A/N: This story takes place in an alternate universe. Everything up through Eclipse has happened. Edward and Bella are married, and he has changed her into a vampire. She is 8 months into her new life. She was bitten and went through her transformation on Isle Esme, so the treaty with the wolves is still intact. Jacob hates them both, and is waiting for the day when he can attack and kill Edward for any reason. Renesmee does not exist.

Into the Great Wide Open

Chapter 1 - Prologue

She stood before me, quaking with fear. Her crimson eyes were staring down at the floor, unable to look me in the face. She already knew what my judgement would be. Her cohorts were struggling against the grip of my trusted Guardsmen. They had all felt the pain of my Jane when they were captured, just as they were numbed by my Alec during their transport to my lair.

Her family's golden eyes flashed with terror. They knew what would happen - what had to happen. It was not my pleasure to erase her from this existence. But she had broken our one rule. Her new husband should never have let her out of his sight at such a young age. His confidence in her was obviously misplaced, and now they would both suffer the consequence.

"Please," she whispered in a hoarse voice. "Master Aro..." she raised her eyes to meet mine. "Let me explain." She raised her hand and outstretched it towards me, her face hopeful.

I shook my head and gave her a slight smile. "Dear girl, you know the rules. The Volturi do not give second chances. It may have been different if you had at least hidden the body. But in your violent bloodlust, you threw his body from a six story building, into a crowd, completely drained of blood, his neck marked with two deep punctures. It couldn't be more obvious his cause of death."

The future teller began to weep openly, as did the matron, Carlisle's mate. The blond beauty lurched forward in a misguided attempt to save her new sister from her fate. With one nod of my head, my Guards tore the offending women to pieces, tossing body parts across the room.

The shield screamed in terror, struggling in Felix's iron grip. "Please!" she beseeched me. "Don't burn them! They did nothing!"

I approached her and stroked her cheek with one finger. Her thoughts were filled with her family, her husband, her fatal mistake. "Fear not for them, child. They were simply too much of a liability." They would be scattered in the forest several miles away, and given the chance to fuse back together. In truth, they did not commit any crime. This mahogany-haired beauty would not be so lucky.

"Please, please spare me," she begged, sinking to her knees. "I'll join the Guard - my shield is very powerful. I'm sure I could be of use to you..."

One look into my unwavering eyes told her all she needed to know. Her head drooped and she accepted defeat. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, readying herself for the end. Waving my hand at Felix, he nodded and twisted her head from her body in one swift motion. The sound of stone crunching ripped through the room. I smelled the spark of the match that Demetri had struck and watched as he tossed it onto her headless body. It was quickly engulfed in purple flame. Her head was added to the flames as the fire licked her slight frame.

It only took a few minutes until all that remained of Bella was a smoldering pile of ash.

A/N: I know, very short. But hey, it's a prologue. All following chapters will be far longer. If you'd like to see more, let me know you're interested! This is going to be a story with everything, from smut to violence, imposters and kidnappings, adventure, tragedy and romance. It's gonna be kind of epic...