Hey, look! A THING! Enjoy!

Bella POV

I growled, kicking Emmett and the chest, sending him flying into the pond nearby. I rolled back over my head and onto my feet, stalking to the edge of the water. My big, bear of a brother stood in the water, dripping with a heaving chest. We stared at one anther blindly. For once, we were at an impasse. A full week of training, and we had both progressively matched one another in both style, speed, and intelligence. Even Jasper was surprised at the sudden progress. And just as we had begun working on our own skills, the rest of the company had as well. Carter, Natalia, and Silith had even taken to the process of learning something new. Carter and Natalia had also found it in themselves to work with one another instead of separately. With one stealing power and the other bending it to their will, they were a duo to be reckoned with. Silith, too, had upgraded his abilities, something which satisfied me greatly, because we quickly learned that our flames could actually work together. When put next to each other, ice and fire, blue and orange, was beyond a stunning composition, it was deadly as well.

I shook my head as the minutes ticked away, neither of us moving. Even the others who were watching us were lifting eyebrows. "You coming out?" I wondered, pushing my hip to one side as I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

He stilled before shaking his head defiantly. "You coming in?" he questioned.

I lifted my arms out at my sides, and I shrugged my shoulders slightly. "Why should I? I put you in there, so I have no reason to follow. If you're not gonna fight back, I already won."

"Oh, yeah? Then, what about you? You're not fighting back either," he argued.

I sighed, shrugging defiantly. "Oh, whatever." I turned my back to him, looking Jasper in the eye. He lifted an eyebrow in question, and I only winked.

I never did hear the water move, but I practically felt the shift in the air as Emmett came up behind me, silent as ever. His hands were on my upper arms in seconds, but it wasn't long until I was fighting back. With sparks of water filling the air, I was soon getting sprayed with water as we rumbled over the ground, meeting with the sound of thunder.

"How did you improve so fast?" I growled, vaulting over his head.

He snarled, following my movement and grabbing onto my ankle before slamming me to the ground. I gasped as it cratered. "How did you suddenly get so bad?" he questioned sardonically.

"You bastard."

I rolled back once more, taking him with me as I forcefully pressed his face into the grass. I sat on my knees which rested on top of his arms, holding him in place. Even the sporadic movements of his legs couldn't make me move. "Do you give?" I asked.

He slowly stopped squirming, sighing in frustration. "Yes. Dammit."

I smirked. "Just as well." I let him go, moving to turn towards Jasper. I saw Jasper's eyes widen for a split second before I was flying through the air. I gasped, eyes widening as I soared over the ground, nearing the water. I lifted my arms before my face, falling into the warm water. I sank to the bottom, ceasing all forms of breathing. The sunlight filtered through the blue-green water, waving like streaks of fluid lightning above me. My cheeks lifted with a smile at the beautiful view. On the surface, I saw a group of shadowy figures looking down into the water. A minute or so passed, and I finally decided to rise to breathe the fresh air. I lifted out of the water, pushing my hair from my face.

"Alright, Emmett, I'll let you have that one..." My eyes widened as I met the ruby eyes of Felix and Demetri. They smiled shallowly, and I looked past them to see my family and companions lying on the ground, knocked out. I gasped, moving up onto the bank until I was standing before them. My eyes met theirs, and I growled. "What did you do to them?"

Demetri smirked. "Nothing that will kill them...again."

"We're requesting your presence," Felix added. "Aro was quite taken with you. It's only when he gets you that he will leave your family alone."

"That's rather presumptuous," I remarked. "Does he think me so ignorant as to give myself up so easily." I chuckled lithely. "I'm afraid, you won't be able to do as he wishes." I lunged towards Felix and then was sent flying, landing close to Jasper. Shocked, I glanced at them with wide eyes, feeling my whole body go numb. They began to stalk towards me, and I weakly pulled myself closer to Jasper, whispering with my lips at his ear. "You have to find the Southerners, get their help. Then, come find me. No matter what, Jasper, you cannot come for me until you have the help you need. Don't you dare put yourself in harm's way." The monsters stood over me, grabbing my arms and beginning to pull me away. I screamed and thrashed through my numbing body, calling out to my love. "You have to keep yourself alive! Do whatever you can to get help! DO. NOT. DIE!"

My movements slowly dissolved into nothing as all feeling in my body disappeared. Since my change, I had finally felt that soothing air of lethargy, and even through my fear, I could not help myself from succumbing to it. Whatever they had done, it was powerful. I couldn't bear it.

My jaw tensed as the darkness reeled in, and a circle of light reflected over Jasper's pale face and golden hair as I was stripped from my family. Suddenly, in that blackness, I was alone.

Jasper's POV

The air was stale and stoic, utterly suffocating. Above my eyelids, a low light filtered through, and I knew the sun was long gone. There were the shallow sounds of slow moving footfalls around me, and, slowly, a group of voices began to mold themselves into submission. Soon, I heard them.

