Thanks for the reviews! I got some PM's and questions from people asking about the action in this story. You've read it this far so you should be fully aware that this story is full of violence, action, and fighting. And yes, there will most definitely be more action on the way; I think you can put that together by now. Bella hasn't even met with the newborn army let alone solved her other issues. On the bright side of things, I am fully concentrated on getting this story done so I can work on the others. I won't rush it, but I won't delay my updates any further. Thanks for the support and patience! This chapter's song is called seven devils by Florence and the Machine…( I really recommend you read it! Florence and the Machine are amazing!)

Holy water cannot help you now

A thousand armies couldn't keep me out

I don't want your money

I don't want your crown

See I've come to burn

Your kingdom down

Forks, Washington, 2008
Isabella Marie Whitlock Mason Cullen's POV

I hadn't realized I was kneeling by the burning pile of ashes until some sot was blown onto my cheek. I blinked twice and stood up in one fluid moment. I felt like a vampire once again. A walking corpse; a shell of what once resided in my body.

While looking back down at the billowing smoke rising, I whispered a pained, "I'm sorry Lucas." Then I was off. I ran towards God knows where, just letting my feet get a feel of the ground.

It was like my body was on auto-pilot and someone else had taken over. I knew I should be racing back to my sisters and begging for their forgiveness. The Cullen family lived up to their name. They lived for nonviolence and peace.

And what I had just preformed, proved I wasn't worthy of being a part of something so innocent and loving.

I knew my family would beg to differ. They would spew some crap about me being defensive and that it was the right thing to do otherwise Lucas would have rampaged throughout the city. They would defend me no matter neither what my actions were nor what they did to them in return.

But when I tell them about my theory and about what Lucas said about 'killing us all'…would my family bee as keen as to looking the other way? This no longer was a blame game. This was war hovering along the horizon.

The only thing I could say in this moment was thank god I wore converse to the mall, otherwise I'd be charging bare-foot in the middle of a rain storm. Mud and water crept up on me, covering my body in distress.

How is it that I always found myself running? No matter what the outcome or the situation, I'm always racing away from a fear or a crime. Maybe it was just in my nature to be this way. Maybe I was just made to be violent…okay, even to me that sounded bad.

I always knew my biological family was strong. Not in the sense that we had an amazing bond with each other, 'cause we didn't. But in the sense that we had a strength and passion for fighting. The Civil War was a perfect example of that, not to mention the newborn wars.

Maybe I should just talk to Jasper about all this.

I continued my journey through the woods, rain pelting down and lightning clashing in the sky. It was unusually dark, very fitting to my current mood. I was soaked from head to toe; my long hair clung in tangles to my waist.

Flashes of snow white running through the enchanted forest full of tree monsters filled my vision. I almost snorted had this situation not felt so real. I truly believed a tree could grow arms and try to grab me at any second.

Once I picked up a familiar scent, I knew where I had traveled. Of course my mind led me straight to my family. I really should have called Rosalie and Alice, but I was already in the backyard so what good would it do?

I ran straight to the front door and threw it open. Everyone stopped and looked up from what they were doing. Esme stopped cleaning the kitchen, Carlisle stopped reading, Emmett and Jasper looked up from their game and Edward stopped playing his piano.

I guess the look on my face said more than I could. I didn't need a mirror to know my eyes were wide in distress and my lips were parted in fear, or my brows drown in worry.

Edward shot up from his bench and was holding me in a millisecond. "Bella! What happened?" Jasper exclaimed and stood from the couch. I closed my eyes and shook my head, unable to speak once more. Again, I had become mute. What the hell was wrong with me? Oh right, I was traumatized.

I heard Esme gasp and walk over towards us. "Oh sweetheart you look like you saw a ghost!" I guess that made sense. I did get flashbacks from my haunted past, that's for sure.

Edward directed me over to the couch and placed me in his lap. Esme sat to our left and jasper to our right. Emmett remained standing in front of us along with Carlisle. "Call Alice and Rose…we need to have a family meeting." I whispered and saw Emmett reach for his phone.

No one questioned me, but by the worried expressions on their faces I knew they knew not to question my judgment. This was serious.

