Title: Solstice
Author: marjorie16
Fandom: Twilight
Summary: This is a story mid New Moon. Edward leaves Bella. Bella befriends Jacob. The werewolves kill Laurent BUT Victoria gets passed the werewolves and bites Bella.

Laurent: "...but if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella..."

Well, what if you did?

* Third Person POV

CHAPTER 8

"Jacob, you're a complete idiot!" Jared snickered.

Sunlight shone over three humans in the dark forest. As they were coming home to La Push, they phased into their human forms. They had just come from a brawl where they were caught off guard and out-numbered. They should have known better. The local news indicated vampires going about and raising hell. And so, they ran for their lives. Luckily, they were able escape from the deadly clutches of the cold ones.

Well, most of them.

Jacob, the idiot, tried, unsuccessfully, to save Bella, the bloodsucker. Of all the times he could have chosen to be stupid, that moment was the one he chose. And now, the pack was going to have to fight against those immortals and get him back.

Normally, the pack would have rejoiced at the idea of killing fiends. But these vampires were different. They did things.

There was one female who Paul tried to attack, but as he launched at her, it was like a force field existed, protecting her. On the other hand, Jared was almost caught because the immortal, who was just small girl, simply smiled at him and he was instantly paralyzed. It was a good thing Sam was there and surprised the girl. He arrived just in time.

"We're going to have to regroup." Sam said, breathless. "Jacob's family."

"But who will we get? Embry and Quil could do, but they haven't got the knack of it yet." Paul reasoned. "And Seth's just a kid. What happened back there..it's…it's…impossible."

"We've heard the old stories say about the cold ones who could do extra things." Sam said to Paul. "We should train the others already. Jacob needs us."

"That idiot is probably dead by now." Jared retorted. Jacob should not have protected Bella. First, because she was a vampire, the enemy. Second, because the attackers were vampires. Them being the same kind, showed no great threat to her well-being. And third, because Jacob was a damn werewolf and he had the responsibility to protect humans. Kill, or let kill, one vampire and you could have save millions.

"If it were you, would you have wanted us to give up on you?" Sam asked Jared. "Well?"

Jared was silent. Sam knew the answer. Jared would have wanted his family to get him back. Since the matter had died down in stillness, Sam decided on other matters.

"We should go back and tell the othe---" He stopped abruptly. He sniffed the air for a second. And then, with the length of another second, he phased into his wolf form.

Alarmed, the others phased as well.

And then, they knew it. There was another vampire about. This time, it was no surprise. The too-sweet scent filled the air. The immortal was alone and his smell, familiar. Not like the ones earlier. Different.

The wolves lunged forward to the eastern forest and hunted the vampire.

When the vampire came into view a few moments later, Sam remembered who he was.

Or rather, she.

Her hair danced in blazing flames as she ran in the dim forest. Even at maximum speed, the wolves were closing in on her.

With great effort, Sam overtook her. She stopped immediately; she was cornered. In surrender, she raised her hands, palms up.

"I mean no harm. Let me through." She said.

"It's time to kill, Sam." He silently stated in his mind, a thought that flowed through the other's mind as well.

Jared hauled.

Victoria didn't even flinch. "I want to talk to your leader." She looked around and zeroed-in on the biggest wolf. The dark wolf stared back at her.

"Diplomacy?" Paul spitted. "Sam, she's not like the Cullens. Look at her eyes, for god's sake! Their bright red!"

"I know. But…"

"But what?" Paul continued. "You're not seriously considering to be diplomatic with that bloodsucker, are you?"

"Of course not. I just thought that maybe she could be useful."

With that, Sam hurried over to hide behind a large tree and phased into his human form. And since he was naked and the vampire was a girl, he had the grace to put on some clothes. He hastily snatched up the pair of shorts that were tied to his feet and wore them. Then, he walked towards the vampire.

Victoria eyed him with obvious distaste.

"I'll make you a deal, wolf." She started. "Let me live, and I'll kill a coven of vampires who live somewhere near here."

"Which ones are you talking about? There are a lot of vampires here. Including you."

"I'm talking about the golden-eyed ones, the ones who eat beasts instead of humans. I know you've got a problem with them. And since they're still alive, I'm guessing that's because you can't kill them." She paused. Then, a smile painted her lips. Her eyes lit with dangerous conviction. "But I can."

"You can?" Sam said. He was not planning on breaking the treaty with the Cullens. But, he was interested in what the female had to offer. "You? Alone? Impossible."

"I'm a vampire. I know how to kill one. Rather efficiently, I must say."

Sam immediately saw the opportunity and grabbed it. "What if these vampires could do extra things? We've heard of their powers. How could you defeat them?"

Her soft laugh rang with amusement and a touch of insanity. "That depends on what they can do." She smiled her enigmatic smile. "And I know exactly what they can do."

Sam looked at the worried glance of his brothers. In his mind, he flipped through the possibilities. If they had a vampire who could give them information on immortals with powers, it would significantly increase their chances in overcoming the group of vampires they had recently fought with.

Of course, he could just as easily have asked the Cullens themselves, but dealing with this vampire is more convenient. If they asked the Cullen and if they willingly gave out information, they would owe them dearly. But if they dealt with this one, she would be paying for her own survival.

Sam then, he looked directly at the beautiful vampire.

"I think we can strike a bargain."

