Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 8: The Mission

(AmPOV)

As I ran to Seattle I let the kisses I shared with Alice take over my mind. When our lips touched for the first time I felt as if I was coming home. Like I had always been waiting for that one moment without knowing it. It was such a perfect moment I was grateful to my infallible memory. I would be able to remember that kiss for eternity. I'll make it back to her I promised myself. I looked around and found myself on the outskirts of the city. I sniffed to see if I could pick up the scent of the newborns. I almost missed the scent, because it was buried underneath the many delicious smelling humans. I ignored the burn in the back of my throat that the human scents ignited as I followed the vampire scent to an abandoned warehouse. I was crouched in a dark alleyway next to the building when a voice spoke from behind me.

"Well, well, well. What have we got here boys?"

I whirled around to find the speaker. He was directly behind me some ten feet away. He was tall and muscular, with sandy blond hair. His eyes were the bright red of a newborn. There were two other newborns behind him. I used Bradley's power. I could sense that one of them had the power to cover scents. Ah so that's how they crept up behind me. I cursed.

"Now that's no way for a lady to speak. You shouldn't use such dirty language." The sandy haired vampire smirked at me.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"Seeing as how this is our territory, and you're outnumbered, I don't really think you should be asking the questions." He growled.

"What's going on Riley?" I heard a female voice ask from behind me. Shit! How many of them are there? I turned to the side so I could keep both parties in my vision. The woman who had spoken was maybe a few years older than me physically. She had curly brown hair. Her eyes weren't as bright as all the others. She was passed her year mark, no longer a newborn. Behind her walked three other males. Fuck. This just got serious really fast.

"We found an intruder Zoey. We were just about to teach her what happens to people when they encroach upon our territory." Riley smirked as his ruby eyes glinted sadistically.

Zoey turned to face me. "What are you doing on our lands?" She asked trying, and failing, to sound menacing.

"Just passing through." I lied. I knew this was probably going to turn nasty, but I would try my hardest to not let it.

"Well, the thing is we don't like people passing through here. Seattle is our hunting ground. The blood is ours." One of the unknown newborns who had walked up with Zoey growled.

"I didn't know this area was claimed. I'm sorry. I'll leave right now." Shit. I had a feeling I would find an army, but I was desperately hoping I was wrong. I had to get out as quickly as possible.

"Oh I don't think you're going anywhere. We're going to make an example out of you. No one will dare cross into our area again." Zoey growled as she suddenly pinned me against the wall of the warehouse. I could feel my beast thrashing against its cage at the act of violence. It wanted to teach this vampire that we were stronger than her. I gave into my beast, letting my instincts take over. A growl ripped through my bared teeth as I grabbed the hand wrapped around my throat. I twisted until I heard the bone snap. She let out a piercing scream of pain and rage.

"You just made a big mistake." I snarled.

"You fucking bitch. You broke my wrist. Kill her." She ordered the others.

I sank into a crouch with my back against the side of the warehouse so they couldn't sneak up behind me. My coal black eyes flickered around the half circle of vampires in front of me, trying to gauge who would attack first. I jumped as the first charged and used the wall to flip over him while grabbing his head and wrenching it from his shoulders. As my feet hit the ground I dropped his head. I crouched again and saw them all watching me with wary eyes. Zoey was standing far enough away to no have to participate in the fight happening. The next one sprang at me. He tried to roundhouse kick me but I caught his ankle and twisted, hearing the bone crack and his pain filled scream. I sighed. They weren't even trained. A fist collided with the side of my head, silvery crack spider webbing across my cheek. I cursed myself for getting distracted. I growled at them. Another fist came flying towards my head. I caught the wrist and pulled him past me with his own momentum. As he stumbled my hand fisted in his hair and pulled back sharply tearing his head from his body. Before I could turn around I felt the sting of venom on my jaw. I snarled and reached up wrapping my arms around the newborns head and flipping him over my shoulder before he could do any more damage with his teeth. I planted my knee on his chest as he hit the ground on his back. My hands twisted his head from his body as easily as I had the other two. Riley, Zoey, and the two unnamed newborns were all that was left. The two unknowns both came at me this time. My eyes tracked their every move. One threw a punch towards my ribs, while the other kicked towards my face. I blocked the kick with my forearm. I gritted my teeth as the bone broke from the force of the kick, and my ribs protested the shot they had taken. I wanted to end this already. So, as they came at me again I crouched and jumped. I twisted in the air so I landed on the back of one of them. I quickly decapitated him and before his body even hit the ground I was on the back of the other doing the same to him. I dropped to the ground in a crouch facing Riley and Zoey. I growled a challenge to them. They were both staring at me with wide eyes. As I crouched there, daring them to attack, the cowards turned and fled.

I looked up at the sky. I had no idea of the time, but I would guess it to be about two or three in the afternoon. That meant Alice would be out of school now. I could feel my body trying to heal my wounds, but I had not hunted recently so I couldn't heal at my normal rate. I knew I needed to hunt but I had promised the Cullens I wouldn't hunt in state and I didn't have time to make a trip at the moment. I needed to let my father and the Cullens know what's going on. I sighed as I started to run back towards Forks.