"Rosalie, yeah it's me…" Emmett answered but was cut off by my frantic sister.

"Emmett! Oh God, we can't find her! We can't find Bella! She was going to this bookstore and…oh God I just knew we shouldn't have let her go…"

"Rosie calm down, baby. Bella's right here with us, she said to call you and tell you to come home now."

"She's with you? Thank God! But…wait! What the hell? How did she get to you?" I heard Alice whisper harshly in the background.

"We…don't really know either…just come home. She said we need to have a family meeting and she won't speak until you two are here." Emmett replied with a frown.

"Alright were on our way." I heard Rosalie reply then hang up.

The attention was once more on me. I looked up at my family and gave them a weak smile. It did nothing to ease their worry, but just add to it. They knew something was wrong, and the fact that we needed a family meeting to resolve it was just a big sign saying we were in deep shit.

Everyone was silent and patient. Though I could see the patience was waning. Emmett and Jasper both looked incredibly on edge and prepared for almost anything. Esme looked heartbroken at the realization of more trouble. Carlisle looked calm, though under that false interior was an anguished father whose family was falling apart at the seams. And then there was Edward.

He didn't have an expression on his face. And that was one of the deadliest characteristics of them all. Whenever Edward's emotions were void, a raging war was most likely going on inside his mind. He already had to endure the pesky thoughts of those around him, but his emotions sent him into overdrive.

He just became empty. Just like me.

I could only assume Rosalie and Alice were both angered and frantic. And once they came through the front door, I knew I was right. They both scanned the room and once their eyes met mine, their shoulders sagged in relief and then the anger hit home.

"What the hell, Bella? You scared us half to death…again!" Rosalie snarled at me. Emmett moved towards her and whispered her name as if warning her to calm down. She glared daggers at me and huffed. She was always mad whenever the safety of her family was endangered. No matter who was the cause of such trauma.

Alice was no better seeing as she crossed her arms and stared me down. "Bella, we waited for you and with each passing second got more and more frantic. Do you have any idea how paranoid we were?" Unlike Emmett, Jasper didn't get up to comfort his wife.

He oddly shuffled in his seat and looked down at the floor. He couldn't choose between his mate and his blood sister. It was just impossible for him. I sighed, knowing I had a universe of questions to venture.

"You two do realize that I didn't purposely choose to be ambushed, right?" That shut them up. There stances straightened and faces dropped into confusion and fear. Everyone was silent, looking at me to continue.

"Well, like Rosalie and Alice said, I was simply going to the bookstore when I heard someone growl from nearby. Needless to say, there was this vampire named Lucas and he was messing around with me. From previous situations I already knew how to handle this." I paused and saw the creased brow from my brother. He knew.

"I baited him out of hiding, and fought him for answers. He said he was sent to kill me, but one look in his eyes and I knew he wasn't really sent to do the murdering. He was a newborn, and since he said he had a master, I could only assume that meant someone was creating an army. No leader, no matter how dense, would send one lone newborn to fight a well-trained vampire. This one was a messenger…and the message was definitely delivered."

Carlisle looked deep in thought with his brows drawn together. Esme had worry plastered along her loving features. Rosalie was angry but this anger wasn't directed towards me. Emmett looked slightly excited…I would show him how terrible this was later.

Edward was still void of emotions, though I could see his brows directed into a frown and his eyes grow hard. Jasper was void of all emotions as well, and looked paler than I had ever seen. Alice was trying to comfort him, but her own worrying was too much for him to handle.

I reached out and touched his hand. Jasper's head whipped to the side. His expression nearly killed me. It was a mix between anguish, grief, revenge, pain, and self-loath. I knew the feeling.

"Newborns…" he whispered like ice cracking over a winter lake nearing spring.

I slowly nodded my head; my own expression mirroring his. "But that wasn't all he said…" I immediately had the attention of my coven.

I puffed out some air. This was the hardest part for me, knowing I couldn't prevent it at all.

"He said 'my master hates all of you'…as in whoever is behind this mess is out to get us all. Judging by my encounter, they want to demolish us for some unknown reason."

They were silent for a moment before Emmett spoke up. "So then we fight."