* * *

"Oh no," the vampire said as she pushed aside the corpse of Harry Clearwater. "I killed him." Her eyes widened in disbelief. "He… he was---" but she couldn't continue.

"What's your name, newborn?" Caius asked in an emotionless voice.

"Harry! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have… but I was just so…" she wailed. She should have cried. But she couldn't. Not as a vampire. She settled with tearless sobs.

Caius looked pointedly at Aro for explanations.

"According to Bree's memories, she did not know who the human was. They just fed on her when the boy named Riley said so. Then the creator would suck the venom out. The process continued for weeks. After that, the girl was buried when they let the venom spread." He explained. That traumatic experience might have caused some memory gap."

The girl was still mourning over her victim as the ancients conversed.

"How long was she buried?"

"Two months, maybe three. It wasn't quite clear."

"Whow" a man's voice echoed. "That's a long time."

"It's magnificent isn't it?" Aro cheered. "So this is what happens to our kind when we refrain from eating! Another addition to our histories! I shall have to document this when we go back."

Aro went near the sobbing vampire and crouched down on her. He stared at her crimson eyes. "That was your first meal, wasn't it?"

The vampire did not reply. She was still hovering over the corpse. She was still sobbing tearless sobs.

"You're a vampire now. That's what we vampires eat." He explained. "I'm Aro. This is Caius, Marcus, Jane, Alec. We're the Volturi" He gestured at each one. These are our guards: Demetri, Felix, Chelsea and Renata." He pointed at the muscular man who stood menacingly, the thin lizard-like man, and the two females who loomed over Aro's side. The one who might have been Renata had her hand on his shoulder.

But she wasn't responding. He guessed that she heard him and that she just couldn't accept that she had actually killed someone. That reminded him of an old friend, Carlisle. Maybe he would pay a visit to him one of these days.

Aro grew irritated with the vampire's silence.

He inhaled deeply and stood up. Such a waste, he thought.

He moved away from the vampire. And stalked passed his brother, Caius. Renata's hand was still on his shoulder. It was an involuntary movement to her already.

"What's wrong, Aro?" Caius asked.

"This one's too weak. If she can't handle blood, she can't handle what we do. I suppose she'll wander off and join a 'vegetarian' coven." He chuckled at that. "You remember our friend, Carli--"

"I. Am. Not. Weak."

Bella's pale hand clutched around Aro's neck in menace. She was so fast, nobody had noticed that she had stood fast and lunged him to a tree. The movement surprised Aro. Renata, his bodyguard, could stop any physical attack with her talent. She was his shield. But this girl had effortlessly got passed his shield.

Shocked by that fact, he felt himself deeply satisfied. If this girl would join them, she could protect anything, anyone. The Volturi will truly be invincible.

Everyone around him snarled in response.

Demetri and Felix immediately grabbed the vampire's shoulders and pinned her to a tree. She released her grip on his neck.

"Looks like this one has got a temper." Demetri stated. The girl was struggling in futile effort.

"What's your name?" Aro asked, his former enthusiasm returned.

"Be—" She stopped. "Isabel." She finally said. "And I am not weak."

"Well, Isabel, would you kindly tell us why you are what you are? I know how you became an immortal, but why did you? What could drive an entire army to bully such a helpless human" Aro said slowly. He tried to conceal his excitement. "that you were." He added.

"It doesn't matter why. I am what I am because of me, because I was weak. There's only one person to blame. That person is me." She said coolly. "Now that I'm out of my prison, there's only one thing I want."

"And what is that, dear one?"

"Revenge." She answered in a sharp tone.

Aro smiled his devious smile. He can give her that. In turn, she would join them. He could give her power. And in turn, he would gain hers.

Perfect.

"How do you know what happened to me?" She asked.

"I have my own gift. You were changed by the leader of an army that now haunts the West coast. We, the Volturi, exist to balance the scales. We're here to bring the balance back. And as it happens, we need your help." Aro replied. He was lying of course. They didn't need any help. He just wanted her to demonstrate her powers. Could she expand? How far could she expand? Curiosity consumed him.

The others' expression were of shock and uncertainty, except for Marcus of course. But they did not contest the decision. Aro would explain everything later.

"You're here to destroy the army?"

"Yes. With Demetri's talent, we have managed to locate them. It is in some cabin near a river. We expect to be there tomorrow morning. First light."

"Good."

"Is that a yes?"

Isabel shrugged off her two guards. She was strong, Aro noticed. Some of her human blood still remained in her. But then, there was also a certain grace to her movements that indicated that she was decades old. Being born in the darkness must have intensified her senses.

Isabel was full of surprises.

"Yes, it is. But first---" she hesitated.

"But first, what?"

"I need new clothes. And more blood."

"Oh look, she likes blood after all." Caius retorted. His voice shot from the back. "You are quite a fickle little thing, aren't you? One moment you are an innocent lamb caught between your blood lust and your human emotions. And now, look at you!"

"Being human," She began. Loving and dreaming and hoping. "Had done nothing good for me."

Aro noticed that sharp edge in her tone. It meant that she was fueled with a strong emotion. One such as anger and pain. This was good. Anger and pain are easily manipulated, controlled. And he was good at manipulation. Very, very good.

Perfect, in fact.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh man, things are getting HOT, isn't it? Writing this long chapter is somewhat tiresome. But still, I don't think you guys are going to be happy with it (what with the events piling up and all). I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!

Please review.