"They used something I've never heard of," Carlisle murmured. "It seemed like some kind of serum, similar to something you'd give for a shot."

"Is it poisonous?" I heard Emmett ask.

"Doesn't seem like it," Carlisle replied. "Aro may want to obliterate us, but there would be no fun if he simply murdered us through something so humane."

"He wants us to suffer," Alice stated. "Moreover, I didn't even see this."

A squabble of pondering words rose between Edward and Carlisle, but I was barely paying attention. Slowly, I became aware of my body, groaning as I opened my eyes and sat up. Almost immediately, Esme was beside me, her hands on my shoulders.

"I'm so happy you're awake," she cheered lowly, helping me to my feet.

"Indeed," I breathed, looking around for a flash of caramel hair. "Where's Bella?" I asked, looking down at my mother figure.

She lowered her eyes sadly, shaking her head. "They must have pulled her from the water. She wasn't here when me and Carlisle woke."

"What?!" I barked, moving away from her and towards the water. I looked over the bank, tracing the low ruts formed from some kind of sliding motion. I pressed my hand to the tracks, running my hand over the soft ground. "Bella..." I whispered, closing my eyes as a piercing ache filled my head. Bella's voice rolled through my head, echoing her commands and desperate pleas to keep myself alive. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing to run after her without pause, but knowing there would be nothing I could truly do once I got to her. What would be waiting for me beyond this trial?

I opened my eyes, stretching my gaze to the dark sky. There was only so much time left for any of us. Tomorrow, a week, a month, a year, a hundred years, a thousand years. What would they amount to if all I could do well was get myself killed by strolling into Aro's dominion unarmed? Even with my current companions, the chances of winning were violently outnumbered by the power and strength on Aro's side. And now, with Bella in his grasp, we were as good as dead if we made a defensive maneuver. Despite my better judgments, and the volatile venom in my veins, I resisted all urges to run and get Bella without care. If I were to follow too soon, not only would I lose my life, but my family and companions would as well. Even Bella would be endangered through my stupidity should I go against what she asked.

Shaking my head, I slammed my fist into the ground. The earth fell away beneath the weight of my hand, and I felt the eyes of the others blazing into my back. I rose to my feet, twisting my head to gaze at them from the corner of my eye. "We're going to the armies. Bella wants us to get aide."

"Wait, you want to just let them have her?" Emmett questioned sharply.

I growled at him. "No, but it's of no use to go after her now. Without some kind of help, we'll be dead before we can even help her." I turned away from them. "Also, she told me to wait until I see fit. So, let's get help quickly so we can save her."

I took off without them, knowing they would follow. Flashing through the trees, a shallow breeze ran through the leaves, and when the sun began to rise behind a stark, pale gray background, the gentle knocking of rain drops started to fall. Beneath the trees, the drops were few and far between, but the pattering of rain was a shallow reminder of the sudden emptiness in my soul. It was as if the venom in my veins was crying out, speaking volumes with the drops of water. Into the dense hours of the day, the rain began to hasten its entrance, falling without care as thunder roared overhead. Sliding up alongside a strong canopy, I slowed to a stop, waiting just long enough for the rain to subside again. Looking up through the trees, I watched the clouds roll over one another like fog and smoke, blending into an effortless, pendulous black as the sun fell over the opposite side of the earth, surrendering the day.

Beneath the hidden moon, our sprints began again as we crossed through Louisiana and into Texas. If there was one place I knew far too well, it was the damned area where Maria had taken my life and altered it for eternity. I suppose I could thank her now, but it was her decisions which made my newborn years a complete and utter hell. My emotion was rare to change, and I needed to find her quickly. As of now, she was the first enemy I would make. Soon, her entire army would be mine.

It was a little easier to find the tramp than I thought it would be. On the southwestern area of the state, Maria's scent was running rampant, floating in particles riding the wind and rain. Her scent mingled with that of many different ones. Those of newborns and the like, the venom engaged blood lingering even in the dense, rain-clouded air. Her troop wasn't even hidden, harboring beneath the overhang of a cliff which overlooked a wide valley. In that valley, a string of rundown farms close to demolishing themselves. Her fanged companions were loud and raucous, and the vibrancy of their eyes could be seen even from our height. I watched them with vigilant eyes as they screamed and fought one another, colliding like wrecking balls on loose chains. And in the middle of it all...Maria.

My eyes tensed as I looked her over, that same arrogant smirk lining her face. A growl rumbled in my chest, and my hatred for her resurfaced. A gentle hand landed on my shoulder as I glared at her.

"We will follow your orders, son," Carlisle murmured. "Tell us what you wish us to do."

I nodded. "Just keep those things off while I go after her, but keep them alive," I stated, pointing at the reigning vixen.

