A/N: Hi there! I am very new writer to Aro/Bella but I have to tell you that I do have a lot of written pieces about this couple as they have intrigued me for years, however it has been more of a hobby that I haven't felt I have gotten right.
I started on this site 10 years ago and have had my writing stolen and then lost to a wipe on my computer in 2016. My muse died with so much of my work both original and FF lost and I have not been able to go back to those stories, much to my readers dissatisfaction and my own frustration.
So here I am in 2020 in isolation and trying something different. I have to tell you now I am not the most conventional Twilight fan, in fact the only thing that has kept my obsession is the Volturi and Bella's potential beyond the fluffy obsession with Edward. And yes! That means you will not find any Edward/Bella within my works, however I will never bash Edward's characters as justification for their split.
This is turning into a very long AN so I was just leave it here and say one more thing. I have the layout of this entire fic locked in my head for perhaps the better part of a decade. I can not promise fast updates but I will promise to always give the best of myself and the characters I write. If you like to Beta my fic, let me know as I always like a second opinion before uploading.
I have ranted enough. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please forgive me for throwing you straight into the deep end. And of course if you have a moment, please like and leave me a message.
Scarlett Woman
Chapter One
The land was still, with hardly a whisper upon the winds. The trees stood like giant silent guardians with their great branches extended, protecting the open area where a modern manor lay open in the still air.
The morning frost was melting upon the grass, rising moisture into the air. But, unnatural silence covered the area.
Profound was this feeling and the feeling of emptiness that when the four sleek black shadows arrived, they stood like frozen statues within the shaded tree line. Their blood red eyes were focused intently, unbelievably at the area in which the lovely manor stood with its front door open.
These black shadows turned into quality embroidered black robes, hoods so large, covering faces into their depths. And as one, they took a step and within a blink they now stood eyeing the manor up close, already having taken notice of the burnt out spots along the drive way and even a few in the outer areas in which they now stood.
"We are too late" spoke a smooth voice belaying the strong and tall build he carried.
"Our Master will not be happy with this, what are we to tell him, Sister?"
"Their Dead" she responded coldly with her young voice.
They all turned to look at the last member who instead of speaking started pacing around the house and gardens in circles. A sniff here and there was all they heard, but this situation was not that unusual enough to comment on his behaviour.
Finally after a minute he spoke. "Not all dead" he lifted his head and sniffed again. "They went this way" he pointed south. "I can still smell the shield and empath. There are many other scents dominating that pathway but I think I can make out the seer, however I can find no trace of her or her mate in my mind".
"Are you sure there is no others" the girl spoke again.
The tracker shook his head looking at the black spots around them gravely. "They are gone" he confirmed.
"Well Shit!" The large man spoke. " Demetri, you better be right. This is the second largest coven in the world. Who mind you, have many talented members. How could they of let this happened?"he finished tensely whilst clenching his big fists.
"The why's? Felix. We can confirm later" Demetri patiently told him. "Right now we need to follow that trail". He then turned to the girl.
"Jane we are at least a three hours behind the perpetrators. You and Alec gather the evidence we need for the Masters and Felix and I will check this out". He frowned darkly. "Master Aro will not like us returning empty handed. If there is even a slightest chance of finding Isabella or Alice we need to take it".
Jane scowled at the mention of Aro's obsession. She loathed the shield. "Do it quickly and return. We just need a sense of direction if the shield is protecting the rest".
Demetri and Felix bowed and left running at full speed through the thick woods following the dying scent. So fast were their species that within minutes they were running up the distant mountain from the manor. Both pulled up to a sharp stop upon reaching the ice cap top.
Instantly they could smell the slight petrol left in the air. Demetri paced the frozen area and veered off the other side of the snowed peak before returning.
"They must of followed the seer. Her scent and the others do not follow Isabella's or the one called Jasper's trail off the other side. Who ever did this was after the seer Alice and took her by air. She should now be out of the shield as they were separated" he hook his head "but I still can not feel her tenor. Something is blocking me! whoever did this wouldn't of gone through all that" he pointed down towards the manors direction. "Just to kill her. Go back to others and inform them. Contact Aro immediately and I will keep on Isabella's trail until I find her".
Felix nodded sharply and left without a word.
Demetri sighed sadly thinking of the great loss below him."Farewell Cullens" he whispered, knowing that at once this got out to the world it was going to cause major ripples.
Many a vampire respected the Cullens and will be frightened at the powers that have brought this coven down.
Demetri included.
Shaking his thoughts off he set off, out of Montana through the Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness. For an hour he zigzagged following Isabella's scent as she obviously followed her sister in what he presumed was a helicopter. His surroundings cleared out when he made it through the mountain range and like a black blur he took through fields, streets, suburbs, cities and highways.
Too fast was he for the human eye to perceive and so he had no worries about being seen. Long was the miles he run unbothered, determined as he ran all the way down into California. It was here on a pier in San Francisco that his trail came to a stop over the ocean.
He stood in the shadows, frustrated but knowing for now his search was over. Isabella Cullen may have been the first to overcome his gift. But, now within five years of her making someone else also has received the ability to block him, where none had ever before in his thousand plus years of living.
His phone rang from his pocket pulling him out of his mind. "Yes" he answered. "I tracked them to San Francisco but there scents are lost over the water."
"Never mind that, Demetri" Jane spoke quickly. "The halfbreed left a message on the house phone. She is with the wolf pack in Forks so we are done here. I have organised a moving truck that will pack all their belongings. I will report to Aro after we check out La Push for it is now most likely were Bella will go, if it as you say that they have lost Alice."
"Yes" Demetri confirmed "Where shall I meet you" he spoke, already making his way off the pier.
"Our safe house in Seattle. We may need to gather more of us before confronting the wolves in such uncertainty." she hissed. "The half-breed girl is they key to finding Isabella. If we find her we find the shield, Master will be is happy self and we all can finally return home".
But little did Jane know even as she spoke those words, how utterly untrue they were. Bella would not be with her daughter when they arrived at La Push, nor would be the one called Renesmee, or any of the shapeshifting wolf pack.
They were meet in the small Indian reserve, with nothing but blood, death and werewolf stench.
Mysterious and frightening were the events of this day, none of the Volturi who bared witness to the aftermath of such devastation would leave with anything but fear for the future.
Undeniably, this would be felt by the Volturi for years to come. For a new enemy was born in the ashes of the Cullens, one more insidious and cunning then they had ever faced before.
A/N: and so it begins….