Chapter 6 – The Birth of a Warrior

January 19, 1916

The burning pain that seemed to encompass my existence was beginning to fade. I felt in my toes and fingers, then further up my arms and legs. Eventually, the fire came up to my chest and suddenly was gone.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was his beautiful face. But for some reason it looked slightly different, as if I had never really seen it properly before. If it were possible, he was even more beautiful.

"Who…what…how?" I couldn't seem to for an actual sentence. So many questions were bouncing around in my mind and I couldn't figure out what to ask first.

"Let's just get through the important facts first. Then I will explain the details," he said. He sat beside me on the bed and took a deep breath. "My real name is Demetri and I am a vampire. You were dying; there was no way to save your life, so I did the only thing I could do in order to keep you. I made you a vampire as well."

At first I was going to call him crazy, but I took a look around the room and the truth of his statement was obvious. I could see absolutely everything. Colors that I never knew even existed were as clear as day. I could here the insects crawling in the grass outside. I could smell…wait…what was that smell?

"Are you all right?" he asked me.

"I think so, but my throat burns."

"Come, I will show you how to hunt."

As soon as that registered, I shot across the room and pressed my back to the wall. Hunt! Oh God, I was a vampire! I would have to kill people.

Demetri seemed to realize what I was afraid even before I truly did. He slowly made his way across the room to stand before me. I'm sure my eyes were large and frightened.

"Abigail, you do not have to kill anyone," he said calmly. "I can show you a different way. You can hunt animals. There are a few covens that do this."

"Do you?" I asked.

"I can't. Later, I will explain why."

I nodded and followed him outside. We were in a cabin in the woods. As soon as we were a bit deeper into the woods, he came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

"Now close your eyes. That's it. Breath in all the scents around you."

I did as he said, and that scent that had tease me earlier came back to me. "What is that?" I asked.

"Deer. Can you tell me where they are?"

I pointed to my left. "That way, maybe half a mile away."

"Then go, let your instincts be your guide."

I bolted to the trees faster than I ever thought possible. After just a few seconds I came up to a clearing where a small herd of deer were grazing. I crouch down at the edge and chose my prey. A large ten point buck was about twenty yards away from me. He was my target. I launched myself into the air and landed lithely on the deer back and sunk my teeth into its vulnerable throat. The rest of the herd began to scatter but I took little notice. The warm blood was extinguishing the fire in my throat. When the deer was drained, I dropped the carcass and turned to Demetri who had now entered the clearing.

"Very well done," he said. "You are taking to this quite well."

"I still want answers."

"And answers you shall have."

An hour later I had an understanding of what I was and of the world I now lived in. I also knew I would never again see my family. I remembered that last conversation with Edward. How I had told him I would be careful. How I had told him that I would explain everything. I remembered the promise I made to always be with him. Anger and anguish ripped threw my simultaneously. All of a sudden the table before me burst into flames.

Demetri grabbed me and pulled my away from the mini-inferno. He looked from me to the table and back again. "Abigail, you have to calm down. Close your eyes and focus on calming down."

I closed my eyes and focus on taking breaths. When I felt calm enough I opened my eyes and saw that the fire was out.

"I'll be damned," he said. "You can start and control fire with your mind."

"I did that?"

"I guessed it was you when it started. I confirmed it when calming up down put it out."

"But…how?"

"Some of us have unique gifts."

"Do you have one?"

"I guess it's time for the rest of the story."

I sat down in the living room now that the kitchen table was burnt to a crisp. Demetri sat in the chair opposite me. Then he began.

"I am technically a member of the Volturi guard. I serve as their tracker. I pretend to serve them faithfully for the last fifty years. With the help of another vampire named Gerald, I have learned to compartmentalize my mind to hide from Aro. Myself, Gerald, a few others on the outside, and one more inside the Volturi are involved in a plot to bring Aro down. I do not know who the last one is but he or she is the one in charge. We are waiting for the right moment to strike. We need more people but finding ones we can trust is not an easy task."

