Hi- I have taken creative license and created some new characters. They are plucked entirely from my imagination. I have what the look like in my mind and will post some pictures on my blog. I will also give you a short biography/back story on each there as well in addition to the bit at the bottom.

Chapter 24- Eyes Open

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard
Every lesson forms a new scar
They never thought you'd make it this far
But turn around, they've surrounded you
It's a showdown, and nobody comes to save you now
But you've got something they don't
Yeah you've got something they don't
You've just gotta keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your eyes open
Keep your eyes open
Keep your eyes open

Keep your feet ready
Heartbeat steady
Keep your eyes open
Keep your aim locked
The night goes dark
Keep your eyes open

-Taylor Swift

Bella POV

Edward and I stayed in bed for hours until the sun shined through my bedroom curtains. I needed a shower, and Edward left to go get cleaned up as well. When I came out of my room Emmett was waiting for me with a giant grin on his face.

If I could have blushed my cheeks would have been flaming. Instead, I just stared at him until he broke.

He tilted his chin at me in a fake move of aggression. "So, Bella, now that you've take my brother's innocence, what are your intentions toward him?"

My mouth fell open a little and before I had to answer a plate flew across the room, spinning like a frisbee. I ducked instinctively even though it was perfectly aimed at Emmett's head. It shattered when it hit him.

I covered my mouth to keep from laughing when he grabbed his head and swung around. Rosalie was standing in the kitchen with a scowl on her face.

"Not five minutes ago, you promised to keep your big mouth shut. What's wrong with you?"

Esme heard the commotion and came out of her room. She saw the broken plate and looked at Rosalie with a frown on her face.

"I hope that wasn't one of my good plates. What's going on?"

I bent down to pick up the pieces of broken china and glanced up at Rosalie as she tattled on Emmett.

"Emmett was going to torment Bella with his big mouth."

I ducked my head at Esme's telling look. She sighed and reached for the broom and dustpan. She walked over to me, and past a sheepish looking Emmett, who was still holding his head even though the flying plate couldn't have hurt him that much.

"I'm sure Emmett has learned his lesson." She pulled me away from the mess and thrust the broom at him. "Clean this up. Now."

She led me into the kitchen, next to Rosalie, where she quickly changed the subject. I climbed up onto the barstool and listened halfheartedly as she and Rosalie chatted about the work she had been doing in the newly built outbuildings.

"I put the final touches on the rooms above the garage last night. I can't wait to show you."

Emmett had cleaned up his mess by the time Edward came upstairs from the room he'd been using, and we all headed outside to see the new garage, studio, and apartments.

Esme was amazingly talented and as I admired the work she had done with the organization of the garage, I got a whiff of the most delicious scent ever. My eyes rolled back in my head and started drifting toward it. No one was paying attention to me as I stalked my prey. I heard Alice yell out my name and heard footsteps behind me. My instinct to protect my find kicked in, and I ran faster until I heard Edward.

"Bella, don't do it."

The distress in his voice made me stop. I realized what the scent was when I looked through the clearing at a blue pickup truck stopped in the road. I hadn't put myself in the position to be tempted by a human. I knew there were humans living not too far away but had stayed away from our nearest neighbors, and none of them had come this close to the Cullen's property.

A man had gotten out of his truck to relieve himself on a tree. Venom filled my mouth to choking, but I took off running in the opposite direction of my fortunate target. Humans definitely smelled better than any animal I had tasted.

I took a circuitous route to my normal hunting grounds and climbed up to the top of a tall tree. I heard Edward walking toward me, and when I changed positions to allow him to join me in the tree, I caught a glimpse of something shining in the distance.

"It's okay, Bella. I can't believe you could stop. You're amaz—"

I interrupted him, "Shh," and gestured for him to join me up in the tree. I climbed a bit higher for a better look. Off in the distance was a faint glitter that reminded me of my own skin in the sunlight.

Edward swung up next to me, and I put my finger to my lips, again, to silence him. I didn't know how far our voices would carry.

I leaned close to his ear and pointed. "Do you see that?"

He looked where I was pointing and started down the tree. "Hurry Bella, we need to get back to the others."

"No." I swung over into the next tree. "I want to see who it is."

I wanted it to be Victoria so badly. I felt vengeance welling up in me and started toward the silver glints in the distance.

Edward jumped to a tree in front of me and grabbed a hold of my hand. "We can't do this alone. Let me go get Emmett and Jasper. It will only take a moment and then we'll go check it out. I'll come back and tell you if it's Victoria."