I staggered up the front steps of the Cullen house. The door was flung open before I could knock.

"Amanda! What happened?" Alice shouted when she saw me. The rest of the family had gathered at her shout. I heard them all gasp when they took in my appearance.

"No need to shout Alice. Super sensitive hearing remember?" I started to chuckle but soon stopped when my ribs ached from the movement.

"Right. Sorry. So what happened?" She asked in a quieter tone as she gently brushed her fingers over my cracked cheek. I saw her eyes turn black.

"How about we go inside and discuss this so Amanda doesn't have to keep standing?" Esme suggested. I tried to smile gratefully at her but it came out as more of a pained grimace when the cracks stretched. We all walked inside to the living room. I took a seat on the couch with Alice sitting next to me on my right and Esme on my left. Rosalie sat on Emmett's lap in the love seat. Katie and Edward were in the armchair. Carlisle sat on the arm of the sofa next to Esme, while Audrey and Jasper sat next to each other on the two person couch across from us.

"Now tell us what happened, little princess!" Emmett boomed. I told them the whole story. I told them about Jane calling me, telling me to investigate the situation. Riley and the ambush. Zoey showing up with more newborns. When I got to the fight more than one growl echoed around the room. When my story was finished they all sat there in stunned silence.

"Whoa. You killed five newborns by yourself, at once, without using any of your powers? That's awesome!" Katie exclaimed. Emmett nodded his agreement.

"Carlisle would please examine her?" Alice spoke up next. Carlisle started making his way towards me but I waved him off.

"There's no need Carlisle. I'm fine. I just need to hunt, and then I'll be healed in no time." I looked at Alice as I spoke.

"Amanda I must say that it would make everyone feel better if you would allow me to examine you." Carlisle stated. Alice nodded her head.

"Oh very well then." I sighed.

"If you would follow me please." He stood up. I mirrored his action dragging Alice with me since she was practically glued to my side. We flashed to his study since it was soundproof.

"So what's up doc?"

"Your right arm is broken, three fractured ribs, fractured jaw and cheekbone, and a few fresh bites."

"Really?" He nodded. "Maybe that's why I hurt so much." I chuckled lightly trying to no irritate my injured ribs.

"This isn't a laughing matter Amanda. You could have been killed." Alice chastised.

I saw Carlisle slip out of the room, leaving me and Alice to talk alone.

"I'll be perfectly fine once I feed. Don't worry so much Alice." I flitted in front of her and wrapped my left arm around her waist, pulling her body flush against mine. "I'm okay. Really." I whispered as I stared into her mesmerizing amber eyes.

"I guess I overreacted. I just don't like seeing you hurt." She gently took my face in her hands. I leaned down to close the gap between our lips, just barely brushing her lips with my own. That didn't seem to satisfy her though. She leaned closer to me to deepen the kiss, as she ran her tongue over my bottom lip. I happily granted her access. After a few minutes I broke the kiss knowing I still had to hunt and tell my father about the army.

"I need to hunt." I told her.

"Do you really need to go out of state? Will try our diet?" She pouted.

I sighed. She had been trying to get me to try hunting animals for a few weeks now and I just couldn't deny her any longer. "For you, anything."

"Yay!" She squealed before pecking me on the lips again. "Come on." She grabbed my hand.

I sniffed the air. I could smell the scents of four elk near the creek. I could hear their pounding hearts. I let my instincts take over as I raced towards my unsuspecting prey. I sank into my hunting crouch at the tree line as my gaze fell upon the pounding pulse in the elk's shaggy neck. As I prepared to take my prey the wind shifted, bringing with it a mouthwatering scent that promised to quench the raging fire in the back of my throat. I took off in a direction perpendicular to my original path. The delicious scent led me to a clearing where two hikers were resting. Their heartbeats were slightly elevated and the light sheen of sweat covering their bodies called to my monster. I tried to fight it, but I was too far gone. My thoughts were fuzzy and they all seemed to center around the men's blood. The sweet aroma was too much for the burning thirst. I crouched and sprang at the first man, snapping his neck as if it was a twig. He didn't even have time to scream. My teeth sank into his jugular, tearing through to the sweet red liquid beneath. I dropped his body when he ran dry. I turned and leaped at the other man who sat terrified, unable to move. As the sweet nectar that was his life blood flowed into my mouth I couldn't help but moan in appreciation. I dropped his body.

It felt as if I was waking up from a dream as I caged the monster inside me once again. I could tell that my body was completely healed now. I stared at the hiker's body and for the first time in a long time I felt guilt and self-disgust well up inside me for what I had done. I had spent nearly a hundred and fifty years pushing this feeling aside and ignoring it. Why do I feel it now? I had only one answer to that. Alice.

