Chapter 1

My feet barely touched the ground as I glided over the snow floor. In my opinion there was nothing better than the feeling of running. The cool breeze brushed against my body with each step I took. I thought about my destination. A vampire named Maria had travelled north to create a newborn army. My eyes narrowed at the thought. I'd kept tabs on her throughout the years, she was a major player in the wars of the south over the last 400 years. Maria was controlled, she was smart about her decisions and how to keep her newborns in check. For that reason she was still breathing but when she decided to take the fight up north, my decision of her life changed. I'd had let their silly games go on, but she had grown too bold when she decided to take over more land. I knew that I wasn't too far away now, I could smell blood in the air.

My senses were much stronger than those of a normal vampire, it was rather comical that they thought they were invincible. I was faster, stronger and smarter than them all. It made sense though, I was the first vampire. I had existed on earth for far too long, but I had long ago learnt to deal with my fate. Now I live, and look after my kin. A few times over the years I had given up my role of authority and had other vampires do my bidding, right now for instance I had a coven in Volterra Italy. They had named themselves the Volturi. It was a stupid name in my opinion but it didn't bother me as long as they did their duty and governed the vampire race. I had created the three brothers over 3000 years ago, Aro, Marcus and Caius. It was easy to give them the idea to become the new authority. They had potential, but over the years I seen the greed in them increase with the more power they came across. Now they seem to have surrounded themselves with 'gifted' vampires and think themselves as royalty. It didn't surprise me all that much, it seemed to happen every time I gave authority over to someone else, the greed would become too much and I would have to step in again. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing, I'd much rather live rather peacefully. Then to have to worry about newborn army's, immortal children, exposure, etc.

Unfortunately for me, my peaceful existence had been disturbed by Maria and her army. They had been on the verge of showing themselves to the humans with all the blood they had spilled and it had got on my nerves. News reports of serial killers, gangs, terrorists were heard all over and I planned on putting an end to it. The Volturi hadn't taken action yet, it was something I'd have to look into later. The scum seemed more interested in their ridiculous thrones than the job I had given them.

I could see a clearing up ahead, the snow was a thick blanket on top of the earth. I was about 60 miles out of Vernon, Canada when I found the army. I slowed my approach and watched them for a while. I recognised Maria instantly, she seemed the calmest out of the group of about 42 vampires. 40 of them were newborns, they were wild in their movements, still fighting their urge for blood. The other a man looked like he was her second it charge. I analysed the group before I walked forward revealing myself. Hisses and growls filled a large clearing surrounded by trees as I approached. I could feel the tension of the newborns , they wanted to attack, it was only natural. These children only knew instinct, blood, and they would stop anything that got in their way.

I stopped about 20 meters away from the gathering, and waited for their reactions. A large male took a few steps towards me before Maria's arm shot out and touched his chest in warning. She didn't know who I was but she was suspicious as to why I was there. I'd guess that she thought I was from the army in the south sent to 'spy'. I almost giggled at the thought, the little girl had no idea who she was dealing with. People knew of me of course, but there was only a handful of vampires still alive that had actually met me. Whispers of my name and what I was capable of had travelled the lands and the years.

Maria's eyes raked over my body, sizing me up before landing on my eyes the widened a fraction. I had a small petite build only just over 5 foot, but was curvy in all the right places. My hair was dark brown almost black and it waved down my back to my waist, I was desirable to both humans and vampires in my looks. My skin pale white and flawless, my facial features were strong yet held the slight childlike appearance. I'd say I looked about 17, maybe 18 years old. I hardly seemed threatening but my eyes made most vampires I came across cautious, I had blue eyes almost the colour of the sky but lighter. Most vampires like those before my had red eyes, that showed their taste of human blood. It made Maria and one of her companions beside her tense. Vampire's didn't like the unknown in made them feel uneasy.

"Who are you and why have you come?" Maria's voice travelled through the clearing, she sounded strong and confident no trace of the feelings that were bubbling under the surface. I didn't answer her questions and instead looked over the faces surrounding me. It seemed such a waste of life, young and old. But I could see a reoccurrence as I looked from vampire to vampire. They all seemed to have a similar body shape, you could see the muscles under their dirty clothing they wore slim still but agile. I'd guess by first glance that they all had some sporting history maybe even a few boxers. Maria picked her puppets well, but not well enough.

