ARGH! I thought would have this up earlier than this, but my laptop decided to cut off internet, so I'm on the family laptop, and it's now been over a month, meaning my time is now limited on it. I might not update any other stories as I am MAJORLY stressed right now with coursework, karate and mock exam revision. My life sucks badly right now…

Thanks for all the amazing reviews, here's the next chapter! Imagine the fire later on like in The Last Airbender when they bend fire. PHOTO'S ON PROFILE!

Dedications: Amanda413, .Crazy, Alice-Rathbone-is-my-real-name, twilightfan888, crazyperson17 and 12fanpire21.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and original idea goes to Darkened-Sun.

1937

Bella POV

It's been two years since I saw any Cullen's. It is probably because I've travelled south. The sun shines and I stay inconspicuous by either laying an illusion over my body, which takes energy, or travelling by night. The moon is my only companion. I do send letters home by teleportation, but I don't give away my location, just that I'm undercover in the South.

I ended up in Mexico City in the middle of the night, making sure I had a red eye illusion but still keeping my 10-year old body. Not many people will have seen me so won't know I'm the princess. I was greeted by the coven leader Maria's goons (oops, I mean guards) when I arrived at what the humans thought to be just an abandoned warehouse. They were wary when I asked to see Maria.

I was escorted down the hall, through the main room where all eyes were trained on me, and to a room on its own. Maria must be sought after quite a bit, for she had four guards outside her door.

When inside the guards left, leaving me with this famous Maria and what seemed to be her right hand man. Maria was a tall woman, in dress from the 1800' had brown hair that was piled up in a neat bun, but with some strands framing her face. Her eyes were red, signalling she had just fed. She had a gift, one that helped her to know when her battles would be won or lost.

The man standing next to her, his memories calling him Jasper Whitlock, was tall, taller than Maria, with honey blond hair. He was getting thirsty, his eyes black with a ring of red. He had a gift of emotional manipulation. And he had great things ahead of him. It was my mission to help him on his way and to find my little Alice, his soul mate.

Maria then spoke up after we had both evaluated each other. "Who are you and how do you know of me?" I gave respect and showed submission, showing I was not going to be aggressive. "I am called Isabella, though I prefer Bella; I do not remember ever having a last name. Your name is well known, for many fears you, or otherwise respects you. I heard of your name when I travelled through the South, for I am a nomad. I had a bit of trouble when finding you, but I dealt with the trouble accordingly," I said. She seemed surprised. "Hmm... I didn't think I was that famous... But wait, didn't you say you encountered trouble many times? How are you still alive young Isabella?" Maria asked. I chuckled at her use of 'young'. If only she knew I was twice her age... I decided it was time to hide my real power and make one up. "I have the ability to create and manipulate fire, and it won't burn me. As I said, the problems I had getting here were taken of." And they were, just not the way she thought. "Why have you tried to seek me out?" "I wish to learn the ways of the South, and so join your coven of newborns. I want to help you control the South," I asked. She turned to Jasper. "And what do you think," she purred seductively. He was thinking about what my emotions betrayed, when he realised he couldn't sense them. He considered me dangerous, which was right, seeing as I was the most dangerous person they will ever meet. "First, show us your power; if it is of use to us, I think you should join," Jasper said. I nodded my head and asked to show it in the main room where there was more room.

When we entered the huge hall again all eyes went to me. They then looked to Maria confused. "Alright, Bella will show her power over fire, to prove she is worthy of being a part of my group. Bella, take it away," Maria introduced. I nodded and stood in the middle of the circle that had grown around me. I decided it was time to show off.

I closed my eyes and felt the familiar fire spread along my hands. I knew it was working when gasps were heard all around me. I opened my eyes. I shot fire around the edge of the circle in long strands, which made everyone take an automatic step back when they felt the heat so close to them. I made fire dragons appear, and it looked like they breathed fire. I kept dancing around the circle; throwing fire around, making sure it didn't touch anyone. And to finish, I set my whole body on fire before making all the fire go out.

When I finished, I looked around the circle. Everyone was looking in shock at me, some in fear. I swirled around when I heard someone clapping. It was Maria, with Jasper by her side. "Well done, Bella! That was fascinating! But, I want to also test your fighting skills. Jasper?" He stepped into the circle that was now our fighting ring. He looked deadly, which us exactly what he was. I could feel him trying to push waves of fear onto me, but my shield stopped them in its path. I also knew I couldn't underestimate Jasper, like he wouldn't after my little show.

We both slipped into a fighting crouch, ready to strike. My abilities would be useful, but I couldn't run the risk of exposing myself by using them, so I turned them off except for the shield and illusion keeping my secret, and of course my fire.

