3. SECOND CHANCES

CARLISLE'S FRIENDS CAME TO US AS THE DARK FOG disappeared. I kept thinking about what Carlisle and Jasper were talking about. What were they talking about this mysterious Volturi? The other vampires stood beside their leader with Bree sandwiched between them. They couldn't see me but all I was focused on was Bella.

The wind teased her scent across my scent, and my thoughts scattered. I glared at her, making me thirsty. Bella couldn't see me as well. I guess whatever power I got works on humans too.

Four dark-cloaks ambled through the trees and watched the fire burning the dead newborns. They ghosted through the vapour to face the yellow eyes. None of them looked in my direction. I stood still. But it didn't make a difference that there were seven of the yellow-eyes. The four dark cloaks had red eyes like mine, yet they seem experienced. They were as wary of these dark cloaks as Riley and my creator had been. There was something more to them than I could see, but I could feel it. These were the punishers, and they didn't lose.

"Welcome, Jane," said the yellow-eyed one who held Bella.

It was Edward Cullen and his family. Of course. It made so much sense. That explained why they were rarely seen in school. That explained why they don't go out in the sun. This was the Cullens. Emmett and Rosalie. Alice and Jasper. And Dr Carlisle Cullen and his wife Esme. How did I not put the two and two together?

They were vampires.

They knew each other. They knew the Volturi. But Edward's voice was not friendly or furiously terrified like my creator's. His voice was simply cold and polite and unsurprised. Were the dark-cloaks this Volturi, then?

They took off their hoods and looked directly at them.

"Impressive." The small vampire, Jane, said first. "I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact."

"We were lucky," Carlisle replied.

"I doubt that."

"It appears we missed an entertaining fight." A dark-haired young man said. He was the same height as the blonde vampire girl.

"Yes," she answered the boy. "It's not often we're rendered unnecessary."

"If you'd arrived a half-hour ago, you would've fulfilled your purpose," Edward said to her.

"Pity." Jane stared at the light brown haired vampire. Then she saw the newborn, Bree, crouching by the fire, and smiled. "You missed one."

"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," stated Carlisle for Bree's current situation.

"That wasn't yours to offer," abruptly said Jane.

As Jane moved to Bree, I saw Esme shoot Carlisle a concerned look. Carlisle subtly shook his head.

Don't. That was his message.

"Why did you come?" she asked but before the newborn could answer, Bree was in pain.

Bella flinched but I didn't. I was used to seeing other newborns in pain. Esme quickly stepped up.

"They came to destroy us – to kill Bella," Esme spoke, begging her to stop, but Jane ignored her.

Jane continued her torture, enjoying it. "Who created you?"

Bree screamed at the pain, making me feel this... What was it? Remorse. Pity. Anger.

"You don't need to do that," Esme said. "She'll tell you anything you want to know."

"I know." Jane voiced with no care at all.

Jane was hurting her mind. She was responsible for her pain. Carlisle puts a hand on Esme's shoulder and Bree's screaming briefly stops; finally. Jane waited for an answer.

"I don't know," replied Bree. "Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe."

She was right. I don't even know my creator's name. Jane zapped Bree again. I think Esme was about to say something.

"Her name was Victoria," answered Edward. "Perhaps you knew her."

Bree's pain abruptly ceased. Jane looked at Edward with an innocent smile, that was somehow unnerving. The other three Volturi were suddenly positioned behind Jane. We didn't even see them move. Bella planted herself firmly at Edward's side. The air was tense. This could turn bad, fast. Carlisle interceded with great and purposeful calm.

"Edward," Carlisle said. "If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her. Isn't that right, Jane?"

Jane just stared at Carlisle. A long wait. She replied: "Of course. Felix."

The tall buff male vampire, Felix, moved to Bree.

"She didn't know what she was doing," Esme spoke loudly and Jane's stopped Felix from walking forward. "We'll take responsibility for her. Give her a chance."

"The Volturi don't give second chances," said Jane. "Keep that in mind. Caius will be interested to know that she's still human."

Who is Caius? A member of the Volturi perhaps. Also, she was looking at Bella as she said it. Bella was planning to become a vampire?

"The date is set," Bella spoke.

Jane was ever so slightly taken aback by Bella's confidence. Her look lingered on Bella – this human. Edward stood ready to defend her. But Jane turned back to Felix.

"Take care of that, Felix," commanded Jane. "I'd like to go home."

Felix marched forward to the newborn and, with his enormous strength, easily tore Bree from limb to limb. Her scream quickly ceased, though the metallic screeching sound continued. My heart ached as I watched Bree die. Felix picked up the limbs and threw them into the flames.

"Thank you, Felix. Until next time."

The Cullens could do nothing but stand by, grim-faced. Esme tried not to watch. And Bella, fighting revulsion, but stood strong with the rest of the Cullens, as the thick plume of smoke rises. She turned around and her mouth gaped open. Her brown eyes widened. The Cullens saw Bella's reaction and were concerned.

"Violet?" Bella asked and I looked down at my hands.

I could see my hands again. I could see my feet again. I wasn't invisible anymore. The Cullens looked on at me, clearly surprised.

"Wait, Violet?" Alice said, confused. "As in, Violet Baxter?"

"That girl in my Biology class?" Rosalie added.

"Hey, all," I said and put my hands in my pocket. "I'm a newborn. Or at least that's what I'm classified as."

"How old are you?" asked Jasper.

"Do you mean in human years or vampire years?"

"Vampire years."

"Just five months."

Jasper nodded. "Yep. Definitely a newborn."

"That's why you were missing," commented Bella and sighed sadly. "I'm so sorry you got dragged into this."

"I don't see why you're apologising, Bella," I said bitterly. "It should be this Victoria that apologised. Where is she anyway?"

"She's dead," Edward replied. "I killed her and Riley is dead too."

I sighed. I gritted my teeth. "Why did she do it? All of this? She made me into a vampire. Why?"

"I killed her mate, James, to save Bella from him. And since then, Victoria created the army to kill Bella."

"So, I was nothing more than a part of a revenging army."

"Pretty much," Emmett responded, folding his arms.

"Emmett!" Esme said loudly at him. "That was inappropriate."

I inhaled and smelt Bella's blood. This sweet blood. I shook my head, realising whose blood I was smelling.

"C-can someone take Bella away?" I asked.

Carlisle nodded to Edward. Edward and Bella walked away into the woods. Jasper eyed me, surprise.

"That's impressive," Jasper commented. "Most newborns would go for the human by their first scent."

"Yeah, thanks," I replied. "Anyway, is there a way to get out of here?"

The Cullens stared at each, confused at my request. Rosalie looked at me. "What do you mean?" she asked me.

"Like, moving me to a different location. A country, perhaps."

"You're serious?" Emmett enquired and I nodded. "Why?"

"If they find me, they'll kill me."

They knew I was talking about the Volturi. Carlisle spoke to me about my request. "I know a coven in London. They'll be happy to help you."

I nodded at his plan and we left the woods, away from the burning corpses of newborns.