Maria's black hair blew in the wind behind her as she took a few steps forward, anger evident on her face and her red eyes narrowed. "Maria, your army are lacking. I thought that after all these years you would have learnt how to select your soldiers better. You are looking for the wrong thing in them, strength and agility will only go so far."

Growls filled the air while I tried not to smirk and kept my face blank. Maria was a foot in front of me as soon as I finished speaking, she was crouched ready to attack. My head tilted to the side, in question to her hisses. "Who do you think you are? You must be stupid to speak to me like that in front of my army. You must have a death wish." Her tone was mocking as was her smirk.

My brows furrowed in thought, she was actually right about that. My life had been long and rather boring in all honesty. If death was an option I would gladly take it and drift off into whatever the afterlife offered, if there was one of course. I could see Maria's anger increasing as her questions weren't being answered. Her right hand struck out and her fingers stretched around my throat, before lifting me off the ground. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION! Who are YOU?" her growl was almost deafening right next to my ears.

"You really want to know?" I asked casually. Maria's fingers pulled tighter while she sneered at me. I decided to tell her, it had been a while since I scared anyone. I had missed it. "My name is Isabella." Maria gasped, her eyes widened with terror. I smiled innocently, I felt no pain from her hands it made all my movements mocking to her. Which just amused me more. "Perhaps you've heard of me?" I said sweetly. I wasn't surprised to see none of the newborns reacted to my name, they hadn't heard of the tales that plagued the vampire world. But Maria had, and that was enough for me.

Who knew I'd miss the confrontation so much over the last 3000 years. Maria's mouth opened and closed a few times, her eyes taking my body in. The question she was trying to voice was obvious. Are you really her? This was a regular ritual whenever I decided to reveal myself. They all expected a scary looking woman that could tear them all apart without effort. Not a young innocent looking teenager. I rolled my eyes at her. Her eyes changed as she watched my movements. Determination filled her eyes. "I have heard of you. You are still stupid to come here today." She let go of my neck and retreated quickly to the back of the gathering behind her precious army. "They will kill you and I will enjoying watching the most powerful vampire die before my eyes." She hissed. The newborns shifted into their crouches at her words.

Well it was about damn time. "ATTACK!"

Vampires ran at me from all angles they're movements were quick but undisciplined. It wasn't difficult to kill them, their movements might as well have been in slow motion. I was too fast, my senses were too good. By the time I looked up from all the body parts surrounding me the only change in my appearance was my hair, which had knotted with my movements. I dragged my fingers from the roots to the ends until it fell perfectly back into its smooth natural waves. Maria stood across from me. Her face was one of horror. I had killed her whole army in a matter of a few minutes. I see a new look in her eyes a second before she took off running.

I giggled, before bending my knees and jumping across the field. I landed directly in her path, blocking her exit. "Leaving so soon? You didn't even say goodbye" I gave her a mocking sad face before it turned into a cruel smile. "Goodbye" I said before ripping her head from her shoulders and throwing it back toward the rest of the dismembered vampires her body parts soon followed.

I took a lighter from my pocket and dropped in on the pile of bodies. Flames instantly engulfed the pale flesh, and black smoke drifted up darkening the sky above. I sighed loudly while I watched my kin burn. I didn't take pleasure out of killing, ok that was a lie. I did, but only just a little. It made me sad to take so many lives. Brining me back to a thought I'd had for the past few hundred years. Vampires were naturally cruel and cunning. I had yet to find one that had a soul and treated humans like cattle. It disgusted me. After seeing so much death because of my creations in made my heart ache. Maybe vampires shouldn't be of this earth. Was I wrong to create my children and let them create their own? Should I end the existence of vampires all over the world? I sighed again before leaving the burning ashes behind and ran through the forest my thoughts twirling around my mind.

I headed towards the ocean. There was something soothing about water that I enjoyed. It held so much life in its clutches. So much that the human's didn't know about and probably would never discover in its depths. I walked along the beaches staying clear of humans while I headed south. I was in no hurry, I had an endless amount of time. The sand beneath my toes was soft and delicate, the scent of the salt coming from the waves filled my senses pushing the thoughts of my earlier actions to the back of my mind. While I relished in the moment. After a few hours or days I wasn't really sure, time wasn't something I really took track of, I felt my nose scrunch up in distain. I foul stench slowly grew stronger and I continued along my current beach. It distinctly remind me of a wet dog. My brows rose at the thought. Wolves, there were werewolves in the area. Our natural enemy. As I walked closer I recognised the multiple scents, 8 shape shifters. Before the scent got too strong I turned inland. I had no desire to be too close to the foul stench. I could hear the town the wolves protected.