Jasper shook his head. "We don't even know who were up against."

I had a theory, and now was my time to speak up.

"But I think I do." Their heads turned to me once more. "What about Victoria? I did kill her mate after all. She probably wants revenge."

Alice's eyes glazed over and we waited patiently for her to come out of the vision.

She sighed and shook her head. "I don't see anything. All I saw was her…feeding…" She trailed off shivering. Jasper stood and placed an arm around her waist. I looked back at Edward and he wrapped his arms around me and leaned his head against mine.

I moved my head up and down, bathing in his scent. He smiled slightly and pecked my cheek. It was a bitter sweet moment for all of us. No one wanted this trouble, but it always seemed to creep back to us. Or more preferably…me.

"Whoever is making this army wants to fight us. Weather we're prepared or not is up to us. We don't know who it is, or when the fight will take place. We need to be prepared for anything." Carlisle spoke, taking his rightful role as leader.

"We need to train. We're not ready for battle yet, and if they were to invade now…I have a bad feeling that we won't come out victorious." Jasper said while tightening his grip on Alice. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Should we warn the wolves?" Esme's question hung in the air. Should we I asked myself. I didn't know how to answer that. We made a promise to never speak to one another again….but this was urgent. What if they sensed the newborns and came to fight? It would be even more of a blood bath. We don't want that.

Everyone looked to Carlisle for an answer. No one knew what to say. "I think it would be wise to inform them, though we need to stress the situation. We don't need to give the wolves any reason for more hatred."

I could tell Rosalie was seething by just the thought of being in a ten mile radius of the pack. Emmett was itching for a fight, and I knew once he saw how to handle a newborn…he wouldn't be so 'happy go lucky' anymore.

In fact, none of them knew what they were up against. It was all up to Jasper and I to train them. Fighting vampires was a tricky subject in general. But fighting newborns had way too many complications and precautions.

Once false step and you could be killed.

"Jasper and I will train you to fight the newborns. They have a different battle strategy than other more mature vampires do. We would need to get training right away." I spoke for the first time with confidence in my voice.

I saw Jasper nod at me and we both looked towards our father. He sighed and reluctantly nodded. "Since you two have the most experience in this area, it would be best for you to teach us. Meanwhile, Emmett, Edward, jasper, and I will go to the treaty line and talk to the wolves."

I could tell the rest of us girls were going to protest, but Carlisle shook his head. "It would be better if they felt less threatened by our numbers. The more of us there, the more threatened they will feel. We won't be long, and we will have our phones on in case of emergencies."

I still felt like protesting but saw my mother and sister nod. I fell backwards into Edward's chest and nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck.

I looked up from underneath my lashes and whispered, "Be safe." He smiled weakly down at me and his eyes shone with love. "I promise to be safe, as long as you remain here and stay out of troubles way."

I smirked at him and replied, "Don't I always?" I felt him chuckled underneath me and tighten his grip around me. He leaned his head on top of the crown of my own and muttered, "That's what I'm afraid of."

Seattle, Washington, 2008
Diego

The human's screams died down as I sucked the last drops of blood from his vein. I let the corpse slide from my hands and fall to the floor with a dull thud. I turned slightly to my left and saw my friend Noah was still feeding from his prey.

Our eyes met and I smiled gently at him. Noah's past was rough and he was just recently added to our army. You would think he would be among those who are frantic for blood, but he was actually very kind hearted and friendly.

I walked out of the abandon park garage and lifted my head towards the sky. The moon was out tonight, basking in all its glory along with the stars.

I was born in November, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. My family lived in poverty and my dad had walked out on us when I was four. It was just me, my mom, and my younger brother Gabriel.

My mom had many jobs and she tried so hard to keep us stable. I helped a bit by working a few jobs that I was allowed to work at. My brother was only eleven, so he couldn't really do much.

When I turned sixteen, my mother was offered a better job in Portland. We moved and went to school, I still worked a few jobs along with my mom. Although things were getting better for us, more and more gangs started to occur in my school.

I stayed far away from them. I had a goal in life to go off to college and help my younger brother get a better education. Though Gabriel didn't take my advice, and he soon become infatuated with one of the gangs.

