Out of sudden inspiration, and a new idea to match, I am writing another chapter for this story! I'm sorry for not updating but I only had a few reviews but I'm determined to write a good update to get LOTS of reviews.

Chapter Ten: When Trouble Comes Knocking

B Pov

By Monday morning I half expected to sprout wings. Things with Edward couldn't have been any better, not to mention I had somehow managed to balance my life in the daylight with my after hours job. Caroline was pretty good at her job but by Monday we were going our separate ways. We were becoming fast friends but it seemed it was just easier to work alone.

So I was holding onto the impossible hope that today would be another successful day. Another mission was scheduled sent to me in an e-mail from the Council Secretary.

Target(s): Maria Stars and Jessica Hopkins.

Description: Maria- 5'9, dark brown hair. Usually sporting designer clothes and high tech cell phones.

Jessica-5'4, short purple hair. Usually seen in darker or black clothes.

Location: L.A Hot Spark underground club, Manhattan, New York.

Objective: Get close to the two and watch carefully for coven movements.

I shut my laptop with a sigh, knowing already that my date with Edward would be ruined. Well, I had a job to do after all.

I headed off to school, my mind barely focused on the lessons I'd already learned. I'd past high school already and even had most of a college degree, but high school was part of my alias. I once again found myself in first period, a timeline and a series of made up letters in a small portfolio binder Caroline and I had put together for our project.

"Miss Marigold, Miss Madison, why don't you go next?" I grabbed the binder and pulled out the timeline and Caroline got the letters. The two of us made our way up to the front of the classroom and began an explanation of our project. Caroline was reading a series of made up letters and their answers between two characters we had named Charles and Mary.

Dear Mary,

I have long since lost the hope that this war will end. But regardless, my remaining service time is drawing to a close and we'll once again be reunited. I'm always thinking about you, and our plans for when I return. Are you sitting beside our pond when you're reading this? How is Lara? Are our families well? I can't imagine what you are thinking now but it is my dearest wish-

"Ah, Miss Marigold? It seems you're wanted in the office," Ms. Johnson interrupted. Caroline looked a little mad that she'd been interrupted when she had really been getting into it. I had to work hard to bite back at laugh at her expression and grabbed my books and shoved them quickly in my bag before shuffling awkwardly out the door. Alice waved sadly as I stepped through the doorway and into the abandoned hallway.

I closed the door and the remaining sound of Caroline's died away. It was eerily quiet in the empty hallway; not a person in sight and no movement or sound whatsoever. The gray sunlight streamed in through the doors at the end of the hall, giving the hallway a horror move scene feel. A shiver went up my spine but I tried hard to repress it and made my way, along with my uneasiness, toward the office.

I already knew that whatever, or whoever, had called me out of class, would mean that I was not coming back to school today. So I made my way toward my locker, spinning the combination quickly and shoving my books roughly inside. But then I caught a glimpse of something. Something that shouldn't have been there but also something that sent a rush of pleasure to flood my chest.

A single red rose, thorns and all with a silky blue ribbon tied around the stem. I could think of only one person who would have done this, and it made me feel better than I had in many years. I felt heat rush to my cheeks as I pulled the fragile looking rose out of my locker. I was just attempting to shift my binder with my notes for biology when one of the thorns slide across my pointer finger.

"Damn!" I cursed under my breath and examined my finger closely. A tiny droplet of blood beaded on my finger, bright red and warm. I pressed it to my thumb absently and stalked off toward the office again. How had I managed to turn a nice gesture into a screaming death trap? Well, we were talking about me of course. If it was dangerous and or life threatening, I was probably on their hit list.

However, my day went downhill after that. Maybe it was some kind of sign. Because when I walked through the doorway and into the pleasantly warm secretary's office, I noticed a tall woman sitting with her leg neatly over the other and her expression somewhat stern.

Morgan. Mom.

By first impressions alone, Morgan was a very strict, uptight person. But in reality, she was the opposite. At 5'9, completed usually by bright designer clothing and earthly beauty to compliment, she looked like she was inspecting every little thing. She had slightly almond shaped eyes the color of the usual violet, and thick waves of dark almost black hair that fell effortlessly over her shoulders. Morgan is the type of person who thinks a lot, and you can usually tell when she's thinking deeply because her expression will grow somewhat cold or scrutinizing, sometimes even disgust- giving someone the impression that she was sucking on a lemon.

But when she saw me, she changed completely. Her expression became warm, her eyes dancing with excitement in the florescent lights. She could easily be compared to Alice's natural bubbliness.

"Elizabeth!" Two strides and she was squeezing every bit of breath out of me in a hug that almost seemed as if she hadn't seen me in months. Well, she hadn't but…

"M-Mom, what are you doing here?" She stood back, a wide grin on her face.

"Well, I just couldn't wait two whole weeks to see my baby!" She pecked my cheek quickly and started leading me through the door again and out into the parking lot.

"I can't believe this!" I really was happy. But I didn't know what I'd do. If she was here, how was I going to be able to be a good house guest if I was going to be running around everywhere?

