Great! So the Volturi were coming late! Which means we would actually have to fight. It made me feel even worse. I whimpered, curling up into a ball.

"...Alice, what do you see happening?" I asked her. She chewed on her lower lip.

"… I see us fighting… and…" she looked away.

"What? What, Alice? Tell me, please!" I cried, tugging on her sleeve like a little child. "W-Who gets hurt?"

She looked back at me. "None of my family."

"But…? Oh, Alice, just tell me! Wait!" I gasped, my gaze darting in the direction that Seth had run off in. "Oh Alice! Is it Seth? Does he get hurt?" I cried. I was quite literally sobbing now.

Alice sighed.

"No one dies, Eliza," she assured me. I could breathe again. But when her head did a little jerk and her eyes fluttered behind her eyelids, I could tell she was having another vision.

"Oh….Eliza, don't do that…" she murmured, and her eyes shot open. I was staring at her with horror.

"What'd I do?"

She hesitated.

Alice placed her hands on my shoulders.

"What ever you do, Eliza, don't separate from the group. The others will be here momentarily. Bella is probably staying back at the house with either Esme or Edward to protect Renesmee in case some of your Hunters find a stray path of your scent to our house. Everyone else will be here. Em is psyched," she laughed the last part.

"Why would I separate from-!"

Alice held up a hand and leapt to her feet. I did it, although my less gracefully than she did. Carlisle, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Esme were there. Esme ran over and hugged me.

"Thanks so much…I owe you guys my life," I whispered to her, knowing the others could hear as well.

"You're part of our family, sweetie."

"I'm glad Edward stayed back with Bella and Renesmee, though," I told her. Esme pulled back to look at me in the eyes.

"Why is that?"

"Because I didn't want him to feel forced to fight for a cause that he'd rather not fight for," I mumbled. Esme pulled me into another bone-crushing hug.

"Don't think that, sweetie," she cooed.

"I-I'm sorry…I'm just a little nervous…a little anxious…." I mumbled, and my eyes widened as all those feelings of anxiety and fear was wiped away. I plopped myself on the ground in surprise, staring incredulously up at Jasper. Although it wasn't surprising to me that he could do this, it just felt a little weird. "And now I'm not…" I mumbled.

Esme and Carlisle chuckled. Jasper grinned when I breathed a "thank-you."

"Three minutes… Carlisle, what are the wolves doing?" Alice turned to her adopted-father.

"Sam's pack is less reluctant to fight than Jacob's pack is. They're ready just outside the La Push border to fight whenever they're needed. I arranged with Seth to give them the signal with a howl. Jacob is hesitant to leave Renesmee's side, but he knows better than to stay while he could fight for her protection instead," he stopped and chuckled. "He, Leah, Embry and Quil are running perimeters of different lengths," he finished.

"They'll walk into the meadow from the southeast corner and from the north. They'll be coming at a more human walking speed, but once they smell our scents, they'll probably be a little hesitant," Alice informed us.

"That's okay. I'll shout for them to bring it on. We'll see who comes then," Emmett shrugged. Rosalie flicked his shoulder and he pretended to wince. He was wearing a tight black shirt that flaunted his muscles that coiled around his thick arms. He looked really intimidating, especially when he began fooling around; standing in a boxer pose with his hands up in front of his face, throwing violent, cobra-fast striking punches at the air in front of him. He was even doing that little leap-y thing that the boxers did. There was a fierce, but still Emmett-ish, look on his face.

"Less than a minute," Alice mumbled. My hands rolled into fists, my jaw clenched. Then suddenly I sighed, calmness overwhelming me.

"Jasper, just let me be a little nervous," I requested. He nodded, and my anxiety returned. It was good to be prepared. I thought about how hard it would be to run if I had to, if I was so calm and serene.

"How's Seth…can any of you tell?" I asked around. They all shook their head. Esme put a motherly-hand on my shoulder.

"He'll be perfectly fine, Eliza," she told me. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright…" I mumbled.

All heads suddenly shot toward one direction, and then the next…and I knew they were here.

In the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of familiar red hair, flamboyant and spiked up; and the malevolently grinning face that went with the hair. Aaron.

Aside Aaron was the true leader of my Hunters, Vincent. He matched Emmett in size. Actually, he could possibly a big bigger than Emmett. On other ends of the meadow came the others, in front of them Karina.

"I'd just like to say one last time how terribly sorry I am to have-"

"LET'S KICK SOME ASS!" Emmett roared, and everyone around me before a blur. The figures were there and then gone, and then there again, and Alice screamed for me to duck. I dropped to the ground and watched as two blurs flew over my head. Emmett was beating the hell out of one vampire. They were outnumbered and my heart was racing.

