Chapter 1

Lilith

The pungent smell of ash filled my senses and clouded my lungs. Each breath I drew clouded the pit of my chest and watered my eyes. It took just a moment of consciousness for me to feel the flames licking at my legs and feet, swallowing the pyre and growing larger with each passing second. All I could see where the red and orange hues growing closer and closer to my skin, which had already begun to burn.

"Witch! Witch!" the crowd was chanting loudly, several people waving their torches high into the air.

The first deep breath I took released a haunting scream that shook my chest. I was burning, and the pain was so intense I nearly went under once more. My screams and cries were drowning the sounds of the priest that stood near the pedestal placed before the pyre, covering the scripture that dutifully fell from his pale lips.

I thrashed violently, desperate to escape the heat, but all I achieved was the sharp burn of the ropes binding me rubbing harshly against my skin. This was the first and only time I'd ever been burned alive... and the process of recovery would be the most painful that I would ever come to know. Skin slowly coming to life, layer by layer, and ash and burnt pieces of flesh flaking off of my body.

I pulled myself from the ash pile, my hand slipping and accidentally crushing the brittle hand bone of another poor soul that'd been burned before me.

Thankfully, no one was around to witness the "witch" coming back to life and pulling herself from their pile of burned women.

"I am sorry."

I wheezed in a large gulp of fresh air, feeling my lungs slowly coming to life in my chest. I looked up, and spotted a dark shadow lingering above me. It flickered in and out of existence, but a single pair of silver eyes looked down upon me in sadness.

"Papa..." I coughed, burnt hand reaching for the edges of the shadow.

He sidestepped my grasp, eyes downcast. "I cannot allow your touch, my flower. You know this."

"Lilith... wake-"

Fire licking against my skin.

"Lil-"

The acrid smell of burning flesh, and the screams ripping from me-

"Lily!"

I jolted, straining against my seat belt for a moment as I startled awake. Breathing deeply, I saw Carlisle had pulled off to the side of the road, and both he and his mate were turned in their seat, watching me matching golden eyes.

"You were dreaming," Carlisle muttered.

Subconsciously, I ran my fingertips under the sleeves of the coat Esme'd given me back at the cemetary, and breathed a soft breath as I felt the skin was intact.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep," I apologized, and ran my hands through my hair. The brittle pieces that'd once lain over my scalp like thin pieces of straw, had fallen out once my body had began to restore and repair itself. My new, healthy hair had already grown down to my shoulders in silvery-white waves.

"Don't apologize, dear, it's no doubt that you're still exhausted," Esme said softly, reaching a careful hand out and caressing my knee reassuringly. "It's just..."

"I was screaming?" I guessing softly, and the two vampires in the front nodded.

I inhaled deeply, thankful the air was clean and crisp, nothing like the lingering smoke and ash I could usually still smell after that particular nightmare. It'd been one of the worst deaths I'd ever died, and even though it was a long time ago, it stuck out in my mind terribly.

"Are you hungry again?" Carlisle asked, carefully pulling back onto the road and driving once more.

I opened my mouth, and promptly closed it with an audible click of teeth as my stomach gave a horribly loud growl. Despite having just eaten loads of food hours before, enough food to feed a small village, I was already starving again. But the previous meals had filled out my body, putting some flesh between my skin and bones and rebuilding the muscles that'd weakened over time.

He chuckled at the sound. "I thought so. I'll swing in at the next stop, okay?"

"Could you also begin explaining to me why you were looking for me? I'm feeling better, and I'm up for a story," I told him, quickly zipping up Esme's jacket around my shoulders, so that the person in the drive-thru wouldn't be able to look in and spot the blood spatter that stained the front of my dress.

"So... Edward got his human mate... pregnant?" I continued, brows drawing together in confusion as I tried to piece it all together in my head. "I thought vampire's were sterile?"

Carlisle glanced at me from his position in the driver's seat. "We all thought so. But, as it seems, male vampires are able to conceive with human females. Now, however, the Volturi believe we have made an immortal child."

I sat back in the seat, lifting my milkshake back to my lips as I mulled over my thoughts. While stumbling upon the strange and supernatural wasn't exactly knew to me, I wasn't one-hundred percent up to date with the vampire hierarchy and mannerisms. I was thankful for Carlisle and his mate finding me, because if they hadn't I would've ended up dying in that grave repeatedly until the end of time. There was a part of me that really, really didn't want to say yes, but they were truthful enough to let me in on what they were truely asking me to become part of.

They needed help. Witnesses, supposedly.

"It's a lot to take in," Carlisle admitted. "Everything happened very quickly. They no sooner left for the honeymoon and then Bella was pregnant. We... we were very afraid she would die trying to deliver the baby. We had no idea if Renesmee would actually come out okay. And it was only a bit after that that we discovered her existence had been leaked to the Volturi."