That's what shape shifters did, they protect human's from their natural enemy. Vampires. I had no quarrel with the wolves, and wanted to avoid a fight. They valued human life, much like I did. I took off to the east. The surrounding forests were a beautiful green. Wildlife were abundant, making their homes under the canopy of the tall trees. The sky above was covered in grey clouds, the scent of rain lingered in the air. I heard movement to my left and turned to see a family of deer run from a predator. A large mountain lion was pawing across the forest floor in pursuit of the deer. I watched with fascination as the lion pounced on the buck, it's teeth clamped around the neck bringing the deer to a halt. Blood dripped from where the lions teeth penetrated the flesh. I heard footsteps gaining quickly heading for the animals I was observing. I smelt it before it came into my sight, vampire.

The scent reminded me of honey and lilac it was strong and beautiful. My eyes found the vampire a moment before he leapt into the air tackling the lion away from his prey. The lion snarled it's large claws stretching out at its attacker. Faster than a rattle snake the vampire pounced he's teeth sunk into the lion's neck, right where it's pulse was pumping the strongest. Blood much more desirable than the deer's filled the air. I walked silently closer towards the scene. Until I was just feet above. The lion's life was slipping away quickly, its snarl's had turned into cries and now were an inaudible gurgle as the blood left it's body. The male vampire killed and fed with precision, all his movements were as graceful as they were lethal. He was dressed in modern day clothes and his bronze hair was a mess. Either from the wind of his run or it just naturally sat like that, the latter I recon.

The mountain lion's life now just a memory and the vampire sucked the last of the blood from its body. He stood up from the ground and wiped his mouth licking the remaining blood from his own fingers. My stomach twirled at the sight. I couldn't take my gaze away as the vampire inhaled and froze. He had caught my scent, usually he would already know I was only meters from him but his prey had been the forefront of his mind and he had missed my presences entirely. His head whipped in my direction. His face was utter perfection. A strong jawline, flawless pale skin and honey coloured eyes his build was skinny yet muscle was evident, tall, easily two heads taller than myself. My breath caught in my throat. It wasn't a normal reaction I had, and that intrigued me. This man was undeniably beautiful, more so than any other vampire or human I had seen.

His breaths were ragged as his eyes took me in. I stood casually on a branch about 10 feet from the ground of a tall spruce tree. I tried to make me stance as less threatening as possible, I didn't need another fight. After a few minutes of staring I decided to break the silence. "Hello" I waved and gave him a smile.

His answering smile was breath taking and his body relaxed at my welcome. "Hello, my names Edward Cullen" His voice was like velvet, smooth and I felt a warm shiver run down my spine.

I bounded from the branch and landed 2 feet away. "It's nice to meet you Edward, I'm Bella" I curtsied and he grinned at my display.

"Likewise Bella" and he bowed.

I giggled and his grin widened. "Are you from around this area?"

"Yes, my family and I live not too far from here" I felt my brows raise at the word 'family'.

After a moment of thought I nodded. "I have never seen a animal drinking vampire before and there's not much I haven't seen."

He gave me a crooked smiled I immediately loved. "Is that a compliment?" he was being flirtatious. I kind of liked it. I nodded eagerly and he laughed. The noise was heaven to my ears. "Well thank you Bella, but I cannot take all the credit my father showed me this way of life."

"Hmm.. That's very unusual, may I meet him?" A vampire that strayed from its natural urges to kill human's was intriguing, I guess the honey topaz of Edwards eyes reflected the diet.

"Yes, of course. It's this way." He gestured towards the direction Edward had attacked the lion from. He took off at a run and I ran at a pace that matched his.

Hey guys! I've only just started posting my stories on here. This one is almost finished so you will get regular chapters if you review!

I don't own anything other than the plot of Isabella The First. Everything else is Stephenie Meyer's.

- Skye (FeminineHeroes)