I knew he wouldn't though and pushed him away. "Get off. I'm going over there."

I dropped thirty feet to the ground and took off. My blood-lust for the human transferred to the distant vampire. Anger as rich and sweet as the blood I wanted welled up in me, and I wasn't going to stop until I got to whoever was there. I wanted to destroy something.

Edward kept pace with me, trying the whole time in vain to get me to retreat, but my mind was set. We crossed over a road that wound around the mountain and overlooked a valley. I was so set on the horizon, and getting to the other side, I didn't see that the road was positioned along the edge of a steep ravine. I took a giant leap that ended in me rolling, ass over appetite, down the hill, taking trees out as I went. Still unused to my new speed, my momentum was too great to come to a graceful stop.

Edward pulled me up onto my feet when I stopped rolling and checked me over for injuries.

"Geez Bella. Are you hurt?"

I brushed him off. "I'm fine. Let's go."

"Please wait until I call the others. We need their help."

I heard the desperation in his voice, but I wasn't going to stop. Victoria was the only thing holding me back from moving on with my life. In more ways than one, she and James were responsible for all the pain and anguish I had experienced. I knew I would never know peace until she was destroyed.

I could hear Edward behind me, running and talking into his phone, but his words couldn't compete with the noise in my head. I was too intent on the path ahead of me to listen to his conversation. I could sense the vampires in the woods and could hear my ragged, adrenaline-fueled breathing in my ears.

Edward pushed ahead of me and broke through the thick patch of forest into a clearing. I followed the path he made in the thick foliage and picked up the scent of vampires in the air. I pushed myself to catch up with Edward and saw him glance back at me and then take off.

I could see the light changing in the forest ahead, and something in my gut told me they were waiting for us. Edward broke through first and was halfway across the field when he came to a sudden, unnatural stop.

"Edward!" I yelled his name but he didn't turn.

I sensed the movement around us but didn't see anyone. Terror roared through my veins.

I closed the distance between Edward, and I grabbed his arm only to knock him over like he was a statue. He stayed frozen in the exact form he had been when he was running. I leaned down and touched his face.

"Edward. Wake up!"

His eyes were open, but he wasn't responding. I lifted him in my arms and started to go back the way we came when a man walked out of the forest, blocking my path. He was tall, but thin with dark skin and red vampire eyes. A woman followed behind him, looking at me warily. I needed my arms free to defend myself so I laid Edward down on the ground awkwardly and stood in from of him, ready to protect him if necessary.

"Why didn't it work?" I heard her clearly as the woman whispered to the man in accented English.

He circled around me in a purely predatory move. "I don't know, my dear, but I am intrigued. I have never seen anyone able to resist my power."

"I'll take care of her." The woman snarled and moved like lightening toward me only to be frozen in her tracks like Edward.

The man lovingly pushed her hair out of her statue-like face. "Not so fast, Shireen; let me talk to her first."

He released her from whatever hold he had on her, and she fell to the ground. She slowly came to her feet and stood next to him looking at the ground contritely.

"I apologize."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Dearest, I know you hate it when I paralyze you, but you mustn't act so thoughtlessly."

If anything she hung her head even more. Seeing Edward lying there with his eyes wide open but unmoving and watching him freeze the woman terrified me. I knew there were other vampires with special powers, but I never imagined one this dangerous.

He turned to face me. "You must be Bella. Victoria has told me about you and your Edward. She didn't tell me you were special."

He looked me over in an appraising way that made me feel dirty. I tilted my chin up even more to show him I wasn't afraid, even though I was.

"Who are you?" I asked him

"Forgive me. I am Fatik." He bowed slightly to me.

"Let Edward go, and tell Victoria to stop making others fight her battle."

He laughed at me.

"Why would I let him go?"

"Because I'm asking you to?"

"Oh no, I don't think I'll let him go. He's coming with me. I was told to bring you both, but…" I could see him thinking. "I don't think I will."

He stepped closer to me, and I backed up until I had to step one foot over Edward's leg.

"I won't let you take him."

I heard the slight waver in my voice and regretted not listening to Edward. If I hadn't taken off the way I had he would be safe. I wasn't going to let him take Edward. I heard footsteps coming toward us and prayed it was the other's coming to help us.

It wasn't. Another vampire stepped out of the trees.

"The others were spotted coming over the ridge, Fatik."

"Your talented family, I presume?"

I just stared at him refusing to acknowledge his question. I was both relieved and terrified they were close. He had paralyzed Edward and the woman at the same time. Could he freeze everyone at once?