Then as I scrambled on to my feet, eight large wolves of a myriad of colors bounded into the meadow. They were led by one big black male, and I knew it must have been Sam. Now they had the advantage.

Just when I turned to see if Seth was there, two cold hands found my shoulders. My breathing stopped as I inhaled the uncomfortable smell of spice that always seemed to linger on Aaron's skin.

"Mmm…long time no see, sweetheart. I see you've found some fr-!"

But the weight on my shoulders was suddenly lifted as a ferocious chocolate brown wolf threw down my assassin.

"Thanks Quil," I breathed as I took off in a sprint.

I was not nearly halfway toward the forest when an earsplitting shriek erupted above all other shouts. A hand of one vampire flew over my head and an ear just barely missed my shoulder. I turned toward the direction of the flying body parents and saw Rosalie on top of a non-moving vampire, ripping at him or her violently.

"DAMN YOU! .! I'M A VAMPIRE YOU-" bad word "-NAILS DON'T" bad word "GROW BACK! AUGHHHH!"

If it weren't for my current predicament, I would have been on the grass rolling around in hysteria of laughter. Poor Rosalie… I understood her pain. I mean seriously – how do you file down your other stone-strong nails to match the one that had chipped? It's a girl thing…

I felt like my legs were going to give out. I reached the forest without, surprisingly, running into any of my vampire friends.

Stupid girl! Alice told you to stay with the others! Go back to the meadow! One part of me said.

No! Dammit, you have to find Seth! He wasn't in the meadow, Eliza! Keep running! Call for him! The other side said.

No! You call, and they'll hear! They'll come after you!

But you must find him!

The voices in my head went on like that for a while. My feet were so sore and I knew my lungs were about to shrivel up and fall off. I was whimpering and wheezing as I kept running, but at least I wasn't sweating…yet. I tripped once, skinning my palms. After wiping the dirt out of the cuts while I jogged, I broke back into a sprint.

My heart was thrumming too loud for me to comprehend. If I didn't find Seth soon I would most definitely keel over and die from a heart attack or something.

I leapt over a broken tree; or at least I tried to. My shoelace caught on a stray branch and I tripped and tumbled into a little clearing. I began to cry. They were going to find me and they were going to kill him. Oh Seth…

There was rustling in the bushes and I brought my head up from my lap. I was curled up in a ball on my knees, my face low in my lap and my hands covering my neck; like the way I remember I would practice tornado drills at my school before…before I was activated.

"Wh-who is it?" I whimpered, standing. The rustle came again and I covered my mouth. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to speak. I heard a whimper and I smiled.

"Seth!" I breathed. A giant paw stepped out of the foliage…and then another…and then a giant head…

I smiled when I saw his face. And then I looked into the wolf's bright red eyes.

"No!" I shrieked as I swiveled and tried to run.

Two iron-strong arms locked around my waist and pulled me up against a marble cold, hard torso and I sobbed. How stupid was I! Karina had sent one of her illusions with Aaron…

"Sweetheart, no need to run away… This'll all be over before you know it," he cooed in my ear, and I felt his cold, gentle hands brush my hair away from my neck. I struggled, but struggling would only be a waste of energy; I would be exerting myself for nothing but dying anyways…

"P-p-please!" I sobbed, my knees weakening. I was just hanging in his arms now. His touch was nothing like Seth's; his arms were not soft and warm. I was so cold against this dead man.

"Shhh…" he whispered against my neck. His chilly breath sent sudden shivers up and down my spine. I was going to die. "Mm… your scar has begun to fade away," he murmured, his lips brushing against my exposed skin. I shivered when his teeth skimmed across my vein.

"S-Stop! P-please-!"

"Please what? Please get this over with? Say something more; something effective…beg, Eliza… I want to hear you beg for mercy; or for me to get this over with as fast as possible," Aaron breathed. He was a horrible…horrible creature.

"N-no," I sobbed. He turned me around to face him and I cried out. He looked exactly the same.

Aaron chuckled. "What? Do I look ugly or something?"

No… ugly would be an understatement. He was actually gorgeous; gorgeous like any other vampire. But inside; his soul – if he had one – was the ugliest thing I had ever seen.

"P-please," I sobbed, unable to get the words out. Please Seth…stay away…stay away; don't get yourself hurt! I thought.

"Say something else. You always used to put up a little prissy fight before I fed on you. Now…this?" He looked disgusted with my "poor performance."

"P-please d-d-don't h-hurt him," I stuttered. Aaron frowned for a moment, and then he suddenly smirked and pulled me into his chest. I froze at his ice-cold chest and his strong arms binding me up against him.