"Don't worry," Emmett sauntered. "We can handle them without problems."

"Good." With that, I jumped off the cliff, falling right into the center of the newborns.

They were startled at first, but it was only a second until they were standing their guard. I calmed them as much as I could, but they were still slightly restless. To my surprise, though, Maria was quick to call them off without my help. They listened well, but their newborn resilience and rebellion was definitely prevalent. It buzzed through the air like static electricity, filling the space.

"My, my, my," Maria sighed, almost seductively. "What a pleasure it is to see you again, Major."

She sidled up to me, pressing her hands to my chest, and looking up at me with her treasonous ruby eyes. I glared, lifting my hands to cover hers, making sure she noticed my wedding ring before I pushed her hands away roughly. "I don't believe I can return the favor."

She breathed in sharply, her eyes beaming with delicious anger. "Married?" she wondered too calmly. "I'm surprised you would be with another besides Alice. You never did wear a ring for her."

"That's quite observant of you," I murmured darkly. "I'm surprised someone like you would notice such a thing."

Her eyes tightened. "What do you mean by 'someone like me'?" she wondered sharply.

"Oh, you know," I sighed, "a homewrecker like you."

She snarled. "You bastard. You are speaking to your maker. Know your place."

My lips curled with a devilish smile. "Ah, if only I cared." I pounced without warning, gasping her neck in my hands. She may have been my maker, but she was far from my trainer in battle. My skills were far superior to hers; so much so that she could not even withstands my grip as my fingers ripped into her porcelain, blood thirsty flesh. Her dismembered head fell to the ground, rolling as I pulled a lighter from my pocket, dropping it on her convulsing corpse. She went up in flames, and the newborns went crazy. They knew well what she was to them; their creator. I didn't give a damn.

I traced my eyes over them, forcing them to pay attention. "You are all newborns, ruthless and rebellious. But now, you are under my rule. You will do as I say, and you will go to war as I request. Is that understood?" They bounced and shuffled on their feet, growling like baby cubs. "YOU WILL FOLLOW MY ORDERS! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!" Slowly, they delved into a state of submission lowering their heads; all but one.

Our eyes met, and I stalked over to him. "You. You dare to defy me?"

He smirked slyly. "I don't follow orders from those weaker than me, animal drinker."

"Ah, I see." He, too, was dismembered, and Emmett was close enough to drop his own lighter upon him. With his death, the newborns crowed, and a striking excitement fell over me as a deep hatred washed away.

"Leader," one chanted. "Leader, leader, leader!" Their chanting increased as they circled me, and I knew that I had gained one minuscule portion of the army I was after. My army would rule all of the vampire world. Even with the sacrifice of a million for one, my love, I knew no bounds. I would not fail, and I would not die. I tilted my head back, a drop of rain landing on my cheek.

I just hoped that Bella would do the same.

Bell's POV

I shrieked once again as the hot branding iron cut into my skin, carving out an infinity sign wrapped with poisonous snakes. The symbol of the Volturi, or so I had been told in my harsh, chemically enhanced debriefing. My skin melted and regenerated, constantly whittled away beneath the weight of a hellish fire's grip. One brand followed by another, and my back had slowly been covered with one scar after another, none of which were similar to what Jasper had.

"How are you, my dear?" a dark voice questioned from the darkness surrounding the single ray of light over me.

"Argh!" I cried as another branding followed. "Just fucking peachy."

A sadistic laugh followed. "My, it would seem you have gotten quite used to that fire. Shall we make it worse?"

My eyes widened, and he laughed once more. Behind me, I heard a rustling of some kind of metal against metal. A glove clad hand reached around me, showcasing a long, spiraled piece of metal which glistened with some kind of liquid. The hand turned into a masked vampire as he, or she, revolved around me, lowering themselves before me, matching my pose by getting on their knees. The tip of the metal touched the skin of my stomach, and I hissed, finally realizing that the glisten was that of fresh venom. The creature twisted the spiraled object like a nail, cutting into my flesh and moving through my body. I felt, and heard, it scrape against the muscles and bones of my torso, moving through me with a frightening rage. My head fell back with bellowing screams, my face twisted and stretched inhumanly as pain overwhelmed me. He left the metal there, with it sticking out of both sides of my body. I breathed around the object, feeling the venom overtake the insides of form. Another soon followed, coming in from my side at a completely different angle.

I cursed the heavens and gods for letting me enter this hell, and soon I was practically made of metal, my entire abdomen, sides, and back littered with these spirals from the devil himself. I screamed without end, burning from the inside out.

Save me, Jasper. Please, anyone...save me!

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! JASPER!"

So...there's that. Let me know what you think! And remember, my novel, Decimation, is still available on Amazon. Just search my name and find that sucker!

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Until next time...

~ Zoe