"I know honey! I even brought Vi with me. Well actually, she stowed away in my car," she laughed.

"Hey, I heard that!" I whipped around and came face to face with Vivian Smith. She was small at about 5'3 with wheat colored hair which was currently pulled into an elegant knot on top of her head where two jeweled pins held her hair in place- though I knew they were actually carefully disguised daggers.

She threw her arms around me and pulled me into a hug almost as strong as Morgan's as I sat in pleasant shock.

"You guys, I wish you would have told me you were coming early!"

The three of us slipped into my truck, not even bothering to turn on the radio. They exchanged a glance quickly.

"Well, we thought it would be better to surprise you." I nodded, meaning that I understood but made sure my gaze was glued to the road as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"Unless you have a mission tonight of course…," Vivian said absently. I sighed, feeling the weight of my work all over again.

"When don't I have a mission? The Council's been sending me out on a mission everyday for the past week…"

"They're overworking you! I'll make sure this whole mess is cleared up-

I knew to stop Morgan while I was ahead. She was getting that determined Mom face on. She'd be unstoppable if she was in that mode and decided to take on the Council's decision to have me working.

"No, you shouldn't do that. This is a good thing, really. It means they trust me with more responsibility now and that I'm getting extremely well."

"How much better could you be? You're a freakin' protégée! And you're already at assassin level! I mean you've been an assassin since like…"

"Since I was nine," I reminded her quietly.

"Yeah!"

"Well that means there's more work to be done. Soon they'll be letting me in on all the Council secrets."

Like Operation Gold and Operation Rose, two heavily guarded Council secrets that I had found out by sneaking into one of the vents at Head Quarters. And as my silence trailed on, I saw the two exchange worried glances again out of the corner of my eye.

"I'll be home before school tomorrow. Don't call me on my cell unless it's an emergency."

"Where are you going this time?" Morgan sighed, putting a hand to her temple as if she had suddenly gotten a minor headache.

"Manhattan."

"Be careful, Bella."

"I always am." But the look she was giving me almost seemed to me as if she meant something more than the new targets.

The flight to New York had been speedy and quick, barely giving me time to gather my rapidly jumbling thoughts.

"Fifteen minuets till decent, Ma'am," the black suited Council officer said in a dull tone. I could feel the steady decreasing of height and knew I would even have that long, but none the less I stood up and walked toward the spacious changing room the Council had so graciously provided on their private jet. The constant hum of the engine below my heels was the only indicator that I was still on the plane and that I was racing to meet my next assignment.

"Welcome, Kate," said the doorman as I stepped inside. The music was pulsing but it was somehow more metallic sounding than the music at Club Spark. The room was dimly lit, a silver-ish glow casting around the room and the faces. The atmosphere was very different here. While at Club Spark I could be sure I'd be able to walk over to the bar and order an apple martini, here it seemed more likely I'd find bottle of blood passed off as wine.

"Joseph, show our guest to the V.I.P section." The slightly smaller man beside him nodded.

"This way, Kate." He grinned at me and held his arm out. I took it and let him lead me through the crowd of swaying bodies. Even the dancing was different here.

Tonight I was wearing a black wig that was cut in a bob style. My silver attire made up of my mid-thigh length dress and heels didn't look a bit out of place.

I blinked and we were stepping through a door that had been closed a moment before and into a room that was similar to the sectioned off rooms of the V.I.P section of Club Spark.

The only lights were the burning of hundreds of red candles- casting the room into a red aura. And here they were dancing too, though the music was very different. And there were only women here.

The two vampires were easily detectable. Jessica and Maria were lounging on the matching maroon lounge chairs, both watching the girls carefully. Jessica's hair was now pin straight bleach blond that hung loosely around her face and all the way down her back. Her blood red fingernails were tapping with the rhythm of the music outside, her eyes still searching.

Maria was different as well. Her dark hair was streaked through with neon red, her lips painted in almost the exact shade. But she was tapping her foot, almost impatiently but also to the beat on the other side of the door which by the way had been closed and let in no other sound.

"Ladies, this is Kate Vicks. Damien recommended her." I smiled at them but really I was smiling because I had sent the club my own recommendation.

Jessica and Maria stood up almost simultaneously and glided over to me in a with matching friendly expressions.

The two were the very images when vampire came to mind. Jessica wore a floor length, V necked maroon velvet gown, and beautiful silver jewelry that wound in many intricate designs. Such as the intertwining roses that dangled from her neck.

Maria wore a long sleeved black top that fit snugly, and black pants. She was almost wearing what I had worn during my assignment at Club Spark. Joseph had left us, and the small number of women were merging around me.

"Tell me, Kate, have you ever dreamed of immortality?" Jessica purred.

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Well that's it for now! I wasn't able to get the full idea out on paper yet but I have it in my head and most of it's out so…hope you like it. Please review or I may not write anymore updates, 'cause I'm sad from lack of reviews!

-V