A few months later and my brother was killed during the initiation ritual for the gang. I was overcome with grief, that I stole one of the member's guns and pointed it directly at his head.

I was about to shoot, when seven other gang member cornered me. i thought I was going to die, and I started praying that it would be quick and painless. The thought of seeing Gabriel again quickly flashed through my mind.

Then suddenly I was grabbed from the side and hauled away from the members. I tried to turn around to see what was happening, but all I saw was seven bodies lying still on the floor.

I turned with terror to see who had captured me and came face to face with a pretty looking female. She had pale blonde hair, almost silver, that reached about mid back. She looked to be about 5'2 and had defined features with a curvy body. Her lips were pouty red and her nose was sharp and tiny. Then I looked into her eyes.

I saw blood.

Her eyes held a gleam in them, though the gleam wasn't one of destruction or malice. It was sympatric and regretful. The goddess leaned in and whispered in her seductive voice, "Do you need a new life?"

I had no idea what she was talking about at the time, but reluctantly I nodded my head. I was most definitely in need for a new life. A way to start over and live better than I originally had.

And then she bit me. And then there was fire. And then I blacked out.

The blonde goddess was sitting next to me when I woke. I frantically looked around at my surroundings and noticed we were in a rundown hotel lobby of some sorts.

The girl told me her name was Irina. She told me all about what I had become and what I had to do to survive. She told me I was a vampire, and I was 'born' into this army. I was 'destined' to help battle for 'her'.

I wasn't sure who 'her' was, no one knew who she was. We just referred to her as that. We knew that Laurent and Irina were just second in command, but none of us knew the name of our own leader.

As time went on, I learned that I was unnaturally under control when it came to my companions. They were all ravenous animalistic monsters. Though I still drained a body like they did, I had more respect for the dead and was more controlled.

I noticed Irina was more controlled as well, and one day I asked her how old she was. I knew it was stupid, seeing as that was a rude thing to ask, but she just laughed and said 'well over a few millenniums'. My jaw dropped and I couldn't stop staring at her.

We grew a special bond. Not a romantic one, but a friendly one. I looked up to her like a role model...like I wished Gabriel had looked up to me as. She had a kindness and a passion about her that none of others had.

"What are you thinking about?" I heard Noah ask from behind me. I sighed and rested my arm on one of the walls, looking out towards the moon. "Nothing in general." Was my simple response.

"Well we should wrap it up. Irina said we needed to meet back at the base camp near midnight. She and Laurent have something to tell everyone." Noah informed me. I sighed once more and pushed off from the wall.

"Alright, in that case we better head back." He nodded his head and we were off. We scaled up the side of the building and leapt from roof to roof. I leaned forward and gripped the side of it, looking once more at the sky.

I jumped down from the 24 story building and landed with just a soft thump. Noah was seconds behind me as we continued our journey through the city. We avoided all contact with the humans, and we kept our heads down as we ran through streets and other alleyways.

We ducked underneath some wooden planks that blocked off an entrance for the abandon hotel where our base was. Once we were in, we ran through the dark halls until we reached the lobby. We slowed to a walk when we noticed most of the newborns were already here along with Laurent and Irina.

Once Irina saw I was here with Noah, she nodded to Lauren and he began to speak. "Newborns, our time is coming to destroy the Cullen clan. I have been informed by 'her' that the battle will take place in one week. We have reached the time where we need to focus on our battle strategies and less on our hunger. If you don't comply, you will die."

His words sent chills down everyone's spines and all the newborns glanced frantically around. They were all too cocky for their own good, and the ones who weren't were only senile about feeding. They were either terrified or murderous.

Most of them were ready for a fight. Though I had a bed feeling about this. I had heard many stories from Irina that this coven was very powerful. I heard her once mention they had a seer. Would they have seen this? Were the Cullen's anticipating the battle?

If so, we were dead. I didn't want to stick around to see my companions turn to ash. So I made a plan, and I stuck to it.

Around noon the next day, I told Irina I needed to feed. "What do you mean? I thought you fed with Noah last night?" I quickly made up some lie about not feeling the need and I was too preoccupied with my surroundings and lost track of time.