"Aww, who? Your little werewolf mate?" he sneered. I still blushed when he said "mate." Seth wasn't my mate….

"H-he's dear t-to me," I explained, mumbling into the stone body.

"Too bad…anyone you've been in touch with is going to die. You bringing your little friends here was unexpected," he snarled in my ear. "Werewolves and vampires, Eliza? Sleazy little" bad word "aren't you?" he growled. I was gasped for air, feeling quite lightheaded. His hold on me was refusing me air.

Aaron loosened his grip slightly.

"Anyways, I wasn't distracted by those little friends of yours. We'll take care of them. We have powers that your werewolf and vampire friends do not," he assumed. I scoffed and he scowled. He grabbed my chin and pulled my face up to his. He had his teeth bared at me, our faces inches away.

"What?" he snapped.

"They have powers," I shot back at him.

He roared angrily, and I was instantaneously shoved to the ground. I winced as I fell against the hard ground. My eyes widened as I watched him coil up in a crouch, and then he sprung forward and I was pinned against the nearest tree behind me in a flash. My head was sore, and I was guessing that he hadn't bothered to make sure I didn't ram my head back against the rough and uneven bark. I winced as my head began throbbing.

"What powers?" he growled in my ear, his lips dangerously close to my throat.

"T-They-!" and I stopped to think. No…they wouldn't like if it I said. Aaron would go and tell the others, trying to trick me into thinking that this set me free – my little confession – but I would know better than that. He would just hunt me down again and I would die along with my friends… and I couldn't let that happen. I chuckled – a low, throaty sound – and smirked. "I don't think I'm going to tell you," I told him smugly.

He roared again, and I screamed in pain as he threw me back into the little clearing, against the rough dirt. Hot tears ran down my cheeks… and then I realized they weren't tears… My hand had been on my forehead from the pain, and as I drew it away, it was covered in blood.

Aaron's breathing was very, very heavy now, especially when he saw the blood on me. I could hear it as he approached slowly, and then when I tried to sit up he shoved me back down to the earth. He was hovering over me now, on his hands and knees, his low breath frightening me. I chewed on my lower lip. If Seth caught us like this right now, he'd probably kill Aaron and then kill me…

My breath caught when Aaron kissed my forehead. But he didn't technically kiss my forehead; he just pressed his lips against the bloody cut and sucked most of it up. I gasped, trying to shove him off but without having him even budge.

"Mm…as sweet as always," he breathed after he pulled back, and his tongue followed the trails of blood that trickled down either sides of my head and then his lips settled on my neck.

"S-stop! P-please… Please don't!" I cried as his lips pressed to my neck.

"My dear, that's why we are here, Eliza," he muttered against my skin. "Don't worry…you won't remember a thing," he breathed.

"'cause I'll be dead!" I shrieked, and he chuckled.

Blinding pain. That's all I felt after that. His teeth bit into me and I let out as loud a scream as I could let out. I felt my life slipping out of me slowly, and it made it worse that all the while Aaron's hands were stroking my upper arms as though it would make it less painful. Ha! Yeah right. It still hurt like hell.

So I was dead? When the weight on my body was suddenly lifted…that meant Aaron was finished, right? That I was officially dead?

Still, I heard noises…violent noises. The crashing and falling of trees, the shrieks of splitting stone and metal, and the growls… all of that which I heard I could not see. My eyes were sealed shut, almost involuntarily. I couldn't see a single thing; I couldn't open my eyes, and I could feel nothing but blinding pain. When something cold touched me I screamed and flailed, and then suddenly I was in heaven…

Two strong, very warm arms were around me. The pain still didn't die down, but at least I knew these familiar arms and the calming musky scent.

"Seth!" I mouthed. I couldn't speak, but I could mouth his name. Hot lips pressed against my mouth and, although I couldn't move the rest of my body, I kissed him back. So maybe I couldn't see this man I was kissing; but I knew – I knew – that it was Seth.

I screamed out now after Seth broke away; the pain was throbbing and stinging and agonizing. I arched my back, but Seth's strong and warm hand pushed my stomach back down.

"SETH!" I shrieked, and I was wrapped up in his arms now.

"C-Carlisle, y-you have to get it out o-of her! S-she's-!" Seth choked over his words. I screamed again.

"The venom is progressing, Seth… very fast. He put a lot into her. Any more and she-!"

"Please, doc! Don't tell me right now! Tell me when she's alright," Seth whimpered, and I loved him so unconditionally right now.

"Seth, the others need you in the field. I'll take care of her for you," Carlisle said.

We both said simultaneously – "NO!"

"Seth. GO! If you want them to get away and come back-!"