I rested my temple against the window, all cogwheels in my brain turning at max power as I tried to digest it all.

"But, I can understand if you want to sit this out," Carlisle said quickly, brows drawing in concern. "We'd be more than happy to get you a car or flight to anywhere you need and enough to get you on your feet."

Esme nodded empathetically, the curls and waves in her hair shimmering in the light as they bounced across her shoulders.

I smiled softly, unable to help myself from chuckling at my worried friend. "There is no way I can walk away from you now, Carlisle. You saved me, and your family needs help. Of course I'm coming along."

His eyes caught mine in the rear view mirror and I gave him what I hopped to be a reassuring smile. He nodded once, and cast his golden gaze back to the road.

His beautiful mate turned around in her seat, golden eyes taking in the sheer amount of wrappers and empty food containers that littered the seat next to me.

"I don't feel full," I explained to her, seeing the curiosity in her eyes. "While I can feel hunger after not eating for a certain frame of time, I don't ever feel full. My diet is mostly very fatty and sugary, and it fuels my energy. I merely eat until I feel it is... enough, I suppose. It also helps restore my body when I'm weak."

She nodded, face losing some of the worry that she'd been wearing since we'd left the cemetery. "I'd been worried when Carlisle began sweeping all that sugary food into the cart, but he'd assured me that it was what you needed. I'm glad that you've recovered so quickly."

"I won't be fully recovered until a few days," I sighed. "My body is physically filling out but it will take a while for all of my strength to return to me.

I stared out the window, taking in the beautiful colors of the snow topped trees that we'd begun to pass. It'd been so long since I'd seen the light, seen color. I'd been in that grave for three years, which was hard to believe. But counting the amount of times I'd died and seeing the date in truth on Carlisle's cell phone, I knew it to be true.

I felt a lurch in my chest, and gave a pained gasp as my heart suddenly gave a kick. I'd finally produced enough blood and it was starting to beat again, starting off heavy and foreign in my chest. It was odd to hear it again, after it'd been silent for so long.

Carlisle seemed to relax in the front seat, looking relieved to hear my heart restarting.

"I'll never get used to that, I think," I mused to myself, pressing a hand over my heart in thought.

I wasn't too sure what he was worried about, but I knew he didn't fully understand what I was. Hells, even I didn't know exactly what I was. In his mind, I'm sure I was still more human appearing than most. Hearing my heart start was probably a comfort to him, meaning I was more in the clear.

"I'm happy to act as a witness for you, Carlisle," I said suddenly, interrupting the silence. "I'm indebted to you and your mate for saving me. And if these Volturi will not listen to reason, it would be an honor to fight by your family's side."

Carlisle sighed. "I'm hoping it will not come to that."

There was a beat of cold silence, before the question that'd been tingling on my lips since they'd pulled me from my grave finally came tumbling free.

I smiled as I spoke, feeling deep inside my chest that I already knew the answer. I was unable to stop the bitterness from seeping into my voice. "Carlisle... how did you know where to find my body?"

Carlisle shifted, golden eyes glancing at me through the rear view mirror. "I started off looking for you with Esme up in Canada, where I'd last heard from you. We even found your old cabin, but it was abandoned. On our way back we were visited by crows, they told us where to go. I figured that they had belonged to you."

"Sounds about right," I muttered, stretching back in the seat. My eyes darting out to look at the power lines lining the roadside. Every so often, the dark shape of a crow perched alone the wire passed by us.

Crows were the eyes and ears for those of the underworld. Death dealers and demons used the animals, and even conjured into existence to use them as reliable messengers. The only fault to them, however, was that they had no allegiance or sense of loyalty.

We were being followed, loosely so, but still being followed. I decided to stay silent about it until I was sure that there was a problem, but If I had known what I was getting myself into, I may have reconsidered how I was going about things. I may have even turned tail and ran, away from my friend in his time of need, and hidden myself away.

But, instead, unknowingly, I let myself be lead down the road leading me to hell, and my destiny.

Within a few hours time, dusk had painted the sky with almost purple hue, and we were driving up the long expanse of the Cullen family home's drive way.

I'd been forewarned that the house was full of vampires, but that no harm would come to me. I believed in Carlisle, but it was amusing to me how much he cared to spare me pain. Even though it would not result in a permanent death, he was very eager to protect me. He'd been the same when we'd first discovered each-other all those years ago.

I could tell he felt guilty that I'd been buried for so long, but it truly wasn't his fault. It was no one's fault, except maybe my own for letting my guard down and getting myself in that situation.

The rows of trees on either side of the car suddenly split wider, revealing the lovely modern home an yard the was nestled amongst the forest. It was obviously a project of love, since I'd now learned the Esme really enjoyed drawing up the design plans for their homes.

