Hello my darlings! Welcome to my new fic! I'm so excited and nervous about this one. It's a totally new genre for me, and will be delving quite a bit deeper than I've gone before. So excited about that!

A note on translation: I've done my best to provide context in the story whenever there is a phrase in any language other than English, however, if there is still confusion, I've put all the translation at the bottom AN so as not to break up the story.

First off, let's address the team: Fran S. Flower, who is truly a phenomenal beta. I do tend to tinker with things up until the very end, so any outstanding mistakes are all on me.

Then of course, my awesome pre-reading team: DaniDarlingxx, JGaff, PearlyFox, Lily Jill, and my lil sis who doesn't have an account, has never read Twilight, but was dying to read this one.

This one is is M for some pretty intense and legit reasons, so please use discretion while reading.

Nulla

Lex Talionis

Vengeance is mine; I will repay.

Anna Karenina. Leo Tolstoy

The small restaurant is busy tonight, packed with patrons coming to indulge in the best wine selection in the city. In the middle of the dining room, a young man with a bright smile easily charms everyone around him. His date flutters at his side as he confidently orders what the sommelier agrees to be the perfect wine. He is effortless in his confidence, magnetic in his charisma. People are drawn to him.

In the shadows across the street from the famous restaurant, a pair of cold eyes are fixed on him.

Isabelle's gaze does not break from him. She watches with the stillness of a cat, hardly blinking. The only sign of her fury is the slight tick in her jaw every time he smiles.

She is patient as he dines and draws in more and more people around him. In another life, she might be charmed by him herself. In another life, she could have been one of his victims.

The thought sends an arctic fury through her, and her jaw clicks twice.

She will not be a victim, never again.

She focuses on her breathing; un… deux… trois…

Her body relaxes, her mind resharpening.

He is, unquestionably, one of the most handsome men this city has perhaps ever seen. He has the looks of a Hollywood star; airbrushed perfection in real life. He's young, he's rich, he's well connected, and tonight he will die.

Lex talionis; punishment reflecting the nature of the transgression it is punishing.

This is the retribution he faces.

And tonight, Isabelle will have her vengeance.

Short little prologue to get you started. This story will post weekly on Fridays, so we'll be getting official chapter one next week. If you haven't already, go find my FB group and join it because this story is bringing out some creativity in me. I have hella pics, gifs, and music to accompany it. Link is on profile, or go search for Fanfics for Nerds in groups!

Okay my dears! I will see you next week. Remember to keep checking Facebook because seriously. I have SO MUCH content for this one!

Translation:

1. Nulla - Zero (Latin)

2. Lex Talionis - Law of Retaliation (Latin)

3. Un, Deux, Trois - One, Two, Three (French)