Fatik kept his eyes locked with mine and snapped his fingers. At the sound, Edward and I were suddenly surrounded by vampires.

I looked around quickly. I was sorely outnumbered. Fatik took the opportunity my inattention gave him and took my hand. I snatched it back, pulling him off center and slammed him down on the ground with a blow to the back of his neck. He wasn't prepared for my attack and my strength took him off guard.

I crouched down as Shireen flew at me with her hands curled into claws and grabbed her by both wrists, throwing her over my shoulder. She hit the ground, a whoosh of air knocked out of her lungs.

Another vampire came at me at Fatik's command. He was large, possibly larger than Emmett. His eyes glowed with the bright red of a newborn.

"Don't hurt her, Erik. Just hold her."

I ran toward him intending to knock him down as well but was pulled off my feet. He flipped me around and twisted my arms behind my back until I was sure they would break. I cried out at the pain. He wrapped his other arm around my neck and put me in a chokehold. I couldn't move. I couldn't even swallow. He swung me around so I could see Fatik kneeling over Edward.

Everything inside me seized in fear, and I tried again to struggle out of the hold the newborn had on me. I heard an awful ripping sound and felt an immense pain in my left shoulder. He was pulling my arm out of its socket.

I cried out again. "Ahh! Please don't hurt him!" I screamed.

Fatik came to stand in front of me.

"I'm not going to hurt him. I am repaying a long held debt to Victoria by bringing him to her." He ran a finger down my face. "I don't like owing anybody anything, but I do like being owed a favor." He paused and walked away thoughtfully. "The rest of your coven will be entering this field very shortly. They are, as you can see, horribly outnumbered. It would be a shame to lose them all."

Horror filled me. I tried to send visions to Alice, knowing it may not work, but I closed my eyes and saw them all lying dead at the hands of Fatik and his minions. I hoped she would see it and stop the others from coming.

"I will make you a deal. We will go. I am taking your Edward, but I will leave you here, giving you the opportunity to come and find him. After all, Victoria loves to play her tedious games. In return, you will owe me a favor."

I didn't have to think about it. There was no way I was going to let him take Edward, and I told him so.

He tsked. "That is too bad. Marco, Daniel, Asif, come."

Three large vampires strode toward Fatik, who gestured for them to pick Edward's unmoving form up. He stood in front of Edward. "I'm going to un-paralyze you, but if you fight I will allow Erik to kill her."

Edward instantly sagged to the ground like Shireen had when he released the hold he had on her. Edward rose quickly. His jaw clenched in anger.

"Victoria is an unworthy ally and you know it. Let us go. We will destroy her and make whatever favor you feel you owe her unnecessary."

"An intriguing idea, but no. I am an honorable man, and I will do what is asked of me. The choice here is yours. You can come with us peacefully, and we will let Bella go. Or will you fight us and make Erik tear her to sheds?" He pulled a lighter from his pocket. I won't let her suffer. I will burn her before I kill you. Make your choice."

I wished I could have seen indecision in Edward's eyes, but I saw resolve.

"Don't Edward."

He looked right at me.

His gaze filled with resolve and a love so intense I gasped.

"I'm not going to let you die, Bella." I struggled again only to have the hold on my neck tighten so much I couldn't speak to him.

"I'll go with you, Fatik, but someday I will kill you." Edward promised him.

Fatik threw his head back and laughed. "I look forward to you trying. My omnipotence can grow quite tedious, although it seems your Bella is immune to my control."

I would have wondered why I was unaffected by his power if I hadn't been so upset.

"Let us go before we must kill your coven." Fatik nodded to the vampires behind Edward, who, despite agreeing to go, struggled out of their hold, trying to get to me, only to be paralyzed again by Fatik, who just shook his head.

"So much for a last kiss. I would have allowed that if you hadn't tried to fight."

Two of the vampires carried Edward away as I struggled against the hold Erik had on me. I could feel my arm ripping further, but I didn't care.

"Now, Bella, I am going to leave you here, but if you try to follow us out of this forest I will kill him. Do you understand? In twelve hours you can begin your search, and I will be watching to be sure you don't leave earlier. I have a feeling you will know right where to find him."

Fatik came over to stand in front of me. "I am sure we will meet again soon, my dear. I look very forward to getting to know you better."