By the time we'd parked, a pair of vampires had appeared at the front door, standing like statues at the entrance to the home.

One a vampire I recognized as Edward, Carlisle's first vampire companion and adopted son. He still had his hair in the same messy style he'd kept it in all those years ago before his change, when I first ever saw him. Of course, vampirism had kept his youth and nothing to his features had changed. The woman at his side was new to me. She was a beautiful brunette, with a medium build and a cautious looking face. While nearly imperceptible, I could see that her eyes were a couple shades darker in color than her mate's, depicting that she was still coming out of her newborn stage.

Carlisle and Esme exited the car first, and I stretched slowly, popping my wrists with a smart rotation before Carlisle got to my door and held it open for me. I was feeling incredibly cramped and stiff after being in the coffin for so long, and now that I had the strength to hold myself up I was looking forward to standing and stretching myself out.

"Do you seek to condemn us?!" A voice hissed the second my feet touched the driveway, and a wild looking blond came storming from the house.

She was a vampire I had no recollection of, but seemed to be following the same diet as the Cullens. Though, currently, her eyes were darkening with anger as she took in my appearance. "You said you were leaving to collect another witness! But instead you bring a human into this mess?!"

"Tanya," Edward said sternly, coming forward.

The blond turned to look at him, face furious as strawberry blond curls tumbled across her shoulders. "We already have the odds stacked against us. They will surely believe we've broken the law the second they notice two heartbeats!"

I smirked, and felt a familiar pressure near the center of my chest. I concentrated, pushing and feeling my chest grow tighter.

The loud thudding of my heart suddenly went spastic, erratic and fighting for life, causing all the vampires on the front lawn to look to me in clear confusion. I should've been clutching my chest and gasping in pain, but instead I stood calmly. Only Edward and Carlisle seemed to be rather calm about it, though Carlisle was looking a little distressed by my display.

My heart suddenly stopped once it reached it's highest tempo, stopping dead in my chest.

I rolled my shoulder, popping the sore bones there. "There, no heart beat. Now we don't have a thing to worry about," I chirped, enjoying the look of sickened surprise that crossed the woman's face. I could see a few vampires inside the home, through the expansive windows and glass walls. They were looking down curiously, red eyes piercing through me.

"What are you?" the brunette whispered, dark amber eyes wide with shock.

I stepped closer, ignoring how the angry blond named Tanya took a very cautious step back. "You must be Bella. You're very beautiful, as your name would imply. I'm glad to see Edward found someone who can deal with his moodiness."

Edward shot me a playful glare, but chuckled at the look of his mate, who's face darted between Edward and I incredulously.

"My name is Lilith, but please don't follow Carlisle and Edward's footsteps and call me Lily instead," I introduced with a grin, giving them a curtsy with the frayed ends of my dress clutching in my hands. "As much as I want to get to know you all, I'm extremely dirty if you couldn't tell. And I'm still wearing the dress I was murdered in. So, if I could shower first I'd be incredibly grateful."

"I'll show you to our room," Esme interjected, reaching forward to gently link her arm with my own. "You can use my and Carlisle's bedroom for the time you stay here."

She led me up the lawn and into the home, dodging curious faces as she led me up the stairs and down the hall to the room she shared with Carlisle. It was a nice, modern designed room with a very delicate color scheme. Very homely, and warm feeling.

As we passed the rooms lining the second floor hallway, I saw a young face peaking at me through the crack in the door. I gave her a small smile and a wave, and I saw the hint of a smile touch her cheeks as she shut the door with a click.

"I'll find some clothes for you, dear," Esme promised, opening the door to the master bathroom. "Take as long as you need. I know being in a home of vampires maybe-"

"Please," I reached forward and took her hand in mine. "I'm not afraid of you, Esme. You and your kind are the least of my worries. I don't feel uncomfortable in this home, regardless of the sheer amount of vampires pouring from the woodwork. Trust me."

She smiled warmly, looking relieved. She was gone in a second, the bedroom door closing behind her with a click as she left to give me the illusion of privacy. I knew if I so much as coughed, all the inhabitants of the house would hear it.

I was quick to make my way into the bathroom, and wasn't surprised to find it just as modern and luxurious as the rest of the house. The sheer size of the tub alone was inviting, and I was quick to peel that awful, stinking dress away from my body. I set to work on running a hot bath.

I planned on taking my time, as my first time showering in three whole years. I reeked of blood and death, and while I usually had one of those smells on me at all times, it wasn't usually three years old.

Humming softly, I set to work scrubbing at my skin and cleaning my body head to toe. I cleaned dirt and blood from beneath my long nails and lathed my hair with shampoo and conditioner. The once crystal clear water became darkened in just a few moments of scrubbing, so I drained my first bath out and ran a second one for more clean water.

