(AN) This is the beginning of my sequel to the story "Breaking Dawn Where Witches Ride", which starts off with Jake and Cassie's story ten years after the events of the first story. If you haven't read that, you probably won't get this story, so I advise you to read it. It's pretty good if I say so myself :-) Hope I have as many loyal readers as witches did!

Disclaimer: I only own Cassie, her powers, history, etc. :-)

Preface: Secrets Worth Dying For

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe

Fire licked along my pale arms, over my cold skin, melding seamlessly into blood red hair. It flickered, burning all who came too close. They danced around me, keeping their distance, blood red eyes waiting for the slightest hint of weakness, weakness that I'm sure was starting to show. I had been fighting for hours, and the fire was starting to fade.

So I ran. I ran through the trees, blinking as I felt them approach behind me, the flames dancing vibrantly in the wind. At least they were all following, I had given the town some time to hide and run. Of course, they didn't want the town, but what they wanted only I knew, and I would not give it to them.

I could go no further as I found myself at the top of La Push's cliffs. The flames finally went out, and I stood like a snuffed candle, tired and cold. They surrounded me in a half moon shape, furious and seething. The little girl at the front stepped forward, her crimson eyes burning with hatred.

"Where are they? You'll protect them when they left you here to die? You insolent waste of life." She spat, stepping forward. I took a step back, knowing that I was now an inch from the cliff's edge.

"Fuck you." I replied in the most menacing voice I could manage. She laughed bitterly. That's when I heard a wolf howl in the distance. My heart soared. They were still too far away to save me, but my friends, my family would be safe. My thoughts swirled around Jacob, my Jacob. I wished I had gotten to say goodbye. My throat constricted, tears burned my eyes. At least he would have our children, and maybe…maybe he would wait till I came back again.

"They won't save you, witch." The girl threatened. "This is your last chance."

I snorted. "Like you weren't going to kill me anyway." The girl's face lit up in creepily childish delight.

"I know, but this way we get to make it painful." She answered in her sing song voice. I suddenly remembered her name. Jane, the evil little girl vampire. I was very aware of the waves crashing around below me in the storm. I'd jumped off these cliffs before, the low one with the other girls in La Push, the tallest one where I stood now I'd only jumped off once, with Jacob holding me. It was the same one Bella had thrown herself off of nearly eleven years ago. As I thought about it, I decided drowning wasn't really a bad way to go, it was kind of peaceful, painless.

"Bite me." I smirked, stepping off the ledge. I heard Jane screech in childish rage as I fell away from the world, the water rising to meet me. I splashed into it with an impact that took my breath away as my body was buffeted by the waves, forced downwards into the deep water, thrown against the rocks. My last thoughts centered around my wolf, my cuddly, goofy, tender husband. I could see him clearly, waiting on the doorstep of our home, our kids playing in the front yard. I pictured him scooping them up in his arms and carrying them to meet me as they squealed and giggled. It was a calming last vision, a glorious way to die. Suddenly, something hard and colder than the water wrapped around my waist as the world began to darken.

Why the hell would they jump into the water after me? Was making my death painful all they cared about right now? Wasn't it clear I wasn't going to tell them anything? I was too weak to fight back, my head broke the surface and I felt myself being dragged to the shore against the raging current. Then I was placed, gently, on rock.

"Cassandra! Damnit Cassie!" My head throbbed, I coughed and water came out, running down my face. I groaned, but kept my eyes closed. The voice was some sort of hallucination, because there was no way it was real.

"Cassie, please, open your eyes. Think of Echo and Blaze, Cassie, what are they going to do without their mom… and if Jacob loses you… please…" The voice pleaded, sweet as honey. It had said the magic words though, my kids, Jacob. My eyes started open and I stared into molten gold eyes, placed in a heart shaped face and surrounded my mahogany hair.

"Bella…" I breathed in relief, my eyes drifting closed again as unconsciousness claimed me.