We were waiting for the other to make the first move, circling round. I decided to move first. I threw a pillar of fire so he had to move out its way, and stepped to his side to punch his jaw. The resounding crash was like two boulders crashing together. Jasper then grabbed the next punch I tried to throw and threw me over his shoulder with the momentum of me and I landed with a huge crash onto the floor, with Jasper about to deliver the death blow. I knew I wasn't using my best skills; I was letting him win for god's sake! And he knew it. "Come on, Bella! I know you can do better," he goaded. "Fine then, just don't cry like a baby when I win!" His eyes hardened. He brought his fist down and I rolled out the way. I shot fire at his arm, which caught him. He cried out, grabbing his arm at what would surely scar. I took advantage of his momentary distraction and lunged at him. I got him pinned beneath me, with fire on my hand. I got rid of the heat, which turns it blue, and threw it at him. He flinched, and everyone gasped, thinking it would burn him.

When it settled, I told everyone while looking at Jasper still that it wasn't heated fire, that's why it was blue. When looking into his eyes I saw a connection, but a brotherly one.

I snapped my eyes away from him when I heard Maria clapping again. "Well, are we the clever one! You managed to defeat my best fighter." "Well, an advantage with fire helps," I smugly said. She threw her head back and laughed. I could feel all the unmated males' lust which did not feel right in my body.

We carried on fighting, and Jasper had his second in command, Peter, and Peter's mate Charlotte join in against me, along with a friend of the three of them called Betty. It was close, but I still won. Though when I wasn't allowed to use my ability, core fighting skills, they won, but again it was close.

1940

I have now been undercover in the South with Maria for three years. By now we had control of Monterrey and Mexico City, the big prize. I was now majorly annoyed with Maria. She had Betty killed.

Last year she could see that the five of us; Me, Jasper, Peter, Charlotte, and Betty, were close friends. And, I don't know how she found out, but she knew we were all planning to leave her. We were her best fighters and her favourites. She decided one of us needed to go. Peter and Charlotte were mates, and both were too valuable to go. Jasper of course was her 'lover' and was called the 'General of the South' and was almost impossible for anyone to beat. With my fire as well, she couldn't get rid of me. Betty was unfortunately the weakest link and was going to die. I just didn't see it till it was too late as I had the powers switched off.

Flashback to last year

Maria had called a meeting in the main room of where we were now situated. Everyone was murmuring to their friends and mates about what it was about. Because there were so many of us now, 25 of us; me, Jazz, Petey and Char were trying to find Betty, but we couldn't see her anywhere. I was starting to get a bad feeling about it. That and two of her stronger newborns weren't here.

"Silence, if you will!" I heard Maria shout. Everyone's heads whipped round to see her. "We have a traitor in our midst! They have been sending information to the Volturi about us, seeing if they can get us into trouble!" Oh no, has my cover been blown? I got ready to turn my extra powers on; I could feel the power humming through my veins. "I'm sorry to announce that this person is… Betty!" Everyone gasped, including me. In fact, I think my shield went down at one point, and as Jasper was right next to me, felt my guilt, sadness and horror. As soon as I saw what was happening, I immediately got the shield back up. He shook his head, thinking he made the whole thing up.

My eyes hardened as the two newborns I noticed weren't here dragged Betty out onto the raised floor where Maria was. I was past angry now. "On the count of three. One," she pulled out a lighter, "Two," she lit the lighter and I was ready to pounce on her, "Three!" She threw the lighter onto Betty as the two newborns jumped out the way. I screamed and lunged, but Jasper held me back. "Ssh, it's too late, let her go," he soothed me. I looked to Maria, who was smirking at me. I signed and nodded so he let me go. I waved my hands, making the flames burn brighter and hotter before walking out the room.

1941

We were leaving. I was still angry at Maria, and me, Jasper, Charlotte and Peter were going to escape. We had everything in place and were going to leave tonight.

We were sneaking out, and little did the others know, but I had turned on my invisibility power, which put a cloak around us, while we could still see each other.

We ran and ran till we reached the top of the South, on the invisible line that told everyone what was territory of any Vampire residing in the vicinity and was ready to fight for it. I turned to them. "This is where I get off the wagon, it's time for me to leave," I said sorrowfully. They gasped, and turned towards me. "But, why? You have helped us escape, and now you're just leaving us?" Jasper said curiously. "I know you think I'm just leaving so if you get caught I won't, but that's not true. I was a nomad before I turned up with Maria, and I choose to go back to that life. I can't keep up the charade any longer." They looked confused. "I have a second ability. Illusions, but it isn't as developed as my fire, I can extend it to the eyes only." I turned my eyes the true colour they should be, the beautiful gold. They gasped. "H-How?" "Animals, but it is very difficult and takes many decades to perfect." I didn't think Peter and Charlotte would do it, but Jasper certainly looked like he was considering it. "It's time for me to go. Maybe I'll see you again someday."

And before they could say anything to make me stop, I ran off into the night, to cry for the loss of my two friends and for the lives I have had to kill throughout my years in the Southern Wars.

Wow. Over 2000 words! One of my longest ever! Now, I won't update in the next 2 weeks, as I have mock exams and the results go to college's as predicted grades, so I need to focus on that and getting my coursework that's due in. I have been accepted to one college, and I'm waiting on my other two! See you all soon with another chapter,

Rachel xxx