Kicking down another alabaster creature, I spun in a circle, ready to face the others. The one who'd just fallen got back up again and lunged at me. He burned, falling back to the ground. This time my eyes were open to watch it happen. I kept emotionless as I watched him tumble into a protective barrier; Renata engulfed him in it, and the flames stopped. The others stopped slightly, spooked out. They thought they knew what they signed up for when they were chosen to help me develop fighting skills, but they were wrong. I didn't need to develop my ability to fry them, to kick them down the first chance I got. No, I trained every single hour I could. Yes, I'm on their side. Yes, okay, whatever. Someday, they won't be lucky; I'll get them.
I had killed vampires since their offer; lots of vampires. There was nothing in it for me, that they knew of. Aro had taken each and every one of the things I loved. He took my daughter away from me. He took away my best memories; copying and binding them to himself. He took my humanity. I was their assassin, you could say. Instead of the Volturi guard going out to clean up breaches of secrecy, they sent me. I didn't know what the vampires had done, I just stopped their messing around in whatever way I could, generally burning them to the ground. I didn't once stop to think that they could be in similar situations to me. Not until yesterday, that is. I came across a woman who had been killing humans blindly, for her mate had been accidentally burnt to death by a fire they caused. When I caught her, she was in hysterics, but she welcomed death bravely. She reminded me of myself, how I felt when Edward left. I let her free, but she wouldn't take that. She smiled at me, at my mercy; she had taken her revenge, and she had her forgiveness, and now she wanted her leave. With a sad, yet slightly maniac smile, she lit a match, and she was taken in by death, shredding at herself as she burnt to the ground.
That was the only time I'd felt emotion in the past year. I sat on a log in the forest, watching her figure out her own anguish, released at last. Seeing her battle with herself, now she was all worn out, with nothing left to do. She attacked me, her sunshine gold ringlets swaying in fury, red eyes burning like a blazing sunset. I let her, I don't know why; in Volterra, if someone touched me, I rarely had mercy. When she vented that out, she then proceeded to kill herself. I didn't stop her. Her last words stopped me, though. I think it was a prayer, but it scared me, like she was praying to me: "Please, have mercy, have grace and have love. Take me to the heavens, if that is where Niko is. Or to hell, if that is where he is not." And then she was gone. I actually had to stay where I was for a long time, to get over the emotions and pain I had just witnessed and shared. Mine isn't the only sad story in the world.
Though I will admit that my every thought is still with Grace. She would have been one by that time, or whatever age she appeared to be, since she looked a lot older on the occasion I saw her. I hardly thought about Edward anymore, but often, thoughts of him would pass through my mind. What is he doing now? Does he ever think of me? And yes, I'll admit that my frosted heart would still melt for him. Where do they live now? Do any of the Cullens think of me? In hatred, or with a smile? I didn't even want to think of Grace; I would just burst into tears. I was still going to go find her, as soon as I finished my business here in Volterra.
Another one of the guard regained their wits and began toward me hesitantly. I hadn't hunted for a while, so my image was fading. The 'warrior' carried on, but walked slower, brow furrowing in confusion. Then he stopped, wide eyed. I walked around him, now certain that he couldn't see me. Instead of going straight for him, I grabbed the other two's heads and knocked them together with enough force to split a human skull in half. Then I threw one away, into Renata's shield – which counted as 'out' since I wasn't to kill them – and took the other to the first guard member still in, and within seconds I didn't need to bother throwing them away, they were on the ground, in a vampire version of unconsciousness.
"Aaaaannd, twenty five seconds!" Renata yelled as soon as I was done. She let the shield down, and one of the guard – the one I'd burnt before – burst into flames again. The shield only paused the flames.
"Water?" I ask them, wondering if they're stupid. Someone rushes off to get some, just as Caius floats through. He opens his mouth to speak, then stops to stare confusedly at the vampire writhing in flames on the ground.
"Can't you stop that?" He asks me – do I detect a hint of concern? – but I just shake my head. I wait patiently for him to start talking, like a good worker should. He's got a job for me, of course. He opens his mouth to speak again, just as someone returns with a bucket of water. He pauses again to watch. When the man stops wriggling, he begins. "Bella," Aro has a job for you, "Aro has a job for you." You need to travel to… "You need to travel to America," America, to stop the trouble so-and-so is causing in Wherever'sville. "To stop the trouble an anonymous vampire is causing in Seattle." Ah, close enough. See, I've heard this so many times, I know it off by heart. Wait; what? Seattle? Anonymous?
"Caius, aren't you meant to know these things?" I ask, the first feelings of fear trickling down my spine. Seattle. Near Forks. Anonymous. Unknown. With his power, Caius should know who it is, and I should be off, plain sailing to get rid of some random vampire.
"I should know, but I can't tell you a thing about them. They seem to have a strong mental block, like your shield. I can see where they've been, but it's like they've just left the area."
"Right, okay." I nod, though I'm desperate to shake my head. I buried my thoughts about Forks long ago, my only concerns are Grace, and getting rid of the Volturi. I might steal thoughts about the Cullens, but that has nothing to do with Forks. But now… now I'm going back there? I sigh, and I know I'm going whether I want to or not. Aro will just dangle information about Grace in front of me, and though I know better – that he won't share an ounce of info – part of me will always hope. It would make my life so much easier just to be told. "Will anyone else come with me?" I ask.
He laughs bitterly, making me scowl. "Oh, now Bella. One little vampire and you need help?" He shakes his head, the cloud of his hair dancing above his eyebrows. "You're alone. It should be easy, at least. You leave tonight, come back soon. Right?"
"Yes," I sigh. Part of me wants to run and hide, the other part wants to go now, see how Forks has changed, spy on people I used to know, things like that. It's only Seattle, not Forks. I try and remind myself. Caius turns to leave. "Wait a minute, can I just leave now?" I stop him. He smiles sadistically, and shrugs.
"Whatever," He says crookedly. Part of me is mortified. I can't believe I just got myself extra time to go back to my old life. But another, younger, more human part of me is thinking: Viva Forks!
AN: Okayy, sorry I haven't updated in agessssssss... or have I? I can't remember xD
But my laptop's been playing up, & I've been reading other books,, etc. xD
Okay, thankyou, readers & reviewers, (:
Rachee (: xxx