Chapter 5:

EPOV:

I sat there listening to Bella's story and was completely captivated by her. Every thing about her amazed me. Her eyes the colors were extraordinary, her luscious waist length mahogany hair that begged me to run my fingers through, her plump lips that called for mine to cover. I was drawn to her in a way that I didn't understand. I know she feels at least a little attracted to me as well. I wanted her, I wanted to know her, to touch her, to listen to her. Her voice sounded like water rippling along pebbles in a stream, soft and comforting.

She wanted to fight Aro, to save her people, she was a true leader, going into battle for her people. What that monster did to her mother was despicable. He deserved to die. No man should ever lay an unwanted hand on a lady, its just wrong in my book.

As Bella was telling her tale I could hear my family thinking of what she was saying. They all wanted to help her take Aro down. Carlisle kept getting memories of Bella's mother, how she was broken and beaten to near death, he who normally would find a way to let Aro live wanted him to die as well. Carlisle knows that the only way to stop Aro is to kill him. My mother keeps thinking of how horrible that would have been for Bella's mother, and how horrible Bella is probably feeling at the moment having to leave her parents to come to a strange place. Jasper confirmed Esmes fears, he could feel the fear, the sadness and complete uncertainty that was practically rolling in waves from Bella. Rosalie was infuriated, she had been raped before she was turned and understood how horrible that is for a woman. I have never "heard" Rosalie so angry before. She was thinking of ways to kill Aro, ways to make him suffer, she wanted to help Bella too. Emmet's thoughts made me chuckle, he was thinking of ways to get Bella to show her magic. Yes, Emmet is an over grown child. Alice is blocking her thoughts she keeps singing 'I'm a Barbie Girl' in Spanish over and over again.

After Bella was done telling us of everything and we were done with our questions, every one went their own ways. It was just me and her sitting in the living room, alone. The urge to touch her grew so much stronger. I looked up at her and cleared my throat to get her attention. Her beautiful tri-colored eyes shot up to mine and she smiled, thoroughly taking my breath away.

"So Bella, since you aren't full vampire do you eat regular food, like humans or do you hunt like a vampire?" I asked her hoping she hunted.

" Um, I do both actually, depending on which is more convenient, speaking of which I should probably go hunting, I haven't since I left Faylinn," she said standing up and walking to the front door.

" Do you mind if I go with you, I haven't hunted in a few days," I said begging her in my mind to say she didn't mind.

" No of course not, but, I may slow you down, I may be half vampire, but I am not as fast as a full vampire," she said.

" It wouldn't bother me at all," I said opening the front door for her and letting her walk ahead of me.

She was right, she was slower then me, but not by much. I caught a mouthwatering scent of mountain lion and she smiled at me, giving me permission to go ahead and catch my prey. I ran as fast as I could and tackled the lion, throwing him to his side and striking his neck with my teeth all in one fluid motion. After I had my fill I went back to where me and Bella were last and traced her scent to a small open field. There she was beautiful as ever. I watched as she gathered seven small pieces of bark from the east side of an evergreen tree and wrapped them in yellow strands of yarn. After she wrapped them she spoke ,"''Gathered from where the sun awoke, the Earth Mothers protection and strength I invoke." With that the air around her started to shimmer and glow, the wind started to blow with force. I tried to figure out where the wind was coming from when I realized it was coming from her. Suddenly, just as quick as the wind appeared it vanished. I watched as the light that was cast around her started to dim and when it was finally gone she turned to me and smiled while she walked towards me.

" Here," she said handing me one of the small yellow strand wrapped pieces of bark, " this is an amulet for protection and strength, carry it with you where ever you go."

I took it and put it in the pocket of my jeans.

" Thank you," I said grateful that she thought of my safety, but, not quite believing that a piece of bark could keep me safe.

" Don't doubt in the power of the Earth Mother," she said reading the expression on my face. " I need to know that you and your family are safe, and she will protect you, but you must trust in her to do her job," she said pleading for me to believe her.

" How do I know to trust her?" I said letting my doubt show in my voice. She smiled at me and said, " I will show you."