With that he followed after the men holding Edward. The others, including Shireen, who shot me a dirty look, trailed after him. Erik held me tight until they were all out of sight and then threw me down as hard as he could. My head hit the ground so hard it stunned me. I struggled to a sitting position and wrapped my hand around my shoulder. I felt something wet against my hand and pulled my hand away expecting to see blood, but it wasn't dark like I was used to. It was a lighter orangish color. It must have been venom mixed with the animal blood I consumed.

I sat there for a moment gathering the strength to move. I was hurt, but the devastation I felt was worse. I let them take Edward. How in the world could this have happened? Victoria was supposed to bring her army. We were supposed to fight and defeat them. That was what we had been preparing for. Not this treachery.

We should have seen it coming. Victoria was a dangerous enemy, more dangerous than I ever realized. I knew we needed to act fast. We had less than twelve hours to devise a plan. I needed to find the others quickly.

I pushed myself up with great effort and cradled my arm against my side. My heart was breaking, and the emotions were starting to choke me. I started across the field and was about the reenter the woods on the side from which we came, when I heard the noise of someone crashing through the trees. It was Emmett with the others close behind. I sat on the ground against a tree stump on the edge both relieved and afraid. How could I explain to Edward's family that I let those vampires take him?

They jumped out of the trees and continued running as if they didn't know I was there.

"Alice!"

I called out to her, and they all swung around. It would have been comical if there were anything funny about our situation.

Alice ran over to me. "Bella!" She pulled me into her arms, hurting my arm in the process. I gasped in pain and she pulled away.

"You're hurt."

I swallowed hard at the lump in my throat as the others gathered close. Carlisle knelt beside me.

"We're gonna keep going." Emmett said and gestured to Jasper and Rosalie.

"Don't! They'll kill him."

Carlisle gently pulled my shirt away from my wound. I glanced over at my arm and felt light headed. It wasn't a cut like I thought it was. It looked as if someone had smashed a limb off a tree or a statue. I had been expecting to see soft insides but my body was so different now.

"Who did this to you, Bella, and who has Edward?"

I whimpered as he manipulated my arm, but spoke in between deep breaths.

"His name is Fatik. Victoria sent him."

"Fatik?" Carlisle glanced at Esme and then Jasper, who looked angry.

"We're in big trouble." Jasper moved closer to Alice, like he always did when he was unsure of her safety.

Carlisle nodded in agreement and blew out a breath. "We need to get home. Bella, I need to push your arm back in and bind it until it heals. It won't take long, but it hurts like the devil during the process."

I nodded. Nothing could hurt as badly as the hole in my chest, knowing Edward was in Victoria's grasp. "Just do it."

"Okay, Emmett, I'm going to need your help. I need counterweight. Hold her around her ribs and pull gently toward you. Bella, I need you to kneel for me and take a deep breath."

I gingerly turned my legs so I could kneel on them and almost let out a sob when Emmett wrapped his arms around me. I wanted to turn into him and cry for Edward, but I filled my lungs with a deep breath like Carlisle asked and saw stars when he pulled my arm back into alignment. I desperately wanted to pass out, to end the agony. It felt better when Carlisle wrapped it tightly against my body with pieces of my jacket that he'd torn apart.

Alice was sitting next to me with her vague face.

"What do you see? Is it Edward?" I was too frantic to wait, but she wasn't through.

I looked up at Carlisle and Esme. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let them take him."

Esme hugged me. "Shh. Everything will be okay."

I looked at Alice again. "We need to gather some help. Edward will be fine, but we can't do this on our own."

I breathed a sigh of relief until terror struck me again as Jasper added his two cents.

"With Fatik involved, no one is going to be fine."

xoxoxo-

Dun dun dun! Okay- any opinions on our new characters? Is it too over the top? Let me know what you think- please.

Chapter 25 will becoming sooner than these last two took I promise and if all works out the way I have it planned I foresee three more chapters till the end.

Our new characters- I envisioned Fatik and Shireen as Middle Eastern/Indian. The name Fatik means dangerous, which he truly is. The next chapter will give you more insight into who he is. He says he's honorable, but is he really out to help anyone but himself? I will put the pictures of how I envision Fatik and Shireen on my blog

bestscentever. blogspot. com Can anyone say "very famous Bollywood actors"?

I cannot forget to mention how amazing Jessypt's help is! She is always just a tweet away to give me encouragement and help me make all the words pretty. I have to thank my husband, too. He is supportive of my writing and listens to me read out loud every word I write. (I always read everything out loud to make sure it sounds good)

Thank you to everyone who read and review my stories. I adore each one and will catch up on all my replies as soon as I can!