I heard footsteps approaching my location but I didn't move. I knew it would be Alice and I didn't want her to see my now crimson eyes. They are proof of my betrayal to her. Why does she affect me so? I saw the answer before I had even finished asking the question. I love her. She could never love a monster like me. I couldn't even hunt her way one time before I slipped up. I closed my eyes as tears that would never fall blurred my vision.

"Amanda?" I heard nothing but concern in her voice but I knew it was too good to be true. I didn't look at her or acknowledge her in any way. I was so still I could pass as a statue. I didn't even breathe.

"Amanda, look at me." She pleaded. Still I didn't acknowledge her presence.

I heard her slowly close the distance between us, before she crouched in front of me. I flinched when she put her hand on my cheek. It was such a loving caress and I didn't deserve it. She's an angel and I'm a monster. She deserves someone so much better than me. She tried to lift my gaze to meet hers but I resisted. I heard her sigh softly before she spoke.

"It's okay. You didn't mean to do this. It's not your fault." She whispered as her thumb stroked across my cheekbone. Her words finally broke me from the trance like state I had been in. My blazing red eyes met her soft amber ones. She flinched at the anger in my gaze even though it wasn't directed at her.

"It's okay? No, it's not. I didn't mean to do it? Doesn't matter. I still did it, didn't I? It's not my fault? Then whose is it Alice?" I stood up and began to pace. Her eyes followed my movements. "I don't deserve your comfort Alice. I am a monster and that's all I'll ever be. I don't deserve yours, or any of your family's, love. I should just leave and let you go back to your existence before me. After what I have done here today can you honestly still look at me and say I'm not a monster?" I continued to pace until she stepped in front of and wrapped her arms around my neck. My hand instinctively fell to her hips.

She looked me directly in the eye as she simply stated, "Yes."

I saw not a hint of lie in her beautiful topaz eyes. "How?" I muttered as my eyes slid shut once again.

"Easily. A monster would not beat themself up like this. They would feel no remorse for the lives they had stolen. You're not a monster. You deserve to be loved and cared for as much as anyone else in this world. Please don't leave me." Her voice was so broken that I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her waist and hug her to me tightly.

"I am a monster. I've spent nearly a hundred and fifty years killing humans to satiate my thirst. I didn't feel remorse. I didn't feel guilt. Well, I did but I just pushed it away. I feel like I failed you, like I broke a promise to you. I told you I would try to hunt animals and then I go and slaughter these two hikers." I dropped my arms from around her and tried to escape from her hold. I didn't deserve this, no matter what she said.

"Look at me." She whispered. I kept my eyes firmly closed. "Look. At. Me." She commanded. I finally opened my eyes.

"Good. Now listen to me. You are not a monster. You didn't fail me, or break a promise to me. It's not your fault. I would have done the same thing if I had given myself over to my instincts like you had. You did what any one of us would have done. Stop torturing yourself over this." My mouth covered hers as the last word fell from her lips. I couldn't express the gratitude I felt towards her with words.

I ran my tongue along her bottom lip, begging for entrance to her sweet tasting mouth. She granted it without hesitation. When our tongues collided in a fiery dance, a moan slipped from both of us. I slowly backed her into a tree, and pinned her there. My thigh settled between hers. My lips kissed, licked, and nipped at her neck. I pressed my thigh against her center. I was rewarded with a gasp and then a deep moan as I added more pressure. I could smell her arousal and I smiled against her skin before finding her lips again. I pressed into her core again. Her head fell back against the trunk of the tree as she groaned and her eyes rolled back in pleasure. Her neck and collarbone were left open for a new assault from my questing lips.

I pulled back a few minutes later, eliciting a whimper from Alice. She pulled my face back to hers, but I only place a soft, sweet kiss on her lips before pulling back once again. She pouted.

"We haven't even gone on a date yet. I think we should stop before we go any further." I chuckled as she sighed. "I also wanted to ask you something. Would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night, Alice?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" She squealed.

I kissed her sweetly before pulling back. "I'll let you know the details before tomorrow night. I'm so glad today's Friday. I wouldn't want to have to wait another night before I could take you on a date. Well, I should probably clean this mess up. So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked.

"Of course." She kissed me again before sprinting off in the direction of her house.

I was running back to my place after cleaning my mess up when the perfect idea for mine and Alice's date tomorrow popped into my head. I pulled out my phone to text Alice the details.

Meet me at the meadow at seven tomorrow. :)

Will do, babe. ;) What do you have planned?

You'll see, beautiful.

I had a huge grin on my face as I put my phone back in my pocket. I would make this the most perfect first date anyone has ever seen.

A/N: Well that was chapter eight. I'm sorry it's been so long between updates, but I had writer's block for this story. I also had my new story going through my head just begging to be written. If you haven't checked it out yet, you really should. Anyway, I'm not going to update this story unless I get at least five reviews for this chapter. So if you want me to update soon, you should review. Come on, people. I've gotten almost 800 hits on this story and only five reviews? It would be nice to get some feedback on how my story is. I do allow anonymous reviews, so you don't even have to be a member to review :) So let's get those reviews rolling, huh? :D

Please and thank you,

DarkestTinkerbell