Normally she wouldn't let one of us go alone, but she knew I wouldn't do anything…or at least she thought she knew. It broke my heart to lie to her after she had practically treated me like her son, but I knew I needed to go.

It was every man for themselves.

So I ran. I had no idea where I was going, nor did I care. I just dove into the ocean and swam to wherever I would be free. I swam for days upon days, and finally I reached a sandy shore. I didn't stop running though.

I raced onto the shore and dove off. It finally occurred to me I had used an entire day to travel as far away from them as possible. When I stopped, I looked around and noticed I was in a desert.

I continued my journey, this time getting lost near a rundown town. I needed to feed badly.

As I was approaching a drunken man passed out on the side walk, someone else leapt from the shadows and dragged him into an alley. I growled at the loss of a meal and ran towards the alley.

I knew it was stupid to let my anger control me, but I was thirsty.

Once I reached the alley, I froze. The vampire draining the drunken fool was…beautiful. She was without a doubt the most beautiful vampire I had ever seen.

She had long curly brown hair the hung down her back in waves. She looked to be around 5'1 and appeared to have turned when she was fifteen, just a year younger from when I had.

Her eyes were the most vibrant color of red, and they glowed in the darkness of the alley. But when her eyes found mine, I knew I had found my reason for existence. I had found my mate.

"Hello there, my name is Diego." I said and walked towards her. She dropped the corpse to the ground, her eyes never leaving mine. She subconsciously liked her lips and I felt the need to kiss them.

"Hello Diego, my name is Bree." She extended her hand. When our skin touched, and electrical shock flowed from my fingertips into her arm and back. She gasped and looked up at me. She was smart enough to know what that meant.

"Diego…" She trailed off. I smiled and did something that shocked the both of us. I leaned down and planted a soft kiss to her lips. She remained frozen for a while and I felt like such an idiot.

I just met her! I barely know a thing about her, and here I am kissing her senseless!

But my thoughts were numbed out when I felt her responded just as eagerly. Our kiss held a passion that I had never felt in my entire life. I wrapped my arms around her and felt her hands go to my neck.

When we pulled away she leaned her forehead on mine. "Come back with me…please…" I couldn't deny her anything. Was it possible for a mate to deny his partner anything? From what I've seen and heard, it wasn't.

"I will follow you anywhere Bree…oh God you're so beautiful…" I trailed off, sounding like a fool She bit her lips and smiled slightly. "You're pretty good looking yourself." She murmured.

She grabbed my hand and dragged me off to wherever her home was. I followed behind like blind idiot not realizing what I was doing. And when I found out where she lived, I felt like gorging my heart out and handing over to her just so I can leave. I wanted to remain with my mate…but not like this…

I had successfully fled from one newborn army only to become a member of an even bigger and more lethal one. And Bree actually enjoyed staying here, which meant I couldn't leave either. I had become a member.

Without realizing my stone-like state, Bree said in a cheerful voice, "Come with me Deigo, we have to meet my masters! Oh they'll be so happy I found you!" I gulped as she dragged me towards one of the rundown homes.

She didn't even knock, just opened the door and walked in. That alone told me she wasn't just a 'member' of the army. She must be like Irina was, a second in command leader.

"Kara! Maria! Look who I found!" We stepped into the den area of the house and I came face to face with her leaders. I hadn't heard of two vampires co-leading an army before, but these two looked like they could be twins.

They both shared sinister faces with evil eyes and cold hearts.

"And who might this be?" The one with the dark black hair and tall frame asked. Her eyes narrowed and as she looked me over. The other one was smirking at her and then letting her gaze wander back to me.

"Kara, this is my mate Diego!" She raised a brow and stood. She continued her inspection and I had to bite back a growl. I didn't like the way they were treating me like property.

"What do you think, Maria? Does he look like a soldier?" The other vampire chuckled slightly and her eyes held an evil glint. She rose of the couch and crossed her arms. Then she said something that made my heart stop.

"Judging from his battle scars, I'd say he has had his fair share of newborns before." Kara's head whipped back to mine and she examined me closer. Then she started to laugh, a sinister sound it was.

