This Heart

Summary – Right from the start, Bella Cullen knew that her brand new life as a vampire would not be easy. Her friends are in danger: But from what? They know they are being watched but something is rendering Alice and Edward useless. Then the Volturi begins to get stronger. The power seems to be on their side but with the help of some unlikely characters and long lost friends, the Cullens seem to have a fighting chance in the ultimate war. Or do they?

A/N – Sorry! I was taking a mini vacation so I could focus on volleyball. Plus I just got Sims 3 for my birthday… I was enjoying the coolness of that game.

Also, if you HAVEN'T read "This Love"… I highly suggest you do or none of this will make sense. Also, if you haven't noticed, my chapters are named after songs. I ALSO highly suggest you look them up. I don't name the chapters after songs because it sounds cool, they really are good songs.

Disclaimer – I don't own Twilight.

1. Actions and Motives (10 years)

I cannot stand being awake; the pain is too much.
Unknown

Bella's POV

Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.

Jacob screamed. I buried my face in Edward's marble chest, wincing. Edward had told me not to blame myself. How could we have known that Jacob was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Alice couldn't see him; Alice couldn't even see the person who had attacked Jacob.

I peered from Edward's chest just as Jacob screamed again. I cringed away; someone snorted. A wolf, I presume. This was the first time I have been on the reservation since my resent transformation. Some accepted my choice, others resented it. They didn't understand that I truly did care about Jacob!

Carlisle walked form the house; Billy Black on his trail. "He'll be fine; already healing." The werewolves standing opposite of us visibly relaxed after Carlisle shared the good news. The tension flowing between us seemed to have diminished. Beside me, Edward nodded and pulled out a sleek cell phone; he began to text away.

Carlisle turned to Sam. "Would you be willing to show us where you found Jacob? I would like to catch the scent of the vampire. My other sons will be joining us also." That explains the cell phone, I thought randomly.

Sam turned to Embry, Jared, and Quil; He nodded once towards them, and then turned back to Carlisle. "They will show you the spot."

"It was some red-headed chick; fierce, like a lioness." Jared said. Quil meowed in a mocking manor. Edward, however, responded to Jared's word by tensing up. He shared a quick glance with Carlisle, and then looked to his left.

"Emmett's thoughts couldn't scream any louder." He muttered angrily. I started giggling under my breath as the lumbering giant and graceful blond bounded to Edward's side.

"I must say, you guys keep a nice reservation; much nicer than any of the other ones I have seen." Emmett mused.

Embry snorted and muttered about wolves being kings and only deserving the best. He and the other two disappeared into the bushes; they returned in full wolf form. The light brown colored wolf nodded towards the woods then took off running, the chocolate brown and gray wolves following closely behind. I sped off. I was, by far, the fastest one in our little search group. Edward was closely behind my, the other three Cullens in the group followed lazily.

Right outside now-void border, the wolves came to a halt and the five of us followed suit. Carlisle walked out towards Jacob's spilt blood – I tried to ignore it; the smell revolted me but the sight of it drove me crazy. He stood up. "Emmett, Jasper – follow the trail in which she came from. Edward, Bella and I will follow the trail the wolves chased her on." He turned to Edward. "I think the scent belongs to Victoria."

"It is unusual for nomads to follow the Volturi. She wouldn't have randomly attacked Jacob without their orders." Edward shook his head.

"The Volturi sent her?" I panicked.

"Who said the nomad was with the Volturi? She could have returned to the area and panicked at Jacob…" Jasper suggested.

"No, she wouldn't have returned. We told Laurent – "

Emmett interrupted Carlisle's logic. "To stay the hell away!"

"Exactly."

I tossed my hand up in the air, frustrated. "Well great. So this is officially my fault."

"Bella it is not your fault. The Volturi are the one's picking the fight." Edward soothed. Emmett and Jasper took off to the east, Edward and I headed west, Carlisle catching up after he thanked the wolves. The trail was very faint, almost completely obscured by wolf stench; and beside the point, it was entirely useless.

The trail led us to the edge of the cliff.

"Who is Victoria?" I demanded.

"She and her coven of three interrupted a family baseball game when you were only seven." Carlisle stated. Oh. Right.

"We should head back," Edward started. "Emmett and Jasper reached the end of the trail." We took off running back towards the bloodspot where we met the other two.

"The trail ends at the roadway." Jasper informed. "I think there is more than one. A whole car-full, two even."

"Aro is a thorough person." Carlisle nodded. "Two cars filled with talented guards wouldn't surprise me."

"It's not safe here. We need to hide. With Bella's shield, it would be nearly impossible for them to find us." Edward reasoned.

"Shh! Listening ears." Jasper motioned to the surrounding woods.

"I don't hear anyone." Edward countered.

An uneasy feeling crept over my skin. I felt like I was being watched, and it was only worse out here in the woods. "Can we go home?" I shivered.

Edward stared into the trees for a moment, his face screwed up in concentration. I looked in the same direction as he was and I shivered again. I felt eyes staring right back at me. I took a step closer, then a squirrel shot out of the bushes and skirted up the side of a tree. I jumped backwards, fear coursing through me.

I turned on Edward. "Didn't you hear the thoughts? That scared me!" Edward frowned while Emmett and Jasper snickered at me.

"No, actually, I couldn't. I usually do, though I don't pay much attention to them. They have short attention spans." Edward frowned. "I could smell the squirrel, but I didn't pay attention. There's a squirrel five trees to the north" Too common to pay attention to.

I stared into the forest for a moment longer; I turned to Edward. "Let's go before a chipmunk scars Emmett for life."

We ran for home.

"I can't see a goddamn thing with those dogs running around!" Alice screeched. "Do you know how unsettling it is to not see you?" She clutched Jasper's hand.

"What does this mean? If you can't see anything and Edward can't hear any thoughts then they have to have a shield of some sort." Rosalie glared at the floor.

"But I can see around Bella's shield." Alice protested.

"Perhaps we should run patrols. If we can't see or hear, then we can smell." Emmett grinned.

"Patrols? Yes, because that is at the top of my to do list." Rosalie snorted.

"Maybe not your to do list, but it should be at the top of your stay alive list." Carlisle said. "Jasper, Emmett? Take the first patrol. I don't think we should patrol with our mates, we tend to get…. Distracted."

I know, I know. It was a very filler chapter, and unusually short for me.

Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come. – This quote is from the play "Julius Caesar" and it belongs to Shakespeare. The quote is also the theme for the story.

Also, I did not intend to offend any Native American's by making Emmett say this - "I must say, you guys keep a nice reservation; much nicer than any of the other ones I have seen." – I have only been on one reservation before and it wasn't very well kempt. I am in no way being racist.