A/N I know I said it was gonna be a week… isn't it amazing how timing works? XD

bella

I stared at his eyes in shock. He just smiled back.

"I have decided to try your diet," he said, smiling. The smile faded. "Anything to disassociate myself with… them."

My brow furrowed. "I- Marcus, I don't think I understand."

"I believe you do." He gestured to a chair in the corner. "May I?"

I nodded and he took a seat.

"I also did this," he pointed at his eyes, "as a gesture of peace to you before I spoke with you. Change is coming, Bella. And much of it is thanks to you."

My eyes widened. "Me?"

"You have shattered our confidence in ourselves. You render all our powers completely useless. That is why Caius wants you dead. That is why Aro wants you here, away from your family. And why I have come to you now.

"Years ago, when we took it upon ourselves to bring order to the vampire world, we were not the same as we are now. Our power was new, but as thrilling as it was we understood we were using this new power to serve our kind.

"It was actually my idea in the first place. I noticed that a rather large coven of vampires was ravaging Volterra, threatening exposure and killing countless humans. You know, Bella, that I read relationships."

I nodded.

He smiled sadly. "So with every human that died I felt a relationship tear. It was painful for me. Even now, when Heidi comes back with a group for us to feed from, I avoid families and go for those who are alone. So, when it became too much, I finally took it upon myself to drive them out, keeping the legends of garlic and holy water…"

"St. Marcus Day," I whispered, remembering what Alice had explained to me.

"Yes. That is what we used to be. Saints. Now… now we're demons." He stood. "Bella, I no longer want to be one of them. I'm tired of the games they play to keep their power. I can tell that your family stays together not for protection or power like most covens, but out of love. Your relationship with each other is strong, stronger than any I have felt in the millennia that I have been alive." He held out his hand. "I'm asking you to join me, Isabella Cullen. Join me in forging a new guard. One to protect, not to destroy."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was it, the change I had been hoping for. Apparently Marcus had been thinking along the same lines.

I smiled, and took his hand. "Yes."

************

We had to move quickly. We only had about an hour to gather those who felt the same way or who were loyal to Marcus. Gianna, of course, was willing. As was Aiden.

"I've been closely observing members of the guard and listening in on conversations," said Marcus as we hustled through the corridors. "I've also been trying to get a sense of their relationships as they see them to Caius and Aro. I already have an idea as to who might be willing to join us."

We stopped one guard member. His name was Corin.

"Have you found any?" Marcus asked.

Corin shook his head. "No one for certain."

Marcus turned to me. "Corin has the ability to sense… traitors in a way. He can sense the feelings people have for one another. It is sort of a combination between my ability and your brother Jasper's."

I nodded.

Marcus turned back to Corin. "Do your best. Keep searching. The more the better."

Corin nodded and took off.

The next member we got to join was Santiago. He reminded me of a cross between Felix and Emmett. He was huge. He looked a little mean, but there was some sort of gentleness about him, some sort of twinkle in his eye that made him likable.

"Felix replaced Santiago centuries ago," said Marcus. "But we decided to keep him around. He's gentle unless he needs to be rough."

Santiago grinned at me.

We took our group outside. Corin met us with a group of five. Eleven total.

"How many total are in the guard?" I asked.

"About a hundred."

We were small, outnumbered. "Good thing we're not fighting any battles."

"Yet." Marcus smiled. "But you're an American, aren't you? I thought odds didn't matter to you."

I smiled at the reference to my country's history and laughed. "I guess not."

jane

I walked into Caius's private room. Caius turned.

"Jane?"

I took a deep breath. "I believe you agree with me that Isabella Cullen shouldn't be alive right now?"

Caius nodded. "She's too much of a threat."

"She has become Aro's new pet."

"Aro is a collector. It blinds him to what must be done. Blinds him to those that are threats. And Marcus, he has stopped caring since his wife was killed. He's become soft." He looked up to a painting of the three of them. "There was a time when we were united in our decisions. That time is over."