"Let me guess…newborn who escaped his previous army in fear of being killed in the next upcoming battle? Hhhhmmm…yes we do have quite a few of those situations. Though, in our case…they don't get too far…" she trailed off, flaunting her teeth in front of me.

I gulped and decided it was my time to speak. "I p-promise I won't run. Besides, I could never leave Bree behind." That seemed to do the trick as the two of them shared a look and looked back at Bree. She looked close to tears, her eyes pleading for my life.

Maria sighed and walked towards me. She trailed her finger along my collar bone and laughed when I flinched away. "Very well. He can stay, but if he runs Bree…you have to kill him." Bree looked frantically at me, then to the floor.

I knew I couldn't run now. I was trapped.

"Now…" Kara said as she walked back over to the couch and plopped onto a cushion. "Why don't you tell us about yourself?" I glanced at Bree and she walked over to me, taking my hand in hers. She leaned in and whispered so quietly that not even Kara or Maria could hear, "You better tell them everything. It's in your best interest to be honest now."

I nodded my head and looked back at the two vampires. I sighed and began to tell them my story.

Seattle, Washington, 2008
Irina May Denali's POV:

I ran towards Laurent with a frantic speed. I couldn't believe I had fallen for that! I thought Diego was loyal, but I guess it was every man for themselves now. I just prayed Victoria wouldn't find out.

But as I approached the hotel, I heard a heart wrenching scream. I felt my breathing stop and I froze for a second. Then, as if I had been shocked by an electrical outlet, I charged for the door where I heard the voice.

Once I opened the door, I felt my venom run cold. "Laurent!" I screeched as I saw his body burning in the massive fire place. I screamed as I ran towards him, then once I saw his head was torn from his neck, I fell to the ground.

My head fell into my hands and I sobbed uncontrollably. My mate…gone. My entire existence had been demolished by fire and my heart was thrown to the ground and staked. I couldn't breathe, nor did I want to continue going.

"Who did this to you?" I whispered to myself while lifting my head gently and sobbing as I saw his skin turning to ash. I heard the clink of heels from behind me and I whipped around to see Victoria.

I gasped and shot off the floor. She smirked at me and stalked forward. "You've been a naughty girl Irina." She mocked me and chuckled when she saw my face contour into anger. I marched forward and slapped her right across the face while screaming, "You did this you bitch! You killed my mate!"

She recoiled and snarled ferociously at me. I flinched and stumbled backwards a bit. "He deserved it, but not as much as you do too! I know that boy ran away, and I know you've been in contact with your sister."

I froze once more. She had heard that? A few days ago, I had called Tanya. I needed to speak with her. I just needed to hear a familiar voice again, maybe she could give me some advice.

When I heard she was with someone, I felt so happy that I felt like crying. It was pathetic, really. But Tanya had been alone for so long, and out of all three of us, she was the one who really wanted a mate. Edward was a perfect example of that.

"Y-you heard…" I trailed off. Victoria scowled at me and nodded. "I heard every last word you spoke. I know all about your sister, the Cullens, the broken imprints, and Alexander."

My eyes widened and I yelped when I felt her hand around my neck. "You lied to me Irina. You told your sister you planned on returning home so you could warn the Cullen clan about my army. You're the betrayer, not me!"

She was right. After a long talk with Laurent, I realized I didn't want to be this person. I wanted to apologize to the Cullen's and my family. I wanted to become a better person and help them. But now it was too late. I waited too long.

With that last thought, Victoria leaned in to whisper in my ear. "I plan on killing the Cullen's, and nothing is going to stop me. Make sure to say hi to them when you meet in hell."

And then there was darkness.

…don't kill me! Before you start bombarding me with questions, let me clear some things up. 1. Diego doesn't know about Jasper or Bella because they were never told the exact specifics of the family, just that they needed to kill them. 2. Yes, Irina and Laurent are dead. 3. Victoria has another plan, so Alice still won't be able to see the army…though you'll find out that plan in the next chapter ;)

Thanks for reading! Happy father's day! SHOUT OUT TO CARLISLE AND CHARLIE! WOOT-WOOT!