It felt heavenly just sitting in the warmth, but it turned cold on me much too quickly.

I dried off and then wrapped myself in a fluffy white towel I'd found in the cabinet. When I exited the room, I saw a set of clothes had been spread across the bed for me, a set of jeans and a comfortable looking sweater. I was quick to dress, thankful that I no longer had to wear that awful stained dress.

When I was done, I descended the stairs and found the living room packed with rather serious looking vampires. I'd clearly interrupted some kind of talk, because it got suddenly quiet and several eyes were cast my way. I could see through the window, a couple of large wolves sat at the treeline, eyes staring through the windows straight for me.

I gave an awkward wave, looking to Carlisle with a raised brow.

He cleared his throat. "Everyone, this is Lilith, as she previously stated. She is a friend of mine from back when I first became a vampire. I know this may confuse some of you as she's not one of us, but she is also not human."

I smiled at his description, wanting to laugh a little.

"How do you still walk the Earth with a human body?" a thick, Romanian voice asked, and my eyes locked with the red pair of a light blond haired vampire. "Your body should've expired long ago."

"Trust me, my body has expired before," I told him smartly, raising a brow. "Surely you heard my heartbeat stop out there on the lawn? I've died a thousand deaths. But I always come back. I suppose you could think of me like a cat, except instead of the limit of nine lives, my own are limitless.

"If one of you were to snap at this moment," I continued, sweeping my gaze across the room to take in how many human-drinking vampires stood in the room with me. "You would kill me. I would die here on the floor, and then in about an hours time my body would start fixing itself."

"Lilith is basically immortal," Edward stated shortly, summing it up for anyone with straggling questions. "She has a good chance at helping us because it will show the Volturi that not only vampires and wolves walk this Earth. She is different from us all, even Renesmee."

There was a short murmur of agreement across the room.

"How were you born immortal, girly?" one irish vampire intoned. "If you're immortal, surely there is a reason."

"Ahh," I breathed, smile bordering on the verge of a sarcastic grimace. "This is always my favorite part. I don't know."

A stunned moment of disbelieving silence rang through the room, several incredulous stares boring down into me. In truth, I did know. I didn't know the magic behind it all, but I did know how I had come to walk the earth as immortal. But, fresh from a three year dirt nap and surrounded by many strangers, I knew it best to keep most of that information to myself.

Edward's stare caught the corner of my gaze, and I noticed the subtle nod he sent my way. He must've believed my choice a good one, which I would take his word on. I could assume from what Carlisle told me that a few of these vampires were not technically friends of the Cullens, but opposers of the Volturi. To me, that made a world of difference in where my trust would go.

"I assume some sort of ancient magic lives in within my soul, in my bones and in my flesh," I said simply. "I'm old, in short, but there are probably many of your species older than I am. The earliest memories I have center around 1350. I couldn't place a solid date on it, though. I don't have infallible, photographic memories like you vampires do."

My eyes flitted to the window, taking in the heavy onslaught of snow that'd began to fall outside. It was beginning to collect on the ground just as we spoke, and small flakes plastered themselves against the beautiful windows.

"1350? The time of the Black Death?" one British accented vampire intoned, and as I turned to face him I took note of how he hovered near the stairs by himself, red eyes guarded from pretty much everyone in the room.

I smiled, smothering a chuckle that threatened to rise from my chest. "Yes, actually. I was born in Europe, though I don't remember where. Probably Britain, if I had to take a guess. And after so many years in America I lost my accent somewhere in time."

Before I could speak, a large yawn escaped me. I quickly covered my mouth, and realized just how exhausted I was. Even though I'd been buried for so long, I'd not really gotten true rest. All my moments alive we agonizing and filled with sadness and anxiety. I was ready to lay in a real bed, and forget the feeling of walls closing in on me and the stifling smell of wet dirt.

"Well," I stood slowly, feeling the renewed strength in my limbs as I noticed how much easier it was becoming for me to move. "I've been stuck in a hole in the ground for three years, so one would think I'd had enough sleep, but I'm actually pretty tired.."

Esme jumped to my rescue, her face smiling with the warmth only a natural born mother could produce. "I'll come with you. I can pick out some nice bed clothes for you to wear."

I nodded, feeling the heavy stares on my back as I turned. The lone vampire at the stairs had already turned heal and ascended, likely up to the attic as I hadn't seen him anywhere on the second floor the first few times I'd walked through.

I took two steps, then paused. I looked over my shoulder, to Edward. "How long do we have until they come?"

The molten gold of his eyes darkened slightly, and he looked to his mate before he replied. "We have five days. They'll be here before the end of the week. We know where we'll be meeting them, and we can go over everything with you tomorrow after you've had some rest."

I nodded gently, and turned back to continue my retreat upstairs.