"Why is it you wish to bring down Aro?"

"He has stepped outside the bounds of serving our people and instead serves himself. He does whatever he wishes to make things the way he likes them. He says that those in the guard are there by choice, but that is not always true. Aro covets those with extraordinary powers. He essentially collects them. He attacks other covens for almost no reason in order to further his little collection. He needs to be stopped."

"Would he want me?"

"Undoubtedly, but I will not let him find out about you."

"So what do we do now?"

"I have to get back to Italy soon. I have to maintain my cover. It is why I have no chose but to feed on humans. I can't let him know that killing bothers me."

"How would he know?"

"My eyes. In time, if you maintain the diet of animal blood, your eyes will change to a golden color. As long as I feed on humans mine will stay red. I look forward to the day when I can stop pretending to be a cold and vicious killer."

I felt pain for Demetri then. I also felt fear for what this would mean for us. I was almost afraid to ask, but I needed to know. "What does this mean for us? Will we be able to be together?"

"One day, my love, the Volturi will fall. On that day I will come back to you and never leave your side. Until then, we have no choice but to stay apart. When I leave here, it would be best if you didn't see each other again until this task is complete."

"How long?"

"Conceivably, centuries."

I broke down into tearless sobs. Demetri held me as the pain of not seeing him for that long ripped through me. After a while, I came to a realization. Being weak was not going to bring Demetri back to me any sooner. I needed to be strong. I needed to fight.

"Demetri," I said. "I want to help."

He looked at me as if to judge my mettle. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

He licked his bottom lip in thought for a moment. "All right, I will bring you to Gerald. He lives out in the bayous outside New Orleans. You will be far enough away from humans until you gain self control. He will teach you what you need to know."

January 23, 1916

Demetri had left yesterday. He had give me a kiss and an "I love you" before he disappeared into the steamy Louisiana night. Now I was with Gerald. I was looking forward to the training that would starts tomorrow. It was a distraction I very much needed. Maybe, if I pushed myself as hard as I could, I wouldn't have time to think about the two men in my life that had been ripped away from me.

I hoped that Demetri would be safe as he went back to the lion's den. I also hoped that Edward would forgive me for leaving him and lead a happy life full of love and laugher.

For myself, I would become the best warrior I could possibly be.

August 31, 1918

A letter arrived today. It was from Demetri. I was so excited to receive it as it was the first I had heard from him since the day he had left. I opened it eagerly, but what I read left me cold.

Dearest Abigail,

I should not be sending you this letter as it is a threat to everything that we are working towards. However, there is something that you need to know. I know how much you love your brother, so I took it upon myself to check up on him every now and then. It is with my deepest regrets to inform you that Edward has passed on. The Spanish Influenza passed through Chicago and I fear that your family succumbed to it. If I had known sooner, I would have gone to your brother and tried to save him, but I found out too late. I am so very sorry.

With all my love and sympathy,

Demetri

I heard Gerald run out of the house as the walls burst into flames.

September 2, 1918

The house was cold and empty, just like me. I walked through the familiar rooms taking in the little changes here and there. Edward was gone.

I went up to his room and sat down on the bed. I could still smell his scent. For along time I sat there and watched the door hoping that against all odds he might walk threw it. He didn't.

I went downstairs and entered the room at the end of the hallway. There, in the corner of the room, sat the piano I had gotten him that last Christmas we spent together. The lid was open as if waiting for Edward.

I ran my hand over the highly glossed cherry wood. And then I put my fist through it. Over and over again, I punched and kicked the beautiful instrument until all that was left was an unrecognizable piece of rubble.

I had nothing to take his death out on and the piano ended up receiving my anger. At least I didn't light it on fire.

I walked out of the room without even noticing the heart shaped diamond glittering in the debris.

Please review, I only got one for the last chapter and it made me a little sad. The next chapter will bring us back to the present day.