"So what are you going to do?" I asked.

Caius paused. "Come with me."

He led me to Aro's private room.

"Aro!" he called.

Aro smiled. "Caius." He turned to me and his smile wavered slightly. "And… Jane."

"Aro, this has to stop. We need to kill Isabella Cullen. She's too powerful and not loyal enough to us."

Aro shook his head. "Her ability is not an offensive ability. By herself, she is no threat."

Caius leaned in close. "You know better than I do that there are members of the guard—many members –who wish to leave. Especially after the way in which we acquired the new Cullen girl."

"And you honestly think that will stop after we kill her?"

Caius threw his hands up. "Set something up! Say she killed a member of the guard. Say that she found a way to make her ability offensive. She did!" He threw his hands toward me. "She reflects our powers back onto ourselves. Remember what she did to Jane?"

I snarled.

Aro closed his eyes. "We've almost turned her loyalty. Once we do, she'll be a powerful ally."

"You're blinded by your greed for her," Caius snarled.

Aro turned away. "She's a great asset to the guard. Maybe someday, her husband, brother, and sister will come join her."

Caius stared at Aro's back, then spun back around towards the door to be met by my brother Alec.

"Marcus is gone," he said. "As is a good portion of the guard, including Bella."

Caius whirled back on Aro. "See what I mean?"

"Try to get them back, Alec," said Aro.

Alec nodded and left.

Caius stormed out of the room, gesturing for me to follow.

As soon as we were out of earshot Caius said, "Gather those you know are loyal to me. Those you who realize that the Cullen girl must die. We shall hunt them down ourselves."

"So this is it… the Volturi… are dividing?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, yes."

*******************

bella

"Marcus?" I asked. "Where are we going to go?"

He smiled at me kindly. "I thought it was obvious."

I shook my head.

"We're going to take you home, of course. I'd like to talk to Carlisle anyway-"

I let out a sob and threw my arms around Marcus. "Thank you."

Marcus was stunned for a second, then he wrapped his arms gently around me. "A huge mistake must be corrected."

*******************

edward

"How long?" I asked.

Everyone stared at Alice and I, who were both on the brink of dry sobs after the vision she had just had.

"Exactly 2 days, 12 hours, 11 minutes, and 38 seconds," she sobbed out. She threw her arms around me.

"Till what?" Esme asked.

I turned to her, finally sobbing myself. "Till my Bella is home."

Everyone happy now? Bella's coming home. TELL ME HOW HAPPY YOU ARE! REVIEW!

Btw, my twitter followers knew that this chapter was coming early. They were also treated to a teaser. And I mentioned readers who reviewed. SO FOLLOW!!! .com/mizzybizzyvamp

We got ten reviews last time. I jumped the gun. Lol. Let's try for at LEAST ten again, shall we? 10-15? I'm being nice here. Most ask for a number of reviews in the hundreds. Remember, if you subscribe to story alert, or favorite me or the story, review! I review on my Zune HD! It takes two seconds! If you don't have two seconds come back and review! PLEASSSSE?! *puppy face*

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Also, I realized that there are some formatting errors: like how I changed the formatting and how there isn't much separation between POV's. I'm working on changing it.

Also, I plan on doing a little rewriting once this is over… there are some errors that are in desperate need of correcting and I might add a scene or two. If you FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER I'll let you know when this happens

Also, (yes… I know I'm repeating myself. It's fun), If you want to write missing scenes or alternate POV's or even "what ifs" from this story GO FOR IT! My only requirement is that 1) you state where it's from and give credit to both me and the great Stephenie Meyer whose sandbox I rather enjoy playing in, and 2) you send me the link so that I can read it. XD Just stay away from Edward POV's which brings me to my NEXT Also…

Also, I plan on an Epilogue composed of scenes from Vengeance in Edward's POV. This is where YOU come in! Start thinking of scenes from Vengeance that you want to read in EPOV and let me know in a review! I'll try to do as many as I can.