she knew she wouldn't be any time soon. Maybe some of the others. Maybe. Not Carlisle and Esme though. Maybe it wasn't fair of her but damn it if they were going to take on the "parental" roles, they should have been able to do something. She definitely didn't want to be vindictive but she couldn't help feeling a little satisfaction with the guilt they seemed to feel. Caius was right. They deserved something for the pain they put her through. If for no other reason than to prevent them allowing something like to happen to someone else.

Izzy sighed again and finally made herself climb out of the tub and dry off. No sooner had she thrown on some workout clothes Jane had brought her did she hear a knock at the outer chamber door.

"Just a minute!" She called, sparing one last glance at herself in the mirror and a tug to straighten her ponytail before going to see who was there.

Dimitri's face met Izzy's gaze as she opened the door.

"Are you ready for some training?"

Izzy hoped she'd kept the disappointment from her face as she nodded. She'd assumed Felix was going to do her training, but it was just as well that she had this opportunity to get to know the infamous tracker. Besides it's not like she was really that attached to Felix, right? Just that echo of a connection to her big brother...or so she told herself.

As they walked along the unfamiliar corridors, Izzy wracked her brain for an icebreaker but small talk was never her strong suit. She was really going to have to say something eventually. How could she train with a total stranger?

After several more moments, Dimitri swore and laughed. "I really thought you'd have asked me something by now. You are the quietest female I've ever met!"

Izzy shrugged and knew she'd have blushed were her body still capable of such a thing. "Old habits die hard."

"Fine. I'll ask you something. What was it like being around the Major?"

Izzy gave Dimitri a confused look. "Who?"

"The scary one?" He clarified.

Izzy tilted her head, completely lost. "Scary one? I don't know what you're talking about."

"There's only one scary Cullen..." he led.

Izzy tried to think. The only scary Cullen to her had been Rosalie but she very much doubted Dimitri would agree. "Emmett? He's not scary. He's just big."

Dimitri was laughing so hard he was near doubled over. "You're hilarious, Isabella! I mean the Empath. Jasper, or as most know him, Major Whitlock. He is the scary one."

Izzy was stunned. She couldn't imagine Jasper being scary. Not really. She was starting to feel quite defensive toward Dimitri. She did not find any of this funny. She stared at Dimitri while he finally calmed down and stopped laughing.

"Stuck my foot in something, haven't I? I'm sorry, Isabella. I was just curious. The stories about the Major are always so larger than life. I should have realized you wouldn't want to talk about them. Especially with me."

Izzy sighed. "I really just didn't get the joke, Dimitri. To me, Jasper has always just been kind and supportive. I've never heard any stories about him. Also we didn't really get to spend too much time together. My idiot ex-boyfriend did say he was dangerous, but he is an idiot." After rambling all that off almost too quick to hear, she took a deep breath. "I guess maybe I did need to talk about them."

Dimitri nodded and smiled as he paused before a door his hand on handle. "Anytime." He turned to look at Izzy. "Forgive me?"

Izzy thought for a moment and then smiled. "Nothing to forgive!"

Dimitri pulled open the door to reveal a training room and a waiting Felix. Izzy took in the look on his face and couldn't blame herself for comparing him to Emmett. The two would certainly be friends, if they weren't too much alike for that. Dimitri followed Izzy in, hoping he wasn't about to pay for his rude behavior. Damn newborn strength!