"Okay, okay, doc! Just…take care of her…" he sighed and I felt his warmth disappear as new cold hands held me up. The pain was too much. I was numb and in agonizing pain all at the same.

Parted lips pressed against my neck, and for a moment I was afraid this was not Carlisle. Yet the pain suddenly began to subside… gradually…the pain…was…gone…and…I was suddenly…alright…

The lips left my neck and my eyes shot open. Carlisle was there; so was Alice. I shot upright.

"Th-thanks," I gasped, and Carlisle just nodded. I was sobbing now, and I was suddenly in Alice's arms.

"Shh…it's okay now. Aaron's gone…You're alive," she whispered to me. I nodded, curling up in a little ball.

"N-No…n-n-not until S-Seth is here w-with me," I choked.

"He's busy now. But he'll be fine, alright? Won't he, Alice?" Carlisle asked his adopted daughter.

"Yes…he'll be fine…" she assured me.

"Alice-!"

"Shh…let's not speak of it right now... you should be grateful you're alive right now. Be happy that Rosalie has already taken down at least three with Carlisle's and my help, and Emmett's done in about seven with his own bare hands. The wolves helped too. And no one's gotten hurt, on our side at least," Alice told me. I was suspicious, and worried about Seth, but I whimpered.

Alice's head made a little jerk again and she gasped as she had another vision. "Um… Eliza…"

"What? Are they all gone?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Not yet. But the Volturi will show up in a moment to finish it off. The werewolves will flee, and Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper will thank the Volturi for coming and explain how it was not them who caused the issue. The Volturi…no!" Alice snarled, and I winced. She apologized and Carlisle sat down beside us, resting a cold hand on my shoulder.

"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle's voice sounded calm, but it had an edgy tone to it too. Like he was anxious or nervous or annoyed or something.

"The Volturi won't believe Emmett when they ask him the story. Felix…that damned" bad word "…he found a vampire named…Vincent-" I winced "trying to run. Felix was too fast for him and brought him back. They questioned him… in front of our family, Carlisle. Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper could do nothing. Vincent told Aro about…you…Eliza," Alice turned her head to look at me. Fear flooded my body. Too bad Jasper wasn't here… I felt like throwing up.

"I-Is Vincent a-alive?" I murmured.

Alice shook her head. "They didn't need him after hearing that. We have to go to them-"

I whimpered and froze.

"Why, Alice?"

"…Because they'll come looking for us if we don't come soon. And I'd rather have my entire family with me if anything happens," Alice sighed.

"Let us wait just a little longer. Eliza needs a bit of time to recuperate. He beat her around a very fair amount… I cannot imagine how strong you are, Eliza," Carlisle spoke up, rubbing my shoulder, "To be able to endure a beating from a vampire." He chuckled.

"Carlisle, I need to talk to you for a moment…" Alice whispered, standing. Carlisle did too. Alice took off her jacket, which was surprisingly unscathed, and folded it under my head so that my head would be propped up. She pulled Carlisle over to the side for a moment, and the noise I heard next was like a bunch of hums. Alice and Carlisle were speaking so fast and so low that I couldn't possibly make out a single word they were saying.

When they were finally silent, they walked back over to me.

"How are you feeling, honey?" Alice whispered to me. I gulped.

"Alice, go ahead and tell them we will be right over," Carlisle instructed, and Alice gave a quick nod before she disappeared into thin air.

"C-Carlisle? Can y-you tell how bad I took a b-beating?" I mumbled.

A cold hand pressed against my forehead, and then the hand slid down to my neck. I think Carlisle was checking my pulse. Then his cold hand massaged my back shoulder blades and I winced. He stood from his squatting position and looked me over, and then came back down to a squat beside me. Of course I don't know what this meant.

"Not too much blood was lost, but enough that I should be advising you to a trip to the hospital. Fortunately, I think I have enough equipment at home to take care of you," he said with a chuckle. Carlisle brought his work home with him. In many ways this was true, but I'll not delve into that. "As for how severe the beating you took was… hm… well multiple bruising on your arms and legs, and you'll definitely experience some extra soreness in your back shoulder blades. Your scraped up hands will be an easy clean. Mmm... I checked your forehead as well. No concussion, but you'll need a bandage up there where you were cut. Aaron should have sealed up the cut with his venom, but that careless rat chose not to," he mumbled. I nodded, acknowledging and grateful for his brief diagnostic.

"Eliza, can you sit up?" Carlisle asked me. I nodded, wincing at the pain in my neck and my aching joints.

"Ouch," I mumbled, and the doctor vampire just chuckled.

"Take it easy, Eliza. I think we should go now. How about you grab Alice's jacket and I'll carry you?"

I bit my lower lip and nodded. Doing as he said, we were running within the next minute.